The March 20, edition of AEW Rampage proved to be a hit with fans, though that may be due to the unique placement of the show that traditionally airs on Friday nights.
Rather than air on Friday, AEW Rampage aired immediately after the March 20 Dynamite which aired from its usual Wednesday night spot. The shows aired from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada.
Rampage’s Record Rating
This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers. This is the highest rampage since the January 6, 2023 episode, which aired from its usual Friday spot. The show marked a 65% increase in viewers from the previous week’s episode (327,000.)
This week’s show also succeeded in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The show scored a 0.27 in this demographic, the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022 episode of the show.
Worrying Trend
While AEW Rampage did well for one episode, the show as a whole continues to see a worrying downward slide. The average Rampage number for the first quarter of 2024 has been 374,000 viewers, down from the 2023 Q1 number of 436,000 viewers. This trend is also the case when you compare March 2023 to March 2024. This month has seen an average viewership of 345,000, down from March 2023’s 394,000.
AEW Rampage Results – March 20
The results for this week’s editionof AEW Rampage are as follows:
The Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta) defeat the Don Callis Damily (Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs – AEW World Tag Title Tournament Match
Katsuyori Shibata defeats Kevin Matthews
Konosuke Takeshita defeats Rocky Romero
Julia Hart & Skye Blue defeats Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale – Street Fight
A few years back, Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay seemed impossible. Well, thanks to AEW, the dream match is taking place next month. Fans are getting hyped up for the hard hitting affair, and ‘The American Dragon’ is as excited as they are.
Danielson and Ospreay, two of the most talented wrestlers in the industry will lock horns for the first time at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. They both recently showcased remarkable performances against their respective opponents.
Ospreay put up an instant classic with Konosuke Takeshita earlier this month on March 3 at AEW Revolution. On the other hand Danielson squared off against Katsuyori Shibata at March 16 Collision, which was another match that had little chance to materialize a few years ago.
Bryan Danielson feels none can replicate Will Ospreay
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Danielson expressed his interest in knowing what are the opinions of the younger talents on pro wrestling. He further showered praise on his opponent and revealed which aspect makes the upcoming match exciting. Here is what he said:
“I’m not married to the idea that my take on professional wrestling is the best. I’m really interested in what the younger generation thinks about professional wrestling and what inspires them. Will Ospreay is the evolution of professional wrestling.
If Will Ospreay wanted to do a Bryan Danielson match, he could. If I wanted to do what Will Ospreay does in a match, I couldn’t. I don’t think there is anybody else in the world who can. That makes me super excited for this match.”
Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay is not the main event
Bryan Danielson also revealed that his match against ‘The Aerial Assassin’ will not headline the show and teased the fans that some thrilling plans are in the pipeline. He said:
“Me and Will Ospreay won’t be the main event at Dynasty. That tells you what type of show it will be. I have an inkling of some of the things that are lined up, and I think people are going to be really excited.”
He added:
“We have a chance to really stamp Dynasty as the newest brand in the AEW pay-per-view system. I’m really excited to be wrestling Will, especially in a historic wrestling city like St. Louis.”
While Danielson boasts his technical prowess in the ring, Ospreay has aerial offense and lighting-fast strikes up his sleeves. This contrast of fighting styles makes the affair more interesting to witness. The fans will certainly have a treat watching them share the ring at AEW Dynasty next month.
Former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg isn’t pleased that “some Japanese girl” eclipsed his WCW undefeated streak, in his latest shot against WWE.
During an interview with Nothing Left Unsaid, Goldberg was asked if there was any ill will towards him in WWE due to his time in WCW. Goldberg argued that the fact that WWE had Asuka surpass his undefeated streak proved there were some issues.
“A girl beat my winning streak… beat my undefeated streak. Yeah, I can’t even remember… ‘A-soo-ka’ is her name. Some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak.”
Goldberg added that when he returned to WWE in 2016, he also noticed a lot of wrestlers using the spear as a finisher, a move he also used. Goldberg insinuated that WWE management had something to do with this influx of spears.
Issues with Triple H
During the interview, Goldberg suspected that previous issues with Triple H led to WWE choosing Asuka to surpass his streak and for the influx of spears.
“The fact that I didn’t get along with Paul Levesque (Triple H), which is Vince’s son-in-law, I think had everything to do with it.”
Streak Vs. Streak
Goldberg’s WCW streak began in September 2017 which saw Hugh Morrus become the future World Champion’s first victim. It ended at WCW Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash (though a cattle-prod-wielding Scott Hall certainly helped the former Diesel.) W
Asuka’s undefeated streak began in late 2015 and would last for 914 days before she was defeated by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She surpassed Goldberg’s 173 wins at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017. While Goldberg isn’t happy that his streak was surpassed now, he was far more gracious when Asuka passed him 7 years ago.
With wrestling websites dedicated to counting every match and appearance, there’s no doubt Asuka’s streak is anything but entirely legitimate. Given that Goldberg’s streak was during the 1990s, when such websites were not as common, there have been claims his streak was not all it appeared to be.
It has been claimed that WCW inflated the number of wins, with the figure rising dramatically from week to week. Goldberg had actually lost before the streak ever began. His final wrestling match prior to his WCW TV debut was a dark match defeat to Chad Fortune.
Bret Hart has never forgiven Bill Goldberg for the career-ending kick at Starrcade 1999 and the wrestling legend continues to be outspoken about his issues with the former rival. However, there are always two sides to the story, and the former NFL star has broken his silence on the continued prosecution.
The former WCW star recently spoke to Tim Green for his Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. He discussed things such as his issues with Triple H, Asuka breaking the record for his undefeated streak and more.
When asked to speak on the Bret Hart story, Goldberg mentioned how he was very green at the time he was paired with the Canadian Star and he learned a lot from him:
“Bret Hart, I was a baby in the wrestling business. I was in WCW. They had a rocket in my butt as far as trajectory is concerned character-wise. Bret Hart had just left WWE and we all know about Bret Hart being one of the best wrestlers in the history of the world. I obviously was looking for as many mentors as humanly possible.
This guy was, he was one of the best ever and so I was enthralled with him. I didn’t idolize him by any stretch, I don’t idolize anyone, but I put him up on that pedestal as to be someone to very much learn from. They put us together and I did learn a lot from the guy. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”
It Was A Complete Accident: Goldberg
Speaking about the infamous incident, Goldberg took the blame for the accident but noted that he would never do something like that intentionally. The WWE Hall of Famer also objected to the continued animosity from Bret Hart and explained that he can only be remorseful for so long:
“Then we had a match and unfortunately, during the match, something went wrong. I kicked him in the head. It was very stiff, and it was an accident. I never maliciously would try to hurt anyone. Well, let me rephrase that. I would never hurt anyone in a situation like that where they give me their trust.
Because wrestling is like a dance. You can’t perform properly if both people aren’t doing their thing and I didn’t do the thing right. He caught it in the head and it ended his career. I’ve never lived it down. I’m not a malicious person and I would never take advantage of anybody, especially in a physical sense like that.
So it was a complete accident, but to this day, he thought or he thinks that either I did it on purpose or I was so horrible at what I did that it just happened. So that’s the Bret Hart story. I’ve heard it for 15 years and I’ve heard about him bitching and moaning about me kicking him on the head. I can only say I’m sorry so many times and I can only be remorseful for so long. So that’s where we are. I still want to kill him.”
You can check out Goldberg’s full interview where he talks about his time in Japan, his football career and much more below:
If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
Maryse had quite a scary health situation. Now, she is sharing an update with fans, and she had great progress to let us know about. Now, she is tumor-free.
Maryse shared that she recently underwent a hysterectomy and announced she is now tumor-free, expressing gratitude for the successful surgery and early detection. She thanked her doctor and supporters, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy in women’s health.
Maryse Shares Amazing Health Update
Maryse recently shared a health update with her followers, detailing her journey after being diagnosed with a rare pre-cancerous condition. The 41-year-old disclosed the diagnosis, revealing that the condition affected her ovaries and required laparoscopy surgery.
During the surgery, medical professionals identified and removed 11 implants located around Maryse’s uterus, ovaries, and abdominal cavity. Taking to her Instagram stories, Maryse provided her followers with an update on her condition, stating that the surgery was successful. Now, there is a new update for fans.
Maryse recently underwent a hysterectomy and has shared that she is now free of tumors. She explained that the surgery involved the removal of her ovaries, uterus, tubes, cervix, and omentum, as well as staging of lymph nodes to check for spread of the disease.
In her update, Maryse expressed gratitude for the pathology results, which confirmed that the disease had not spread and that she is now tumor-free. She emphasized the rarity of her condition, highlighting that only seven cases per million women occur in the US annually, and credited the early detection with saving her life. Additionally, Maryse thanked her doctor and medical team for their care and support, and expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support she has received from family, friends, and fans worldwide. She encouraged women to advocate for their own health and trust their instincts.
What’s Next for Miz & Maryse
At this time, Maryse is not factored into any WWE stories. Her husband, The Miz, has linked up with R-Truth once again, and fans are all about the Awesome Truth reboot. The two even have a match at WrestleMania, where they may emerge as champions.
Things are going very good for the It Couple once again. Only time will tell if we get another season of Miz & Mrs to let us see everything that went down behind-the-scenes and in their personal lives once again.
SEScoops would like to send out our best congratulations to Maryse after her amazing health update. Hopefully, she doesn’t have to deal with any more scary situations like this again.
AEW has a roster loaded with stars, but it’s hard not to notice when someone like Jon Moxley isn’t around. He is also not scheduled for the big tag team title tournament, and this raised some eyebrows.
Jon Moxley’s recent absence from AEW TV has raised questions, particularly regarding his exclusion from the tag team title tournament despite a recent victory. However, it appears his absence was planned due to prior commitments in Mexico and Japan, preventing his participation in the tournament.
Planned Break
Jon Moxley’s recent absence from AEW television has stirred curiosity among fans, especially considering his recent victory alongside Claudio Castagnoli against FTR. While many have questioned their absence from the ongoing AEW Tag Team Championship tournament, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports this is a scheduled break.
The former AEW World Champion has upcoming engagement scheduled in Mexico and Japan, rendering him unable to participate. The commitments were made over a month ago, solidifying his absence from the tournament.
Moxley as truly been a pillar of All Elite Wrestling since its inception and his presence will be missed. His level of intensity and the violence he brings are unmatched. Luckily, AEW has been stacking its roster with several high profile additions. Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada have changed the face of the company as we gear up for the months ahead.
SEScoops will monitor Jon Moxley’s return to AEW and we’ll provide an update when additional details become available.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is headed back to the main event of another WrestleMania. ‘The ‘Tribal Chief’ defends his championship in a highly anticipated rematch with Cody Rhodes on WrestleMania XL Sunday on April 7. Despite his dominance as champion, fans and some of his peers believe his reign may finally be nearing its end.
The stage is set for Rhodes to finally ‘finish his story.’ After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble and choosing Reigns as his opponent, fans believe WWE WrestleMania 40 will be his moment to win. WWE superstar Xavier Woods is also starting to believe Reigns will not make it past the event as champion.
In an interview with WWE Die Woche (WWE The Week) with Sebastian Hackl, Woods shared his prediction for the Reigns vs. Rhodes match. He doesn’t think Reigns holds the title past the event and that it will create new opportunities for other talent.
“…There’s no way he gets through WrestleMania with that championship. If he does, I don’t know. I can’t even say anything because, just in case that he does, but I fully believe he will no longer be champion after WrestleMania 40,” said Woods. He added, “…And then I feel like we might just have a champion who shows up and defends the title a bit more and then people will have a shot at winning the heavyweight championship. Excuse me, the universal championship.”
Potential Future With Cody Rhodes As Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
Woods’s statement may echo other talent beliefs and hope that Rhodes will be the new champion. While fans have appreciated Reigns’ championship run over the years, he hasn’t been as active in defending as some may hope.
His last successful title defense occurred at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 in a Fatal Four Way match against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. This is a problem, as he only defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship five times throughout 2023.
WWE WrestleMania 40 will mark more than two months since the ‘Tribal Chief’ put his title on the line. Rhodes’s winning the championship is expected to make him more active and put WWE in a position to consistently find fresh challengers. ‘The American Nightmare seemingly has the odds stacked against him but is confident he’ll win the title and usher in a new era in WWE.
John Laurinaitis was put under a microscope when his name was involved in the blockbuster lawsuit that Janel Grant brought forward against himself, WWE and Vince McMahon. In response to this, Laurinaitis has claimed victim status, and now we have more from his side of the story.
In January, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, initiated legal action against Vince McMahon, alleging charges including sex trafficking and rape. John Laurinaitis, also implicated in the lawsuit, recently submitted a waiver of service, indicating his awareness of the legal proceedings and his exemption from formal service. This paperwork was officially lodged with the United States District Court of Connecticut.
John Laurinaitis Doesn’t Need To Be Served
According to PW Insider, John Laurinaitis recently submitted a waiver of service, indicating his awareness of the legal proceedings and his exemption from formal service. This paperwork was officially lodged with the United States District Court of Connecticut.
Furthermore, Laurinaitis committed to providing a response within sixty days from March 15, marking the initial reaction from any of the defendants involved. This signifies a pivotal step in the legal process as the case continues to unfold within the court system.
Johnny Ace Claims To Be A Victim
John Laurinaitis found himself very much involved in a messy legal battle after being implicated in a lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. Accusations of complicity in the alleged sexual abuse suffered by Janel Grant surfaced, casting a shadow over his reputation.
Amidst the turmoil, Vince McMahon took the dramatic step of resigning from his position within WWE, vehemently denying the allegations levied against him. However, Laurinaitis, through his attorney Edward Brennan, emerged with a different narrative, claiming victimhood in the unfolding situation.
Brennan emphasized Laurinaitis’s denial of the allegations and asserted his intent to vigorously defend against them in court rather than engage in media speculation. The attorney underscored the assertion that both Laurinaitis and McMahon were victims of McMahon’s perceived control, signaling a defensive stance against the accusations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the truth behind the allegations remains a matter of speculation, awaiting resolution through judicial processes or potential internal investigations by TKO Group Holdings.
SEScoops will keep a close eye on this story, and so much more going around the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, especially with so many big stories with real consequences going around.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has a new record to his impressive resume after reaching a milestone with Raw’s secondary piece of gold.
GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June 2022 by dethroning Ricochet. The title marked the first for GUNTHER on the main roster and his first title under his current name. He previously held the NXT UK Champion for over a year as WALTER.
A New Accolade for GUNTHER
GUNTHER has proven to be a fighting champion since winning the Intercontinental gold, as his track record shows. Recently, GUNTHER reached 100 successful title defenses as WWE Intercontinental Champion. Superstars who’ve come up short against the Austrian include Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, and Jey Uso, among others.
GUNTHER’s toughest match (at least according to Cagematch statistics) took place on the October 2, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw. It took GUNTHER 22:53 to defeat Tommaso Ciampa in the match that finished via referee stoppage. The match earned 4.5 stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.
What’s Next for GUNTHER?
GUNTHER’s next confirmed title defense will come at WWE WrestleMania 40 when he puts the title on the line against Sami Zayn. The Underdog got a controversial win a gauntlet match to earn a shot at the Austrian. Some fans hope to see Chad Gable added to the match as it’s been claimed that the Olympian’s shoulders were not fully down during the decisive fall in the gauntlet match.
Impressing the Phenom
GUNTHER has impressed many fans and wrestlers alike and recently earned the praise of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker. The Phenom recently said that he sees a bright future for the Imperium leader who has a world of potential.
The Rock has received quite a bit of attention thanks to the fact that he has cut some non-PG promos in recent memory, especially online. This came after WWE sent out a memo reminding talent that they need to keep it clean. The story traveled all over the pro wrestling business, especially into Eric Bischoff’s line of sight.
Eric Bischoff is never short on opinions, and this is certainly the case yet again. Regarding reports of WWE talent’s discontent with The Rock’s promos, Bischoff suggested they may be exaggerated and emphasized the need for transparency in wrestling journalism.
The Backstory
I exclusively reported that a recent memo highlighted the mandate for talent to follow PG guidelines on TV and social media. Despite this, The Rock’s use of profanity, like in a recent promo, has raised questions among talent about double standards. They wonder why he’s allowed to curse while others aren’t.
I was told that the thinking among some talent, not the entire locker room, but SOME talent, is that “even if he is the big movie star, shouldn’t everyone play by the same rules? So he can curse and use that to get over, but everyone else is handcuffed?”
Eric Bischoff Weighs In
On the latest episode of Strictly Business, Eric Bischoff discussed various aspects of the wrestling business and WWE talent’s reported issues with The Rock’s promos. Bischoff expressed optimism about the wrestling industry’s overall state, citing its growing revenue and global appeal, particularly with WWE’s expanding reach and the excitement surrounding events like WrestleMania.
Regarding the state of the wrestling business, Bischoff emphasized the importance of revenue as the ultimate metric of success, highlighting WWE’s efforts in securing sponsorships and hosting premium live events like WrestleMania. While television ratings may raise questions, Bischoff noted the industry’s revenue growth and highlighted AEW’s collaboration with Warner Brothers Discovery as a positive development. He also cautioned against excessive violence and reliance on shock value, suggesting it could deter potential partners and advertisers.
On the topic of scripted promos and The Rock’s use of explicit language, Bischoff cautioned against overreliance on that vulgar shock value. He suggested that occasional use of explicit language could enhance storytelling but warned against its excessive use. Bischoff then speculated that WWE might be aiming to strike a balance between creative freedom and maintaining control over the product.
“They have [been entertaining], and I agree with you. I would love to see us get away from them [scripted promos]. When I say us, I don’t mean content-wise as much. It’s not like — I mean, the kind of language that we’re talking about, the kind of stuff that Rock has been saying, particularly in social media. Occasionally, appropriately done, can enhance the story or the moment and make it more interesting and feel more real and honest. Because that is how people talk. It’s how politicians talk, it’s how teachers talk. It’s how business executives talk. Maybe not in public, not when they’re on camera, but it is the conversation of our life across the board for the most part.”
“Not everybody, but for the most part. And sometimes, done judiciously and appropriately, yeah it can make things feel more real. It can have that kind of — I don’t want to say shock value because nobody is shocked. But it definitely makes you take notice when you hear something in terms of, you know, F-bombs or whatever that you wouldn’t normally hear on television. It gets your attention, that’s the purpose of it. But when it’s done too frequently, it then becomes boring. It becomes a crutch. That’s the best way to say it, it becomes a crutch. Much like blood and extreme violence, and jumping off a f**king ladder that the referee’s holding for you onto a plate of glass when there’s nobody around, just so you can say you did it… if that’s as far as you’re going to have to appeal to your audience and you rely upon that too much, it hurts the product overall. Because you’re relying on that, as opposed to great character and great story.”
WWE & Profanities
Cody Rhodes’ promo on WWE RAW this week included some notable profanities, and The American Nightmare delivered his lines like a champ. He had to answer back to The Rock’s profanity-filled rant, and now we will have to see what happens next.
Profanities can be valuable, if used correctly. AEW certainly saw the negative effects of dropping double-digit number of S-bombs in one two-hour show, and they have since toned things down greatly. Only time will tell if WWE will open up their roster to allow a bit more of an edge to their promos, but it’s really all about keeping a balance.
SEScoops will keep our eye on this story, and so much more, as we continue down the road to WrestleMania. You never know what will happen next, but we will be here with the headlines that you need.
It’s very difficult to retire from pro wrestling forever, and many legends and WWE Hall of Famers can attest to that. Now, Alicia Fox is dusting off her wrestling boots, because Foxxy is making a return to the squared circle.
Alicia Fox, now wrestling as Vix Crow, is poised to return to the ring for her first singles match in five years, facing former WWE star Mickie James. The match, announced on “Gabby AF,” marks their first singles encounter since October 2009.
Vix Crow Making Pro Wrestling Return
A former WWE star is set to return to the wrestling ring after a hiatus of five years, marking her debut in a singles match. Alicia Fox has a new name now, but it seems that it’s the same Foxxy we knew for years.
Now wrestling under the name Vix Crow, she is set to make her comeback. She also has a legendary opponent to do it with.
Recently announced on “Gabby AF,” Fox is scheduled to face off against fellow former WWE star Mickie James in a singles match. This bout marks a significant reunion between the two, as they haven’t squared off in a singles match since October 2009.
— GAW TV: Mickie James, Lisa Marie Varon & $oCal Val (@TheGAWTV) March 20, 2024
Who is Alicia Fox/ Vix Crow
Alicia Fox joined WWE back in 2008 and soon became a featured figure on the main roster, notably on the ECW brand. In 2010, Fox clinched the Divas Championship title, triumphing in a Fatal 4-Way contest against Gail Kim, Eve Torres, and Maryse.
After her last WWE appearance in January 2022, where she made a surprise appearance in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, Fox’s return to in-ring action has garnered attention. In addition to her tenure in WWE, Fox also participated in a Reality of Wrestling event in 2023.
This match also signifies Fox’s inaugural singles bout since April 2019, where she was defeated by Becky Lynch on an episode of Raw.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
Fresh off his viral Oscars 2024 moment, John Cena has yet again showcased his acting skills in another unique way with a video alongside soccer star Erling Haaland.
In a video call, Cena posed as the Norweigan striker, who currently plays for Manchester City. Cena went all out for the video as he donned a Man City shirt, scarf, and a long blonde wig to match the soccer star. Cena’s cosplay was complete with a glass of milk, which Haaland has claimed to be one of his favorite drinks.
In the video, the pair spoke about Manchester City’s upcoming tour of the U.S. that’ll kick off later this year. Haaland seemed far from impressed with John’s costume, telling the 16-time WWE World Champion “You have to stop doing this.”
Who is Erling Haaland?
Haaland is considered one of, if not the best soccer stars currently playing. Last year, Haaland broke the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single season, with 36.
His athletic prowess on the pitch is hardly a surprise, given that he is the son of Alfie Haaland, who played soccer for Norway, and women’s heptathlon athlete Gry Marita Braut. His cousins Jonatan Braut Brunes and Albert Tjåland are also professional footballers.
When Wrestling Met Soccer
Cena’s video with Haaland is hardly the first time soccer and wrestling have come together. In 2015, Wayne Rooney appeared at a UK edition of Monday Night Raw and would slap Wade Barrett.
Jose Mourinho appeared on an episode of Raw in 2007. The then-Chelsea boss was spotted by Shane McMahon, who proceeded to mock the Portuguese coach.
José Mourinho in the WWE is till date one of the most random crossovers ever. pic.twitter.com/wd3GTDz9tf
WWE released Dolph Ziggler in September 2023, along with a list of talented performers. The former World Champion has found other things to do, but he still has stories about his time in WWE.
Now going as Nic Nemeth, he recounted WWE’s reaction to his fabricated tweet about a minor injury, noting the pressure to retract his statement. Despite the initial tension. What made this interesting was that Hugh Jackman was involved.
WWE Threatened To Fire Dolph Ziggler For Working An Angle
During a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, the former Dolph Ziggler detailed a confrontation with WWE after a tweet he posted after Hugh Jackman’s appearance on WWE RAW. He that he alluded to having a fractured jaw, a fabrication of a minor injury to align with the storyline. He had so much buzz wound it, that he just couldn’t resist.
Nic Nemeth recounted, “I said, ‘I have to go for x-rays. I may have a slight fractured jaw’ and by the time the next morning came around, I was being threatened with being fired from WWE because I had lied and TMZ was calling them to check on it and I go, ‘I’m just trying to protect the storyline.’ I said, ‘I didn’t say Hugh Jackman put me in a hospital or I’m having a heart attack. I was like, oh, there’s a chance there’s a hairline fracture and I’m gonna get x-rays to keep it vague’, because it’s wrestling.”
Things certainly took a turn when a very upset call came from WWE, because TMZ was sniffing around the kayfabe story. After WWE’s pressure to retract his statement, Ziggler eventually complied, but he was just protecting the business with his tweet.
I was so excited. It all worked out and Broski was on a tear, I was so excited about it, I go, ‘Let me add a little extra to it’ and then the second-in-command was like, ‘I don’t wanna have to fire you but you’re gonna have to recant and take this down…’”
“Meanwhile, cut to two years later or the rest of WWE’s existence, they’d be begging for that kind of publicity but whatever and I said it in a nice way but I took it down but, for the next couple of weeks, I wore mouthguards and did Miz’s punch in the face gimmick that he did for a month or whatever… and it was really, really fun. I think I had matches with Miz anyway or Broski and it was like, the whole thing was not to not punch me in the face because my jaw might be broken and it was the best. That stuff makes it so much fun on the weekends.
Dolph Ziggler After WWE
Nic Nemeth is now working for TNA Wrestling and NJPW. He is also appearing on Busted Open Radio as a co-host, and that is a position he fits into very well.
Nemeth’s stand-up comedy goals are still going as well. He opened up for Mick Foley on his recent comedy tour. That is a profession and side hustle that the Show-Off has been perfecting for years now.
SEScoops will have even more coverage of this story and so much more in the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
Each year Royal Rumble Premium Live Event promises massive surprises and returns. Well, it has come to light that Shawn Spears, who is currently performing in NXT, aimed to be a part of this year’s Royal Rumble.
Royal Rumble 2024 took place at the Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg, Florida in January and the event was filled with some memorable moments and surprising debuts. Fans certainly loved what they witnessed and the event lived up to the expectations.
Shawn Spears opens up on his plan for Royal Rumble return
Speaking to Fightful, Shawn Spears stated that he “shot his shot” but he doesn’t think he got in early enough for Royal Rumble.
“All I will say is that, I shot my shot. I just don’t think I got it in early enough. I think I was too late. But I did shoot my shot. I tried. All I can do is, ‘Hey, how about this?’ and then I let it go. I let the rest play out as it can.I think I was a little late to the party. So you never know. That’s what they tell you, right? You never know.”
During the interview, Spears also stated that he preferred to use the ‘Shawn Spears’ name when he decided to make a comeback to WWE and even NXT head Shawn Michaels was in favor of the idea.
Shawn Spears has competed in a couple of matches on NXT following his return and racked wins over Ridge Holland and Uriah Connors.
We will have to wait and see what’s in store for him in the coming days.
Few WWE Superstars saw the same giant boost in momentum over the past year that LA Knight received. His gimmick and catchphrases clicked with the WWE Universe in a big way, but there was some concern on his part that things were moving too fast.
LA Knight has seen a lot of people get pushes and fans resist that change. He did not want to run into the same situation at all. While he is appreciative of everything WWE gave him, he also knew that he was walking a very thin line between fan acceptance and disdain.
Knight Talks His Big Push
LA Knight sold a ton of merchandise, and he kept getting spotlight matches. Through it all, fans still chanted back with him as he hit every one of this famous slogans.
While speaking to Busted Open Radio, LA Knight was quite honest about his genuine fear that WWE might have been pushing him too hard. This came after co-host Bully Ray suggested that fans may become sick and tired of the act eventually.
He did not want to see any backlash from fans, because he was constantly in a top spot. He certainly wanted to avoid the perception that the company was shoving him down their throats.
”There’s so many different ways to look at that. Maybe there was a little too far of a push a little too fast and that’s not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but a little bit of a steady build going into a championship match or something like that.”
”As far as going to the U.S. Championship or the Intercontinental Championship or something like that but jumping straight into the WWE Championship back at Crown Jewel was a little fast to where I almost worried that it might make people go, ah! They’re not gonna do this? They’re not gonna shove him down our throat like this? Are they? Because there is that potential. At the same time, right now, I think I’m in a damn good spot… I don’t know if I’m selling myself short so much as I’m just cautiously optimistic.”
LA Knight x WrestleMania 40
LA Knight will battle AJ Styles at WrestleMania 40. This is a match that may have been building for a long time. Styles and Knight shared the locker room together in TNA for years. Now, they will have a chance to throw down at the showcase of the immortals.
WWE fans have not rejected LA Knight yet. Even The Rock back, they are ready to participate in every chant, as he receives a big pop as well. Only time will tell what is next for LA Knight, but WWE is obviously not going to drop his push just yet.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, so please keep checking back throughout the day for more of the headlines you need!
We have an update on WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa’i, who is set to undergo surgery soon.
Afa is part of the esteemed Anoa’i wrestling family that runs deep in pro wrestling history. The legendary lineage has provided some iconic names and has made immense contributions to the business. Sadly, the 81-year-old Afa has been struggling with his health.
One-half of the famous Wild Samoans recently sustained a sustained several fractures in his back after taking a fall. He was hospitalized and has undergone treatment with specialists due to the severity of the situation.
Afa’s Surgery and Health
Afa is now scheduled to undergo surgery this Friday, March 22, according to PWInsider.
It’s been a stressful year for Afa and his family. Earlier this year, he had a bout with pneumonia and suffered a mild heart attack. His health further deteriorated when he encountered a second heart attack. He showed great determination and resilience through recovery and was released from the hospital in January.
We at SEScoops send him well wishes and positive thoughts as he prepares for the procedure this week.
The wrestling world will forever mourn the loss of Shad Gaspard, but Da Pope Elijah Burke has put something very special together to commemorate his late colleague.
The inaugural Shad Gaspard Memorial Cup will take place on April 20 in Jacksonville, FL with eight men competiting in the tournament which includes Gaspard’s Cryme Tyme tag partner JTG. Also competiting in the tournament are the following names:
KC Navarro
Kenny King
Jay Rios
T.I.M.
Thom Latimer
General Obazo
3Prince Agballah
AEW star and WWE Hall of Fame Mark Henry will be in attendance to honor Gaspard.
“We Loved Shad. I loved Shad. I’m there.”
“We Loved Shad. I loved Shad. I’m there.” -Mark Henry
On 4-20-24 we honor a Dad, Son, Brother, Friend, Mentor & Hero. This night 8 men will enter beast mode as we honor WWE Hall of Famer Shad “Beast” Gaspard.
All proceeds from the event will go towards Burke’s Love-Alive charity, whose mission is to “improve the quality of life to less-advantaged individuals, families and communities through humanitarian effort and charitable donations in Jacksonville, Florida and surrounding areas.” You can donate or purchase tickets at the Love-Alive Charity website.
Shad Gaspard Died A Hero
Gaspard will forever be known to put his son Areyah ahead of himself. On Sunday May 17, 2020, Gaspard and Areyah went to Venice Beach and both were caught in a rip current. When a rescue team came to pull them to safety, Gaspard made certain that Areyah went first telling, rescuers to “take my son.” However, Gaspard got pulled by the current and tragically drowned, with his body being found days later. Gaspard would still wrestle from time to time, but really took a focus on a career in Hollywood, even writing a wrestling television pilot “PinFall” that was getting a lot of eyes on it. He called it a series a tribute that all his fellow wrestlers had gone through.
#PINFALL Series Synopsis Professional wrestlers battle their personal demons while the new female CEO of their organization struggles to rebuild the business. It's high stakes in a world where nothing is real, everything hurts, and you can't trust anyone. #WWE#AEW#ROH#NJPWpic.twitter.com/c3ciQ8Kwum
AEW has yet to establish its own Hall of Fame, but Tony Khan has a clear image of who he’d like to see be the first two inductees.
While WWE’s Hall of Fame opened its (hypothetical) doors in 1993 with the induction of Andre the Giant, AEW hasn’t created its own way of acknowledging talent of the past. It’s not hard to see why as, at five years old, the promotion is still relatively young.
AEW’s Hall of Fame
Tony Khan addressed the possibility of a recent interview with Comic Book, Tony Khan discussed a possible AEW Hall of Fame. While Khan didn’t confirm that any plans were in place, he did know who he’d like to see inducted.
“Certainly the first two people that come to mind that we would have to honor would be Sting and Mr. Brodie Lee. Two of the greatest champions and two of the greatest people we’ve ever had in AEW, and in very different circumstances.”
Khan added that he’d like to see somebody inducted who never got the chance to compete in an AEW ring, that being Jay Briscoe.
“He was my friend and was friends with a lot of people in the locker room. He was one of the greatest wrestlers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”
We don’t know when (if ever) AEW will set up a Hall of Fame, but WWE will induct it’s 2024 class in just over two weeks. Paul Heyman, the US Express, Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali have been announced for this year’s class.
Sonya Deville wants to make a return back to the ring ASAP. She is working hard, but the struggle is real.
While repairing herself from a devastating ACL injury, Sonya Deville must be careful. She recently disclosed to fans that she still doesn’t have 100% trust in her injury recovery progress just yet. So, she’s taking it easy, but still putting in the work.
Deville Gives Injury Update
Sonya Deville suffered an ACL tear on the July 28th episode of SmackDown, and that was terrible timing. She was 1/2 of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions at the time.
She is currently rehabilitating her injury. Despite her ongoing recovery efforts, she admitted to still lacking trust in her ACL, which has posed challenges for her workouts and agility drills.
During a post on Instagram, the former Fire & Desire member let fans know how her progress is coming along at this point.
“Today we did a lot of jumping which I’m not going to lie, was pretty daunting at first. Because my ACL is still recovering, and I don’t trust it that much. But once I did a couple of reps I got the hang of it and was getting a lot more confident. Actually, feeling pretty good about it. Then we did some agility footwork drills, which again were pretty awkward at first because my leg is not used to moving that fast. It felt pretty good once I got started.”
We will have to see when Sonya Deville makes her way back to WWE. She obviously wants that day to come sooner than later, and her fans will certainly be waiting for that day to come.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back for constant updates.
AEW brought in Mercedes Mone, and the pro wrestling world paid attention. Now, it appears that some are trying to find trouble when it’s not there.
Britt Baker has been out of action for a while, and she went all of 2023 (and 2024 so far) without cutting a single promo on live television. She also saw something churning in the rumor mill about how she feels about AEW’s latest blockbuster signing, and she had to dismiss it.
Baker Clears the Air
Mercedes Mone debuted in AEW at Big Business, unveiling a ‘CEO’ persona and expressing her desire to impact the women’s division. On this week’s episode of Dynamite, Mone reiterated her goal to expand the company’s reach globally.
However, rumors surfaced regarding discontent among some wrestlers in AEW regarding Mone’s contract and pay. After all, Mone is supposedly making the most out of any female in the business right now.
In response to a fan’s speculation, Britt Baker clarified on social media, where she outright denied any real-life tension with Mone and dismissing the report as fake.
Baker asserted in her comment that the Facebook post is fake. She also picked a few choice words to make her point.
“This is a fake Facebook post you dumb f*ck. Excuse my language, Trips. You can all post your apologies in the comments below.”
This is a fake Facebook post you dumb fuck. Excuse my language, Trips.
— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 21, 2024
Mone is All Elite
Mercedes Mone is just getting started in AEW, but she hasn’t mixed it up with Britt Baker yet. At this point, AEW fans are still waiting to see the company’s resident dentist in the ring again. At this point, they are still waiting.
Mone looks like she is going to go for Julia Hart’s TBS Title first, but this may be a swerve. There are a lot of options for Mone, including settling her unfinished business with Willow Nightingale.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more from the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed a shift in attitude regarding the former Chairman. Meltzer said that those who have previously defended McMahon have stopped, seemingly believing there’s no viable defense for him anymore.
“People who were even in a situation where they’d been defending other people in the company, nobody bothers to try and defend Vince.
“It’s almost like they’ve thrown in the towel on him. It’s like, ‘He’s gone and we can’t even try to defend him’.”
Ronda Rousey’s Strong Words
One name who certainly won’t be defending McMahon is Ronda Rousey. In her new memoir Our Story, the ex-Superstar says that McMahon is akin to Emperor Palpatine, the chief antagonist of the Star Wars movies. Rousey adds that it’s hard to know where the evil McMahon character ends and the actual person begins.
– TKO Stock Boom: The TKO stock saw a surge in price over the last day. Many analysts are contributing that boom to the upcoming Netflix deal. There is a lot of optimism.
– Former Voice Going Elsewhere: There is a new report saying that MLW may be interested in Mauro Ranallo. His voice could add a lot to that company’s television product.
– WWE Exec Exit: John Porco left WWE last month. He had been with WWE since June 1999, initially serving as a Public Relations Coordinator before transitioning to the role of Senior Vice President of Live Events Marketing.
– WrestleMania Card Size: We ran a report yesterday saying that WWE is trying to keep each night of Mania to around 7 matches.
– WWE NXT Rating: The latest episode of NXT on 3/19 recorded its lowest viewership since July 4 last year, attracting only 569,000 viewers, marking a 3% decline from the previous week. However, there was a notable increase in the 18-49 demographic, which saw a 12% rise to 0.18.
AEW:
– Kenny Omega x John Cena: The 16x World Champion made it clear to Kenny Omega that he can see him. This came after Omega complimented Cena in a huge way last week.
– Copeland on Blank Canvas: Adam Copeland said that he and Mercedes Mone were essentially given blank canvases in AEW.
– Tony Speaks on Scapegoat: Tony Khan made it clear that he’s watching Jack Perry’s work in NJPW. He also said that he is doing good things, so we’ll have to see when he makes an AEW return.
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.
Fans of Major League Wrestling will soon get to see Unagi Sayaka in action as the popular Japanese star is set to make her debut soon.
On Twitter, MLW shared a promo highlighting Sayaka’s impending arrival. Given the young star’s colorful costumes and personality, it’s fitting that the promo video was a bright, colorful affair.
Sayaka will make her in-ring debut at the upcoming MLW War Chamber event. Not only will she be competing, but she’ll be in action for the MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship. The card for the show is as follows:
Janai Kai (c) (with Promociones Dorado (Salina de la Renta and Jesús Rodriguez)) vs. Unagi Sayaka: MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship
Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle
Alex Kane (with Mr. Thomas) vs. A. J. Franci$
Team MLW (CozyMax (Satoshi Kojima and Shigeo Okumura) and The Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders)) vs. World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday, and Josh Bishop) (with Mister Saint Laurent): War Chamber Match
Matches for Star Jr. Mads Krügger, Kosei Fujita have also been announced but their opponents have not been named. MLW War Chamber 2024 will take place on Friday, March 29, from The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Who is Unagi Sayaka?
The 34-year-old Sayaka is currently working as a freelancer but is known for her time in STARDOM. She Is a former Artist of STARDOM champion and has also competed in Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and All-Japan Pro Wrestling.
Currently, Sayaka is the DDT-Pro Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, a title she has held on five occasions. The unorthodox title allows champions of any gender and multiple people can hold the title at once.
The gold goes even further than WWE’s Hardcore or 24/7 Championships as Animals and inanimate objects, including a pint of beer, a steel ladder, and Vince McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star have all been champions. Stefan the Dinosaur, a stuffed dino Sayaka often carries with her, is a former champion.
The ‘evolved’ Drew McIntyre is focused on taking the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40 thanks to the return of his “killer instinct.”
The Scottish Warrior will challenge champion Seth Rollins on April 7 as part of WrestleMania 40: Sunday. McIntyre earned the title match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match last month in Perth, Australia. The upcoming title match will be the third World Championship match for both Rollins and McIntyre.
Drew McIntyre Has Evolved
McIntyre has undergone a character shift as of late with the Scottish Warrior once again embracing a heel role in WWE. McIntyre has taken credit for CM Punk’s injury and has claimed that he ‘saved’ WrestleMania by keeping Punk off the show. Sitting down with Evan T. Mack, McIntyre spoke about his evolution and how it differs from Seth Rollins.
“I’ve found myself at the right time because we need a savior of the industry. We have the savior of WrestleMania, the savior of Raw, and the savior of WWE and it’s Drew McIntyre, with my new evolved personality.
“Evolved, not like Seth Rollins, where he changes his personality every eight months or something because he doesn’t know who he is. I’m the same guy. I’ve been for years. I’ve just evolved.”
Seth Rollins’ Changes
While McIntyre may be the heel, it’s hard to ignore the often dramatic changes in Rollins’ character. The Architect has changed drastically from his days in the Shield and his currently colorful persona is in stark contrast to his ‘Monday Night Messiah’ character from just a few years ago.
Drew McIntyre’s Killer Instinct
Drew McIntyre, according to himself, hasn’t changed like Rollins, but he has shown a more vicious side on TV. In the interview, Drew was pleased that his ‘killer instinct’ is back.
“I was a little naive and a little too nice about [things.] The killer instinct I used to have… And it cost me for a couple of years. If you look at my past few years, very successful on television, but we came to those big matches and I think I lost about 12 in a row or something.
“What it came down to, was I was making silly, silly mistakes relating to not having that killer instinct I used to have. Now it’s back.”
For the use of quotes please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The Undertaker has had one of the most illustrious careers in the history of wrestling that spanned across multiple decades. The former World Champion reached a larger-than-life status that very few performers have attained in the history of sports through his work over this time. This fame however also came at a cost.
During a recent Patreon Q&A, The Dead Man was asked which was the hardest move for him to perform during his career. Undertaker discussed the considerable damage he did to his body in the thousands of matches he wrestled. He then revealed that during the later stages of his career, performing his signature Guillotine Leg Drop sent a shock up through his spine:
“The one that really at the end, and nothing really bothered me as far as my move set until the end of my career. But that Guillotine Leg Drop on the apron, by the end of my career it was sending shivers right up my spine like I was getting like electrical, like somebody was hitting me with a cattle prod every time that I would drop that leg on the apron.
Because there’s no give at all to the apron. That’s where everything is tied in and it’s pretty solid there. I would get pretty good height on that thing. I think that’s probably what took out my right hip, is dropping that that Guillotine Leg Drop. It was probably the hardest thing.
And the tombstone just at the very end kind of started to bother me because my knees were getting kind of chewed up. But for the most part of my career, it was nothing really. It just kind of snuck up on me one day.”
That Was Pretty Stiff: The Undertaker
When asked if he ever thought about the wear and tear early in his career, The Undertaker discussed how you don’t think about these things in your youth. Looking back at it now, however, the former champion wonders if he should have restrained himself from using the more destructive moves as regularly:
“When you’re young and you’re healthy and you got that S on your chest. You’re like, you’ll live forever. Nothing’s ever gonna bother you. Then one day you wake up and you can barely walk.
It’s like, ‘Wow, maybe, I should have used that a little more judiciously. Maybe I should’ve used Hells Gate a little more. But yeah, that Guillotine Leg Drop, that was pretty stiff.”
The Undertaker also touched on the subject of Owen Hart’s death during the episode. He revealed his thoughts on having to perform at the 1999 PPV after the tragic incident. You can check out what he said here.
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
