More has come to light about Beth Phoenix’s status with WWE after her profile was changed on the company’s official website. Fans noticed this week that Beth’s profile was removed from the ‘active’ talent section and now is exclusive to the ‘Hall of Fame’ portion of the site.
The Glamazon’s time with WWE has come to an end, PW Insider reports. Despite only recently being pulled from the ‘active’ portion of WWE.com, Phoenix hadn’t wrestled for WWE since February 2023. At the Elimination Chamber PLE in Montreal, Beth and her husband Edge (now AEW’s Adam Copeland) defeated The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley.
Phoenix parted ways with WWE in 2012 but returned in 2017 to be inducted into that year’s Hall of Fame. The induction marked the shortest period of time for a female wrestler to be inducted after her retirement. It’s not just WWE’s Hall of Fame that recognizes the Glamazon’s achievements as in 2019, she became the first woman to be inducted in the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. In addition to being a wrestler, Phoenix was a commentator for WWE NXT from May 2019 to December 2021.
Beth Phoenix And AEW
Beth has been backstage at several AEW shows ever since her husband joined the promotion in October 2023. The topic of Phoenix appearing for the company has been broached backstage, Fightful Select reports. Sources indicated that Phoenix is in amazing condition and could likely compete in an AEW ring if she chose to. Phoenix has already made a cameo for AEW, as the ‘You Think You Know Him?’ lyric from Copeland’s entrance theme is provided by his wife.
Signing Beth Phoenix would be a huge score for Tony Khan who has brought in Mercedes Mone, Kamille, and Mariah May in 2024 alone. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Beth Phoenix’s future in the world of professional wrestling.
CM Punk says AJ Lee is well aware of the options she has in terms of a potential wrestling return but it’s not something he is pushing her to do.
The potential return of the former Divas Champion continues to be a topic of discussion among fans as WWE has incorporated her name in Punk’s ongoing storyline with Drew McIntyre. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez most recently said that the former World Champion himself is also trying to convince AJ to make a return.
When asked about it during a recent interview with Ringside Collectibles at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Punk said that he is not pushing AJ in any way. According to him if a discussion was to take place about Lee returning under a legends deal or even signing up for a new action figure, he would like to stay out of that conversation:
“I’m the wrong guy to ask those questions about. My stance—I know there’s a lot out there of that—but I certainly am not pushing her to do anything. I think she knows that there’s options. I think she sees how happy I am and how things are different.
But if the right situation presented itself, it would have to be a discussion between her and certain people. I don’t necessarily want to be in the middle of that; just because it could get kind of weird. Selfishly, yes, I would love to make out with my wife on television again.”
While fans are hoping to see AJ Lee return to the ring as an active competitor, the chances of that are slim considering all the other projects the former wrestling star is involved in.
Though you can never say never in wrestling and the ongoing intense personal rivalry between Punk and McIntyre seems to be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the former champion on WWE TV.
Apart from this, CM Punk also reflected on the Straight Edge Society faction and commented on potentially leading a new group with NXT stars. You can check out his full interview below:
SmackDown Superstar Blair Davenport and Chase U’s Riley Osborne have tied the knot after two years of dating, the couple confirmed this week. On Instagram, Davenport shared some photos from the couple’s special day. Several names from the world of wrestling took to the comments to share their excitement about the news.
Davenport and Osborne began dating in 2022 and in August, Davenport would comment on an Instagram post of her future husband, saying she’d “Met the love of my life.” Davenport announced on her Instagram page in December 2023 that she and Osborne were engaged.
The wedding of Osborne and Davenport comes during a landmark week for Riley’s allies in Chase U. At the ongoing San Diego Comic-Con, fans have caught their first glimpse of Chase U action figures from Mattel. The three figures include faction leader Andre Chase as well as Thea Hail.
Wrestling Couples
Love has certainly been in the air in 2024, with several wrestling couples taking massive leaps in their respective relationships. In May, AEW’s Ruby Soho and Angelo Parker tied the knot. Soho is currently out of action after sharing at an AEW event that she is pregnant. The following month, WWE and AEW collided as Rhea Ripley and Buddy Matthews in a black wedding. This month, Angelo Dawkins married his wife Grace in a ceremony officiated by none other than Montez Ford.
We here at SE Scoops would like to offer our congratulations to the happy couple.
Former WWE Superstars Mason Madden and Mansoor will make their All-Elite debut on tonight’s AEW Collision to face FTR. The news was shared on Twitter by AEW President Tony Khan.
After a successful ROH debut, MxM Collection will debut in AEW when they collide vs the returning FTR on Saturday #AEWCollision TOMORROW! pic.twitter.com/M0GD69Jkyj
The AEW debut of Madden and Mansoor, collectively known as the MxM Collection, comes after the pair debuted for Ring of Honor at Death Before Dishonor 2024. At ROH’s latest pay-per-view, MxM defeated the Spanish Announce Project (Serpentico and Angelico) on the kick-off show.
Earlier this month, the pair’s arrival was teased during an episode of ROH Wrestling. Madden was described as the “mahogany hunk” and the “height of fashion.” Meanwhile, Mansoor was deemed the “sultan of suave” and “the man who will make you sore.” During their arrival at Death Before Dishonor, Mansoor was also called the ‘Iron Chiq.’
AEW Collision – 7/27/2024
Tonight’s AEW Collision will take place at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of a multi-week deal to host AEW events at the venue. Here is what has been confirmed for tonight’s AEW Collision:
FTR Vs. MxM (Mason Madden & Mansoor)
Orange Cassidy Vs. Johnny TV
The Beast Mortos Vs. Hologram
Immediately after AEW Collision, AEW will host its eleventh Battle of the Belts show. Matches announced include
‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) Vs. Taya Valkyrie (AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminatior Match)
The Undisputed Kingdom (Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett) vs. Dustin Rhodes and The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich) (ROH World Six-Man Tag-Team Championship)
Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (CMLL Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match)
Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from tonight’s episode of AEW Collision as well as AEW Battle of the Belts XI.
The next challengers for the WWE tag team titles have been determined.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown included a massive tag team gauntlet, a matchup that featured Apollo Crews & Baron Corbin, Legado del Fantasma, The Street Profits, Pretty Deadly, The OC, and The Bloodline. Whoever emerged victorious would earn a shot at DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) at a future date, perhaps even at SummerSlam on August 3rd.
The action began with Corbin & Crews scoring a victory over Legado De Fantasma. Unfortunately, the unlikely duo’s run didn’t last long as The Street Profits would knock them off, with the former tag champs then running through Pretty Deadly and The OC. However, The Bloodline, represented by Tama Tonga and the Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu, was the final team in the gauntlet and put on a dominant display on their way to victory. Fatu scored the win after hitting a pop-up Samoan drop, followed by his signature top rope moonsault.
Fatu has quickly risen as one of the WWE’s biggest threats ever since he debuted on the June 21st episode of SmackDown. He led The Bloodline to victory over Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens at Money In The Bank, and now has a change to capture his first gold since signing with the company earlier this year.
WWE later confirmed The Bloodline will get their opportunity at the tag team on the August 2nd SmackDown.
WWE released this video of the champions reacting to the news that The Bloodline will be their opponents next week.
EXCLUSIVE: After Jacob Futu and Tama Tonga emerge victorious in a Gauntlet Match to become the new No. 1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championship, #DIY claim that they are the best tag team in this business!#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/w446FhxMDu
Meanwhile, The Bloodline’s new leader, Solo Sikoa, has his own chance for glory when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam next weekend.
Cody Rhodes’ connection to his father is no secret, and the Undisputed WWE Champion was given a heartwarming gift at a recent event in Japan. On WWE’s second night of their ongoing tour, their first in Japan since 2019, Rhodes defeated AJ Styles in the show’s main event. Not only did Cody get the win, but he was gifted a robe and hat worn by his legendary father Dusty.
The robe had previously been on display at the ‘Super Inoki Exhibition‘ a public exhibition celebrating the life and career of Antonio Inoki. Dusty and Inoki met NJPW Toukon Series 1979 in a match for the NWF Heavyweight Championship that Inoki retained by disqualification.
This robe has great sentimental value to Cody, whose relationship with his father has proven to be pivotal to his WWE run. It was Cody’s desire to win a WWE World Championship (an accolade his father got close to but never achieved) that resulted in Rhodes returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38.
Cody’s ‘story’ would finish with his victory over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Following his victory, Rhodes received a different, but equally sentimental gift: the watch his father had sold to help pay for Rhodes to take acting lessons.
Rhodes will be part of tomorrow’s live event, also in Tokyo, where he will defend against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Shinsuke Nakamura. With a title match set for SummerSlam against Solo Sikoa, the American Nightmare continues to keep the spirit of his father alive as WWE’s very top Superstar.
WWE WrestleMania might soon grace the iconic city of London. Recent discussions between Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, have sparked excitement and anticipation among wrestling fans.
Here’s a comprehensive look at everything we know about the potential for WrestleMania to be held in London.
WWE WrestleMania London: Sadiq Khan’s Ambitious Vision
Mayor Sadiq Khan has been vocal about his ambition to make London the “sporting capital of the world.” This vision includes hosting a variety of major international sporting events, from the Super Bowl to the Olympics, and now, WWE’s WrestleMania.
Khan’s commitment to this vision was evident in his recent meeting with Triple H, where they discussed the logistics and possibilities of bringing WWE’s flagship event to London.
In an interview with the PA news agency, Khan expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m really excited to have begun conversations about bringing international WrestleMania to London. I know there are many fans in London and across the UK and Europe who are desperate to see WrestleMania live.”
Delighted to have met with Paul “@TripleH” Levesque and @WWE President Nick Khan to discuss making London WrestleMania’s first international destination.
The meeting was really productive. Talks will continue about how we could turn our ambition into a reality. pic.twitter.com/GtvP6kGpt5
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) July 26, 2024
WWE’s Global Expansion
WrestleMania has of course traditionally been held in North America, with 40 of the iconic shows having taken place across the United States and two in Canada.
However, WWE has been expanding its global footprint, hosting premium live events in various countries in recent years.
Recent events have taken place in Cardiff, Glasgow, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, and France. This trend indicates WWE’s willingness to explore international venues for its marquee events, making London a plausible candidate for a future WrestleMania.
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete… https://t.co/JpcWNhSByH
Hosting WrestleMania could bring significant economic benefits to London. Past events have demonstrated substantial economic impact for host cities.
For example, the Royal Rumble in St. Petersburg, Florida, generated over $47 million in economic impact, including $28 million in direct spending and nearly $3 million in taxes. Local businesses saw increases in revenue ranging from 10% to 700% compared to a typical day.
Similarly, the Clash at the Castle event in Cardiff brought over £21 million to the Welsh economy.
Given WrestleMania’s status as WWE’s largest event, it could potentially bring even greater economic benefits to London, attracting fans from across the globe and boosting local businesses.
Challenges and Considerations
While the prospects are exciting, there are challenges to consider. WWE events are typically scheduled years in advance, and the earliest available date for a London WrestleMania might be as late as 2026.
Additionally, hosting such a large-scale event requires significant financial investment, which could be a point of contention given the current economic climate.
However, the potential economic returns and the boost to London’s global profile might justify the expenditure.
Tony Khan’s Ring of Honor will be hosting Death Before Dishonor this weekend, but how can you watch the PPV on streaming?
How to Watch ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 Live Stream
U.S. Live Stream
In the United States, ROH premium events, including Death Before Dishonor 2024, are streamed exclusively on HonorClub.
You can access the live stream by subscribing to HonorClub at WatchROH.com for $9.99 per month.
This subscription not only gives you access to live events but also a vast library of past ROH events, including the weekly Ring of Honor Wrestling series and select shows from previous years.
International Streams
For fans outside the U.S., HonorClub is also available through various platforms such as smart TVs, Roku, and Apple TV. However, availability might vary by region.
WWE taped tonight’s SmackDown due to the ongoing live events tour of Japan. The ‘SuperShow Summer Tour’ visits Tokyo’sRy?goku Kokugikan on Friday and Saturday night.
SmackDown Matches & Segments
Here are the matches and segments we’ll see tonight:
Tag Team Gauntlet Match: The winners will become the #1 contenders to DIY’s World Tag Team Championships. Participating teams include: The Street Profits, Legado Del Fantasma, The Bloodline, The OC , Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews and Pretty Deadly.
Tag Team Match: Tiffany Stratton & Nia Jax vs. Bayley & Michin
Singles Match: LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar
Plus, A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) will host a segment with undefeated boxing champion Terrence Crawford. Crawford Crawford got physically involved on SmackDown last week by handing Cody Rhodes a chair, which he later used on Theory & Waller. No spoilers, but .. “could things get physical again?”
What happened last week?
Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:
Trevor Lee (formerly Cameron Grimes) has expressed his interest in every promotion after being released from WWE in April. However, he has specifically mentioned AEW as his possible future destination.
During K&S WrestleFest virtual signing, Lee discussed his exit from WWE. The former NXT North American Champion stated that it was all about the timing. While he believes it was unfortunate, he knows that pro wrestling never ceases. He highlighted the fact that wrestling shows take place all around the year. The former Cameron Grimes made it clear that he will be back on TV shortly.
A handful of WWE wrestlers have jumped ship to AEW in the past. There has been speculation that Lee might follow suit. He recognized how AEW has made an impact on the wrestling world since its inception in 2019 and wouldn’t rule out signing with the promotion. He said:
“I have interest in absolutely every company. But, I do have interest in AEW. Why wouldn’t I? It’s doing what they’re supposed to do and it’s shocking the culture and it’s stirring up a firestorm that is the new era of wrestling so, of course.”
What’s next for Trevor Lee?
Lee is scheduled to appear in Black Label Pro promotion for the first time. He will be making his debut for the Indiana-based promotion at BLP Old Habits Die Screaming at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago, Illinois on July 26. This will mark his first appearance for any promotion since his release from WWE.
Meanwhile, Elevation Pro Wrestling has also announced that Lee will appear at the promotion’s Homecoming event on July 27.
?SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT?
Elevation Pro Wrestling presents:
“HOMECOMING ”
Join us as we WELCOME HOME former WWE superstar TREVOR LEE!
??: Saturday JULY 27, 2024
?: Elevation Pro Wrestling Arena 599 S. Railroad St. Lexington, NC 27292
Now John Cena took to his X account and weighed-in on the matter. He has backed the idea of WrestleMania coming to London and believes the city deserves to host ‘The Shows of Shows.’ The 16-time World Champion is retiring in 2025 and he said won’t be able to compete when WrestleMania goes London. However, he assured that he will attend the show as a fan. He wrote:
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete when it happens but I will BE THERE as a fan for sure!
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete… https://t.co/JpcWNhSByH
After waiting for several years, the UK crowd could be getting what they want. They have been vocal about hosting WrestleMania for years and the interest peaked especially after WWE Money in the Bank 2023. The London crowd were surprised when John Cena made an appearance and floated the idea of WrestleMania coming to London.
Meanwhile, John Cena announced his farewell tour before hanging up his boots. He didn’t mention when and where he would compete in his final match. However, he made it clear that next year will be his last time competing in the WWE PLEs.
Raj Dhesi (formerly Jinder Mahal in WWE) doesn’t agree with the critics who believe that WWE missed an opportunity with the wrestler.
In a TikTok video clip, the former WWE Champion reacted to a fan who said WWE “dropped the ball” on him. He explained that during his 12-year career with WWE, he was able to make the most of the opportunities. He also got to travel the world, build valuable relationships, become financially independent, and have multiple in-ring achievements.
During his time in the company, he held the WWE Championship once and won the United States Championship at WrestleMania. ‘The Modern Day Maharaja’ said that he had a great time in WWE and thanked his fans for their support. Now, he is eyeing to make a mark on the indie circuit. He said:
“So I see this comment a lot and I wanna kinda share my opinion on it. ‘WWE dropped the ball on me’ – I would say that’s not true.
“Had a very long career, 12 years in WWE. WWE Champion, won the United States Championship at WrestleMania, made a great living, really set myself up for the future, for the rest of my life. Given me a sense of financial independence where now I can just do whatever I wanna do. Freedom, flexibility, got to travel the world, build amazing relationships, a lot of good memories. And it’s gonna continue now on the independents, just doing things my way.
So WWE did not drop the ball, I had a great career, a great time, and, yeah, thank you for all the fans tuning in for all these years.”
Jinder Mahal on people who say WWE dropped the ball on him:
"I would say that's not true. I Had a very long career. 12 years in WWE. WWE Champion, Why the United States championship at WrestleMania.
Dhesi will make his in-ring debut for GCW next month. The promotion announced that Dhesi will face Effy in a singles match on August 2 at GCW Now and Forever event in Cleveland, Ohio. “The Maharaja” has also revealed the tour dates for his ‘Unhindered Tour.’ He is scheduled to make a handful of appearances in several locations across North America. Check out the schedule below.
AEW President Tony Khan has officially announced that AEW TBS Championship Mercedes Moné will defend Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, at All In on August 25. The event will occur at Wembley Stadium in London, England. While the card is still being finalized, adding Moné vs. Baker has created more anticipation for the upcoming pay-per-view.
The matchup was made after the champion and Kamille confronted Baker during an AEW panel at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. Baker talked about the champion and how her issues with Moné had become personal, which led to the “CEO” coming on stage to talk down to her. The “Heel” mentioned that she was surprised Baker was there because of how Kamille attacked her on the July 24 episode of Dynamite.
Baker had enough after a few more disrespectful comments and got into a shoving match with her rival. Will Ospreay and Orange Cassidy would pull them apart, and Khan announced to the fans that they would compete at the PPV.
History Of Mercedes Moné vs. Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
Since she signed with the company, AEW fans have wanted to see a dream match between Moné and Baker. The match was first teased when Baker returned to AEWxNew Japan Pro Wrestling Forbidden Door on June 30 to confront the champion. The former AEW women’s champion would have a segment on the July 3 episode of Dynamite where she would challenge the “CEO” to a title match, which Moné declined.
Moné would continue to decline a title opportunity to Baker for the next two weeks while still disrespecting her. Their feud would take a turn when Kamille debuted to attack the “Doctor” on the champion’s behalf on the July 24 episode. Khan’s decision to make the title match official finally puts the two superstars on a collision course to settle their differences at AEW’s biggest event of the year.
Updated AEW All In Card
AEW World Heavyweight Championship: (C) Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson
AEW International Championship: (C) MJF vs. Will Ospreay
AEW Women’s World Championship: (C) Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
AEW TNT Championship: (C) Jack Perry vs. Darby Allin
AEW TBS Championship: (C) Mercedes Moné vs. Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
The last several years of former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy’s life can be described as turbulent at best and downright disastrous at worst.
While fans were delighted to see The Charismatic Enigma make a surprise return to in-ring late last month, it’s fair to say that the hardships of the last 2-3 years still weigh heavily on Jeff’s mind.
On a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Jeff Hardy expressed shame and guilt for how his tenure at AEW turned out. Hardy had signed with the company shortly following a messy release from WWE in early 2022, but a DUI arrest in June of that year led to his indefinite suspension until his return in April 2023.
“I still have so much guilt and shame from AEW giving me an opportunity, and even Matt, to me breaking trust with my personal issues and real life.’
At the same time, Jeff Hardy also made it clear that he’s looking at his new opportunity in TNA as a chance to both redeem himself, hut also make things up to his always supportive brother Matt Hardy. The former world champion noted that he would not “break TNA’s trust”
“I want to make that up to Matt. I will say right here that I will not break TNA’s trust. That is in my past. It feels good to have somewhat of a clean slate with that stuff and start fresh instead of having that guilt and shame about what I did in a certain world of pro wrestling”.
Jeff Hardy made his official return to in-ring action when he and his brother competed on TNA IMPACT! to try and the TNA Tag Team Championships from Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards.
Prior to that, Hardy’s last previous match took place way back in February, when he went one-on-one with Sammy Guevara in a No Disqualification match. Hardy would suffer a broken nose during the match following a botched splash from Guevara, who has eventually suspended himself following the incident for “following concussion protocol.”
Drew McIntyre’s heel work has no boundaries when it comes to furthering his feud with CM Punk. The Scottish Warrior continued to wage mental war against his upcoming opponent for SummerSlam, bringing the actual Jack Perry into the mix.
Both AEW and WWE have a presence at the San Diego Comic Con this year and WWE’s side actually includes both McInytre and CM Punk. Drew sure had some cruel intentions in mind as he happened to cross paths with Perry who is just fresh off of nearly getting lit aflame at Blood & Guts the day before.
McIntyre made sure he didn’t miss getting a Kodak moment with Perry. To add further salt to the wound, Drew dipped into the words Perry had for Punk during ALL IN 2023 in his match against HOOK.
“It’s a real photo, cry us a river,” McIntyre wrote as he shared the photo. However, McIntyre either reconsidered his post or got word to take it down because he has removed it from his socials.
The history between Punk and Perry isn’t one of good nature as their is infamous footage behind the scenes where Punk scuffled with Perry after Jack decided to use real glass in his street fight battle with HOOK. AEW ALL IN 2023 ended up being Punk’s final appearance with the company as Tony Khan fired him the following weekend.
McIntyre will face CM Punk at SummerSlam but not without some added moderation as Seth Rollins will be the special guest referee.
CM Punk has revealed that former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s departure from the company paved the way for his return.
‘The Second City Savior’ spoke to Denise Salcedo at San Diego Comic Con and said that Vince McMahon being out of the picture was one of the factors for his comeback to the company after a decade.
“No, because it was never a thing that I was yearning to do. There were a lot of things that had to happen for the pathway to kind of clear. The stars had to align. There had to be a full moon. A lot of dominoes fell in order for us to get here. There was a never a, ‘Man, I’d really like to go back.’
He added:
“Vince (McMahon) being out of the picture probably illuminated the way. That might have been one of the biggest things. That’s both ways, for everybody who is going to sensationalize a headline. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t him, there’s just a lot of history there. All of a sudden, one of us is removed from the equation, and I think it changed a lot of things.”
Vince McMahon had stepped down from his roles in June 2022 after it came to light that he was involved in a hush-money scandal with former WWE employees. He returned the following year as executive chairman of the TKO Group Holdings. However, he left WWE yet again earlier this year due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit which alleged abuse and trafficking.
Meanwhile, CM Punk returned to WWE last year at WWE Survivor Series and shocked the pro wrestling fraternity. During the interview, Punk also stated that he knew his surprise return would be a big deal. The former WWE Champion competed in his first WWE match in almost ten years at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Unfortunately, he suffered torn tricep during the match and has been on the shelf ever since.
The former WWE Champion is set to make his comeback at next month’s SummerSlam where he will face his arch-rival Drew McIntyre. It was also recently announced that Seth Rollins will serve as the Special Guest Referee.
A surprise meeting between WWE higher-ups and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has renewed hopes that WrestleMania could be hosted in the UK. Khan, who won re-election earlier this year, met with WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan at London’s City Hall, the Daily Star reports. Mayor Khan confirmed the meeting and shared his excitement at WrestleMania coming to London.
“It’s exciting to be working with the WWE team. The meeting was really productive, and talks will continue about how we could turn our ambition into a reality.”
During his re-election campaign, Mayor Khan pledged to create a task force to encourage more international sports to the UK capital. Nick Khan added that it was “great to hear” about Khan’s “vision” for how WWE can support his plans for London.
WrestleMania in London
Fans in the UK have been rallying for a WrestleMania of their own for years, but interest in the idea skyrocketed following WWE Money in the Bank 2023. At the event, which took place in London, John Cena made a surprise appearance at the event and shared his goal to bring the Showcase of the Immortals to the city.
Despite WWE bringing more events overseas in recent years, WrestleMania could remain in the good ol’ U-S-of-A despite the wishes of fans. WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the company’s big four events (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) will remain in North America for the foreseeable future.
Counsel for Vince McMahon filed a four-page motion in federal district court in Connecticut on Thursday accusing Janel Grant of violating the stay in her civil suit against McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment and John Laurinaitis.
On July 16, counsel for Grant filed a bill of discovery complaint against Peak Wellness and Dr. Carlon Colker in Connecticut. The complaint asked for medical records and other information regarding Grant when she was a patient at the clinic. The complaint accused Peak Wellness of refusing to provide Grant with electronic information, sending only paper copies of records that were incomplete.
The complaint said Peak Wellness denied Grant access to her records and had failed to provide discovery in her federal case twice during the spring. The filing claimed Grant visited the clinic under McMahon’s discretion over 60 times in a year and a half.
The Department of Justice asked the judge to stay the case in June because it could interfere with a federal grand jury investigation of McMahon that’s ongoing in the Southern District of New York.
Both McMahon and Grant’s counsel agreed to the stay, which expires in December.
“Today’s motion is in response to Ms. Grant’s flagrant violation of the federal stay order,” Jesica Taub Rosenberg, a lawyer for McMahon, said in a statement provided to SEScoops.
“After telling the federal court she would pause her lawsuit, Ms. Grant immediately violated the stay order by seeking one-sided discovery for her benefit. Her lawyer told the media that the information in the new Connecticut state action is to ‘assist in our claims in the federal action.’ We are asking the federal court to ensure the plaintiff abides by the court’s order and if she does not, that civil contempt and financial sanctions may result.”
In a statement to B.J. Bethel last week, Grant counsel Ann Callis said the filing didn’t violate the stay.
“We did not violate a federal stay by filing a state action against a non-defendant,” Callis said.
Sources familiar with the case said there was no violation since Peak Wellness and Colker aren’t defendants in the federal suit, and it was a state court action.
McMahon’s counsel is asking the federal court to temporarily lift the stay so it can file a motion accusing Grant of violating the order.
In Grant’s civil complaint, filed in January, she accused McMahon and a Peak Wellness employee of sexually assaulting her.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are finally here, athletes who have been training their whole lives are about to test themselves on the world’s grandest stage. Despite pro wrestling’s staggering popularity around the globe, it’s is somehow NOT currently recognized as a sanctioned Olympic sport. Crazy. However, there are enough parallels that we think our readers who love pro wrestling can find a lot to enjoy about this year’s games.
New U.S. team: The U.S. Olympic Trials produced several first-time Olympians who will be eager to prove themselves in Paris.
Helen Maroulis going for history: The American wrestler is attempting to become the first U.S. woman to win three Olympic medals in wrestling.
New champions emerging: None of the three U.S. gold medalists from Tokyo are returning, opening up opportunities for new wrestlers to claim Olympic glory.
Hassan Yazdani’s quest for gold: The Iranian wrestler nicknamed “The Greatest” will be aiming for another gold medal in the 86kg freestyle division, with his rival David Taylor not competing.
Young stars emerging: Wrestlers like 20-year-old Kennedy Blades of the U.S. will be looking to make their mark on the Olympic stage.
Intense competition schedule: Wrestling events will run from August 5-11, featuring daily medal matches across various weight classes and styles.
Venue atmosphere: The wrestling events will take place at the Champ de Mars Arena, with the iconic Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.
Arena Champ-de-Mars
Open heavyweight division: With 2021 champion Gable Steveson not returning, the men’s freestyle 125kg class is wide open for a new champion.
Taha Akgul’s comeback: The Turkish heavyweight who lost to Steveson in Tokyo will be looking to reclaim gold in the 125kg category.
Zhan Beleniuk’s title defense: The Ukrainian wrestler, who is also a member of Ukraine’s parliament, will attempt to defend his gold medal from Tokyo.
Team USA Paris 2024 Olympic Wrestling Team
Schedule
Mon, 8/5 through Sun, 8/11. Every single event streams live on Peacock, while select events will broadcast on the USA Network and CNBC. (Full Schedule)
Meet the Team
Payton Jacobson: Olympian 2024, Northern Michigan, Elkhorn, WI
Spencer Lee: Olympian 2024, University of Iowa, Murrysville, PA
Helen Maroulis: Olympian 2016, 2020, Simon Fraser University, Rockville, MD (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Kayla Miracle: Olympian 2020, 2024, Campbellsville University, Bloomington, IN
Mason Parris: Olympian 2024, University of Michigan, Lawrenceburg, IN
Dominique Parrish: Olympian 2024, Simon Fraser University, Scotts Valley, CA
Josef Rau: Olympian 2024, Elmhurst College, Chicago, IL
Kamel Bey: Olympian 2024, Bellwood, IL
Kennedy Blades: Olympian 2024, Arizona State University, Chicago, IL
Aaron Brooks: Olympian 2024, Penn State University, Hagerstown, MD
Adam Coon: Olympian 2024, University of Michigan, Fowlerville, MI
Ronda Rousey and her husband Travis Browne are celebrating after the ex-WWE star shared that the couple is expecting their second child. Rousey shared the joyous news while attending a panel at San Diego Comic-Con hosted by fellow WWE alum Dave Bautista.
Rousey’s appearance at SDCC was to promote her graphic novel debut ‘Expecting the Unexpected.’ Ironically, the protagonist, who bears a striking resemblance of the Rousey is codenamed ‘Mom’ and uses a fake pregnancy belly to carry weapons and other tools for her role as a hitman. The new comic is penned by Rousey, edited by Axel Alonso of AWA Comics, and has art from Mike Deodato, Jr. (Avengers, Not All Robots, The Flash.) A Kickstarter to support the project has already reached over $6,000 in donations.
The Baddest Mom On The Planet
Rousey and Browne, also a UFC alum, married in 2017 and welcomed their first child La’akea Makalapuaokalanip? into the world in September 2021. Rousey is also a stepmom to two of Browne’s sons from a previous marriage.
The former WWE Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion has made no secret of her desire to be a mom. Following her loss at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, Rousey embarked on a multi-year hiatus from wrestling, during which she gave birth to La’akea. She returned as part of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match mere months after giving birth and won the 30-woman contest.
More recently, Rousey has shared her desire to have a large family. When asked by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated about a potential UFC return, Rousey made clear her family plans take precedence.
“I want to have a whole basketball team full of kids, I can’t take any more detours. I’ve always wanted to be a mom with a lot of kids.
Rousey may still be a few players short of a basketball team, but the Baddest Woman On The Planet will soon become a mother yet again. We here at SE Scoops would like to offer our congratulations to Ronda and her family at this joyous time.
Fuego Del Sol will make his Ring Of Honor debut on the July 25 taping.
Former All Elite Wrestling talent Fuego Del Sol will return to the company to compete on a taped Ring Of Honor episode on July 25. The episode will stream live on ROH Honor Club at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.
Sol teamed with Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin), Action Andretti, and Komander to go against Iron Savages (Boulder, Bronson & Jacked Jameson), Anthony Henry & Nick Comoroto in a Ten Man Tag Team match. Although the match has occurred already, Thursday’s episode will mark Sol’s debut in ROH.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) July 24, 2024
AEW fired the masked competitor last year after nearly three years with the company. Since then, Sol has competed in various independent wrestling promotions, including Game Changer Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. He recently lost to KC Navarro at a Battleground Championship Wrestling event on July 6.
Although his debut occurred on July 20, the Thursday episode of ROH does have fans curious if he’ll be making more appearances for the company. Sol spoke about his return to the company for the tag team match on X. a
He mentioned that his debut occurred a year and a half after his last match with AEW. Sol also openly shared how grateful he is to have his first match in ROH.
“…This ROH Debut is so much more than just a match to me! Proud, excited, and overall I’m grateful to get to show this audience how hard I’ve been working this past year! Let’s go,” wrote Sol.
What’s Next For Fuego Del Sol?
Despite the ROH appearance, Sol still plans to stay busy on the independent wrestling scene. He is advertised to team with Sam Stackhouse against Rich and Powerful (Charles Mason & Richard Holliday) at GCW: Can I Trust You on August 4. Another notable match he is set to compete in will be against Ichiban at a WrestlePro event on September 28.
Besides staying busy facing other talented wrestlers for different promotions, Sol is also continuing to change his physique. He shared a photo of himself looking in a mirror in incredible shape compared to when he was in AEW.
Life seems to be going well for Sol as he continues to grow as a performer. His debut in ROH could also lead to more opportunities for the brand moving forward. Regardless, fans have Sol should look forward to his tag team match this Thursday.
The war between WWE NXT and the Pat McAfee Show shows no signs of slowing down after Shawn Michaels warned of an a** kickin’ for the Raw announcer’s co-hosts.
The issues between NXT and McAfee’s co-hosts have been growing since the release of the ‘Pat McAfee Pack’ in WWE 2K24. The latest wave of DLC includes the Raw announcer, AJ Hawk, Boston Conner, Darius Butler, and Ty Schmit.
On Twitter, Michaels threw out the challenge to Schmit, Conner, Butler, and Hawk, inviting them to face off four Superstars from the Hall of Famer’s roster. Michaels was immensely confident in his NXT Superstars who’ll deliver an a** kickin’ if a match happens.
Michaels isn’t the only WWE NXT name with some choice words for McAfee’s co-hosts. In a tweet of her own, Karmen Petrovic shared her own idea as to why fans aren’t thrilled at non-wrestlers in WWE 2K24.
God forbid fans want to play with wrestlers in a wrestling game ?
While having McAfee’s co-hosts in the game may appeal to fans of the Raw commentator and his sports show, it has ruffled feathers with fans of WWE. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for the latest in this unlikely beef as it unfolds in WWE and beyond.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is enjoying a great run. She previously held the title in 2022 for less than four months. Reflecting on what’s different the second time around, Perez says her ‘heel’ persona has helped bring out her best.
In a new interview, Perez shared that the change from a beloved ‘Babyface” to her new persona has led to having more fun with her current role in NXT.
The champion spoke with Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Al Castle about the decision to turn “Heel” and asked if she had second-guessed herself about the character switch. Perez replied that she was eager to embrace the role because she wanted to step out of her comfort zone as a “Babyface.”
“I was really excited, honestly. I’ve always played the babyface role, which is why I can see why people would question it a little bit and wonder if it would work,” said Perez. She added, “I’m having so much fun with it. I’m definitely getting out of my comfort zone since I have always been in that babyface role. I think it’s really fun. I think that I’m definitely really stepping out of my comfort zone, out of the little box that I was in, and I feel like I’m definitely going to be able to do some really cool stuff in the future.”
Along with the character change, “The Prodigy” has also successfully retained her championship against the likes of Jordynne Grace, Natalya, and Lola Vice. As she continues dominating the women’s division, fans wonder when Perez will take the next step and transition to the main roster.
Roxanne Perez Comments On Main Roster Move
In the interview, Perez shared her thoughts on moving to the main roster and that her current run in NXT has conflicted with her transitioning to the bigger stage. “The Prodigy” noted that when she first got to WWE, she had already considered being on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown.
While the thriving “Heel” champion enjoys her second reign as WWE NXT Women’s Champion, Perez admits that nine years of wrestling experience has made her a little impatient for moving to the main roster.
“…I’ve been training for about nine years now, so to really think about that, like, oh, dang. I’ve been in the wrestling business for almost a decade. I definitely feel young but old in wrestling years, so that part of it kind of makes me a little bit more impatient to get up there, and I feel like I have all the tools to succeed up there,” said Perez. She added, “…There is times where I feel like the clock is ticking and people always tell me, you know, ‘You’re young. You have so much time,’ but I’m like, I know I’m young, but I have so much to give right now.”
Despite Perez’s eagerness to join the main roster, she also believes that her current run in the developmental brand is part of the journey to achieve her goal. At 22, the best years of the NXT superstar career are still on the horizon. She’ll look to continue her dominance as champion and prove that she is the best on the NXT women’s roster.
In professional wrestling, podcasts covering the industry are as common as clotheslines and headlocks. For those brave explorers seeking to venture into the pro wrestling podcast vortex, we here at SEScoops want to make your journey as easy as possible.
Each week, we update you on the Top 25 most-listened-to wrestling podcast episodes, focusing on the Top 5 (including embeds). This feature is based on data from Apple Podcasts compiled by Chartable.
Up Rank
Down Rank
Unchanged
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Top 5 Wrestling Podcasts – Apple (July 18th, 2024)
As Kelly Clarkskin said in her smash hit Behind Those Hazel Eyes, “Here I am, Once again…” This is our very corny way to tell you that WWE Hall of Famer Mark Calaway, better known to the WWE Universe as The Undertaker, is once again in the #1 position of top wrestling podcast.
The former World Champion first jumped into the game in October 2023 and hasn’t looked back since.
In the latest episode of Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway, Taker and co-host Matt reflect on the “chaotic” last few episodes. In addition, The Lord of Darkness discusses what it’s like being “a flag football dad”, how the idea for him to dress as Kane came about, and also confirms if he’s “banned from the State of Vermont.”
2) Insight with Chris Van Vliet | ~
When it comes to the #2 spot on the top wrestling podcast charts, this entrant would probably make like the Jackson 5 and proclaim, “I’ll be there!” (Okay, we promise this is the last of the bad song puns – maybe).
Chris Van Vliet isn’t just one of the most well-respected interviewers in professional wrestling; he’s an internationally recognized media personality. CVV is a four-time Emmy-winning TV Host, YouTuber, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who’s interviewed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Hornswoggle.
In his latest episode, Vliet spoke with former WWE Superstar Donovan Dijak. The two spoke about his WWE departure, AEW Forbidden Door, the infamous RETRIBUTION faction, his most recent NXT run, and more!
(Want to hear more from Dijak?! Check out SEScoop’s recent interview with him here!)
3) Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru |+
Okay, one more bad music pun. Clearly a fan of Ace Frehley, Jim Cornette Back In The Top 5 Grove!, both in the #3 and #5 positions, respectively.
Love or hate him, Jim Cornette doesn’t care what you think. His presence in professional wrestling goes back decades, and he is one of the pioneers in producing weekly content on wrestling commentary.
In the most recent episode of Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru, Cornette covers a wide range of topics, including AEW Dynamite, RAW, Hulk Hogan at the RNC, and much more.
4) Busted Open | ~
Join Sirius XM’s biggest professional wrestling show, as host Dave LaGreca speaks with a rotating cast of co-hosts, including Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, Thunder Rosa, and Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler). The show covers the latest in professional wrestling news throughout the industry, with special emphasis on WWE, AEW, NJPW, and TNA.
“Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer discuss the future for AEW on TV with Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp. Also, the Fat N Furious speak with NXT’s Lexis King about his rise in WWE’s Black & Gold brand”
5) Jim Cornette Experience | –
Rounding out the Top 5 is the ever-controversial, yet purely authentic Jim Cornette.
“This week on the Experience, Jim reviews WrestleMania XL: Behind The Curtain, as well as Smackdown! Plus Jim talks about The Iron Claw, Afa in court, Khan money, Nevada, and more! Also, Jim reviews classic audio of Dream Machine quitting Jimmy Hart’s First Family in 1981!”
WWE’s first night of its ongoing tour of Japan saw the Superstars bring the action to Osaka, Japan. This tour marks WWE’s first tour of Japan since 2019 and will continue for two more nights in Tokyo.
Here are the results for WWE Live in Osaka, Japan:
Match:WWE Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) def. IYO SKY
This would be SKY’s first of two matches on the night and the Japanese Superstar got a big reaction in her home country. Morgan seemed very pleased for somebody whose heart was broken during this week’s WWE RAW.
Asuka made an appearance alongside her Damage CTRL allies to a huge pop from the crowd. This marked Meiko Satomura’s first match for WWE since February 2023. Tiffany Stratton had her Money in the Bank briefcase which was taped together after being destroyed by Bayley on a recent episode of SmackDown.
Meiko Satomura arrives in Osaka to team with Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Bayley to take on Damage CTRL & Tiffany Stratton!#WWEOsaka ?? pic.twitter.com/X9WS3PegEL
Match: WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest (c) def. Jey Uso
In a rematch from WWE Backlash: France, Uso was unable to dethrone Priest. After the match ‘Main Event Jey’ bowed to the crowd in Oska in a sign of respect. Jey and Priest also share a ‘Yeet’ at the event.
— TheUso-Twinz.com | Fansite For The Usos (@theusotwinzcom) July 25, 2024
Match: GUNTHER def. Rey Mysterio
Mysterio wore a Hanshin Tigers uniform, acknowledging the Nippon Professional Baseball team. GUNTHER, who got a lot of cheers, defeated the WWE Hall of Famer with a powerbomb, according to a fan on Twitter who attended the show.
— ??(??????1?4?1?5?????? (@KD_masaki_86) July 25, 2024
WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) def. AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura
Cody shared his gratitude to the Osaka crowd after retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship in the show’s main event. He also invited a young Japanese fan to pose with him to end the night.
