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:
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.
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.’
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Much more has come to light regarding Jordynne Grace who made a shocking appearance on the May 28, episode of WWE NXT.
The reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion was revealed as the opponent for WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at the upcoming NXT Battleground show. This marked Grace’s second appearance for WWE after being part of this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match. Grace will compete at next week’s WWE NXT against Stevie Turner.
WWE did all they could to keep the arrival of Jordynne Grace a surprise, PW Insider reports. In the rehearsals for the show, Lita’s theme was played to throw any potential leakers off the scent that the TNA Knockout would appear, Similarly, in the run-down for the show, the segment was listed as having Alexa Bliss confront Perez instead of Grace.
Jordynne Grace stepped through the ‘prohibited portal’ this week.
What’s To Come?
The belief in WWE is that some NXT involvement will take place at the upcoming TNA Against All Odds event in Chicago, IL. Grace is set to defend her title in an open challenge at the event and naturally, some believe that a WWE NXT Superstar will answer the call. There is also speculation that there could be a crossover for TNA Slammiversary in Montreal this July. The hope within TNA is that the association with NXT will see a lift in ticket sales for upcoming events.
As for Grace, her contract with TNA will expire in the first quarter of 2025. The reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion has not given any indication as to what she has planned. This week’s TNA iMPACT had to be adjusted late in the editing process to include a recap of Grace at WWE NXT.
NXT Superstar Brooks Jensen may have shared his contact information for non-WWE bookings, but don’t expect to see him competing at your local independent show.
Jensen shared a contact e-mail for promoters interested in working with him on his Twitter account this week as well as the message “You know how this goes.” Naturally, this led many to believe that Jensen had left WWE, either through his own volition or as a result of being released from NXT.
Jensen may be teasing a departure from WWE but that hasn’t happened, Fightful Select reports. Sources in NXT were admittedly uncertain about his future with WWE NXT given his recent behavior. A creative source made clear that Brooks’ social media posts have been a storyline and that Brooks has been present at several tapings in recent weeks.
Jensen, the son of WWE alum Bull Buchanan, sneaked into the crowd for a recent WWE NXT Level Up taping, which was shared on social media by fans. One WWE talent told Fightful they hope that Jensen’s attitude must be a storyline as he is one of the most hardworking wrestlers they had come across in the industry.
Brooks Jensen caused a stir at a recent NXT live event.
Brooks Jensen At WWE NXT Live
Despite his ‘exit’ from WWE NXT, Jensen appeared in the crowd at the May 31 NXT live event in Tampa, Florida. Jensen had a sign reading ‘Bret Would Book Better,’ a nod to The Hitman’s long-time rival Shawn Michaels being the Head of NXT. Jensen was confronted by security at the event and the matter escalated to the point that Jensen was removed from the venue.
This is certainly an interesting way for WWE to build Brooks Jensen up. Fans can expect the story to become a part of NXT programming soon and has been compared to Grayson Waller’s previous storyline with Shawn Michaels. Given the success of the Aussie Icon in WWE since then (including a current reign as WWE Tag Team Champion) this angle may be exactly what Jensen needs to take his career to the next level.
For the first time since 2013, Rebecca Quinn, better known to the WWE Universe as Becky Lynch, does not have a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. The former Champion’s deal has expired as of midnight on June 1st, 2024, officially making her a free agent.
It was widely speculated that Becky Lynch was planning on taking some time off following her loss to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40. However, when Ripley went down with an injury, Lynch was called upon to step up and take on the mantle as the company’s Women’s World Champion.
Lynch lost her title in Saudi Arabia at WWE’s King & Queen Of The Ring PLE to Liv Morgan. On this week’s edition of Monday Night RAW, Lynch lost a Steel Cage match against Morgan, with inadvertent assistance from Dominik Mysterio. This was Lynch’s final WWE match under her previous contract.
According to a report from Fightful Select, despite WWE and Lynch having yet to reach terms on a new contract, the promotion is committed to continuing to work with the 7-time world champion on a new deal. Sources from within WWE noted to the outlet that Lynch has been “class” to work with, and those close to both WWE and Lynch herself do not suspect that she will go to another promotion.
However, it’s expected that the 37-year-old will receive significant offers. Fightful Select reports that Lynch is expected to receive one of the biggest offers in professional wrestling history for female talent.
Livy better be prepared to do what she’s never done before because The Man is coming for a fight at King & Queen of The Ring. @WWEpic.twitter.com/niABWPgnK9
Lynch commanding big money should be no surprise to anyone. From being The Lasskicker in NXT to becoming the biggest babyface in the promotion, Lynch has always stood as a beacon of quality and hard work. Once considered the “forgotten” member of The Four Horsewomen, Lynch has easily become one of the most well-recognized and respected female stars not only in WWE but throughout the entire professional wrestling industry.
There’s no question that Becky Lynch is one of WWE’s biggest stars of the last decade, and her absence will be felt. No matter how brief a period.
Could Becky Lynch go to another promotion like AEW?
The conversation surrounding Becky Lynch’s contract expiration has unsurprisingly led people to speculate what Lynch could do outside of WWE. To be clear, all current reporting indicates that Lynch will re-sign with WWE at some point, however until pen is put to paper, anything is possible.
One promotion that many fans are pointing to as an alternative option to her former employer is All Elite Wrestling, WWE’s biggest rival in the industry. AEW has shown it’s interest in signing big-name female free agents, including former WWE Superstars Saraya (fka Paige) and Mercedes Moné (fka Sasha Banks).
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about the possibility of Becky Lynch joining his company. While Khan carefully tiptoed around the subject so as not to find himself “contract tampering,” he did admit that Lynch is a “great star.”
Recently, current AEW star Chris Jericho was asked by TMZ Sports about the prospect of Lynch joining AEW, and here’s what he had to say:
“Five years ago, Becky would have no other options. [I’m] not saying that she’s coming but there is an option and who knows what could happen? No one thought that Jericho would come to AEW. No one thought that Moxley would come or Bryan Danielson or Adam Cole or any of these guys that have come over.
So it’s exciting for the fans. It’s exciting for the wrestlers, the talent, because now suddenly if there’s a bidding war that just benefits us. So I think it’s it’s very important.”
Could we see The Man appear as a full-time star in another promotion? It would certainly be a massive shock, but as we’ve learned in recent years, money talks. Could a promotion like AEW create an enticing deal that Lynch cannot afford to say no? We will have to wait to see how things play out.
Again, it should be emphasized that Lynch was looking to take time off following WrestleMania 40, regardless. So it may be a while before we see The Man pop back up on the wrestling scene for the next chapter of her career.
Drew McIntyre is not letting his rivalry with CM Punk cool down anytime soon and he is even ready to offer the Straight Edge Star a world title match just to get his hands on him.
This week’s episode of SmackDown came live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York featuring The New Bloodline and Kevin Owens among other names.
There were a couple of dark matches that took place after the cameras stopped rolling as well, one of which featured the Scottish Psychopath in action. The former WWE Champion faced off against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso in the match after SmackDown went off air.
Though before the bell rang, he took the time to call out CM Punk. Drew McIntyre referred to Punk as a ‘scared little bitch’ and even offered him a world title shot after he wins the championship at the upcoming Clash at The Castle PLE:
What Happened On SmackDown
Elsewhere in the show we saw the coronation ceremony for the new Queen Of The Ring Nia Jax and a segment between Paul Heyman and Kevin Owens.
The matches on this week’s SmackDown included Austin Theory facing Tommaso Ciampa and The New Bloodline taking on The Street Profits.
The main event of the show featured AJ Styles who pulled a Mark Henry and faked his retirement to ultimately get his hands on the Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. You can read more about the segment here.
WWE could soon be hosting a Premium Live Event in Mexico if Hall of Famer and former World Champion Rey Mysterio gets his wish.
In recent years, WWE has become much more open to the idea of hosting Premium Live Events outside of the United States. Speaking with Graham “GSM” Matthews for Bleacher Report, Mysterio addressed the idea of a PLE being held in Mexico.
“I’m hoping that it happens in the next three years. I think my people deserve something as good as a PLE. I’m truly hoping. We have a huge stadium over there, Estadio Azteca, which I believe is being remodeled this year. I think the fans would go crazy.
“Mexico has always been an incredible crowd for wrestling and what better than to pay it off with WWE coming over there and giving them something as special as a PLE?”
Events Outside the U.S.
WWE currently has four confirmed Premium Live Events that are scheduled to happen outside the U.S. Later this month, WWE will host Clash At The Castle: Scotland in Glasgow before WWE Money in the Bank comes to Toronto, Canada. In August WWE Bash In Berlin will mark the promotion’s first PLE in Germany while the next Saudi Arabia show will be the Crown Jewel show on November 2.
As for whether a PLE comes to Mexico, that will be a decision WWE higher-ups will have to make. But with Mysterio’s time in the ring winding down and Mexico being a nation rich with wrestling history, it’s possible that the Hall of Famer will get his Mexico PLE before hanging up his boots and mask for good.
Cody Rhodes needs a new challenger for the Undisputed World Title, and AJ Styles figured out a great way to jump the line.
AJ Styles is at an important moment in his career. He wanted another shot at the World Title, but SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis told Styles that he’s at the back of the line. Styles has made it clear that he doesn’t have the patience for this setback.
In the closing segment of SmackDown this week, AJ Styles addressed the WWE Universe. While he was accompanied by Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, Styles explained his reasons for considering a step back from the business. Styles mentioned it might be time for him to focus on being a father instead.
Styles then invited Cody to the ring, stating that SmackDown is the house he built, and he was now handing the keys to The American Nightmare. What started as a touching moment took a dramatic turn as Cody was raising Styles’ hand in front of the fans.
Styles turned on Cody, launching a brutal attack on the Undisputed WWE World Champion. The assault concluded with a Styles Clash onto the floor from the ring steps. SmackDown ended with Styles looking very pleased with himself, and Cody was selling the attack.
This segment was very reminesant of another classic angle, one that fans might remember as Mark Henry’s most memorable segment that didn’t involve Mae Young giving birth to a hand.
In 2013, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry faked a retirement speech to get one over on John Cena. While wearing a now-legendary orange suit, The World’s Strongest Man acted like he had wrestled his last match, only to change his mind by attacking Cena. This time it was AJ Styles playing the same trick on Cody Rhodes.
WWE 2K24 was released on March 8, 2024, and the creator community hasn’t stopped since. There are a ton of amazing creations, and we’d like to spotlight them here. SEScoops has been providing in-depth coverage of WWE 2K24 since the game was announced, including DLC releases and updates, like the recent WWE 2K24 Patch 1.08 that includes new wrestler animations and other enhancements.
Each week, we’re going to
Liv Morgan’s Queen of the Ring Attire: Morgan captured the WWE Women’s World Title at King & Queen of the Ring. Her red jumpsuit was a hit with fans, and now that attire made the community creations.
Biased Referee: First off, we’d like to say that Roman Reigns is a terrible referee. A new video is going viral from royszn__ I TT of the Tribal Chief playing the special referee role, but giving a ton of favoritism to his cousin, Solo Sikoa as he battled The American Nightmare.
AEW Revolution Attire: CM Punk was included in the ECW DLC pack, which dropped on May 15. Since then, fans have been going crazy over new attires. This week, @GameVolt1 dropped Punk’s attire from AEW’s 2022 Revolution event, and they nailed the look.
— ? WWEADDICT4LIFE (XBOX Series X) | WWE2K24 |? (@NODQCreations) May 31, 2024
CM Punk’s 1 Million: Fans have really reacted to CM Punk’s inclusion in WWE 2K24. So far, gamers have raked up over 1,000,000 plays with the Second City Savior’s playable character:
MJF in WWE 2K24: No, MJF isn’t going to WWE anytime soon, but he still made the creator community for WWE 2K24. You can check out his model, with attire credit going to @Kamillion2k, and @HarvAddy doing the move set, below, and it’s very impressive.
Nobody on the Level of the Devil! ???@The_MJF 2024 return look is now available on #WWE2K24
QR Code Madness: Uncle Howdy’s stable is still making waves with QR codes everywhere. One even made it into WWE 2K24.
Nightbird Card: On another Uncle Howdy note, 2k dropped the card with the Nightbird logo for the game. He is listed as a manager, so take that for what it’s worth.
Tax Season Is Coming: IRS was created by @The_SkyFactor and @DW_Federation. This is a very nice replication of IRS’ look and we bet he is a hit in the community.
Jeff Hardy is WWE2K24: Although he may be with AEW right now, that didn’t stop him from making the community creations. This 2008 and 2009 attire by @Azorthious and @WhatTheStatus is spot-on.
NJPW Venues: WWE 2K24 gives gamers a chance to create custom venues as well. Osaka Dream Cinderella and Korakuen Hall got that treatment, and it’s very impressive.
Now on CC as part of the @GTEO2K project #stardom Osaka Dream Cinderella and Korakuen Hall V2. Stoked on my first drop as part of the team. Enjoy! #GTEO2K#WWE2K24
— Henry Finch · (?????????) (@henry_finch) May 26, 2024
Amazing Creations: @GameVolt1 released some incredible new textures for new ring gear. These attires include Awesome Truth from RAW on May 20, 2024, Jey Uso from Backlash 2024 and WrestleMania 40, and Carmelo Hayes from SmackDown on May 17, 2024.
WWE 2K24 Release & Reception
The standard edition of the game features Cody Rhodes on the cover, while the special edition marks a milestone with Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, the first time female wrestlers have shared the cover. Originally, the “40 Years of WrestleMania” special cover included Brock Lesnar, but he was later removed.
The game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have praised WWE 2K24 for its significant improvements and refinements over previous versions.
There’s a long tradition of managers in wrestling. Indeed, there’s no shortage of old school fans who are nostalgic for the days when people like Bobby Heenan, Sherri Martel, Slick, Mr. Fuji, and Jimmy Hart were a staple part of WWE’s presentation. In earlier eras, the likes of Freddie Blassie, Lou Albano, and Arnold Skaaland were a major part of the show.
While Paul Heyman has carried the torch for managers who have a steady and important role, it has nonetheless felt as though managing is a lost art in pro wrestling and particularly WWE. That may well change, though, and the idea of Arn Anderson returning to WWE to rekindle his partnership with Cody Rhodes has a lot of appeal to it.
Arn Anderson Is Done With AEW
Arn and Brock Anderson
On the most recent edition of his podcast, ARN, Arn Anderson discussed wrapping up with AEW. His contract ended May 31, and he indicated that he wants to focus on help his son Brock develop.
Where Arn will help Brock remains unclear. The youngster quietly parted ways with AEW in the fall. It’s not certain WWE would be interested in him, but if there were the potential to bring both men into the fold, it has the makings of a win-win-win scenario.
Cody Rhodes Has Stated He Wants “A Classic Wrestling Manager”
Apr 7, 2024; Philadelphia, PA, USA; WWE Universal Championship match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes during Wrestlemania XL Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Cody Rhodes joined Busted Open Radio earlier this month and, in the context of discussing how Logan Paul’s entourage had outnumbered him, he brought up his interest in having “a classic wrestling manager to join me on this title reign.” While some early conjecture on social media speculated about Brandi Rhodes joining him on the road, that doesn’t necessarily fit the classic or old school feel The American Nightmare seems to be grasping for.
Arn Anderson could fit that bill, as he fits a certain old school mold of men ranging from Bobby Heenan to Harley Race as in-ring performers who transitioned to managing champions. The Enforcer is many years past the point he can physically go in the ring, but his work in AEW demonstrated he can still be a potent contributor on the mic.
Cody Rhodes And Arn Anderson Have History
Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes
Arn Anderson’s most memorable on-screen efforts in AEW came when he backed up Cody Rhodes. While there’s a case to be made that neither man’s AEW run realized its full potential, they had their moments, including a noteworthy promo in which Double-A heatedly called on Rhodes to stand up for himself and show more fire.
Rhodes has already realized a great deal of his vision with his WWE return, thriving as a top babyface and “finishing the story” when he took the WWE Championship off Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Perhaps he could realize his full vision with Anderson as well, working in concert with each other.
Moreover, it’s easy to imagine Anderson revisiting something like his glock promo to light a fire under The American Nightmare in the dog days of his title reign, either between major feuds or after he’s suffered some major setback.
Arn Anderson Has Proven He Can Play The Victim To A Vicious Heel
Arn Anderson
Arn Anderson was part of the WWE team for quite some time after his in-ring career. The most memorable thing he did on-screen with the company, though, may well have been backing up Ric Flair against The Undertaker heading into WrestleMania 18.
The Dead Man targeted Anderson for a brutal, bloody assault to play mind games with The Nature Boy. Moreover, this sub-angle led to Anderson interjecting himself in the ‘Mania match to hit a spinebuster to a huge pop, before The Undertaker choked him out.
With Cody Rhodes seemingly destined to return to feuding with The Bloodline, there’s lots of potential for The Enforcer to revive that victim role as a guy old school fans are invested in and who knows wrestling psychology enough to sell well, even if he has severe limitations to what he can do in a wrestling ring. In particular, it’s easy to imagine a mixed callback of The Rock choosing to make Anderson bleed in the build to WrestleMania 41 to get at Rhodes in a new way before the two of them have their one-on-one showdown.
Cody Rhodes pairing up with Arn Anderson once again, and particularly under the creative direction of Triple H—who has demonstrated a respect for and analogous wrestling aesthetic to both—has all the potential in the world. If The Enforcer is interested, hopefully we’ll see this pairing happen on WWE television before long.
WWE appears to be in cost-cutting mode again, and NXT star Brooks Jensen is no longer with the company.
Brooks Jensen tweeted a screenshot with his booking information and the caption, “You know how it goes #WWENXT,” indicating his departure from the company.
SEScoops will keep our eyes open for any further updates, because WWE often releases talent in waves.
On the December 27, 2023 episode of NXT, Josh Briggs, Fallon Henley and Jensen agree to go their separate ways splitting up the team.
Jensen’s recent storylines in NXT didn’t showcase him positively. After his partnership with Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley ended, with Henley and Briggs moving on to bigger roles as singles stars, he didn’t do much.
Jensen’s character struggled with a depressed storyline, questioning his place in NXT. Brooks Jensen’s last match was on March 12, 2024, at WWE NXT. He competed for the WWE NXT North American Title, where Oba Femi defeated him in 11 minutes and 34 seconds.
We hope Brooks Jensen finds great success in his next venture.
WWE has released several talents and executives this year. This does not include lower-level office employees whose departures don’t make headlines. You can check out our ongoing WWE release and departure tracker for 2024 below.
Earlier this month, New Japan Pro Wrestling officially announced that AEW star and current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley would face EVIL on June 9th at the historic Osaka-jo Hall in Japan. EVIL, the leader of the Bullet Club sub-group “The House of Torture,” has now demanded that their match be a Lumberjack Match, adding an extra challenge to the already anticipated showdown.
During an Interview with New Japan Pro Wrestling, EVIL declared that he is the rightful IWGP Champion and that a Lumberjack Match would ensure that Moxley would have “no escape.”
“Since this low life mud show ‘wrestler’ wants to run away from any kind of a fair fight under IWGP rules then I have something for him. June 9 in Osaka Jo Hall, a Lumberjack Match for the title. That way he has no escape…
He can talk about “gang warfare” all he wants, but all he has in his gang of reprobates is that waste of space, Umino, right? When he’s trapped in the ring with no way out around him, he’ll see his future is as bleak as that fake title he carries around.
If he wants to bring his snot-nosed brat with him, he can, and we’ll make sure both understand what justice looks like. June 9 in Osaka Jo Hall, I’ll crush you in a Lumberjack Match. Don’t you forget it!” – EVIL
The match type is one that EVIL is very familiar with; in January, he defeated Tama Tonga for the NEVER Openweight Championship in the aforementioned match stipulation. One can assume he’s hoping for the same results at Dominion. EVIL’s clash with Jon Moxley was made official shortly following his attack on Moxley At NJPW Resurgence.
While this is the first time Moxley and EVIL will square off one-on-one, it isn’t the first time they have shared a ring. Recently, the two faced off as part of a 6 man-tag-team match at Night 1 of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2024.
Jon Moxley has been nearly unstoppable since winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Since dethroning Tetsuya Naito at Windy City Riot to win his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Jon Moxley has been on a solid run in both NJPW and AEW. Moxley has already defended the championship three times since winning it in April, defeating Powerhouse Hobbs, Ren Narita, and Shota Umino.
Jox Monley was supposed to defend the championship against Takeshita at AEW Double or Nothing. However, it was later reported that NJPW vetoed the match being for the title.
AEW Double or Nothing Match Card (Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling)
The report from The Wrestling Observer noted that the Japanese promotion likely did not want to announce another title match ahead of Moxley’s bout against EVIL at Dominion. The match was later made into an “Eliminator Match,” meaning that Takeshita could have received a championship match at a future date if he had won.
Moxley faced off against Rocky Romero in a match with the same stipulation on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite.
On May 15th, The Young Bucks announced on AEW Dynamite that Champs Sports would sell an exclusive Reebox AEW Pump Omni Young Bucks Zone II sneaker. Today, The All Elite Wrestling EVPs have confirmed reports of strong sales, revealing that their limited-time sneaker is completely sold out.
As previously reported, Champs Sports held nearly 3,000 pairs of sneakers, selling them for $130.00. They were available in sizes 7.5 to 12. The Young Bucks promoted the sneakers on social media and at AEW’s Double or Nothing Media Scrum.
In a short post on X, the current AEW Tag Team Champion revealed that Champs Sports was totally sold out.
— Matthew & Nicholas Jackson (@youngbucks) May 31, 2024
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the reception of shoe sales was overwhelmingly positive, noting that future footwear collaborations could be coming.
“It was a one time special edition release, but with the success they are already in talks about a future project for the next year.”
The Elite’s reign over AEW has hit a speedbump
At AEW Double or Nothing, The Young Bucks, along with fellow members of The Elite, Jack Perry and Kazuchika Okada, narrowly defeated the AEW frontlines contingent of Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and FTR in an Anarchy In The Arena Match. This essentially cemented The Elite as the unmatched powerhouse stable of All Elite Wrestling.
On the following edition of AEW Dynamite, The Young Bucks attempted to present Jack Perry with the newly vacated TNT Championship. Thus ensuring that every member of The Elite would be draped in gold.
Just before The Elite could award Jack Perry the #TNT Championship, "The Fallen Angel" returned to make a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!
Unfortunately for the corrupt outfit, AEW President Tony Khan threw them a curveball. As The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels returned, following his “firing” weeks before. Daniels revealed that Khan had appointed him as Interim EVP and that, going forward, he would be a direct spokesman for The President.
Daniels interrupted The Young Bucks’ impromptu coronation ceremony to announce that a new TNT Champion would be crowned at Forbidden Door through a multi-man ladder match. He also mentioned that qualifying matches would be arranged for the ladder match, ensuring that no one would receive any free passes. This led to The Elite attempting to attack Daniels, but The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn intervened to even the odds.
It appears that The Elite’s hold on AEW is not as tight as they had assumed!
Gable Steveson‘s WWE run ended like a disappointing mid-season NFL halftime show, overhyped by the network and met with apathy.
While that might come across as a bit harsh, there truly isn’t much else to say when it comes to Steveson’s time in WWE. The Gold Medalist was introduced to fans at WrestleMania 38 and ended his career with a handful of dark matches before being released earlier this month.
One of the few Superstars who had a chance to work with Steveson was former NXT standout Trevor Lee, known to the WWE Universe as Cameron Grimes. Of Gable Steveson’s five main roster Dark Matches, Lee competed in two of them, and it seems like the experience wasn’t exactly something that
Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, is signing with the Bills, per his agent Carter Chow.
Steveson now will try to join Bob Hayes as the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. pic.twitter.com/TfJn4Cd7B1
Today news broke that Steveson was signed by the NFL team Buffalo Bills, drawing various reactions from fans, media personalities, and others alike. In response to a post from former WWE media personality, Kazeem Famuyide, who asked “what position” Steveson would play, Trevor Lee gave what could only be described as a blunt answer:
“Whichever one requires the least amount work and has other people make him look good I’m assuming? Wait wrong sport….”
Gable Steveson’s only televised match in WWE came via its developmental brand’s Great American Bash PLE in 2023. When the 24-year-old Indiana native took on Baron Corbin in one-on-one action. During the match, it was clear that Steveson still had a lot of work to do. The crowd in Austin, Texas turned on the young star and was cheering for the clear heel in Corbin.
Although becoming a WWE Superstar wasn’t in the cards for Steveson, the National Football League may be the environment he needs. There is no doubt that he’s an incredible athlete, and with the right training, an NFL career could work out very well for the University of Minnesota alumni.
WWE has been doing record business, grossing $1.32 billion in sales last year. The company’s $5 billion deal with Netflix to bring WWE Raw to the streaming platform in January 2025 will bring another massive windfall of cash. However, many fans wonder how much of that trickles down to the athletes we see on television.
Top Superstars spark bidding wars and command multi-million dollar contracts. Setting aside stars like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair, a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter sheds light on the current annual baseline.
According to Dave Meltzer, the current minimum salary for WWE Superstars on the main roster is $350,000 per year. Most wrestlers sign multi-year deals, and you can be sure the top stars on each brand are making far more than the minimum. WWE is in a strong position to make lucrative financial offers to talent. However, there’s a trend emerging that should not be ignored.
Numerous Contracts Expiring
WWE is heading into an interesting dilemma as several featured stars on the main roster contract will expire soon. One of the most significant examples is Becky Lynch, who could be a free agent by the end of the week. As of now, it doesn’t seem they have yet to reach a new agreement.
Another talent that could test free agency is Chad Gable. Although he has been heavily featured on Monday Night Raw and involved in a feud with Sami Zayn, his contract will expire at the end of next week.
It’s unclear why so many talent contracts are set to expire so soon. Although numerous superstars are near free agency, they may ultimately re-sign with WWE. Wrestling fans should have more clarity soon as the company must expeditiously reach new agreements with their superstars.
German wrestling promotion Westside Xtreme Wrestling’s contract with WWE expired on May 30, at which time WXW content will no longer be accessible on WWE Network. According to PWInsider, it was a case of their agreement expiring and not being renewed.
WXW was the last remnant of independent wrestling content on the WWE Network. Besides WXW, some of the other independent wrestling content on WWE Network included shows from Evolve, Progress Wrestling, and Insane Championship Wrestling.
A subscription model which would include independent shows was in the plans for the streaming service, but it didn’t come to fruition. Instead, content from Progress and WXW was added via VOD to the Network and Peacock.
So where can you watch WXW programming now? The promotion will stream its events on YouTube going forward. The company would also be free to secure deals with other streaming providers after a long time, so we could potentially see WXW on some other streaming platform soon.
The latest event from the promotion is wXw Drive of Champions 2024, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 1. NJPW TV Champion Jeff Cobb will be at the event facing Mike D Vecchio.
TNA Wrestling has undergone numerous changes recently, raising many questions about the company’s future operations. These developments have caused considerable concern within the professional wrestling community, highlighting the uncertain direction in which TNA is heading.
One of the most alarming changes was the ousting of Scott D’Amore, which sparked significant unrest. In response, some members of the TNA locker room signed an open letter urging the company to reconsider their decision. This move reflects the deep unease and desire for stability among the talent and staff.
In the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer detailed further significant developments behind the scenes. Robert Evans, a central figure on the creative team, resigned last week. Additionally, several other key personnel have been dismissed. Notably, there are no scheduled events beyond the tapings on August 2nd and 3rd in Tampa, indicating a possible hiatus or reorganization period.
PWInsider also reported that RD Evans, who served as both the head of creative and a producer, resigned from TNA last week. Furthermore, Dave Sahadi, the Creative Director, along with several members of the live events division, were dismissed. These departures signal a major shakeup within the company’s creative and production departments.
The timing of these changes is particularly interesting as TNA is rumored to be on the verge of a deal with WWE. Jordynne Grace is set to face Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title at Battleground in the UFC Apex on June 9, which is said to be just the beginning of crossover efforts between WWE and TNA. This potential collaboration adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing developments within TNA Wrestling.
Gable Steveson’s WWE release came as a surprise to many fans, as the company was expected to give him a major push. Now, he is pursuing a different career path.
According to Adam Schefter, Steveson is signing with the Buffalo Bills, as confirmed by his agent, Carter Chow. Steveson will now aim to join Bob Hayes as one of the few athletes to win both a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal.
There had been previous reports of NFL interest in Steveson, and it appears the Bills have officially secured his services.
Gable Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, but he has never played organized football.
Steveson’s crossover to football is particularly notable because he never played high school football. This move highlights a trend where NFL teams, similar to WWE’s Next In Line program for collegiate athletes, are recruiting players with little to no prior experience.
Gable Steveson’s WWE Tenure
Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future in WWE. To support his development, WWE established a remote training facility for him while he completed his studies at the University of Minnesota. Despite being featured in significant WWE events like WrestleMania 38, fans did not connect with him as expected, often resisting the Olympian’s rapid push.
In 2022, Steveson underwent a heart ablation to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and took time off to recover before resuming training. As WWE’s first NIL signing, his struggle to succeed highlights the unique skills needed in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash underscored these challenges, with the crowd’s “You’re Not Angle” chants, so fans were not eager to latch onto him.
Gable Steveson getting “You’re Not Angle” and “Bullshit” chants from the crowd in his debut pic.twitter.com/jfcsledaXP
We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his new career with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Ironically, he may be a part of games that directly compete with WWE RAW as part of Monday Night Football.
Brock Lesnar has not been seen for quite some time, and that is not going to change until his legal situation is resolved. SEScoops exclusively reported in March, “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue, and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.” In the latest Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer corroborates our scoop with this note:
“Regarding any rumors of Lesnar returning, he has to be cleared by WWE legal (remember WWE is still a defendant in the Janel Grant lawsuit), and that hasn’t happened yet.”
Janel Grant’s court battle against WWE and Vince McMahon will be delayed, but that’s not necessarily good news for the company. Grant has agreed to postpone the lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, an ominous sign for McMahon that indicates additional legal pitfalls ahead.
This decision means it will take longer than initially planned before the two sides face off in court, as the case remains under a non-public investigation. As a result, the timeline for Lesnar wrestling again has effectively been delayed indefinitely.
Brock Lesnar Impacted by Janel Grant Lawsuit
Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed her to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign. The lawsuit did not name the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned, the timeline suggests a limited number of possible wrestlers.
The lawsuit claims McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who responded positively. In December, McMahon allegedly gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the wrestler. The wrestler then requested a video of her urinating and used derogatory language toward her. A meetup was planned but did not happen due to travel issues.
Brock Lesnar was removed from the WWE intro package and has been absent from promotional materials and vignettes since the controversy. His WrestleMania 40 match against GUNTHER was also scrapped, along with his planned bout against Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber.
In WWE 2K24, Lesnar was removed as a playable character but still exists in the game’s code. He was replaced by John Cena on the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover. He remains under WWE contract.
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns may well go down as one of the greatest feuds of the modern era. Few, if any, rivalries in recent years have captured quite the same emotional investment as this program, rooted in strong in-ring and mic work alike from both principal players. Perhaps the most important ingredient to the program’s success was each man’s backstory.
Even going into the first WrestleMania main event between the two, The Tribal Chief was riding a historic wave of momentum as a long-reigning, dominant champion—a dynamic that had only intensified going into WrestleMania 40. Meanwhile, The American Nightmare embraced a story of redemption both for his own unconventional career path and for his family.
Indeed, the story set such a high bar that the title reign Rhodes has embarked on since has felt a bit anticlimactic for not living up to how it got started. The key challenger to get this run back on track is none other than Solo Sikoa.
There Hasn’t Been Drama To Any Cody Rhodes Title Defenses Thus Far
One can’t fault AJ Styles or Logan Paul as challengers to Cody Rhodes. Both men are skilled performers who more than carried their ends of excellent WWE Championship PLE matches against The American Nightmare. However, there’s also an undeniable truth: no one thought Styles or Paul had a legitimate chance of taking the title off Rhodes.
Indeed, WWE has found itself in a confounding situation of a great main event face coming off an incredibly dramatic story with no sense he’s in any jeopardy of losing his title right away. As credible as Styles is as an all-time great in-ring worker, it’s hard to imagine him winning a world title in WWE again unless a string of injuries to other top stars make the company “break glass in case of an emergency.” Meanwhile, Paul is well-established as an upper mid-card player, but it’s hard to imagine him carrying the top prize in the business anytime soon.
WWE may well have made the right call in feeding Rhodes challengers who aren’t believable but could give him very good matches while fans wouldn’t believe he’s dropping the title anyway. That will have to change soon, though, for this title reign not to feel flat.
The New Bloodline Has Heat
The new Bloodline, running under Solo Sikoa’s leadership, has been a provocative part of WWE programming since WrestleMania. The faction and its defining family are over with the WWE audience. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are fresh faces who’ve added intrigue to faction, and insiders make it seem like only a matter of time before Jacob Fatu joins the mix.
With Sikoa declaring himself the leader in the absence of Roman Reigns, there’s also intrigue around what will happen when The Tribal Chief does return, or what things will look like when The Rock is back on WWE television. All of that sets up buzz around the Bloodline again, without over-exposing them too dramatically (including going so far as to leave the group off the King and Queen of the Ring PLE altogether).
A time will come sooner than later when Sikoa will be ready to take his rightful place as a bona fide main eventer. Cody Rhodes will be waiting.
Solo Sikoa Is Well Protected
Yes, Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa has happened before. It occurred on numerous house shows and in dark matches, and even once on Raw as The American Nightmare got ready to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. Nonetheless, their issue feels far from played out, as the two haven’t collided on a PLE before, and their one televised bout was long enough ago not to be fresh on fans’ minds.
Moreover, Sikoa feels ready to main event. His televised losses have been few, far between, and only at the hands of top-tier talents. He also has a decisive victory over John Cena to still hang his hat on. All of this means that it would only take a small push rather than rehabilitation to position him as a credible challenger for the WWE Championship.
Cody Rhodes Vs. Solo Sikoa Can Be A Gateway To Bigger Things
It’s possible for WWE to position Solo Sikoa as a legitimate challenger to Cody Rhodes. Moreover, even in the likely case Rhodes survives that challenge and walks away champion, there’s every potential for WWE to keep a compelling story going.
With The Rock and Roman Reigns each waiting in the wings, The American Nightmare’s continued war with The Bloodline could naturally segue to one of these much bigger matches. While some fans feel Rhodes vs. Reigns is played out, it’s still a bankable main event rematch for WWE to stage at some point. From there, Rhodes vs. The Rock feels like the masterplan—the dream bout that a general consensus of fans has prognosticated to headline WrestleMania 41 and a match that can naturally follow from Rock showing up to backup or perhaps avenge his kin, Sikoa.
Cody Rhodes has made every scenario thrown at him since his WWE return work for him, and the smart money is on his title reign turning out to be very good. The right challenger will really spark something, though, and Solo Sikoa is a prime candidate for that spot.
