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WCW Star Set To Return To The Ring At MLW Battle Riot

Dominic DeAngelo
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MLW will have a blast from the past when the promotion heads down to WCW country in Atlanta, Georgia.

Battle Riot VI will take place this June and the event is typically full of unexpected surprises and entrants into MLW’s annual 40-man match, but one man who won’t be a surprise will be Ernest “The Cat” Miller. The MLW website announced that the former WCW commissoner will be making his league debut in the bout and they were certain to give Miller the appropriate hype in build for the big bout on June 1.

Somebody call his Momma! WCW legend and Karate Hall of Famer, Ernest “The Cat” Miller is the third participant to enter the 2024 Battle RIOT in Atlanta! A showman and striker with fury and finesse, Miller will make his MLW debut in the biggest match of MLW. Known for his cat-like reflexes, this martial artist aims to pounce on the competition and leap ahead in line for a title shot anytime, anywhere. To achieve that, “The Cat” will have to outlast 39 other participants.

Miller happened to make his in-ring return back in March at the WCPBTW The Reunion 3: Cavalcade Of Legends where he got the win against Marvelous. Before that however, “The Cat” didn’t unleash his claws on the canvas since 2022 when he took on Joey Janela.

MLW has had quite the list of unexpected names in previous Battle Riots. Names like Dan Severn, Raven, and Duke Droese all entered in the fray in previous years.

Battle Riot blends the Royal Rumble with extra battle royal rules. Not only can you be eliminated by being thrown over the top, but you can also lose via pin or submission.

Kevin Owens’ WWE Contract Expires In 9 Months And He’s Not Sure What Comes Next

Bishal Roy
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Kevin Owens’ current deal with WWE runs out in a matter of few months – nine months to be precise. The former World champion recently got fans’ attention when he was not-committal about competing at future WrestleMania events. During an interview with Alistair McGeorge for Metro, Kevin Owens revealed  WWE contract expires in nine months, which puts us around late January/early February 2025. As things currently stand, he’s not certain that he’ll remain a WWE Superstar by WrestleMania 41.

“I really don’t take anything for granted, I’ve nine months left on my contract, and I don’t know what can happen from here on out,” Owens revealed.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 39

Unbreakable Bonds

As he faces this uncertainty, the Canadian grappler can’t help but mourn the loss of the dear friends he’s lost along the way, including Brodie Lee, Bray Wyatt, Jay Briscoe.

“That’s just life,” Owens said. “If I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. I’ve learned that through some very unfortunate events, we’ve lost so many good people that was never expected. That’s just one example of how I do not take anything for granted, how I look at things now.”

Owens has been a part of the WWE roster for a decade. During that time, he’s developed unbreakable bonds with his peers and has a hard time thinking about these people not being part of his life anymore.

“This has been my home for 10 years and it’s beyond the locker room. There’s some very, very, very special people that work behind the scenes that I’ve become very close with, and I really can’t imagine not seeing them as part of my life.”

Former AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman took notice of the possibility of Owens becoming a free agent next year.

KO teamed up with Randy Orton and faced The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga) in a losing effort at WWE Backlash: France this past weekend. The match featured the WWE debut of Tanga Loa, Tama’s brother, who interfered and assisted The Bloodline to win.

WWE Contracts: World Champions Re-Sign

There had been concerns regarding the contract renewal of a handful of top wrestlers. Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and Finn Balor most recently inked new deals with WWE. However, alongside Kevin Owens, other superstars such as Becky Lynch and LA Knight’s future remains up in the air as they are yet to sign a new contract. Here’s some of our recent coverage of WWE contracts:

Related: We recently wrote the primary factors that today’s top free agents should consider if they are deciding between wrestling for WWE and AEW:

Daily Drop (5/6): Members Of Uncle Howdy’s New Stable Revealed, Kevin Owens’ WWE Contract Status

Aaron Varble
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It’s time for the Daily Drop on May 6, and there is a lot to get into. It’s Monday, and the company has a packed episode of RAW planned for fans. You also never know what will break to start off the week.

Although Minneapolis thought they would get the hosting duties for WrestleMania 41, they were mistaken. Las Vegas will host the show of shows on April 20 and 21 instead. It was later reported that WWE’s new ownership decided to make the decision to pivot toward the new Vegas location.

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

WWE RAW Card for 5/6:

  • King of the Ring: Gunther vs. Sheamus
  • King of the Ring: Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor
  • King of the Ring: Kofi Kingston vs. Rey Mysterio
  • King of the Ring: Ricochet vs. Ilja Dragunov
  • Queen of the Ring: Zoey Stark vs. Ivy Nile
  • Queen of the Ring: Shayna Bazsler vs. Zelina Vega
  • Queen of the Ring: Lyra Valkyria vs. Asuka
  • Queen of the Ring: Iyo Sky vs. Natalya

Kevin Owens’ WWE Contract: While in France, Kevin Owens spoke to Alistair McGeorge of Metro and revealed that he has nine months left on his current WWE deal.

I really don’t take anything for granted, I’ve (got) nine months left on my contract, and I don’t know what can happen from here on out.

That’s just life. If I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. I’ve learned that through some very unfortunate events. We’ve lost so many good people that was never expected.

That’s just one example of how I do not take anything for granted, how I look at things now.

New Stable Coming: A new stable is coming to WWE television, and that is why QR codes have been popping up. Currently, four individuals are set to join the new Uncle Howdy faction, which is yet to be named. These include Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan, who are all likely to become part of the new iteration of The Wyatt Family. Each has previous experience in different factions: Cross was part of Sanity, Gacy led The Schism, Lumis was a member of The Way, and Rowan was an original member of The Wyatt Family.

CM Stuck: After the WWE Backlash kickoff show, CM Punk stuck around the WWE Headquarters for a bit longer than he initially planned. The Second City Savior was locked in the building, and this opened the door for him to post a slew of entertaining Instagram updates. You may check out a super cut of his experience in the post below.

AEW:

Bad News For Fenix: Rey Fenix was scheduled to participate in House of Glory Wrestling’s Cinco de Mayo event on May 5 in Jamaica, New York, where he was set to compete against Pentagon Jr. in a brother versus brother match. However, the anticipated matchup did not take place. During the event, Pentagon Jr. announced that Fenix was not medically cleared to wrestle, disappointing fans who were looking forward to the bout.

Ric Flair Ejected: Flair, who is now with AEW, claims he had a bad night. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer had spent $1,500 at the establishment and took photos with the staff. Flair claims he was then asked to leave due to an issue with the kitchen manager, who, according to Flair, was taking too long in the kitchen.

Ethan Page Speaks: Although Ethan Page left AEW, he still sold merchandise for them. He brought up how his AEW action figure sold out after his departure in a new video. He is a top seller for AEW on Ringside Collectibles, and he wants to stay there for as long as possible. It’s worth checking out, and you may find that below.

https://twitter.com/OfficialEGO/status/1786470435460092048

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 25: King & Queen of the Ring (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)
  • Sunday, June 9: NXT Battleground (PLE)

Cameron Grimes’ First Appearance Announced Post-WWE Release

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE wrestler Cameron Grimes (Trevor Lee) is returning to wrestling in July.

Grimes has a 90-day no-compete clause as he was released from WWE last month. On April 23, the former Million Dollar Champion posted an emotional video on social media and informed his fans that he was let go from the company. However, he is all set to make his first appearance after the release.

Elevation Pro Wrestling has announced on X that Cameron Grimes, who has switched back to his old ring name, Trevor Lee will be making an appearance at the promotion’s Homecoming event on July 27. 

Grimes was among the list of recently released wrestlers that included Jinder Mahal, Sanga, Veer Mahan, Xyon Quinn, Xia Li and Von Wagner. It also came to light that the former NXT North American Champion’s release took the roster by surprise.

Cameron Grimes’ WWE career

Grimes had signed with WWE back in 2019 and had a successful run in the company’s developmental brand, NXT. He soon captured the NXT North American title and also won the Million Dollar Championship. He received a main roster call-up in May last year but he had a lackluster run. After being part of last year’s WWE Draft, Grimes joined SmackDown but was only featured a handful of times. His last match for the company took place on April 12 episode of SmackDown where he was squashed by Bron Breakker.

According to reports, many didn’t see Grimes’ release coming as his skill set transcended other wrestlers who were on the list. The 30-year-old wrestler was noted to be improving and was quite ‘over’ in NXT. Though he was not featured often on WWE TV, he was still a regular at the live events. 

Cameron Grimes’ WWE release surprised some in the company. He was disappointed, but not entirely surprised. The grappler from Cameron, North Carolina says he felt the writing was on the wall when he was given the ‘To The Moon’ crypto-investor gimmick in NXT.

Rey Fenix Pulled From Event Mere Days After Return to the Ring From Lengthy Injury

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Rey Fenix is dealing with yet another setback after being pulled from an event shortly after returning from a lengthy hiatus from the ring. 

Fenix was scheduled to compete at House of Glory Wrestling’s Cinco de Mayo event on May 5 in Jamaica, New York. Fenix has been set to face Pentagon Jr. in a brother vs. brother showdown. 

Unfortunately for fans excited to see the pair face off, that match didn’t happen. During the show, Pentagon Jr. shared that Fenix was not medically cleared to wrestle. 

https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1787239956143820925

Instead of Fenix, Pentagon faced Laredo Kid. In the show’s main event, Penta defeated the TNA Wrestling Digital Media Champion in non-title action. No more information was given at the show as to why Fenix was not cleared to wrestle. 

Fenix not being medically cleared is the latest setback for the talented former AEW International Champion. Fenix made his return to the ring on the April 27, edition of AEW Collision with a victory over The Beast Mortos. Prior to this, Fenix had missed six months of action due to injuries in his back and/or hip which caused great discomfort to the AEW star. 

Rey Fenix in All Elite Wrestling

After his return on last month’s episode of AEW Collision, Fenix said he was better than ever, which has made his being pulled from HOG Wrestling’s event all the more unfortunate. He also missed months of action due to an injury in 2022 and also spent much of 2020 on the shelf.  We at SE Scoops would like to wish Fenix a very speedy recovery. 

More AEW Injuries

Fenix is sadly not the only All-Elite talent to have been bitten by the proverbial injury bug. Former AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart recently confirmed reports of an injury and is set to undergo surgery if she hasn’t already. Adam Cole continues to be out of action due to the leg injury suffered last year but has been able to appear on TV. Anthony Henry suffered a broken jaw before his recent release from AEW but Tony Khan has plans to bring Henry back once he is healed. 

Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler’s Health Update Is Good News For Fans Of WWE Hall of Famer

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler has provided some good news about his health which has suffered several setbacks in recent years. 

In February 2023, Lawler suffered a stroke that forced him to miss several pre-booked events. The King was also unable to travel to that year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony and instead inducted his friend and legendary rival Andy Kaufman via satellite. This stroke came just over a decade after his infamous 2012 stroke during an episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

Earlier this year, Lawler underwent double knee surgery which has similarly kept him on the shelf. While doing a virtual signing for East Coast Autograph Auctions, Lawler gave an update and is pleased to share that he is on the mend. 

“My health is great. I just [went] over to the doctors to get back on the road from my knee replacement and then of course, still some minor difficulties from the stroke. But all of that stuff is coming around fast.”

Lawler’s health issues did not stop him from appearing at a Memphis Grizzlies game earlier this year. At the event, Lawler was presented with a lifetime achievement championship title in recognition of his career and his tenure as a representative of Memphis, TN. Unfortunately for the King, Memphis’ less-favored son Jeff Jarrett arrived with his AEW allies and stole the gold from Lawler. 

More From Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler

Here are some recent articles regarding Jerry Lawler as the legendary wrestler continues to recover from his recent health setbacks: 

We at SE Scoops are continuing to wish Jerry Lawler a full and speedy recovery. 

Billie Starkz Didn’t Learn Of ROH Women’s TV Title Win Until the Day of Supercard of Honor

Thomas Lowson
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Billie Starkz’ ROH Women’s TV World Championship win was quite the shock to the reigning titleholder, who didn’t learn of the win until the day it happened. 

Starkz captured the title at ROH Supercard of Honor in April 2024 by defeating Queen Aminata in the finals of a tournament. Starkz’s win was not without controversy as she faked a serious neck injury which led to the commentators and crowd being concerned for her future in the ring. 

Starkz’s win was truly historic but it was one she had little time to prepare for. Speaking during a recent RDP Promotions virtual signing, Starkz admitted that she didn’t learn who’d be winning the match until shortly before she faced Aminata. 

“I didn’t know until day of (that I was winning ROH Women’s World TV Title). It wasn’t like there was any lead-up. It was just like, hey, you know your match now. Have fun.”

Starkz went on to say that the aftermath of the match was more fun to her than the match itself, as she was able to see people she doesn’t typically get to see. 

“I see the people I work with at AEW all the time but then, all of my indie friends that I kind of disappeared from, I got to show off and be like, ‘Look, I won this cool, pretty thing. Take pictures with me.’”

Starkz won the title at Supercard of Honor in April 2024. 

More Championship Gold?

Starkz is the first-ever ROH Women’s World TV Champion but now has her eye on more gold for her waist. When a fan suggested Women’s Tag Titles for AEW and Ring of Honor, Starkz was in favor of the idea. 

“I agree with that statement (that AEW & ROH need Women’s Tag Titles) but, if we’re being honest here, we already know who would have the belts. The current champs. Come on now.”

The current champs Starkz is referring to is herself and Athena. The former WWE Superstar is in her first reign as ROH Women’s World Champion, a title she has held for over 500 days. It remains to be seen if either AEW or ROH introduce women’s tag gold, but Starkz is clearly confident in her own abilities to be a champion. 

Ric Flair Claims He Was Kicked Out Of Restaurant Over Issue With Kitchen Manager

Thomas Lowson
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It may be some time before Ric Flair dines at the Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza again after an issue with the kitchen manager allegedly led to the wrestling legend’s exit. 

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), the two-time WWE Hall of Famer shared that he’d spent $1,500 at the establishment and took photos with the staff. Flair claims that he was then asked to leave due to an issue with the kitchen manager who Flair states was taking too long in the kitchen. The Nature Boy added that anyone in Gainesville, Georgia looking for a relaxing dining experience should eat elsewhere. 

As of this time, there’s been no public response to Flair by the company’s social media accounts. The 16-time World Champion had been in Gainesville to visit family for a school graduation. 

Flair’s tweet comes after he lambasted the upcoming ‘Who Killed WCW’ docuseries that it set to release later this year. The new series will be produced by The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions studios. Flair has claimed that he was not consulted for the show despite his significance in World Championship Wrestling. 

With his time at Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza in Gainesville proving to be a disaster, Flair may turn to another staple of fast food. Ahead of his final match in 2022, Flair opened the Wooooo! Wings virtual restaurant. The online establishment that offered wings in Nashville saw Flair team with KitchPartner restaurants and ran for four days, ending on July 31 (the date of Flair’s last match.)

More from Ric Flair

Here are some recent articles regarding Ric Flair as the two-time WWE Hall of Famer continues to make headlines: 

Sheamus Deletes Controversial Tweet About GUNTHER Ahead Of WWE Raw

Dominic DeAngelo
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Sheamus took building his upcoming bout with GUNTHER a little too far, and thankfully ‘The Celtic Warrior’ came to his senses.

GUNTHER will take on Sheamus in the opening round of the King Of The Ring tournament on this Monday’s WWE RAW as both men will vy for the crown in Saudi Arabia later this month.

In build to the match, Sheamus decided to make some controversial implications regarding GUNTHER, noting of his appearance and recent decision-making.

“Hmmm.. an Austrian with a funny haircut, has a thing for military style coats, proclaims superiority over others, hangs out with Germans and betrays his Italian ally..”

Sheamus added a “raised eyebrow” emoji for aemphasis, but the implications were pretty clear that he was insinuating that the former Intercontinental Champion had Nazi-like tendencies. Sheamus since has deleted his post, but users made a point to screenshot the comments.

Sheamus has a clear track record of being playful online with his feuds, with his latest barbs being directed towards Drew McIntyre. The two former friends have a burgeoning beef in the ring and over social media as Sheamus stated on RAW several weeks back that McIntyre screwed himself at WrestleMania to which McIntyre teased his Irish amigo about his recent weight gain.

When GUNTHER first got his name change in WWE after originally going by WALTER, there was plenty of ire online. Hans F. K. Günther was a notorious physician of Hitler’s Third Reich. However, that could just be coincidental as there are several Nazis with the Walter name too.  Considering GUNTHER is Austrian, any name choice WWE would have made could present such ties.

The presentation of Imperium certainly comes with a “superiority-like” presentation that conveys the classic foreign heel faction and wrestling promotions in the past have not shied away from having Nazi wrestlers in previous eras.

Wild Streak Involving WWE Undisputed Championship Ends At Backlash

Dominic DeAngelo
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WWE Backlash had a wild crowd courtesy of Lyon, France, but it also marked the end of an unbelievable streak with the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship.

Cody Rhodes put that very championship on the line against AJ Styles on Saturday and the battle became memorable in more ways than one. Not only did ‘The American Nightmare’ get a tremendous pop from the French crowd, but Rhodes actually retained his title by defeating ‘The Phenomenal One.’

However, Punk from the Burial Squad was able to dig up an insane statistic about Rhodes’ successful title defense. Backlash happened to mark the first time that specific championship was successfully defended on television without any outside interference in almost two years. The last time the title was defended without any interference had Roman Reigns beating Matt Riddle on the June 17, 2022 episode of WWE SmackDown.

Reigns’ reign became notorious for having constant interference in his title fights. While the tactic was certainly frustrating for fans (and his opponents), it did create for some memorable moments. Solo Sikoa made his main roster debut by interfering in his cousin Roman’s defense against Drew McIntyre at Clash At The Castle. Jimmy Uso also happened to stab his brother Jey in the back at WWE SummerSlam, allowing Roman to retain his gold.

Rhodes vs. Styles at Backlash also marked a new moment in WWE history. Their main event fight also happened to be the first WWE Undisputed Title match on PLE that was officiated by a female. Jessika Carr donned the zebra stripes for the battle between Cody and AJ.

CM Punk Got Stuck At WWE HQ After Getting Locked Inside A Bathroom During Backlash (Videos)

Bishal Roy
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WWE Backlash: France Premium Live Event on Saturday was a successful event and it sent the fans back home happy. However, the same can’t be said about CM Punk, who had a bizarre experience at the WWE Headquarters. The former WWE Champion was a panel member for the WWE Backlash Pre-show. Taking to Instagram, Punk dropped a string of amusing stories and revealed the adventures he had at WWE HQ.

CM Punk had an interesting weekend at WWE’s main office in Stamford, CT

‘The Second City Savior’ was seen recording the clip inside the WWE gym. Following the pre-show, Punk went to the bathroom to change his suit. However, he got locked in. He revealed that when he came out, everybody was gone. The 45-year-old wrestler further revealed that he got locked in for a long time and had to miss his flight back home. 

He posted another story in which Punk showed a door reading: ‘Executive Wellness’ and stated, “that’s sounds really fancy.”

Leaving the gym, CM Punk said that he had to do “some Phantom of the Opera type s**t” and be “Dante from Clerks” before heading to the hall. He could be seen slapping the crotch of WWE legend Andre The Giant and this marked the end of the Instagram stories. 

On Sunday, Punk provided another update. He’s still stuck at WWE headquarters and is thinking about sticking around for Monday’s WWE Raw from East Hartford, CT.

A similar incident also occurred recently when The Miz was stuck in a dressing room.

Punk is currently sidelined after sustaining a torn tricep injury during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. After undergoing surgery, Punk is showing impressive recovery. He also dropped the cast after six weeks since going under the knife.The Chicago legend couldn’t compete at WrestleMania 40 but lent his voice to the World Heavyweight Championship match between Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. He played a pivotal role in Damian Priest’s cashing in and costing Drew McIntyre the world title. 

‘The Scottish Warrior’ and ‘The Second City Savior’ have had verbal exchanges which have been boiling their feud. While Punk gets ready for an in-ring return, McIntyre has continued to take personal shots at his rival on social media.

WWE European Tour Round-Up: Blockbuster Events Held in Italy, Austria & France

Thomas Lowson
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The latest European tour of WWE saw events held in three different countries as the promotion continues to embraces its appeal outside of the U.S. 

The tour, which came mere weeks after a recent tour of the United Kingdom, was part of the promotion’s buzz surrounding WWE Backlash: France, the first Premium Live Event in the country’s history. 

WWE in Bologna, Italy

The first night of the tour saw the Superstars travel to Italy. The show saw several highlights, including Solo Sikoa break a 41-match losing streak. The former NXT North American Champion teamed with Tama Tonga to defeat Randy Orton & Kevin Owens in what was also Tonga’s WWE in-ring debut. After the show’s main event, Undisputed WWE Cody Rhodes said he hopes to bring a WWE TV taping to the country. 

The results for the show were as follows: 

  • Sami Zayn (c) def. Ludwig Kaiser (Intercontinental Championship)

  • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Naomi def. Damage CTRL (Asuka, Dakota Kai & Kairi Sane)

  • Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga def. LA Knight & Randy Orton

  • Damian Priest (c) def. Chad Gable and Gunther and Jey Uso (World Heavyweight Championship)

  • Awesome Truth (R-Truth & The Miz) (c) def. Judgment Day (Finn Balor & JD McDonagh) (World Tag Team Championships)

  • Becky Lynch (c) def. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)

  • Cody Rhodes (c) def. Shinsuke Nakamura (Undisputed WWE Championship)

WWE in Vienna, Austria

WWE’s next stop on the tour saw the promotion come to Vienna, Austria. This was WWE’s first event in the nation since 2019 and unsurprisingly, GUNTHER received a hero’s welcome in his homeland. 

The results for the show were as follows: 

  • Sami Zayn (c) def. Ludwig Kaiser (Intercontinental Championship)
  • Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga def. LA Knight & Randy Orton
  • GUNTHER def. Chad Gable

  • Jey Uso & Awesome Truth (R-Truth & The Miz) def. Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh)

  • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Naomi def. Damage CTRL (Asuka, Dakota Kai & Kairi Sane)

  • Becky Lynch (c) def. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)

  • Cody Rhodes (c) def. Shinsuke Nakamura (Undisputed WWE Championship)

WWE SmackDown in France

The penultimate stop on the tour saw WWE finally arrive in Lyon, France for the May 3, episode of WWE SmackDown. This was WWE’s first TV taping in the nation’s history and saw the Superstars seek to build momentum towards WWE Backlash. 

The results for the show were as follows: 

  • Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill def. Tiffany Stratton and Damage CTRL
  • AOP (with Karrion Kross and Scarlett) def. New Catch Republic 
  • LA Knight def. Angel
  • Austin Theory and Grayson Waller (c) def. The Street Profits (WWE Tag Team Championship)

WWE Backlash France

WWE’s tour culminated with Backlash France, the first PLE of its kind in the country. Given the raucous ovation the night prior, expectations were high for the show and once again the WWE Universe inside the LDLC Arena delivered. The show saw surprises and title matches with the WWE Women’s Tag Titles changing hands. 

The results of the show were as follows:

  • The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga) (with Paul Heyman) def. Kevin Owens and Randy Orton
  • Bayley (c) defeated Naomi and Tiffany Stratton (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Damian Priest (c) defeated Jey Uso (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defeated The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
  • Cody Rhodes (c) defeated AJ Styles (Undisputed WWE Championship)

WWE’s recent tour has proven to be a hit with audiences as the promotion continues to lean into the ‘World’ aspect of its name. With Triple H teasing a broadcast event in Italy during the post-Backlash press conference and with PLEs in Europe already announced, expect much more from WWE outside North America. 

WWE Brought Back Former NXT Superstar For Role At 3/5 SmackDown & Backlash France

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Backlash France and the preceding SmackDown proved to be huge successes for the promotion and also marked the return of a former Superstar. 

The promotion’s latest PLE saw several top stars including Undisputed WWE Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and Jade Cargill. The crowd in the LDLC Arena was electric throughout the show in addition to being worryingly loud during the May 3, edition of WWE SmackDown. 

During the opening match of Backlash France, Tanga Loa aided the Bloodline in their Street Fight but he wasn’t the only former Superstar to get involved. Earlier in the show, security tried to keep the Bloodline and the team of Randy Orton & Kevin Owens apart, albeit to no avail. It has since come out that former WWE NXT Superstar Sylvester Lefort was part of that team of security. 

This wasn’t Lefort’s only time getting physical during WWE’s time in France. The 40-year-old wrestler was also part of the security during the previous night’s edition of SmackDown and was slammed onto the commentary table by Randy Orton. 

Lefort was on the NXT roster from 2013 to 2015. During this period of time, he was involved in storylines with Enzo Amore, Dax Harwood (then Scott Dawson), and Miro (then Alexander Rusev). After his WWE NXT tenure ended, Lefort joined TNA Wrestling and worked as Basile Baraka. 

Getting to appear for WWE one more time (albeit not as a Superstar) likely felt good for Lefort, despite the beating he took at the hands of Orton. Not only did he appear at Backlash, by Lefort (under his real name Tom LaRuffa) competed at an event for BZW in Lyon, where he was on the losing end of an eight-man tag-team match. 

More From WWE Backlash France

Here are some recent articles about WWE Backlash France as the promotion’s first PLE in the country continues to prove to be quite the talking point: 

Jade Cargill Shares Tribute to Late Mom After WWE Women’s Tag Title Win at Backlash

Thomas Lowson
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New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill was obviously pleased with her victory at WWE Backlash France, but wishes her mom could’ve been there. 

At WWE’s first French PLE, Cargill and Bianca Belair captured the Women’s Tag Team Championships; the first title for Cargill since her groundbreaking WWE signing last September. The win also marks the first tag title reign for Belair, who is a former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion. 

A raucous audience in the LDLC Arena watched Belair and Cargill win the titles as well as countless fans watching around the world. Unfortunately, Jade’s mother was not among them as the elder Cargill passed away in December 2023 following a lengthy battle with cancer. 

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Jade paid tribute to her mom and said she wishes she could have seen her win in Lyon. 

”I really wish I could have had my mom there last night. But I know God has a reason for it all. I know she’s proud of me.” 

Cargill’s tribute to her late mother. 

Cargill’s quick ascent through the WWE ranks demonstrate the promotion’s lofty faith in her to be a top woman in the company. It’s hard to ignore the similarities to AEW where Jade quickly became the first AEW TBS Champion, a title she held for over 500 days. If the past is any indicator, expect a lengthy title run for the Storm and more gold in her future. 

More From Jade Cargill 

Here are some recent articles regarding Jade Cargill as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion continues to take WWE by ‘Storm’

Current Names Reportedly Planned For Bo Dallas Faction

Dominic DeAngelo
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A new Wyatt Family may be on the horizon, but when and who will exactly show up representing the renewed faction?

A lot of actual signs in the form of QR codes and trailers greatly indicate that Bo Dallas will be returning to WWE television, perhaps in the form of himself or the mysterious Uncle Howdy. However, a new report from PWInsider has a list of names rumored to join the late Bray Wyatt’s younger brother.

As of now, currently on tap to be in the new faction (whatever they may be called) are four other names. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy and Erick Rowan are all slated to be in the new Wyatt Family fold. All of those mentioned names have previous experience as faction members with Cross being apart of Sanity, Gacy leading The Schism, Dexter Lumis as a member of The Way and Rowan of course as an original member of The Wyatt Family.

The Codes And Rumors Surrounding Bo Dallas’ Return

 WWE started a cryptic campaign in the weeks up to WrestleMania 40 with the first teaser of a Bo Dallas return being at the end of the Bray Wyatt documentary trailer. Ever since, QR codes have popped up for fans to scan and an ominous tune titled “Nightbird” has began playing before and during WWE live events.

The most recent reference was quite direct for Bo Dallas as a QR code appeared on the 5/3 episode of WWE SmackDown. The code directed fans to a Backlash trailer before turning into something creepy that had the quote ‘He opened his arms. Our pain became his. We were reborn. Because we BOlieved.’

Shawn Michaels Enters The Kendrick Lamar & Drake Feud Via Diss Track

Dominic DeAngelo
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If you don’t think pro wrestling is everywhere, you best think again as Kendrick Lamar decided to reference Shawn Michaels in his latest diss track against Drake. The talk of the hip-hop world has been the back and forth diss track dropping between famed rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake who have decided to air their grievances through their lyrics. 

It was Lamar who happened to pull pro wrestling out of the hostler to take a shot in his latest song by referencing  Shawn  Michaels’ iconic finishing move. The track titled “Not Like Us” has Lamar metaphorically “tuning up the band” to lay down a Sweet Chin Music. The specific diss starts at 2:23.

“Put the whole label on me, I’mma get ’em dropped.

Sweet Chin Music and I won’t pass the aux.”

Ironically enough, Drake once happened to don the tee shirt of one of HBK’s greatest rivals (and Kayfabe Kliq best friend) Razor Ramon. However unlike “The Bad Guy” Scott Hall, the feeling amongst fans is that Drake isn’t going to win this feud.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:CCj5oaSnYMI

For decades pro wrestling and music have gone together like PB&J, but it’s been the hip-hop genre to greatly tip the cap to the “one true sport.” Several top names from the world of rap have made several references to the legends in pro wrestling. Wu-Tang Clan referenced Ken Patera in “Shadowboxin'” and OutKast spoke of “droppin’ bows like Dusty Rhodes” in their song “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.” One of rap’s greatest proponents is Westside Gunn, who has a bundle of lyrics, song titles and albums in honor of some of wrestling’s biggest stars.

Minnesota Gets Reason From WWE Why City Lost WrestleMania 41 Bid

Dominic DeAngelo
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Cue the Squidward “window meme” from Spongebob Squarepants as Minnesota will watch from afar as WWE WrestleMania 41 will now be hosted by Las Vegas next April.

The announcement was made following WWE Backlash at the Kentucky Derby that Sin City would be the “belle of the ball” to present “the grand daddy of them all” despite heavy speculation that Minneapolis would be the host of WWE’s premium PLE.

A new article from the Star Tribune happens to give reason as to why the Twin Cities won’t play host at the US Bank Stadium, a massive dome which is the home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota Sports and Events president and chief executive Wendy Blackshaw said that WWE pivoted due to the entire company pivoting over a year ago. However, Blackshaw stayed positive for future PLE potentail for her city down the line.

“We were informed by WWE that Minnesota would not host WrestleMania in 2025 due to a change in direction by new ownership. Although disappointed, we are in discussions with WWE about future events in Minnesota. We are optimistic that Minnesota will host WWE events here in the future.”

WrestleMania heading to Sin City makes plenty of sense considering Endeavor, who scooped up WWE during WrestleMania season last year homebase is out of Las Vegas.

This won’t be the first time WrestleMania popped up in Las Vegas. WrestleMania IX actually took place at Caesar’s Palace  down on the Las Vegas strip, not too far from where 41 will take place at Allegiant Stadium.

Xavier Woods Shows Support For Kofi Kingston Ahead Of King Of The Ring

Dominic DeAngelo
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It meant a lot for Xavier Woods to become King of the Ring in 2021, but sadly the New Day member will not be defending his crown in the tournament this year.

Although it wasn’t technically a qualifying match, Woods lost to another man vying for the crown in GUNTHER on WWE RAW. Woods was forced to submit after GUNTER cinched in a STF during their fight as Kofi Kingston watched on. It was a big loss for Woods but it put GUNTHER in a great position to be put in the tournament.

Sure enough, GUNTHER will get his shot in the first round of the tournament this Monday on this upcoming WWE RAW as he’ll take on another former King Of The Ring in Sheamus. 

That’s not the only first round match set to go down as the aformentioned Kingston will battle new RAW draftee in WWE Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio Jr. 

Woods took to social media to express his disappointment not being in the tournament, but also took a moment to show his love for his fellow New Day dude in Kingston (and also tease the WWE graphics department who made the error of mispelling Kofi’s name). Kofi was the first to comment on his match, making sure to dedicate his match to Xavier.

“You all know how important King of the Ring has always been to me. I’m not in the tournament this year but my brother Kofi has the chance to gain the crown. BRING IT HOME FOR NEW DAY! Also please spell his name correctly on the next graphic.”

Daily Drop (5/5): WWE Shakes Up The Bloodline at Backlash, Tony Khan’s Neck Brace Gets Flowers For Keeping It Old School

Aaron Varble
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It’s time for the Daily Drop on Sunday, May 5, 2024. There is a lot to unpack in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any more time.

WWE finally announced that WrestleMania 41 will take place in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. 4/20 weekend will be very busy in Vegas, for a few reasons. Tanga Loa also debuted as the newest member of the Bloodline at Backlash. That should go on to change a lot for the stable’s future.

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

Gulak Not Gone Yet: While Drew Gulak was rumored to have been released, it is now reported that he remains with WWE, although his contract will not be renewed after it expires next month. Gulak has gained a reputation for targeting the actual injuries of NXT talents during their recovery, which has led others to view him as a bully. This behavior included pressuring talents to remain silent about his actions. Multiple sources from the backstage staff, including producers and the creative team, mentioned that Drew Gulak’s approach in WWE was counterproductive. He was described to me as a poor politician by multiple sources, Gulak tried to maneuver his way to the top but ended up undermining his own position. He was difficult for producers and writers to work with because he believed he was outsmarting everyone. However, once the team started sharing their experiences, Gulak became a subject of mockery among them.

Jessika Carr Made History: During WWE Backlash in France, WWE referee Jessika Carr became the first woman to ever officiate a World Title match as Cody Rhodes defended his gold against AJ Styles. Cody Rhodes also sent out a post to give Carr a spotlight.

Seth Rollins’ New Look: The Messiah showed up at the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and he looked very different. Although he was wearing a classy hat, it appeared that Rollins had his hair trimmed down considerably.

AEW:

Tony Schiavone’s New Ink: The AEW announcer recently mourned the loss of his dog, Bug. This week, he paid tribute to his old friend by getting a tattoo to remember him. The new piece looks great, and you can check it out below. RIP Bug.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6huEs3uHmG

JR Loves TK’s Neck Brace: During his Grilling JR podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer announcer gave Tony Khan flowers for rocking a neck brace like he did. Ross considered it “old school,” which was very much appreciated.

“I was waiting to see if Tony was gonna follow through and complete the cycle by wearing a neckbrace and he did. I was proud of him for doing that because it was old school. Now whether you like the angle or you didn’t like the angle, that’s another issue but him following through and wearing the neckbrace…good for Tony Khan on that deal. That was old school like thinking and I’m really glad that he wore the neckbrace.”

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

Update On Drew Gulak WWE NXT Exit After Conflicting Reports, Backstage Perception

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE NXT Superstar Drew Gulak was a bully during his tenure with the gold brand, according to those close to the situation. 

Gulak’s name was brought up during recent talent cuts that have affected the WWE NXT brand. It was at first believed that Gulak was removed from WWE TV following allegations made by Ronda Rousey. The former Women’s Champion claims that Gulak pulled at the drawstring of her pants, which Gulak said did happen but it was an accident. 

Now, more has come to light about Gulak’s behavior leading up to his WWE release. Gulak would often target the genuine injuries that NXT talent were trying to recover from, Fightful Select reports. This earned him a reputation as a bully, which was only galvanized when he pressured talent to keep quiet about what he was doing. 

At least one WWE NXT talent spoke up which led to Gulak being verbially reprimanded by NXT head Shawn Michaels and other coaches with the gold brand. This was after Gulak intentially ‘spiked’ an opponent during a match. It is not stated who this oopponent was or when the match took place. 

Gulak had a repuation as a bully in WWE NXT. 

One WWE NXT talent who spoke to Fightful said that Gulak was “odd” and often tested wrestlers to see if his bullying got a reaction. Another talent said that Gulak deliberately re-dislocated a finger that that had previously been dislocated but had been healing. 

Drew Gulak Still With WWE

While it has been reported that Gulak was released, Fightful now notes that Drew is still with the company, but has been told that his deal will not be renewed when it expires. Gulak will also not receive a new offer once his existing deal expires next month. 

On the WWE Backlash France post-show press conference, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque responded to questions about Gulak’s WWE status. Levesque stated that Gulak was not fired over the Rousey allegations but rather that his contract was not renewed. 

Joe Hendry To Face Elijah In Battle Of The Artists At North Wrestling Event on July 13

Thomas Lowson
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It will be a battle of the musicians this July when TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry takes on former WWE Superstar Elijah for the UK’s North Wrestling promotion. 

On Twitter, the promotion confirmed that the two will face off at the THUNDERSTRUCK 2 event on July 13. The event will kick-off at 6pm GMT with fans of all ages welcome. The announcement also included a video from Elijah who had some choice words for his upcoming opponent. 

Both men have incorporated music into their wrestling personas. During his WWE tenure as Elias, Elijah often performed before matches and encouraged the fans to recognize that WWE stood for Walk With Elias. The former 24/7 Champion’s music proved so popular that he released two EPs during this run: WWE: Walk with Elias in 2018 and WWE: Universal Truth two years later. A performance of the latter during the October 19, 2020 Raw, also scored Elias a Slammy Award. 

Over in TNA Wrestling, Joe Hendry’s musical performances have quickly made him one of the most popular stars with the promotion. The Scottish Wrestler has used his musical skills to mock Matt Cardona and Curt Hawkins in the past and more recently has taken aim at AJ Francis (formerly Top Dolla in WWE.)

When not mocking his opponents through the power of song, Hendry’s theme song I Believe in Joe Hendry has also proven to be a hit. The track recently hit #1 on the iTunes charts in several countires, an achievement that saw Hendry dethrone 14-time Grammy Award-winning artist Taylor Swift. 

WWE Raw Preview: 8 King and Queen of the Ring First-Round Matches

Thomas Lowson
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We’ll take the first steps towards crowning a new King and Queen of the Ring tonight on the May 5 edition of WWE RAW.

WWE King and Queen of the Ring will take place this May and see the Superstars return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The show had originally been set for 2023 before being changed to WWE Night of Champions. The change was linked to Roman Reigns reaching 1,000 days as WWE Universal Champion and saw the introduction of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Tonight, we will see EIGHT first-round matches for the men’s and women’s tournaments.

WWE RAW fans are in for a PPV-caliber lineup

Men’s Matches on Raw

Four men’s division matches will take place on Raw with royal stakes on the line:

  • New WWE Speed Champion Ricochet will face the recently-called up Ilja Dragunov. 
  • In a rematch from WWE Clash At The Castle 2022, Sheamus (2010’s King of the Ring) will face his long-time rival Ricochet in what will no-doubt be a ‘banger.’
  • The overseas action will continue as Drew McIntyre hopes to take a step closer to the crown when he faces 2021 King of the Ring runner-up Finn Balor. 
  • Kofi Kingston will hope to follow Xavier Woods as the next King of the Ring, but to do so, he’ll need to defeat fellow former WWE World Champion Rey Mysterio. 

Women’s Matches on Raw

  • After last week’s call-up, Lyra Valkyria hopes to advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament, but that’ll be easier said than done when she faces the ‘Empress’ Asuka. 
  • Shayna Baszler calls herself the Queen of Spades but to become WWE’s official Queen, she’ll need to advance with a win over 2021 Queen Zelina Vega. 
  • Zoey Stark will face Ivy Nile in a Queen of the Ring battle in what will be arguably the most physical match of the Women’s tournament’s first round. 
  • IYO SKY looks to bounce back from her loss at WrestleMania when she faces the self-professed Queen of Harts Natalya in her first round match. 

Reaching the throne has proven to be a launching point for careers in WWE with Bret Hart, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Edge all being crowned over the years. Keep checking in with SE Scoops for full coverage of the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments. 

Jessika Carr Makes History As WWE’s First Female To Referee A World Title Main Event

Thomas Lowson
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Jessika Carr made history at Saturday’s WWE Backlash France premium live event by becoming the first female referee to work a World title main event.

Cody Rhodes acknowledged the milestone on social media. WWE’s first full-time female referee says she’s honored and grateful to make history once again.

Triple H and fellow WWE official Daphanie LaShaunn also congratulated Carr on her milestone achievement. 

Carr officiated the match between Rhodes and AJ Styles which headlined the night inside the LDLC Arena. The show saw Rhodes get the win in his first Undisputed WWE Championship defense to play out on TV. Rhodes dispatched of the Phenomenal One with a series of signature moves before hitting his Cross Rhodes finisher. 

This is hardly the first time Carr has made history for the women of WWE who don the black and white stripes. In 2021, Carr became the first woman to referee a WWE event in Saudi Arabia at that year’s Crown Jewel event. Carr officiated that year’s King of the Ring finals won by Xavier Woods as well as a Hell in a Cell match (another first for her!) between Edge and Seth Rollins. This milestone came two years after Carr became the first female referee to be called-up to the main roster.

Carr’s success in the striped shirt continues to show WWE’s change from how things have been done in the past. Not too long ago, WWE would shy away from a female referee, with the only exception being Rita Chatterton. These days, however, fans can expect Carr and other women to hold the Superstars to account, whether it be at live events, WWE TV, or at PLEs. 

WrestleMania 41 Location: WrestleMania Vegas Set For April 19 & 20, 2025 at Allegiant Stadium

Aaron Varble
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Cities all over the world put in bids to host WrestleMania, and the company took their time announcing 2025’s event. Fans who plan to attend next year’s event are heading to Sin City.  During the Kentucky Derby after WWE Backlash, the company used another worldwide platform to announce that WrestleMania 41 will take place April 19 & 20, 2025 from Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

WWE Money in the Bank 2022 was initially announced for Allegiant Stadium during SummerSlam of the prior year It was scheduled for Saturday, July 2, 2022, marking what would have been the first MITB held in a National Football League stadium. However, on May 26, 2022, the venue was changed to the nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena. The date remained the same, making it the first Money in the Bank PLE to be held on a Saturday. Tickets that had been purchased for the Allegiant Stadium were refunded, and those ticket holders were given the first opportunity to purchase tickets for the new venue.

Previous WrestleMania 41 Location Reports

Minneapolis was once considered a likely candidate to host WrestleMania 41. Confidence in this possibility was so high that it was even hinted at during a government house floor session while discussing a bill, albeit without directly mentioning the WWE event. It was noted that an event of significant scale, second only to the Super Bowl, was expected to be announced imminently. 

U.S. Bank Stadium had submitted a bid to host what is often called the showcase of the immortals. This outcome is particularly disappointing for Tiffany Stratton, who hails from Minnesota. During a recent conversation with SEScoops, Stratton shared her hope to headline WrestleMania 41 in her home state, ideally against Charlotte Flair:

Seth Rollins Resurfaces With a New Look At The Kentucky Derby Red Carpet

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins walked the red carpet at Saturday’s 150th Kentucky Derby. The race was won by Mystik Dan in a 3-way photo finish.

Seth Rollins has been out of the public eye since WrestleMania 40, where he lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Drew McIntyre. He played a pivotal role in the Bloodline Rules main event between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, ultimately sacrificing himself to help Cody conquer the Tribal Chief. Since then, Rollins underwent knee surgery and signed a new multi-year WWE contract. 

On Saturday, Rollins showed up looking dapper as usual and was sporting a different look than we last saw him. It’s hard to see everything going on under that hat, but he’s sporting a very different haircut and has trimmed his beard down to short stubble. Below, you can see photos, along with clips of them talking about the inspiration behind their outfits, the Kentucky Derby and a big announcement – WrestleMania 41 is headed to Las Vegas in 2025.

Becky Lynch, whose contract is also up for renewal, has not yet signed a new deal. She is also taking a hiatus from the company after Mania. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani before WrestleMania XL, Lynch expressed concern over her contract situation. She’s the new Women’s World Champion after Rhea Ripley had to vacate it due to injury.

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