Fans were graced with the presence of The Mami Rhea Ripley after the 3/29 SmackDown from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut went off air.
The Women’s Champion made a brief appearance during the show. This came after the segment between LWO and Legado Del Fantasma. A tag team match between Dominik Mysterio & Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee for WrestleMania 40 was announced during this confrontation.
The whole Judgement Day was shown backstage after this and Dom apologized to his teammates for not informing them of his intentions ahead of time.
This wasn’t the last of Rhea Ripley fans got to see, however. The World Champion competed in a dark match after SmackDown went off air where she retained her title against Shayna Baszler.
After smackdown went off the air Rhea Ripley faced Shayna Basler for the women's title. No surprise Rhea retained obviously. It was a good match. pic.twitter.com/C0Pm0zt7n0
The second dark match of the night featured another member of the Judgement Day. Finn Balor squared off against Sami Zayn in this match but unlike Mami, he failed to win the contest.
What Happened On SmackDown
Apart from this, the show also featured an appearance from former AEW star Jade Cargill. The female star made her SmackDown signing official during the show and put the whole roster on notice.
Cargill made her presence felt in a big way during the main event segment as well. The final broadcasted match of the night featured Bianca Belair defeating Dakota Kai in a singles contest.
Asuka and Kairi Sane attacked the EST immediately after the bell rang and Naomi also failed to stop this assault. Jade Cargill made the save for the babyfaces and they stood tall to end the show.
WrestleMania is coming up in 8 days at this point, but even before that, WWE World will open for fans. This will replace the company’s former Axxess event, and give fans an opportunity to meet their favorite Superstars.
The WWE World at WrestleMania is a five-day interactive fan event set to run from Thursday, April 4 through Monday, April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Tickets are slated to become available this Thursday, February 22 at 10 a.m. ET, with prices ranging from $30 to $300.
WWE World has announced the complete schedule of superstar appearances for April 4th to April 8th. Those appearances include some top Superstars on WrestleMania 40 weekend.
WWE World Superstar Appearances
This year’s WWE World is Fanatics’ first-ever fan event for the company. WrestleMania weekend will be busy for fans, especially if they get in on the meet & greets.
Operating hours vary each day: Thursday, April 4th will see the venue open from 12 pm to 8 pm, followed by Friday, April 5th from 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday, April 6th from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday, April 7th from 10 am to 5 pm, and Monday, April 8th from 10 am to 5 pm. The event will be hosted at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.
You can find the complete list of Superstar appearances at WWE World below. SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as additional updates are made available.
WWE World: Full Schedule of Superstar Appearances
THURSDAY, A?PRIL 4: 12 PM – 8 PM
AJ Styles • Bobby Lashley • Carlito • Chelsea Green • Damian Priest
• Dragon Lee • Finn Bálor • Ivy Nile • Jade Cargill • JD McDonagh
Akam • Angelo Dawkins • Asuka • Cora Jade • Dakota Kai • Kairi Sane • Kevin Owens • Liv Morgan • Luke Gallows • Lyra Valkyria • Montez Ford • Noam Dar • Rezar • Ridge Holland • Tegan Nox • Trick Williams • Xavier Woods • And More!
Recently, Becky Lynch’s memoir ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl‘ hit shelves, and has proven to be a gripping read for wrestling fans and casual readers alike.
In the book, she writes candidly about her life in and outside of the ring. She shares unpleasant aspects of her journey, including insecurities that have made her feel cowardly at times.
Here’s a link to some prominent Becky Lynch book reviews, followed by our five takeaways from reading Becky Lynch’s new book, The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl.
She Wasn’t a Fan of WWE Evolution
In 2018, WWE held its first (and to date, only) all-female Premium Live Event. WWE Evolution was quite the show and saw Lynch retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match.
While Lynch considers the match one of her favorites, the show concept itself did not sit right with her. Lynch writes how WWE would never promote an event being an all-men show, so to do so with the women’s roster seemed like the opposite of equality. Lynch was also not a fan of the ending of WWE Evolution, which saw all the women come out on stage, something else the company wouldn’t do for the men.
She Didn’t Like the Look of Finn Balor at First
Finn Balor (or Fergal) plays a huge role in Lynch’s memoir, as her trainer and a long-term boyfriend. Even after splitting, the pair remained close in a friendship that lasts to this day.
Despite this, Becky was far from impressed when she first saw Balor in promotional material for a wrestling school, as she told her brother:
“That Fegal lad looks like a real douchebag.”
Who, me?
Upon meeting Balor in person, Lynch would realize the handsome good looks of WWE’s first Universal Champion and it wouldn’t be long before the pair became an item.
She Struggled With Confidence for a Long Time
In her memoir, Becky doesn’t hold back on her feelings of inadequacy in her youth, but these feelings extended long into her WWE career. While many would see being hired by WWE as the definition of ‘making it’ Lynch continued to feel like she was always on the cusp of being let go.
Becky Lynch in NXT during the early years of her WWE run
Even after making it to the main roster, Lynch writes about feeling like she’s not enough, and feared being pulled from the WrestleMania 32 Women’s Triple Threat at the last minute. Even as the first SmackDown Women’s Champion, Lynch’s doubts didn’t go away, proof that mental health issues can affect us all.
She Was Engaged & Didn’t Want to Be
Becky Lynch has been married to Seth Rollins for some time now and the pair have a lovely young daughter in Roux. Years earlier though, Lynch would be engaged to somebody else, but hated that she was. From the start of the relationship, Lynch knew this man was not right for her, but she felt like she needed something outside of wrestling, in which she was struggling at the time.
A self-professed “f***ing coward” Lynch said yes when the man in question popped THE question on a Ferris wheel and did her best to hide the news of their engagement from friends and family. Lynch did tell Rollins, who had only weeks earlier listened as she spoke about not wanting to be with this guy. Wearing an engagement “ring of sadness” was not easy for Lynch, who eventually broke things off via text after a fight with her fiance.
She Knew Her 2018 Charlotte Feud Wouldn’t Work
In 2018, Lynch turned ‘heel’ after Charlotte Flair won the SmackDown Women’s Championship at that year’s SummerSlam, or at least that was the idea. The fans rallied behind the plucky Lynch and therefore rejected the second-generation wrestler who many had felt had been handed opportunities others should have been given.
Lynch knew from the get-go that this story wouldn’t work and constantly brought this up to management. Despite her pleas, Lynch was put on TV to cut generic heel promos, berating fans for never really supporting her, when they had all along. Even having Lynch berate the then-retired Edge did nothing to make fans boo her. While WWE eventually relented, Lynch’s 2018 heel run wasn’t easy or fulfilling for The Man.
AEW pulled in Jay White after he took over NJPW. As leader of Bullet Club Gold, things looked like they were taking an interesting turn as the Bang Bang Scissor Gang broke up in violent fashion. Then White disappeared, but there is a reason for that.
Switchblade Jay White has been absent from recent live appearances on AEW Dynamite or Collision. Visa issues prevent Jay White from working in Canada, but he’s anticipated to return to action once the company resumes U.S. shows.
Jay White’s Absence Explained
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Jay White has been absent from live appearances on AEW Dynamite or Collision in recent weeks. They have featured him in pre-filmed videos alongside Bullet Club Gold.
The ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions have not appeared live since parting ways with Bang Bang Scissor Gang and attacking Billy Gunn. This situation is blamed on Visa issues, a typical problem with foreign talent as they attempt to navigate red tape.
“Switchblade” Jay White is currently unable to work in Canada due to visa issues. He is expected to return to action once the company resumes running shows in the United States.
What’s Next For Jay White
They are still hyping the feud between Bullet Club Gold against The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. AEW will likely take care of that rivalry once Jay White is able to make his return.
As of this writing, Jay White does not have a match booked for AEW Dynasty on April 21. They have plenty of time before the St. Louis show goes down, so we will have to see how they work him into things.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
The clock is ticking on Matt Hardy’s future with All Elite Wrestling. He shared that his contract expires at the end of the month and that he has reached an agreement with the company. In giving an update to fans, Hardy revealed that AEW has offered him a new deal.
The wrestling legend admitted on his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, that he was given a new contract to stay with AEW for quite some time.
“…There is a little news to go along with my contract negotiations. I have a contract sitting in front of me for a few years, and now I’m looking through it, I’m like deciding what I want to do moving forward,” said Hardy.
Although Hardy has revealed that he already has an offer to stay, he seems still undecided. One of the wrestling legend’s concerns is that he wants to be utilized to his full potential while he can still compete.
“…There’s obviously still some options. I got to make sure that I’m aware of the ins and outs of the contract, and I want to make sure everything is up to par as far as like want I want it to be because, once again, as I say pretty often and I know that I only have a couple more years of doing this and I want to make the most out of those years whatever they may be. I want to be optimized in whatever I am doing, so that’s very important to me,” said Hardy.
More On Matt Hardy Remaining Undecided On Future With AEW
The AEW superstar comments are interesting as the company has decided to feature less on TV over the years. He signed with AEW in 2020 and has been given opportunities to be involved in multiple storylines throughout his tenure. However, he has been seen less on TV over the last year.
Hardy has remained adamant that he likes working for AEW and shared on the podcast that he is happy he was offered a contract to return. That said, the wrestling legend acknowledged on the podcast that he has several other options.
“…I’m very happy to, you know, be invited to return to AEW and work for the foreseeable future, but you know, we shall see because right now, I’m just currently weighing out the options. There’s a couple of things out there, and I would say in the next month, I should probably know what my immediate future is going to hold,” said Hardy
It seems fans will have to continue speculating on Hardy’s future until he makes an announcement next month. However, it doesn’t look promising that he has yet reached an agreement with a few days left in March.
WWE has something special planned for their upcoming WrestleMania 40 event, but plans are being kept under wraps for the time being.
WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will take place on April 6 and April 7 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
John Cena & Steve Austin on Raw
During the March 25, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, The Rock battered Cody Rhodes in the closing moments of the show, leaving the American Nightmare in a bloody heap.
During the assault, production trucks were seen in the background bearing the faces of John Cena and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. This immediately led to speculation that either (or perhaps both) could play a role at WrestleMania 40.
A WrestleMania Mystery
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer addresses the rumors of Cena and/or Austin being part of the WrestleMania 40 main event. He was “told not to read into that regarding the main events.”
While Cena and Austin may not interfere with the main event of the show, it appears something is in the works for WrestleMania 40. Meltzer writes that there is said to be a “mystery slot” on the card for the show. It is currently unclear if this is for Cena or somebody else.
WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is doing well following surgery after suffering a “freak accident” injury to his bicep.
It was reported in March 2024 that Aldis had suffered an injury and that it would require surgery. The British veteran later disclosed that he had ruptured a tendon in his bicep in what he described as a “freak accident.” Aldis added that he would continue to fulfill his obligations as general manager of the blue brand.
Nick Aldis Gives An Update
On a recent edition of the Gabby AF podcast, Aldis discussed his injury. The SmackDown GM explained how getting injured to the extent that he needs surgery is hardly a regular thing for him.
“Before this one, I’ve only had one major surgery my whole career and it was the other bicep, so it was just a freak thing.”
Aldis added that he is feeling much better now he’s gotten the surgery and hopes to be back in the swing of things in time for WrestleMania 40 next weekend.
“I feel great. I’m in a stupid splint cast thing for a little bit longer and then hopefully I’ll transition to a brace, kind of like the one that we’re seeing Punk wearing. I’ll be switching into one of those hopefully in time for WrestleMania.”
Nick Aldis
Aldis debuted in WWE in October 2023 on the very same night he was appointed SmackDown General Manger by Triple H. The Brit is perhaps best known for his NWA run which saw him reign as NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion for over 1,000 days.
Aldis also enjoyed success in TNA Wrestling, though his initial gimmick ‘Brutus Magnus’ (a nod to his time on the athletic game show ‘Gladiators’) left a lot to be desired. Aldis is a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and held the title for 128 days.
The Rock and Cody Rhodes ended this week’s episode of RAW with a bloody angle that was full of swearing in Chicago. The profanity was bleeped, but the blood was very real. The violence kept going after the show was over.
The Rock has released unseen footage of what happened after RAW was over in the parking lot outside the Allstate Arena. This showed how real things got as he beat down Cody Rhodes, even after the camera stopped rolling for the live show.
The Beatdown Continued
The Rock is going all out with his heel character this time around. He is also not cutting the profanity out at all, if anything, he is amplifying it.
When the camera was off, he continued the beatdown on Cody Rhodes. After a member of the WWE crew said that they were “clear,” meaning that the show was over, The Rock didn’t like heading that. He continued swearing and smearing Cody’s blood on that weight belt.
After several more whacks with the weight belt, and a lot of profanity, The Rock left. He was spitting, and angry, while looking back to Rhodes and saying, “F*ck him!”
The Rock walked off, and his point was made. He was also still on after the show was over, which gave fans a great behind-the-scenes look at the WrestleMania build.
WWE fans saw The Rock re-insert himself into the fold during the Day 1 episode of RAW. He came out to surprise fans, but it wasn’t until later when his intentions were made very clear by confronting Roman Reigns.
The Rock and Roman Reigns were supposed to face off at WrestleMania 40, with Cody Rhodes getting written off with an injury angle. Then the “Cody crybabies” did their thing and it changed the main event once again.
After The Rock conceded that the match needed to be changed, then they changed gears to the booking we have today.
SEScoops will have more on the road to WrestleMania, no matter what happens next. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
The Rock has a new nickname, thanks to Brian Gewirtz, but it’s not necessarily a brand-new moniker. He is The Final Boss, but that is already a name that Samoa Joe has used in the past. AEW doesn’t want fans to forget about it, either.
AEW is going full-speed ahead in promoting Samoa Joe’s Final Boss t-shirt, despite The Rock using the name. Although nobody has the trademark locked down, there is now a bit of a battle over the nickname.
The Final Boss Battle
Dwayne Johnson has been calling himself The Final Boss for weeks now, and he’s having a great time getting heat in the process. The nickname is not locked down with any trademark within the pro wrestling bubble.
There are a few active trademarks for The Final Boss, but none of them are connected to AEW, WWE or The Rock. A couple of them are related to beer or food products, and another is in the advertising realm. So, The Rock and Samoa Joe can both technically use The Final Boss, because neither of them own it, yet.
AEW is actively promoting a “Final Boss” shirt for Samoa Joe, which was first released on January 17. They are embracing the term, and they are also making it very clear that Joe had the nickname first.
The Rock is set to team up with Roman Reigns to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. That feud got bloody on the March 25 episode of RAW, as Dwayne Johnson called himself “The Final Boss” the whole time.
The Final Boss name will likely stick around in WWE until Mania. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to lock that name down with a trademark, as intellectual property is a very important issue in pro wrestling.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we go down the road to WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
The Blackpool Combat Club member Jon Moxley has completely shaved his head and decided to sport a new look before his match in CMLL.
Mox is set for his highly-anticipated return to the ring. ‘The Death Rider’ has been away from in-ring action for the past few weeks. It was at AEW Revolution pay-per-view earlier this month that Mox competed before taking some time away from the squared circle. At the show, he had competed in a tag team match when he teamed up with Claudio Castagnoli against FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood).
Jon Moxley shows off new look
Ahead of the match in CMLL, Jon Moxley delivered a promo which was posted on the official Twitter/X account of CMLL. In the video clip, the former AEW World Champion can be seen with a bald look. The post was captioned with:
“Jon Moxley has arrived in Mexico City, and I’m in a hell of a mood. I will be in Arena Mexico tomorrow night, and the BCC will bring sweet, sweet violencia!”
You check out the video clip below:
?? JON MOXLEY YA ESTÁ EN MÉXICO El integrante del BCC que participará en Homenaje a #2LeyendasCMLL ha arribado a nuestro país.
Jon Moxley will make his return when he teams up with his Blackpool Combat Club members Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli in Mexico. As Wheeler Yuta is injured, he has been replaced by Matt Sydal on their team. They are scheduled to lock horns with the team comprising lucha stars Mistico, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero at tonight’s CMLL show in Arena Mexico.
Jon Moxley has a hectic schedule ahead of him. Following this match, he will be headed to Japan where he will join forces with Shota Umino to take on the team of Ren Narita and Jack Perry at NJPW Sakura Genesis pay-per-view on Saturday, April 6.
The Undertaker has named the proudest moment of his wrestling career.
The Dead Man has had many memorable encounters throughout the years. His matches with rivals such as Mick Foley and Kane are still remembered by fans multiple decades later.
However, when asked what is the greatest event he has ever been a part of during a recent Patreon Q&A, Taker picked his encounter with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 as his greatest match ever:
The Last Outlaw was asked if he thinks the Michaels match was maybe the greatest ever in history of wrestling. While he shied away from making any such claims, the WWE Hall of Famer did reveal that WWE originally wanted to put the match very early in the card. They threw a fit about it backstage and then both performers went into the ring with the intention of stealing the show:
You know me I don’t like to put myself over in those kind of answers but that match was pretty close to…in spite of Dave Meltzer only giving it four stars. I don’t remember him taking too many bumps. I don’t really have a lot of stock in what he says. I can’t even believe I just gave him credit. I did say his name and I’m regretting that right now. We might have to edit that out.
There was just so many special factors, starting with Shawn and I’s relationship. How it had come full circle and to where now we care for each other as friends and not just competitors and people working for the same company. We are genuine friends at that point.
We don’t like where we have been put on the card. So we both have chips on our shoulders. He was from San Antonio, I’m from Houston, we’re in Texas. Everything lined up perfectly for that match and that night and it’ll still probably be my proudest moment.”
My Greatest Matches: The Undertaker
The Undertaker later discussed how WrestleMania 25 was start of a series that ended with the memorable ‘End of An Era’ match with Triple H four years later. According to Taker, the pressure shifted completely on him after the first bout but the whole series is probably his greatest achievement as a performer:
“Then even then, leading into the two with Triple H. That was the continuation of those first two matches. Those all just kind of fell together. You’re talking about pressure though. The first one was us proving a point. The second one, the pressure was on me because I’m getting Shawn Michaels’ retirement match.
That’s a heavy heavy responsibility. Cause you want, you know, for somebody who has had a career like Shawn, you wanna make sure that they go away thinking ‘yeah, I can walk away from this. I am ok because we just tore the house down’ So that pressure was huge.
And then now I go into the next two with Triple H. Like I’ve just had two freaking banger matches and now we’re continuing the story with the best friend who is stepping in and completely different styles. Those were four really, really fun years.
There is my run with Mick [Foley] and the things that I got to do with Mick and obviously, the greatest story maybe ever told was me and Kane and I hold those in really high regard. But as far as storytelling, match quality and all of that, those four matches are probably I feel like four of my greatest matches.”
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription.
WWE released Matt Riddle in September 2023, and he had a lot going on in his life at the time. Now, as Riddle has transitioned to a life outside WWE, he can look back with a lot of introspection.
Matt Riddle is able to look back at his WWE exit, and he had a lot going on, from divorce to losing his best friend on the road. At this point, he just wants to get control of things, and he’s ready to do that.
While speaking to TV Insider, Riddle stated that he is at a point in his life where he wants to get control of things.
I think I’m at a stage of my life where I want to get control of it. I want to be in control of it. That’s why when WWE let me go it was the best move for everyone at the time. WWE merged with UFC under TKO, not that it played a huge part but was probably the cherry on top. I do think at the end of the day the schedule was getting to me. I didn’t want to believe that. Having another kid is extremely stressful. I just bought a house. I’ve been taking care of a lot of things. When I was working for WWE, I never had a vacation. I never had one vacation day. The only time I took off was those two or three months when they sent me away to clean up. That was also on me.
Riddle went on to say that he was, “dealing with a divorce and other things while working as much as I did. Not being able to see my three kids that I have with my ex-wife. There were a lot of variables that played a part.”
RKBro Split Played A Part
Matt Riddle also spoke about Randy Orton, and how close they were. The Apex Predator went out of action for a 10-month hiatus due to needing back fusion surgery. This was also something that affected Riddle, because he lost a lot more than just a tag team partner.
“On top of that, Randy [Orton] was my best friend when we wrestled together and traveled together. He was helping me get through a lot of these things. We talked about him going through a divorce and things like that. When he got hurt, I felt on my own. I still had people in the locker room, but not with the same amount of life experience as Randy. He really opened up to me on a lot of things. Things happen for a reason. I think I had a great run with WWE. I got to team with Randy. RK-Bro was pretty sick. I got a great match with Roman [Reigns], been in Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, and Survivor Series. You name it.”
Riddle’s Drug Use & WWE Release
Matt Riddle already confirmed that it was cocaine that led to his failed drug tests. WWE doesn’t even fine Superstars for testing positive for THC anymore, so popping for weed is not an infraction of the WWE Wellness Policy anymore.
Riddle’s release from WWE came after over two dozen infractions, some smaller than others, but he kept ruffling feathers. WWE higher ups could no longer make excuses for the Original Bro, or protect him.
The last straw was his inebriated escapade at JFK airport. He was heading home from WWE’s India live event at the time. After weeks of absence from television after that, he was fired in September 2023.
Riddle also stated that he is not surprised by the allegations against Vince McMahon in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Other Superstars have returned in the past, so we will have to see if Riddle gets another chance with WWE after so much has changed.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, so please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.
The pro wrestling world was turned upside down when Janel Grant’s lawsuit revealed heinous allegations against Vince McMahon. Now, someone who also had an intense battle with Vince and WWE is speaking out.
Martha Hart addressed the allegations against Vince McMahon, expressing her lack of surprise over Janel Grant’s lawsuit. She highlighted the gravity of the allegations and criticized the actions as incomprehensible.
Martha Hart Speaks on Vince McMahon Allegations
While speaking to News Nation, Martha Hart was asked about the allegations against Vince McMahon. She was quite candid as she said that the content of Janel Grant’s lawsuit did not surprise her.
“No, I was not surprised when I heard there was yet another lawsuit. Over the years, the WWE, they’ve had many lawsuits and they’ve had a lot of bad press. And I tell you, I read all of the 67 pages in that complaint – and it is absolutely horrific. And I have to say that the level of wickedness that’s described is beyond the pale in that complaint, and anyone with a shred of humanity would find the indignant acts just incomprehensible, frankly.”
“So it wasn’t a shock that there was another lawsuit, but the level of, I guess, depravity there certainly was. I’m a doctor in mental health and I’m also the founder and director of the Owen Hart Foundation, so no matter what hat I’m wearing, I always work with at-risk people. And I can tell you that – anyone that takes advantage of a vulnerable person is the most despicable type of person because these are people that need to be supported and protected, not exploited. And by Janel Grant’s own admission, she was a vulnerable person. She was unemployed, her parents had passed away, she was suffering with grief, and she was also just on the cusp of financial collapse. So these are all the makings of a very vulnerable person.”
Hart was also asked if she has any advice for Janel Grant. She suggested that Grant keep pressing this case, and not to back down.
I would say to just stay the course. And her claim is very credible, and I would be steadfast in my convictions, and don’t back down.
Martha Hart’s Legal Battle With WWE
Following Owen Hart’s tragic death in 1999, Martha Hart went to war with McMahon and WWE in court. A wrongful death lawsuit against WWE resulted in an alleged settlement of $18 million. Additionally, Hart pursued another lawsuit against WWE for unauthorized use of Owen Hart’s name and likeness, which was also resolved through a settlement.
Martha Hart recounted that her legal battles with WWE resembled a “David and Goliath” scenario. She explained the challenges she faced while confronting Vince McMahon and his company, describing it as a relentless struggle where they spared no effort to defend themselves.
WWE used their vast resources and ability to hire top lawyers for the fight against Hart. Martha also had a lot of frustration due to the tactics used to delay proceedings and divert attention from the core issues.
Owen Hart’s widow went on to note how wealth led to a sense of impunity for WWE, allowing individuals to believe they could act without constraints. Now, Vince McMahon is unable to escape this lawsuit against him that led to his resignation.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, so keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.
WWE has less than 10 days until WrestleMania 40 comes at fans. They may be getting close to the show of shows, but the company isn’t finished adding matches to the card.
WrestleMania 40 will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. SEScoops will have total coverage of the event, and the show may be even larger by the time the date comes around.
WWE is expected to announce three new matches from the SmackDown side for WrestleMania 40. Now, we have a better idea what the show of shows will look like when they are finished wrapping up the card.
More WrestleMania 40 Matches
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that a lineup for both nights of WrestleMania 40 exists, but it is confidential. They also have, at least, three matches to add to the show of shows this year.
Three new matches are reportedly from the Smackdown side, and it’s anticipated that angles for these matches will be hinted at, if not finalized, on the March 29 SmackDown. Official match announcements may be delayed until later in the week.
Possible WrestleMania 40 Additions
It was also noted that an LWO vs. Legado del Fantastma match might take place on the WrestleMania card in some form, either as a tag team or eight-man contest, but that is contingent on the status of Angel Garza & Humberto. Bobby Lashley & Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain & Karrion Kross is a potential match as well.
As of right now, there is no planned women’s tag team title match, but something involving Damage Control is anticipated.
Dominik Mysterio’s involvement in Rey Mysterio’s match on March 22 teased the beginning of a storyline, but it’s unknown when WWE might pull the trigger on that.
SEScoops will have more coverage of the road to WrestleMania as additional information is made known. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines. You may find the WrestleMania 40 card (so far) below.
WWE WrestleMania 40 Card (So Far):
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Tag team match – Night 1
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship – Night 2
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: TBD match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – Night 2
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn: Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. SmackDown tournament winners: Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens: Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
Kevin Kelly wants to give back to the wrestling business after an abrupt exit from All Elite Wrestling. The former AEW commentator was let go on March 8.
AEW has not publicly addressed the reason for his release, but it occurred just days after some controversial social media activity. While he remains a free agent, Kevin Kelly will host a virtual workshop for wrestlers and sports broadcasters.
Starting in mid-April, I’ll be teaching virtual classes for wrestlers who want to improve their promo abilities and announcers from all sports who want to take their broadcasting career to the next level,” wrote Kelly on X.
Kelly shared his email so that people interested could gain more information about the group courses and individual training.
The opportunity may be attractive to many, as Kelly has valuable knowledge of working in wrestling. Fans may recall his successful tenures with WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling before joining AEW. His broadcasting experience may also be helpful for people trying to work outside of wrestling in other forms of media.
Positive Reactions To Kevin Kelly’s Next Career Plan
The reaction to Kelly’s announcement has been positive, with other wrestlers sharing their experiences attending his classes. Independent wrestling star Anthony Greene was among those who reacted to Kelly’s new plans on Twitter and recommended learning from him.
“As someone who has done multiple courses with Kevin. I can vouch that this is definitely worth your time and money,” wrote Greene.
Another independent wrestling talent, Keith Youngblood, approved Kelly’s teaching on Twitter.
“I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar with Mr. Kelly when
@MattTaven
had his school in RI years ago.
One of my favorites to date. Incredibly informative and fun! Take advantage of this opportunity if you can,” wrote Youngblood.
It’s unclear how much it will cost to attend a class with Kelly. However, the positive responses and his career background could make it appealing to those looking to advance their wrestling and media careers.
AEW lost a top player when Kenny Omega went out of action. He was 1/2 of the #1 Contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Titles at the time, and a championship match was set. Suddenly, diverticulitis took one of the best pro wrestlers out of commission.
Kenny Omega continues to experience significant discomfort due to diverticulitis, and there is a high likelihood that he will need surgery. Although nothing has been 100% confirmed yet, it appears that may need to happen for The Cleaner to return to the ring.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Kenny Omega is still in a lot of pain from his diverticulitis. That means that, although no decision has been made, surgery is a very likely option for him.
While no decision has been made, it looks more likely than not that Kenny Omega will be getting surgery on his intestines. He’s had his ups and downs but has largely been dealing with a good amount of pain for months now. He said surgery is becoming more and more likely as two different doctors have told him they think it’s the best option.
What’s Next For Kenny Omega
It’s uncertain whether Kenny Omega will undergo surgery, but it’s increasingly likely, especially if he intends to return to wrestling and resume his career. The potential surgery would involve removing the perforated sections of his intestine and colon to improve his condition.
Comparisons are drawn to Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Brock Lesnar, who returned to pro wrestling successfully after facing similar health challenges. It was also noted that Omega’s situation with diverticulitis was particularly severe and life-threatening.
Kenny Omega was “fired” from The Elite in an AEW angle. That was done to keep him off television, but it could also set up a match against Okada whenever the time comes. Hopefully, The Cleaner will make his return sooner than later.
WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock and Roman Reigns team up to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Due to Dwayne Johnson’s involvement in the angle, they are getting a lot more leeway.
After Cody Rhodes’ bloody segment that concluded RAW this week, the company’s stance on bleeding on camera has been called into question. WWE still has a policy against blood, so don’t expect to see it on a regular basis.
WWE’s Stance On Blood
Cody Rhodes bled on television this week during RAW, but don’t expect to see that kind of angle every week. Rhodes bladed on WWE RAW this week, and the blood was planned.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that blood on WWE television is still going to be a very rare occurrence. They will not start featuring it all the time, and nowhere close to how often AEW lets their talent bleed on screen.
With blood, the key is that this is no longer Vince McMahon’s company. We were told that going forward it will be used very rarely. There are no plans to turn it into AEW where it’s used more liberally. But if Johnson wants it in his angle, he’s like Lesnar in the Vince administration, and has more power than Lesnar had then, and he’s going to be able to do what he wants in his angles and matches.
WWE’s No Blading Policy
The WWE shifted its approach to bleeding on screen in 2008 to reach more sponsors and clean up the image for younger viewers.
Cody Rhodes used a blade during his segment, a practice that in the past led to notable fines under Vince McMahon’s leadership. One instance was when Dave Bautista was fined $100,000.
Brock Lesnar has featured blood in his matches in the past, but those were mostly spots where his opponent bled the hard way. He even made himself bleed by cracking his head off the ring post. Of course, that is not a safe alternative at all, but it was somehow looked at more favorably than blading.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.
Becky Lynch is letting it be known (again) that she could be a free agent within a matter of weeks.
WWE signed several top stars to new contracts back in 2021, in response to competitor All Elite Wrestling demonstrating a willingness to shell out big money to land top talent. Many of those contracts were 3-year deals and are set to expire this year.
Lynch’s ongoing book tour stopped in Washington D.C. on Thursday night and SEScoops correspondent Muscle Man Malcolm was on hand to capture this video:
Former World Champions such as Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone have decided leave WWE for AEW and others could follow suit.
Becky Lynch appeared on The MMA Hour podcast on Monday and told Ariel Helwani that she’s in the final two months of her WWE contract. Additionally, Lynch divulged that she and WWE have yet to begin discussions regarding a new agreement.
Lynch, who won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, will challenge Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Championship next weekend at WrestleMania 40.
More WWE Contracts Expiring Soon
In addition to Becky Lych, several other top-tier wrestlers could also be free agents in the months ahead, including Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Drew McIntyre.
You can read more about each of those situations here:
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, March 29. It’s going to be a big day for pro wrestling, because fans have WWE SmackDown tonight, and we are one step closer to WrestleMania 40.
– Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 40 Weekend: WWE confirmed that Hulk Hogan will be at WWE World, the first-ever Fanatics fan event. He will do a meet & greet and sign autographs. As of this writing, we have not heard about any role for him during that actual Mania event.
Hulkamania is runnin’ wild at #WWEWorld! Tickets to meet @HulkHogan at WWE World are on sale now.
WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Street Profits vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: New Catch Republic vs. Legado Del Fantasma
Jade Cargill First Official Appearance As A SmackDown Superstar
Bianca Belair vs. Dakota Kai
Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. Pretty Deadly
AEW:
– MJF Was Spotted: Although he didn’t appear on-screen, MJF was around at a recent Dynamite to meet with officials. He is still under contract with the company.
The brain of Dijak will be useful in the quest for knowledge about Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the WWE NXT Superstar has revealed.
Taking to Twitter, Dijak shared that he pledged his brain to science years ago and encouraged other wrestlers to do the same. Dijak also shared a link to a research registry for others to donate their brains in the fight against CTE.
CTE is a brain disorder believed to be caused by repeated head injuries. It can lead to the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and progressively grows worse over time. Symptoms can include mood changes, short-term memory loss, confusion, problems with movement, and personality changes.
The Work of Chris Nowinski
In his tweet, Dijak says those interested in learning more should contact Chris Nowinski, a finalist on Tough Enough’s first season who would later make it to WWE. During the 2003 Royal Rumble, a mistimed double missile dropkick would lead to Nowinski being concussed and he would later retire due to post-concussion symptoms.
Since his in-ring retirement, Nowinski has dedicated his life to research into CTE and fighting the condition. It was Nowinski who encouraged a coroner to examine the brain of Chris Benoit following the double-murder suicide of June 2007. In September of that year, the brain examination report showed extensive damage due to concussions that could have led to dementia.
In June 2007, Nowinski and Robert Cantu founded the Concussion Legacy Foundation. CLF has sought to raise awareness of the effects of head trauma across sports and has been featured in the New York Times and CNN.
Donating One’s Brain
Dijak isn’t the only wrestler to donate their brain to science in the battle against CTE. Mick Foley, whose body took countless injuries throughout his career, has pledged his brain to science after he passes away. Fellow WWE Hall of Famers Rob Van Dam, Chyna, and Kevin Nash also pledged to donate their brains.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has become one of the greatest superstars of all time. Since joining the main roster, his character has evolved multiple times. With his latest evolution, The Head of The Table has now matured into the widely accepted megastar the company always expected him to become.
‘The Tribal Chief’ has been a part of several Premium Live Events over the years. However, there is one event which he tries to forget – Royal Rumble 2015. But why?
Back in 2015, Roman Reigns was on the rise and entered the big leagues. ‘The Big Dog’ eliminated Rusev to win the Royal Rumble 2015 to secure WrestleMania headlining opportunity. It marked one of the biggest milestones in his career but it was totally ruined.
The Philadelphia fans were not impressed with what they witnessed and booed Reigns, who was a babyface back then. The Rock even joined in for the celebrations but that didn’t change anything.
Roman Reigns recalls the moment
In his upcoming A&E Biography, Reigns shares his thoughts on the night. Though it was supposed to be a memorable moment for him, he says that he tries to forget that year’s Royal Rumble. Here is what he said:
“I was booed, historically. You think about these moments. You dream about them, and the moment that it actually happens, it’s like they’re playing the worst soundtrack of all time over your moment, ruining your party. That’s how the Rumble in Philly felt.
“I try to forget Philly. I try to forget the Royal Rumble. There’s only one positive, and that’s the fact that it’s going to be able to tie all the way back around at WrestleMania 40.”
Roman Reigns will once again be faced with the tough Philadelphia crowd at WrestleMania 40. The Tribal Chief is expected to make a new record by headlining both nights of the Show of Shows.
On WrestleMania Saturday, he will join forces with The Rock to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The outcome of this match will determine the stipulation when Reigns faces 2024 Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes with the Universal title on the line the next night.
Mark Briscoe has the chance to win the Ring of Honor World Championship, eleven years to the very day that his brother Jay won the very same title in 2013.
Mark will challenge ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston at Supercard of Honor 2024, Ring of Honor confirmed this week. In a video, Mark spoke about having to re-establish himself following his brother’s passing last year.
In a direct message to Kingston, Briscoe said that he knows that the pair of them have faced setbacks and referenced Kingston’s recent AEW Continental title loss to Kazuchika Okada. Borrowing the words his brother told him, Mark said that for Eddie Kingston, it’s “time to man up.”
11 years to the day! Mark Briscoe (@SussexCoChicken) is coming for the #ROH World Title at Supercard of Honor!
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 28, 2024
Jay Briscoe’s Championship Win
Jay Briscoe won the ROH World Championship at ROH Supercard of Honor 2013 with a main event victory over Kevin Steen (today WWE’s Kevin Owens.) Jay would hold the title for 89 days before the gold was vacated due to a storyline injury to Briscoe. He would win the gold back at the All-Star Extravaganza VI event in September 2014.
ROH Supercard of Honor 17
Here is the card for ROH Supercard of Honor 17 as it currently stands:
Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Mark Briscoe (Ring of Honor World Championship)
Athena (c) vs. Hikaru Shida (Ring of Honor Women’s World Championship)
Mina Shirakawa, Maika, and Mei Seira vs. Saya Kamitani, Tam Nakano, and AZM (STARDOM Showcase Tag-Team Match)
Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Lee Johnson (Ring of Honor World Television Championship)
Billie Starkz vs. Queen Aminata (Tournament finals to crown the inaugural Ring of Honor Women’s World Television Champion)
All Elite Wrestling fans have wondered about the status of former world champion MJF with the company. He has been out of action since losing the title to Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End on December 30, 2023. While ‘The Devil’ has been recovering from injuries he suffered throughout last year, fans have speculated if he was still with AEW. A new report has given an update on his current health status.
MJF making his entrance
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson shared that MJF is still trying to recover from his multiple injuries and has no clear timetable for his return. The report also confirms that his peers in AEW believe he is still with the company and was backstage for AEW Dynamite Big Business on March 13.
Throughout last year, MJF has given fans the impression that he will be a free agent at the start of 2024. The company added more fuel to the online speculation, with the former AEW World Champion being removed from the roster page on their website. They’ve also taken off his merchandise from the AEW store. However, the impression from most in the company and reports from others is that ‘The Devil’ has made a deal to stay off the free agency market.
What’s Next For MJF?
It’s unclear what injuries still prevent MJF from having a timetable for his in-ring return. He publicly shared that he had a torn labrum in his left shoulder ahead of his match against Joe at AEW World End. MJF also suffered a hip injury from his match with Jay White at AEW Full Gear on November 18, 2023.
The company has also not mentioned MJF on TV, so it doesn’t seem they have plans to feature him anytime soon. AEW has an unfinished storyline with the Undisputed Kingdom, which MJF could be involved in when he is ready.
After his match against Joe, The Salt of The Earth was attacked by the Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett). Whenever ‘The Devil’ returns to the ring, he is expected to try to get revenge on the faction.
There is some buzz that he could return at the upcoming Dynasty PPV but we will have to wait and see if it really happens.
A.J. Francis has been finding success since becoming a free agent this year. He’s appeared for different indie promotions and has also recently taken his talents to TNA Wrestling. A new report has shared that the company has reached a deal with Francis to keep him on the roster for the rest of the year.
Fightful Select reported on March 28 that TNA Wrestling has reached an agreement for Francis to remain with them through 2024. His deal will still allow him to appear in independent promotions like Game Changer Wrestling and Major League Wrestling. However, it prohibits Francis from working for WWE or All Elite Wrestling while under contract with TNA.
After the report became public, Francis confirmed his status with the company on Twitter. The TNA Wrestling superstar said he plans to continue accepting bookings on the indie wrestling scene, including DEFY Wrestling.
The company has also shown that they have plans for Francis on TV. He recently formed a new tag team with Rich Swann on the March 28 episode of TNA Wrestling. Swann aligned with Francis on the March 14 episode of the brand to help him defeat Joe Hendry. They will be known as First Class and have put the rest of the roster on notice.
While Francis has formed a team with Swann, it’s unclear if his feud with Hendry is over. The company could decide to rematch Francis and Hendry in the future, but it seems First Class has their sights on the tag division.
What’s Next For A.J. Francis & Rich Swann(Spoiler)
TNA Wrestling has already taped its next few episodes heading into its next pay-per-view event, Rebellion, on April 20. First Class had their first match as a tag team against the former TNA World Tag Team Champions ABC(Ace Austin & Chris Bey) during the taping.
It’s unclear when the match will air, but Francis and Swann could soon be feuding with ABC for the foreseeable future. As of now, First Class also isn’t on the TNA Rebellion card. However, that may change as the event gets closer next month.
That said, Francis is building momentum in TNA Wrestling and is showing how valuable he can be to the company. If he can continue to display his ability, he could become one of the hottest free agents next year.
The March 27, episode of AEW Dynamite will not be fondly remembered by Tony Khan, as the event marked some of Dynamite’s worst ratings in years.
The show saw AEW continue on the road to its first Dynasty pay-per-view that’ll take place next month. AEW Dynasty 2024 will air from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the first AEW pay-per-view in the state. AEW Full Gear 2021 had been scheduled to take place at the Chaifetz Arena before being moved.
3/27 AEW Dynamite’s Woes
AEW Dynamite scored 747,000 overnight viewers, Wrestlenomics reports, which is the worst number for the show since April 7, 2021. The show started with 939,000 viewers and immediately dropped to 802,000 for quarter two, marking a 15% drop within the first
Things were even worse in the coveted 18-49 demographic, which scored a 0.23 rating. This is the worst number in the demographic since the June 24, 2020, episode. Dynamite was ranked #3 for the day on cable in the 18-49 demographic, behind the NBA games on ESPN.
What Went Wrong?
These numbers are especially concerning given the talent that were on the March 25 episode of AEW Dynamite. The show saw Will Ospreay, the Young Bucks, and Swerve Strickland all in action. Mercedes Mone was also on the show in a commentary role, mere weeks removed from her debut at AEW Big Business.
This show saw quite a drop from the previous week’s episode, which scored 800,000 viewers. AEW has hosted several high-profile episodes of Dynamite in recent weeks. The February 28 episode was the go-home show before AEW Revolution, while the March 6, episode saw Kazuchika Okada debut and join The Elite.
