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Wyatt Sicks Hack Into The Pat McAfee Show Ahead of July 15 WWE Raw

Michael Reichlin
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WWE’s Wyatt Sicks faction hacked into Pat McAfee’s The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN on Monday ahead of tonight’s 7/15 WWE Raw. This clip of the group’s latest psychological warfare towards McAfee sets the stage for what’s to come in a matter of hours on live on the USA Network.

The Wyatt Sicks have had everyone in WWE on edge since their violent debut on the June 17, 2024 edition of WWE Raw. The faction has been leaving mysterious VHS tapes at various locations, including the announce desk and Pat McAfee’s show, containing cryptic messages and featuring Bo Dallas and Uncle Howdy. Bo Dallas’ recent invasion of Raw General Manager Adam Pearce’s office on a recent RAW episode shows that nobody is safe.

Pat McAfee appears to be a primary target of the Wyatt Sicks, with multiple incidents of interruptions and cryptic messages directed at him. McAfee should be in a great mood for tonight’s WWE Raw as fans wait to see how the Wyatt Sicks follow through on their taunts.

Pat McAfee’s Message to WWE

WWE Raw announcer Pat McAfee unusually addressed WWE in a public message on X.

A fearful McAfee wrote, “Hey WWE, I’ll be bringing this [Wyatt Sicks] box tonight to WWE Raw. Could you please let the Wyatt’s know that I am a massive fan and I believe Michael Cole would be a much better handler of the box… and also let them know that it has been an ABSOLUTE HONOR to transfer it a couple of times now but, it’s very ok for me not to. CAN’T WAIT FOR TONIGHT”

5 Years On: Looking Back At The Debut Of ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt

Thomas Lowson
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On the July 15, 2019, edition of Monday Night Raw, the WWE Universe was introduced to one of the company’s most creepy yet captivating characters. Just over an hour into the show, Finn Balor defeated Samoa Joe, but the night was going to get much worse for the Irish Superstar. After the match, Balor would become the first victim of ‘The Fiend’ a demonic new side to Bray Wyatt that had been teased for months. Today, on the fifth anniversary of the character’s arrival, we look back on what brought the Fiend to TV.

Before The Fiend

In the six years on WWE’s main roster before the arrival of The Fiend, Bray Wyatt had been one of the most consistently captivating Superstars. In 2016, Wyatt captured the SmackDown Tag Team Titles and followed up by becoming WWE Champion the following year.

More important though than titles, was how Wyatt was able to draw in a crowd with his mastery of character work. From John Cena to The Undertaker to Roman Reigns, it seemed nobody could escape Wyatt’s mind games as he played on potential weaknesses in some of WWE’s biggest stars. This work rightly earned Wyatt a ‘cult-like’ following who were eager to see what was next for him.

LA Knight Wishes He Wasn’t Bray Wyatt’s Last Match

Teasing The Fiend

After vanishing from our screens in early 2019, Wyatt returned in April of that year with a character far different than what we’d seen. Gone was the Max Cady-inspired swamp-dweller, now replaced with an excitable sweater-donned Bray who looked like more like Mr. Rogers than an ‘Eater of Worlds.’

Introducing the WWE Universe to the Firefly Fun House was a brilliant stroke by Wyatt as it added some much-appreciated lore to a character fans had already learned so much (and yet not enough) about. The idea of a children’s presenter with a twisted side proved especially chilling for any parents watching and delivered a sense of dread never before seen in WWE.

The Fiend Arrives

In the episodes of the Firefly Fun House, the jovial Wyatt teased that somebody was coming and that he wouldn’t be able to stop them. That force proved to be the Fiend who from the moment fans saw him, captivated audiences. With a striking design crafted by horror effects staple Jason Baker, the Fiend’s chilling look was another success story to Bray’s latest creation.

The Fiend was able to handle himself in the ring, as seen with his two reigns as WWE Universal Champion, but the character’s best work arguably came outside the squared circle. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced WWE to think outside the box without crowds, and Wyatt would again show his creative chops in the cinematic Firefly Fun House match. The WrestleMania 36 showdown with John Cena saw both participants craft a rich story that saw The Fiend best the man he failed to defeat at the event six years earlier.

Braun Strowman: ‘I Feel Bray Wyatt In My Life Every Single Day’

The Fiend Today

In August 2023, Bray Wyatt passed away at the tragically young age of 36 and WWE has, for all intents and purposes, retired The Fiend character. Nevertheless, the creative vision of Windham Rotunda can still be felt today with the recently introduced Wyatt Sicks. Like all great creative minds, Rotunda’s legacy has surpassed his own mortal life, and the WWE Universe will always appreciate (and fear) The Fiend.

Matt Cardona Talks In-Ring Return, GCW-WWE, John Cena’s Retirement & Chelsea Green’s Success

Scott Fishman
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Matt Cardona made independent pro wrestling his kingdom. “The Indy God” was in the middle of the most successful run of his career until he was sidelined with a torn peck a few months ago. He had surgery, underwent stem cell therapy, and began the rigorous road back to the ring. 

While many have sat on the sidelines until they were cleared to perform again, that is not Cardona. The veteran is still making towns, currently serving as the general manager for Game Changer Wrestling. He recently returned to the gym, leaving the question of what’s the latest on when we may see him compete again.

What’s Next for Matt Cardona?

“I’m kind of keeping that close to the vest. I want it to be a surprise or at least the announcement to be a surprise. I know in my head when I’m coming back. But I don’t want the rest of the world to know until it’s time.”

How to Stay Relevant

Cardona is fueled by the motivation to fulfill all the goals he sets for himself. He is constantly moving the goalpost. And if anyone knows the importance of staying in the mix, even without wrestling, it’s the former Zack Ryder.

“In this business, it’s what have you done for me lately,” Cardona said. “You have to chase that buzz and stay relevant, especially on the independents. I knew when I got hurt I had to pivot and readjust. I contacted all the promoters I was working for and told them the deal and my situation and rescheduled the ones who didn’t just want me to trash talk. Luckily, for me, I’m able to come to a lot of these places and just trash talk and sell merchandise…

I’m proud that I’m able to make these towns and provide value to these promoters and these fans with much more than just wrestling inside those ropes. At the same time, trust me, I” ‘m rushing to come back. It’s very important. You can’t let the momentum die.”

Z! True Long Island Story

Cardona knows how to make the most of every situation and the tools available to him. A shining example of this is when he launched the Z! True Long Island Story in 2011. The used the YouTube show as a vehicle to build a connection with the audience. In a lot of ways, what the creator helped blaze a new trail for pro wrestlers. He continues to do that in all facets of the business whether it’s marketing himself, branding, podcast, and business ventures including the successful action figure lines.

“I think what made Zack Ryder successful was the time,” Cardona explained. “If I were to do it now, I feel like I would be anyone else…Writing [the show] the show myself, funding it myself, editing myself. You go back and watch some of those episodes, the editing was atrocious. It’s just me in my iMovie.

That was the charm of the show. That’s what the fans could relate to. Including fans on the journey, ‘Broski of the Week’ videos or ‘Sign of the Week,’ encouraging fans to bring signs and sending out trading cards for people that buy my shirt. This wasn’t done back then. If it happened now, it wouldn’t be as special or important. Anybody can do stuff like that now.”

Chelsea Green

Being on the shelf has also allowed Cardona time to really appreciate the success of his wife Chelsea Green in WWE. The couple shares similar traits when it comes to drive and determination. It’s what has gotten Green respect among peers and fans alike. With GCW doing a show nearby the night before, Cardona was able to witness one of Green’s biggest matches at Money in the Bank firsthand. The alum likes to keep to himself when he goes to WWE shows as to not make it seem like he is angling for a job and to keep the focus on supporting Green.

“Even when she was my girlfriend, I couldn’t believe when she was doing the ‘Hot Mess’ stuff on Impact that WWE didn’t want to hire her. Then I couldn’t believe they fired her. Then I couldn’t believe that in-between at NXT they weren’t using her. I’m glad she now getting the recognition she deserves…

Obviously, super proud of everything, not only what she did in that match, but even if it’s a pretape on SmackDown or falling off a ladder through tables. It’s nice to see the wrestling world giving her the flowers finally I think it’s a matter of time before she gets what she deserves. I hate saying deserves because she would have earned it.”

GCW

Cardona is proud to be part of GCW. He believes the company also deserves proverbial flowers with what the promotion created. Cardona named as one to watch with a bright future.

“GCW is a company I feel I put on the map with that death match with Nick Gage,” he said. “At the same time, they put me on the map with that death match with Nick Gage. The relationship has been mutually beneficial. That match changed my life and career. I owe so much to GCW.

I don’t think GCW gets the credit it deserves. This company is truly an independent company run all over the world and every weekend. I think it’s WWE and GCW. I don’t think any other company runs as much or as consistently here as GCW runs. With WWE, I wouldn’t be surprised if they do stuff with GCW. They already kind of are with the Bloodsport.”

The lifelong pro wrestling fan can even picture a GCW invasion likened to what ECW did on Raw. Laying out the hypothetical booking, “Imagine if Matt Cardona comes down the ramp at Raw and, Joey Janela, Effy, Nick Gage, Steph De Lander, and Mance Warner. Brett Lauderdale could be the new Heyman on commentary. I’m getting goosebumps. Talk about a perfect way for Matt Cardona to make his debut in GCW. You want to talk about moments. That’s a moment.”

John Cena Retiring

Another thing he wants is a match against John Cena, who announced he’ll be retiring in 2025. The two were close for many years with Cena a big advocate for the Long Island broski. This would involve Cardona returning to WWE, but how would all that work?

“He is just a pro’s pro. What a way to go out. What a smart way to go out. A whole year plus because he is hyping it up in July. I’m thinking about the merch. John is such a great guy. Someone who helped me in my career. Those posts I make on social media are not BS. I would love to wrestle John Cena one last time.

I think with the way things with WWE are now, I think it could happen where I could just walk in one day or make a return. I think John Cena versus Zack Ryder was fine. They were what they were. John Cena versus Matt Cardona. That’s where the story is. I could say, ‘John Cena, you’re the reason why my WWE career didn’t take off.’ So many things that we can play into. I know that if I walked through the doors of WWE, surprise or not, I could get a reaction…I’m happy he gets to go out on his own terms.”

Hanging Up His “Indy God” Crown

When Cardona does come back to wrestle, he plans to hang up “The Indy God” hat. He is looking for another change in presentation after feeling he has done it all. The true freelancer will weigh his options, believing he can fit into any wrestling landscape. Alwayz ready isn’t just a catchphrase, but a life mantra. He doesn’t just want to work for peanuts. Cardona is looking for the whole jar. 

““There are so many guys in AEW I would love to wrestle,” Cardona said. “There are ones I would love to wrestle for the first time like Kenny Omega. I would love to wrestle MJF. Long Island versus Long Island. Then WWE. WWE is on fire right now. Cody Rhodes, WWE champion. All I’m saying is when he left WWE, he left because Zack Ryder beat Stardust. It sent him out of the company. There are so many potential matchups.

… At the same time, I won’t sacrifice everything I built. If it doesn’t make sense for me to go to WWE or AEW, I will reinvent myself and reinvent the whole god damn independent scene. That’s what I will do. I’m grateful for my time WWE, highs and lows, but I’m not finished left. I have so much left in the tank, body-wise, and creatively. That’s why being injured sucks so bad. It’s also good for me to kind of rethink some things and plan some things out. I’m very excited for the next couple of months to see what happens for me… 2025 will be a fun year for Matt Cardona. We’ll see.”

Ex-ROH Owner Cary Silkin: Tony Khan Does Not Treat The Promotion Well

Thomas Lowson
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Ring of Honor founder Cary Silkin has spoken against Tony Khan’s handling of the promotion which he believes falls well below expectations.

On the Madison Square Garden podcast, Silkin shared his thoughts on Khan’s handling of the promotion that Silkin and others founded in 2022.

“Ring of Honor of that era tried to show some respect to professional wrestling. Sure we had some wacky stuff. Sure we had the the flippy dippy do was coming into fashion. The flippy dippy do was going on with Édouard Carpentier too…Ring of Honor, there was some good pro wrestling going on in that segment of it. Right now, Ring of Honor it’s like no one cares at all. I don’t care how much money Tony Khan has. It’s not being treated very well.”

Tony Khan and Ring of Honor

Khan announced in March 2022 that he had purchased ROH, mere months after the promotion went on an indefinite hiatus following the Final Battle pay-per-view. In April, ROH held its first event of the Khan era as Supercard of Honor XV saw Johnathan Gresham become the Undisputed ROH World Champion.

Unlike AEW Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, Ring of Honor does not have a presence on syndicated television. Instead, it was announced in late 2022 that ROH shows would air on the relaunched Honor Club streaming platform.

Criticism Of Khan’s ROH

While Khan is to credit for allowing ROH to not finish for good in 2021, many feel that his handling of the promotion has been sub-par. On an episode of his K100 podcast, Konnan said in November 2023 that Khan was not appealing to a wider fanbase outside of “hardcore marks” who were always going to watch ROH anyway. Eric Bischoff said on his Strictly Business podcast in 2022 that buying ROH was a bad investment for Khan and that the company was “insignificant” in the eyes of the vast majority of fans.

Tony Khan Responds to Criticism About Booking ROH Storylines on AEW Dynamite

NXT No Mercy & Halloween Havoc 2024 Dates & Venues

Michael Reichlin
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WWE has announced details for two upcoming premium live events for the company’s developmental brand: NXT No Mercy and NXT.

  • Sunday, Sep. 1: NXT No Mercy (Denver, CO at the Ball Arena)
  • Sunday, October 27: NXT Halloween Havoc (Hershey, PA at the GIANT Center)

WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels provided the following quote in the press release sent in to SEScoops:

“We look forward to returning NXT to the road and delivering an unforgettable night of action to the amazing fan bases of Denver and Hershey, and for those watching at home.”

Tickets

The venues hosting each of these NXT PLE’s will also host WWE Raw the following eventing.

Special combo tickets for the events go on sale on Friday morning, July 26 at Ticketmaster.

How to Watch

NXT No Mercy and Halloween Havoc will stream live in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock.

Advertised Talent

Note: These talent announcements are always ‘subject to change’ and wrestling fans should not not read into these advertised champions as ‘spoilers’ for any matches coming up in the months ahead.

WWE is advertising the top stars from NXT will be at these shows, including NXT Champion Ethan Page, NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, NXT North American Champion Oba Femi, NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan, Trick Williams, Sol Ruca and more

Scott Steiner Claims He Never Failed A Drug Test

Dominic DeAngelo
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Is Scott Steiner, ‘Big Poppa Pump’ all natural? The WWE Hall of Famer wants you to do the math on it.

A&E aired the WWE Legends Biography on The Steiner Brothers and during the episode, Scott Steiner discussed the notion that he used steroids. Steiner pushed back, stating that, “You can make all the accusations you want. I’ve never failed a drug test.” Steiner said he made a concerted effort to make the transformation from Scottie to ‘Freakzilla’ in 1998.

RELATED: Are The Creed Brothers the Modern Day Steiner Brothers?

“Take that information and do what you want with it. When I made the transition from Steiner Brothers to Big Poppa Pump, I wanted to get in the best shape I possibly could. A lot of strict diet. Once you are leaner, you’re naturally going to look bigger.”

During a previous interview with Slam Sports, Steiner noted that he was asked to take a drug test back in 2003. Steiner says that he told WWE to take him and Triple H in a limosuine and the two can take a test together. “They never asked again,” Steiner said laughing.

Both Rick and Scott Steiner were inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame back in 2022. Steiner was greatly known for his main event run in the late days of WCW, but did have a program with Triple H when he eventually made his way over into the WWE.

RELATED: Watch: MJF Recreates Infamous ‘Steiner Math’ Promo on AEW Dynamite

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

Meiko Satomura To Make WWE Return In First Match Since March 2023

Thomas Lowson
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Former NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura will compete at WWE live events later this month in the veteran’s first match since March of last year.

Satomura is being advertised for the upcoming tour of Japan that will begin in Osaka’s Edion Arena on July 25. The tour will then feature back-to-back events in Tokyo’s Ryogouko Arena on July 26-27. Other names being advertised for the show include Shinsuke Nakamura, Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai, Bianca Belair, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Interestingly, Asuka is also being advertised despite the Empress currently being out with an injury.

More On Asuka’s Injury That Has Kept the Empress On The Shelf

These events will mark Satomura’s long-overdue return to the ring as she has not been used in any capacity by the company in over 16 months. Satomura’s most recent match took place at WWE NXT Roadblock 2023 and saw her unsuccessfully challenge NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.

Meiko Satomura in WWE NXT

Satomura debuted in WWE in 2018 as part of the Mae Young Classic but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Toni Storm. In October 2020, Satomura signed with WWE and in addition to being an on-screen talent, served as a coach in NXT UK.

In June 2021, Satomura captured the NXT UK Women’s Championship from Kay Lee Ray (now Women’s Tag Team Champion Alba Fyre.) Dubbed the ‘Final Boss’ long before Dwayne Johnson had the moniker, Satomura defeated all challengers for over a year. Her reign, alongside NXT UK, would end at Worlds Collide in September 2022 when she lost to then-NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose.

Meiko Satomura’s Pre-WWE Days

While Satomura hasn’t competed in WWE in some time, fans can see matches from her career outside of WWE on the Network/Peacock. Decades before joining WWE, a young Satomura competed in WCW as part of a cross-promotional effort with the Gaea Wrestling promotion.

Satomura competed in a tournament to crown the first WCW Women’s Champion. She was eliminated in the first round by eventual winner Akira Hokuto. Ironically, when Satomura entered a tournament to crown the first Women’s Cruiserweight Champion, she was eliminated in the first round by eventual winner Toshie Uematsu.

Meiko Satomura On Which Main Roster Stars She Wants To Face In WWE

Jey Uso Not Winning MITB Briefcase ‘Kind Of Hit A Nerve’ With Rikishi

Dominic DeAngelo
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Rikishi saw a lot of money for WWE if they made Jey Uso the men’s Money In The Bank winner, but that briefcase went to Drew McIntyre.

Speaking on his own podcast. Rikishi gave his reaction to Jey not being the one to pull down the briefcase over a week ago in Toronto. The father of Jey and Jimmy admitted that it “kind of hit a nerve” with him. Rikishi understood not giving him the briefcase because of his “bloodline” background, but just knows there’s money to be made with “Main Event” Jey Uso.

“I’m gonna go back to the numbers. The numbers don’t lie with Yeet. The merchandise that the Yeet Man has done so much for the company. The Yeet Man, he doesn’t have a bad track record. The Yeet Man is not a liability. The Yeet Man shows up to work and does what he does.”

RELATED: CM Punk & Jey Uso Top WWE Merchandise Sales For May 2024

Despite not winning the match, WWE clearly does have full confidence in the star power of Uso. Last week on WWE RAW Uso defeated Chad Gable in the opening match before he high-tailed it out of the ring once The Wyatt Sicks appeared. Jey Uso is undoubtedly a top three babyface on RAW alongside the injured CM Punk and Seth Rollins.

Even though there are no concrete plans for Jey as WWE heads towards SummerSlam, he will likely be involved in something major, whether that’s a crossover with The Bloodline or potentially something with the aforementioned Wyatt Sicks.

RELATED: Jey Uso Believes Aspiring Wrestlers Chasing Fame Are Bound To Fail

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

Bryan Danielson To Join Lucrative Club At AEW All In: London 2024

Thomas Lowson
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Bryan Danielson will join an ‘elite’ club at AEW All In: London 2024 when he challenges Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship.

Danielson earned the coveted title opportunity at AEW’s biggest event by winning the 2024 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Danielson’s road to Wembley saw him defeat Shingo Takagi in the first round before besting Pac and eventually ‘Hangman’ Adam Page in the finals.

More On Bryan Danielson’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Win

Joining the Club

As pointed out by Dave Meltzer, Danielson will join a lucrative group of wrestlers, regardless of whether he wins or loses at All In. At the event, Danielson will become the fourth man to have competed at Wembley Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Tokyo Dome, and Arena Mexico. Danielson will follow in the footsteps of Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and John ‘Earthquake’ Tenta.

Danielson competed in MSG multiple times during his WWE career as Daniel Bryan. In early 2016, shortly after his retirement due to neck problems, WWE announced that a live event in the Garden would be ‘Daniel Bryan Appreciation Night.

Danielson competed in the iconic Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 18 earlier this year, where he was defeated by Kazuchika Okada. Mere months later, he competed in Arena Mexico at a handful of CMLL shows. One such event saw him defeat Blue Panther in what the American Dragon called a dream match for him.

AEW All In: London 2024

All In: London 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be AEW’s second event inside the massive arena after last year’s successful event. The matches announced for the show include:

  • Swerve Strickland (c) Vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW World Championship)
  • ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) Vs. Mariah May (AEW Women’s World Championship)

Tony Khan Wants Bryan Danielson To Stay In AEW Forever

Cody Rhodes Advocates For Mexico PLE At Monterrey WWE Live Event

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is eager to see a Premium Live Event in Mexico after competing at an untelevised show in Monterrey.

In the show’s main event, Rhodes retained his championship against Santos Escobar. After the match, the American Nightmare said if anywhere deserves a PLE, it’s Mexico. Rhodes then encouraged the fans to make as much noise as they can, noting how raucous crowd reactions have been seen in England, France, and Scotland, all of which have hosted Premium Live Events.

WWE and Mexico

Rhodes isn’t the only WWE Superstar who hopes to see the company host a PLE in Mexico. WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio has previously advocated for a major event to be hosted in the country that is synonymous with Lucha Libre wrestling.

Rey Mysterio Hoping for Mexico PLE In The Historic Estadio Azteca Stadium

While WWE has yet to host a PLE in Mexico, several TV events have been hosted in the country. WWE’s most recent televised event in Mexico took place in May 2011 and saw close to 20,000 fans fill the El Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.

It remains to be seen whether WWE will host a PLE in Mexico, though it certainly seems more likely now than ever before. With WWE being more open to hosting major events outside the United States, it may be just a matter of time before Mexico is the home of an official PLE.

Stephanie Vaquer Wins WWE In-Ring Debut: “NXT, See You Soon”

Matt Cardona Hungry For John Cena Match On WWE Icon’s Farewell Tour

Thomas Lowson
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Self-professed ‘Indy God’ Matt Cardona is hoping to step in the ring with John Cena as part of the 16-time WWE World Champion’s impending retirement tour.

At WWE Money in the Bank, Cena shared that 2025 will be his final year in the ring, ending a 23-year wrestling career in WWE. In a recent interview with SE Scoops’ own Scott Fishman, Cardona made it clear he hopes to face John before Cena hangs up his jorts.

“I would love to wrestle John Cena one last time. I think with the way WWE is now, it’s something that could happen where I could just walk in, whether it be for one day, or make a return… Zack Ryder vs. John Cena, those matches were fine. They were what they were. John Cena vs. Matt Cardona, that’s that’s where the story is.”

John Cena’s Retirement

Details are scarce regarding the retirement of John Cena but fans are already excited to see what’s to come. Despite his monumental star power, Cena has said he does not feel he’s in a position where he can make specific requests regarding opponents for his retirement tour.

5 Things We Want From John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour

John Cena and Matt Cardona

Cena and Cardona (Zack Ryder at the time) became a duo on WWE TV in late 2011 and early 2012 during Cena’s feud with the recently-returned Kane. To get in Cena’s head, Kane repeatedly attacked Ryder and also targeted Zack’s on-screen girlfriend Eve Torres. During an infamous episode of WWE TV, Cena would save Eve from an attack by Kane, only to be kissed by the former Divas Champion. The camera would pivot to reveal Ryder (now in a wheelchair after weeks of attacks) had seen the kiss.

Could Matt Cardona return years later to get revenge on ‘Big Match John’? Given WWE’s willingness to work with others outside the promotion, it certainly seems more possible than ever before.

Who’s Dating Who? The Relationships Of WWE NXT

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT may be where talent go to hone their skills ahead of a move to the main roster, but it appears there’s plenty of romance in the Performance Center.

In this article, we’ll look at the relationships that exist within NXT that have seen talent date fellow NXT stars, main roster talent, or other wrestlers.

Kelani Jordan & Carmelo Hayes

The first-ever NXT Women’s North American Champion, Kelani Jordan is currently dating WWE SmackDown Superstar & former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. In October 2023, the pair went public with their relationship with a series of Instagram posts celebrating Jordan’s birthday.

WWE Women ? — Kelani Jordan & Carmelo Hayes ?

Trick Williams & Lash Legend

The Kiss Heard Around the World earlier this year between Trick Williams and Lash Legend wasn’t just for show. The Meta-Four member and the former NXT Champion are in a relationship, though keep their private lives to themselves on social media.

Sol Ruca & Tyler Bate

Sol Ruca has been making a splash in WWE NXT and is currently dating the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, who is unfortunately out with an injury. The couple went public with their relationship in early 2024 with an Instagram post by the English Superstar.

nxt tb min

Stevie Turner & Kit Wilson

Turner, who is currently looking to be the official assistant of Ava, has been with Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson for some time now. In March 2022, the happy couple shared that they are engaged to be married.

image

Riley Osborne & Blair Davenport

When not attacking people in the Performance Center parking lot, Blair Davenport can be found going on dates with Chase U’s Riley Osborne. In December 2023, the couple shared that they are engaged.

WWE Stars Announce Engagement - WrestleTalk

Roxanne Perez & Gino Medina

Since arriving in WWE NXT, Roxanne Perez has been a force to be reckoned with, despite her diminutive size. The reigning WWE NXT Women’s Champion has been dating independent wrestler Gino Medina since 2022.

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Alexa Bliss Shares ‘Twisted Bliss’ Training Video Amid WWE Hiatus

Thomas Lowson
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Alexa Bliss has been seen training in the ring as fans await the return of the former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion.

On her Instagram Stories, Bliss shared footage of herself in training and hitting her ‘Twisted Bliss’ finishing move.

Alexa Bliss’ WWE Hiatus

Bliss hasn’t competed for WWE since January of 2023 when she challenged for the RAW Women’s Championship at that year’s Royal Rumble PLE. In May of 2023, Bliss shared that she was pregnant with a social media post describing her child as the “best oops ever.” She and Ryan Cabrera welcomed their daughter Hendrix into the world in November 2023.

Alexa Bliss & Ryan Cabrera Welcome Baby Girl Hendrix Into the World

What’s Next For Alexa Bliss?

Eight months on from the birth of Hendrix Cabrera and there’s still no sign of when Bliss will return, or what she will do once she’s back. Some have suggested that she will ae a program with the Wyatt Sicks, especially as her Royal Rumble 2023 appearance concluded with Uncle Howdy appearing on a screen and asking if she felt in control.

Bliss could work as either an ally of the Wyatt Sicks or perhaps as an adversary. After all, it was Bliss’ interference that cost Bray Wyatt his WrestleMania 37 match against Randy Orton, in what would be Bray’s final WWE match before his 2021 release. With that said, Bliss downplayed the idea of being linked to the QR codes that teased the Wyatt Sicks and she has not teased being a part of the faction.

https://www.sescoops.com/news/wwe/alexa-bliss-recalls-working-with-bray-wyatt-it-was-magic

Wyatt Sicks Drop New Coded Message Before WWE Raw

Michael Reichlin
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WWE’s Wyatt Sicks faction dropped their latest cryptic message on social media Sunday afternoon. The message contains an image of someone holding a sheep mask and the word “hope” along with a string of two and three-digit numbers.

The seemingly-random series of numbers contains a hidden message in ASCII format. By pasting the numbers into an ASCII to text converter tool, it reveals the phrase:

“Hope is the last thing ever lost.”

– Wyatt Sicks’ latest message

The Wyatt Sicks has maintained an eerie presence since their violent debut last month. While they haven’t competed in any matches yet, they’ve had the entire WWE roster looking over their shoulders. Their next VHS tape is expected to be featured on the July 15th episode of WWE RAW and will focus on Erick Rowan.

This marks a departure from their previous VHS tapes, which have featured interviews between Bo Dallas and Uncle Howdy. Rowan, a disciple of Bray Wyatt, has been wearing a rabbit mask, reminiscent of the Rambling Rabbit character from the Firefly Funhouse.

MJF Trolls England’s Euro 2024 Final Loss

Michael Reichlin
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MJF mocked England’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in Sunday’s UEFA EURO 2024 championship game.

The former AEW World Champion battles Will Ospreay for the International Championship this Wednesday on the 250th episode of AEW Dynamite. MJF is back in full-blown heel mode, and mocking English football fans after this loss to taunt Ospreay may be a new low for him.

Ospreay joined his countrymen in showing his support for England on social media.

After England’s defeat, MJF couldn’t help but use it as an opportunity to play mind games with the disappointed champion. He says Englishmen “can’t win when put under pressure” and simply aren’t equipped to be athletes. He and Ospreay have been exchanging personal attacks for several weeks, but this latest insult shows that Friedman will stop at nothing to antagonize his opponents.

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite 250th episode celebration will feature Will Ospreay vs. MJF, Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mercedes Mone vs. Nyla Rose and fallout from Mariah May’s attack on Toni Storm at the end of last week.

Finn Balor Praises The Early Confidence Of Dominik Mysterio: ‘He Helped Us’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Finn Balor wanted to make sure Dominik Mysterio flourished as a heel in The Judgment Day, but Dom already had a hold on being “Dirty.”

Speaking on the “What’s The Story?” podcast, Balor mentioned how much Mysterio took to being a heel. Finn recalled Rey Mysterio asking him and Damian Priest to take care of Dom during his heel turn. Balor respected Rey so much that he was going to make sure Dom did his best as a bad guy, but when Balor approached Dom about help on his first heel promo, he was ready to call it in the ring.

“He said, ‘No, no. I’m good.’ I said, ‘You know what you’re going to say?’ He said, ‘No, I’ll figure it out when I’m out there.And here’s me like naively thinking that me, Damian and Rhea are supposed to be helping Dominik, but in reality it’s Dominik helping us get heat and making us more of a believable heel unit.”

RELATED: Liv & Dominik Align, Tiffany Stratton Attempts MITB Cash-In At Live Event

Finn said how at the time, he, Damian and Rhea were having an uphill battle at being heels, but Dominik really made them “guilty by association” and his involvement really helped to establish the faction as a “bad guy” act.

Now as it stands, The Judgment Day are really the fulcrum that all of WWE RAW pivots on. Damian Priest is the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh are the World Tag Champs while Dom and Rhea Ripley are involved in the major Liv Morgan storyline in build for SummerSlam.

Please credit “What’s The Story?” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

RELATED: Dominik: ‘Rhea Ripley’s Been Avoiding Me, I’ll Try To Fix Things On Raw’

Rob Van Dam Hopes For A One Night Stand Rematch With John Cena During His Retirement Tour (Exclusive)

Dominic DeAngelo
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Rob Van Dam and John Cena had one of the most memorable matches in pro wrestling history and RVD is confident he and Cena could repeat it before John hangs up the jorts.

Speaking on an upcoming episode of his 1 Of A Kind With RVD, Rob Van Dam was asked his thoughts on John Cena announcing his 2025 retirement tour for WWE. Van Dam is still very active in the squared circle and believes the two could recreate the magic they did back at ECW One Night Stand 2006.

“I Hope they bring me in for a rematch with Cena. That would be super cool. I don’t know if they know, but I know I could have that same match, Absolutely.”

Rob Van Dam has shown he hasn’t missed a beat in the several matches he’s had in AEW and even over WrestleMania 40 weekend, competed against Speedball Mike Bailey in a memorable singles match that featured Jerry Lynn as the special guest referee.

Due to injury, RVD was unable to compete at the first WWE version of One Night Stand in 2005, but fate would have it that Van Dam would battle Cena for the WWE Championship a year later. RVD arguably had one of, if not the greatest Money In The Bank cash-in, by calling his shot ahead of time to challenge Cena at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

RELATED: Rob Van Dam Is Open To An Extended Run With AEW

Rob Van Dam Enjoyed Working With John Cena

Van Dam was asked what it was like grappling up with Cena that night and he commended John for his pure strength, but also how he handled the hostile crowd in the Hammerstein Ballroom.

“He was able to pull the strings with the crowdvand he knew going out there that he was going to be up against a crowd that that hated him. A really vocal, physical, most opinionated crowd ever, but he was ready for it, and he handled it great, and I enjoyed working with him. And also he was very, very snug.”

RELATED: RVD Says It’s Cool That Paul Heyman Is Getting His Flowers Ahead Of WWE HOF Induction

WWE Raw Preview (7/15/24): Rhea Ripley, Drew McIntyre, IC Title Match

Michael Reichlin
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WWE returns to Dayton, Ohio tonight for this week’s WWE RAW at the Nutter Center. We’re just four weeks out from WWE SummerSlam on Saturday, August 3, where the Gunther will challenge Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight championship. What will happen when Priest stares down his SummerSlam opponent tonight?

Preview: SummerSlam 2024 Card Predictions

WWE Raw Matches for Tonight

Here are the three matches set for tonight’s Raw:

  • Ilja Dragunov challenges Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship
  • Sheamus vs. Bronson Reed
  • Braun Strowman vs. Damian Priest
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Segments

  • Rhea Ripley opens the show and will surely have words for Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio
  • Drew McIntyre returns from suspension. Adam Pearce will has said he’ll evaluate McIntyre’s frame of mind to determine whether or not to lift his suspension.
  • Gunther and Damian Priest go face-to-face

Stay tuned to SEScoops for our coverage of tonight’s WWE Raw and all things WWE.

What Happened on WWE Raw Last Week?

Last week’s July 8, 2024 episode of WWE Raw featured a main event involving Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio against Zelina Vega and Rey Mysterio. As Liv and Dom were celebrating their win, Rhea Ripley made a surprise return and had a chilly reunion with her Dirty Dom. Also on the show, CM Punk and Seth Rollins engaged in a tense faceoff, Uncle Howdy revealed more of his family and more.

Catch up on last week’s happenings with this video from WWE recapping the Top 10 moments:

Liv & Dominik Align, Tiffany Stratton Attempts MITB Cash-In At Live Event

Thomas Lowson
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Plenty went down at WWE’s live event in Mexico City including the continuation of the ‘romance’ between Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio.

At the July 13, event, Morgan defended her title against Shayna Baszler. After the match, Morgan introduced Dominik for his match against his father Rey. Contrary to what we’ve seen on TV, Dominik didn’t seem as opposed to Liv’s proximity at this event.

The latest battle of the Mysterios ended in a DQ when Carlito interfered to aid Dominik but Dragon Lee arrived to back up Rey. This set up a tag-team match the faces would win.

Dominik and Liv being aligned at this WWE live event comes at an interesting time considering the return of Rhea Ripley on Monday Night Raw. It has been confirmed that Ripley will open up the next episode of Raw and will address the Dominik-Liv situation.

Dominik: ‘Rhea Ripley’s Been Avoiding Me, I’ll Try To Fix Things On Raw’

Tiffany Stratton’s Cash-In Attempt

Liv wasn’t the only woman making waves at the event in Mexico City. During the show, WWE Women’s Champion Bayley defended her title against Bianca Belair. After the match, Tiffany Stratton attempted to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase but Belair put a stop to her plans. Since the bell never rang though, Stratton’s cash-in attempt never officially started and therefore she still holds the briefcase and the coveted title shot.

Stratton attempted to cash in during the most recent episode of SmackDown but had second thoughts after being confronted by her ally Nia Jax. The 2024 Queen of the Ring will challenge Bayley for the title at SummerSlam, if Stratton does not cash in first.

Stephanie Vaquer Wins WWE In-Ring Debut: “NXT, See You Soon”

Donovan Dijak Wins First Title In Seven Years In Latest Post-WWE Match

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Donovan Dijak has captured his first championship in close to seven years, in what is the wrestler’s second match since being released.

At a July 13, event, Dijak captured the Ryse Wrestling Grand Championship. On Twitter, Ryse Wrestling shared some photos of the new champion. Dijak himself shared a photo with the gold and had a message for his followers.

This championship victory has been a long time coming for Dijak. The last time Dijak won a title came in July 2017 when he captured the Pro Wrestling Resurgence Heavyweight Championship, according to ProFight. In WWE, Dijak challenged for the NXT, NXT Tag, and North American Championships but never won the gold.

Leaving WWE

Dijak’s victory comes mere weeks after his abrupt exit from WWE. On Twitter, the former Retribution alum shared that not only would he be leaving WWE, but very little effort had been made by the company to retain his services. Dijak had been called to the main roster during the 2024 WWE Supplemental Draft after years of re-establishing himself in WWE NXT. Despite the call-up, Dijak was not used in any capacity as a RAW Superstar and has since said that he was sure he was doomed when he was the last pick in the Supplemental Draft.

This win is certainly a strong start for Dijak now that his career with WWE has come to an end. The question now is whether Dijak will be able to keep this momentum going forward in Ryse Wrestling and other promotions.

Dijak Shares Backstage Forbidden Door Photo After Sudden WWE Exit

JBL Jokes Donald Trump Learned From Road Warriors Following Assasination Attempt

Dominic DeAngelo
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“What a rush” may have been running through Donald Trump’s mind after an assasination attempt was made on the WWE Hall of Famer on July 13.

The forthcoming Republican Presidential nominee was mere inches from death as he was doing a stump speech in Butler, PA. Trump’s ear got grazed by a bullet before secret service swarmed him to make sure he was safe.

However, once matters were settled and the shooter was taken out, Trump made certain to stand himself up and give a fist pump to the people in the crowd. The moment certainly created a lot of memorable photographs for the press and felllow WWE Hall Of Famer JBL made note that Trump must have been taking notes from a certain legendary tag team in Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal.

RELATED: The Rock & Logan Paul U.S. Presidential Ticket Discussed: “I Think Logan Would Hurt His Chances”

“Find the hard cam, don’t sell. Former President Trump been watching the Road Warriors.”

Although JBL was posting in jest, it’s heaviily believed that Trump has adopted a lot of his speaking style and “promo skills” from the world of pro wrestling. There’s the urban legend that during his WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2013, Trump was really impressed with the promo work of Zeb Coulter, better known as Dutch Mantell.

Trump did issue a statement following the assasination attempt, thanking the police and the secret service for their work, but also sending his condolences to the victims of the shooter as one rally attendee was killed and two others were in critical condition.

RELATED: Wrestling’s Connection To The U.S. Presidential Debate

Natalya Staying With WWE

Dominic DeAngelo
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After great speculation that Natalya could be heading to AEW once her contract expired, it appears as if the ‘BOAT’ will be sticking around WWE.

PWInisder first reported that Natalya re-signed with WWE and Fightful Select later confirmed that news. Her new deal has reportedly been in place since late June but contract negotiations seemed to begin back in May. The new contract is reportedly a multi-year deal.

Natalya had interest from companies outside of WWE and it’s understandably so considering she has been very hands-on with wrestlers from all promotions. A lot of different names have gotten some extra training at her Dungeon 2.0.

RELATED: WWE’s Natalya Reveals 4th Generation Hart Family Member is Training to Wrestle

An added point of note regarding the Natalya news was that Tyson Kidd had interest from outside companies as an agent too. WWE was reportedly in the right to be concerned about losing Natalya and the company wanted to make certain they locked her down. The deal happened to get done before she hit the free agent market.

Natalya is one of the longest-tenured names on the WWE roster, being over 16 years with the company. Within the last year, she’s been a big part of helping talent in NXT and also has been major in getting rising talent over, recently competing against Lyra Valkyria on an episode of WWE RAW. There was a good deal of speculation that she could be available to head to AEW and compete in the Owen Hart tournament, but that obviously didn’t happen.

RELATED: Natalya Reveals Which Female Star She Looked Up To While Coming Up In WWE

Dominik: ‘Rhea Ripley’s Been Avoiding Me, I’ll Try To Fix Things On Raw’

Thomas Lowson
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Dominik Mysterio is hoping to fix things with Rhea Ripley on the next episode of Raw following the climactic ending to this week’s show.

In the main event, Dominik and Liv Morgan defeated Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega, marking Dom’s first WWE victory over his father. After the match, it appeared that Dominik was ready to give in to Morgan’s advances until Rhea Ripley returned and confronted her ‘Dom Dom.’

Making Things Right

While Mysterio is well and truly in the ‘doghouse’ the former NXT North American Champion is ready to fight for his (on-screen) relationship with Rhea Ripley. Speaking to ESPN, Mysterio gave his happiness on a scale of 1-10 during the Raw main event.

“I had finally beaten that deadbeat, I was about a ten. I was about a solid 9.5-10. Not even taking Liv into consideration. Just the fact that I had beaten that deadbeat. Once Mami’s music hit and everything happened afterward, I felt like I was at about a two, maybe a one.”

When asked about his current situation with Ripley, Mysterio admitted that it’s been tough to talk to her in recent days, but he’s confident thing will work out.

“I tried my best to communicate with her. She’s kind of avoided me as of now, but she kind of has no choice but to see me on Mondays. So, I’m going to fix things. I’m going to do my best to fix things on Monday.”

What’s to Come?

We don’t know what will be said between the two on next week’s Raw but fans won’t have to wait long. It’s been confirmed that Rhea will open the show and fans will no doubt be intrigued to hear what she has to say in her first promo since vacating the WWE Women’s World Championship.

As for Liv Morgan, she’ll likely continue to try and play Ripley and Dominik against one another. While Liv quickly ran from the ring when Ripley returned, backstage footage suggests that she is happy to see Rhea back (and at odds with Dominik.) With SummerSlam around the corner, some have predicted a Ripley-Morgan title match but that has yet to be confirmed. Until then, fans will remain gripped by what has become one of the most popular love triangles we’ve seen in years.

AEW’s Trent Out With Injury, Originally Planned For A Push

Thomas Lowson
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AEW wrestler Trent has been sidelined with an injury that has kept him from receiving a push that the promotion had in the works for him.

On the July 13, edition of AEW Collision, Trent was taken out by Orange Cassidy who used a monkey wrench to attack his former friend from behind. The pair have been feuding for months and Trent delivered an attack to Chuck Taylor back in May that has raised serious questions about Taylor’s future in the ring.

Chuck Taylor’s Career-Ending Injury Reportedly Legitimate

While Trent has been feuding with OC, the 37-year-old hasn’t competed since Double or Nothing 2024. That’s because Trent has been sidelined with an injury, Fightful Select reports. There had been plans for Trent to receive a push before the injury, but he hasn’t been cleared to compete for quite some time.

AEW’s Injuries

Trent is the latest AEW name confirmed for the injury list, a list that many believe is worryingly long. Other names out of action at this time include Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, Jamie Hayter, and ‘Switchblade’ Jay White.

A lot has been said about AEW talent getting injured and why (in the eyes of some) it seems more prevalent in the promotion compared to WWE. Some have chalked this up to a more hard-hitting, violent style in AEW, while others have suggested that a facility akin to WWE’s Performance Center would lower the rate of injuries.

Oddly enough, those at WWE believe AEW’s high injury rate stems from not wrestling enough. The belief among many is that the rigorous schedule of WWE allows for the bodies of Superstars to callus and grow more immune to bumps and scrapes in the ring. AEW has a more relaxed schedule which may see a wrestler compete once or twice a week, which those in WWE feel allows for too long a gap between matches to properly toughen up.

Trent Gets Admonished By Mama Sue Following Actions Against The Best Friends

Stephanie Vaquer Wins WWE In-Ring Debut: “NXT, See You Soon”

Thomas Lowson
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Stephanie Vaquer’s debut match in WWE proved to be a successful one for the company’s latest signing at a live event in Mexico City.

Before the show even started, WWE hyped Vaquer’s appearance at the show by sharing a video of her arrival at the arena.

At the July 13, event, Vaquer defeated current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Ilja Dawn. After the match, Vaquer said that it was a dream come true to be part of WWE.

Vaquer certainly proved to be a hit with the crowd in Mexico City and fans won’t have to wait long before they see her again. WWE’s newest signing is also expected to be at tonight’s WWE live event in Monterrey.

Stephanie Vaquer Joining WWE NXT

Vaquer officially joined WWE this past Wednesday after it was announced she had left CMLL. On Twitter, SVP of Talent Development and Head of NXT Shawn Michaels welcomed Vaquer to the family, which some have taken as a sign she’ll start in WWE on the gold brand.

In a post-match interview at the Mexico City live event, Vaquer told the cameras “NXT, see you soon” seemingly confirming the notion that she’ll be joining the gold brand.

https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1812527112709939419

Vaquer’s Journey To WWE

WWE and AEW had been interested in Vaquer following her show-stealing performance at last month’s AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 pay-per-view. Though she lost to Mercedes Mone at the event, Vaquer was praised for how she won the crowd over, despite them being more familiar with Mone and her work in and out of WWE.

While Vaquer only signed with WWE in recent days, this isn’t her first time being associated with the company. In 2018, Vaquer had a tryout for the promotion but was not signed.

Stephanie Vaquer: ‘2018 WWE Tryout Taught Me What I Needed To Do’

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