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Cashing In: Jim Ross Said To Be Making The Best Money of His Career in AEW

Thomas Lowson
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Jim Ross can buy all the cowboy hats he wants thanks to his AEW salary, which the Hall of Famer says far surpasses anything he made during his WWE career. 

Ross joined AEW in 2019, immediately lending a sense of credability and  the upstart promotion a sense of legitimacy. Since then, he has called the action for some of the promotion’s top matches. JR was on hand when Chris Jericho became the first AEW World Champion that same year with his All Out victory over ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. JR recently returned to the desk after an absence caused by health issues to call Sting’s final match. 

JR’s Lucrative AEW Deal

Earlier this week, Ross revealed that he had signed a brand new deal with AEW and that his previous one had been set to expire in February. JR didn’t share details of the new deal but admitted it was “probably the quickest and easiest negotiation I have ever done.” 

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer disclosed more about JR’s new AEW deal. Meltzer explained that Ross is paid very well for his role in AEW and while he commentates less in AEW than he did in WWE, he’s earning much more. 

”He’s paid really well. He makes more money in AEW as an announcer than he ever made in WWE. It’s a great, great deal.”

Ross is hoping to commentate more following his return at AEW Revolution. The wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer has unfortunately had multiple stints off of TV due to injuries and his battle with skin cancer. 

WWE 2K24: Popular Feature Getting Revamped Treatment For This Year’s Game

Aaron Varble
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Gamers will have a lot more to do with WWE 2K24. This year’s game is coming soon, and plenty of headlines are popping up for the game as additional details about the release are made available. SEScoops got a hold of a copy early, and you can check out our extensive review here.

The official roster for WWE 2K24 is expansive, and you can check out all the names at this link. This year’s edition of WWE 2K24 will also see a larger focus on certain fan-favorite features. Their Faction Wars mode is going to get a bit more love, and 2k was happy to make this announcement.

WWE 2K24 Faction Wars

Faction Wars return with updated features and a brand-new structure! Assemble your team of four Superstars for battles against A.I.-controlled teams, progressing through various matches and stages until the ultimate Boss showdown.

The new drop from WWE Games’ Twitter/X account certainly gives gamers a lot of hope that this year’s game will give them a lot more to do. We will have to see what this adds to the game, but fans are excited for what they will find.

Late WWE 2K24 Edits

WWE 2K24 had to see some edits after Janel Grant’s lawsuit accused Vince McMahon of several heinous acts. Brock Lesnar, although he wasn’t named, was also brought into the situation. He was removed from the special Forty Years of WrestleMania edition of the game.

Brock Lesnar is included in the game files, but he is not a playable character. Likewise, Vince McMahon was censored from the game as they made attempts to remove Mr. McMahon after that damning lawsuit.

How To Order WWE 2K24

If you’d like to get your hands on the game, please click this link for more information on how to buy WWE 2K24!

SEScoops will have plenty more updates on WWE 2K24 as additional details are released.

Bianca Belair Targeted With Racism On Social Media, Ava Comes To Her Side

Dominic DeAngelo
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NXT General Manager Ava is defending WWE Superstar Bianca Belair from racist comments levied at her by a wrestling fan on social media.

Belair, a 3-time Women’s Champion, is one of the cover stars of the new WWE 2K24 video game. She and Rhea Ripley are on the cover of WWE 2K24: Deluxe Edition, while the ‘American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes is on the cover of the Standard Edition. The ‘WWE Games’ Instagram account posted photos from a recent shoot involving the three cover stars.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C4JvnZNvC5C

One Instagram user replied and said Belair “doesn’t belong” and was only included because of her race.

Ava, who is unfortunately no stranger to online harassment, came to the defense of ‘The EST.’ She offered love and support, sharing in the frustration that this type of behavior is all too common these days.

“Disappointed but not surprised… we [love] you, B.”

Online Harassment

Ava is the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one of the most famous people in the world. The children of famous parents experience a host of unique challenges, especially when they themselves pursue a career in public life.

Ava’s most recent brush with online trolls came when it was looking like her father would be usurping Cody Rhodes to wrestle Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with Ava, and she had no involvement in WWE’s WrestleMania booking. However that didn’t stop some fans from literally threatening her life online. 

Forget Trolls & Celebrate Greatness

No matter what some fans may think, Ava and Bianca Belair are talented young women pursuing and achieving their dreams.

Belair has established herself as a trailblazer and indeed cover-star worthy as she and Mercedes Mone became the first two African-Americans to main event a match at WrestleMania 37.  She nearly won the 2024 Elimination Chamber to meet her 2K24 cover co-star at WrestleMania, but it ended up being Becky Lynch who came out on top. 

Belair’s in-ring plans for Philadelphia currently remains unknown as we’re a month away from pro wrestling’s premier event.

WWE Money in the Bank 2024: Top Superstars Missing from Official Poster

Aaron Varble
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The 2024 Money in the Bank event is scheduled for Saturday, July 6th, 2024, and will be held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The event has morphed itself into one of the most important shows on WWE’s schedule, but they will likely be missing the Tribal Chief.

WWE dropped a new poster for the Money in the Bank event. That new image featured several Superstars on the graphic, but Roman Reigns was not included on the poster.

Roman Reigns is Missing

The company’s new Money in the Bank poster is a nice graphic, and there are a lot of faces on there. Ricochet, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, IYO Sky, The Miz, LA Knight, Bayley, Bianca Belair and AJ Styles made the poster. There are a couple big omissions, primarily Roman Reigns.

For what it’s worth, Cody Rhodes is also missing from the poster, which is interesting. WWE may not want to spoil any WrestleMania 40 main event outcome, so the American Nightmare didn’t make the graphic, either.

Roman Reigns’ Light WWE Schedule

Roman Reigns is scheduled to wrestle twice at WrestleMania 40. He will team with The Rock to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes during Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. Then, on night two, he will defend the Undisputed Universal Title against Cody Rhodes. It appears that the Head of the Table may take a break after that, because he is not advertised to appear at any WWE premium live events, so far, after that. 

He barely wrestled into double digits in 2023, with only 11 recorded outings in the ring. He made other appearances, but the Tribal Chief’s segments on SmackDown were few and far between. It appears that trend is not going to change at all, if anything he may work even less in the next year.

Cody Rhodes missing from the MITB poster is very interesting. He’s been a workhorse for the company since his comeback, excluding injury breaks, and one would assume he’ll be on the show.

Other Possible MITB Additions

Trish Stratus recently dropped a very strong hint that she would like to come back for another match at Money in the Bank. The setting of her home city might be too great to pass up, as WWE could create a great moment for her. 

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are revealed. Keep checking back for consistent updates.

Dwayne Johnson Locking Up With Men’s Skin Care With New ‘Papatui’ Line

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne Johnson is stepping in the ring of men’s skin care with his new Papatui line of skin care products. 

The line of products includes a collection of hair, body and tattoo care products, and is available today on papatui.com. The products will be available in Target stores on March 10. 

The Papatui name comes from Johnson’s deep connection to his family and his roots. As he explained to GQ, Tui is a nickname granted him by his grandfather ‘High Chief’ Peter Miavia. The papa part comes from what Johnson considers his most rewarding role; being a father to his children. 

Other Ventures

Papatui is hardly the first venture that Johnson has committed to. In addition to his work in WWE and in Hollywood, Johnson also has his own brand of Tequila called Teremana. Johnson also has his own brand of ZOA energy drinks and recently launched his ‘Big Dwayne Energy’s line of flavors.

What’s Next? 

When not launching new skin-care line, Johnson can be found on WWE programming as the newest member of The Bloodline. Last week, The Rock threw out the challenge for a tag team match that’d put himself and Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. All four men are set to appear on this week’s SmackDown. The showdown will be the first time the four have shared the screen since the chaotic WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. 

Mercedes Mone Explains Bold WWE Exit: Here’s What Happened To Sasha Banks

Aaron Varble
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As Mercedes Mone gears up for the next chapter of her wrestling career, the former Sasha Banks is has a healthy outlook on her WWE run, which ended abruptly in May 2022.

During a recent appearance on the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast, Mone explained why the decision to leave her dream job with WWE was a pivotal moment in her life.  As hard as it was to leave that life behind, she’s grateful for that chapter in life and all the opportunities it’s afforded her as she continues her journey.

This candid look into how she was feeling should give fans a better idea about what went on behind the scenes. 

Mercedes Opens Up About WWE Departure

Mone expressed that she felt compelled to take this step and advocate for herself. Despite wrestling in WWE being a significant part of her life, she faced the toughest decision she’s ever encountered. Nevertheless, she considers it the proudest decision she’s made. 

“Something told me I needed to do this & stand up for myself. It was a very hard decision because wrestling in WWE has been my whole life, hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my whole life but it’s the most proudest, it’s crazy because I would not be sitting here, living the best version of my life, in getting to be everything I’ve ever dreamt of — & more

That moment changed my whole life for the better. I’m so thankful for that moment, so proud of myself, so proud of Trinity, so proud of how strong we were. I just know that everybody acted like they were in the room, or work there, or were backstage, or knew what happened, or knew what said…but all I know is that I handled it like a CEO, like the boss that I am, with my head held up high & I can’t say nothing but amazing things to WWE, so thankful for the career they gave me, the fans they gave me, the life they gave me, the dreams they gave me.” 

This is not the first time she’s had to set the record straight about why she left WWE and her beloved Sasha Banks persona behind.

It’s Almost Boss Time

AEW Big Business

Mercedes Mone is finally ready return to the ring after missing the second half of 2023 due to an ankle injury. She’s kept a relatively lowprofile in wrestling as of late, but that’s all about to change. Fans are eagerly waiting her return to national television, which is all-but-guaranteed to go down next week.

After the recent roster additions of Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, Mone is expected to debut next Wednesday, March 13 at the AEW Dynamite: Big Business special from Boston’s TD Garden.

Mone engaged in serious negotiations with WWE and AEW before making a decision. It’s clear that she put a lot of thought in her selection and sees All Elite Wrestling as the place where she can solidify a legacy on the level of greats such as The Rock and John Cena:

Conor McGregor To WWE: UFC Legend Won’t Say No To Future Involvement

Aaron Varble
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WWE has pulled in a ton of incredible names from outside the pro wrestling bubble in the past. With WrestleMania 40 coming up, you never know who the company will be able to rope in to do something for the show of shows this year. After all, it is an important year for the company, with Triple H producing his first Mania event along with TKO.

Conor McGregor has a history of engaging in online disputes with WWE Superstars, notably clashing with Roman Reigns’ Special Counsel, Paul Heyman. He has also received invitations to take part in WWE television in the past. It appears that he’s not saying “no” to the idea of mixing it up in WWE.

Conor McGregor Speaks on possible WWE Debut

Adam’s Apple recently caught up with Conor McGregor, when the question about WWE came up. Obviously, Notorious’ ties to WWE just got a lost closer after the TKO move.

Although Conor gave a: “You never know, let’s see,” answer, that is a lot better than a straight-up no. To be fair, he also shrugged and made a little noise when he did so. In the past he has given much less promising answers when asked about jumping into WWE for any reason.

He said that a WWE jump isn’t happening this moment, but you never know what kind of deal can come along down the road. For what it’s worth, Becky Lynch has gone on the record to say that McGregor’s WWE debut is “very likely.”

WWE’s Past Attempts To Work With Conor

Stephanie McMahon tried to gain Conor McGregor’s interest for years. That obviously didn’t happen during her tenure with the company. Only time will tell if Notorious finds his way into a WWE ring eventually.

Michael Chandler brought Conor McGregor’s name up on WWE RAW a few weeks ago. That appearance was arranged by TKO, and Conor has not publicly answered that challenge just yet. It seems that the Irishman is still living his best life, and you never know where his incredible paychecks will take him next.

SEScoops will have more updates on this story if there are any additional updates. 

Netflix Showdown: Mike Tyson & Jake Paul to Collide In the Ring this July

Thomas Lowson
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Boxing icon and WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson will be stepping back in the ring later this year to face none other than Jake Paul. 

Paul, the brother of WWE United States Champion Logan Paul, will fight Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of WWE WrestleMania 32. In a statement shared by ESPN, Netflix’s VP, Non-Fiction Sports Gabe Spitzer shared his excitement for the showdown.

“Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history… July 20 will be pure drama in the ring.”

Mike Tyson in the Ring

Known as being one of, if not the greatest fighter in the sport, Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990. Tyson hasn’t had a pro fight since 2005 and hasn’t fought since his exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. 

In pro-wrestling, Tyson featured prominently in the build to WrestleMania 14 (coinciding with a suspension from professional boxing for biting Evander Holyfield.) He has made appearances for WWE in the ears since and has also appeared for AEW. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Jake Paul In the Ring 

At 27-years-old, Paul will enter the ring 31 years the junior of the legendary Tyson. The social media personality has proven himself in the ring, scoring a knockout on Nate Robinson in his second fight (on the undercard of the Tyson Vs. Jones fight.)

Paul has also dabbled in the world of wrestling. While nowhere near as involved as his brother, Jake appeared in the run-up to WWE Crown Jewel 2022, and aided his brother during the Undisputed WWE Universal title match with Roman Reigns. Jake Paul has also teased getting in the ring himself.

WWE & Netflix

Netflix will host the much-anticipated fight in the streaming giant’s latest dive into the world of combat sports. In January 2025, WWE Raw will begin airing on Netflix as part of a $5 billion deal between the two sides. Fans outside of the U.S. will receive Raw, SmackDown, and WWE NXT in addition to WWE’s archives of Premium Live Events. 

Historic WCW Home Sold: AT&T’s $164 Million CNN Center Sale Makes Headlines

Aaron Varble
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CNN’s era has reached its conclusion in their famous Atlanta building. That same building also housed significant pieces of pro wrestling history.

Significant media attention surrounded the removal of the CNN initials from the former CNN Center in Atlanta, GA this week. This building previously served as the heart of the Ted Turner empire, housing the headquarters of WCW during Turner Broadcasting’s ownership of the promotion.

End of an Era for CNN

Fox Atlanta reports that the recognizable red letters that adorned the media giant’s Downtown Atlanta headquarters have vanished.
Those letters marked the CNN Center since 1987.

Last year, the cable giant disclosed plans to relocate from the expansive complex to the Techwood Turner Broadcasting campus in Midtown. It seems that those plans are well underway now, because the building no longer carries CNN’s branding.

In 2021, CNN’s former parent company, AT&T, sold the CNN Center for almost $164 million to two Florida-based real estate firms, CP Group and Rialto Capital. The duration for which the Downtown building will retain the title of the CNN Center remains uncertain.

CNN’s New Home

While the channel’s weekday anchors have already transitioned to New York or Washington, CNN maintains digital and CNN International operations in Atlanta. This is a big transition, and one that took some time to coordinate.

A spokesperson from Turner informed AdWeek that the signage would undergo several weeks of refurbishment before finding its place at the Midtown campus in due time. We will have to see how the letters look outside the network’s new home.

WWE Job Opening: Company Seeks Coordinator for Creative Writing in Executive Director’s Office

Aaron Varble
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It takes a lot of people working in the same mindset to produce successful television. Now, WWE is on the search for someone who can help things run smoothly, while contributing valuable experience to the product at the same time.

WWE has announced a job opening for the position of Coordinator – Creative Writing Office of Executive Director. It appears that this role will be responsible for maintaining the production of WWE’s weekly television shows.

WWE On The Job Search

In the new listing, it details that this role entails managing, coordinating, and administrating the Office of the Executive Director, responsible for overseeing the development and production of 52 weeks of original programming, including the long-running Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown.

Key responsibilities of the Coordinator include coordinating logistical elements such as travel and meetings for the Executive Director’s office, providing light assistance to the Executive Director’s direct reports, managing the Executive Director’s daily workflow and calendar, and establishing a system for prioritizing items for the Executive Director and the team.

Additionally, the Coordinator will provide strategic counsel to the Executive Director, serve as a chief messenger for communication within the team, manage travel and technology for the Executive Director, and liaise with other departments within WWE, including Creative Writing and Producers, on items requiring the Executive Director’s approval.

New Job Requirements

Requirements for the position include a minimum of three years of experience, with TV/Film experience being advantageous, administrative assistant experience, and a strong knowledge of WWE shows, talent, storylines, and audience demographics. A BA/BS in relevant fields such as Film, TV, Drama, Media Studies, Communications, or equivalent experience is preferred. Obviously, they are looking for someone who already has their foot well in the door, as this is not an entry-level position.

The ideal candidate should possess strong organizational skills, discretion in handling confidential information, and the ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment. We will have to see who WWE decides to bring in to fill this role, but as with any internal hiring, it’s very likely that the information will not become public.

SEScoops will have more updates on WWE, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for constant updates.

AEW’s Stealthy Secret: Behind Okada’s Game-Changing Dynamite Debut

Aaron Varble
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AEW and WWE were both interested in Kazuchika Okada’s services, but it was Tony Khan who pulled down the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Now Okada is a heel in AEW alongside the Young Bucks, and they are off to the races.

Although AEW didn’t really hype Okada’s impending debut, they had time to do so. For whatever reason, they declined to tease this huge moment in company history, so fans didn’t know that this week’s episode, a week before Big Business, would be anything special.

Tony Khan’s Plan for Okada

Kazuchika Okada shocked the pro wrestling world when he finally debuted for AEW during the March 6th episode in Atlanta. This was a huge surprise, but it was also something they had in the pipeline for a while.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer remarked that Tony Khan had this plan in place for Okada months ago. It was still a secret, but the plan was certainly in place.

“The Young Bucks’ segment with Okada, that has been known for — not by me — but it has been known by the Young Bucks and Okada and Tony Khan for literally months. It was Tony Khan’s idea to do this a long time ago, like it was the show after Revolution.”

It was noted that they could have announced that the Young Bucks had a big surprise weeks ago. For some reason, they didn’t announce that the Bucks had any kind of surprise until the day of the show. That is when Okada rumors started really churning, but this was the plan for a long time.

What’s Next For Okada in AEW

We will have to see what Okada and The Young Bucks do together. This situation is seemingly setting up another Okada vs Kenny Omega match as well, whenever The Cleaner can get medical clearance.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more details as additional updates are made available. 

Daily Drop (3/7): AEW Sees Massive Debut, Ex WWE Superstar Arrested For Murder

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Thursday, March 7. AEW Dynamite was last night and Okada debuted. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 30

WWE:

– Bull Nakano was announced as the second inductee in the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame after Paul Heyman.

– The Rock and Cody Rhodes have dropped dueling t-shirt designs. They’re pretty great and worth checking out.

– Corey Graves detailed how much different Triple H is dealing with announcers than Vince McMahon was.

– Former Tough Enough competitor Daniel Rodimer has been arrested for murder.

– John Cena has said he’s free for WrestleMania 40 day. I previously reported that he was going to try to do something for Mania this year. 

– WWE 2K24 actually burred out Vince McMahon’s face to get him out of the game.

AEW:

– Kazuchika Okada’s debut for AEW brought a ton of reactions from all over.

– Sting was okay with the idea of losing to The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution. 

– Matt Hardy’s AEW contract is ticking down.

– In another piece of AEW contract news, Jim Ross has decided to ink a brand-new deal.

– AEW made a lot of money with Revolution. You can check out the numbers here.

– Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara’s team is not happening anymore after The Spanish God’s suspension. 

– Lufisto dropped a lengthy post on Twitter/X, where she claimed that companies have not booked her because they want to keep a good relationship with AEW.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Sting Shares Unseen Photos from His Final Match and Backstage at AEW Revolution 2024

Bishal Roy
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Pro wrestling legend Sting recently shared some unforgettable pictures from AEW Revolution 2024 ahead of his final match.

‘The Icon’ recently bid adieu to the squared circle at AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view where he competed in his final match, alongside tag team partner Darby Allin. It was nothing but a fitting tribute to his legendary career which spanned decades.

Sting and Darby Allin faced off against The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. Sting yet again defied his age and showcased some spectacular moves inside the ring. While Sting’s retirement was the center of attraction, Darby Allin grabbed the headlines with his terrifying spot where he took a scary fall through panes of glass. 

During the match, Sting’s sons also got involved.  Pro wrestling legends Ric Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat couldn’t help but involve themselves as well. Ultimately, Sting and Darby Allin were triumphant and with the win, ‘The Icon’ ended his AEW career undefeated.

Sting reflects on the memorable night at AEW Revolution

Taking to Twitter/ X, Sting shared some backstage pictures from the event. He went on to reflect on his final match at AEW Revolution. He claimed that he had hoped that the night would be memorable for the fans it was a night he would never forget.  He also thanked the AEW staffs and all the fellow wrestlers. He also thanked the audience. 

With Sting’s retirement, it’s the end of a memorable chapter in pro wrestling history. His immense contribution to pro wrestling will resonate for the time to come and fans will cherish the beautiful memories ‘The Icon’ has scripted during his decorated career.

Charlotte Flair Announced for WrestleMania Week Appearance

Bishal Roy
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Multi-time Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair is set to make an appearance at WWE World during WrestleMania week. 

‘The Queen’ is currently in the recovery process after she recently suffered a significant injury. She suffered the injury in a singles match against Damage CTRL’s Asuka on the Tribute to the Troops edition of SmackDown on December 8 last year. The injury occurred when Flair tried to hit her signature Moonsault outside the ring. 

Fans have certainly missed her. As  WrestleMania 40 is approaching, WWE has officially announced that her next appearance in the company will be taking place soon. It will be during WrestleMania week.

Charlotte Flair set to make WWE World appearance

On Saturday, April 6, WrestleMania 40 night one takes place and it has been announced that Charlotte Flair will be showing up at WWE World in Philadelphia. She hasn’t competed for months now and she will miss this year’s WrestleMania as well. As the WrestleMania festivities get along, fans will have a chance to witness ‘The Queen’ ahead of ‘The Show of Shows.’

Charlotte Flair’s recovery update

It’s unlikely that Charlotte Flair will be returning to the ring anytime soon. She has suffered multiple knee injuries including tears to her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. She was even spotted on crutches at the CMLL event ahead of her surgery. 

Post-surgery, ‘The Queen’ has been pushing herself to the limits to make her comeback to the squared circle. She is expected to be out for at least 9 months but she could return ahead of her schedule.

Taking to Twitter, she has once against provided an update on her recovery as she shared a video clip of working out in the gym. 

We will now have to wait and see when Charlotte Flair manages to make her return.

Will Ospreay Pays Tribute to Mad Kurt on AEW Dynamite

Bishal Roy
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0

AEW star Will Ospreay recently came up with a heart-touching gesture as he paid tribute to the late Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman on this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite.

The wrestling world was recently saddened as Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman tragically passed away at the age of 26 in December 2023. His final match took place in June last year and he had successfully retained his Resurgence Arthouse Championship.

Will Ospreay honors Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman

Will Ospreay headlined last night’s AEW Dynamite against ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher. During the match, ‘The Aerial Assassin’ decided to honor Mad Kurt. 

It was nothing but a touching gesture as he danced and dabbed in the ring, paying homage to Mad Kurt in the process. The crowd certainly recognized the value of this heartfelt moment.

The hard-fought bout saw some intense action with both Ospreay and Fletcher showcasing their talent. At the end of the match, it was Will Ospreay, who emerged victorious by pinning Fletcher with his signature move, the Hidden Blade. 

Following the match, he displayed sporting spirit and showed respect to his opponent. Don Callis joined the celebration but it was short-lived as it was interrupted by none other than The Blackpool Combat Club’s Bryan Danielson

Danielson confronted Ospreay, leading to a staredown that has created a buzz. This staredown left the fans speculating about their future storyline. Fans are wondering what Danielson has to do with Ospreay. We will have to wait and see as the drama unfolds.

YouTube Milestone: Official WWE Channel Hits 100 Million Subscribers

Thomas Lowson
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WWE’s YouTube channel has proven to be a hit with wrestling fans after reaching 100 million subscribers today. 

The channel was launched in May 2007, but the first video wouldn’t be published until February the following year. The video in question is a promotional video for the No Way Out 2008 pay-per-view, which marked the return of the Elimination Chamber which hadn’t been used in over a year. 

WWE’s YouTube Channel by the Numbers

In the 5,873 days since the No Way Out video, WWE’s channel has amassed 82,222,053,762 (and counting!) That equates to approximately 14 million views every single day. The channel currently has 74,394 videos available to watch. 

The most popular video on WWE’s YouTube channel comes from Raw 2009 when Randy Orton handcuffed Triple H to the ring rope. The Viper would make things personal in his war with the then-WWE Champion by RKO’ing Stephanie McMahon and kissing the knocked-out wife of the Game. The video currently sits at 315,000,000 views, far ahead of the second most-watched video (Stunning in-ring proposals) at 230,000,000 views.

Affecting WWE Programming

While WWE’s YouTube channel documents the storylines fans see on TV, it also has the power to shape those same storylines and production. WWE’s Vice President of Digital Content, Steve Barband recently told Jacob Feldman of Sportico that production thinks deeply about what will work on social media when booking events. 

“We’re very strategic through each match and each segment of each show, to pull the moments that we think will succeed on the internet while also driving back to linear television.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to see more YouTube videos, with new videos added daily, in addition to snippets of SmackDown set to be shared this Friday night. 

AEW Revolution 2024 By the Numbers: $1m Gate, Merchandise, Concessions & More

Thomas Lowson
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AEW Revolution 2024 proved to be a lucrative night for the promotion as well as a fitting send-off for the Icon Sting’s legendary wrestling career. 

The March 4, pay-per-view took place from the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina. In the show’s main event, Sting and Darby Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships. This marked the final match for the Stinger and the AEW World Tag Titles have since been vacated. 

AEW Revolution 2024 Attendance 

AEW’s most recent pay-per-view was attended by 16,118 fans, according to Venues Now. This is up significantly from the previous year’s event, which saw 9,000 gather in San Francisco’s Chase Center. 

This year’s event was the highest-attended AEW Revolution pay-per-view in history. It was the highest-attended AEW pay-per-view since last year’s record-breaking All In event inside London’s Wembley Stadium. 

 AEW Revolution 2024 Gate

Last weekend’s show generated a gate of over $1 million, another huge win for Tony Khan’s first promotion. The average ticket price was $55 for the pay-per-view. 

On-Site Purchases

OVG Hospitality’s food and beverage per capita spending averaged at $19, excluding suites, resulting in $306,242 in concessions revenue. In terms of merchandise, the average amount per attendee was $21.64 and was said to be largely driven by Sting’s final match in the main event. This resulted in approximately $349,000 in gross sales. 

Nearly all merchandise items sold out. The report stated that the commercial performance was at the higher end for family-oriented shows and more in line with the revenue generated by concerts

Kenny Omega Reacts to Being Fired from The Elite

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Kenny Omega is not so impressed after The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) fired him from The Elite.

‘The Cleaner’ is currently out of action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis. However, The Young Bucks don’t care about it. During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, EVPs The Young Bucks addressed the fans and went on to speak about one of their old friends, Kenny Omega.

While Omega recuperates from diverticulitis, The Young Bucks raised questions about his absence as he has been missing dates which they think have baseless reasons. After that, they announced Omega has been fired from his position in The Elite.

Kenny Omega reacts

Taking to his Twitter/X account, Kenny Omega posted his picture from a match in which his facial expression doesn’t look too impressed. He didn’t add any caption as the image was self-explanatory.

Omega was diagnosed with Diverticulitis following his match with Ethan Page last year. The former AEW World Champion was hospitalized immediately after the match. Omega was set to team up with Chris Jericho at AEW Worlds End last December but that match had to be nixed off due to Omega’s absence.

We had previously reported that Omega has a long road ahead for recovery. Well, his condition is bad enough that surgery could be risky at the time and a decision of the surgery hasn’t been made

We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Kenny Omega. We at SEScoops wish him a speedy recovery.

Giant Swing in the Ring DLC Brings Claudio Castagnoli to AEW Fight Forever

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Players of AEW Fight Forever can now bring the Big Swing, European Uppercuts, and more to the game with the inclusion of Claudio Castagnoli as DLC.

First announced in 2020, AEW Fight Forever is the promotion’s first console video game follows on from the company’s mobile games ‘AEW Elite: General Manager‘ and ‘AEW Casino: Double or Nothing.’ Fight Forever’s development would take longer than many fans expected, before hitting shelves and online stores in June of last year. 

Giant Swing in the Ring

In a YouTube video, it was confirmed that the newest DLC will bring Claudio Castagnoli to the popular game. The Swiss wrestler narrates over footage of himself in the game to a remix of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. 

The Blackpool Combat Club member mentions that he is coming to the game with a bunch of new skins for characters as well as the rare ‘Gold Attire.’ This unique attire is available for all playable characters but can only be unlocked by winning the AEW World Championship 20 times in the game. 

AEW Fight Forever’s Roster

Many fans weren’t happy when AEW Fight Forever was released that the playable character roster was noticeably smaller than expected (and far smaller than WWE’s 2K games.)

Noticeable omissions from the launch date roster included Inner Circle alum such as Jake Hager, Santana, and Ortiz and reigning Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion Athena. In October, it was said that work was being done on adding new talent to the game. The following month, AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed were added to the game as DLC. 

Tony Khan & More React to Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Debut on 3/6 Dynamite

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Kazuchika Okada’s arrival in All Elite Wrestling has had the wrestling world talking following this week’s edition of Dynamite. 

On the most recent edition of AEW Dynamite, the Young Bucks were furious following their loss to Sting & Darby Allin at AEW Revolution 2024. The EVPs exercised their authority by suspending ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and firing Kenny Omega. 

This diatribe brought out Eddie Kingston, who was quickly joined by the debuting Okada. While the Rainmaker teased being on Kingston’s side, he attacked the AEW Continental Champion and shook hands with the Jackson brothers.

Wrestling World React to Okada’s AEW Debut

On Twitter, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were pleased to share a photo with Okada and made clear that they were prepared to “change the world.”

Konosuke Takeshita made clear that he was paying attention to Okada, also known as the Rainmaker. 

AEW President Tony Khan took great pleasure in response to a tweet alleging that Okada was set to debut for WWE in January of this year as part of the Men’s Royal Rumble match. 

Khan would also confirm Okada’s status by sharing the All Elite graphic while adding that the Rainmaker is a ‘business partner’ of Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. 

Shinsuke Nakamura took to social media to express his surprise at Okada’s arrival in the All-Elite promotion. 

TNA Wrestling, who have often made use of Search Engine Optimization, shared a video of Okada taking on Generation Me (the future Young Bucks) during a TNA Xplosion match from 2010.

And Okada himself had a one-word greeting for the AEW fans and roster while sharing a graphic confirming that he is All Elite. 

Lex Luger Appreciates “Classy” WWE Allowing Him The Chance to Attend Sting’s Last Match

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Lex Luger is grateful that WWE allowed him the opportunity to attend Sting’s final match, despite being under a ‘Legends’ deal with the promotion. 

The Icon competed for the final time at AEW Revolution 2024. In the main event, Sting and Darby Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships. This win meant that Sting was able to end his AEW career undefeated. On this week’s AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin vacated his AEW World Tag Team Championship. 

Lex Luger On Attending Sting’s Last Match

Lex Luger was one of several wrestling legends who were able to attend Sting’s final match and had a blast at the event. On a recent edition of the Busted Open Radio podcast, Luger made it clear that WWE had no issue with him attending, as long as he opted to keep off of the show. 

“WWE is classy. They said you can go and everything, just don’t be on camera or be a part of the match. It was an incredible evening. A wonderful sendoff.” 

DDP on Darby Allin

While Sting’s retirement was the focus of the show, Darby Allin made headlines with his spot that saw him fall through panes of glass. On the same episode of the show, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page spoke about the spot in question. 

“I love him to death but damn, he’s a different animal bro.” 

Luger was similarly amazed by the work of the former AEW TNT Champion and said that Allin’s attempt to climb Mt. Everest later this month is “unbelievable.” 

Brian Pillman’s Grandson, Lexis King’s Nephew To Attend State of the Union Address After Thwarting School Shooting

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Boom ‘Jackson’ Swallen, the grandson of Brian Pillman and nephew of WWE NXT’s Lexis King, will be a guest at a State of the Union speech following an immense show of bravery. 

Last month, Swallen was honored for his efforts in thwarting an attack on Mariemont High School near Cincinnati. The 14-year-old came across another teen who was planning an attack on students and staff. Despite being threatened to keep quiet, Swallen contacted his father who called 911 and alerted school officials. 

Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers said the teen was deep in the stages of planning an attack with help from an adult who was located out of state. On Twitter, Lexis King praised his nephew as a hero. 

Boom Swallen at the State of the Union

Boom Swallen showed immense courage and will be a guest at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address. Swallen will be the guest of Congressman Greg Landsmen for the address that will take place later today. In a statement, Congressman Greg Landsman (D) praised Swallen’s quick thinking and bravery at the time. 

“Boom serves as a testament to the principle of ‘if you see something say something.’ Students should never feel unsafe at school, and we must be the generation of parents to end the national gun violence nightmare.”

Speaking to FOX 19, Swallen shared why he informed his father despite the threat made against him. 

“He said that he would kill me immediately if I told anybody. [But] I care about the kids at my school’s lives and I knew that it was the right thing to do.”

In February 2023, Landsman joined the House Gun Violence Task Force to advocate for gun violence prevention reform. Currently, firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States.  

Dead Meat Pays Tribute to Bray Wyatt During Annual Horror Awards

Thomas Lowson
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The hit YouTube channel Dead Meet paid tribute to Bray Wyatt during its most recent Horror movie awards. 

Wyatt, real name Windham Rotunda, passed away in August of last year at the age of 36. The three-time former WWE World Champion had returned to WWE at Hell in a Cell 2022 the previous October. He was pulled from programming in early 2023 due to an illness. 

Bray Wyatt Honored

This month, the popular Dead Meat YouTube channel hosted its annual Horror Awards, celebrating the best (and most gruesome) moments from the world of Horror media in 2023. During the Awards, the channel paid tribute to those who died in 2023, celebrating those who had made an impact to the genre both on and off-screen. Rotunda was among the many who were paid tribute to, as seen in the video below.

It’s fitting to see Rotunda be memorialized in Dead Meat’s annual Horror Awards. Rotunda’s Wyatt character and reinvention as The Fiend in 2019 was praised by fans as the most legitimately frightening character portrayed in WWE in years. Rotunda had worked with horror effects legend Tom Savini to create the Fiend character. Wyatt had also been working on a horror film in the final years of his life. 

Who Are Dead Meat? 

Dead Meat tallies up kills in horror films and other media in comedic, informative ‘Kill Count’ videos. The channel is hosted by James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca, who also have their own Dead Meat Podcast. The pair’s YouTube channel boats over 2.6 billion views and over 6 million subscribers. 

Janisse and Rebecca are wrestling fans and make no secret of their love for the industry. References to wrestling can be found in the Kill Count videos and the couple host a Horror Royal Rumble via a WWE 2K video game every January. Several WWE Superstars have made appearances on the channel as well. 

John Cena Continues to Tease WWE WrestleMania 40 Role: “I’m Free That Day”

Thomas Lowson
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Fans may (or may not) see John Cena at WrestleMania 40 after the former WWE Champion disclosed that he is free for the event. 

This week, Cena appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to discuss his new film Ricky Stanicky. As a leading man in wrestling, the topic of WrestleMania 40 came up. In the interview, Cena delivered a master class in dodging a question when asked about possibly being at the two-night spectacle. 

“It’s April 6, I know exactly where it is. I mean I’m free that day. I’m just saying to you guys out there… Maybe you won’t see me there [Does ‘You Can’t See Me’ gesture.]” 

John Cena at WrestleMania 40?

Cena is hoping to do something at WrestleMania 40 which will take place on April 6, and April 7, from Philadelphia, PA. With that said John’s commitments to filming Peacemaker’s second season may keep him from the Showcase of the Immortals. The second season of the hit show based off the jingoistic Peacemaker character Cena portrayed in 2021’s The Suicide Squad is expected to begin shooting very soon. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • GUNTHER (c) vs. Winner of Next week’s WWE Raw Gauntlet Match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

WWE Tough Enough Alum & Ex-GOP Candidate Daniel Rodimer Arrested for Murder

Thomas Lowson
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A former WWE Tough Enough participant and developmental talent has turned himself in after being wanted in connection to a Las Vegas murder. 

Daniel Rodimer has been accused of the murder of Christopher Tapp, who was killed in October of last year, KLAS reports. Tapp’s death at a Resorts World suite was initially ruled as an accident but the Clark County Coroner’s Office later determined it a homicide after discovering ‘blunt force trauma’ to his head.

Tapp was a recently exonerated man who had served 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of killing his friend Angie Doge in 1996. Carol Doge, Angie’s mother, had previously stated she did not believe he had killed her daughter.

Rodimer turned himself in to Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday evening. His legal team said he “vigorously contests” the allegations. PW Insider reports that he was released from prison on a $200,000 bond and is due for a court hearing on April 10. 

Daniel Rodimer in the Ring

Rodimer was part of WWE’s 2004 season of Tough Enough which also featured The Miz, Ryback, and Marty’The Boogeyman’ Wright. Despite not winning, he was signed to a developmental contract in 2006. His debut match would be in Deep South Wrestling where he defeated Heath ‘Slater’ Miller. In 2007, he was moved to OVW and debuted on Heat that same year with a win over Eugene. After two more Heat appearances, he was released in August 2007. 

Daniel Rodimer and the Law

Rodimer has been accused of assault three times, but has no convictions. He was arrested on charges of battery in 2010 and admitted to committing the offense. After a six-week anger management course, the charge was dropped. 

Daniel Rodimer in Politics

Rodimer ran for Nevada State Senate on the Republican ballot in 2018 but despite outspending his rival nearly two-to-one, lost to Valerie Weber. The following year, he lost to the incumbent Susie Lee in a bid for Nevada’s 3rd congressional district. 

In March 2021, Rodimer announced his candidacy for Texas’s 6th congressional district special election. His campaign caught attention as he dramatically changed his accent and persona in his campaign ad to appear more Texan. He also claimed that he had been personally endorsed by former President Donald Trump, which Trump’s team denied. He placed eleventh in the primary with 2.6% of the vote share. 

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