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Monday Night Raw To Stay On USA Network For Fourth Quarter of 2024

Tyriece Simon
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WWE is heading into new territory as they prepare to stream Monday Night Raw on Netflix in 2025. The $5 billion deal was made on January 23, with fans curious and skeptical about the brand moving exclusively to streaming. 

While the company plans to move to Monday Night Raw off TV, fans became aware that its deal with USA Network would end in September. WWE not having an agreement in place would’ve left the brand without a home until January 2025 to Netflix. However, TKO Group Holding has announced that they have reached a new deal, a $25 million deal with NBCUniversal, to keep Monday Night Raw on the USA Network for the rest of the year. 

TKO shared their 2024 first-quarter results today and revealed that Monday Night Raw would stay on the USA Network for the fourth quarter of 2024. The deal will also allow NBCU Universal to have Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown on the network later this year. 

It’s unclear if WWE may have considered other possible suitors to host Monday Night RAW later this year. However, this may be a win for fans as both brands will be on one network until Monday Night Raw moves to Netflix. It will also allow fans to slowly transition from cable to streaming to watch their favorite superstars on the Raw brand. 

More On WWE’s Move To Netflix Next Year

WWE’s decision to move to Netflix will be game-changing as they hope to bring the same weekly audience to the streaming service. CBS News’ William Lankford reported earlier this year that Netflix has over 200 million subscribers, with 13.1 million added by the end of 2023.  

Netflix’s decision to add the WWE flagship show will be interesting as it aims to compete with other streaming services, like Amazon Prime Videos, for live sports. While other platforms have a season or games of a sport, Netflix will benefit from having Monday Night Raw every week.  

WWE’s new deal with NBCUniversal has secured the future for the rest of the year. The company will have to figure out if they can get fans to watch their brand on streaming in 2025. However, the $25 million agreement has given them time to get their audience to follow Monday Night Raw’s transition to Netflix.

The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa Won’t Be Guerillas of Destiny in WWE

Aaron Varble
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Tanga Loa made his WWE debut at last weekend’s Backlash PLE from the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. He reunited with his brother, Tama Tonga, as part of the new and improved Bloodline. 

We’ve received questions from readers about whether or lot they’ll be using their old team name from New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Guerrillas of Destiny. SEScoops has confirmed with multiple sources that Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga will not carry over the GoD name into WWE.

Before joining WWE, Tanga and Tonga reigned in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as the Guerrillas of Destiny and held the IWGP Tag Team Championship an impressive seven times 

We may see the name referenced in passing, there are no plans for them to use the name regularly or as part of any merchandise. A search of the US Patent & Trademark Office database shows no current owners for the  ‘Guerrillas of Destiny’ trademark.

Guerrillas of Destiny Trademark Search

Since Roman Reigns lost the WWE Undisputed World Title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, WWE fans have witnessed a significant transformation in the Bloodline. Loa’s arrival could further reshape the landscape.

WWE Backlash signaled a significant shift for the Bloodline with the introduction of a new, powerful tag team to the WWE Universe, led by Solo Sikoa in Roman Reigns’ absence. Although Paul Heyman may be leery about things, he is still following along. 

Randy Orton Talks WWE Retirement, Auditioning For Acting Roes

Tyriece Simon
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WWE fans are enjoying the latest run Randy Orton is on after a potential career-ending injury. After more than a year out of action dealing with a back injury, he returned to WWE Survivor Series on November 25, 2023. Since then, he has been regularly featured on TV and competing with the best in the company. Although he has shared that he feels he’s entering his prime in his career, Orton is not opposed to taking the right opportunity in Hollywood. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd81IRoMpkI

In an interview with Adam’s Apple, Orton revealed that the United Talent Agency represents him and has done auditions. 

“…I’m with UTA, and I do turn in auditions. Do some self-tape here and there, but sometimes I’ll see these roles pop up a year or two years later that I don’t get, and I’ll see it and say, Man, I’m glad I didn’t get that role,” said Orton. 

He noted how difficult it could be to wrestle for WWE, commit to his acting career, and be involved with his family. He also doesn’t want to take a role that doesn’t do anything for himself. 

Randy Orton On When He Plans To Retire

Despite wanting to focus on his wrestling career, Orton has acknowledged that he may have a few years left as a competitor. In the interview, he spoke about dealing with injuries at 35 and how the company leadership under Vince McMahon could be grueling to a talent’s body. However, Orton notes that times have changed with the new regime, and he is allowed to take time off to heal.

“…It’s a great atmosphere to okay how can we make this guy last and the beauty of it is, I’m not even there yet. I feel so great after my surgery. I’m a full-time guy,” said Orton.

The former WWE Champion also shared that he doesn’t want a schedule like The Undertaker, where he may wrestle for significant events like WrestleMania. While he feels in great shape, the 44-year-old believes he may end his career in six years. 

“…I want to be on the road every week. I want to make all the TVs. I want to be on all the PLEs (Premium Live Events), and at 44, just turned 44, I would love to be able to go into my 50s. Maybe I wrestle until I’m 50 and call it, and that’s 30 years with the same company,” said Orton. 

While there may be questions about whether Orton’s body can maintain wrestling for another six years, he is currently in the best shape of his career. The changes in WWE have also made it possible for him to improve his health. For now, fans can enjoy Randy Orton on Smackdown as he hopes to show that he is just reaching his peak. 

AEW Fight Forever Free Update & Season Pass DLC

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling Fight Forever is still going strong after its official release last year. The game was released on June 29, 2023, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Steam. Although AEW Fight Forever was met with mixed reviews universally, the company is still adding more content to appease fans. 

On X/Twitter, AEW revealed that they have updated the game for free with new character skins and five music tracks. The company also announced that Stadium Stampede mode has been updated. 

“As a thank you to the fans for making #AEW the fastest growing wrestling promotion of all-time, the new Elite Beats and Stampede Expansion is available to #AEWFightForever players starting today,” wrote AEW.

The timing of the update is interesting as the company will celebrate the anniversary of its first pay-per-view, AEW Double or Nothing, on May 25. This year, the annual AEW event will occur on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s unclear if the AEW Fight Forever will add more free content in connection to other milestone events for the company. However, AEW Fight Forever fans will appreciate the free additions to the game. 

AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 DLC

Along with adding a free update, AEW has also announced that their fourth Season Pass is available for download today for $19.99 on social media. The game has added Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Adam Copeland to be playable for fans who purchased it. AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 also adds two arenas, 30 move sets, and a new tournament mode. 

The new DLC is notable for wrestling fans as it will be the first game that Copeland will be involved in which isn’t WWE. The last game he was involved in was WWE 2K23 from the previous year. 

There are still wrestlers that have yet to appear in the game. It’s possible AEW Fight Forever could add more DLC or a free update later this year. However, their latest update could be enough for now to enjoy. 

Detroit Sports Commission Preparing Proposal To Host WrestleMania 43

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania brings a financial windfall to any market who gets to host the destination event. Cities across the world bid to host WWE’s biggest show of the year and another city is preparing a strong offer to host the event in 2027.

Today, on a Detroit local radio station, it was shared that the Detroit Sports Commission is in the process of preparing a proposal to host WrestleMania 43 at Ford Field. The stadium was built in 2002 and is the official home of the NFL Detroit Lions, with a capacity of 65,000. 

WrestleMania 41 was confirmed this last week to take place in Las Vegas on April 20 and 21 at Allegiant Stadium. As of this writing, WWE has not booked WrestleMania 42 or 43’s location. 

Detroit’s WrestleMania History 

This would make sense in the realm of history. WrestleMania 43 will mark the 40th anniversary of WrestleMania 3. The event was known as the “biggest main event in sports entertainment.” In the final match, WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defended his title against André the Giant.

During the match’s finish, Hogan executed a legendary scoop slam on André that will live on forever. He followed this by hitting the ropes and delivering a leg drop. After retaining the WWE Championship, Hulkamania was running wild. 

Detroit also played host to WrestleMania 23, where Vince McMahon and Donald Trump stole the show with their battle of the billionaires.

Alalshikh: WWE-Saudi Arabia Deal Enhanced, We Want WrestleMania, Royal Rumble & UFC

Thomas Lowson
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WWE could soon be hosting the Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia, if the nation’s big plans for TKO Group Holdings come to fruition. 

Since 2018, the company has hosted major shows from Saudi Arabia as part of the nation’s ‘Saudi 30’ vision to bring mainstream Western entertainment to the kingdom WWE is paid handsomely for these events In November 2022, a report revealed that the eight events in Saudi Arabia at the time had earned WWE more than the first 38 WrestleManias. 

Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman, tells ESPN that an ‘enhancement’ of the current deal between WWE and Saudi Arabia will be revealed later this month. He stated their desire to host WrestleMania or the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, but did not specify if hosting either would be part of the forthcoming announcement. 

They also want to host major UFC pay-per-views. “We will do big things with the UFC and TKO,” Alalshikh said.

UFC 306 will take place this September in Las Vegas but will feature plenty of promotional material for the annual Riyadh Season of entertainment. Alalshikh explained that Saudi Arabia has plans for WWE and UFC, both of whom fall under TKO Group Holdings. 

WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia?

Talk of WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia comes at an interesting time in the event’s history. Both John Cena and Cody Rhodes have advocated for the first non-North American WrestleMania to happen in the UK, an idea that has been supported by recently-reelected London Mayor Sadiq Khan. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. 

Will Saudi Arabia’s work with TKO bring WrestleMania to the nation? 

There’s also the question of how a Saudi Arabian WrestleMania will be received by fans. Initial events as part of this deal faced serious backlash as women were banned from competing. That has since changed though women wear outfits that cover their entire bodies in accordance with the nation’s standards. Ultimately, the money Saudi Arabia is willing to pay could bring WrestleMania to the nation, but this will be a decision that should not be made without careful consideration. 

WWE King and Queen of the Ring takes place later this month on May 25 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome.

WWE 2K24 DLC: The Dudley Boyz Entrance Video & Ratings

Aaron Varble
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We’ve got a first look at the Dudley Boyz’ ring entrance in WWE 2K24. WWE Hall of Famers Bubba Ray and Devon Dudley will be available next Tuesday, May 14 as part of the game’s first DLC pack. The ‘ECW Punk Pack’ also includes The Sandman, Terry Funk and CM Punk.

Devon Dudley is rated 84 in the game, while Bubba Ray is an 85. 

Future DLC Packs

Here’s a look at future WWE 2K24 DLC packs:

  • June 26: DLC Pack #2 (“Post Malone & Friends Pack) includes Post Malone, Sensational Sherri, Mosh, Thrasher, Honky Tonk Man, and a Jimmy Hart Manager, along with MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • July 24: DLC Pack #3 (“Pat McAfee Show Pack) features Pat McAfee, Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, and additional MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • September 20: DLC Pack #4 (“Global Superstars Pack”) includes Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Michelle McCool, Carlito, Kairi Sane, Lyra Valkyria, Dragon Lee, and MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • November 13: DLC Pack #5 (“WCW Pack”) features Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, Lex Luger, and MyFACTION Superstar Cards.

WWE 2K24 Reception

WWE 2K24 launched on March 8, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game received positive reviews from critics, noted for its improvements and refinements over the previous version. 

It received scores of 8/10 from IGN and GameSpot, and an 81% on Metacritic. Users have rated it 3.7 based on 316 reviews.

We rated the game an 8.5/10 in our exclusive review:

Presale Passcode For WWE SummerSlam 2024 Tickets

Staff
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WWE fans looking to attend this year’s SummerSlam event from Cleveland, OH can now purchase tickets.

The WWE SummerSlam 2024 tickets pre-sale is now live at Ticketmaster. 

The Exclusive Passcode sent in to SEScoops to participate in the presale is WWEVIP.

Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, May 9.

WWE SummerSlam takes place Saturday, August 3, 2024 from Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Will Ospreay Calls Himself “Officially Grizzled” After 31st Birthday, Sabu Reassures He Has Many More Years

Dominic DeAngelo
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Will Ospreay may think he old in wrestling, but one ECW legend in Sabu believes the top AEW star is quite far from that. 

Ospreay only turned 31 on May 7, and youth is wasted on the young as Will thinks he’s well beyond his years going past 30. The top AEW star made note of his assumed state in the world of wrestling on social media.

“I’m 31 now. I’m officially grizzled,” Ospreay mentioned in a post on X. The Tweet got a kick out of pro wrestling legend Sabu, who reassured Will that he’s got a ways to go before he truly hits grizzled status.

“Officially grizzled? Lol. I wish I wasn’t officially grizzled. Lol you have many more years until you are grizzled.”

Will has basically just started his in-ring career with All Elite Wrestling, but Sabu has had already had some involvement with the promotion. He played a primary role in a program with Chris Jericho almost a year ago at AEW Double Or Nothing. Jericho took on Adam Cole in an unsanctioned match and Sabu played the enforcer of the fight. While he was dressed to the nines, he wasn’t afraid to get physical and did just that to take out Jericho.

Quite the dream birthday present for Will Ospreay would have to be a dream fight against Sabu. The legend actually has been getting himself back into ring shape to have one last match, stating that he’d love to involve AEW regular and best friend, RVD.

WWE Joining Vince McMahon & John Laurinaitis In Efforts To Compel Arbitration in Janel Grant Lawsuit

Thomas Lowson
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WWE will join its former CEO Vince McMahon in an effort to compel arbitration in the lawsuit brought against them by ex-employee Janel Grant. 

The shocking allegations in Grant’s lawsuit resulted in McMahon’s second resignation from WWE in January 2024 though he has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and trafficking. McMahon’s lawyer has claimed that Grant’s lawsuit is ‘revenge’ for McMahon ending their relationship, a claim Grant’s legal team has denied. 

In April 2024, McMahon filed to compel arbitration in the case that would see this lawsuit settled quietly outside of court, a move John Laurinaitis, who is also among the defendants, supports. In a new filing, it is revealed that WWE will align with both men in their efforts to compel arbitration.

“WWE also anticipates filing a motion to compel arbitration and stay this action pending arbitration”, which removes any doubt that all three defendants will be moving to compel arbitration.”

It is proposed that the three defendants file their motion by Tuesday, May 14. WWE has yet to file a motion while Laurinaitis has filed the motion but not a memorandum in support. McMahon has already filed both. 

Not a Comeback

While McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE may be on the same side, fans shouldn’t see this as a sign of a potential return for either man. There is said to be nobody defending McMahon in WWE given the seriousness of the allegations against him. McMahon has listed all of his remaining stock in TKO for sale, and there have been no movements for Laurinaitis to return either. 

Daily Drop (5/8): Sexyy Red Defends Trick Williams, Ric Flair Busted As Unflattering Footage Surfaces

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for May 8, 2024. There is a lot to cover every day in the pro wrestling world, but this should get you up to speed.

Before we get going, Vince McMahon and WWE came up in an unlikely place yesterday. Daniels mentioned her initial interest in discussing professional wrestling when she first met Trump. She knew about the long-standing friendship between McMahon and Trump and wanted to explore that connection. She shared a conversation with Trump where he realized the similarities between adult film stars and professional wrestlers, noting both are like athletes. Daniels, who works in adult films, chuckled in court as she compared her industry to pro wrestling, describing it as “real but not real.”

Now, let’s get into the Daily Drop!

WWE:

Announcer Call-Up: NXT ring announcer Alicia Taylor is on her way up to SmackDown. That will see female ring announcers on each WWE main roster brand for the first time in history, as Samantha Irvin still has RAW on lock.

Jacy Jayne Injured: During NXT this week, it was confirmed that Jacy Jayne suffered a broken nose during Spring Breakin’ week two. She needed surgery, and at this time there is no return time table for her return to the ring.

Sexyy Red Is For Trick: Popular rapper Sexyy Red was watching NXT this week, and she wasn’t happy about Noam Dar jumping Trick Williams. She posted on Twitter/X to say make it very clear that she was watching NXT this week.

Randy Orton Auditions: While speaking to Adam’s Apple, Randy Orton opened up a bit about acting outside WWE. He does still do auditions from time to time, but in the end, he’s actually glad when he doesn’t land those roles.

”I was just talking to Cody Rhodes about this (venturing into acting) in Marcé, France and it’s… I really love what I’m doing now. I love watching movies. There’s a lot of work that goes into them. 10, 12 hours a day on set… and I do auditions. I’m with U.T.A. and I do turn in some auditions, I do some self-tapes here and there but, sometimes I’ll see these roles pop up a year or two later that I don’t get and I’ll see it and I’ll be like, ‘Man, I’m glad I didn’t get that role.’ I would’ve busted my ass.

AEW:

AEW Dynamite 5/8 Card:

  • TNT Championship: Adam Copeland vs. Brody King
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta
  • Mariah May vs. Harley Cameron
  • Swerve Strickland face-to-face with Christian Cage
  • We’ll hear from Serena Deeb
  • Kenny Omega will make an important announcement

RVD Is All Elite: Although he never inked a deal with AEW, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam stated that he is more than willing to go back to AEW for an extended run. So far, all of his appearances were handshake deals.

Hardy Boyz Want To Retire Together: In an interview with ComicBook, Matt Hardy discussed his retirement plans alongside Jeff Hardy. He mentioned that both he and Jeff aim to conclude their wrestling careers together, mirroring the way they started.

“That would definitely be our goal. It is very important to us to finish how we started. We started as two brothers on this journey. Our goal was to win the tag team titles of the world one time, and obviously we did that many times over. We do want to end that way. We’ve talked, and we’re both very aware of that. We want to end our careers together as a team.”

Ric Flair Footage: Tiktok user @bussines11.11 uploaded footage of Ric Flair’s incident at Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza in Gainesville, Florida. This was not the best look for the Nature Boy at all, as the footage captured him using strong language toward the manager by calling him a ‘dip****’ and challenging him to a fight outside the restaurant. Flair concluded the incident by offering a $1000 tip to a staff member.

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 25: King & Queen of the Ring (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)
  • Sunday, June 9: NXT Battleground (PLE)

Details On How WWE Superstars Get Paid & How It’s Changed From the Past

Thomas Lowson
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Does WWE’s current method of paying talent leave Superstars reluctant to the ‘grind’ that Paul Levesque spoke of during WrestleMania week? 

At a WWE World event, the WWE COO spoke of talent choosing other promotions because they don’t want to deal with the ‘grind’ of being a Superstar. While Triple H didn’t mention any names or companies, AEW’s Will Ospreay saw the line as a dig at him which led to a scathing comment about Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

In a recent interview with WWE alum Maven Huffman, Mace and Mansoor discussed how being paid works in the modern-day. Maven explained how when he was under contract, he was paid a percentage of what events made, giving him a reason to try and work events as much as possible. 

Those days are a thing of the past, as Mansoor explained how like Maven, modern talent are paid weekly, but at a fixed rate no matter what.

“So we do get a check in the mail every week, but it’s the same number every time. No matter how many shows you work; no matter how many times you wrestle. Even if you don’t wrestle at all. We get the same payment every week. We get guaranteed money no matter what.”

Mace added that a talent knowing they will receive the same amount each week may be discouraged from working as they’ll make just as much money sat at home. 

“In a way you’re actually not incentivized to work because when you’re working house shows, doing all these dates, you have to pay for your car. You have to pay for your hotel and the only thing we don’t pay for are our flights. If you were just sitting at home hurt, you’re just getting your weekly paycheck.”

Maven questioned how factors like merch sales and appearances are relevant given this system and Mansoor would explain how the ‘bucket system’ works. 

“Every time you work a show, you get an invisible payment that doesn’t actually go into your bank account. It goes into the metaphorical bucket. The top of the bucket is your downside… If your downside is $125,000, then every time you work a show, they make an invisible payment of $1,000. Now you don’t see that $1,000 until you make $125,000 worth of bookings on top of your downside. So everything above $125,000 is a bonus for you.”

With the bucket system, talent can be left waiting for some time before they see the benefits of working house shows and other events. Unfortunately, as the pair explained, a talent getting close to overflowing their ‘bucket’ may find themselves be kept off TV and house shows with the reasoning that ‘creative has nothing for you.’ This, of course keeps talent from being paid the bonus they would have had their ‘bucket’ overflowed.

WWE’s way of paying talent has clearly changed since Maven’s tenure and while it may have flaws, it has made many wrestlers (and of course the company) a lot of money. In this new era, we can’t count out that WWE could change its payment to a system more favorable to the talent in the ring. 

Rob Van Dam Is Open To An Extended Run With AEW

Bishal Roy
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Pro wrestling legend Rob Van Dam has shed some light on his future at AEW after making only a handful of appearances. 

Since making his debut in August 2023, he has competed in only six matches. This sparked concern for his future with the promotion but RVD is not ruling out a longer run with AEW. Speaking on 1 of A Kind Podcast, he said that he would consider an offer but he is yet to have discussions for a possible extended run. He said:

“I would like to think that I’m open to any conversation. So anything’s worth considering. Let’s hear what you got in mind, whatever. But no, I don’t have any of those talks. What you see is what you get, and that’s all anybody is talking about. All anyone is talking about doing, let me put it that way.”

He further said that taking time off and not wrestling full-time has a disadvantage – it impacts the conditioning. RVD has explained that if he wrestled more often then fans could see a more ‘fluid’ version of himself. He said:

“One thing the fans don’t take into consideration that I do, it’s cool having time off and I don’t want to be full-time, anything like that. But it is a big disadvantage, being in the ring, because no matter how much conditioning that I do, there’s no wrestling conditioning like wrestling. So if I was wrestling like every week, instead of sometimes every six weeks, maybe eight weeks, whatever, then you would have a little bit even more fluid RVD.”

Rob Van Dam’s AEW career

The 53-year-old has been making sporadic appearances in AEW. He immediately made a mark after his debut when he went up against then-FTW Champion Jack Perry. Though he was unsuccessful in dethroning the champ, he received massive praise for the match. RVD then went on to team up with Hook for a couple of matches over two months.

Earlier this year in January, the veteran wrestler faced Sean Strickland in a Hardcore match but endured a defeat. RVD competed in a six-man tag team match joining forces with Adam Page and Hook in February. His last match for the promotion took place a few weeks back when he picked up his maiden win after defeating Isiah Kassidy, Komander, and Lee Johnson.

While fans might wonder why RVD is not heading to WWE, the veteran star blames the lack of connection with WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H. Read more below:

Tony Khan: ‘AEW Is Where The Best Wrestle. That’s Not Me’

Thomas Lowson
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Tony Khan may have taken steps towards being an on-screen presence for AEW but don’t expect the 40-year-old billionaire to lace up a pair of wrestling boots. 

With Khan becoming more of a presence on programming in recent years, it’s not hard to see why some have speculated on a potential match for the AEW President. When asked about this possibility on Cincy 360 however, Khan explained why headlock and suplexes aren’t in his future.

“AEW is where the best wrestle, and we mean that…in this case, I’m not the best person to pay those people back.”

Khan also pointed out that things hardly went his way the last time he was in an AEW ring as he was the victim of an attack by The Elite. 

“After what happened to me last time, I don’t think I’d be making a smart move trying that [having a match].”

The AEW President hasn’t been seen on TV since the attack by the Elite in April 2024. This marked Khan’s first time getting physical as part of an AEW storyline and he took a piledriver from the Young Bucks. The faction attacked Kenny Omega the following week. 

Wrestling Bosses

While Khan doesn’t plan on having a match, there are some names from wrestling’s corporate side who would step into the ring. Perhaps the most obvious example is Vince McMahon who competed a total 63 times between August 1998 and April 2022. Shane and Stephanie McMahon would also establish themselves as business people in WWE before they stepped into the ring. 

Chris Jericho Reveals The Idea Behind New ‘Learning Tree’ Gimmick

Bishal Roy
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Chris Jericho is focused on storylines and characters which he believes are the major aspects of pro wrestling. 

The former AEW World Champion has portrayed several interesting gimmicks during his illustrious career, the latest being ‘The Learning Tree.’ Chris Jericho recently joined the Kevin Karius Show to outline the significance of evolving gimmicks over time. The 53-year-old veteran said that the matches are important but the stories and characters draw the attention of the fans which remains  “the most important aspect” to him. He said:

“I just started doing this Learning Tree gimmick a few weeks ago. That’s the best thing about wrestling, when people start to get mad at you, you turn into a bad guy and when people like you, you turn into a good guy. This is the start of this whole new persona as we continue the story. That’s the most important thing about wrestling, the story. The matches are important, but the characters and the storylines are what really draws people into watching you and draws people into following what you’re doing. To me, that’s always been the most important thing.”

‘The Learning Tree’

Chris Jericho further explained that ‘The Learning Tree’ gimmick is based on the role of a teacher. Being a seasoned veteran of the game and with extensive pro wrestling knowledge, Jericho’s persona is a reflection of his real life. He aims to teach and guide the up-and-coming AEW stars. However, he possesses heel traits as he gets people “mad,” given the fact that he is a treasure of knowledge. He explained:

“The teacher. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I thought, what’s a cool way to personify that and make people mad? I’ve been doing this at a high level, I thought, I’ll adopt this persona of being the seasoned vet that teaches the rookies the ways of the game. That’s how it started, and the way we’ve portrayed it, people get really mad at me for it. That’s what you want. By being the seasoned vet who knows everything, that makes people mad at me. That’s wrestling for you.”

The Canadian legend had wanted to take Hook under his wing which the latter rejected. ‘The Learning Tree’ dethroned Hook and captured the FTW Championship. However, the veteran got ‘Go-away heat’ after the title win. On last week’s Dynamite, Jericho retained his title against Katsuyori Shibata.

AEW star Big Bill has been trying to learn from the veteran star, who agreed on last week’s Rampage. It has been announced that Chris Jericho will join forces with Big Bill on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

Jericho is not only enjoying his title run but he is also gearing up for an acting role in an upcoming action horror movie. Read more below:

Drew McIntyre Threatens To Tear CM Punk Apart in Glasgow in WWE Clash At The Castle Tease

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre has continued to hype a showdown with CM Punk in the Scottish Warrior’s home country as part of WWE Clash At The Castle. 

During this week’s Raw, Punk once again had plenty to say about McIntyre, albeit after his nemesis had already left the arena. Teasing a showdown at the June 15, event, Punk said: 

“I’m gonna find you. If you make me go to Glasgow, Scottland, I’m gonna be hiding in a bowl of haggis, and I’m gonna pop out, and I’m gonna break your face.”

Now McIntyre has also teased confronting Punk in Scotland. In a lengthy Twitter video, the three-time WWE World Champion ends by saying he’d be ready if Punk does indeed come to Glasgow. 

“I heard what you said. If you actually turn up to Glasgow, you’re not going to leave in one piece.”

Should Punk appear in Glasgow, he may not receive a warm welcome from the UK crowd. Not only will McIntyre receive a hero’s welcome in his home country but the fans at AEW All In gave a mixed-at-best response to Punk for what would eventually be his final All-Elite match. 

Will CM Punk and Drew McIntyre come to blows in Glasgow? 

WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland

The June 15, event will be WWE’s second Clash At The Castle event and will follow on from the 2022 show in Cardiff, Wales. The name is somewhat inaccurate this time around, as while Cardiff and the surrounding area is home to several castles, there is no actual castle in Glasgow. Clash At The Castle: Scotland will take place at the OVO Hydro which will also host a SmackDown taping the night before. 

WWE Drops Another Clue Linking Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan

Thomas Lowson
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Something is going on between WWE Superstars Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. Wrestling fans have noticed a series of subtle hints linking the Judgment Day member and the former Women’s World Champion. With Rhea Ripley off TV due to injury, it seems there’s another woman stealing Dirty Dom’s attention as of late.

Ripley suffered an injury during a backstage attack by Morgan that forced her to relinquish the Women’s World Championship. Morgan, the last woman to have a pinfall victory over Ripley, has been relishing in the fact that she put the Australian out of action. 

During the April 29, episode of Monday Night Raw, Dominik was seen leaving a room backstage and Liv was seen leaving the same area moments later. This has led to speculation that something may be brewing between the two despite their on-screen differences as Mysterio is the on-screen ‘squeeze’ of Ripley.

Latest Clue: The Bandana

Now you see it, now you don’t 

The latest ‘blink you and you miss it’ clue was shown on this Monday’s 5/6 WWE Raw. Mysterio appeared in-ring with his signature purple bandana, but was not wearing it later in the show during a backstage segment with The Judgment Day and Carlito. 

Mysterio didn’t address his missing bandana on Raw, but we may have found it. Morgan posed for a photo backstage at Raw and if you look closely at her front left pocket, there’s a purple bandana poking out. 

Oh, there it is!

Could Liv Morgan’s efforts to ruin Rhea Ripley’s life lead to her stealing Dominik away from her? Or is there another reason why the two have been getting closer in recent weeks? All we know is that something appears to be brewing between the former SmackDown Women’s Champion and ‘Dirty Dom.’

Dominik isn’t the only goal in Morgan’s sights, however. The young Superstar will challenge Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s World Championship (a title Ripley once held) at WWE King and Queen of the Ring. 

NXT Ring Announcer Alicia Taylor Receives Main Roster Call-up

Bishal Roy
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NXT ring announcer Alicia Taylor’s hard work has paid off as she will soon take over her announcing duties on SmackDown.

Reports floated that Alicia Taylor would be called up to the main roster and NXT Creative Head Shawn Michaels recently took to X and confirmed the move. He said that Taylor is an “irreplaceable part” of NXT and acknowledged her for the “countless unforgettable moments” on the brand. HBK is delighted that “she’s bringing her endending passion” to SmackDown. He thanked her for her valuable contributions and congratulated her on her next step.

Following last night’s edition of NXT, on-air personnel, wrestlers and the broadcast team assembled to give a farewell to Taylor. Michaels also posted a video clip of the announcement being made to the NXT locker room about Taylor’s main roster move. 

Alicia Taylor has gained massive popularity for her unique announcing style. The 43-year-old has a heavy metal background which has a major influence on her voice. Taylor is also a drummer and has played drums for Kate Nash, Kelly Osbourne, Colton Dixon, Selena Gomez, and more. 

Alicia Taylor signed with WWE in 2018 and has ever since been the lead announcer of NXT.  However, she has filled in on the main roster as per the requirements. Now, she has secured her move to the blue brand permanently. 

As Alicia Taylor will announce for SmackDown, Mike Rome, who has enjoyed a lengthy tenure on the blue brand, will return to NXT. Meanwhile, Samantha Irvin will continue her duties on Raw. Taylor’s move to the main roster has also scripted history as this marks the first time WWE main roster will feature two black women announcers. 

Jacy Jayne Face Injury Confirmed On 7/5 Episode of WWE NXT

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT Superstar Jacy Jayne is on the shelf for the time being after undergoing surgery for a facial injury. 

During the May 7, episode of WWE NXT, Jazmyn Nyx revealed that Jayne suffered a broken nose during her match against Thea Hail that took place at NXT Spring Breakin (Night Two). Photos of Jayne showed how bad the injury was and Nyx confirmed that Jayne had undergone surgery. Nyx vowed that she would do everything she could to get revenge on Hail for what happened. 

Jayne and Hail faced off on the April 30, episode of WWE NXT. During the match, Hail kicked out of a cover and smacked Jayne’s face in the process, causing the injury. Jayne, a former WWE NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, could be seen bleeding before she lost the match via submission. After that match, Jayne teased that she’d been injured by sharing a 2015 photo of John Cena after his nose was broken by Seth Rollins. 

It’s currently unclear when Jayne will be back given the nature of her injury. In Cena’s case, he returned within weeks of his broken nose to face Rollins at SummerSlam. With that said, the 16-time WWE World Champion has always demonstrated a freakishly quick recovery time from injuries. 

Whatever the timeframe for Jayne’s recovery is, it’s enough to keep her from plans for the NXT Women’s North American Championship. On this week’s NXT, the 12 names who will compete in qualifying matches were revealed, with neither Jayne nor Nyx making the list. Hail did make the top 12 rankings as the #2 seed. 

We at SE Scoops are wishing Jacy Jayne a speedy recovery from this setback. 

WWE Star Michin (Mia Yim) Breaks Unfortunate 16-Month Streak On NXT

Thomas Lowson
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Mia Yim just took a big towards becoming NXT’s first North American Women’s Champion and she snapped a 477-day losing streak in the process. 

WWE announced 12 women will compete in qualifying matches on NXT TV, with the six winners advancing to a ladder match at NXT Battleground to crown the inaugural Women’s North American Champion. Battleground takes place Sunday, June 9 from Las Vegas at the UFC Apex facility.

The new NXT Women’s North American Championship belt

On this week’s 5/7 edition of NXT TV, Yim defeated Arianna Grace to advance to the championship ladder match at Battleground. This win has been a long time coming for Yim, who returned to television last week . Prior to defeating Grace, Yim’s most recent televised win hadn’t taken place since WWE Raw on January 16, 2023 when she faced Iyo Sky.

Yim was brought back to WWE in late 2022 after being let go the previous year. While fans had high expectations for her, especially after she joined The O.C., her 477-day streak shows that not everyone brought back to WWE has been used effectively. 

Backstage after her win, the former O.C. member spoke about how much it would mean to hear to be the first woman to hold this new championship.

Since returning, Yim has had just one singles title opportunity, which ironically saw her be beaten by SKY in January 2024. With her first TV win in a long time, it remains to be seen whether Yim can capitalize on this and become the first NXT Women’s North American Champion. 

Keep checking into SE Scoops for all the latest from WWE NXT as the gold brand continues forward on the road to NXT Battleground. 

Bret Hart Shares Touching Tribute To Owen Hart On His Birthday

Dominic DeAngelo
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Owen Hart would have turned 59 years old on May 7, and his older brother Bret Hart wanted to be sure to share his love for the late King Of Harts.

The Hart Family are one of pro wrestling’s greatest families, but they are also a family mired in tragedy. The wrestling world was forever shaken on May 23, 1998 when Owen fell from the rafters and passed away at WWF Over The Edge.

Owen however, will forever been known for his amazing wrestling skill, but also his fun-loving sense of humor and his innate good-natured ability to rib “the boys.” Bret Hart took to social media on his younger brother’s birthday, telling fans how Owen happened to visit him in a dream and it warmed ‘The Hitman’s’ heart.

“I had a wonderful dream two days ago, Owen came to me briefly and it was that big smile that quickly brought about a bigger smile of my own. He was ribbing me and I was surprised that he almost got me again. I woke up smiling. I think of you in my happy thoughts, I often see you in the highest and farthest corner of a room. Those warm blue eyes and expressions of amusement and reflection. Sometimes I hear your voice often behind my right ear, or just driving down the highway. Hey Oje’, just so you know, that I know that it’s you.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6rZ3MivzOB

Owen is still honored in pro wrestling today in many ways. Kevin Owens took his last name in WWE in homage to Hart and AEW annually runs the Owen Hart Memorial Cup that involves his wife Martha Hart.

Ric Flair Berates Restaurant Manager, Offers Waitress $1k Tip In Candid Video

Aaron Varble
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Ric Flair has seen controversy follow him for decades, and things aren’t slowing down for the 75-year-old legend. The 16-time World Champion was recently involved in a controversy after criticizing Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza in Gainesville, Florida. He claimed he was treated disrespectfully, but a video of an incident he had with the staff paints a different picture.

Flair stated, “I graciously took 20 pictures with customers and staff,” after spending $1,500 at the restaurant. Despite this, he was asked to leave following a disagreement with the kitchen manager, which Flair attributed to the manager spending too much time in the bathroom. This led to a heated, profanity-laden exchange.

Here’s the footage, courtesy of Tiktok user @bussines11.11:

Flair advised people looking for a pleasant dining experience in Gainesville to avoid Piesanos. In response, the co-owner of the restaurant defended the decision to ask him to leave, supporting the staff’s actions during the incident.

The ‘Nature Boy’ is visibly frustrated, uses strong language towards the manager, calling him a ‘dip****’, and challenging him to a physical fight outside the restaurant. Flair ended the incident by offering a $1000 tip to one of the staff members.

Read more about this story, including previous statements from the restaurant owner and Flair:

Ric Flair’s Controversies

Flair has gotten his share of negative headlines in recent years.  His involvement in the infamous ‘Plane Ride From Hell’ carrying WWE executives and wrestlers was brought back to the public consciousness when it was documented on Vice’s Dark Side of the Ring two years ago. Flair was involved in an incident where he flashed two stewardesses and allegedly sexually assaulted them by backing one against the wall while only wearing his ring robe. 

Dark Side producers emphasized that the episode recounting these events is not mere mischief, but a dark and troubling account that highlights the severe impact on the flight crew forced to handle the aggressive behavior of intoxicated wrestlers.

WWE & Vince McMahon Referenced In Donald Trump Hush Money Trial

Aaron Varble
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Vince McMahon and WWE were referenced in court several times on Tuesday during Stormy Daniels’ testimony as part of the ongoing hush money trial against former US President Donald Trump. 

Daniels said that when she first met Trump, she “really wanted” to ask him about professional wrestling. McMahon and Trump have been close friends for decades and she was eager to explore that connection. She recalled a conversation with Trump where it “sort of clicked” for him that adult film stars are similar to athletes and pro wrestlers. Daniels, an adult film star, laughed on the stand as she her world to pro wrestling. Like WWE, “it’s real but it’s not.”

Visit Google News for more coverage of Stormy Daniels testifying in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial.

Former US President Donald Trump sits in court at Manhattan criminal court at the New York State Supreme Court in New York, NY, (Tuesday, May, 7, 2024)

Trump faces charges of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to Daniels, who asserts they had an affair. He has entered a not guilty plea and denies the affair claim. 

On Monday, both current and former officials from the Trump Organization provided testimony on how Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was reimbursed for the $130,000 payment to Daniels.

Judge Juan Merchan has reiterated that Trump violated his gag order twice and has warned him again about the potential for jail time if he continues to post attacks on witnesses and the jury. 

New York Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city’s Department of Correction and Rikers Island are prepared to accommodate Donald Trump if he is incarcerated for violating Judge Merchan’s gag order in the trial.

AEW Dynamite Preview: Kenny Omega To Make Important Announcement

Thomas Lowson
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Kenny Omega will share something very important with the fans during the upcoming May 8, episode of AEW Dynamite. 

On Twitter, news of Omega’s importance announcement was shared by the official AEW account. Whatever the EVP has to say will happen inside the Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 

It’s unknown what Omega will have to say on Dynamite, though it will likely refer to the actions of The Elite. The group (which now includes Jack Perry), attacked Tony Khan recently and ambushed Omega during last week’s episode of Dynamite. 

AEW Announcements

AEW is no stranger to announcements but these have often been met with mixed reviews from fans. Some announcements have certainly been massive, such as the reveal of AEW All In in April 2023, or the announcement of AEW Collision the following month. 

Some announcements, however, have fallen flat with fans who expected much bigger revelations from the company. In November 2023, a much-hyped announcement revealed that tickets for All In 2024 would be going on sale the following week. Many fans found this news to be a dud and hardly needed teasing as an announcement first. 

AEW Dynamite – 5/8/2024

Dynamite will see much more than an announcement from Kenny Omega. Orange Cassidy will face off against Trent Beretta in the latest chapter of their deeply personal rivalry. 

Mariah May will look to continue proving herself to AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm when she takes on Harley Cameron. The Australian will likely have Saraya in her corner. 

Mere days after defending his TNT title against Buddy Matthews, Adam Copeland will put his gold on the line again. This time it’ll be the House of Black’s Brody King who gets a shot at the gold. 

Keep checking in to SE Scoops for all the latest from AEW Dynamite as the company builds towards their Double or Nothing pay-per-view. 

The Undertaker: ‘Paul Bearer Wouldn’t Have Felt Disrespected By WrestleMania 29 Angle’

Thomas Lowson
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Paul Bearer would’ve loved being in one final WWE storyline after his passing, according to his long-term ally The Undertaker. 

The legendary manager’s passing rocked the wrestling world in 2013, as did WWE’s decision to incorporate it into a storyline. Bearer’s passing was repeatedly poked fun of by CM Punk as part of the Best in the World’s ‘mind games’ with The Undertaker ahead of their clash at WrestleMania 29. 

At the time, many felt that WWE crossed a line and that more respect should have been shown to Bearer after his passing. On his Six Feet Under podcast, however, The Undertaker argued that being in the story is what his late manager would’ve wanted. 

“Everybody was a little uptight about bringing that to me, thinking it might be disrespectful. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Paul would love the fact that even after he’s gone… I don’t think he would have felt like it was disrespectful.”

The Undertaker isn’t the only one who feels this way. Speaking to TMZ at the time, Bearer’s son Michael Moody made clear WWE had the family’s permission. 

“We felt that dad would have wanted us at RAW last week and agreed to the angle… We knew Dad wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

The storyline ultimately saw The Undertaker defeat CM Punk at WrestleMania, giving the Phenom his 21st win at the event; the final win of his legendary undefeated streak. As for Paul Bearer, he’d be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame that same year, and would have relished one last time in the spotlight. 

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