Mace and Mansoor, collectively known as the Maximum Male Models, were among the names cut from WWE in September of last year. Now the pair have captured championship gold. At an event for Beyond Wrestling, the pair won the promotion’s tag titles. WWE NXT Superstar DIJAK was in attendance at the show to commemorate the win for the models.
In WWE, neither Mace nor Mansoor won championship gold. Mace’s only title opportunity in WWE came at a 2020 WWE NXT live event where he unsuccessfully challenged NXT Champion Adam Cole. Mansoor would never even get an opportunity at a title in WWE, with his biggest win being the 51-Man battle royal victory at WWE Super Showdown 2019.
Championship Releases
Notable names cut at the time included Matt Riddle and Nic Nemeth, both of whom have gone on to capture championship gold in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nemeth is the current, and second-ever IWGP Global Champion while Riddle is currently the NJPW World Television Champion.
Mustafa Ali has gone on to join TNA Wrestling and is the reigning TNA X-Division Champion. The Retribution leader captured the title, his first championship in a major wrestling promotion, in the main event of TNA No Surrender.
Is Matt Hardy’s time in AEW set to expire? The tag team legend addressed as much on the latest episode of his “Extreme Life” podcast.
A report from Fightful surfaced this week that Hardy’s AEW contract was set to expire this Month and “Extreme Life” co-host Jon Alba asked Hardy if he’d like to address the report. Matt did give details about his current status with AEW and decided to have a little fun with fans while doing so.
“It didn’t come from me because no one had known anything about it so once again, Sean Ross Sapp breaking the news, right? Yes, it is coming up in March and we’ve spoke about it, we’ve talked about it and I guess we’ll see what happens. So we’ll see, if you listen to the podcast just give me your feedback, tell me what you think I should do next. I’m a person of the people, I listen to the people.”
Alba calls Hardy the consummate teammate and Hardy says that’s what he’s about.
“If I work with you and you’re taking care of me, I’m gonna fly that flag high and with pride, that’s what I do, man and that’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s what being a wrestler is.”
Hardy mentioned how close he is with The Young Bucks and how much he likes Tony Khan as a person too.
“I love AEW. I’m cool with staying with AEW. I really enjoy the locker room there, I enjoy the vibe there, but if that’s not what happens then that’s not what happens and life goes on. It’s all good.”
Hardy first showed up in AEW in 2020 under his “broken” persona, but has gone through several persona changes since, including being the manipulative “Big Money” Matt Hardy alongside Private Party and eventually reuniting with his brother Jeff as The Hardys.
Please credit “The Extreme Life” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
The Rock got a taste of his own medicine at this week’s explosive episode of SmackDown from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on the road to WrestleMania.
The blue branded show then saw a confrontation between teams of The Rock & Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins where a lot of heated words were exchanged.
During the promo, The Rock challenged his opponents to a tag team match at WrestleMania once again with the same stipulations as before. This time, Seth Rollins went ahead and accepted the bout.
Roman Reigns then declared that Cody won’t be getting another shot at him if he doesn’t finish the story this time while The People’s Champion reminded Rhodes and Rollins that he was their boss now.
Everything That Happened After SmackDown Went Off Air
Rock talked about the Rhodes family once again and told The American Nightmare that he was actually a mistake. This riled up Cody enough that he responded with a slap to the Hollywood star.
The show abruptly went off air after this development making fans wonder if there was more to this segment which was cut from the broadcast due to time constraints.
In a video that has since emerged however, we can see that after SmackDown went off air, the two sides exchanged some more words before The Rock’s music hit and he retreated alongside The Tribal Chief.
Multiple fan videos show that The Rock had to be escorted out of the arena by security while Rhodes and Rollins stayed in the ring to pose for the fans.
Later in the night, Becky Lynch had a dark match with Nia Jax. Becky won the bout after putting Jax through a table and she ended the show with a short promo for the crowd.
Wrestler turned Hollywood star John Cena is hitting his stride since focusing more on his acting career. He has shown flashes of his acting ability but caught fans’ attention with his role in James Gunn’s DC film Suicide Squad in 2021 as Peacemaker. Cena’s performance as the morally gray character led to his show on MAX(FKA HBO Max) reprising his role, which was highly successful.
Cena’s star power has continued to grow as he’s been featured in more movies recently, including Fast X, Barbie, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Film and WWE fans have been enjoying his work but were taken aback by the promotion of his latest film, Ricky Stanicky.
The new film, currently streaming on Amazon Prime, has been getting some added attention due to Cena’s unique promotion. Ricky Stanicky is being advertised as an “X-rated comedy,” so the former WWE superstar created an Onlyfans account to help garner interest. Although it may sound risque, the videos of Cena Onlyfans were in good taste. That said, fans have wondered if the movie is worth watching.
After watching the nearly two-hour film, I can share this review of Ricky Stanicky and will rate it between 1 and 10 at the end.
Ricky Stanicky: Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, Jermaine Fowler & John Cena at Bar
What Is Ricky Stanicky About?
The movie follows Dean (Zac Efron), JT (Andrew Santino), and Wes (Jermaine Fowler), who created a fake person, Stanicky, to help them escape their problems and responsibilities. Their lies continue from their childhood to being adults. However, the three friends’ latest lies finally cause their romantic partners to become suspicious.
On the verge of getting exposed, the three friends call upon failed actor and celebrity impersonator Rod (Cena) to act as Ricky Stanicky to remove their partner’s doubt. This led to many shenanigans in the film as Dean, JT, Wes, and Rod try to keep up the Stanicky persona.
Ricky Stanicky: Zac Efron, Andrew Santino & Jermaine Fowler at Airport
Mixed Bag Of A Film
Ricky Stanicky may feel like two different movies for fans. It starts out being very raunchy, and that’s when it can be the least funny. In the first 30 seconds of the film, we get our first d*ck joke, and it’s neither creative nor funny. Unfortunately, this was the tone for the first half of the movie.
After Cena is introduced to the family and friends of Efron, Santino, and Fowler, the film takes a turn. The film turns down the raunchiness a little and begins to feel like a completely different movie. The jokes in Ricky Stanicky start to land a little more as Cena tries to keep up with the persona, to the later disdain of Efron and Santino. However, the film attempts to make another d*ck joke, which goes on for too long and is referenced again towards the end of the film.
The film gets more ridiculous when Cena gets a reason to stay in the movie after he initially meets Efron, Santino, and Fowler’s family and friends. The reason is absurd, but it does lead to funny moments between Cena, Efron, and Santino.
If the movie had been less heavy-handed with the raunchiness early on, it could have been a funnier film.
Ricky Stanicky: John Cena at a Party
John Cena Shines In Performance
The film’s central focus is Efron, Santino, and Fowler, but Cena shines the most on-screen. After an incredible performance in The Iron Claw, Efron feels wasted in Ricky Stanicky, and anyone could’ve played his character. His role has more dramatic screens than the rest of the cast. However, he feels misplaced, and a serious revelation comes later in the film about his childhood that feels unearned.
Santino and Fowler try their best to use their comedic expertise to film. The jokes may be hit or miss for fans, but it wasn’t enough to carry the plot. Fowler had some good moments that made me laugh and surprised me. That said, it’s Cena who was able to show his range from being silly to having a few good emotional scenes.
The former WWE superstar gives his all by being outrageous, with one scene peeing on himself in an airport. When he first appeared on screen, he was given raunchy material to work with that wasn’t really clever and may not work for everyone. However, he’s shown later when he can deliver his charisma and not force a joke to be naturally funny in the movie. Cena’s performance in Ricky Stanicky makes me hope he is involved in more serious roles to showcase his acting ability. However, his talents weren’t enough to elevate the film from watchable to great.
John Cena, Zac Efron & Andrew Santino in a scene for Ricky Stanicky
Conclusion & Why Fans Should Give It A Try
The Ricky Stanicky is suitable for being on stream. If fans have Amazon Prime, they can watch it on Amazon Prime Video at no additional cost. The subscription service also has a 30-day trial deal. I believe this makes the film more accessible to watch than going and paying to see it if it went to theaters.
If you are a Cena fan and want to see his acting range, you may want to see the film. He steals the show with his performance in Ricky Stanicky with his comedic and dramatic scenes. Although it’s not enough to save the movie, ultimately, he gives his all to playing his role.
The film is okay and watchable, but it could’ve been better. I give the film a 6 out of 10.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley may have an on-air partnership for WWE television, but their actual friendship holds no boundaries as “Mami” made certain Dirty Dom’s wedding was complete.
Mysterio happened to marry his high school sweetheart Marie Juliette this week in a private ceremony, but some familiar faces were certainly on hand including Damian Priest who was a groomsman and the WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley. Mysterio even got a heel’s welcome at his own wedding as he was showered with boos from his loved ones.
Following the wedding, Ripley took to X to share some special photos of herself with Damian and the happy groom Dominik, congratulating him and his new wife.
“What an amazing love-filled day! Congratulations Dom Mysterio & Marie!”
Mysterio’s week sure finished in a great way, but didn’t start off swell in the ring as he went up against Gunther on WWE Raw and was left defeated by the WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Now six competitors will battle in a gauntlet match next week on Raw to face Gunther at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. The six stars are Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed, Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet and Dirty Dom’s Judgment Day ally, JD McDonagh.
From a storyline standpoint, Zayn and Gable have made the most compelling cases to compete against Gunther. Zayn has promised himself future championship gold while Gable seeks retribution for Gunther making his daughter cry.
Rhea Ripley already has her opponent lined up for WrestleMania as she’ll be battling Becky Lynch, but it still remains to be seen what Philadelphia holds for the newly-wedded Mysterio.
Kenny Omega knows his role in AEW and it’s something that he believes separates him from Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, but will The Cleaner make a return to the ring?
While on his Twitch stream, Omega happened to give an update on his recovery after his diverticulitis diagnosis, something that had him very close to death’s door.
“I would love to say, ‘Hey guys, I’m on track to coming back next week, next month, a half of year.’ I don’t have that confidence this time. When they’re explaining to me that I was 24 hours away from a terrible blood infection and possibly dying, this is like news to me. I’ve never heard of anything like that. ‘I wasn’t close to dying, are you kidding me? No way.’ The doctors are there to ensure my safety and educate me as to how important this is. I don’t want to talk out of my ass too much and say I’m going to for sure be back, and I’ll be back at a certain date or time because I don’t know. I will say, after watching Dynamite, and getting a feel of the lay of the land. If I can come back, I feel like I have to.”
With the official AEW debuts of Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay, the athletic bar has been raised in AEW and Kenny hopes that he’ll still be able to show who runs the show in All Elite Wrestling.
“I used to be that guy. I used to have that confidence, and now instead of being the guy that’s got a chip on his shoulder, it’s my job as the old guard to be the gatekeeper. You want to call yourself the best? F***ing prove it, b****. That’s what I’m here for.”
From a storyline perspective, Kenny Omega isn’t quite “running the show” as fellow EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson have “fired” Kenny from his position this past Wednesday on Dynamite. Kenny caught wind of it and simply used a photo of himself to express his surprise.
Omega has been advertised for AEW’s upcoming residence in Canada, but there is no word as to what he may be doing.
WWE is less than 30 days away from WrestleMania 40, and they booked a huge match during SmackDown this week. The Rock issued a challenge to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, and this week he got his answer.
During the closing segment of WWE SmackDown this week, they confirmed that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will take on Roman Reigns and The Rock during Night One of WrestleMania 40. They did so with a very tense closing segment on the show this week.
WWE SmackDown Closing Segment
The Bloodline took to the ring during the closing segment of SmackDown this week. The Rock joined them, and then Reigns told Dallas to acknowledge them, because greatness stands before them.
Before they could get much further, Cody Rhodes’ music hit, and he entered the screen from the crowd. He didn’t come alone, as Seth Rollins was there in the crowd as well as his backup.
Cody Rhodes admitted that it is very tense in the ring. Then he suggested that they just soak up that moment in Dallas, Texas. Then Cody asked if The Rock had the authority to make any stipulations for WrestleMania, because he acknowledged Roman as his Tribal Chief last week on SmackDown.
The Rock cut Cody off, and then he laid down a bit of a promo about being a family. Then he made it clear that he was serious about the stakes of the match. Suddenly, “diarrhea” chants broke out and interrupted him. Seth Rollins laughed at this, because it was his “Diarrhea Dwayne” line from RAW that inspired the chant.
Finally, The Rock continued, and then Seth Rollins told him to “shut the hell up,” while calling him “Mr. Midlife Crisis.” Then he accepted the tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
The whole segment ended with The Rock taking things too far, and then it was Cody Rhodes who nailed him with a slap this time.
The Rock made it clear that this tag team match at WrestleMania will have big consequences for the main event of WrestleMania 40. If Cody and Seth can win, then The Bloodline will not be around for the main event match. If the Bloodline wins, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for the main event.
Then The Rock said that, as a member of the TKO board, he has another thing to say. He made it clear that Cody will never get another shot at the title if he loses at WrestleMania 40. Interestingly enough, that is the same stipulation he had in AEW that stuck with him throughout his run with the company, where he was never allowed to challenge for their World Title.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and the rest of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for more updates.
Logan Paul opened up WWE SmackDown this week by drawing a ton of heat from fans after he unveiled a Prime bottle logo in the middle of the ring. It turns out that wasn’t just a gimmick, because his company just signed a massive deal with WWE.
WWE and Paul’s brand, Prime Hydration, announce a global partnership, making Prime the exclusive Official Hydration Drink Partner of WWE. This undisclosed deal promises Prime Hydration unparalleled exposure across key WWE assets, alongside activations at live events and social media support, while extending its reach beyond WWE with an exclusive global partnership with UFC.
Prime x WWE Deal
Logan Paul achieved another milestone today with WWE and his beverage brand. Prime and WWE have joined forces in a global partnership, making Prime Hydration the exclusive Official Hydration Drink Partner of WWE.
Forbes reports that Prime Hydration will be WWE’s first hydration partner and the very first sponsor ever to feature its logo at the center of the WWE ring. While specific details of the deal remain undisclosed, it stands as WWE’s most significant sponsorship agreement to date.
Prime Hydration’s partnership with WWE guarantees outstanding exposure and integration across key WWE assets. It is reported that this will include center mat branding at PLEs like WrestleMania and Money in the Bank.
The deal also encompasses match sponsorships, live event activations, social media support from WWE superstars, and more.
It was also reported that Prime Hydration’s collaboration extends beyond WWE, as it secured an exclusive global partnership with UFC in January 2023, becoming the Official Hydration Drink of UFC and an Official Partner of the UFC Performance Institute.
As part of the announcement, Triple H said that, “We’re thrilled to highlight Prime Hydration across our major events.” It seems that this is the start of a much longer relationship between the two parties.
SEScoops will have additional information as new details are available. It seems that fans should expect a lot more from Prim and WWE in the months to come.
Logan Paul knows how to rile up WWE fans. He kicked off SmackDown this week by enraging them with a big change to the WWE. Then he invited one of his old friends, who didn’t get the best reception, either.
Paul opened up this week’s SmackDown by unveiling a big Prime bottle logo in the center of the ring. He then said that Prime is the first center ring sponsor in WWE history, and they will be seeing that logo at WrestleMania. Then KSI came out to join the fun.
Logan Paul Brings KSI to SmackDown
Logan Paul got fans in Dallas to boo him relentlessly, and then he no-sold their “What” chants. In the middle of his promo, he announced that Prime has made history as the first company to ever book a center ring deal with WWE.
The Maverick unveiled a big Prime bottle in the middle of the ring. He said that fans will see that Prime bottle on the ring at WrestleMania and all premium live events from now on. This got a big boo from fans in Texas. Then, Logan Paul introduced KSI, who came to the ring through the crowd.
Randy Orton came out next, and LP ran away. Sadly for KSI, he ate an RKO and was laid out in the middle of the Prime bottle logo on the mat. Then Orton picked up a bottle of Prime for good measure, took a sip, and poured it on KSI’s crotch for good measure.
At least Orton did sip the Prime and remark, “This is very good,” before he capped things off by drenching the influencer.
This is not the first time fans have seen KSI on WWE television. He was at WrestleMania last year, where he did a pretty crazy spot in a Prime bottle costume.
WWE is open for business when it comes to selling off ad space for their ring. Nick Khan has made it very clear in the past that they are interested in renting out any asset they have for advertising purposes. It will be interesting to see how many times we see a Prime bottle in the middle of the ring, but the company is not opposed to the idea.
SEScoops will have more coverage of this story, and many more, as we continue down the road to WrestleMania 40. We will have additional updates as new details are made available.
The Rock has said a lot since returning to WWE this time around. Last week’s 21-minute promo was brutal, but one thing really stuck out for Cody Rhodes, and he drew attention to that fact. The People’s Champion made fun of Cody’s dog, Pharaoh, and The American Nightmare didn’t like that.
It seems that The Rock didn’t get Cody’s message from his promo on RAW this week. Cody made it clear that Dwayne Johnson needs to keep Pharaoh’s name out of his mouth, and that didn’t seem to matter to the Jumanji star.
A message from the Outlaw People’s Champ
“when I die I may not go to heaven I don't know if they let outlaws in If they don't just let me go to Texas, boys 'Cause Texas is as close as I've been”
The Rock brought up Pharaoh in his new online promo. He also mocked the name of The American Nightmare’s four-legged friend.
Before mocking Pharaoh’s name, The Rock also called him a “goofy ass dog.” It seems that was on purpose, as he continued to twist the knife a little with a jab at Cody’s dog. This was especially clear after he was warned not to.
We will have to see if Pharaoh becomes a part of this WrestleMania storyline, but fans just may see him again on the road to WrestleMania. If anything, this extra jab from The Rock will give Cody even more reason to take some aggression out on him at WrestleMania 40.
The Rock, once again, takes aim at Cody Rhodes’ dog Pharaoh in new social media video. pic.twitter.com/9FT5GtdzBA
The Rock has a bit of pull this time around. As a member of the TKO Board of Directors, his say certainly matters. He received $30 million in stock after taking that job, which came with a match at WrestleMania.
It seems The Rock also got to make his mark on the WWE Hall of Fame this year. It was previously reported that The Great One got to pick some of those inductees.
SEScoops will have more on The Rocks’ time in WWE, and everything else that involves.
The Rock took a seat on the TKO board of directors, and that came with $30 million in company stock. He also has a lot more say in things than some fans realized at first.
Currently, Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and the U.S. Express duo of Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda have been confirmed as inductees for the ceremony scheduled on April 5, 2024.
WWE is starting the process of announcing Hall of Fame inductees this year. Although fans thought that Triple H was the only man in control of those names, it seems that The Rock’s new deal has given him some say in that as well.
Rock’s Involvement
The Rock is making significant moves, both behind the scenes and in the wrestling ring. Not only is he set to wrestle at WrestleMania, but he also holds a position on the board of TKO and has secured the intellectual property rights for all Rock-related terms and names.
Johnson’s influence extends beyond his upcoming tag team match with Roman Reigns against Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania weekend. According to Fightful Select, WWE sources have confirmed The Rock has provided input on this year’s WWE Hall of Fame inductees.
Rock’s influence should become more apparent once the remaining members of this year’s class are announced, but it’s worth noting that one WWE source told Fightful Rock had a hand in selecting all of this year’s inductees
The Rock is scheduled to appear on tonight’s SmackDown, where Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins answer the WrestleMania challenge laid out last wee by the Bloodline. If (and when) that match is made official, it will be his first time wrestling a full match in nearly a decade.
Aside from an impromptu 6-second victory over Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32 in 2019, the People’s Champ hasn’t wrestled since 2013, when he dropped the WWE Championship to John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 29.
WrestleMania 40 will be huge, but The Rock didn’t get in ring shape for just one match. There’s still big money in Rock vs. Roman Reigns, and WWE has a plan for when that match could happen:
AEW brought in Will Ospreay as a big signing, but he had to wait out his NJPW contract. Now that he is a member of the Don Callis Family on AEW television, he is ready for what is next. That being said, it will take some bumps along the way.
Will Ospreay addressed fans after his first tour with AEW. He is incredibly motivated to keep going, but he is still nursing some issues with his health. After all, his style has never been what anyone would consider easy on his body.
Ospreay Addresses Health Status After First AEW Tour
In a post on Twitter/X, Will Ospreay expressed gratitude as he wrapped up his inaugural tour with AEW. He conveyed appreciation for the warm reception he received and extended thanks to everyone behind the scenes for welcoming him into their environment.
Despite feeling physically worn out, he emphasized his unwavering dedication. Now, he looks forward to returning home to his family and relishing the rewards of his hard work, reaffirming his belief in AEW.
And thus my first tour under the @AEW banner has come to an end. Thank you so much for such an overwhelming response. To everyone backstage thank you so much for allowing into the home you’ve built, I will cherish this place & treat it as my own. I’m banged up bad but my foot is still on the gas pedal. But now I’m gonna get on this flight home to my beautiful Mrs & step son and enjoy the fruits of my labour. I believe in AEW.
And thus my first tour under the @AEW banner has come to an end.
Thank you so much for such an overwhelming response. To everyone backstage thank you so much for allowing into the home you’ve built, I will cherish this place & treat it as my own.
— Will Ospreay • ????????? (@WillOspreay) March 8, 2024
What’s Next For Ospreay in AEW
Will Ospreay is now a full-time talent for AEW. Tony Khan will likely use him for some big matches in the pipeline, and he already has one huge one in store. Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay’s face-to-face on AEW Dynamite this week was certainly a sign of things to come.
Ospreay entered AEW as one of the best pro wrestlers on the globe. Now he will get a chance to prove himself in front of a fan base that might be full of people who haven’t seen everything he has in store for them yet.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story in case there are any additional updates.
Legendary luchador Damian 666 has sadly suffered a heart attack, but thankfully is being treated at the hospital in the Tijuana area. His son, Beastia 666 took to social media to provide everyone with an update on the status following the health scare.
“Good afternoon everyone, I want to inform family, friends and fans that my father, Damian 666 had a heart attack and it was necessary to undergo a “Hemodynamia” operation. At this moment he is stable and recovered. Tomorrow me and my sibilings will get the report and see how it progresses. We have a lot of faith that everything will be well with the favor of God to release as soon as possible.”
Our hearts and thoughts are with the legendary @damianfdt666 and his family. We are hoping for successful surgery and a speedy recovery. ?? pic.twitter.com/k21f0T5uK5
Sam Adonis, who works regularly in Mexico, also asked fans for prayers for Damian 666. Adonis also spoke to the positivity of sharing a locker room with the legend.
“Keep Damien 666 in your prayers right now while he’s in the hospital after surviving a heart attack.
“Anyone who’s shared a locker room with him knows that he’s a joy to be around and deserves all the well wishes he can get!”
Keep Damien 666 in your prayers right now while he’s in the hospital after surviving a heart attack.
Anyone who’s shared a locker room with him knows that he’s a joy to be around and deserves all the well wishes he can get! pic.twitter.com/DwzsWiVfCX
American fans may be most familiar with Damian 666’s work back in the heyday of WCW as he was an original member of the first LWO alongside Eddie Guerrero. He also worked in ECW as well. Beastia 666 has worked several matches under the MLW banner in recent years.
We at SEScoops would like to wish Damian 666 a speedy recovery as prayers and well wishes are sent his way.
Pro wrestling is filled with a variety of gimmick matches to capture fan attention. Some of those stipulations can go on to have lasting effects on a wrestler’s image, especially if they’re in a hair vs hair match.
Although Yuya Uemura may have lost his hair vs hair match against Yota Tsuji, he made the most of the situation. The NJPW star donated his locks to make wigs for patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Uemura’s Great Gesture
Yuya Uemura is getting ready for his debut post-excursion New Japan Cup at a pivotal point in his career. Following his loss in the hair vs. hair match against Yota Tsuji in Sapporo, he needs to turn things around after such a significant defeat. Obviously, the ideal goal would be to find renewed motivation for the next phase of his career.
While speaking to NJPW’s website, Uemura disclosed that following his loss in the hair vs. hair match, he contributed his hair to a center that creates wigs for individuals undergoing chemotherapy.
I actually gave the hair to a hair donation place, to make wigs for chemotherapy patients, things like that. Hopefully some use can come from it.
When asked about how the match went in retrospect, Uemura said, “It was tense. I think we definitely both put all we had into it, stamina wise. It was 28 minutes, it was tough, and it definitely wasn’t fun.”
Yuya Uemura is incredibly pumped about starting his journey in the 2024 New Japan Cup. This year’s tournament started on Thursday, March 7, 2024, and will run until Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
The New Japan Cup is regarded as the second most significant heavyweight tournament in NJPW, trailing only the G1 Climax, which employs a round-robin format. The winner of the tournament will get a title match, and Uemura certainly wants to be in that conversation.
SEScoops will have more coverage of this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back for more updates as additional information is made available.
WWE SmackDown will air live in Memphis, Tennessee next week. Since they are in the heart of country music territory, The Rock is going to apparently play to the crowd in a big way on March 15.
Dwayne Johnson is a man with many skills. He isn’t limited to physical abilities, because he is also a man of artistic talent as well. He flexed his vocal prowess in the past, and this week’s SmackDown may see him put on another Rock Concert.
Spoiler for WWE SmackDown
The Rock has graced WWE fans with concerts in the past. With a guitar in tow, The Great One is known to bust out a song for a promo. Since his return to the fold on the road to WrestleMania 40, The People’s Champ has been on a tear.
Wrestle Votes posted on Twitter/X to reveal that sources have told them that The Rock might have a bit of a musical flare to his segment next week. This is a plan that has apparently been in the pipeline for a while.
According to sources, the much-anticipated return of ‘The Rock Concert’ could light up next week’s SmackDown, live from Memphis, TN. I’m told this idea has been brewing for weeks, with a possible announcement of it tonight on SD.
According to sources, the much-anticipated return of 'The Rock Concert' could light up next week's SmackDown, live from Memphis, TN. I’m told this idea has been brewing for weeks, with a possible announcement of it tonight on SD.
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be on SmackDown this week to answer The Rock’s WrestleMania challenge. A tag team match with Rock and Roman Reigns versus Cody and Seth is in the pipeline, with night two ramifications in play.
If the Bloodline wins that Mania tag match on night one, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for Cody vs Roman in the main event of night two. If Cody and Seth win, then the Bloodline will be barred from the event.
SEScoops will have complete coverage of WWE SmackDown this week. Keep checking back for more updates.
WWE returns to Dallas, Texas tonight for Friday Night SmackDown at the American Airlines Center.
Over 13,000 fans will be on hand tonight at the American Airlines Center for the next stop on the Road to WrestleMania. This marks WWE’s sixth consecutive sold-out television taping, according to data compiled by WrestleTix.
WWE’s biggest Premium Live Event of the year, WrestleMania 40, is just 29 days away. The card is starting to take shape, but the elephant in the room is ‘almost official’ tag team match involving The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
Raw Superstars Rhodes and Rollins will be on hand tonight to give their response, as will the entire Bloodline.
SmackDown Preview (March 8, 2024)
Here’s what’s on tap for tonight’s show:
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins answer the WrestleMania challenge made by The Bloodline.
The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear
United States Champion Logan Paul will appear
Bobby Lashley battles Karrion Kross
SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage later tonight from SmackDown.
Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:
The US Express will take their place as WWE Hall of Famers next month as part of this year’s class of inductees.
The legendary team consisted of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham and wowed fans with their dynamic offense during the 1980s. One of several highlights of the team’s run saw them defend the WWF World Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 1. Unfortunately for the pair, they’d lose the gold to The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, marking the first title change in the show’s history.
Despite the patriotic nature of the team, the pair were introduced to each other in a Toronto dressing room in 1982. The pair would work for various NWA territories before coming to the WWF.
Family Ties
The pair’s bond extended beyond the ring though. Rotunda would marry Windham’s sister Stephanie. The pair would welcome two children, Taylor (Bo Dallas) and the late Windham (Bray Wyatt) Rotunda.
Seeing Double
This induction will be the second for Windham. He was inducted in 2012 as part of the legendary Four Horsemen stable. Ironically, Windham’s first induction marked the first-ever two-time induction, as Ric Flair had become a WWE Hall of Famer four years prior.
WWE Hall of Fame 2024
The US Express is the first tag team announced for this year’s class of indcutees and the third announcement overall. Earlier this month, Paul Heyman was announced as an inductee after turning down the honor in the past. More recently, Bull Nakano was announced as a WWE Hall of Fame inductee. The Japanese star is a former WWE Women’s Champion and is currently the commissioner for the all-women’s Sukeban promotion.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will stream live on Peacock directly after WWE SmackDown on April 5.
Sonya Deville was pleased that Bianca Belair could have a role at her wedding, considering the role the EST has had on her life.
Deville married her now-wife Toni Cassano earlier this year at The Legacy Castle in New Jersey. The happy couple was surrounded by friends, family, and WWE Superstars. Charlotte Flair, Andrade, Bayley, Montez Ford, Liv Morgan, Matt Cardona, Chelsea Green, Mandy Rose, Vic Joseph, and McKenzie Mitchell all attended.
Bianca Belair’s Special Role
Belair, a former Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Women’s Champion did more than just attend the ceremony. The EST of WWE also served as a flower girl to the surprise of many in attendance. On her Instagram Stories, Deville explained that Belair was there when her relationship with Cassano began so it is fitting she had a role at the wedding.
“Bianca Belair is the best. She was a surprise flower girl at my wedding because she was with me the night I met my wife (on our first date) and yelled ‘I’M GONNA BE THE FLOWER GIRL AT YOUR WEDDING ONE DAY!’ So her and [Toni] made it happen! And it was the greatest surprise ever.”
Sonya Deville reveals the story on why Bianca Belair was a surprise flower girl at her wedding ? pic.twitter.com/3JAgWWTFid
Bianca wasn’t the only notable name to have a significant role at the Deville-Cassano wedding. Entertainment personality Maria Menounos officated the ceremony and is a close friend of both Deville and her bride. Menounos is also a huge wrestling fan and competed at WrestleMania 28. The following year, she inducted Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall of Fame.
AEW was able to sign Kazuchika Okada to a three-year deal, and WWE had interest as well. After this blockbuster deal was confirmed, numbers started coming out. It seems that they are not what they seem to be.
It was reported that Okada’s deal with AEW is worth $4.5 million per year for three years. Although this number might be something that WWE would offer a top star like Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar, that isn’t what Okada is bringing in.
Okada’s AEW Deal
It was previously reported that Okada is making 2 billion yen over a three-year deal. That would certainly place Okada on top of any company’s payroll.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that this report about Okada’s massive AEW deal is not correct. The actual numbers were not revealed, but they were said to be much lower in reality to what he is actually bringing in.
Okada signed a three-year deal. Tokyo Sports reported Okada signed a three-year deal at 2 billion yen ($13.5 million) over the course of the period of the contract, or an average of $4.5 million annually, but that number is not accurate at all. The real number is considerably lower, but it was still a very large number that he signed for.
What’s Next For Okada
AEW booked Okada as a heel to join the Young Bucks as the newest member of The Elite. Kenny Omega was also fired in the process, which sets up an eventual match between the two old foes.
It was reported that Okada is moving to the United States as part of his new AEW deal. He will also be a full-time performer for the company. Only time will tell how AEW books him in the weeks to come, but he certainly has the pro wrestling world’s interest.
SEScoops will have more information on this story as additional details are made known.
Sting gave everything he could during his last run in AEW. He was already a WWE Hall of Famer, but it seems that the company that owns a majority of the footage with his career wasn’t even asked to contribute.
WWE bought WCW in 2001 for a meager fee. $4.2 million got WCW’s brand, intellectual property, and video library. Arguably, this was an amazing deal for Vince McMahon’s company. Even though WWE owns all that Sting footage, Tony Khan didn’t reach out to inquire about using any of it.
Sting’s Final Match Footage
Before the match started at AEW Revolution, a video featuring Sting aired, depicting him alone in an empty movie theater in full ring gear. The video showcased photos and clips from his career, but they were missing a lot of action. After all, footage from Mid South, Crockett Promotions, WCW, and WWE, mostly owned by WWE, was notably absent.
Sting reacted to the clips, displaying shock at some of the recent stunts he had performed. Then Sting uttered, “It’s Showtime for the last time.”
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE wasn’t asked about using any footage of Sting for AEW Revolution. In the past, AEW has let their talent appear as talking heads for a few WWE things, but Tony Khan’s company apparently didn’t even reach out about using footage of Sting for his retirement match.
Many people wondered, given in the past Khan has allowed his talent to appear on WWE television to honor John Cena and at the Hall of Fame ceremonies, if WWE would reciprocate here. The answer is that we don’t know because WWE was never asked. There was also no TNA footage shown.
The report also noted that, “Most of the footage shown was from New Japan Pro Wrestling, as from AEW and his lone appearance in Pro Wrestling NOAH when he & Allin & Great Muta teamed up in the last match Keiji Muto donned the Muta gimmick. Sting made it clear that would be his last time in the ring in Japan.”
AEW has a few stars on the injury list, but it seems that Fenix’s time away from the ring is coming to an end. The Lucha Bro member has been booked for an event in May.
Fenix has been missing from action for AEW since 2023, but he fought through some injuries to make that happen. He needed to take some time off, but he has now been booked for a May 5th event for HOG Wrestling.
Fenix’s Return
House of Glory is gearing up for another event on May 5th with the announcement of Cinco De Mayo at the NYC Arena. A notable addition to the lineup is AEW star Rey Fenix, who is set to grace the HOG stage for the event, streamed live on Fite+.
Fenix’s opponent has not been revelaed for the show yet, but he will apparently be wrestling, which is a good sign for his recovery.
Fenix was dealing with a nagging injury for quite some time, leading to several months of absence from action. He sustained the injury during a four-way tag team match at AEW WrestleDream in Seattle. The match featured The Young Bucks, Lucha Brothers, The Gunns, and Orange Cassidy & Hook.
During the match, Fenix was thrown into the barricades multiple times, prompting ringside medical attention and his subsequent removal from the match. This injury marked the end of his reign as AEW International Champion, which lasted only 20 days. His last match before getting sidelined was against Orange Cassidy on the October 10 episode of AEW Dynamite, where he lost the championship.
HOG’s Upcoming Event
Mark your calendars as tickets for this spectacular event go on sale today, March 8th, at 12 PM EST. HOG’s social media channels will provide additional updates on talent to be revealed in the weeks leading up to the event.
Located in Jamaica, Queens, the NYC Arena, House of Glory will bring a big Cinco De Mayo event to life in New York City. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available regarding Fenix’s return to the ring.
Dwayne Johnson is one of the busiest men in Hollywood, but The Rock is back with WWE on a full-time basis through WrestleMania 40. The People’s champ has been heavily involved in the main event mix and will wrestle his first full match in a decade.
Although the match has not been finalized as of this writing, the challenge has been issued for The Rock and Roman Reigns to battle Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania XL: Saturday (night one). The match would have implications for the following night’s ultimate showdown: Rhodes vs. Reigns 2.
So, what happens with The Rock after WrestleMania? According to this week’ Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE fans should expect to see The Rock compete at least one more time in the coming months.
WWE Wants The Rock to Wrestle in Saudi Arabia This Year
It’s been a rocky road to WrestleMania (pun indented). From the moment that Roman Reigns’ pinned Cody’s shoulders to the mat last April in Los Angeles, fans have expected the American Nightmare to rise from the ashes and ‘Finish The Story’ at this year’s big event. The Rock’s return changed everything and a lot of the chaos that we saw on television mirrored the changes and uncertainty going on behind the scenes.
The Rock got himself in shape for a WWE run, which is no easy task and there’s still blockbuster money in Rock vs. Reigns. According to the Observer, WWE is optimistic The Rock will wrestle again this year and there is “definitely a push” for this match to take place at one of the Saudi Arabia premium live events.
“When asking if Rock will be working that show, we’re told there are a lot of variables in play and a variety of factors, but obviously the company would like it if he would.
While nothing is set in stone, the belief as of right now is that Mania won’t be his only match in 2024 and there is definitely a push to get him to work at least one Saudi Arabia event this year.”
WWE is scheduled to run the first of this year’s two Saudi shows over Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 25, the day before AEW Double or Nothing 2024.
The Rock & WrestleMania 40
The Rock’s original WrestleMania 40 plans were derailed by a negative fan reaction, and he coined the term Cody Crybabies because of it.
In the end, The Rock decided to concede the main event of WrestleMania 40 to Cody Rhodes. That being said, the story is far from over between the two, especially since The Rock may still want that one-on-one match against Roman Reigns.
We will have to see what WWE can arrange with Dwayne Johnson’s incredibly busy schedule, but he seems to be able to block off time for WWE right now.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40, and everything afterward. This could be an exciting time for pro wrestling fans, because The Rock might just get more than one match in this time around.
AEW laid down a suspension for Sammy Guevara when after his botches top rope move on Jeff Hardy went viral. Hardy was injured, and there is a lot to unpack now.
Guevara had plans in place for him in AEW, but that didn’t matter once this incident took place. Now, he is waiting on the sidelines, and that also leaves Chris Jericho without a partner.
The Spanish God’s Suspension
Sammy Guevara’s suspension stemmed from an incident during a match on February 14, where Guevara accidentally broke Jeff Hardy’s nose with a knee strike. Despite Hardy not suffering a concussion, the match continued, contrary to proper protocol, leading to Guevara’s suspension.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the intricacies surrounding a proposed tag team involving Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega, which ultimately didn’t materialize. Omega was taken out of action thanks to diverticulitis, and then Jericho went back to Sammy Guevara as his partner.
Meltzer explained how the plan evolved to include Jericho teaming with Sammy Guevara for a tournament, only for it to be trashed by Guevara’s suspension.
Meltzer noted the dissatisfaction regarding the handling of the situation, emphasizing that medical professionals should have intervened to stop the match rather than leaving it to Guevara. Consequently, the partnership between Jericho and Guevara was abandoned, leaving Jericho to potentially team up with Hook instead.
“In this situation, the doctors should’ve stopped the match, and it should not have been up to Sammy Guevara to take it home. And again, like what he was told, I mean, I guess whatever it was, the fact he did a GT H and nailed the guy with the knee after the concern of concussion was one of the reasons why it went the way it didn’t end up suspended. So anyway, yeah, so that was the deal with the Jericho and Guevara team is now out the window. So I guess it’s going to be Jericho and Hook.”
What’s Next
We will have to see how long Sammy Guevara’s suspension lasts. Since the length of Guevara’s time away from AEW is unclear, we will have to keep a close eye for his return.
Jeff Hardy is trying to get cleared for an in-ring return. His brother, Matt Hardy, commented to say that this will be a slow process.
On another note, Matt’s AEW contract is set to expire soon. The Hardys were supposed to have contracts that ran out at the same time, but Jeff Hardy’s breaks from the company caused Tony Khan to pause his deal.
SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are made available.
