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Kurt Angle To Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

Bishal Roy
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WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has added one more feather on his cap. 

Per PW Insider, Cauliflower Alley Club has announced that ‘The Olympic Gold Medalist’ is the latest recipient of the prestigious Lou Thesz/Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award.

Angle has certainly cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats. His legendary career began with amateur wrestling. He went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 despite having a ‘Broken Frickin’ Neck.’ He eventually shifted to pro wrestling and competed across WWE and TNA Wrestling, tasting more success in the process. He is a former multi-time World Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Lou Thesz/Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award

The esteemed award was named after legendary wrestler Lou Thesz and Cauliflower Club founder Art Abrams. It is noted that the award nominee must have a strong amateur wrestling background and a widely recognized pro wrestling career. It is needless to mention that Kurt Angle is a fitting choice for this award. 

Kurt Angle will accept the award in a ceremony at the 58th Annual Cauliflower Club Reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 19 to 21. ‘The Olympic Gold Medalist’ has now joined the prestigious list of fellow legendary wrestlers such as Ron Simmons, Rob Van Dam, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, and Ricky Steamboat who have received the award in the past. For more information and to buy tickets, fans can visit the CAC website.

Kurt Angle had an illustrious career in WWE but things might have been different for him had he signed with WCW. Fellow WWE legend Ric Flair had prevented Angle from joining WCW. Read more below:

AAA Star Agrenis Leaving Promotion After 16 Years

Rayan Saayed
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Argenis is leaving Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide after 16 long years. The masked wrestler was part of the Mexican wrestling promotion since 2008.

The 37-year-old wrestler announced his departure from AAA on his social media (via Fightful), adding that he would be “look for his origins.”

Here is what he wrote in his message to fans:

“It is always difficult to start this kind of message, and I want to start by saying thank you. Thanks to AAA for these 16 years, where I met wonderful people along the way, with whom I shared more than just an adventure, many that I can call friends and some that I can call carnal.
Thanks also to all the fans for allowing me to share with them.
To Dorian Roldan, Maricela Peña, Licenciado Roldan, and Jorge Torres for helping Argenis reach many parts of the world.
Thanks for everything but it is time to look for my origins.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C7kD3D3vGYy

Argenis was last seen in the ring for AAA at AAA MerzaMania, which took place on April 20, 2024. He teamed up with Psicosis in a losing attempt to take on Los Psycho Circus – the team of Dave The Clown and Murder Clown in a tag team match.

Much like other luchadors, his real name was not publicly known much of his career, which started in 2006. But at Triplemanía XXXI: Monterrey in April 2023, he lost against Myzteziz Jr. in a Mask vs. Mask match. He was unmasked then, and his real name was revealed to be Mirzha Adán Uribe Nava.

Notably, Argenis is the brother of Mysteziz, who was known as Mistico and as the original Sin Cara during his run in the WWE. Argenis is the son of Dr. Karonte, and his other siblings include wrestlers Astro Boy, Argos, and Mini Murder Clown. 

Becky Lynch Taking Extended Time Off When WWE Contract Expires

Aaron Varble
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Becky Lynch’s WWE contract is set to expire on Saturday. Following her loss on this week’s WWE Raw, it will probably be quite some time before The Man comes back around. Dave Meltzer addressed Lynch’s situation on Thursday’s Wrestling Observer Radio. With just days remaining on her WWE contract, Lynch is reportedly taking an extended leave of absense.

Her husband Seth Rollins is injured and off the road, so it makes sense for her to at least time some time off. However, Lynch’s situation is more than a vacation.

More on Becky Lynch’s Future

Prior to WrestleMania XL, Lynch told Chris Van Vliet that she wasn’t worried about the fact that her WWE contract was running out. Ariel Helwani later asked Lynch if she’d consider working for other companies. She replied, “I’m with WWE,” but expressed uncertainty about her situation.

Endeavor is handling WWE contracts differently, as seen with Seth Rollins, who re-signed before his contract expired. Lynch’s future remains unclear, but she could become a major free agent in June if WWE doesn’t finalize a new deal.

Tony Khan commented on the possibility of making a play for Lynch, and he made it clear that he will not tamper with her contract. She finished her WWE commitments on Monday’s Raw by losing to Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan in a steel cage match.

Chris Jericho has also given his two cents on the situation, as he said that AEW is now an option for her.

“Five years ago, Becky would have no other options. [I’m] not saying that she’s coming but there is an option and who knows what could happen? No one thought that Jericho would come to AEW. No one thought that Moxley would come or Bryan Danielson or Adam Cole or any of these guys that have come over.

So it’s exciting for the fans. It’s exciting for the wrestlers, the talent, because now suddenly if there’s a bidding war that just benefits us. So I think it’s it’s very important.”

Check out our recent review of Becky Lynch’s book:

Sonya Deville: ‘A Bathroom Trip Made Clear How Serious My ACL Injury Was’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Sonya Deville knew something was wrong after suffering an ACL injury in the ring after a midnight trip to the bathroom went awry. 

The injury in question occurred during the July 28, 2023, edition of WWE SmackDown which saw Deville and Chelsea Green face Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair. Deville would undergo surgery in August and has not competed since. 

Sonya Deville On Her Injury

On the Insight podcast, Deville discussed her injury with host Chris Van Vliet. The former MMA fighter and WWE authority figure admitted that at first, she did not know how bad the injury would be but suspected things were bad as she wrestled the remainder of the match. 

“The whole time I’m like ‘Oh my God, I hope I don’t fall flat on my face.’ Sure enough, we made it to the end, I limped back and I got in my rental car, went to my hotel and tried to pretend it didn’t happen. Because in this business nobody wants to be injured and out of play. 

Fearing the worst, Deville did not want those at the show to see how bad the injury was. It was only after a trip to the bathroom didn’t go as planned that the seriousness of the situation became clear. 

“I told myself it’s fine, it’s a sprain, I’ll just wrap it. Long story short, [I] woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and I fell face-first into the wall. And I was like ‘Oh I think something’s wrong.'”

Deville hasn’t wrestled since suffering her ACL injury. 

The injury ended Deville’s time as a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, her first title reign in close to a decade with the company. Understandably, Deville was frustrated with how her first serious injury in wrestling changed all plans for her. 

“I was so devastated. I had been with the company for nine years and of course, part of being in the WWE is to one day grab that brass ring and get gold around your waist. And that’s what I had been striving for of course. So I finally got that first championship and I was so happy. I was so elated, I was ready to make those titles mean more than ever before and then the injury came.”

Deville recently returned to WWE programming in a backstage segment with Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. It remains to be seen how Deville will factor into plans for the tag team which also have a guaranteed title opportunity at Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. 

Tiffany Stratton Reveals Plans For Hollywood Transition

Anutosh Bajpai
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Tiffany Stratton is undoubtedly the breakout star of WWE for 2024. The former NXT Women’s Champion has impressed everyone with her performances since her main roster debut in February. Tiffany has rightfully been dubbed as the future of the women’s division, though she already has an idea of what she wants to do after her WWE run as well.

The 25-year-old recently spoke to The Battleground podcast. She talked about things such as her performance in the Queen of The Ring tournament, Nia Jax’s win, and more.

During the interview, the current SmackDown star was asked if she has any Hollywood aspirations. Tiffany Stratton said that she would like to start breaking into Hollywood in around 5 years:

“I do, of course I do. I think by the age of 30 I kind of wanna be breaking into Hollywood and do something along those lines. At around the age of 30 I feel like [doing that]”

Tiffany Stratton Says Elimination Chamber Was Life Changing

Tiffany Stratton also talked about the overwhelming positive crowd reaction for her during the Elimination Chamber: Perth event earlier this year. She claimed that the whole experience was life changing for her:

“Australia was, it was life-changing I feel like for my career. I had no idea that Australia even knew who I was. Going into that match I was the rookie. It was kind of like ‘Are they gonna know who I am? If they’re not I am just gonna show out regardless.’ So the fact that I had the entire stadium chanting Tiffy time was so amazing for me.”

Apart from this Stratton discussed Jordynne Grace’s surprise NXT appearance this week. When asked which women from outside the WWE roster she would like to face if given a chance, Stratton took the name of Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo.

SEScoops had an exclusive interview with Tiffany Stratton earlier this year. You can check that out below:

Nepal Women’s Wrestling Sets World Record For Highest Elevated Match At 18,517 Feet

Thomas Lowson
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The Nepal Women’s Wrestling will go down in the record books after hosting a wrestling match at the highest elevation in history. 

On Wednesday, May 29, the promotion hosted a match between Dani Mo and Yunika at the Kala Pathar in the Khumbu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu, Nepal. The match itself was held at an altitude of 5,644 meters (18,517 feet) above sea level at the base camp of Kala Patthar in the Nepali Himalayas. The area is in close proximity to Mount Everest. 

The wrestlers are literally the highest of high-flyers. 

Mo, from the United States, had been in Nepal for a week leading up to the match and has had a BBC team documenting her journey. While this match was her (literally) highest match, she has also worked for several high-profile promotions. From October 2021 to November 2022, she made a handful of appearances for AEW where she lost to Tay Melo, Thunder Rosa, Serena Deeb, and Athena. She has also competed for Ring of Honor and appeared in a six-woman tag-team squash match during an August 2022 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOQe_u5WIUM

Yunika (aka Bhagawati Khadka) is a local of Nepal and is described by Tribune Live in Pittsburgh as “a beloved national celebrity in her country.” This match isn’t Yunika’s first time in the spotlight as she has previously appeared in the Nepalese version of ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ 

Watch: First Look At Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson As Maui in Disney’s Moana 2

Thomas Lowson
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Wrestling fans and moviegoers alike have caught their first glimpse of Disney’s Moana 2 starring WWE’s very own Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. 

Moana 2 follows on from 2016’s Moana and sees Johnson return as the voice of Maui, a legendary demigod who works alongside Moana (Auli?i Cravalho) to recover a missing relic that she believes will save the people of her island. Much like its predecessor, Moana 2 takes inspiration from Polynesian myths. 

This week, a teaser trailer for Moana 2 was shared online. Maui appears in the closing moments of the trailer and shows off his shapeshifting abilities, transforming from a shark into a bird and eventually into his human guise. The demigod converses with Moana and teases eating her pet pig and the returning chicken HeiHei (Alan Tudyk.)

The Rock’s Very Different Project

Moana 2 isn’t the only big project in the works for Dwayne Johnson. The Final Boss of WWE is also currently working on The Smashing Machine which will tell the tale of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson will play Kerr in the film which will delve into his career as well as his personal struggles with substances. 

The Smashing Machine is certainly a change from the norm for Johnson, who typically sticks to family-friendly films (Moana, The Jungle Cruise) or high-end blockbusters like The Fast and the Furious franchise. Currently, there’s no confirmed date for when fans can expect The Smashing Machine in cinemas. 

Tony Khan On Potentially Expanding Dynamite To Three Hours: “I’ve Tasted Blood”

Anutosh Bajpai
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AEW has had to shift its programming around recently due to the NBA and NHL playoffs. While it has created some problems for President Tony Khan, the schedule shift has also led to some unique opportunities such as having two of their weekly shows running one after another.

With 2024 being the year of media rights renewal for the promotion, there has been chatter about potential big changes for AEW. With the recent success of these three-hour blocks, the possibility of either Dynamite or Collision seeing a permanent expansion has certainly been a point of discussion.

Khan recently had an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri. During the talk, he was asked about the potential of Dynamite adding another hour in the future. Tony referenced Raw expanding to three hours back in 2012 and noted how it can be challenging to keep things interesting throughout a longer show:

“That’s a really challenging question. It’s been interesting to do the three-hour block when it’s been Dynamite and Rampage. You wanna keep Dynamite as strong as possible. Look at the history of what’s happened with a two-hour wrestling show when that show has expanded to three hours.”

I Want More: Tony Khan

Tony Khan however also discussed the business side of things and what it would mean for AEW financially to add another hour to their most profitable show. 

Khan mentioned how three hours of continuous programming allows them to follow up on things on the same night. They debated the idea of containing the five hours of weekly AEW programming to two nights instead of three with Tony Khan saying that he definitely wants to do at least 5 hours a week:

“It’s interesting right now the most we get per hour for any of our TV shows is Dynamite. So in some ways you can say that would be a really lucrative opportunity. I think it’s a very interesting conversation to have about how many nights a week you allocate the programming. Is 5 hours the best? Should we do 6? I mean I definitely wanna do at least 5 now. I’ve tasted blood and I want more. So I could easily be sold on doing more than 5 hours of programming.”

The AEW President has been doing media rounds recently and discussing some interesting topics. He also recently commented on the possibility of Becky Lynch joining AEW amid reports of her current WWE deal coming to an end. You can check out what Tony Khan had to say here.

Reality Shows & Documentaries Planned For WWE On Netflix Deal

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Universe will get much more than just wrestling shows on Netflix once Monday Night Raw joins the streaming juggernaut in 2025. 

In January, it was announced that Raw will move to Netflix as part of a $5 billion deal with the streaming giant. Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India. 

More WWE Shows On Netflix

Now, more WWE-licensed shows are set to join Netflix as part of this massive deal. Speaking at the JPMorgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference, TKO COO Mark Shapiro shared plans for “a lot of ancillary shoulder programming” connected to the WWE. This will include both reality shows and documentaries. 

Reality shows, giving a behind-the-scenes look, are hardly a new venture for Netflix. The streaming giant already teams with Formula 1 racing to present Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The show gives fans an in-depth look at the sport as well as the lives of drivers of the race track. 

Now, wrestling fans can expect something similar when WWE moves to Netflix. WWE has its own litany of reality shows including past examples like Total Divas and Total Bellas and current projects including Miz and Mrs and Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez.

WWE has a long history of producing high-quality documentaries. In addition to self-produced docs, the promotion has teamed with A&E for the popular Biography series. Now fans can look forward to more productions from WWE with the high-quality production team at Netflix also involved. 

Shawn Michaels On Jordynne Grace’s NXT Appearance: Triple H Owed Me One

Anutosh Bajpai
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Shawn Michaels is proud to deliver a genuine surprise in today’s wrestling climate like TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace’s unexpected NXT appearance this week.

The NXT head recently spoke to Adrian Hernandez to promote the upcoming NXT Battleground special coming from the UFC Apex, Enmarket Arena on June 10. The Knockouts champion will be challenging Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title at the show.

During the interview, Michaels was asked what Grace’s appearance means for the partnership between WWE and TNA. Shawn said that he leaves those kind of decisions to people above him, and his focus instead is on delivering genuine surprises:

“Well look, right now, a lot of those things are still being worked out internally. Obviously as I try to be honest with folks all the time, there are people above me that I leave to making all those kinds of decisions. What I enjoy doing is what we did last night, which is having the opportunity to bring real surprises and real ‘oh my God’ moments back to the WWE, back to wrestling, back to NXT. That’s what we had last night.”

We’re Thrilled To Have Her: Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels also talked about Jordynne Grace’s Royal Rumble appearance earlier this year. HBK revealed what he told Triple H about it:

I have been very public about being a fan of Jordynne Grace. I expressed to Hunter [Triple H] privately that I was very jealous that he had her for the Rumble [and] that he owed me one, he owed me a big one. We’re thrilled to have her for Battleground and we’re thrilled to have her next week. This is going to be a huge epic event.

One, for NXT to be the first brand to be out there in the UFC Apex is just really really big for us. We’re so honored to get to be the brand that gets to launch that. Then of course to sort of one up ourselves, like we always try to do, having TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace contend for the NXT Women’s Championship, fighting Roxanne Perez, is going to be really really big,”

Jordynne Grace’s NXT appearance seems to have opened the gates for a bigger partnership between the two companies. Reports suggest that this collaboration will not be one-sided.

A number of WWE and TNA talents have taken part in social media banter since Tuesday and even people like Drew McIntyre have teased a return to the Impact Zone.

Latest On MJF & Adam Cole Feud: Original Plans, Cole’s Current Medical Status

Thomas Lowson
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The end of MJF’s AEW World Championship reign could have been much different had injuries not derailed the promotion’s initial plans. 

MJF’s record-breaking reign came to an end at AEW Worlds End in December 2023 at the hands of Samoa Joe. The night went from bad to worse for the ‘Scumbag’ of AEW as after the match he was attacked by the Devil’s henchman, revealed to be Wardlow, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Roderick Stong. The Devil was revealed to be Adam Cole who due to his leg injury did not get physical on the night. 

MJF and Adam Cole

There had been plans for Cole and MJF to wrestle each other in late 2023, Fightful Select reports, with the reveal of the Devil obviously planned to happen earlier than it did. Cole had even been considered for a possible title victory over MJF but that did not happen due to his injury. The two did face off in the main event of AEW All In inside Wembley Stadium in a match where MJF retained. 

MJF and Cole are former ROH World Tag Team Champions. 

A Future Match? 

At AEW Double or Nothing 2024, MJF returned to TV and confronted Cole with both men getting physical in their segment. While this led many to speculate that a match would be happening soon, Fightful reports that a match is far from a reality. Cole is “not near” an in-ring return and all those involved wanted a way to blow the feud and turn off in the meantime until that can happen.

The creative plans shared with those in AEW are said to be “out of left field” but they are confident things will work out very well. At Double or Nothing, MJF made clear he’s staying with AEW and has cemented his status with the company with a tattoo. 

Tony Khan Says He Won’t Tamper With Contract of “Great Star” Becky Lynch

Thomas Lowson
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AEW President Tony Khan has a lot of respect for WWE Superstar Becky Lynch but isn’t ready to discuss bringing her to the All-Elite promotion just yet. 

Lynch’s contract with WWE is set to expire within a matter of days and while talks are ongoing, a deal is not expected to be reached. On this week’s Raw, Lynch unsuccessfully challenged WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan in the show’s main event. Lynch was visibly emotional after the show as she waved to the fans, which some have taken as a sign that ‘The Man’ is leaving WWE.

Watch: Becky Lynch Waves Goodbye to WWE Fans After Raw

Tony Khan on Becky Lynch

With Lynch’s time with WWE coming to an end, many fans are naturally hopeful that she will join AEW and its blossoming women’s division. The All-Elite promotion is already home to notable ex-Superstars including ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm, Saraya, and Mercedes Mone. Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Tony Khan was asked about possibly bringing WWE talent on board. 

“I don’t want to try to tamper and do those things. I try to keep it classy and I really have a reputation for honesty and I really want to be a fair businessman. The wrestling business is a really cutthroat business.”

When Lynch’s name was brought up, Khan again brought up tampering and isn’t going to discuss signing somebody who for now remains under a WWE contract. With that said, the AEW President agreed with Eisen’s co-host TJ that Lynch is a “great star.”

Tony Khan has a lot of respect for ‘The Man.’

Becky Lynch’s Future

Lynch has been telling those in WWE that she does not plan on joining AEW imminently. The former Women’s Champion is expected to take a break from wrestling for the time being. Despite this, WWE sources are confident a new deal will be reached when the time is right. Whatever comes next, fans will remain intrigued to see what the highly popular WWE Superstar does next. 

Will Ospreay Challenging For AEW World Title At Forbidden Door

Aaron Varble
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AEW brought the fallout from Double or Nothing with plenty of action. Dynamite ended with a Casino Gauntlet match to determine who will face AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door.

The match began with Jay White and Pac, and Juice Robinson, back from injury, was with the Bullet Club Gold faction. Mistico and Will Ospreay joined next, and the first pinfall or submission would determine the winner.

Shota Umino, from NJPW, entered the situation next, and he received a very good response from the LA crowd. Claudio Castagnoli came in next, immediately chasing Jay White out of the ring. Shota and Claudio exchanged forearms, and Umino endured The Swing during the commercial break.

Lio Rush made his AEW return as a member of the NJPW roster, joining the match through the Forbidden Door. Orange Cassidy, bandaged from an earlier beatdown by Trent, came out next. Hechicero from CMLL joined, diving right into the action.

In the end, Will Ospreay nailed a cutter on Orange Cassidy and secured the win. Already the AEW International Champion, Ospreay now has a chance to become a double champion at Forbidden Door.

After the match, Swerve Strickland came out to give his new challenger a closer look.

2024 Forbidden Door Event

Forbidden Door event and will take place on June 30, 2024, at the UBS Arena in the Long Island hamlet of Elmont, New York.

We already know that a ladder match will take place for the vacant TNT Title. Adam Copeland was stripped of the title this week during Dynamite due to an injury he suffered at Double or Nothing. 

Adam Copeland Stripped of TNT Title, Ladder Match Announced for Forbidden Door

Aaron Varble
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Adam Copeland suffered an injury at AEW Double or Nothing in a barbed wire steel cage match against Malakai Black. Despite winning the match with Gangrel’s help, he can’t continue as champion.

On AEW Dynamite, The Elite cut a heel promo. They gifted Okada a Lamborghini and failed to get a “You Deserve It” chant for him. Then, The Young Bucks stripped Adam Copeland of his TNT Title due to his injury and attempted to crown Jack Perry as the new champion.

Christopher Daniels, recently fired by The Elite, interrupted them. He revealed that Tony Khan had given him a new job as an authority figure on AEW television. He announced that the TNT Title wouldn’t go to Jungle Boy as The Elite wanted. Instead, a series of matches will determine the participants for a ladder match for the vacant TNT Title at Forbidden Door.

The first qualifying match will take place on Friday night Rampage this week. The Forbidden Door event is scheduled for June 30, 2024, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

Adam Copeland’s Injury

During the Barbed Wire Steel Cage match at AEW Double or Nothing on May 26, Adam Copeland attempted an elbow drop on Malakai Black. He landed on his feet without hitting Black, raising concerns about a possible injury.

Copeland finished the match but needed help from Gangrel to get to the back, hobbling on one leg. Rumors circulated about his condition, and this morning, Copeland provided an update.

In a video posted on Twitter, Copeland revealed he fractured his tibia and will need surgery. There’s no timeframe for the surgery yet, as he wants to focus on celebrating his daughter Ruby’s birthday first.

Despite the injury, Copeland remains positive, joking about his match and putting over his opponents. He admitted he got cocky and needs to make better choices, acknowledging his age.

Surgery is expected next week, and Copeland, familiar with recovering from injuries, promises to be back soon.

Mercedes Mone’s Mystery Attacker Revealed During AEW Dynamite

Aaron Varble
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When AEW signed Mercedes Mone to a deal, she had a big target on her. Now we know who was responsible for her backstage attack a few weeks ago, as Skye Blue stepped forward.

Mercedes Mone secured the TBS Championship at AEW Double or Nothing from Willow Nightingale. This week on Dynamite, she celebrated her victory with a big celebration and an unexpected revelation.

Skye Blue interrupted Mone’s celebration by attacking her. She revealed herself as the former Sasha Banks’ attacker from a few weeks ago on Dynamite.

Backstory and Match

A few weeks back, Mercedes Mone was attacked backstage during an interview. The mystery was solved when Blue admitted to being the woman behind the attack, and she got a payoff.

A TBS Title match was set for later that night. Mercedes defeated Sky Blue to retain her title. With another mystery solved in All Elite Wrestling, Mone was confronted by NJPW Stong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer. The fact that both Mone and Vaquer were raising their titles at the end of the segment could give us a Forbidden Door preview.

Don Callis Family Gets New Member During 5/29 AEW Dynamite

Aaron Varble
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The Don Callis Family has brought a ton of heat so far in AEW. Now, Trent is their newest member.

During AEW Dynamite this week, Don Callis appeared in the ring to kick off the second hour of the show. He was there to supposedly extend an invitation to Orange Cassidy to join his family. Callis praised Cassidy, who then came out to greet him, receiving cheers from the LA crowd. Cassidy took Callis’ contract, ripped it up, and said, “Hey Don, no.”

Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway then joined them, as they stood on the entrance ramp. Stokely made a comment about Willow Nightingale, and Statlander accepted the invitation on behalf of her best friend. The attention then turned back to the ring, where Trent was standing in the corner, ready to strike.

Trent attacked Cassidy, bloodying him with punches. After the assault, Trent approached Callis, and they hugged, marking Trent’s entry into the Don Callis family.

Backstory

The Don Callis Family, led by Don Callis, consists of Konosuke Takeshita, Will Ospreay, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Kyle Fletcher. Callis has been scouting Orange Cassidy in recent weeks.

Freshly Squeezed beat Trent Beretta at AEW Double or Nothing last Sunday in a grudge match between the former Best Friends. Cassidy won by rolling Beretta into a pinning combination after his usual finishers failed. Devastated, Beretta walked away dejectedly through the crowd without seeking revenge.

Fans wondered what was next for Trent and OC, and now we know that Don Callis is definitely involved.

Who Killed WCW Preview Shares Insight on Infamous Lawn Dart Moment

Tyriece Simon
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Wrestling fans are in for a treat next week, as Vice TV will air the first episode of the Who Killed WCW docuseries. The project, executive produced by Hollywood megastar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and the creators of Dark Side Of The Ring, aims to share a new perspective on the rise and fall of WCW. The series will air on June 4 and will have four episodes. 

Ahead of the premiere episode, the Dark Side Of the Ring X account shared a new sneak peek of what fans should expect. The first look of the series recalls an infamous moment from WCW Monday Night Nitro when the NWO attacked talent backstage. In the clip, fans get a glimpse of the former WCW talent and producers who will be involved, including Kevin Nash, Konnan, and Eric Bischoff. 

Here is a look at the preview. 

More On Who Killed WCW Preview 

 Dark Side Of The Ring noted on X that Nash is one of the producers of Who Killed WCW. He has spoken positively about the new docuseries, and it’s known that he would be featured. However, it’s the first time he’s been publicly credited as a Producer.

 The clip may be fascinating to fans as the cast touches on how the infamous July 29, 1996, episode that featured NWO assaulting talent backstage came together. One of the highlights from the sneak peek was Nash breaking down the spot where he launched Rey Mysterio like a lawn dart against a trailer. 

Nash reveals that Mysterio wanted the charismatic giant to throw him into the window. However, ‘Big Sexy’ nixed the idea, as he was worried that launching him into the window could’ve been fatal. It’s unclear if Mysterio is involved in the show to share his side of the story. That said, it is information that longtime wrestling fans may not have heard. 

If the upcoming docuseries can share new information and perspectives not heard before, Who Killed WCW could be very exciting.  

Drew McIntyre Teases TNA Involvement: “Door Opens Both Ways”

Tyriece Simon
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The ‘Forbidden Door’ is open in WWE after TNA Knockout Champion Jordynne Grace appeared on the May 28 episode of NXT. Grace answered the challenge to take on NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez for the title at NXT Battleground on June 9. After the surprising appearance, both talents from WWE and TNA Wrestling have shared an interest in facing each other on social media. 

Several notable names like X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali and WWE superstar Cedric Alexander have pitched on X facing each other after Grace NXT’s debut. While fans are also pitching dream matches from both companies, Drew McIntyre has officially put his name out to go through the ‘Forbidden Door.’ 

On X, ‘The Scottish Warrior’ shared a picture of himself holding the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and wrote “Doors Open Both Ways.” 

Longtime TNA fans may recall that McIntyre had a successful run with the company from 2015 to 2017. The crowning moment of his TNA career was when he won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Matt Hardy on an episode of Impact Wrestling on March 15, 2016. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ held the title for almost three months before dropping it to Bobby Lashley at TNA Slammiversary on June 12. 

McIntyre’s interest in working with TNA again makes fans curious whether WWE will allow him. The cocky superstar is currently involved in a feud with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest and will challenge for the title at Clash At The Castle next month. WWE may keep McIntyre focused on preparing for his homecoming event. 

Regardless, one TNA talent has responded to his post. 

TNA Champion Welcomes A Match With Drew McIntyre

In response to McIntyre’s tease, TNA World Champion Moose warned him about wanting to cross over. Moose shared a photo on X from a win over McIntyre for the Impact Grand Championship on an episode of Impact Wrestling on March 2, 2017. 

McIntyre has yet to respond to Moose’s comments, but it does create intrigue for a potential rematch between them. It’s unclear what WWE and TNA have planned beyond Grace challenging Perez at NXT Battleground. However, the online interactions between WWE and TNA talent are exciting fans for what is to come. 

Ethan Page Claims He Hasn’t Signed With WWE Yet

Tyriece Simon
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The wrestling business is buzzing after Ethan Page shockingly made his debut on the May 28 episode of WWE NXT. After three years signed to All Elite Wrestling, Page left the company on May 2. ‘All Ego’ seemed interested in testing free agency and is still booked for independent wrestling shows. However, based on his appearance last night and a report from Fightful Select, it’s believed that he has signed up with WWE. 

Page dramatically ended the recent WWE NXT episode by assaulting world champion Trick Williams. It’s also worth noting that his attack from behind on Williams led to the champion clashing heads with Lash Legend. 

Page revealed he was responsible for attacks on Noam Dar and Oro Mensah backstage. Afterward, he delivered a running knee to Williams in the corner and posed with the NXT Championship as the show went off. 

Ethan Page Denies Being Signed TO WWE

It seems WWE is leading to a potential match with Williams as soon as NXT Battleground on June 9. However, Page has spoken out in a video on X, claiming he isn’t signed to WWE. He touted the media attention that the company received over his shocking debut and how this gave him leverage for a deal. Page also called on the company and NXT champion to reach out if they want a deal done. 

“…Contrary to popular belief, Ethan Page is not signed to any company or any contract, and I’m going to just assume that Trick Williams would love to get a little payback and revenge on Ethan Pag, so NXT, I’m going to leave this to you,” said Page.

He ended the video by saying that the ball was in WWE’s court to get a deal done. 

What’s Next For Page? 

Although Page has downplayed being signed with WWE, this seems to be part of his storyline with the company. He is advertised for a match against Shelton Benjamin for  Prestige Wrestling on July 12. Despite still being promoted for an independent wrestling event, WWE could allow him to finish the dates he’s committed to working. 

The next storyline development should come on the June 5 episode of WWE NXT. Williams will likely address his attack and want revenge on Page. It’s unclear if the company plans to have them compete at NXT Battleground, but it will make fans interested to tune in on next week’s episode. 

Report: Roxanne Perez Didn’t Know About Jordynne Grace’s NXT Surprise

Aaron Varble
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Jordynne Grace was revealed as Roxanne Perez’s opponent for Battleground during this week’s episode of NXT, surprising both fans and the NXT Women’s Champion. Fightful Select reports that Perez was genuinely surprised by Grace’s appearance, as she had insisted on not knowing her opponent beforehand to ensure an authentic reaction. Her reaction on television was organic, which made it an even more memorable moment fans won’t soon forget.

The NXT Women’s Championship match at Battleground is part of an agreement between Grace and NXT, which includes at least three appearances: two advertised matches and her recent appearance. The Fightful report states that Grace is earning at least six figures for these appearances for the NXT brand. She’ll take on Stevie Turner in singles action for the June 4 episode, the go-home show before Battleground. 

WWE NXT & TNA Crossover

Andrea Concepcion and Johnny Russo were responsible for organizing Jordynne Grace’s segment, as noted by Corey Brennan. While most talent were unaware, Ethan Page knew about Grace’s appearance in advance due. They reportedly had an encounter at Cezar Bononi’s house.

The possibility of more NXT and TNA crossovers remains open. Despite Scott D’Amore’s departure from TNA, which initially raised concerns about future collaborations, sources within TNA confirm that communication lines remain open. There is a lot more to unpack in this story, as WWE seemingly has their own Forbidden Door to open now.

WWE NXT Battleground will go down on June 9 from the UFC Apex outside Las Vegas. SEScoops will have complete coverage of the show, including the highly-promoted Women’s Title match.

See Roman Reigns’ Intense Workout While On Hiatus From WWE

Rayan Saayed
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Roman Reigns is currently on hiatus in the WWE, but he was seen training in a video shared recently on social media. The video was shared by bodybuilder and actor Kai Greene, in which he could be seen in a training session with Reigns.

“RISE UP ,” Greene wrote in the caption of the post. “Keep pushing, keep dreaming, and never let self doubt or fear stop get in the way. This is your journey, the pursuit of greatness is within grasp…all you have to do is go out there and earn it. HUGE shoutout to @romanreigns for tagging me in on this training session!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C7Jrs9AOipS

At Night Two of WrestleMania 40, Reigns lost the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes. After which, he took some time off from the ring, and working on a film. Last month, SEScoops reported that the former champion is involved in “Good Fortune,” a heist comedy film that is set to come out in late 2024. The cast of the film includes names such as Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, and comedian Aziz Ansari making his directorial debut.

This will be Reigns’ fourth film role, as he has starred in “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” with his cousin Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the past. He was also seen in Netflix’s “The Wrong Missy” and lent his voice acted Paramount+’s animated film “Rumble.” He’s also listed as a lead cast member in “Action Force,” which also features Tom Budgen aka Malakai Black in the cast.

The 39-year-old held the Undisputed WWE Championship for a historic 1,316 days. It is not known when Reigns will make a return to the ring, but a grueling training session vid does instill some hope in seeing him back in action soon.

Ric Flair Stopped Kurt Angle From Going To WCW, Called Vince McMahon On The Spot

Dominic DeAngelo
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If it wasn’t for Ric Flair, we may have saw Kurt Angle show up on WCW Monday Nitro, but “The Nature Boy” knew the right place for an Olympic Hero was WWE.

Ric Flair was a styling and profiling guest on the 5/29 episode of “Busted Open Radio” and started talking about the array of stars during the Attitude Era. Flair then mentioned how he flat out told Kurt Angle, who was looking to get into pro wrestling to avoid WCW.

“I said, you don’t want to go to Atlanta, brother. You will get lost.”

Bully Ray asked Flair for clarification and Ric went into further detail about how the encounter happened.

“We were in a gym working out in Nashville, TN and I met Kurt several times and he walked over and said, ‘I’m thinking about getting into professional wrestling,’ he said ‘What do you think about me going to WCW?’

Flair thought about it for a second, said “Give me a minute.”

“I went in the locker room, got my phone, came out, called Vince [McMahon], put him on the phone and he was working out with Dory Funk Jr. two weeks later.”

Flair said WCW would have greatly misused Angle at the time.

“Kurt when healthy, is absolutely one of the great ones.

“Kurt is a special kind of athlete and a special kind of guy and legitimately really tough.”

Flair covered a great deal of ground during his interview, talking about his daughter Charlotte, the unbridled star power of The Rock and how Ricky Steamboat is in the top two of the greatest all time wrestlers alongside Shawn Michaels.

Please credit Busted Open Radio and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Details Behind Ethan Page Signing With WWE

Dominic DeAngelo
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Ethan Page was one of the two big surprises during WWE NXT this Tuesday and by that surprise appearance its safe to assume that “All Ego” is now in the WWE pro wrestling universe.

Fightful Select has a new report on Page’s status. While it’s unknown if Ethan Page’s contract with AEW expired or he was just released but he told names in the industry that he was hoping to be a free agent by this timeframe.

In the same realm, Page had a desire to float under the radar until “he appeared somewhere else.” Mission accomplished as Page shocked that Capitol Wrestling Center on Tuesday night, revealing himself to be the attacker of Noam Dar and Ora Mensa before he ambushed NXT Champion Trick Williams.

According to Fightful, Page’s deal with WWE was finalized over the course of last week and had a secret meeting go down at the WWE Performance Center. Sources within the company are reportedly pleased and excited about Page’s debut.

Ethan Page wasn’t the only former TNA talent to shock the wrestling world on Tuesday night. TNA Knockout Champion Jordynne Grace showed up as the surprise opponent for NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at the upcoming NXT Battleground.

Page, who has been the sole proprietor of Alpha-1 Wrestling, also joins former AEW star Shawn Spears as a name to join the NXT ranks in 2024. Page was one of the several under-utilized talents in All Elite Wrestling and greatly remained off programming as of recent.

Will Ospreay Pitches Scott D’Amore To Run ROH

Dominic DeAngelo
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Will Ospreay loves the passion of Scott D’Amore and he thinks that incorporating him into the AEW product would be extremely valuable to the company.

Speaking with Adrian Hernandez ahead of AEW Double Or Nothing, Ospreay expressed how much he respects the former TNA President and praises D’Amore for being the catalyst for the continued success of TNA despite no longer being with the promotion.

“I can’t tell you enough how much respect I have for Scott D’Amore. If there was anything that I want to put out there; if there was a way that AEW could hire Scott D’Amore in any type of fashion.”

Ospreay had one idea in mind as to how Tony Khan could utilize the talent and mind of Scott D’Amore.

“Have that guy run Ring of Honor or something. The passion that he had for TNA, and just how he completely single handily transformed that company.”

Tony Khan purchased Ring Of Honor years back and made the brand its own entity. Much to the chagrin of many, all the new programming resides on the ROH Honor Club. Khan has been criticized as to how he has handled the brand as a great deal of the product flies under the radar due to it solely being on Honor Club.

D’Amore was let go by TNA after he was the primary proponent for rebranding the company and since then, D’Amore has trademarkedd “Maple Leaf Wrestling” and is putting on a Border City Wrestling event later this year. Ospreay spent a “cup of coffee” in TNA as a free agent before signing on full-time with All Elite Wrestling.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

AEW Refutes Report Regarding Dynamic Between Tony Khan & WBD

Dominic DeAngelo
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People at AEW are firing back at the report made by an entertainment website earlier today stating that Tony Khan was disappointed at the initial offer made to him by Warner Bros Discovery.

According to AEW sources close to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer, Khan was not upset by WBD’s first offer, but negotiations are still ongoing between the two parties. The report regarding Khan’s supposed mentality on the matter came from Matthew Belloni of The Puck, who noted that WBD’s exclusivity window with AEW is closing in July. He also added that Khan and Warner Bros are “playing nice” with one another as negotiations continue.

Meltzer added into his report that Belloni previously had WWE CEO Nick Khan on his podcast and that the two are supposedly longtime friends.

There is concern that WBD CEO David Zaslav may bungle the AEW deal for WBD as the executive has been heavily criticized for likely losing the rights deal for the NBA.

Just last month, Zaslav sent a memo to Warner Bros Discovery executives to look for cost-cutting measures after ending 2023 in debt. However, there could be some great viability in locking AEW in a new deal considering that live television is a hot commodity during this always changing era of the streaming service.

On the latest media call with Tony Khan ahead of Double or Nothing, the AEW President expressed a desire to ink a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, but there might be a high-demand for the AEW package in the open market.

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