Drew McIntyre could be sticking with WWE for the foreseeable future if the line-up for an upcoming European event is anything to go by.
McIntyre’s future with WWE has been under speculation for some time. Last year, it was reported that his contract was going to expire in early 2024. In September, McIntyre said that has no intentions to work elsewhere. It was also reported that time has been added to Drew’s WWE contract due to his post-WrestleMania 39 hiatus.
McIntyre is reportedly open to letting his current deal lapse if he feels it is right. The first Scottish-born WWE Champion has long stated that he would like to spend some extended time back in Scotland. It has been years since he’s had the chance to have more than a quick visit with his family as these days he lives full-time in the United States.
Drew McIntyre Being Advertised
Drew McIntyre is being advertised for the upcoming WWE live event in Bologna, Italy. That event will take place in May, despite McIntyre’s current deal with WWE being set to expire shortly after WrestleMania 40 in April. Neither McIntyre nor WWE have publicly confirmed whether a new deal has been reached.
WWE in Bologna, Italy
WWE will host its Italy live event on May 1, mere days before WWE Backlash: France on May 4. Other names being advertised include Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso.
Ticket and VIP packages are already being advertised for the event. As always, the talent is subject to change. At this time, no matches have been confirmed.
The WWE Universe in Saudi Arabia will soon get to participate in the ‘WWE Experience’ which will open its doors later this week.
The WWE-themed events center can be found at Blvd City and will open on February 16. The WWE Experience is part of the latest Riyadh Season, which is an annual state-funded entertainment and sports festival. Riyadh Season starts in October and ends towards March during winter and spring in the Saudi Arabia capital.
The WWE Experience
The center features several areas for wrestling fans to explore. Attendees can attempt to escape The Undertaker’s graveyard or walk among the Hall of Immortals which features some of WWE’s all-time greats. For those looking to the future, they can participate in the ‘Become a Superstar’ experience which allows them to make their own unique entrance.
Get ready for thrilling moments with the "WWE" experience ? Stay tuned for the grand opening at BlvdCity ??? February 16 ?
In 2018, WWE marked the start of its lengthy deal with the Middle Eastern kingdom with the Greatest Royal Rumble show. At the time, WWE faced heavy criticism for signing a deal with the nation, given the country’s stance against LGBTQ+ people and women’s rights. Many found the deal to be in opposition to WWE’s ‘Women’s Revolution.’
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has told several stories in the ring during his time with WWE. Although it’s been a while since he laced up his boots, the Texas Rattlesnake isn’t shutting the door on having another match.
Steve Austin Speaks on a Return
Steve Austin competed in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens on February 4, 2022, at WrestleMania 38. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas played host to a historic performance, but it might not be his last.
While speaking to ESPN, Steve Austin spoke on the possibility of having another match. He gave the classic “never say never” approach to things, but this could mean a lot coming from Austin.
“I said I’d never get in a ring again unless all the stars aligned. And for some reason, somehow, they all did. And at the age of 57, I headlined the first night of WrestleMania. I never thought I’d do that. If you’d have told me that when I retired in [2003], I’d have said, ‘You’re crazy.’ So I’m not gonna sit here and say no to anything, because you never say never in this crazy business of sports entertainment.”
Austin also mentioned that a potential match with CM Punk “would be a good one.”
“I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me — so, as long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner,” Austin said with a laugh. “I consider him a great friend, a great guy and a great wrestler who’s had a great career. We’ll see.”
Steve Austin in WWE 2K24
Austin will have a significant role in WWE 2K24’s latest game mode, “Showcase of the Immortals.” This mode lets players experience 21 historic WrestleMania matches, commemorating the 40th anniversary of WWE’s premier event. These matches include iconic showdowns like Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 and the memorable ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon from WrestleMania 10, as well as more recent bouts such as the first women’s WrestleMania main event featuring Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35.
In the game, players will be able to replay Steve Austin’s legendary match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 in 1997, a bout that propelled the “Stone Cold” character to new heights. Additionally, Austin’s WrestleMania 17 clash with The Rock in 2001 and his comeback match against Owens will also be available.
What’s Next
The Rock’s recent return to WWE may have sparked interest in Austin to do the same. Only time will tell if he locks up in a WWE ring again, but his match at WrestleMania against Kevin Owens, which Austin won, was a well-produced 13-minute street fight that had fans on their feet the whole time. Odds are, Austin is in good enough shape to give the same performance, or even better, at 59-years-old.
WWE is in a booming period in their history, and they are definitely in a position to offer big compensation if Austin does decide to return. If anything, his comeback will likely be much more well-received than The Rock’s was.
Tony Khan will not comment on the allegations against former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon but is focused on ensuring a safe work environment in AEW.
McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Sitting down with Amy Kaplan of Fansided, Khan was asked for his take on the lawsuit but opted not to comment.
“I can’t comment on the terrible allegations against WWE right now. That’s something people are paying a lot of attention to right now, with good reason.”
Khan added that for AEW, their focus remains on creating a safe locker room for everyone and fostering a supportive environment. He’s proud of the AEW locker room and says talent knows they have a support system in place if anything were to arise.
“There are a lot of channels and I think everybody feels very good about having a safe workspace. There are people you can talk to. There are people in the office, but even on the wrestling side. For us, I think that’s the most important thing in any office of any workplace, is just having a lot of people that will listen.”
WWE 2K24 is coming, and there is a lot to unpack already. The new trailer dropped this morning, and a Showcase of the Immortals mode is anticipated to be a big hit.
WWE 2K24 Showcase of the Immortals Mode Information
The latest trailer for WWE 2K24’s 2K Showcase of the Immortals was unveiled today, offering fans a glimpse into five decades of WrestleMania, the pinnacle of sports entertainment. There are many memories to pull from, and 2k promises an exciting experience.
Featuring a lineup of WWE Superstars and Legends such as Cody Rhodes, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Rhea Ripley, Eddie Guerrero, and many more, the new trailer showcases intense battles inside the squared circle. The trailer also transitions between the most realistic WWE 2K graphics to-date and real-life footage. In a press release from 2k, they touted that this effect was courtesy of cutting-edge Slingshot Technology.
The 2K Showcase of the Immortals experience allows players to relive 21 matches across five decades of WrestleMania history, with each match unlocked by completing the previous one. From iconic showdowns like Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant to modern classics like Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair, the game offers a comprehensive journey through WrestleMania’s storied past.
Some of the matches included in the WWE 2K24 Showcase of the Immortals mode were mentioned, but there are more to come.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat w/ George “The Animal” Steele vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth – WrestleMania III;
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan – WrestleMania III;
“Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. Ultimate Warrior – WrestleMania V;;
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – WrestleMania VII;
Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania X;
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13;
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock – WrestleMania X-Seven;
Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle – WrestleMania XX;
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25;
Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton – WrestleMania 31;
Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 35;
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena in a Firefly Funhouse match – WrestleMania 36;
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens – WrestleMania 38;
Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 39;
Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 39;
Bianca Belair vs. Asuka – WrestleMania 39;
Absence of Brock Lesnar
It is interesting that Brock Lesnar is not featured in any matches on this announcement. After all, the Beast Incarnate breaking The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania XX is a strange omission from those amazing matches.
Brock Lesnar’s name did not appear in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. However, the mention of a former UFC Heavyweight Champion negotiating a new contract with WWE raised concerns for Lesnar. Now, he is being erased.
It will be interesting to see if 2K will be able to take him out of the game completely. That may be hard to do this late in the game’s process. They certainly avoided including him in this announcement, if he is still featured at all.
Three editions of WWE 2K24 will be available, including the Deluxe Edition, Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition, and Standard Edition, with release dates staggered worldwide in March 2024. Stay tuned for additional information on the game’s soundtrack, roster, Superstar ratings, and more.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WWE 2K24, and everything else in the pro wrestling world.
Cody Rhodes found out the hard way what happens when you speak ill of the Bloodline at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, according to The Rock.
Last week’s event saw some of WWE’s top Superstars in attendance. At the press conference, Roman Reigns made clear he intended to face The Rock at WrestleMania 40 in April. Cody Rhodes threw a wrench into these plans by declaring he would be challenging the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion in Philadelphia
Cody Rhodes Found Out
During his promo against The Rock and Roman Reigns, Cody said that their ancestors would be ashamed to see the two attempts to monopolize the WrestleMania main event scene. This comment drew the ire of The Rock, who slapped the American Nightmare. Rhodes would be backed up by new ally Seth Rollins, though the four men did not come to further blows.
Taking to Instagram, The Rock reflected on slapping Cody with some choice words for “your hero.”
“Your hero f***** around and he found out quick what happens when you talk about our family with disrespect.”
Triple H brought back a lot of Superstars that Vince McMahon decided to release during the pandemic. Bronson Reed is one talent that was re-signed by WWE, but it’s been a very slow start for him. Now, he’s about to snap.
Bronson Reed Is About To Snap
On WWE RAW this week, Reed faced Bobby Lashley in a qualifying match for the men’s Elimination Chamber match at the themed PLE, scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. That did not turn out the way he wanted it to for the big man.
Lashley secured his spot alongside Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, LA Knight, and another star who must qualify in the bout. Needless to say, Bronson Reed, who is from Australia, was pretty torn up about not being in the match.
Reed, who has predominantly played a heel role since returning to WWE, hinted at a potential character shift. During an interview with WWE Digital after RAW, he expressed disappointment in feeling that he let down his family and friends from Australia.
“Super disappointed. This is what I’ve dreamed about my whole life: being able to be on a WWE PLE in my home country of Australia. I feel like I’ve let down my family, I’ve let down the fans, and I’ve let down all of Australia. I couldn’t get the job done tonight…..I don’t know where I go. I planned 2024 to be a big year for Big Bronson Reed, and it’s not going to plan. I’m just at my wits’ end, and eventually, I’m going to snap.”
WWE has a few more pieces to put together for the 2024 Elimination Chamber match. In previous years, they have arranged a last-chance match with losers of qualifying matches to determine the final spot. It would be very fitting for Reed to get that spot, especially since this loss added even more fuel to the fire that a change is needed to reach the top of WWE.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WWE’s Elimination Chamber build. It would be nice if Bronson Reed is able to get a spot in the big match, but only time will tell what WWE has in store for him.
Matt Riddle is a top free agent, but he hasn’t inked a deal anywhere yet. That being said, it wasn’t for lack of interest, because his name could draw fans from all over.
While speaking to Sunday Night’s Main Event, Matt Riddle mentioned his involvement with several promotions such as TNA, New Japan, and MLW, expressing a preference for pay-per-view events over live TV due to their challenges. While he acknowledged enjoying the pressure, Riddle welcomed a respite from the demanding schedule and frequent script alterations on shows like Monday Night RAW.
After departing from WWE, Matt Riddle expressed that the constant television work, coupled with the demanding travel schedule, became stressful. Despite the lucrative pay and valuable experience, he now desires a hiatus from television commitments. During and after the 90-day period following his departure, Riddle plans to arrange some upcoming dates.
”I talked to some places. I’ve talked to TNA, I’ve worked with New Japan and MLW. You do film for TV, but it’s not the same as Monday Night Raw, three hours live, anything can happen, people are changing the script. You have ten minutes for your match, now you have five minutes. It’s extremely stressful. I like the pressure, but at the same time, I kind of wanted a little break from all that. I’m choosing places more pay-per-view based where I don’t have to worry about going to commercial so we can get that Fritos advertisement.”
What’s Next For Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle is also slated to face RVD in an epic first-time ever encounter. On Saturday, March 9th, 2024, “The Reunion 3: Cavalcade of Legends” Super Show will take place in Chillicothe, Ohio, at the OU-Shoemaker Center, and those two icons of 420 inspired wrestling will clash for the first time.
Riddle is also scheduled to compete against Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NJPW World Television Championship at the upcoming New Beginning in Sapporo event on February 23rd. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the match.
Jamie Hayter is a former AEW Women’s Champion, but she is currently out of action. At this time, the AEW Women’s Division is concentrated on Toni Storm and Julia Hart as their champions, but Hayter is apparently nowhere close to a comeback.
Hayter’s Situation
Jamie Hayter held the AEW Women’s Champion title since securing the interim championship at Full Gear in 2022. However, she later relinquished the title last year. Fans are eagerly awaiting her comeback, but her return to the ring remains uncertain.
During AEW Double Or Nothing, Toni Storm defeated Jamie Hayter to claim the AEW Women’s World Champion title. Before the event, there were concerns about Hayter’s condition. It was also reported that Jamie Hayter would not make her ring comeback last year.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spoke on Hayter’s situation. He stated that there is no definite date for her return, but it expected to go down in the next 10 months.
“I have not been given a date on Jamie Hayter though. I just heard early this year, and we’re early in the year, so there you go. But I’ve heard nothing new, I would say, in a couple of months really.”
What’s Next
AEW is about to see the debut of Mercedes Mone for the company. That big moment is expected to go down at AEW’s Big Business episode of Dynamite. Tony Khan made a big reveal that Boston will host their March 13th edition of the show, and fans are expecting the former Sasha Banks.
Things may look very different in the AEW Women’s Division by the time Jamie Hayter is able to make her return to the ring. SE Scoops will have continued updates as more information is made available.
WWE Superstars give their all for fans in the ring. Joe Gacy is an NXT Superstar with a ton of potential. Sadly, he has also experienced a great loss in recent memory, and he shared it with fans as well.
Joe Gacy Shares His Loss
Joe Gacy got on Twitter/X to announce that his beloved cat has died. He let everyone know with a post that included a photo of his feline friend.
The caption was very simple, as Joe just let everyone know the terrible situation he’s going through. He did not include any information about what happened, but it is clear that the former Schism leader is grieving.
We lost our boy today
Joe Gacy received a flood of responses after this sad post. Sympathy was coming in from fans and his coworkers in NXT as well. Obviously, they feel for him during this sad time of loss.
Joe Gacy’s character in NXT has been going through some changes after Schism broke up. He did some strange promos and is now getting involved in angles again on his own. Ava, the only remaining member of the stable, is now GM of the NXT brand.
Our thoughts are with Joe Gacy as he makes it through this terrible incident. For more updates from the pro wrestling world, please keep checking back with SE Scoops.
WWE has a lot of couples on their roster, and they have historically done whatever they could to keep people on the same brand. In recent memory, WWE has made two big exceptions to this rule of thumb, and Tiffany Stratton isn’t loving the arrangement.
Tiffany Stratton Speaks on boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser
Tiffany Stratton was called up to the WWE main roster when she appeared in the #29 spot in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Now, she is on SmackDown, but there is an issue since her boyfriend is on RAW.
Stratton is dating Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser, and the two have been together for a while. They share an apartment together, but the couple only sees each other for a couple of days a week with this new arrangement.
The former NXT Women’s Champion dropped a video on TikTok as she got ready for SmackDown. She was in her hotel room before the show, and opened up about her current situation with Kaiser.
“As many of you know, my boyfriend is on RAW, and I’m on SmackDown, which means we have opposite schedules, which freaking sucks. Which means he has the complete opposite schedule, which means he comes in Tuesday morning, and I leave Thursday afternoon, so we only have like two days together, because he’s on the live shows like every single weekend.”
WWE Split Up Another Couple
Charlotte Flair is on SmackDown, but she went down with a knee injury. As soon as she was out, her husband Andrade returned to WWE. The company placed Andrade on RAW, and his wife is on the blue brand.
The general thinking is that this split won’t affect them much, since Flair is not traveling on the road. Only time will tell if WWE places them back on the same brand once The Queen returns.
What’s Next
Tiffany Stratton mentioned that she and her boyfriend were planning to move apartments soon and were looking forward to renting their dream apartment. She expressed excitement about the prospect of having more space, especially since they currently live in a cramped one-bedroom apartment and have accumulated a lot of belongings.
Tiffany emphasized the need for additional storage space for their clothes and other items, indicating a desire for a larger closet and an extra room. She may need more room soon enough, and those main roster checks will help them pay for it.
Tiffany Stratton recently outlined the struggles of being on separate brands to her boyfriend and fellow WWE Superstar Ludwig Kaiser.
The two superstars have been in a relationship for quite some time and they made it public in 2022. Stratton had a remarkable run in NXT and was called up to the main roster after her impactful performance in the Royal Rumble. She signed with SmackDown and has been performing on the blue brand ever since. Meanwhile, Kaiser made it to the main roster as part of Imperium led by Gunther and they are active on Monday Night Raw.
It is no secret that WWE superstars have a hectic schedule with weekly TV shows and live events on the weekends. Sometimes it can make an impact on their personal lives. Well, it seems that Tiffany Stratton is facing challenges to spend time with her boyfriend and Imperium member, Ludwig Kaiser. However, they are overcoming the odds and Stratton revealed that they are moving to their ‘dream apartment.’
Tiffany Stratton and Ludwig Kaiser will have a new home
While speaking on TikTok, Tiffany Stratton talked about reaching a huge milestone in their relationship and they will soon move from a one-bedroom apartment to their dream apartment.
“Actually, me and my boyfriend are going to be moving apartments soon and we’re gonna be buying, like, our dream apartment. Not buying, just renting, but you get it. But I’m so excited because we live in a freakin’ one-bedroom apartment and we just have so much stuff.”
“All these suitcases – we practically live out of suitcases, so we just need more room to store everything. I have so much freakin’ clothes, and, so does he, so we need a bigger closet, we need an extra room, we need it all, so I’m so excited.”
‘The Buff Barbie’ also revealed that they are facing challenges as they are on separate brands and the former NXT Women’s Champion noted the little they get to spend with each other. She said:
“As some of you may know, my boyfriend is on Monday Night RAW and I’m on SmackDown, which means we have opposite schedules, which freakin’ sucks. We have the complete opposite of schedules. Like, he comes in Tuesday morning, I leave Thursday afternoon. We only have like two days together really because he’s on the live shows every single weekend. But, it’s okay.”
On last week’s SmackDown Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin. On the other hand, Ludwig Kaiser teamed with Gunther and Giovanni Vinci to take on Jey Uso and New Day in a losing effort on last night’s Raw.
NWA personality Aaron Stevens has spoken about the “virus” of wrestlers who have been thrust into positions they are not properly suited for.
Stevens is best known for his WWE tenure as Damien Sandow and his spin-off character Damien MizDow. During his run with the company, he became a WWE Tag Team Champion and held the Money in the Bank contract in 2013.
A Virus Plaguing Wrestling
A veteran of the industry with over two decades to his name, Stevens has seen plenty in the wrestling business. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Stevens addressed what he sees as a major problem in the business today.
“This is a virus plaguing the wrestling industry today. There are a lot of people who are borderline untrained. There was a basic skeleton of what you had to have at a minimum to be able to get into the business and get opportunities in major companies. And the standard, across the board, has fallen extremely low. There are a few amazing [wrestling] schools out there. OVW’s still there.
Speaking about the NWA’s plans, Stevens made his goals abundantly clear with the promotion.
“We want to help bring the standard up again of what wrestling is.”
Keeping an Audience Engaged
For Stevens, comprehensive skills cover much more than what a wrestler does from bell to bell. On the podcast, Stevens spoke about the importance of keeping fans hooked from the moment they walk in front of an audience.
“How do we keep rooting interest? It’s how we dress when we come through the curtain. What colors do we wear? How do we walk? What do we do when they first see us? These are things that at NWA we’re starting to instill to try and train people to not only be good television wrestlers but really be good professional wrestlers in general.
“Because there’s not much of a difference between working a live crowd and TV. When you work TV, yes, you have to be conscious of where the cameras are. But in terms of your timing, letting people appreciate what you are doing as an artist, there’s that element that’s missing [today.]”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
WWE Hall of Famer and Reality of Wrestling owner Booker T has responded to claims that he fired a wrestler because she was the victim of stalking.
This week, Raychell Rose spoke about her experiences with ROW, and claimed that a trainee called Shawn Reed stalked her for years. Reed even went as far as to threaten a shoot-up at a ROW event, according to sources close to the situation.
Booker T Responds
Rose claims that after an incident with Reed at a bar that resulted in multiple arrests, she was let go from Reality of Wrestling. This bar was a known hangout for ROW talent after shows, and it is believed Reed deliberately went with the intent of stalking Rose. The wrestler alleges that the blame for Reed’s behavior was put on her as an alleged source of issues.
On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker addressed the incident at the bar and said he encouraged Rose to not go to the bar despite the tradition.
“I stressed, ‘Raychell Rose, go somewhere else. Go anywhere. So many other places you can go to. Do that for me so we can diffuse the situation.’ I left, went home, next thing you know, I’m getting a phone call from the bar owner, I’m getting a phone call from the police and the boys to come back and figure out what happened. Raychell Rose chose to go to the bar. What happened after that was totally out of my control.”
When asked about Reed reportedly bringing a weapon to a ROW event, Booker denied the notion.
“That’s not true. The place he sat, I made sure he was watched by an armed guard and six other people. I made sure of that. I got instinct. I could have easily let Shawn Reed leave the building that night and he left in a depressed state and something really happened that night, but nothing happened at Reality of Wrestling.”
Not Stalking?
When asked about Reed’s alleged stalking of Rose and if he was aware, Booker said he was more concerned over Reed’s situation.
“Not stalking. He made aware that he did not want to date her. He said, ‘I don’t want to date her, I just want to be part of Reality of Wrestling. This is something I’ve missed for the last four years.’ That’s what my concern was. My concern was the kid. I didn’t know about her issue. Maybe had I been aware of her issue, I would have taken just as much consideration.”
Raychell is Fired
Booker added that following the incident at the bar, a phone call happened between himself and Rose in which it was agreed she wouldn’t be returning for ROW events. Booker said that the decision was amicable and that she was not ‘fired.’
“No one ever said to Raychell Rose, ‘You’re fired.’ That’s not a word we use at Reality of Wrestling because we don’t hire people. Raychell Rose, if she would have did what I asked, she says it, ‘I remember him saying go somewhere else, but we have a tradition to go to the bar.’ If we have a tradition to go to the bar, we have a problem. I’m trying to help you and save your life. That was disregarded.”
Booker added that there has not been an incident like this in the 20 years of Reality of Wrestling. He added that even if he could have seen the bar incident coming, he does not believe anything he could have done would have changed the situation.
WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes yet again shared a heartwarming moment with a fan during this week’s Monday Night Raw.
‘The American Nightmare’ has proven several times why he’s a fan favorite. Even though he is a popular name in the pro wrestling industry, he has always tried to establish a personal connection with his fans.
At WWE shows, Cody Rhodes frequently makes time to greet fans, sign autographs, and take pictures. Cody’s modest demeanor has made a lasting impression on fans, regardless of the magnitude of the wrestling shows. He attempts to make every interaction unique and to make sure that his supporters feel valued and appreciated at the end of the day.
Cody Rhodes gifts his weight belt and shoes
The latest edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, emanated from the Kupp Arena in Lexington, KY. After WWE’s flagship show came to a close, Cody Rhodes had an interaction with a fan on birthday.
After the show went off the air, Rhodes delivered a promo for the Lexington crowd. During his promo, he gave away a pair of his shoes to a kid in the audience.
The 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner also gave away his weight belt, which he usually gives to the fans during his entrances. Cody went on to take pictures and shook hands with the fans concluding a great night for the fans.
During the show, Cody Rhodes spoke to the WWE Universe for the first time after he decided that he would challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. ‘
The American Nightmare’ also made the save for Sami Zayn and helped fend off Drew McIntyre and Shinsuke Nakamura during their post-match assault on Zayn at the end of the show.
It was announced that Rhodes will face Drew McIntyre in a singles match next week.
Meanwhile, the show also featured a six-man tag team match with WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER and fellow Imperium members Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci taking on Jey Uso and The New Day.
There were also three Elimination Chamber qualifying matches on the show as LA Knight and Bobby Lashley qualified for the Men’s Elimination Chamber match while Liv Morgan qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
‘The Animal’ Dave Batista would rather see his name among the records of WWE Hall of Famers instead of in the credits of an upcoming James Gunn DC Comics film.
Gunn, the director behind Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy series and 2021’s The Suicide Squad, was named Co-Chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios (alongside Peter Safran) in late 2022. The decision was made for DC Comics’ cinematic universe to have a clearer vision after a messy roll-out since 2013’s Man of Steel.
Batista and the WWE Hall of Fame
In a recent interview with Comicbook.com, Batista was asked whether he’d rather become a WWE Hall of Famer or be part of Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe first.
“I don’t know… I couldn’t give an honest answer to that and I’m only going to say this because we have had conversations over the years … it would be WWE Hall of Fame.”
“I was suppose to go in last year and I was on a film and I just couldn’t travel… I was on a film in South Africa and logistcally we just couldn’t make it happen.”
Gunn and the Animal are no strangers, with Batista playing Drax the Destroyer in all three Guardians films, as well as several other Marvel Cinematic Universe films and projects. Last year, Batista said he’d spoken with Gunn about playing Bane in a future DC project. The masked villain infamously broke the spin of Batman upon his 1993 arrival in the Knightfall storyline and has since become one of the Dark Knight’s most recognized foes.
Seth Rollins isn’t confident he’d thrive in the world of UFC, but the World Heavyweight Champion imagines he’d do better than CM Punk.
Since CM Punk’s return to WWE last year, Seth Rollins has taken issue with the Best in the World. Rollins’ belief is that Punk has spent years putting WWE down and will only cause trouble the longer he’s around (such as what we saw in AEW.)
Seth Rollins Would Do Better Than CM Punk
Last September, WWE and UFC officially merged with the launch of TKO Group Holdings. This merger has led to speculation that fans could see more crossover between the two sides. In an interview with ESPN, Rollins was asked if he’d call out any UFC fighters and couldn’t resist taking a dig at CM Punk.
“I’d call them all out. I don’t care. I can’t do what they do. I’d probably get knocked out and choked in two seconds. Still, I might do better than Punk [CM Punk], but I would likely lose. They can’t come and do what we do either. Same umbrella, but two totally different worlds.”
After walking out of WWE in 2014, Punk signed with UFC that same year. Punk’s first fight came in 2016 at UFC 203 against Mickey Gall. Punk would lose the fight early on, which would be acknowledged by Stephanie McMahon on WWE TV.
Punk’s second fight would also not go well. In his hometown of Chicago, Punk lost to Mike Jackson at 2018’s UFC 225 event. The fight was later ruled a no contest after Jackson failed a drug test.
Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring on WWE RAW this week, and he had a lot to say, He addressed The Rock’s actions, and what he said to him at the WrestleMania kickoff event.
Rhodes also said that The Rock slapped him, but “you slapped me across the face, and what that means is I’m gonna hit you right back.”
Seth Rollins then entered the situation, where he addressed Cody directly. Rollins said that Cody needs to finish his story for everyone, including Dusty Rhodes. He also had something very important to say to the American Nightmare.
Rollins told Cody that he doesn’t have to fight The Rock alone. He is sick and tired of people like The Rock and Roman Reigns, who he called “pricks” doing whatever they want and getting away with it.
By all appearance, it looks like Roman Reigns and The Rock are going to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes in a tag team match. That being said, Cody vs Roman is still going to happen.
I kept asking about The Rock’s WrestleMania plans possibly changing because the subject is certainly one of the hottest in pro wrestling right now.
A tenured member of the creative team told me last week before the Las Vegas WrestleMania kickoff event, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”
In the end, it was all up to The Rock, who didn’t really care if he was booed or cheered at WrestleMania. WWE didn’t see those “Rocky Sucks” chants coming on RAW.
Thursday was interesting in Las Vegas. After the event, I was able to confirm that Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn’t the situation we had then. After all the negative reaction, The Rock then conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seemed to be the direction then, with Rock & Roman vs Cody & Seth. Either way, Cody vs Roman then main evented night two of Mania 40.
Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP
Next month, WWE will release its 2K24 video game. This year’s game will see Cody Rhodes rocking the cover of the title’s standard edition, while Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley share the front of the Deluxe Edition. 2K will also be releasing a special tribute to the upcoming 40th anniversary of WrestleMania with the Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition, which displays the likes of The Undertaker, John Cena, Shawn Michaels, and Becky Lynch on the cover.
As the anticipation continues to grow, WWE has provided a glimpse into some of the notable wrestler entrances featured in WWE 2K24. On Monday, the company released a video showcasing The Fiend’s entrance with the caption “Let. Him. In,” indicating that the spirit of Bray Wyatt will live on.
The Fiend In WWE 2K24
As expected, The Fiend, who was portrayed by the Windham Rotunda (aka Bray Wyatt), will don his signature mask that was crafted by Jason Baker of Callosum Studio. In addition to his spooky mask, The Fiend is wearing his signature leather jacket with his red and black striped pants. The Fiend can also be seen walking to the ring while carrying a replica of Bray Wyatt’s face designed in the form of a lantern.
Fans can see the full clip of The Fiend’s entrance below:
Bray Wyatt’s run as The Fiend spanned two years, beginning with its inception in 2019. Along his journey, The Fiend feuded with performers such as John Cena, Randy Orton, Goldberg, and Daniel Bryan. The spooky superstar is also known for recruiting Alexa Bliss into his Firefly Fun House.
The clock is ticking for Damian Priest to use his Money In The Bank opportunity. He won the briefcase last year and has teased cashing in on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins several times but has been unsuccessful. However, with ‘The Visionary’ dealing with a torn MCL and meniscus, fans question why ‘Señor Money In The Bank’ hasn’t tried to take the title from him again.
In an interview with The West Australian’s Craig O’Donoghue, Priest finally gave fans a reason for why he hasn’t cashed in on the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. When asked why he hasn’t challenged Rollins since the injury, he explained that it’s because ‘The Visionary’ isn’t medically cleared.
“…I’m based on Raw, and being that Seth Rollins is the champion, unfortunately, he’s not medically cleared, so I can’t cash in right now because, officially, he can’t be in a match,” said Priest.
Priest’s explanation is interesting, as past champions have been cashed in on when they weren’t in storyline ready to compete. However, Rollins’s injury could add an unprecedented rule for future Money In The Bank winners to not challenge champions who aren’t medically cleared to compete.
When Will Damian Priest Cash In His Money In The Bank Opportunity?
Priest seems convinced he will cash in on Rollins when the opportunity presents itself. In the interview, ‘Señor Money In The Bank’ shared that he could go after WWE Champion Roman Reigns if Priest was on the Friday Night Smackdown roster. However, he is running out of time to challenge for a title.
At WWE Money In The Bank on July 6, Priest would lose his rights to use his contract. The opportunity would go to the 2024 Money In the Bank winner, which would be determined at the event. If Rollins can’t compete until WWE WrestleMania 40, it would mean that Priest would have to wait potentially another two months.
A potential cash-in against Rollins at WWE WrestleMania 40, in storyline, could also be interesting as the champion has famously done it himself. Regardless, Priest is confident he’ll become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in 2024.
The Rock returned to WWE under very interesting circumstances. He wanted a match against Roman Reigns that has been a long time coming, but fans wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish his story. Now, we have a much different picture for the WrestleMania main event than The Rock wanted to.
The Rock Embracing The Dark Side
It was reported that The Rock taking a seat on TKO’s Board of Directors came with a WrestleMania match attached. He got $30 million in company stock as a part of that deal.
Fans spoke out in massive fashion when Rock bumped Cody Rhodes out of his WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns. Trends started online and the story got picked up by major mainstream outlets.
Wrestle Votes reported on Twitter/X that WWE sources have said that The Rock is prepared to “fully embrace” his heel gimmick. It was also noted that WWE is expected to drop official Cody crybabies merchandise.
Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…
Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…
Why WWE Changed The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)
I’ve been doing my best to stay up on this always-evolving storyline. As I originally reported, The Rock was the one who needed to make the call to change this match. That is what finally happened after a ton of fans speaking out.
I keep asking about #TheRock's #WrestleMania? plans possibly changing, because that's all fans want at this point.
Last night, a tenured member of the creative team told me straight up: "We have not been told of any change. That doesn't mean the plan hasn't changed. Or won't…
A tenured source within WWE confirmed that The Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current situation we have with the show of shows was not what The Rock originally wanted to do, so this was not all part of an elaborate plan from the jump.
The Rock called his shot for a match against Roman Reigns on January 1st when he showed up during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Then, the match was agreed to shortly after that, with Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match after that, despite Triple H knowing that Rock vs Reigns was agreed to.
After all the negative reaction, I am told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” Fan reaction, and mainstream attention on the matter, caused Rock to make a call to pivot. That being said, he will now apparently play up the heel gimmick on WWE television for the Cody crybabies.
Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP
Dominik Mysterio may be the most disliked persona currently in WWE, but the son of Rey is more than satisfied with his spot in the company.
Mysterio spoke with Konnan and Disco Inferno on the latest “Keeping It 100” and talked about what may (or may not) be on tap for him at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
“I have no idea what I’m doing at Mania. I don’t really get a head’s up on anything when it comes to creative and stuff. Tell me what to do and I’ll do my best to go out there and make it look as best as possible to the best of my abilities.”
As it stands now, Dominik Mysterio may have a date in Perth at Elimination Chamber considering he has a qualifying match against Kevin Owens. If he were to somehow beat Owens, that would make him the only representative of Judgment Day in the bout.
Whatever may come to be for Dirty Dom, he did express his happiness and gratitude for how he’s been handled in the WWE Universe.
“I’m not in the position to be politicking. I’m very blessed to be in the position that I’m in, so I’m not going to be poking at any bears or any fingers or anything. Tell me what to do and I’m here for it. I’m happy. I’m having a blast doing it, especially with the crew that I’m doing it with. I’ve become actual friends with everybody there. So being able to just go out there and have fun and beat the sh*t out of people, I’m having a blast.”
Please credit K100 and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription
Last week saw a notable title change in the main event of AEW Dynamite, with Darby Allin and Sting defeating Ricky Starks and Big Bill to claim the AEW Tag Team Championships.
This win is particularly relevant given that Sting is set to wrestle in his retirement match alongside Allin at AEW Revolution on March 3, meaning that “The Icon” may now be heading into his final match as a champion.
Before the duo gear up for Revolution, Allin took a moment to soak in the glory of becoming one-half of the new AEW Tag Team Champions.
“It’s been an amazing week,” Allin told Denise Salcedo. “I’m a little banged up after Wednesday, but when am I ever not banged up? The big thing about it though to me is having Sting’s career end this way. It’s so insane because I remember my first year in professional wrestling, I saw him essentially have to retire back in 2015 with the neck injury.”
Pro wrestling is full of thrill-seekers who enjoy pushing their bodies to the limits, but Darby Allin is in a class of his own. He is planning to climb Mount Everest in Apriland regularly risks life and limb outside the ring, let alone what he does on television for All Elite Wrestling.
Sting Is The Crazy One
Sting is set to end his decades-long career next month at AEW Revolution. He and Darby Allin will put their titles on the line against AEW Executive Vice Presidents Nicolas and Matthew Jackson, professionally known as The Young Bucks.
Nobody could have expected his 3-year run with AEW would produce so many memorable moments. He’s ending his career on his own terms, with Darby Allin at his side. Sting’s final run in AEW will be remembered for his insane dives.
Can Sting and Darby Allin win gold before Sting retires?
Allin makes it clear that he’s not pushing Sting into any of his crazy stunts. He says the 64-year-old icon hasn’t needed any help with his high-risk offense.
“Then fast forward now and convincing him to get back in the ring, it’s pretty cool to see how far we’ve came,” Allin says of the partnership with Sting. “The fact that he’s so crazy.. he could have just rode off into the sunset, played it safe, but no.
Trust me when I say this, I don’t tell him to jump off those balconies. That’s all him. It’s awesome to see how much he’s willing to push it because he’s got nothing to prove.”
Sting and Allin’s victory last week marked Sting’s first title reign of any sort since 2011, when he captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a fourth time.
For Allin, this marks the beginning of his first tag team reign in AEW, as he’s previously held the TNT Championship on two occasions.
The Road to WrestleMania has officially begun, and so has the speculation for this year’s card. So far, four matches have been confirmed, including a major rematch set between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes.
As the lineup for WrestleMania 40 continues to take shape, many members of the WWE Universe have presented the idea of “The Megastar” LA Knight taking on “The Maverick” Logan Paul in a United States Championship match. Paul and Knight previously exchanged intense words in the lead-up to WWE’s 2023 Money in the Bank event. Given their brief history, LA Knight does have some thoughts on the possibility of wrestling him at WrestleMania 40.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, if it presents itself and that’s a thing, yeah, maybe,” Knight told In The Kliq. “Look, WrestleMania, at this point, as far as the WWE Universal Undisputed Championship, that’s already been determined. So, it’s not going to be me and Roman Reigns … It’s not me, so with that being the case, am I open to another opportunity on the way to claiming my throne at some point, absolutely. So, we’ll see.
Will I cross paths with Logan Paul? I don’t know. Will I cross paths with Gunther? I don’t know. Will I cross paths with Seth Rollins? I don’t know, but at some point, one way or another, I’m coming for gold and I’m looking for the top spot, ’cause I can’t be in any other spot.”
On tonight’s episode of WWE Raw, Knight will have the opportunity to earn his way into the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber as he faces Ivar in a qualifying match. The winner of the Men’s Elimination Chamber match will then go on to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Much like Knight, Logan Paul also has a chance to qualify when he takes on The Miz on SmackDown later this week.
Knight’s Reported WrestleMania 40 Plans
SEScoops’ Aaron Varble recently provided an update on LA Knight’s WrestleMania status via X, reporting that “The Megastar” will be receiving a match at the two-night premium live event. While WWE continues to weigh the options, there is an idea floating around that would see Knight getting a title shot of some sort.
LA Knight will get a #WrestleMania match. There are still options, and discussions were still going for the rest of the card as of yesterday.
I’ve been told one idea would see him get a title shot. ?Keep in mind … There are a lot of matches being discussed for Mania, that's…
AEW has given a great platform to the stars on their roster. Tony Khan does his fair share of media rounds, but he doesn’t plan on taking any spot on his own roster.
Tony Khan Speaks On Booking Himself In AEW Storyline
Pro wrestling bookers have gotten involved in storylines in the past. Vince McMahon invented the Mr. McMahon character so he could mix it up on television and assert his authority.
AEW is operated by Tony Khan, but he doesn’t really appear on television unless he’s making a major announcement. That being said, fans have often wondered if TK will ever book himself into an angle.
On the latest episode of Levack and Goz podcast, Tony Khan was asked about the idea of getting involved in an on-screen storyline. He said that fans don’t want to see that happen, so he is going to keep his participation with AEW backstage.
“I don’t think anybody really wants to see that, Not anytime soon. That’s not anything I think we’re going to do. I do think AEW has a great roster, the best wrestlers in the world. I would rather try to put the best matches and we have exciting rivalries building in AEW right now.”
What’s Next
We will have to see if Tony Khan goes back on that idea of staying out of his company’s television stories. It appears that he is more than happy to continue hyping the stars he currently has on his roster.
SE Scoops will continue monitoring this story, just in case Tony Khan decides to book himself in a story.
