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Adam Copeland’s Gear On AEW Dynamite Included Nod To Final WWE Match

Aaron Varble
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Adam Copeland puts a lot of thought into his ring gear during special matches. He had quite a contest against Christian Cage in Toronto this week. He also had gear made up, and some fans might recognize the theme.

Edge wore Maple Leaf themed gear in his final WWE match in Toronto, a homage to his Canadian roots. Now, returning to Toronto for an AEW Dynamite main event as Christian Cage, Adam Copeland continues to honor his heritage with similar attire, symbolizing his enduring connection to the city.

Adam Copeland Gear

In a meaningful nod to his Canadian roots, Edge covered his ring gear in Maple Leaf-themed attire during his final WWE match in Toronto, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans and symbolized his connection to the city. That was his final WWE match, but his pro wrestling journey was far from over.

Now, in a twist of fate, Adam Copeland was set to return to Toronto, this time under an AEW banner. As Copeland stepped into the main event spotlight of AEW Dynamite, he continued to honor his Canadian heritage by donning Maple Leaf-themed gear, bridging the past and present while paying homage to his wrestling legacy in the city where it all began.

In the end, Copeland was able to beat Christian Cage in an I Quit match to claim the victory. We’re not sure if it was the Maple Leaf design on the tights, but we’re guessing it didn’t hurt his chances.

What’s Next For Copeland in AEW

Adam Copeland chased the AEW TNT Title for a while. He briefly won that title before at Worlds End, but Christian Cage was able to quickly win the belt back. Now, it appears that Copeland will get a much longer run with the title than under five minutes.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more from all over the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates as more headlines break from all over the pro wrestling world. 

Rated R Champion: Adam Copeland Wins TNT Title From Christian Cage In Brutal ‘I Quit’ Match

Aaron Varble
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Adam Copeland entered AEW as a WWE Hall of Famer already. Now, he as picked up a title in another company. Copeland’s big chase of Christian Cage and the TNT Title has come to an end once again.

On AEW Dynamite this week, Adam Copeland took on Christian Cage with the TNT Title on the line in an I Quit match. In the end, the Rated R Superstar was able to claim the gold after a bloody contest to become a two-time TNT Champion.

Christian vs Adam Copeland

The rivalry between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland has intensified since the former Edge joined AEW last year. Copeland’s return sparked a heated confrontation, leading to an ‘I Quit’ match for the TNT championship in their hometown of Toronto on AEW Dynamite.

The match included a few foreign objects, backstage brawls, and there was also blood. Both Cage and Copeland tore each other apart during the live show on TBS.

Despite interference from The Patriarchy, Copeland received backup from Daddy Magic and Daniel Garcia. Finally, with Cage handcuffed and vulnerable, Copeland delivered a final blow, forcing Cage to submit as a new TNT champion was crowned.

What’s Next

We will have to see what is next for Adam Copeland in AEW. This was a big night for Title Changes for Tony Khan’s company. Kazuchika Okada opened up the show this week by winning the Continental Title from Eddie Kingston.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as we continue down the road toward AEW Dynasty and beyond. Keep checking back throughout the day for constant updates.

Nick Aldis Confirms Injury & Future WWE Television Status

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nick Aldis has indeed sustained an injury and was playfully shocked as to how the “dirt sheets” picked it up.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider first reported that Aldis injured his arm and that he’s heard it’s something that could require surgery. Sure enough, Aldis confirmed that news and he actually just got off the cutting room table and his SmackDown duties won’t change despite the repair.

“Yes, I just got out of surgery for a ruptured bicep tendon, and yes, the sheets had it within minutes. God bless ’em. Must be a slow news day…anyway it was a freak accident, I’m on the mend, and I will continue to fulfill my obligations.”

Aldis made his WWE television debut the very same night he was appointed by SmackDown GM Triple H. Aldis got his start in that role back in October 2023, but people greatly know him as the star who put the NWA Worlds Title back on the map. Aldis re-established the NWA brand by defending the “Ten Pounds Of Gold” all over the globe. Arguably, his best rival during that time was this year’s WrestleMania main-eventer Cody Rhodes.

Aldis and Rhodes squared off at the original All In back in 2018 and Rhodes defeated Aldis for the championship, holding the same gold that his late father did. Aldis ended up regaining the championshi[p back at NWA 70. The two stars have yet to have a rubber match, but if Cody happens to finish his story and win the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship, there could very well be gold on the line once more between “The American Nightmare” & “The National Treasure.”

And New: Kazuchika Okada Wins First Championship In AEW

Aaron Varble
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The pro wrestling world was turned upside down when Kazuchika Okada ended up in AEW. He had a WWE offer on the table, but he decided to join Tony Khan’s roster instead, during AEW Dynamite this week, Okada made his single’s debut, and it was for a title.

Okada battled Eddie Kingston during the March 20th episode of AEW Dynamite. That Continental Title match was a banger, and it saw a new champion crowned.

Okada’s Title Win

Eddie Kingston put his Continental Title on the line against Okada during this week’s Dynamite. Since they operated on Continental Title rules, The Young Bucks were not allowed at ringside.

The Young Bucks were shown backstage, watching on headsets from the producer positions, sitting next to Tony Khan.

This match was stiff, and fans were on fire, chanting for both competitors at certain points. Both Okada and Kingston proved that they are not going to quit without a fight.

Finally, Okada nailed the Rainmaker, and he won the match. We can only assume that Okada will bring a lot of attention to the Continental Title and continue to elevate its stature.

First Challenger

After his win, PAC came out to confront Okada. It appears that we know who will face Okada first for his new title. They certainly hyped an eventual match between Okada and The Bastard.

NJPW Departure & AEW Future

Okada was a treasure in NJPW for years, as his matches were proclaimed as some of the in any year. Then he decided to seek out his fortune in America, and he picked AEW.

After joining The Young Bucks, they fired Kenny Omega. It only seems reasonable to assume that an Okada vs Omega match is coming down the line. The Cleaner is currently out of action with diverticulitis, and there is currently no projected timetable for his return.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more from all over the pro wrestling world. You never know what can happen next, especially since Okada is now a champion in AEW.

Nic Nemeth Challenges Established NJPW Veteran For Windy City Riot

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nic Nemeth continues to make moves since becoming a name free agent and his most recent might have put himself between a “Stone Pitbull” and a hard place.

The IWGP Global Champion took to social media to lay down a challenge New Japan makes its way to Chicago, IL on April 12,, but before he did, he made clear that he wants a piece of NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi when he’s healthy, and he’s willing to put his gold on the line against “The Ace.”

“I will take on anyone, any time, any place and I see New Japan has a show in Chicago, April 12, Windy City Riot! You better believe ‘The Wanted Man’ is gonna be there, and I’m calling you out cause I want the hardest hitters there are! Tomohiro Ishii! Ishii vs. ‘The Wanted Man’, Windy City Riot – you hit hard, but I hit harder. Chicago, April 12, let’s rock.”

Nic Nemeth Wrestling Career So Far After WWE

Nic Nemeth was released by WWE back in September of 2023, and once he officially became a free agent, the former Dolph Ziggler hit the ground running by making an appearance at January’s Wrestle Kingdom and later showing up at TNA Hard To Kill.

Nemeth later did become the IWGP Global Champion by defeating David Finlay at New Beginning. As for TNA, Nemeth just defeated former TNA World Champion Steve Maclin at Sacrifice and is set to face Moose for the World Title at Rebellion.

Nic isn’t just keeping his wrestling work inside the ring ropes, however. Just last week he made his debut as a new co-host on Busted Open Radio.

Tony Khan Breaks Silence on Jack Perry’s NJPW Stint: He’s Watching The Scapegoat

Aaron Varble
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Jack Perry’s AEW absence continues, but his time in NJPW is still going strong. Now, Tony Khan has commented on things.

It was previously reported that Tony Khan is very upset at Jack Perry. He is the reason why CM Punk was fired from AEW, and Khan apparently has nothing for him. Now, Tony Khan is speaking on Jungle Boy in NJPW, and he sees the great things he’s doing.

Tony Khan Speaks on Jack Perry

Tony Khan expressed his views on Jack Perry’s recent endeavors in NJPW during a recent interview with Comic Book Nation. Perry’s absence from AEW dates back to his suspension following an altercation with CM Punk at All In last August. Then, the former Jurassic Express member made a surprise debut for NJPW at Battle in the Valley earlier this year, where he symbolically tore up his AEW contract.

In NJPW, Perry has adopted the moniker “Scapegoat” and participated in the New Japan Cup, progressing to the quarterfinals. It seems that fans are questioning whether this is a work or a shoot.

When questioned about the potential continuation of Perry’s current persona upon his return to AEW, Khan remained ambiguous, praising Perry’s achievements in NJPW and emphasizing his development within the promotion.

Well, I think you gotta stay tuned. Absolutely, Jack’s doing great things in New Japan. The New Japan Cup – he’s had a great run. He’s established himself over there. He feels he’s the ‘Scapegoat.’ But he’s doing great things, and he’s wrestling for a great promotion, and it’s been great tracking Jack’s progress in New Japan. And I think he’s done excellent work there.

Jack Perry’s AEW Suspension

CM Punk’s departure from AEW occurred following his altercation with Perry and subsequent return to WWE in November. It is interesting that Punk has returned to WWE, gotten injured, and he’s already making big headway on his return from injury; meanwhile, Jungle Boy Jack Perry is nowhere to be seen in AEW.

Jack Perry’s AEW suspension reportedly ended months ago, but he was never brought back to television. Although some thought he might have made a good Devil, that role went to Adam Cole.

Now, we will have to see how this road might take Jack Perry back to AEW, but Tony Khan seems happy with that he’s doing in NJPW.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from all over the pro wrestling world. You never know what will happen next, but we will be here with all of the headlines! 

Mamma Mia: MLW Eying Mauro Ranallo For Commentary Role

Aaron Varble
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The pro wrestling scene can shift on a dime at this point. MLW has a lot of money to spend, and they may just invest in their commentary team.

MLW is exploring the possibility of bringing veteran commentator Mauro Ranallo back into the wrestling world, with talks underway for a potential collaboration. Ranallo, known for his work in WWE and other combat sports events, could make a wrestling comeback with MLW after being absent from the pro wrestling scene for some time.

MLW & Mauro Ranallo

Fightful Select reports that a longtime commentator known for both combat sports and pro wrestling has been absent from the wrestling scene for a considerable time, but that might soon change.

Reports suggest that MLW has been engaging in discussions with Ranallo regarding a potential role within the promotion. While no deal has been finalized, there appears to be genuine interest from MLW’s side, especially considering Ranallo’s prior collaborations with MLW owner Court Bauer on a Strikeforce project. 

Ranallo’s departure from WWE in 2020 led him to focus primarily on calling combat sports events, such as the main event of IMPACT Rebellion in 2021. 

Mauro Ranallo’s WWE Exit

Mauro Ranallo discussed his departure from WWE in the past, as he highlighted the mental strain of the environment without casting it negatively. Ranallo said the challenging nature of WWE made it difficult for his mental wellbeing. 

He also said that there was added stress working under Vince McMahon while expressing personal struggles within the system. He recounted his desire to work with WWE as a broadcaster and his evolving role, including shifts in commentary teams and formats, ultimately leading to his decision to prioritize his mental health.

Despite his exit from WWE, Ranallo remained engaged in combat sports announcing, notably calling the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing match last month.

WWE & MLW’s Lawsuit

With MLW recently securing a $20 million settlement in an antitrust lawsuit against WWE, the promotion seems financially poised to pursue Ranallo, who has been absent from the pro wrestling landscape for some time.

In January 2022, MLW launched legal action against WWE, accusing the wrestling giant of using coercive tactics to deter third parties from collaborating with MLW, particularly citing interference in potential deals with media outlets like Vice TV and Tubi.

After nearly two years of legal wrangling, WWE and MLW finally reached a settlement in December 2023, bringing closure to the acrimonious dispute. Recent revelations from TKO Group Holding’s 2023 business report unveiled on Tuesday shed light on the terms of the settlement, disclosing WWE’s commitment to pay a substantial $20 million sum as part of the agreement, marking a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings and clarifying WWE’s financial obligations resulting from MLW’s antitrust lawsuit.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. You never know what story will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need!

The Netflix Effect: TKO Group Stock Jumps 7% After Latest Price Target Increase

Aaron Varble
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WWE is celebrating a boom in popularity right now, and their parent company, TKO is raking in the cash. Some believe that RAW’s new Netflix deal has given a huge surge for the company’s stock price.

TKO Group Holdings experienced a significant surge of over 7% in mid-day trading, reaching around $86 per share. Bank of America raised TKO’s price target, attributing the optimism to the company’s recent partnership with Netflix.

TKO’s Stock Price Surge

On Monday, Citi reiterated its Buy rating on TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and raised the stock price target to $130 from $125. This adjustment came after TKO Group’s recent deal with Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), which didn’t cause the expected increase in the company’s share price.

Citi’s analysis identifies three factors impeding the stock’s performance: the potential EDR transaction, the ongoing UFC lawsuit, and McMahon’s share sales. Despite these challenges, Citi sees a favorable risk-reward balance for TKO Group, with the current share price of around $80 offering significant upside potential to their $130 bull case scenario and limited downside to their $65 bear case.

Wednesday morning saw TKO trading up over 7%, reaching around $86 by mid-day. Bank of America has also raised its price target for TKO, attributing the increase to optimism surrounding the Netflix deal.

This is certainly a good sign for the company as they round the corner into the road to WrestleMania 40, a time when they historically see another surge in business.

Vince McMahon’s Resignation From WWE

Vince McMahon was removed from power after Janel Grant’s lawsuit exposed a number of heinous allegations, including sex trafficking and assault. He resigned from his position with the company after Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship prior to the 2024 Royal Rumble event.

Since McMahon’s departure, WWE has continued to grow, and their new Netflix deal is a sign of that. Only time will tell where RAW goes from November to December 2024, as USA Network and Netflix’s deal has a three-month gap. They will certainly cash in with a huge Netflix deal once 2025 starts.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we continue down the road to WrestleMania 40. For more on this story, and so many more headlines, please keep checking back throughout the day.

WWE SmackDown’s Nick Aldis Injured & Expected To Undergo Surgery

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nick Aldis has reportedly been injured and the WrestleMania status for WWE’s heralded SmackDown GM is currently unknown.

Aldis is expected to soon undergo surgery on his arm, according to PWInsider. The exact nature of the injury is unclear, but multiple sources have confirmed that surgery is imminent.

Hopefully this situation doesn’t keep him off WWE programming for too long. WrestleMania 40 would be Aldis’ first appearance on the “grandest stage of them all,” a moment that has been a long time coming for the former NWA Champion.

The Added Impact Of Nick Aldis & Adam Pearce As GMs

Aldis first showed up on WWE television back in October 2023 where Triple H revealed him as the new general manager of SmackDown. The tendency for most on-air authorities in the past would be to have them act as a corrupted heel, but both Aldis and WWE Raw GM Adam Pearce have brought legitimacy and reason back to the roles.

Before becoming an on-air persona once again, Aldis worked months as a WWE producer backstage and fans were understandably curious as to when Aldis could put the boots back on and grapple up. This thought was especially prevailent in his initial debut, considering he has a strong rivalry with Cody Rhodes. However, with this reported injury, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion won’t be getting physical anytime soon. 

We at SEScoops all wish Nick Aldis a speedy recovery.

TNA Wrestling Reportedly Scaling Down Contract Offers Made To Talent

Dominic DeAngelo
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TNA may be making a significant change on how they ink deals with most talent. According to a new report from Fightful Select, TNA may me leaning more towards offering wrestlers per-date deals rather than full-time contracts. 

The impression has been that the offers have been quite different than what talent typically expected of a TNA deal. There is currently no confirmation whether this is a widespread movement for the company, but it would be a notable difference for TNA. The company notoriously parted ways with long-time TNA President Scott D’Amore earlier this year which caused the roster to write a petition on behalf of their former boss.

Update On The Contracts Of The Motor City Machine Guns

Could the Motor City Machine Guns be moving on from TNA already? According to recent reports, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin may have that option.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider intially got word that Shelley and Sabin’s contract could be up soon and Fightful followed up with their sources who believed that it could be in the within month of March. However, Sabin nor Shelley confirmed such news directly. The legendary TNA tag team actually signed with the company back on March 23, 2023.

It’s been a beneficial run for both Sabin in Shelley while Impact transitioned back to TNA as both became stalwart singles champions with the promotion. Sabin secured the X-Division Title during his tenure while Shelley had a very strong run as TNA World Champion before he dropped it to Moose at TNA’s first official PPV back at Hard To Kill. 

John Cena Lets Kenny Omega Know: I Can ‘See’ You

Dominic DeAngelo
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If you don’t think John Cena reads the dirt sheets, think again because the future WWE Hall Of Famer took notice of Kenny Omega’s recent remarks.

Kenny Omega had extremely high praise for Cena on his latest Twitch stream, noting that he has never met John, but realizes how much he’s done for the wrestling business in and outside the ring. Omega noted how Cena has reached heights wrestling stars hadn’t seen in years and the work he does for charity is unparalleled.

Cena has a wide range of personalities on social media as most times on Twitter/X he’ll write out thoughtful words of motivation while his Instagram is always a wordless vessel, simply pictures that either troll or indicate something on his mind. On Wednesday morning, Cena made clear he was thinking of The Cleaner.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C4vHbGyuci5

Omega is out indefinitely from in-ring action after being diagnosed with diverticulitis. He noted in a previous Twitch stream that he was actually very close to dying but did express a big desire to get back into the ring. 

In AEW storylines, Omega has been relieved of his duties as an Executive Vice President of All Elite Wrestling (and replaced in The Elite by his most hated rival). Despite the suspension, Omega did appear in promotional ads for AEW’s upcoming tour of Canada.

Catching Up with Cena

John Cena returned to WWE last year during the Hollywood strike:

After wrapping up that run, the 16-time World Champion has been keeping very busy. His HBO show The Peacemaker will film a second season this year. He also recently made his (unannounced) minor league baseball debut in February 2024:

Most recently, Cena made global headlines with his ‘nude’ appearance at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. Now, he appears to be aiming for a memorable appearance at WrestleMania 40. During a recent interview, Cena said he’s keeping his “fingers crossed” for a chance to be part of WWE’s biggest event of the year.

How much longer can he keep going, even if he wrestles just once or twice a year?

High-Level WWE Exit: Longtime Executive Leaves Company

Aaron Varble
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WWE has gone through a significant amount of changes since TKO took control. The company’s merger with the UFC ushered in a brand-new era, and now someone who was there through that transition is gone.

WWE recently saw the departure of John Porco, a longtime executive who had been with the company since June 1999. Porco’s exit adds to WWE’s ongoing organizational changes following Vince McMahon’s resignation earlier this year, with Justin Scalise stepping in as the new Executive Vice President of Live Events.

New WWE Exit

PW Insider has reported that WWE experienced a significant departure as a longtime executive, John Porco, left the company last month. It seems that we are just now hearing about this departure.

Porco had been with WWE since June 1999, initially serving as a Public Relations Coordinator before transitioning to roles in the live events department. He was Senior Vice President of Live Events Marketing. He was named EVP of Live Events in May 2022. They already have the position covered.

With Justin Scalise stepping in as the new Executive Vice President of Live Events, WWE continues to navigate organizational changes in the wake of corporate restructuring and leadership shifts.

Recent WWE Departures

The departure of Porco adds to the ongoing turnover within WWE, particularly after Vince McMahon’s resignation earlier this year amid legal issues. McMahon’s heinous actions were outed in Janel Grant’s lawsuit, and he left the company after Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship prior to the 2024 Royal Rumble event.

Mr. McMahon was also scrubbed from memory on WWE 2K24. He was blurred out, or cut entirely. Now, we will have to see how the company continues from this point on.

There was no allusion in the report about Porco’s exit that he had anything to do with the terrible allegations against Mr. McMahon. His exit, following Kevin Dunn’s in December, is another longtime departure from someone who spent a majority of their tenure in WWE under Vince McMahon’s watch.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more as we continue covering the always-changing pro wrestling news landscape. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more updates and headlines that you need.

Emperor Palpatine: Ronda Rousey Shares Damning Opinion of Former WWE Boss Vince McMahon

Thomas Lowson
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Ronda Rousey held nothing back in her recent estimation of Vince McMahon, following the ex-Chairman’s resignation from WWE. 

It’s been just under two months since McMahon’s second exit from wrestling’s top federation, this time due to Janel Grant’s damning lawsuit. Grant alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon during her tenure with WWE. He has denied all allegations. 

Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon

Our Fight by Ronda Rousey is the ex-Superstar’s second book and is due to be released next month. The former WWE Women’s Champion does not hold back in her take on the 78-year-old billionaire. 

In the memoir, Rousey calls McMahon the ‘Emperor Palpatine’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. She adds: 

“It’s hard sometimes to know where the evil, unethical, slimeball character of Vince McMahon played out for the cameras ends and the actual questionably ethical, many times sued, and multiple times accused of sexual misconduct Vince McMahon begins.

“That blurred line between character and reality is a recurring theme within the WWE Universe.”

Restricting Women

As an athlete who redefined what women could do in the world of MMA, the treatment of women is understandably an important theme in the book. When discussing WWE’s Premium Live Events, Rousey suggested that the ultra-conservative views of Saudi Arabia are something McMahon would like to replicate. 

“[PLEs are] held in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, as well as now twice a year in Saudi Arabia, a nation that restricts the rights of women in a way that I’m certain Vince McMahon wishes he could.”

Positive Thoughts

While McMahon is lambasted in Rousey’s memoir, that doesn’t extend to everyone in the family. Rousey has much more positive words for McMahon’s son-in-law Triple H. 

“In addition to being my in-ring WrestleMania nemesis, he is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in history and one of the better people on the business side.”

More Reading Material

Rousey’s book isn’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her ‘The Man’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

Kevin Nash Explains WCW’s Motivations Behind Ending Goldberg’s Undefeated Streak

Dominic DeAngelo
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How Goldberg’s undefeated streak ended in WCW will often be polarizing, but Kevin Nash explains why it ultimately had to happen at some point.

On the latest episode of his Kliq This Podcast, the two-time WWE Hall Of Famer talked about a fan complaining to him that Bobby Heenan once said that WCW should have never ended Goldberg’s streak. However Nash told co-host Sean Oliver, that there were signs that Goldberg’s popularity was waning because he was becoming too popular.

“Like if we’d go to the northeast they were booing Bill,” Nash said.

“It wasn’t like all of a sudden, it was like, ‘We have to beat Bill.’ It was like, ‘Bill’s starting to be the Yankees.’ Bill’s starting to beat the Yankees … nobody wanted the Patriots to beat the [1972] Dolphins f***in’ record.”

Nash defeated Goldberg in the main event of WCW Starrcade 1998, but the match finish itself was not without controversy. There’s clean pins, and then there’s achieved thanks to outside interference in the form of having your opponent zapped with a cattle prod. Yes, that really happened. 

At a key moment in the match, Scott Hall delivered an ‘electrifying’ message to the former Georgia Bulldog, who was soon looking up at the lights and parting with his WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

Fallout From Goldberg’s Loss to Kevin Nash

The decision to end Goldberg’s streak in this fashion is debated to this day, as evidenced by Nash still dropping new details about it on his podcast.

Did Nash have any heat with Goldberg as a result? Former WCW star Disco Inferno gave his backstage account of what went down between the two men immediately afterwards:

“He was like talking about like an appearance he had to make or something and started talking like, ‘if they even want me now?’ Like he was thinking, like he got completely buried. This was his first loss. Right?

Nash was showering and then when Nash was drying, Nash asked Bill, he goes, ‘Do I have heat over this?’ Bill was like, ‘nah, nah, nah man. No. Not at all. I’m not talking about you. And I’ll never get that.”

“Sky’s The Limit!” The Undertaker Sees Big Things In GUNTHER’S Future

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker sees a bright future for GUNTHER, who continues to impress the Deadman each week. 

The Ring General has certainly proven to be dominant since coming to WWE. GUNTHER is one of the a handful of men to have held two championships for over one year, a group that includes Randy Savage, Pedro Morales, and Roman Reigns. 

The Undertaker on GUNTHER

On a recent edition of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker gushed about GUNTHER, who he believes has plenty to show in WWE. 

“The sky’s the limit for him. I think he’s a little bit of a throwback to a different era, but has the ability to work and tell stories.”

The former WWE World Champion spoke about GUNTHER’s recent match with Dominik Mysterio and praised the Austrian for remaining a heel without turning ‘Dirty Dom’ face in the process. 

GUNTHER Vs. The Undertaker? 

By the time GUNTHER made it to the main roster, The Undertaker had long retired from action, robbing fans of what’d be an epic showdown. Speaking about how such a match would go down, the Phenom predicted that they’d descend into a fistfight after two chops. 

What’s Next? 

GUNTHER will defend the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40 against Sami Zayn. The Underdog earned the match with a controversial gauntlet win. Many fans have argued that Chad Gable’s shoulders were not fully down for the decisive fall. On WWE TV, Gable has taken the Gauntlet match loss especially hard. 

More Gold? 

GUNTHER has no plans on losing the Intercontinental title, but fans may have to wait before they see him in a World Championship picture. Last year, GUNTHER said the time was not right for him to add another title to his collection. 

WWE’s Current Plan For Size Of WrestleMania 40 Card

Aaron Varble
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WWE is making a lot of headway toward WrestleMania. As the card comes together, that makes fans wonder how many matches the company will cram into the two-night event.

A new report has suggested that WWE is planning around 14 matches for the WrestleMania 40 weekend. That will equal out to be around 7 a night, if all goes according to plan.

WrestleMania 40 Card Size

WrestleVotes reported that sources indicate that we could expect up to 4 additional WrestleMania matches to be announced for the event. Currently, the working plan is to include 7 matches per night on the main card.

As of this writing, WWE has some room to add more matches to the WrestleMania card. We are 17 days away from the show of shows, so fans may see some rapid-fire booking in the next two weeks.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40, and everything that goes along with it. Keep checking back throughout the day for ongoing coverage of the stories you need.

WrestleMania 40 Card (so far):

  • WWE Women’s Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Bayley
  • WWE Women’s World Championship Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch
  • World Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther vs. Sami Zayn
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: Finn Balor & Damian Priest vs. DIY vs. Awesome Truth vs. The New Day vs. Two Teams TBD
  • WWE United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
  • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
  • NIGHT ONE: The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins
  • NIGHT TWO: World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
  • NIGHT TWO: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes

WrestleMania 40: Cody Rhodes May Have Special Entrance for the Show of Shows

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s showcase of the immortals will be here in a matter of days at this point. Fans should expect the company to bring out the best product they can for the show of shows, and that could include a special musical performance.

Cody Rhodes’ theme song, The Kingdom by Downstait, will be heard at WrestleMania 40 a couple of times. Now, Downstait has teased a significant announcement tied to WrestleMania 40, hinting at their involvement during the weekend. This could result in an epic live performance for one of The American Nightmare’s entrances.

Downstait Teases WrestleMania 40 Appearance

Cody Rhodes has risen as a top babyface in WWE, partly due to his theme song, The Kingdom, performed by the band Downstait. The song has become synonymous with Rhodes, with fans wait for their crowd participation part every week, as each city seemingly tries to top the last with a gigantic “WOAH!”

Downstait has hinted at a significant announcement linked to WrestleMania 40. During an interview with Steve Fall, Daren Zack Call, the band’s lead singer, teased their involvement in WrestleMania 40 weekend. He didn’t say anything definite, but he strongly hinted at an upcoming announcement on April 5, 2024.

“So we’re gonna leave that to our announcement on 4-5-24 and all of our teasers. We’ll have to wait and see what’s going on there.” Call said in a coy manner. Then he followed that up by revealing, “I can tell you this. I will be in Philadelphia WrestleMania weekend.”

Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes is set to wrestle twice during WrestleMania 40 weekend. He will be in a tag team match with Seth Rollins against The Rock and Roman Reigns during the first night of the show of shows this year. He will follow that up on night two, as he tries to finish his story.

We will have to see which night Downstait performs on, if they get a live performance. WWE is known to bring special entrances for WrestleMania 40 events, and hearing The Kingdom live may produce the biggest “WOAH” ever from the WWE Universe.

SEScoops will keep our eye on this story for further updates. Keep checking back throughout the day, because you never know what will break as we head down the road to WrestleMania. 

Erick Rowan: WWE Hall of Fame Induction for The Wyatt Family Is Premature

Aaron Varble
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The WWE Hall of Fame has inducted a few stables into their halls of history. It seems only natural that the Wyatt Family will eventually receive that honor, but Erick Rowan believes it is too early for that.

The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame is set to include Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson. Lia Maivia is also expected as an inductee this year, but Bray Wyatt is still absent, along with the Wyatt Family.

Bray Wyatt’s Legacy

Since Bray Wyatt’s passing last year, the WWE Universe has urged the company to acknowledge The Wyatt Family. Now, Erick Rowan, one of the group’s members, has addressed the rumors and speculation.

It was thought that Wyatt would be a likely lock for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. At this time, he has not had his name called. One would argue that Wyatt deserves three inductions, one for himself, with The Wyatt Family, and another as The Fiend, because that character broke out of the pro wrestling bubble as well.

Led by The Eater of Worlds, The Wyatt Family engaged in battles against notable opponents like The Shield and John Cena, etching a significant legacy in WWE. Despite fans and his peers advocating for Wyatt or the group’s Hall of Fame induction this year, it seems unlikely to happen this time.

During an interview with Counted Out, the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion commented on the fan-driven campaign, noting that it reflects the impact Wyatt and Harper had on people’s lives.

“I wouldn’t even begin to think about it [who would induct us]. It’s so soon since everything, with the passings and to even think about something like that, is just ridiculous to me, but I’m holding a tiny microphone talking to you about this, I feel ridiculous in that sense as well. So it’s just not something that really crossed my mind.”

2024 WWE Hall of Fame

On March 4, 2024, Paul Heyman was revealed as the inaugural inductee. Heyman had previously declined WWE’s proposal due to his active wrestling career but accepted the honor in 2024 due to WrestleMania’s location in Philadelphia.

The following day, Triple H announced Bull Nakano as the second inductee. Then, on March 8, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) were named as the next inductees, and on March 11, Muhammad Ali was announced as an inductee into the Celebrity Wing. Finally, on March 13, Thunderbolt Patterson was revealed as the fifth inductee.

The Rock is expected to have a hand in his grandmother, Lia Maivia, receiving an induction this year as well. As of this writing, Maivia has not been officially announced.

It only makes sense that Bray Wyatt will receive a WWE Hall of Fame induction, and quite possibly the Wyatt Family as well, but they may have to wait. Bray Wyatt’s upcoming documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, will drop on April 1st. We will have full coverage of the program here at SEScoops.

Daily Drop (3/20): WWE’s Big Plans For Jade Cargill, TK Gushes Over His CEO, CM Punk Health Update, Dynamite Preview & More

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 20. 

Last night’s NXT saw a big match added to the upcoming Stand & Deliver PLE over WrestleMania 40 weekend. In just a matter of hours, All Elite Wrestling presents a 3-hour live block of AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

WrestleMania 40 Countdown: 17 DAYS

Let’s get into it…

WWE News

Jade Cargill: I’ve been informed that Jade Cargill is not dealing with any injuries. Upon inquiry, I was informed that significant plans are in place for her future, described specially as “big plans.” They have a plan in place for her, so fans need to be a bit more patient. 

CM Punk Injury Update: Also, on a related note, CM Punk was spotted training without his arm brace on. That is a great sign for his recovery progress, but we’re still MONTHS away from that happening.

AJ Lee Rumor: I ran an exclusive story last night about AJ Lee’s current status with WWE. A report was going around saying that talks are ongoing, but I had to clear everything up. At this time, there are no such discussions.

WWE Scripts: SEScoops ran an exclusive story about exactly how long WWE has been having their scripts approved. It seems that this practice hasn’t been going on for too long at all.

Bray Wyatt Documentary: We’re going to keep mentioning this, because everyone needs to see this. Bray Wyatt’s upcoming documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, will drop on April 1st. WWE made the official announcement yesterday, and fans should expect quite a presentation for that passion project.

Blue Chipper: WWE higher ups are seeing big things in Oba Femi’s future. He’s a massive star for the company with years to go on him.

Apology: NXT star Brooks Jenson has been getting backlash for wearing an Ole Anderson t-shirt on television after the legend’s recent death.  Despite his accomplishments in wrestling, Anderson has a well-documented history of racially insensitive comments and general ‘old-school’ / caveman opinions. \

Jenson issued an apology for wearing the shirt and said he wasn’t aware of Anderson’s questionable behavior.

RAW Ratings: The March 18th episode of WWE RAW, which took place at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, attracted 1.69 million viewers, marking a 4% decrease from the previous week’s broadcast. The 0.55 rating in the P18-49 demographic was essentially even with the previous week’s 0.56.

AEW:

AEW Dynamite Preview: Matches for tonight’s broadcast include:

  • TNT Championship I Quit Match: Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
  • AEW Continental Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
  • Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa vs. Toni Storm & Mariah May
  • Chris Jericho vs. HOOK

Plus, we’ll hear from Mercedes Mone and will see more build for next month’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.

Tony Loves His CEO: Tony Khan endorsed Mercedes Mone as the next face of AEW. He gushed about her being one of the top signings in company history and said she’s got all the tools to help grow the company. 

Lost In The Jungle? Speaking of TK, it seems that he’s still upset with ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry for his role in CM Punk’s departure from AEW. That said to be the reason why we haven’t seen him on TV since his suspension.  Perry still under contract with AEW, and competing in NJPW. 

Matt Hardy at RAW: Matt Hardy and his wife Reby were spotted in a luxury box during WWE RAW in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was there visiting friends and sources backstage said they didn’t see Matt mingling. Hardy later claimed that he was only in the building for about an hour and a half.

Suspended Star Grateful:  Sammy Guevara issued a statement, where he explained how grateful he is for the wave of fan support after his AEW suspension. 

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.

We’ll see you back here tomorrow for another installment of the Daily Drop.

Silas Mason Vacates NWA National Title, Sets Sights On EC3’s World Championship

Thomas Lowson
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NWA wrestler Silas Mason has surrendered the promotion’s National Championship to keep himself focused on EC3’s NWA World Championship. 

On the March 19, episode of NWA Powerrr, Mason relinquished the title and stated he was coming for the gold held by EC3. NWA President Billy Corgan then announced a tournament to determine the next NWA National Champion. The eight-man competition will see two finalists advance to a title match at NWA Hard Times. 

The NWA National Title Tournament

Paul Burchill, Thom Latimer, ‘Magic’ Jake Dumas, Carson Drake, AJ Cazana, Blake Troop, Bryan Idol, and Zyon were announced for the tournament. In the main event of NWA Powerrr, Troop defeated Idol to qualify for the next round. 

Silas Mason’s Title Reign

Mason captured the title at the NWA 75 anniversary event in August of last year. Ironically, Mason won the title which had been vacated by EC3. The reigning NWA Worlds Champion gave up the gold in order to challenge (and later defeat) Tyrus to become NWA World Champion. 

Mason held the title for a collective 205 days. His reign surpasses several notable names in the NWA including Ted DiBiase Sr., Paul Orndorff, Terry Taylor, and Tully Blanchard.

Silas Mason’s Setback

Mason is focused on becoming NWA Worlds Champion, which comes at a unique time in his life. Earlier this month, Mason’s home was destroyed by a fire. On Twitter, the NWA brought awareness to the tragedy and shared a GoFundMe for fans who want to help. Generous fans have already raised over $16,000, far surpassing the initial $10,000 goal. 

NWA Hard Time 4

Mason will challenge EC3 at NWA Hard Times 4. The show has already been filmed at the  Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama. The show was initially announced as a pay-per-view but will instead air as a special NWA Powerrr episode. 

NXT Star Apologizes After Wearing Ole Anderson T-shirt Amid Racism Accusations

Bishal Roy
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NXT youngster Brooks Jensen apologized to the fans after he found himself in hot water for donning Ole Anderson shirt on NXT. 

Last month, Four Horsemen member Ole Anderson passed away. While the legendary superstar had a decorated career, it was tarnished by several allegations of racism, especially his demeanor towards the Black wrestlers.

Jensen was spotted sporting an Ole Anderson shirt on the March 12 edition of NXT when he challenged North American Champion Oba Femi in a losing effort. It turns out Jensen sparked a firestorm of criticism from the fans on social media for what seemed like a tribute to the late wrestler.

One of the fans on Twitter/X questioned Brooks Jensen why he thought it was fitting to wear a shirt in support of Ole Anderson.  The fan wrote:

so @BrooksJensenWWEwhy do you think it’s appropriate to wear a t-shirt of a massive racist in 2024

Brooks Jensen responds to the criticism

The 22-year-old superstar responded to the flak by admitting that he was not aware of the allegations surrounding Ole Anderson. In his statement on social media, Brooks clarified that he would never support racism, hate, or bullying. Furthermore, the former one-half of the NXT UK Tag Team champs expressed his regret to those who were offended by his actions. Here is what he wrote:

Livin, learnin, and lovin – thanks guys

I will never support any racism, hate, or bullying. While I respected Ole for his wrestling it was news to me after wearing the tshirt that he was associated with these allegation’s. Ive noticed my “looks” and where I’m from are frequently stigmatized with the underbelly of our society (i.e racists) but this mullet just likes to give love and party. My apologies to anyone who knew the allegations prior and were offended by the shirt. I’m learning and this was noted.

https://twitter.com/BrooksJensenWWE/status/1770158999716892945

This incident is certainly a learning curve for Brooks Jensen and the apology was the right course of action.

No.1 Contender’s Match for NXT Tag Team Titles Set For Next Week

Bishal Roy
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Three tag teams will soon collide in a triple-threat action to determine the challengers for the NXT Tag Team Champions, The Wolf Dogs (Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker).

A few weeks back, NXT General Manager Ava made the announcement that as many as six talented tag teams would lock horns, and after the brutal fights, now three teams stand tall. They are all set to compete in the #1 contender’s match and the winning team will be declared as the challengers. They will then head to NXT Stand & Deliver for the tag team title opportunity. 

Teams competing in the #1 Contender’s match

Last night’s edition of NXT saw a couple of tag team matches. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger squared off against The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson). On the other hand, the No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey and Myles Borne) battled Axiom and Nathan Frazer. 

After the intense contests, The O.C. and the team of Axiom and Frazer were triumphant in their respective matches. The winning teams are all geared up to join LWO’s Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro in a triple-threat tag-team bout on the April 2 edition of NXT.

Alpha Academy could get into the mix

Alpha Academy’s Otis and Akira Tozawa endured a disappointing loss against The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) on this week’s Raw, failing to punch a ticket for the WWE Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 40. They have now decided to go after the NXT Tag Team titles. The duo alongside Maxinne Dupri showed up backstage on the yellow and white brand to issue a challenge to Breakker and Corbin. Dupri coaxed The Wolf Dogs into accepting and they have a high-stakes match next week.

Tozawa and Otis are all set to face The Wolf Dogs on next week’s NXT and the stipulation suggests that should the Alpha Academy prevail, they will be added to the NXT Tag Team Championship match at the Stand & Deliver premium live event.

NXT Stand & Deliver takes place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, April 6.

Trish Stratus & Lita Eyeing Up WWE Women’s Tag Titles, Vow to Beat the Title ‘Curse’

Thomas Lowson
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Trish Stratus & Lita, affectionately known as ‘Team Bestie’ have their eyes on the WWE Women’s Tag Titles and breaking the ‘curse’ that often befalls champions. 

The pair of WWE Hall of Famers were at Monopoly Events’ ‘For the Love of Wrestling’ convention that took place this month. During a Q&A with the fans in Manchester, England, the pair were asked about winning the tag titles, which Lita was all for. 

“People like to talk about this imaginary curse of the [women’s] tag titles, but I think that if Trish and I were tag champs, that somehow the curse would magically disappear.”

Stratus was similarly enthusiastic at the notion of challenging for the titles, warning the Kabuki Warriors “You’re not ready for Team Bestie.”

The Curse of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles

While Lita described the ‘curse’ as imaginary, it’s hard to ignore the setbacks that various champions have faced. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later. 

In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which has kept WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar out ever since. 

Another Injury

This curse has shown no sign of slowing down, as we’ve learned in recent days. Four-time and current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka is dealing with an injury and was recently pulled from live events. It’s unclear how extensive the injury is, but with WrestleMania 40 growing closer, this could not come at a worse time for the Empress of Tomorrow. 

WWE Had Plans for Mercedes Mone Vs. Megan Thee Stallion, Claims Ex-Superstar

Thomas Lowson
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WWE once had plans for a blockbuster match pitting Mercdes Mone against Megan Thee Stallion, according to WWE alum Mojo Rawley. 

Rawley was in attendance for the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards and was there to support Mone, who presented alongside Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The All-Elite talent presented the Best Slice of Life Award and was spotted with Megan Thee Stallion. 

Megan Thee Stallion Vs. Mercedes Mone

Appearing on Mandy Rose & Tino Sabatelli’s Power Alphas podcast, Mojo Rawley spoke about meeting Megan Thee Stallion, who was also at the awards ceremony. The former WWE 24/7 Champion then shared that WWE had something planned for her at a previous year’s SummerSlam.

“She was going to do something with Mercedes at WWE SummerSlam in years previous, and it just never materialized and fell through for one reason or another. We all know how those situations can go.”

Mojo added that Stallion was “cool” and far taller than he first thought. He didn’t give a year as to when she was going to be involved with WWE. It was reported in 2021 that WWE had planned to have Stallion do something, though that never materialized. 

Mercedes Mone Today

Mone never had her match with Megan Thee Stallion in WWE, and left the promotion in 2022. She joined AEW earlier this month at the Big Business Dynamite and is reportedly the highest-paid woman in wrestling. Despite her AEW arrival, Mone has said she’s sure she’ll compete for WWE again one day, which unsurprisingly went down poorly with those in AEW. 

Mojo Rawley Outside WWE

Rawley, the winner of the 2017 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, was released from WWE in 2021. The following year, he got engaged to Gracie Tracy and the couple married in Florence, Italy that October. 

Rawley has remained in the public eye outside WWE and appeared in the G.I. Joe prequel film, Snake Eyes. He is currently a co-host for TMZ Sports which airs on Fox Sports FS1. 

Celebrity Matches

While Stallion never competed for WWE, several artists have stepped between the ropes over the years. Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny has competed multiple times in WWE, while Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan appeared on ECW on TNN in 1999, years before he acquired the NWA. For TNA’s first event, country singer Toby Keith got physical with Jeff Jarrett and delivered a vertical suplex to Double-J. 

H/T – Fightful

Sammy Guevara Grateful for Fan Support Amid Latest Suspension from AEW

Thomas Lowson
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0

AEW’s Sammy Guevara has expressed his gratitude to fans who have shown their support amid his ongoing suspension from the All-Elite promotion. 

Guevara was suspended earlier this month from AEW for going against protocol during a match with Jeff Hardy. Hardy would suffer a broken nose during the match and was suspected to have suffered a concussion. While Jeff did not suffer a concussion, Guevara did not stop the match like he should have to allow for immediate testing, resulting in his suspension. 

Sammy Guevara Speaks

In his latest Vlog, Guevara shared some of the highlights of his life outside of the ring, including spending time with his wife Tay Melo, and their child. At the end of the video, Guevara shared a message of appreciation to the fans. 

“To the people who support me, whether it be at the beginning or in the beginning it in the middle or maybe this is your first video you’ve watched of mine, I just want to say thank you.”

Guevara added that he acknowledges he has made mistakes, but is trying to be better. 

“I understand that I am a person who has made mistakes but I am also a person who has tried to be better.

“‘Roll with the punches’ is a saying that I truly understand now at 30 years old. Life will throw a lot at you. But it’s how you deal with those adversities that make you who you are. I know who I am and I know what I’m going after.

“See you at the top.”

Guevara’s Past Controversies

The incident with Jeff Hardy is hardly the first piece of notoriety for Guevara in AEW. Back in 2020, a chairshot from Guevara who used the wrong type of chair resulted in Jeff’s brother Matt requiring 13 staples. Hardy also took a nasty spill during a forklift spot at All Out that September.

In June 2020, Guevara was suspended for comments made in 2016 in which he said he wanted to “go r*pe” Sasha Banks. Guevara underwent sensitivity training and his salary at the time was donated to the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. Guevara would apologize publicly and in private to Banks, who recently joined AEW as Mercedes Mone. 

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