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WWE Has Made Contact With Steve Austin About WrestleMania 40 Role

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s biggest event of the year is coming up in 10 days, and there is no shortage of WrestleMania hype. It appears that fans may need to expect the Texas Rattlesnake as well.

Although nothing has been confirmed, WWE has been in contact with Steve Austin about making an appearance at WrestleMania 40.

WWE Wants Austin For WrestleMania

PW Insider reports that WWE is in discussions to include Stone Cold Steve Austin in WrestleMania 40 weekend. The details of Austin’s role are undisclosed, but an overture has been made.

Steve Austin’s appearance on a production truck during this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW was noticed by many fans. Several other legends have also been rumored for WrestleMania 40 weekend, because John Cena was on that truck as well.

WWE’s WrestleMania Aspirations

It was previously reported that WWE is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40. As of this writing, we have not heard of any possible role that they will play at the show of shows.

Steve Austin’s last match took place at WrestleMania 38 in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens. That marked Austin’s first match to date since WrestleMania XIX in 2003.

John Cena and WrestleMania 40

It was reported in February that John Cena wants to do “something” for WrestleMania 40. He has since confirmed that he has the day off.

Cena is going to start shooting the second season of Peacemaker in the early summer. We will have to see if WWE can get Cena to appear at the show of shows before that obligation starts.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back throughout the day for more updates.

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair Are Still Working On Repairing Their Friendship

Tyriece Simon
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WWE fans rejoiced last year when friends turned rivals Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair teamed up in a Wargames Match at WWE Survivor Series. For a few years, their relationship was strained and evident when they both were on TV. However, Lynch and Flair were able to reconcile and appear to be on better terms lately. 

In her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl, Lynch discusses her relationship with Flair from her perspective. She also discussed their fallout and reconciliation in depth in a recent interview with Adam Silverstein of Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast.  

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair at WWE Survivor Series Press Conference 

Lynch was asked about how they repaired their friendship and her thoughts on where she stands with her currently. Lynch replied that despite their issues, they still loved each other and would’ve been there for each other in bad times. She also noted the passing of her peers like Bray Wyatt and put into perspective that life is too short to hold on to past issues. 

“…Having that hostility towards somebody kind of weighs on you, you know what I mean? I think life is too short for that and we witnessed that. We’ve seen the tragic passing of people that went far too young, like Bray Wyatt, like Luke Harper, and other friends who passed away that were very close to me in the last few months too, and so all of those things I think as you grow and mature you realize that these petty differences aren’t worth the toxicity it leaves in you and the weight that it carries,” said Lynch.

She also confirmed that the interactions fans saw from them at the WWE Survivor Series were genuine and that they reconciled. 

More On Becky Lynch’s New Book

Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl is available on Amazon and other platforms in hardcover, digital, and audio. Her peers, including her husband, Seth Rollins, Stephenie McMahon, and John Cena, have praised the book. 

One of the notable praises comes from Mick Foley, who helped inspire her to write a memoir.

Amazon shared and transcribed Foley’s thoughts on her book on their website. 

“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read. Actually, it was equal parts, honor and pleasure; Becky allowed me in on the ground floor of her creative process, and I read with great joy as she found her voice as a writer. I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”

Lynch’s rollout of her new book seems to be going very well as she explores a new career venture. The hope is that she will add becoming a New York Times Best-Selling Author to her many accomplishments over the years.  

Former AEW Star Joins The New FBI In TNA

Dominic DeAngelo
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Don’t you dare “fuggedabout” The Full-Blooded Italians as Little Guido Maritato and two new members found a shiny new residence in TNA.

TNA was in Philadelphia this past weekend and being the home of ECW, Maritato brought the FBI back during the tapings at the 2300, the original ECW Arena on the corner of Swanson and Ritner.

Kevin McElvany, the editor for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, was on hand to document the tapings and he happened to capture the moment where Maritato introduced TNA to the new FBI which consisted of himself, Ray Jaz and former AEW star Zack Clayton.

Guido and Ray Jaz have previously teamed several times as The FBI in Major League Wrestling, but Clayton is a brand new member. Now he joins the legendary ranks of Tommy Rich, Tracy Smothers, JT Smith, Big Sal and Tony Mamaluke.

Introducing Ray Jaz & Zack Clayton, The New FBI Members

Zack Clayton was a member of the AEW roster, originally signing with the company back in October of 2022 but originally appeared on the program starting in 2020 as an extra. Clayton, whose real name is Zack Carpinello (very Italian), recieved a great deal of noteriety as JWoww’s fiance. He’s appeared on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

As for Ray Jaz, he is originally from South Plainfield, NJ and became an NCAA All-American while at NYU. He’s already shown his great athleticism in the MLW squared circle. Jaz and Little Guido have teamed up for over a year and their move to TNA is a new step for the faction.

WWE Releases Bizarre Roman Reigns ‘Diss’ With Unknown Artist on Spotify

Thomas Lowson
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Roman Reigns may demand the acknowledgement of fans, but WWE has shared a bizarre ‘diss track’ of the Tribal Chief. 

On Spotify, WWE has shared two tracks as part of this ‘Roman Reigns Diss’ with Kmg Bezzal. The tracks in question are ‘Purgin’ and ‘Switch That Flow.’ 

WWE On Spotify

On Spotify, WWE boasts 2.4 million monthly listeners and a bevy of music content from across decades of the promotion’s history. Currently, WWE’s most popular track is ‘This Fire Burns’ from the ‘WWE Wreckless Intent’ album. The track is best known as the theme CM Punk used from 2006 until 2011 (and was used one time by Randy Orton.)

As for Reigns, his theme is almost immensely popular among listeners. Reigns theme ‘Head of the Table’ currently sits as the third-most popular track from WWE, with 30.16 million listens. 

What’s Next for the Tribal Chief? 

Diss or no diss, Roman Reigns will be in action next week as part of WWE WrestleMania 40. On the Saturday show, Reigns will team with The Rock to face Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes. 

The next night, Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rhodes. If The Bloodline wins the tag-team match on Night One, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’ A victory for Rhodes and Rollins will mean The Bloodline will be barred from ringside. 

Whatever stipulation is decided upon, the main event spot of WrestleMania is familiar territory for Reigns. This year’s two nights will be the 8th and 9th main events at the show for the Tribal Chief. 

Can’t get enough of Spotify? We at SE Scoops have our own podcast on the streaming platform! Check it out below. 

Mike Santana Details Why He & Ortiz Spilt Up

Dominic DeAngelo
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Santana and Ortiz were one of AEW’s most popular tag teams, but the two’s friendship became very fractured and their professional relationship ended.

When there were reports of tension between the two, many speculated that it could have been storyline-based, but that wasn’t the case. 

In a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Santana talked about how him and Ortiz grew apart over time.

“We were together for 10 years, I think. When you’re together with someone that long, it’s like a married couple. There’s good, there’s bad, and I think, honestly, for the most part, it was like, I think we just grew apart over time.”

Santana says that the two’s philosophy on tag team wrestling became different and implied that he and Ortiz had different drives when it came to moving forward in the pro wrestling world.

“I’m a go-getter. I like to create opportunities for myself. I’m more than willing to fight for our spot, but also, I’m not going to be the only one.”

When asked if he and Ortiz still had heat with one another, Santana said that he holds no ill will to his former tag team partner and is in a different place in his life than he was during that time.

Santana & Ortiz really first caught fire during their run in TNA and it prompted Tony Khan and AEW to pick the duo up. They soon became a primary aspect to Chris Jericho’s first All Elite faction, The Inner Circle. Despite their popularity, they never did capture the AEW World Tag Titles and actually did turn their real life tension into an on-air storyline. Santana was released by AEW earlier this month.

Credit to Chris Van Vliet and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Game-Changing Money: Becky Lynch Comments On Mercedes Mone’s AEW Payday

Aaron Varble
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Mercedes Mone is just starting to make her mark in AEW, but she’s been under contract for a few months already. Tony Khan has also been cutting her some very large checks in the process.

Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but The Man is happy for The CEO’s new deal. She recently commented to say that the important part of the whole thing is that women are getting paid equally to their male counterparts.

Lynch Reacts To Mone’s Big Money Deal

Mercedes Mone’s new deal with AEW is a substantial one. In fact, she shattered the glass ceiling, and it’s now said that she is the highest-paid woman in the pro wrestling business. 

While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Becky Lynch touched on Mercedes Mone’s new AEW contract. She said that the important part is that women are getting paid on a higher level. Mercedes’ new deal is certainly proving that to be the case.

“I think that’s an important part, getting paid equally for the equal work and the equal position we are at right now,” Lynch said. “Women’s evolutions and revolutions are fine and well, but making sure that they equate to contracts and financial reward for these things when we are doing equal work, is hugely important.”

Mercedes Mone and WWE

It was reported that WWE and Mercedes Mone came to a financial roadblock when it came to bringing her in. It was noted that she didn’t want to be paid more than everyone on the women’s roster, but she did want to be paid what top stars are making. 

Mercedes Mone also said that she envisions herself going back to WWE someday. She said that prior to her AEW debut, but she was still under contract. That comment ruffled some feathers within AEW. Tony Khan has since endorsed Mercedes as a possible face of AEW.

Bayley said that she begs Mercedes every chance she gets to make a WWE return. The former Damage CTRL leader was actually at AEW Big Business in Boston along with Naomi and Tamina Snuka to see Mercedes Mone’s big debut first-hand. She later said that seeing Mercedes’ debut was a bittersweet moment.

Ridge Holland Is Not Actually Retired From WWE

Bishal Roy
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Ridge Holland announced that he’s stepping away from in-ring competition on Tuesday’s NXT television, but this is only a storyline and there are no plans for the 35-year-old grappler to legitimately retire from active competition.

Holland has faced a great deal of online backlash from fans due to his habit of inadvertently injuring his opponents. Most notably, it was Holland who dropped Big E on his head, putting him out of action for several years with a less than likely chance he’ll ever return. The former Brawling Brute was also involved when Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly sustained an injury. 

This is yet another instance of WWE turning a ‘real life’ situation and blurring the line between fact and fiction to fuel on-air angles. Fightful notes that Holland has been receptive to the angle, which is an encouraging sign, considering that Holland has let it be known that the public backlash he’s received has affected his mental health.

Ridge Holland Steps Aside

Holland delivered an emotional promo on Tuesday’s NXT and stunned the fans with his announcement. He said he’s been going through a lot lately and is concerned for the safety of not only his opponents, but himself. 

The segment ended with Holland leaving the ring and NXT Universe chanting “Thank you, Ridge.” 

In an effort to convince fans that Holland’s situation is legitimate, WWE swiftly moved his ‘Superstar Bio’ to the ‘Alumni’ section of the company website. Fans on social media noticed the change immediately. From WWE’s viewpoint, they took the bait.

WWE is currently gearing up for NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, which takes place Saturday, April 6, just hours before WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA. 

NXT Stand & Deliver Hosts Are Set

Bishal Roy
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Meta-Four will host NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, the next premium live event scheduled for WWE’s developmental brand.

This week’s NXT TV saw various talents participating in an ‘Open Call’ to earn this honor, which was held by Pretty Deadly last year. 

By the end of the broadcast, the hosting duties were awarded to Meta-Four’s Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakarta Jackson.

Jackson took to her Twitter/X and shared her thoughts on the news. 

Meta-Four are also set to host Supernova Sessions with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez on the go-home edition on April 2. 

During the March 26 episode of WWE NXT, Oba Femi also announced that he will be putting up his North American Title on the line against Dijak and Josh Briggs in a triple threat match. 

Stand & Deliver Matches

  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat for the NXT North American Championship

Daily Drop (3/27): Internal WWE Policy Leak, AEW Changing Pay-Per-View Platform

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 27. WWE NXT added a big triple threat title match to their Stand & Deliver event last night, and there’s a lot more to get into.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 10

WWE:

– WWE RAW Ratings: RAW averaged 1.729 million viewers for their 3/25 episode from Chicago. This number is up from last week, when RAW averaged 1.687 million viewers. They also garnered a .57 rating in the coveted 18 to 49 demographic this week.

– Punk’s Warning For Rock: CM Punk commented on The Rock recently, and he is confident that they will cross paths at this point.

– Indefinite Hiatus: Ridge Holland announced during WWE NXT this week that he is stepping away from the ring. It was later confirmed by Sean Ross Sapp that this is all a work and not really a retirement of any kind.

– Superstars Spotted In Public: Also, CM Punk, Jackie Redman, and Jey Uso were recently spotted at a Chicago Blackhawks game.

– Man Against The World: Becky Lynch has a nice new t-shirt on the WWE Shop. You may click here to see what they have to offer.

– Internal Leak: WWE’s policy on consensual workplace relationships leaked, and it’s worth a read. This document was updated in 2023, and it says that superiors are not allowed to date people under them in the company.

– NXT Stand & Deliver Card: You can check out the latest Stand & Deliver card below.

  • Host: Meta-Four
  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes: Singles match
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez: Singles match for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat match for the NXT North American Title

AEW:

– PPV Move: Starting with AEW Dynasty on April 21, all AEW pay-per-views will be on Triller in the United States, not B/R Live.

– Good To Wrestle: AEW’s Nigel McGuinness said that he felt fine getting back in the ring.

– AEW x WWE Friendship: AEW star Konosuke Takeshita was recently spotted with Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style posted a photo of the two on his Twitter/X account. It appears that they had a good meeting.

– AEW Dynamite Card: You may find the card for the March 27 edition of Dynamite below.

  • Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: The Young Bucks vs. Private Party
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom
  • Winner Earns TBS Title Shot: Anna Jay vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Corey Graves & Michael Cole Provide Commentary For New Godzilla X Kong Trailer

Thomas Lowson
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A new trailer for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire has a WWE feel to it, thanks to the promotion’s commentary duo of Corey Graves and Michael Cole. 

Taking to Instagram, Graves shared the new trailer that features himself and Cole providing a voiceover for the action. In the caption, Graves said that it’s an “amazing thrill” to have his voice in the trailer considering that he grew up obsessed with monster movies. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C4-oZktudww

Godzilla X Kong: The New Frontier

The new film is a sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise that began with 2014’s stand-alone Godzilla film. While the two behemoths were adversaries in the previous film. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire sees the pair forced to team up to defeat a powerful, climate-changing Titan from destroying the Earth’s surface. 

Graves & Cole in the Movies

While neither Corey Graves nor Michael Cole appear in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, the pair have featured in films in the past. Graves played Gunnar in 2011‘s Kingdom of Gladiators and played himself in 2020’s The Main Event, a WWE Studios production. 

Cole has been in four films from WWE Studios which were all animated features. He made his acting debut in 2014’s Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery as himself. He would appear in the film’s sequel ‘Curse of the Speed Demon‘ as well as Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania and The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania!

“That Was Suck A**!” Stone Cold Calls Infamous Attitude Era Angle His Worst Storyline

Thomas Lowson
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‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was part of some of wrestling’s biggest angles, but there was one storyline in his career that the Rattlesnake is not a fan of. 

Austin was one of, if not the big star of the Attitude Era. During the acclaimed era of wrestling, Austin held the WWF Championship on multiple occasions and won the gold at WrestleMania on three separate occasions. 

Austin’s Worst Storyline

In 1999, Austin’s lengthy career and litany of injuries were catching up to him and he needed time off from the promotion to recover. In one of the most infamous angles, Austin was run down by a mystery assailant at Survivor Series 1999. 

On a recent edition of his Stone Cold Podcast, Austin recalled the angle. The WWE Hall of Famer made clear that he was not a fan of the storyline. 

“Me being clipped by a god dang car! S**t, that was the worst storyline I was ever involved in. But we had to come up with a way so that we could get my a** out of the way.”

Austin added that while he needed to have his neck fusion surgery, the storyline was still a “suck-a** angle.”

What Came Next? 

After a one-off appearance at Backlash 2000, Austin returned to programming in late 2000, determined to find his attacker. It was revealed that Rikishi ran down Austin and falsely claimed he “did it for The Rock.”

This led to a brief, one-sided feud that saw Austin demolish Rikishi on pay-per-view. Feeling the angle wasn’t working, the storyline changed and it was revealed that Rikishi was the driver but was working on the orders of Triple H. 

Austin At WrestleMania 40?

With WrestleMania 40 mere weeks away, there has been speculation regarding a role for Stone Cold at the two-night spectacle. Austin’s status for the show would depend on what he’s willing to do. The Texas Rattlesnake was shown on a production truck on this week’s Raw, a move many feel was more than mere coincidence. 

H/T – ITR Wrestling

CM Punk, Seth Rollins & Drew McIntyre Were Given Plenty of Freedom for 3/25 WWE Raw Segment

Thomas Lowson
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Some WWE Superstars were given far more flexibility than usual with their promo during the March 25, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

The penultimate Raw before WWE WrestleMania 40 took place at the All-State Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The show went off the air in shocking fashion with Cody Rhodes being left a bloodied heap by The Rock, fulfilling his promise to make the American Nightmare bleed. 

Punk, McIntyre & Rollins on Raw

Raw also saw Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk share a segment ahead of the World Heavyweight Championship match between Rollins and McIntyre at WrestleMania 40. The segment culminated with Punk, who’s had issues with both men, announcing he will be the guest commentator for their title match. 

Given Leeway

Rather than the usual scripted dialogue that is expected to be recited word-for-word, this week’s segment saw the talent given more leeway, Fightful Select reports. While there was a general outline of the direction of the promo, Punk, McIntyre, and Rollins were free to express themselves and gauge the audiences’ reaction to their improvisation. WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was listed as the producer of the segment. 

Caught Off Guard

During the segment, the fans rallied for Punk to be the guest referee of the upcoming match, though the Chicago-Made star questioned if he could be objective with the two “dips**ts.” This profanity caught WWE’s production team off-guard, especially following a memo reminding talent of the importance of keeping their language PG. 

Despite this, there were no reported issues backstage following the segment. Later in the show, The Rock also used some expletives during his beatdown on Cody Rhodes. 

WWE’s CM Punk, Jey Uso & Jackie Redmond Attend NHL Chicago Blackhawks Game

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk, Jey Uso, and Jackie Redmond all had a blast at a recent NHL game in Chicago, Illinois, following the March 25, episode of Raw in the Windy City. 

On Raw, Punk shared a segment with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre ahead of their World Heavyweight Championship showdown at WrestleMania 40. Punk, who has had issues with both men, would reveal that he will be on commentary for their much-anticipated title match on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

In the main event of the show, Jey Uso lived up to his ‘Main Event’ moniker with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. 

WWE Stars at the Chicago Blackhawks Game

The day after this week’s Raw in Chicago, Punk, Uso, and Redmond watched the Chicago Blackhawks in action against the Calgary Flames. Their presence didn’t go unnoticed by the Blackhawks as the trio appeared on the video screens. 

Jackie Redmond, who is an interviewer and correspondent for Monday Night Raw, added that this game was Uso’s first time at a hockey game. 

The trio of WWE talents clearly had fun at the Blackhawks game and will have been thrilled with the result. The Blackhawks got an early 2-0 advantage in the first third of the game and defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1. 

Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40 

Punk isn’t the only name who attended the Blackhawks game set for a major role at WrestleMania 40. Jey Uso will take on his brother Jimmy Uso at the show. This match comes months after Jimmy betrayed Jey at SummerSlam 2023 when Jey challenged Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat. 

This will be the third sibling showdown at WrestleMania. Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart at WrestleMania X in 1994 while Matt Hardy bested his younger brother Jeff at WrestleMania 25 in 2009. 

Ace Steel Opening Foundation of Professional Wrestling School in April 2024

Thomas Lowson
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Ace Steel will bring his decades of experience in the wrestling business to a new wrestling school that is set to welcome its first class next month. 

The Foundation of Professional Wrestling will open its doors in April 2024 in the Orlando, Florida area, a press release recently confirmed. The school is described in its own material as “the most advanced Professional Wrestling school” in the United States. 

Steel will serve as the school’s head coach. He has worked for several major organizations throughout his career including WWE, Ring of Honor, TNA, OVW, the NWA, and NOAH. 

Ace Steel As A Trainer

Steel is perhaps best known for being the original trainer of CM Punk, a fact that was made reference to on AEW programming in 2022. The Best in the World isn’t the only notable name to be trained by Steel. WWE Hall of Famer Lita, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, and Grayson Waller are among those trained by Steel. 

Outside of the role as a trainer, Steel has served as a coach for the WWE Performance Center and as a producer for WWE NXT. After joining AEW, he served as a producer, coach, and as part of the creative team for the company. He currently serves as a producer and coach for TNA Wrestling. 

Harley Race Inspiration

The new wrestling school will bring a “no-nonsense approach” to training, bestowed upon Steel by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race. This brand of training inspired by the great NWA Heavyweight Champion is said to create “the most complete foundation meshing with a modern style that supports wrestlers carrying on to every major organization.”

Drew McIntyre Speaks Of A Different Sacrifice While Pursuing WWE Dream

Dominic DeAngelo
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Drew McIntyre came to a sobering realization when he was home in Scotland for a friend’s wedding.

Speaking with SHAK Wrestling of CBS Sports, the number one contender for Seth Rollins’ WWE World Heavyweight Championship opened up about how he recently got to see a great deal of his friends in Scotland, some of which he hasn’t seen in over a decade because his longtime friend Blair was getting married.

“I had seen people who were friends who I had not seen in 20 years. I’ve been gone for legitimately 17 years from Scotland to growing up in America. I was part of WWE. It hit me. ‘Wow, I’ve missed a lot. I feel kind of guilty about it.'”

McIntyre said that he was constantly of the mindset that he was the one making the sacrifice leaving home, traveling to shows and putting in the work to become a pro wrestler, but that recent visit made him think that it has been his family and friends, not himself, making the sacrifice.

“They gave up their son, their nephew, their brother, and their uncle who has missed so many important events because he’s chasing his dream and they encourage me to chase my dream. I really started wising up to that and I felt very guilty.”

Drew McIntyre Plans To Pay His Family’s Sacrifice Off At WrestleMania 40

Two targets Drew McIntyre hasn’t shown any ounce of guilt for his his handling of Seth Rollins or CM Punk. In pursuit for a WrestleMania main event, McIntyre has found a new heel self on WWE television and on the 3/25 episode of WWE Raw, McIntyre greatly took aim at the injuried CM Punk. 

However, he’ll have to face Rollins in Philly while Punk will be behind the commentary table, but McIntyre did make note how rewarding it will be if he gets to hand the gold over to someone special back in Scotland.

“I want to give my family that title. I want to give my dad that title,” McIntyre said. “I want to put that title in his hands and say, ‘Here it is. This is what it was all about since I was five years old and you would constantly be telling my brother and I to stop wrestling around the bedroom. … I finally have it and I can finally give it to you and I can finally say, ‘Hey, I did it. I’m the champion of the world.'”

AEW Has A New PPV Home In The United States

Dominic DeAngelo
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AEW will have a new PPV host moving forward in 2024 and it will start with their upcoming Dynasty event on April 21 in St. Louis, MO.

Since its inception, Bleacher Report was the PPV home to All Elite Wrestling, but starting with Dynasty, AEW PPVs will now be airing on TrillerTV+. TrillerTV (formerly known as Fite TV) has played host to countless wrestling events including shows from GCW, Major League Wrestling and Starrcast.

It’s been a struggle with AEW on Bleacher Report as some users had experienced technical difficulties and even trouble purchasing the events themselves.

More AEW PPVs In 2024

With AEW Dynasty, Tony Khan has indicated that the PPV will signify a new era for All Elite Wrestling and speaking with the media ahead of AEW Revolution. Khan was asked if he had plans for more PPVs in 2024. In 2023, AEW presented a total of eight PPVs, but now he aims to have around nine or ten.

AEW Dynasty will certainly have some fresh elements once it goes down on April 21. Since Revolution took place, both Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Monet made their official debut for the company. Dynasty already has a major match signed for the event as Will Ospreay will square off against Bryan Danielson in one of the headline fights. While not confirmed, it appears that the company is angling to have Samoa Joe defend his AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, but before Swerve has a chance at getting a shot, he must face Konosuke Takeshita this week on AEW Dynamite.

Jesse Ventura Will Not Be Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Vice Presidential Running Mate

Dominic DeAngelo
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his running mate for American Vice President on March 26 and it will not be Jesse Ventura.

The pro wrestling legend along with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers were reportedly on RFK Jr.’s short list to tag up with the Independent candidate in his 2024 Presidential campaign for the White House, but it actually ended up being neither celebrity.

During a rally today in Oakland, CA Kennedy announced that his running mate would be attorney and entreprenur Nicole Shanahan. Shanahan, along with Kennedy, will be the youngest person running for the Vice Presidential office at the age of 38.

Jesse Ventura Broke New Ground As Governor Of Minnesota

Jesse Ventura made history when he became the governor of Minnesota in 1998 as he defeated both Democrats and Republicans to win the office. Serendipitously enough, Ventura put politics in a headlock at the same time pro wrestling did with pop culture.

Although not his running mate, Ventura has shown his past support for RFK Jr. in his Presidential candidacy. Ventura has always been a big proponent for a major third political party and has shown his appreciation for RFK’s independent run during a previous rally in Arizona.

“I always say Jack Kennedy was the greatest president of all in my lifetime,” he said. “And the reason I say that is because they let him serve the least amount. He didn’t even get one term. That’s why he’s the best, because they couldn’t let him go past, not even one term. Well, maybe it’s time to elect another Kennedy.”

NXT Stand & Deliver: Oba Femi Will Defend North American Title In Triple Threat Match

Aaron Varble
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Oba Femi has a lot of eyes on him right now. NXT officials see him as the next big thing, and there are a lot of reasons to see their point.

This week’s episode of WWE NXT was an eventful broadcast. We saw Ridge Holland step away from in-ring competition. Natalya event surprised fans during the show. Fans also saw a big title match booked for Stand & Deliver.

During the March 26 episode of WWE NXT, Oba Femi announced that he will defend the North American Title against Dijak and Josh Briggs in a triple threat match.

Booking The Match

During WWE NXT this week, Josh Briggs defeated Duke Hudson in a brutal contest. Dijak was at ringside on commentary, and just as he was about to step in the ring to take Briggs on, Oba Femi showed up.

The NXT North American Champion said that he has two worth opponents for his title. They get to climb the mountain at Stand & Deliver, but Oba Femi was there to remind them that he is the mountain.

The triple threat match was booked at that point, where Oba Femi seems more than ready to defend his North American Tile against both Dijak and Josh Briggs.

WWE NXT Stand & Deliver

WWE is less than two weeks away from WrestleMania 40 and Stand & Deliver. This week’s episode of NXT continued building toward the April 6 Stand & Deliver event. A lot can also happen in the meantime. You may check out the updated card (so far) below.

  • Host: Meta-Four
  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes: Singles match
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez: Singles match for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat match for the NXT North American Title

Becky Lynch Compares WWE Creative Under Triple & Vince McMahon

Tyriece Simon
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WWE fans have been enjoying the direction the company has been going under the creative leadership of Paul Levesque(AKA Triple H). For years. the company has faced issues like plans being changed during a TV episode to the last minute with Vince McMahon at the helm. However, creativity has seemingly run more smoothly with Levesque in charge, and superstars like Becky Lynch appreciate the shift. 

Paul Levesque(Triple H) and Vince McMahon Backstage

In an interview with Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast, ‘The Man’ discussed the differences in WWE creative under Levesque and McMahon. She shared that consistency is the main factor and praised the former nine-time WWE Champion for his long-term storytelling. 

“…Paul tends to have a long-term vision of something and an idea of something and then executes, whereas before, you know, it was notorious that the show was being rewritten as it was going, and we were live on TV, and people didn’t know what was happening in the third hour and there would be stories that would start and then Vince would change his mind and so with Paul, he sees things through and for better or worse that gives a different viewing experience,” said Lynch.

‘The Man’ also explained why it’s important to let storylines develop over time as intended rather than nixing them altogether. 

“…You might not like the story on week two, but you don’t know where it’s going on week four, and so if we listen to people that saying ‘Yeah, but we don’t like the story on week two,’ well then you might never get the magic that you were going to get on week four, and so I think it’s important to listen to the audience to a certain degree,” said Lynch.

More On Becky Lynch’s Thoughts On Storytelling

Lynch went into detail about storytelling and why letting things play out as intended over time is good. The former WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion used herself as an example from when she was feuding with Bianca Belair and defeated her in 26 seconds at WWE SummerSlam on August 21, 2021. 

She noted that the fans didn’t like some of the ‘heel’ things she did during her rivalry and that it was meant to elicit negative reactions. 

“…You were meant to be outraged. You were meant to want to see her succeed, and then I think I started talking about her hair, and people were outraged that I might touch her hair,” said Lynch. She continued, “…If you don’t know where we are going… also, I am a heel. You are meant to be outraged by the things that I do, and please understand that is a heel. Heel isn’t like somebody that gives cool zingers. It is somebody that is unlikable that you want to see the babyface overthrow. Doesn’t always work out.”

Lynch reaffirmed her stance that it is good to see things through, which is something that WWE is doing more under Levesque’s leadership. It seems WWE creatively is in a better place than it has been for their talent and fans. Hopefully, the company’s momentum will continue and allow for more creative storytelling that can make for great weekly TV programming. 

Indefinite Hiatus: Ridge Holland Announces He Is Stepping Away From In-Ring Competition During 3/26 WWE NXT

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars all see an end to their careers, whether they like it or not. Sometimes, they pull the plug themselves, and it appears that Ridge Holland might not wrestle again for a long time.

Holland took the ring during the March 26 episode of WWE NXT. He cut a personal and passionate promo, making fans wonder if this is part of the show or the real thing. In the end, Ridge Holland announced his indefinite hiatus from in-ring competition.

Holland’s Big Announcement

Ridge Holland took the microphone this week on NXT, and he spoke about a very difficult decision that he had to make. The former Brawling Brute said that he’s been going through a lot, and he cannot continue.

Holland said that he had two very difficult conversations over the past week. He spoke with his family and those who love him, and he also had a long conversation in the mirror.

He then said that out of the concern for the safety of himself and everyone he works with in the ring, he is stepping away from in-ring competition. He said this is indefinite, and nobody came out to stop him.

Fans in the NXT Arena chanted “Thank you, Ridge” as he left. Then the camera followed him through the curtain and cut to the next segment.

Ridge Holland’s Hand in Superstar Injuries

Ridge Holland has been involved in a couple injuries over the past year or so. The most famous accident involved Big E, which left the New Day member with a broken neck.

Holland also had a hand in injuring Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly. NXT ran an angle where Holland injured Ilja Dragunov as well.

We will have to see if this is a work or a shoot from Ridge Holland. Right now, all we know is that fans shouldn’t expect to see him in the ring any time soon. SEScoops will have more on this story if there are any further updates.

CM Punk Sends A Warning To The Rock As WrestleMania Hype Reaches a Fever Pitch

Dominic DeAngelo
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Chicago was simmering for CM Punk on WWE Raw and ‘The Second City Saint’ didn’t let his hometown down. Punk made his long-awaited return to The Windy City and dropped the WrestleMania 40 bombshell that he’d be on commentary for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre.

After the show ended, Cathy Kelley caught up with Punk backstage for a WWE Digital Exclusive interview and asked him what it felt like to be in front of a packed house in Chicago.

“I feel such a responsibility to want to give them a show that I can’t right now because I paid the price of being a professional wrestler since I was 15, but I felt I gave them a little bit of that guy.”

Kelley mentioned that The Rock name-dropped Punk tonight after being relatively quiet when it comes to him. That didn’t go unnoticed by CM Punk.

“I’m glad Rock’s back and it’s good to see that he knows his role and he’s kept his mouth shut. Anything goes here in this new era of WWE with me being back I’m gonna cross paths with everybody sooner or later.”

Finally, when it came to Punk being on commentary for Rollins vs. McIntyre, Punk said he thought being behind the broadcast booth may be the best spot for him that evening.

“Let’s face it, who’s the five-tool player in the WWE right now? It’s this guy. I’d like to maybe try my hand out as a referee, but honestly, I would not be able to be impartial with those two idiots so maybe commentary is the best thing to do.”

Main Roster Surprise: Natalya Answers Lola Vice’s Open Challenge During 3/26 WWE NXT

Aaron Varble
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WWE will sometimes have main roster talent come by NXT to have a match on Tuesday night. This week’s show included a nice surprise, because Natalya was around for the show.

Lola Vice issued an open challenge prior to the March 26 episode of NXT. Natalya was the woman who stepped up to take her on.

Natalya On WWE NXT

Lola Vice took the microphone during WWE NXT this week, and she cut a heel promo. Then Natalya interrupted her, and the Queen of Harts received a very warm welcome in the NXT Arena.

Natalya made it clear how good Lola can be. That beings said, she was on NXT to accept her open challenge and take her down a peg or two.

In the end, Natalya got the win with a roll-up pin. This was a big win for Natalya on NXT, and we will have to see if things are only getting started with her and Lola Vice.

This is not the first time that Natalya has showed up in NXT. She has stopped by the brand in the past to mix it up with the NXT roster.

WWE NXT Stand & Deliver

WWE is less than two weeks away from WrestleMania 40 and Stand & Deliver. This week’s episode of NXT continued building toward the April 6 Stand & Deliver event. A lot can also happen in the meantime. You may check out the updated card (so far) below.

  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes: Singles match
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez: Singles match for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat match for the NXT North American Title

Mick Foley Dropping Weight & Documenting His Journey Towards One Last Match

Dominic DeAngelo
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Mick Foley aims to have one more match with part of his goal was losing weight in the process and he’s gotten a little help from an old friend in Al Snow.

As of recent, the WWE Hall of Famer has gotten himself involved with Al Snow’s OVW and Foley found a little more than just the squared circle while working with Snow and his talented Ohio Valley Wrestling roster.

In a new Instagram video, Foley revealed that he is receiving help from two OVW talents in cutting weight. Crystal White and Katie Gannon have taken Foley under their workout wing and have assisted ‘The Hardcore Legend’ to drop over 24 pounds.

In the video, Foley talked about he happened to love the Netflix series, Wrestlers, which spotlighted the talent in OVW, prompting Mick to reach out to Snow. Foley wanted to get himself involved with an ongoing storylin and being there is where he met White and Gannon.

One Last Match For Mick Foley

Before he ended his “Foley Is Pod” podcast, Mick Foley happened to drop the bombshell that he planned to shed 100 lbs in order to have one last match and he has a desire to make it a deathmatch. Just turning 60 years old, Foley has been serious in that desire and he’s had several interested parties in obliging him.

Matt Cardona, the self-proclaimed “Deathmatch King”, has made a case as to why he should face the “Three Faces Of Foley,” but fellow WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam also threw his hat in the ring, noting that he was the last WWE Hardcore Champion, but for some reason, Foley has that title in his possession. Despite the fact that RVD and Foley are both ECW legends, the two have never squared off against one another.

Details On Jim Ross’ New Book, ‘Business Is About To Pick Up!’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Jim Ross has another book coming out and it will be available before the summer hits.

The current AEW commentator is joined once again by Paul O’Brien for his third book, Business Is About To Pick Up!, but it is very different from his first two books. 

The WWE Hall of Famer will be recounting 50 different of his most memorable calls over his storied and vast career. A release date for May 7, 2024 is announced by the publisher, Penguin Random House. Full details of the book is below:

Experience 50 years of wrestling history through the iconic voice of Jim Ross.

For wrestling fans, Jim Ross’ voice is the soundtrack of an era. This book is your ringside ticket to wrestling’s most unforgettable moments—from the announcer who made them iconic.

In the last 50 years, professional wrestling has risen up from a collection of regional territories to become a global phenomenon—and Jim Ross has been there for it all. From the grit and glory days of the 1970s with NWA, to the rise of WCW and the heyday of WWF and WWE, to signing on as on-air talent and senior advisor for wrestling’s newest chapter at AEW, Jim Ross has long had the best seat in the house.

Now, in 50 definitive chapters, chronicling 50 iconic calls across 50 unforgettable years, Business Is About to Pick Up! takes you into the ring, and behind the scenes, as only Jim Ross can.

Immerse yourself in sports entertainment’s most dramatic moments, biggest shocks, and history-making firsts—from watershed collisions like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin versus Bret “Hitman” Hart to industry-shaping milestones like the debut of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the rise of John Cena and Dave Bautista as Hollywood A-list stars, and the birth of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Then debate which moments Jim Ross just had to include . . . and what else should’ve made his list.

This book is a celebration of pro wrestling’s past, present, and future—narrated by the Voice of Wrestling himself, who was ringside to call it all.

Jim Ross Signed A New Deal With AEW

Not only does Jim Ross have a new book for fans to look forward to, but the legend will be sticking around with AEW for the following year. JR said on his podcast that his latest negotiations with Tony Khan were the easiest of his career and his new deal is reportedly very lucrative.

Despite this, Ross did make that comment that he has to be open to the possibility that 2024 could be his last year on commentary.

Rhea Ripley On Taking it to The Men: ‘At School They Called Me The Nutcracker’

Thomas Lowson
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Rhea Ripley isn’t afraid to take it to the male Superstars and her willingness to take it to all sexes has been a long-standing tradition for WWE’s resident ‘Mami.’

Ripley hasn’t been shy when it comes to taking on male Superstars during her tenure with WWE. Before his inclusion in the Judgment Day, Dominik Mysterio often fell victim to attacks by Ripley in 2022. Superstars who have fallen victim to ‘Mami’ include AJ Styles, Matt Riddle, Akira Tozawa, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Luke Gallows, as seen in the video below. 

Rhea Ripley: The Nutcracker

Ripley’s toughness in the face of men is nothing new for the Judgment Day star. Speaking on an episode of Logan Paul’s ImPaulsive podcast, Ripley recalled holding her own during her younger years. 

“I got the nickname in high school ‘Nutcracker’ for a reason. Because I used to hit people in the nuts.”

Ripley added that it’s not just her adversaries who have to submit to ‘Mami’ but that she often gets ‘physical’ with her partner, AEW star Buddy Matthews. 

“Being in the relationship that I am with my partner, we scrap a little bit. I normally start it and I finish it.” 

Rhea Ripley Vs. Logan Paul?

During the podcast, Paul joked that he and Ripley will one day have a match for the custody of Dominik Mysterio. Unfazed by the WWE United States Champion, Ripley said Paul can get ready to have his a** kicked. If it happened, the match would be the second ‘Custody of Dominik’ match in WWE history. Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero competed over a young Dominik at SummerSlam 2005 in a ladder match Rey won. 

What’s to Come for Rhea Ripley? 

Ripley’s next big match will see her face a ‘Man’ albeit one of a different kind. The Judgment Day member will put her WWE Women’s World Championship on the line at WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch. Lynch earned the title shot with a victory in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. 

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