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Independent Wrestler & Actor Billy Reil Dead Aged 44

Thomas Lowson
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The wrestling world is mourning the loss of independent wrestler Billy Reil who has passed away at the young age of 44. 

News of Reil’s passing was shared by PW Insider, who was informed of his death on April 29, by his family. Reil was dealing with a lot of health issues in the year leading up to his death. 

Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Reil’s wrestling inspiration came from watching WWF events at The Spectrum in the 1980s. Once ECW came to prominence in Philly, Reil began hanging out at the ECW arena and made contact with several in the industry. He would make his in-ring debut in 1995 and would compete for Jersey All-Pro Wrestling as well as several independent territories. 

Outside the ring, Reil was a classically trained actor and starred in low-budget films including Purgatory and The Pit. In 2002, Reil was highlighted in the South Philly Review after he spotted a man on rollerblades attempting to mug Reil’s 61-year-old neighbor. Reil led his house and tackled the man and was able to recover the woman’s purse. 

Tributes to Billy Reil

On social media, many names in wrestling paid tribute to Reil. GCW’s Brett Lauderdale spoke about Reil but said that his was a “cautionary tale.”

Sonjay Dutt said that he hopes Reil finally finds peace. 

Dave Meltzer was sad to learn of Reil’s passing and described him as a “real character.”

We at SE Scoops would like to offer our condolences to Reil’s family and friends at this sad time. 

R Truth Reacts To Swerve Strickland’s AEW World Title Win: ‘You’re Just Seeing The Beginning Of Him’

Anutosh Bajpai
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R Truth feels very happy seeing the rise of black talent in wrestling and it makes him emotional to know that all of them have huge respect and admiration for the wrestling veteran.

One half of the current world tag team champions recently had an interview with the Battleground podcast. He discussed things such as winning the World Tag Team Championship with The Miz at WrestleMania 40 and more.

During the interview, they played a clip of the new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland discussing Truth’s status as a legend of the industry. The WWE star returned the favor saying that what we have seen is only the beginning for Swerve:

“Man, I get emotional. It’s such a prestige [and] honor to have. Let me say this, I want to congratulate Swerve. Definitely gotta congratulate him man on his achievement, his accomplishment. I meant to call you. I’m sorry I haven’t called you yet. I’mma text you. He’s been killing it for a while. He’s so talented, man, so humble, so well-deserving of what he’s doing now. You’re just seeing the beginning of him.”

It’s A Surreal Moment For Me: R Truth

Just like Swerve in AEW, a number of young black talents have made their mark on WWE TV in recent times. Carmelo Hayes has only recently concluded his successful NXT run after being called up during the 2024 Drafts. Current NXT Champion Trick Williams and NXT North American Champion Oba Femi are some other names that are gaining new followers every day.

Speaking about all these talents breaking through the barriers to earn their rightful place in the industry, R Truth said that it’s a surreal moment for him:

“Trick, Obie, Carmelo, these guys are just like — it’s such a good time to be a part of this. It’s such a good time to see these guys give me my flowers. Strickland have always talked good about me, man. Again, it’s a surreal moment for me to be in the position I’m in.”

Of course, Truth himself has been a pioneer in the industry for almost 3 decades now. Apart from having a Hall of Fame worthy career in WWE, Truth has made history by becoming the first-ever African American NWA World Heavyweight Champion back in 2002.

His successful music career speaks for the diversity of talents possessed by the current champion. It’s only a testament to his skills that even at 52 years of age, Truth continues to perform at the highest level in the industry and can go toe to with any current or upcoming talents. 

Tony Khan on WWE-Weinstein Comment: ‘It’s Important To Say AEW Is The Best’

Thomas Lowson
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Tony Khan sought to remind fans that AEW is where the best wrestle with his controversial remarks during the recent NFL Draft. 

While representing the Jacksonville Jaguars, Khan spoke about AEW being an alternative to WWE and said his promotion is the Pepsi of professional wrestling. Rather than compare WWE to Coca-Cola as many expected, Khan said that WWE was evil and equivalent to Harvey Weinstein. 

This comment has divided fans. Some believe it was fair given the allegations of misconduct leveled at former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon who resigned back in January. Others felt the comment was unnecessary and offensive to victims of Weinstein and that Khan was using their experiences to further his grudge with WWE. 

Speaking to Dean ‘Mojo’ Muhtadi of TMZ Sports, Khan was asked about the response to his comments: 

“I think it is important to say that I think AEW is the best wrestling company in the world in many ways. I think that we have the best wrestlers, the best matches, we’ve been putting on the best shows.”

WWE & AEW Reacts

Those in WWE have, rather unsurprisingly, not taken kindly to Khan’s comparison to Harvey Weinstein, Bryan Alvarez reports. Those in AEW feel the same way and have taken exception to Khan’s suggestion that WWE is an ‘evil’ company. Many names on AEW’s roster have previously worked in WWE and have friends and/or partners who currently work for the competition. 

While Khan is fiercely passionate about WWE, his comments in the past have often not been well-received. Khan infamous alleged that an army of WWE-endorsed bots were attacking AEW on social media and had his issue with Jinder Mahal earlier this year. With the response to his Weinstein comments, the AEW President may want to take a pause the next time he has something big to say. 

More from Tony Khan

Here are some recent articles regarding Tony Khan as the AEW President continues to heal from the attack by The Elite on AEW Dynamite: 

Glitches & QR Code Mystery Continues On 4/29 WWE Monday Night Raw

Thomas Lowson
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The April 29, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw continued the trend of glitches and QR codes fans have seen in recent weeks as something big is coming to TV. 

Since the post-WrestleMania Raw, glitches and QR codes have been appearing on WWE’s main roster programming, giving clues as to something big that’s in the works. These QR codes have led to videos with fans deciphering hidden messages and clues to figure out what’s really going on.

The mystery continued on the April 29, episode of Raw as a glitch appeared during GUNTHER’s match with Xavier Woods. The glitch featured an image of a deserted highway from the perspective of somebody driving late at night. As seen in previous glitches, this glitch included the symbol for the dwarf planet Pluto, which in Astrology is synonymous with great transformation. 

Following this glitch, a QR code appeared later in the show. Scanning it brings fans to the video in the tweet below. 

The video didn’t give too many clues, but did speak of ‘Him’ suggesting that a male wrestler is behind these videos. The allusions to a swamp as heard in the song could be a nod to Windham Rotunda whose formative years as Bray Wyatt saw him portray a cult-like leader in swampland.  

Many believe this is leading to the return of Uncle Howdy, the character previously portrayed by Bo Dallas who was introduced following Wyatt’s return in 2022. It’s been rumored that a faction could be in the works, especially with Erick Rowan, a Wyatt Family alum, recently re-signing with WWE. 

WWE’s QR Code Mystery

Here are some recent articles about WWE’s previous QR codes and the symbolism behind the eerie videos behind them: 

What Is Going On Between Liv Morgan & ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio On 4/29 WWE Raw?

Thomas Lowson
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Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan may seem like they have nothing in common, but the pair may be closer than you’d think judging from a recent episode of Raw. 

In recent weeks, Morgan has been pleased with the fact that she injured Rhea Ripley which resulted in the Australian Superstar vacating the WWE Women’s World Championship. On last week’s Raw, Morgan was the runner-up in the battle royal for the vacated title that was won by Becky Lynch. 

Dominik Mysterio confronted Morgan before last week’s title match, and the two also interacted during this week’s Raw. In the middle of a backstage interview with Jey Uso, Morgan was spotted leaving a room. Mere seconds later, the former NXT North American Champion was seen leaving the same room. 

This rendezvous has had fans speculating that there could be something going on between the two, despite their on-screen differences. In a recent interview with The Border Patrol, Morgan claimed she was no friend of ‘Dirty Dom.’

“I don’t like the man. I definitely don’t like his woman. I just wanted him to know, ‘Yes, I did that, and I’m still here.’ The revenge tour doesn’t stop until I win the women’s championship.”

Could Morgan’s revenge tour see her try and snatch Ripley’s man away from her, adding insult to her literal injury? As The Judgment Day continues to show signs of imploding, fans will have to wait and see whether sparks begin to fly between the ex-con and the former SmackDown Women’s Champion on WWE TV. 

More on Liv Morgan

Here are some recent articles regarding Liv Morgan as the Superstar’s revenge tour continues on as part of WWE programming: 

WWE Draft 2024: Supplemental Picks Take Place After 29/4 Raw, NXT Star Called Up

Thomas Lowson
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The excitement of the 2024 WWE Draft continued after Raw went off the air as the Supplemental Draft saw more moves happen. 

The April 29, episode of Monday Night Raw marked Night Two of the Draft and saw 20 on-screen picks made in total. Imperium (sans Giovanni Vinci) was the first name selected during Night Two of the televised draft, while NXT’s Blair Davenport was selected by SmackDown in the final televised selection. 

WWE Draft Night Two Supplemental Results

On social media, WWE shared news from their supplemental draft picks after Monday Night Raw went off the air. The picks are as follows: 

It’s certainly a big deal to see Dijak called up to the main roster after re-establishing himself in WWE NXT. Hopefully the former Retribution member fares better on the main-roster than his previous run as T-Bar. 

What’s to Come?

The new rosters will come into effect on the May 6, episode of Raw, the first show following next weekend’s WWE Backlash: France Premium Live Event. Anybody that has not been selected so far is now a free agent and will be eligible to be chosen by Raw or SmackDown in the future. 

Braun Strowman Returns To (4/29) Raw After A Year Of Inaction

Anutosh Bajpai
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Braun Strowman has returned to WWE after a year on the shelf and he is already getting involved in high-profile angles.

The US Champion Logan Paul was in attendance for this week’s episode of Raw. He brought in some high-profile guests with him, including Superbowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.

The Maverick confronted Jey Uso in a segment after the former Bloodline member called out the current champion in an interview earlier in the night. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh walked out to confront Uso as well. 

Logan Paul then borrowed three Superbowl rings from Mahomes to attack Jey as McDonagh held him up. Uso managed to duck at the right time, however, and McDonagh ended up catching the punch.

Balor and Paul joined forces to attack Jey Uso afterward but Braun Strowman’s music hit. The Monster Among Men made his return after almost a year of inaction and he choke slammed Balor.

Logan knew better than to confront the former Universal Champion. He retreated through the crowd leaving Mahomes and his teammates from Kansas City Chiefs to confront the returning star. Jey Uso then calmed Strowman and they returned to the back.

What’s Next For Braun Strowman? 

The Monster Sized Athlete had been recovering after a neck fusion surgery for the past year. He last wrestled during the May 1st, 2023 episode of Raw, where he teamed up with Ricochet for a win over the Alpha Academy.

Strowman was drafted to Raw earlier in the night so we can expect to see him regularly on Monday Nights once again after his return.

There is a possibility that we may see Braun going after The US Champion following their confrontation tonight. Considering Paul remains on SmackDown roster, however, a long-term feud between the two is not very likely. You can check out our draft tracker to see the other picks made during Raw.

WWE Draft 2024: Ilja Dragunov & Lyra Valkyria Called Up From NXT to Raw

Thomas Lowson
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Monday Night Raw was able to score some of the biggest names from WWE NXT during Night Two of the 2024 Draft. 

The Draft continued on the April 29, Raw and followed on from the selections made during the previous week’s episode of SmackDown. During the fourth round of Night Two’s pick, Ilja Dragunov was selected by the Raw brand. Speaking after being drafted, the former NXT Champion spoke about his experience with the gold brand. 

“NXT became my home. A lot of these people became a home away from home for me. But now it’s time for my next chapter and I’ve got to make a promise, a promise I already kept here. To every place I come I push the place to the next level… and that’s the same thing I’ll do when I come to Raw.”

Dragunov wasn’t the only big name from NXT to be moved. Former Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria was selected by Raw in the fifth round. The Irish Superstar was visibly emotional as news of her selection was made and the remaining NXT roster was very happy for her as seen in the clip below. 

Valkyria made a handful of appearances last year on the main roster in the run-up to her NXT Women’s Championship victory over Becky Lynch. Lyra recently failed to recapture the title from Roxanne Perez in a triple-threat at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver that also included Tatum Paxley. 

With Dragunov and Valkyria moving to Raw, it’s hard to ignore that this has left NXT without two of its top Superstars. There have been fears that NXT would be depleted in the draft and some NXT talent are wary of being called to the main roster without a plan. As NXT’s head, Shawn Michaels will now have to work around losing some of the brand’s top names which will give another Superstar the opportunity to step up. 

More on the 2024 WWE Draft

Here are some recent articles regarding the 2024 WWE Draft as the landscape of WWE continues to change: 

WWE Draft 2024: Superstars React To Night Two Picks on 4/29 Episode of Raw

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE roster has had plenty to say following Night Two of the 2024 Draft taking place during the April 29, episode of Monday Night Raw. 

This year’s draft continued on the red brand with 20 selections being made in total. On Twitter, Chelsea Green was excited about new opportunities after she (and Piper Niven) were moved to SmackDown. 

Bianca Belair was pleased that the ‘Big 3’ will be staying on SmackDown. Naomi has also been picked by the blue brand while Bianca Belair was the #1 pick during Night One of the draft. 

The Pride, consisting of Bobby Lashley, the Street Profits, and B-Fab will be staying on SmackDown. Lashley gave an ominous message to those on the blue brand. 

Montez Ford was similarly excited to remain with the rest of The Pride on the SmackDown brand. 

Tiffany Stratton is pleased that she’ll continue to appear on SmackDown after being selected in the second round of the draft’s second night. 

Braun Strowman was selected by Raw and made his first WWE TV appearance in months following an injury. The Monster Among Men confronted U.S. Champion Logan Paul on Raw and had a warning after his appearance.

The new rosters will officially come into effect following the WWE Backlash: France Premium Live Event on May 4. There will also be the Supplemental Draft: Night Two that will see more Superstars be chosen. Anyone who isn’t picked after the Supplemental Draft will be considered a free agent and eligible to be picked down the line. 

More on the 2024 WWE Draft

Here are some recent articles regarding the 2024 WWE Draft as the landscape of WWE continues to change: 

Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes Appears Alongside Logan Paul On WWE RAW

Aaron Varble
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Monday’s April 29 episode of WWE Raw from Kansas City kicked off with some serious star power. United States Champion Logan Paul showed up in a Rolls Royce and had a special guest in with him: NFL Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes and Logan Paul were enjoying themselves backstage at Raw with their hardware:

Triple H also welcomed the Super Bowl champ to the show:

28-year-old Patrick Mahomes is considered one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks ever. He’s won the Super Bowl three times, including this year’s and he was the MVP for two of those victories. His performance has also earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player award twice, in 2018 and 2022.

Feb 14, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes embraces tight end Travis Kelce on stage during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII. 

Mahomes also released a special edition of Logan Paul’s Prime drink. It dropped just in time for Super Bowl LVIII and featured Kansas City Chiefs colors.

Patrick Mahomes Special Edition Prime Bottles

Patrick Mahomes got involved in the action later on, in a manner of speaking. During Logan Paul’s time in the ring, Jey Uso came down to confront him, and that is when Finn Balor and JD McDonagh surrounded him. 

After Uso was taken down, Mahomes gave Logan a few of his Super Bowl rings to use on his fist against Uce. This didn’t work out as he planned, because Uso ducked and JD took the brunt of the punch.

Braun Strowman made his big return to WWE RAW, as he was drafted in the previous round. After the Monster of all Monsters chased off Judgment Day, he had some words with Mahomes for helping the United States Champion in his heel tactics.

2024 WWE Draft Results Tracker For 4/29 RAW

Aaron Varble
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WWE is mixing up their rosters with another Draft, and now it’s the red brand’s turn to host the festivities. Fans should brace for surprises, as this year promises to be no exception.

The 2024 WWE Draft is scheduled for Friday, April 26 during SmackDown and Monday, April 29 during RAW. We already saw SmackDown’s draft go down last week, and those results can be found here.

We saw Kiana James and Carmelo Hayes get called up from NXT during SmackDown. Still, a concern exists that WWE may pick their developmental brand clean after this year’s draft. Ilja Dragunov’s name hasn’t been called, so we’ll have to see who ends up on which brand this time around.

We are providing live coverage of the 2024 WWE Draft. So, please keep refreshing this article and we will update as picks are made

Round One

Presented by Stephanie McMahon

RAW:

Imperium (GUNTHER & Ludwig Kaiser)

Damage CTRL (IYO Sky, Asuka, Dakota Kai, & Kairi Sane)

SmackDown:

Jade Cargill

Kevin Owens

Round Two

Presented by Logan Paul & IShowSpeed

RAW:

CM Punk

Braun Strowman

SmackDown:

The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Street Profits, B-Fab)

Tiffany Stratton

Round Three

Presented by Ron Simmons & JBL

RAW:

LWO (Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Zelina Vega, Carlito, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde)

Drew McIntyre

SmackDown:

Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Angel, Humberto, & Elektra Lopez)

Shinsuke Nakamura

Round Four

Presented by Teddy Long & Alundra Blayze

RAW:

Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, JD McDonagh)

Ilja Dragunov

SmackDown:

Naomi

Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Round Five

Presented by Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley

RAW:

New Day

Lyra Valkyria

SmackDown:

Pretty Deadly

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

Round Six

Presented by Nick Aldis & Adam Pearce

Raw:

Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Scarlet, Paul Ellering, AOP)

Bronson Reed

SmackDown:

DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano)

Blair Davenport

Supplemental Draft

RAW:

Diamond Mine (Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, and Ivy Nile)

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

Natalya

Dijak

New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)

Odyssey Jones

SmackDown:

Apollo Crews

Giovanni Vinci

Tegan Nox

WWE NXT Call-Ups:

This installment of the 2024 WWE Draft saw Dijak, Blair Davenport, and Lyra Valkyria have their names called. Of course, the biggest was former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov, who is going to RAW.

Davenport and Valkyria were legitimately surprised by their call-ups, because WWE doesn’t let anyone know this in advance. This will be Dijak’s second run on the main roster, as his first was as T-Bar, a masked force who lived on long after the Retribution stable disbanded.

Carmelo Hayes and Kiana James were called up during SmackDown to the blue and red brand, respectively.

2024 WWE Draft Rules:

The 2024 WWE Draft will distribute 16 picks across four rounds to SmackDown and 24 picks across six rounds to RAW, based on RAW’s longer airtime. Champions are not included in the draft, except for the Women’s Tag Team Champions who are not part of the Draft Pool.

SmackDown will make its first selection on Friday, and RAW will make its first pick the following Monday. The final rosters will be confirmed by May 6th.

Following new television contracts, SmackDown will move to the USA Network and RAW to Netflix. The impact of RAW’s transition to Netflix will become apparent from October 2025. These rosters will start the new media rights agreements unless there is a change in the roster.

Brandi Rhodes’ Nakedmind Yoga Retreat Announced For September

Tyriece Simon
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Yoga and Pilates enthusiasts are in for a great opportunity, as Brandi Rhodes has announced information for her first Naked Mind Yoga and Pilates Retreat. The former All Elite Wrestling Chief Brand Officer has steadily found success in the yoga business after getting certified as an instructor in 2023. After a month of taking surveys, Rhodes revealed that fans can now join a waitlist for her first yoga and pilates trip.  

Rhodes tweeted on X/Twitter that the retreat will be held from September 17 to September 20 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. She also shared a link where people can sign up and reserve a spot on the trip early. 

On February 15, the former AEW Chief Brand Officer posted information about her first trip on social media and asked fans to complete a survey. The purpose she shared was that the feedback would help Rhodes craft the best retreat possible. Less than a month later, she thanked everyone who had responded to the survey in a video and asked for people who hadn’t responded to complete it. 

It seems Rhodes has gathered all the information she needs, as she hasn’t recently promoted fans to take the survey. At this time, it’s unclear if there is a limit to how many people can join or what the cost will be for the trip.

As Rhodes prepares for her company’s first yoga and pilates retreat, she is still celebrating her last career achievement. 

More On Brandi Rhodes’s Success In Yoga & Pilates Business  

Rhodes’s newest career path comes at an excellent time, as My Roswell/Crabapple recently awarded her the title of Best Pilates Studio. She shared the achievement on X/Twitter on March 11. The award is very impressive, as Rhodes opened her studio last October. 

She wrote about how quickly she received the award and encouraged her fans that “A lot can happen in a short period time if you grind!!”

Brandi’s first yoga and pilates trip is another incredible goal she aims to achieve successfully. Fans looking to join may want to sign up now, as it’s unclear how fast the waitlist will fill up. 

Peacock Price Hike Set Before WWE SummerSlam

Tyriece Simon
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This Summer, it will be a little more expensive to be a WWE fan. NBC Universal’s streaming platform Peacock is set to increase its subscribers’ prices. The price hike is expected to start on July 18, ahead of one of WWE’s biggest premium live events of the year, WWE SummerSlam, on August 3. 

Variety’s Todd Spangler has reported that Peacock plans to increase its monthly plans by $2. Peacock Premium (with ads) will increase from $5.99 to $7.99, while Peacock Premium Plus will move from $11.99 to $13.99. The timing of the decision comes not only ahead of WWE SummerSlam but also the 2024 Summer Olympics starting July 26. 

The report states that “The new prices will be effective starting July 18 for new Peacock customers and for existing subscribers with their next billing date on or after Aug. 17.” 

In addition to the monthly fee surge, the yearly plans will increase by $20. Peacock Premium’s annual price jumps to $79.99, and the Premium Plus yearly subscription will be $139.99 for new members after July 18. For subscribers who are currently subscribed to a yearly plan, the increase will not go into effect until it’s time to renew. 

The report notes that Peacock had 34 million subscribers in the United States, with a net gain of 3 million added members in the first quarter of this year. While it’s fewer than competitors like Netflix or Disney+, the NBC Universal streaming service is up 55% year-over-year. 

It’s unclear if the new subscription price will decrease the number of Peacock members. However, WWE fans may stick around for WWE SummerSlam, which occurs two weeks later. 

More On WWE SummerSlam 

WWE’s ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer’ will be held at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets for WWE SummerSlam will go on sale to the public on May 9. The company is currently accepting requests from fans to receive exclusive pre-sale information on its website. 

Although no matches have been announced yet, Ohio native Logan Paul is expected to be featured at the premium live event. He is currently the WWE United States Champion and has been promoted on the WWE Summerslam poster. 

Paul has already called for some big appearances, like NBA megastar LeBron James being in attendance. While it’s unclear if it will come to fruition,  wrestling fans may want to keep Peacock to avoid missing what WWE has planned for SummerSlam. 

I Believe In Joe Hendry: TNA Wrestling Star’s Viral Song Reaches #1 On iTunes

Thomas Lowson
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There’s no shortage of people who believe in Joe Hendry as the TNA Wrestling star’s song has reached #1 on iTunes in the UK. 

I Believe In Joe Hendry is not just a song by the former Digital Media Champion but also serves as Hendry’s theme song. As seen in the image below, Hendry’s song is #1 on the UK iTunes service. The TNA star was able to surpass the likes of Hozier, Teddy Swims, and even the musical powerhouse tag team of Taylor Swift and Post Malone.

Joe Hendry on top of the iTunes chart for best-selling songs. 

His song dominating on iTunes certainly bodes well for Hendry’s future with TNA Wrestling as he’s been able to attract major attention to the promotion. His musical talents have put Hendry at odds with AJ ‘Top Dolla’ Francis who debuted for TNA at the Hard to Kill relaunch event earlier this year. In February, Hendry teamed with Rich Swann to defeat Francis and Deaner. The following month, Francis got his revenge when he defeated Hendry in singles action. 

I Believe In Joe Hendry isn’t the Scottish wrestler’s only foray into music. Earlier this year, Hendry produced a song for Francis that featured the TNA theme song for AJ Styles. This song mocked Francis’ infamous, though life-saving botched dive in WWE. Hendry said that the former Top Dolla nullifies TNA Wrestling’s insurance whenever he goes sailing over the top rope.

Hendry’s musical skills have endeared him to fan as he proves his talents both in and out of the ring. With the success of his most popular track, there’s no doubt that there’s no shortage of people who believe in Joe Hendry. 

The Undertaker: ‘Cody Rhodes Will Be A Workhorse Champion, Unlike Roman Reigns’

Thomas Lowson
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0

The Undisputed WWE Championship reign of Cody Rhodes will differ greatly from that of his predecessor Roman Reigns, according to The Undertaker. 

Rhodes won the gold and finished his story at WrestleMania 40 and in doing so ended the 1,316-day reign of the Tribal Chief. While Cody has been a regular on WWE Raw and SmackDown since his monumental win in Philadelphia, Reigns has been absent from programming (but has been working on a non-WWE project.)

Cody Rhodes: The Workhorse Champion

Rhodes’ win at WrestleMania did not come without some help and The Undertaker was part of the group of stars who kept The Bloodline at bay. On his Six Feet Under podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer spoke of what Rhodes has to look forward to. 

“He’s going to work a lot because he wants to, too, if that makes sense. So he’s not going to be a champion that… No offense to Roman, but Roman didn’t have a lot of matches as champion.”

The Undertaker made clear that Reigns’ sporadic in-ring schedule was part of his “story” and helped give the Tribal Chief character an air of dominance. With that said, the Phenom is looking forward to seeing plenty of matches from the American Nightmare. 

“I think he’ll be a working champion. I think he’s going to be a workhorse, actually. I think he’s going to defend the title a lot… He’s going to be wanting to walk out there and show people why he’s the world champion.”

What’s to Come? 

When asked about potential opponents for Rhodes, The Undertaker named Seth Rollins and GUNTHER as dream adversaries for the Undisputed WWE Champion. Before that, however, Rhodes will defend against AJ Styles at WWE Backlash: France. The bout will be part of WWE’s first PLE in the country and will take place on May 4.

More on Cody Rhodes

Here are some recent articles about Cody Rhodes as the Undisputed Champion continues to lead WWE in its new era:

Former Wrestling Champion Kamille Signed With AEW (Report)

Aaron Varble
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Kamille has signed with All Elite Wrestling, adding another notable name to their women’s division. The former NWA Women’s World Champion has inked a deal with Tony Khan’s league and is expected to debut shortly, according to a report by Fightful Select. She  became a free agent on January 1 when her NWA deal expired. 

Her name has been churning in the rumor mill since then regarding her next destination. Most recently, Kamille piqued interest amongst fans after saying she signed somewhere in February, though she did not specify where. She deleted her tweet and clarified that she was talking about autograph signings.

Kamille’s AEW Debut

It is unclear when Kamille will make her AEW debut, but she is on the way. Adding her name to Tony Khan’s women’s division provides them with a real boost. The company recently added Mercedes Mone, and the former Sasha Banks already has a TBS Title shot against Willow Nightingale at AEW Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on May 26.

Kamille held the NWA World Women’s Championship for 812 days. She played a significant role in the promotion during Billy Corgan’s ownership. Kamille has a good chance of replicating that success in AEW if given the proper environment.

Prior to signing with AEW, Kamille told SEScoops in February 2023 that she was hoping to join WWE so she could work with Charlotte Flair. During our interview, she told Scott Fishman, “[Charlotte Flair] is the best in the world. I think we would have a good backstory and story that could lead into it. Getting in there with someone who is so talented could help me learn and grow and and it’s something people would want to see.”

Check out the full interview from the SEScoops YouTube channel:

Kamille Clears The Air On Being ‘Signed’ To A Promotion Since February

Bishal Roy
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Fans had been buzzing on social media after Kamille stated that she was signed to a promotion in February. However, she didn’t mention the name of the particular promotion which led to several speculations. Now, the former NWA star has finally clarified her status.

Earlier, Kamille responded to a fan on X saying that she’s signed with a company since February. It seems that it was only confusion that occurred after she misinterpreted a question. She deleted her previous response and in an updated Tweet, she made it clear that she thought the fan was asking if she had been to any signings (autograph signings).

“Dang yall, I read the original posters tweet wrong. I meant I haven’t been to a signing since Feb” 

Kamille had been a key figure in the women’s division of NWA. She parted ways with the promotion and became a free agent after her contract expired in 2023. It was reported that she had an option to extend her contract for six months. However, she didn’t opt for an extension and decided to depart. 

In her last match with the promotion, she participated in a Mixed Street Fight in which she teamed up with Thom Latimer and faced Looks That Kill (Bryan Idol & Natalia Markova) in a losing effort on the November 18, 2023 edition of NWA Powerrr. 

Kamille was on WWE and AEW’s radar

The former NWA Women’s World Champion had garnered interest from multiple promotions including WWE and AEW. Reports stated that she was backstage at the January 17 edition of AEW Dynamite which led to talks that she would ink a deal with the promotion. However, it was soon reported that she remained a free agent.

Fans are eagerly waiting to know what will be Kamille’s next move as her future remains up in the air.

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

Dominic DeAngelo
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Trent Beretta’s mom Sue will not be carpooling The Best Friends to any AEW events in the near future, and she’s clearly not happy about it.

Beretta took on his longtime partner and (indeed) former best friend Chuck Taylor in a Parking Lot Fight this past weekend on AEW Rampage. It was a brutal battle with Berretta ultimately defeating Taylor, but also not coming out of the fight unscathed.

On social media, Beretta had a bloody picture of himself sitting on the hood of what appears to be his mom’s van. Just like his friendship with Taylor and Orange Cassidy, the windshield was splintered as Berreta basically marked the end of his bond with Taylor.

“Best Friends, 2013-2024, see ya.”

Sue expressed her disappointment in her son’s actions noting that she didn’t raise him to act like that.

Sue was a light-hearted component in the mix of The Best Friends’ friendship, but clearly Beretta has thrown all that aside. Last week’s Dynamite kicked off with Trent beating Orange Cassidy up in the middle of Daily’s Place before prompting Chuck Taylor to come out. Trent forced Taylor to choose between him and Cassidy, citing that it was Orange who stole the spotlight from both of them, stating that he was only meant to be their mascot in AEW. Taylor didn’t agree and took the side of Cassidy, putting the Parking Lot Fight into motion.

Trent defeated Taylor by choking him out, but he wasn’t finished. Beretta set sights on Taylor’s ankle with a wrench, telling Orange Cassidy that this was all his fault.

WWE Raw Preview (4/29): 2024 Draft Continues, Logan Paul Returns

Ella Jay
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WWE returns to Kansas City, Missouri tonight for WWE RAW at the T-Mobile Center. Nearly 9,000 fans will be in attendance as WWE continue the 2024 Draft and looks ahead to WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4. Here’s a quick preview, followed by our detailed breakdown of what to look forward to:

Matches:

  • Judgment Day (Damian Priest, JD McDonagh & Finn Balor) vs. Jey Uso, Andrade & Ricochet

Segments: 

  • United States Champion Logan Paul appears
  • 2024 WWE Draft continues

Six-Man Tag:  Judgment Day vs. Jey Uso, Andrade & Ricochet

Before Jey Uso and Damian Priest battle over the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Backlash this weekend, the two will share the ring in six-man tag team competition on tonight’s episode of WWE Raw.

Last week, Andrade and Ricochet defeated JD McDonagh and Santos Escobar (who replaced an injured Dominik Mysterio) much to the dismay of Priest. Coming off that victory, Andrade and Ricochet will now team up once more as they, alongside Jey Uso, take on The Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh, Damian Priest, and Finn Balor. 

This six-man tag match also comes two weeks after Uso beat Balor in singles competition, and five days before Uso challenges Priest for the aforementioned WWE World Heavyweight Championship. 

Logan Paul Returns

Earlier today, WWE confirmed that tickets for SummerSlam – “The Biggest Party of the Summer” – will go on sale on Thursday, May 9. This premium live event, of course, will take place in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, which stands as the hometown of several WWE Superstars, including The Miz, Johnny Gargano, and United States Champion Logan Paul.

Fresh off this announcement, Logan Paul will return to WWE Raw tonight. What will he have to say?

2024 WWE Draft Continues

The landscape of WWE will continue to change as night two of the 2024 Draft officially commences later tonight. For this occasion, draft picks will span six rounds.  Each brand will make two selections each round for a total of 24 picks (12 for Raw and 12 for SmackDown). The remaining draft picks will then be revealed via social media.

Much like night one of the WWE Draft on SmackDown, tonight’s episode of WWE Raw will feature a select pool of talent (from the main roster and NXT) that are available to be drafted. 

Tonight’s draft pool is as follows:

  • DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)
  • Apollo Crews 
  • Braun Strowman 
  • Bronson Reed 
  • Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
  • CM Punk
  • The Creed Brothers (Julius Creed, Brutus Creed and Ivy Nile) 
  • Damage CTRL (IYO SKY, Dakota Kai and Kabuki Warriors) 
  • Drew McIntyre
  • Final Testament (Karrion Kross, AOP, Scarlett and Paul Ellering)
  • Giovanni Vinci 
  • Imperium (Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser) 
  • Jade Cargill
  • Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh)
  • Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
  • Kevin Owens
  • Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Angel, Berto and Elektra Lopez)
  • LWO (Rey Mysterio, Carlito, Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde and Zelina Vega)
  • Naomi
  • Natalya
  • New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
  • New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
  • Odyssey Jones
  • Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Tegan Nox
  • The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Street Profits and B-Fab)
  • Tiffany Stratton

AEW Hires Jeremy Flynn As Director Of Live Events

Dominic DeAngelo
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All Elite Wrestling has hired Jeremy Flynn as the company’s new Director Of Live Events, a position formerly held by Rafael Morffi. Flynn previously worked for the Professional Bull Riders organization as its Senior Director of Marketing and Live Events.

Morffi, who left AEW last year to coordinate live events for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, endorsed Flynn’s work in a post on his LinkedIn page.

Flynn will have a challenge ahead of him as live attendance for AEW hasn’t necessarily lived up to venue hosting them. Back during Super Bowl week, Tony Khan mentioned how that he still has decided to go with larger venues due to the media contacts and marketing possibilities.

“A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages.”

Despite the unfilled arenas, Khan said in the pre-AEW Dynasty media call that revenue in Q1 for 2024 is up significantly overall as they have been running more live events, stating that live attendance is actually up in some cities when doing the year-over-year comparison.

The big hope for AEW is that the company secures a new lucrative media deal as the exclusive negotiation period between them and Warner Bros. Discovery has expired. Khan has still spoke to the positive relationship that AEW and WBD shares and has seemed optimistic that a deal will get done between the two parties.

Gunther On Vince McMahon’s WWE: ‘Not What I Enjoyed’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Even if he doesn’t win King Of The Ring, Gunther feels like one in the Paul Levesque Era of WWE.

In a new interview with Gorilla Position, the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in company history was asked if he thought he’d have that same opportunity to make history under the old Vince McMahon regime.

“I don’t know, but it was one of the reasons why, for a long time I didn’t want to go to the US. The product before Triple H was not what I enjoyed. I just didn’t want to be part of that. I am who I am and that’s what I can do best. A big part of that is I need to have my time in the ring and have that time to put on the matches I can put on. That chance would not be there under the old regime.”

Gunther lost his title to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40 and the 4/22 episode of RAW is when he made his return, “thanking” Zayn for freeing him to be “the hunter” instead of “the hunted.” That’s when he staked his claim for the King of The Ring crown.

Gunther Trusts In Triple H

The Intercontinental Title reign has put Gunther in the upper echelon of talent in WWE and he knows that he has Creative Content Officer Triple H to thank for that.

“With Triple H, he always saw that in me, and he always had that vision for me. I got lucky that a lot of things in my career took place at the right time. It was a little bit of a leap of faith when I first made the move over. Everything worked out in the end.” 

What didn’t work out in the end is the Imperium pairing of Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci as Kaiser brutally attacked Vinci after they lost a tag match to New Day on that very same episode of RAW.

Ex-WWE Star Maven Huffman Returns To Wrestling In 30-Man Last Stand Rumble

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE star Maven Huffman made his comeback to pro wrestling over the weekend. The Tough Enough alum competed for Reality of Wrestling in a 30-man Last Stand Rumble match. It was his first time in the ring since July 2023.

Maven’s surprise debut WWE Hall of Famer Booker T’s promotional came when he entered the high-stakes rumble at #21. He received a great ovation from the fans in attendance. Maven threw punches at every wrestler in sight. He also hit a dropkick but in an amusing moment, he lost his shoe. Fans soon showered him with ‘You still got it’ chants and Maven was visibly touched by the warm response. 

He eliminated Inferno Tiger before getting eliminated by Quentin Wynters. 

Maven in WWE

Maven signed with WWE after being a co-winner of the inaugural season of WWE Tough Enough. He went on to have a successful run with the company and had captured the Hardcore Championship three times.

Maven has competed in a handful of battle royals and one of the biggest moments in his career took place during the 2002 Royal Rumble match. That night, he pulled off a shocking upset when he eliminated The Undertaker. 

Post WWE

After parting ways with WWE, he had a short run in other companies and then retired from pro wrestling. The 47-year-old star returned to the indie circuit in 2015 and has been making sporadic appearances ever since.

Maven’s Podcast

Outside of pro wrestling, Maven has a successful YouTube channel that boasts 377K subscribers. On his channel, he talks about WWE, what goes behind the scenes, and much more. 

Maven had a chance to make his return to WWE but he still regrets that the move didn’t materialize. He previously discussed how the pandemic impacted the return.

Watch the full Reality of Wrestling 30 Man Last Stand Rumble:

Kevin Nash Says The Elite Attacking Tony Khan Was AEW’s Finger Poke of Doom

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Last week’s 4/25 AEW Dynamite from Daily’s Place finished with a a controversial angle that fans are still talking about. Jack Perry made a surprise return and attacked AEW President Tony Khan. The Elite joined in, Perry is now part of the heel faction and there are immediate parallels with the early days of the nWo. After Shad Khan’s son took a microphone shot to the gut followed by a Tony Khan Driver, The Elite stood over their boss in victory. The Young Bucks’ new alliance with Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry has nWo vibes and the memes have been plentiful on social media.

On this week’s Kliq This podcast, Nash and co-host Sean Oliver reviewed AEW Dynasty and AEW Dynamite, including the controversial angle that led Tony Khan to wear a neck brace for the 2024 NFL Draft. While giving Khan grief for selling a padded microphone shot, Nash compared the segment to WCW’s infamous Finger Poke of Doom (Wikipedia) angle. During a match against Hollywood Hogan on WCW Nitro (January 4, 1999), Nash laid down for Hogan, handing over the WCW title in what’s seen as a low-point for the declining company. 

Dynamite viewership was under 700,000, down from the previous week and the lowest since October 2023. Nash fired, back, “Thank God, because they missed the finger poke of doom at the end of this motherf****r.

Neck Brace

Tony Khan went on to sell that attack during both nights of the NFL Draft by wearing a neck brace. He appeared on the NFL Network, where he compared WWE to Harvey Weinstein. Nash didn’t love everything he saw on AEW television this week, but he credited Khan for selling the injury and keeping kayfabe alive with the neck brace.

“The neck brace. The neck brace the following day at the Jaguars. I got to give a little respect to this because I don’t think the NFL or anyone that watches the NFL and not wrestling is going to give a sh*t, but the attempt to do some crossover, respecting the product where he wore the neck brace the next day, it’s a commitment.”

You Fired CM Punk…

Nash took issue with the fact that CM Punk got fired for roughing up his boss, so how is he going to handle The Elite?

“I just don’t see what it does unless Tony comes back and fires the Executive Vice Presidents for attacking him. He fired.. he got rid of Punk. You can’t have a storyline that shows, a couple weeks earlier, they showed the Punk/Perry altercation, which was nothing.”

Tony Khan and AEW are influenced by pro wrestling history. This new incarnation of The Elite (just one week in) is already drawing comparisons to the nWo, so it was an attention-grabbing segment. Hopefully The Elite sparks a similar level of excitement as Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall and podcast host Kevin Nash did in 1996. 

Former WWE Personality Charly Arnolt Makes UFC History

Aaron Varble
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Charly Arnolt may be best known for her tenure with WWE, as she hosted segments and shows for WWE. Now, she is making history in the UFC as the company’s female first-ever in-ring announcer.

On April 27, 2024, Chary made history as the first female ring announcer in UFC, stepping in temporarily for Joe Martínez, who was ill.

Charlie owned the microphone as she announced the fighters, and she received praise as well. Many commented on her poise and show well she adapted to the situation.

Charlie Arnolt’s WWE Entry & Departure

Interestingly enough, Arnolt entered WWE thanks to Tony Khan. The AEW President invited her to a WWE SmackDown show in Indianapolis in 2016 to get her foot in the door.

During the event, Arnolt met WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Relations, Mark Carrano, who introduced her to Michael Cole. The rest is history, as they eventually offered her a job with the company.

WWE did offer her a new contract, which she declined in 2021. Following her rejection of that new deal, she was removed from television broadcasts. She eventually left WWE for a full-time position at ESPN.

Some rumors emerged about her having heat in WWE prior to her departure. While speaking to Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Charly stated that she had no issues when she was with the company.

“There is always going to be chatter. The contract was coming up. Instead of renewing, I’m moving on. Everyone is going to have their own opinions regardless. I never had any issues while I was at WWE.”

“Nothing bad happened. As far as I’m concerned, I’m leaving on a positive note and beginning what I believe to be the next step in my career.”

In April 2023, Arnolt announced that she would be leaving ESPN for a position with OutKick. Despite her ESPN departure, Charly continues to appear for the UFC broadcasts on the network. 

Daily Drop (4/29): Drew McIntyre Out With Injury, MJF Spotted In Arm Sling After Surgery

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for Monday, April 29. We only have one more day until May, and Spring is already heating up in the pro wrestling world.

Before we get going, WWE will hold the second night of the 2024 Draft tonight on RAW. We already saw some big names drafted during SmackDown, and the company will take care of the rest of the roster tonight. How many NXT call-ups will we have? How many free agents will WWE have going around the brands this year? We will have all of those answers tonight after the 2024 WWE Draft is over!

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

WWE RAW Card for 4/29:

  • Night two of the 2024 WWE Draft
  • United States Champion Logan Paul appears
  • Jey Uso, Andrade & Ricochet vs. Damian Priest, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh

Drew McIntyre’s Injury Status: Although he just signed a new contract with WWE, The Scottish Warrior is still recovering from a hyperextended elbow sustained at WrestleMania 40. The Scottish Warrior has been pulled from shows for now.

Don’t Mail The Big Man: Bronson Reed logged onto Twitter and made it very clear that he does not want fans mailing things directly to his home. It is an invasion of privacy the way he sees things, and he was quite nice about it in his post.

Cody Rhodes’ Backlash Gear: Cody Rhodes is set to defend his title for the first time at Backlash against AJ Styles. This will be a special event for the American Nightmare, as he defends his title in France. To hype fans up for his big match, he posted a little teaser for his upcoming gear.

AEW:

DAZN Drops AEW: In a shocking announcement, This is not a good sign for AEW’s future pay-per-view events. DAZN has officially confirmed that their partnership with AEW has ended, just one year after it was initially announced. The decision to discontinue AEW content came into effect on December 31, 2023, following a series of broadcasts that did not meet expected viewership levels. Only a few events managed to achieve the target numbers, such as All In 2023, the initial weeks of AEW Collision, and certain episodes of AEW programming.

Julia Hart Injured: Julia Hart is sidelined again due to an injury, continuing her recent series of health setbacks. Despite her return to the ring, Hart’s injury flared up before AEW Dynasty, leading her to drop the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale. The specifics of Hart’s injury are still unclear, but initial signs indicate she might need surgery. Hart is not scheduled for upcoming AEW television appearances.

MJF In Sling: The former AEW World Champion reportedly underwent should surgery, and he was recently spotted in a sling. During Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, the Salt of the Earth recorded a dig at Brock Lesnar’s alleged affinity for urine related videos while rocking an arm sling with the fan everyone knows as Brock Lesnar Guy.

AEW Collision Viewership: The April 27th edition of AEW Collision brought in an average overnight viewership of 499,000, including 193,000 viewers in the 18 to 49 demographic. This marks an increase from the previous episode, which had 461,000 viewers and a 0.13 rating in the same demographic.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)
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