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WWE RAW Preview (8/12): Randy Orton, 2-Out-Of-3 Falls Title Match

Thomas Lowson
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Tonight’s edition of WWE RAW takes place from Austin, Texas at the Moody Center. After a handful of weeks on SyFy due to the Paris Summer Olympic Games, RAW returns to the USA Network with tonight’s show.

WWE Monday Night RAW Tonight

Here is what has been announced for tonight’s episode of WWE Monday Night RAW

  • Bron Breakker (c) Vs. Sami Zayn – Two Out of Three Falls (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
  • Kairi Sane & IYO SKY vs. Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler (Number One Contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
  • American Made vs. Alpha Academy
  • Carlito vs. Damian Priest
  • Odyssey Jones to appear
  • Randy Orton to appear
  • Rhea Ripley to kick off the show

The Judgment Day Saga

After being betrayed at SummerSlam, Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest are hungry for revenge on the new Judgment Day. One can only imagine what the former WWE Women’s World Champion will have to say when she opens up RAW.

Two Out of Three Falls

SummerSlam 2024 proved to be a turning point in the year of Bron Breakker but the new Intercontinental Champion will face his toughest challenge tonight. With Bron and Sami Zayn owning one win each at PLEs, who will emerge triumphant in tonight’s two-out-of-three falls title match?

Odyssey Jones Arrives

After making an impactful debut last week aiding the New Day, expectations are high for Odyssey Jones tonight. Will the powerhouse sink or swim when RAW comes to Texas and the spotlight is on him?

Orton’s Road to Berlin

Randy Orton will challenge GUNTHER at WWE Bash in Berlin for the World Heavyweight Championship in the Austrian’s first title defense. What will the Apex Predator say and do tonight as he sets his sight on becoming a 15-time WWE World Champion?

What happened Last Week?

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE RAW:

Watch: Deadpool’s Viral Dance Recreated in WWE 2K24

Thomas Lowson
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MARVEL Comics’ resident Merc With A Mouth Deadpool has made it into WWE 2K24 with a viral dance straight from his new blockbuster movie. The unique entrance in WWE’s latest video game comes from the opening credits to Deadpool & Wolverine and sees the popular character bust a move to N-Sync’s Bye Bye Bye. His titantron includes footage of the opening credits in question.

Deadpool & Wolverine sees two of MARVEL’s most popular characters team up in an effort to save their reality from the sinister and powerful Cassandra Nova.

Deadpool & Wolverine (And Wrestling)

The connection between pro wrestling and Deadpool & Wolverine goes deeper than one creative user of WWE 2K24. The film features several actors from past MARVEL movies reprise their roles, including Tyler Mane as Wolverine adversary Sabretooth. Before entering Hollywood, Mane competed in WCW and teamed with Vinnie Vegas (the future Kevin Nash) as Big Sky. The film also sees Aaron Reed replace Vinnie Jones as the Juggernaut. Reed was in FCW as a developmental talent under the name Lift Sawyer but never made it to the main roster.

One wrestler the film doesn’t feature is Kevin Nash, despite The Russian being a part of the hit movie. The Russian is an enemy of The Punisher that Nash played in 2004’s The Punisher, but is portrayed in Deadpool & Wolverine by Billy Clements. On a recent edition of his Kliq This podcast, Nash addressed the role being recast.

“That doesn’t even … that looks nothing like the character I played. That looks nothing like the Russian. It looks like they gave somebody a favor.”

Want all the latest from the world of WWE 2K24 and other wrestling video games? Check out our Gaming hub for the biggest stories from the world of video games.

Sidney Akeem Debuts in ROH

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE star SCRYPTS (now known as Sidney Akeem) has arrived in Ring of Honor. He made his debut during the ROH tapings on August 11.

Ring of Honor held a couple of ROH television tapings at Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas. Fans have revealed that Sidney Akeem, formerly known as SCRYPTS/ Reggie in WWE, made his debut at the ROH tapings. He squared off against Johnny TV in a singles match.

His First Post-WWE Interview

Akeem recently spoke to Fightful and said that he was aiming to carve out his own path and avoid being remembered as a gimmick performer. Here is what he said:

“You know, everything that I did in my WWE career has been four years, four incredible years, and every opportunity is an opportunity. But like you said, I was presented in such a unique way.

I do sometimes think that if I never got the opportunity to do the whole sommelier thing, how different would my career have been? I don’t know. I don’t know if I would be this popular because it did give me a platform to showcase my skills. But I know that that’s not all that I have to offer. So I’m very much so trying to carve out a career and not just be known as a gimmick act, a gimmick performer and whatnot.

Akeem became a free agent on June 1 after WWE decided not to renew his contract. He had signed with the company back in 2020. At the time, he portrayed the gimmick of Carmella’s sommelier, Reginald. He soon got involved in the WWE 24/7 title picture and held the title four times. Eventually, he was reintroduced under a new gimmick, SCRYPTS on NXT in November 2022. He performed wearing a mask but dropped it after his storyline with Axiom. He then formed OTM alongside Bronco Nima, Lucien Price, and Jaida Parker before departing the company.

AEW All Out 2024: Date, Location, How To Watch Pay-Per-View

Thomas Lowson
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Anticipation is growing towards AEW All Out 2024 as the All-Elite roster prepares to return to the state of Illinois for its annual pay-per-view. All Out is one of AEW’s biggest annual events and is part of the core four pay-per-view from the promotion, alongside Revolution, Double or Nothing, and Full Gear.

Date & Location

AEW All Out 2024 will take place on September 7, from the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The show will be the sixth-annual All In and the fourth event of its kind from the Now Arena (which was called the Sears Center Arena at the time of All Out 2019.)

When All Out 2024 was announced this past April, it was revealed that the show would be taking place on September 1. In May, it was shared that the show would take place six days later, becoming the first All Out not to take place over Labor Day weekend. AEW President Tony Khan stated that the reason for the change was to give more time between All In: London and All Out to give more time for storylines to develop.

Matches

Currently, no matches have been publicly confirmed for AEW All Out 2024, but its likely that the card will be shaped by the events of AEW All In: London 2024. A Casino Gauntlet Match has been announced for All In with the winner earning a future World Championship opportunity.

How to Watch

In the United States, All Out will be available to stream on Bleacher Report. The event can be purchased and streamed directly through the Bleacher Report Live platform. All Out can also be ordered through local cable or satellite providers. Check with your provider on how to purchase the pay-per-view. For international viewers, the event will be accessible on FITE TV. A pre-show will begin at 7pm ET with the main card beginning at 8pm ET.

Glenn Jacobs On If He Has Thought About Running For President

Anutosh Bajpai
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Glenn ‘Kane’ Jacobs has no desire to run for the office of president. The Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee recently appeared on Maintaining with Tyrus for an interview with fellow WWE alumni to talk about the current political landscape of the country.

During the interview, he was asked if the thought of running for president has ever crossed his mind, and Jacobs claimed that it hasn’t:

“No, it’s not. I have no desire to go to Washington DC. I think that there’s a lot of things that can be done at the local and state level, especially at the state level.”

So Many Things Going Up There: Glenn Jacobs

The former World Champion claimed that they can make things better in the country by making good policies at the state level. He went on to explain another reason why he doesn’t want to dive too deep into the politics of Washington:

“Washington, man, it’s just, there’s just so many things going on up there, and it really is a swamp. Good people go in, and they get frustrated because they can’t change, or in some cases, they just throw up their hands and leave, or sometimes they unfortunately become part of the machine because that’s the only way to survive.

So I really think that a lot of changes can be made, especially at the state level, which would be productive for where you live. Ultimately then that would be productive for the entire country.”

Kane is not the only wrestling star who has been asked this question in recent time. The Rock has been honest about considering the idea in the past and he has kept the door open for a future in politics.

The current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was also inquired about it recently and he revealed that both the democratic and republican parties have made offers to him.

Glenn Jacobs Reacts To President Biden Ending His 2024 Campaign

Swerve Strickland Explains How MJF Got So Good: He Wasn’t Afraid

Anutosh Bajpai
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Swerve Strickland believes MJF has nothing left to prove to anyone but the fact that he continues to work hard on his craft is a testament to his passion.

The AEW World Heavyweight Champion recently spoke to Sports Illustrated and he was specifically asked about the Salt of The Earth.

Revealing his first impression of the current American Champion, Strickland claimed that he instantly noticed the hunger the 28 year old had for getting better:

“All I remember about him was his hunger, he wasn’t afraid. That’s what set him apart–he didn’t have that fear of going wherever he needed to be to get better.”

He’ll Always Keep Working: Swerve Strickland

According to Swerve Strickland, MJF always wanted to be around great competition. He put himself around top talent since a very young age to test himself and that’s how he got good:

“I don’t think Max has anything left to prove, that’s how good he is. But he’ll never tell himself that or allow himself to believe that. He’ll always keep working.”

Swerve Strickland has a big challenge lined up for him at the upcoming All In PPV where he defends his championship against the 2024 Owen Hart Cup winner Bryan Danielson in a title vs career match.

MJF on the other hand will be challenged by Will Ospreay at the show on August 25. The current champion originally beat Ospreay for the title then known as the International Championship on the July 17 episode of Dynamite.

He then replaced the belt with a new one, calling it the American Championship. He has since defended the championship in Mexico and UK.

Latest On AEW Hosting A Stadium Event In The United States

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about AEW hosting a stadium-sized event in the United States, mere days ahead of their second All In pay-per-view. Fightful Select reports that GlobeLife Field Stadium is the likely contender for a stadium show in the United States. The Arlington, Texas-based venue has a capacity of over 40,000 with a retractable roof and is the home of MLB’s Texas Rangers. Building of the venue began in September 2017 and hosted its first events in May 2020.

AEW Stadium Events

Fans have been eager for a stadium-sized event in the United States for some time. So far, AEW’s only stadium show was All In: London 2023 which saw a massive, albeit contested, number of people attend London, England’s Wembley Stadium last year. AEW will return to London for All In 2024 on August 25. The first-ever international AEW Dynamite taping will take place in Cardiff, Wales that same week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcCMnPXaNoA&pp=ygUKYWV3IGFsbCBpbg%3D%3D

Hosting a stadium event in the U.S. presents both significant opportunities and challenges for AEW. While such an event would generate substantial revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and pay-per-view buys, there would be questions about whether AEW would be able to fill a stadium in the U.S. Although the company has had no issue doing that in the UK, that is helped by the fact that events of such size are exceptionally rare across the pond. AEW attendance and viewership have both seen a dip in recent years, and it remains to be seen whether a stadium show will be a runaway success or an unfortunate hiccup in the United States.

Incredible Stat About GUNTHER’s Championship Reigns In WWE

Thomas Lowson
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An incredible statistic has put into perspective just how dominant GUNTHER has been as a champion since arriving in WWE back in 2019. At WWE SummerSlam, GUNTHER captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, his first world title on the main roster of his career.

This is GUNTHER’s latest title reign after previously holding the NXT United Kingdom Title for 870 days and the WWE Intercontinental Title for 666 days. Since arriving in WWE, GUNTHER has spent over 75% of his run with the company with a championship. It’s an accolade very few, if any, other Superstars have reached and shows the dominance of the Ring General.

H/T to @WrestleLamia for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.

What’s Next?

GUNTHER’s first title defense as World Heavyweight Champion will see him face Randy Orton at Bash In Berlin on August 31. The two competed earlier this year in the King of the Ring finals in a match that ended in controversy. That victory for GUNTHER earned him his World Heavyweight Title opportunity at SummerSlam.

If history is any indicator, fans should expect GUNTHER to hold the gold for a very, very long time. Taking the average based on his previous two title reigns, GUNTHER will hold the World Heavyweight Championship for 768 days before he loses the gold on September 10, 2026.

Cody Rhodes Is Confident His Nephews Will Continue The Family Legacy

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is confident that his nephews will enter the family business, potentially as future WWE Superstars. Speaking to Justin Barrasso for SI, Rhodes addressed his family’s legacy in wrestling and looked towards the future.

“Behind the curtain are my nephews, Dalton and Dylan. They’re close with Dustin, and to see them go from playing around to the point where now I can see it–it’s one of those things where, once you start, you can’t stop…. They’re not ready to wrestle Jacob Fatu just yet, but they’ll get there.”

Cody went on to say that the Rhodes family legacy in wrestling will not end with him, such is his confidence that a new generation of Rhodes’ will wrestle. In a nod to his WWE adversaries, the Undisputed Champion added that “We have our own Bloodline.”

The Rhodes Family

Cody is, as he’s served to remind fans multiple times, the son of Dusty Rhodes and Cody’s relationship with his father has played heavily into his WWE return and his storylines since coming back at WrestleMania 38. Cody’s half-brother Dustin is still wrestling in AEW/Ring of Honor and currently holds the ROH World Six Man Tag-Team Championships with Ross & Marshall Von Erich.

As for Dalton and Dylan, they are both currently studying at the University of Texas. Their mother is eager for the boys to finish their studies, Cody added in his interview with SI. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Cody Rhodes and the potential next generation of Rhodes’ in the ring.

AEW WrestleDream 2024 Set for Tacoma, Washington On 10/12

Thomas Lowson
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The second-ever AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view will take place at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington on October 12. Fans who are official AEW Insiders will get first access to purchase VIP experiences and presale tickets will go on sale on August 12.

The first AEW WrestleDream event took place in October 2023 after first being announced following the inaugural AEW All In: London event. Taking place one year to the day after the passing of Antonio Inoki, WrestleDream 2023 served to honor the Japanese wrestling legend and featured talent from AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. The event also saw the AEW debut of Adam Copeland, mere weeks after his tenure as Edge in WWE came to an end.

AEW Pay-Per-Views in 2024

AEW WrestleDream will be one of five pay-per-view events set to take place in the remainder of 2024. AEW’s next pay-per-view will be All In: London and see the All-Elite roster once again take over Wembley Stadium in London on August 25. AEW All Out will take place on September 7 from the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

After WrestleDream, AEW will host its sixth annual Full Gear on November 23, from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. AEW’s final major show of the year will be the second-ever Worlds End show and will take place on December 28 from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.

Jey Uso on Jimmy Uso’s Upcoming Return: “Wait Until You See His Greatness”

Bishal Roy
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‘Main Event’ Jey Uso has assured the fans that they are going to love it when his twin brother, Jimmy Uso returns.

Jey told Sports Illustrated that fans have only seen a few glimpses of Jimmy’s ability. He then labeled his brother the ‘funniest guy’ he knows and said that he couldn’t be hated for long. Jey teased Jimmy’s impending return and how he will show his greatness. He said:

“And people are going to love Jimmy. He’s the funniest guy I know, so much funnier than me. You’ve seen glimpses of what he can do on his own. Wait until you see his greatness. He’s up next.”

Jey also believes that the self-proclaimed ‘Tribal Chief’ Solo Sikoa, who is their younger brother deserves a beating. He said:

“Solo needs his ass whupped. There’s no doubt about that.”

The Usos are one of the greatest tag teams of all time. They were part of The Bloodline and the duo is eight-time Tag Team Champions in WWE. However, the brother tag team split last year due to their rivalry. This led to them settling the score inside the ring at WrestleMania XL. 

While Jey Uso has been striving in singles competition, Jimmy was attacked by Solo Sikoa and ousted from The Bloodline. Roman Reigns recently returned to make it clear that he is ‘The Original Tribal Chief.’ There has been speculation that there will be a Bloodline Civil War in the future and The Usos are likely to stand by Roman Reigns.

Watch: Zoey Stark Shares A ‘Perfect’ Tribute to WWE Legend Curt Hennig

Thomas Lowson
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WWE RAW Superstar Zoey Stark has delivered a perfect tribute to ‘Mr Perfect’ Curt Hennig, over two decades after the passing of the WWE Hall of Famer. On social media, Stark shared clips of herself performing several impressive feats accompanied by Hennig’s WWE theme song.

Fans will recognize this video as a tribute to Hennig, who was introduced in the World Wrestling Federation with a series of vignettes highlighting his skills in various fields. Whether it was basketball, baseball, bowling, or something else entirely, Hennig was able to accomplish feats to perfection.

Hennig’s perfect skill set in WWE would see him capture the Intercontinental Championship on two occasions and hold the gold for a combined 404 days. After joining WCW, Hennig would become WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and also held the World Tag Team Titles with Barry Windham.

Hennig sadly passed away in February 2003 at the age of 44 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. That same year, his son Joe would sign with WWE and compete as Curtis Axel before his 2020 release. He would later return to WWE as a producer.

Zoey Stark in WWE

Stark’s tribute to Mr. Perfect comes at an interesting time in the career of the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion. Stark has aligned with Shayna Baszler and Sonya Deville as a dominant group on RAW that has been feuding with Damage CTRL. Stark was called to WWE’s main roster last year as an ally of Trish Stratus though their partnership ended at Payback 2023.

AEW Reportedly Signs ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington

Bishal Roy
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A rising talent, ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington has reportedly inked a deal with All Elite Wrestling. Tommy’s uncle, Tom Billington was one-half of the iconic British Bulldogs and teamed up with Davey Boy Smith.

Billington, the nephew of legendary ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tom Billington has had a couple of impressive performances against Konosuke Takeshita and Dax Harwood in recent months. Since then, his status has been a matter of question within the company. Fightful has reported that “according to talent close to Tommy, they say that he’s been signed by AEW.”

The report further stated that WWE and NXT had also expressed their interest but that didn’t work out.

“The talent we spoke to also claimed there was NXT interest in the 23-year-old Billington. We asked about the whereabouts of Mark Billington, and were told that he was injured in December, during a match for Dungeon Wrestling.All Elite Wrestling has not confirmed this signing, and we’ve not heard if the deal is full-time or a tiered, per appearance deal.”

Tommy Billington is just 23 years old and he is a promising talent. He started his career in 2018 and has been competing in indie promotions including RCW, WPW, DEFY, and more. His match against Dax Harwood caught the attention of the fans as he put on a great fight but ultimately lost to the veteran.

Last month, he squared off against Konosuke Takeshita. They were involved in a great back-and-forth battle before the youngster endured another loss. Despite the defeats, he has been able to impress the fans and his future is looking bright.

Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura Talks Tim Walz, Hulk Hogan & Donald Trump

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer & former Governor of Minnesota Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura recently sat down with Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC to talk politics and the U.S. presidential election. Voters will go to the polls this November to elect either Vice President Kamala Harris or Former President Donald Trump as the next President of the United States.

On Tim Walz

Tim Walz is the current Governor of Minnesota and the running mate of Harris. In the interview, Ventura recalled Walz seeking his advice following his first victory in the race to be governor.

“He called me and set up a being with me to pick my brain. No other Governor has ever done that, Republican or Democrat but Tim Walz did. And what that showed me, Tim Walz is the kind of guy who’s out for success and he will reach across the aisle.”

Ventura also spoke about JD Vance’s attacks on Walz, as the running mate of Trump has accused Walz of ‘stolen valor’ despite Walz’s twenty years as an officer in the U.S. Army. Ventura explained that after twenty years, an officer can retire when they want to. Ventura added that, as a former Marine, he knows what it means to show respect to those who have served and that Vance should behave like a Marine.

On Hulk Hogan Endorsing Donald Trump

At the Republican National Convention, Hulk Hogan publicly endorsed Donald Trump and called the former President his hero. Ventura chuckled to himself as Sharpton reminded him of Hogan’s endorsement and recalled Hogan’s attempts to block Ventura’s effort to form a union in pro wrestling.

“It doesn’t surprise me to see Hogan with the Republicans because Hogan’s as anti-union as you can get… It was Hulk Hogan who ratted me out to Vince McMahon and I was fired and lost my job.”

On Donald Trump

Years before he dominated the Republican Party, Trump was part of the ‘Reform Party’ after being recruited by Ventura himself. The WWE Hall of Famer said that Trump is not the same man who came to him years ago and believes the billionaire’s politics are solely based on what benefits himself.

“Donald Trump is for Donald Trump. And Donald Trump is going to do whatever it is that supports Donald Trump… He saw that he could take over the Republican Party so he changed his views. He want from pro-choice to no rights for women’s reproductive. He’s gone far right.”

Ventura added that Trump’s claims of being a Christian man, one that is echoed by many of his supporters, are hollow.

“He’s trying to say he’s now a religious person. Well to me, if you’re going to be a religious person, you have to live it. And Donald Trump hardly lives it…. I’m an agnostic athiest and I think that I’m more religious than he is.”

Ventura suggested that Republicans would have had a far harsher response if Barack Obama had had multiple affairs while they “embrace” Trump.

AEW Rampage Surpasses WCW Thunder’s Run With 157th Episode

Thomas Lowson
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AEW Rampage has reached a milestone in its programming by eclipsing WCW Thunder for the most number of episodes. The August 9, edition of Rampage marked the show’s 157th episode, exceeding the 156 episodes of Thunder that aired before WCW closed its doors for good in March 2001.

H/T to @DrainBamager for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.

Rampage launched in the summer of 2021 as the AEW’s second Television show, following on from AEW Dynamite which launched in October 2019. At the second episode of Rampage, ironically titled ‘The First Dance’ CM Punk made his debut for AEW in his return to the world of wrestling after a seven-year absence. The show also served as the first, and only time, that Rampage would surpass 1 million viewers.

WCW Thunder debuted in January 1998, mere weeks after the promotion’s highest-rated pay-per-view, Starrcade 1997. The show originally aired on Thursday evenings, but as the Monday Night Wars turned, moved to Wednesdays in January 2000 to avoid competing with WWF SmackDown which had premiered on UPN in August 1999.

AEW Dynamite Vs. WCW Monday Nitro

With Thunder being surpassed, AEW’s next goal would be to surpass the number of episodes of WCW Monday Nitro. After launching in September 1995, Nitro lasted 288 episodes before the final episode, a simulcast with Monday Night RAW on March 26, 2001.

As of the August 7, episode, AEW Dynamite has reached 253 episodes. For Dynamite to surpass Nitro, the show will need to remain on the air for another 36 episodes, equivalent to just over eight months. Dynamite will reach that feat with the April 15, 2025, episode of Tony Khan’s flagship show.

Team USA’s Kennedy Blades Hits Epic German Suplex At Paris Olympics

Thomas Lowson
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Kennedy Blades, a competitor for Team USA, hit a suplex at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France that would make Kurt Angle proud. During her recent match with Catalina Axente of Romania, Blades hit an impressive wrestling move.

In the comments of the above video, one fan was impressed by Blades’ “wicked German suplex” and encouraged WWE to hire her to NXT. Another fan agreed that “she needs to join WWE.” Blades won her quarter-final match with Axente and has since advanced to the finals. She will face Yuka Kagami of Japan in the finals later today.

Team USA In Wrestling

Kennedy Blades hopes to add another medal to Team USA’s already impressive collection at the Paris Summer Olympics. In wrestling, Team USA already has two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals. In the history of wrestling at the Olympics, Team USA has accumulated 55 gold, 44 silver, and 39 bronze, the most of any nation in the history of the Games.

Kennedy Blades

Regardless of whether she wins gold later today, the future looks immensely bright for Kennedy Blades. Last month, Blades shared that she has committed to competing for the Iowa Wrestling team, stating that it’ll prove to be a fun chapter of her life.

Kennedy Blades has been one of the wrestlers to watch at this year’s Summer Olympic Games. Check out our Pro Wrestling Fan’s Guide to the Summer Olympics for all you need to know on the events in Paris, France.

Tony Khan Teasing AEW’s “Most Important Announcements” Are Coming

Thomas Lowson
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All Elite Wrestling will see some of the promotion’s most important announcements in the near future, according to AEW President Tony Khan. In a statement, Khan made his bold claim while discussing the upcoming AEW All In: London pay-per-view from Wembley Stadium. AEW’s return to the United Kingdom will take place on August 25 from Wembley and will be preceded by an AEW Dynamite taping in Cardiff, Wales.

One announcement AEW fans are awaiting is news about a new media deal for the All-Elite promotion, which is expected to come this year. Last month, it was reported that Khan and Warner Bros. Discovery had reached an agreement “in principle” regarding the future of AEW content on the media giant’s platforms. This agreement was said to be on “the middle to high side” of what the two groups were negotiating. AEW’s exclusive negotiation window with WBD ended on July 21.

Tony Khan’s Announcements

Khan has never shied away from teasing blockbuster announcements, often to mixed responses by wrestling fans. Some announcements such as the 2022 acquisition of Ring of Honor or the announcement of the first AEW All In: London event were unsurprisingly huge and delivered on the hype that’d been built in the days and weeks prior.

Other teased announcements have failed to reach expectations. In the run-up to the November 1, 2023, edition of Dynamite, a massive announcement was teased that had fans expecting a return or debuting talent. Instead, the announcement was the date that AEW All In: London 2024 tickets would go on sale, which many felt was underwhelming considering the buzz. Khan’s announcements have become something of a meme with fans, especially after AEW announced that Khan would make an announcement in June 2023.

WWE NIL Athlete Masai Russell Wins Olympic Gold By 1/100th of a Second

Thomas Lowson
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Masai Russell, an athlete who is part of WWE’s NIL program, has captured Olympic Gold at the ongoing Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Russell won the medal in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.34 seconds, just 0.01 seconds faster than Cyréna Samba-Mayela of France who took silver. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico took the bronze with a time of 12.36 seconds. This year’s games is Russell’s first time competing at the Summer Olympics.

On Twitter, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque congratulated Russell on her gold medal-earning performance in her first Olympic Games.

This isn’t the first time that Russell has impressed on the track. Back in January 2023, the 24-year-old set a new collegiate record for the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.75 seconds. This historic victory also gained the attention of WWE’s Chief Content Officer.

WWE NIL Program

The Next-In-Line program was launched in December 2021 with Russell being a part of the inaugural class of signings. The program aims at recruiting and developing college athletes into potential WWE Superstars. Those who join receive access to the WWE Performance Center as well as guidance on how to present themselves as athletes in the media and beyond. Upon graduation, athletes in the NIL program may have the opportunity to sign with WWE as full-time talent, though that is not guaranteed.

WWE’s Olympic Gold Medalists

Should Russell join WWE full-time, she will be the latest Gold Medalist under contract. Three years after winning gold (with a broken freakin’ neck!) in Atlanta, Kurt Angle made his in-ring debut at Survivor Series 1999. Gable Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 mere months after his gold medal win in Tokyo, though he has since been released. Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who also won gold in Tokyo, signed with WWE in 2023 and has reportedly been impressive in her training. Stock made her in-ring debut as Tyra Mae Steele last month at a WWE NXT live event.

Bryan Danielson Expects To Have Neck Surgery Later This Year

Thomas Lowson
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Bryan Danielson will require neck surgery before the end of the year, the American Dragon confirmed on the latest episode of AEW Collision. In a sit-down interview with Jim Ross, Danielson spoke about his career and the toll his style has had on his health.

“Odds are I’m going to have to get neck surgery before the end of this year. That’s the reality of it. And that’s kind of something that I’ve accepted is coming down the pipe relatively soon.”

Danielson’s history of neck injuries is well-documented at this stage of his career. It was these issues that resulted in Bryan being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2014 and vacating the Intercontinental Title the next year. In early 2016, Danielson was forced to retire from wrestling due to such issues though he was cleared to wrestle again two years later.

Before Danielson goes under the knife, he will compete at AEW All In in two weeks time, where he will challenge for the AEW World Championship. This match with Swerve Strickland will also see Bryan put his career on the line. Whether he wins or loses, Danielson has said this year will be his last as a full-time talent in wrestling to fulfill a promise to his family to be there for them more.

Bryan Danielson is one of the top talents in AEW, but a reign as World Champion may unfortunately be cut short if this surgery goes ahead. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on the American Dragon and his road to All In on August 25.

Finn Balor & JD McDonagh Heading to OTT Wrestling 10th Anniversary Show

Thomas Lowson
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WWE World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & JD McDonagh will be part of Over The Top Wrestling’s 10th anniversary show this October. During the most recent event from OTT Wrestling, it was confirmed that the Judgment Day allies will be part of the October 26 show.

The upcoming event will mark Balor’s debut for the Irish-based promotion. McDonagh, as Jordan Devlin, debuted for OTT in 2014 and is a former OTT World Champion. His reign began in December 2017 and would see McDonagh retain against notable names like ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey, Timothy Thatcher, Angelico, Tyler Bate, and Zack Sabre Jr. McDonagh’s 253-day reign came to an end in August 2018 when he lost the gold to current WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER.

WWE And Other Promotions

The October 26, show is WWE’s latest example of working with other promotions which has become a trend for the company in 2024. Deals with Marigold, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH has seen WWE talent compete outside their usual stomping ground. TNA Wrestling has reached an agreement with WWE NXT that has seen talent from both promotions step through the ‘prohibited portal.’

Having WWE talent at OTT’s 10th Anniversary event is a huge get for the Irish promotion and will increase interest in the show. After decades of Vince McMahon’s ‘don’t play well with others’ mentality, WWE’s willingness to collaborate with other has proven to be a breath of fresh air to fans. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on WWE working with other promotions.

AEW Collision Preview (08/10/2024): Texas Bull Rope Match and More

Jake Skudder
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All Elite Wrestling (AEW) returns to Arlington, Texas, on August 10, 2024 for tonight’s episode of AEW Collision.

The show promises some decent matchups with ALL IN just a few weeks away, including a highly anticipated Texas Bull Rope Match.

AEW Collision Matches Tonight

AEW Collision Main Event: Texas Bull Rope Match

One of the highlights of the evening will be the Texas Bull Rope Match featuring Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo.

House of Black vs. Bang Bang Gang

In another high-stakes bout, House of Black will face off against Bang Bang Gang in a #1 Contenders Match for the AEW World Trios Championships at the upcoming ALL IN PPV from Wembley Stadium.

Swerve Strickland Open Challenge

Swerve Strickland will also be in action, issuing an open challenge in an Eliminator match.

Additional Matches

The night will also feature several other exciting matches:

  • Darby Allin & Hologram vs. Premier Athletes
  • FTR vs. The Outrunners
  • Rush vs. Preston Vance
  • Hikaru Shida in action

Giulia On NXT Stand & Deliver Pop: ‘I Thought The Rock Had Shown Up!’

Thomas Lowson
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Japanese sensation Giulia was blown away by the reaction she received at NXT Stand & Deliver, which she thought must’ve been for someone else. Speaking to Creators, Giulia recalled the ovation at the NXT event over WrestleMania weekend.

 “I didn’t think they were cheering for me. When I stood up, the whole venue was like, ‘Whoaaaaaa!’ so I thought, ‘Maybe some amazing celebrity has come?’… I was like, ‘There’s no way people would cheer for me this much!’ The scale is different from Japan, and I was just like, ‘Did someone come? Dwayne Johnson?'”

Giulia’s appearance at the event came after months of reports indicating that she would be joining WWE. On the same day of Stand & Deliver, it was reported that the former STARDOM attraction had indeed signed with WWE. Before she makes the move though, Giulia has been competing in Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold promotion and will finish her time competing in Japan later this month.

Giulia In WWE

WWE reportedly intends to bring Giulia in via NXT with plans to push her strong from the very start as “the female face of the brand.” One source has claimed that Giulia’s role in NXT will surpass what Asuka achieved during her tenure which saw the Empress hold the NXT Women’s Title for 510 days.

Aside from her NXT Stand & Deliver appearance, Giulia has been referenced in WWE a handful of times already. This includes NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez claiming that she, not Giulia, is the best in the world after retaining her title over Thea Hail at Great American Bash (Week One.)

WWE’s Female Signings

Should she compete for WWE, Giulia will be part of something of a renaissance with the hiring of female talent. Stephanie Vaquer, who dethroned Giulia as NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, has signed with WWE mere days after appearing at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. It has also been reported that DELTA has signed with WWE. The Australian wrestler reportedly impressed during tryouts in Perth over Elimination Chamber weekend in February of this year.

Latest On Jacob Henry After Second-Generation Star Signs With WWE

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about the WWE status of Jacob Henry following his signing with the promotion in recent weeks. Henry is on an NIL deal, Dave Meltzer reports, meaning he’ll be paid by WWE while he goes to college. Henry, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, will compete as a heavyweight for the University of Oklahoma, which Meltzer called “one of the best programs in the country. In February 2024, Jacob committed to wrestling for the University of Oklahoma.

The younger Henry will reportedly also try out for the University’s football team in the spring. If successful, Henry won’t be the first WWE name to play for the University of Oklahoma team as ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams played for the team before entering the squared circle.

Expectations are high for Henry who has already seen success in the world of amateur wrestling. Last month, Mark Henry said that his son plans to headline WrestleMania one day, a feat the World’s Strongest Man did not accomplish in WWE. Jacob also aspires to be an Olympic champion, his father also told TMZ, so it may be some time before we see him in a WWE ring.

WWE has seen several multi-generational Superstars reach or even eclipse their parents, with Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, The Rock, and Roman Reigns all seeing massive success. Time will tell if Jacob Henry will join that list, but the young athlete has plenty of tools to make a name in the world of professional wrestling.

Scott D’Amore Has Spoken With Len Asper Since TNA Outing, Suggests There Are “Hard Feelings”

Thomas Lowson
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Scott D’Amore has spoken with TNA higher-ups since being unceremoniously cut from the promotion in January of this year. Appearing on the Busted Open Radio, D’Amore shared that two days before the Hard to Kill pay-per-view, he was informed that he would be replaced as TNA President.

“I was about to get on a plane, I found out kind of what was in the cards. [Anthem CEO] Len Asper and I had a chat about it. Even though I had seen some signs, it still hit me pretty hard, but I did what professionals do.”

What professionals do, as D’Amore explained in the interview, was fly to Las Vegas and do his best to make TNA Hard to Kill a success. The event marked the relaunch of TNA after years as IMPACT Wrestling and saw the debuts of Ash By Elegance and Nic Nemeth. Speaking to SE Scoops after the event, Killer Kelly said morale had been very high as the show was considered a rousing success.

Speaking With TNA

While D’Amore’s time with TNA has ended, he’s not entirely left the promotion behind. In the interview, Scott said he’s spoken with Asper, but that things are not entirely fine between the two men.

“I’ve spoken with Len Asper since then. Like as I said to him the day we talked about it, or it might have been the day the announcement went ahead, he said I hope there is no hard feelings. I said I can’t say there are no hard feelings, but there are no personal feelings.”

D’Amore has since relaunched Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling in his native Canada. The promotion will host its first two events this October and will stream live on Triller TV on pay-per-view. TNA’s Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, and KUSHIDA have been announced for these tapings, as well as former WWE World Champion Rah Dhesi.

Dwayne Johnson At Disney’s D23, Shares Moana 2 Trailer & Monster Jam Film

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson surprised attendees of D23 with an appearance to reveal the latest trailer for Disney’s Moana 2 animated film. The ‘Final Boss’ of WWE was at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and danced with others on stage.

After the performance by Johnson, fans saw the newest trailer for Moana 2 which was later shared online. Johnson, as Maui, appears half way during the trailer and delivers quips amid clips of action scenes from the film.

Moana 2 follows on from 2016’s Moana and sees Johnson return as the voice of Maui, a legendary demigod who works alongside Moana (Auli?i Cravalho) to recover a missing relic that she believes will save the people of her island. Much like its predecessor, Moana 2 takes inspiration from Polynesian myths. 

Another Moana Project

Moana 2 won’t be Johnson’s only project related to the popular Disney franchise, as he will also be starring in a live-action remake of the first film. Johnson will reprise his role as Maui, hardly a surprise given that like the demigod, he too is an impressive specimen. Catherine Laga‘aia will portray Moana herself, replacing Cravalho in the role. The live-action Moana will follow a trend of other animated projects brought to life by Disney including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Cruella. Live-action adaptations of Lilo & Stitch and Hercules are also in the works.

Johnson’s Other D23 Announcement

Dwayne Johnson wasn’t at D23 just to promote Moana 2. During the event, it was confirmed that a Monster Jam project is in the works and that The Rock will be involved.

During the conference, Johnson shared his love for motorsports and monster trucks and said he wants to create something that is “immersive and fun.” A logo was shown for the projects well as some of the trucks that’ll make up Monster Jam.

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