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Latest On Giulia: WWE In-Ring Debut, Championship Opportunities, Marigold Plans

Thomas Lowson
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Giulia could not only be a WWE Superstar, but could also be a champion with the promotion within a matter of months, a new report has revealed. 

Giulia appeared at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver over WrestleMania 40 weekend and earned a thunderous response from the fans in attendance, her appearance comes after months of reports that she is set to join WWE’s women’s division. 

WWE is hoping to see Giulia report to the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida in late June or early July, per Fightful. She was supposedly set to have a personal tryout in late 2023 though that ultimately didn’t transpire. She did however appear at the Performance Center during her recent sting in the United States. 

Giulia is expected to keep her current name (which was used at Stand & Deliver) but there are no plans at this time for WWE to obtain the rights to her theme song. As for when fans can expect Giulia in the ring, the belief in NXT is that she’ll make her debut at NXT Heatwave on July 7. 

Giulia is expected to compete for a women’s championship at the event which will be either the NXT Women’s Title held by Lyra Valkyria or the recently-announced NXT Women’s North American Championship. The new title was announced during WrestleMania 40 weekend.

A Brief Detour

Before Giulia is officially a WWE Superstar, she is expected to make a “handful” of appearances for Marigold, the new promotion founded by Rossy Ogawa. Giulia has already been announced for the promotion’s debut event this June that will include NXT alum Sareee. 

Acquiring Giulia is a huge win for WWE whose women’s roster is considered one of the best in the world today. Expectations are high for the former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion as her star power is expected to grow once she joins wrestling’s biggest promotion. 

Drew Gulak Removal From TV Explained On 4/16 WWE NXT After Ronda Rousey Allegations

Thomas Lowson
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The situation surrounding Drew Gulak was given a unique explanation during WWE NXT as his future with the company remains uncertain. 

 Gulak was pulled from programming following allegations made by Ronda Rousey. The former Women’s Champion alleged that Gulak pulled on the drawstring of her sweatpants and made her feel uncomfortable. Gulak has said it was an accident and apologized at the time. 

Drew Gulak’s Absence Explained

On the WWE NXT after Rousey’s claim came to light, Gulak didn’t appear alongside the No Quarter Catch Crew and his name had been removed from the group’s titantron. This understandably raised questions as to his future as part of the group and in WWE.

On this week’s NXT, the No Quarter Catch Crew (again sans Gulak) had an in-ring segment with Tony D’Angelo’s family. During the segment, D’Angelo noted that Charlie Dempsey had The Family “take care” of a member of the group, seemingly Gulak. Dempsey responded by saying it was for the good of the business and that the “trash” had to be taken care of. 

This is another worrying sign for Gulak and demonstrates the seriousness of the situation regarding what transpired between himself and Rousey in 2022. Gulak has reportedly been pulled from all plans and there are no creative plans for him. He was also not backstage as of last week’s episode of WWE NXT and it’s unlikely he was at this week’s event. 

Gulak has been with WWE since 2016 and in addition to eight 24/7 Championship reigns is a one-time Cruiserweight Champion. For all his past accomplishments though, Gulak’s WWE future remains hanging in the balance

Tony Khan Says Airing All In Fight Made A Lot Of Sense, Makes No Reference to CM Punk

Thomas Lowson
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Airing the infamous backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry made a lot of sense, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed. 

The footage was broadcast on the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite and was presented as The Young Bucks explaining why they lost to FTR at All In 2023. Many believe that the footage was actually aired in response to Punk’s comments made on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. Punk was hardly complimentary of AEW during his appearance on the show. 

Whatever the reason for the footage being aired, it seems to have backfired on Tony Khan. Many believe that the decision to air the footage has done more damage to AEW’s reputation than anything shown in the clip regarding Punk’s behavior. 

On the Chris Russell Show, Khan was asked whether he regrets airing the footage in hindsight and believes that bringing the altercation to light was the right call. 

“I think it made a lot of sense… We’ve seen the Young Bucks change a lot. We saw them get really dark during the retirement run of Sting. They’ve only gotten darker and more twisted. That’s why they felt like they should play the tape.”

Khan also brought up Jack Perry who hasn’t appeared for AEW since All In but has used his suspension to reinvigorate his career as the ‘Scapegoat.’

“It was fascinating to see after the tape played, the reaction Jack Perry got at New Japan. He got the reaction of a superstar. That is not altogether unexpected and it’s something very interesting, perhaps a side effect of this.”

One name Khan didn’t bring up when discussing the footage is CM Punk himself. The backstage fight would see Punk be suspended from AEW for the second time in under a year and was ultimately released. 

Punk has since returned to WWE where his conduct is said to be exemplary as he’s been eager to get involved and help at the WWE Performance Center. And while Khan doesn’t want to bring Punk up by name, it’s clear that the memory of the Best in the World remains with AEW.

Watch Carmelo Hayes Decline ‘Thank You’ Chants After NXT Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Wrestling fans who were live in Orlando for this week’s NXT tried to give Carmelo Hayes a proper send-off after the show went off the air, but the former champion was having none of it.

Hayes competed in a Steel Cage Match against his former best friend Trick Williams in the main event, a rematch from Stand and Deliver (which saw Williams get the W). Carmello’s security detail getting involved was the beginning of the end. They started climbing the cage but Williams meet them up at the top and sent everyone crashing. 

Another guard, however, entered the cage with a chair, and when Trick was busy taking the guard out, Hayes picked up the weapon. Though Trick Williams showed some quick thinking and delivered the Trick Shot to Hayes through the chair for the win. 

After This Week’s NXT

The 4/16 NXT went off air with Ilja Dragunov making an appearance at the ringside with his NXT title and staring Williams down. Once both Williams and Dragunov had returned to the back, the crowd began a “Thank you, Melo.” He was interested and left after doing a bras d’honneur.

What’s Next For Carmelo Hayes

WWE has announced that the Drafts will be returning on April 26 and April 29 on SmackDown and Raw respectively. NXT’s involvement has been confirmed and Carmelo Hayes is one of the two stars believed to be main roster-bound. 

Hayes with Ilja Dragunov are expected to be assigned a brand during the upcoming event. More names could be added to the list and there is even a real possibility of some main roster names leaving Raw or SmackDown to join WWE’s third brand.

The A-Champion has had a successful run with NXT which includes multiple impressive title reigns. There is little doubt that he will fair well in the main roster under the creative supervision of Triple H.

Roman Reigns Spotted Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

Thomas Lowson
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It remains to be seen when Roman Reigns will be in the ring again, but the Tribal Chief is keeping busy with a new major filming project.

The former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The loss marked the end of Reigns’ historic 1,316-day title reign and marked the dawning of a ‘new era’ in WWE which has been referenced several times since WrestleMania. 

It’s unclear when Reigns will appear on WWE TV again, but he is working on some kind of project with Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer. Taking to Instagram, Palmer, an actress and singer who worked on several acclaimed projects including Jordan Peele’s Nope, shared an image of Reigns as part of an upcoming production. 

Roman Reigns has dabbled into the world of acting before so this new project isn’t entirely foreign territory for the former World Champion. In addition to several WWE Studios projects, Reigns appeared alongside his cousin The Rock in 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. He has also made multiple appearances on TV in animated roles. 

What’s to Come? 

When Roman Reigns eventually returns to WWE, he’ll find a promotion that’s much different from the one he’s left behind. With Reigns gone, Solo Sikoa has taken it upon himself to lead the Bloodline and was dubbed the Tribal Chief by the recently debuted Tama Tonga. 

Some fans believe that a feud within The Bloodline is coming that’ll see Reigns lead a team against Sikoa’s faction. It’s also been suggested that Reigns will be a face upon returning (though not like he was before.) Cody Rhodes and others have given Reigns his proverbial flowers since WrestleMania with a ‘Thank You Roman’ chant breaking out during the post-WrestleMania 40 episode of Raw.

WWE Next Gen Star Julian Baldi Signs with Promotion, Has Been On A “Crazy Ride”

Thomas Lowson
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Fans can expect to see much more of Julian Baldi as the young athlete has publicly confirmed that he has signed a contract with WWE. 

Taking to Instagram, Baldi shared the news and shared about his difficult journey to WWE. Visa issues kept Baldi from competing after he was offered a contract and moved to Florida. This led to Baldi “surviving barely on savings” but he is now ready to “make some news” and represent his beloved Italy. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5v3KaJublS

Baldi was part of the WWE: Next Gen series which airs on The Roku Channel. The show chronicles the journey of young athletes trying to make it to WWE. 16-time WWE Champion John Cena is an executive producer on the show. 

Baldi has also been competing at WWE NXT live events. His most recent match took place at the April 13 event in Venice, Florida which saw him on the losing end of a six-person tag-team match against Joe Gacy, Dion Lennox, & Drake Morreaux.

Before coming to WWE, Baldi played Football for Valdosta State University. In 2021, he played in all 14 games for the team and would lead VSU to the program’s sixth national championship game and third-straight Gulf South Conference title. 

Like many before him, Baldi is ready to trade in his football career for a future in a wrestling ring. As seen in the clip above, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque believes that the next Roman Reigns could be among the crop of talent as part of WWE Next Gen. As for whether Baldi reaches the heights of the Tribal Chief, that remains to be seen. 

Man Suing WWE & AEW For Plagiarism Lands Behind Bars, Asks Judge To Pause Lawsuit

Aaron Varble
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A man who waged a lawsuit against WWE and AEW for plagiarism is now behind bars and has he asked the judge to pause his suit. Anthony Duane Wilson filed a request with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 10th to pause his lawsuit because he is currently incarcerated. This request for a stay could delay the proceedings against WWE and AEW until Wilson’s circumstances change, or he is able to participate in the legal process.

Wilson penned a letter to the judge, as obtained by PWInsider. In the writing, he asked for his lawsuit against WWE and AEW to be paused, since he cannot properly handle things at this time. He has also already sunk a lot of money into the proceedings.

“Due to my current state of being incarcerated at Trumbull County Jail, located at [deleted], I am unable to properly handle and follow the status of this case in a timely manner at this time.”

“I ask the court to grant my request to stay the case because I have put forth alot of my time and money to file the lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling, and being that I am of self representation and cannot do it properly at this time, see it necessary to file this motion.”

“I seek this stay not for the purpose of delay but that justice may be done.”

The Lawsuit Against WWE & AEW

Anthony Duane Wilson initially filed a lawsuit against WWE and AEW in August 2023, seeking $250 million in damages and the return of his intellectual property.

WWE and AEW were accused of using his wrestling concepts—like gimmicks, names, slogans, and likenesses—without permission. He claimed this infringement hindered his plans to start his own wrestling company, which also allegedly affected negotiations with Bullet Club members.

Wilson argued that the unauthorized use of his work caused him a variety of damages, which includes lost market opportunities. He also alleged that a conspiracy was at play, where the greater pro wrestling companies were out to derail his plans.

The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Benita Y. Pearson on November 3rd, 2023, because neither defendant was served within the required 90 days after the lawsuit was filed in August. The dismissal was without prejudice, which allowed Wilson to re-file the lawsuit.

Rey Mysterio On His Daughter Reuniting With CM Punk, Winning the WWE Title (Exclusive)

Ella Jay
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Last year, Rey Mysterio was honored as one of the inductees in the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class, while also battling his son, Dominik Mysterio on the grand stage of WrestleMania 40. This year, Mysterio found himself facing Dominik once again only this time in tag team action.

SEScoops correspondent MuscleManMalcolm caught up with Mysterio at the WWE media day in Philadelphia ahead of WrestleMania, Mysterio revealed that his daughter recently reunited and reconciled with CM Punk after the two worked together on WWE television over a decade ago.

Rey Mysterio’s Daughter Aalyah Reunites With CM Punk

Back In 2010, Rey Mysterio was immersed in a storyline with the leader of Straight Edge Society, CM Punk. It was a memorable storyline that’s still talked about today, due to its personal nature.  On one occasion, Punk confronted Rey in the ring, daring him to fight him in front of his family. He also mockingly sang “Happy Birthday” to Rey Mysterio’s daughter, Aalyah Gutierrez.

We asked Rey Mysterio about this angle and he revealed that Aalyah and CM Punk reconnected in person earlier this year backstage at a WWE live event. Despite their rocky past, Mysterio says they “got along great” and it’s awesome that they get along now.

“Believe it or not, she went to the show in San Diego for New Year’s, January 1st, and she knew that CM Punk was there. She goes, ‘Dad, can I take a picture with Punk?’

I said, ‘Let me tell him,’ and he was very ecstatic that she wanted to take a picture with him. They took a picture together. They got along great. So it was awesome. They get along now.”

A long time has passed since 2010, but Punk never forgot about Aalyah Mysterio (or her birthday). Last summer, when Mysterio wished her a Happy Birthday on Instagram. Punk trolled them both with a special message.

Grateful For Short WWE Title Reign

Rey Mysterio has held many championships throughout his storied career, including the coveted WWE Championship, which had been vacated in July 2011. He won a tournament to crown a new champion on  the 7/25/11 episode of WWE Raw. He wouldn’t have much time to celebrate, as John Cena dethroned him by the end of the night.

His reign with the industry’s top prize lasted a matter of hours, but he’s still proud to be amongst greats like Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan.

“It was such a cool moment,” Mysterio said. “Moments that definitely stand out for the rest of your life. Just to be able to say I had it, whether it was like you said, for that moment being, it’s just such a cool experience. You are now attached onto the legacy books.”

The Undertaker Fired Up Over Muhammad Ali-WWE HOF Backlash

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker understands the backlash surrounding his induction of Muhammad Ali into the WWE Hall of Fame earlier this month. 

The Dead Man played a pivotal role in this year’s WrestleMania and discussed the entire weekend in-depth on his Six Feet Under podcast. The Undertaker shocked fans by appearing in the Bloodline Rules main event to lay the smack down on The Rock one more time. The experienced provided him a sense of closure on his decades-long WWE career. However, the weekend was not without controversy.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was a cultural icon and a highly controversial figure. Much of the conflict surrounded his unwillingness to conscript in the US Army during the Vietnam War back in 1967. The Undertaker says some people called him out and even questioned his patriotism for honoring Ali. He has a special message for those folks, as you can read below. 

“I mean, my goodness!”

The Dead Man explained that even through he doesn’t agree with Ali’s decision to avoid serving in the US military when called upon, he is still able to recognize what Muhammad Ali accomplished as a boxer and humanitarian.

“I was there and I was so tickled to be there and be able to induct Muhammad Ali. I’m glad you brought that up. So I got a little heat from part of the veteran community. For people that don’t know, Muhammad Ali, I don’t know who wouldn’t know this, but Muhammad Ali refused to go into the army.

He didn’t want to go to Vietnam. He didn’t see why that he was gonna go 6000 miles away from home to fight somebody that had no….and he didn’t do it and he ended up losing everything. To be honest, for a large part of my life, I resented Ali over that.”

“But the thing when you look at everything that Muhammad did and not even the athletic end of it, not even the boxing side of it, but the things that he did as a humanitarian and everything. I don’t agree, I still don’t agree with not going. Your country asked you to go do something, you could do it.

That’s how I am and I wouldn’t, but when you think about the conviction that he must have had in the beliefs, such a strong belief in what he thought was right and what he thought wasn’t. He gave up everything.”

The Undertaker shares strong political opinions and knows that many people disagree with. However, he’s not going to stand for anybody hurling insults at him or questioning his loyalty to the United States of America.

“I think too it was like ‘I thought Undertaker was a patriot.’ Man, kiss my ass! Kiss my Patriot ass. It just rubbed me a little bit. There are a lot of reasons.. I get some of it but to give me hate over inducting Muhammed Ali. I mean, my goodness.”

Muhammad Ali registered for conscription in the US Army on his 18th birthday in 1962. As a result of his refusal to join the Army for the Vietnam War, the New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license.

The World Boxing Association then stripped him of his title and other boxing commissions followed suit. A case was also registered against Ali but his conviction was reversed by the Supreme Court in 1971.

Philadelphia Would Love to Host WrestleMania Again, Will Have Conversations with WWE

Thomas Lowson
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WWE WrestleMania 40 will not be the last time that Philadelphia hosts the annual two-night mega-show if those in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ have anything to say about it. 

The April 2024 Premium Live Event marked the launch of WWE’s ‘new era’ and has proven to be a hit with fans. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, Larry Needle, executive director of the PHL Sports division shared his eagerness to see WrestleMania return to the city. 

“We know there’s a long line of cities clamoring to host, and that’s just the reality of an event of this magnitude. But needless to say, we would be thrilled to have WrestleMania back, and at the right time we will engage in those conversations with the WWE.”

It’s hardly a surprise that those in Philly would love to host WrestleMania once again. The show is estimated to have made as much as $200 million for the city, local tourism officials told Axios prior to the event. 

WrestleMania’s Future

If Philadelphia does host a WrestleMania in the future, it is unlikely to be next year. Minneapolis is said to be the favorite to host WrestleMania 31 at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings.

Fans in the United Kingdom are hoping to see a WrestleMania in their country at some point in the future. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance and shared his intention to bring WrestleMania to London. If successful, it’ll be the third WrestleMania outside of the United States and the first outside of North America. 

Gable Steveson & Tamyra Mensah-Stock Qualify For Paris Olympics, Not Expected to Compete

Thomas Lowson
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Gable Steveson and Tamyra Mensah-Stock have qualified for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team but that doesn’t guarantee that fans will see them in Paris this summer.

Both WWE signings have qualified for the upcoming games though neither are listed as competing, the Wrestling Observer Daily Update reports. It’s added that neither competitor was expected to compete given their WWE standings. While Mensah-Stock hadn’t shown any public interest in competing at the upcoming games, Steveson had suggested that he was seriously considering a role at the events in Paris, France. 

Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 shortly after his gold medal victory at that year’s games in Tokyo. That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, becoming the first Superstar to be drafted without having a match. 

After having no matches as a Raw Superstar, Steveson would eventually make his in-ring debut as part of NXT Great American Bash 2023. That show saw a much-criticized double count-out draw against Baron Corbin though he has been picking up wins at live events. 

Mensah-Stock signed with WWE in May 2023 and made her in-ring debut with the promotion in March 2024 at a WWE NXT live event. While Steveson’s development was slower than WWE had hoped, the same can’t be said about Mensah-Stock.

Training for the Olympics would have required the whole focus of Steveson and Mensah-Stock and would have put any WWE training or plans by the promotion on pause. By opting not to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, it appears both are making clear that they are committed to their roles as WWE Superstars in the making. 

MJF Injury Update, Recent Meeting With AEW, When He Could Return

Bishal Roy
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Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has been out of the public eye since December 2023. He went into his high-stakes battle against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End facing multiple injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He lost his prized ‘BBB’ AEW World title and is still not ready to get back in the ring over four months later.

MJF Update: The 28-year-old wrestling prodigy recently met with AEW officials to discuss his return. PWInsider reports that MJF traveled to Boston last month for a gathering that took place after Big Business on March 13. He’s not been seen backstage at any AEW shows this year.

We recently got confirmation on the AEW PPV Schedule for 2024, including the dates, cities and venues. It’s interesting to note that after next month’s Double or Nothing PPV from Las Vegas, AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door heads to MJF’s backyard of Long Island, NY on June 30.

Uncertain Future

Amid his absence, fans have speculated about his future in AEW. MJF has been vocal about his contract expiry in 2024. The eagle-eyed fans have been wondering if he became a free agent during his time off.

Additionally. AEW fueled the speculation as they removed the former AEW World Champion from their official roster page. Furthermore, his merchandise was also taken off. While his future remains up in the air, it is believed that he is still under a contract with the promotion. 

Check out our December 2023 interview with MJF hosted by The Solomonster:

WWE

WWE has kept MJF on their radar for quite some time and recently several AEW stars such as Andrade, Jade Cargill, and Shawn Spears have also jumped ship to WWE. This keeps the possibility intact of WWE splurging a huge deal to bag MJF’s signing.

As of now, there is no timetable for MJF’s return as he recuperates the injuries that have plagued him over the past few months.

Hope For Coyote Vs. Acme? WBD Says Claim John Cena Film Is A Tax Write-Off Is “Inaccurate”

Thomas Lowson
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Movie-goers may still yet see Coyote Vs. Acme after a Warner Bros. Discovery source rejected the notion that the film had been destroyed as a tax write-off. 

In November 2023, it was confirmed that WBD had nixed the project despite filming having been completed for some time. This led to a ton of backlash against WBD and efforts by audiences for the film to be released in some format either in cinemas or online. 

While it had been rumored that the final cut of the film had been destroyed, that no longer appears to be the case. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery told The New York Times that claims the notion that the film is being destroyed to facilitate a tax write-off is “inaccurate.”

In December 2023, it was reported that Netflix and Paramount had made formal bids to try and gain the rights for Coyote Vs. Acme. WBD is said to want more than $70 million for the project which would cover the cost of the initial tax write-off. Amazon is said to be mulling over the project. 

Coyote Vs. Acme

The much-anticipated film features Wile E. Coyote of Looney Tunes fame hiring a lawyer to sue Acme, the creator of his many gadgets and traps that often backfire. John Cena was set to play Coyote’s former boss at Acme.

Coyote Vs. Acme wasn’t the only film WBD nixed, supposedly for tax write-off reasons. Other projects that were canned include a Scooby-Doo animated film that was finished, as well as a live-action Batgirl film that was set to feature Michael Keaton’s return to the role of Batman. 

Becky Lynch Pokes Fun At Time-Off Rumors Ahead Of WWE European Tour

Thomas Lowson
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Becky Lynch is excited to be a part of an upcoming WWE tour of Europe, despite what some on social media would have you believe. 

Following Lynch’s loss to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania, some online suggested that she would be taking time off. These rumors were galvanized after it was reported that Lynch’s husband Seth Rollins would be taking time off following his own loss at WrestleMania 40. 

Taking to Twitter, Lynch poked fun at the notion that she is going to be out of the ring for a significant amount of time. When the WWE UK promoted Lynch for an upcoming tour, Lynch feigned surprise given that “the internet” had said she was taking a break. 

Becky Lynch’s Contract Status

While Lynch doesn’t plan on taking a break from the action (regardless of what the internet may have to say) her time with WWE is ticking away. The former Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Women’s Champion recently disclosed that her current deal will expire within a couple of months. She also revealed that she is confident that WWE will come up with a new deal for her to consider. 

As one of the biggest female wrestling stars in history, WWE would be wise to keep Lynch on board. There’s no word publicly on whether Tony Khan has his sights set on the man though acquiring The Man would be quite the acquisition to AEW’s women’s division. 

Lynch will ultimately do what’s best for her and has said that she doesn’t think a full-time role in the ring will be for her when her daughter Roux starts school. Wherever The Man goes next, fans should enjoy her while they can.

Becky Lynch’s future may be uncertain, but you can find all about her incredible journey in wrestling and life so far.

Daily Drop (4/16): WWE Introduces New Titles, AEW All In 2024 Ticket Sale Update

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for Tuesday, April 16, 2024. WWE brought a packed episode of RAW last night, as they continue telling their stories past WrestleMania 40.

The biggest talking point has to be Rhea Ripley vacating the WWE Women’s World Title. She suffered an AC Joint sprain and had to vacate the title after an attack from Liv Morgan on the RAW after WrestleMania 40. A new champion will be crowned next week on the 4/22 episode of WWE RAW.

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

WWE:

– New Titles: Triple H took the RAW Tag Team Titles off Awesome Truth this week on RAW, and he gave them new World Tag Team Titles. It was quite an awesome moment, where Montreal fans chanted “you deserve it” while Truth thought Triple H was Tommaso Ciampa.

– He’s back, Fella!: Sheamus provided a warning to the rest of the WWE RAW locker room after his successful 4/15 return.

– Young’s NDA: Eric Young stated that he had to sign an NDA before he left WWE. He refused to come back due to an unnamed person, and while reports Vince McMahon was the problem, he could not confirm that due to the non-disclosure agreement.

– Chad Gable Turn: Gable lost to Sami Zayn in the main event of RAW this week, but then he turned on Zayn. Now, Gable is a heel after beating down Montreal’s favorite son in his home city.

– Rousey’s Book: We learned a lot from Ronda Rousey’s book, “Our Fight.” You may check that out below.

– Creed Brothers Impress: The Creed Brothers aren’t messing around. Even though they did not win the triple threat match to become #1 contenders for the new WWE World Tag Team Titles. Team #DIY on that match to claim a shot at Awesome Truth.

– Heyman’s HOF Speech: Paul Heyman had an amazing reaction when a fan stated that his 2024 WWE Hall of Fame speech may have been the greatest ever. As I previously reported, many within WWE regard the speech as the best promo ever cut in WWE history.

– McIntyre’s Contract Status: Drew McIntyre has still not inked a new deal with Endeavor. At this point, he may be a massive free agent in a few weeks.

– The Maverick’s Big News: Logan Paul and fiancé Nina Agdal announced that they are expecting a baby in the fall.

– QR Codes Return: WWE aired another QR code this week on RAW. Those are certainly hinting toward something big.

WWE NXT Full 4/16 Card:

  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes – Steel Cage Match
  • Dijak vs. Noam Dar – Singles Match
  • Sol Ruca vs. Lola Vice – Singles Match
  • Ridge Holland vs. Joaquin Wilde – Singles Match

AEW:

– Schiavone isn’t Happy: Tony Scahivone spoke on the All In Brawl footage. He isn’t happy about how things went down at all.

– Moxley’s Defense: NJPW set Moxley’s first IWGP World Heavyweight Title defense.

– Ospreay’s Level: Will Ospreay admitted that he is nowhere near Kurt Angle’s level.

– All In Sales: AEW All In 2024 is scheduled for Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London. As of now, there are 9,771 tickets available, with the current setup accommodating 50,708 attendees. To date, 40,937 tickets have been distributed.

– Nikki was almost All Elite: Nikki Bella watched Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut, and she almost called Tony Khan herself. In the end, she decided that being a mother was more important.

– Hardy is Free Agent: Matt Hardy is now a free agent. He confirmed that his AEW deal expired, and he is talking to “everyone” right now.

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.

Artist Rob Schamberger Excited For A New Chapter In His Career After Revealing WWE Exit

Thomas Lowson
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Rob Schamberger, the artist behind many epic pieces of WWE artwork, is looking forward to the future after wrapping up his time with the promotion. 

Taking to Instagram, Schamberger shared the news that he has parted ways with WWE and was appreciative of the opportunities the promotion had provided him. He also shared his excitement for the new chapter of his life that is set to begin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5zf-KYrTBi

Schamberger was the official ‘WWE Artist in Residence’ but was still allowed to work outside the promotion. While Schamberger operates an independent store, most of his WWE artwork was purchased by the company to be sold through their official channels. Schamberger also hosted the Canvas 2 Canvas show on the WWE Network and the promotion’s YouTube channel in which he’d unveil portraits of past and current Superstars. 

WWE Departures

Schamberger is the latest notable name to part ways with WWE as of late. In recent days, Dan Ventrelle left the promotion after years as WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. He had been associated with Nick Khan and Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. 

The same day as Ventrelle’s exit, Trent Wilfinger, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development also left the promotion. He had been with WWE since the summer of 2021. 

One of the most notable names to leave WWE recently was Sue Aitchison who had been with the company since 1986. Aitchison was a key figure in WWE’s community outreach efforts and played a pivotal role in developing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. She also appeared at WWF Backlash 2001 as the ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ for a match between William Regal and Chris Jericho in which the Duchess’ rules greatly favored the British wrestler. For her (non-Duchess) work, Aitchison received WWE’s Warrior Award in 2019. 

The Undertaker Gives Roman Reigns His Flowers After Historic Championship Run Ends

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker has given Roman Reigns his flowers for an incredible championship run, after helping put an end to it.

The Dead Man talked about his WrestleMania 40 experience on the latest episode of the Six Feet Under podcast. During the episode, he revealed that his surprise appearance during the main event match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns helped him get closure for his own wrestling career.

What A Phenomenal Run: The Undertaker

Speaking about the backstage environment after the main event match, The Undertaker said that emotions were running high. He then praised Roman Reigns for his historic run, mentioning how you have to go back to the era before the internet and social media to find a comparable record:

“Man, there was a lot of really emotional moments backstage. You can imagine Roman coming back and after just…what an amazing run as champion. If you look at it, and put it in today’s market, what a phenomenal run.

It’s not going to go down to the record books as the longest world title run but when you look at it in actuality with as much coverage, as much media, as much exposure that you have now. I mean, you have to go back to someone like [Bob] Backlund’s run and Hogan’s early run. They didn’t have social media. They didn’t have as much live TV or they didn’t wrestle at all on TV.”

Kudos To Everyone Involved

The WWE Hall of Famer discussed how to keep the interest of the audience at a time when you are overexposed to wrestling is a huge achievement. The Undertaker praised everyone involved in the angle for the great storytelling through the whole run:

“The biggest part of that is to be able to maintain and keep the people’s interest in that storyline for that long. I mean, absolutely [best storyline we have seen in years] there were so many layers to it.

But kudos to him and everybody that worked on all of that because that’s difficult to do. Really difficult to do and do well. There was some really, really good storytelling involved in that.”

The Last Outlaw was one of the legends involved in the WrestleMania 40 main event match between Rhodes and Reigns. He made a surprise appearance to stop The Rock from interfering in the bout. This allowed The American Nightmare to finally finish his story. If the latest reports are to be believed, however, the spot was originally planned for a different legend.

Sheamus Warns WWE Locker Room After Return: “You don’t want this”

Bishal Roy
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Sheamus has sent a stern warning to the talents in the locker room after making a triumphant return on last night’s WWE Raw. 

The ‘Celtic Warrior’ spoke to backstage interviewer Jackie Redmond in a Raw Exclusive. He was thrilled with the warm ovation from the wrestling fans in Montreal and said it was great to be back on Canadian soil, the site of his last match before taking time off to heal injuries. The niceties then shifted to a stern warning for the WWE locker room: you “don’t want this.”

“It’s kind of ironic. My last match at WWE before tonight was in Toronto, Canada, in August. My first match back is in Montreal, Canada, and I couldn’t have ever expected a response like that from these Canadian fans tonight in Montreal. It was off the charts, and that’s why it’s been so hard sitting at home for the last couple of months. But if you want me to send a message to everyone in the WWE locker room, I only have four words. You don’t want this.”

Sheamus returns from injury

After last week’s teaser, Sheamus made his return and also brought back his old theme song, “Written In My Face.” He emerged victorious over Ivar and following the win, he celebrated with WWE commentators, Pat McAfee and Michael Cole.

This marks his first appearance since last year’s August 18 edition of Friday Night SmackDown. That night he fought WWE Hall of Famer Edge in the latter’s final match for the company before heading to AEW. The Irish superstar had been sidelined after he faced some shoulder issues and underwent surgery. 

There is no doubt that the WWE roster is stacked with a plethora of talents. But Sheamus’ return only bolsters the roster as WWE ushers in a new era with Triple H at the helm. 

However, there had been reports that his contract would expire this year. The details of his current contract have not emerged. If he hasn’t penned a new deal already, he would join the long list of superstars whose contracts run out this year.

Tony Schiavone Wasn’t Upset At All In Backstage Footage, Says Idiots Compare AEW to WCW

Thomas Lowson
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Tony Schiavone was not upset that the backstage fight at AEW All In: London 2023 was aired, despite what some insist to be the case. 

The infamous footage was broadcast during the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, seemingly in response to CM Punk’s comments about the incident during Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. After the footage was shown by the Young Bucks, Schiavone looked dejected at the commentary table with fans believing this reaction was genuine. 

On his What Happened When podcast, Schiavone acknowledged his reaction but made clear that he wasn’t genuinely mad at the decision to air the footage. 

“My facial reaction is trying to put more heat on the Bucks being assholes… I was not upset at the promotion, I was not upset at Tony Khan. I was not p***ed off with what we had shown. I was trying to be fully in the moment of the angle.”

In kayfabe, the footage was aired by the Young Bucks to justify their loss at AEW All In: London. The pair’s reasoning was that because of the backstage issues, they were unable to sufficiently prepare for their match with FTR at the event. 

Though Schiavone does not have an issue with the footage airing, many have said it backfired on AEW and did more damage to the company’s reputation than it did to Punk. Some have even gone as far as to deem it a cheap ratings ploy akin to the dying days of WCW, a claim that Schiavone also rejects. 

“Social media is about idiots coming together and making up their own ideas… There’s absolutely no way you can compare us to WCW… I was there at both, you were not”

Ultimately, the decision was made to air the footage and AEW can’t un-open that can of worms. After giving up a portion of their show to showcasing of WWE’s most popular Superstars though, it remains to be seen how this development plays into FTR Vs. The Young Bucks for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships at AEW Dynasty. 

Tony Khan on AEW All In Footage Reaction

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Rossy Ogawa Hopes To Bring WWE Stars to Marigold, Says Promotion Could Be a “Ranch”

Thomas Lowson
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Rossy Ogawa is hoping to bring some of the top women of WWE to his new Marigold promotion in what could be the start of a long-term partnership.

Marigold was officially launched earlier this week and comes mere months after Ogawa’s departure from STARDOM, which he also founded. Ogawa has denied the claim from STARDOM’s parent company Bushiroad that he was ‘poaching’ talent from the all-female promotion. 

In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Ogawa spoke about WWE and how the company is host to some of the names he worked with in STARDOM including Kairi Sane and IYO SKY. Ogawa added that he’d like to invite names from WWE to do something with MARIGOLD down the line. WrestleMania week was not kind to SKY or Sane as the former lost the WWE Women’s Championship to Bayley while the latter was on the losing-side of a six-woman tag-team match.

Ogawa even went on to tease that Marigold could become a feeder system for WWE in the future. He stated that perhaps Marigold will be a “ranch” for talent ahead of a move to WWE. 

The idea of WWE and Ogawa working together isn’t all that farfetched. After all, Ogawa was present at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver and was seen alongside Giulia, who shared a photo of herself shaking hands with Triple H backstage. The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is expected to join WWE, but she will be appearing for Marigold first to help the company get off the ground. 

Playing Well With Others

For decades, WWE was vehemently against working with other promotions but that attitude has considerably softened in recent years. From Mickie James and Jordynne Grace being in Royal Rumble matches to talent like Charlie Dempsey, Shayna Baszler, and Shinsuke Nakamura being allowed the chance to compete outside of WWE’s confines, there is certainly a new stance on working with other companies. 

WWE President Nick Khan is said to be seriously considering potential collaborations with other promotions, though nothing has been publicly confirmed just yet. Even AEW President Tony Khan isn’t against the idea as he told ComicBook.com that collaborating with WWE is an “interesting thought” and would “depend on the circumstance.”

The Creed Brothers Continue To Impress, Chad Gable Turns Heel on 4/15 WWE Raw

Thomas Lowson
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Brutus & Julius Creed continued to impress on the April 15, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw even if they didn’t walk away with the win. 

During the show, The Creed Brothers were part of a triple-threat tag team match with a shot at champions The Awesome Truth on the line. The Creeds were joined by DIY and the New Day in a fun match that saw plenty of offense from all three teams. 

While it was DIY who got the win and the title opportunity, the Creeds certainly impressed and the team was even trending on Twitter as fans gushed over their performance. Though this show was not their night, the Creed Brothers could be on track for an opportunity at the newly-rechristened World Tag Team Championships if this momentum continues.  

Chad Gable Turns Heel

In the main event of WWE Monday Night Raw, Chad Gable once again came up short in his efforts to win the Intercontinental Championship. The Olympian lost to Sami Zayn in Montreal, a stone’s throw away from the Underdog’s home in Laval, Quebec. After the match, a frustrated Gable delivered a beatdown on Zayn in front of the Intercontinental Champion’s wife and family. 

Gable is already the leader of Alpha Academy but his heel turn could leave Otis, Maxxine Dupri, and Akira Tozawa unwilling to work with him for much longer. If so, perhaps Gable could form a new team of mat-based technicians with the Creed Brothers. 

Trios like this aren’t unprecedented in WWE. During the Ruthless Aggression era, Kurt Angle formed Team Angle, which consisted of himself, Shelton Benjamin, and Charlie Haas. The group saw plenty of success and championships and Kurt would prove to be an inspiration to Gable when Chad pursued his Olympic dreams. 

Like Gable with the Intercontinental title, the Creeds have impressed on the main roster but that has yet to result in championship gold. Perhaps an alliance between the three men is what’s needed to take them to the next level. 

Watch: What Happened With Sami Zayn After (4/15) Raw Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Sami Zayn had some choice words for Chad Gable after tonight’s episode of Raw.

The Intercontinental Championship was defended in the main event of tonight’s episode of the Red Branded Show from Montreal Canada.

The hometown star got a very special entrance through the crowd for this bout against Chad Gable. The two athletes then had a very physical match as expected.

Sami managed to retain the title at the end using the Helluva Kick and showed respect to his opponent afterward. Another crushing defeat, however, proved to be too much for Gable and the former Olympian finally snapped under pressure.

Zayn went up to his family after the win to celebrate but Chad Gable blindsided him into a German suplex. Gable continued the assault by sending the IC Champion into the ring post and then dumping him over the announce desk. The show went off air with Gable locking his opponent into an ankle lock through the middle turnbuckle.

The officials managed to separate the two once the cameras stopped rolling and Gable went to the back leaving the hometown star in the ring. Once Sami Zayn came to his senses, he cut a promo on Gable and warned him about the consequences of his actions:

What Happened On Raw

Before this main event, the show was on par with last week’s Raw after Mania and we saw multiple big developments during the broadcast.

The episode opened with Rhea Ripley confirming the reports of her injury and announcing that she would have to relinquish the Women’s World Championship.

We also saw the WWE return of Sheamus after nearly six months on the shelf. The Celtic Warrior took on Ivar in a singles match which he won.

Apart from this, the WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H made an appearance to make a big announcement. You can check out the details of it here.

Mysterious QR Code Appears on 4/15 WWE Raw: Decoding The Symbols Behind Eerie Video

Thomas Lowson
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WWE has kept the mysteries coming with a new QR code that has left the fans wondering what’s to come in the future. 

The QR code appeared briefly during the entrance of the New Day during the April 15, 2024, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. Upon being scanned, the code takes fans to a screen with incomplete letters and a red grid background. Put the two rows of incomplete letters together and you get a link that takes you to the following video. 

The video includes the message ‘Time to wake up, take my hand. Things will be better. Trust Me.’ This new video comes after ‘glitches’ on both the April 8, edition of Raw and April 12, edition of SmackDown teased something big is coming. 

Decoding the Video

This video also includes an image of a man seeing the shadow of a bird that is being cast on a wall by somebody behind them holding the actual bird in front of a flame. This is a reference to the philosopher Plato and his cave allegory to explain existence. Plato argued in his work Republic that man spends his time looking at the cave and while the shadows that appear on the wall are man’s reality, they are not accurate representations of the real world and are merely a fraction of the actual reality. 

The video also includes an image of a crow or raven, both of which are birds associated with darkness. Both birds are scavengers and are generally associated with dead bodies. A group of crows is called a ‘murder’ while a group of ravens is an ‘unkindness.’

What’s to Come? 

Many believe these teases are building to the return of Uncle Howdy, previously played by Bo Dallas who has been under contract since 2022. WWE recently teased the return of Uncle Howdy following their Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. 

WWE used QR codes and bizarre videos in 2022 in the run-up to Wyatt’s return at that year’s Extreme Rules event. The ‘White Rabbit’ angle was praised by fans and pundits for its creativity and for WWE’s willingness to use a much different format than what fans were used to for a returning Superstar. 

Some have speculated that Uncle Howdy will not return alone, as there have been references to ‘us’ in previous teases. Alexa Bliss, who was aligned with Bray Wyatt has been speculated by fans to be part of this angle. Erick Redbeard’s recently signed contract that has kept him from competing on the indies has also led to the belief he could be involved. 

WWE Introduces New World Tag Team Titles, Retiring Raw Tag Belts

Aaron Varble
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Triple H presented Awesome Truth with the new WWE World Tag Team Championships during the 4/15 episode of WWE RAW. This was a historic moment in front of a frenzied Montreal crowd.

Awesome Truth won the RAW Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 40. Two weeks later, the company did away with those titles and replaced them with totally new belts.

WWE is in a new era, and that has brought many changes. The Undisputed Tag Team Championships were split during WrestleMania 40, and now the RAW Tag Team Titles are no more. In their place, Triple H introduced new titles.

WWE World Tag Team Title reveal

Crowning New Champions on 4/15 WWE RAW

Triple H made his way out during RAW this week and the Montreal crowd was pumped to see him. Then the camera revealed that the ring was done up in its red carpet look, with something covered on a podium in the center.

It did not take long for Triple H’s promo to get directed toward the new RAW Tag Team Champions. Then Awesome Truth made their way to the ring. Triple H revealed that Awesome Truth are no longer RAW Tag Team Champions. They are now the World Tag Team Champions, and that came with new titles.

WWE’s New World Tag Team Champions title belt

When The Game revealed Awesome Truth’s new titles, R-Truth flipped out and thought it was an amazing magic trick. Then he mistook Triple H for Tommaso Ciampa once again.

Triple H left, but not before taking Awesome Truth’s old titles and putting the new ones around their shoulders. As R-Truth and The Miz raised their new titles up, fans cheered the new belts.

After the new WWE World Tag Team Titles were given to Awesome Truth, they held a triple threat tag team match to decide a new #1 contender. Team DIY, Creed Brothers, and The New Day. In the end, Team #DIY won the match, so they will face Awesome Truth for the new World Tag Team Titles first. That might get confusing for R-Truth, because he thinks they are Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

WWEShop already has the new World Tag Team Champions replica belts available for pre-order here:

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