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Mustafa Ali Working Without A TNA Wrestling Contract Despite X-Division Title Reign

Thomas Lowson
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Mustafa Ali may be on quite the roll in TNA Wrestling as the X-Division Champion, but he has yet to be locked into a contract with the promotion. 

The former WWE Superstar made his debut for TNA in January of this year quickly after his non-compete clause with WWE had expired. At TNA No Surrender the following month, Ali won the X-Division Championship, marking his first taste of gold in a major wrestling promotion. 

Mustafa Ali Working Without A Contract

Mustafa Ali is yet to ink a contract with TNA Wrestling, despite his ongoing reign as X-Division Champion, Fightful Select reports. Instead, he is working on a ‘per appearance’ basis despite being one of the most prominently featured stars in TNA today. 

Mustafa Ali Outside TNA

In addition to his role with TNA, Ali has appeared for New Japan Pro Wrestling as well as a series of independent promotions. Fightful adds that other televised wrestling companies have maintained interest in possibly working with Mustafa.

TNA Contracts

Ali isn’t the only notable star whose name has come up in discussions about TNA Wrestling contracts. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are set to finish with the company very soon in a huge blow to the promotion. There were “farewells said” backstage at the most recent TNA tapings. 

Killer Kelly was believed to have finished up her time with TNA at the recent TNA Sacrifice tapings. It was later clarified that she is still under contract with TNA but is instead taking a break from wrestling for the time being. Her deal will not expire until 2025. 

What’s to Come? 

Ali will defend his title at TNA Rebellion against Jake Something. The latter earned the match by winning a ‘Rebellion Referendum’ six-way match on the March 21, episode of TNA Impact! 

The show will take place on April 20, from the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. It’ll be the sixth Rebellion event for TNA and will be headlined by TNA World Champion Moose defending his title against Nic Nemeth. 

Mike Rotunda: WWE Felt It Was Too Soon & Too Stressful On Us for Bray Wyatt’s Hall of Fame Induction

Thomas Lowson
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Bray Wyatt will not be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, but his father Mike isn’t all that upset about his late son being snubbed. 

The WWE Hall of Fame will take place on April 5, following that night’s episode of WWE SmackDown. This year’s class includes Paul Heyman, the US Express, Bull Nakano, Muhammed Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson. 

Mike Rotunda On the WWE Hall of Fame

While Mike Rotunda will be inducted this year as one-half of the US Express, his son Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda won’t be inducted as many had expected. Sitting down with Sportskeeda’s Wrestle Binge podcast, Rotunda expressed his initial surprise at this. 

“With Windham passing, I thought they were going to immediately put Windham into the Hall of Fame — which he will be at some point.”

Rotunda then explained that WWE likely felt it was too soon for Windham’s induction, which is hardly a bad thing for the family considering all they’ve been through. 

“I think that WWE reassessed stuff and thought it was too soon to go there with our family and the reactions and the stress on us.”

WWE Honors Bray Wyatt

While the three-time World Champion will not be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, WWE is doing what it can to honor Bray Wyatt. On April 1, a new documentary about Wyatt’s life and career will be released via WWE and Peacock. The new doc will be narrated by The Undertaker and include interviews with Bray’s family and colleagues. It has been reported that the release of the documentary is linked to why Wyatt won’t be inducted this year. 

Following Wyatt’s passing, WWE announced that proceeds of his merchandise would go to benefit his widow JoJo and Bray’s four children. WWE also hosted a tribute episode of SmackDown in August 2023 following his passing. 

AEW Adds Multiple Title Matches To Dynasty Pay-Per-View

Aaron Varble
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AEW is planning even more pay-per-view events in 2024, and they will have a chance to introduce Dynasty to fans in April. The card is coming together, and they booked another title match this week.

AEW Dynasty will go down in St. Louis on April 21. It will be the first-ever event of its kind, as Tony Khan’s company adds another pay-per-view to their schedule of events.

During AEW Dynamite this week, Willow Nightingale won a four-way match to become the #1 contender for Julia Hart’s TBS Title. Also, in the main event, Swerve Strickland became the #1 contender for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Title. 

New AEW Dynasty Title Matches

Willow Nightingale emerged as the top contender for the TBS Championship after winning a four-way match on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. She did so with Mercedes Mone on the commentary booth, where she provided insight during the contest.

Competing against Anna Jay, Skye Blue, and Kris Statlander, Nightingale secured the victory by pinning Anna Jay with a Doctor Bomb. Following her win, it was revealed that Nightingale would face Julia Hart for the title at AEW’s upcoming Dynasty pay-per-view.

Swerve Strickland also beat Konosuke Takeshita in the main event of the night, earning a number one contender spot for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship. Following his win, it was promptly announced that Strickland’s title challenge against Samoa Joe will headline AEW Dynasty on April 21 in New Orleans.

AEW Dynasty Plans

As of this writing, Mercedes Mone does not have a match booked for AEW Dynasty. She certainly seemed interested in the conclusion of this #1 contender match for the TBS Title.

AEW Dynasty will be the first-ever event of its kind, and it will go down on April 21 in St Louis. SEScoops will have full coverage of the event as we get closer to the big date.

AEW Dynasty Card (So Far):

  • Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Title
  • Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
  • TBD vs. TBD: Tournament final for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship
  • Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale: Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship

WWE Speed Will Introduce New Championship for Superstars

Aaron Varble
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WWE has three working brands right now, but they are about to add another show to their weekly lineup. That new show will also come with another championship.

The new WWE Speed show will make its debut on Twitter/X on April 3. The new innovative show format will also come with a new championship.

WWE Speed’s New Title

WWE commentator Corey Graves provided a few new details about WWE Speed. The new show will exclusively premiere on Twitter/X on April 3.

WWE Speed will introduce three-minute matches, showcasing wrestlers in intense competition, aiming for a new prize. Graves seemed excited to explain the format of the new show, as each match will be like a finish, to further up the intensity. With only three minutes per match, each Superstar must enter every contest like they are looking to close things quickly.

Additionally, it was confirmed that WWE will introduce a new WWE Speed Championship. Fans will see the first-ever champion crowned through a unique tournament format on the upcoming show.

WWE did not reveal what their new Speed Championship will look like.

WWE and Social Media Shows

Some fans are getting WWE Mixed Match Challenge vibes from the new WWE Speed show, and they have a reason to feel this way. Much like how the mixed tag team show was exclusively on Facebook, the new WWE Speed show is being produced through a deal with Twitter/X.

These are not the only digital programs that WWE has going. WWE The Bump still airs every Wednesday, with interviews and recaps from the week. Some older fans may also remember WWE’s original venture into the digital space with Byte This that streamed through their website from 1997 to 2006.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is available. 

“She Couldn’t Wrestle”: Becky Lynch Takes Aim at Ronda Rousey’s Skills In WWE

Aaron Varble
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Ronda Rousey has not been shy about spreading her opinion on WWE since her exit from the company. Likewise, Becky Lynch has a firm opinion on the former Women’s Champion as well. The Man recently stated that Ronda Rousey couldn’t wrestle when she entered WWE, and she was mishandled after that.

Becky Lynch stated that Ronda Rousey couldn’t wrestle when she made her way to WWE. Lynch suggested that Rousey was given special treatment and not given sufficient time to develop her wrestling craft before being pushed into the spotlight.

The Man Speaks on the Baddest Woman on the Planet

While speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Becky Lynch opened up about Ronda Rousey. She said that the Baddest Woman on the Planet couldn’t wrestle. The company only placed her in a position where she was protected, but it was not “off to the races” as many perceived at the time following Rousey’s in-ring debut.

“I mean this with respect, but she couldn’t wrestle. Like, what we do isn’t just something that you can have one good match and then, okay, yeah, I’m off to races. It’s a craft and you have to learn your craft. And you have to be diligent about learning your craft. But everybody treated Ronda like she already knew it because when she first came in she was good in that first bout, but she was working with Kurt Angle, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon — it was a well-rehearsed match, because everyone wanted her to have a good first match. Then it was like, ‘okay she can do this it’s off to the races,’ and that was mishandling her.”

Becky vs Ronda

Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch were supposed to have a match at Survivor Series in 2018, but that didn’t happen. Nia Jax famously broke Lynch’s face before the match, creating an eternal meme in the process, but it took The Man out of that match, where Charlotte Flair had to take her spot.

At WWE WrestleMania 35, Becky Lynch won a historic Triple Threat match for both the WWE RAW Women’s Title and the WWE SmackDown Women’s Title. She faced off against Charlotte Flair, who held the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and Ronda Rousey, who was the RAW Women’s Champion. This was the first-ever women’s main event in Mania history as well.

Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey never got their one-on-one match against Ronda Rousey. At this point, it does not seem likely that the contest will ever get booked.

The Man’s Future in WWE

Becky Lynch admitted that her deal with WWE expires in two months. We will have to see what she does next, but The Man admitted that she is not concerned about her current situation.

Lynch will battle Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. She has already expressed a desire to open up the two-day WrestleMania event with that contest.

Becky Lynch Announces Her WWE Contract Expires Within 2 Months

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a few interesting contract situations, but the even more fascinating part is that new deals have yet to be signed for some top talent. This may give fans a look at how TKO Group Holdings will handle these contract renewals.

Becky Lynch has not inked a new deal with WWE yet, and she recently confirmed that her current contract runs out in a matter of months. If The Man doesn’t ink a new agreement with WWE, then she may be a free agent in two months’ time.

Becky Lynch Speaks on WWE Contract Status

Lynch joined The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani as a guest on Wednesday, where she disclosed that she’s in the last two months of her existing contract with WWE. She mentioned that discussions regarding a contract extension have yet to commence.

Though Lynch largely evaded Helwani’s inquiry about her contract, she expressed skepticism that this would be her final WrestleMania. Lynch is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Helwani inquired if Lynch has the liberty to converse with non-WWE companies, as he asked, “Can you engage with others?”

“Ahhh…I’m with WWE,” Lynch replied. Then Helwani followed up with, “So it’s WWE or nothing?”

“Yeah, I’m uncertain,” Becky Lynch finally replied. She also admitted that it is not common for her not to have a new deal, with her current agreement expiring in a matter of months.

Then, Ariel Helwani asked her if she feels offended by the idea that she doesn’t have a new deal in front of her. The Man replied honestly to his point.

At this stage in the game, contrary to a lot of the thoughts in this book of where I was coming up, I am so confident in my ability and my worth. Nah, I’m not worried.

Other WWE Contract News

In other contract news, Drew McIntyre is reportedly telling people that he has no new deal with the company either. The Scottish Warrior is set to battle Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 40.

WWE has several contracts running up this year, because they inked so many Superstars to new contracts in 2021, and now those deals are coming up. We will have to see how TKO Group Holdings handles these new contract situations, but it will be very interesting to see what kind of precedent they set.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from the pro wrestling world, so please keep checking back for more updates.

Deal Ticking Down: Drew McIntyre’s Current WWE Contract Status on Road to WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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Drew McIntyre will battle Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. All of that attention on the Scottish Warrior apparently hasn’t encouraged him to ink a new deal.

It is now reported that, despite Drew McIntyre’s road to a World Heavyweight Title match at WrestleMania, and the continued feud against CM Punk, that no new deal has been signed. McIntyre’s contract is still set to run out in the not too distant future.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE Contract Status

PW Insider reports that Drew McIntyre has given the impression to those close to him that he still has no new deal arranged with WWE. This fact comes in light of the fact that WWE has booked him in an incredibly strong role on the road to WrestleMania 40.

“The belief is that everyone is working under the understanding a new deal will be struck, but the word out of his camp is that nothing has been signed and that whatever his next move will be, focusing on family will be a major piece of the decision.”

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk

Drew McIntyre won’t stop with the shade at CM Punk. The two even traded insults on the March 25 episode of RAW in Chicago.

On a related note, I was able to confirm that Punk’s line about Vince McMahon was totally improvised. We will have to see if there is more of a plan for Punk and Drew to collide down the line, but it may require him to ink a new deal with WWE.

Drew put Punk on his merchandise, and he continues to troll him mercilessly. That is why McIntyre showed up at Mindy’s Bakery in Chicago before RAW to take a shot at Punk’s Brawl Out past. 

McIntyre has also commented on how CM Punk is “made of glass,” as he continues to hype an eventual collision. The trolling has not stopped from Drew to Punk, so one must think that he wants to eventually cash in with a match. Only time will tell what he does with his next contract situation.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

WWE Discussing WrestleMania 40 Spot For Hulk Hogan

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is only ten days away, and the speculation and reports about WWE’s plan for the show of shows is not slowing down at all.

It is now being reported that WWE is talking about having Hulk Hogan do something at WrestleMania 40. It is not known what their intention is, but the Hulkster may be at the showcase of the immortals this year.

Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 40

PW Insider reports that WWE is currently talking about bringing Hulk Hogan on board for WrestleMania 40 weekend. Although it’s not expected that Hogan will be part of any storylines or angles, WWE is looking to have him show up at some point during the event’s activities.

Hulk Hogan has played host of WrestleMania in the past. We will have to see what role they give him this year, if he can make the journey to Philly. As of this writing, WWE has not announced any host for WrestleMania yet.

More Legends At WrestleMania 40

WWE has also reportedly reached out to Steve Austin about an appearance at WrestleMania 40. As of this writing, we do not know if The Texas Rattlesnake has accepted that invitation.

John Cena has already stated that he has time off for WrestleMania. It was also reported that the 16x World Champion wants to do something for the show of shows this year.

Controversy Surrounding Hulk Hogan

In July 2015, National Enquirer and Radar Online released details of a leaked sex tape from 2007 in which Hulk Hogan made offensive comments. He expressed strong disapproval of his daughter dating a black man, using racial slurs in the recording, including the N-word. He also admitted to being “a racist, to a point.”

Hogan has gone on to apologize for those comments, citing that he was going through a very difficult part of his life when that recording was made. He has made select returns to WWE since then, but he has not established himself as a weekly face on television since.

SEScoops will keep an eye on this story, and so many more from all over the pro wrestling world. So please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

Clearing Up Confusion: Ivar’s Expected WWE In-Ring Return Following Concerning Social Media Post

Aaron Varble
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WWE doesn’t need any more injuries on the road to WrestleMania, so any Superstar who goes out of action is going to cause attention. This is exactly what happened with Ivar, but now we have an update.

Ivar was supposed to face Andrade on RAW this week, but Giovanni Vinci had to take his spot. After fan concern started to grow about the Viking Warrior, it is now reported that he will not miss more in-ring action.

Ivar’s Current Status

Ivar concerned some fans after he missed RAW. He posted a photo from an X-Ray, but it seems that is not an indication of his current status.

Sean Ross Sapp posted an update about Ivar on Fightful Select. It is reported that Ivar is going to be okay, and he won’t miss any more time from the ring. That image he posted was an older X-ray, so fans shouldn’t be worried.

Ivar is not expected to miss any extended time in the ring. The X-Ray he posted on twitter Monday was from his previous neck injury.

The Viking Raiders on RAW

It was previously reported that Ivar is going to be fine after missing this week’s episode of WWE RAW. Now, 1/2 of the Viking Raiders will continue.

Erik recently underwent C6/C7 neck fusion surgery and is currently in the process of recovery. To help with his rehabilitation, Erik and his wife Valhalla went to get stem cell therapy at the Ways2Well clinic in Austin, Texas.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more as more information is known. Keep checking back for more updates and headlines on the stories that you need.

WWE Has Made Contact With Steve Austin About WrestleMania 40 Role

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s biggest event of the year is coming up in 10 days, and there is no shortage of WrestleMania hype. It appears that fans may need to expect the Texas Rattlesnake as well.

Although nothing has been confirmed, WWE has been in contact with Steve Austin about making an appearance at WrestleMania 40.

WWE Wants Austin For WrestleMania

PW Insider reports that WWE is in discussions to include Stone Cold Steve Austin in WrestleMania 40 weekend. The details of Austin’s role are undisclosed, but an overture has been made.

Steve Austin’s appearance on a production truck during this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW was noticed by many fans. Several other legends have also been rumored for WrestleMania 40 weekend, because John Cena was on that truck as well.

WWE’s WrestleMania Aspirations

It was previously reported that WWE is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40. As of this writing, we have not heard of any possible role that they will play at the show of shows.

Steve Austin’s last match took place at WrestleMania 38 in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens. That marked Austin’s first match to date since WrestleMania XIX in 2003.

John Cena and WrestleMania 40

It was reported in February that John Cena wants to do “something” for WrestleMania 40. He has since confirmed that he has the day off.

Cena is going to start shooting the second season of Peacemaker in the early summer. We will have to see if WWE can get Cena to appear at the show of shows before that obligation starts.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back throughout the day for more updates.

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair Are Still Working On Repairing Their Friendship

Tyriece Simon
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WWE fans rejoiced last year when friends turned rivals Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair teamed up in a Wargames Match at WWE Survivor Series. For a few years, their relationship was strained and evident when they both were on TV. However, Lynch and Flair were able to reconcile and appear to be on better terms lately. 

In her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl, Lynch discusses her relationship with Flair from her perspective. She also discussed their fallout and reconciliation in depth in a recent interview with Adam Silverstein of Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast.  

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair at WWE Survivor Series Press Conference 

Lynch was asked about how they repaired their friendship and her thoughts on where she stands with her currently. Lynch replied that despite their issues, they still loved each other and would’ve been there for each other in bad times. She also noted the passing of her peers like Bray Wyatt and put into perspective that life is too short to hold on to past issues. 

“…Having that hostility towards somebody kind of weighs on you, you know what I mean? I think life is too short for that and we witnessed that. We’ve seen the tragic passing of people that went far too young, like Bray Wyatt, like Luke Harper, and other friends who passed away that were very close to me in the last few months too, and so all of those things I think as you grow and mature you realize that these petty differences aren’t worth the toxicity it leaves in you and the weight that it carries,” said Lynch.

She also confirmed that the interactions fans saw from them at the WWE Survivor Series were genuine and that they reconciled. 

More On Becky Lynch’s New Book

Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl is available on Amazon and other platforms in hardcover, digital, and audio. Her peers, including her husband, Seth Rollins, Stephenie McMahon, and John Cena, have praised the book. 

One of the notable praises comes from Mick Foley, who helped inspire her to write a memoir.

Amazon shared and transcribed Foley’s thoughts on her book on their website. 

“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read. Actually, it was equal parts, honor and pleasure; Becky allowed me in on the ground floor of her creative process, and I read with great joy as she found her voice as a writer. I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”

Lynch’s rollout of her new book seems to be going very well as she explores a new career venture. The hope is that she will add becoming a New York Times Best-Selling Author to her many accomplishments over the years.  

Former AEW Star Joins The New FBI In TNA

Dominic DeAngelo
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Don’t you dare “fuggedabout” The Full-Blooded Italians as Little Guido Maritato and two new members found a shiny new residence in TNA.

TNA was in Philadelphia this past weekend and being the home of ECW, Maritato brought the FBI back during the tapings at the 2300, the original ECW Arena on the corner of Swanson and Ritner.

Kevin McElvany, the editor for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, was on hand to document the tapings and he happened to capture the moment where Maritato introduced TNA to the new FBI which consisted of himself, Ray Jaz and former AEW star Zack Clayton.

Guido and Ray Jaz have previously teamed several times as The FBI in Major League Wrestling, but Clayton is a brand new member. Now he joins the legendary ranks of Tommy Rich, Tracy Smothers, JT Smith, Big Sal and Tony Mamaluke.

Introducing Ray Jaz & Zack Clayton, The New FBI Members

Zack Clayton was a member of the AEW roster, originally signing with the company back in October of 2022 but originally appeared on the program starting in 2020 as an extra. Clayton, whose real name is Zack Carpinello (very Italian), recieved a great deal of noteriety as JWoww’s fiance. He’s appeared on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

As for Ray Jaz, he is originally from South Plainfield, NJ and became an NCAA All-American while at NYU. He’s already shown his great athleticism in the MLW squared circle. Jaz and Little Guido have teamed up for over a year and their move to TNA is a new step for the faction.

WWE Releases Bizarre Roman Reigns ‘Diss’ With Unknown Artist on Spotify

Thomas Lowson
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Roman Reigns may demand the acknowledgement of fans, but WWE has shared a bizarre ‘diss track’ of the Tribal Chief. 

On Spotify, WWE has shared two tracks as part of this ‘Roman Reigns Diss’ with Kmg Bezzal. The tracks in question are ‘Purgin’ and ‘Switch That Flow.’ 

WWE On Spotify

On Spotify, WWE boasts 2.4 million monthly listeners and a bevy of music content from across decades of the promotion’s history. Currently, WWE’s most popular track is ‘This Fire Burns’ from the ‘WWE Wreckless Intent’ album. The track is best known as the theme CM Punk used from 2006 until 2011 (and was used one time by Randy Orton.)

As for Reigns, his theme is almost immensely popular among listeners. Reigns theme ‘Head of the Table’ currently sits as the third-most popular track from WWE, with 30.16 million listens. 

What’s Next for the Tribal Chief? 

Diss or no diss, Roman Reigns will be in action next week as part of WWE WrestleMania 40. On the Saturday show, Reigns will team with The Rock to face Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes. 

The next night, Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rhodes. If The Bloodline wins the tag-team match on Night One, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’ A victory for Rhodes and Rollins will mean The Bloodline will be barred from ringside. 

Whatever stipulation is decided upon, the main event spot of WrestleMania is familiar territory for Reigns. This year’s two nights will be the 8th and 9th main events at the show for the Tribal Chief. 

Can’t get enough of Spotify? We at SE Scoops have our own podcast on the streaming platform! Check it out below. 

Mike Santana Details Why He & Ortiz Spilt Up

Dominic DeAngelo
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Santana and Ortiz were one of AEW’s most popular tag teams, but the two’s friendship became very fractured and their professional relationship ended.

When there were reports of tension between the two, many speculated that it could have been storyline-based, but that wasn’t the case. 

In a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Santana talked about how him and Ortiz grew apart over time.

“We were together for 10 years, I think. When you’re together with someone that long, it’s like a married couple. There’s good, there’s bad, and I think, honestly, for the most part, it was like, I think we just grew apart over time.”

Santana says that the two’s philosophy on tag team wrestling became different and implied that he and Ortiz had different drives when it came to moving forward in the pro wrestling world.

“I’m a go-getter. I like to create opportunities for myself. I’m more than willing to fight for our spot, but also, I’m not going to be the only one.”

When asked if he and Ortiz still had heat with one another, Santana said that he holds no ill will to his former tag team partner and is in a different place in his life than he was during that time.

Santana & Ortiz really first caught fire during their run in TNA and it prompted Tony Khan and AEW to pick the duo up. They soon became a primary aspect to Chris Jericho’s first All Elite faction, The Inner Circle. Despite their popularity, they never did capture the AEW World Tag Titles and actually did turn their real life tension into an on-air storyline. Santana was released by AEW earlier this month.

Credit to Chris Van Vliet and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Game-Changing Money: Becky Lynch Comments On Mercedes Mone’s AEW Payday

Aaron Varble
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Mercedes Mone is just starting to make her mark in AEW, but she’s been under contract for a few months already. Tony Khan has also been cutting her some very large checks in the process.

Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but The Man is happy for The CEO’s new deal. She recently commented to say that the important part of the whole thing is that women are getting paid equally to their male counterparts.

Lynch Reacts To Mone’s Big Money Deal

Mercedes Mone’s new deal with AEW is a substantial one. In fact, she shattered the glass ceiling, and it’s now said that she is the highest-paid woman in the pro wrestling business. 

While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Becky Lynch touched on Mercedes Mone’s new AEW contract. She said that the important part is that women are getting paid on a higher level. Mercedes’ new deal is certainly proving that to be the case.

“I think that’s an important part, getting paid equally for the equal work and the equal position we are at right now,” Lynch said. “Women’s evolutions and revolutions are fine and well, but making sure that they equate to contracts and financial reward for these things when we are doing equal work, is hugely important.”

Mercedes Mone and WWE

It was reported that WWE and Mercedes Mone came to a financial roadblock when it came to bringing her in. It was noted that she didn’t want to be paid more than everyone on the women’s roster, but she did want to be paid what top stars are making. 

Mercedes Mone also said that she envisions herself going back to WWE someday. She said that prior to her AEW debut, but she was still under contract. That comment ruffled some feathers within AEW. Tony Khan has since endorsed Mercedes as a possible face of AEW.

Bayley said that she begs Mercedes every chance she gets to make a WWE return. The former Damage CTRL leader was actually at AEW Big Business in Boston along with Naomi and Tamina Snuka to see Mercedes Mone’s big debut first-hand. She later said that seeing Mercedes’ debut was a bittersweet moment.

Ridge Holland Is Not Actually Retired From WWE

Bishal Roy
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Ridge Holland announced that he’s stepping away from in-ring competition on Tuesday’s NXT television, but this is only a storyline and there are no plans for the 35-year-old grappler to legitimately retire from active competition.

Holland has faced a great deal of online backlash from fans due to his habit of inadvertently injuring his opponents. Most notably, it was Holland who dropped Big E on his head, putting him out of action for several years with a less than likely chance he’ll ever return. The former Brawling Brute was also involved when Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly sustained an injury. 

This is yet another instance of WWE turning a ‘real life’ situation and blurring the line between fact and fiction to fuel on-air angles. Fightful notes that Holland has been receptive to the angle, which is an encouraging sign, considering that Holland has let it be known that the public backlash he’s received has affected his mental health.

Ridge Holland Steps Aside

Holland delivered an emotional promo on Tuesday’s NXT and stunned the fans with his announcement. He said he’s been going through a lot lately and is concerned for the safety of not only his opponents, but himself. 

The segment ended with Holland leaving the ring and NXT Universe chanting “Thank you, Ridge.” 

In an effort to convince fans that Holland’s situation is legitimate, WWE swiftly moved his ‘Superstar Bio’ to the ‘Alumni’ section of the company website. Fans on social media noticed the change immediately. From WWE’s viewpoint, they took the bait.

WWE is currently gearing up for NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, which takes place Saturday, April 6, just hours before WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA. 

NXT Stand & Deliver Hosts Are Set

Bishal Roy
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Meta-Four will host NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, the next premium live event scheduled for WWE’s developmental brand.

This week’s NXT TV saw various talents participating in an ‘Open Call’ to earn this honor, which was held by Pretty Deadly last year. 

By the end of the broadcast, the hosting duties were awarded to Meta-Four’s Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakarta Jackson.

Jackson took to her Twitter/X and shared her thoughts on the news. 

Meta-Four are also set to host Supernova Sessions with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez on the go-home edition on April 2. 

During the March 26 episode of WWE NXT, Oba Femi also announced that he will be putting up his North American Title on the line against Dijak and Josh Briggs in a triple threat match. 

Stand & Deliver Matches

  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat for the NXT North American Championship

Daily Drop (3/27): Internal WWE Policy Leak, AEW Changing Pay-Per-View Platform

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 27. WWE NXT added a big triple threat title match to their Stand & Deliver event last night, and there’s a lot more to get into.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 10

WWE:

– WWE RAW Ratings: RAW averaged 1.729 million viewers for their 3/25 episode from Chicago. This number is up from last week, when RAW averaged 1.687 million viewers. They also garnered a .57 rating in the coveted 18 to 49 demographic this week.

– Punk’s Warning For Rock: CM Punk commented on The Rock recently, and he is confident that they will cross paths at this point.

– Indefinite Hiatus: Ridge Holland announced during WWE NXT this week that he is stepping away from the ring. It was later confirmed by Sean Ross Sapp that this is all a work and not really a retirement of any kind.

– Superstars Spotted In Public: Also, CM Punk, Jackie Redman, and Jey Uso were recently spotted at a Chicago Blackhawks game.

– Man Against The World: Becky Lynch has a nice new t-shirt on the WWE Shop. You may click here to see what they have to offer.

– Internal Leak: WWE’s policy on consensual workplace relationships leaked, and it’s worth a read. This document was updated in 2023, and it says that superiors are not allowed to date people under them in the company.

– NXT Stand & Deliver Card: You can check out the latest Stand & Deliver card below.

  • Host: Meta-Four
  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes: Singles match
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez: Singles match for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat match for the NXT North American Title

AEW:

– PPV Move: Starting with AEW Dynasty on April 21, all AEW pay-per-views will be on Triller in the United States, not B/R Live.

– Good To Wrestle: AEW’s Nigel McGuinness said that he felt fine getting back in the ring.

– AEW x WWE Friendship: AEW star Konosuke Takeshita was recently spotted with Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style posted a photo of the two on his Twitter/X account. It appears that they had a good meeting.

– AEW Dynamite Card: You may find the card for the March 27 edition of Dynamite below.

  • Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: The Young Bucks vs. Private Party
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom
  • Winner Earns TBS Title Shot: Anna Jay vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue

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.

Corey Graves & Michael Cole Provide Commentary For New Godzilla X Kong Trailer

Thomas Lowson
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A new trailer for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire has a WWE feel to it, thanks to the promotion’s commentary duo of Corey Graves and Michael Cole. 

Taking to Instagram, Graves shared the new trailer that features himself and Cole providing a voiceover for the action. In the caption, Graves said that it’s an “amazing thrill” to have his voice in the trailer considering that he grew up obsessed with monster movies. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C4-oZktudww

Godzilla X Kong: The New Frontier

The new film is a sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise that began with 2014’s stand-alone Godzilla film. While the two behemoths were adversaries in the previous film. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire sees the pair forced to team up to defeat a powerful, climate-changing Titan from destroying the Earth’s surface. 

Graves & Cole in the Movies

While neither Corey Graves nor Michael Cole appear in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, the pair have featured in films in the past. Graves played Gunnar in 2011‘s Kingdom of Gladiators and played himself in 2020’s The Main Event, a WWE Studios production. 

Cole has been in four films from WWE Studios which were all animated features. He made his acting debut in 2014’s Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery as himself. He would appear in the film’s sequel ‘Curse of the Speed Demon‘ as well as Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania and The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania!

“That Was Suck A**!” Stone Cold Calls Infamous Attitude Era Angle His Worst Storyline

Thomas Lowson
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‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was part of some of wrestling’s biggest angles, but there was one storyline in his career that the Rattlesnake is not a fan of. 

Austin was one of, if not the big star of the Attitude Era. During the acclaimed era of wrestling, Austin held the WWF Championship on multiple occasions and won the gold at WrestleMania on three separate occasions. 

Austin’s Worst Storyline

In 1999, Austin’s lengthy career and litany of injuries were catching up to him and he needed time off from the promotion to recover. In one of the most infamous angles, Austin was run down by a mystery assailant at Survivor Series 1999. 

On a recent edition of his Stone Cold Podcast, Austin recalled the angle. The WWE Hall of Famer made clear that he was not a fan of the storyline. 

“Me being clipped by a god dang car! S**t, that was the worst storyline I was ever involved in. But we had to come up with a way so that we could get my a** out of the way.”

Austin added that while he needed to have his neck fusion surgery, the storyline was still a “suck-a** angle.”

What Came Next? 

After a one-off appearance at Backlash 2000, Austin returned to programming in late 2000, determined to find his attacker. It was revealed that Rikishi ran down Austin and falsely claimed he “did it for The Rock.”

This led to a brief, one-sided feud that saw Austin demolish Rikishi on pay-per-view. Feeling the angle wasn’t working, the storyline changed and it was revealed that Rikishi was the driver but was working on the orders of Triple H. 

Austin At WrestleMania 40?

With WrestleMania 40 mere weeks away, there has been speculation regarding a role for Stone Cold at the two-night spectacle. Austin’s status for the show would depend on what he’s willing to do. The Texas Rattlesnake was shown on a production truck on this week’s Raw, a move many feel was more than mere coincidence. 

H/T – ITR Wrestling

CM Punk, Seth Rollins & Drew McIntyre Were Given Plenty of Freedom for 3/25 WWE Raw Segment

Thomas Lowson
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Some WWE Superstars were given far more flexibility than usual with their promo during the March 25, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

The penultimate Raw before WWE WrestleMania 40 took place at the All-State Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The show went off the air in shocking fashion with Cody Rhodes being left a bloodied heap by The Rock, fulfilling his promise to make the American Nightmare bleed. 

Punk, McIntyre & Rollins on Raw

Raw also saw Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk share a segment ahead of the World Heavyweight Championship match between Rollins and McIntyre at WrestleMania 40. The segment culminated with Punk, who’s had issues with both men, announcing he will be the guest commentator for their title match. 

Given Leeway

Rather than the usual scripted dialogue that is expected to be recited word-for-word, this week’s segment saw the talent given more leeway, Fightful Select reports. While there was a general outline of the direction of the promo, Punk, McIntyre, and Rollins were free to express themselves and gauge the audiences’ reaction to their improvisation. WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was listed as the producer of the segment. 

Caught Off Guard

During the segment, the fans rallied for Punk to be the guest referee of the upcoming match, though the Chicago-Made star questioned if he could be objective with the two “dips**ts.” This profanity caught WWE’s production team off-guard, especially following a memo reminding talent of the importance of keeping their language PG. 

Despite this, there were no reported issues backstage following the segment. Later in the show, The Rock also used some expletives during his beatdown on Cody Rhodes. 

WWE’s CM Punk, Jey Uso & Jackie Redmond Attend NHL Chicago Blackhawks Game

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk, Jey Uso, and Jackie Redmond all had a blast at a recent NHL game in Chicago, Illinois, following the March 25, episode of Raw in the Windy City. 

On Raw, Punk shared a segment with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre ahead of their World Heavyweight Championship showdown at WrestleMania 40. Punk, who has had issues with both men, would reveal that he will be on commentary for their much-anticipated title match on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

In the main event of the show, Jey Uso lived up to his ‘Main Event’ moniker with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. 

WWE Stars at the Chicago Blackhawks Game

The day after this week’s Raw in Chicago, Punk, Uso, and Redmond watched the Chicago Blackhawks in action against the Calgary Flames. Their presence didn’t go unnoticed by the Blackhawks as the trio appeared on the video screens. 

Jackie Redmond, who is an interviewer and correspondent for Monday Night Raw, added that this game was Uso’s first time at a hockey game. 

The trio of WWE talents clearly had fun at the Blackhawks game and will have been thrilled with the result. The Blackhawks got an early 2-0 advantage in the first third of the game and defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1. 

Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40 

Punk isn’t the only name who attended the Blackhawks game set for a major role at WrestleMania 40. Jey Uso will take on his brother Jimmy Uso at the show. This match comes months after Jimmy betrayed Jey at SummerSlam 2023 when Jey challenged Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat. 

This will be the third sibling showdown at WrestleMania. Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart at WrestleMania X in 1994 while Matt Hardy bested his younger brother Jeff at WrestleMania 25 in 2009. 

Ace Steel Opening Foundation of Professional Wrestling School in April 2024

Thomas Lowson
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Ace Steel will bring his decades of experience in the wrestling business to a new wrestling school that is set to welcome its first class next month. 

The Foundation of Professional Wrestling will open its doors in April 2024 in the Orlando, Florida area, a press release recently confirmed. The school is described in its own material as “the most advanced Professional Wrestling school” in the United States. 

Steel will serve as the school’s head coach. He has worked for several major organizations throughout his career including WWE, Ring of Honor, TNA, OVW, the NWA, and NOAH. 

Ace Steel As A Trainer

Steel is perhaps best known for being the original trainer of CM Punk, a fact that was made reference to on AEW programming in 2022. The Best in the World isn’t the only notable name to be trained by Steel. WWE Hall of Famer Lita, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, and Grayson Waller are among those trained by Steel. 

Outside of the role as a trainer, Steel has served as a coach for the WWE Performance Center and as a producer for WWE NXT. After joining AEW, he served as a producer, coach, and as part of the creative team for the company. He currently serves as a producer and coach for TNA Wrestling. 

Harley Race Inspiration

The new wrestling school will bring a “no-nonsense approach” to training, bestowed upon Steel by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race. This brand of training inspired by the great NWA Heavyweight Champion is said to create “the most complete foundation meshing with a modern style that supports wrestlers carrying on to every major organization.”

Drew McIntyre Speaks Of A Different Sacrifice While Pursuing WWE Dream

Dominic DeAngelo
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Drew McIntyre came to a sobering realization when he was home in Scotland for a friend’s wedding.

Speaking with SHAK Wrestling of CBS Sports, the number one contender for Seth Rollins’ WWE World Heavyweight Championship opened up about how he recently got to see a great deal of his friends in Scotland, some of which he hasn’t seen in over a decade because his longtime friend Blair was getting married.

“I had seen people who were friends who I had not seen in 20 years. I’ve been gone for legitimately 17 years from Scotland to growing up in America. I was part of WWE. It hit me. ‘Wow, I’ve missed a lot. I feel kind of guilty about it.'”

McIntyre said that he was constantly of the mindset that he was the one making the sacrifice leaving home, traveling to shows and putting in the work to become a pro wrestler, but that recent visit made him think that it has been his family and friends, not himself, making the sacrifice.

“They gave up their son, their nephew, their brother, and their uncle who has missed so many important events because he’s chasing his dream and they encourage me to chase my dream. I really started wising up to that and I felt very guilty.”

Drew McIntyre Plans To Pay His Family’s Sacrifice Off At WrestleMania 40

Two targets Drew McIntyre hasn’t shown any ounce of guilt for his his handling of Seth Rollins or CM Punk. In pursuit for a WrestleMania main event, McIntyre has found a new heel self on WWE television and on the 3/25 episode of WWE Raw, McIntyre greatly took aim at the injuried CM Punk. 

However, he’ll have to face Rollins in Philly while Punk will be behind the commentary table, but McIntyre did make note how rewarding it will be if he gets to hand the gold over to someone special back in Scotland.

“I want to give my family that title. I want to give my dad that title,” McIntyre said. “I want to put that title in his hands and say, ‘Here it is. This is what it was all about since I was five years old and you would constantly be telling my brother and I to stop wrestling around the bedroom. … I finally have it and I can finally give it to you and I can finally say, ‘Hey, I did it. I’m the champion of the world.'”

AEW Has A New PPV Home In The United States

Dominic DeAngelo
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0

AEW will have a new PPV host moving forward in 2024 and it will start with their upcoming Dynasty event on April 21 in St. Louis, MO.

Since its inception, Bleacher Report was the PPV home to All Elite Wrestling, but starting with Dynasty, AEW PPVs will now be airing on TrillerTV+. TrillerTV (formerly known as Fite TV) has played host to countless wrestling events including shows from GCW, Major League Wrestling and Starrcast.

It’s been a struggle with AEW on Bleacher Report as some users had experienced technical difficulties and even trouble purchasing the events themselves.

More AEW PPVs In 2024

With AEW Dynasty, Tony Khan has indicated that the PPV will signify a new era for All Elite Wrestling and speaking with the media ahead of AEW Revolution. Khan was asked if he had plans for more PPVs in 2024. In 2023, AEW presented a total of eight PPVs, but now he aims to have around nine or ten.

AEW Dynasty will certainly have some fresh elements once it goes down on April 21. Since Revolution took place, both Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Monet made their official debut for the company. Dynasty already has a major match signed for the event as Will Ospreay will square off against Bryan Danielson in one of the headline fights. While not confirmed, it appears that the company is angling to have Samoa Joe defend his AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, but before Swerve has a chance at getting a shot, he must face Konosuke Takeshita this week on AEW Dynamite.

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