All Elite Wrestling will need to find a new talent to be the promotion’s goodwill ambassador in the place of Cody Rhodes, according to All-Elite alum Kevin Kelly.
Rhodes, alongside wife Brandi, parted ways with AEW in February 2022 and the American Nightmare would return to WWE shortly after. Since then, Rhodes has become one of WWE’s top stars and is currently in his first run as Undisputed WWE Champion.
While Rhodes has achieved plenty in WWE, AEW without him has seen its share of issues. Injuries and backstage drama has taken a considerable amount of shine off Tony Khan’s promotion in the eyes of many fans. Taking to Twitter, Kelly suggested that AEW has yet to find someone who’ll represent AEW on all levels in the way Rhodes did for years.
The one spot @AEW has yet to fill is the one @CodyRhodes held down. He wasn’t just the top guy but he was the face of the company. THE Goodwill Ambassador. Ticket issue? Special request? Cody took care of it. Talent comes and goes but replacing Cody means so much more.
Kelly knows a thing or two about impactful exits from AEW, though his departure was nowhere close to as amicable as the Rhodes family. Kelly made a series of disparaging remarks on social media earlier this year including accusing fellow AEW broadcaster Ian Riccaboni of libel. After not appearing at an AEW taping, Kelly was let go by the company in
When it comes to selecting a representative of your wrestling promotion, one would struggle to find a better candidate than Cody Rhodes. Articles highlighting Rhodes’ connection with fans are a regular occurrence online, demonstrating his commitment to his role as a leading name in WWE. Earlier this year, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding.
House of Glory Wrestling is coming to Chicago this September for what will be the promotion’s first-ever event in the Windy City.
On Twitter, the official House of Glory Wrestling account announced that their debut event in Chicago will take place on September 5, from the Logan Square Auditorium. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Friday, July 12, at 10 AM local time.
? BREAKING ?
CHICAGO HERE WE COME ??
HOG is going Big Time as we make our Chicago debut, Thursday, September 5th in the Logan Square Auditorium!!!
— House Of Glory Wrestling (@HOGwrestling) July 5, 2024
This will be the latest event to be held at the historic Logan Square Auditorium on North Kedzie Blvd. Freelance Wrestling, which operates in and around the Illinois area, has hosted several events in the venue. In November 2018, All American Wrestling, which operates out of Berwyn, Illinois, hosted its Unstoppable event from the venue.
At this time, no names have been announced for House of Glory Wrestling’s debut event in the Windy City. With that said, fans can expect top champions including HOG World Champion Mike Santana, Cruiserweight Champion Gringo Loco, and the longest-reigning HOG Women’s Champion Violette.
A match featuring Minoru Suzuki ended abruptly this week after a serious accident resulted in the veteran being raced to a nearby emergency hospital.
Suzuki was competing in the main event of a show for the Tenryu Project when the accident occurred. The match as quickly called off by the referee and he was taken to an emergency hospital. There, Suzuki was found to have no bleeding in his head and was diagnosed with a concussion.
Details are currently scarce on Suzuki’s present condition, though it’s expected he will not return to the ring until he is medically cleared to do so. That could disrupt plans in All Elite Wrestling as Suzuki was set to embark on a feud with FTW Champion Chris Jericho. On the June 26, episode of AEW Dynamite, Suzuki rejected Jericho’s offer to be his partner for a trios match at Forbidden Door and laid out the challenge for the FTW title. Jericho instead teamed with Jeff Cobb and Big Bill at Forbidden Door in a losing effort to HOOK, Samoa Joe, and Katsuyori Shibata.
Michaels shares insight on dealing with serious storylines in NXT.
WWE NXT is taking a chance to cover more serious storylines than they have in years past. The brand has generally featured issues amongst superstars that dealt with betrayal or jealousy. However, in the last year, NXT has started to touch on complicated storylines dealing with addiction and depression.
One of the noticeable storylines that the development brand had going was Andre Chase suffering from a gambling addiction that almost cost him his Chase University. This was something that developed late last year and is still referenced currently on TV. It saw Chase being outed as having an addiction and having to deal with the ramifications of letting those around him down.
Although the storyline didn’t get too serious about dealing with gambling addiction, it was a change of pace from what NXT fans are used to seeing on TV. Shawn Michaels recently had a media call ahead of NXT Heatwave, and Metro’s Alistair McGeorge asked how the brand deals with more serious storylines. The Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative shared that WWE likes to explore serious topics but tries to be aware of how sensitive it could be for fans.
“…We do our best, as we’ve always done in this business and certainly in the WWE, to blur those lines between reality and what is 100% storyline and sports entertainment. I always want to be sensitive to that and don’t want to overstep. Sometimes, you miss the mark, and there’s something that people take from it that you certainly didn’t intend. Certainly, those things do happen,” said Michaels. He added, “…All I can do is give people as someone that has been through it(Depression) at a time when people were not sensitive to it in any way, shape or form you can trust that there is somebody that is very sensitive to it.”
‘HBK’ also acknowledged that he’ll back off a storyline and make adjustments if he feels the program is going too far.
Ongoing Storyline With Brook Jensen
NXT currently has an ongoing storyline with Brook Jensen, as he is seemingly dealing with depression and potential alcohol abuse. He has taken to social media to speak openly about not being booked for shows and feeling unnoticed, which had fans questioning if his issues were a storyline or how he feels. WWE fans were more confused when Jensen shared that he was a free agent and was appearing at independent wrestling events.
On the July 2 episode of NXT, Michaels put fans at ease by sharing that Jensen’s actions on social media and TV are part of his storyline. He explained that after splitting from his tag team partner, Josh Briggs, Jensen was given time off to clear his head after showing signs of having issues. He also revealed that the NXT superstar has been signed to the company and will be on the July 9 episode to speak with NXT General Manager Ava.
NXT’s new approach to handling serious storylines seems to be capturing the attention of fans. Hopefully, Michaels can maintain touching on tough topics and know when it may be time to assure fans that it’s more story than reality.
Kevin Sullivan has had a rough journey over the past several weeks and ‘The Taskmaster’ is getting a little help from fans and some major wrestling names.
Unfortunately, Sullivan was involved in a car accident back on May 12 while in Florida for an autograph signing. The aftermath was devastating but the hospital was able to save his leg and his life. However, Sullivan developed sepsis and encephalitis and in turn, has been hospitalized in ICU.
Sullivan has been in and out of conciousness, but ‘The Taskmaster’ keeps fighting on. His insurance plan has been nearly exhausted due to the ongoing expenses and his family has created a GoFundMe to help him and his family afford his recovery.
Not only did fans come out of the woodwork to help Kevin Sullivan, but a lot of big names in the pro wrestling world have too.
Jim Cornette and his wife Stacey donated $5,000 to the cause, Chris Jericho donated $2,500, Scott D’Amore donated $1,500, Cody Rhodes sent Sullivan $1,000 and so did Diamond Dallas Page. Norman Smiley also donated.
The original goal for the GoFundMe was $20,000, but with the help from his colleagues and wrestling fans, the donations are up to over $24,000.
The Sullivan family listed all that the money will go to in helping Kevin and it includes continued hospital expenses, skilled nursing care, acute and subacute occupational and physical therapy, recurring medical expenses and transportation.
Daniel Garcia is catching his stride as an AEW star, but will he be around for long?
Garcia is arguably one of the names to really flourish under the All Elite Wrestling banner as he’s been put in high-profile matches and embraced a unique side of his personality. He’s made a strong connection with the fanbase as an underdog babyface and that’s all been embraced as of recent.
Garcia has been the big fulcrum in a budding feud between Will Ospreay and MJF. This very much culminated at AEW Beach Break 3 as Garcia competed against Ospreay for the AEW International Championship. Garcia went toe-to-toe with ‘The Billy Goat’, but came up short after MJF got involved in the match, offering Garcia his Dynamite diamond ring. Garcia declined the ring and Ospreay in turn got the pinfall victory.
Post-fight, Ospreay consoled a sobbing Garcia and then MJF at first did the same, until he kicked him below the belt and had a massive heel turn. MJF brutally beat down Garcia and bloodied him to a pulp to close out the show, but certainly the story of Daniel Garcia will carry on.
What Is The Status Of Daniel Garcia’s AEW Contract?
According to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer, the current AEW deal with Daniel Garcia is set to expire in October, but those who know him don’t expect the Buffalo boy to be leaving.
R-Truth and Triple H are two happy veterans after Friday night. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano defeated Grayson Waller and Austin Theory to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions on SmackDown. and a celebration was in order.
Truth had no sour grapes for DIY after recently losing his own Tag Team Championships to The Judgment Day as once he saw a photo of Triple H standing with the new champs. However, Triple H traded places with Ciampa, holding the title alongside Gargano, leaning into the running bit that R-Truth believes DIY are DX.
Like another famous faction in The Beatles, Ciampa and Gargano have had a long and winding road as both men have been trying to find their footing on the main roster after being top names in NXT. Both men had gotten hampered by major injuries and were also pigeon-holed by creative under the Vince McMahon regime.
Ciampa and Gargano actually competed against Awesome Truth in the tag team ladder match at WrestleMania 40 and leaning into the joke, Ciampa and Gargano had DX-themed gear.
Truth is no stranger to mistaken identity as its the very thing that perpetuated his Tag Title loss to The Judgment Day. He thought Liv Morgan was once his right-hand gal in Carmella and wanted true love to work out for her and Dominik Mysterio, thus giving The Judgment Day the opportunity.
AEW’s Jeff Jarrett will always appreciate the efforts of pop sensation Taylor Swift who helped his family out during a very dark time in their lives.
Before becoming one of the most successful names in music history, Swift would babysit the Jarrett children. Speaking to Live At 9:00, Jarrett spoke about how the Shake It Off star did plenty to support the family after Jeff’s first wife passed away.
“She is a friend of the family. [She was] very good to my family during a very, very dark period when my wife got sick and passed away. But Taylor was like a big sister and came over and took the girls, baking cookies and just out at the house. I can’t say enough good things about Taylor… Just a sweetheart.”
Jarrett added that since Swift was never on the “Jeff Jarrett payroll” she was never technically a babysitter. Double-J also joked that people may not be aware that she has done rather well for herself as Swift continues to be a leading name in music.
During the post-Fastlane press conference, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY was asked about Swift in a question that divided fans. While many saw it as a harmless bit of fun, some took issue with this question and SKY was visibly confused as to why she was being asked about a non-wrestler.
While fans may never see Swift in a wrestling ring, we know to never say never in this industry. Until then, Swift will continue to be a global-recognized megastar in entertainment, with the recent Eras tour further cementing her success.
LA Knight had a difficult time delivering a eulogy to the late Bray Wyatt but was able to work off his experience working and remembering Paul Bearer.
Following the passing of Bray Wyatt in August 2023, Knight appeared on SmackDown and spoke openly about his respect for the three-time WWE World Champion. The choice of Knight to give this promo was no accident as the Megastar had been Wyatt’s final opponent.
This was not Knight’s first time delivering an emotional eulogy to a name associated in wrestling. Following the passing of Paul Bearer in 2013, Knight, who had been managed by the macabre manager outside WWE, gave a touching tribute to the Hall of Famer. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez this week, Knight acknowledged how his first tribute prepared him for the second.
“Yeah [it was very difficult] sure. I mean, I had to do something similar to that for Percy Pringle, William Moody, most people probably know him as Paul Bearer, about eleven years ago. So I’d kind of drawn on that in a certain way where it was like I needed to go out and talk about him while also keeping the business moving and not disrespecting at the same time.”
LA Knight on his Bray Wyatt tribute.
LA Knight on if paying tribute to Bray Wyatt on Smackdown was the most difficult thing he's done in his career + will he tag with @jalenbrunson1? pic.twitter.com/MjVKnL8Jqf
Knight, in his own words, had a ‘turning point’ moment with his feud with Bray Wyatt as this angle would see the Megastar rise to become one of WWE’s most popular Superstars. Many fans believe Knight will one day join Wyatt in the annals of WWE Champions and the veteran will never forget the impact that the late Superstar has had on his career.
Sami Zayn made an appearance after the Money In The Bank go home episode of SmackDown from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada went off air.
There were two dark matches that took place after the broadcast of the Blue Branded Show ended. The first match featured IYO SKY defeating Naomi.
The second dark match of the night saw Sami Zayn defending the Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable. Gable got the Kurt Angle treatment from the crowd during his entrance.
The former Olympian had locked in Zayn into an ankle lock towards the end of the bout but the IC Champion reversed it into a powerbomb. He finally delivered a Helluva kick to pick up the victory.
After the match, Sami Zayn cut a short promo. Zayn who is billed from Montreal, mentioned how the Toronto crowd always makes him feel like he is in his hometown. He then hyped-up Saturday’s Money In The Bank PPV:
The SmackDown episode was largely built around the upcoming PPV. The opening segment saw all the competitors of the Men’s Money In The Bank match coming face to face before the bout.
Apart from this, the show featured matches such as Pretty Deadly vs. The Street Profits and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair vs. Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae.
The latest WWE event also featured a big title change in the main event of the show. You can check out more about it here.
Tiffany Stratton made an “honest mistake” by uploading a video featuring Jade Cargill that earned a considerable backlash among the WWE Universe.
The offending video in question was shared on Instagram and saw Jade and Stratton on opposing ends of a tag-team match at a WWE live event. In the video, Cargill is called a “Black b***h” after a slap from the former WWE NXT Women’s Champion.
While Stratton herself did not utter the words, and the audio clip is used in several videos on Instagram and TikTok, the video spawned a backlash with accusations of racial insensitivity. Some fans even went as far as to tag Triple H and WWE and demand Stratton’s termination from the company.
Tiffany Stratton On Her Video
Stratton quickly deleted the video and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted at the time that “If this was someone who wasn’t a star they’d be fired instantly.” Fortunately, for Stratton that didn’t happen and she has remained a part of the roster. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez ahead of the WWE Money in the Bank 2024 PLE, Stratton was asked about the video in question.
“It was an honest mistake. I didn’t hear the audio. I had it up for maybe 20 seconds and I deleted it instantly as soon as I heard the audio. It was an honest mistake.”
Following the video, Stratton quietly bowed out of the WWE Women’s Championship picture and did not win the Queen of the Ring tournament as many had expected. With that said, it is impossible to tell if this was a ‘punishment’ for the video, or if this was simply WWE’s plans in motion. Whatever the case may be, Stratton’s video is a reminder to all to watch what they put out on social media.
Solo Sikoa has laid out the challenge for Roman Reigns to try and take back the position as the Tribal Chief of The Bloodline.
Reigns hasn’t been seen since his WrestleMania 40 loss to Cody Rhodes which saw the latter become Undisputed WWE Champion. In his absence, Sikoa has been acting as the leader of The Bloodline and has made several changes to the group. It was under Sikoa’s leadership that Jimmy Uso was ousted from the group, while Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu have been brought in.
Sikoa’s latest change to The Bloodline saw Paul Heyman ejected from the group last week after the WWE Hall of Famer refused to acknowledge Sikoa as the Head of the Table. This attack came mere weeks after Sikoa told Heyman that Roman Reigns will never return to the group he founded four years ago.
On the July 5, edition of WWE SmackDown, a video package aired of Sikoa and his Bloodline. Solo, clutching the Ula Fala, made clear he never sought to be the Tribal Chief, but this is what his family needs. Sikoa added that Reigns was no longer ‘man enough’ to be the Tribal Chief after his loss in Philadelphia, and added that “If Roman Reigns wants that back, he can try and take it from me.”
"If Roman Reigns wants that back, he can try and take it from me"
In the video, Sikoa also set his sights on the Undisputed WWE Championship and vowed that The Bloodline will take it back under his leadership. Three members of the group will face Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens in six-man-tag action at WWE Money in the Bank on July 6.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are the new WWE tag team champions. DIY defeated A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) on Friday’s WWE SmackDown from Toronto.
The match featured fast paced action, high impact offense from both teams and several close calls. The finish came when DIY locked in cross-face submission holds on champions, who tapped out in unison.
After the match, fireworks erupted as the Toronto crowd celebrated the historic moment. This marks the first main roster gold for DIY, who previously held the NXT tag titles. The longtime friends went on to have a bitter rivalry before ultimately reconciling and getting back to business.
For Theory and Waller, the championship reign that began by winning the Six-Pack Challenge Ladder Match at WrestleMania XL ends at 90 days.
What does the future hold for Jeff Jarrett? ‘The Last Outlaw’ felt at a loss after his loss to Hangman Page in the quarterfinals of The Owen Hart Cup, but fans still paid ‘Double J’ respect.
Chicago exploded for the in-ring return of Hangman Page, but it was quickly discovered that his ‘Cowboy S***’ mantra came with cruel intentions. Page was ruthless in his assault against Jarrett, who happened to eventually get the Chicago crowd on his side. Jarrett even got a huge reaction when he locked Page in Owen Hart’s sharpshooter. Jarrett escaped Page’s grasp several times, but was caught with a Buckshot Lariat and it was good enough to keep Jarrett down. However, Page wasn’t done. For good measure he hit his Dead Eye finisher for the 1-2-3.
Page made his return after being away for months and from a storyline perspective was suspended by The Young Bucks. However, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were the ones to reinstate Hangman and implement him into the tournament. While he was a heel against Jarrett, Page also shared his disdain for The Bucks, making it clear to him he wasn’t their puppet.
Despite the loss, The Windy City did tip their cap to ‘The Last Outlaw’ as they cheered Jeff making his exit to the back.
Later on, camera crews caught up with a frustrated and despondent Jarrett as he tried to gather himself after the loss. Both Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt gave him words of encouragement, letting him know that he didn’t let the legacy of Owen Hart down, with Dutt adding opportunity will present itself stemming from the outcame. Jarrett wasn’t too convinced by that.
Giulia is WWE-bound, but not expected at NXT Heatwave this Sunday
WWE is eager to add her to the mix and she’ll likely debut by the next NXT PLE
Giulia’s WWE debut is imminent, but she won’t be on hand for Sunday’s NXT Heatwave 2024 premium live event from Toronto, OB. The Japanese wrestling sensation has been healing from a fractured wrist and has a big match scheduled in a matter of days.
Ahead of this big WWE Money in the Bank weekend, there’s new information about when Giulia is officially joining WWE and NXT. She will fulfill her Marigold commitments, including her return match against Saree next Saturday at Summer Destiny.
She will then be free to begin her career with the world’s top wrestling company. According to Fightful, WWE is eager to integrate her “as soon as possible.” She’s expected to wrestle at the next NXT PLE over WWE SummerSlam 2024 weekend.
Everybody recognizes the potential for Giulia to reshape the NXT women’s division. Countless intriguing match-ups await her, including North American Champion Kelani Jordan and of course, NXT Champion Roxanne Perez.
Ethan Page says working for WWE has already been a mind blowing experience a stark contrast to AEW, which he called, “chaotic and unorganized.”
Page recently arrived in NXT after an uneventful stint with All Elite Wrestling. He attacked NXT Champion Trick Williams in his debut appearance. By going straight after the brand’s top champion, he’s effectively invited himself into the main event scene. He lost their showdown at NXT Battleground 2024 on June 9, but All Ego is here to stay.
Comparing AEW & WWE
During an appearance on the Talk’n Shop podcast recorded ‘on location’ at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Page tells hosts Gallows and Anderson that he still cannot believe how professional the WWE ‘machine’ is compared to the last national wrestling promotion he worked at.
“I went from somewhere that was so chaotic and unorganized to a place that, I mean I’m still learning because I’m still so new here, but this is a machine and it’s incredible.”
Page learned firsthand that disorganization negatively affects talent morale. He admits he felt a bit neglected by ‘AEW creative’ and didn’t receive the support he was expecting.
“It feels good to not feel like I have to do everything myself. To have people that want to see me succeed is kind of mind blowing.”
Listen to Page’s appearance on Talk’n Shop here and make sure to check out our new Wrestling Podcasts section for more great shows to listen to.
What Others Have Said
Ethan Page is the latest wrestler to leave AEW and join WWE, but he’s not the first. Cody Rhodes has been nothing but complimentary about the company he helped co-found.
Jade Cargill has provided some unique insights as well, having started her wrestling career under the AEW banner. Cargill said working there prepared her for WWE, but moved on when she’d achieved all of her goals in AEW.
Chris Jericho believes wrestling should be included as a Olympic sport.
Pro Wrestling has always found itself battling for legitimacy in the broader climate of sports. Those who are not familiar still think of it as a fake performance instead of a scripted art form similar to many performing arts. The AEW star has a great idea to help it attain the respect it deserves.
The former AEW Champion recently appeared on the Blocks Podcast to discuss things such as what it means to be an entertainer, how long he will continue performing and more.
During the interview, Jericho floated a very interesting idea, suggesting that pro wrestling could be included in Olympics similar to any other sport that is judged on points:
“I’ve started to really think about how pro wrestling could easily be an Olympic sport, because it’s a athletic display between two people, much like figure skating or synchronized swimming or anything else that’s judged on points.”
Chris Jericho Explains How Wrestling In Olympics Would Work
Chris Jericho explained that wrestlers from different countries can put together matches to the best of their abilities. They can then be judged on their performances instead of the outcome of the match:
“Think about that. So let’s say I’m from Canada. Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, best wrestlers from Canada. We put together our routine, and then you got you know, Will Ospreay and Michael Oku from England. They put together their routine.
Then you got you know Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, from the United States putting together their routine. Then the judges would say, ‘Okay, this was the best,’ It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. Like figure skating.”
The 2024 Summer Olympics, branded as Paris Olympics 2024 is set to begin later this month in France. The opening ceremony will be taking place on July 26 with some competitions starting as early as July 24. The 2024 edition will notably feature the debut of breakdancing as an Olympic event.
Apart from this, The Learning Tree also talked about things such as his start in wrestling, the backstage politics he had to deal with in 90s, and how things have changed since then.
WWE fans are in for a healthy dose of Stratusfaction this weekend. Trish Stratus will serve as the official host for Saturday’s WWE Money in the Bank premium live event.
She announced the news on her official website and released the following teaser video of her arriving at the Scotiabank Arena:
Wrestling fans who are on hand for Money in the Bank can meet Trish before the show as part of a ‘hospitality meet & greet’ package available from OnLocation.
“She’s Back! More than 17,000 fans are expected. Limited tickets are still available. Order today to get a double dose of Stratusfaction with a hospitality meet & greet before the show.
Trish last captivated the WWE Universe nearly a year ago with an unforgettable Steel Cage Match against Becky Lynch, a bout that many consider a Match of the Year candidate. What will the WWE Hall of Famer have to say? Tune in Saturday at 8pm ET, streaming live on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.”
Visit our WWE Money in the Bank section for information about this weekend’s event, including the full match card, how to watch and more.
WWE Shop has released two exclusive Funko Pop! figures. The latest drops feature the likenesses of WCW legend “Hollywood” Hogan and the late Samoan Bulldozer, former Intercontinental champion Umaga.
Availability: Ships no later than Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Description: At Hog Wild 1996, ”Hollywood” Hulk Hogan defeated The Giant with the help of his nWo cohorts Scott Hall and Kevin Nash and spray painted the group’s infamous letters across the face of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Commemorate the legacy of Hulk Hogan and the three letters that forever changed the sports entertainment landscape with this by grabbing this “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan Fanatics Exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figure. This miniature version of the WWE Hall of Famer comes complete with fitting black and white gear, making it a must-have for any devout sports entertainment fan and avid collector.
Description: The Samoan Bulldozer wasn’t just a clever moniker for Umaga, it’s what he was! He relentlessly attacked any unfortunate Superstar that stood opposite him, a habit that took him all the way to two Intercontinental Championships reigns and a Battle of the Billionaires match at WrestleMania 23. Fortify your WWE collection by grabbing this Umaga Fanatics Exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figure. This miniature version of the deceptively quick super heavyweight features authentic details, making it a must-have for any devout sports entertainment fan and avid collector.
WWE President Nick Khan and TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro attended Michael Rubin’s lavish July 4th White Party in the Hamptons
The event, hosted by Fanatics CEO Rubin, featured A-list celebrities and is significant due to Fanatics’ lucrative merchandise deals with WWE and UFC
WWE President Nick Khan and TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro joined a host of A-list celebrities at Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s annual July 4th White Party in the Hamptons.
The star-studded event, held at Rubin’s $50 million oceanfront mansion in Bridgehampton, saw attendees adhering to an all-white dress code. Notable guests included Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Jake Paul, Emily Ratajkowski, and Megan Fox. The party featured performances by Mary J. Blige and a fireworks display.
Rubin, whose company Fanatics has lucrative merchandise partnerships with both WWE and UFC, has turned this into a yearly tradition. The gathering highlights the close business relationships between Fanatics and major sports entertainment brands like WWE and UFC under the TKO umbrella.
Michael Rubin has good reason to invite Nick Khan, Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro to his epic Hamptons gathering. Back in April, Rubin called WWE’s growth and potential “absolutely insane” and said the “insatiable demand” for WWE merchandise leaves the world’s top sports leagues in the dust.
Fanatics works with the NFL, NCAA, MLB, NASCAR and countless other leagues, but Rubin couldn’t contain his excitement about WWE.
“The biggest growth sport in my mind Well, are we looking at percents, dollars? What’s wild, I’ll tell you honestly, what’s going on with WWE is insane. If I look at the growth in our WWE business, and it’s a big business already, it’s absolutely insane.”
“NFL is a multi-billion dollar business. Baseball is a multi-billion dollar business. We look collectively within our overall business, if you talk about growth percent, what’s going on with WWE is spectacular.”
WWE descends upon Toronto, ON tonight to kick off a big weekend of wrestling at the Scotiabank Arena. WWE SmackDown marks the start of three consecutive nights at the venue, with Money in the Bank following on Saturday and NXT Heatwave on Sunday.
Tonight’s advertised SmackDown card features these matches:
DIY will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championships
The Street Profits take on Pretty Deadly
Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair face Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
As the final WWE television show before Saturday’s PLE, we can also expect a hard-sell for the two high-stakes ladder matches that will headline Money in the Bank.
SEScoops is your go-to source for WWE news all weekend, including our coverage of WWE SmackDown, Money in the Bank and NXT Heatwave.
What Happened Last Week?
Last week’s WWE SmackDown (June 28, 2024) from Madison Square Garden ended in explosive fashion. The Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony descended into chaos when Paul Heyman refused to recognize Solo Sikoa as his new Tribal Chief. This led to Heyman’s forceful removal from the group and subsequent hospitalization, leaving fans wondering what’s next for The Bloodline.
However, this is just scratching the surface of what went down. Check out this video from WWE looking at the Top 10 Moments from the show:
Dijak has called the legality of WWE contracts in question after his WWE release.
The former WWE star exited the company earlier last month after the officials decided not to renew his contract. The surprising part of this decision was that Dijak was not informed of this until last minute. He was being used by the company only days before he confirmed his departure from the promotion.
The 37-year-old talked about the implications of his sudden release in a new interview with Forbs. He was asked if it was a blessing in disguise that he could appear for other promotions so soon after leaving the company vs. talents who have to wait 90 days for their non-compete to expire.
It’s Made-Up Nonsense: Dijak
Dijak explained that it’s a double-edged sword and there are pros and cons of both approaches. He said that he is not a fan of WWE releasing people, before questioning the legality of their contracts:
“I don’t think it’s a secret at this point that nobody’s a fan of the WWE contract. That isn’t a real contract, because they can just release you at any point for any reason. I think that’s silly nonsense. I don’t know why that’s allowed to be legal. It just feels illegal to me, and I feel like nobody’s taken the time and monetary effort to challenge the legality of it.”
The former NXT star also commented on the infamous independent contractor status given to talent signed by the company. He said that it’s the most ‘made up nonsense’ in the history of the world:
“We’re so clearly not independent contractors. That’s the most made-up nonsense in the history of the world, and people have talked about this ad nauseum. Something needs to be done about it. It’s just silly. It’s silliness.”
The wrestling star later explained that officials should inform talents earlier if they don’t plan on re-signing them. He mentioned how people like Lacey Evans and SCRYPTS were given a month’s notice and it’s not ethical to inform him of his release at the last second.
Wrestling is not a love story, it’s a fairy tale for masochists
The now-immortal words from the late Bray Wyatt is a perfect description of what people should be ready for while entering the business. For every success story, there are many heartbreaks to go along with it. For every superstar who makes a successful career in the business, there are many who have to live with the regret. It’s especially true for someone like Mohammad Hassan, who had to pay the price of being too good.
The former WWE star, real name Marc Copani recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet. He prominently talked about his career with the company formerly owned by Vince McMahon and the abrupt end of his run due to pressure from media and the TV Network.
When asked why he decided to leave the wrestling business altogether after WWE, Hassan explained that he was heartbroken and depressed at the way his run came to an end:
“It took me a while to really figure it out. I think I was a little depressed. I was definitely heartbroken; you know turned off. The constant traveling and the spotlight, it was fun while it lasted but it wasn’t for me. It took me a while to figure out that I just didn’t want to get back in there because it really was a huge heartbreaking moment for me.
You work so hard, you spend so much time just training, preparing and then it’s all taken away kind of for no reason. Like I didn’t do anything, I didn’t bomb any place. And I understand why the character was taken off TV, it absolutely had to be but I think that was the heartbreak for me. I was just out there doing the best that I could and the rug was pulled out from under me.”
It Changed My Perspective: Mohammad Hassan
Mohammad Hassan played his character to perfection and became one of the most talked about talents in WWE in a very short amount of time. When asked why the company didn’t consider repackaging him, the former wrestling star explained that he had moved on from wrestling by the time it would have been possible for fans to accept him in a new role:
“I had that conversation with several people at the time and it was possible but I wasn’t gonna be on TV for a long time because Hassan came so quick and had such a huge impact. They didn’t feel like anybody would recognize me as another character at least for a long time.
So that’s why I was off TV and I was home and then we ended up parting ways maybe a year later the WWE. After that I just didn’t want to do it anymore you know I wanted to do other things and like I said that huge letdown. I think kind of just changed my perspective on things.”
The 44-year-old also explained how the whole thing made him fall out of love with wrestling. According to him, it took him a long time to come to terms with it.
Mohammad Hassan made his debut in December 2003. He was presented as a heel who complained about anti-Arab prejudice in society and WWE. The character quickly became one of company’s top heels, sharing the ring with the likes of Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan.
His run came to an abrupt end due a segment where masked men attacked Undertaker on Hassan’s behalf. The pre-taped episode that aired on July 7, 2005 coincides with the London bombings, leading to huge backlash from main stream media. The pressure forced the company to keep him off TV and the character was written off after one final match against Taker at Great American Bash later that month.
Matt Hardy made clear he’s grateful to be an American alongside some photos of himself and his family.
I am grateful to be an American. I feel fortunate that I was born into the United States. I still & will always believe in the American Dream because I was able to make it into a reality. I am blessed in so many ways that it doesn’t always seem real. I am unapologetically proud… pic.twitter.com/F8OrVzI03F
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has ensured that a fan with a disability will attend this weekend’s WWE Money in the Bank event in Toronto, Ontario.
Mike Ashkewe was stunned when he received a phone call from the American Nightmare who informed the long-time fan that there were tickets for Money in the Bank. Not only that, but Rhodes informed Mike that WWE would pay for his transportation. You can check out a click of the pair’s conversation here.
As he explained on Twitter, Mike had won tickets to Money in the Bank through Toys R Us Canada and was excited to see the WWE Superstars in action. Just days before the show, he was informed that the offer of tickets had been rescinded as they wouldn’t be able to get accessible seating for Mike, who uses a wheelchair. Later on, Mike said that WWE had apologized and made amends.
Update:
WWE has contacted me directly and apologized profusely for what has happened.
I am going to Money in the bank with all my accessibility needs covered.
This is a good ending, whatever happens next is magical and unexpected.
THANK ALL of you who posted and helped
— Mike Ashkewe (Heart of the River / O’dah ziibing) (@BirdmanODST) July 4, 2024
Cody Rhodes was also pleased to know that Mike will be able to attend the show after all and the American Nightmare made sure to credit WWE and the Scotiabank Arena.
Mike won’t just have a great seat at WWE Money in the Bank on July 6, but will also get to see Rhodes in non-title action. The American Nightmare will team with Kevin Owens and Randy Orton to face three members of The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu.)
WWE Money In The Bank 2024 will be the promotion’s 15th event under the name and the second to take place outside of the United States (following last year’s event in London, England.) Five matches have been confirmed for the show including two titular ladder matches as well as bouts for the World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships.
