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MLW Signing: Salina de la Renta Reveals New Talent Acquisition

Aaron Varble
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MLW is still making moves, and booking stories after their $20 million antitrust lawsuit settlement came in from WWE. Now, Salina de la Renta is signing her own talent.

Salina de la Renta of Major League Wrestling recently announced the “signing” of Bad Dude Tito, adding to her growing influence within the organization. In a social media clip, she presented a contract bearing the name Promociones Dorado, suggesting Tito’s affiliation. She also took a jab at Mistico for good measure.

de la Renta’s New Signing

Salina de la Renta’s recent actions are causing a stir. Major League Wrestling shared a video clip on social media where she announced the “signing” of Bad Dude Tito. In the video, Salina presented a contract bearing the name Promociones Dorado, suggesting that she has brought Tito into the group.

While addressing Mistico, Salina conveyed her feelings through a veiled gesture, offering flowers with a smirk as a token of her disdain. She expressed her dissatisfaction with Mistico’s success and warned Cesar, suggesting that their reign with the MLW Middleweight Championship won’t last long. With determination evident in her words, Salina unveiled her surprise, revealing the signing of Bad Dude Tito, leaving a challenge that has yet to be accepted.

“Mistico, I have a present for you. It’s flowers.[Laughs] I hope that you take these as a token of my hatred and despise. Congrats. You brought Cesar what he wanted. You guys have the MLW Middleweight Championship. But if I were you, and now I’m talking to you, Cesar, I would not celebrate so much because that won’t last long. Because while you were over there in Boyle Heights parting, I was grinding as always because this is my life. This is what I do 24/7. Oh, so I have a surprise for you too. [Pulls out a contract] What is this? It looks like I just signed Bad Dude Tito. [Laughs] So what are you going to do about that?”

WWE & MLW’s Lawsuit Battle

WWE and MLW reached a resolution in the antitrust lawsuit that had persisted since 2022. The legal dispute, involving allegations of antitrust practices and talent poaching, concluded with a $20 million settlement.

A 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed the finalization of the settlement agreement on December 22, 2023. The filing outlined the lawsuit’s origins, noting MLW’s initial complaint on January 11, 2022, which accused WWE of meddling with MLW’s contractual relationships with certain media platforms. Allegations included anticompetitive behavior, violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and California law.

On December 22, 2023, the parties informed the court of a $20.0 million settlement agreement and agreed to voluntarily dismiss the case with prejudice, leading to its official dismissal on December 26, 2023. Although the lawsuit faced dismissal in February 2023, MLW refiled with amendments, leading to a judge’s denial of a motion to dismiss in June.

That $20 million settlement number was revealed as part of TKO’s earnings report. Now, MLW has a lot more money to spend.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates!

AJ Francis Explains What Brought Him To WWE RAW In Houston This Week

Aaron Varble
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WWE released Top Dolla from his contract in September 2023, but he still has friends in the company. He is also never one to turn down an invitation for a gathering he wants to attend.

AJ Francis was in the house for RAW in Houston this week. That being said, he had a reason for being there. He couldn’t pass up on the opportunity after he just so happened to be in Houston at the same time.

Francis Explains His Whereabouts

After WWE RAW this week, AJ Francis took to Twitter/X to explain why he was around RAW this week. He made it very clear that not only was he invited, but he also said that everyone was very excited to see him.

It felt good to be back in the WWE fold, if only for one night. Hopefully, this explanation clears things up for any inquisitive fans.

Bun B invited me to his show at Rodeo Houston so I pulled up to H-Town today… at the rental car spot a fan told me RAW was in Houston.

EVERYONE I saw was excited to see me & that felt good…

What’s Next For AJ Francis

When Fightful Select reported that AJ Francis was backstage at RAW, plenty of fans wondered what was going on. After all, he just debuted for TNA Wrestling, and he’s starting to make an impact there (no pun intended). It seems that he was just there visiting friends.

AJ Francis will keep doing his thing, and that may include showing up at a WWE event or two. He is still welcomed backstage as part of the WWE Family, even if he is no longer officially employed there.

SEScoops will have more on this story if there are any updates, along with so much more in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more of the updates on every story you need to know about.

CJ Perry Says Social Media Has Hit Her Mental Health Hard Following Separation with Miro

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s CJ Perry has spoke about the impact social media has made on her mental health following her split from fellow All-Elite talent Miro. 

TMZ Sports first reported earlier this week that the couple had “broke up once and for all” and that their split had happened in the winter of last year. It was added that the pair had been experiencing an on-and-off relationship for several years. 

CJ Perry on Social Media

Taking to Twitter, Perry didn’t address the split directly but spoke about her mental health being severely impacted whenever she is on the platform. Perry added that it’s hardly a surprise that for the most part she tries to keep off of the site. 

CJ Perry and Miro

Perry and Miro, as Lana and Rusev respectively, met in WWE and the Ravishing Russian would serve as a manager. The couple were called up to the main roster in 2014 but had an on-screen split in 2015. That year’s angle, which saw Rusev align with Summer Rae and Lana with Dolph Ziggler, was cut short after Miro and Perry announced their real life engagement. 

Miro would be released from WWE in 2020 and debuted for AEW under his real name that same year. Perry’s tenure as Lana ended the following year and she joined AEW in 2023. At AEW Worlds End, Perry turned on Andrade El Idolo following the former NXT Champion’s loss to Miro. While many saw this as a sign of Miro and Perry reuniting as an on-screen duo, it’s unclear what the future holds given their real-life separation. 

Brock Lesnar’s Daughter Mya Lesnar Wins Big In NCAA Tournament

Aaron Varble
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Brock Lesnar is known as the Beast Incarnate for WWE fans, but his daughter is also tearing it up in her own field. Mya Lesnar recently pulled down a big win, which places her on top of the NCAA.

Mya Lesnar clinched the NCAA indoor shot put title in Boston with a throw exceeding 60 feet. As a junior at Colorado State, she previously finished 11th last year. This year, she enters the outdoor championship as the nation’s top seed.

Brock Lesnar’s Daughter, Mya Lesnar, Wins Big

9 News reports that Mya Lesnar won the NCAA indoor shot put championship on Saturday night in Boston. She did so with a throw of over 60 feet. She is currently a junior at Colorado State, and finished 11th last year. This year, she is walking into the outdoor championship as the #1 seed in the country.

Lesnar secured CSU’s first indoor national championship since 2018, a feat last achieved by Mostafa Hassan in the shot put category for two consecutive years. CSU’s track and field program saw another national champion in the women’s category outdoors, with Loree Smith claiming victory in the hammer throw at the 2005 outdoor NCAA championships. A junior athlete, Lesnar transferred from Arizona State and boasts a lineage connected to wrestler Brock Lesnar as his daughter.

This is a big accomplishment for Mya Lesnar, and we expect great things for her. Only time will tell if she follows her father into pro wrestling, but she certainly has a great way to get her foot in the door if that day comes.

Brock Lesnar’s Current Status

Brock Lesnar was pulled from the road to WrestleMania 40 after his name was connected with Janel Grant’s lawsuit. He was not directly named, but there were certainly enough clues to pinpoint that Lesnar was the Superstar in question.

In recent news, Lesnar was placed back on the WWE roster on their official website. At this point, the WWE creative team has still not heard anything regarding a change to his status.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, so keep checking back for more updates.

WWE Issues Statement On Executives Revealed In Janel Grant’s Lawsuit

Aaron Varble
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The pro wrestling world was rocked in a big way when Janel Grant’s lawsuit named Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis. Now, the names of other executives were named, and the company is reacting. 

In a sex-trafficking lawsuit filed in January, WWE president Nick Khan and COO Brad Blum were identified as Corporate Officers No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The lawsuit alleges their involvement in a scheme where plaintiff Janel Grant was purportedly “a sexual slave within the WWE.” Now, WWE has issued a response to this blockbuster headline.

WWE’s Response

In response to the allegations, WWE issued a statement expressing its serious approach to Ms. Grant’s claims and emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward physical abuse or unwanted contact.

The statement also clarified that neither Khan nor Blum were aware of any allegations by Ms. Grant prior to the lawsuit filed on January 25, 2024, nor does the complaint allege that either had knowledge of such incidents.

“WWE takes Ms. Grant’s allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact. “Neither Nick Khan nor Brad Blum, prior to the lawsuit being filed on January 25, 2024, were aware of any allegation by Ms. Grant that she was the victim of abuse or unwanted physical contact; nor does the complaint allege that either had knowledge of such.”

It is important to note that neither Blum nor Khan have been accused of engaging in any sexually inappropriate behavior with Janel Grant.

Janel Grant’s Lawsuit

The lawsuit alleges that WWE CEO Khan played a significant role in a scheme involving Grant’s hiring for an unspecified position, as reported by Front Office Sports. Khan is identified as ‘Corporate Officer 1’ in the legal documents, alongside WWE COO Blum, who is listed as ‘Officer 2.’ McMahon introduced Blum and Khan to Grant as his ‘key fixers,’ according to the suit.

The lawsuit further contends that in March 2021, Grant informed McMahon that Khan recognized her when she introduced herself in a corridor, with Khan allegedly questioning her trustworthiness. McMahon purportedly relayed to Grant that Khan had doubts about her reliability. However, a WWE spokesperson denies the occurrence of this conversation.

SEScoops will have more on this breaking story as additional information is made known. Please keep checking back for constant updates.  

Daily Drop (3/12): Stephanie McMahon Named In Blockbuster Lawsuit, AEW Couple Breaks Up

Aaron Varble
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0

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 12. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, so let’s take a look.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 25

Muhammad Ali was announced for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and the tag team the U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham) are rounding out the current list of inductees.

Also, you can check out the WrestleMania 40 card (so far) below:

  • 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. Five teams TBD- Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship 
  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship 
  • The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins

WWE:

– In a blockbuster report, the four names of WWE executives in Janel Grant’s lawsuit was revealed. It is alleged that Nick Khan, Stephenia McMahon, Brad Blum, and Brian Nurse knew about the relationship between Grant and Vince.

– Triple H received the highly-prized YouTube Play Button Plaque for 100 million subscribers for WWE’s channel.

– CM Punk will make his return to WWE RAW in Chicago on March 25th.

– Jey Uso challenged Jimmy Uso for a match at WrestleMania 40. 

WWE NXT (3/12) Match Card:

  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Brooks Jensen – NXT North American Championship Match
  • Shawn Spears vs. Ridge Holland
  • Gigi Dolin vs. Arianna Grace

AEW:

– Miro and CJ Perry split up after 7 years of marriage.

– Max Caster joked that he was hacked, which explained a bunch of mean tweets, but he didn’t take them back, either.

– Al Snow had quite a controversial take on AEW. He said that someone will die in the ring unless things change.

– Jack Perry dropped a line of merchandise with the Scapegoat theme. We will have to see how this road takes him back to AEW, if it does at all.

– During Kevin Nash’s Kliq This podcast, he revealed that Sting wanted him to get physical in his retirement match at AEW Revolution, “For some reason, people think that Paul [Triple H] told me I couldn’t go and my thing was I’m a WWE guy. When this thing first came out, it came to fruition, I got contacted by Steve, Sting. He was telling me what he wanted to do and then in that same breath, he said, ‘What can you do physicality-wise? So if anybody wants to know why Kevin Nash was at home, that’s why. He asked me what I can do physicality-wise.”

–

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Chad Gable Hurting After “Visceral” Raw Loss Robs Him of Family’s Dream at WrestleMania

Thomas Lowson
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Chad Gable has shared just how visceral his loss on this week’s Raw has been for him after coming up short in the Intercontinental Title contenders gauntlet match. 

The Olympian was part of the six-man match which also featured Ricochet, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, JD McDonagh, and Sami Zayn. The match came down to Gable and Zayn, both of whom have made emotional cases for challenging GUNTHER at WrestleMania. Despite a valiant effort by Gable, Zayn got the win and the title shot at WrestleMania 40. 

Chad Gable on His Visceral Loss

In a WWE Raw Digital Exclusive after the match, Gable reflected on last night’s match and this latest setback. 

“For those who have never felt something like this, it’s more visceral than I can describe. It’s not coming up short. It’s really letting people down that depend on you in a number of ways. For me this meant a lot more than WrestleMania, a lot more than a championship. It was a very personal, personal thing for me [and] my family.”

Chad Gable on Sami Zayn

After his defeat, Gable and Zayn shared some words in the ring. When asked what Sami said, however, Gable said he wasn’t going to divulge their private conversation. 

“For now, that’s going to stay between me and Sami. To be honest, I was less interested in what he had to say and more interested in getting out of the ring.” 

Gable acknowledged that was the winner of the match but argued that facing GUNTHER at WrestleMania would always mean more to him than the Canadian.

“I’m a man, willing to say that he [Zayn] was the better man tonight. I don’t think it meant more to him. I don’t think it still means more to him than it does to me but I have no problem showing respect.”

WWE WrestleMania 40: Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder Match Set For Undisputed Tag Gold

Thomas Lowson
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A huge ladder tag-team ladder match has been confirmed for WrestleMania 40, one that will see the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships on the line. 

During a segment on the March 11, 2024, episode, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis spoke about wanting to make this year’s WrestleMania the biggest ever. The pair announced that the Judgment Day will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania in a six-team ladder match. 

Tag teams will have the opportunity on both Raw and SmackDown to earn a spot in the ladder match. The first qualifying match will take place on this Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown. 

Who Could Make the Cut?

There’s no shortage of tag teams in WWE who’d love a shot at the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. From Monday Night Raw, fans can watch the likes of the Creed Brothers and their allies in Alpha Academy. There’s also Awesome Truth, Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, as well as DIY and the New Day. 

SmackDown is hardly lacking in tag teams either. The blue brand is the home of The Final Testament, which includes the Authors of Pain. The Latino World Order could also qualify for the title match though we’re sure Legado Del Fantasma would love to stop that. The O.C., Pretty Deadly, The Pride and New Catch Republic can also be found on Friday Nights. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins & Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns & The Rock 
  • GUNTHER (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
  • The Judgment Day (c) vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs.TBA (Six-Pack Ladder Match, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

AEW Star Makes Surprise Appearance on 3/11 WWE RAW in Photo with Rhea Ripley

Thomas Lowson
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One of the stars of AEW was shown on this week’s Raw in what has become a surprising trend by the Sports Entertainment Juggernaut.

The March 11, edition of Monday Night Raw saw the red brand Superstars continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. Sami Zayn earned an Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania with a victory in a Gauntlet match, besting five very game opponents. Elsewhere on the show, Jey Uso laid down a challenge to his treacherous brother Jimmy for a match in Philadelphia.

Buddy Matthews on WWE Raw

During this week’s Raw, WWE shared a photo from UFC 299, hardly a surprise given that WWE & UFC are part of TKO Group Holdings. The photo in question, as Michael Cole made clear, was of Rhea Ripley at the most recent UFC event. Ripley was photographed with her fiance Buddy Matthews of AEW. Cole didn’t mention AEW or Matthews, despite Pat McAfee asking “with who?!” was Ripley sat with. 

Monday Night Raw is All Elite

While Matthews’ appearance was a surprise during this week’s Raw, he is hardly the first AEW star to be referenced on WWE’s longest-running weekly episodic show. Last week, Michael Cole made reference to Sting, who had competed in his final match at AEW Revolution 2024. Cole made sure to congratulate the Icon who had been with WWE from 2014 to 2020. 

In June 2022, WWE celebrated 20 years since the on-screen debut of John Cena. Many of Cena’s greatest rivals paid tribute to the 16-time WWE World Champion, including some from AEW. Bryan Danielson, Paul Wight, and Chris Jericho all appeared on Raw via video packages to recognize the impressive career of ‘Big Match John.’

Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan & More Named in Janel Grant’s “Sexual Slave” Lawsuit

Thomas Lowson
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Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan are among those named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, in which she claims she was abused and trafficked during her tenure. 

Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and former chairman Vince McMahon alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and has claimed that the lawsuit is rife with fabrications. 

Nick Khan Named

The suit claims that Khan, WWE’s CEO, was instrumental in a scheme that saw Grant hired in an undefined role, Front Office Sports reports. Khan is listed in the paperwork as ‘Corporate Officer 1’ alongside WWE COO Brad Blum (Officer 2.) McMahon presented Blum and Khan to Grant as his ‘key fixers’ according to the suit. 

A statement from WWE reads: 

“WWE takes Ms. Grant’s allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact. Neither Nick Khan nor Brad Blum, prior to the lawsuit being filed on January 25, 2024, were aware of any allegation by Ms. Grant that she was the victim of abuse or unwanted physical contact; nor does the complaint allege that either had knowledge of such.”

The suit claims that in March 2021, Grant told McMahon that Khan responded to her introducing herself in a corridor by telling her he knew exactly who she was. McMahon told her, according to the suit, that Khan had “inquired whether Grant could be trusted.” A WWE spokesperson denies this conversation ever happened. 

It should be stressed that neither Blum or Khan have been accused of acting sexually inappropriate with Janel Grant. 

Brad Blum’s Alleged Role

Grant claims that when she first met with McMahon, she had minimal work history, but that the 78-year-old ensured her a meeting with Blum, the EVP of operations at the time. The interview with Blum saw “hardly any questions” asked, but she was hired to a $75,000-a-year role in WWE’s legal department. When McMahon told Grant that Blum had warned him “that there were a lot of rumors circulating” about the relationship, she was moved to another department. 

Stephanie McMahon in the Lawsuit

The suit also makes reference to Stephanie McMahon (Corporate Officer 3) who stepped down from WWE in January 2023 following her father’s return. Stephanie is mentioned once in ambiguous context in the suit. She is described as knowing “of other instances of [Vince] McMahon engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct” and motioned for Grant to sit near her during a meeting. The meeting in question was said to be among WWE’s executive committee which Grant claims was odd for her to be present for, saying it was far above her pay grade. 

AEW Injury: Star Addresses Broken Jaw That Will Require Surgery

Aaron Varble
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0

AEW has a lot of injuries on their roster. Some are actually expressing concern about that at this point, as Al Snow said he expects someone to die in an AEW ring if things aren’t fixed. Now, we have another unfortunate injury to report.

Anthony Henry, 1/2 of the WorkHorsemen, is no longer part of the active roster. He is dealing with a broken jaw, and it appears that surgery will be needed.

Henry’s Injury

Anthony Henry shared his uncertainty and worry regarding his broken jaw, admitting it to be an unfamiliar and daunting injury for him. Wrestling is an integral part of his life, and he expressed a sense of loss without it and voiced concerns about how the injury might impact future plans, particularly those involving his tag team partner, JD Drake.

Henry hinted at a possible hiatus from social media during this time but conveyed appreciation to the fans for their support. The WorkHorsemen member was obviously distraught to reveal this injury news for fans.

In an update on Twitter/X, Henry revealed feeling devastated after sustaining the injury during a match against Bryan Keith, where a knee strike caused his jaw to break. He expressed disappointment and mentioned missing out on upcoming opportunities, including participation in the AEW tag team tournament with the WorkHorsemen. Henry indicated that there are also plans for surgery to address the injury.

Anthony Henry’s Tag Team Career

The WorkHorsemen have achieved notable success throughout their careers, including winning the AWE Tag Team Championship, DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship, EVOLVE Tag Team Championship, and FW Tag Team Championship. Additionally, they were ranked #57 in the 2022 PWI Top 100 Tag Teams. Now, the team has to pump the brakes as Henry suffered this bad break.

We’re sending out our best to Anthony Henry. This is terrible news, and it certainly stopped his momentum. Hopefully, he can heal up fast and get back to the ring ASAP.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as additional updates are made available. 

WrestleMania 40 Challenge: Jey Uso Sets Sights On Match Against Twin Brother Jimmy Uso

Aaron Varble
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0

WrestleMania 40 is less than 30 days away, and this week’s episode of RAW saw a lot of momentum toward the show of shows. Jey Uso took the microphone, and he had a lot to say.

Jimmy Uso screwed his brother, Jey, out of an IC Title match a couple of weeks ago. Now, Jey wants to face his brother on the grandest stage of them all. He was on RAW this week, where he laid down that challenge. 

Jey Uso’s WrestleMania Challenge

Main Event Jey Uso’s journey as a singles competitor on RAW saw him carve out his own path and establish his legacy apart from The Bloodline. That being said, his progress has often been impeded by interference from The Bloodline, particularly his estranged brother, Jimmy Uso. Frustrated over his brother’s interference and tired of missed opportunities, Jey Uso took matters into his own hands on the latest edition of RAW.

During the show, Jey Uso confronted the situation head-on and proposed a solution to resolve their ongoing conflicts. He issued a challenge to his older brother, Jimmy Uso, for a high-stakes ‘Brother vs Brother’ showdown at WrestleMania 40. 

The crowd responded with enthusiastic YEET chants, indicating their excitement for the potential clash between the siblings on the grand stage of WrestleMania. It looks like we may get YeetMania this year.

WrestleMania 40 For The Bloodline

This match holds significant value for WWE’s stories, and The Bloodline saga. After all, a brother vs brother match for the Usos has been on fans minds for a very long time. Given the history between the two brothers, particularly Jimmy’s betrayal of Jey at last year’s SummerSlam, things could get very interesting. 

Jey Uso recently spoke about this match, and he said he can’t wait for the promo battles. It looks like he got started early on that with a great promo on RAW. 

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are made available. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.

WWE WrestleMania 40: Sami Zayn to Challenge Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER

Thomas Lowson
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0

Sami Zayn hopes to win his second championship in as many WrestleManias when he challenges Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER next month. 

On Monday Night Raw, Zayn emerged as the victor of a Gauntlet Match to determine the Austrian’s next challenger. The match featured Zayn, Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, ‘Big’ Bronson Reed, Ricochet, and JD McDonagh of the Judgment Day. 

The match started with Ricochet, the man GUNTHER dethroned in June 2022, taking on McDonagh. The One and Only pinned McDonagh before Bronson Reed eliminated Ricochet. Zayn would be the fourth entrant in the match and would eliminate Reed. He would then eliminate Nakamura and Chad Gable to get the win and the coveted title shot. 

Sami Zayn as Intercontinental Champion

Zayn is a three-time Intercontinental Champion and won the title for the first time in March 2020. After opting to take a break from WWE programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zayn would be stripped of the title but in storyline claimed to still be the champion when he returned to TV in August that same year. 

At Clash of Champions in September 2020, Zayn was crowned the Undisputed Intercontinental Champion but lost the title to Big E in December. His third reign began in February 2022 but he would lose the gold to Ricochet mere weeks later. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • GUNTHER (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

Travis Scott Spotted Backstage At Monday’s WWE Raw from Houston

Ella Jay
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The WWE WrestleMania stage has been a magnet for celebrities in recent years. As such, it is no surprise to see that the Road to WrestleMania itself has elicited similar results.

Monday’s episode of Raw marked WWE’s official return to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. It also marked a special guest appearance from award-winning rapper Travis Scott. Scott, of course, is a native of Houston, as he was born and raised in the surrounding areas throughout his childhood.

As seen in a new X video, Scott arrived to the venue earlier today, where he was greeted by former Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Jey Uso. After shaking hands, Uso promptly announced Scott’s presence with his signature “Yeet.” 

Travis Scott Meets Triple H

Later in the evening, Scott posed for a photograph with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

“Too sweet having Houston’s own [Travis Scott] in the building for #WWERaw,” Levesque wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alongside an image of the two men gesturing a too sweet.

Raw Results

As Scott situated himself backstage, several WWE superstars brought forth some action on-screen. 

One of the night’s notable matches saw Becky Lynch defeat an infuriated Liv Morgan, after which Nia Jax unleashed an attack on both competitors. Elsewhere on the card, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) successfully defended their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.

General Managers Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis also announced that the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships will be on the line in a six-pack tag team ladder match at WrestleMania 40. The challengers for this particular title bout will be decided over the next few weeks.

AEW’s CJ Perry Confirms Separation From Husband Miro

Ella Jay
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0

AEW’s CJ Perry and Miro are moving on from one another.

Earlier today, TMZ Sports reported that CJ Perry (formerly known as Lana) and Miro (formerly known as Rusev) had “broke[n] up once and for all” in the winter of 2023 after several years of an on-and-off relationship. The couple, who officially tied to knot in July 2016, is said to have simply drifted apart. 

While the couple has yet to file for divorce, Miro reportedly moved back to his home country of Bulgaria shortly after he and Perry made the decision to break up. 

CJ Perry has since confirmed their split to TMZ, stating, “Miro and I have made the difficult decision to separate after many wonderful years together, and have decided to move on as friends, and hopefully onscreen characters somewhere down the road.” 

AEW Ventures

In the months following his release from WWE in 2020, Miro inked a contract with All Elite Wrestling, where he became a one-time TNT Champion.

In September 2023, Perry would follow suit as she attempted to save Miro from a post-match attack from Powerhouse Hobbs in her AEW debut, which took place at the All Out pay-per-view. Upon signing with AEW, Perry has reprised her role as an on-screen manager, taking on the likes of Action Andretti and Andrade El Idolo.

Perry’s most recent appearance occurred at AEW Worlds End in December, in which she accompanied Andrade to the ring in his match against Miro. However, in a surprise turn of events, Perry turned on Andrade, subsequently causing him to lose his aforementioned match to Miro. 

Andrade has since rejoined WWE.

Paul Heyman Shouldn’t Just Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall Of Fame, He Should Headline The Class Of 2024

Mike Chin
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Paul Heyman was the first name announced as an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This was a completely non-controversial choice among the wrestling community. Even if one were to only consider his on-screen work as a manager, his efforts have been worthy of recognition.

Heyman’s career spanned a number of territories, leading to an important run at the head of The Dangerous Alliance that dominated WCW programming in 1992. From there, he served as the manager, consultant, or wise man to no fewer than three long-reigning world champions in WWE (in addition to briefer stints managing others).

Heyman was a key color commentator in the late stages of the Attitude Era as well, particularly during the Invasion angle, and then an on-screen authority figure.

On top of the work fans have seen firsthand, though, there are Heyman’s behind-the-scenes work, which include major contributions during multiple eras of WWE programming. Perhaps most importantly of all, though, he’s the evil genius most widely credited with masterminding ECW when it caught fire in the 1990s.

For all of the aforementioned reasons and more, Heyman should become the first non-wrestler WWE Hall of Fame inductee to go on last, officially headlining the Class of 2024.

The 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Will Occur In Philadelphia

Paul Heyman was born and got his start in pro wrestling in New York. His first claims to national fame came in the south or in the Midwest with the AWA, depending on which promotions one most paid attention to.

However, when it comes to the heart of Heyman’s contributions to the wrestling business, it all comes back to Philadelphia. In the Cit of Brotherly Love, Heyman was the driving creative force behind Eastern Championship Wrestling’s reinvention as Extreme Championship Wrestling. More than a simple rebrand, Heyman tapped into the wrestling atmosphere. He recognized the limitations of the family friendly products WWE and WCW produced at the time and capitalized on an opportunity, promoting an edgier, more adult style.

Indeed, the general consensus is that the more realistic presentation WCW embraced in the Monday Night War and the Attitude Era that elevated WWE to such heights were directly influenced by ECW’s success. In addition to pushing a different style of wrestling, there were the individual stars Heyman cultivated. Some, like Mike Awesome, Raven, and The Sandman peaked in ECW as Heyman hid their weaknesses, capitalized on their strengths, and put the right creative behind them. Other acts like The Dudley Boyz, Taz, and Eddie Guerrero would become foundational contributors for bigger promotions for years to come—talents in whom Heyman recognized profound potential who might not have wound up on the radar of bigger companies had Heyman not spotlighted them first.

All of these successes were born out of a bingo hall in Philly. Hardcore mirrors the gritty spirit of the city and the city remains inextricably linked to the ECW legacy. As such, Heyman is quite arguably the wrestling legend most synonymous with Philadelphia and a perfect choice to headline during a WrestleMania weekend staged there.

Paul Heyman Is Part Of The Current WWE Main Event Picture

One of the struggles of the WWE Hall of Fame is that, in presenting the induction ceremony is a live event held in a reasonably sized arena, broadcasted live. There’s a pressure not to simply induct worthy names, but induct draws—names modern fans will recognize and be excited about. Main eventers tend to have staying power, such that even fans who weren’t watching their primes stil know the names and have at least some familiarity with their work. Mid-card acts, tag teams, and managers have a tougher go of it.

In 2023, Rey Mysterio headlined the Hall of Fame class. In addition to having had a lengthy, legendary career the luchador benefited from still being a part of the active roster, embroiled in a hot father-son feud at the time. This dynamic meant everyone who might attend a Hall of Fame induction ceremony—even children who weren’t yet born for either of Mysterio’s world title wins—were still familiar with him.

Paul Heyman has been active in wrestling since since the 1980s, meaning he truly spans generations of fans. But perhaps most importantly for his status as a Hall of Fame draw, he has been heavily embroiled in The Bloodline’s main event storyline that has dominated nearly four years of WWE programming. That’s in addition to standing in the corner of top champions like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk off and on for the preceding two decades. Thus, Heyman is that rare manager whose main event level credentials are beyond reproach.

Paul Heyman Could Deliver One Of The Greatest WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Speeches Ever

One of the awkward realities of WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is that not all speeches are created equally. Regardless of star power, some talents are simply better talkers than others. Meanwhile, there are those talents who clearly take the induction seriously and craft speeches perfectly tailored to the moment, in contrast to those who take a more cavalier approach.

A big part of Paul Heyman’s legacy in wrestling is being an all-time great promo guy. He’s a brilliant wrestling mind with a real sense of history too, all of which is a recipe for a genuinely special induction speech. Rather than someone else being forced to follow the speech of the night, the most straightforward answer is to let Heyman close out the evening.

In the end, whether Paul Heyman goes on first, last, or somewhere in between for his WWE Hall of Fame induction, the bottom line is that after WrestleMania 40 weekend he’ll be a bona fide Hall of Famer. Few men—and particularly few men who were never proper wrestlers—were ever more worthy of this particular brand of recognition. There’s also a small sense of poeticism to Heyman being featured here as a sort of antithesis to Vince McMahon’s style and aesthetic. Heyman headlining may well further establish the launch of a new era in WWE.

AEW Hack: Max Caster Humorously Cries Hacker After Series Of Mean Tweets

Aaron Varble
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Max Caster knows how to get under fans’ skin. He makes a living as a heel now, and the Bang Bang Scissor Gang gives him a lot of creative freedom. He may have gone over the line recently, but he was HACKED!

AEW’s resident rapper recently took to Twitter/X to said that all of his mean tweets last night was the result of a hacker. That being said, he’s not taking any of them down and agrees with each word that hacker had to say.

Max Caster’s “Hack”

Max Caster knows how to use his words in very creative ways. He recently went on a tear, where he released a few brutal tweets at fans.

On Monday morning, he logged back onto Twitter/X, where he made it very clear that he was the victim of a hack. This was all part of his character, because he’s not going to dismiss himself from anything that nefarious hacker said to fans.

He released a message along with a text graphic that let everyone know what he was up to. As he cleaned up the mess left by the hacker, he decided to leave all traces of this phony cyberattack.

From Max, Hello, users of X (formerly Twitter).

My followers, my former followers, and wrestling fans… Last night, while I was asleep, I was hacked by a hacker. That person proceeded to correspond antagonizing messages to you, the fans. They caused a lot of problems that I would never intend to start. Ironically, I stand behind all the opinions and statements made by my hacker, and I will not be deleting the posts. However, rest assured that I have full control of my account once again. Thank you for understanding.

Humbly, The Best Wrestler Alive

You can check out a few of the mean tweets that Max Caster’s “hacker” sent out in the space below. They are still up, and there are a few more as well. He’s obviously not backing down from any of them.

What’s Next

We will have to see what Max Caster does next to catch attention. He is known for catching headlines with controversial remarks, and this one was incredibly inventive.

Max Caster and Anthony Bowens’ drive in AEW was put on another level when Billy Gunn joined them. We have to wonder whose idea it was to pull off this hacker deal, but we have to give him credit.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for the headlines that you need.

Triple H Unboxes Ultra-Rare Award After WWE Surpasses 100 Million YouTube Subscribers

Ella Jay
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WWE marked a significant social media achievement last week when their official YouTube channel reached a major milestone, surpassing 100 million subscribers. 

With this number, WWE has entered into ultra-rare territory, as only nine other channels have reached that same feat. Given the magnitude of this accomplishment, YouTube has honored the company with an ultra-rare award as well. 

Earlier today, WWE Chief Content Offer Paul “Triple H” Levesque revealed that WWE had received the coveted Red Diamond Play Button, which recognizes channels that have obtained 100 million subscribers on the YouTube platform. As the name indicates, this award was complemented with a red crystal that was carved into a triangular “play” button. According to Triple H, this award also carries some massive weight to it.

Thank You To The WWE Universe

While unboxing the Red Diamond Play Button for a YouTube video, Triple H took a moment to thank the WWE talent and staff, as well as the WWE Universe, for supporting the company in their growth on social media and as an overall brand. 

“On behalf of all of us at WWE, I want to thank our talent. I want to thank our crew and our staff and all the people behind the scenes that you don’t get to see on TV every single week for this,” Triple H said. “But more importantly than anything else, I want to thank the WWE Universe, all of you, everybody that’s out there that just can’t get enough WWE loves it, watches it, just sort of lives that WWE lifestyle – this is for you. Thank you.”

In eclipsing 100 million subscribers and 81 billion lifetime views, WWE has now positioned themselves as the largest sports channel on YouTube. Notably, this updated subscriber total is more than the MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL combined.

Latest on Peacemaker Season 2 Gives New Hope for John Cena At WWE WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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John Cena could indeed be free for an appearance at WrestleMania 40, despite previous concerns that his filming schedule could prevent him being at the show. 

Cena is eager to do something at WrestleMania 40, though no plans have been publicly confirmed for the 16-time WWE World Champion just yet. There have been concerns that Cena’s commitment to filming Peacemaker could keep him from the annual two-night mega-show. The hit series from DC Studios sees John reprise the role of Peacemaker/Christopher Smith he first played in 2021’s The Suicide Squad. 

Latest on Peacemaker Season 2

Cena’s blossoming acting career keeps him very busy, which is why WrestleManias 37 and 38 came and went without an appearance. Now, the show’s own Jennifer Holland has given hope to fans wishing to see Cena at WrestleMania 40. Responding to a fan’s question about the show’s second season, Holland, who portrays Emilia Harcourt shared her excitement. She also noted that the plan is for Peacemaker season two to begin filming this Summer, long after WrestleMania.

“Yessss we start filming this summer! It’s gonna be so gooooood.”

John Cena at WrestleMania

Cena made his WrestleMania debut in 2003 during the pre-show, and would open the show by winning the U.S. Championship the following year. Cena has competed a total of 16 times at WrestleMania with eight of those matches being for a World Championship. He currently boasts a win/loss record of 10-6. 

YeetMania: Jey Uso is Pumped For Promo Battles With Jimmy Uso in WrestleMania Program

Aaron Varble
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WWE is well on their road to WrestleMania 40, and it appears that a couple dream matches are possible. The Bloodline splintered, and Jey Uso is on RAW, but it appears that twin warfare is coming.

Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso are expected to collide at WrestleMania 40. When thinking about his potential Mania match, Jey is hyped for the promos that await fans.

YeetMania

Jey Uso discussed the possibility of facing his brother. After all, they are slated to face each other at WrestleMania 40. Uce is very excited about the possibilities, especially the build.

Following Jimmy Uso’s interference that led to Jey Uso losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Roman Reigns at WWE SummerSlam, it appears that the twin siblings are heading towards a showdown at WrestleMania 40.

In the buildup to their potential clash, tensions escalated on the February 19 episode of WWE Raw when Jimmy’s actions caused Jey’s defeat against GUNTHER in a match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

While addressing the situation on Battleground with Tim & Eli, Jey shared his thoughts on the prospect of facing Jimmy in the ring. He can’t wait for the promos.

“Personally, I’m a little kid all over again. Hopefully it’s me and Jimmy at WrestleMania. If it is, I’m a little kid. It’s going to be so easy. We’re just going to do what we do all the time. What I’m most excited about is the lead up, the promos. I love talking. I’m trying to talk. You thought you had emotion in the Bloodline storyline with me and Roman, and me and Sami, watch me and my twin go at it. Ya’ll are going to be like, ‘They are 100% real.’ That’s what is going to make it fire. It’s going to be real. I’m excited to pump that out to the fans and give them that. It’ll be different from every other angle.”

The Road to WrestleMania

The Bloodline Saga has lasted years at this point, and we all knew a Jimmy vs Jey match was coming. It seems that we are getting that match this year.

Roman Reigns and The Rock will also be busy at WrestleMania. They will face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins during the first night of WrestleMania 40. Then Roman will defend the Undisputed Universal Title against Cody Rhodes on the next night.

The only Bloodline member left without a match is Solo Sikoa so far, as even Paul Heyman is accepting a WWE Hall of Fame induction. Odds are, Solo will find something to do so he can get a Mania paycheck.

SEScoops will have full coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for the updates and headlines you need!

Someone Will Die: Al Snow Issues Grave Prediction for AEW Talent

Aaron Varble
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AEW has faced criticism from all over the pro wrestling world for a variety of things from their booking to the wrestlers Tony Khan signs to a contract. The fact that injuries seem to be prevalent is also a topic of conversation.

Al Snow is a veteran in the pro wrestling business, and he has a lot to say. He recently expressed the idea that, unless things change, someone will die in an AEW ring.

Al Snow’s Deathly Prediction For AEW

Former WWE star and OVW owner, Al Snow, appeared on Vince Russo’s Youtube channel to share his concerns about the current AEW product, which he perceives as unsafe.

Snow explained to Russo why he believes that a wrestler may eventually suffer a fatal injury inside an AEW ring. Regarding the potential criticism of his views, Snow stated, “You’re going to have those that are going to defend it, and they’re going to get upset and take the… that I’ve got an axe to grind, and that I’m bitter, and I’m not,” emphasizing that he is satisfied with everything.

Snow highlighted his past efforts in advocating for standards of training and safety in wrestling, particularly during his tenure at OVW. He expressed his belief that the escalation of risks in AEW matches may lead to a tragic accident.

We now have escalated to where we watched Will Ospreay go up into a vertical suplex with the guy standing on the second rope and drop straight on his head. We watched Orange Cassidy get dropped bodily on the top rope and could almost be cut in half. OK? How much exponentially has the scale went up, that we’re going to watch someone die? Meaning… legitimately, they’re going to die right in front of your eyes in a match.

AEW & Injuries

AEW just suspended Sammy Guevara for injuring Jeff Hardy. There is also an idea that he ignored concussion protocol in the process. This suspension also sparked a lot of conversation within the pro wrestling fan base.

Tony Khan allows his talent to do a lot of things in their matches that a company like OVW or WWE wouldn’t touch. The use of real glass at AEW Revolution sent shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world, because that dangerous Darby Allin stunt could have gone much worse.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are available. Keep checking back for the stories and headlines you need.

Pretty Big Deal: Nia Jax Opens Up About The ‘Honor’ Of Headlining WWE Elimination Chamber 2024

Ella Jay
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Last month, WWE made their way to Perth, Australia for the 2024 Elimination Chamber. In addition to featuring two marquee Elimination Chamber matches, this premium live event also served as a homecoming for four superstars — Indi Hartwell, Grayson Waller, Nia Jax, and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

Given the setting, WWE boosted Jax and Ripley, who were facing off in a women’s title match, to the main event of the card. As it turns out, though, Jax didn’t become aware of this decision until the night before Elimination Chamber. 

“I didn’t know until the night before,” Jax  recently told The Hall of Fame podcast. “I think somebody had like sent a card to me, and I’m like ‘Wait a minute, does this mean that we’re on in the main event?'”

An Immense Honor

Realizing that she was now also positioned as one of the show’s headliners, Jax felt an elevated sense of nervousness heading into her WWE Women’s World Championship match. Despite the added pressure, Jax firmly cherished the opportunity to not only perform before her home country of Australia, but to also do it in the main event. 

“Not gonna lie, it felt like a lot of pressure because you had some pretty stacked Elimination Chambers, a great tag on the card, and then you had the Grayson Waller Effect. Being main event of that show, it was a pretty big deal for me,” Jax said. “I just wanted to put on the best match I possibly could with a great story. [It was] easy with Rhea Ripley, but I wanted to be able to tell a really good story to the fans and hope that it resonated to them. It was an honor to be a main event in front of all those people.”

Ultimately, it was Rhea Ripley who emerged victorious in the Elimination Chamber main event, as she laid out “The Irresistible Force” with the Riptide to secure the pinfall and retain her title.

Looking forward, Ripley now has her sights set on Becky Lynch, who is set to challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

The 5 Best Choices To Challenge Gunther At WrestleMania 40

Mike Chin
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Coming out of Elimination Chamber, most of the top title matches for WrestleMania 40 appear settled. Fans already knew Cody Rhodes would challenge Roman Reigns and learned Drew McIntyre would challenge Seth Rollins. Bayley vs. Iyo Sky has built nicely on SmackDown, while Becky Lynch made good on the teases that she’ll go after Rhea Ripley. Even the United States Championship picture appeared to crystallized when WWE set the wheels in motion for Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton during the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

Intercontinental Champion Gunther is all but assured to work a high-profile match at WrestleMania, if only for the combination of his talent and how well WWE has pushed him and this reign. Gunther surpassed The Honky Tonk Man for the longest single reign with the title months ago, and more recently this single reign has positioned him as the longest cumulative reigning IC champ ever.

The question remains whom Gunther will face at ‘Mania, particularly as a number of pundits have speculated the title might changes hands on this auspicious occasion. 

Ahead of the Gauntlet Match on tonight’s WWE Raw to determine who will in fact battle Gunther at Wrestlemania, here are five Superstars we’d like to see in that spot:

Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn had a stare down with Gunther on Monday Night Raw and certainly is well-positioned as a prospective challenger for the Intercontinental Championship. Indeed, Zayn is on a very short list of men who don’t yet have a match for WrestleMania, is a credible threat to The Ring General, and is also a fresh opponent who hasn’t yet challenged for the belt during this reign. All that’s not to mention that Zayn vs. Gunther would all but guarantee a strong match.

There are those fans who are underwhelmed with this idea on the premise that they’re still holding out hope Zayn’s big push from 2023 could culminate in a world title reign. Besides that, he is already a four-time former Intercontinental Champion. Nonetheless, dethroning Gunther would, in and of itself be a major milestone that would have to be considered among Zayn’s biggest career accomplishments to date.

Damian Priest

The Raw after Elimination Chamber also saw WWE tease a confrontation between Damian Priest and Gunther as Judgment Day confronted the Intercontinental Champion. Explicit references to Senor Money in the Bank cashing in on Gunther arose, introducing possibilities for Priest challenging formally at WrestleMania or else stealing the title via cash-in after Gunther works someone else.

Priest vs. Gunther has potential has a clash between two big men who can go in the ring. Though some fans are lukewarm on Money in the Bank being used to challenge for secondary titles, Priest cashing in could also be seen as a way of elevating the Intercontinental Championship. That’s not to mention that if any secondary champion ever warranted a challenger taking advantage of a cash-in, it would have to be Gunther, and this would be a way to protect The Ring General while he transitions out of the IC title picture.

Andrade

Andrade has had one of the more confounding careers in American pro wrestling. He was a breakout star for CMLL, then had and up and down run in NXT before hitting his stride and arriving as NXT Champion. It looked like he’d be big deal when he moved up to the main roster, but he promptly found himself lost in the mid-card shuffle. Even more frustrating, Andrade’s run with AEW yielded similar results as he never quite seemed to find his spot. It’s telling that his most memorable accomplishment in his three years away from WWE may well have been teaming up with his father in law to headline the Ric Flair’s Last Match indie event.

If Andrade were to challenge Gunther, and especially if he were to take the Intercontinental Championship off him, it would be a nice testament that this WWE tenure really is going to be different for Andrade. His in-ring abilities are not in question. If WWE were to afford him this WrestleMania match, there’s every chance Andrade would make the most of the opportunity.

Ilja Dragunov

Gunther hasn’t suffered many losses under the WWE banner. Quite arguably the biggest loss of his WWE career to date came in developmental when Ilja Dragunov was the man to “pull the sword from the stone” and end Gunther’s 800+ day reign as NXT UK Champion.

There would be some poeticism to Dragunov—now the reigning NXT Champion—being the one to end Gunther’s next marathon title reign as well. No less important, Dragunov and Gunther have a proven track record as truly great opponents for one another. Dragunov making his main roster debut at WrestleMania in a show-stealing match in which he beats Gunther could do wonders for the Russian Superstar’s career.

John Cena

There’s no guarantee at all that John Cena will work WrestleMania 40. Indeed, between his busy acting schedule and not appearing on WWE television since his loss to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel this fall, it looks like the odds are Cena is sitting out ‘Mania this year. If he does appear, the smart money is on a surprise promo, altercation, or impromptu match more so than a full-fledged ‘Mania program and major bout.

Cena notoriously remains in great shape, though, and he’s the kind of legend who can readily be slotted into any title picture at the drop of a dime. Moreover, there is a ready made story to be told of Cena chasing the biggest title that’s eluded him throughout his WWE career, the Intercontinental Championship. Cena also marks an ideal opponent for Gunther. If Gunther were to lose, there’s little shame in him dropping a match to the guy WWE has pushed as “the greatest of all time.” Meanwhile, if Gunther were to win, this is one of the few one-on-one victories–shy of a world title win–that would undeniably elevate him at this point.

In the end, fans will probably find out the identity of Gunther’s WrestleMania challenger in the near future. The possibilities outlined here, not to mention the prospect of a Triple Threat or a multi-man ladder match offer all manner of interesting possibilities and every opportunity for Gunther to deliver another memorable performance on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

CM Punk Set For Chicago WWE RAW Before WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk made his grand return to WWE back in November in the closing moments of Survivor Series 2023 from Chicago. He began feuding with Seth Rollins and they were on track to have a top match at WrestleMania 40. Unfortunately, Punk tore his right tricep in the Royal Rumble, underwent surgery and won’t be cleared for action any time soon.

Since then, he’s made a few public appearances. Punk was at UFC 298, along with Bianca Belair and Montez Ford. He’s appeared in front of the live crowd after WWE Raw has gone off the air, and explained to fans why he’s not part of the WWE 2K24 roster. We now know when CM Punk will be back on WWE television.

WWE has announced that CM Punk will be there live in person when Monday Night Raw stops through Chicago, IL on March 25. 

Here’s the official announcement for CM Punk’s appearance when the ‘Road to WrestleMania’ runs through the Windy City:

CM Punk’s Injury

CM Punk tore his right tricep in the Royal Rumble, underwent surgery and is now on the road to recovery. 

Although it’s unclear exactly how long CM Punk will be out of action, he probably won’t be wrestling for several more months.

The injury was a devastating setback for the controversial figure, who had been away from WWE for nearly a decade prior to his return. Punk arrived in WWE the same way he did in AEW: seemingly rested, refreshed and excited to write the final chapter of his career on his own terms.

Whenever CM Punk does return, we can expect a motivated veteran eager to get back to his game-plan to remind fans why he’s still the Best in the World. 

Charlotte Flair Donates 200 Items of Clothing to Women& Children’s Shelter in Amazing Act of Generosity

Thomas Lowson
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Charlotte Flair’s efforts to thin her impressive wardrobe has resulted in the WWE Superstar donating 200 items of clothing to a shelter. 

On her Instagram Stories, Flair noted that her closet was getting out of hand. Rather than just throw away items of clothing, the former WWE Women’s Champion donated 200 pieces to a local women’s and children’s shelter in an incredible act of generosity. Flair also shared a before and after photo to show the difference to her closet. 

Charlotte Flair’s WWE Status

During the latter part of her December 9, match with Asuka, Flair was hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. The injury happened when Flair came off the top rope at an awkward angle and her legs bounced off the ropes. Despite this, Flair was able to finish the match that saw Asuka get the victory. 

This injury wasn’t enough to keep Charlotte from supporting her husband Andrade at a CMLL event, in what would be one of the former NXT Champion’s final appearances before returning to WWE. In January, Flair had knee surgery and has been showing significant improvements. 

What’s Next for the Queen? 

Charlotte was recently spotted at the WWE Performance Center with John Cena, which many have taken as a good indicator of her health. With that said, Flair is still expected to miss months of action, and will likely miss SummerSlam 2024 as well as WrestleMania 40. Next month’s Showcase of the Immortals will have some ‘flair’ as Charlotte will be making an appearance at the WWE World experience in Philadelphia. 

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