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Big E Reveals Relationship with ‘Michin’ Mia Yim’s Sister Kris In Hilarious Photoshoot

Thomas Lowson
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Big E’s future in pro wrestling may remain uncertain but the New Day member will be traversing what’s next in his life with his new partner Kris Yim. 

On Instagram, Big E shared the big news, stating “My neck is broken but my heart is whole.” The former WWE World Champion also shared a hilarious photoshoot with Kris, who he also tagged. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5wER7bO3tp

In the comments, several names from the world of professional wrestling were excited to see the relationship made official. Mia Yim was pleased to see things “publicly official” while the caption ‘broke’ Mia’s husband Keith Lee. Naomi called the pair “My fav couple” while Renee Paquette said that the pair of Big E and Kris are “perfect” for each other. 

Who is Kris Yim? 

While best known to WWE fans as the sister of Mia Yim, Kris is also an avid dog lover as seen on her social media profiles. In the bio for her Instagram, Kris has a link to Oakland Animal Services which encourages people to adopt otherwise unwanted dogs instead of shopping for a new puppy. 

Kris is also quite the traveler and has made several trips to Europe as well as Jamaica and other destinations. She was the maid of honor to Mia Yim when the SmackDown Superstar married Keith Lee in a ceremony officiated by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley in February 2022. 

This budding romance is great news for Kris and Big E, the latter of whom continues to be out of action after suffering a broken neck in March 2022. Big E recently admitted he’s not sure if he will ever be cleared to wrestle again, but has said that he is happy and living without pain which is very important. 

Main Roster Talent Eligible for NXT Move In 2024 WWE Draft, Two NXT Stars a “Lock” for Call-Up

Thomas Lowson
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The 2024 WWE Draft will see the Superstars of the main roster be eligible to move to NXT in a break from how the draft usually affects the gold brand. 

Sources close to NXT’s creative process told Fightful Select that talent from Raw and SmackDown could be moved to NXT as part of the draft. The WWE Universe recently saw The Final Testament and Viking Raider appear on NXT where they ambushed new tag-team champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom, Viking Raider Ivar also appeared to confront North American Champion Oba Femi. 

This is all part of WWE’s efforts to make NXT the third brand of WWE once again. In 2019, WWE attempted to put NXT on the same level as Raw and SmackDown when the gold brand was moved to the USA Network. The next two weeks of NXT programming will focus on the draft in the lead-up to Spring Breakin.

Being Called Up

While some main roster Superstars could soon call NXT home, fans can expect some call-ups as part of the WWE Draft. , Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov are said to be “a lock” for RAW or SmackDown. Roxanne Perez’s fate remains uncertain despite her call-up being teased on TV. 

Tony D’Angelo’s Family and Baron Corbin have been discussed as possible additions to RAW or SmackDown. Corbin’s tag-team partner Bron Breakker was recently moved to SmackDown and it has been reported in the past that WWE was considering keeping them together.

The Timing of The Draft

The WWE 2024 Draft will kick-off on the April 26, SmackDown and conclude on the April 29, Raw. The timing is no mere coincidence as WWE planned for the week of the NFT draft to capitalize on ‘draft fever’ which they’ve done in the past. 

It was noted that WWE will receive input from their media partners, especially the CW (the future home of NXT) and Netflix (the future home of Raw.) One source added that with the Raw-Netflix move being closer to next year’s draft as opposed to this year “that won’t be something we need to worry about for a while.”

WWE will certainly have a different feel to it by the end of the WWE draft with all three brands set to be affected. Keep checking in with SE Scoops for all the latest WWE Draft news and to find out who goes where. 

WWE Releases Shakeup: Looking At This Week’s 4 Surprising Office Exits

Aaron Varble
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WWE just celebrated the biggest WrestleMania weekend in company history. With over 200,000 fans attending the events in Philly, the company was quickly back to business as they fired some high-profile internal names.

The recent round of “spring cleaning” came as Dan Ventrelle, Sid Scala, Trent Wilfinger, and Sue Aitchison were let go. Each one of those cuts were notable.

Dan Ventrelle

Many fans were surprised to discover that Dan Ventrelle, formerly WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, was released on April 11. He had been with WWE for many years, working closely with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque. He entered WWE by way of the NFL, where he joined the Oakland Raiders in 2003, rising to executive vice president and playing a pivotal role in the team’s move to Las Vegas and new stadium construction. After being appointed interim president of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, he focused on community integration and initiatives like vaccine verification before his departure in May 2022.

Trent Wilfinger

WWE cut Trent Wilfinger, who was Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development. He started his tenure at WWE in the summer of 2021, concentrating on Global Athlete Strategy & Development under Paul Levesque. Prior to WWE, he spent more than ten years at the fitness company EXOS.

Sue Aitchison

WWE Hall of Famers were not immune from the recent releases. Sue Aitchison was the longtime Director of Community Relations at WWE. After joining WWE in 1986, Aitchison had a 38-year tenure. During her time in WWE, she significantly influenced WWE’s community outreach and enhanced the company’s partnership with Make-A-Wish. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Warrior Award at the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019, inducted by Stephanie McMahon.

Sid Scala

Known as the British Superstar for many fans, Sid Scala was released from WWE in the last wave of internal cuts. He had been part of the company since the start of the NXT UK brand in 2017, serving as the Assistant General Manager with Johnny Saint. The NXT UK brand was absorbed by the OG NXT show, with NXT Europe still in the pipeline, but delayed due to the Endeavor takeover.

WWE’s New Era

WWE is entering into a new era under Triple H’s leadership. Vince McMahon is out of the picture, and some notable exits have followed, including long-time WWE executive producer Kevin Dunn in December 2023.

Lee Fitting, who entered WWE from outside the pro wrestling business, brought his expertise from ESPN to replace Dunn as head of production. We will have to see how these remaining spots that came open this week will be filled.

The company went through a major change as Endeavor merged WWE with the UFC. Now as a new company, fans are seeing how things will operate after WrestleMania, and there have already been some notable changes roll out this week. 

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Arranges Meet & Greet For Young Fan Celebrating His Birthday

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is proving to be a champion of the people after agreeing to meet a young fan celebrating their birthday. 

On Twitter, a user by the name of Nicole shared a video of a young fan named Brentley who was ecstatic to receive tickets to an upcoming WWE event for his birthday. When Nicole said she and Brentley would love to meet Rhodes, the American Nightmare was confident something could be arranged and wished Brentley a happy birthday. 

Cody Rhodes & The Fans

This is hardly the first time Rhodes has gone the extra mile to make a show special for a fan. Recently, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding.

Last year, Rhodes began gifting pieces of tables used in Extreme Rules matches to fans at WWE live events. For the final live Raw of 2023, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan.

Speaking of the Holidays, Rhodes made one young fan’s season extra special by sending a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. Rhodes’ gifts to fans have even gone into bizarre territory as the American Nightmare gifted a fan Rhea Ripley’s gum earlier this year. 

In January 2024, Rhodes agreed to be the best man at a fan’s upcoming wedding. He also gifted tickets to WrestleMania 40 the popular ‘Wrestling Club’ of KIPP AMP Middle School In Brooklyn, New York so they could see him finish the story in person. 

Cody’s generosity seemingly knows no bounds and he has shown once again why he can be the face of WWE. Fans can expect much more from Cody Rhodes in this new era, both in and out of the ring. 

IShowSpeed Wants WWE Event For Content Creators

Thomas Lowson
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WrestleMania 40 may not have gone well for IShowSpeed, but the popular streamer is ready to get back in the ring for a proposed event. 

At the 40th ‘Showcase of the Immortals,’ Speed dressed as a bottle of PRIME Energy and aided WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul in his title defense against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton. The interference would come back to haunt him as he took an RKO by the Viper. 

The Big Idea: Content Creator Mania

Now, IShowSpeed is looking to be part of a brand-new concept for WWE. During a recent stream, the popular streamer proposed a WWE show that’d see content creators face off. 

“[How about an] event of content creators, a WWE event? I was thinking about that when I was at the WWE.

What if I set up a wrestling.. a WWE event but with content creators? Let me know if that’s a W [win] or an L [loss.]”

While WWE has never hosted a content creator-exclusive event, the idea has been done before. Creator Clash sees content makers face off against each other or athletes. At Content Creator 2 last April, Harley Morenstein, best known for Epic Meal Time, was beaten handily by AEW’s Johnny TV (John Morrison.)

With WWE in its new era, we can’t rule out a show like the one IShowSpeed has suggested. Content Creators have millions of fans that WWE would love nothing more to get hooked on professional wrestling. Logan Paul has already proven that a content creator can make it in the world of wrestling so don’t be surprised if this event happens one day. 

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

Jade Cargill Is Waiting For The Right Moment To Use “Viral” Cosplay In WWE

Thomas Lowson
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Jade Cargill hasn’t left her cosplay days behind her but the ‘Storm’ is waiting for the right opportunity in WWE to show her costuming skills. 

Since joining WWE in September 2023, Cargill has been quite the talking point among fans but has yet to use any of the cosplay costumes that fans saw from her in All Elite Wrestling. Speaking to Evan Mack over WrestleMania week, Cargill suggested that her days cosplaying in the ring are not over just yet. 

“I love cosplay. I’m just trying to save it for those phenomenal moments so it can go viral, like all my cosplay that I’ve done for every entrance that I’ve done at AEW, guys.”

Jade Cargill’s Cosplay

During her AEW run, Cargill used cosplay for several prominent matches with the company. At AEW Revolution, Jade would live up to her name by cosplaying as Jade from the Mortal Kombat video game series. 

 At the now-infamous AEW All Out 2022 show, Cargill cosplayed as She-Hulk from Marvel Comics. She would also cosplay as Cheetara from the Thundercats series and Miruko from My Hero Academia. 

Cargill’s biggest inspiration however is Storm, the X-Men character and inspiration behind her ‘The Storm’ moniker. During an interview with ComicBook.com, Cargill said she’d love to play the Goddess of the Weather in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

“Yes, I would love to! Guys, Come on guys, like Marvel, do you not see this? We don’t need, what is it called? The enhancement… this is real guys. Come on!”

Cargill is relatively new to her WWE career and the future looks very bright for ‘The Storm.’ With a spotlight on her, expect cosplay from Cargill when the time is right. 

Will Ospreay Hopes To Inspire By Discussing Autism, Dyslexia & ADHD

Aaron Varble
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Will Ospreay is very open about his learning disabilities, but he does not see it as a deterrent at all. He is rising above his ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses, and he wants to change how those things are perceived while inspiring others.

Speaking to RJ City on Hey! EW, Ospreay’s struggles came up in the conversation. Ospreay was jokingly asked if he is “shaming people without autism.” The Aerial Assassin quickly replied, “f**k yeah, I am.” He continued by discussing some of the challenges he has faced, expressing his desire to serve as a motivation for others.

“I just want to show people that, yeah I have autism. I have ADHD as well. I’m super dyslexic, I can’t read. I had to have someone f**king read my contract out for me. So, it’s like, it’s super embarrassing, man, it really is. But, I feel like I’ve got to the point where I am because of those things that make me who I am, and I wand to inspire people. So, like a lot of people don’t take risks in my area, like autism, and I hope seeing me inspires other people.”

Ospreay Speaks on his Diagnosis

Will Ospreay was diagnosed with ADHD in 2019, having previously discovered he was dyslexic after struggling in school. In his class, Ospreay only managed to pass in drama and physical education, failing the primary subjects that he needed for college admission.

Ospreay has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, but he wasn’t officially called autistic by a doctor as of 2023. In an interview with Renee Paquette on her The Sessions podcast, he said he was seeking answers to his autism questions, but the pandemic interrupted that effort.

“The autism thing, I went through a doctor thing, I think it was the start of 2020, the pandemic kicked in, and I’ve never wrote back. I do feel I’m on the spectrum, but I haven’t had that guarantee. The other two, I got diagnosed, the other one, I’ve still yet to have answers for.

The wait list is f***ing long. Even if I did have it, I don’t see it as a detriment. I see it as a superpower. All of us autistic kids, we’re so much better than regular, normal people. We can lock into sh*t and do it. To all my autism kids out there, we’re top.”

Will Ospreay in AEW

After appearing in AEW a few times in 2022 and 2023, Ospreay officially signed with the company and joined its roster once his NJPW contract ended in February 2024.

Since making his full entrance into AEW, Will Ospreay has captured several headlines. The former IWGP Champion has also been involved in a war of words with Triple H. After The Game seemingly referred to the young star during a media scrum, Ospreay got back at Triple H during a recent Dynamite promo.

The Aerial Assassin is set to take on Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty in Saint Louis on April 21. 

Erick Redbeard Cancels Indie Wrestling Appearance Due to “Contractual Issues”

Aaron Varble
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Erick Redbeard, formerly known as Erick Rowan, has withdrawn from an upcoming East Coast Pro Wrestling event due to new “contractual obligations.” This sudden cancellation ahead of next week’s event adds more fuel to the fire that Redbeard may be gearing up for a return to WWE.

The idea of Uncle Howdy’s return to television has been bolstered by ongoing teases on the company’s television shows since WrestleMania. Someone like Erick Rowan would fit right into that scenario if it came to fruition. Many stars have needed to cancel events after signing with WWE, and “contractual obligations” is a very popular reason given to avoid outright saying they inked that deal.

East Coast Pro Wrestling had a show scheduled with Erick Redbeard, but plans had to change. The former Erick Rowan of the Wyatt Family had to pull out due. Despite this setback, the show will still feature Brian Kendrick and Vanessa Kraven,

WWE Teases That Something Is Coming

The timing of this cancelled appearance for Erick Redbeard with the current string of strange occurrences going on during WWE programming is not lost on us. 

WWE RAW saw glitches appear during the show after WrestleMania 40, temporarily disrupting Bronson Reed’s promo. The live crowd also received a sample of a strange song before the event started.

On April 11, the company’s official Twitter/X account posted and deleted a message with “Hello” repeating several times. The post was up long enough to make an impression, and many believe it is tied to Uncle Howdy’s return.

Screenshot of deleted WWE “Hello” tweet

We also can’t forget about the intention tease of Bo Dallas’ in-ring return at the end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. WWE is cooking something, and it may involve Erick Rowan as a part of that plan. 

Kenny Omega Doesn’t Rule Out Surgery In Latest Health Update

Bishal Roy
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Kenny Omega has provided an update on his health and it seems surgery remains on the card.

Omega has been on the shelf for four months as he recuperates from diverticulitis. During his latest live video game stream on Twitch, the former AEW World Champion reveals he’s still battling the effects of diverticulitis and diverticulosis.

He’s been focusing on milder treatments for his injury and general wellness, including gut health and healing peptides. Omega says this has helped reduce inflammation but may not be enough for him to be able to avoid surgery. 

“With these supplements, a lot of my inflammation has gone down,” he said.  “I’m able to eat properly and drink more fluids without feeling discomfort. Aside from feeling sensitive to the touch, for a quick second I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, is it possible I’m able to go back without surgery?’ Nah. The first time I take someone’s double foot stomp, even if it’s Marko Stunt or Riho, something is probably going to blow. Even if Dobby walks on my belly, that’s a 21-pound cat.” 

Omega has added that he feels good for day-to-day training but things “get dangerous” when he does heavy lifting. He added:

“As good as I feel right now in my day to day and training, once impact starts to get involved or you have to use your core to do heavy lifts, that’s when things start to get dangerous. I’m going to have to make sure it’s all taken care of.” 

Omega was diagnosed with diverticulitis after his match as Ethan Page last year. He went on to miss the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view where he was set to join forces with Chris Jericho to challenge then-AEW World Tag-Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks.

Kenny Omega’s future

There is no timetable for Omega’s return as he remains on the sidelines to recover from the illness. Meanwhile, he was fired from The Elite with his arch-rival Kazuchika Okada being named the replacement. 

Though Kenny Omega’s future is up in the air he has teased a potential boxing match: 

Daily Drop (4/14): WWE Fires Hall of Famer, AEW Ups The Stakes For Dynasty Title Match

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for Sunday, April 14, 2024. There is a lot going on in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any time.

WWE keeps cutting people internally, as Sue Aitchison, who was a WWE Hall of Famer Warrior Award recipient in 2019, and Sid Scala was the latest to get the axe. This is interesting timing, and has a lot of fans talking about what is next, possibly even roster cuts. You may find a list of all the 2024 WWE releases and departures below.

WWE:

– Big E’s Bad News: Although he feels happy and healthy, Big E is not cleared for a return. He released a statement to fans yesterday, revealing that he may never wrestle again at this point.

– Family Feud: WWE Superstars went to battle on Family Feud. It was quite a special episode, which featured Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight takingon the team of Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega.

– HBK vs AJ: Shawn Michaels admitted that AJ Styles is his dream opponent if he ever gets back in the ring. Of course, the Showstopper is long retired at this point.

– Rousey Hid Vital Information: Ronda Rousey admitted that she hid her concussion history from WWE.

– WWE Cutting Down on AR: The company will be doing away with a lot of the augmented reality entrances that we see on a weekly basis.

AEW:

– Dynasty Stipulation: AEW added a ladder match stipulation to the AEW World Tag Team Title match between the Young Bucks and FTR at Dynasty on April 21.

– Moxley’s Return: Jon Moxley will be back on AEW Dynamite or their 4/17 episode. He just won the IWGP Heavyweight Title, so this could be interesting.

– Omega Speaks on Punk: Kenny Omega had an interesting reaction to the Punk and Jack Perry footage airing on Dynamite.

– Riho’s Whereabouts: Riho is currently stuck in Japan, where she is dealing with visa issues.

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.

Update on Hikuleo’s NJPW Contract, Potential Jump to WWE

Bishal Roy
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Hikuleo, the 6-foot-8 inch son of wrestling legend Haku, will soon finish up with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The big man’s deal expires June according to Fightful, and we have reason to believe he’ll soon follow his brother Tama Tonga to WWE.

Hikuleo 33 years old and has been wrestling for NJPW since 2016. You may have also seen him in AEW and TNA. He and Tama negotiated with WWE in late 2023. This was around the time of Vince McMahon’s ill-fated return to the company’s board of directors, which halted a handful of potential signings.

Tama made a surprise debut on Friday’s WWE SmackDown, the first episode following last weekend’s WrestleMania 40 premium live event. In a shocking development, he attacked Jimmy Uso and joined forces with the new and improved Bloodline. Tama Tonga signing with WWE, these new details about Hikuleo and the buzz surrounding Jacob Fatu’s next move indicate we’re in for an exciting few months ahead.

Meanwhile, Hikuleo’s tag team partner El Phantasmo, may also be free to wrestle else. His NJPW contract was set to expire in January. He continues to wrestle for the company (including at Friday’s NJPW Windy City Riot event) but we’ve been unable to get confirmation that he’s currently working on anything beyond a per-appearance deal.

WWE Superstars To Go Head-to-Head On Upcoming Celebrity Edition Of Family Feud

Thomas Lowson
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The Superstars of WWE will be able to flex their game-show muscles as part of an upcoming episode of Celebrity Family Feud. 

Taking to Twitter, Bianca Belair shared some photos from the taping and revealed that she is the captain of her team which consists of Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega. 

The quintet of women will be up against Belair’s husband Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight. 

In a tweet of his own, Austin Theory was his usual cocky self at the Celebrity Family Feud taping. 

It’s also worth noticing that Sonya Deville was part of the taping and did not need any sort of leg brace. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion has been out of action since June 2023 with an ACL injury, and the fact that she was able to do this taping unimpeded suggests that a return to the ring may be in the near future. 

WWE On Game Shows

WWE appearances on Family Feud date as far back as 1992. In 2022, Rey Mysterio led a team of his family against The Miz. Team Mysterio would feature Dominik mere months before he turned on his Hall of Fame father to join The Judgment Day. 

WWE Superstars have also appeared on The Weakest Link, with Triple H, Kane, and Xavier Woods proving their mental superiority in separate episodes. Superstars have also appeared on Wheel of Fortune. 

The fact that WWE Superstars are set to appear on the show is another sign of the promotion’s ongoing popularity in the mainstream. With WWE firing on all cylinders right now, expect more big moves by the Superstars both in and out of the ring. 

Watch: Aljamain Sterling Hits Piledriver At Milestone UFC 300 Event

Thomas Lowson
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Aljamain Sterling could have a future in the world of WWE after the fighter pulled off an impressive piledriver at the milestone UFC 300 event. 

At the April 13, 2024 event in Paradise, Nevada, Sterling faced off on the preliminary card against Calvin Kattar. As seen in the clip below, Sterling hit a move resembling a piledriver during their fight. 

The pair went to three five-minute rounds. Sterling won the fight via unanimous decision. He is currently #2 in the UFC bantamweight rankings. 

WWE & UFC Crossover

Ahead of the show, Triple H promoted UFC 300 as did the official WWE Twitter account in the latest piece of cross-promotion between the two companies who operate under TKO. 

WWE featured a big UFC 300 booth at the WWE World convention over WrestleMania weekend in Philadelphia, PA. The exhibit had a punching bag in which attendees could have their power measured. 

Several WWE Superstars have competed in both the UFC and WWE. Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar both held gold in both promotions and both headlined pay-per-views for each company, including WrestleMania. Shayna Baszler and Matt Riddle also made their names in the Octagon before stepping into the squared circle. 

WWE themes and entrances have also been used at UFC events. Israel Adesanya made headlines when he had an Undertaker-inspired entrance at UFC 276 that caught the attention of the WWE Hall of Famer himself. More recently, Adesanya was spotted training with Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai. 

Expect to see more synergy between the two companies this year as the newly formed TKO Group settles in and they explore new opportunities in the world of entertainment. 

Shawn Michaels Calls AJ Styles His Dream Match But Believes Window of Opportunity Has Closed

Thomas Lowson
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0

Shawn Michaels would have loved for the chance to step in the ring with AJ Styles but believes the time for such a dream showdown has come and gone. 

Styles didn’t officially join WWE until 2016, at which point Mr. WrestleMania had been retired for close to six years. Speaking recently to Gorilla Position, Michaels was asked about his dream match and set his sights on the Phenomenal One. 

“I think the one I really want to see is me and AJ. That’s where I go with. It’s also, as you know, more talent comes along and you start looking at them. I always, I still do it now. I look at them like ‘Oh boy. I could do cool stuff with him.’  But I think AJ, I think AJ and I [have] got similar styles and stuff like that so I always feel that would be what people would want to see. So that would be my go to [answer.]”

When asked if there’s a chance of the match happening or if it’ll remain in WWE 2K24, Michaels admitted that there’s slim chance of either possibility. 

 “Well [for] one, I couldn’t even play it in the game now. That’s how slow I am. But I think that time has passed. It’s time for generations to move on.”

The Dream Match

This match never happened, though not for lack of trying by the Phenomenal One. During a 2019 interview with WWE, Styles revealed that he requested a match with Shawn but Michaels said he couldn’t do anything about it at the time.

Ultimately, the match can’t happen these days, and even if it could, Michaels would not be able to go at the level he did 20+ years ago. Nevertheless, the two men have forged incredible careers in their own rights. 

AEW Dynasty: Ladder Match Stipulation For Young Bucks vs. FTR, New Match, Updated Card

Bishal Roy
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0

AEW Dynasty pay-per-view is set to go down next week and the card is stacked with some exciting match-ups. At the event, two of the greatest tag-teams – The Young Bucks and FTR will collide to crown the new AEW World Tag Team Champions. Now, the stakes have been raised as they will battle in a ladder match.

During the latest edition of AEW Collision, Tony Schiavone announced that Tony Khan has decided that the tag team match will now be contested under the new stipulation, making it a highly-anticipated bout.

The tag-team titles were vacated as Sting and Darby Allin relinquished them following the former’s retirement. After some high-intensity battles in a tournament, FTR and The Young Bucks remain the last two teams standing toe-to-toe. They will battle to crown the new tag-team champions in the tournament final at AEW Dynasty. This will mark their fourth outing. 

New title match announced

Another title match was announced for the AEW Dynasty – Roderick Strong is set to put his AEW International Championship on the line against his former stablemate, Kyle O’Reilly. 

During the Battle of The Belts X, Strong emerged victorious over Rocky Romero, who was attacked by Wardlow following the match. O’Reilly wasn’t impressed and confronted Strong. The AEW International Champ then turned on O’Reilly as he laid him out with a jumping knee. 

Updated AEW Dynasty card:

  • AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland 
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
  • TBS Championship: Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale
  • Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. The House Of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews)
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Final Ladder Match: Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
  • AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Thunder Rosa
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. PAC
  • AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly

AEW Dynasty is set to take place on Sunday, April 21 at the Chaifetz Arena in St.Louis, MO.

Je’Von Evans Appreciates Support From Fans & Wrestlers After Comments from Racist Podcaster

Thomas Lowson
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0

WWE NXT Superstar Je’Von Evans has shared his appreciation for the support shown him following a racist comment by an infamous podcast. 

During the April 9, episode of WWE NXT, Evans made his in-ring debut as part of the gold brand with a hard-earned victory over Scrypts. Between this and a promo package that aired during WWE NXT Stand & Deliver, the future looks very bright for the 19-year-old Superstar. 

On his podcast, Kevin Scampoli made disgusting comments when watching a post-match interview with Evans. Scampoli said that Evans is a “slave” and was working under “some off-camera Jew.” This comment earned countless responses from fans as well as some in the wrestling industry as you can see below. 

Responding to this wave of support, Je’Von tweeted his appreciation, but believes it’s now time to “get back to work.” The young Superstar also promoted an upcoming WWE Live appearance. 

Following this support for Evans, Scampoli also responded, saying that Evans was no longer considered a “slave” but instead a “house n*****” and did not censor his use of the word. Because of the clearly unacceptable language, a clip will not be shared here. 

Kevin Scampoli

Scampoli’s comments represent his work attitude and the fact that he can only get attention for being controversial rather than providing constructive insight into the world of professional wrestling. Scampoli previously got attention for himself for mocking Kayla Braxton for being conceived when her mother was the victim of r*pe.

Scampoli was also part of the infamous podcast episode with Sammy Guevara in which the pair discussed wanting to r*pe Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks at the time.)  Guevara would be suspended from AEW, undergo a sensitivity course and would apologize for his comments. There have been no issues between himself and Mone as he, unlike Scampoli, clearly learned from his behavior. 

Tables, Ladders, Chairs & The Undertaker?! Wrestling Gender Reveal Match Goes Viral

Thomas Lowson
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A unique gender reveal party recently went viral as two wrestlers fought to reveal the sex of a couple in attendance at the match. 

The match starts with two wrestlers, donned in pink and blue and despite the size disadvantage, blue dominates the early portion of the match. Pink turns the tide by introducing a table and the two competitors would introduce a steel chair and a ladder shortly after. 

A glass bottle to the head of Pink saved Blue from being pinned, and he’d muster an Undertaker-inspired comeback to get the win. After the match, the expecting couple celebrated that they were having a boy. While officials tried to stretcher Pink away, his weight proved to be too much for them. 

You can check out the hysterical gender reveal match below. 

When Wrestling Goes Viral

This gender reveal isn’t the first time that the world of professional wrestling has gone viral outside of a traditional wrestling promotion. In March, a fan of WWE arrived to his own wedding with a Bloodline-inspired entrance, in which they served as the Roman Reigns of the group. Reigns would even react on Twitter to say that the union had been “acknowledged.”

Showing your love for wrestling on your big day has happened multiple times over the years. During a wedding a few years ago, the bride arrived to Becky Lynch’s music and set the tone for the ceremony with some kendo stick shots.

Weddings and gender reveals are huge moments in people’s lives and giving them a wrestling twist is a fun play on the traditional. And we imagine that the couple’s future son may be interested in professional wrestling once he arrives in the world. 

Jon Moxley’s AEW Return Revealed Following IWGP World Title Win

Dominic DeAngelo
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Jon Moxley is finally set for a return to All Elite Wrestling and it was announced by two of his fellow Blackpool Combat Club members.

On AEW Collision Saturday night, Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli had a backstage segment where the two congratulated Moxley on his historic IWGP World Heavyweight Championship win before calling out The Don Callis Family. 

On the 4/17 episode of AEW Dynamite, Castagnoli will be aiming to wear Will Ospreay down ahead of his Dynasty match against Danielson, but the BCC members won’t be alone. Moxley is scheduled to be back in the All Elite fold starting on Wednesday. Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot to earn that IWGP World Title gold and he’ll likely have words for the fans after his big victory.

What Else Is On Tap For AEW Dynamite

Tony Khan is making certain to stack the go-home episode of AEW Dynamite ahead of Dynasty as plenty of segments and matches are already announced for the program.

In addition to Moxley’s return and Ospreay vs. Castagnoli, Dynamite will feature Chris Jericho sitting down with HOOK and Taz, Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. House Of Black, Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe will speak, Mariah May will take on Deonna Purrazzo while The Elite will take on PAC, Penta and Daniel Garcia.

The latest AEW Dynamite will forever go down as a polarizing episode due to Tony Khan deciding to air the backstage CM Punk footage from AEW ALL IN. While it was almost universally panned, Dynamite did receive a nice ratings boost greatly in part to the stunt.

The Rock Thanks Everyone For WrestleMania 40

Dominic DeAngelo
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The Rock sure must feel cool because he has indeed helped make “pro wrestling cool again.”

‘The People’s Champion’ caught wind that WWE WrestleMania 40 became Peacock’s most streamed entertainment event ever in it’s short history and it caused ‘The Final Boss’ pause. He took the time to thank all the viewers who put their eyes on the app last weekend.

“Thank you to everyone who tuned in. Pro wrestling is in my blood and it was an honor to help build and deliver this event to the world. – The Final Boss

During the night one press conference of WrestleMania, The Rock was asked if he had a specific moment when he felt it was the right time to make his way back to WWE. The Rock noted that it was the moment when Ari Emanuel, the owner of Endeavor, gave him a ring on the phone to tell him that he was going to buy WWE. That’s when the two decided to work out.a strategy.

The Rock Can Also Thank Cody Rhodes

While The Rock was undoubtedly a major piece to the WrestleMania 40 puzzle, so was his night one dance partner in Cody Rhodes, who ultimately “finished the story” on night two against Roman Reigns.

“The American Nightmare” doesn’t just have the “Cody Crybabies” to make his case, but Rhodes has the actual numbers to back it up.

Over WrestleMania weekend, Cody has sold over $1 million of merchandise and after WrestleMania went off-the-air, he was the most Googled Superstar, even above ‘The Final Boss’ himself.

Jey Uso To Face Judgment Day Member Ahead Of His WWE World Title Match

Dominic DeAngelo
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Jey Uso won’t be able to rest on his laurels despite being the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Uso earned that right on the WWE RAW after WrestleMania as he defeated Drew McIntyre, Bronson Reed and Ricochet in the main event with a little help from CM Punk. However, now it appears Jey may need a little extra help as he’s got more than Damian Priest to deal with.

WWE announced that on this week’s RAW, Jey Uso will face Finn Balor in singles action. Balor is fresh off a tag team loss as he, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh were defeated by Awesome Truth and John Cena. WWE’s announcement for Balor vs. Uso is below:

Just one week after becoming the No. 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, “Main Event” Jey Uso will take on Damian Priest’s teammate Finn Bálor.

Uso is looking to capture his first singles title in WWE, but standing in his way of getting to Priest is Bálor as well as the looming threat of “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.

Will Jey Uso make it to his championship match against Priest? Find out live on Monday Night Raw at 8/7 C on USA!

Could We See Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso Reunite?

Jey Uso isn’t The only former Bloodline member to have his back against the wall. Just this past Friday on SmackDown, Jimmy Uso was beat down big time by Solo Sikoa and the debuting Tama Tonga, all but officially kicking him out of The Bloodline.

Jey defeated Jimmy at WrestleMania 40, but not before Jimmy tried pulling a fast one on his younger twin brother. However, now that Jimmy had a massive reality check, we may see the brothers form an alliance once more soon enough.

Ronda Rousey Admits To Hiding Concussion History From WWE

Dominic DeAngelo
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Ronda Rousey has not been afraid to speak her mind since her WWE exit, but ‘The Baddest Woman On The Planet’ doesn’t have her former company in her future plans moving foward.

Speaking on Steve-O’s “Wild Ride” podcast, Rousey opened up about her lengthy history with concussions all the way back from her early days of Judo and MMA training.

Rousey mentioned how she has suffered so many concussions that she became very susceptible to them as time went on. While in the UFC, Rousey didn’t clue Dana White in on her symptoms, noting that she had to keep a winner’s mentality in order for herself to be successful in the octagon. She said White would also force her tor retire if she did reveal that she was getting concussed. Ronda noted that sometimes even the smallest strikes would cause concussions.

“Stephanie McMahon and Nikki Bella slapping me with an open hand would give me a concussion. I couldn’t say anything.”

Ronda Rousey Remained Quiet When Moving To WWE

Ronda Rousey eventually did head to WWE in 2018, but much like she did with UFC, didn’t open up about her concussion history. She knew if she did she wouldn’t be stepping into the squared circle.

“When I wanted to go to WWE, they’ve had such a complicated past with concussions and stuff like that. They wouldn’t hire me if they knew it was that point. If I let them know how often I was getting concussions, they wouldn’t let me perform in matches. I had a lifetime of experience hiding the fact that I was concussed all the time. So, yea now I can finally talk about it because I don’t think I’ll be wrestling for WWE ever again.”

Rousey also did mention that her family has a history of Alzheimers and dementia and that remains one of her greatest fears.

Credit to “Wild Ride with Steve-O” and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

WWE Makes Production Call To Cut Down On Use of Augmented Reality

Aaron Varble
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Augmented and virtual reality became a huge fad that is still picking up speed. That being said, WWE is going to pump the brakes on some of those virtual visuals that fans see on a weekly basis.

WWE plans to reduce the use of Augmented Reality content in its weekly RAW and SmackDown shows, per PW Insider. Although this technology will still appear occasionally, its presence will mainly be limited to Pay-Per-View events.

One source reportedly mentioned that the recent episode of SmackDown is likely the final time Augmented Reality will be used regularly. Additionally, as part of these changes, WWE is expected to reduce its staff and the amount of equipment, such as production trucks, at its events.

This change marks a shift from its previous frequent integration into weekly programming, indicating a new strategic approach to the use of Augmented Reality in WWE broadcasts.

WWE’s Use of Augmented Reality

WWE has really done up the augmented reality during Superstar entrances, with a majority of those setups involving some form of the practice. Judgement Day, The Bloodline, and Cody Rhodes all feature large objects on screen that are only available for fans at home.

Other Superstars like Becky Lynch may also see their augmented reality effects nixed with this move. The company has already stopped using some, as Drew McIntyre no longer carries Angela around, so he doesn’t get a big AR sword anymore. 

As Endeavor shifts WWE into whatever the new era of the company looks like, augments reality will become a rarity. This might bring a more realistic aspect to the product as things appear to have a real-fight feel rather than a spectacle for every single entrance.

Big E Neck Injury Update: He May Never Wrestle Again, But is Pain Free & Happy

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans are hoping for Big E to deliver positive news about a return to wrestling. The New Day member is sharing the results from his latest neck scans two years after his career-threatening injury. Unfortunately, he is still not medically cleared to compete — a status that may be permanent.

The former WWE Champion’s biennial neck scans showed no significant changes. Although his C1 vertebra has healed, it did not form new bone. As badly he wants to get back to his fans, he accepts he may never wrestle again. He feels blessed to be pain free and maintains a grateful outlook on life.

Big E’s Injury and WWE Career

In March 2022, The New Day found themselves feuding with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. During their match on the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Holland performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Big E at ringside, causing the New Day member to land on the top of his head. He was immediately stretchered out and taken to a hospital.

Later, Big E announced on social media that he had broken his neck, specifically fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Fortunately, there were no ligament or spinal cord injuries, and surgery was not necessary.

Big E has stayed active with WWE through his injury as an ambassador and doing community work for the company. He has also helped out with some recruitment and sat in during tryouts as a scout. Big E has a lot to offer the business, even if his days in the ring are over.

He recently made an appearance alongside Kofi and Xavier once again at the WWE Hall of Fame as they inducted Thunderbolt Patterson.

During his WWE career, Big E raked up several championships, including the WWE Title for a 110-day reign. On top of two reigns as IC Champion, Big E also won the NXT Title in 2012, beating inaugural champion Seth Rollins in the early days of the brand.

In the tag team category, he earned the RAW Tag Team Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team belts six times as a member of the New Day. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods used the “Freebird Rule” with the titles as a trio as they cycled out who defended on each night. 

NXT UK Assistant General Manager Sid Scala Released From WWE

Thomas Lowson
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The new era of WWE will not go ahead with Sid Scala as the British Superstar has been cut from the company.

Scala’s exit was first reported by PW Insider. He had been a part of WWE ever since the launch of the NXT UK brand in 2017. As part of the brand, Scala would serve as the Assistant General Manager to British wrestling legend Johnny Saint. 

Scala would have a handful of matches as part of NXT UK and would rack up an unfortunate 0-5 record in WWE. His final match as part of the company would see him lose to Kassius Ohno as part of the September 1, 2019, tapings.

Outside of WWE, Scala has wrestled for PROGRESS Wrestling and CZW, as well as the defunct Global Force Wrestling. His most recent match was a loss at PROGRESS Chapter 97 in October 2019. 

WWE Exits

Scala is the latest name to have left WWE recently. Mere hours before his exit from WWE went public, it was reported that Sue Aitchison had left the company after a 38-year run. Aitchison had been WWE’s Director of Community Relations and had been crucial in WWE’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. She also portrayed the ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ at Backlash 2001. 

Dan Ventrelle also recently left WWE and had been the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development has also parted ways with the company. 

The post-WrestleMania season is usually the time when WWE undergoes ‘spring cleaning’ and releases talent they aren’t using. While this is a new era, it remains to be seen if more follow Scala in the days to come. 

Beloved Employee For Over 38 Years Released By WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE traditionally makes personnel cuts following the WrestleMania season. With the 40th “Show of Shows” now concluded, several significant internal changes are underway.

Sue Aitchison, the long-standing Director of Community Relations at WWE, has parted ways with the company, according to PWInsider.com. 

Her departure follows the recent exits of two other high-profile employees: Dan Ventrelle, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, who was released on April 11, and Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, who also left earlier this week.

Sue Aitchison’s Contributions to WWE

Sue Aitchison was not only the longest-serving employee at World Wrestling Entertainment but also a 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Warrior Award recipient. Joining in 1986, she dedicated over 38 years to the company as the Director of Community Relations. 

Sue Aitchison receives the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award

Aitchison was instrumental in spearheading WWE’s community outreach, notably enhancing the company’s relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and initiating various community projects such as the WrestleMania Reading Challenge.

Her outstanding work with Make-A-Wish was honored with the Chris Greicius Award in both 2006 and 2016. Aitchison’s departure is viewed by many as the end of an era in WWE history.

WWE’s Pattern of Releases

As WWE continues to evolve under its new leadership, the pattern of releasing key team members remains apparent. Historically, Vince McMahon would announce a series of roster cuts post-WrestleMania. 

In recent years, these cuts have typically been postponed until after WWE’s event in Saudi Arabia, but precede the annual draft. 

The next WWE Draft is scheduled for April 28 (SmackDown) and May 1 (RAW), and it remains to be seen if further roster cuts will be announced following this series of internal changes.

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