Former WWE Superstar Gene Snitsky proved that the years haven’t dulled his punting skills with a surprise appearance at The Last Match musical experience.
The 54-year-old Snitsky appeared at the show associated with The Last Match stage show. Snitsky confronted ‘Mother’ (played by fellow WWE alum Mickie James) a character in the show that is never far apart from her baby. After taking hold of the (thankfully plastic) child, Snitsky showed that he could still punt a baby with the best of them.
The spot in question was a follow-up from an infamous segment from a late 2004 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. After Lita suffered a (kayfabe) miscarriage due to a collision with Kane that Snitsky caused, Gene confronted the future WWE Hall of Famer. Snitsky, who constantly reminded fans “IT WASN’T MY FAULT” would arrive with a doll of a baby that he would punt into the crowd.
This time, it WAS his fault.
The Last Match
Mickie James is just one of several big names on the cast of The Last Match. TNA Wrestling broadcaster Matthew ‘Aiden English’ Rehwoldt plays ‘The Boss’ while recent-NXT departure McKenzie Mitchell plays broadcaster Scarlett Sublime. Bull ‘Dempsey’ James plays Sam The Barbarian while Afa Anoa’i Jr. portrays The Surgeon/Son of Stalin. Popular YouTube personality plays the show’s main antagonist Alexander Swagger.
The Last Match tells the story of Ben Vengeance, a journeyman wrestler who prepares to step in the ring for what will be his titular last match. Vengeance’s final match sees the veteran face BTD Heavyweight Champion Alexander Swagger. The show has proven to be a hit with audiences and you can check out the official SE Scoops review below.
Paul Walter Hauser will continue his pro wrestling career under the MLW banner.
Major League Wrestling announced via press release on their website that the famed actor will be entering Battle Riot VI on June 1 in Atlanta, GA. The Battle Riot is a 40-person Royal Rumble style fight where competitors can also be eliminated via pinfall or submission.
Hauser expressed his enthusiasm for entering the match, noting that he indeed has his eyes on the golden ticket to face MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Satoshi Kojima.
“While some could misconstrue this to be an actor making a cameo in wrestling, or a fan checking off some bucket list or wish fulfillment – don’t get it twisted. I am entering to prove myself worthy of a spot in the world of wrestling, as well as a shot at Satoshi Kojima’s World Heavyweight Title.”
MLW CEO Court Bauer stated how unique of an opportunity the match is for Hauser and how admirable his venture from the screen to the squared circle has been.
“Paul is building something special with a two-track career driven by his passion and an unrelenting quality that separates the pretenders from the contenders,” said MLW Founder and CEO Court Bauer. “I don’t think there is anything Paul wants more than to put MLW gold next to his Golden Globe and EMMY. Now he will get his chance of making that happen at MLW Battle Riot VI.”
Hauser has been an active wrestler in 2024 as he happened to put Matt Cardona through a flaming table back in March and actually defeated Sami Callihan at the WrestleCon Super Show during WrestleMania weekend in Philadelphia.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shared the official Road to SummerSlam 2024 live events tour that’ll happen before the August PLE. The tour kicks off this Friday, May 1 with WWE SmackDown live from Jacksonville, Florida.
This year’s Road To SummerSlam Tour includes eleven weeks of Raw and SmackDown TV tapings, several non-televised live events and five Premium Live Events, which are bolded in the schedule below. WWE live event tickets for this tour are available at Ticketmaster.
WWE Summer Tour 2024 Schedule
May 2024
5/17: Jacksonville, FL (SmackDown)
5/20: Greensboro, NC (RAW)
5/24: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (SmackDown)
5/25: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (King & Queen of the Ring)
5/27: Savannah, GA (RAW)
5/31: Albany, NY (SmackDown)
June 2024
6/01: White Plains, NY (Supershow Summer Tour)
6/02: Binghamton, NY (RAW)
6/03: Hershey, PA (RAW)
6/07: Louisville, KY (SmackDown)
6/09: Las Vegas, NV (NXT Battleground)
6/10: Toledo, OH (RAW)
6/14: Glasgow, Scotland (SmackDown)
6/15: Glasgow, Scotland (Clash at the Castle)
6/17: Corpus Christi, TX (RAW)
6/21: Chicago, IL (SmackDown)
6/22: Bloomington, IL (Supershow Summer Tour)
6/23: Kalamazoo, MI (Supershow Summer Tour)
6/24: Indianapolis, IN (RAW)
6/28: New York, NY (SmackDown)
July 2024
7/01: Boston, MA (RAW)
7/05: Toronto, ON (SmackDown)
7/06: Toronto, ON (Money in the Bank)
7/07: Toronto, ON (RAW)
7/08: Ottawa, ON (SmackDown)
7/12: Worcester, MA (RAW)
7/13: Mexico City, Mexico (Supershow Summer Tour)
7/14: Monterrey, Mexico (Supershow Summer Tour)
7/15: Dayton, OH (RAW)
7/19: Omaha, NE (RAW)
7/22: Green Bay, WI (RAW)
7/29: Saint Paul, MN (RAW)
August 2024
8/02: Cleveland, OH (SmackDown)
8/03: Cleveland, OH (SummerSlam)
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. News of the event’s location was shared on Logan Paul’s ImPaulsive podcast and as pointed out at the time, the show will mark the first time that SummerSlam has taken place in Cleveland since 1996.
With the event over two months away, no matches have been confirmed yet. With that said, Paul, a proud Clevelander, has teased facing NBA legend Lebron James at the Biggest Party of the Summer.
If Paul is serious about competing at SummerSlam, then he may have more than the U.S. Championship to defend. The Maverick will challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at King And Queen Of The Ring.
One name fans could be seeing at SummerSlam 2024 is CM Punk who has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps injury during January’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. A recent report shared a positive update on Punk’s recovery with SummerSlam being (theoretically) possible for him. Despite his injury, Punk has been feuding with Drew McIntyre on Monday Night Raw.
Warner Bros Discovery’s upfronts gives the network a chance to show off their upcoming programming to advertisers. This may also be a big day for AEW, because Tony Khan’s company is very much involved in the situation. Although AEW didn’t get a focus during the upfronts, a new show was announced adjacent to the ceremony that may pique pro wrestling fans’ interest.
It was previously reported that there is a pilot show in development for an AEW-related program, which could be announced later this week. This new show will not be a reality series, but further details are not available.
There was no mention of a new AEW television show during the WBD Upfronts, but a new show for TBS’ YouTube channel was revealed.
AEW and TBS have announced a new show called “Meal & A Match,” set to air on the TBS YouTube channel every Friday at 2 pm EST. The show will feature RJ City and Renee Paquette as hosts, with Eddie Kingston as the first guest. Paquette, who has long wanted to be involved in a food-related program, sees this as her entry point into the genre.
Pull up a seat as we break bread and break tables!
AEW and TNT Sports have launched a new mobile game titled AEW: Figure Fighters. This game is free-to-play and features AEW’s roster. The game uses an autobattler format, allowing users to collect and level up their wrestlers.
AEW: Figure Fighters is now available in the United States. It can be downloaded on both the App Store and Google Play.
AEW’s Future With WBD
Reports indicate if WBD has lost the rights to the NBA to NBC, then they will want to reinvest that liquidity elsewhere by bolstering other avenues of programming. Warner Bros Discovery might reinvest its funds into AEW to maintain a strong position in cable rankings.
AEW’s new deal with WBD is expected to remain confidential until this summer or early fall when all details will be made public. The exact end date of the current exclusivity media rights deal between AEW and WBD is unknown.
WBD is also interested in airing all AEW pay-per-view events on its MAX streaming service, a shift from its previous stance. They have had their eye on this prospect for a while, and talks have been ongoing to make that happen.
In the end, WBD knows that MAX is a huge cash cow for them. So, every decision they make will have MAX involved in the situation, which could also include AEW.
The WBD Upfronts are currently ongoing. So far, there has been no mention of a new AEW TV deal.
Steve Austin has a new resident of the Broken Skull Ranch, and it’s a feline with a moniker fit for a one of a kind WWE Hall Of Famer.
Over the weekend, ‘Stone Cold’ shared the unfortunate news that he found one of his cats, a black cat named Lefty, passed away inside of his barn, noting that the animal had been acting erratic as of late. The main eventer of the ‘Broken Skull territory’ has been Austin’s friendly cat named Pancho, who Austin noted was beside himself after losing Lefty.
‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ made plans to rectify that, noting that he’d be getting a new tag partner for Pancho in the near future. That came in the form of a little orange tabby kitten on Wednesday morning.
The kitten is only six weeks old, but clearly has a lot of energy. Austin shared a video of his new furry friend and it appears Pancho is more than appreciative of ‘Stone Cold’ merging the new ‘Mega Paw-ers’ together. In homage of such, Austin was sure to give the new kitten after the late great Randy Savage,
“Introducing Macho. Macho is from a town called Austin, Nevada. Thanks to @huntressdivine for finding him for us. Pancho is already getting used to him, although he is letting him know who the boss is. With Pancho mentoring him, He should be a helluva cat. He certainly has a lot of personality. And is not afraid of anything. He is about 6ish weeks old.”
While Austin didn’t appear at WrestleMania 40 as many expected, ‘Stone Cold’ has stayed very busy enjoying his life out of the limelight and a big partner in crime for that has been Pancho. Now we will have to wait and see the rising star of Macho moving forward.
Johnny Knoxville still thinks Sami Zayn is a jackass.
Knoxville got the better of the current Intercontinental Champion on the major stage of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, TX, but he didn’t receive as great of an opportunity to air out all his grievances during their program together.
WWE shared a photo of Zayn with his Intercontinental Title with Becky Lynch, who was holding her Women’s World Title gold. This prompted Knoxville to unleash several insults Zayn’s way in the comment section, making clear that he’s way bigger fan of Scott Hall with the Intercontinental Title than Zayn.
“Sami’s the Intercontinental Champion. My favorite Intercontinental Champion will always be Razor Ramon. Sami I doubt you know who he is since you’ve never heard of a razor you hairy f@‘k!”
“What a shame, the poor audience had to watch you bomb all night and then get humiliated by me and WeeMan AGAIN! Becky Lynch was terrific though. Why she associates herself with the likes of you I will never know.
“I’d give you the shirt off my back. Just so I don’t have to see all the hair on YOUR BACK!
“Remember when wrestlers used to shave and get tans? Sami certainly doesn’t.
“I didn’t get enough time to get in all my insults so I will get them in here.
“Hey everybody, Sami’s a vegan, just in case you didn’t think he was already annoying enough.
LMFAOOOOOOOO JOHNNY KNOXVILLE IS COOKING SAMI ZAYN ON INSTAGRAM ?
WWE is aiming for the same outcome that Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis want in the Janel Grant situation.
The company filed a motion with the Connecticut courts on May 14, requesting that Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE be moved to arbitration. The company stated that under the agreed-upon parameters, Grant consented to handle matters in arbitration rather than in the public eye.
WWE claimed that Grant never attempted to resolve the lawsuit through private arbitration. Therefore, WWE is making this motion to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut to compel Grant to go through the allegedly agreed-upon private process. The motion obtained by PWInsiderstates:
“Plaintiff Janel Grant brings this action against Vincent K. McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE alleging that, while employed at WWE, she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking by McMahon and Laurinaitis. WWE disputes Grant’s allegations. But, as a threshold matter, this dispute cannot be heard in court because Grant agreed to arbitrate her claims. WWE therefore moves to compel this action to arbitration.”
Former WWE boss Vince McMahon and former employee Janel Grant
Just this past week, McMahon’s legal team listed several reasons why Grant was a willing participant in the alleged abusive relationship. The memorandum filed lists several reasons why Grant wanted various matters out of a mutual relationship between her and Vince McMahon.
What Is Private Arbitration?
If you need clarification on what arbitration is, it is a process where the two conflicting parties go behind closed doors and try to reach a settlement privately, without airing their dirty laundry in public.
Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has a request for Mr. Sylus, the landlord of the ground where Soft Ground Wrestling (SGW) Uganda wrestlers perform and make videos.
The Uganda-based wrestling promotion has recently gained some traction on social media and several popular wrestlers have extended their support. However, the ground where they perform is rented and they are experiencing financial strain to continue their operations.
The official SGW’s X account posted the message from ‘The Scottish Warrior’, who was thankful to the landlord, Mr. Sylus. The former WWE Champion showered praise on SGW for their passion which has garnered the attention of everybody in the pro wrestling industry. McIntyre further said that he is hopeful of WWE getting to Uganda and hosting a show. McIntyre also pled Mr. Sylus not to evict the SGW crew and wait for the funds to be raised for the purchase of land. Here is what he said in the video clip:
“Mr. Sylus, Drew McIntyre here, just shooting a little message to say thank you so much for hosting Softground Wrestling on your land. I hear you’re a fan of Drew McIntyre, so I want to say thank you so much for all your support. I can also tell you I’m a big fan of yours. It’s awesome, what you’re doing to help everybody at SGW. Their passion has grabbed the attention of everybody in our industry, and I appreciate you for being such a big part of it. Hopefully, one day, WWE will make its way to your part of the world. We can host a show there. We can feel the passion through the screen from all the lads. Maybe we can grab a picture together. But until then, thank you.”
@DMcIntyreWWE pleads before the landlord Mr Sylus , the owner of the land where @SGWug is hosted not to evict the crew until further notice. He asks him to be patient until the funds for purchase of land are raised of 45000$. Promises one day WWE will show up in Uganda. pic.twitter.com/9cBhNxil2r
— SGW @soft ground wrestling Uganda (@SGWug) May 15, 2024
SGW has become the latest sensation for its endeavors to contribute to the pro wrestling industry. The promotion uses a soil ring and string ropes instead of a traditional wrestling ring and ropes. The ring also has bamboo posts in place of steel posts. The promotion also helps in training the up-and-coming wrestlers as they train over 180 aspiring wrestlers.
Fans on social media have set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the promotion in their battle against financial strain. Will Ospreay was one of the first wrestlers who got familiar with SGW and even contributed a whopping sum of $2,000.
It recently came to light that over $28,000 was raised by the wrestlers and the pro wrestling community for SGW. Former WWE star Mansoor also stepped up and announced that his mother would purchase a van for SGW to show her support for the promotion. While the wrestlers are trying to provide financial assistance to SGW, the promotion is working on crowning their first champion.
The WWE Universe has another mystery on its hands thanks to a strange segment that played out on the May 14, episode of WWE NXT.
Coming back from a commercial break, the screen was entirely black and some breathing could be heard before the sound of an iPhone alarm broke the silence.
Up next was a segment in which Jazmin Nyx tried to have people sign a get-well card for Jacy Jayne. The only person who signed was Lexis King signed it and he dedicated it to “Jackie.”
It’s unclear who or what this alarm vignette is building to though some have speculated that it is building to the return of Wendy Choo. The well-rested Superstar recently returned to action after a year out with an injury. With her love of naps and staying comfy, an alarm clock would certainly fit the motif of Choo’s character.
This is hardly the first time a mysterious vignette has left fans wanting answers. Lexis King debuted in WWE NXT after a series of cryptic videos that played into his status as a second-generation wrestler. Ironically, King has forgone his real name of Brian Pillman Jr. as he has made clear he wants to establish himself as his own man in WWE NXT.
Mysterious vignettes aren’t just a thing in WWE NXT but are also part of the main roster as well. In recent weeks, a series of cryptic glitches and QR codes have left fans believing that the return of Uncle Howdy is coming, presumably with a faction by his side. The latest message teased something happening on May 16.
Taking to her Instagram Story, Garcia shared all about her appearance on Raw. The announcer shared that at first she was only at the show to say hi and catch up with friends before plans changed.
“I just stopped by to say hi to everybody. Next thing you know, I was on the show. It was so much fun. Triple H, thank you so much for including me in the show. Doing that with Samantha was so awesome.”
Garcia was also grateful for the response the WWE Universe gave her and admitted that she misses the weekly roar of the crowd.
“The fans and the reception that I got, you guys are amazing. I miss you. I’m just so glad that I can pop in every now and then. I hope you guys had fun tonight because there’s nothing like a live Raw event. Until next time, I love you.”
Garcia was with WWE from 1999 to 2009 but made a one-off return in April 2020 after the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption left Justin Roberts overseas. She returned full-time in 2011 before departing again in 2016 and has made sporadic appearances for the company ever since.
Fans can expect to see Erick Rowan on WWE TV soon enough, especially after the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion was spotted at the Performance Center.
Rowan was seen at WWE’s state-of-the-art facility in Orlando, Florida over the week, PW Insider reported. It is not clear what exactly Rowan did while at the Performance Center. In May 2024, it was reported that Rowan had been re-signed by WWE which came after he had to cancel independent show appearances due to a new contract.
It hasn’t been confirmed by WWE what the plan is for Rowan though the prevalent theory is that he will be part of the rumored Uncle Howdy-led faction. Since the post-WrestleMania Raw, glitches and QR codes have sowed seeds about Howdy’s return, possibly with a faction by his side. The most recent QR code takes fans to a website with 121212 in its URL, a reference to December 12, 2012, the date that Erick Rowan became part of the Wyatt Family.
Rowan was with WWE from 2011 to 2020 and is best remembered for his time with the Wyatt Family alongside Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper/Brodie Lee, and Braun Strowman. He later teamed with Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson before being cut from the company in April 2020. He appeared a handful of times for AEW and appeared on the August 25, 2023, SmackDown which was dedicated to Wyatt after his passing the day earlier.
More Names For The Faction
Rowan isn’t the only name attached to this rumored Howdy-led faction. Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Nikki Cross are all said to be involved. At this time, there’s no word on whether Alexa Bliss will be involved despite the Goddess’ previous ties to Wyatt. Bliss hasn’t competed since January 2023 and gave birth to her daughter last December.
A very subtle reference to the Wyatt Family has been discovered not in the video from the latest QR code, but in the URL for the video itself.
Since the Raw after WrestleMania 40, the WWE Universe has been presented with a series of ‘glitches’ and QR codes which have led to videos with cryptic imagery. This week’s Raw proved to be no different with a video centered around a floppy disk teasing that something big is coming very soon.
Upon scanning this week’s QR code, fans were taken to a URL with a series of images with a cryptic message. It turns out that this URL was a clue in itself, as the link is wwe.com/121212. This is a reference to December 12, 2012, which was the night that Erick Rowan debuted as a member of the Wyatt Family on WWE NXT.
Given WWE’s efforts with these cryptic clues, as well as 2022’s White Rabbit, it’s hard to see this URL being a mere coincidence. The video also teases that May 16 will be an important date, so fans should get ready to learn more about plans for the new faction very soon.
Lisa Motley, vice president of sports and special events for the LVCVA was optimistic about the show’s prospects.
“The dates of the event will occur over Easter weekend, which is a typically slow time for Las Vegas… We anticipate more than 180,000 WrestleMania fans will occupy 144,000 incremental room nights over that time period.”
While Las Vegas has paid a fortune for WrestleMania, they expect to make their money back and then some. And with 180,000 expected for WrestleMania, plus many more for non-WWE events hosted in the city, Las Vegas is right to expect a profit on its massive investment.
The Showcase of the Immortals is coming to Las Vegas.
What to Expect
Fans in Las Vegas will get much more than just WrestleMania. The report adds that the WWE World convention will be returning for WrestleMania 41 week. The first WWE World event this year included panels, exhibitions, stores, meet and greets, and an edition of The Pat McAfee Show.
It is believed that WWE SmackDown and WWE Raw will be run at the MGM Resorts venue. A WWE NXT Premium Live Event is also likely to happen if recent years are any indication.
Drew McIntyre had good reason as to why he decided to put fresh ink to WWE paper. It was revealed last month that McIntyre re-signed with WWE after a WrestleMania season that was full of speculation. During a recent chat with the Daily Mail, the thorn in CM Punk’s side gave his reasoning for sticking around with WWE. At the end of the day,
“Being happy, at this point of my life and career all that matters is I’m happy and I can get time with my family that I’ve not had for 20 years.
“When it comes to creative, I can only control the controllable. As we’ve seen, almost for the past couple of years, there’s been a lot more leeway given to talent, a lot more collaboration. It’s been awesome, as you can see across the board. A lot of people breaking out and an opportunity for myself to show what I can truly do.”
Drew McIntyre
McIntyre has worked for WWE from 2007-2014 and 2017 to present day. The company has undergone dramatic changes during those two runs. The Scottish grappler maintains a flexible and optimistic attitude, which has served him well and contributed to his longevity.
“I know with that, it’s always going to be a case of roll with the punches, peaks and valleys, but there’s more to it than just that. We’ll see what the future holds, I just know that I’m in my prime and Drew McIntyre is not going to stop wrestling.”
Creatively, McIntyre is doing some of the best work of his career. He’s leaning into being a insecure villain who is obsessed with colleagues achieving more success than him. Since Royal Rumble, he’s been embroiled in a bitter rivalry with CM Punk. Despite both men being injured an unable to settle their differences in the ring, McIntyre and Punk remain one of the most entertaining conflicts in all of pro wrestling.
In a surprising change of pace, GUNTHER momentarily broke character during his face-off with Jey Uso after WWE RAW this week. Despite his fierce reputation and focus on winning the King of the Ring tournament, the Imperium leader shared a brief light-hearted moment with Uso before swiftly returning to his serious demeanor and delivering a punishing attack.
GUNTHER, known for his no-nonsense approach, had a remarkable run as Intercontinental Champion with a 666-day reign. Currently, he is focused on winning the King of the Ring tournament, with his next opponent being Jey Uso.
Uce advanced in the tournament by defeating Ilja Dragunov, who was recently called up from NXT. Following WWE RAW this week, GUNTHER and Uso had an opportunity to face off. During their encounter, GUNTHER momentarily broke character, sharing a brief light-hearted moment with Jey.
However, GUNTHER quickly returned to his serious demeanor and proceeded to deliver a punishing attack on the former Bloodline member. The Ring General remains determined as he continues his pursuit of the King of the Ring title.
Gunther breaking character and then getting back into character after RAW went off the air ?? pic.twitter.com/cyoRI1XbI6
After Raw went off the air, Jey Uso attempted to make GUNTHER join in on the “yeet.” Even the referee and ring announcer Samantha Irvin participated in the celebration, and it seemed as if GUNTHER might give in.
However, GUNTHER chose to attack his future opponent instead. Despite this, Jey managed to gain the upper hand with a spear and celebrated with the crowd as GUNTHER retreated.
This week’s NXT saw Tony D’Angelo claim the Heritage Cup from Charlie Dempsey. Despite facing a hefty fine from General Manager Ava for past disruptions, D’Angelo triumphed in the main event, emerging as the new Heritage Cup Champion.
Charlie Dempsey entered NXT this week as the Heritage Cup Champion, but his reign came to an end. Tony D’Angelo defeated him, claiming the trophy for himself. To make matters worse for Dempsey, his No Quarter Catch Crew allies, Damon Kemp and Miles Bourne, were not present to support him.
Earlier in the night, General Manager Ava took a firm stance against Tony D’Angelo and the D’Angelo Family for their disruptive behavior during the previous week’s show. Ava addressed the issue of last week’s episode ending in chaos directly.
Rather than canceling Tony D’Angelo’s Heritage Cup Championship match, Ava imposed a penalty of $20,000. Despite the fine, Tony D’Angelo remained unfazed and even offered to pay it in cash.
After a hard-fought battle in the main event of NXT, Tony D’Angelo walked out with the NXT Heritage Cup. After the match, Tony’s Family joined him in the ring to celebrate.
There are indeed physical crowns at stake for this year’s King & Queen Of The Ring event in Saudi Arabia.
For the past week and a half, WWE Superstars have been clashing in tournament matches to see which four fighters will ultimately compete for the throne and be dubbed the 2024 King and Queen Of The Ring.
Photos have surfaced of what the respective crowns will look like which you can see below. Each one has an ornate appearance and is adorned with the WWE logo
The 2024 Queen Of The Ring crown.The 2024 King Of The Ring crown.
WWE has really made the most of the tournament format on WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown as both the first and second round bouts have been taking place on the programs with several of them also being featured exclusively at WWE live events.
On RAW, GUNTHER advanced to the semi-finals defeating Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso advanced when he defeated Ilja Dragunov. On the women’s side of things, Zoey Stark lost to Lyra Valkyria and Shayna Baszler lost to IYO SKY.
For the SmackDown side of the bracket, the men’s tournament will have Randy Orton will take on Carmelo Hayes while Tama Tonga will battle LA Knight. When it comes to the women, Nia Jax will square off against Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair will go up against Tiffany Stratton.
LA Knight recently made note of how happy he was his opening round match took place at a live event where he defeated Santos Escobar.
Teddy Long started off as a referee, but later became a manager and eventually the most popular SmackDown general manager of all time. During his tenure, he had fellow WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker on his roster and an unofficial catchphrase became Long booking talent in bouts against ‘The Deadman.’
Long revealed on “Insight” with Chris Van Vliet that the bit became so familiar after he recalled a time when Vince McMahon wanted his daughter Stephanie to put more of an emphasis on a star’s name. Long was sure to do that for Taker.
“Vince gave me free reign to say what I wanted to say. But he knew I was gonna say nothing that would get the company in trouble. They’d write stuff. I just add my stuff to it.”
Teddy Long also got “playa” over in WWE and origins of that were even more unexpected.
Long was asked where “playa” came from and instead of it just being a simple term to use, Long made it known “playa” first made its presence by having a dog in the household.
“I had a labrador retriever, his name was Boss. I got him as a puppy but as he got bigger and bigger and started getting in the way. So every time, I’m like ‘Come on Playa. Get out of the way Playa, move.’ I’m just talking to him and one night I went to TV I started using slang, calling people Playa, that’s how I got the Playa started.”
Please credit Insight and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
Since the departure of Vince McMahon from WWE, and the simultaneous rise of Paul Levesque as the company’s Chief Content Officer, discussions over each man’s differences in the creative process and booking philosophy have been a continuous source of conversation.
The King of King’s nearly 2-year reign as Head of Creative has been met with mostly positive reviews, with critics, fans, and pundits alike citing a more streamlined approach to storytelling, production, and usage of talent.
Current WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn recently sat down for an interview with Daily Mail‘s Alex McCarthy, where he described the staunch differences in how Triple H and Vince McMahon viewed his character. Here’s what he said, as transcribed by WrestleTalk:
“I think Hunter sees me differently from how Vince saw me, especially as a good guy. I think Vince saw me much more as a bad guy, for a number of reasons. He saw my irksome qualities that he thought lent itself to being an irksome character.
This distinction can be seen plainly when you examine Sami Zayn’s booking between WrestleMania 38 and 39. Zayn went from an intolerable heel in a comedic feud with Johnny Knoxville and the entire cast of Jackass, to becoming one of the biggest babyfaces in the company; locked in an intense, emotional, and tangled storyline with The Bloodline and his real-life best friend Kevin Owens.
Furthermore, Zayn spoke on the differences between Triple H and his father-in-law’s philosophy on booking weekly programming. As fans have heard several times before, the former NXT Champion detailed Triple H’s long-term booking strategy, and how that clashed with McMahon’s more haphazard, even at times “chaotic” approach. He would note, however, that there are pros and cons to both.
“Having said that, I think things were a lot more unpredictable because of the nature of Vince’s week to week kind of approach, that sometimes the marble would just fall in the right hole, and now you’re champion, whereas with Hunter, I think it’s much more he has longer-term vision, and if you’re not part of that vision, then the chances of breaking into that vision are much, much slimmer…It’s kind of a double edged sword. He might see me in a way that lends itself more to being in that mix and possibly winning it. But on the other hand, I could have just slipped on a banana peel and won the world title.”
Since Triple H’s take over of the creative process, Sami Zayn has found himself at the center of some of WWE’s biggest storylines and matches. Becoming one of the company’s top babyfaces, proven more so at WrestleMania 40 when he became the first person to pin The Ring General since his call-up from NXT. Winning his fourth International Championship in the process
While Superstars have gone on record to praise the new leadership and overall company direction, some former talent have expressed that changing the guard in WWE had unfortunate consequences.
Take former WWE Superstar Eric Bugenhagen, aka Rick Boogs, as an example. For the better part of 2021 and early 2022, Bugenhagen seemed to be a hot commodity in the eyes of the WWE machine; armed with an impressive physique and strong character.
Unfortunately, Bugenhagen would find himself released by WWE in September of 2023, following a 9-month absence that began due to an injury he sustained at WrestleMania 38.
In the weeks and months that followed, Bugenhagen would express how some in the new regime didn’t quite see what Vince McMahon had seen in him.
While he has never directly implicated Triple H, he stated that his release was due to a “backstagepowerplay“, and noting that before his release, he has only received positive accolades from McMahon and corporate. Bugenhagen went as far as to say that he feels some in the new management had a “grudge” against him.
WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair is set to star in an upcoming independent horror/thriller film in a massive move from the former Women’s Champion.
You Lose You Die follows sociopathic tech expert Mr. Fantastik (Freddy Rodriguez, Six Feet Under), who runs a show on the dark web. Views get to vote on the challengers for prisoners to participate in with a defeat resulting in their grisly demise. Fantasik is aided in these sick broadcasts with the help of Mr. Creep (Anthony Alvarez) and Ms. Perfect (Flair.)
Flair’s upcoming horror/thriller is a huge opportunity for the former WWE Women’s Champion.
This won’t be Flair’s first time working a big production outside WWE. Flair’s film debut came as Heather Rockrear in 2017’s Psych: The Movie, a spin-off of the popular show about a fake psychic investigator. In 2021, she starred as herself in a remake of Punky Brewster alongside fellow WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss.
Flair being involved in the project is a huge score for the second-generation Superstar who has been out of action since December 2023 with a leg injury. In a recent interview, Charlotte’s father Ric said the younger Flair is “so far ahead” in her recovery but will stick with the nine-month recovery window that places her return in the latter half of 2024.
Charlotte Flair won’t be the only WWE name attached to the project. Josh Bredl will appear as Mr. Large, who based on his name also works for Fantasik. Bredl won the 2015 Tough Enough alongside the late Sara Lee and was guaranteed a one-year contract with WWE. After a run at NXT live events under the name Bronson Matthews, he was released in November 2017.
2K continues to roll out updates for WWE 2K24, and the latest 1.08 patch on May 14 introduces a variety of improvements and new features. This update aims to enhance the gaming experience and may entice fans to return to the game to explore the changes.
On May 14, WWE 2K24 launched a new update that brings several enhancements to the game. The general updates include stability improvements and new entrance and victory motions for various Superstars. Audio options have also been expanded, with the Ring Announcer selection now available in Universe match options. In terms of presentation, the timing of Super Finisher Visual Effects has been enhanced, and an issue where the user interface was obscured in ladder matches has been resolved.
They also added light tubes to the new patch update, just in time for the ECW DLC pack, which is available on May 15.
For the Create-A-Arena feature, custom arenas named RAW, SmackDown, or NXT will now appropriately brand the referee. Additionally, the SmackDown movie is now correctly named, and users can add customizations to parts with LED displays; the display will turn off temporarily and reactivate after customization. In the Create-A-Superstar feature, the colorless emboss setting now saves correctly, and logos no longer shrink when editing the first color. These updates aim to improve the overall gameplay experience and address various issues reported by users.
? Patch Notes | May 14
? New Entrance & Victory motions ? Added customizations to CAA, including video billboard and LED Displays ? Ring Announcer selection now available in Universe match options ? Additional stability improvements
Tony D’Angelo & Channing Stacks Lorenzo (non-championship)
AUDIO
Ring Announcer selection now available in Universe match options
PRESENTATION
Enhanced Super Finisher Visual Effects timing
Resolved issue where the user interface was obscured in ladder matches
Improved Blackout payback trigger timing
CREATE-A-ARENA (CAA)
Custom arenas named RAW, SmackDown, or NXT will now brand the referee appropriately
Correctly named SmackDown movie
Fixed issue where the video billboard would lose customizations
Users can now add customizations to parts with LED displays; the display will turn off temporarily and reactivate after customization
CREATE-A-SUPERSTAR (CAS)
Colorless emboss setting now saves correctly
Logos no longer shrink when editing the first color
And Much More to MYFACTION, MYRISE, and Online play.
WWE 2K24 Release & Reception
WWE 2K24 was released on March 8, 2024. The standard edition features Cody Rhodes on the cover, while the special edition, marking the first time female wrestlers have shared the cover, includes Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. The “40 Years of WrestleMania” special cover originally included Brock Lesnar, but he was later removed.
The game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have praised the game for its improvements and refinements over previous versions.
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker isn’t a fan of the idea of being roasted but has some names he’d love to see in the proverbial hot seat.
The recent roast of NFL legend Tom Brady proved to be a huge talking point among sports fans, so it’s hardly a surprise that there’s speculation as to whether the Phenom could find himself on the receiving end of some light-hearted barbs. On his Six Feet Under podcast, the idea was brought up to The Undertaker who was not a fan.
“Will you stop saying that?! [he said in response to his co-host Matt Lida talking about a potential roast.] You know WWE, they monitor this, right?… I’m telling you what, if this somehow miraculously happens, me and you, we’re going to have problems.”
While The Undertaker isn’t interested in being subject to a roast, he did have an idea as to which legends should be roasted.
“There are a lot of guys that come before I did that need to be roasted. Hulk Hogan… [Ric] Flair would be good, but he’s affiliated with the wrong [company.]”
Don’t expect the Phenom to be the subject of a comedy roast.
Lida put forward Tony Hinchcliffe as the Master of Ceremonies for a roast of the Phenom, following on from Lida’s success with the Tom Brady roast. This again was met with resistance from The Undertaker who stated “I don’t know.”
With decades of stories in the wrestling business, a roast of The Undertaker would surely be an entertaining affair. But while the Hall of Famer has left kayfabe behind, the Deadman remains adamant that The Undertaker won’t be subject to a roast anytime soon.
The CW Network had no issue with the infamous ‘cocaine’ spot from NWA Samhain 2023, according to NWA President Billy Corgan.
The controversial spot saw ‘Sinister Minister’ James Mitchell snort a white powder during the October 28 event. While never explicitly stated during the broadcast, many saw this as the (staged) use of cocaine during the broadcast which sparked plenty of negative reactions.
“After the ‘cocaine spot’ where Sinister Minister and his hot minions were snorting sugar off a table in Cleveland, that story took a life of its own… Certainly one of the top people at CW called me and said, ‘What is this all about?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. No one in your world has reached out to me.’ He said, ‘There is no problem over here.'”
Corgan added that rather than be outraged to the point of nixing a deal, The CW found the spot, and the backlash online, to be rather funny. Rather than be on TV, Episodes of NWA Powerrr are now available on The CW app. A new reality show ‘Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland‘ will also be part of The CW.
The Rock is currently away from WWE, but he vowed to return and face Cody Rhodes. The Rock may be on a hiatus, but he continues to generate buzz from Hollywood to wrestling. The TKO Board Member recently released a new video showcasing his MMA training for the film “The Smashing Machine.”
Dwayne Johnson is training intensely for his next film, “The Smashing Machine.” In this role, he will portray MMA fighter Mark Kerr, requiring him to refine his skills. Johnson is dedicated to preparing for this challenging role. He recently posted a video of his training regimen, showing the effort he is putting in to get in shape for the part. As expected, the post garnered significant attention.
The Final Boss wrote on social media that his MMA training has been the hardest journey he’s ever been on, which is quite a statement considering everything that he’s accomplished.
Every day.
Working hard, learning, respecting and being a student of the game during this training camp.
I’m a hard worker, but this is the hardest journey I’ve ever been on.
Thank you for all your amazing support, it means the world to me.
Fans reacted to The Rock’s post, and many of them were impressed. A fan named Dustin Burham gave Johnson his flowers as he said, “To be doing this at age 52 is insane and awesome.” Another fan commented to say, “Fire on the Rock man.”
Can’t wait to see the movie MMA is definitely tough
One fan named Ramboo said, “Eat Clean and Train Good,” with a heart emoji attached, so fans are very much behind the Brahma Bull.
Japanese mascot Chiitan replied with a video of themselves on a treadmill with a caption reading: “One day, I’ll be able to run at 100 km/h..” Another fan named Calico Jack tweeted back to say, “Wrestling in your undies is wild.”
Dwayne Johnson’s upcoming film,”‘The Smashing Machine’ is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, an MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC. At the peak of his career, he faces challenges with addiction, winning, love, and friendship in the year 2000.”
The Rock has wanted to play Kerr for years, and this is a real passion project for him. He is making it happen, and then a return to WWE is always a possibility.
The film starring Dwayne Johnson is set to release in 2025. There is already a 2002 documentary about Kerr’s life called “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr,” directed by John Hyams.
Set against the backdrop of the squared circle, “The Last Match” seamlessly blends the larger-than-life spectacle of professional wrestling with the electric energy of rock ‘n’ roll and the cinematic storytelling of musical theater – making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that musical theater isn’t a niche that I generally gravitate toward, but after attending the production’s opening night in Rochester, I emerged with a newfound appreciation for it. Likewise, upon speaking with some non-wrestling fans afterwards, I learned that “The Last Match” opened their eyes to the world of professional wrestling.
Created and directed by Jeremiah James, “The Last Match” follows the story of 30-year veteran Ben Vengeance (played by the singer of 80s tribute band The Reagan Years, Anthony Nuccio), who is preparing to step into the ring for his final match at BTD Wrestling Alliance’s World War V event (set in the year 1989).
Anthony Nuccio as Ben Vengeance in The Last Match
Vengeance’s final match isn’t just a normal retirement match; it’s a title match for the coveted BTD Heavyweight Championship – a title that Vengeance has held a record-setting 12 times. For this occasion, Vengeance is slated to defend his title against the ever-conceited and crude Alexander Swagger (played by British professional wrestler – and in my opinion, the bloody brilliant – Simon Miller), who is looking to position himself as the next top star in BTD.
Fueled by his pure respect and passion for the wrestling business, Vengeance seems inclined to put over (or in layman’s terms – lose to) Swagger on his way out. His girlfriend and fellow professional wrestler, “The Fabulous” Miss Jenny (played by Mikayla Agrella), however, wants to see BTD honor Vengeance’s legacy with a departing title retention.
Ultimately, the outcome of Vengeance’s final match will be decided by The Boss (portrayed by TNA Wrestling commentator Matthew Rehwoldt), who, with his Vince McMahon-inspired strut, reiterates that “nothing in the ring is personal, it’s just business.” With multiple different agendas circulating, the finish to this title match is far from predictable, leading to a rather captivating sequence of events.
Simon Miller (as Alexander Swagger) and Anthony Nuccio (as Ben Vengeance), with McKenzie Mitchell (as Scarlett Sublime) and Jeff Seal (as Jimmy Sutton) on commentary in the background.
Outside of the main event storyline between Vengeance and Swagger, viewers are also introduced to a diverse cast of supporting characters who carry forth terrific talent in in-ring, vocal, narration, and theatrical performance. The Ref (played by Trinity Colvin), specifically, covers all four of those departments with enthralling ease. In addition to her duties as the in-ring official and on-stage singer, Colvin provides valuable narration that not only ties several scenes together, but also effectively explains wrestling jargon for the non-wrestling members of the audience.
Mickie James (as The Mother) and Mikayla Agrella (as Miss Jenny), with Trinity Colvin (as The Ref) preparing to officiate their match.
Another stand-out performance stems from that of former TNA Knockouts Mickie James, who plays the over-the-top character of The Mother. Alongside being a multi-decade veteran in the ring, The Mother is known for being exactly that – a mother (of 15 kids, to be specific). James, of course, fits both of these categories in real life, making her a natural fit for the role of The Mother. (James’ vocal abilities also come to the forefront as The Mother delivers a raspy and highly entertaining singing promo ahead of her match against Miss Jenny).
Professional wrestling fans will be treated to some more familiar faces, as the likes of Bull James (slotted as Sam the Barbarian), Afa Anoa’i Jr. (The Surgeon/Son of Stalin), and McKenzie Mitchell (commentator Scarlett Sublime) unleash their own unique personalities in the show.
Aside from the magnificent cast, I also have to give props to Sylvana Joyce and The Moment, the band of “The Last Match,” whose exhilarating performance greatly complements the 80s-themed production. Jason Huza is credited for the musical’s book and lyrics, while Sylvana Joyce and guitarist C. Robert Smith additionally serve as composers and lyricists.
Trinity Colvin (as The Ref) rocking out with the band’s guitarist C. Robert Smith while a mixed tag team match plays out in the background.
Overall, with its gripping narrative, compelling in-ring action, and soul-stirring music, “The Last Match” engages the audience from the beginning to the end, or in this case, the first bell to the final chord. So whether you’re a wrestling enthusiast, a music aficionado, a theater kid, or simply someone looking for a night of entertainment, “The Last Match” promises to be an absolute must-see. 10/10, would (and will) see it again.
“The Last Match” will continue its tour with a few more dates in Winston-Salem, Columbia, and Atlanta.
For more information about “The Last Match” and how to purchase tickets, click here.
