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Roman Reigns Gets Emotional Hearing Words of Support From Late-Brother Matt ‘Rosey’ Anoai

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Roman Reigns may be a cool customer on WWE TV but the Tribal Chief couldn’t help but feel emotional when hearing from his late brother Matt. 

During the recent WWE and A&E Biography: Legends episode on Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief was presented with a WWE.com interview with Matt Anoa’i. In the interview in question, Matt speaks about his brother’s dedication to excellence and predicts big things for Reigns. 

“He had something special… That specialty was something to do with athletics. Just his focus in the gym, focus all through high-school and college, he knew. Joe was set for something great. He’s setting the bar for our family that much higher.” 

Reigns was visibly overcome with emotion hearing the words from his brother as seen in the clip below. 

Who Was Matt Anoa’i? 

Matt began his career in 1995 and after a brief stint in the original ECW and the Samoan-owned WXW, would join WWE in 2002. He debuted in July on Raw as Rosey, one-half of 3 Minute Warning alongside Eddie ‘Jamal’ Fatu (later known to WWE fans as Umaga. The duo served as ‘hired guns’ for Raw GM Eric Bischoff but split in June 2003 following Fatu’s release from WWE. 

Rosey would later become the sidekick of The Hurricane who dubbed Rosey his ‘Super Hero In Training (S.H.I.T.) The pair won the World Tag Team Championships in May 2005 but lost the gold to Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch that September. Rosey was released from WWE in March 2006. 

In January 2014, Matt Anoa?i was hospitalized due to congestive heart failure which was related to weight gain as he struggled to keep active due to a chronic knee injury. On April 17, 2017, Matt died due to complications related to CHF, mere days after his 47th birthday.

Finn Balor Shows Off Gruesome Forehead Injury Ahead of WrestleMania 40

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The Judgment Day member Finn Balor recently revealed that he suffered a forehead injury which looks pretty nasty. 

As we get closer to WrestleMania 40 this weekend, fans and the WWE Superstars are preparing for an epic event. However, fans are worried after Balor posted an update on his recent injury.

Taking to his Twitter/X, one-half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions posted a short video clip in which his forehead can be seen swollen due to an injury but he didn’t look much concerned. 

The caption read:

“Easter Egg”

It is currently not known when and how Finn Balor suffered the injury but that looks concerning, especially ahead of their tag-team title defense at WrestleMania 40.

Finn Balor and Damian Priest to have a high-stakes match at WrestleMania 40

The Judgment Day have a huge task at their hands to keep the gold around their waist at the ‘Show of Shows’. 

Balor and Priest will put their Undisputed WWE Tag-Team Championships on the line in a Six-pack Tag-Team Ladder Match against some of the most popular teams: #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth), The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods),  New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) and A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller).

Meanwhile, the other members are also gearing up for the event. Rhea Ripley will defend her WWE Women’s World title against 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Becky Lynch. 

On the other hand, Dominik Mysterio will team up with Santos Escobar to take on LWO (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee).

WrestleMania 40 takes place on April 6 & 7 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Roman Reigns Was Against The Shield’s Split & Face Run But “You Have to Be a Good Soldier”

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The end of the Shield may have helped propel Roman Reigns to singles superstardom, but the Tribal Chief was no fan of splitting up the popular faction. 

A year-and-a-half after their debut on the main roster, the Shield imploded during the June 2, 2014, episode of Monday Night Raw. 24 hours removed from the Sheild’s victory over Evolution at WWE Battleground, Seth Rollins betrayed his brothers and aligned himself with Triple H, becoming a part of the Authority. 

Roman Reigns Was Against The Shield’s Split

The end of the Shield was a shocking moment that marked a change for Rollins, Reigns, and Dean Ambrose, but Reigns was not on board at the time. During the A&E Biography: Legends episode about him, Reigns shared his reservations about the split.

“I didn’t wanna break up The Shield. And I definitely didn’t wanna be a good guy. That’s exactly what was happening. I was so young on the rise. It’s not like I had a nest egg built up. It’s not like I had a whole bunch of options that I can just say ‘No I’m not feeling this.’ This doesn’t feel good to me or I wouldn’t say this. It was so hard to do that.”

“When you don’t have that backup, when you don’t have that ‘f**k you’ money. And you can’t just stand on your art and your family is depending on you. Your livelihood is depending on you. You have to just be a good soldier and do what you’re told.”

What Came Next? 

Following the split, Rollins and Ambrose would feud for months with both men receiving new attires and themes for this post-Shield chapter of their careers. Reigns on the other hand continued to use the same theme song and the same attire for years after the Shield broke up. 

Rather than enter the fray with Ambrose and Rollins, Reigns was quickly thrust into feuds with established names. This high-profile move to the main event scene would play a part in the fans’ rejection of Reigns that would continue for years.

Shield Reunions

While The Shield’s proper run ended in 2014, the faction would reunite over the years. The group saw reunions in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The final reunion saw the group go out on top as Ambrose’s final match for WWE saw the Shield defeat Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre. Ambrose would debut for AEW shortly after as Jon Moxley. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops

Booker T Says He Approved All Of Controversial WrestleMania 19 Angle With Triple H

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Booker T had no issue with his angle with Triple H in early 2003, despite many believing that the angle leaned too heavily into racial insensitivity. 

The angle in question saw Booker feud with the Game over the World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H’s verbiage in promos would raise eyebrows as he said that “people like you” don’t win world titles. Many took this as a nod at Booker being African-American, as there had not been a fully-black WWE World Champion at the time. 

Amid backlash, WWE would try and play off the comment as Triple H making reference to Booker T’s criminal history. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer spent 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery at Wendy’s restaurants in Houston. This did little to quiet critics of the angle, as similar comments had not been made about white WWE Superstars who had fallen afoul of the law. 

 Booker T on the Storyline

While many still take issue with the angle and the racial undertones, Booker does not have a problem with the storyline. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Booker discussed some of Triple H’s verbiage during the angle. 

“The one line people remember the most is when Triple H said ‘People like you don’t deserve to be here.’ That’s motivation for all of us to get up off our asses and prove them wrong.”

Booker then discussed how the angle played on his real-life background and said he approved of what was said in the storyline. 

“It was as real as it could possibly be for me from an emotional perspective and a lot of the stuff that went into the angle, I approved all of it.”

What Came Next? 

While the angle was distasteful to many, it did build Booker as a sympathetic babyface. Many assumed that the vile heel Triple H would finally get his comeuppance at WrestleMania 19 by losing the World Heavyweight Championship. 

Instead, The Game retained and the finish of the match also saw controversy. Triple H waited close to a minute after hitting the Pedigree on Booker before getting the decisive pinfall, which many felt was a ‘burial’ of the ex-WCW star. Booker would have to wait over three more years before he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Rey Mysterio in 2006. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops

John Cena Believes ‘GOAT’ Roman Reigns Should Be Compared Only To Himself

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John Cena has praised the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns as a Superstar who is without comparison to anybody other than the Tribal Chief. 

Reigns has been one of WWE’s very top Superstars for close to a decade now and has dominated as Universal Champion for over 1,300 days. This title reign has seen him defeat the likes of Bray Wyatt, Bill Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Edge, Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, and Cena himself. 

John Cena on Roman Reigns

As part of A&E Biography: Legends episode on Roman Reigns, Cena spoke candidly about his respect for the Head of the Table. In a tweet featuring a clip from the show, Cena went even further, saying that Reigns is, in his opinion, the greatest of all time. 

“It is on the job training, no matter what. We learn the most from failure and Roman had his share of knocks. And finally, he was like ‘F*** it, I’m doing it my own way.’ And it has been a wrap ever since. It has been like [mic] drop, conversation over. There’s nobody like him. He should be compared only to himself.”

John Cena Vs. Roman Reigns

Cena and Reigns have shared the ring 15 times in WWE (not including Royal Rumble bouts.) Their first match took place at WWE Elimination Chamber 2013 and saw The Shield defeat Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback. The pair would later headline WWE SummerSlam 2021 in a match Reigns would also win. 

The duo’s most recent match came on the December 30, 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown. The match saw Cena and Kevin Owens defeat Reigns and Sami Zayn, who was with the Bloodline at the time. The match also kept Cena’s streak going as the 16-time WWE World Champion has had at least one match on WWE TV since his main-roster debut in 2002. 

WWE Superstars Share Their Predictions for Massive WrestleMania 40: Saturday Tag Team Match

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The WWE Superstars have weighed in on whether it’ll be The Rock & Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes who will be left standing tall at WrestleMania: Saturday. 

In a video shared on WWE’s YouTube channel, the Superstars were asked who they predict will win the much-anticipated tag team match on WrestleMania Saturday. The match will see Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes face Roman Reigns & The Rock to decide the stipulation of the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match

Who’s Backing the Bloodline?

CM Punk said it’s hard to bet against the Bloodline (but easy to bet against Seth Rollins) and he expects Rock and Reigns to win the tag-team match. Jimmy Uso, unsurprisingly, was backing is cousin and the Final Boss in the upcoming match. 

The Miz said he wouldn’t be surprised if The Rock & Reigns won and beatdown Cody and Seth to the point that their matches would be called on for WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The A-Lister admitted that these comments will leave fans very angry with him. 

‘Michin’ Mia Yim was also predicting a Bloodline victory, acknowledging the 1,300+ day reign of the Tribal Chief and the legendary status of The Rock. Santos Escobar was immensely confident that The Rock & Roman would win, calling it a “spoiler.” 

Carmelo Hayes is also predicting a Rock-Roman win on WrestleMania: Saturday, as is Shayna Baszler. Otis, The O.C. and Byron Saxton also predicted a Bloodline victory. R-Truth, Zelina Vega, and Trick Williams also expect to see The Bloodline stand tall on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. 

Finishing the Story

While the majority of WWE Superstars expect The Rock & Roman Reigns to win this Saturday, not everyone believes this will be the case. Despite her differences with both Cody & Seth, Rhea Ripley expects the dream team will be standing tall on WrestleMania 40: Saturday.

NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria is also expecting a win for Rhodes and Rollins and believes the American Nightmare will at last ‘finish the story’ the next night. Liv Morgan is also backing Rhodes and Rollins “just because.”

Despite being dressed like 90s Rock for the video, Kofi Kingston expects Rhodes and Rollins to come out on top. Bianca Belair is also expecting the faces to win on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

Drew McIntyre Responds

The final response was from Drew McIntyre who made it clear he doesn’t care who wins on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. McIntyre is instead only hoping that Rollins makes it through the match so they can have their World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40: Sunday.  

Philadelphia Street Fight Expected to Be Added to WWE WrestleMania 40 Card

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The WWE Universe could be in store for a Philadelphia Street Fight in a matter of days at WWE WrestleMania 40, it has been claimed. 

WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will take place on April 6 and April 7 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

WrestleMania Card Schedule

As of writing, 12 matches have been confirmed for WWE WrestleMania 40. Dave Melzer of F4W Online reports that 13 matches will take place at WrestleMania. This will be divided over the two nights with seven matches on WrestleMania 40: Saturday and six matches taking place on WrestleMania 40: Sunday.

A Philadelphia Street Fight

Meltzer adds that the Street Profits & Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross & Authors of Pain was made “obvious” during the March 29, episode of WWE SmackDown but has yet to be announced. It’s also noted that as of last week, it was booked within WWE to be a ‘Philadelphia Street Fight.’

On SmackDown, the Profits faced Grayson Waller & Austin Theory in a tag-team ladder match qualifier. Karrion Kross and Scarlett attacked Lashley and B-Fab backstage with the distraction costing the Profits the match. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

Here is the card as it stands for WWE WrestleMania 40:

WrestleMania 40: Saturday

The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins

WrestleMania 40: Sunday

  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)

Night TBA

  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
  • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
  • Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)
  • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
  • Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio

Status Of WWE’s Plan For Ilja Dragunov’s Main Roster Call-Up

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WWE could have big plans for a lot of NXT Superstars, and it only seems natural that the company wants to make a big star out of Ilja Dragunov. The question is how soon they will get that going.

WWE NXT: Stand & Deliver will go down on April 6 during the afternoon before WrestleMania 40‘s first night. SEScoops will have coverage as the show starts at 11:30 AM EST.

Ilja Dragunov is preparing for his NXT Championship defense at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Tony D’Angelo. While there are no immediate plans for him to move to the main roster, but it’s anticipated that he will transition to RAW or SmackDown after dropping the NXT Championship.

Current Situation With Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up

Ilja Dragunov is heading into his next title defense at NXT: Stand And Deliver on WrestleMania 40 weekend. He will defend the title against Tony D’Angelo in a program that has been built like a Sopranos storyline.

According to information from Corey Brennan of Fightful Select, there are currently no plans for Dragunov to move up to the main roster, but it’s expected that he will transition there after losing the NXT Championship. It was also noted that some within NXT believe he has outgrown the brand.

Some fans have questioned if Dragunov was willing to make the move to the main roster and cite his trips home as a reason why. At this time, Fightful has not been told of any such issue, with WWE being more than happy to accommodate Dragunov’s schedule.

Perspective on Ilja Dragunov

In terms of WWE’s broader plans, there is a perception among some in NXT that Dragunov is viewed similarly to GUNTHER. Those plans to push him similarly once he joins the main roster may be in place.

Dragunov’s performance in NXT has earned him praise, with producers noting his ability to excel with minimal direction compared to others on the roster.

Fellow NXT talent have also given Dragunov big props for his ability to elevate his opponents in the ring and how much he gets the pro wrestling business. Additionally, he is described as easy to work with and a positive presence backstage, further enhancing his reputation within the company.

We will have to see when Ilja Dragunov makes his way to the WWE main roster. At this time, it does not appear that there are any plans to rush the process.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more in the pro wrestling business. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

MLW’s Triumphant Return to St. Petersburg For ‘War Chamber’ Brings Back Sunshine State Memories

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I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Major League Wrestling. Whenever I hear MLW, it brings back memories of attending the promotion’s early shows in Florida. There was the memory of Steve Corino and Terry Funk battling around Tabu nightclub while I was trying to take photos ringside as a young college student and not get caught in the crossfire.

There were times I’d find myself backstage at the War Memorial Auditorium before shows among a who’s who in the business. I’m always grateful to Court Bauer for allowing me opportunities to talk to the late Mike Awesome and CM Punk before War Games. Those were two of my first pro wrestling interviews. Forever grateful for those experiences.

Fast forward to 2017 and MLW returned, taking a One Shot show at Gilt Nightclub and running with the momentum it created ever since. These Orlando events allowed me to see the likes of MJF, Ricochet, Matt Riddle, Shane “Swerve” Strickland, and even a familiar Florida name in MVP. Early highlights for me were watching Darby Allin jump off the balcony to the ring and meeting Tony Schiavone.

More Sunshine State memories were created on March 29 when MLW returned with the War Chamber at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. The historic venue was built in 1924 and was converted from a former movie theater into an event space perfect for hosting pro wrestling events. For you movie buffs, scenes from the 1985 film Cocoon were even shot there. When you soak in the atmosphere and look around you see a very cool aesthetic.

The show was the first time MLW had run St. Pete in 20 years, and the people were ready for it. A great turnout with an invested crowd made for a fun experience. The main card kicked off with Janai Kai successfully defending the featherweight championship against Unagi Sayaka. I watched Sayaka wrestle alongside the legendary Masato Tanaka a few months later in Japan. Kai is building quite the reign with Salina de la Renta by her side. De la Renta was one of the breakthrough performers of MLW’s relaunch and continues to be an important fixture of the show. Later in the night, I got to watch Kai watching other matches, learning from her colleagues. At one point or two, she was asked for an autograph and picture. I’m sure these little moments will be something the fan and Kai won’t forget as she goes on in her career.

Next up was A.J. Francis, who defeated Alex Kane in controversial fashion. Whether you love or hate Francis, you have to respect his drive. The former football player turned wrestler has hit the ground running building a brand, putting in the work appearing for top promotions like MLW, conventions, and getting the name out there in every way. It was also my first time seeing Kane live, and he proved to be every bit the powerhouse you see on TV. Bad Dude Tito also impressed. Matt Riddle also had a big night with family in attendance, pulling double duty against Timothy Thatcher earlier in the evening and then successfully defending his NJPW television championship against Kosei Fujita. It has come full circle with Riddle returning “home” to MLW.

The same could be said about the MLW champion Satoshi Kojima. MLW does a good job bringing in emerging talent and veterans like manager Bill Alfonso. Through this show, I’ve decided there needs to be more doors used as weapons in matches. They are the new tables. Although tables can be effective two. Team MLW’s Matthew Justice was an MVP during the first of two War Chamber matches. Shoutout to the MLW crew, the unsung heroes, for setting everything up. The second War Chamber match saw the legendary Raven entering the two-ring cage match. After the Death Fighters were victorious against The Calling, Raven dubbed Akira the future of the business. Hearing the Offspirng and Raven end the night with “Quoth the Raven “Nevermore,” certainly struck a cord for older fans.

Out of all the stars in MLW, I’ve dubbed Akira’s traveling partner Kota as my favorite. His shiba was there during his meet-and-greet after the event. We need more Kota on MLW television. Given how successful the night was, it’s no surprise the promotion is returning to the venue on July 12 called Blood and Thunder. I’d recommend checking it out if you didn’t go this time around. 

Parker Boudreaux’s AEW Contract Status After Year-Long Hiatus

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AEW has a lot of wrestlers on their roster, and there’s only so much time on Dynamite, Collision and Rampage for everyone. That being said, just because someone is absent doesn’t mean they are gone entirely.

Parker Boudreaux hasn’t been seen in AEW for a long time, and he recently debuted in AAA. He is still under contract with AEW, but there are no current creative plans for his return.

Boudreaux is still All Elite

Parker Boudreaux’s presence in All Elite Wrestling has dwindled significantly, with no recent appearances in the promotion.

Boudreaux made his most recent appearance in AEW on March 3, 2023, where he and Swerve Strickland lost to Naturally Limitless on AEW Rampage. The 26-year-old hasn’t been seen on Tony Khan’s television shows since.

Fightful Select reports that sources indicate that AEW approved his appearance in AAA, suggesting that he remains under contract with the company. However, Boudreaux’s time with AEW has extended for over a year without any on-screen appearances.

Although he has recovered from the injury that took him out of action last year, Boudreaux has yet to return to AEW television, and there are no reported creative plans for him. Despite his absence from AEW programming, Boudreaux was spotted backstage at a recent event.

Parker is still with AEW, but there are currently no creative plans to bring him back to television. We will have to see what he is able to do in AAA.

Who is Parker Boudreaux

Parker burst onto the scene through his college football background, where he was labeled a Brock Lesnar look-alike. He was rated in impressive fashion by ESPN and Rivals.com as a four-star recruit. He then received offers from over 75 schools before committing to play football for Notre Dame. Parker transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he played football from 2017 to 2020 after redshirting his freshman year.

He eventually signed with WWE, where he made appearances on the NXT brand as Harland until he was surprisingly released in April 2022.

It didn’t take long for Tony Khan to sign him to AEW, where he was allowed to use his real name.

Previously aligned with the Mogul Embassy faction, Boudreaux suffered an injury alongside fellow member Trench, resulting in their sideline from action. While Trench’s contract lapsed, Boudreaux’s association with the group was internally dissolved as Swerve Strickland founded a new stable.

Dennis ‘Mideon’ Knight Lucky to be Alive After Health Issue Left Him in the ICU For Days

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Former WWE Superstar Dennis Knight is lucky to be alive after a recent health scare left him hospitalized and in the ICU for days.

On Instagram, Knight noted that he almost died this week after spending eight days in the hospital with two of those days in the ICU. Knight’s issues began with stomach pain that required surgery and things quickly got worse from there for the ex-wrestler. 

 “Hi my name Is Dennis Knight and this week I almost died! Spent 8 days in the hospital and 48 hours in ICU…with everything I’ve done in my life I would have thought. Car accident, OD, or some other result of my my lifestyle! But no my body tried to kill me!

“I don’t like to talk about my personal life but thx I don’t need anything I have the greatest family who takes cares of me ! It started with stomach pain that was supposed to [be] bowel obstruction, then went into surgery and found [a] shredded appendix a hernia and golf size blades stone that tore my entire stomach up which is weird because I had gallbalder removal years ago! My blood sugar should be 90 to 120 mine was over 700. 

“The reason for this is to tell your family and God you love them because It might be the last! I love you all and want you to be happy so take care of yourself and after the worst week of my life I am great full to still be here and I love you all..thank you for your time ”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5LaHmzu5LV

Dennis Knight

Knight is best known for his WWF run from that lasted from 1996 to 2001. Knight debuted in the promotion as Phineas I. Godwinn (aka PIG), and was one-half of the Godwinns alongside Henry O. Godwinn (HOG.)

In 1998, Knight was kidnapped by the evil Ministry of Darkness and was brainwashed to join The Undertaker’s cult. This storyline transformed him into Mideon and he would later ‘win’ the European Championship by finding the title in Shane McMahon’s bag. 

Outside of the WWF, Knight worked for WCW from 1992 to 1994 as Tex Slazenger. He also worked for the USWA under the same name and became a two-time USWA Southern Champion. 

Alabama’s Rylan Griffen Lets WWE Fandom Loose With Crimson Tide Title After Final Four Berth

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WWE has fans from all over, and after Alabama won their big Elite Eight game over Clemson, Rylan Griffen celebrated like a champion.

Rylan Griffen was handed a custom WWE Alabama Championship Title during an interview after the Crimson Tide’s big win on March 30. He immediately let his fandom out in bold fashion, and he also reenacted Triple H’s iconic entrance.

Celebrating Like A WWE Champion

The Alabama men’s basketball team achieved a significant milestone on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, securing the program’s first-ever Final Four berth by defeating No. 6 seed Clemson. Alabama Crimson Tide Guard Rylan Griffen was obviously on-hand for the celebration, and he was blown away by something WWE sent his team.

Griffen commented that the belt was “deadly,” and then he proceeded to pick out the kind of WWE entrance he wants. He decided to go with Triple H, and we’re sure The Game appreciates that. This was certainly a viral moment, and WWE signal blasted the post as well, as they re-posted it on Twitter/X along with the classic eyeballs emoji.

WWE’s Custom Titles

WWE has a new line of cross-promoted titles with a variety of sports. It is very possible to see WWE Title belts pop up at a variety of sporting events from MLB to the NFL with fans sporting their custom championships. You can find more about WWE’s custom title belts here.

The Alabama WWE Championship Title was obviously a big winner for Rylan Griffen. It might be tough for him to make WrestleMania 40, because his team is facing UConn in their Final Four game on April 6.

SEScoops will have more on this story if there are any necessary updates. Keep checking back on a regular basis for more headlines!

WWE Locks Down Several Names Across NXT & Main Roster

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WWE has secured even more trademarks to make sure that nobody else uses their intellectual property. Those new trademarks span Superstars and on-air personalities from WWE and the NXT brand as well.

WWE filed trademark applications for several names on March 29. Now “Andrade,” “Chase U,” “Vic Joseph,” “Alicia Taylor,” “Blake Howard,” and “Erik” are one step closer to being WWE property.

WWE’s New Trademark Filings

On March 29, WWE took legal action by filing trademark applications for several names including “Andrade,” “Chase U,” “Vic Joseph,” “Alicia Taylor,” “Blake Howard,” and “Erik.”

These trademark filings cover a wide array of categories, primarily focusing on entertainment services related to wrestling exhibitions and performances by professional wrestlers. It is the usual language found in those type of trademark filings.

The trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.

WWE’s History Of Trademarking Names

WWE locking down Andrade’s name is interesting, because he used Andrade el Idolo in AEW. Now, he is back in WWE and they are locking down his name.

The company has a history of trademarking names, and that is why they have a proclivity to change someone’s real name once they enter WWE. They have also been known to alter ring names, just so they can make sure nobody has any claim to a moniker.

SEScoops will keep an eye for any updates, and check back throughout the day for more headlines!

Nic Nemeth Explains Why He Didn’t Sign With AEW

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IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Nic Nemeth (formerly known as Dolph Ziggler in WWE) has made it clear that he is not looking for any long-term commitments. 

Nemeth ended a 19-year run with WWE in September last year. Several promotions contacted him after his release and wanted to bring him on board. 

Nemeth’s first post WWE appearance was for NJPW where he debuted his ‘Wanted Man gimmick.’ He also started making appearances for TNA Wrestling shortly after. 

In recent times AEW has been the preferred destination for the free agents. Former World Champions like Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone have decided to join AEW after departing WWE. Nic Nemeth however, chose a different path because he has other plans.

Nic Nemeth doesn’t want to be ‘locked in’

Speaking on Keepin It 100, Nemeth revealed that he had some discussions with AEW but he had some other plans chalked out in mind for his career outside WWE. He claimed that Scott D’Amore insisted him to sign with TNA Wrestling. 

Moreover, one of the locker room members had also reached out to him and he eventually decided to sign a short-term deal with the promotion. However, he has the freedom to compete in other promotions as well. Nemeth said:

“In the past, some [talks] but I had a plan that I’ve been working on for probably the last year and a half. I didn’t want to go anywhere. I appreciate that several companies reached out immediately.

I [said] I have this one plan, I want to do this on my own and even so, Scott D’Amore was so insistent because the locker room was so strong and somebody in the locker room of TNA reached out and I go ‘man you guys are really making this hard.'” 

The former WWE star made it clear that he wouldn’t sign a long-term deal because he didn’t want to be held down by any promotion. He added:

“[I said] let’s do some dates. I’m not gonna sign for 3 years but I said I just wanna bounce around and be a hired gun. I’ll go with anybody and do anything. [I said] I just got out of a long-term relationship, 19 years. I don’t want to sign a paper that says you can’t do this.

I can still represent companies, I am a great brand ambassador. I just don’t want to be locked in. I did it for too long. I stayed a couple extra years to get the good money.”

Nic Nemeth feels that he is in the best shape of his career and reiterated that he wants to ‘bounce around’ for some more time and eventually settle down at a promotion.

In April, huge opportunities are lined up for Nemeth. He will challenge Moose for the TNA World Championship at TNA Rebellion on April 20. 

A week later, on April 27,  Nemeth will battle Alberto El Patron for the AAA Mega Championship at AAA TripleMania XXXII. Nemeth has also issued a challenge to a veteran NJPW star. Find out more below:

Kenny Omega Responds to Criticism For His Promos & Storytelling

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AEW star Kenny Omega has responded to the critics who believe he’s ‘bad’ at delivering promos and storytelling.  

Without question, Kenny Omega is one of the most talented wrestlers. He has showcased impressive in-ring prowess and delivered many instant classics over the years. While the fans have commended his performances inside the squared circle, some critics believe he lacks storytelling abilities and doesn’t have the ‘promo game’ 

Kenny Omega responds

During a recent Twitch Live Stream, Omega took a shot back at the naysayers, saying: 

“Everyone’s wondering, Kenny, ‘Why is Kenny so bad at promos? He doesn’t have promo game. He needs to cut a promo. That’s all I care about.’ Shut the f**k up!… Jesus Christ.”

In addition to this, ‘The Cleaner’ addressed the critics who compare him with The Rock. ‘The Great One’ has the ability to have arenas sold out but the former AEW World Champion believes he has his own way of storytelling and tries his best. He said:

“You’re trying to talk about a guy who sold 45,000-seaters with my storytelling? You’re trying to tell me I don’t know how to tell stories? Because I don’t have a yelling promo voice? Yeah?

You tell me and then you’re gonna say, oh well, The Rock sold more. Of course he f**king did. He’s The Goddamn Rock and you know what? I’m not f**king bad myself. I try my best.”

Kenny Omega further stressed the fact that he has a particular way of narrating a story and if the critics don’t approve of that, he doesn’t care. He said:

“Honestly though, guys, when I wanna tell a story and I have a way to tell it, I’ll tell it in my ways. That’s all there is to it and maybe if something that I’ve done isn’t exciting or my American-style promos just aren’t doing it for you, well, I got news for ya, because I don’t care.

I don’t care. It sucks. Hey, I got out there feeling like, man, what am I even doing out here? Why am I even wasting my Goddamn time?”

Kenny Omega’s health issues

Omega is currently sidelined for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Amid his absence, he has been fired from The Elite and replaced by his arch-rival Kazuchika Okada. 

AEW President Tony Khan has been optimistic about Omega’s progress but the 40-year-old wrestler will likely have to undergo surgery before he can prepare for his comeback. 

As his pro wrestling future remains up in the air, we at SEScoops wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he is back in action soon.

Personal Tragedy For Tony Schiavone Led To Ian Riccaboni On 3/30 AEW Collision Commentary

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AEW fans were surprised to see Ian Riccaboni on Collision this week. It was a nice change of pace, but there was a deeper reason for this behind the scenes.

Tony Schiavone, who is usually on the AEW Collision commentary table every week, had a big loss in his personal list. His dog passed away, so AEW arranged for Riccaboni to be there as a fill-in for the veteran play-by-play specialist.

Why Riccaboni was on AEW Collision

Ian Riccaboni was on AEW Collision this week, but it doesn’t appear that is a long-time change for the show. Tony Schiavone dealt with a big personal loss as his dog died, so that called for a change of plans for AEW.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained what happened. It turns out that Tony Schiavone was at Collision anyway, but Riccaboni was brought in just in case.

“So, Ian Riccaboni was there. It’s not a permanent move for him to be there. What happened was, Tony Schiavone’s dog died, and best wishes to Tony Schiavone, really, really hard day for him, but he came, he was there. They didn’t know, but he was there. Tony could have certainly taken the day off and, you know, there would have been no heat. Because of that, they brought Ian up there.”

Meltzer went on to say that, “if Tony didn’t want to work, then Ian would be there, and lead the show.”

https://twitter.com/AEW_Blog/status/1774251113677570510

Kevin Kelly’s AEW Release

Kevin Kelly was released from AEW, but Ian Riccaboni will not be his full-time replacement. He only worked Collision this week because of Tony Schiavone, who is dealing with a terrible personal loss.

Kelly Kelly’s posts on social media several weeks ago cost him his job with AEW. In those posts, he also shaded Ian Riccaboni as he claimed his career was being sabotaged.

Our thoughts are with Tony Schiavone as he deals with the terrible person loss of losing a pet. They call dogs man’s best friend for a reason, and we hope that he can find peace through this difficult time.

WWE Planning Meeting To Discuss Change For WrestleMania 40 Title Match

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WrestleMania 40 will be here before we know it, but the card is always subject to change. It appears that the tag team match for the Undisputed Titles may see an alteration in the next week.

The grandest stage of them all is set to take over Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7, 2024. Some tickets still remain for the show.

Although Grayson Waller and Austin Theory won their match to secure the final two spots in the multi-team ladder match for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 40, they might get pulled from the match. WWE is reportedly having a meeting about that this week.

WrestleMania 40 Possible Change

The WWE WrestleMania 40 card is being finalized just a week ahead of the event. The six-pack ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, is set to feature Finn Balor & Damian Priest, Team #DIY, Awesome Truth, The New Day, Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, and Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.

During Friday’s SmackDown, the final two spots in the ladder match were secured. Waller and Theory emerged victorious against The Street Profits, earning their place in the match. Similarly, Dunne & Bate defeated Angel & Humberto in a qualifying tournament to secure their spot in the bout.

During his discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned an upcoming meeting to determine if Waller and Theory will stay in the match at WrestleMania 40. The reasons for their potential removal and the possible replacements remain unclear, but this is apparently something they are discussing.

“By the way, even though Theory and Waller won. It is not necessarily that they’re going to be in that match. They might be. There is a meeting upcoming where they will make a decision on that.”

Additional WrestleMania Festivities

WWE is planning a packed WrestleMania kick off event at the Wells Fargo Center on April 5th. There are also plenty of activities to keep fans engaged throughout the whole weekend.

On April 5, both SmackDown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will also be hosted at the Wells Fargo Center. WrestleMania 40 itself will unfold at the Lincoln Financial Field on April 6 and April 7.

Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson are among the inductees in this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Additionally, it was announced during SmackDown that Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, CM Punk, Big E, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett will be leading WWE’s Countdown to WrestleMania pre-shows ahead of both nights of WrestleMania 40. These pre-shows will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 and April 7, with the main events kicking off at 7 p.m. Eastern on each night.

WWE WrestleMania 40 Card (So Far):

  • The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Tag team match – Night 1
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship Night 2
  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: TBD match for the Undisputed WWE Universal ChampionshipNight 2
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn: Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory: Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
  • Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens: Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship

SEScoops will have more on WrestleMania 40, and everything surrounding the big event. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

Daily Drop (3/31): WWE WrestleMania 40 Set Construction, Bryan Danielson Dream Match Comes True

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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Sunday, March 31. We are officially less than one week away from WrestleMania 40. Let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!

First off, we’d like to wish everyone a Happy Easter. There are a lot of Easter eggs to find all over SEScoops, just full of pro wrestling information, all year long. So, let’s get right to it!

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 6

WWE:

Cody’s Contract: Cody Rhodes confirmed that he just inked a new multi-year contract with WWE that will see him with the company past his 40th birthday.

Olympic Debut: US Gold Olympic Medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock made her in-ring debut at an NXT house show last night.

WrestleMania 40 Set: A photo of the WrestleMania XL set construction leaked. You can check it out here.

No More IC Title: Kevin Owens has stated his reason for never wanting to hold the IC Title again.

Jade Cargill’s Entrance: It took a lot of work to get Jade Cargill’s SmackDown entrance just right.

Surgery for The King: Jerry Lawler recently underwent knee replacement surgery. We’re wishing him a speedy recovery.

AEW:

Cardona on Collision: Matt Cardona surprised fans as he took on Adam Copeland for the TNT Title on AEW Collision as part of the Cope Open Challenge.

Audible Called: AEW changed up the result of the tag team tournament in the middle of the match on Collision this week.

Ricky Starks Health Update: Starks updated fans about his health status after a scary spot on AEW Collision this week.

Bryan Danielson Dream Match: CMLL announced that Danielson will take on Blue Panther on April 5, 2024, in Arena México for their Wrestling Spectacular. This is a dream for Bryan Danielson that has been over 10 years in the making for the match, but he’s wanted to face Blue Panther for decades. It all started with this video, where Bryan received a signed Blue Panther mask and a video message while he was still in WWE.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Audible During AEW Collision Changed Outcome of Tag Title Tournament Match

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Ricky Starks appeared to have legitimately gotten hurt on AEW Collision and it led to a change in the outcome of the AEW Tag Team Title tournament match.

According to Fightful Select, Ricky Starks and Big Bill were the planned team to advance in the tournament as they faced Top Flight in the opening round. 

Towards the end of the match, Starks was supposed to kick out of a pinfall attempt but he missed. The referee stopped the count despite Starks’ shoulder being on the mat which led to booing from the crowd. 

Ricky Starks then got up and took a DDT from Darius Martin before finally being pinned. Trainers were seen checking on the AEW star after the bell rang.

Even on the television broadcast, one could tell that Tony Schiavone was preparing to call for a kickout by Starks but sadly that didn’t happen. Big Bill and Starks were penciled in to face FTR in the next round of the tournament, but now it is Top Flight advancing. 

Starks and Big Bill had a credible run as AEW World Tag Team Champions before they dropped the titles to Sting and Darby Allin not long before Sting retired at AEW Revolution. 

So far the teams who have advanced in the tournament apart from Top Flight are The Young Bucks who defeated Private Party, The Best Friends who beat Undisputed Kingdom, and FTR who defeated The Infantry earlier in the evening.

Ricky Starks has since provided an update on his status and noted that he is doing fine. It’s possible that he may be kept away from ring for a while just to be sure. 

The show also featured a surprise appearance from a former IC Champion who answered Adam Copeland’s open challenge. You can check out full details of the segment here

Ricky Starks Gives Health Update After Injury Scare On 3/30 AEW Collision

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AEW’s Ricky Starks has given an update on his condition after a spot on the March 30 episode of Collision had fans fearing something was wrong. 

During the show, Starks and Big Bill teamed up to face Top Flight in the ongoing AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament. The match was the first match for Starks and Bill since losing the titles to Sting and Darby Allin in early February

Towards the end of the match, Starks appeared to suffer a legitimate injury. He stayed down on the mat after Top Flight hit a tandem DDT. There had been no indication that this DDT was part of a finishing sequence but Starks did not kick out after taking the move. The AEW commentary team was also noticeably surprised by the finish. 

Ricky Starks Gives Health Update

Fans were left understandably concerned by what transpired on AEW Collision, but Starks has given a positive update. Via his Instagram Stories, the AEW star gave the following report: 

“I’m all good, everything checked out fine. Was being precautious.”

What’s Next? 

AEW Collision also saw FTR face The Infantry, who was in the midst of a Cinderella story after getting the upset win over the House of Black early in the tournament. Unfortunately, their luck ran out on Collision as FTR advanced to the next round. 

FTR and Top Flight will face off in the semi-finals of the tournament. The winning team will advance to the finals of the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament, which will take place at AEW Dynasty in April. 

Matt Cardona Makes Surprise Collision Debut To Challenge Adam Copeland

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Matt Cardona sure is “Alwayz Ready” as ‘The Indy God’ just showed up on AEW Collision to face a man he’ll forever have a connection with.

Cardona was the competitor to answer the call of “The Cope Open” in order to challenge for Adam Copeland’s TNT Championship on Saturday night. The former ‘Edgehead’ was ready to take it to his once-mentor many years ago in the WWE

This is Cardona’s first appearance in AEW since he last competed in the company for a short run in 2020. He was an ally to Cody Rhodes.

Copeland and Cardona battled it out, but it was Adam who came out on top retaining his title. Still the fans certainly got an unexpected treat from the former NWA World Champion who has redefined what it means to be an independent wrestler.

What Is Matt Cardona’s Status With AEW?

With Cardona unexpectedly showing up on AEW Collision, it’s logical to speculate if he may have something more in relation with the company.

Fightful Select is reporting that despite the appearance, Cardona is still very much a free agent and hasn’t signed anything with AEW. Plans for Matt making his way to Collision actually unfolded earlier this week. 

Cardona was originally scheduled to defend his Squared Circle Expo Championship on Friday against Ultimo Dragon. To make the Collision appearance happen, he dropped his SCE Title to Nic Nemeth on Friday instead. 

Cardona recently told Fightful that there had been very little communication between him and AEW since that last 2020 run.

You can check out Matt Cardona’s match with Adam Copeland below:

Teddy Hart Has Bench Warrant Rescinded After Giving Reason for Failing to Appear in Court

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Teddy Hart’s trouble with the law are far from over, but the controversial wrestler does have one less issue to deal with after having a warrant rescinded. 

Hart was arrested in July 2023 on charges of possession of MDMA (Ecstacy) and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Both of these are third-degree felonies in Florida. In December 2023, Hart appeared in a court that often works towards plea deals and attempts to prevent a case from going to a felony trial. 

Teddy Hart Warrant Rescinded

A bench warrant for Hart in the state of Florida has been officially rescinded, PW Insider has reported. The warrant was issued in February after he failed to appear in court in regards to his July 2023 arrest. The court date Hart missed was a mandatory appearance for “Early Resolution.”

On March 13, attorneys representing Hart filed the motion to withdraw the warrant. They claimed that Hart was in hospital at the time of the February hearing and was unable to contact his counsel. The motion was unopposed by the prosecution and was subsequently dropped. 

Hart is now scheduled to appear in court on the morning of April 4. We will continue to follow his case closely as further updates are expected to come next month.

Teddy Hart’s Controversial Past

Hart has had several issues with the law, some of which were documented in the Peacock reality series Dangerous Breed. The series looked at Hart’s toxic relationship with women, one of which being Hart’s ex Samantha Fiddler. 

Fiddler traveled overseas with Hart before he ditched her, reportedly taking her passport with him. To date, she has never been found or heard from and has been missing since 2016. 

Kevin Owens Has Good Reason For Not Winning The IC Title Ever Again

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A wrestling talent is generally always looking forward to winning their next championship. The WWE Intercontinental Championship however is one belt Kevin Owens doesn’t want to win again because of a very good reason.

The Raw star has won the coveted title a total of two times in his career. Owens has held it for a combined 132 days in his two reigns.

KO recently took part in a Fanatics live auction on the UpUpDownDown channel. While signing an IC title replica for the auction, the WWE star mentioned how he doesn’t want to win the championship again because his record is tied with the late Owen Hart:

“This is the main event, it’s the replica championship of the Intercontinental Title I held for the exact same amount of days as Owen Hart. We both had two title runs, they total the exact same amount of days. So I technically don’t ever wanna win this again because I like that.”

Kevin Owens and Owen Hart

The Intercontinental Championship was Kevin Owens’ first singles title on WWE’s main roster. He defeated Ryback at the 2015 Night of Champions event to win the belt. His second title reign came not long after and he defeated Dean Ambrose at the February 21, 2016 episode of Raw for it.

For Owen Hart, his first IC title run came very shortly after the formation of the legendary Hart Foundation in WWE in 1997. He defeated Rocky Maivia for his first title win and Faarooq for his second run with the title. Both times he would drop the championship to Steve Austin.

Kevin Owens is currently in pursuit of another championship in the form of the US title. The belt is held by Logan Paul at the moment. Both Owens and Randy Orton will be looking to dethrone the YouTube star in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania 40.

If you use the quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Toni Storm Was Very Appreciative of ‘Understudy’ Mariah May On 3/30 AEW Collision

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AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm expressed her appreciation of Mariah May in quite some fashion during the March 30 episode of Collision. 

During a backstage segment, it was noted that the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the women’s division rankings will face each other next week. The winner of this match will earn an AEW Women’s World Championship match with the ‘Timeless’ one. 

Next week’s match will see Thunder Rosa and Storm’s protege Mariah May face off. Storm questioned for how long has May been “plotting” this and seemed angry that May could be in line for a title opportunity. Instead though, Storm kissed May and declared her a “magnificent b***ard”. 

Storm is evidently of the opinion that a victory for May next week will ensure her an easy title defense. May was clearly pleased to have been kissed by Storm, though Luther was far from happy at May and the AEW Women’s World Champion being so closely aligned. 

‘Timeless’ Toni Storm

Toni Storm is in her third reign as AEW Women’s World Champion, a record number that she shares with Hikaru Shida. Her most recent reign began at AEW Full Gear 2023 when she dethroned Shida. She defended the gold at AEW Worlds End against Riho and at AEW Revolution 2024 against Deonna Purrazzo. 

Storm’s ‘Timeless’ character has proven to be a hit with fans and sees the AEW Women’s World Champion often filmed in black and white segments. May is described by Storm as her “understudy,” a term that leans into the notion that Storm is a Golden Age of Hollywood starlet. 

Becky Lynch: Charlotte’s A Huge Part of My Journey, I Love That We’re Friends Again

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Becky Lynch is pleased to have made amends with Charlotte Flair, and has said there’s nothing but love between herself and ‘The Queen.’

Lynch and Flair were once as close as sisters but their relationship soured during their time on the main roster. Lynch and Flair began growing distant when they were sent to different brands during the 2016 draft, and the 2018 feud between them would also cause genuine friction between the two. 

It’s All Love

At WWE Survivor Series 2023, Lynch would return from a hiatus as part of Bianca Belair’s team inside WarGames. Her return would see Lynch team with Flair and the pair would embrace after the match. 

Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, Lynch addressed her relationship with Flair. The Man was pleased that she is currently in a better place with her fellow former WWE Women’s Champion. 

“She’s been a huge part of my journey in every capacity and such an important part. As best friends, then enemies, and the fallout. I talk about that [in my memoir] from my perspective, but also the undercurrent of all of it is love, right?

“It’s always the people that you love the most that maybe hurt you the most. I know I’ve hurt her and it’s been reciprocal but I think when you can come back from all of that, that’s a special thing. I love that.”

The 2021 Title Exchange

In 2021, Lynch and Flair were part of a title exchange that did not go as planned. Rather than the intended exchange, Flair dropped the title she was meant to hand to Lynch, forcing the Man to bend down and pick it up. In her new memoir The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl, Lynch recalls being furious backstage. 

“I felt she deliberately went off script, leading to me yelling in gorilla that she was a, to use my exact words, “crafty fu*king cu*t” right in front of Vince.”

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops