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Daily Drop (3/6): Surprise WWE NXT Returns During Roadblock, Sting’s Sons Speak Out

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Wednesday, March 6h. NXT Roadblock was last night. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 31

Before we get into things, WWE 2K24 is coming out in a matter of days, and you should be excited. SEScoops has a full review of the game up already, and you should definitely check it out here.

WWE:

– John Cena revealed that WWE had plans for him to turn heel in his WrestleMania 28 program against The Rock. He even had new ring gear and music made for the change.

– Haku is rumored to get a WWE Hall of Fame induction this year.

– WWE has plans to make their way back to Saudi Arabia for another event in May.

– William Regal returned to WWE NXT this week as “Mr. Regal.” He had a great little segment with his son, Charlie Dempsey, and we’re hoping this leads to more.

– Sol Ruca also made a return during WWE NXT Roadblock. She attacked Blair Davenport, the same woman who was behind all of those mysterious attacks last year, Ruca’s being one of them.

– Rhea Ripley teased that she wants a match against CM Punk.

– An old WWE legend has been debunked. During A&E’s Biography on Sgt. Slaughter, it was confirmed that WrestleMania 7’s venue move happened because of poor ticket sales. I wasn’t due to more salacious reasons, like Slaughter has said for years. 

AEW:

– Sammy Guevara was suspended over that whole botched spot ordeal with Jeff Hardy.

– The company debuted a brand-new logo for Dynamite. You can check it out here. Fans will get to see that logo in action on this week’s show.

– Former AEW producer BJ Whitmer received what many are considering a slap on the wrist for some rather heinous charges. You can find all that controversial info here.

– It turns out that, even after bleeding like a stuck pig at Revolution, Darby Allin only needed 12 stitches to repair his back. Many of those cuts were small, but they certainly bled.

– John Cena told MJF he hopes he ends up in WWE during their meeting at The Iron Claw premiere. 

– Sting’s son, Garrett, commented on playing his role at AEW Revolution. He wrote on his YouTube channel as an update: “Alright, it’s time for an update and a bit of a reveal. Last night, my dad, Sting, retired from his completely legendary pro wrestling career. My brother and I got to play a small part in his final match as younger versions of his character. I’ve got the American outfit, my brother has the red (or, Surfer Sting and Wolfpack Sting for any wrestling fans!) It was absolutely insane, and by far the coolest night of my entire life. The admiration and love from the fans toward my dad made me even more proud of him than I already am. So, this is obviously why I’ve been a bit absent the past month or so. I was largely focused on looking as good as possible for the show, so lots of hours that would have been spent grinding Destiny were instead spent in the gym haha. All that to say, thanks for being patient. I can’t wait to upload again soon, and I’ll for sure try to do a recap video that goes more in-depth on this weekend.”

– Sting’s other son, Steven, also commented on his appearance. He did so with a humorous post on Twitter/X where he expressed his inner thoughts before nailing that Stinger Splash at AEW Revolution.

AEW Dynamite March 6th, 2024 Lineup:

  • Kyle Fletcher vs. Will Ospreay
  • Riho vs. Kris Statlander
  • More AEW Revolution fallout

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.

WWE Debunks 33-Year-Old Myth About Why WrestleMania 7 Moved Locations

Thomas Lowson
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WWE has come clean about why WrestleMania 7 pay-per-view spectacular was moved from it’s original venue, the Los Angeles Sports Coliseum, to the far-smaller Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

WrestleMania 7 occurred March 24, 1991 during the waning days of the beloved ‘Golden Era’ of the World Wrestling Federation. The company would look very different in just two years time, but in early 1991, the beloved ‘Hogan Era’ was still in full swing. The card featured a total of 15 matches, including The Undertaker winning his WrestleMania debut, the Ultimate Warrior retiring the Macho Man Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan dethroning Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship.

WrestleMania 7 was initially booked for Los Angeles Sports Coliseum, a historic venue that’s hosted the Summer Olympic games twice. It has a maximum capacity around 77,500. WWE had just run the SkyDome in Toronto the prior year, so it wasn’t a crazy idea to book another big stadium the following year. 

WWE Comes Clean

Several months into tickets being on sale, the company made an unprecedented announcement. WrestleMania 7 festivities were being drastically scaled down and would take place in the adjacent Memorial Sports Arena.

The company cited security threats stemming from Sgt. Slaughter’s gimmick at the time, an Iraqi sympathizer who was dear friends with Saddam Hussein. WWE went all-in on Slaughter’s betrayal of America, which certainly got people talking. However, not in the way WWE hoped for. Instead of sparking business and turning around the decline that was starting to take hold, WWE received a lot of negative attention for ‘exploiting’ the military conflict. 

WWE has always asserted that WrestleMania 7 was moved due to the heated nature of the Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter feud, but the truth has come out 33 years later.

During the recent A&E’s Biography special on Sgt. Slaughter that aired Sunday night, WWE finally acknowledged WrestleMania 7 changed locations due to poor ticket sales. Just a month before the event, only 12,500 tickets had been sold, nowhere close to filling up the outdoor stadium. 

The Worst-Rated WWE Video Game Characters You Could Never Win As

Thomas Lowson
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With WWE 2K24 around the corner, excitement for the new game is at a fever pitch, with top stars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins all confirmed. 

While these three will have some of the highest ratings in the game, not everyone can have great stats, and there’ll always be somebody with the outright worst ranking in the game. In this feature, we look at some of the worst-ranked playable characters in WWE video games. 

Eric Bischoff – 52 – SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain

Perhaps it was a battle for brand supremacy that led to then-Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff having the lowest ranking in SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain. Bischoff’s martial arts prowess and all-black gi helped little whenever you played as him in the game. 

Ribbie – 60 – WWE 2K20

WWE 2K20 was a disaster of a game but it did give fans their first-ever playable anthropomorphic rack of ribs. Ribbie is the mascot of the Memphis Sliders, a minor baseball team, according to Byron Saxton, and with his BBQ sauce haircut, we imagine wrestlers weren’t eager to face him. 

Curt Hawkins – 64 – WWE 2K19

The master of the losing streak, Curt Hawkins’ unfortunate record was replicated with his woeful score in WWE 2K19. Nowadays, Hawkins is faring much better in TNA Wrestling as Brian Myers. 

Jimmy Hart – 67 – SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008

It makes sense that the Mouth of the South’s rating would be so low, given he very rarely wrestled. This ranking shows that in SVR ’08, Jimmy was best being kept at ringside. 

Bo Dallas – 67- WWE 2K17

All the Bo-lieving in the world couldn’t save Bo Dallas from this dreadful score in WWE 2K17. Good luck winning any titles as the third-generation wrestler! His brother Bray would be well ahead of Bo in the game with a score of 87. 

Sawyer Fulton – 69 – WWE 2K18

The forgotten member of Sanity, Sawyer Fulton’s 69 is the worst in the entire WWE 2K18 game. What makes this worse is that this would mark Fulton’s first and only time in a video game. 

Eric Bischoff (again) – 69 – WWE 2K22

Things clearly picked up for Easy-E between Here Comes The Pain and WWE 2K22, but that wasn’t enough to save him from having the worst rating once again. Sorry Eric!

Michael Cole & Jim Ross – 71 – WWE ’12

These WWE commentators shared the same woeful rating in WWE ’12, so it’s only fair we lump them together. Frankly though, why anyone would play as either man, especially Cole, is anyone’s guess. 

Rhea Ripley Says She’s Ready to Step in the Ring with CM Punk

Thomas Lowson
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Rhea Ripley has never been afraid to go toe-to-toe with male Superstars in WWE, and now she wants her shot with the Best in the World. 

During an interview with the BWGS Podcast, Ripley spoke about growing up watching WWE and being enamored by the likes of Triple H, The Miz, and CM Punk. When asked about which of the three she’d like to face, Ripley set her sights on the Best in the World. 

”I would like to face Punk… with the way that he did his promos and the way that he just did everything. It was always entertaining and I feel like if I were to step into a storyline… it would definitely help skyrocket Rhea Ripley to the next level sort of thing.”

Rhea Ripley Vs. The Men

Ripley hasn’t been shy when it comes to taking on male Superstars during her tenure with WWE. Before his inclusion in the Judgment Day, Dominik Mysterio often fell victim to attacks by Ripley in 2022. Superstars who have fallen victim to ‘Mami’ include AJ Styles, Matt Riddle, Akira Tozawa, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Luke Gallows, as seen in the video below. 

What’s Next for Rhea Ripley? 

Ripley won’t face a man at WrestleMania, but rather ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch. The Irish Superstar won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match last month to earn a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40. This will be the sixth title match for Lynch at WrestleMania, and the fourth for Ripley. 

H/T – POST Wrestling

Fourth-Generation Wrestler Receives New Name For WWE TV Debut At NXT Roadblock 2024

Thomas Lowson
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A fourth-generation Superstar who recently joined WWE NXT will not be going by his family name, as confirmed this week. 

The March 5, 2024, episode of WWE NXT was the gold brand’s ‘Roadblock’ special and saw the developmental roster continue to build towards NXT Stand & Deliver. In the main event, Tony D’Angelo defeated Carmelo Hayes to earn a shot at NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov at the April event. Hayes was also confronted by the returning Trick Williams, who was betrayed by Melo at NXT Vengeance Day. 

A New Name

NXT Roadblock saw the in-ring return of Shawn Spears, following his return to WWE NXT on last week’s show. Spears made quick work of Uriah Connors before attempting to goad Ridge Holland into a fight. 

Fans of New Japan Pro Wrestling may have recognised Connors, despite this being his first TV match for WWE NXT. Connor is better known as Brogan Finlay, the son of former WWE United States Champion Dave ‘Fit’ Finlay. The younger Finlay signed with WWE recently and made his in-ring debut at an NXT live event last month. 

Uriah Connors legacy in wrestling stretches back past his legendary father. His grandfather, Dave Finlay Sr. was also a wrestler, who received an MBE this year for services to wrestling. His great-grandfather was also a professional wrestler. 

More Multi-Generation Events

Uriah Connors wasn’t the only multi-generational star to be on this week’s WWE NXT. Charlie Dempsey was with the No Quarter Catch Crew, one week on from his NXT Heritage Cup win. Dempsey’s promo was interrupted by the returning William Regal, in his first WWE TV appearance since re-signing with the company over a year ago. 

Regal spoke of the imporance of defending the NXT Heritage Cup with integrity but Dempsey was not interested in what his father had to say. WWE made no reference to the familial bond between the two

Legendary Return: William Regal Makes Surprise Comeback During WWE NXT Roadblock Special

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s NXT brand held their Roadblock special tonight. As the road to WrestleMania 40, and Stand & Deliver, is drawing close, the brand saw a couple big moments. A Superstar returned after being out of action for nearly a year, but that wasn’t the only big comeback during the show.

When William Regal left AEW for an office job with WWE, he had a very interesting clause in this release paperwork. It was stated that Regal couldn’t appear on WWE television for a full year, which is why he wasn’t around to announce WarGames. That clause has now expired, and Regal is back in NXT.

William Regal’s NXT Return

During WWE NXT this week, the No Quarter Catch Crew took the ring with the Heritage Cup. Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp and Myles Borne looked intense, and they had a message for the rest of the NXT roster.

The stable proclaimed that they will defend the Heritage Cup as a stable, meaning anyone in the faction can put the title on the line. The said that they plan to represent the championship as true athletes.

Suddenly, William Regal’s music stopped everything. Regal then came out to a rousing ovation from the NXT crowd. “Welcome back” chants erupted at Regal. Obviously, fans in the NXT Arena didn’t forget about the former General Manager.

Those chants soon transitioned to “He’s your Father” directed at Dempsey. Regal didn’t have a ton to say, but he did make it very clear that he will have his eye on that Heritage Cup, because of how much it means to him and everyone from the rich European pro wrestling tradition.

What’s Next For William Regal

We will have to see when William Regal shows up on WWE television again. It was certainly a very nice surprise to see him pop up during NXT Roadblock. He is currently the company’s Vice President of Global Talent Development.

For more on this story, and many more, please keep checking back with us here at SEScoops. 

Shockwaves in WWE NXT as Long-Absent Superstar Returns at Roadblock

Aaron Varble
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There are a few members of the WWE roster who are out of action with injuries. This week, a promising young talent made her long-awaited return to NXT.

WWE’s NXT brand presented their Roadblock event this week, and that included a surprising return. Sol Ruca is back on the active roster after a very long injury hiatus. She did so by costing Blair Davenport a win, the same woman who was responsible (in storyline) for her injury.

Sol Ruca’s Return

This week’s NXT featured Fallon Henley taking on Blair Davenport. That match saw Ruca make her return during the closing moments, where she nailed Blair to help Henley pick up the win.

Several months ago, Blair Davenport revealed herself to be the mystery attacker who was taking out so many members of the women’s division, including Sol Ruca. Now, Ruca is back, and she’s taking her vengeance out on the woman responsible for taking her out of action.

It was reported on Fightful Select today that Sol Ruca’s return was expected for Roadblock. Her return has been in the pipeline for a while, as she’s been recovering for over 10 months at this point.

Sol Ruca’s Injury

In May 2023, Sol Ruca suffered an ACL injury, sidelining her from action. She was incorporated into a storyline leading to Blair Davenport’s NXT debut, portrayed as the masked attacker who incapacitated Ruca. Surgery was required to address the ACL injury, and since then, Ruca has been focused on her recovery and eventual return to the ring.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of NXT, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world, so keep checking back for more updates!

Ex-AEW Producer BJ Whitmer Receives Sentence for Domestic Violence Charges

Aaron Varble
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Former AEW producer BJ Whitmer was facing second-degree burglary and first-degree strangulation charges, but that is in the past for him now. After accepting a plea deal, he has now received his sentence.

BJ Whitmer has been sentenced in relation to his arrest last year. He has received house arrest for 120 days, and five years of probation.

The BJ Whitmer Incident

Whitmer faced charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree strangulation stemming from an incident on June 4, 2023. Allegedly, he entered his former girlfriend’s residence, awaited her return, and then assaulted her.

According to the police report, Whitmer grabbed the victim by the throat and threw her onto the couch, where he proceeded to strangle her. The victim later described the ordeal to the media as a fight for her life.

Opting for an Alford plea, Whitmer acknowledged there was sufficient evidence for a conviction but maintained his innocence. This plea also allows him to clear the felony from his record after five years. He has been sentenced to five years of probation and 120 days of house arrest.

BJ Whitmer’s Sentencing

Esteemed journalist B.J. Bethel shared news of Whitmer’s sentence on X, stating that the former AEW producer and ROH wrestler received five years of probation and 120 days of home incarceration for the charges related to his ex-girlfriend.

Former AEW producer, ROH wrestler B.J. Whitmer received five years probation and 120-day home incarceration in connection the strangulation and criminal trespass charge he faced involving his ex-girlfriend last summer.

Whitmer’s Alford plea indicates his assertion of innocence while acknowledging the evidence against him. The prosecution’s decision to offer this plea was influenced by significant discovery provided during the case, prompting a reevaluation of their stance.

AEW Severed Ties

Following his arrest, AEW terminated Whitmer’s contract on June 12, 2023. In their statement to the media, they emphasized that such behavior is intolerable within the organization and offered support to those affected by Whitmer’s actions.

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

New Era In AEW: Company Introduces Updated Dynamite Logo

Aaron Varble
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AEW has gone through a few changes since the company’s inception. Now, fans will have to get used to a new logo.

AEW had a big reveal today on social media, as they revealed the new logo for Dynamite, ending the nearly five-year reign of the previous logo. Naturally, fans have given it a mixed reaction so far.

New AEW Dynamite Logo

The company revealed that the March 6 episode of Dynamite would mark the beginning of a new season for the program. This announcement came along with the new logo reveal.

The March 6, 2024 episode of AEW Dynamite is set to occur at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. Currently, only one match has been confirmed for the event, featuring Will Ospreay facing off against Kyle Fletcher in singles competition. We will have to see what else they add to the card with the fallout after Revolution.

With rumors of Okada’s impending arrival, you never know what will happen next. We do know that Ospreay, someone who has experience with Okada, and has a lot of eyes on him as a recent addition to the AEW roster, will be shown front and center along with this new logo.

AEW Dynamite Logo 2024

Comparing To Previous Logos

AEW Dynamite has seen a couple logos already. The very first was from the paint-splatter era, and it still holds nostalgia for some fans. This was the logo from the beginning of the program, as many consider it OG.

OG AEW Dynamite Logo

The second logo was a bit sleeker. They got rid of all the splashy colors and went with a simpler approach. That logo will now be replaced by the new version that AEW unveiled today.

Updated AEW Dynamite logo

What’s Next For AEW

Tony Khan seems to be preparing for an eventful week for AEW, as he recently confirmed the introduction of a new set for Dynamite during the March 6 episode. In a recent tweet, Khan also hinted at significant plans for both sets of AEW tapings in Atlanta.

We will have to see if the new AEW logo is more than just a fresh coat of paint. If anything, some fans have high hopes after seeing this new logo’s design.

SEScoops will have more coverage of AEW, and the rest of the pro wrestling world. We also invite you to check out our Daily Drop to get the latest on every big story, exclusive information, and tidbits that you may have missed along the way.

AEW Takes Action: Sammy Guevara Suspended for Injuring Jeff Hardy in Botched Spot

Aaron Varble
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AEW has their own way of handling things, and it appears that their disciplinary committee has handed down another suspension. This time, Sammy Guevara is getting some time off due to a recent botched spot.

Sammy Guevara and Jeff Hardy wrestled on the February 16 episode of AEW Rampage (taped 2/14). Guevara has been a Jeff Hardy fan for many years, as evidenced by him sharing this photo of the two together from well over a decade ago in the days leading up to their match. 

Unfortunately, the match did not go as planned. Both competitors are known for their high-impact offense and know associated risks. This fateful encounter would leave Hardy with a broken nose and Guevara with a suspension (and a middle finger salute from one of the most decorated tag teams in wrestling history.)

Sammy Guevara and Jeff Hardy crossed paths many years before they’d meet in the ring

The Incident & The Suspension

Mid-way through the match, Hardy was injured and became disoriented.  Instead of giving Hardy sufficient time to to get checked out, Guevara climbed the top rope and executed his signature Shooting Star Press on Hardy. As seen below, Guevara botched the landing and inadvertently kicked Hardy in the face.

According to a report from Fightful Select, this was a violation of AEW’s concussion safety protocols and Guevara has been suspended accordingly.

The Suspension & Aftermath

Sammy Guevara attempted to apologize to Jeff Hardy after the match, but that also did go as planned.

Hardy was visibly upset and understandably so. A fan who was in attendance for the match captured this footage of the post-match altercation. Guevara extends his hand in an effort to make amends, but the Hardys weren’t having it.

Guevara wrestled one match since his bout with Hardy, a no-disqualification loss to Powerhouse Hobbs on the 2/24 episode of AEW Collision.

The timeline for Jeff Hardy’s return remains uncertain, but Matt Hardy recently let fans know it’s going to be a slow process.

AEW Disciplinary Committee and Guevara’s Past

AEW’s disciplinary committee is comprised of Bryan Danielson and two attorneys, according to Tony Khan on last week’s AEW Revolution media call. 

Guevara was suspended from AEW back in 2020 and required to undergo sensitivity training. The disciplinary measures were handed down after ‘inappropriate’ comments he made about Sasha Banks/Mercedes Mone during a 2016 podcast appearance  resurfaced.

Guevara has also He’s also had serious backstage issues with Eddie Kingston and Andrade, who recently returned to WWE. It’s unclear if either of those situations resulted in a formal suspension, or if any of these prior situations factored into the severity of this latest suspension.

Locking in Plans: WWE’s Return to Saudi Arabia Unveiled In New Report

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s decade-long deal with Saudi Arabia is still going strong. The initial controversy after the company secured that contract has dwindled, and WWE fans expect big events every time they travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Now, we know when they will be back.

The most recent WWE event held in Saudi Arabia was the Crown Jewel Premium Live Event in November of last year. During this event, LA Knight faced off against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship but fell short of securing the victory. It appears that WWE is going back to Saudi Arabia in May.

WWE’s Next Saudi Arabian Event

WWE is currently in the process of finalizing plans for its return to Saudi Arabia, a tradition known for its afternoon broadcasts, as part of the company’s longstanding partnership with the Saudi General Sports Authority. This upcoming event is expected to be consistent with past arrangements, with WWE hosting two events per year in the country and receiving substantial compensation in return. 

According to reports from PW Insider, WWE is targeting late May for its next pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia, following last year’s Night of Champions in May and Crown Jewel in November.

WWE’s Plan for 2024

In addition to the Saudi event, WWE has outlined its schedule for the first half of 2024, which includes various events such as NXT Stand & Deliver in Philadelphia, WWE WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, WWE Backlash France in Lyon-Decines, France, NXT Battleground in Savannah, GA, WWE Money in the Bank and WWE NXT Heatwave in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and WWE Bash in Berlin, Germany.

SEScoops keeps a daily tracker of upcoming pro wrestling events, breaking stories, and everything you might have missed in our Daily Drop. We invite you to check out today’s edition by clicking the link below.

Jonathan Coachman’s Plea: Tony Khan Needs Writing Lesson After Darby Allin AEW Revolution Stunt

Aaron Varble
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0

Darby Allin and Sting won the main event of AEW Revolution on Sunday night, and it was quite a showcase. Although many are talking about Sting’s last match, a lot of attention was taken by Darby Allin’s death defying leap through glass.

CM Punk and Jack Perry’s big All In brawl was due to Perry using real glass when Punk advised against it. Apparently, real glass is a trend in AEW, because Darby Allin used it to make some big waves and cut his back to pieces in the process. Jonathan Coachman saw this, and he doesn’t care whether it upsets AEW fans if he drags the spot.

Viral Reaction To Coachman

Fans were not very happy to see what Jonathan Coachman said on Twitter/X. Many AEW loyalists went at Coachman in return, and you can check out a few of those tweets below.

Reaction to Darby’s Dive

The Coach saw Sean Ross Sapp’s video of Darby Allin’s insane dive at Revolution. The clip included glass breaking and fans going crazy. Everything ended with Allin on the ground, and that was all it took to create a viral clip.

When Jonathan Coachman saw the clip of Darby Allin’s big leap, he couldn’t resist but to comment. He said that, aside from Mick Foley, nobody in WWE did that kind of thing in the past. There is a reason for that as well.

While he painted a picture of the true damage to the situation, Jonathan Coachman also begged for someone to teach Tony Khan and AEW’s writing team to craft a storyline that didn’t require this level of ultra violence.

Ok AEW army come after me. This is bananas and SO unnecessary. Can someone please teach the writers and Tony Khan that if you tell a good story you don’t have to do that crap and damn near kill yourself. Other than Mick Foley find any videos of a top star from WWE doing anything this reckless. I am all about getting talked about after a show but my god. If he hits one of those chairs he could have paralyzed himself and broken his back. Tell a story and make the fans care. Then this won’t have to happen or even be talked about doing.

After The Dive

Darby Allin only needed 12 stitches to repair his back after that leap. He was okay to finish the match, and he was around for Sting’s post-match speech. 

It seems that he is going to be okay, with his Mount Everest adventure still in line. Only time will tell when he does something like that again, but you never know what Allin will pull off.

SEScoops will have more on this story if additional information is ever available about Darby Allin’s insane dive.

Trash Talk Heats Up As Rollins & McIntyre Command WWE WrestleMania 40 Spotlight

Thomas Lowson
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Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre’s war of words continued after this week’s Raw and their feud may be the most personal one fans see at WrestleMania 40. 

McIntyre earned a World Heavyweight Championship match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. This will be the third World Championship match for both men at WrestleMania. The match will mark Rollins’ first title defense as a WWE World Champion at the Showcase of the Immortals. 

A Spotlight Junkie

During this week’s Raw, McIntyre had some choice words for Rollins and declared the World Heavyweight Champion a “spotlight junkie.” McIntyre’s point was that when something big happens, Rollins can usually be found latching on to it. Drew gave several examples including CM Punk’s return to WWE last year, Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, and his involvement with The Rock’s return and alliance with The Bloodline. 

McIntyre added that Rollins should have been focusing on Monday Night Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship. The Scottish Warrior added that the title in question deserves better than Seth whose life as a ‘junkie’ has also cost the champion physically. 

Seth Rollins Fires Back

Rollins wasn’t going to take the notion that he hasn’t been focused on Raw or the World Heavyweight Championship. In a scathing response made after Raw, Rollins said that he had been working for the last two years to ensure “jackoffs” like McIntyre have a championship to compete for at WrestleMania. 

McIntyre had a response of his own, questioning where this focus has been from the World Heavyweight Champion. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WWE WrestleMania will take place on April 6, and April 7. The show 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. 

Antler Adorned: Michael Cole Realized ‘Boyhood Dream’ On 3/4 WWE RAW

Aaron Varble
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WWE provided Michael Cole with a fantastic life where he can experience some incredible things. It seems that this week’s episode of RAW included a moment that he’s been dreaming about since his childhood.

Valhalla from the Viking Raiders is known for her fierce energy, face paint, and antlers. Whenever she doesn’t have the antlers, Cole is a sad man. This week on RAW, the former Sarah Logan placed those antlers on Michael’s head, and it was a joyous experience, to say the least.

Michael Cole Living The Dream

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee have incredible chemistry on commentary, and there is no debating that. So, when Cole gets excited, Pat gets hyped as well. This all added up to an incredible moment during the February 4th episode of RAW.

During the latest episode of RAW in San Antonio, Michael Cole experienced a memorable moment when Valhalla showed up with her antlers after several weeks without the presence of her headgear. Every time she showed up without antlers, Cole it out and he was noticeably bummed about it.

In an unexpected turn, she adorned Cole with the antlers, who seamlessly continued his commentary while wearing them. Michael even held his headset in his hand, only speaking into the microphone to accommodate his new Viking drip. He was very happy to make this change, as he obviously had nobody in his ear giving direction during that match.

While taking to Twitter, Michael Cole uploaded a photo of himself alongside Pat McAfee, with Cole wearing the antlers. Cole expressed that his boyhood dream had finally come true. It might have been the antlers, or fans chanting his name, but it was still an incredible moment. 

”A boyhood dream has come true.”

What’s Next For Michael Cole

Michael Cole has dedicated 27 years to his tenure in the company, and he has been able to separate his home life and career in WWE. Only time will tell when he steps away from commentary, but bringing McAfee back to join him on the RAW announce team has arguably revived the seasoned play-by-play announcer.

SEScoops will have more on this story, just in case there are further developments with Michael Cole and Valhalla’s antlers.

Watch: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins & Jey Uso Share Unique Gifts After 3/4 WWE Raw

Thomas Lowson
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The excitement didn’t stop once this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air from San Antonio, Texas. 

The March 5, 2024, edition of the red brand saw WWE continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins declared that they are coming to this week’s SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns & The Rock. It’ll be the first time the four men have come face to face since the explosive WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. 

What Happened After Monday Night Raw?

In the chaotic closing moments of Raw, Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso thanks to interference from Jimmy Uso. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins would send Jimmy scarpering but Rollins would eat a Claymore Kick from the man who’ll face him at WrestleMania 40. 

After Raw went off the air, Cody would deliver some payback for his ally by attacking McIntyre with a steel chair. In the ring, Rhodes, Rollins, and Jey regrouped. After speaking of a fan who’d used a whistle throughout the show, Rhodes thanked the fans in San Antonio for coming out. He and Rollins gifted a couple of steel chairs to members of the WWE Universe while Jey threw his signed shoes into the crowd. 

What’s Next? 

As mentioned, Seth Rollins will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at the event. It is believed that a tag match, pitting Rollins and Rhodes against Reigns and The Rock will headline WrestleMania: Saturday. 

Currently, no plans have been confirmed for Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40. It is believed that he will face Jimmy at the two-night April show, and their father Rikishi would like to be a part of that feud. 

WWE 2K24 Review: Another Fantastic Move Forward In The Series

Tyriece Simon
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Wrestling fans around the world can finally play  WWE 2K24, the installment of WWE and 2K’s best-in-class wrestling video game franchise.

WWE 2K24 Deluxe ($99.99) and 40 years of WrestleMania ($119.99) editions are now availablefor PlayStation 4 &5, Xbox Series X|S/One and Steam. The Standard Edition ($69.99) will be released this Friday, March 8.

After a remarkable entry in the series last year, fans wonder if WWE 2K24 can be even better.  I’ve played WWE 2K24 enough in advance on Xbox Series X to share this review, which I will rate between 1 and 10 at the end.

Gameplay Hits Harder Than Past WWE 2K Titles 

The developers of WWE 2K24 did a great job improving the gameplay from last year’s game. At first glance, fans may think the wrestling mechanics is precisely the same as WWE 2K23. However, the newest title adds minor tweaks that make it stand above its recent predecessors. 

One of the notable additions in the game is the ability to exchange strikes in the middle of a match. WWE 2K24 adds a fun mini-game where you and your opponent must press a button at the correct meter to land a blow. This allows a fun exchange as you try to get the better of your opponent and take control of the match. 

Another interesting decision was making the managers outside the ring as challenging as the opponent standing across from you. A player can choose managers like Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan or Miss Elizabeth, who can cause distractions, hand weapons, or even remove the turnbuckle pad. It makes having or going against someone with a manager competitive, as you deal with a wild card at ringside. 

WWE 2K24: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels Casket Match

WWE 2K Adds Fan Favorite Match Types 

 The exact match types, including War Games, are present in the newest game. That said, WWE 2K24 adds a few new matches, like the highly requested Casket and Ambulance match. Both are a great addition to WWE 2K24 and deliver fan service that longtime WWE 2K gamers have hoped to see. 

The two new match types also create an exhilarating experience as you try to put your opponent in a position to be victorious. When trying to close the casket or the doors of an ambulance on your rival, you are put to the test in a mini-game of rapidly pressing the right buttons to end the contest. 

WWE 2K24 also has the Special Guest Referee match, which puts players in control or at the mercy of an official. I found this returning match type fun when playing online with someone as a referee, as you don’t know if they will keep it neutral and add an exciting challenge. 

WWE 2K24 Adds Stakes To My Faction Mode

One of the delightful additions to WWE 2K24 was the improvement on My Faction mode. After WWE 2K23, fans wanted to be able to take characters they collected and play in other parts of the game. The developers have listened to the demand and have effectively made playing My Faction mode important to the overall experience. 

WWE 2K24 introduces unique character cards called Personas, which could be a variation of a wrestler or potentially someone completely new. This allows fans to play with that character elsewhere in the game. One of the wrestlers I unlocked when selecting my pack of cards to begin My Faction was Sheamus from 2009, and he had his older theme and appearance. 

If anyone had hesitations about playing My Faction in the past, WWE 2K24 makes it worthwhile. The ability to play with unique wrestlers in different game modes allows for more options to the already stacked roster. 

WWE 2K24: My Rise Psycho Sally

My Rise Takes Another Step Forward 

This year’s My Rise mode is one of the best efforts of the WWE 2K series. The newest title does stick to the same formula of two different storylines for a created male and female character but improves on past games. 

It feels like the developers had fun being creative and thinking of different scenarios for gamers to explore. WWE 2K24 My Rise mode puts your character on the journey to the WWE as you try to become a superstar and champion. Fans also have more options than in the past when creating their character, as WWE 2K24 adds new features like different hairstyles and clothing. 

I appreciate WWE 2K developers’ ambition and use of My Rise mode to create fun storylines. Another great addition was having different wrestlers contribute voice acting, making the journey worth exploring. WWE 2K24 My Rise was a delightful surprise and makes me wonder if the 2K decides to focus more on it in the future. 

WWE 2K24: Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant

WWE 2K24 WrestleMania Showcase Mode Doesn’t Live Up To Its Past

When it was announced that WWE 2K24 would have a WrestleMania showcase mode, I was excited about the possibilities. The last game that celebrated the history of the ‘Grandest Stage Of them All’ was WWE 2K14, and, unfortunately, the newest title couldn’t replicate what made it special. 

2K had 39 WrestleManias to highlight and celebrate some of its legendary matches but made the disappointing decision to showcase 21 bouts, some from the same event. This is unfortunate as WWE 2K14 allowed fans to go through the years and highlight one or two matches at every WrestleMania. 

What makes it worse is the decision to have cutscenes of the actual matches occur while you are playing them. This leads to jarring moments that take you out of the experience and makes the 40 years of WrestleMania Showcase mode feel like a chore. 

A decade after WWE 2K14’s successful attempt to take fans on a nostalgia trip, the WWE 2K24 showcase feels like a half-baked idea and makes me wonder if the developers had too much on their hands. 

WWE 2K24: 40 Years Of WrestleMania Cover

 Overall Conclusion Of WWE 2K24

WWE 2K24 is a step up from his past titles, especially with the gameplay and new features. The graphics look amazing, as they should for a next-gen console. WWE 2K developers also show that they listen to fan feedback about the game’s improvements. 

Although the showcase mode was a letdown, it wasn’t enough to ruin my appreciation of the game. The improvements in My Faction are great and what I believe fans will gravitate toward for replay value as they try to unlock new characters. I also think gamers will be intrigued by going through My Rise to see what unfolds in the storylines.  

WWE 2K24 has My GM and My Universe, but it is still relatively the same as WWE 2K23 compared to the other game modes. The game does have me wondering if there needs to be a new WWE 2K game every year, as more time could’ve possibly made the latest installment better. However, it’s hard to deny WWE 2K24 delivers a satisfying experience and overall lays the smackdown on past WWE 2K games. I give WWE 2K24 an 8.5 out of 10.

Review: I give WWE 2K24 an 8.5 out of 10.

Buy WWE 2K24 Here (Amazon)

Buy WWE 2K24 (Amazon)

Legendary Tough Wrestler Rumored For WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Induction

Thomas Lowson
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One of wrestling’s most legitimately tough men and a former WWE Tag Champion could be joining Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. 

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, it was noted that Haku’s name has come up as a potential WWE Hall of Fame inductee.

Haku is the father of Tama Tonga, who recently signed with WWE after wrapping up his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. TKO Board Member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has previously called Haku his uncle, though the pair are not blood-related. 

Haku in the Ring

Haku’s sole championship win in WWE saw him hold the Tag Team Championships with Andre the Giant. Haku held several titles in the NWA and other promotions, including Puerto Rico’s WWC. 

During his time in WCW, Haku, known as Meng, won the WCW Hardcore Championship. In one of the final defections of the Monday Night War, Haku returned to the WWF in January 2001 while still holding the WCW Hardcore title.

The Toughest Man in Wrestling

Haku, who also competed as Meng, is widely regarded by wrestlers to be one of, if not the toughest man to ever step in the ring. 

Ric Flair once described Haku as “the toughest son of a b**** I’ve ever met” and said he would have dominated MMA had he entered the Octagon. 

Many more of his contemporaries have acknowledged Haku as the most legitimately tough person in wrestling, Hulk Hogan, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Goldberg, Big Van Vader, and The Rock. 

One legendary tale of Haku’s toughness saw the wrestler get into an altercation with some men at a Baltimore Airport bar in 1989. After the men called wrestling fake, Haku handily fought the men, despite being outnumbered, and bit the nose off of one of the individuals. 

Shane Douglas once said that he’d be better off fighting the U.S. Army than legitimately fighting Haku. He also recalled an incident when law enforcement attempted to restrain Haku, who was able to fight them off. 

During the altercation, Haku was hit in the face with a baton while sprayed with a can of mace but neither caused him any pain. 

WrestleMania Twist: John Cena Unveils WWE’s Shift in Firefly Fun House Match Plan With Bray Wyatt

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania is known for larger than life match-ups, and you never know what will happen on the grandest stage of them all. John Cena and Bray Wyatt made history in their Firefly Fun House match, but it turns out that they didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for things.

The pandemic halted a ton of plans for the entire world. Thankfully, WWE was able to figure out how to operate in Florida, a state that deemed pro wrestling as an essential service. All of that craziness surrounding logistics for WrestleMania 36 also only gave them three days to figure out what to do at the show of show with Cena and Wyatt.

WWE’s Original Plan For WrestleMania 36

John Cena recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, where he revealed a lot of things. Not only did he admit that a heel turn was planned several years ago, but he even had new music and gear made up for that turn. Cena also revealed something very interesting about his confrontation with Bray.

That match against Bray Wyatt was actually supposed to be a standard match. The Firefly Fun House aspect was tacked on later, and they had to figure out what that match even was in a very short amount of time.

“I remember three days before we filmed the Firefly Fun House match. It was the last TV taping where they came in and they’re like, ‘You’re gonna have a Firefly Fun House match’, and I remember there were three people in one of the conference rooms in NXT with me. I said, ‘What’s a Firefly Fun House match?’ They said, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Great! What can we do’, and that was like, oh, man, again, control the controllable. I wish we had an audience. Performers are like. I wish there could be blood. I wish we could do chair shots to the head. I wish we could swear. I wish I could flip people off. Control the controllable. Use the tools in your tool belt. How do we make something entertaining over a two day period with no audience, and they gave us a stipulation.

Everybody else has a regular match and it’s your stip. It’s not a doctor of Thuganomics match or a Hustle, Loyalty, Respect match that’s completely different. You have these definitive characters. You have all this ammunition. You have all this personality and that’s what people really radiate towards. Holy sh*t. We can make this a meta look at my life and we can get away with it. What do we have up in the warehouse? We have the fist. We have the blue cage. I can get some NWO stuff. We can make this work. I remember this the only match I’ve ever written from start to finish. My poor wife, I made her print it out and I’m writing and giving her paper. She said, ‘What is this? What does it even mean?’ ‘Just print it. I need it’, and somewhere I still have the original draft in my handwriting of the Firefly Fun House. Bray couldn’t have been better.

He knew what was up and he knew the whole thing. I wrote it the night before so I’m trying to text these guys like, I got something weird. I think I might have a picture of the draft still in my phone. I don’t have it with me, but I have it saved as a text that I sent him the night of the match, especially after we saw The Undertaker’s match the night before. Oh, my man, they crushed it, and there was a whole lot more physicality. We got one punch and I texted him how nervous I was, but I wanted to thank him for being so brave and trusting me and I think I couldn’t have done any more. I think we gave it our best shot and hopefully, it works, and it was an effort that I am very proud of.”

Things worked out in the end, as John Cena got to work that whole match without any physicality until the final moments. Bray Wyatt also gave a fantastic performance throughout, adding another amazing highlight to his ingenious character.

John Cena’s Candid Interview

John Cena also revealed what he said to MJF during The Iron Claw premiere. He wanted to know when the Salt of the Earth might switch sides and play for WWE. Only time will tell if that actually happens any time soon.

Cena certainly made a ton of memories during his time in WWE, and he can speak candidly about that now. Sadly, Bray Wyatt passed away in August 2023, and the pro wrestling world is still mourning that great loss. At least, Cena was able to mix it up with the Eater of Worlds to create an unforgettable WrestleMania moment.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, so please keep checking back for updates!

John Cena Reveals Abandoned WWE Heel Turn Before Classic WrestleMania Match

Aaron Varble
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John Cena is a shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer at this point, and he is a bona fide Hollywood heavy-hitter as well. Although he’s been a good guy for his entire career, there was one big plan that would have changed history.

The Rock and John Cena battled at two consecutive WrestleMania events in a row at Mania 28 and 29. It seems that WWE had a plan to turn Cena heel during that first encounter, and he even had new gear made. So, the idea got far enough along for Cena to drop money on the idea of a new character.

John Cena’s Nixed Heel Turn

During the conversation with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, John Cena reflected on his experience while preparing for his first Once In A Lifetime match against The Rock. It seems that a heel turn may have been in the pipeline for a time.

Upon learning about the plan, Cena swiftly took action, recording a new song, acquiring fresh gear, and contemplating his character’s direction. However, he admitted feeling unprepared for the transition to “Ruthless Aggression.” 

Despite the rush, Cena embraced the challenge, delving into the mindset of a heel. He deliberately contrasted his previous persona by embodying traits opposite to his usual demeanor, such as laziness, untrustworthiness, and disrespect. Rather than focusing solely on physicality, Cena prioritized crafting compelling narratives and character development to evoke a genuine sense of antagonism. Ultimately, he acknowledged that while the concept had potential, it was ultimately deemed impractical.

“I heard rumblings of, we’re going to do it, and in 48 hours, I had a new track, a new studio mix theme song, and a final mix. I had seven new singlets, low-cut singlets with boxing-type robes. I already had the boots in storage, so I dusted them off. I was ready to go and already thinking about what I could do with the story. Okay, what is a heel? A heel is not just new gear. The objectivity, or the message behind the singlet and the boxing robes and the boots is the exact opposite of what you saw with the street gear, the jeans shorts, the t-shirt, the ball cap, the sneakers.”

John Cena’s WWE Future

Of course, John Cena never turned heel, and he will probably never be a full-on bad guy in WWE at this point. His career may not be over, because he still wants to, at least, do something at WrestleMania 40. The fact is that WWE makes way too much money with Cena as a babyface.

Only time will tell what is in the future for WWE. They may just find themselves with another career babyface, because it would be hard to turn someone like Cody Rhodes at this point. There will certainly never be another John Cena, because no matter how many times they could have turned him heel, Vince McMahon never pulled that trigger.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story in case there are any additional updates. 

John Cena Suggested That MJF Play For A Different Team During Viral Meeting

Aaron Varble
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MJF is one of AEW’s pillars, and Tony Khan certainly doesn’t want to lose him. That being said, there is a whole pro wrestling world who would be very interested to see if the Salt of the Earth could excel in another environment. 

When John Cena and MJF were caught having a little chat at The Iron Claw premiere, fans didn’t know what to think. It turns out that Cena was suggesting to MJF that he join a different team in the future.

Cena Tells All

John Cena and MJF made headlines when they had a chance to meet at The Iron Claw premiere. The two had a bit of a conversation, and everyone was wondering what was said. Now, we have a much better idea.

While speaking to Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cena revealed that during their encounter, Cena found MJF to be remarkably courteous and professional, contrary to any initial assumptions he might have had. He expressed regret for any misconceptions and commended MJF for his professionalism. Despite the potential for theatrics at the movie premiere, MJF conducted himself admirably.

John Cena went on to say that he had a couple interactions with MJF that night. First off, he apologized to him for not knowing how professional he would be. Then Cena made a comment to MJF about trying to get him to play for a different team down the line.

“Sports entertainment is a finicky business, and again, there’s a lot of chances to make moments. This is one of their top performers for AEW and I don’t know if I’m going to be the target of a moment. I’m just going to support my friend in a movie. He couldn’t have been nicer. He couldn’t have been more cordial. We met each other and I got pulled away to take some pictures and then we were about to go do everything else before I even got to you, and I was like, ‘Hold on. Give me two minutes.’ I shook his hand. I said, ‘Man, I’m so sorry. Excuse my ignorance, I didn’t know what to expect from you today. You are a class act. I can’t believe you’re as professional as you are. That’s just my ignorance. I’m sorry I had that judgment. I want to thank you for being so special. Thanks for making my night.’ Then we got back and I was able to talk to him more and I kind of was like, ‘Maybe we can get you to play for the right team one day’, and all that. There’s no denying the fact that he’s doing good work and I don’t think that I should ignore that. Honestly, I was floored by his professionalism. Where it would have been an easy target at a wrestling movie premiere to have yourself a moment, and we did have a moment, and it was one that the internet paid attention to. It was one where I was hoping that this person that I met, I could once bet on like, ‘Man, oh, we just get you over here. That’d be awesome’ but it was great. It was great to meet a professional, classy, driven young man.”

MJF’s Contract Situation

MJF’s contract situation is a very interesting one. Many believe that he inked a new deal with AEW in 2022 prior to his return from hiatus. Others are not so sure, because he claims that no contract was signed.

I asked people throughout WWE about the possibility of MJF signing. The overall belief is that he is still under a contact with Tony Khan, and that is not going to change any time soon.

We will have to see what the future holds. Right now, MJF is enjoying a break from AEW television, after a long run as World Champion. His body is healing, but you never know what he will decide to do so he can get everyone talking about him again.

WWE Triumphs On Cameo As Platform’s #1 Searched Category

Thomas Lowson
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WWE’s current product is doing big business and has proven to be a hit with fans and the company’s efforts are also being recognized by users of Cameo. 

On Twitter, Cameo asked its followers what they think is the most searched term on the platform, before revealing that WWE has taken the top spot. This caught the attention of the USA Network, which hosts Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT, who was pleased with the result.

Wrestling’s Top Cameo Earners

Cameo allows fans to receive personal videos from their favorite WWE Superstars and legends for a price that can vary. In November 2022, Mick Foley was revealed as the highest-earning sports figure on the platform, earning over $500,000 that year. Second to Foley was Bret Hart followed by AEW’s Matt Hardy and Danhausen. 

WWE And Cameo

WWE has had a unique history with Cameo. In 2020, WWE clamped down on third-party deals featuring Superstars. Then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself oversaw a meeting in which he made clear that deals with Twitch, Cameo, and Only fans would no longer be allowed.

This decision saw backlash from fans, given that the COVID-19 pandemic meant that Superstars were unable to make extra income from in-person interactions (such as at conventions.) The situation worsened when WWE announced that The Undertaker would be making Cameos to mark his ‘Final Farewell’ that November, while full-time Superstars were still banned.

When Zelina Vega spoke against the van and expressed her support for unionization, she was fired minutes later. Vega was brought back to WWE the following year and WWE relaxed its ban on third-party deals in 2022.  

Anthony Bowens Pays Tribute To Sting With Throwback Photo

Ella Jay
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Sting’s in-ring career may now be in the rearview mirror, but his legacy continues to live on.

On Sunday night, the 64-year-old competed in what would be his final professional wrestling match in the main event of AEW Revolution. There, Sting, along with Darby Allin, successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) in a tornado tag team match.

A Thank You To ‘The Icon’

Following Sting’s victory, several wrestling personalities weighed in on social media to pay homage and share positive memories of “The Icon.” One of those was Sting’s colleague, and former AEW Tag Team Champion, Anthony Bowens.

As evidenced by the throwback photo posted to X (formerly Twitter), Bowens is a long-time fan of “The Icon,’ even going as far as donning Sting-inspired facepaint when he was younger. Bowens also credits Sting with sparking his love for professional wrestling.

“Thank you Sting. My love of this sport started with you,” Bowens wrote. “Your support and confidence in me has meant the world. There’s a saying you should never meet your heroes, but I’m so glad you proved that to be false. You’re the f***ing man. Thank you for everything.”

Full-Circle Moment

In addition to sharing a locker room with Sting, Anthony Bowens also received the opportunity to wrestle him. On the January 19, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite, Bowens and Max Caster (together known as The Acclaimed) faced off with Sting and Allin in tag team action.

The ending of the contest saw Allin sidestep while Bowens charged toward a previously exposed turnbuckle. After laying out Bowens with a flipping stunner, Allin then nailed him with a Coffin Drop for the win.

Darby Allin’s Daredevil Dive: How Many Stitches Were Required To Repair Lacerated Back After AEW Revolution

Aaron Varble
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Darby Allin wrecked himself at AEW Revolution. He took a bold dive off a ladder onto the floor, but his target moved, and he went through a sheet of glass, cutting himself to ribbons in the process. It seems that he’s all fixed up now.

Despite the fact that fans saw Allin bleed like a stuck pig on live pay-per-view, his damage wasn’t terrible. It turns out that he only needed 12 stitches to fix him up.

Darby Allin’s Injury Status

Sting and Darby Allin, AEW Tag Team Champions, defended their titles against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution last month. During the intense bout, Darby Allin took a brutal dive from a ladder through a glass panel, resulting in significant injury. Despite the risky move, Sting and Allin managed to retain their titles in the main event, securing Sting’s retirement with an undefeated streak.

Following the match, Wrestling Observer Radio‘s Brian Alvarez revealed that Darby Allin required only twelve stitches for his injuries sustained during the match. This news may surprise fans who anticipated a more severe outcome given the nature of the spot.

“The update from the pay-per-view is that Darby Allin needed 12 stitches. That is crazy. I saw his back. I thought it was gonna be 12,000 stitches, but he needed 12.”

Dave Meltzer then noted that there were tons of little cuts on Darby’s back. So, “by the time the match went for a while all the blood from those cuts was all over the place, but it wasn’t like it was slashed from top to bottom like that.”

What’s Next For Darby Allin

It turns out that they didn’t need a ton of attention to fix Darby Allin up. Regardless, he is now on her way to climb Mount Everest at this point.

It will be interesting to see how AEW books Allin from this point on. His time with Sting is over, and now he is going to be on his own at this point. Only time will tell what kind of dangerous spot he does next, but he’s not done with his pro wrestling career by a long shot.

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

Daily Drop (3/5): Sting Gets Love From WWE, Another AEW Star Exits The Company

Aaron Varble
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0

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 5th. We had WWE RAW last night, and it was quite a show. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 32

WWE

– WWE gave Sting love during RAW this week for his retirement match. This came after fans called out the company for snubbing The Icon.

– Paul Heyman is the first inductee into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. It turns out that he rejected this honor in the past, and you can click here to find out why he previously turned it down.

– Seth Rollins revealed during WWE RAW that he received his medical clearance today for that pesky MCL issue.

– Vince McMahon cashed out over $400 million in TKO stock. This move got a lot of people talking.

– Rhea Ripley survived a hacking attempt. She didn’t seem too bothered by the event though.

– John Cena may have teased a 17th World Title run. While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, he said, “My next one. I have often said that the time is coming for me to hang them up and I’m not lying when I say, but it’s not tomorrow. It’s probably soon but not tomorrow, so you never know.”

– The NXT brand is presenting Roadblock tonight on the USA Network. They have quite a card ready, and you can check it out below.

  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver
  • Dijak vs. Joe Gacy: Asylum match
  • The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley: Tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin (c) vs. Chase University (Andre Chase and Duke Hudson) (with Riley Osborne): Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Shawn Spears vs. TBA: Singles match

AEW:

– Mike Santana is no longer All Elite. He departed from the company, and there is a lot to unpack there.

– SEScoops put up a new article breaking down AEW’s new 9 pay-per-view schedule.

– Sting said his relationship with Darby Allin was mutually beneficial.

– Lance Archer teased that his AEW contract may be coming up soon. While speaking to Wrestling Purists, he said, “I mean, there could be some renegotiations pretty soon (for my AEW deal) but, everything’s good right now.”

– Despite his return at AEW Revolution, Kyle O’Reilly revealed on Instagram that he is still waiting on his medical clearance.

– Deonna Purrazzo addressed her recent loss on Twitter, confirming that she tapped out Toni Storm and breaking her silence on the surprising defeat. She said, “Toni Storm tapped out. That is all.”

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.

WWE Hall of Fame Rejection: Why Paul Heyman Turned Down Past Induction Opportunities

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania is in Philadelphia this year, and that city means a lot to Paul Heyman. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, which is a perfect location for him to receive that honor. It turns out that this was not the first time WWE tried to enshrine him into their Hall of Fame.

This year will mark the first year that Triple H gets to pick his Hall of Fame. Paul Heyman just so happens to be the first name that was announced under this new era. Although it’s not clear when WWE tried to induct him before, Heyman turned down that spot in the past.

Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction

Paul Heyman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this year wasn’t unexpected, given his longstanding contribution to WWE programming. As we stated above, the Philly location made everything perfect.

During a segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed insights into Paul Heyman’s induction. He highlighted that this year’s class was selected by Paul Levesque rather than Vince McMahon, signifying a shift in decision-making authority.

Meltzer mentioned that Heyman had previously declined the offer to join the Hall of Fame but accepted this time, likely influenced by being the inaugural Paul Levesque inductee and the connection to Philadelphia, the birthplace of ECW, a pivotal chapter in Heyman’s career. Additionally, Meltzer speculated that Heyman’s inclusion might fulfill the requirement for a main eventer in the class.

“Yeah, so trivia note, this will be the first Hall of Fame class chosen by Triple H, and not Vince McMahon. So, Paul Heyman is the first Triple H Hall of Famer. He’s been offered the Hall of Fame before, but he turned it down with the idea that, you know, he’s still active. He didn’t want to be in the Hall of Fame until his career was over. I think the idea of being the first Triple H inductee, and it’s in Philly where ECW is from, and one of his main career claims to fame is ECW, maybe his biggest in a lot of ways, so there’s that.”

It was noted that “he has been offered this before,” but this year was a year he took the honor. It’s unknown exactly why Heyman didn’t turn it down this year, but fans in Philly will certainly show up to give Paul E his flowers.

2024 WWE Hall of Fame

As of this writing, we do now know who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame. We will have to see who else receives an honor this year to round out the class.

The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will go down after the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 40. Although no other inductees have been announced, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer mentioned that they heard a rumor that Haku is receiving an induction this year as well.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information is made available. 

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