Fans attending the May 16, episode of TNA iMPACT will more than get their money’s worth as they’ll be witness to the “biggest” main event in the show’s history.
The Champion’s Challenge has been announced by TNA’s resident Director of Authority Santino Marella and will see all champions in TNA Wrestling face their challengers in a colossal 16-person intergender tag-team match. The teams break down as follows
At this time, there’s no word on whether there will be any type of prize for the winning team, and it’s believed that this will be a non-title match. With that said, the winning team will have plenty of bragging rights going forward.
What’s to Come?
This match could have huge ramifications for TNA’s next monthly special event, which will be Against All Odds. The show will take place on June 14, from the Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for the show.
The May 16, episode of TNA iMPACT will also see Ash By Elegance take on second-generation star Xia Brookside. Alan Angels will face off against the high-flying Leon Slater on the show.
WWE SmackDown will return to the USA Network on September 13 after five years on FOX, a press release from NBC Universal has confirmed.
It was last year that it was confirmed that SmackDown will return to the USA Network in 2024, ending the blue brand’s five-year tenure on FOX. In the statement, it is confirmed that the first episode back on the USA Network will come this September.
“Starting in September and through the end of 2024, USA Network will serve as the exclusive linear home of the WWE’s two tentpole franchises, “WWE Monday Night RAW” and “WWE SmackDown,” which returns to the network on Sept. 13 as part of a new multi-year partnership.”
Fans will get just more than WWE SmackDown on the USA Network, as the press release also confirms that a ‘WWE Week’ will commence on September 9. The network will air films from the “Fast and the Furious” franchise starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, “Blockers” starring John Cena, and the Peacock documentary “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal.
SmackDown will return to the USA Network this September.
The Future of WWE’s Broadcasts
WWE SmackDown isn’t the only show that will soon find itself a new home. This year, WWE NXT will move to the CW Network after years as part of the USA Network. The five-year broadcast deal sees NXT become the latest sports show on the CW as the network also broadcasts ACC football and basketball games airing every Saturday throughout the season and LIV Golf.
Fans haven’t seen Wheeler Yuta on AEW television for months and unfortunately, it’s unknown when the young star could be returning.
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Yuta is reportedly dealing with concussion symptoms and there is no update as to when he could return.
Yuta hasn’t wrestled since January when he lost to Eddie Kingston for the Triple Crown Championship.
Even despite him being a heel, Yuta has been a fan favorite ever since arriving to AEW. He originally was a babyface as he found himself alongside The Best Friends, but now the group is greatly fractured.
Yuta found a new version of himself once he joined The Blackpool Combat Club. Working alongside the likes of Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and even William Regal, Yuta had his game elevated and in turn, his personality as a wrestler. Danielson noted that he’s really appreciated seeing the growth of Yuta since they joined Blackpool Combat Club forces.
Wheeler was the ROH Pure Champion before getting hurt and was making a memorable run with the title. His last post on X was on January 13 and actually involved his hatred for the aformentioned Kingston as well as some respective New York sports teams.
“I hate Eddie Kingston, the Yankees, and the New York Football Giants.”
I hate Eddie Kingston, the Yankees, and the New York Football Giants
However, Yuta did like a Tweet at the end of April, indicating that he’d like to square off against fellow AEW star Ortiz in singles action, a name who also hasn’t been seen on AEW television in awhile.
Warner Bros. Discovery will be undergoing some financial shifting in 2024 and it’s from the order of their CEO David Zazlov.
Bloomsberg is reporting that Zazlov has told the WBD brass to look for viable cost-cutting opportunities so the company can hit its financial targets over the course of the next couple of years.
This includes the possibilty of layoffs, something in which WBD had done over the last year. The company laid off 2,000 employees through 2023. By the end of the year, WBD was $44.2 billion with $4.3 billion cash-on-hand.
According to sources from Bloomsberg, Warner Bros. Discovery streaming department alone contains a great deal of the budget, adding up to over hundred of millions of dollars. A huge portion of that is focused in the marketing and technology work that’s involved.
Warner Bros. Discovery could be seeing some major changes forthcoming as they were unable to negotiate a new deal with the National Basketball Association within their exclusive window. Being a live sports entity, NBA will be a hot ticket to acquire from competitors with several names mentioned to be in the mix including NBCUniversal and Amazon.
The fact that the NBA could be gone from WBD’s catalogue initially seemed promising for AEW, but if the company lieutenants feel AEW isn’t delivering as a return on investment, “cost-cutting” may be applied. to their weekly pro wrestling product.
NBC will be sitting pretty with a big live sports entity as not only will SmackDown be heading to USA Network in 2025, but RAW will also be sticking around until they make the leap to Netflix.
This Saturday, Major League Wrestling returns to Triller TV+ on May 11 for Azteca Lucha in Cicero, Illinois. The May 11 event will occur at the Cicero Stadium with an exciting card mixed with MLW and CMLL talent. As the event draws near, the company has shared that it will be coming back to the venue later this year for Luca Apocolypto.
MLW’s decision to host Azateca Lucha in Cicero, Illinois, has proven successful, as the company has touted that they have sold out the venue. In a press release, it was revealed that it took half a month to fill the Cicero Stadium.
MLW Lucha Apocalypto
In celebration of their achievement, MLW announced on their website that they’ll return to Cicero Stadium on November 9 for Lucha Apocolypto. The company shared that tickets will go on sale on May 14, starting at $10.
“…As a thank you to Chicago fans for selling out Chicago for our May 11 event a half-month in advance, the November return will be a special fan appreciation event with tickets starting at $10,” wrote MLW in a press release.
In addition to the announcement, MLW revealed that it will be another collaborative event with CMLL. MLW partnered with the popular Lucha Libre promotion and New Japan Pro Wrestling last year. Wrestling fans have seemingly enjoyed the collaborative events, as MLW aims to open the ‘Forbidden Door’ to create dream matches.
At this time, no matches have been announced for Lucha Apocolypto, but MLW has shared that more announcements will be coming about it on their website.
MLW Azteca Lucha: Mistico vs. Barbaro Cavernario
More On MLW Azteca Lucha Card
Although MLW looks forward to the November 9 event, all eyes are focused on their show this weekend. MLW Azteca Lucha will feature seven matches, including three championship matchups.
The main event of Azteca Lucha has MLW MLW World Middleweight Champion Mistico defending his title against Barbaro Cavernario. The match will mark Mistico’s second time putting his championship on the line. He won MLW gold after defeating Rocky Romero at MLW Intimidation Games on February 29. Cavernario aims to achieve the big upset win and put an end to Mistico’s reign as champion.
Full MLW Azteca Lucha Card
(Match Card Is Subject To Change)
(C) Rickey Shane Page vs. Bad Dude Tito-MLW National Openweight Championship Match
Second Gear Crew (1 Called Manders & Mathew Justice) vs. CozyMAX(Satoshi Kojima & Okumura)-Vacant MLW Tag Team Championship Match
Matt Riddle vs. Josh Bishop with Saint Laurent
Averno & Magnus with Cesar Duran vs. Fuego & Star Jr.
Atlantis, Guerrero Maya Jr. with Cesar Duran & Jesus Rodriguez vs. Felino, Villano III Jr. & Virus-Six-Man Tag Team Match
Ultimo Guerrero with Cesar Duran vs. Atlantis Jr.
(C) Mistico with Cesar Duran vs. Barbaro Cavernario-MLW World Middleweight Championship Match
After signing with them late last year, Adam Copeland is having a career resurgence in All Elite Wrestling. He is currently the AEW TNT Champion and is competing against great wrestlers he’s never faced before in the company. Although AEW fans are enjoying his run, they could have seen him on the roster a lot sooner than 2023.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Copeland shared that he was in talks with AEW in late 2019 and almost joined then. At the time, he was trying to get medically cleared to wrestle after retiring from wrestling in 2011. While he was having talks with WWE about returning, he admitted that he had great conversations with AEW and was “really close” to signing with them.
“…So when I first started talking with AEW, I wasn’t yet cleared,” said Copeland. He continued, “…I still wasn’t cleared by company doctors, right? So once all of those clearances started to come, I was like, Oh, this is real now. Okay. So before I did anything, I had to go kind of get the final clearance needed for either company, and I had negotiated with everybody.”
Ultimately, Copeland had a sit down with former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, and he was able to convince him to make his return at the WWE Royal Rumble on January 26, 2020. He acknowledged that he had no regrets about signing with WWE because of the moment he had made his entrance in the match.
Copeland would stick around with WWE for over three years before jumping to AEW on October 1, 2023.
Adam Copeland On What’s Next After AEW Contract Expires
Copeland’s contract with AEW is a multi-year, full-time deal with the expectation that it will expire in 2026. Although he looks in great shape at 50, he is still uncertain if he will wrestle after his deal ends.
In the interview, he shared that he is balancing his career and family life well. That said, it will depend on how he feels when it’s time to renew.
“…If I can keep performing at a level, but more importantly on a level I can feel proud of. I just don’t want to get to a point where I’m really struggling, and it’s just pulling teeth to get it done. I don’t want to do that, and thankfully, I’m at a point in my career where I don’t have to do that,” said Copeland.
The AEW TNT Champion also mentioned how he hopes his work ethic can be a life lesson for his daughters and that he can inspire them. That said, he also wants to make sure he is there for them, and thankfully, his schedule hasn’t impacted his family time.
Copeland is having fun and is motivated to compete with the best in AEW. For fans wondering about his future, he seems open to re-sign if he can still compete at a high level and manage his life outside wrestling.
Adam Copeland wanted to get Gangrel back in the mix with WWE, even if it was brief.
The former Edge spoke with Chris Van Vliet on Insight and gave a little “insight” as to him bringing back the notorious Brood entrance for WWE Day 1 2022. Copeland made the play to get Gangrel to rise back up alongside him much akin to the Attitude Era, but revealed that idea was shot down by WWE.
“So this isn’t a knock on WWE, but I’d always get the, ‘Well nobody remembers.’ People remember, wrestling fans remember and I think wrestling fans want to be rewarded for remembering. And that’s a way to reward them. That’s what I’ve always felt.”
Copeland cited the recent return of Matt Cardona to AEW who challenged Adam for his TNT Championship on an episode of AEW Collision. Copeland knows that fans remember Cardona’s time as an ‘Edge Head’ and it was a way to bring something special back for the audience. However, he just couldn’t get WWE behind bringing back Gangrel, the original leader of The Brood.
“That was one I just kept getting shut down. I realised, okay, that was not a hill to die on because it didn’t get to happen. It’s not my sandbox, I got to do with what I’ve been given.”
Gangrel did happen to show up for The Young Bucks’ entrance back when they were feuding with The Hardys so the possibility of The Brood boiling up certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Copeland could use some extra help as he continues to feud with House of Black in build to Double or Nothing in Las Vegas.
Please h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
The 2024 King of the Ring tournament will continue on this week’s SmackDown, but will go on ahead without Bobby Lashley.
Taking to social media, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis shared news that Lashley has been pulled from the tournament as he is not medically cleared to compete. Aldis stated that the two-time former WWE Champion suffered a training-related injury but did not share any further details. In his place, fellow The Pride member Angelo Dawkins will be a part of the tournament.
This is a huge setback for Lashley, who has gotten tantalizingly close to being crowned King in the past. In 2006, Lashley made it to the finals of that year’s royal tournament before losing to Booker T.
While this is a blow to Lashley, his removal has provided Angelo Dawkins with a golden opportunity. Known predominantly as a tag-team wrestler, a strong performance in the King of the Ring tournament could put a lot of eyes on the Street Profits member. In October 2022, it was said that Dawkins was impressing a lot of the right people backstage, but a singles push has yet to emerge.
Lashley won’t compete in this year’s King of the Ring tournament.
Tournament Replacements
Lashley is the latest name in this year’s regal festivities to be replaced. Drew McIntyre was scheduled to face Finn Balor in a first-round match before also being pulled. Balor instead faced Jey Uso and lost to the ‘Main Event’ talent in the first round on Raw.
Xavier Woods, the 2021 King, has been replaced by Kofi Kingston as the UpUpDownDown leader is also not cleared to compete. Kingston will face Rey Mysterio on next week’s Raw. Asuka was scheduled to compete in the Queen of the Ring tournament but due to her injuries, has been replaced by Dakota Kai. The Kiwi Superstar was defeated by Lyra Valkyria in the first round.
WWE SmackDown Matches
Dawkins will have a lot to prove on this Friday’s SmackDown, as will the man he faces in the first-round match: Tama Tonga.
In a WrestleMania 35 rematch, AJ Styles will face Randy Orton in what will likely be an epic collision between former WWE World Champions.
The newly-drafted Carmelo Hayes hopes to make an impact after his recent loss to Cody Rhodes when he faces 2019 King of the Ring Baron Corbin.
The Megastar LA Knight hopes to advance but will face to overcome Santos Escobar (and likely interference from Legado Del Fantasma) to do so.
It’s been almost a decade since Jesús Rodríguez (Ricardo Rodriguez) was released from WWE. Since then, he has gone on a soul-searching journey that has led him to Major League Wrestling.
A company Rodriguez was grateful to find at this stage of his career, taking all he has learned and experienced to put forth the best version of himself. I recently spoke with the talented performer about his experience wrestling for WWE and what he’s enjoying in Major League Wrestling (MLW).
His WWE Exit
“It’s honestly amazing thinking back 10 years ago,’ Rodriguez said. “The story is, I called the [WWE] office and told them, ‘Hey I’m done. I’m not happy. I’m still at home. I didn’t get on the plane.’ When they just said, ‘Well stay home and we’ll talk and figure it out.’ They called me back a few days later and said, ‘Yeah, we’ll grant you your release.’ I was like thank you.”
At the time he was in his late 20s. He likened it to your first big breakup in high school. A time when you think your life is over and that you’ll never find love again. The ring announcer and pro wrestler learned that the only thing he could control was how he reacted to things.
“Life is going to happen on life’s terms. I didn’t react the proper way,” Rodriguez recalled. “I was very angry and bitter. I just hated life and wrestling and anybody that was, in my mind, opposing me in what I wanted to accomplish. It took a while to control how I reacted. I had to learn that aspect.
It’s no secret because I am very open about it, my addiction issue. Getting sober and clean was a huge step forward and realizing all that. I am grateful in hindsight that I went through all that to appreciate what I have now. Opportunities I was given when I learned to appreciate things and being more mindful. Now I’m in a situation now with an amazing company that we are leading into.”
Rather than leave the business, Rodriguez found a renewed motivation. He worked with The Great Khali to open the market up in India. This wasn’t the only stop on his international travel with stops in Europe, Australia, and of course, Mexico. Rodriguez, who had a great run with Alberto Del Rio, took his knowledge to helping run schools including a year in Cairo, even maneuvering through the uncertainty of COVID.
MLW
Looking back, Rodriguez is happy to go through the lows in order to truly appreciate the highs, many of which the veteran is getting in MLW as a member of Salina de La Renta’s Promociones Dorado. Rodriguez, who also helps as a producer and behind the scenes like de La Renta, can’t be happier to watch her success onscreen and offscreen working with the women’s division.
“It’s amazing because I’ve known her for her entire career,” Rodriguez said. “The same for Janai Kai, who I’ve know since the very first day she walked into a wrestling school. It’s rewarding to see their growth and development now…and the presence they have. It’s so admirable if you look at it and the presence they carry with them. I feel like this is portrayed on camera which is very hard to teach.”
MLW in Chicago at Cicero Stadium
Rodriguez, who helps the next generation through Three Legacies Wrestling, takes pride in seeing so much representation across the board in regards to the Latin American community. So much MLW has built a brand and show Azteca Lucha on May 11 when the company returns to a sold-out Chicago’s Cicero Stadium. Rodriguez will team with Atlantis, and Guerrero Maya Jr. to face El Felino, Virus, and Villano III Jr. as the war with Cesar Duran continues.
“It’s amazing to me as a lucha libre fan because I grew up on lucha libre. To be in a trios match with partners like this is amazing to me. The very first wrestling hero I had was Atlantis. To be partnered up with him is a dream come true…I did spend a lot of time with a top heel in the industry so I may have a trick or two to secure that victory.
“We have Azteca Lucha and sold out. We’re building this relationship with CMLL which is very important. We’re able to provider great luchadors from Mexico, the United States, and internationally. Who is to say there isn’t going to be an MLW takeover in Mexico and Arena México? It would be huge. We have a lot of amazing events coming up.”
MLW Azteca Lucha airs airs at 10 p.m. ET, May 11 on Triller TV+
We have a first look at the DLC character of hardcore legend Terry Funk in WWE 2K24. The all-time great is part of the the first DLC pack for the game, the ECW Punk Pack that will be available Wednesday, May 15.
WWE and 2K have been giving first looks at the ECW Punk Pack characters, including The Sandman and The Dudley Boyz. Today, it’s a screenshot of the great Terry Funk. CM Punk is the final remaining member of the pack.
Terry Funk’s contributions to the pro wrestling business are vast, and he picked up championships all over the globe in over 50 years in the pro wrestling business. Sadly, he passed away on August 23, 2023. While the specific cause of his death has not been disclosed, it is known that he was dealing with health problems and was living in a nursing home at the time. He will forever be remembered as a legend and a trailblazer, one who influenced generations after him.
Future WWE 2K24 DLC Packs:
After the ECW Punk Pack release on 5/15, here’s the release schedule for the remaining WWE 2K24 DLC packs:
June 26: DLC Pack #2 (“Post Malone & Friends Pack”)
Includes Post Malone, Sensational Sherri, Mosh, Thrasher, Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Hart Manager, MyFACTION Superstar Cards
July 24: DLC Pack #3 (“Pat McAfee Show Pack”)
Features Pat McAfee, Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, additional MyFACTION Superstar Cards
September 20: DLC Pack #4 (“Global Superstars Pack”)
Features Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, Lex Luger, MyFACTION Superstar Cards
WWE 2K24 Release & Reception
WWE 2K24 dropped on March 8, 2024, with Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley leading the promotional charge as the game’s cover Superstars. Cody was featured on the standard edition of the game. Ripley and Belair were on the special edition, making history as the first females to share the cover in the process. The special 40 Years of WrestleMania cover of the game saw an alteration after Brock Lesnar was scrubbed from the game.
The game is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have responded positively to the game. They highlight its improvements and refinements from previous versions.
IGN and GameSpot each gave the game a score of 8 out of 10. Metacritic has given it a score of 81%. Users have also shared their opinions, rating it 3.7 based on 316 reviews. In our exclusive review, we gave WWE 2K24 a score of 8.5 out of 10:
Tony Khan continues to embrace the “challenger brand” identity of AEW and think that’s conveyed in his roster interviews.
The AEW President spoke with Rich Ucchino on Cincy 360, and Khan continued to praise his company for exciting matches, but also the ability for his stars to speak behind the microphone. Khan also made reference that unlike WWE, their promos can lead towards organic cadence.
“In AEW, I think people really feel a connection with the wrestlers. We don’t script the interviews here. People go out, they’re talking about, maybe they got bullet points and key pieces of information they’re trying to get out, but it feels like you’re hearing a real person talk, which isn’t always the way it feels with some of the competition’s interviews. I think that’s one major difference.
Khan goes on to state that while the AEW athleticism is top-tier, he puts over the personalities of the roster too, something that he believes is conveyed through their unscripted promos.
“I think our biggest strength is the quality of athletes and the charisma of our biggest stars. Some of the biggest names in wrestling are in AEW, and there’s a reason why these big free agents want to come here to AEW. It’s because this is where the best wrestle.”
Khan is hoping that charisma comes out at AEW Double Or Nothing when Team AEW aims to battle The Elite in an Anarchy In Arena match in Las Vegas. On Wednesday’s Dynamite, Eddie Kingston, FTR and Bryan Danielson stepped up to challenge The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry.
Randy Orton enjoys the consistency of the new WWE product since Triple H has fully taken over of the company’s creative, but thanks two other employees for helping with that direction.
Speaking with “Adam’s Apple,” ‘The Viper’ gave his thoughts on the fresh, new and steady direction that Paul Levesque has implemented under his watchful eye.
“With Nick Khan, HHH, and Bruce Prichard, so many things have changed from a creative standpoint. They’re thinking months and months in advance. Before, we were flying by the seat of our pants. Creative was changed mins before we went live each week. I don’t mean sometimes. I mean, each week.”
Orton said that there’d be days where it would be 5:00 PM on the east coast and changes were still be made to the show that was airing in just a few hours. That aspect created for some very stressful moments. Under the Triple H regime, there’s more time laid ahead for talent to implement their own creativity.
“So just purely from a creative standpoint, you’re able to let it marinate and think about, okay, how am I gonna do this? Or how can I make this better? Or maybe there are tweaks, but you don’t do it ten minutes before you go live.”
Randy Orton has clearly been enjoying his time back in WWE has he got a gigantic reaction while he and Kevin Owens opened WWE Backlash in France and although the two lost, Orton remains in a top babyface role in WWE SmackDown.
Derrick Lewis, a fighter for the UFC could become the next athlete to jump from the Octagon to the Squared Circle and become a WWE Superstar.
The 39-year-old Lewis, dubbed the ‘Black Beast’ boasts a 27-12 win/loss record in the Octagon, with one fight going to a no contest. Speaking at a recent Fight Night press conference ahead of this Sunday’s contest with Rodrigo Nascimento, the UFC star was asked about a possible collaboration with WWE given that both companies fall under the TKO banner.
“Yeah, we are actually in talks right now and we’ve been talking for a few months now. I was supposed to go down there in February to check everything out.”
When asked about a potential finishing move, Lewis saw himself using the Stinkface made famous by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi.
“It had to be something like Rikishi you know, you might see it man you know somehow I like taking off my shorts so we might see something like that.”
If Lewis does make the move, he’ll hardly be the first UFC fighter to join WWE. Matt Riddle transitioned from the Octagon to wrestling and was part of the WWE roster from 2018 to 2023. Ronda Rousey made headlines in 2018 by joining WWE after the end of her UFC career saw back-to-back losses in the cage.
WWE and UFC came together in September 2023 in the culmination of a $9.3 billion deal that saw WWE acquired by Endeavor. Since then, WWE Superstars have been seen at UFC events and fighter Michael Chandler used the February 19, 2024 Raw to call out Conor McGregor.
The two companies will grow even closer this June when WWE NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. The show will see the crowning of the first WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion in a six-woman ladder match.
WWE SummerSlam tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster. The company’s hot streak of running stadium shows continues, as the event takes place Saturday, August 3, 2024 from Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The venue opened in 1999 and has max capacity of approximately 67,000 people.
If you’re looking to attend SummerSlam as a true VIP, On Location sells Priority Pass packages that premium seating, meeting WWE Superstars, photo opportunities and more. Here’s an early look at the seating chart for this year’s SummerSlam, with some of the most desirable seats going up for sale during this week’s 2-day pre-sale event.
SummerSlam 2024 seating chart
SummerSlam is one of WWE’s original ‘big 4’ events, along with WrestleMania, Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble. Cleveland’s own Logan Paul, the reigning WWE United States champion, says wrestling fans should expect a star-studded roster of celebrity guest appearances.
“I wanna bring my brother Jake. I want MGK to be there, I want the Kelce brothers to be there. I want it to be one of the biggest events Cleveland has ever seen.”
He added, “Oh, Dave Chapelle will absolutely be there” and hopes to secure an opponent that he can “bring the house down” with. Who could that be?
SummerSlam Attendance
Last year’s SummerSlam was held at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with an attendance of 51,477 and a gate of $8.5 million. Cleveland Browns Stadium has a listed capacity of 67,431 and WWE should have no problem packing fans into another huge NFL stadium.
WWE SummerSlam 2023 at Detroit’s Ford Field. (August 5, 2023)
WWE continues to break records, most recently with WrestleMania XL. The event generated gate receipts totaling $38.5 million from two nights at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. WWE also sold 44,569 tickets, generating $7.3 million, for the 2024 Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field.
Check out our exclusive video from SummerSlam 2023 with Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar shaking hands after their match.
Backlash France will go down in the annals of WWE’s history books, though not entirely for all the right reasons.
WWE’s first Premium Live Event in France took place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon and marked the first televised title defense of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare retained against AJ Styles, over two decades after the Phenomenal One faced (and defeated) Cody’s father Dusty. Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair captured the WWE Tag Team Championships at Backlash; the first title in WWE for the ex-AEW star.
An Unfortunate Record
The crowd in the LDLC Arena was electric for Backlash France and the proceeding night’s SmackDown, prompting a noise level warning sent to Triple H. Unfortunately, that excitement wasn’t shared among fans watching at home, or at least those without access to the WWE Network or Peacock. As explained on Wrestling Observer Radio, the event saw the lowest amount of pay-per-view buys for any WWE event in history. Dave Meltzer added that there is a “considerable margin” between Backlash and the previous record-holder for the worst pay-per-view buys.
While this isn’t fortunate for Backlash France, it’s no secret that pay-per-view buys have dwindled over the past decade. Thanks to the creation of the WWE Network and its subsequent acquisition by Peacock, audiences worldwide have ditched traditional viewing methods in favor of streaming platforms.
Backlash France set an unfortunate record in WWE history.
The time of the event will have also played into how many people watched the show. Because of the time difference between the U.S. and France, the show started at 1 pm for fans in the States. Nevertheless, the show proved to be a success in other ways, including the largest gate for any arena event in WWE history. WWE will host two more PLEs in Europe this year, a sign that the company is all in on international events.
It’s time for the Daily Drop on May 9, 2024. There is a lot to unpack from all over the pro wrestling world, as always. This is why SEScoops has this daily round-up and update for you.
First off, it WWE RAW isn’t leaving USA Network this year. The red brand will start on Netflix in 2025, but there was a big question about where RAW will go when their deal is up at the end of October. Now, USA Network has secured the remaining months of 2024 with a $25 million deal, per TKO’s latest financial call. Many are seeing that as a steal for the USA Network’s part, but it is a small amount compared to the 5 billion Netflix is giving WWE as part of their 10-year deal that starts in January.
WWE:
WrestleMania 43 Proposal: The Detroit Sports Commission is drafting a proposal to host WrestleMania 43 in their city. This would be a big deal historically, as it would be 40 years after WrestleMania 3, and 20 years following Detroit’s last WrestleMania event.
WWE Isn’t Using GoD:SEScoops exclusively reported that WWE has no plan to use Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa’s Guerillas of Destiny name. Loa debuted at WWE Backlash as part of the Bloodline stable, but the GoD moniker isn’t coming with him, despite the fact that he is aligned with Tonga once again.
TKO Financial Update: In the first quarter of 2024, TKO reported earnings of $629.7 million but incurred a net loss of $249.5 million, primarily due to a $335 million settlement of an antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit claimed that UFC functioned as an illegal monopsony, suppressing fighter wages and hindering rival promotions, with over 1,200 individuals involved. Meanwhile, UFC generated $313 million in revenue, slightly less than WWE’s $316.7 million. UFC’s highlight for the quarter was the UFC 300 event, which brought in $16.5 million at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
CM Punk Blocked Music Change: During a recent interview, Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover stated that WWE wanted to do a sound-alike song for “Cut of Personality,” but Punk blocked it. He wanted to use his actual song, which is what ended up happening thanks to the Second City Savior putting his foot down.
AEW Fight Forever Update: AEW released the Fight Forever Season Pass 4 bundle, capturing attention worldwide. This release includes not just Samoa Joe but also two new arenas: the Japanese Shrine Arena and the Fright Forever Arena. Players can also access new characters Adam Copeland and Jay White. AEW Fight Forever is available on all consoles and PC, and fan reactions to this update will reveal how much AEW has improved its game and how it compares to 2k.
JOE! JOE! JOE! ?
Prepare for war as @SamoaJoe enters the #AEWFightForever ring in the World War Joe DLC Pack! The DLC also includes the all-new Japanese Shrine arena, two new attires, and 11 new moves including signature taunts!
Kenny Omega’s Announcement: Although he is far from being medically cleared, Omega appeared on AEW Dynamite from a hospital bed, where he booked an Anarchy in the Arena match for Double or Nothing on May 26.
Current AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Card:
Swerve Strickland (c), with Prince Nana, vs. Christian Cage with The Patriarchy for the AEW World Championship
Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale (c), for the TBS Championship
Will Ospreay Vs. Roderick Strong (c) for the International Championship
‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb
Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite vs. Team AEW.
TNA star Josh Alexander has decided to withdraw himself from independent promotion appearances as he is dealing with health concerns.
‘The Walking Weapon’ recently took to X and announced that he is forced to pull out his indie dates for the remainder of May. The former 2-time TNA World Champion divulged that he has been dealing with personal health issues that leave him in “constant pain.” Alexander clarified that he is not injured but the time off is precautionary. He further added that he would deal with the issues and return as early as possible. He wrote:
“Hey all, I’ve had to pull out of my Indy dates for the rest of the month. I’m not injured. It’s all precautionary. I’ve been dealing with some personal health issues that leave me in constant pain. I’ll deal with it & be back ASAP.”
Hey all,
I’ve had to pull out of my Indy dates for the rest of the month. I’m not injured. It’s all precautionary.
I’ve been dealing with some personal health issues that leave me in constant pain.
Prestige Wrestling soon made an announcement on X about Josh Alexander pulling out from their ‘Alive or Just Breathing’ event which is set to take place on May 16 in Los Angeles. Alexander was scheduled to face former WWE star, Shelton Benjamin. However, the TNA star has been replaced by ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor.
? BREAKING NEWS ?
Due to reasons beyond anyone’s control JOSH ALEXANDER will not be able to compete in LA.
With that in mind…
SHELTON BENJAMIN will face “FILTHY” TOM LAWLOR next Thursday (5/16) in Los Angeles!
— Prestige Wrestling (@WrestlePrestige) May 9, 2024
Ahead of the announcement, Alexander’s last match took place at TNA Under Siege on May 3. At the show, he joined forces with Eric Young and defeated Frankie Kazarian and Steve Maclin.
There had been speculation surrounding Alexander’s future with TNA Wrestling. However, he will remain with the promotion for at least another year as he recently signed a new deal in February. He also cleared the air regarding the contract situation. Read more below:
Ric Flair’s blowup at Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza caused a chain reaction that resulted in video of the incident surfacing. Now, the Nature Boy is making no excuses for his behavior.
The 16x World Champion expressed regret about his recent outburst at a Gainesville pizza restaurant. He mentioned on “The MJ Morning Show on Q105” that he should have left the restaurant the moment things turned sour.
Flair admitted, “It just escalated, and I was wrong for getting mad, but I kind of felt like I was defending my position.” He also reconsidered his initial negative review of the restaurant, acknowledging that he had enjoyed his time and meal there before the conflict arose.
Despite his enjoyment, the incident escalated after Flair, who had taken pictures with customers and spent $1,500, was asked to leave following a disagreement with the kitchen manager about bathroom use. This disagreement led to a heated exchange, captured in a video that portrayed Flair negatively.
The incident, captured on video, showed Flair yelling at a Piesanos staffer following an alleged bathroom incident with the kitchen manager. A patron even suggested taking the argument outside.
The restaurant’s co-owner defended the decision to ask Flair to leave, supporting the staff’s actions. During the incident, Flair used strong language towards the manager and even challenged him to a physical altercation outside. He concluded the incident by offering a $1000 tip to a staff member.
TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry is grateful for the success of his hit song I Believe in Joe Hendry which came about after a series of fortunate events.
Hendry’s track has proven popular with fans and non-fans alike and reached #1 on the iTunes charts in the UK, toppling Taylor Swift and others. Hendry’s track also reached #1 in other countries and did very well in the United States also.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Hendry shared how his viral song came about.
“It is a series of fortunate, random events. People had always liked my song, my entrance song, I’ve had it for some time now. But I noticed on TikTok, people were making videos with it and it was getting literally millions of hits. And I thought ‘Maybe I should put this up on Spotify.’
“So I put it up on Spotify one evening, didn’t really think much of it. When it came out on the Monday, I woke up and it was #20 in the iTunes charts. I thought that’s pretty cool and I tweeted it out and then it just caught fire.”
Hendry went on to explain how his music helps get him in the right head space before his matches and spoke of wrestlers and musicians who use music to help combat performance-related anxiety. The former TNA Digital Media Champion from Edinburgh was also grateful for his brother who is often ‘roped in’ to help create his music videos.
I Believe In Joe Hendry isn’t the Scottish wrestler’s only foray into music. Earlier this year, Hendry produced a song for Francis that featured the TNA theme song for AJ Styles. This song mocked Francis’ infamous, though life-saving botched dive in WWE. Hendry said that the former Top Dolla nullifies TNA Wrestling’s insurance whenever he goes sailing over the top rope.
Hendry’s success with his song can’t be denied, with non-wrestling fans growing increasingly aware of him. This will no doubt bode well for Hendry’s prospects in the ring, with TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray even stating that TNA would be wise to consider a title run given Hendry’s popularity.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland wasted no time in making moves towards joining the promotion after his WWE deal expired in September 2023.
After over 25 years as Edge, Copeland debuted for AEW at the inaugural WrestleDream event and immediately entered a program with former friend Christian Cage. The pair’s lengthy feud culminated with Copeland dethroning Cage for the TNT gold in March 2024.
On the Insight podcast, Copeland discussed the end of his WWE career and made clear he left on great terms. The Hall of Famer explained how quickly the turnaround was for him to go from WWE to its main rival.
“It happened so quick. My contract with WWE was up on, I want to say September 21st. That’s when I started talking to Tony [Khan.] It was September 22nd. And WrestleDream was October 1st. So it all happened within a week.”
Copeland’s All-Elite arrival wasn’t the first time his name had been tied to AEW. In 2019, the Canadian came close to joining AEW, then a young upstart, before ultimately opting to stick with WWE. In the interview, Copeland was asked why he went for the younger promotion four years later.
“It felt like I’d done everything that I was going to do with WWE. I’d worked [with] the people I wanted to work, 95 percent anyway. And it really just felt that they were on a direction and I was on a direction and they were kind of going separate ways.”
Adam Copeland wasted no time joining AEW.
Ultimately, Copeland made his choice and opted for the road less traveled in 2023 and has clearly been having a blast in the company so far. Currently, the TNT Champion is feuding with the House of Black and has retained against Buddy Matthews and Brody King.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
CM Punk was adamant that WWE used Cult of Personality in all its original glory, Living Color’s lead vocalist Corey Glover.
After ‘leaving’ WWE at Money in the Bank 2011 as WWE Champion, Punk returned eight days later to Cult of Personality, a track he had previously used as a theme during his days in Ring of Honor. The song has gone on to be closely associated with Punk, who used the track in UFC, All Elite Wrestling, and in his most recent return to WWE.
Sitting down with the Drinks With Johnny podcast, Glover discussed Punk’s use of the theme. He explained that upon his 2011 ‘return,’ WWE wanted to make a track similar to Cult of Personality, an idea the Best in the World was against.
“They had their own music division of the WWE and they were gonna have somebody make up a song that sounded similar to Cult of Personality. But that was gonna be his entrance music. ‘No, I don’t want that. I want the real thing.’ He’s like one of the talent that actually got that in his contract that wherever he goes, that goes with him.”
CM Punk had no interest in WWE’s cover of his iconic theme.
The track is very fitting for Punk, who has developed a cult of personality of his own. It was this charisma that kept fans chanting his name during what would be a seven-and-a-half year absence from pro-wrestling. Nowadays, fans can hear the tune in all its glory in WWE as the Best in the World continues to be a hot commodity in pro wrestling.
The first quarter earnings of 2024 for TKO Group Holdings with WWE emerging as the higher-earning brand within the new company.
In the 2024 Q1 earnings report, it was revealed that TKO made $629.7 in the quarter, but also suffered a net loss of $249.5 million. Much of this net loss comes from TKO settling an antitrust lawsuit against UFC. The plaintiffs alleged that UFC was an illegal monopsony that suppressed fighter wages and stifled rival promotions. The lawsuit represented more than 1,200 individuals and was settled for the sum of $335 million.
UFC’s revenue for the 2024 Q1 saw the MMA juggernaut earn $313 million, slightly behind WWE’s revenue of $316.7 million. During the time frame, UFC hosted its UFC 300 event, which drew a gate of $16.5 million to Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
Not to be outdone, WWE hosted WrestleMania 40, which proved to be the company’s highest evening event in history. The company also locked down a lucrative ten-year deal with Netflix to bring Raw to the streaming platform.
Future Plans
With these reports in, TKO has increased its target for revenue for 2024 from $2.61 billion to $2.685 billion. In a statement, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel was optimistic about what’s to come.
“These positive developments, along with the strength in our underlying businesses, give us more conviction than ever in the combination of UFC and WWE, and in TKO’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”
Clearly, WWE’s merger with UFC in September 2023 has proven to be a lucrative venture for both companies. With WWE embarking on a new era (one that has distanced itself from Vince McMahon,) it remains to be seen how the company’s future will be shaped as part of TKO.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could soon be hosting more events from WWE, according to Endeavor President Mark Shapiro.
The decade-long deal between the two sides began in 2018 during Vince McMahon’s tenure running WWE. The deal currently sees WWE host two lucrative events a year in Saudi Arabia, often with the company’s biggest stars as well as part-time performers.
When McMahon stepped down in January 2024, there had been speculation as to what this would mean for the often-controversial Saudi deal. While speaking on the TKO Q1 earnings call, Mark Shapiro, president of Endeavor, was quick to shut down the idea that Vince’s exit had changed things in terms of the agreement.
“There was a lot of speculation with Vince being gone, ‘would that impact the relationship in a negative way? Would they be looking to get out of it?’ I would say that Nick Khan, in particular has developed, sustained, cultivated, and nurtured a very strong relationship in a handoff from Vince. They have a lot of trust and faith in each other.”
Shapiro added that WWE could explore the idea of hosting more than two events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We have a strong and healthy relationship with the Kingdom, through WWE, and doing two annual events a year… Potentially, we could look to do more events, but nothing is planned beyond those two events at this time.”
Mark Shapiro believes WWE could host more than two events each year in Saudi Arabia.
WrestleMania In Saudi Arabia?
If WWE does plan to host more annual events in Saudi Arabia, then WrestleMania could be on the list. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority hopes to bring WrestleMania to the country, as well as the Royal Rumble. They also have their sights set on UFC events that fall under the TKO banner. Nick Khan has however stated that currently, WrestleMania and other major events will stay in North America for the time being.
Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda will benefit greatly from the money raised by WWE alum Mace and Mansoor, as well as others.
SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Both AEW’s Will Ospreay and TNA Wrestling’s Jordynne Grace donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs.
Now Mace and Mansoor have been able to raise more money for SGW Uganda. On Twitter, Mansoor revealed that through a live stream, they had raised over $28,000. This stream included some notable names in wrestling, including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali, Maven Huffman, YouTuber Matt McMuscles, and others.
Incredibly excited to announce we have raised $28,731.89 for @SGWug thanks to all of your generous support!
We couldn’t have done this without all our wonderful friends who joined us for the fundraiser. Thank you to all who participated and donated.
In a subsequent tweet, Mansoor explained that this money can be put towards six months of food, beds and mosquito nets, an extension on their lease and a storage unit for a wrestling ring. SGW Uganda has been using a ring made of mud so far, but that will hopefully change given the money raised.
One thing SGW Uganda won’t have to put this money towards is a van that’ll allow the promotion to take their show on the road. In a follow-up tweet, Mansoor explained that his mother has donated enough to buy a van in memory of her father who gifted them a win when Mansoor’s sister was born.
My mother, my actual shoot mom, has told us she is donating enough money to purchase a van for @SGWug
She wants to honor my late grandfather, George Vrakas, who gifted us a van when my little sister was born ??
SGW Uganda isn’t just a wrestling promotion but is a school that trains over 180 students. With this money, SGW Uganda will be able to take huge steps to the future with fans excited to see what’s next.
One of All Elite Wrestling’s most chaotic matches is returning later this month at AEW Double or Nothing: Anarchy in the Arena.
Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega appeared on this week’s AEW Dynamite to address the violent attack he sustained last week at the hands (and feet) of The Elite. Omega, who is out indefinitely recovering from diverticulitis, checked in from a hospital bed to deliver an important announcement. The Elite will face justice for attacking him last week on Dynamite. At Double or Nothing, The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry will face FTR and two additional partners in the Anarchy match. Later in the show, they were revealed to be Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston.
Anarchy in the Arena involves two teams battling in a no-rules falls-count-anywhere match. Often involving two warring factions, the unique stipulation combines elements of hardcore and cinematic matches and is dubbed ‘Stadium Stampede’ when held in larger stadium venues. We got a preview of Anarchy in the Arena when the two teams brawled at the conclusion of this week’s Dynamite:
Double or Nothing Coming Together
Anarchy in the Arena joins the growing card for the upcoming AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 26 from Las Vegas.
Swerve Strickland puts the AEW World Championship on the line against Christian Cage, Mercedes Moné Makes her AEW in-ring debut and challenges Willow Nightingale for the TBS championship, Will Ospreay goes for gold against International Champion Roderick Strong and more.
Anarchy In The Arena: The Elite vs. FTR, Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston
Current match lineup for AEW Double or Nothing:
Swerve Strickland (c), with Prince Nana, vs. Christian Cage with The Patriarchy for the AEW World Championship
Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale (c), for the TBS Championship
Will Ospreay Vs. Roderick Strong (c) for the International Championship
‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb
Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite vs. Team AEW.
Watch Kenny Omega’s address from AEW Dynamite 5/8/24:
