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The Rock Dials Up Larry David: ‘Curb’ Star Shares Advice For UFL Football League

Aaron Varble
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The Rock’s return to WWE for the road to WrestleMania 40 is not the only iron he has in the fire. He is still part-owner of the UFL, and he’s open to have a conversation about the league’s innovative approach.

The XFL announced in September 2023 that it was merging with the USFL to form the United Football League. The UFL’s season is set to kick off on March 30. 

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) may tune in to see what the UFL has to offer, because he has some ideas for football. Those ideas got him a phone call one-on-on with The Great One.

Larry David Phone Call With The Rock

David has a lot of ideas, and one of them pertains to football. He wants to have the goalposts removed from the situation. It seems he believes that kicking the ball through the uprights has nothing to do with the game of football itself.

During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Larry David explained how his quest to remove goal posts from the game of football got him a call from The Rock.

“I have a little update, because I’m still obsessed with it, and I heard about this UFL and I said, ‘let me talk to someone in the UFL.’ So, my agent got me on the phone with Dwayne Johnson.”

“I went straight up [the flag pole] and then he called me, and he had a conversation. He didn’t know [what I was calling about], but he was nice enough to call back. We had a conversation, and I pitched him my no goal post idea, and I thought it was gonna happen — he was completely into it.”

Larry David said there is a no reason for a goal post, and he argued that there should be no kick for an extra point. He had no idea that the XFL already had a rule like that.

The Rock Responds To Larry David

The Rock saw David’s appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, and he had to reply. While expressing his love for the Seinfeld creator, he also remarked about the innovative rules that they implemented into the XFL.

LOVE my guy Larry David. He hates goalposts and field goal kicks [LOL emoji] – we had a spirited and very productive conversation. At the end of the day, like me and all of us fans – he loves the game of football. We at the XFL had already implemented new innovative rules last season that we carry over to our new @XFL2023 league that starts this month. I’m considering creating THE LARRY BOWL in his honor

UFL’s Opening Day & League Details

The UFL’s first game on opening day is scheduled for Saturday, March 30, 2024, where the Arlington Renegades and Birmingham Stallions, both previous champions in other leagues, will battle it out on the gridiron.

Four teams originated from the XFL, while three teams originated from the USFL. In the USFL Conference, teams include the Birmingham Stallions, the Houston Roughnecks, the Memphis Showboats, and the Michigan Panthers.

Meanwhile, the XFL Conference consists of the Arlington Renegades, the DC Defenders, the San Antonio Brahmas, and the St. Louis Battlehawks.

For more information on the UFL and this season’s details, please click here to find their official webpage.

WWE’s Sarah Rowe Discusses Her New Children’s Book, Writing Aspirations (Exclusive)

Ella Jay
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WWE Superstar Valhalla (Sarah Rowe) can now officially add the title of ‘published author’ to her impressive resume. Her new children’s book, From the Farm to Our Table, officially hits the bookshelves on April 2. This story, which focuses on basic sustainable living practices, follows a pair of twin siblings as they gather ingredients across their family farm to make a shepherd’s pie.

SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay recently sat down with Rowe to discuss what inspired her to write a children’s book and what that process was like. 

The Vision

As it turns out, Rowe’s own son, Raymond Cash, was one of the story’s major motivators.

“Cash, my son, was the inspiration behind this, shockingly,” Rowe said. “I was really trying to find a book that was a children’s book that was written in a way he could understand of how we farm, our regenerative practices, us growing our own food and why we grow our own food, and that we cook and we eat with this food. And because I couldn’t find it, I just wrote one myself”

“I worked with Gnome Road Publishing, and really helped me bring this to life. The illustrator, Amanda Marrow, I couldn’t have asked for a cuter illustration of what I had in my brain. It all came across so well. It’s been like two years in the making of this book and getting it out. It’s crazy that the finish line is here.”

Sarah, alongside her son and husband Raymond Rowe Sr (WWE’s Erik), currently lives on a small farm in Ohio surrounded by chickens, cows, and their dog.

Writing Aspirations

Beyond the release of “From the Farm to Our Table,” Sarah Rowe is aiming to have her name published in even more literary works in the future. Currently, Rowe is in the beginning stages of writing a fantasy piece.

“Just how I became a wrestler because I’m a huge fan, I’m a huge fan of books, and I love reading so much,” Rowe said. “I’m like, ‘I would love to put my spin on this.’ So this is kind of my gateway into the world of being an author. I would like to this not be the only thing that I publish. I would like to continue to do the things. I was just going to write like a short story and it’s turned into this whole vast world that I’m kind of overwhelmed with. But yeah, I’m hoping that this is not the last book that I publish.”

As she continues to journal every day, Rowe noted that she also tries to simutelaously devour a fiction and nonfiction book. From a reading standpoint, Rowe particularly enjoys the works of C.S. Lewis, who many fans may recognize for his popular Chronicles of Narnia series.

From the Farm to Our Table is now available for pre-order and will be released at major retailers on April 2.

Drew McIntyre Reveals The Secret Behind His Recent Success: “Now It’s 100% Me”

Tyriece Simon
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WWE superstar Drew McIntyre has found his groove in the company as he heads towards one of the biggest matches of his career. In recent months, McIntyre’s character shift as a ‘heel’ has engaged and entertained wrestling fans on a different level than he has before.

Rather than being a menacing ‘heel’ like he has in the past, ‘The Scottish Warrior’ has centered his persona on being true to himself and speaking his mind. He believes this is what is making him stand out on the roster and encourages others to follow his approach.

“Now It’s 100% Me”

Just two weeks out from his match against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania, McIntyre appeared on the Masked Man show and spoke about this evolution.

“Trying to be myself, trying to be logical, trying to have fun and trying to create compelling TV.. and it’s cool that people responded so positively.

Like I said, there was more truth in McIntyre from 2019 to 2023 that I had ever in WWE, but now it’s 100 percent me,” said McIntyre. 

He’s also gotten more comfortable understanding when it’s the right time to escalate his intensity during promos. The veteran encourages other WWE Superstars to find their voice and continue striving to engage the audience.

Social Media Menace 

Another difference in McIntyre’s character is his increased activity on social media. Whether trolling CM Punk or Rollins, McIntyre has created fan engagement off TV and used the same sense of humor in front of a live audience. 

When speaking on his social media presence, ‘The Scottish Warrior’ shared that his sense of humor can be a little darker or meaner than others. McIntyre’s humor helps add to his ‘heel’ character, allowing fans to either adore him or want to see the former champion get what’s coming to him. 

“…I’ve got my ears and eyes open all the time. It’s very much, you know, a collaboration, but again the British personality, British sense of humor is very different than American sense of home. We are highly offensive,” said McIntyre.

Deeper into the process

He acknowledged that how he jokes with his wife or friends might make other people think he doesn’t care for them. However, that is their sense of humor, which makes his social media presence unique. McIntyre credited his friends who have helped him and enhanced his character. 

“I’ve got a couple of buddies, one particular, who collaborators, I guess is the best word, but he’s just my mate, and we just come up with this crazy stuff, and he’s good with the memes and whatever, and we talk crap and make fun of each other, and then it becomes ‘man I should totally say that about such and such’ and If I don’t know the current lingo that the kids are saying, he knows it. He’s a little bit younger,” said McIntyre.

McIntyre also noted that he is constantly looking for new things on social media to use for his wrestling persona on TV. The former champion’s being more of himself has proven successful as he adds more complexity to his character. That said, it is unclear if this will result in him finally defeating Rollins to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Valhalla Wouldn’t Be Surprised If Liv Morgan Gets Added To WrestleMania Match (Exclusive)

Ella Jay
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Following her return at the 2024 Royal Rumble, Liv Morgan indicated that her sights were firmly set on WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, who previously took her out of action (in kayfabe) last July. Along the Road to WrestleMania, Morgan’s attention claimed two additional targets — Becky Lynch and Nia Jax, both of whom have also been circling Rhea Ripley.

In a recent interview with SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay, Valhalla (fka Sarah Logan) shared her thoughts on the current storyline surrounding her former stablemate, Liv Morgan. 

Squirrely and Determined

While Jax, Lynch, and Ripley may carry bigger presences in WWE, Valhalla believes Morgan is more than deserving of being in the same spotlight as them.

“Liv is a badass,” Valhalla said. “I don’t know if anyone’s caught it, but she’s legit knocked a couple girls out with an open-hand slap. In one of the [Elimination] Chambers, she knocked Sonya Deville out just slapping her in the face. So she is not someone you’d want to fight, in my opinion.

She’s squirrelly and she is determined. This girl has been on a tear and she has transcended the Riott Squad in a way that I don’t think anyone knew she had in her. It’s nice, as one of her best friends and someone who loves her so much, to see her in the same conversation as Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, and Becky Lynch.”

“I love seeing her in that conversation. I love seeing her in those spots because she’s good enough, she looks good enough, she’s violent enough. There’s a reason that so many people love her, and there’s a reason that she has the following she does. It’s because she’s the real deal. I don’t even know where this storyline is going, and I’m excited to see where it does go.”

Potential WrestleMania Shakeup

As of this writing, Becky Lynch is slated to challenge Rhea Ripley in a one-on-one match for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40. Given Morgan’s recent involvement with both of them, though, Valhalla thinks there is a possibility for this WrestleMania title match to be upgraded.

“It’s looking like [Becky and Rhea] are going to wrestle at WrestleMania, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Liv was in that mix too,” Valhalla said. “To be completely honest, no one knows what’s happening backstage. None of the wrestlers know. So as someone who’s a fan of Liv Morgan, I would love to see like her, Becky, and Rhea in a triple-threat match. Or maybe Becky’s walking to the ring and Liv hurts her so much that she gets the match. Something like that I think [would be really cool].”

This year’s two-night WrestleMania event will emanate from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

WWE Slammys 2024: Classic Award Ceremony Returning for WrestleMania 40 Weekend

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstars are hoping to win big next month at WrestleMania 40, and some could be leaving Philadelphia, PA with their own Slammy award. 

WWE has announced that the Slammys will return on April 7, the same day as WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The ceremony will be hosted by Big E and Cathy Kelley but fans should expect special appearances by WWE Superstars. 

The Slammys: Fan Choice Awards will take place at the WWE World convention center. For those not in Philadelphia, they’ll be able to watch the show on WWE’s social channels. 

And the Nominees Are

Male Superstar (Vote Here): 

  • Cody Rhodes
  • Roman Reigns
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Gunther
  • Logan Paul

Female Superstar of the Year (Vote Here):

  • Rhea Ripley
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • IYO SKY
  • Becky Lynch

Best Entrance (Vote Here): 

  • Cody Rhodes
  • Roman Reigns
  • Bianca Belair
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Becky Lynch
  • The Rock
  • Dominik Mysterio (WrestleMania 39)

Return of the Year (Vote Here): 

  • CM Punk
  • The Rock
  • Nia Jax
  • Randy Orton
  • Naomi

Faction of the Year (Vote Here): 

  • The Judgment Day
  • Alpha Academy
  • Imperium
  • The Bloodline
  • Damage CTRL

Rivalry of the Year (Vote Here): 

  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
  • “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio
  • Bianca Belair vs. Damage CTRL
  • Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes
  • R-Truth vs. The Judgment Day

NXT Superstar of the Year (Vote Here): 

  • Ilja Dragunov
  • Carmelo Hayes
  • Lyra Valkyria
  • Tiffany Stratton
  • Bron Breakker

Match of the Year (Vote Here): 

  • Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest – San Juan Street Fight (Backlash 2023)
  • Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn (Elimination Chamber 2023)
  • Gunther vs. Chad Gable (Raw 9/4/23)
  • Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair (SummerSlam 2023)
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 39)

OMG Moment of the Year (Vote Here):

  • Rey Mysterio punches “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio (SmackDown 3/24/23)
  • CM Punk returns to WWE (Survivor Series 2023)
  • IYO SKY cashing in the Money in The Bank Contract (SummerSlam 2023)
  • The Rock slaps Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania XL Press Conference)
  • Damage CTRL turns on Bayley (SmackDown 2/2/24)
  • Cody Rhodes slaps The Rock (SmackDown 3/8/24)

Social Star of the Year (Vote Here):

  • Grayson Waller
  • Logan Paul
  • Drew McIntyre
  • Chelsea Green
  • Liv Morgan

Breakout Superstar of the Year (Vote Here): 

  • Jey Uso
  • Tiffany Stratton
  • Pretty Deadly
  • Dragon Lee
  • LA Knight

Legend Says Cody Rhodes vs The Rock Will ‘Absolutely’ Take Place

Tyriece Simon
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Cody Rhodes is just two weeks away from his highly anticipated rematch against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship. WrestleMania 40 offers the ‘American Nightmare’ with another precious opportunity to ‘Finish his Story’ and finally ‘win the big one’ on the grandest stage possible.

The stakes are even higher this year. After making a grand return to WWE, The Rock inserted himself into Cody Rhodes’ business with Roman Reigns. Now aligned with The Bloodline, Rock will team with Roman Reigns against Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania XL Saturday, the night before Rhodes vs. Reigns 2. 

Rhodes’ primary focus is on the Tribal Chief, but a one-on-one showdown with the Final Boss is inevitable. Wrestling legend Jeff Jarrett has seen it all and is certain that WWE is building towards Rock vs. Cody. On the latest episode of his My World podcast, Jarrett said SummerSlam on August 2 would be the ideal setting for this blockbuster attraction.

“So we can fantasy book all we want. Will we see Rock vs. Cody at some point. Our running thread is creative is subjective, and you have to factor in,  I mean, all the obvious..”

The primary factors that would affect this match taking place are The Rock’s Hollywood commitments, as well as each man remaining healthy.

“So many things to factor in, but the short answer is absolutely you will [see the match],” said Jarrett.

The Rock’s WWE Schedule (2024)

While The Rock will be at WWE WrestleMania 40, he’s expected not to be sticking around with WWE afterward. This year, he has several movies slated to be in production, including The Smashing Machine and Moana 2. However, he may still be involved with WWE by August. 

Jarrett’s co-host Conrad Thompson also pointed out that the former WWE Champion is also on the board of TKO Group Holding. As a board member, The Rock could have more incentive to want to compete in a big match at WWE SummerSlam. However, it will depend on whether he can get through his movie production schedule and find the time to be involved with WWE as a wrestler. 

Rhodes and The Rock have done a great job teasing a match to get fans interested. It will be on The Rock and WWE to make it work for the big summer event. 

Becky Lynch Names Her Wrestling Soulmates and Dream Match

Tyriece Simon
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Becky Lynch has fought with some of the best female talent WWE has had in the company’s history. She has faced up-and-comers from NXT, along with established athletes like Nia Jax and Liv Morgan. However, there’s only one opponent she considers her “wrestling soulmate.”

During a virtual book signing for her new memoir, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl, Lynch shared her thoughts on who she loves sharing the ring with and why. 

Favorite Opponents

When asked about who she’s most enjoyed sharing the ring with, she couldn’t pick just one person. Becky Lynch named Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair as her wrestling soulmates.

“The very cool thing about that is I think there are several,” she began. “I think Charlotte and I obviously have an undeniable chemistry and an undeniable history, and I think no matter how many times myself and Charlotte have wrestled, I think people are always going to want to see more,” said Lynch. 

Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch

The wrestler/author/mother also praised Bianca Belair and shared why she loves competing against her.

“Another is Bianca Belair. She’s fabulous. I love stepping in the ring with her. Every time we do, I feel like there is a little bit of magic that happens, and so there is a couple,” said Lynch.

She also joked about loving to beat Jax in the ring. They recently wrestled in a Last Woman Standing Match on the March 18 WWE Monday Night Raw episode. Lynch won the match and seemingly ended her feud with her rival. 

Despite being in the ring with many great performers, Lynch did share that she is still looking to have one match with a WWE Hall of Famer. 

Why Won’t You Fight Me?

Lynch spoke about her desire to wrestle WWE Hall of Fame Beth Pheonix, who we last saw in the ring at WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 when she and husband Adam Copeland battled Judgement Day’s Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor.

It might be a long shot, but Lynch’s dream is to wrestle Beth Phoenix at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.

“I think it has to be in Dublin, Ireland. I think it has to be in Croke Park, and I think my opponent, and it’s a match I’ve been trying to get for a long time, would be Beth Pheonix,” said Lynch.

“I’ve been trying to get her in the ring and whoop her ass for a long time now, and it’s just not happening, and I want to know why is that? Why is That Beth Phoenix? Why won’t you fight me?”

It’s unclear if Phoenix is still interested in competing in WWE after her husband, Adam Copeland, signed with AEW last year. However, Lynch has publicly made the challenge and is welcoming a big showdown in Ireland against the Hall of Famer. 

Mercedes Mone Deserves AEW Mega Contract And More, Says Swerve Strickland

Rayan Saayed
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AEW wrestler Swerve Strickland has praise for Mercedes Mone, as he recently talked about her debut in AEW.

Strickland talked to Bootleg Kev at the Rolling Loud music festival, where he talked about a number of topics such as bloody matches in wrestling, CM Punk’s tenure in AEW, and Mercedes Mone making her way to the Jacksonville, Florida-based wrestling company.

Strickland was asked about the “big contract” of Mone, as she is reportedly making bank at the company, which is said to be sufficient enough to establish her as the highest-paid woman in wrestling.

“We’re building a dynasty now in AEW,” Strickland said. “For what she can do for women’s wrestling, not just for AEW, but across the industry period, it’s pivotal. She’s a matriarch for that. I’ve never seen a women’s free agent make that kind of noise, ever. She’s top billing. She’s worth it. Hopefully that challenges other industries to boost the revenue for other female wrestlers.”

Big Business

Mone was in talks with WWE before joining AEW, and hit a financial roadblock with the company when talks were ongoing. Mone reportedly didn’t want to be paid more than her peers in the women’s roster, but she did want her financial compensation to be equivalent of the top stars. While that didn’t work out for her and WWE, AEW was down with it.

Mercedes Mone’s massive contract sets a positive precedence in the professional wrestling industry, as it increases the value of female wrestlers and how much they can be paid. It’s also a testament to the fact that maintaining a social media following and connecting with fans is really important as a wrestler.

Mone’s debut at Big Business was certainly massive, and it remains to be seen what’s in store for her next In AEW. For more, you can read about the drama between Britt Baker and Mone, and what Adam Copeland has to say about him and Mone’s work in the AEW as WWE alumni.  

Trademark Filing Reveals Top Act May Be Getting Ready To Explore Options Outside TNA

Rayan Saayed
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Alex Shelley recently (3/19) filed to trademark the names ‘Motor City Machine Guns’ and ‘MCMG.’

With Shelly and partner Chris Sabin’s TNA contracts expiring very soon, the timing of this business move indicates they’ll be shopping themselves on the open market when they’re legally able to.

According to the US Patent & Trademark Office database, the Goods and Services usage descriptions cover the usual wrestling-related examples, such as appearances and merchandise.

Shelly and Sabin are each former TNA World Champions, as well as multi-time World Tag Team Champions together.

TNA’s New Era

TNA Wrestling officially ‘rebranded’ for 2024, reverting to the company’s original identity. Hard to Kill, the first PPV back under the TNA banner, was well-received. They’ve brought in some big names as of late, including Nic Nemeth, Mustafai Ali and Alex Hammerstone. 

However, the company also had a major shakeup in February 2024 with the departure of former company president Scott D’Amore. D’Amore was very well-liked behind the scenes, and talent wasted no time expressing their support for him both in public and in private.

TNA talent contracts do not all expire at the same time, so as contracts do expire, it will be very interesting to see who sticks around and who decides to look elsewhere, now that the company is under new leadership.

The Motor City Machine Guns are set to wrestle for Smash Wrestling in London, Ontario, Canada on April 21. Interestingly, TNA will hold its TV taping on the same night. You can draw you own conclusions about what this indicates about Shelly and Sabin’s plans moving forward.

Visit our TNA Wrestling section more news.

‘I Wanted To Rip His Face Off’: Goldberg Explains How Infamous WCW Segment Led To Real Altercation With Triple H

Anutosh Bajpai
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Goldberg has revealed that the reason for his real-life animosity with Triple H is rooted into an infamous WCW segment.

During the December 23, 1999 episode of WCW Thunder, the former World Champion was involved in a segment with nWo. The sequence of events led to him chasing the nWo limousine in a parking lot. The wrestling veteran was originally supposed to use a tool to break the glass windows of the car, but he chose to use his hands instead.

A shard of glass sliced an artery in Goldberg’s arm during this spot, leading to a serious injury. It nearly resulted in the amputation of one of his arms. The recovery took him out of WCW programming for nearly five months, and is considered one of the reasons for WCW’s eventual demise.

The former WCW World Champion reflected on this spot during his interview with Tim Green for his Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. He claimed that it was an incident where his inner defensive lineman took over:

“Yeah. It was one of those things when the defensive lineman took over. I was mad at one of my opponents in real life. He was in a limousine and I had to go from the backstage to the ring, dispose of someone and then go get in the limousine.

After I got out of the ring, I was supposed to grab a sledge hammer to take care of the limousine and I refused and wanted to use my hand therefore providing the highest-rated segment on TNT’s history on cable television.

It had to go to black and white because there was so much blood with the background of a white limousine and I got 199 stitches and came a centimetre away from losing the use of one of these arms. But it was good television.”

Goldberg’s Altercation With Triple H

Later in the interview, Goldberg also talked about his real-life issues with Triple H. He blamed the animosity between them for WWE undermining his undefeated streak and his character in various ways.

He was asked for the reason behind his issues with the WWE Executive. The wrestling veteran recalled back to the limousine segment and other injuries that kept him off TV while WCW was acquired by WWE. He claimed that Triple H made some comments about his absence from WCW programming, which led to a real-life confrontation between the two:

“I think a lot of that between Hunter and myself was real. We had an interaction when I was at WCW leading the charge in New York at a press event. I had heard, you knew all the behind-the-scenes [gossip] right so the Kliq and Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, they’re his buddies till the end.

So I hurt myself. I know some people that were friends, that weren’t with me, were talking to him when he was working in WWE. He made a comment while I was at home and I remember it like it was yesterday. He said I was tanking it or faking it or something and I wasn’t there for the demise of WCW. How could I [do that].

So from then on, I wanted to eat that guy’s… I wanted to rip his face off. So we had a confrontation prior to me signing with the WWE. And then ironically, we were represented by the same agent. So it made the situation quite uncomfortable once I signed with the WWE. Let’s just say that.”

You can check out Goldberg’s full interview below:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Becky Lynch Explains Why Seth Rollins Is The ‘Mona Lisa’ Of WWE And Her ‘Tree’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins may be happily married with a beautiful daughter, but that doesn’t mean the two have different personalities outside of the ring.

‘The Man’ and ‘The Visionary’ may mirror one another with their outlandishness inside the squared circle, but speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Lynch revealed that Rollins tends to internalize a lot while she is way more expressive with her emotions.

A Work of Art

“He’s the Mona Lisa of wrestlers, but he’s also very emotive when he’s out there, but I spend so much time being like, ‘You alright? You mad at me? What’s going on?’

“I’m very heart on my sleeve, here’s how I’m feeling, and he’s very contemplative, ‘no-selly’, has to think about things until he processes how he feels about them, where as I’m fiery, I know how I feel about a thing, and in processing I go, ‘Gosh I wish I could have been more like that,’ but we are very different in that regard. Very similar interests, very similar world views.”

She was also told by her brother once that she was a ‘squirrel’ that needed a ‘tree.’

“Seth is my tree. Seth is my tree. I’m very squirrelly.”

Lynch also added that the two were initially just really great friends, but she always looked forward to seeing him backstage and that Rollins would tolerate her bad jokes.

Becky is already having a wild Road to WrestleMania, including the upcoming release of her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl.

She also visited the White House on St. Patrick’s Day and officially became a United States citizen – all before she battles Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

Update on Vince McMahon Netflix Docuseries Following $5 Billion Streaming Deal with WWE

Aaron Varble
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Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE and the blockbuster lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant have shaken the company to its core. As the fallout continues to unfold, we’ve got an update on Netflix’s documentary on the controversial billionaire, which will surely need some updating after the events of the past year.

WWE signed a deal with Netflix to bring RAW to the streaming platform in January 2025. Every WWE premium live event for fans outside the USA will also air on Netflix as part of that deal. The whole time, Bill Simmons was working on a Netflix docuseries about Vince McMahon that will not pull any punches.

SEScoops has learned the Vince McMahon Netflix docuseries will not stop production, despite the Netflix committing billions of dollars to the company that was run for decades by the man they’re expected to provide an unbiased look at.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, veteran journalist Dave Meltzer says this project is still full-speed ahead. 

“Regarding the Netflix documentary on Vince McMahon, which at last word was to be a six-part series, some thought with the Netflix $5.2 billion deal with TKO and the Janel Grant lawsuit that maybe Netflix would just scrap the thing.”

Meltzer acknowledged, “they obviously have to change the direction based on what happened.”

Bill Simmons had more-than-enough material from McMahon’s ‘storied’ career to produce a jaw-dropping project. The most recent round of allegations, which McMahon vehemently denies, will take things into far darker territory than what was originally planned. 

Interestingly, Simmons recently revealed that he invited Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) to preview the show during development.

Janel Grant’s Lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon & More

Vince McMahon stepped down from WWE following a lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant, alleging sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other heinous offenses.

On January 25, Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit details Janel’s experiences of mistreatment in terms of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional harm.

Grant’s attorney also stated that there are others who want to come forward. Her attorney, Ann Callis, stated in a written interview, they are “frankly overwhelmed” as they begin the process of wading through the responses of people who have more allegations to share.

Josh Barnett Has Spoken To CM Punk & Other WWE & AEW Talent About Wrestling For Bloodsport

Thomas Lowson
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Former UFC fighter turned pro wrestler and promoter Josh Barnett says he’s spoken with CM Punk and other names from WWE and AEW about competing for his Bloodsport promotion, which is affiliated with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).

The upcoming Bloodsport X event over WrestleMania weekend will feature a special attraction match pitting WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler against TNA’s Masha Slamovich.

Barnett wants to get more WWE (and AEW) contracted names to step into his league’s domain. During a recent appearance on the Under the Ring podcast, he revealed that he’s actually spoken with CM Punk about participating, as well as AEW star Malakai Black.

Both Punk and Black have martial arts experience and their offensive styles would translate well to Bloodsports’ ‘shoot-fight’ presentation.

Barnett also named Chad Gable, Born Breaker and Miro as grapplers he’d like to see fight in Bloodsport.

Punk has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. The injury has robbed Punk of an opportunity to step in the ring at WrestleMania 40, but he still vows to make his presence felt. 

CM Punk signed with the UFC in 2014 just months after leaving WWE. He wouldn’t make his debut until 2016 and lost in decisive fashion. Stephanie McMahon mocked Punk’s loss on WWE television, one of many examples of how bitter that relationship was for many years.

Punk’s second and final UFC fight was another decisive loss to Mike Jackson. That loss was later overturned and the result ruled a ‘no contest’ due to Jackson failing a test.

Nic Nemeth Wants To See ‘One More Twist Of The Knife’ In Cody Rhodes’ Story

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nic Nemeth is really enjoying the story told between The Rock and Cody Rhodes, even getting himself worked up talking about it.

On Friday’s edition of Busted Open Radio, Nemeth was asked by Dave LaGreca what he thought of The Rock’s promo last Friday night on SmackDown where he went babyface on the city of Memphis, but heel on the mother of Cody Rhodes.

Nemeth says if being a heel was your play, it would be helpful to the story to be witty, but you have to make some moments count. Nemeth said he’d just like to see a little bit less of the “90’s jokey humor” and understand there’s some real life behind-the-scenes arch taking place right now.

“Let’s have it be where it’s so personal, it’s not jokey, it’s not catchphrase-y, it’s not ‘let’s sell t-shirts’, it’s ‘let’s sell this story and put a**es in seats even more than it already is, everyone is doing great, but there’s just something about that, man, I wish there could be just that little more realism that we’re kind of getting little teases of.”

He did say that times are different now where wrestling roles have been blurred, but he would like to see The Rock take another harrowing stab at the ribs of Rhodes.

“I would love just one more little twist of the knife of realism into the guts of Cody just to give one last piece to go, ‘You have to beat all these people to get by. Let’s do it.’”

Nemeth then also went on to say that he loved Rhodes’ rebuttal to The Rock as a whole on WWE Raw. Just seeing the clips out of context, he thought at first that they were trying to go “Attitude Era,” but then once he did the homework and watched the full segment, he really liked it.

Please credit “Busted Open Radio” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Bray Wyatt’s 2024 WWE Hall of Fame Absence Tied to Peacock Documentary

Aaron Varble
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WWE has announced their Hall of Fame inductees for this year, and Bray Wyatt’s name isn’t on the list. 

This year’s WWE Hall of Fame will mark the first year after TKO’s takeover. It will also be the first class that is chosen without any input from Vince McMahon.

Wyatt’s absence from this year’s WWE Hall of Fame induction is related to WWE’s upcoming ‘Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal’ Peacock documentary, which  premieres on April 1.

Hall of Fame Absence

Bray Wyatt was once thought to be a lock for this year’s Hall of Fame class, but his father Mike will be the only Rotunda family member inducted in Philadelphia.

This week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter states WWE sources indicate the decision to pass on inducting the Eater of Worlds  may have influenced by the Peacock doc.

“[It] had something to do with the decision not to induct Wyatt into the Hall of Fame this year, that this year they were doing the big documentary for him and would induct him later.”

WWE reportedly has plans to induct him at a later date, but it was not noted when he will receive this honor.

Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal

The new Peacock project, a documentary titled “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal,” set to premiere on April 1st, is receiving a big spotlight.

The Undertaker is slated to provide narration for the documentary. Interviews have been conducted with Wyatt’s family, as well as with such names like Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Becky Lynch, Triple H, Alexa Bliss, and Bo Dallas, along with archival footage from various points in his career.

WWE owns every moment of Bray Wyatt’s time in a pro wrestling ring. He did not appear for any other company during the time between his 2021 release and his Extreme Rules 2022 comeback. You can watch the trailer below.

2024 WWE Hall of Fame

Paul Heyman was the first to be revealed as part of the WWE Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. The US Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham) and Bull Nakano were later confirmed. Thunderbolt Patterson then joined this year’s group along with Muhammad Ali in the celebrity wing.

The Rock will reportedly have a hand in having his grandmother, Lia Maivia, inducted this year as well. It was previously reported that Haku was a strong possibility, but his name has not been announced.

The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will air on April 5th after SmackDown, one night before WrestleMania 40 kicks off.

WrestleMania Surprises: Steve Austin, Undertaker and John Cena Eyed for Potential Appearances

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania XL weekend is just two weeks away and WWE’s biggest event of the year is shaping up to be memorable.

The card is nearly set for the first WrestleMania to be held under the new regime of TKO Group Holdings, the new entity comprised of both WWE and UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion.

WrestleMania is the culmination of the year’s biggest feuds and storylines. It’s where the stars shine brightest and Superstars deliver performances they know will echo through time. In addition to crafting the strongest possible match card, WWE often brings in legends and celebrities to ensure this PLE stands out from the rest.

Stacking WrestleMania 40

According to this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, this year will be no exception. WWE sources say the company is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40.

“Cena is free but depending on what acting stuff he has and how quick after he’s filming would determine how much he can or can’t do for insurance reasons,” Dave Meltzer wrote. “Austin and Undertaker would be based on willingness that they have.”

In asking around with sources linked to WWE’s creative process, we have not heard anything for Cena or Austin planned for WrestleMania. However, this late on the Road to WrestleMania, any surprises involving stars of this magnitude would be a very closely guarded secret.

Keep it locked to SEScoops for our continued coverage of everything WWE on the road to WrestleMania 40. It’s going to be a crazy few weeks, but we’re going to be all-hands-on-deck to continue bringing our readers the best wrestling news coverage around.

David Finlay Accuses NJPW Of Keeping Him From Championship Gold During Injury Update

Aaron Varble
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NJPW made the announcement last week that David Finlay would not be participating in the Nagoya event due to sudden illness, leading to his evaluation at a local hospital. The news came unexpectedly, leaving fans anticipating Finlay’s presence at the event.

David Finlay is now speaking out about his injury status. He called NJPW out for keeping him from gold as well.

Finlay Speaks on his Injury Situation

In light of Finlay’s absence, NJPW declared Hirooki Goto as the recipient of the advancement to the semifinals, courtesy of Finlay’s forfeiture. No official prognosis was given as to why Finlay was pulled from the 2024 New Japan Cup tournament. Finlay released a cell phone video from his car to really let fans know what is going on.

David Finlay accused NJPW of knocking him off his mental game before his title match against Nic Nemeth. He also addressed his currently injury status, because he’s still beaten up from his cage match.

Finlay said he’s had no time to rest, so he’s had no time to heal. He went from a cage match to a title match to the New Japan Cup. That called for “damage on top of damage on top of damage, so they wouldn’t clear me for my quarterfinal match, which quite honestly is bullsh*t.”

David Finley called a foul on NJPW keeping gold away from him, because they pulled him from the tournament. He said that he would have left in a hearse if that meant he could hold gold in NJPW again. He said that a cage match took out one of his WarDogs, but it won’t take out the leader.

David Finlay’s Brutal NJPW Schedule

On February 23, 2024, David Finlay faced Nic Nemeth for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s The New Beginning In Sapporo event. Unfortunately, Finlay lost the title to Nemeth after a 23-minute match.

Prior to that, on February 11, 2024, at NJPW’s The New Beginning In Osaka event, Finlay showcased his skills in a Steel Cage match as part of the BULLET CLUB War Dogs team. Alongside his teammates, Finlay emerged victorious after a grueling 64-minute battle against the United Empire faction. He has wrestles 9 times since that loss to Nemeth, and his last match was on March 15.

We will have to see when David Finlay is able to come back to the ring. He is not happy at all about how things are going.

SEScoops is sending David Finlay our best as he gets the rest he needs to heal. Hopefully, he will be able to get back to business and reclaim gold in NJPW. 

Tony Khan is Optimistic About Kenny Omega’s AEW Return After Diverticulitis Battle

Aaron Varble
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Diverticulitis does not care who you are, because it can strike anyone. Brock Lesnar had a terribly nasty case of it years ago. Now, Kenny Omega is also out of action with the terrible disease, but there is hope that he will return.

Tony Khan addressed Omega’s status, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the fortunate timing of medical attention.

Tony Khan Speaks on Omega’s Recovery

Kenny Omega has been absent from the ring since December due to diverticulitis, a condition diagnosed after the December 13th Dynamite show when he exhibited signs of distress backstage. Following the diagnosis, Omega was informed of the gravity of his situation, emphasizing the fortunate timing of his medical attention to prevent potential catastrophic consequences.

The severity of Omega’s condition was underscored by the risk of a blood infection, which posed a significant threat with a roughly 50 percent chance of mortality had it not been promptly addressed. AEW President Tony Khan addressed inquiries about Omega’s condition during an interview with Comic Book.

“I don’t want to put pressure on it, He was really in a bad way. I don’t want to put a timetable or try to rush him back, but I’m optimistic we’ll see Kenny Omega again.” 

“Certainly, it’s something for all the fans to look forward to. I think everybody’s just going to go crazy when Kenny does come back, which I think we’re all very optimistic about.”

Kenny Omega’s Eventual AEW Return

We’re sending out our best to Kenny Omega as he continues recovering from diverticulitis. AEW certainly misses him, and there are even new opponents in Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, both people he knows from NJPW, who are going to be there waiting for his return as well. 

It seems that, after the Young Bucks “fired” Omega from The Elite, a match with Okada is ready-made for The Cleaner. We will have to wait for his return to see it happen.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more around the pro wrestling word. You never know what will happen next, so please keep checking back throughout the day for more updates and headlines that you need.

Daily Drop (3/22): John Laurinaitis Responds To Janel Grant WWE Lawsuit Update, Tony Khan Picks AEW Hall of Fame

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, March 22.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 15

WWE:

Making History: GUNTHER just made history with 100 successful IC Title defenses.

Your Starting Lineup: Bayley got a great intro at the Milwaukee Bucks game before WWE SmackDown this week.

Tumor-Free: Maryse just let fans know the amazing news that she is now tumor-free after surgery.

WWE Shop Time: MLB Legacy Titles, and so much more, is now available at the WWE Shop. Check it out, and don’t miss out and click here to see what they have to offer at the WWE Shop!

Janel Grant Lawsuit Update: John Laurinaitis waved being served with the Janel Grant lawsuit. After all, he already knew about it, because it was impossible to ignore.

Foxxy Is Coming Back: The former Alicia Fox, now going as Vix Crow, will wrestle her first singles match since 2019. She will take on Mickie James in that bout.

WWE SmackDown Match Card (3/22):

  • Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar
  • WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
  • WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The OC vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & ‘ The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes Face-To-Face

AEW:

AEW Dynamite Viewership: The March 20th episode of AEW Dynamite garnered 800,000 viewers and attained a 0.27 rating in the crucial 18-49 demographic. Those numbers show a slight decline from the previous week’s broadcast, which received 801,000 viewers and a demo rating of 0.27.

Sting Honored: The Cauliflower Alley Club is honoring Sting in a big way after his retirement.

AEW’s Reason: The company had a good reason for now including Jon Moxley and Claudio in their tag team tournament.

AEW Hall of Fame: Tony Khan revealed who he would want in the AEW Hall of Fame.

Mercedes Mone Drama: Britt Baker took on the subject of internal issues with Mone’s AEW debut.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows on the horizon:

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

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

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

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

Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix Present: Hit the Lights Lucha Libra Show For 6/1 At The Temple

Thomas Lowson
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Fans of Lucha Libre in California will be in for quite the show this June, courtesy of Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix. 

The Lucha Bros will be teaming up to host ‘ROL7: Hit The Lights’ which will take place at the historic ‘The Temple’ venue in Los Angeles, CA. The show will take place on June 1 and tickets will go on sale on March 22. There will be a 15% ticket price reduction for any fans who purchase seats for the show before April 1. 

The Temple

Fans of Lucha Underground will be familiar with The Temple, which is the venue of the Hit the Lights show. Lucha Underground’s four seasons were all filmed at The Temple, which features a distinct ‘run-down’ and ‘underground’ aesthetic. 

The arena is in an amphitheater style, with the ring in the center and rising bench seats on opposite sides. When not being used as a wrestling location, The venue is known as SCS warehouse and has been used as a filming location for films and TV shows. 

The Lucha Bros

Rey Fenix has been out of action for some time, but he will be making a return to the ring soon. The former AEW International Champion has been booked for the House of Glory Wrestling event on May 5. 

Alongside Fenix (and PAC) Penta is a former AEW Trios Champion. He and Fenix have also held World Tag Team gold in AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor, as well as in AAA. 

Yota Tsuji Vows to Bring Back Beloved IWGP Heavyweight Title By Dethroning Tetsuya Naito

Thomas Lowson
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Yota Tsuji hopes to be the next IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but also hopes to be the final man to hold that particular piece of gold. 

Tsuji, the winner of the New Japan cup, Tsuji will battle Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Sakura Genesis on April 6. Speaking to the press ahead of the much-anticipated title match, Tsuji shared his plans should he win the gold. 

“I would want the 4th generation IWGP Heavyweight Championship. I want to make it exactly clear just how much IWGP means. That means I should take the IWGP World Heavyweight title, separate it again, officially retire the Intercontinental belt, and carry the IWGP Heavyweight.”

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created on March 1, 2021, with the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Naito won the title back in January of this year by dethroning Sanada at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Issues

In the three years since the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created, the title has seen a mixed-at-best response from fans. Many disagreed with the deactivation of the Intercontinental Championship, which had been held by the likes of Naito, Chris Jericho, and Shinsuke Nakamura.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship got off to a rough start when the title eventually launched. A rather forgettable inaugural reign with Kota Ibushi was ended by Will Ospreay. The Brit would then suffer a neck injury, resulting in the title being vacated. Within three months of it being created, the title was on its third champion: Shingo Takagi.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Design

Perhaps the biggest issue with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the title’s design. Many find the look of the title as ‘ugly’ especially compared to the IWGP World Championship. While Kota Ibushi said in 2021 that he was sure the title would grow on people, that’s yet to happen with many fans three years on. 

Bayley Gets Special Introduction At Milwaukee Bucks Game Ahead of Sold Out SmackDown

Bishal Roy
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2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bayley recently made her presence felt at the Finserv Forum during the NBA clash between Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.

Bayley remains to be one of the most popular stars in WWE and has attained several accolades during her illustrious career. However, winning the Royal Rumble had been the one achievement that had eluded her for long. 

She finally added that to her long list of achievements this year. The hugger has since gotten into a feud with her former Damage CTRL partners. Before her confrontation with the former teammates on SmackDown, ‘The Role Model’ enjoyed her time at the NBA game last night.

Bayley hypes up the fans 

A video clip recently emerged on social media where Bayley could be seen walking out to her theme song during the recent NBA game and was given a special introduction. She received a warm ovation from the fans and promoted tonight’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown. She said:

“Milwaukee, thank you for having me. That’s right I did win the 2024 Royal Rumble alright and I’m so excited to be here in this building tomorrow night, sold out might I add. Thank you Milwaukee.”  

Bayley later took to Twitter/X and sent out a message. She yet again thanked the Milwaukee Bucks for hosting her and also congratulated the team for their triumph. The former Women’s Champion then reiterated that SmackDown is sold out and hyped the upcoming episode. She wrote:

“Thank you for hosting da Role Model, @NBA @Bucks! Way to get that win tonight. #Smackdown will be SOLD OUT in this very arena tomorrow night. Thank you Milwaukee!!” Bayley shared.

Bayley’s Road to WrestleMania 40

‘The Role Model’ has a huge task at hand heading into WrestleMania 40. After winning the Women’s Royal Rumble, she set her sights on WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY after her former Damage CTRL teammate attacked her.

Alongside, SKY, the other members, Kabuki Warriors turned on Bayley but she found support in Dakota Kai. Unfortunately, Kai eventually crossed her too. Bayley then faced Dakota on SmackDown last week. That match ended in a DQ after the former was outnumbered by Damage CTRL. 

Bayley is now heading into the high-stakes match as an underdog and only time will tell if she is able to walk out as the champ at WrestleMania 40. 

Well Deserved: Sting to Receive Cauliflower Alley Club’s Highest Honor After AEW Retirement

Thomas Lowson
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Mere weeks after he retired undefeated in AEW, the legendary Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s highest honor in professional wrestling. 

In the main event of AEW Revolution, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. The tag titles have since been vacated. An ongoing tournament will culminate with new champions being crowned next month at AEW Dynasty. 

Sting’s Upcoming Honor

Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, it has been announced. The award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a wrestler by the CAC. It is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. 

The honor celebrates significant achievements across a career. Previous inductees include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk. 

What is the Cauliflower Alley Club? 

Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name. 

The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.

The 58th Annual CAC Reunion will take place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

AEW Hall of Fame?

Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 when it appeared his days in the ring were over. During a recent interview, Tony Khan said that if AEW was to have a Hall of Fame of its own, then the Icon would be the first name he’d like to see inducted.

Champions & Others Set To Leave STARDOM After Rossy Ogawa’s Shock Termination

Thomas Lowson
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Bushiroad may come to regret firing Rossy Ogawa from World Wonder Ring STARDOM as some of its top talent are expected to leave very soon. 

Ogawa, the founder of STARDOM, was fired last month in a shocking and unexpected move. Bushiroad is the parent company of both STARDOM and NJPW and in their statement, apologized to fans for any concerns over STARDOM’s future. A series of tweets from Tony Khan suggested that he was firmly on STARDOM’s side.

Champions Say Goodbye

In Bushiroad’s statement announcing Ogawa’s exit, it was reported that he had been poaching talent. While this has not been proven, it appears talent are eager to work with him, even if it means leaving STARDOM behind. 

Some of STARDOM’s top wrestlers are set to leave the promotion in the wake of Ogawa’s exit, Tokyo Sports reports. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki all have contracts set to expire at the end of March and it is believed they’ll be leaving. 

Hayashishita is a reigning Goddess of STARDOM Champion, a title she has held three times and currently holds alongside Saya Kamitani. She is a former World of STARDOM champion as well. 

Tokyo Sports reports she has been speaking of a fresh environment, and wanting to start from scratch. MIRAI is a current Artist of STARDOM Champion alongside Akari and Ami Sourei. 

What’s to Come? 

It has been reported that the wrestlers are expected to join a new promotion that is to be created by Ogawa. At this time, Ogawa has not publicly confirmed plans for a new promotion. 

Another Huge Arrival? 

Another name who recently left Bushiroad is Giulia, who is expected to join WWE in the future. Before then though, it is believed she will join Ogawa’s new promotion and help the company get off the ground. Giulia recently lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title, signifying her split from Bushiroad. 

Who Has Replaced Ogawa?

Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager, will immediately take over as the bookers for STARDOM. Neither has any previous experience as bookers, though Okada was part of a pro wrestling club that held matches during his college days.

Adam Copeland Will Remember AEW TNT Title Triumph in Toronto Until His Dying Day

Thomas Lowson
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AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will never forget how it felt to win the title in front of his hometown crowd, in a match with his most personal of opponents. 

On the March 20, episode of Dynamite, Copeland captured the TNT Championship for the second time in his career. The night proved to be an emotional one on many levels for the Rated-R Superstar. Not only did he win the title, but he did so against his former best friend Christian Cage in the pair’s hometown of Toronto, Canada. 

Adam Copeland On His Win

When AEW’s camera crew caught up with Copeland after the match, the TNT Champion was understandably reflective of what had transpired. Copeland said that this was a night he’d been dreaming of and would remember the show until his final breath.

“Tonight was the kind of night that you dream of. When you first get into this, when you decide to dedicate your life to this, you dream of nights like this. You know your hometown, against a man that you have known for 40 years who, in my opinion, has lost his way. And to get that kind of match, that war.

“It wasn’t even a match. To hear that audience, to hear them sing my music to me. Man, to have my family here, to have my buddies from school, my buddies from college. It’s just one of the nights that I will take me to the grave.”

What’s to Come? 

Copeland aims to prove himself a fighting champion now that he has reclaimed the TNT title. During the video, Copeland said he will resurrect his Cope Open on the March 30, episode of AEW Collision. The show will take place from London, Ontario, Canada. 

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