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Beloved Employee For Over 38 Years Released By WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE traditionally makes personnel cuts following the WrestleMania season. With the 40th “Show of Shows” now concluded, several significant internal changes are underway.

Sue Aitchison, the long-standing Director of Community Relations at WWE, has parted ways with the company, according to PWInsider.com. 

Her departure follows the recent exits of two other high-profile employees: Dan Ventrelle, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, who was released on April 11, and Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, who also left earlier this week.

Sue Aitchison’s Contributions to WWE

Sue Aitchison was not only the longest-serving employee at World Wrestling Entertainment but also a 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Warrior Award recipient. Joining in 1986, she dedicated over 38 years to the company as the Director of Community Relations. 

Sue Aitchison receives the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award

Aitchison was instrumental in spearheading WWE’s community outreach, notably enhancing the company’s relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and initiating various community projects such as the WrestleMania Reading Challenge.

Her outstanding work with Make-A-Wish was honored with the Chris Greicius Award in both 2006 and 2016. Aitchison’s departure is viewed by many as the end of an era in WWE history.

WWE’s Pattern of Releases

As WWE continues to evolve under its new leadership, the pattern of releasing key team members remains apparent. Historically, Vince McMahon would announce a series of roster cuts post-WrestleMania. 

In recent years, these cuts have typically been postponed until after WWE’s event in Saudi Arabia, but precede the annual draft. 

The next WWE Draft is scheduled for April 28 (SmackDown) and May 1 (RAW), and it remains to be seen if further roster cuts will be announced following this series of internal changes.

Kenny Omega: Sometimes A Backstage Fight Is Needed, It’s Not Meant to Be Shown On-Screen

Thomas Lowson
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Kenny Omega has said that sometimes, a backstage fight or two is what it takes in wrestling for wrestlers with grievances to let it all out. 

Since 2022, the topic of backstage fights has cast a dark cloud over AEW, of which Omega is an Executive Vice President. Speaking about All Out 2022 during a recent Twitch stream, Omega admitted that he is of the belief that sometimes, a fight is needed to let things out, but admits this isn’t the right stance in 2024. 

https://twitter.com/puroresuflow/status/1779147574311535003

“I’ve played a lot of contact sports and I’ve gotten into jiu-jitsu and boxing and mixed martial arts… Sometimes emotions will get the best of you and people will want to throw hands. I am unfortunately, or fortunately a believer of it, I think that if it’s decided ‘Hey, this is the best way to solve things’ and you can shake hands after and move on after, I’m actually a believer of fighting.

“I am and it sounds terrible to say and that’s why, don’t make me an EVP in 2024. You can’t do that stuff anymore. I just feel that sometimes that’s how you have to settle things. Sometimes.”

AEW All Out 2022’s backstage fight, now known as ‘Brawl Out,’ would not be the last backstage fight, as Jack Perry and CM Punk would get physical at AEW All In: London less than a year later. Footage from the fight was recently aired on AEW Dynamite though many believe the move to ‘stick it’ to Punk has backfired on Tony Khan. 

During the stream, Omega didn’t mention the All In fight or Khan’s decision to air the footage directly, but said that such fights aren’t meant to be shown on screen.

“I don’t mean you have to settle it and then it be shown on screen to everyone or people have to brag online about who won [or] who lost. No, it’s not for that purpose. It’s for the purpose of getting that stuff out that you need to get out.”

Ultimately, AEW has aired the footage from All In and that can’t be undone. Many now believe though that AEW and Khan are regretting the decision, as many videos of the footage shared online are being flagged by the promotion. 

As for Omega, he is continuing to recover from diverticulitis and it remains unclear when he will be back in the ring. We’re continuing to wish him a full and speedy recovery.

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Riho Back in Japan to Renew Visa, No Idea When AEW Return Will Happen

Thomas Lowson
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Fans wanting to see Riho back in the ring will have to keep waiting as the former AEW Women’s World Champion is currently in Japan to renew her work Visa. 

Despite being one of the earliest names signed to AEW, fans haven’t seen much of Riho as of late. In a social media post, the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion shared that she’s currently in Japan and is waiting for her Visa to be renewed. Riho added that she does not know when she will be returning to AEW programming. 

Riho’s social media post explaining her absence. 

Riho has competed just seven times for AEW over the past 12 months. Her most recent match was on the AEW Dynamite ‘Big Business’ show in March of 2024. She was defeated by Willow Nightingale. 

Visa Issues

Riho Isn’t the only name to be dealing with Visa issues. Jay White was absent from AEW’s recent events in Canada and it was reported that was due to Visa problems prohibiting him from working in the Great White North. 

Rush’s most recent match for AEW was at Worlds End and saw him on the losing side of an eight-man tag-team match. Not only is Rush dealing with Visa issues, but he has also been recovering from an injury.

Katsutori Shibata had to return to Japan in November 2023 due to Visa issues. This resulted in him relinquishing the Ring of Honor PURE Championship to Wheeler Yuta. This was hardly the biggest setback of his career though, as Shibata nearly died after a match with Kazuchika Okada in 2017. He now plans to end his wrestling career with AEW. 

Visa issues are an unfortunate side-effect of wrestlers who seek success outside of their home country. Hopefully, it won’t be long before Riho has things sorted and is back in an AEW ring once more. 

Daily Drop (4/13): WWE Introduces New Bloodline, Jon Moxley Wins NJPW Gold

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for Saturday, April 13, 2024. There is a lot going on in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any time.

You never know what can happen in the pro wrestling world, and fans woke up to Jon Moxley as the new IWPG World Heavyweight Champion as he beat Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot.

WWE fans are also talking about how the Bloodline changed last night on SmackDown. Tama Tonga finally made his WWE debut, and it was to take out Jimmy Uso and seemingly replace him in the faction.

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop:

WWE:

– Vince Selling Out: McMahon’s remaining TKO shares are now registered for sale. It looks like The Chairman is finally getting out of the pro wrestling business.

– Matt Riddle Walkout: Ex WWE Superstar Matt Riddle didn’t make the best impression at the NJPW Windy City Riot show. After he lost his match to Zach Sabre Jr, he rolled out of the ring, no-sold the defeat, danced around a bit and walked off. That was not a great look for the Original Bro.

– Strange Days Ahead: WWE is still teasing something ominous with weird messages during SmackDown.

– Foxxy is Back: Alicia Fox, as Vix Crow, wrestled her first match in years last night. She impressed a lot of people by not skipping a beat.

– Stone Cold Talks: to make a WrestleMania appearance, but they couldn’t agree on money. So, The Undertaker replaced him in the main event match.

AEW:

– Scapegoat Update: Jack Perry referenced AEW airing the CM Punk footage during the NJPW Windy City Riot show.

– No Swearing: Toni Storm said that Thunder Rosa’s name is considered like a profanity around her household.

– Sting After Retirement: What will Sting do now? We have an update in one of your latest articles.

AEW Collision Card (4/13):

  • AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. AZM
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
  • Lee Moriarty vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Dante Martin, Action Andretti & Matt Sydal

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • 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.

Adam Copeland Is Thankful Wrestling Has Moved Past ‘Live Sex Celebration’ Era

Anutosh Bajpai
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Adam Copeland is glad that wrestling has moved past segments such as the infamous live sex celebration.

The TNT Champion recently had an interview with Chek Media where they talked about the change in wrestling culture over the past few decades. Copeland was asked about the infamous segment and how he has grown since then.

Copeland mentioned that despite the difference in eras, he knew even back then that things they were doing were inappropriate. According to the AEW star, if he was offered any such thing today, he would have the confidence to just say no:

“Well Adam Copeland now would say no to that. But Adam Copeland then was like, ‘I guess this is part of the gig, this is what I got to do.’ Knowing even at the time, even with time differences or anything like that, it’s like, ‘Well, this sucks,’ and it did. It really did.

Now I have the confidence in myself, confidence as a performer. To know ‘nah I don’t gotta do that. I bring more than that to the table.’ I can do more with my eyes. than I can with trying cheap stuff like that. So that’s nice that the industry has grown from that because yeah, it’s easy to go for low-hanging fruit.

I think that’s one thing that wrestling did a lot of, and thankfully I think has learned its lesson. I think as society has progressed, as everyone has just kind of progressed and moved forward. I think thankfully, it has too, which wasn’t always the case. It could kind of be the outlier who was left lagging behind, but I feel like now it’s different, and in a good way.”

The Power of No: Adam Copeland

When asked what advice he would give to any young talent who is offered any such role, Adam Copeland referenced the rise of the internet and social media. He explained that before accepting any such thing, you have to consider the fact that it can live on forever:

“Well, I think you just gotta [know] what are you comfortable with. Not only what are you comfortable with but what are you comfortable with living possibly forever? That’s a big decision to make now, right? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with, no matter what your age, going ‘Nah I think I’m good.’ The power of no, is a beautiful thing.”

Edge cashed in his Money In The Bank contract to defeat John Cena and win his first World Championship at the 2006 New Year’s Revolution event. The next night on Raw, the Rated R Superstar declared that he would celebrate the win with ‘hot, unbridled sex’ with Lita live on the show. The segment went on for a while before it was interrupted by Ric Flair and later Cena.

You can check out Adam Copeland’s full interview below:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription.

Miro Shares Details On AEW Absence, Has a Great Relationship with Tony Khan

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Miro is working hard to recover from his latest injury setback but there’s no word on when fans can expect the Bulgarian back in action. 

Fans last saw Miro in the ring at AEW Worlds End where he defeated Andrade El Idolo thanks to an assist from CJ Perry. A lot has changed since then, including Andrade’s returning to WWE in January 2024 and Perry and Miro announcing their separation. 

Sitting down with Sportskeeda’s WrestleBinge, Miro was asked about his ongoing absence from AEW and shared that he’s dealing with multiple injuries. 

“I have a shoulder injury and an elbow injury that occurred late last year, so finally took care of it late January. Got a whole bunch of shots and now I’m recovering.”

Miro added that he plans on coming back “better than ever” but there’s no word on when that’ll be, leaving fans to wonder what’s next for the former TNT Champion.

Working with Tony Khan

Miro’s return was supposed to come as part of the ‘Meat Madness’ match at AEW Revolution that was scrapped as both Miro and Keith Lee couldn’t compete. Despite this, Miro maintains a positive relationship with the AEW President. 

Tony’s great, man. He’s creative, his mind is running always, he always thinks about wrestling, he’s always thinking about how to get things better. So I respect that. I respect that he loves wrestling.”

Miro’s stance on Khan is an interesting one considering that the AEW President has often overlooked the former TNT Champion. In fact, Miro’s absence from programming in 2023 (that wasn’t due to injury) led to Miro’s then-wife CJ Perry claiming Khan was playing favorites. 

Miro’s future remains uncertain, though he said in the interview that he’d love to face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe or AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland. And while some of Khan’s decisions may not have gone down well with many, Miro is pleased to be a part of AEW. 

Watch: Matt Riddle Walks Out After Losing NJPW World TV Championship

Thomas Lowson
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Matt Riddle was in no mood to stick around after losing the NJPW World Television Championship at NJPW Windy City Riot 2024. 

Riddle lost the gold to Zack Sabre Jr. at the April 12, event from Chicago, IL. After the pinfall loss, Riddle immediately got out of the ring and walked to the back, laughing and dancing without any regard for the outcome. This is hardly a good look for Riddle as it seems that the title meant nothing to him

This win makes Sabre the first-ever two-time NJPW World TV Champion. He was the inaugural champion and won the title at Wrestle Kingdom in January 2017 and held the title for exactly one year. 

NJPW Windy City Riot Highlights

Riddle’s behavior wasn’t the only notable part of New Japan’s Windy City Riot event. The show also saw Jon Moxley become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion with a main event win over Tetsuya Naito. The win makes Moxley the first man in history to have held the WWE, AEW, and New Japan World Championships. 

Jack Perry also competed at NJPW Windy City Riot in a loss to Shota Umino. For his entrance, Perry wore a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER.’ This was an obvious nod to Perry’s backstage altercation with CM Punk at AEW All In: London which resulted in both being suspended and Punk later being fired. 

AEW broadcasted the backstage footage during a segment on AEW Dynamite but removed the footage when uploading the segment in question to YouTube. 

Vince McMahon’s Remaining TKO Group Holdings Shares Registered for Sale

Thomas Lowson
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The Vince McMahon era is indeed coming to an end as the ex-WWE Chairman’s remaining shares in TKO Group Holdings have been listed for sale. 

A filing published on April 12 revealed that 8,021,405 TKO shares belonging to Vince McMahon had been registered for sale. This allows for the shares to be bought and sold with less administrative friction. This move doesn’t necessarily mean that Vince will be selling all of his shares, although he might. Should every share be sold, it would mean that McMahon has no official stake in TKO Group Holdings.

This move comes mere days after McMahon sold 1.642 million shares to Endeavor while TKO purchased 1.853 million shares. These two sales earned McMahon an approximate $293 million. 

McMahon unloaded 5.35 million shares in early March and sold 3.48 million more shares that same month. With his 8,021,405 shares, McMahon retains a 4.7% stake in TKO. 

A New Era Dawns

McMahon’s selling of shares comes at a pivotal time for WWE as the promotion continues to distance itself from the former Chairman. Over WrestleMania week, there was a lot of talk of a ‘new era’ in WWE with Stephanie McMahon calling this the ‘Paul Levesque Era’ during WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

It’s hard not to notice this ‘new era’ both on WWE programming and behind the scenes. WWE’s changes to its on-screen production have been praised by fans who appreciate the new style of Lee Fitting who has replaced company veteran Kevin Dunn. Behind the scenes, Dan Ventrelle has left WWE as the company’s Head of Talent Relations with Triple H and Shawn Michaels overseeing both talent and talent development. 

You Forgot About Us: WWE Continues Ominous Teases On 4/12 Post-WrestleMania SmackDown

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Universe was once again given an ominous message via a ‘glitch’ as part of the April 12, post-WrestleMania 40 edition of WWE SmackDown. 

The glitch occurred during a tag-team match pitting Chelsea Green & Piper Niven against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Though it appeared for a fraction of a second, eagle-eyed fans were able to spot the message ‘you forgot about us.’

What does this message on WWE SmackDown mean? 

This wasn’t the only bizarre message in store for the fans who attended WWE SmackDown in Detroit. Before the show, eerie music was played, and the video screens displayed the WWE SmackDown logo in black and white. 

What Does This Mean? 

These incidents at the April 12, episode of WWE SmackDown aren’t the only bizarre sightings as of late. During the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw, a ‘glitch’ during a promo with ‘Big’ Bronson Reed bore the message ‘hello.’

The prevailing theory among fans is that this is setting up the return of Uncle Howdy, who was portrayed by Bo Dallas in 2022 and 2023. The character was introduced following Bray Wyatt’s return at WWE Extreme Rules 2022 but was pulled from TV alongside Wyatt in early 2023. As one fan with a good memory pointed out on Twitter, Howdy previously described himself as ‘us’ during a segment. 

The ‘us’ line has also had fans speculating that Uncle Howdy will not return alone, and that Alexa Bliss’ return to programming may be drawing near. Bliss was once associated with Wyatt but hasn’t competed in over a year due to pregnancy. The former Women’s Champion gave birth to daughter Hendrix last year. Before plans were nixed due to Bray’s illness, there were reported plans for a ‘Wyatt 6’ faction that would’ve included Uncle Howdy. 

Vix Crow (Alicia Fox) Victorious In First Wrestling Match in Years at Starrcast: Down Under

Thomas Lowson
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Vix Crow, better known to fans as WWE’s Alicia Fox, proved she’s still got ‘it’ with an impressive victory in her first wrestling match in a very long time. 

Crow competed against fellow WWE alum Mickie James at the all-female Starrcast: Down Under ‘HER’ event. As seen in the match highlights below, Crow hadn’t lost a step when she defeated the former WWE & TNA Women’s Champion. 

This match was Crow’s first official match in wrestling since January 2022 when she was a surprise entrant in the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match won by Ronda Rousey (which also featured James.) The match at ‘HER’ was Crow’s first singles match since the April 22, 2019, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, where she lost to Becky Lynch. Her previous singles victory was back on the July 30, 2018, episode of Raw where she defeated Natalya. 

Vix Crow is Back

Crow was with WWE for over a decade but confirmed in May 2023 that she was a free agent. Crow later admitted that she felt bad about how things ended with WWE as there was a lack of communication by the promotion over her status on the roster. 

Whether Vix Crow wrestles again or if her role at Starrcast was a one-off remains to be seen. In the past, the former WWE Divas & 24/7 Champion has shown interest in facing off with Deonna Purrazzo and Ruby Soho, both of whom are with AEW. Whatever the future holds, Crow remains in great ring condition which certainly bodes well for her future. 

Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After (4/12) SmackDown Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Cody Rhodes wasn’t made fully aware of all the perks of being the top champion in WWE and he actually got surprised by his pyro during the dark match entrance after SmackDown went off air.

The American Nightmare opened tonight’s show. He first talked about his Universal Championship win and then confirmed that he will be defending the title at the upcoming Backlash: France event.

The new champion came out once again for a dark match after the show went off air. He successfully defended his title against ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio and cut a promo for the crowd after the match was over:

What Happened On SmackDown

Elsewhere in the show we also saw a huge change in the order of the Bloodline. While Roman Reigns wasn’t present for the episode, Paul Heyman alongside Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso were involved in a segment.

Heyman first claimed that they take accountability for the WrestleMania loss. Before he could finish his promo, however, Sikoa took the mic and declared that losing has consequences. This was in reference to Jimmy losing his WrestleMania 40 match against brother Jey Uso.

A hooded figure then appeared out of nowhere and beat down Jimmy Uso, essentially kicking him out of the faction. The figure revealed himself as the newest member of The Bloodline – Tama Tonga.

Solo and Tonga delivered a brutal beatdown to Jimmy and the segment ended with Heyman joining them while they returned to the back.

Elsewhere in the show, we also saw Bron Breakker winning his first singles match after saying goodbye to NXT and Jade Cargill teaming up with Bianca Belair for a victory over Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

Jon Moxley Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Title with Historic Victory at NJPW Windy City Riot

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Jon Moxley has added another massive accomplishment to his legendary career by becoming the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

In the main event of NJPW Windy City Riot, Moxley dethroned Tetsuya Naito for the gold. Naito had held the title since Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024, where he had dethroned Sanada. 

Not only did Moxley win the gold, but he has also made history in the process. With this victory, the AEW star has become the first person to win the richest prize in New Japan, All Elite Wrestling, and WWE. 

Renee Paquette & Tony Khan Show Support

Moxley had two important allies by his side for his latest World Championship victory, most importantly his wife Renee Paquette:

AEW President Tony Khan was also spotted at the event and congratulated Mox on winning New Japan’s top prize in the same building where he first won the AEW World Championship.

One fan attempted to call him out for attending NJPW Windy City Riot instead of his own show, AEW Rampage, which also aired Friday night (but was taped earlier in the week). Khan joked that it was a ‘Friday Night Timecop’ situation, a reference to the 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme about a time-traveling law enforcement officer.

Cry Me a River

Moxley wasn’t the only notable name at NJPW Windy City Riot, as Jack Perry competed against Shota Umino in a losing effort. As you can watch below, Perry arrived to his match with a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER,’ a nod to his backstage altercation with CM Punk at All In: London that AEW recently aired. 

‘Scapegoat’ Jack Perry References AEW All In Fight with CM Punk at NJPW Windy City Riot

Thomas Lowson
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Jack Perry’s AEW future remains uncertain, but the former Jungle Boy was able to poke fun at CM Punk during a recent appearance in Chicago, IL. 

During the April 10, episode of Dynamite, AEW made the bold decision to air the backstage altercation between Perry and Punk from All In: London 2023. Many have criticized the move as unnecessary with many arguing releasing the footage has done more damage to AEW’s reputation than CM Punk’s. 

At the NJPW Windy City Riot event in Chicago, Perry took on Shota Umino. Before the two locked up though, the self-professed ‘Scapegoat’ arrived with security and the flag of Chicago. Perry also wore a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER.’ It was this comment during his All In: London match with HOOK that led to Punk confronting him backstage. 

As for the match, Perry would hold his own against Umino but was ultimately defeated by the Japanese wrestler who used a Death Rider. After the match, Perry offered Umino a handshake, which Umino accepted.

What’s to Come for Jack Perry? 

Some believe that releasing the All In: London footage could mark the start of Perry’s return to AEW programming. With that said, Tony Khan was recently said to still be mad at Perry over what transpired, with the belief that Perry ‘cost’ AEW CM Punk, who has since returned to WWE. 

Khan may not be pleased with Perry referencing the backstage fight, despite it being Khan’s decision to release the footage this week in the first place. AEW has been flagging videos of the fight and having them taken down. Some believe this is a sign AEW & Khan are regretting airing the backstage altercation. 

Outside of AEW, Perry has continued to make a name for himself as the ‘Scapegoat,’ which plays off the notion of him being unfairly blamed for All In: London. He has been appearing for New Japan as part of the House of Terror. 

Tiffany Stratton Cosplays As ‘Clueless’ On SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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Tiffany Stratton is ready to light up the SmackDown roster, and she did so with some special gear this week. The former NXT Women’s Champion rocked ring attire that paid homage to her “Clueless” character roots.

Stratton wore a black and yellow outfit on SmackDown this week. Corey Graves dropped “as if” on commentary during that segment for a reason. Her look was very close to Alicia Silverstone’s famous costume from the classic teen comedy.

Previous WWE Superstar Tributes

WWE Superstars will pay homage to their favorite pop culture. Johnny Gargano is known for paying tribute to a variety of comic book characters. Becky Lynch famously wore a tribute to The Bride from Quintin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film.

Of course, when you’re talking about cosplay, you can’t forget about Zelina Vega. The LWO member has dressed up as several video game and anime characters for years.

Tiffany Stratton was born in 1999, years before “Clueless” was released in 1995, but that film is obviously a big part of her roots. Her tribute was certainly noticed on the blue brand’s show this week.

What Happened This Week

Bayley made her way to the ring, ready to embrace what is next after defeating IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Then Stratton entered the situation on SmackDown this week as she interrupted Bayley’s first promo as WWE Women’s Champion.

Stratton wanted to cash in on an open challenge from Bayley, but the champion didn’t offer one. The former Damage CTRL leader wanted to face Naomi, and The Glow soon came down to claim a match with Stratton, one that the former Knockouts Champion won.

Toni Storm On Thunder Rosa: She Is A Swear Word In My Household

Ella Jay
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After being sidelined with a back injury for over a year, Thunder Rosa was intent on reclaiming the title she previously vacated. On April 21, Rosa will have the opportunity to do just that as she challenges Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship at the 2024 Dynasty pay-per-view. 

Before Rosa vies for the title again, though, Toni Storm has issued a candid statement regarding her return as well as their previous history. 

“Right now, the thorn in my side is a woman by the name of Thunder Rosa. She has beaten me twice. I am yet to beat her. She is my arch nemesis,” Storm told Going Ringside. “I do not take to her too kindly. She is a swear word in my household. You don’t talk about her in my mansion, but at Dynasty on April 21st, we have a big pay-per-view.  It’s in Saint Louis. That’s going to be the night where I finally beat that dirty rotten Thunder Rosa.”

Storm vs. Rosa History

As Storm alluded to, Rosa enters this Dynasty title match with two prior victories over her, the first of which took place at the 2022 AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view. On this occasion, Rosa successfully defended the AEW Women’s Championship.

Two months later, Rosa would vacate the title due to a lingering back injury. According to Storm, though, Rosa’s decision to give up the title stems from her inability to live up to the pressures of being the champion.

“She was injured. She had to leave. She had to leave because she couldn’t handle the pressure of being a champion. She had a back injury because she was not strong enough to carry this mountain of gold right here. Then I came in and became champion. I’ve been champion three times [now].”

Tama Tonga Joins The Bloodline on 4/12 SmackDown, Jimmy Uso Kicked Out

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania is in the rearview mirror, and WWE has been known to re-stack the deck. This week’s SmackDown included a big change for The Bloodline as Jimmy Uso was kicked out to make room for Tama Tonga.

It is a new era for the Bloodline. The Rock is gone after WrestleMania, although he did promise to return for a match against Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns is also taking a break after losing his title.

There is a new Bloodline, and Paul Heyman is reluctantly on board.

Bloodline Changes After WrestleMania 40

The Bloodline took to the ring this week on SmackDown, and they had a lot to address. The Wise Man Paul Heyman spoke about Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE World Title at WrestleMania.

Suddenly, Solo Sikoa cut off WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman’s speech on SmackDown this week to make his own announcement. He called attention to Jimmy Uso and how he should be reprimanded for losing. Then Solo hugged Jimmy in the ring while saying, “you’re my brother, I love you.“

Jimmy Uso is coming off a WrestleMania loss to his brother, Jey Uso. There are punishments for losing, and they made that point very clear when Tama Tonga jumped in the ring to attack Jimmy.

After a brutal beat-down in the ring, which included wrapping a chair around Jimmy’s head in the corner followed by a running hip attack from Solo, brought a new chapter in the Bloodline saga.

Paul Heyman famously said that we were only in the “bottom of the 3rd inning” at SummerSlam last year. We have to wonder where they are in the ballgame after this development after WrestleMania 40.

The Wise Man looked scared in the corner, fearing that he was next in line. That beatdown on Heyman did not happen, as Solo brought him to join him and Tama as they did the Bloodline sign. Heyman, although a bit hesitant, did the pose alongside them.

Who is Tama Tonga

Roman Reigns and Tama Tonga are not related, but they share a connection through their Polynesian heritage. Tonga, real name Alipate Fifita, is of Tongan descent, while Reigns is Samoan, both belonging to the broader Polynesian cultural group. He is son of legendary pro wrestler Haku.

Tama entered WWE after having a lengthy run in NJPW, where he won many titles along the way. He has won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times with Tanga Loa. Tama is a four-time NEVER Openweight Champion and has won the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship four times.

He’s been on WWE’s radar for a while, but NJPW kept him locked in a contract. Needless to say, The Bloodline has a huge boost with Tama in their ranks.

There are other potential future Bloodline members possibly on their way. Jacob Fatu and Zilla Fatu, who is Umaga’s son, are always possibilities. From the way they splintered things off, it looks like Jimmy Uso could use an ally to fight the new Bloodline now.

WWE SmackDown Preview (4/12): Cody Rhodes, Bayley & WrestleMania Fallout

Aaron Varble
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Tonight’s 4/12 WWE SmackDown takes place from Detroit, Michigan at the sold-out Little Caesars Arena. Over 13,000 wrestling fans will be on hand to witness the fallout from WrestleMania 40 and the start of a new era on Friday nights.

Here’s what WWE is advertising for the show: 

  • Cody Rhodes will appear
  • Bayley will celebrate her championship win at WrestleMania

Plus, a mini-tournament will also kick off tonight to determine the #1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. We’ll see two triple-threat matches, with the winners squaring off next week to determine the next challenger:

  • Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles
  • Santos Escobar vs. LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley

This is expected to be an eventful show. WWE always shakes things up after WrestleMania with new storylines and feuds. The Bloodline is in utter turmoil following WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns has been conquered, The Rock is leaving again and Paul Heyman needs to figure out what to do with himself with the Tribal Chief cast into exiled. Could we see a New Bloodline emerge?

Looking Ahead

WWE DRAFT: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW. So, we only have a limited time left with these current rosters.

BACKLASH: WWE Backlash: France takes place Saturday, May 4 from Lyon, France. Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match on Raw to become  the next challenger to new World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. While not confirmed, this clash is expected for Backlash.

IShowSpeed Gets Revenge On Randy Orton For RKO At WrestleMania

Aaron Varble
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Randy Orton landed an RKO on IShowSpeed at WrestleMania 40. It didn’t take Speed long to get his revenge, but it didn’t happen in a traditional ring.

During a WWE2K24 livestreaming session, IShowSpeed faced off against the Viper while using a created character in his own likeness. When he delivered a devastating RKO to the digital Apex Predator, Speed erupted with his trademark enthusiasm.

IShowSpeed at WrestleMania 40

WrestleMania 40 was a two-day spectacle featuring a few notable celebrity appearances. Everyone knew someone had to be in that Prime bottle costume as it accompanied Logan Paul to the ring. KSI was under a similar disguise last year, and this year IShowSpeed took a turn.

After the social media influencer ran his mouth a bit, Randy Orton seized an opportunity that many with they could as he nailed Speed with an RKO on the announce table. It didn’t break, but the Lincoln Financial Field crowd popped for the viral spot.

Those shenanigans worked, because they all led to Logan Paul retaining the United States Title on the grandest stage of them all. Paul made Speed a Prime endorsed influencer after that before gifting him a Tesla Cybertruck.

It remains to be seen whether Speed will make a return to WWE television at this juncture, but he might want to squash things with Randy Orton outside the video game realm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-FowE4epw

Who is IShowSpeed

IShowSpeed started his YouTube channel in 2016, initially posting gameplay videos sporadically. By December 2017, he began to livestream and share videos primarily focused on games like NBA 2K and Fortnite, though initially attracting only two viewers on average.

His channel’s growth accelerated dramatically over time, hitting significant milestones of 100,000 subscribers in April 2021, 1 million by June 2021, 10 million by July 2022, and reaching 20 million subscribers in August 2023.

He racks up millions of views, creating viral moments at every turn. As of March 2024, the 19-year-old’s net worth is approximately $12 million. 

Update On Sting’s Future With AEW After Retirement

Bishal Roy
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Don’t expect to see Sting back on AEW television anytime soon. As he recently hung up his boots, it seems that there should be some time in between ahead of his return for special appearances.

While his future remains up in the air, an update has emerged on what could the fans expect. PWInsider has reported that he could make special appearances. However, the exact timeline is unknown and he is likely to appear sometime down the road.   

Sting had competed in the final match of his decorated career at last month’s AEW Revolution. The veteran had joined forces with Darby Allin and squared off against The Young Bucks with AEW Word Tag Team titles up for grabs.  Sting managed to showcase some age-defying moves and had a triumphant outing that night. He finished his AEW run with a flawless record and has since kept his fans waiting about his next move. 

It was back in 2015 that Sting suffered a neck injury against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions and it seemed that the injury would end to his career. It was soon labeled his final match. However, after signing with AEW in 2020, things took a turn for him, and ‘The Icon’ has since managed to overcome the barriers and exceeded expectations as his legendary career culminated on his terms. 

Tony Khan wanted Sting to extend his career

Sting was offered to work beyond AEW Revolution 2024 by Tony Khan, who was aiming to feature the veteran at AEW All In London 2024. But, the legend was well aware of the physical toll on his body. He made it clear that wouldn’t push his body beyond his capacity and decided to retire. 

Now, the latest report is certainly building anticipation for Sting’s return as the speculation about his future continues.

Tony Khan Can Be The Leader AEW Needs By Getting Out Of His Own Way

Dominic DeAngelo
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Countless clichés spring to mind after witnessing AEW Dynamite, but perhaps the most apt is, “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  Wednesday night felt like a page taken from the AOL/Time Warner playbook. 

Despite potential ratings boosts, Tony Khan’s decision to air the altercation between Jack Perry and CM Punk likely did more harm than good—not just to AEW, but to all his employees. Comparatively, this “fight” seemed less intense than typical scuffles in South Philly diners during WrestleMania weekend. This decision casts doubt on Khan’s confidence in the high-profile stars he has under contract, such as Swerve Strickland, Adam Copeland, Samoa Joe, Will Ospreay, and Okada. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

It felt particularly petty and mean-spirited for AEW to announce the airing of this footage during WrestleMania, contradicting the optimism that marked the company’s early days. It seemed like an admission of defeat: “We have nothing left but footage of a wrestler who’s no longer with us.” In reality, AEW has plenty to offer; however, Khan often leaves projects unfinished, forgets them, and metaphorically unplugs the microwave.

Regardless of who was featured on Dynamite, nothing could overshadow the impact of the notorious security camera footage. While it contributed nothing to advancing any current narratives, except perhaps the story CM Punk told on the “MMA Hour,” it diverted focus from active wrestlers to those no longer with the company. As a result, fans chanted for WWE “Superstars” instead of AEW’s Ricky Starks, Wardlow, or Thunder Rosa. Cody Rhodes, during WrestleMania week, did a far better job of promoting AEW than anyone else, expressing pride in the collective effort to launch the company.

This begs the question: Does Khan truly aspire to make AEW the top pro wrestling promotion, or is he more driven by personal vendettas against former stars? 

The events of Wednesday suggest the latter. Although Khan likely has good intentions, it’s crucial for him to reassess and prioritize his goals. Khan has undoubtedly contributed positively to pro wrestling, but he has also demonstrated a consistent inability (or unwillingness) to avoid self-sabotage.

AEW is treading water. Ironically, the company needs a decisive leader to reach the next level. The best apology Khan could offer his roster would be to appoint an experienced figure to fill this role.

Indeed, actions speak louder than words.

Why ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Missed WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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The ‘Bloodline Rules’ stipulation of Sunday’s WrestleMania 40 main event between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns allowed for several exciting surprise appearances. The jam-packed Lincoln Financial Field erupted when John Cena and the Undertaker made surprises appearances to assist the American Nightmare.

Many fans were expecting to hear the infamous ‘glass shatter’ and see Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring for one more confrontation with his greatest rival, The Rock. As it turns out, WWE did negotiate with Austin regarding this exact scenario. Unfortunately, the two sides could not come to a financial agreement, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

In the months leading up to wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year, Austin was addressed the possibility of another WrestleMania appearance. He kept some hopes alive by saying “never say never,” but now we know why it didn’t materialize.

Steve Austin shocked the wrestling world by coming out of retirement at WrestleMania 38 (2022) and competing in his first match in 19 years.

It started with Kevin Owens calling out Stone Cold and inviting him to appear on the KO Show at WrestleMania 38. Austin accepted, but when he showed up for a talk, Owens had other plans in mind. An impromptu No Holds Barred match broke out and Austin got to show it’s still a very bad idea to cross him.

Bloodline Rules

Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a match contested under ‘Bloodline rules.’ The specific rules were not laid out in person, but it was essentially a no-disqualification match.

The relaxed rules allowed for plenty of outside interference, with members of the Bloodline backing Reigns, and John Cena, The Undertaker and Seth Rollins evening the odds.

In the end, Rhodes ‘finished his story’ and ended the Tribal Chief’s historic championship reign at 1,316 days. 

Daily Drop (4/12): AEW Faces Backlash Over CM Punk Footage, Zelina Vega Accused Of Ripping Off Artists

Aaron Varble
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0

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, April 12.

We are a day removed from AEW releasing CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In fight footage, and that’s still the biggest talking point. Fans are also still mixing in their own audio tracks, and there is no shortage of great contributions out there.

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop…

WWE:

– Big Departure In Talent Relations: Dan Ventrelle, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, was let go on April 11. He had joined WWE years ago and was closely associated with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque within the company.

– Another Notable WWE Exit: Trent Wilfinger, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, also left on the same day. He started at WWE in summer 2021, focusing on Global Athlete Strategy & Development under Paul Levesque. Before joining WWE, he worked for over ten years at the fitness company EXOS.

– R-Truth’s Family Tragedy: Truth updated fans on Thursday to let them know that his cousin, Rosco, had a stroke. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

– Zelina Vega Called Out: The LWO member was accused of underpaying artists for their work on her ring gear. She since came out to deny the allegations, and she said she will present proof of her innocence.

AEW:

– Send Hook: SEScoops ran an exclusive about Hook’s AEW contract status. His deal is running up and WWE is interested in him.

– AEW Pay-Per-Views: We now have a comprehensive list of AEW pay-per-views scheduled for the rest of 2024.

– Sting After Retirement: We ran a story about Sting’s plans after his retirement from AEW. His last match saw him retain the AEW World Tag Team Titles with Darby Allin at Revolution against The Young Bucks.

– AEW Dynamite Viewership: AEW saw a viewership boost with their 4/10 episode. It looks like the hype behind that CM Punk and Jack Perry footage paid off.

– AEW Disliked: The AEW YouTube page cut out the actual CM Punk and Jack Perry fight footage. That did not go over well with fans.

– Don’t Shame Cole: Adam Cole fired back at fans who continue to body-shame him.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • 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.

Zelina Vega Denies Accusations Of Unfairly Paying Artists — Claims To Have Evidence

Aaron Varble
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Zelina Vega was accused of commissioning work and not paying the artist in full. She has responded to deny the accusations against her, while promising to release more information that proves her innocence. 

A prop maker named mecha_musume on Instagram accused Zelina Vega of underpaying them for WrestleMania gear. They claim to have created, printed, and decorated several items for the LWO member, such as a Mecha Chancla, cuffs, Mech wings, and a headset.

After her experience, Mecha Musume said of Vega, “As a Puerto Rican, you are literally a disgrace and 100% not for your people, let alone small businesses.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5oAeGvrdVC

Another artist named Sangre came forward to share their account of working with Zelina Vega. They also provided a screenshot along with their post.

This new accuser said that they did not ask Zelina Vega for any monetary compensation, but she did get them backstage at a WWE event. The screenshot featured a conversation between the two, where Vega said she “would have” offered more work to the artist if they didn’t have this conversation about payment.

https://twitter.com/sangrebomb/status/1778481485747822946

Zelina Vega Responds

Vega addressed this situation on Twitter/X. She promised to clear things up later, and she claims to have receipts.

This controversy gave her a reason to reactivate her Twitter/X account. “Screenshots, photos & videos to come. Last thing my husband and I are, are scammers, so! Time to make things clear. Alllll of it,” Vega posted.

Zelina Vega is outright denying that any shady business went down between her and costume designers. We will have to see what kind of evidence she has, but many fans are already commenting to point out that her accusers came with screenshot evidence as a part of their statement.

AEW Dynamite Sees Viewership Spike In Response To CM Punk & Jack Perry Fight Footage

Aaron Varble
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The hype was heavy for AEW Dynamite this week, but it wasn’t a match that fans were excited to see. Tony Khan delivered on CM Punk and Jack Perry’s fight footage at All In. This came with a boost in viewership.

The April 10 episode of AEW Dynamite brought an average viewership of 819,000 viewers, with a .30 in the 18 to 49 demographic, per Wrestlenomics. That number is up from last week’s 752,000 viewers.

AEW brought their April 10 episode of Dynamite to Charleston, West Virginia. Fans were chanting “CM Punk” by the end of the night at the Young Bucks in response to that footage.

Fan Response

The company delivered on their promise to reveal security footage from Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage brawl at All In. The silent video went viral, with many people providing their own soundtracks for the silent clip.

A number of fans commented on how this footage didn’t make the company look good in any way. Referee Paul Turner did receive some props for how he stepped in to break up the Punk and Perry fight.

https://twitter.com/AmyNemmity/status/1778226516603892094

SE Scoops provided an in-depth article detailing the course of events that led to Tony Khan allowing that footage to air on his television show. 

AEW’s HOOK Plans To Explore Free Agency This Year, WWE Interest (Exclusive)

Michael Shalik
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A popular second-generation pro wrestler is poised to let WWE and AEW compete for his talents. SEScoops has learned that HOOK (Tyler Senerchia) is interested in exploring his options in free agency once his contract with All Elite Wrestling expires later this year.

A source familiar with WWE’s recruitment strategy commented, “I can see WWE clearly being interested in him.”

Hook is the son of wrestling legend and AEW broadcaster Taz. He joined AEW in 2020 and is known as the ‘Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil.’ The 24-year-year-old from  achieved a great deal during his young career. He’s in his second reign as FTW Champion, a title introduced by his father in ECW.

HOOK has not only improved his in-ring skills but has also shown a level of innate charisma that you either have or you don’t. Time at the Performance Center and integration into WWE’s unparalleled talent development system could significantly boost his long-term prospects.

Wrestling free’s agency market is currently booming, with WWE and AEW both aggressively pursuing talent and offering substantial sums to secure contracts. 

Recently, AEW has had notable success, signing wrestlers like Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, Kazuchika Okada, and Adam Copeland. Meanwhile, WWE has attracted Giulia and several former AEW stars including CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Andrade, Brian Pillman Jr., and Shawn Spears.

The landscape could shift dramatically soon once again, as the contracts of WWE stars Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins and Sheamus are set to expire in the coming months.

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