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Elijah Says Seth Rollins Sniped His Idea For Monday Night Messiah Character

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins’ Monday Night Messiah character dominated WWE television for a good run, but the idea was allegedly jacked from another Superstar.

Elias, who was released from WWE last year, claims the company stole one of his ideas. He shared with Metro.co.uk that he was always brainstorming to evolve his character. One idea he was enthusiastic about was the “Monday Night Messiah.”

“There was a character that I really thought could have been incredible myself, it was the Monday Night Messiah. And if you realize, Seth Rollins and AOP ended up – for lack of better terms, they just gave it to those guys.”

“I had a real vision of me being the Pied Piper of Monday Night Raw and controlling people, with kind of a cult-like leader. The biblical themes and things like that, I always love that Messiah stuff,” he added.

No Hard Feelings

The former WWE Superstar, who was best known for his musical Drifter persona, insists there is no ill will towards Seth Rollins, though he feels he had a great vision for the character.

Elijah mentioned that his pitch was just one of many he submitted to the creative team until his last day, noting that it’s common for such ideas to be given to wrestlers who are more prominent.

Elias explained that higher-paid wrestlers or those in the spotlight often receive more resources and attention. He emphasized that this was not a criticism of Seth Rollins, whom he acknowledged as an incredible talent, but rather an observation of how the system operates and the inherent risks in sharing creative ideas.

Seth Rollins found great success with the “Monday Night Messiah” persona, which eventually evolved into his “The Visionary” character.

TNA Loses Another Important Executive

Staff
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TNA is experiencing significant staff changes, with the multiple key figures departing the company.

Lou D’Angeli, remembered as “Sign Guy Dudley” in ECW, and later a marketing director in WWE, has left TNA Wrestling. He served as the Vice President of Marketing for Anthem Entertainment. According to PWInsider, his departure was mutually agreed upon after a meeting with Anthem executives last week.

RD Evans, a member of the creative team, and David Sahadi, head of production, also exited the company recently. These changes come after Scott D’Amore was let go in February.

The wave of departures at TNA suggests a major internal restructuring or a shift in company strategy. This could impact several aspects of TNA’s business in the short term, including creative direction, production quality and ability to attract and retain talent.

The trend seems ominous and interestingly comes at a time when TNA is starting to work with WWE again. Following TNA champion Jordynne Grace’s recent crossover to NXT, there have been several other wrestlers from each company talking about working together.

TNA Wrestling has been through it all since launching in May 2002. They are a survivor brand that will always find a way to keep bringing fans their unique brand of wrestling, but it’s been a rocky year to say the least after things started off so promising with the return to the ‘TNA’ name back in January.

Updated Look At Marigold Wrestling’s United National & World Championships

Thomas Lowson
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Fans of Marigold Wrestling have received an updated look at the company’s championships with more titles on their way. 

Marigold, the brainchild of STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa, was confirmed in April 2024 after speculation that Ogawa was looking to make a new company. It was allegations that Ogawa was ‘poaching’ talent from STARDOM that led to his termination from parent company Bushiroad.

This week, fans got a better look at the Marigold Championships than what had previously been offered. These new photos reveal an updated design that features blue accents to the World Championship and blue, green, and orange accents to the United National Championship. It has been reported that more titles are in the works, including planned Marigold Tag Team Championships. 

The latest look at the Marigold Championships. 

These titles are the latest creations from Belts By Dan, who has made several championships across professional wrestling. Creations of Dan’s include the AEW TNT Championship, the AEW Women’s World Championship, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

The Future of Marigold

After hosting its inaugural Fields Forever event in May, Marigold’s next show will be the Summer Destiny event on July 13. The show will stream on on Wrestle Universe. Marigold has announced Giulia Vs. Sareee for the show, despite Giulia suffering a wrist injury during the Fields Forever show that has put plans for her on pause. 

Marigold’s future could also see involvement from WWE as Rossy Ogawa hopes to create strong ties with the world’s most successful wrestling promotion. Giulia is expected to make a handful of appearances for Marigold after she officially joins WWE later this year. Marigold is hopeful that WWE Superstars IYO SKY and Kairi Sane (both of whom have worked with Ogawa in the past) will be available for upcoming events with WWE’s blessing. 

Dana White: ‘WWE Is Good At What They Do But Relationship with UFC is Very Separate’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE has proven to be very successful in the world of wrestling, but the TKO entity has done very little with the UFC according to Dana White. 

Speaking at the post-show press conference for UFC 302, White was asked about working with WWE under TKO. The UFC President admitted that little has actually been done with WWE despite the merger. 

“It’s very separate. I haven’t worked with them at all. I do what I do, and they do what they do. They’re using some of the people from my team to help them in different areas, business-wise, but as far as putting on live events, I mean, WWE is very good at what they do. And we’re very good at what we do. And yeah, that’s about as far as it goes.”

TKO Group Holdings was launched in September 2023 with the merger of WWE and UFC. It had been confirmed back in April 2023 that Endeavor would be acquiring WWE as part of a $9 billion deal. Endeavor (known as WME/IMG at the time) acquired UFC back in 2016 for around $4 billion.

WWE & UFC Together

While White has stated that collaboration between the two sides has been minimal, that doesn’t mean WWE and UFC have done nothing together. The two companies recently merged their live events teams, a decision that has led to some layoffs in WWE. In a matter of days, WWE and UFC will arrive at KFC Yum! Center Arena in Louisville, Kentucky to host back-to-back shows. WWE SmackDown will take place on June 7, while UFC’s next event will be on June 8. 

WWE Superstars can often be spotted at UFC events in another example of cross-promotion branding. WWE NXT Battleground will be held at the UFC Apex on June 9, the first time any WWE event has been held at the venue. During UFC 302, WWE’s Rezar threw out the challenge to fight some UFC heavyweights so fans may be seeing the former Tag Team Champion in the Octagon soon enough. 

Toni Storm Makes Surprise STARDOM Appearance To Challenge Mina Shirakawa At Forbidden Door

Bishal Roy
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AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm recently issued a challenge to STARDOM wrestler Mina Shirakawa.

Storm made an appearance during the June 2 STARDOM event through a video as she challenged the Japanese wrestler for the upcoming AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view later this month. Toni Storm was featured with, “STARDOM legend” Mariah May. She said that she had her eyes on Mina, who has made appearances in AEW in the past. She said:

“Hello, STARDOM, this is your AEW Women’s World Champion and STARDOM legend ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm and this is my trusty protege and STARDOM legend, Ms. Mariah May. Mina-san, I see you’ve been at AEW when I’ve not been around but I’ve been watching you. Oh, I’ve been watching you.”

Toni Storm said that wanted to square off against Mina Shirakawa and she wouldn’t have to knock or ring the doorbell as she has kept the forbidden door open. 

“You do not need to knock, you do not need to ring the doorbell, because I have opened the forbidden door and I want you. Don’t worry, any friend of Mariah’s is a friend of mine. I just want to see what kind of woman you really are.”

While Toni issued the challenge, Mariah didn’t seem to be impressed. Toni’s protege Mariah May has been closely linked with Mina and teamed up with her. They have even shared a kiss on AEW. The match hasn’t been made official yet but the relationship between Mariah and Mina might come into play during the match.   

Toni Storm and Mariah May made STARDOM appearance in April

In April, Storm showed up at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena (better known as ECW Arena). During that appearance, she had given her flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. That night, she also had eyes on Mina Shirakawa and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”

Toni Storm is coming off a title defense against Serena Deeb at AEW Double Or Nothing. She is likely to face Mina Shirakawa at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden which is set to take place on June 30 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

Thomas Lowson
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Fans at Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI event saw the introduction of the promotion’s brand-new World Championship title design. 

Before the show’s World Heavyweight Championship match, the new title design was introduced. This design features a gold, black, and silver center plate with the MLW logo over the world. The title also includes silver and gold side plates. The previous design had been in operation since April of 2018 when MLW returned following a 15-year hiatus. 

The MLW World Heavyweight Championship has been held since February by Satoshi Kojima. The 53-year-old Japanese star is currently in his second reign as champion and won the title from Alex Kane at SuperFight. At Battle Riot VI, Kojima retained the gold against former champion ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor. 

The new title is the latest creation from Belts By Dan, who has made several championships across professional wrestling. Creations of Dan’s include the AEW TNT Championship, the AEW Women’s World Championship, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

While Kojima is proud to hold the re-designed MLW World Heavyweight Championship, his reign is in serious jeopardy. MLW Battle Riot VI also saw Matt Riddle win the titular 40-man Battle Riot match. With this win, the former WWE United States Champion has earned an MLW World Title match for any time of his choosing. If WWE’s Money in the Bank contract has shown anything, then this stipulation puts Kojima at a distinct disadvantage. 

MJF Shows Off Remarkable Physical Transformation

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestlers rely on their bodies to make a living, and keeping in peak shape is a priority for a majority of them. MJF recently showed off his physical transformation, and it’s quite impressive. 

MJF has worked hard to reach the top of the pro wrestling world. His impressive physique is the result of his dedication, but he didn’t achieve it alone.

He recently posted a before-and-after photo on Instagram, showcasing his progress. In the post, he credited Adam Pfau, a personal fitness coach, for helping him achieve his current look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C7p6g5Euioz

Double or Nothing Return & Nixed Plans

MJF returned to AEW at Double or Nothing, ending his hiatus since losing the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at Worlds End. During his return, he also revealed a new tattoo, signifying that he re-signed with AEW and bet on himself.

Although MJF missed the Dynamite episode following Double or Nothing, he is set to appear on next week’s show. Fans are eager to see what the former AEW World Champion will say and who he will face next.

Adam Cole’s injury forced AEW to alter plans for him and MJF. A match was planned for 2023 but did not happen. While the timing of their face-off remains unclear, Cole’s involvement in MJF’s return segment is promising.

Mark Henry & Teddy Long Appear At MLW Battle Riot VI

Aaron Varble
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MLW Battle Riot VI featured a surprise appearance by wrestling legends Mark Henry and Teddy Long.

The two WWE Hall of Famers surprised fans as they oversaw the Ritual Combat match between Alex Kane and AJ Francis, seated beside the victor’s throne. Their appearances were not promoted for the show, but there are also a few surprises for MLW fans on the show.

Recently, Long appeared on WWE television during the 2024 draft as he took part in announcing a round of picks for the SmackDown brand. Mark Henry’s contract with AEW expired in May.

Other Possible MLW Surprises

Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select reported that WWE Superstar Xavier Woods and former TNA producer David Sahadi were backstage.

The Battle Riot match included notable names like Paul Walter Hauser, Violent J, and Chris Danger. Additional surprises were anticipated during the show, so keep checking back for more updates.

MLW Changing Pay-Per-View System

During Battle Riot, Major League Wrestling announced that its pay-per-view events will move to YouTube for MLW Members. This change marks the end of MLW’s partnership with Triller TV, which began airing MLW events in May 2023.

Upcoming MLW pay-per-views include:

  • MLW Blood And Thunder on July 29 in Tampa, FL
  • MLW Summer of the Beasts on August 29 in New York City, NY
  • MLW Fightland on September 14 in Atlanta, GA

You can find our full results for the MLW Battle Riot event here. There was certainly a lot to unpack when the show was over. 

Swerve Strickland Flexes His New AEW World Championship Grill

Aaron Varble
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Swerve Strickland is enjoying his time as AEW World Champion and recently showed off a new grill.

Formerly known as Swerve Scott in WWE, he was released during the pandemic. By the time Triple H wanted him back, Swerve was already under contract with AEW and couldn’t enter talks. Tony Khan has taken good care of Strickland, and he is now sitting on top of the Land of All Elite.

Swerve’s hard work has paid off, leading to his reign as AEW World Champion. He’s living it up and has plenty to be proud of.

https://twitter.com/puroresuflow/status/1796941947052970101

Strickland’s Next Title Defense

Swerve Strickland will defend the AEW World Title against Roderick Strong on the June 5th episode of AEW Dynamite.

The bout came together on the June 1st episode of AEW Collision, with Strong saying he was supposed to be the last man in the Casino Gauntlet on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. Strong suggested to Tony Khan that he should face Swerve for the championship on Dynamite. Tony Khan agreed that it was a good idea, giving him the title match.

Roderick Strong has a message for Swerve Strickland, which he shared in a viral video after the June 1 AEW Collision broadcast.

“SWERVE! Listen, I don’t care what you do when you drive. I care what you do in that ring. When I’m looking back through the history books, I’m 2-0 against you. So, you may be the AEW World Champion for now, but come Wednesday in Colorado, I will be your new AEW World Champion.”

After defeating Lio Rush on June 1, 2024, AEW Collision, Strong appealed to Tony Khan for a match for the AEW World Title on the June 5 episode of AEW Dynamite. Now, Strong has the chance to win the most prestigious prize he has yet to challenge for in his AEW career. Obviously, Swerve Strickland is not ready to give up his title just yet.

Chris Jericho Replaced On AEW Rampage Commentary Team

Aaron Varble
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Chris Jericho has taken on many roles in AEW. He is a former World Champion, Wizard, and currently the Learning Tree. However, he is stepping down from his commentary duties. 

AEW has named Jericho’s replacement: Matt Menard, Jericho’s former Jericho Appreciation Society teammate, will take over commentary on AEW Rampage.

Author and podcast host Pat Laprade announced the news via X on Saturday. Menard has experience in commentary, having worked on AEW Dark and Dark Elevation. This led to occasional Rampage appearances when Jericho was unavailable.

On Friday’s Rampage, Jericho revealed his decision to leave commentary. He wants to focus more on appearing on Dynamite and Collision. Jericho will still carry on in his Learning Tree gimmick alongside Big Bill and Bryan Keith. 

Matt Menard’s Commentary Experience

Menard, previously known as Matt Lee in WWE’s NXT brand, signed with AEW in August 2021 with his partner Angelo Parker. They joined forces with Daniel Garcia and eventually became part of Jericho’s faction. Together, they competed in the first-ever Anarchy in the Arena match and a Blood & Guts match in 2022.

Since the faction dissolved, Menard has wrestled infrequently, with just six matches this year. His last match was a win over Mike Bennett in Ring of Honor in early May. Parker has been off following his recent marriage to Ruby Soho. Now, Menard has a spot on television every week, and he gets to stay out of action in the process. 

Swerve Strickland Next AEW World Title Defense Announced

Bishal Roy
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Swerve Strickland is set to put his AEW World Championship on the line against Roderick Strong on this week’s AEW Dynamite.

Strong dropped the AEW International Championship against Will Ospreay at last weekend’s AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view. It seems that the Undisputed Kingdom member has his sights set ton the AEW World title.

He picked up a win over Lio Rush on last night’s AEW Collision. He asked Tony Khan for a shot at Swerve’s title so that he becomes the one to defend the title at the upcoming AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door on June 30. Khan felt it was a good idea and agreed to his proposal to book the match for Dynamite. 

The upcoming edition of Dynamite will emanate from Blue Arena in Loveland, Colorado. The show will feature the return of MJF to the show after he made surprise appearance at Double Or Nothing. Meanwhile, Saraya is also scheduled to face Mariah May

Swerve Strickland captured the AEW World title after defeating Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty last month. He made his first title defense at a pay-per-view against Christian Cage at Double Or Nothing. Following the match, Swerve celebrated with the fans in the front row as well as boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

Swerve Strickland already has another title defense lined up

During the May 29 edition of AEW Dynamite, a Casino Gauntlet match took place to determine Strickland’s challenger at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view on Sunday, June 30. The match was ultimately won by Will Ospreay, who is all set to challenge Strickland at the show. This will mark the third annual of the crossover event featuring AEW and NJPW stars. 

Well, Swerve Strickland also feels that this is the right time to have a WWE-AEW crossover. Read more below:

WWE Raw Preview: Liv Morgan Appearance, Rey Mysterio Vs. Damian Priest

Thomas Lowson
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The road to WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will continue forward with the June 3, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Scotland will take place on June 15, from the OVO Hydro venue in Glasgow. With less than two weeks to go until the historic event, the Superstars of Monday Night Raw have plenty to do ahead of the event. 

Liv Morgan To Appear

Merely seven days after her win over Becky Lynch as well as THAT kiss with Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan will be appearing on Monday Night Raw. What will the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion have to say now that Lynch is gone and after locking lips with ‘Dirty’ Dom? 

The New Day Vs. AOP

Karrion Kross has set his sights on Xavier Woods in recent weeks and has even offered Woods a role with the Final Testament. Instead of accepting, Woods and Kofi Kingston will take on AOP (Akam and Rezar) in a tag-team match on the upcoming show. 

Sheamus Vs. Ludwig Kaiser

The feud between these two European Superstars has already gotten very physical and fans can expect much more of that on tonight’s Raw. The four-time WWE World Champion will meet the right-hand man of Imperium in a match we imagine King of the Ring GUNTHER will be watching very closely. 

Damian Priest Vs. Rey Mysterio

It was last week that Damian Priest attacked Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee after Rey’s match with Carlito. Now, the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Hall of Famer will do battle. With a title match with Drew McIntyre looming and the internal issues in the Judgment Day, will Priest be able to keep his mind on the task when he faces WWE’s Ultimate Underdog? 

Matt Riddle Wins Battle Riot VI, Earns MLW World Heavyweight Title Match

Thomas Lowson
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Matt Riddle has a guaranteed MLW World Title match at a time of his choosing after winning the sixth-annual MLW Battle Riot match. 

The 40-man match came down to Riddle, Sami Callihan, Davey Boy Smith Jr, and Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher would eliminate Smith but in the process accidentally eliminated himself. Riddle then eliminated Calihan to clinch the victory.

Chris Danger, Paul Walter Hauser, Violent J, and Ernest “The Cat” Miller were among the notable names in the match at the sold-out show. Scotty Riggs and Minoru Suzuki were among the surprise entries. ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlorpulled a Mick Foley at Royal Rumble 1998 by entering the match three times. Lawlor entered once as himself before returning as ‘The Masked Assassin’ before a comeback as ‘Arachnidman.’

What’s to Come? 

Riddle will now receive an MLW World Heavyweight Title match at the time of his choosing. Ironically, Riddle had (according to himself) been scheduled to win the WWE Money in the Bank contract in 2022 which would have given him a similar opportunity. The briefcase instead went to Austin Theory that year. 

Satoshi Kojima is the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion. During the MLW Battle Riot pay-per-view, the new MLW World Heavyweight Championship was revealed and Kojima retained the title against Tom Lawlor in the latter’s first of two matches on the night. 

Full MLW Battle Riot Results: Big Surprises, Paul Walter Hauser Eliminates Tom Lawlor, Alex Kane vs. AJ Francis

Dominic DeAngelo
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This recap was originally written by SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo on MLW.com.

Atlanta is more than ready to riot as the historic Center Stage is sold out for Battle Riot VI. We first see Salina de la Renta enter the building after a brief interview with David Marquez and she arrived just in time for the World Featherweight Title fight to kick off the festivities!

MATCH 1
MLW World Featherweight Championship
Delmi Exo vs. Janai Kai (c)

This match was Kai’s toughest to date as a rejuvenated Delmi showed that she was studying tape of the champion Kick Demon and CONTRA’s latest member. Delmi actually had the champ dead to rights but Salina de la Renta came out to confront Cesar Duran who was at ringside and attempted to spray him in the face. Duran ducked and it caught Delmi in the face instead. Kai took advantage and dropped Delmi with a harsh boot for the 1-2-3.

WINNER and STILL MLW World Featherweight Champion: Janai Kai

Backstage we see David Marquez sitting with Emmy-award winning actor Paul Walter Hauser who made media waves in May announcing that he was entering the Battle Riot. Hauser is all types of ready and even has the “classic” WCW costume of Arachnaman for good luck. Ernest The Cat Miller, Jimmy Yang and ICP’s Violent J all come to introduce themselves to Hauser and as he’s rubbing elbows, a hand slips in and steals Hauser’s good luck charm!

MATCH 2
Ritual Combat Match
AJ Francis vs. Alex Kane

The rules for a “Ritual Combat” match are simple: sit on the throne for ten seconds untouched and you are the rightful “King” of BOMAYE. The elders are introduced and needless to say the two names are legendary: it’s Teddy Long and Mark Henry!

The fight begins and Francis is quite dominant, putting his ruthlessness and strength to good use. Kane encounters some close calls when it comes to the ten count, but the former World Champion musters up the energy to stop it on numerous occassions. That’s even after being body slammed on an open chair and powerbombed off the apron! Even Mark Henry makes it known that he’s not all too enthused with AJ’s actions

Francis goes to finish Kane by setting up a table but it’s Kane who puts AJ through through it with a superplex! Kane walks up the entryway, sits on the throne, and AJ can’t answer the ten count!

WINNER and KING of BOMAYE: Alex Kane

Post-fight, both Henry and Long make it clear that Kane earned his throne the right way.

We see Mads Krugger and he promises that the new crusader in CONTRA Unit will shake the league at its foundation.

It’s World Title fight time. And we get to catch the first glimpse of the new World Championship!

MAIN EVENT #1
MLW World Heavyweight Championship
Tom Lawlor (with MSL) vs. Satoshi Kojima (c) (with Okumura)

Tom Lawlor literally came loaded for this match as the official pull out all sorts of foreign objects out of Lawlor’s gear. Due to that, he ruled that MSL must leave the arena within 10 seconds or he’d forever be banned from MLW! MSL fell on his way out and we’re off to the races.

Even without the weapons, Lawlor showed exactly why he was a former MLW World Champion as he had Kojima’s number greatly in this match, wearing the champ down with submission holds and hard strikes. However, Lawlor eventually got caught by a Lariato! One didn’t keep him down, but two did and Kojima fights through pain to retain once more!

WINNER and STILL MLW World Heavyweight Champion: Satoshi Kojima

Before we get to the Riot match, Salina aimed to seek out her revenge on Cesar Duran. She had some help pinning him down with Bad Dude Tito and it seemed like she had Duran dead to rights. However, Duran began singing Salina a familiar lullaby that clearly had the Bruja shaken. It was one her mother sang. Duran stood up and presented her footage on the big screen and we see photographs of a young Salina, then older photos of her mother – with a young Cesar Duran. Duran reveals that his happens to be Salina’s “papa” and de la Renta is a broken mess! Duran laughs manically as this throws a clear wedge in the ongoing power struggle between the two!

MAIN EVENT #2
Battle Riot VI

The first two entrants to this fight happen to be fitting. Entrant #1 is your World Middleweight Champion Mistico while entrant two is MLW original Jimmy Yang!

What a Riot this was as we had surprise appearances from the likes of CW Anderson and Scotty Riggs, and Tom Lawlor tried to enter on three different occassions as himself, The legendary Masked Assassin, and using Paul Walter Hauser’s Arachna-Man costume!

Speaking of Hauser really shined in the Riot. He actually eliminated Lawlor nearly upon entry and lasted a very good while until Sami Callihan took him out! Another newbie to the ring, YouTube sensation Chris Danger also showed up, actually hitting Violent J with a stunner and eliminating him!

However perhaps the biggest surprise of the Riot was the newest CONTRA member. Mads Krugger wasn’t lying when he said his newest soldier was earth-shattering as it was MINORU SUZUKI. No one was safe in the ring with Minoru running rampant. Suzuki even helped to eliminate last year’s winner, Alex Kane. After that, there’s only five remain as Riddle is ganged up on.Suzuki is a big threat but it’s Riddle who knees him out!

The final four ended up being Davey Boy Smith Jr., Timothy Thatcher, Matt Riddle and Sami Callihan. Riddle has to fight on the apron against Callihan and Smith and Thatcher joins on the apron to help him! Thatcher pulls Davey off but both men hit the floor are eliminated. Riddle ultimately ends up putting Sami down seconds later and he’s your Riot winner!

WINNER: Matt Riddle

Drew Gulak To Appear For Beyond Wrestling In First Post-WWE Booking

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Drew Gulak will mark his return to the ring as part of an event for Beyond Wrestling in July of this year. 

Gulak will be a part of the Americanrana 24: Where Eagles Dare show that will fittingly take place on July 4. The show will take place at the White Eagle in Worcester. The doors will open at 6:30 pm a special 7 pm ET bell time. 

Beyond Wrestling’s Americanrana 24: Where Eagles Dare will mark Gulak’s first wrestling event following his release from WWE earlier this year. During an appearance with NewsNation, Ronda Rousey alleged that Gulak had pulled on the drawstring of her pants which made her uncomfortable. Gulak claimed that while an incident like this did happen, it was an accident and he apologized to Rousey at the time. 

Gulak was quickly pulled from WWE NXT programming and his name was removed from the titantron for the No Quarter Catch Crew. It was later said on TV that the faction had paid the D’Angelo Family to ‘take care’ of a former member of the group and avoided mentioning Gulak by name. This led many to speculate that Gulak’s days with WWE would be numbered and it was later confirmed that he was no longer with the company. 

The circumstances surrounding Gulak’s release would also prove to be controversial. When Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was asked whether Rousey’s claims had factored into Gulak being released, WWE’s CCO refuted the idea that Gulak had been released and said that his contract had expired. Levesque also questioned the credibility of sources who had reported about Gulak though those sources were later sent an apology. 

Logan Paul Responds to LA Knight’s Challenge

Nick Lombardi
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On the May 31st edition of Friday Night SmackDown, The Mega Star, LA Knight wasted little time clarifying his next goal in WWE, and he doesn’t seem willing to accept no for an answer. 

Knight entered SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis’ office at the beginning of the evening and directly asked him where the WWE United States Champion Logan Paul was. Later, WWE backstage reporter Kayla Braxton caught up with LA Knight, asking him what he and the GM spoke about. The former TNA World Champion made it clear he was coming for the gold around Logan Paul’s waist. 

“You wanna know what we were talkin’ about? … Here’s the answer I can give you, there wasn’t much to tell ya. Nick didn’t have much for me. The only answer he had for me was that Logan Paul isn’t here this week…

…[Well] I’m here, I’m in Albany, I’m here at SmackDown – YEAH! – and what that means is if I’m not gonna get the answer I want, than I’ll make the answer I want. So what I’m telling you right now, Logan Paul – I want that United States Championship!”

While the reigning United States Champion was not at SmackDown this week in Albany, The Maverick did find time to record a response to LA Knight’s Challenge. In a 20-second clip posted on social media, Logan Paul laughed and mocked Knight’s challenge. Dismissing him and making it clear that he doesn’t care what he wants.

“You want what I have huh? *Laughts* That’s funny brother, here’s the thing, I don’t give a damn what you want. I don’t care, I’m chillin’ and I’m livin’ my life – as the champ. Went on a date with my honey tonight, she’s pregnant. I got a whole life ahead of me, but that life doesn’t involve you! *laughs*” 

Not even a few minutes later, The Mega Star would respond with his own social media post. Sharing a photo of the two men standing face-to-face with a short message saying, “Whenever you’re ready, Champ.”  

While the two have never competed in a one-on-one match, they have crossed paths with each other multiple times before. Both men competed in the 2023 Men’s Money In The Bank Match in London, England, and the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia. 

The WWE Universe has been clamoring to see LA Knight have championship success on the main roster. While always close, Knight is always just out of reach of the brass ring. Could the 41-year-old finally get his big win and be the man to end Logan Paul’s over 200-day reign? We will have to wait and see!

“A Massacre Is Coming” – WWE Website Hacked With Cryptic Message

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans have gotten used to the QR Code teases at this point, when even Michael Cole referring to them as “those damn QR Codes,” and now whoever is behind this has taken over WWE’s official website.

Uncle Howdy’s influence is spreading across WWE. His presence has been felt in 2K24, TV shows with QR codes, and the company’s Twitch stream. Recently, WWE.com was hacked, displaying a message that seems connected to the enigmatic figure.

The message tells a story about value, explaining that value isn’t tied to utilization. Even if something is crumpled and ignored, it retains its worth. This concept extends to people, who often feel devalued due to others’ ignorance. The message admits to having once allowed others’ expectations to determine self-worth but emphasizes that understanding one’s true purpose can lead to liberation from such negativity.

It conveys that the writer, identifying with everyone and no one, found freedom by rejecting others’ preconceived ideas and lies. This realization allowed them to help others see the truth. The message ends with a call for redemption, stating that the past must be destroyed, and warning that a “massacre is coming.”

Impending Teases & QR Code Fun

During WWE SmackDown this week, a QR code went to a link on WWE’s website, which included video links to a variety of different messages from Uncle Howdy, most of which have already appeared throughout his takeover of WWE programming on various platforms.

The first tease of this new faction appeared during the closing moments of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. The idea being shared at the time was that Wyatt’s creative legacy may live on, as someone else carries the torch.

Something is coming, and it’s only a matter of time before it happens. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are expected to join the new faction linked to Uncle Howdy, forming a new iteration of the Wyatt Family.

Swerve Strickland: ‘If Ever There Was A Time For WWE-AEW Crossover, It’s Now’

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WWE and AEW may be the most direct competition of one another, but that doesn’t mean that a crossover between the companies isn’t possible. 

Since AEW launched in 2019, both companies have taken aim at each other both on and off TV. While AEW Dynamite won the Wednesday Night Wars, it was WWE NXT that won the October 2023 ‘Tuesday Night War’ against AEW’s weekly flagship show. 

Swerve Strickland On WWE-AEW Crossover

Reigning AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland knows what it’s like to work in both companies, though his WWE tenure ended long before the current regime. Speaking to The Bootleg Kev podcast, Strickland was asked about a potential crossover between WWE and AEW. 

“If there’s ever a time it could happen, now is more likely than it’s ever been. I don’t think either person [Tony Khan and Triple H] is opposed… I don’t think there’s ever been a time that’s more likely than now.”

It’s not hard to see why Strickland feels like a team-up is more likely than ever before. In recent years, WWE has become more open to working with other promotions, as seen with TNA’s Jordynne Grace’s appearance on the May 28, WWE NXT. Grace will face NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground. 

Could the two huge companies work together? 

WWE And AEW

Though a crossover event has yet to happen, WWE and AEW have worked together in the past. Billy Gunn was allowed to appear at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2019 despite being part of AEW at the time. The future ‘Daddy Ass’ was inducted as part of D-Generation X. 

In 2022, multiple AEW stars appeared on Raw to wish John Cena congratulations on the 20th anniversary of his WWE debut. Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight were among those who sent their best to John, with this sign of cohesion showing just how much respect Cena carries across pro wrestling. 

Mark Henry Impressed With AJ Styles’ Fake Retirement Segment On SmackDown

Bishal Roy
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WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry has showered praise on AJ Styles for his fake retirement segment on SmackDown.

Style’s segment was similar to Mark Henry’s iconic ‘Retirement’ segment. Back in 2013, ‘The World’s Strongest Man,’ wearing a salmon pink suit, teased his retirement. He even gave a passionate speech and tearfully bid adieu to the fans. He pretended that he had his last battle. 

However, then-WWE Champion John Cena approached to hug him but Henry laid him out with the World’s Strongest Slam, creating one of the most iconic moments in Henry’s career. AJ Styles pulled off the same trick and it worked wonders for him. 

Taking to his X account, Mark Henry praised AJ Styles for taking a page out of his book. He wrote:

”…..well done AJ @BustedOpenRadio @WWE”

AJ Styles has his sights set on Cody Rhodes

AJ Styles was denied a second title shot against Cody Rhodes and he decided to take things in his hands. On last night’s SmackDown, ‘The Phenomenal One’ teased his retirement and addressed the fans. He called out Cody Rhodes to the ring and they shared an emotional moment. However, fans were stunned when Styles launched a brutal attack on ‘The American Nightmare.’ The former WWE Champion proceeded to hit Styles Clash on Rhodes from ring steps to the floor to end the show. 

‘The Phenomenal One’ had been attempting to claim the Undisputed WWE Champion for a long time. He failed to capture the title when Roman Reigns was the champ. He had another shot at the title when he challenged Cody Rhodes at last month’s Backlash: France. However, he once again endured a defeat. That match marked the first time they battled. It seems that AJ Styles is not yet backing down from getting another title shot. 

JoJo Offerman Feels Bray Wyatt ‘Visited’ Her: “I see you Windham”

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Late WWE star Bray Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) is no longer with us but JoJo Offerman is still trying to feel the former’s presence in her life.

Bray Wyatt was engaged to JoJo Offerman before he tragically passed away at the age of 36 on August 24 last year. The couple has two kids. Taking to her Instagram story section, JoJo posted an emotional note, revealing that a moth visited her and landed on her glass and then on her hand before flying away. She believes that it was a sign from Wyatt and he was greeting her. Her caption read: 

“This beautiful moth visited me tonight while having a glass of wine and watching the kiddos play. It landed on only my glass despite other glasses being around and this same moth proceeded to land on my hand and sit there a moment before flying away. I see you Windham. I know it was you saying hello. I love you forever.”

Wyatt was dealing with health issues prior to his passing away. He was pulled from the WWE shows earlier that same year. He was involved in a feud with Bobby Lashley and a match between the two at WrestleMania 39 was in the pipeline. It is needless to mention that Wyatt has been one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time and his tragic death sent shockwaves through the industry. 

Bray Wyatt’s legacy is immortal

Peacock released a documentary titled: ‘Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal’ which premiered on April 1. The documentary captured his remarkable career and was narrated by WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker (Mark Callaway). Recently, WWE star Braun Strowman also stated that he feels Bray Wyatt’s presence.

Wyatt had one of the most creative minds in the pro wrestling business. His creation of Uncle Howdy, played by his brother Bo Dallas has kept the fans anticipated. WWE is currently building the return of Uncle Howdy with a series of mystery QR codes. Even AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has said that he wishes to have a creative mind as deep as ‘The Eater of The Worlds.’

Watch: Cody Rhodes Surprises Darts Sensation Luke Littler Ahead of U.S. Debut

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shown his support for young darts sensation Luke Littler for the 17-year-old’s debut shows in the United States. 

In a video shared by WWE, William Regal speaks with ‘The Duke’ at the WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT. Little was shown a video from Cody Rhodes who had some kind words 

“I heard you were going to WWE HQ, getting a little tour-ski. I love it. I heard you are a fan of WWE. I love that even more. My friend, we are fans of yours…  My man, you are a champion’s champion from one champion to another. Luke, my friend, see you down the road.”

Who Is Luke Littler? 

At just 17 years old, Little has taken the professional darts world by storm and already has many championships and accolades to his name. Littler is the current Premier League Darts champion, PDC World Youth Champion, the current Bahrain Masters Champion. He also holds championship wins in both the Belgian and Austrian Darts Open

Littler’s WWE fandom is hardly a secret. The darts star uses Greenlight by Pitbull as his walk-out theme, which was inspired by him attending Wrestlemania 33 in 2017 as an 11-year-old. For his first game in the U.S. this week, Littler used Kingdom by Downstait, the theme of Cody Rhodes. Littler demolished his opponent Matt Campbell 6-0 in just 10 minutes to advance to the next round. 

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Fight Postponed Over Boxing/WWE Legend’s Health Issue

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Boxing fans will have to wait a bit longer before the much-anticipated fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul due to a health issue Tyson is dealing with. 

In a statement, it was confirmed that the fight had been postponed after medical experts monitored Tyson’s recent ulcer flare-up. It has been recommended that Tyson do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations. 

Tyson and Paul have agreed that the fairest thing is to wait until both men are physically at their best for the fight. Tyson said he was appreciative of fans for their support before giving a word of warning to the ‘Problem Child.’

“Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”

Paul also gave a statement in which he made clear he plans for his victory over the WWE Hall of Famer to be unquestionable. 

“I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake – when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish. Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages.”

Paul Vs. Tyson was supposed to happen on July 20, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Wrestling fans will recognize the venue as the host of WWE WrestleMania 38 in 2022. While Tyson promised the fight will happen later this year, no date has been confirmed. 

Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach: ‘I’m Just As Much a Wrestler As Chris Jericho Is A Singer’

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Sebastian Bach, the frontman for legendary heavy metal band Skid Row, has taken aim at Chris Jericho’s singing in a response to the AEW star. 

Since 2020, Bach has taken aim at Jericho for allegedly using pre-recorded tracks while singing for the AEW star’s band ‘Fozzy.’ In response, Jericho has challenged Bach to a sing-off. When asked by Metal Hammer Magazine whether he plans on accepting Jericho’s challenge, Bach, who has no wrestling experience, once again took aim at Fozzy’s leading man. 

“The better question would be, will he do a wrestle-off with Sebastian Bach? Because I’m as much of a wrestler as he is a singer.”

Bach doesn’t hold back with his view on Chris Jericho. 

Chris Jericho: The Singer

While Bach is no fan of Jericho’s vocals, Fozzy has had more than its fair share of success. Jericho has been named one of heavy metal’s top 50 singers though squeaked into the rankings at the #50 spot. Bach fared far better in the rank and reached the #8 spot. 

Jericho’s work with Fozzy has bled over into his role as a professional wrestler. In 2005, the band’s track Enemy was the theme song for that year’s WWE No Way Out pay-per-view. That same year, Fozzy would perform on Raw in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ with John Cena, stemming from Jericho’s feud with the then-WWE Champion. 

In AEW, Jericho has (until recently) used Enemy as his theme song which fans have been happy to sing along to. Jericho performed the track live with Fozzy at AEW All In as seen in the clip above. While Sebastian Bach may not be a fan of Jericho’s singing, his lengthy career with Fozzy has clearly worked out well for the FTW Champion. 

Naomi: ‘Now Is The Best Time To Be A Woman In The Wrestling Business’

Thomas Lowson
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There has perhaps never been a better time to be a woman in the world of professional wrestling, according to WWE SmackDown Superstar Naomi. 

The treatment of women in WWE has made leaps and bounds over the past ten years after decades of female talent being seen as an afterthought at best or titillation for male fans at worst. Nowadays, the women of WWE can be found headlining Premium Live Events and being part of complex storylines that revolve around more than a man or a title. 

Naomi On Today’s Era for Women

A 15-year veteran of the industry, Naomi has certainly seen the wrestling world change its stance on women dramatically. Speaking to Fault Magazine, Naomi discussed how the industry has changed. 

“I think now is the best the business has ever been for a female wrestler thanks to women over the decades continuously breaking down barriers. I’ve seen a lot of growth and change in the industry since I started my career in 2009 with the way women are represented and treated in the business!

“Slowly but showly women wrestlers have and are continuing to prove that we are draws, deserve the tv time and wages equal to the men. 

Naomi is a former champion in WWE and TNA Wrestling. 

Naomi has been a part of that change in the wrestling industry. In 2022, Naomi and Mercedes Mone walked out of WWE, unhappy about the creative plans for the then-Women’s Tag Team Champions. The plan had been for both to enter (and likely lose) singles title feuds, a storyline that wouldn’t have been made for the men’s tag champions at the time. 

Upon joining TNA Wrestling in 2023, Naomi (who went by Trinity) would be featured as one of the company’s top stars, a position that until recent years was rarely held by a woman. Now back in WWE, Naomi remains focused on showing what women can do in the ring and demonstrating why success in the industry should not be defined by sex. 

Goldberg: ‘Current-Day Morons Wouldn’t Last Two Seconds Against Me In The Ring’

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Bill Goldberg feels that fans have quickly forgotten just how much of a beast he was in WCW, perhaps thanks in part to his run in the ring in recent years. 

During his WCW tenure, Goldberg flattened opponent after opponent to rack up a (contested) undefeated streak of 173-0. It was only thanks to Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and a stun cane that this streak was eventually ended at WCW Starrcade 1998. The Hall of Famer would rack up a similar (albeit shorter) winning streak upon joining WWE in March 2023 before being bested by Triple H (again with help) at that year’s SummerSlam. 

Goldberg On Today’s Morons

Despite his impressive career, Goldberg’s legacy has taken a battering of its own in recent years, thanks in part to his booking during his most recent WWE run. Racking up losses to Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, and Drew McIntyre, as well as an error-laden showdown with The Undertaker, would lead to a consensus among many fans that Goldberg was a ‘has been’ who was no longer able to go in the ring.

 Speaking on the Von Erich podcast, Goldberg hit out at this consensus and argued that many today wouldn’t hang with him in his prime. 

“People forgot about me and the fact that I’d go out there and absolutely smashed people and then leave. Now, the audacity to think that any of these morons could stand two seconds with me? It’s funny that people’s identities get wiped away quite quickly.

Goldberg On Bret Hart

Part of Goldberg’s legacy in wrestling is tied to Bret Hart as it was a kick from Goldberg that resulted in the concussion that would ultimately end Hart’s career. While Goldberg has apologized for years, Hart has never shied away from mocking Goldberg and his skills. In the interview, Bill made reference to the Hitman. 

“I’m not even gonna mention his name, the moron I kicked in the head, but unfortunately, things like that happen. It’s a rough business. As long as there’s not malicious intent, I mean, hey bro, you’re in the wrong business if you b***h and moan about getting slapped or getting punched errantly.”

Ultimately, Goldberg will continue to share how he feels about the wrestling world and his past with Bret Hart. While Goldberg has said he hopes to have one final match before he hangs up his boots for good, it was said in April 2024 that such a retirement match isn’t in the works anymore.  

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