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Shawn Michaels Provides Update On William Regal’s Future On WWE TV

Dominic DeAngelo
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William Regal’s recent appearance on WWE NXT marks his first since returning to the company over a year ago and Shawn Michaels knows Regal is a fan favorite.

Speaking with the media on the NXT Vengeance Day media call, HBK was asked by Ella Jay of SEScoops if Regal’s passing of the torch to Ava Raine as the new NXT General Manager meant more things to come from the future WWE Hall of Famer.

“[Regal] is there for her counsel in any way he can help. So look, you know as well as I do here in NXT, when you have a staple and a foundational person like William Regal you gotta have more than just one shot with him here and there.

“I think everybody was extremely excited about his brief cameo on NXT television. I have no doubt that we will have some other cameos by William Regal in the future as well.”

Regal may have been off-television for an entire year since leaving AEW, but that was per stipulation of him exiting the company. A big reason for Regal wanting to return to WWE was that his son, Charlie Dempsey is a rising talent in NXT and he wanted to be part of his development.

Funny enough, Ava Raine is also following in her father’s footsteps as the very same week The Rock was announced as a member of the TKO Board Of Directors, Raine was appointed the new GM, a major role that she’s hoping to electrify in.

Please credit and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

WWE Bringing Several Top NXT Stars To Friday’s SmackDown

Thomas Lowson
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This week’s SmackDown will have an NXT flair to it with several gold brand Superstars set to be present at the upcoming show.

Tomorrow’s SmackDown will be the first episode of the blue brand following last weekend’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. The show will take place at The BJCC Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. 

WWE NXT Superstars at SmackDown

NXT’s Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, and Trick Williams are all slated to be at this week’s SmackDown, PW Insider reports. It’s interesting that these three men have been selected, as speculation grows considering potential call-ups. Hayes has been competing on SmackDown as of late, including on last week’s episode. Last week’s show also saw Trick Williams earn a massive pop from the fans as he made the save for Hayes who was being attacked by Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. 

Bron Breakker has yet to arrive on SmackDown but that could change very soon. On this week’s Raw, Andrade signed a contract with the red brand, much to the delight of Adam Pearce. Pearce and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis would trade some barbs before Aldis took a phone call from the two-time former NXT Champion. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiREJ6KwLgs

WWE SmackDown – February 2

These NXT Superstars will be just part of a stacked first SmackDown on the road to WrestleMania 40. 2024 Womens Royal Rumble winner Bayley will be on the show alongside her Damage CTRL allies. Bayley will reveal which challenges she will face at WrestleMania 40. Her current options are Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or WWE Women’s Champion (and Damage CTRL sister) IYO SKY.

Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes will also appear on SmackDown, as will Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul is also set to appear. LA Knight, Bianca Belair, and IYO SKY are also advertised. 

Netflix Chief Distances from Vince McMahon Amid Trafficking Lawsuit: “He’s Gone”

Thomas Lowson
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Vincent Kennedy McMahon is gone from WWE, and the company’s new partners at Netflix have wasted no time in distancing themselves from the former Chairman.

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.” 

Netflix’s CEO Comments on Vince McMahon

The allegations against McMahon surfaced shortly after WWE reached a massive deal with Netflix to move Raw to the streaming juggernaut. Given the seriousness of the allegations, there had been speculation that this $5 billion could have been in jeopardy had WWE/TKO not taken action against McMahon.

This week, Netflix staged its press event, dubbed Next on Netflix, at its Tudum Theater in Hollywood. When asked about McMahon and the potential impact the lawsuit could have on WWE’s deal with Netflix, content chief Bela Bajaria asserted that McMahon will not be a factor going forward.

“He’s gone. So he’s not there. He’s gone.”

The Netflix-WWE Deal

Brandon Reign, Netflix’s VP of nonfiction was also at the press event. When asked about the deal with WWE, Reigg commended the combined efforts of the WWE Universe and Netflix’s subscribers.

“I think we’re all really bullish on it, but we know that has an incredibly consistent audience for the last several decades. And so that’s really first and foremost where we’re starting at and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

Monday Night Raw begins streaming on Netflix in January 2025.

Jordynne Grace Eager to Represent TNA More on WWE TV

Bishal Roy
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TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace recently shocked the fans when she made an appearance during the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

‘Juggernaut’ is sitting at the top of the TNA Knockouts division as the first Knockouts world champion of the new era of TNA Wrestling. Grace made her WWE in-ring debut as the #5 entrant in the high-stakes match. 

After entering the match, Grace came across Naomi (formerly Trinity in TNA Wrestling/IMPACT Wrestling). They shared a hug before exchanging fists during the Royal Rumble event. TNA Knockout lasted more than 19 minutes in the match and was eliminated by 2021 Rumble winner Bianca Belair.

Jordynne Grace: I want people to see what we’re really all about 

After pulling off a shocking appearance, she recently outlined her goals for her career and eagerness to represent TNA Wrestling in WWE. Grace spoke with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful and said that she is hopeful of becoming the longest-reigning champion of all time.

 In addition to this, Grace said that she would love to continue representing TNA Wrestling on WWE if the relationship helps in getting more exposure to TNA Wrestling. She said:

“I would love to be the longest reigning Knockouts (champion) of all time, that would be an incredible honor. Another thing that has just come within the past week, I just want to get more eyes on the product. I want people to see what we’re really all about and if a relationship with WWE is going to help us do that, I would love to represent TNA more on WWE,” she said.

Grace certainly impressed the fans by showcasing her talent and strength inside the squared circle. It is needless to say fans would certainly crave to see her back inside the WWE ring.

Bruce Prichard Set To Have Surgery Today

Aaron Varble
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Bruce Prichard has played a part in some of the biggest moment in WWE history, but he was backstage for most of them. Now, the WWE internal heavy-hitter is about to hit the road to recovery once again.

Bruce Prichard Undergoing Surgery Today

WWE will have to do without Bruce Prichard for a bit, because he is going to be recovering from surgery. Odds are, he will be back to work as soon as possible, given his history of dedication to WWE.

Conrad Thompson, who co-hosts Bruce Prichard’s podcast with him, posted on Twitter/X to reveal that the Something to Wrestle With host went under the knife today. They are hoping to record their podcast on Saturday because of Bruce’s surgical situation.

Bruce is having triceps surgery this morning. We hope to record Saturday.

Bruce Prichard’s Surgery History

This is not the first time that Prichard has needed to go under the knife. He’s had a couple shoulder surgeries before. Now, he is getting his triceps worked on, but he had quite an experience with shoulder surgeries, as he detailed on a previous podcast.

“Last time I had a shoulder surgery, man, it was like I was in, I was out that day. The next day, I was in a meeting. I never ever had the pain like people talk about shoulder surgery, right? Everybody told me, ‘Oh, this will be the worst thing you ever do.’ So, this time, I was expecting it to be like last time, when I had no pain. This one is like the one where they tell you, ‘Oh, yeah.’ This sucks. Out of all the surgeries that you would want to get, this is why this one is at the bottom of the motherf*cking list.”

Bruce Prichard’s Role in WWE

Along with having a ton of stories and a great podcast, Bruce Prichard still holds a prominent role in WWE.

Prichard presently serves as the executive director of Raw and SmackDown, holding a significant position in WWE’s on-screen creative. This responsibility has been overseen by McMahon’s son-in-law Paul “Triple H” Levesque since the billionaire initiated his six-month “retirement” in June 2022.

The 60-year-old also recently took heat from Ronda Rousey, who called him out as Vince McMahon’s “avatar.” That shot was meant to convey that things in WWE aren’t going to change with this present situation. It remains to be seen how things may transpire until then.

Seth Rollins Continues to Persuade Cody Rhodes For WrestleMania 40 Match

Bishal Roy
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WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has continued to urge the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes to pick him at WrestleMania 40.

Cody has been determined to challenge ‘The Tribal Chief’ at ‘The Show of Shows’ after winning the Royal Rumble for the second time in a row last Saturday night. However, this week on Raw, Rollins challenged ‘The American Nightmare’ and explained why the latter should face him. This gave Rhodes something to think about ahead of his massive opportunity. 

During WWE Raw this past Monday, Rollins, who has been Cody’s arch-rival, interrupted the 2024 Royal Rumble winner right before he was going to make an official announcement about facing Reigns. Rollins hails himself as the appropriate opponent for Rhodes. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion has been actively attempting to convince Cody to face him on social media as well.

Seth Rollins wants Cody Rhodes to finish his story

Rollins recently made a short video package for ‘The American Nightmare’. Rollins took to Twitter and posted a video clip addressing Cody Rhodes. In the video, Rollins questions Rhodes about his aspirations. His caption read:

”If your past has been your North Star, then the path to finishing your story is right in front of you.”

This isn’t the first time Rollins has done something like this. While The WWE World Heavyweight Championship doesn’t have a direct link to the original World Heavyweight Title in WCW, it has quite a resemblance. Recently, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair also got into the fray amid Rollins’ appeal.

It seemed that Cody Rhodes would face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but Seth Rollins’ proposal adds a new layer to the storyline and it is to be seen how this pans out.

Dakota Kai Sets Record Straight on Her Medical Status After Being Spotted Without Knee Brace

Bishal Roy
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Damage CTRL member Dakota Kai recently explained why she was without the knee brace on this week’s Monday Night Raw. 

Kai has been recovering from a torn ACL since last May. On the May 12, 2023 episode of SmackDown, Dakota Kai and Bayley squared off against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in their Women’s Tag Team Championship match. During the match, Kai tore her ACL and has been away from in-ring action ever since. 

Kai made her non-wrestling appearance for the first time after injury at SummerSlam and celebrated IYO SKY’s WWE Women’s Championship victory. Kai not only serves as the manager for Damage CTRL but she also pulls some strings for the Damage CTRL members. 

Currently, Dakota Kai is only cleared to stand at ringside during matches. Some fans had the belief that she was already cleared for in-ring action.

This week on Raw, Damage CTRL made an appearance and celebrated the Kabuki Warrior’s win in the tag match and Bayley‘s Royal Rumble victory. The fans noted that Dakota Kai wasn’t wearing knee braces as she used to. This led to the fans speculating that she might have been finally cleared to return to the ring.

Dakota Kai: I forgot my brace

During her Twitch stream, Dakota Kai said that she is getting closer to her anticipated return to the squared circle. When asked about being spotted without a brace on Raw, she said:

“I actually forgot my brace. That’s why I didn’t have it on on Monday. That doesn’t mean anything because I… you’ve probably seen like someone like Zoey, she still wears her brace. I will have to be wearing it when I wrestle, but I forgot it. Don’t read into it you guys. I literally just forgot it.”

WWE has been consistently teasing Damage CTRL turning on Bayley. ‘The Role Model’ won this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match, adding a new layer to the storyline. As we are officially on the Road to WrestleMania, it will be interesting to see when Kai makes her in-ring return.

Kazuchika Okada’s Current Contract Offer Situation Between AEW & WWE

Aaron Varble
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Kazuchika Okada’s next move in the pro wrestling world will be a very important one for his career. He has left NJPW, as his contract is now officially over. Now, he has to make a decision about where he is going next, and there are two big options on the table for him.

Kazuchika Okada’s Big Decision Between WWE & AEW

Okada has been on WWE’s radar for a very long time, but AEW also wants him. At this point, it appears that Tony Khan is also offering him a bigger contract.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that the impression is that AEW offered Okada more money than WWE did. It is likely WWE’s opinion at this time that, while their offer may be lower, if the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion wants to join them, then he will.

“The impression I got is AEW has the higher offer, and WWE is going with the idea that if Okada wants to come to WWE, he’ll come to WWE.”

“Basically, it depends on what Okada’s goal is right now in life. If his goal is to have the most worldwide exposure at this point in his career, then WWE’s the place to go. To build up a name, WWE’s the place to go. To make the most money possible, AEW’s the place to go. If it’s to have the best matches possible, AEW’s the place to go. If it’s to have the best schedule, AEW’s the place to go. It’s whatever he wants.

WWE vs AEW for Okada

Okada has a serious choice to make about his future. It was further stated that if his objective is achieving fame, then WWE may be the right way to go. However, if the aim is financial success, then AEW has more money on the table. 

When considering the impact on his body and seeking the easiest option, the decision becomes debatable. In the context of AEW, it involves a more demanding wrestling style with potentially fewer matches, making it a challenging prospect, but uncertainties remain. WWE may want Okada to wrestle more often, but they won’t be requiring epic matches from him each time.

There is also the matter of which company would push him more. The decision-making process for Okada is anticipated to conclude shortly.

“If the thing is where you’re likely gonna be pushed more, generally speaking, if one company offers you more than the other, generally that means that they have a higher opinion of you and will probably push you harder. So if you’re looking for where you’re most likely gonna get the best push, probably AEW.

SE Scoops will have more coverage of Okada’s decision about his pro wrestling future. He will sign with another company, because he is years away from considering retirement at this point. The 36-year-old megastar has a huge decision ahead of him.

Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

Thomas Lowson
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The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event was a special night for the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, both in and out of the ring. 

Rhodes won this year’s match from the #15 spot, last eliminating CM Punk to score the hard-earned victory. With this win, Rhodes becomes the fourth man in WWE history to have won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

Cody’s Special Royal Rumble Night

Cody was the last man standing in the Men’s Royal Rumble match and also proved to be on top when it comes to merchandise. Fightful Select reports that Rhodes was the top-selling superstar at the WWE Superstore at Tropicana Field. Cody’s ‘Rumble Winner’ shirt was also the top seller on WWEShop.com. 

Despite speculation by some fans, Cody was always scheduled to win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. This puts to bed any rumors that Punk was going to win but his torn triceps led to the pair calling an ‘audible.’

What’s Next? 

Before this year’s Royal Rumble, Cody’s path was obvious: win the Men’s match and dethrone Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40. On this week’s Raw, however, Seth Rollins confronted Cody and stated Rhodes should challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins’ originally scheduled opponent for WrestleMania, CM Punk, will miss this year’s two-night mega show in Philadelphia. Cody told Rollins he’ll think about it. 

This segment from Raw was a change of plans for WWE and was specifically caused by CM Punk’s injury. It is unclear when Cody will declare his plan for WrestleMania 40. 

Is a victory for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania written in the stars…

Chelsea Green on LGBTQ+ Royal Rumble Attire: ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Quiet Ally’

Thomas Lowson
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0

Chelsea Green won’t let herself be a quiet ally of the LGBTQ+ community, as made clear by her Royal Rumble attire. 

Green was the #14 entrant in last weekend’s match which was won by Damage CTRL’s Bayley. While Green broke the record for the shortest time in a Women’s Rumble last year, the 2024 match was much better for the Canadian. Though Green didn’t score an elimination, she lasted 17:32, making her the eleventh-longest entrant in this year’s match. 

Chelsea Green on Her Attire

Green entered Tropicana Field with an LGBTQ+ themed attire, which Michael Cole described on commentary as “unique.” In an interview with Steve Fall of Wrestling News, Green spoke about the importance of being an outgoing ally of the LGBTQ+ community. 

“What can I do to make it obvious? What can I do to really put it in people’s faces? I don’t want to be just a quiet supporter of the community. I want to be out there, supporting on the front lines, you know, with Sonya Deville [who is openly lesbian.] With Piper Niven [who is openly bisexual.] With all the girls that represent the community in WWE.

“So that’s when I decided I was going to get the flag and I was going to put the flag on my skirt. I was going to make sure I didn’t do my regular pose, that I turned around and that I flashed it to the crowd. And even if they didn’t understand in that moment, I know we all look at social media after the Rumble so I made sure I got those photos and that they were ready to be posted once I exited the Rumble.

“I was able to post them and double down on the fact that I was coming to Florida, being in the Rumble and supporting my LGBTQ+ community.”

Green’s tag-team partner Piper Niven had her own LGBTQ+ themed attire, but as she explained on Twitter, it didn’t arrive in time for the event. 

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

Tony Khan Set to Make “Big Announcement” On 2/7 Episode of AEW Dyanmite

Thomas Lowson
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AEW President Tony Khan will have something big to share with fans during next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. 

On this week’s episode of Dynamite, it was quietly shared that Khan will make a “big announcement” on the upcoming show. No details were given as to what this announcement will entail. 

Fans have already been speculating about what Khan’s announcement could be. Some believe it could be confirmation that Mercedes Mone has signed with AEW. Khan is expected to land Mone after talks with WWE broke down over money.  Some fans have suggested it will be the announcement of new AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. Some more cynical fans have suggested the announcement will be that an announcement will be made at AEW Revolution next month, poking fun at Khan’s perchance for announcing plans. 

Tony Khan’s Big Announcements

This won’t be the first time Khan has had an announcement lined up, and it likely won’t be the last. Previous announcements include the reveal of All In in London, as well as the announcement of the date tickets go on sale for this year’s show.

Khan was also on hand to announce the launch of Collision, and the post-suspension return of CM Punk. The AEW Continental Classic was also announced by Khan, as have other important aspects of the product. 

AEW Dynamite – February 7

Khan’s announcement isn’t the only confirmed news for next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The show will also see Chris Jericho face off against Don Callis family member Konosuke Takeshita. 

Sting and Darby Allin will challenge Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. With Sting’s career ending at Revolution on March 5, this could likely be the final championship opportunity for the Icon. The February 7, episode of AEW Dynamite will take place in Phoenix, Arizona. 

News of this announcement comes mere days after a previous announcement by Tony Khan… 

Wardlow Gives Health Update After Injury Scare On 1/31 AEW Dynamite

Thomas Lowson
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The Undisputed Kingdom’s Wardlow has provided an update after concerns that he suffered an injury during this week’s episode of Dynamite.

Wardlow was accompanied by his faction allies for his match with Komander, and this wasn’t the typical squash match we’ve seen from Mr. Mayhem in the past. 

When Wardlow set Komander up for a powerbomb, however, he staggered and it seemed like his right knee had given in. Wardlow was able to hit the move but still seemed to be in pain. Post-match, he appeared bothered by the knee and was slightly limping while muttering to himself. 

Wardlow Gives An Update

Taking to Twitter after his match, Wardlow said that while a normal man’s knee would be destroyed by the match, he is anything but normal. Wardlow (who was called Mr. Wardlow by the announcer during Dynamite, added that he remains committed to winning the AEW World Championship, before reiterating that his knee is fine. 

Wardlow’s Previous Injury

Wardlow was lucky to avoid a serious injury on this week’s Dynamite, but that hasn’t always been the case for the three-time TNT Champion. In January of last year, it was reported that Wardlow had suffered an injury, though specifics were not given. Due to the injury, Wardlow wouldn’t wrestle on AEW programming for over two months before making his return to the ring at Revolution 2023, where he won the TNT Championship from Samoa Joe. His reign would end days later when he lost the title to Powerhouse Hobbs. 

Could Wardlow’s career benefit from a change of scenery when the time is right… 

Naomi Seeking Grand Slam Win After Shocking WWE Royal Rumble Return

Thomas Lowson
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Naomi is back in WWE after close to two years away, and has set her sights on a huge accolade only a few Superstars have reached.

The former TNA Knockouts Champion was the #2 entrant in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, her first match for WWE since May of 2022. Naomi, alongside Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks), walked out of the promotion that same month, citing frustration with the creative team’s plans for the then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. WWE would strip the pair of the gold and Naomi (as Trinity) debuted for TNA last year. 

Naomi’s Goal

Naomi didn’t win a title match at WrestleMania 40, but she was the sentimental favorite of many fans in Tropicana Field. Speaking on this week’s episode of The Bump, Naomi shared what’s next for her now that she is once again a WWE Superstar. 

“Now I got to do it bigger this time in the WWE way bigger than before but the challenge this time is though; I been around and I’m back again it’s like starting all the way over at the bottom but I’m looking forward to that challenge and working my way back up to going against the best of the best. My goal is to be a grand slam champion. That’s my focus. “

Naomi’s Championship Past

Out of the current Women’s Championships in WWE, Naomi has only held the Women’s Tag Team Championships (with Sasha Banks). She is a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, which is today known as Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Championship.

Outside of titles, Naomi was the winner of the 2018 Women’s WrestleMania Battle Royal and won ‘Most Underrated Superstar of the Year’ at 2018’s WWE Year-End Awards. She’s also a one-time Slammy Award winner, taking home 2013’s Best Dance Moves of the Year with Cameron for her role in the Funkadactyls. 

Naomi had a strong message after her return in the Women’s Royal Rumble match… 

WWE NXT’s Dani Palmer Out of Action Due to Double Hip Surgery

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT Superstar Dani Palmer will be out of action indefinitely after undergoing hip surgery this week, with a second hip surgery planned for later this year. 

Taking to Instagram, Palmer shared the news about her double hip surgery but remained positive about her future. Palmer added that she had already had the first surgery. 

“Jeremiah 29:11. This year so far has been chaotic…scary but BEAUTIFUL…and nothing like the plan I had in mind for 2024…but I have a peace that makes no sense because I know the author of my story. I have to have a double hip surgery this year, and God is great because I knocked the first one out this morning and it went fantastic! Thank you everyone for all the prayers.“

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C2x6qbkvFRP

For anyone curious about the bible passage Palmer referenced in her post, Jeremiah 29:11 goes like this: 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Who is Dani Palmer? 

Palmer made her in-ring debut for WWE at an NXT live event in September 2022, where she was on the losing end of a six-woman tag-team match. That November, she would make her TV debut as part of NXT LVL UP, in a losing effort to Chase U’s Thea Hail. It wouldn’t be until a January 2023 edition of LVL UP that she’d score her first win, besting Lola Vice in singles action. Palmer has 33 matches to her name with WWE and boasts an 11-22 win/loss record. 

Palmer played a role in a huge NXT storyline at a live event last year…

Logan Paul Reveals Profane Motivation Paul Heyman Had For Him During WWE Royal Rumble Event

Aaron Varble
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Logan Paul walked into Tropicana Field for the 2024 Royal Rumble event, and he left as the US Champion. That win came via DQ when Kevin Owens was caught using brass knuckles that were Paul’s to use. The two also had quite a high bar set for them with the Undisputed Universal Title match that came before their battle.

Paul Heyman’s Motivation For Logan Paul

Paul Heyman is more than just The Bloodline’s Wise Man. He is also brimming with useful knowledge and wisdom to impart on anyone he wishes to backstage. It turns out that he had quite the motivation for Logan Paul at the Royal Rumble event.

Logan Paul and Kevin Owens’ United States Title match came after Reigns was able to retain the Undisputed Universal against LA Knight, AJ Styles and Randy Orton in a fatal four-way match. In the end, the Tribal Chief stood tall as he carries on toward WrestleMania 40.

During his Impaulsive podcast, Logan revealed that Paul Heyman had some great words for him just before his US Title match. It seems that The Maverick was backstage, waiting for his match, when Heyman reminded him who just performed on the show.

The match was difficult. We were after the Women’s Royal Rumble and the fatal four-way with Roman Reigns, where he also retained his championship. And Paul Heyman, after the match, he comes out, everyone has their chest puffed out, they knew they just blew the f*cking roof off with Roman.

Paul Heyman goes, ‘come here, son,’ and he motions me over. I go over and I’m like, ‘What’s up Paul?’ He goes, ‘you want some motivation?’ I go, ‘absolutely!’ He goes, ‘follow that, motherf*cker.’

Logan Paul In WWE

Logan Paul has re-signed with WWE, extending their incredible profitable and successful relationship. This partnership has also seen WWE get some great exposure with Paul’s massive fan base.

Paul may pull off some publicity nabbing antics, like trading his US Title belt for a Super Bowl ring, but he is all about WWE. It also appears that he will be walking into WrestleMania 40 as United States Champion.

I was told in November last year that “the internal feeling about Logan Paul is that he’s already generated great publicity for the US Title.”

Solo Sikoa Deletes Twitter/X Account After Embarrassing Posts Surface

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars can use social media to connect with fans, but it seems that Solo Sikoa had enough of that. Now, the Bloodline member has opted to delete his Twitter/X account after old tweets surfaced that he didn’t want to get out there.

Solo Sikoa Axes X

Sikoa faced an unwelcomed reality when old tweets from 2013 resurfaced on his timeline. Some of these posts were a bit embarrassing that he put online when he was 19.

Sikoa’s tweets from his school days garnered attention on social media. The tweets revealed moments from his past, including expressing disdain for mathematics and seeking a ride home from school in one instance. 

Sikoa went on a massive blocking spree on social media. However, after throwing quite a block party, the member of the Bloodline ultimately chose to delete his Twitter account entirely.

Screenshot of Solo Sikoa’s deleted Twitter/X account

Solo’s Previous Social Media Faux Pas

This is not the first time in recent memory that Solo had a bad time with his old posts resurfacing. A dance video came to light from way before his time as The Bloodline’s Enforcer. That caused him to set his Twitter/X account to private for a while.

What’s Next For Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa emerged onto the WWE scene in 2021, showcasing formidable strength and making a significant impact. The fact that he is from the Anoa’i Family didn’t hurt his chances at superstardom. Now, as a member of The Bloodline, he has big things in his future.

He has drawn comparisons to Umaga due to his formidable presence in the ring. He is also seemingly earmarked for greatness in WWE, no matter how he feels about math.

Marty Jannetty Shares Devastating Bad News In Latest Personal Update

Aaron Varble
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Marty Jannetty is a pro wrestling legend who lived quite a life, one worthy of a Dark Side of the Ring season, let alone one episode. Now, the former Rocker has some bad news to report, and this time he had two really terrible updates.

Marty Jannetty’s Sad News

Marty Jannetty has faced significant challenges in the past 24 hours, and he took to Facebook to share distressing news. According to him, doctors have advised amputating his leg, adding to the ongoing ankle issues he has dealt with throughout his wrestling career.

Despite undergoing surgery in 2020 and expressing in June 2021 that he was “all fixed up,” Jannetty now confronts this new medical setback. This is terrible news, but his issues were not corrected, and amputation is apparently his doctor’s current recommendation.

Additionally, Marty revealed the passing of his sister, further contributing to the difficult circumstances he currently faces. In a heartfelt message, Jannetty acknowledged his struggle to articulate his thoughts, expressing deep emotional distress and uncertainty about his podcast show on top of everything else.

I can’t hardly formulate a sentence right now, it’s a tough time in life, yesterday day they told me they want to cut my leg off.. struggling with that my brother called last night and, my sister died in his arms basically. I don’t even know what I’m saying right now. I don’t think I’m doing the podcast show tomorrow night, please forgive me, I do loves y’all..I just can’t. I’m so lost right now

PS- Many of y’all know both my sisters, Diane is still hanging in tough as a mo-fo, Diane STAY STAY STRONG, KEEP BELIEF, YOU TOO GENO!

We’re sending our best to Marty Jannetty, and hope that he can avoid amputation. We are also sending out our best to his entire family after learning of the sad loss of his sister.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4uo0eYid3c

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Spotted With AEW Champion Before Dynamite In New Orleans

Aaron Varble
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You never know who will show up at an AEW event, and this week is no exception. AEW Dynamite is in New Orleans this week, and they had a very special guest around.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Is Absolutely All Elite

Gypsy Rose Blanchard continues to show off her interest for pro wrestling. An All In poster was spotted at her house, as seen in a Christmas photo, and now it seems that she is getting to know one top star on Tony Khan’s roster.

It looks like Gypsy attended AEW Dynamite, and she got a VIP treatment. She posted a photo with Ricky Starks, who had the AEW World Tag Team Title in his hand, as they posed for an Absolute photo-op.

Gypsy was released early from prison on December 28th after serving seven years for the second-degree murder charge of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. The Gypsy Rose Blanchard case attracted widespread attention due to the complex and unusual circumstances surrounding her mother’s murder. It resulted in several documentaries and an adaptation of her life story as a Hulu miniseries titled “The Act.”

Other Pro Wrestling Connection With Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Following her parole approval earlier this year, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, she had a very interesting ride on her way to freedom. 

After she served seven years for her involvement in her mother’s killing, Gypsy Rose was retrieved by her new husband. The car he drove was rocked a wrestling-themed Bret Hart license plate bearing the inscription “HITMAN.”

This Hitman connection made headlines, due to the circumstances around her mother’s death. However, pro wrestling cans can’t help but wonder if the connections inside our bubble will continue as Gypsy starts making more public appearances. 

CM Punk’s Injury Caused Change For WWE RAW Plans This Week

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk’s WrestleMania dream is not happening this year. Sadly, the Second City Savior suffered an injury during the Royal Rumble match and that called for a big change in plans for him. Consequently, WWE also had to make some alterations for RAW this week.

CM Punk’s Injury Situation

There’s ongoing discussion surrounding CM Punk’s triceps injury and its impact on the WWE Royal Rumble event. Fans have speculated that Punk was initially slated to win the Royal Rumble, but due to his injury, a change in plans occurred. However, according to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, this theory is incorrect, because Cody was always set to win.

The creative direction on WWE Raw saw adjustments from the original plan outlined on Saturday night at the Royal Rumble, directly influenced by CM Punk’s injury. As a result of Punk’s situation, the segment involving Seth Rollins and Cody was added to the storyline.

The creative on WWE Raw adjusted from what was planned as of Saturday night at the WWE Royal Rumble. We’re told that is directly tied to CM Punk’s injury, and that the Seth Rollins/Cody segment was added as a result of Punk’s injury.

What’s Next

The report also noted that Cody Rhodes saw significant success in merchandise sales over the weekend. Internal memos revealed that he was the top-selling Superstar at the WWE Superstore and Tropicana Field. Additionally, the “Rumble Winner” shirt featuring Cody Rhodes was the highest-selling item on WWE Shop.

We will have to see what is next for CM Punk, but he will be off WWE television for a while. In the meantime, it appears that he is wishing the American Nightmare well, as indication from the backstage video that WWE released of the two at RAW.

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan

I previously reported that Triple H and other higher-ups met on the night of the Royal Rumble to discuss the new WrestleMania card. They also had a conference call the next day, where it is believed that they figure out a new card. As of this writing, talent and the creative team have not been given that new card yet.

SE Scoops will have further updates on WrestleMania 40 as we get closer to the big show.

Samoa Joe’s Notorious ‘Nope’ Walk Away Spot Explained

Dominic DeAngelo
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Samoa Joe doesn’t tend to walk away from a fight, but from a high-flyer? Sign him up. During a recent interview with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated, Joe was asked about a notorious spot he’s done in matches since his early days in the ring.

Whenever an opponent climbs the top rope and goes for an aerial assault, he casually walks out of the vicinity of the attack and leaves his foe looking foolish. Joe gave some common sense reasoning as to why he’s implemented such a magical moment in the ring.

“As a small youth in my younger days, if I saw something large or very destructive coming toward me, it was only natural to step aside,” said Joe. “It’s not rocket science.”

Joe says the inspiration behind the fan favorite spot draws from the early days of mankind.

“The cavemen understood this, too,” said Joe. “If you see a rock coming toward you from the top of the hill, move a little to the left.”

nope 2 1

While he’s done the “nope” countless times in matches, a recent moment in AEW went viral during a squash match where Joe walked away and the talent was caught mid-air with a “WTF” expression on his face. 

It’s not just enhancement talent who falls prey to Joe’s “walk away.” CM Punk became just another victim of Joe’s casual decision-making during his AEW matches with his long-time rival.

Just two weeks ago, Samoa Joe had his first successful title defense when he choked out Hook in the main event of AEW Dynamite.

Adam Copeland Calls Christian Cage A “Bond Villain”

Dominic DeAngelo
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Adam Copeland may be at odds with Christian Cage on AEW television, but the former Edge appreciates what his best buddy is doing.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Copeland commented on Cage’s run as an ultimate heel and noted why the current TNT Champion is so good at what he does.

“He does this so well because he wants to be one,” said Copeland. “Somewhere along the way, that’s got lost. Heels became cooler than the babyface. That’s not how it should be. That’s not how he sees it, either. I mean, the man wears a cut-off turtleneck. There’s nothing cool about what he’s doing. 

“He’s fully committed to it. He’s a Bond villain and loving it. It’s fun to be involved with.”

Copeland finally crossed pathes with Cage not just on AEW Dynamite but World’s End where the WWE Hall Of Famer actually defeated Cage for the TNT Championship, but quickly lost it back to Killswitch, who won a battle royal earlier in the evening. The belt went back to Cage who continues his heelish run.

Adam Copeland On AEW Being Different: “I Want More Choices”

When it comes to AEW being an alternative than WWE, Copeland pulled from his own fandom as a kid and getting access to different territories in wrestling.

“I remember growing up and dying to be able to get my hands on NWA tapes. It didn’t air where I lived, where there was WWF. I found International Wrestling from Montreal. I found All Star Wrestling from Vancouver. I found all these other shows, and I loved that. I’d get little snippets of guys I’d only seen in magazines. Then the show Pro Wrestling Plus with Ed Whalen, who was the announcer for Stampede, started, and I finally got to see wrestlers from the NWA and Continental. I just thought, give it all to me.”

WrestleMania 40 Lineup Update: WWE Creative Team Awaiting Final Card Details

Aaron Varble
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Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. The show of shows promises to be an amazing experience for WWE fans, with The Weeknd pulling a 5-pete, but the card needed to change. 

WWE’s WrestleMania Booking Issues

WWE saw a few issues that they needed to address when it came to their WrestleMania lineup. Two big matches needed to change due to completely different reasons. Now we are in a waiting game before we know what is really planned for the showcase of the immortals this year.

Brock Lesnar was taken out of the WrestleMania equation after his name was associated with the damning lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon. Those heinous allegations involving Lesnar claimed that a sexual play date with the victim was a part of his contract renewal. It was also alleged that the Beast Incarnate wanted a video of her urinating, so his dream match against GUNTHER at Mania isn’t taking place. 

CM Punk, on the other hand, is injured. His planned match against Seth Rollins isn’t going down at WrestleMania now. So, WWE needs to figure out a new direction for the top of the Mania card this year, with Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns remaining unaffected. 

WWE’s Current WrestleMania Lineup Plans (Exclusive)

A tenured member of the WWE team told me that Triple H and a number of people, including Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level associates, met at the Royal Rumble to discuss WrestleMania. They also spoke about this on a conference call Sunday, and the lineup has been determined. 

I was told, as of last night, that the updated WrestleMania lineup has not distributed to talent or the rest of the creative team yet. Any report saying that there are “card variations” of the lineup is incorrect. 

It was reiterated with me that the WWE creative team has not been informed of the re-shuffled Mania lineup yet. They will be informed of that later this week.

What’s Next

As I previously reported, Bron Breakker did get a main roster call-up with his Royal Rumble appearance. He filled in for Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he isn’t getting the matches that WWE had planned for Lesnar at this time.

When it comes to The Rock, that doesn’t seem to be happening at this year’s WrestleMania, but Dave Meltzer reported that Rock vs Reigns is still possibly going down this year. 

I was told that any plan for The Rock is being kept “very close to the vest,” so, the only people who really know what is going on are kept to a very close circle.

Pat McAfee Didn’t Recognize This Royal Rumble Surprise Entrant

Dominic DeAngelo
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Pat McAfee admits that he didn’t know every name involved with the 2024 Royal Rumble, but the NFL-punter-turned-WWE-commentator was impressed.

Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, the new WWE Raw color commentator noted that he was unaware of some stars in the respective Rumble matches, one was current TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, who shocked everybody with her appearance.

“Jordynne Grace. I had no clue who that was. As I was going through Gorilla to get up and out … I see her, and I’m like, because she had a title around her and she was facing away, I’m like, ‘Holy f***. Who is jocked, absolutely jocked?’ Then I come out there, and they’re like, ‘TNA Knockouts Champion.’ It’s like, ‘Holy s***.’”

Grace didn’t eliminate anyone in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, but she did last over 20 minutes before being taken out by Bianca Belair. She also had a memorable run-in with Naomi, who just this past month dropped the Knockouts Championship to Grace at TNA Hard To Kill.

It was reported by PWInsider that Grace’s appearance in the match was actually an overture made by WWE to TNA with one source even believing that Triple H was the catalyst behind it all happening.

Grace also recounted the phone call she received from Scott D’Amore asking if she’d be interested in working the match to which Grace was shocked about it all occurring,

McAfee also happened to be an entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble match, but when he realized he was going to have to go up against Omos and Bron Breakker, he swiftly eliminated himself.

Wrestling Bryan Danielson was therapeutic for Ricky Starks

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling superstar Ricky Starks thinks fondly of his highly praised No Disqualification Strap Match with Bryan Danielson at AEW All Out on September 3, 2022. Fans loved the match, and Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer awarded him five stars.  

In an interview with Forbes, Starks gives his perspective on his brutal contest against ‘The American Dragon.’ Admittedly, the AEW Tag Team Champion didn’t expect the overwhelmingly positive reaction he received for his match. 

Forbes’ Blake Oestriecher transcribed the following quotes. 

“It was cool that people reacted the way they did. I was blown away by it because I didn’t expect that type of reaction,” said Starks. He continued,  “It was nice that someone thought highly enough to give it that rating. I thought that was pretty cool.”

While Starks took on Danielson at the event, the company was building towards CM Punk being his challenger. However, the company fired CM Punk due to a backstage incident ahead of the event, and they decided to pivot to Danielson as Stark’s opponent at AEW All Out. 

Starks shared in the interview that he felt unsure of himself ahead of the Danielson match and why his match at AEW All Out was important to him. 

“It was really a very therapeutic type of match for me,” said Starks. He explained, “My confidence had wavered up until that point just a little bit, and that really made me think, alright, this is where things start to pick up. Talk about putting the company on my shoulders and wanting to be the man, and I think I proved it.”

Ricky Starks On Being Praised By Bryan Danielson After Their Match

Although fans praised the match, the biggest compliment came from Danielson. After their match at AEW All Out, ‘The American Dragon’ credited Starks for his efforts and called him a star. The comments meant a lot to the AEW Tag Team Champion, and he was honored that Danielson thought highly of his performance. 

“…The best part about that was the high compliment that Bryan gave me in that press conference afterward,” said Starks. He added, “Him saying that I’m one of his favorite opponents, that really means a lot. The fact that he said that was a badge of honor. Like, I know I belong.”

Although Starks lost the No Disqualification Strap Match, he earned many fans and Danielson’s respect that night. The stars may currently be involved in different storylines, but it’s possible they will face off in the ring again in the future. 

MJF Appearing In Jewish Summer Camp Comedy ‘Floaters’

Dominic DeAngelo
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MJF no longer possesses his prized ‘Triple B’ AEW World Championship, but he’s wasting no time building up his resume in Hollywood. Following his work on screen and Executive Producing The Iron Claw, Maxwell Jacob Friedman will be returning to the big screen soon,

Deadline reports the 27-year-old wrestling prodigy will appear in the upcoming comedy film Floaters. The film also stars Jackie Tohn of GLOW, Sarah Podemski of Reservoir Dogs, Steve Guttenberg of Police Academy and former WWE Raw guest host Seth Green.

According to Deadline, the movie “follows struggling musician Nomi (Tohn) who accepts a last-resort job from her overachiever best friend Mara (Podemski): mentoring misfit campers, the “Floaters,” at their childhood Jewish summer camp. As the camp struggles to survive amidst competition with a longtime rival, Nomi, the Floaters, and Mara must overcome their differences to bring the community together and save the camp.”

The film recently finished filming in MJF’s backyard of New York City. 

More about Floaters

Director Rachel Israel spoke about how The Floaters made certain to cast people of the Jewish faith.

“We are very proud to say that The Floaters boasts Jewish actors cast in virtually every role – allowing for an authentic portrayal and celebration of the diversity within modern Jewish communities. The Floaters resists tired cliches often attributed in the media to embrace a rich culture and explore multidimensional Jewish characters.” 

There is no word as to a release date of the film or the specific role MJF will be playing, but the former champ is fresh off a very brief cameo in “The Iron Claw” as notorious faux Von Erich relative, Lance Von Erich.

MJF last appeared on television at December’s World’s End pay-per-view, where he lost the World Championship to Samoa Joe.

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