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Vince McMahon Remains In Contact with The Rock & John Cena Amid WWE Exit

Thomas Lowson
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Vince McMahon’s days in WWE may be a thing of the past, but the former Chairman remains in touch with some huge names from the world of pro wrestling.

McMahon resigned from WWE for the second time in January 2024 and unlike his 2022 retirement, he is not expected to return. WWE has made a concerted effort to distance themselves from McMahon including launching a new ‘era’ with WrestleMania 40, the first ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ without McMahon’s involvement. McMahon recently listed the remainder of his stock in TKO for sale which if all is sold, would give him no shareholder influence over the company.

Loyal Friends

While WWE has avoided referencing McMahon on its programming, the billionaire remains in contact with TKO board member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, NBC News reports. The Brahma Bull was appointed to the board around the same time that the Janel Grant lawsuit against McMahon that resulted in his resignation came to light. 

The 78-year-old billionaire also remains in contact with John Cena though there’s no word on what either man discusses with McMahon. This isn’t the first time Cena’s name has been linked to McMahon following his resignation. The 16-time World Champion’s recent comments about loving McMahon despite the allegations against him spawned a backlash for the wrestler-turned-actor. 

As the top dog in professional wrestling for decades, McMahon built the careers of countless individuals so it’s hardly a surprise that some remain loyal to the controversial billionaire. While it’s been stated that nobody in WWE is defending McMahon, Ronda Rousey isn’t so sure and recently claimed that as long as Bruce Prichard is involved in WWE, McMahon has a direct line to influence decisions. 

More Exits

McMahon’s departure from WWE is arguably the biggest exit in company history but he isn’t the only veteran to leave the squared circle behind. Kevin Dunn left WWE after over four decades in late 2023 despite hopes within the promotion that he’d stay on until WrestleMania 40. He has been replaced as Head of Production by Lee Fitting. 

Sue Aitchison is another long-time WWE name who has left WWE. Aitchison oversaw WWE’s outreach department and played an intrinsic role in nurturing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. For her efforts, she received the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award in 2019. 

Right now, it’s hard to ignore the ‘changing of the guard’ atmosphere within WWE as those who ruled the company for decades are no longer in the picture. With that said it’ll still be some time until Vince’s people are fully phased out of the promotion’s internal workings. 

As McMahon prepares for possibly the biggest fight of his life, at least legally speaking, the fact that some of WWE’s top names have kept in touch with him is an interesting development, and suggests that McMahon could indeed have an interest in WWE greater than what those in the promotion are letting on.

Former WWE Star Wants To Enter Adam Copeland’s ‘Cope Open’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Adam Copeland is taking his TNT Championship run to the “edge” and he has another veteran with his eyes on Cope’s prize.

Since Copeland secured that TNT Title against Christian Cage at AEW Revolution, ‘The Rated R Superstar’ has fired up the “Cope Open” and have gotten an array of challengers, one being an AEW outsider in Matt Cardona. Copeland came out on top in that battle, but now there’s another veteran looking for such an opportunity.

‘Da Black Pope’ Elijah Burke is very busy this week promoting the Shad Gaspard Memorial Cup, honoring the late star with his Love Alive Charity. Burke is based out of Jacksonville and obviously, that is the home base for AEW. Pope has made his pitch on X to enter the “Cope Open.”

“The TNT open challenge has been a hit, here’s my challenge to Adam Copeland: First time ever matchup Adam Copeland vs. Jacksonville’s Favorite Son “The Pope” at Daily’s Place for AEW Dynamite/Collision. An Experience like no other. Tony Khan make it happen!”

The Shad Gaspard Memorial Cup

Pope has been all around the wrestling industry working for WWE, TNA and NWA, but has been a proactive and positive presence for his Love Alive Charity. The Shad Gaspard Memorial Cup will take place this weekend on April 20 and will feature several stars competing in the tournament including JTG, KC Navarro, Kenny King and Thom Latimer. Also set to appear is Danny Davis and current AEW star, Mark Henry. Information to get tickets are below:

WWE’s Piper Niven Hopes to Inspire ‘Bigger Kids’ to Stand Up For Themselves Against Bullying

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Raw Superstar Piper Niven hopes that she can be a role model to ‘bigger kids’ and show them that it’s okay to stand up for yourself against bullying.  

While the Scottish Superstar has made quite a name for herself, her call-up to the main roster saw her be rebranded ‘Doudrop.’ The name has some unfortunate definitions online and Niven has spoken about not being fond of the name in the past. 

Niven got her original WWE name back during the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match and the former Women’s Tag Team Champion hasn’t looked back since. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Niven spoke about what the Piper name means to her. 

“For me, Piper was always the person that I wanted to be when I was younger. I wasn’t allowed to be angry, I wasn’t allowed to fight and stand up for myself. Piper was that person that I always wanted to be.”

Niven added that she hopes that her work on TV can help inspire kids who may be heavier than the norm to realize their own worth in the face of bullying. 

“I know that there’s a lot of kids that are bigger kids, maybe they get picked on. I hope that when they see Piper, she makes them feel that they can stand up for themselves as well.”

Niven’s goal is admirable as there’s no place for bullying in the world. Niven and Chelsea Green scored their first win as a tag team in months on Raw with a victory over Katana Chance & Kayden Carter. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

NBA Legend Charles Barkley Gives Props to The Rock’s WWE Return Performance

Aaron Varble
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The Rock’s WWE return on the road to WrestleMania saw a few changes along the way, but Dwayne Johnson’s charisma was turned up to 11 the whole time. Charles Barkley was watching at home, and he noticed how the Great One didn’t lose a step.

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Charles Barkley praised The Rock’s recent performance in WWE. The two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer has been paying close attention to WWE programming, and he had to give The People’s Champion his flowers.

“Pat, you know I’ve been watching you guys for a couple of months, and does The Rock have the best personality and charisma on television? Obviously, Roman and Cody and all those guys are fantastic, but The Rock … he’s got that thing, you know when you see a player and go ‘he’s different from everybody else.’ Man, when you see The Rock perform and you go, ‘damn, he’s good.’ His personality, when he’s talking, you’re like ‘oh I gotta watch this.’

Sir Charles said that he loves Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and everyone else, but The Rock stands alone. He commended Dwayne Johnson for going away for so long and coming back with “the charisma bug,” something that gained a massive amount of attention for The Final Boss as Cody Rhodes fought to finish his story.

Barkley went on to say of The Rock, “I was impressed. I’ve known him, we’re not great friends, but I’ve known him for a long time, and when I saw him, I was like, ‘He has that thing,’ and when he’s working, I want to watch. He plays the heel perfectly. His charisma, it’s an honor.”

The Rock’s Road to WrestleMania 40

The Rock first called his shot for WrestleMania 40 when he showed up during the Day 1 episode of RAW this year. His reference of sitting at the head of the table was not lost on anyone. After Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble match, he brought The Rock out the next night as he seemingly stepped away from an Undisputed WWE World Title match at the show of shows.

Original plans for WrestleMania 40 did not include the card fans saw in Lincoln Financial Field. The Rock wanted a one-on-one match against Roman Reigns, and that would have happened if the “Cody Crybabies” didn’t speak out. The Rock eventually conceded that Cody should have the main event.

The Rock vs Roman Reigns was the original plan for WrestleMania, with Cody Rhodes not wrestling at the event due to a kayfabed injury. Seth Rollins vs CM Punk was also supposed to happen, but that match was changed to Drew McIntyre after Punk’s triceps injury took him out of action.

The main event matches for both nights of WrestleMania 40 were then changed to facilitate the new direction. The Rock teamed with Roman Reigns to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the first night, with Cody vs Roman getting to battle it out in a Bloodline rules stipulation on WrestleMania 40 Sunday.

Logan Paul Responds To Samantha Irvin Calling Him A ‘Cringe Overreactor’

Aaron Varble
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Logan Paul’s fans have watched him for years, looking for his reactions to a variety of subjects. When Samantha Irvin called him a “cringe overreactor” after seeing a video of him in the crowd at WrestleMania 40, he just had to say something.

WrestleMania 40 left many fans swimming in a sea of emotions. Cody Rhodes raised his title at the end of the two-night event as the company embarked on a new era. Logan Paul saw it all go down, and he was admittedly emotional. 

Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast, Logan Paul brought up how Samantha Irvin called him a “cringe overreactor” in response to a video of him watching the WrestleMania 40 main event go down. In the end, The Maverick just saw it as ironic, because it was coming from her.

“I got emotional watching Cody win, and the ring announcer bullied me. The ring announcer, Samantha Irvin, bullied me. The fiancé of Ricochet, who I beat twice, she bullied me on Twitter. She called me a ‘cringe overreactor.’ It got a ton of favorites. I took it as irony, because if you see the video of her announcing Cody, she’s sobbing. It’s a funny way to take a dig at me, because I’m a cringe overreactor, bro, I’m an overreactor as f*ck. But, she reacts too, so I thought it was kinda funny.”

Logan Paul in WWE

As the current WWE United States Champion, Logan Paul has a deep respect for the pro wrestling industry. Logan Paul’s last defense saw him retain in a triple threat match against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 40.

Logan Paul made a name for himself outside WWE before making his way to pro wrestling. Triple H had to admit that he even laughed at the thought of the YouTuber turned boxer becoming a WWE Superstar.

After seeing a real dedication to the business, even John Cena sang his praises. He said of Paul, “I wish we had found him years ago and this would be his calling. I’m glad he’s found us, because he fits perfectly in what we do here.”

Samantha Irvin’s WrestleMania 40 Performance

WWE fans noticed Irvin’s voice crack at the end of WrestleMania Sunday as she announced Cody Rhodes as the new Undisputed WWE World Champion. She had to fight through real tears to make that call to the Lincoln Financial Field crowd. 

Samantha Irvin’s name trended during WrestleMania 40 due to her fantastic job as ring announcer. The legendary Michael Buffer even gave her flowers after seeing how she owned the microphone, even through genuine emotions.

Popular Joshi Wrestler Expected To Work This Year’s AEW Forbidden Door PPV

Aaron Varble
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AEW and NJPW are gearing up for another Forbidden Door pay-per-view this summer. According to Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net, popular Japanese women’s wrestler AZM will return to the US this summer and is scheduled to compete at this year’s crossover event.

Several top NJPW stars have joined All Elite Wrestling in recent months, including Kazuchika Okada and Jay White. AEW star Jon Moxley just won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, a strong indication that the two promotions have a very healthy working relationship.

The inaugural Forbidden Door pay-per-view was held in June 2022 in Chicago. The main event saw Jon Moxley defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi by pin-fall to win the interim AEW World Title.

Last year, Bryan Danielson defeating Kazuchika Okada by submission in a dream match that fans are still talking about until this day. 

Michael Cole Encourages WWE Broadcasters to Find Their Own Voice

Aaron Varble
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WWE picks their announcers carefully, as they are responsible for providing a soundtrack for the action in the ring. Everyone has their own voice, and Michael Cold has helped the company in significant ways.

Michael Cole entered WWE in 1997, and he has remained a part of the company since then. First as a backstage interviewer, he eventually made his way to the commentary table, where he never left.

WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph spoke with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV insider, where he revealed that Michael Cole wants to help each WWE commentary team member discover who they really are.

“Michael Cole is the greatest of all time. I’ll say it again. He is the greatest of all time. I’ve learned so much from him. Here’s the thing about Michael Cole. He doesn’t want me to be Michael Cole. He doesn’t want Corey Graves to be Michael Cole. We all have our own distinct voices. It’s how you as a listener hear it.”

“When I went to NXT, I didn’t want to be Mauro [Ranallo]. I don’t want to be Michael Cole. I want to be myself. But if you’re the greatest of all time why would you not want to pick a few things from them? There is no quarterback in the world that’s not looking at Tom Brady’s mechanics or Patrick Mahomes’ footwork. If you don’t study people who are the greatest, I think it’s foolish if you don’t. I will take as much as I can from Michael Cole and Corey Graves, for that matter, and mold it into my own. Then hopefully get to their level.”

WWE Commentary Teams

The company has several television shows, with different commentary teams on each program.

  • WWE’s RAW: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. 
  • WWE SmackDown: Corey Graves and Wade Barrett  
  • NXT: Vic Joseph and Booker T 
  • NXT Level Up: Blake Howard and Byron Saxton 
  • Main Event: Blake Howard and ‘Road Dogg’ Brian James

WWE will switch around their commentary teams occasionally. The last change came when Kevin Patrick was fired, and that caused the change to what we have today.

The WWE Draft is coming on the April 26th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The draft will then continue on the April 29th episode of Monday Night Raw. We will have to see how the commentary teams look when the next roster shake-up goes down, but each show has a strong team already.

Daily Drop (4/17): WWE Snubs Former NXT Women’s Champions, MJF’s Current AEW Status

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for Wednesday, April 17, 2024. WWE brought a packed episode of WWE NXT last night, as they continue telling their stories past WrestleMania 40 weekend.

Before we get going, Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes threw down in a cage match at the end of NXT this week. After the show, they had a pretty special moment for fans in the NXT Arena.

WWE:

– NXT Spring Breakin: WWE added a few top matches to the Spring Breakin special event. You can check out the updated card here.

– Rey Mysterio Speaks: SEScoops has an exclusive interview up with Rey Mysterio, where he spoke about his daughter reuniting with CM Punk.

– Foley’s Concussion: Mick Foley said that he had a “wake up call” when he had his last concussion while training. That being said, he has positive news to share.

– Giulia in WWE: Giulia is still heading to WWE, and they already have some plans for her. We compiled an article with some reported spoilers for you here.

– Mandy Rose Snub: Tatum Paxley cut a great promo on WWE NXT this week, where she revealed her love of the NXT Women’s Title. She named off all of the most recent champions, but she did not mention Mandy Rose at all. She also did not bring up how Sasha Banks carried the title.

– Drew Gulak’s Disappearance: They finally addressed Gulak vanishing from NXT after Ronda Rousey accused him of grabbing the string on her sweatpants.

– Roman’s New Project: Roman Reigns may be taking a hiatus from WWE, but he was spotted filming something new with Kiki Palmer.

AEW:

– Tony Khan Defends Himself: Khan stated that airing the CM Punk and Jack Perry fight footage was the best decision. He said it made a lot of sense.

– MJF’s Status: Although he is out of action with an injury, MJF recently had a meeting with AEW higher-ups. He’s not gone from the company, despite his removal from their online roster.

– Copeland on Retirement: Speaking to Brandon Walker on Mostly Sports, Copeland spoke highly of the acting experience he was able to gain while he was out of the pro wrestling world. He said, “I’ve lived a lot more life. As strange as that sounds, it actually does add to your utility belt out there. As a performer, any kind of performer, they have to dip into a place to pull the character off. It’s the same with wrestling. That, more than anything, is what I’ve noticed coming back. Some of the skillset I got in the acting I did during those nine years off, I did over 100 episodes of television when I was retired.”

– CM Punk Chants: Footage has emerged from the crowd during AEW Dynamite last week, where you could hear “F*ck CM Punk” chants. It doesn’t seem like this was a chant that was participated in by a ton of people.

AEW Dynamite Card (4/17):

  • Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. House Of Black (Julia Hart & Brody King)
  • Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • Chris Jericho will lead a meeting with HOOK and Taz
  • Jon Moxley returns to AEW Dynamite as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
  • We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 Preview: Title Matches, Updated Card (4/23)

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 is mere days away and the first night of the gold brand’s annual event is set to have massive ramifications. 

This will be the first major event for WWE NXT of the promotion’s ‘new era’ which launched with WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, PA. Here is what the fans can look forward to on Night 1 of WWE NXT Spring Breakin’.

No Quarter Catch Crew Vs. The D’Angelo Family

It’ll be faction warfare at NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 when the serious trio of Myles Borne, Damon Kemp, and Charlie Dempsey face the ever-resourceful ‘family’ of Tony D’Angelo. The two sides got physical on the April 16, episode of WWE NXT as tensions are boiling to the surface. 

Roxanne Perez (c) Vs. Lyra Valkyria Vs. Tatum Paxley (WWE NXT Women’s Championship)

Tatum Paxley has made clear she’s only interested in the NXT Women’s Championship and will do whatever it takes to possess it. With former champion Lyra Valkyria in the mix, the odds do not look good for two-time/current champion Roxanne Perez mere weeks after she won the title at Stand & Deliver.

Sol Ruca Vs. Blair Davenport (Beach Brawl Match)

It’ll be no peaceful day at the beach for Blair Davenport who as the NXT parking lot attacker cost Sol Ruca months of action. Now, Ruca is back and is ready for revenge on the 2023 Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner.

Natalya & Lola Vice Sign Their NXT Underground Contract

Lola Vice’s targeting of Karmen Petrovic has incurred the wrath of Natalya and the WWE veteran is looking to make Vice pay in the hellacious NXT Underground. Seven days before the Hart Dungeon graduate and the 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament winner collide, they’ll sign the contract for their match. 

Ilja Dragunov (c) Vs. Trick Williams (WWE NXT Championship)

In a rematch from NXT Vengeance Day, Trick Williams hopes to realize his dream and become the new NXT Champion at Spring Breakin’ While the fans are on the side of Trick, reigning champion Ilja Dragunov won’t make this easy. 

SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage in the coming days for WWE NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1.

Mick Foley Gives Positive Update After ‘Wake-Up Call’ Concussion Nixes Planned Final Match

Thomas Lowson
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Mick Foley won’t be wrestling in a final match due to a concussion but the Hardcore Legend and WWE Hall of Famer has been able to see the silver lining in all this.

The three-time WWE World Champion recently revealed that he was calling off plans to have one final match after suffering from the effects of a concussion he couldn’t even recall experiencing. Foley had wanted to compete in one last death match for his 60th birthday and hoped the match would motivate him to lose weight. 

In his latest YouTube video, Mick gave some great news about his current health. 

“When I resumed my work schedule, I was a little out of it. But over the next three days, wow, really felt the fog lifting. It’s kind of like coming to the surface after you’ve been swimming.” 

Mick added that he was happy in a way that this situation has been a ‘wake-up call’ for him to recognize that he isn’t the young man that he once was.

“I am no longer going to be taking on the deadly duo of Father Time and Mother Nature, because they commenced to kicking my butt, and it’s not a rematch I’m looking to have.”

While it would’ve been interesting to see Mick lace up his boots one final time, it wasn’t meant to be. Given the health complications that arose during Ric Flair’s last match, it’s for the best that Mick does not wrestle again if he is to prioritize his health. Nevertheless, Mick had an incredible career in the ring, one that he can be proud of. 

Matt Cardona Pulls From Events After Suffering Torn Pectoral Injury

Thomas Lowson
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Matt Cardona, the self-professed Indy God, will not be competing on the independent scene or elsewhere for the time being after reportedly suffering a torn pectoral.  He’s set to undergo surgery, which will keep him out of action for the remainder of the year.

This is a huge setback for Cardona who has been on fire since being released from WWE in April 15, 2020. With Zack Ryder deemed ‘dead,’ Cardona has had success as a heel in various promotions and is a former GCW and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. Cardona recently reflected on the four-year anniversary of his release. 

A Possible WWE Return? 

Cardona has done huge things since leaving WWE but he isn’t against making a return to the promotion, under the right circumstances. Matt has made clear that if he was to return, it wouldn’t be as Zack Ryder, and has told fans to “never say never” to seeing him as a WWE Superstar again.

Matt’s wife Chelsea Green knows all about making a successful return to WWE. After being released in April 2021, Green returned as part of the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble and had a historic run in the match, albeit for the wrong reasons. Green believes that Cardona will return to WWE one day when the time is right. 

Details On How Rhea Ripley Was Injured

Bishal Roy
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Rhea Ripley was forced to vacate her Women’s World Championship after she sustained a “freak injury” at the hands of Liv Morgan on last week’s Raw. She will be away from in-ring action and her recovery time is yet to be determined.

It is believed that ‘The Eradicator’ suffered the injury when Liv Morgan attacked her backstage and sent her into the wall. ‘Mami’ injured her AC joint where her collarbone and right shoulder are connected.

Initially, it was believed that the chair shot from Liv Morgan might have caused the injury but the outlet reported that wasn’t the case. 

Rhea Ripley as Women’s World Champion

Rhea Ripley has established herself as one of the top stars of the stacked WWE women’s division. She has had a dominant run as the champion and her latest title defense took place against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 40. 

She captured the Women’s World Championship (then known as WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship) after defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39. Holding the title for 380 days, Rhea eclipsed Bayley’s longest reign of the title (379 days) but her dominating reign has now ended in an unfortunate fashion. 

It has been announced that WWE will crown a new Women’s World Champion on next week’s Raw which takes place in Columbus, OH. It is currently unknown how the new champ will be determined. 

We will keep you updated on the situation when more details emerge. Keep an eye on SEScoops for the latest updates.

Latest On Giulia: WWE In-Ring Debut, Championship Opportunities, Marigold Plans

Thomas Lowson
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Giulia could not only be a WWE Superstar, but could also be a champion with the promotion within a matter of months, a new report has revealed. 

Giulia appeared at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver over WrestleMania 40 weekend and earned a thunderous response from the fans in attendance, her appearance comes after months of reports that she is set to join WWE’s women’s division. 

WWE is hoping to see Giulia report to the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida in late June or early July, per Fightful. She was supposedly set to have a personal tryout in late 2023 though that ultimately didn’t transpire. She did however appear at the Performance Center during her recent sting in the United States. 

Giulia is expected to keep her current name (which was used at Stand & Deliver) but there are no plans at this time for WWE to obtain the rights to her theme song. As for when fans can expect Giulia in the ring, the belief in NXT is that she’ll make her debut at NXT Heatwave on July 7. 

Giulia is expected to compete for a women’s championship at the event which will be either the NXT Women’s Title held by Lyra Valkyria or the recently-announced NXT Women’s North American Championship. The new title was announced during WrestleMania 40 weekend.

A Brief Detour

Before Giulia is officially a WWE Superstar, she is expected to make a “handful” of appearances for Marigold, the new promotion founded by Rossy Ogawa. Giulia has already been announced for the promotion’s debut event this June that will include NXT alum Sareee. 

Acquiring Giulia is a huge win for WWE whose women’s roster is considered one of the best in the world today. Expectations are high for the former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion as her star power is expected to grow once she joins wrestling’s biggest promotion. 

Drew Gulak Removal From TV Explained On 4/16 WWE NXT After Ronda Rousey Allegations

Thomas Lowson
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The situation surrounding Drew Gulak was given a unique explanation during WWE NXT as his future with the company remains uncertain. 

 Gulak was pulled from programming following allegations made by Ronda Rousey. The former Women’s Champion alleged that Gulak pulled on the drawstring of her sweatpants and made her feel uncomfortable. Gulak has said it was an accident and apologized at the time. 

Drew Gulak’s Absence Explained

On the WWE NXT after Rousey’s claim came to light, Gulak didn’t appear alongside the No Quarter Catch Crew and his name had been removed from the group’s titantron. This understandably raised questions as to his future as part of the group and in WWE.

On this week’s NXT, the No Quarter Catch Crew (again sans Gulak) had an in-ring segment with Tony D’Angelo’s family. During the segment, D’Angelo noted that Charlie Dempsey had The Family “take care” of a member of the group, seemingly Gulak. Dempsey responded by saying it was for the good of the business and that the “trash” had to be taken care of. 

This is another worrying sign for Gulak and demonstrates the seriousness of the situation regarding what transpired between himself and Rousey in 2022. Gulak has reportedly been pulled from all plans and there are no creative plans for him. He was also not backstage as of last week’s episode of WWE NXT and it’s unlikely he was at this week’s event. 

Gulak has been with WWE since 2016 and in addition to eight 24/7 Championship reigns is a one-time Cruiserweight Champion. For all his past accomplishments though, Gulak’s WWE future remains hanging in the balance

Tony Khan Says Airing All In Fight Made A Lot Of Sense, Makes No Reference to CM Punk

Thomas Lowson
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Airing the infamous backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry made a lot of sense, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed. 

The footage was broadcast on the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite and was presented as The Young Bucks explaining why they lost to FTR at All In 2023. Many believe that the footage was actually aired in response to Punk’s comments made on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. Punk was hardly complimentary of AEW during his appearance on the show. 

Whatever the reason for the footage being aired, it seems to have backfired on Tony Khan. Many believe that the decision to air the footage has done more damage to AEW’s reputation than anything shown in the clip regarding Punk’s behavior. 

On the Chris Russell Show, Khan was asked whether he regrets airing the footage in hindsight and believes that bringing the altercation to light was the right call. 

“I think it made a lot of sense… We’ve seen the Young Bucks change a lot. We saw them get really dark during the retirement run of Sting. They’ve only gotten darker and more twisted. That’s why they felt like they should play the tape.”

Khan also brought up Jack Perry who hasn’t appeared for AEW since All In but has used his suspension to reinvigorate his career as the ‘Scapegoat.’

“It was fascinating to see after the tape played, the reaction Jack Perry got at New Japan. He got the reaction of a superstar. That is not altogether unexpected and it’s something very interesting, perhaps a side effect of this.”

One name Khan didn’t bring up when discussing the footage is CM Punk himself. The backstage fight would see Punk be suspended from AEW for the second time in under a year and was ultimately released. 

Punk has since returned to WWE where his conduct is said to be exemplary as he’s been eager to get involved and help at the WWE Performance Center. And while Khan doesn’t want to bring Punk up by name, it’s clear that the memory of the Best in the World remains with AEW.

Watch Carmelo Hayes Decline ‘Thank You’ Chants After NXT Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Wrestling fans who were live in Orlando for this week’s NXT tried to give Carmelo Hayes a proper send-off after the show went off the air, but the former champion was having none of it.

Hayes competed in a Steel Cage Match against his former best friend Trick Williams in the main event, a rematch from Stand and Deliver (which saw Williams get the W). Carmello’s security detail getting involved was the beginning of the end. They started climbing the cage but Williams meet them up at the top and sent everyone crashing. 

Another guard, however, entered the cage with a chair, and when Trick was busy taking the guard out, Hayes picked up the weapon. Though Trick Williams showed some quick thinking and delivered the Trick Shot to Hayes through the chair for the win. 

After This Week’s NXT

The 4/16 NXT went off air with Ilja Dragunov making an appearance at the ringside with his NXT title and staring Williams down. Once both Williams and Dragunov had returned to the back, the crowd began a “Thank you, Melo.” He was interested and left after doing a bras d’honneur.

What’s Next For Carmelo Hayes

WWE has announced that the Drafts will be returning on April 26 and April 29 on SmackDown and Raw respectively. NXT’s involvement has been confirmed and Carmelo Hayes is one of the two stars believed to be main roster-bound. 

Hayes with Ilja Dragunov are expected to be assigned a brand during the upcoming event. More names could be added to the list and there is even a real possibility of some main roster names leaving Raw or SmackDown to join WWE’s third brand.

The A-Champion has had a successful run with NXT which includes multiple impressive title reigns. There is little doubt that he will fair well in the main roster under the creative supervision of Triple H.

Roman Reigns Spotted Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

Thomas Lowson
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It remains to be seen when Roman Reigns will be in the ring again, but the Tribal Chief is keeping busy with a new major filming project.

The former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The loss marked the end of Reigns’ historic 1,316-day title reign and marked the dawning of a ‘new era’ in WWE which has been referenced several times since WrestleMania. 

It’s unclear when Reigns will appear on WWE TV again, but he is working on some kind of project with Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer. Taking to Instagram, Palmer, an actress and singer who worked on several acclaimed projects including Jordan Peele’s Nope, shared an image of Reigns as part of an upcoming production. 

Roman Reigns has dabbled into the world of acting before so this new project isn’t entirely foreign territory for the former World Champion. In addition to several WWE Studios projects, Reigns appeared alongside his cousin The Rock in 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. He has also made multiple appearances on TV in animated roles. 

What’s to Come? 

When Roman Reigns eventually returns to WWE, he’ll find a promotion that’s much different from the one he’s left behind. With Reigns gone, Solo Sikoa has taken it upon himself to lead the Bloodline and was dubbed the Tribal Chief by the recently debuted Tama Tonga. 

Some fans believe that a feud within The Bloodline is coming that’ll see Reigns lead a team against Sikoa’s faction. It’s also been suggested that Reigns will be a face upon returning (though not like he was before.) Cody Rhodes and others have given Reigns his proverbial flowers since WrestleMania with a ‘Thank You Roman’ chant breaking out during the post-WrestleMania 40 episode of Raw.

WWE Next Gen Star Julian Baldi Signs with Promotion, Has Been On A “Crazy Ride”

Thomas Lowson
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Fans can expect to see much more of Julian Baldi as the young athlete has publicly confirmed that he has signed a contract with WWE. 

Taking to Instagram, Baldi shared the news and shared about his difficult journey to WWE. Visa issues kept Baldi from competing after he was offered a contract and moved to Florida. This led to Baldi “surviving barely on savings” but he is now ready to “make some news” and represent his beloved Italy. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5v3KaJublS

Baldi was part of the WWE: Next Gen series which airs on The Roku Channel. The show chronicles the journey of young athletes trying to make it to WWE. 16-time WWE Champion John Cena is an executive producer on the show. 

Baldi has also been competing at WWE NXT live events. His most recent match took place at the April 13 event in Venice, Florida which saw him on the losing end of a six-person tag-team match against Joe Gacy, Dion Lennox, & Drake Morreaux.

Before coming to WWE, Baldi played Football for Valdosta State University. In 2021, he played in all 14 games for the team and would lead VSU to the program’s sixth national championship game and third-straight Gulf South Conference title. 

Like many before him, Baldi is ready to trade in his football career for a future in a wrestling ring. As seen in the clip above, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque believes that the next Roman Reigns could be among the crop of talent as part of WWE Next Gen. As for whether Baldi reaches the heights of the Tribal Chief, that remains to be seen. 

Man Suing WWE & AEW For Plagiarism Lands Behind Bars, Asks Judge To Pause Lawsuit

Aaron Varble
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A man who waged a lawsuit against WWE and AEW for plagiarism is now behind bars and has he asked the judge to pause his suit. Anthony Duane Wilson filed a request with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 10th to pause his lawsuit because he is currently incarcerated. This request for a stay could delay the proceedings against WWE and AEW until Wilson’s circumstances change, or he is able to participate in the legal process.

Wilson penned a letter to the judge, as obtained by PWInsider. In the writing, he asked for his lawsuit against WWE and AEW to be paused, since he cannot properly handle things at this time. He has also already sunk a lot of money into the proceedings.

“Due to my current state of being incarcerated at Trumbull County Jail, located at [deleted], I am unable to properly handle and follow the status of this case in a timely manner at this time.”

“I ask the court to grant my request to stay the case because I have put forth alot of my time and money to file the lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling, and being that I am of self representation and cannot do it properly at this time, see it necessary to file this motion.”

“I seek this stay not for the purpose of delay but that justice may be done.”

The Lawsuit Against WWE & AEW

Anthony Duane Wilson initially filed a lawsuit against WWE and AEW in August 2023, seeking $250 million in damages and the return of his intellectual property.

WWE and AEW were accused of using his wrestling concepts—like gimmicks, names, slogans, and likenesses—without permission. He claimed this infringement hindered his plans to start his own wrestling company, which also allegedly affected negotiations with Bullet Club members.

Wilson argued that the unauthorized use of his work caused him a variety of damages, which includes lost market opportunities. He also alleged that a conspiracy was at play, where the greater pro wrestling companies were out to derail his plans.

The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Benita Y. Pearson on November 3rd, 2023, because neither defendant was served within the required 90 days after the lawsuit was filed in August. The dismissal was without prejudice, which allowed Wilson to re-file the lawsuit.

Rey Mysterio On His Daughter Reuniting With CM Punk, Winning the WWE Title (Exclusive)

Ella Jay
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Last year, Rey Mysterio was honored as one of the inductees in the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class, while also battling his son, Dominik Mysterio on the grand stage of WrestleMania 40. This year, Mysterio found himself facing Dominik once again only this time in tag team action.

SEScoops correspondent MuscleManMalcolm caught up with Mysterio at the WWE media day in Philadelphia ahead of WrestleMania, Mysterio revealed that his daughter recently reunited and reconciled with CM Punk after the two worked together on WWE television over a decade ago.

Rey Mysterio’s Daughter Aalyah Reunites With CM Punk

Back In 2010, Rey Mysterio was immersed in a storyline with the leader of Straight Edge Society, CM Punk. It was a memorable storyline that’s still talked about today, due to its personal nature.  On one occasion, Punk confronted Rey in the ring, daring him to fight him in front of his family. He also mockingly sang “Happy Birthday” to Rey Mysterio’s daughter, Aalyah Gutierrez.

We asked Rey Mysterio about this angle and he revealed that Aalyah and CM Punk reconnected in person earlier this year backstage at a WWE live event. Despite their rocky past, Mysterio says they “got along great” and it’s awesome that they get along now.

“Believe it or not, she went to the show in San Diego for New Year’s, January 1st, and she knew that CM Punk was there. She goes, ‘Dad, can I take a picture with Punk?’

I said, ‘Let me tell him,’ and he was very ecstatic that she wanted to take a picture with him. They took a picture together. They got along great. So it was awesome. They get along now.”

A long time has passed since 2010, but Punk never forgot about Aalyah Mysterio (or her birthday). Last summer, when Mysterio wished her a Happy Birthday on Instagram. Punk trolled them both with a special message.

Grateful For Short WWE Title Reign

Rey Mysterio has held many championships throughout his storied career, including the coveted WWE Championship, which had been vacated in July 2011. He won a tournament to crown a new champion on  the 7/25/11 episode of WWE Raw. He wouldn’t have much time to celebrate, as John Cena dethroned him by the end of the night.

His reign with the industry’s top prize lasted a matter of hours, but he’s still proud to be amongst greats like Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan.

“It was such a cool moment,” Mysterio said. “Moments that definitely stand out for the rest of your life. Just to be able to say I had it, whether it was like you said, for that moment being, it’s just such a cool experience. You are now attached onto the legacy books.”

The Undertaker Fired Up Over Muhammad Ali-WWE HOF Backlash

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker understands the backlash surrounding his induction of Muhammad Ali into the WWE Hall of Fame earlier this month. 

The Dead Man played a pivotal role in this year’s WrestleMania and discussed the entire weekend in-depth on his Six Feet Under podcast. The Undertaker shocked fans by appearing in the Bloodline Rules main event to lay the smack down on The Rock one more time. The experienced provided him a sense of closure on his decades-long WWE career. However, the weekend was not without controversy.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was a cultural icon and a highly controversial figure. Much of the conflict surrounded his unwillingness to conscript in the US Army during the Vietnam War back in 1967. The Undertaker says some people called him out and even questioned his patriotism for honoring Ali. He has a special message for those folks, as you can read below. 

“I mean, my goodness!”

The Dead Man explained that even through he doesn’t agree with Ali’s decision to avoid serving in the US military when called upon, he is still able to recognize what Muhammad Ali accomplished as a boxer and humanitarian.

“I was there and I was so tickled to be there and be able to induct Muhammad Ali. I’m glad you brought that up. So I got a little heat from part of the veteran community. For people that don’t know, Muhammad Ali, I don’t know who wouldn’t know this, but Muhammad Ali refused to go into the army.

He didn’t want to go to Vietnam. He didn’t see why that he was gonna go 6000 miles away from home to fight somebody that had no….and he didn’t do it and he ended up losing everything. To be honest, for a large part of my life, I resented Ali over that.”

“But the thing when you look at everything that Muhammad did and not even the athletic end of it, not even the boxing side of it, but the things that he did as a humanitarian and everything. I don’t agree, I still don’t agree with not going. Your country asked you to go do something, you could do it.

That’s how I am and I wouldn’t, but when you think about the conviction that he must have had in the beliefs, such a strong belief in what he thought was right and what he thought wasn’t. He gave up everything.”

The Undertaker shares strong political opinions and knows that many people disagree with. However, he’s not going to stand for anybody hurling insults at him or questioning his loyalty to the United States of America.

“I think too it was like ‘I thought Undertaker was a patriot.’ Man, kiss my ass! Kiss my Patriot ass. It just rubbed me a little bit. There are a lot of reasons.. I get some of it but to give me hate over inducting Muhammed Ali. I mean, my goodness.”

Muhammad Ali registered for conscription in the US Army on his 18th birthday in 1962. As a result of his refusal to join the Army for the Vietnam War, the New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license.

The World Boxing Association then stripped him of his title and other boxing commissions followed suit. A case was also registered against Ali but his conviction was reversed by the Supreme Court in 1971.

Philadelphia Would Love to Host WrestleMania Again, Will Have Conversations with WWE

Thomas Lowson
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WWE WrestleMania 40 will not be the last time that Philadelphia hosts the annual two-night mega-show if those in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ have anything to say about it. 

The April 2024 Premium Live Event marked the launch of WWE’s ‘new era’ and has proven to be a hit with fans. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, Larry Needle, executive director of the PHL Sports division shared his eagerness to see WrestleMania return to the city. 

“We know there’s a long line of cities clamoring to host, and that’s just the reality of an event of this magnitude. But needless to say, we would be thrilled to have WrestleMania back, and at the right time we will engage in those conversations with the WWE.”

It’s hardly a surprise that those in Philly would love to host WrestleMania once again. The show is estimated to have made as much as $200 million for the city, local tourism officials told Axios prior to the event. 

WrestleMania’s Future

If Philadelphia does host a WrestleMania in the future, it is unlikely to be next year. Minneapolis is said to be the favorite to host WrestleMania 31 at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings.

Fans in the United Kingdom are hoping to see a WrestleMania in their country at some point in the future. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance and shared his intention to bring WrestleMania to London. If successful, it’ll be the third WrestleMania outside of the United States and the first outside of North America. 

Gable Steveson & Tamyra Mensah-Stock Qualify For Paris Olympics, Not Expected to Compete

Thomas Lowson
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Gable Steveson and Tamyra Mensah-Stock have qualified for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team but that doesn’t guarantee that fans will see them in Paris this summer.

Both WWE signings have qualified for the upcoming games though neither are listed as competing, the Wrestling Observer Daily Update reports. It’s added that neither competitor was expected to compete given their WWE standings. While Mensah-Stock hadn’t shown any public interest in competing at the upcoming games, Steveson had suggested that he was seriously considering a role at the events in Paris, France. 

Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 shortly after his gold medal victory at that year’s games in Tokyo. That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, becoming the first Superstar to be drafted without having a match. 

After having no matches as a Raw Superstar, Steveson would eventually make his in-ring debut as part of NXT Great American Bash 2023. That show saw a much-criticized double count-out draw against Baron Corbin though he has been picking up wins at live events. 

Mensah-Stock signed with WWE in May 2023 and made her in-ring debut with the promotion in March 2024 at a WWE NXT live event. While Steveson’s development was slower than WWE had hoped, the same can’t be said about Mensah-Stock.

Training for the Olympics would have required the whole focus of Steveson and Mensah-Stock and would have put any WWE training or plans by the promotion on pause. By opting not to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, it appears both are making clear that they are committed to their roles as WWE Superstars in the making. 

MJF Injury Update, Recent Meeting With AEW, When He Could Return

Bishal Roy
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Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has been out of the public eye since December 2023. He went into his high-stakes battle against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End facing multiple injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He lost his prized ‘BBB’ AEW World title and is still not ready to get back in the ring over four months later.

MJF Update: The 28-year-old wrestling prodigy recently met with AEW officials to discuss his return. PWInsider reports that MJF traveled to Boston last month for a gathering that took place after Big Business on March 13. He’s not been seen backstage at any AEW shows this year.

We recently got confirmation on the AEW PPV Schedule for 2024, including the dates, cities and venues. It’s interesting to note that after next month’s Double or Nothing PPV from Las Vegas, AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door heads to MJF’s backyard of Long Island, NY on June 30.

Uncertain Future

Amid his absence, fans have speculated about his future in AEW. MJF has been vocal about his contract expiry in 2024. The eagle-eyed fans have been wondering if he became a free agent during his time off.

Additionally. AEW fueled the speculation as they removed the former AEW World Champion from their official roster page. Furthermore, his merchandise was also taken off. While his future remains up in the air, it is believed that he is still under a contract with the promotion. 

Check out our December 2023 interview with MJF hosted by The Solomonster:

WWE

WWE has kept MJF on their radar for quite some time and recently several AEW stars such as Andrade, Jade Cargill, and Shawn Spears have also jumped ship to WWE. This keeps the possibility intact of WWE splurging a huge deal to bag MJF’s signing.

As of now, there is no timetable for MJF’s return as he recuperates the injuries that have plagued him over the past few months.

Hope For Coyote Vs. Acme? WBD Says Claim John Cena Film Is A Tax Write-Off Is “Inaccurate”

Thomas Lowson
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Movie-goers may still yet see Coyote Vs. Acme after a Warner Bros. Discovery source rejected the notion that the film had been destroyed as a tax write-off. 

In November 2023, it was confirmed that WBD had nixed the project despite filming having been completed for some time. This led to a ton of backlash against WBD and efforts by audiences for the film to be released in some format either in cinemas or online. 

While it had been rumored that the final cut of the film had been destroyed, that no longer appears to be the case. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery told The New York Times that claims the notion that the film is being destroyed to facilitate a tax write-off is “inaccurate.”

In December 2023, it was reported that Netflix and Paramount had made formal bids to try and gain the rights for Coyote Vs. Acme. WBD is said to want more than $70 million for the project which would cover the cost of the initial tax write-off. Amazon is said to be mulling over the project. 

Coyote Vs. Acme

The much-anticipated film features Wile E. Coyote of Looney Tunes fame hiring a lawyer to sue Acme, the creator of his many gadgets and traps that often backfire. John Cena was set to play Coyote’s former boss at Acme.

Coyote Vs. Acme wasn’t the only film WBD nixed, supposedly for tax write-off reasons. Other projects that were canned include a Scooby-Doo animated film that was finished, as well as a live-action Batgirl film that was set to feature Michael Keaton’s return to the role of Batman. 

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