Home Blog Page 366

WWE 2K24 MyRISE Gives Multiple Story Options For Gamers With Unleashed and Undisputed Mode

Aaron Varble
-
0

Pro wrestling fans and gamers often come together for the yearly 2k video game drops, just to see what the company has in store. Now, we have even more information on the MyRISE feature, and this should keep players entertained for hours.

WWE 2K24 is going to offer fans a ton of gameplay options. The popular feature MyRISE is coming back, and in the latest installment, the gaming franchise will unveil two captivating storylines: Unleashed and Undisputed.

WWE 2K24 MyRISE

2k has dropped even more information about the upcoming MyRISE feature in WWE 2K24. With 80 rewards awaiting players, including arenas, Paybacks, entrances, MyFACTION cards, and championship belts, gamers are set for an immersive journey. Over 6 hours of dialogue, complete with voiceovers from WWE icons like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, Mick Foley, and Shotzi, promise an engaging experience.

In Unleashed, the focus shifts to the women’s division storyline, where players embody a wrestler carving her path by her own rules. From building a thriving wrestling company on the indie scene to grappling with the opportunity to showcase their talents on WWE’s grand stage, players face crucial decisions: to unleash their full potential or hold back.

WWE 2K24 MyRISE Extras

William Regal reprises his role as the General Manager of Raw in both narratives, aiding players in navigating backstage rivalries. In Unleashed, Regal serves as a confidant, guiding players through the intricacies of larger-than-life WWE characters, urging them to “take big swings” and “live the fantasy.”

Undisputed also offers players significant choices, including aligning with SmackDown GM The Miz, leading to unique storylines, cutscenes, and alliances. Whether players opt to collaborate with Miz or oppose him, each decision shapes their gaming experience.

For the first time, MyRISE introduces MyFACTION cards exclusive to Undisputed and Unleashed, featuring beloved characters like Cole Quinn, Chosen, Slade, Tavish, and Xavier Woods’ alter ego, Zero.

Miro Reveals Injury Is Keeping Him Off AEW Television

Aaron Varble
-
0

Miro has been out of action from AEW for a while, and that only adds to the growing trend of The Redeemer missing television for the company. This time, he has a very good reason for being out of action, even if Tony Khan may not be 100% aware.

Although Khan recently stated that he wanted to book Miro for a match at AEW Revolution, it seems that he was not clued in to the Bulgarian star’s physical situation. Apparently, Miro is injured, and he has been since last year.

Miro Speaks On AEW Absence

During a media call for AEW Revolution, Tony Khan shared insights about initially planning for Miro and Keith Lee to participate in the Meat Madness match at Revolution. However, these plans were scrapped due to the unavailability of both wrestlers.

Miro saw a tweet about what the AEW President said as a fan posted, “Tony Khan on the Revolution media call confirms that Miro and Keith Lee were supposed to be in Meat Madness before the match was cancelled, as they’re both unavailable at this time.”

In response to Khan’s comments, Miro took to Twitter to shed light on his absence, revealing that he has been nursing an injury since September of last year, and he underwent medical treatment in January. He clarified that Khan was unaware of his injury until then, but he did not disclose the nature of his affliction.

”I’ve been injured since September and i got medical attention in January. Sorry he wasn’t aware of it.”

What’s Next For Miro In AEW

Miro has been a member of the AEW roster since 2020. He has also held the TNT Title during his tenure, but has seen limited success beyond that. We will have to see if he can stay healthy and active on AEW’s roster long enough to get himself into another title picture.

Following Miro’s victory over Andrade El Idolo at AEW Worlds End last year, where CJ Perry’s betrayal played a pivotal role, Miro has been noticeably absent from AEW television. Now that Miro has spoken on the matter, we have to wonder how much more time he has left to wait.

SEScoops will have more on this story for any updates as additional information is made available. 

El Hijo del Vikingo Undergoes Successful Surgery After Suffering Serious Injury

Bishal Roy
-
0

We have an update on El Hijo del Vikingo after he underwent surgery.

The 26-year-old talented athlete had an outstanding 2023 competing in promotions other than AAA, including All Elite Wrestling, Ring of Honor, TNA, Game Changer Wrestling, and many more. He is currently in his first reign as AAA Mega Champion. 

In December 2021, he emerged victorious in a five-way match at Triplemanía Regia II, claiming the vacant title. Vikingo’s reign is the longest in the title’s history being ongoing for more than 800 days. 

However, he has recently faced some injury woes. Last month, Mas Lucha reported that Vikingo’s match at the López Mateos Arena had to be called off as he sustained an injury to his right knee. Vikingo was assessed at the arena and there was a talk that he might have damaged a ligament. Mas Lucha also shared photos of Vikingo being tended to at the event. 

Vikingo provided an update on his injury via his Instagram stories to reveal that his injury is a torn meniscus and a ruptured ligament. These injuries would require surgery and also updated his fans before undergoing surgery. 

El Hijo del Vikingo had a successful surgery

 AAA shared that El Hijo del Vikingo’s surgery was a success. There will be an update on how long he’ll be sidelined and the status of the Mega Title.

This is the latest injury that Vikingo has suffered. He had suffered a major injury in late 2023 as well. Vikingo suffered a hip injury at an ROH event when a dive went wrong and was seen using a wheelchair after the match. That incident took place a month after Vikingo collapsed backstage at AAA TripleMania XXXI: Mexico City. A backstage video clip also surfaced depicting Vikingo being stretchered away.

We at SEScoops wish El Hijo del Vikingo a speedy recovery

Daily Drop (3/1): Tama Tonga’s Status With WWE Creative, Tony Khan Wants More AEW Pay-Per-Views

Aaron Varble
-
0

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for March 1st. It’s the beginning of a new month, and we have a lot in store for you here. Let’s get right into things.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 36

WWE:

– WWE’s creative is aware Tama Tonga is coming, but they have not been given any direction for him yet. I was told this is “Not surprising because he’s probably not in before WrestleMania.” So, don’t expect Tonga for Mania.

– John Cena is pretty hyped about the Peacemaker getting into the new Mortal Kombat Game.

– On another Cena note, he was also recently locked out of his Twitter/X account due to his questionable OnlyFans activity.

– Pat McAfee said there’s no way he could pass a drug test to compete at WrestleMania 40, because of all the “rich guy stuff” he’s taking.

– R-Truth can’t tell the difference between Johnny Gargano and Shawn Michaels, and we are starting to see a trend forming here.

– WWE, WWE 2K24 and Snickers are teaming up again for a WrestleMania sponsorship.

– The Rock may be a heel on the road to WrestleMania, but he recently gave big to a family who lost their daughter to cancer.

– A former WWE writer claims that they were punished for not wanting to produce racially insensitive content.

WWE SmackDown Lineup For 3/1:

  • “Greatness is Coming” The Rock Returns to SmackDown
  • Bayley & Dakota Kai vs. The Kabuki Warriors (w/IYO SKY)
  • Street Fight: Carlito vs. Santos Escobar

AEW:

– AEW talent are straight-up telling Tony Khan that they are not going to follow through with his creative direction, and that seems to be a growing trend backstage in the company.

– Sting said that he could have ended his career with a match against The Undertaker if that happened in WWE. It did not, so now he will wrap things up at AEW Revolution on Sunday.

– Tony Khan also said that AEW is well-equipped to handle any allegations of misconduct.

– It looks like Mercedes Mone won’t be exclusive to AEW, because she has responded to Giulia’s challenge. This situation could get very interesting with the former Sasha Banks in AEW.

– Tony Khan is looking to bump AEW’s pay-per-view count to around 9 a year, which he believes is the “sweet spot.”

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Sting Promises To Wrestle At AEW Revolution In A Way “That Will Make People Save The Tape”

Bishal Roy
-
0

Pro wrestling legend Sting will step foot inside the squared circle for one last time at this Sunday’s AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. He’s letting fans know he won’t fade away quietly into the night – he plans to go out with a bang. 

Since Sting’s 2020 AEW debut, ‘The Icon’ has created several special moments for the fans but he has been involved in some spots that defy his age. It appeared that a neck injury would endanger his career in 2015 when he competed at Night of Champions against Seth Rollins. It was regarded as his final match before he joined AEW when it all changed. ‘The Icon’ overcame the hindrances and his illustrious career culminates on his own will. Sting will bring down the curtain on his decorated career with his final match at AEW Revolution 2024. 

Ahead of his final match, Sting spoke to Sports Illustrated and urged the fans to capture his one last run inside the squared circle.

“I want people to walk away saying, ‘How was that even possible?’” said Sting. “I want people to be entertained. I want to elevate AEW.

“I never wanted wrestling to pass me by. That’s why I wrestled the way I did. This Sunday, I’m going to wrestle a way that will make people want to save the tape.”

Sting and Darby Allin recently captured the AEW World Tag Team titles after defeating Ricky Starks and Big Bill. This marks ‘The Icon’s first title run in the promotion and it seems that his title run is in jeopardy. The event will emanate from Greensboro Coliseum, the same venue where his 1988 Clash of the Champions bout against Ric Flair took place.

Tony Khan Wants AEW To Run 9 PPV’s Each Year

Tyriece Simon
-
0

All Elite Wrestling is looking to increase their workload in 2024. They’re off their busiest year to date with more pay-per-view events, a total of eight. After a recent AEW media call, fans should expect to see more this year and beyond. 

In preparation for AEW Revolution on March 3, AEW President Tony Khan held a media call to answer questions and promote the show. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer asked Khan if he had an idea of how many PPVs he wanted to have this year and if he believed the company could come close to being profitable. 

Khan touted the success of their PPV schedule last year and the growth of their schedule since they began in 2019. However, he believes nine events would be great for the company.

“…I believe we have the capacity to increase,” said Khan. He added, “…I want to be open and honest, I can see this year being nine to ten, and I think nine is a good sweet spot. It feels like that’s about the right number, and I don’t want to make a huge change or increase, but definitely, eight was incredibly successful, and I don’t want to do anything totally different, but I do see an opening for nine probably, maybe ten, but nine feels like a great number for us right now.”

When Can AEW Add Their Ninth PPV On Their 2024 Schedule?

Given their success last year, the slight increase to nine PPV seems reasonable. It’s worth noting after AEW Revolution on March 5, 2023, the company held a PPV every month except for April and July. 

It’s possible AEW could add a PPV in either of the months and keep a similar timetable for events they had last year. The company recently filed a trademark for AEW Dynasty, which fans believe could be the name of a new event. If true, this would give AEW their ninth PPV show and potentially help them have a financially successful year. 

Khan also noted in the media call that he is also running Ring Of Honor and plans to host three streaming events. The brand is set to have ROH SuperCard Of Honor on April 5, which could rule out AEW having a PPV event that month.

Regardless, it seems Khan already has plans in motion for a ninth event and is looking to host 12 PPVs this year combined from two of his organizations. It’s an ambitious goal that he hopes fans will want to support. 

John Cena Is Happy to Bring Peace to Mortal Kombat 1 With Peacemaker Inclusion

Thomas Lowson
-
0

John Cena is excited to bring ‘peace’ to the ultra-violent world of Mortal Kombat with the inclusion of Peacemaker to the series. 

In July 2023, Peacemaker was announced for Mortal Kombat 1, which despite the name is the latest game in the popular fighting series. Recently, fans got a trailer of Peacemaker in the game, which is voiced by Cena. 

https://twitter.com/MortalKombat/status/1760665781137031567

In a tweet, Cena said that after three decades of brutal Mortal Kombat games, he was pleased to bring some peace to the game. 

John Cena as Peacemaker

The 16-time WWE World Champion first portrayed Peacemaker in 2021’s ‘The Suicide Squad,‘ a soft sequel to the 2016 ‘Suicide Squad‘ film. Diving deep into the character, Cena would often wear the full Peacemaker costume when making public appearances and when walking the red carpet.

Peacemaker is also the subject of its own series from HBO Max (now known as just Max.) Peacemaker the series debuted in January 2022 and received solid reviews. A second season of Peacemaker was greenlit in early 2022. 

Who is Peacemaker?

Cena plays the jingoistic Christopher Smith, a character who believes in doing anything to achieve what he considers peace, even if it means killing men, women, and children. The first season of the Peacemaker TV series explored what drives the character to this dedication to ‘peace’, such as his fraught relationship with his father played by Robert Patrick. The Terminator 2 actor has a history with Cena as the pair shared the screen for 2006’s The Marine. 

WWE and Mortal Kombat

Cena isn’t the only name from pro wrestling to make their presence felt in Mortal Kombat. For Mortal Kombat 11, Ronda Rousey voiced series regular Sonya Blade. The Miz’s Hollywood A-Lister character has often been compared to Johnny Cage, another regular in the series. 

Frustrated AEW Stars Refusing To Carry Out Tony Khan’s Creative Plans

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Members of the AEW roster are said to be “very frustrated” with management to the point that some are refusing to do what has been written for them. 

Since launching in 2019, AEW has aimed to be an alternative to WWE, which saw plenty of chaos backstage during the Vince McMahon administration. During the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez shared that there’s growing resentment among the roster. 

“A lot of people are very frustrated because they don’t find out the Tuesday before. Some people do, some people will know what they’re doing because there are a couple of matches usually advertised in advance. But most people are showing up the day of the show and finding out if they are doing anything or not.”

Alvarez added that some AEW stars flat-out refuse to do what is requested on them and usually, Tony Khan relents, forcing plans to be changed at the last minute. 

“People don’t want to do something and Tony doesn’t make them do it. There’s a lot of this… I hear about this every single day. Trying to put together these shows is just a whirlwind.”

What’s Next for AEW? 

AEW’s next major event will be this weekend’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina. This show has seen changes, with the Meat Madness match being put ‘on ice’ and replaced with the All-Star Scramble match. Tony Khan has said that the Meat Madness bout is postponed due to injuries. Lance Archer, Wardlow, and Powerhouse Hobbs were all announced for Meat Madness and will all compete in the All-Star Scramble. 

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

“You standing on big business” – Mercedes Moné Responds To Giulia Wanting to Face Her

Bishal Roy
-
0

Mercedes Moné (formerly Sasha Banks) recently responded to NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia, who has expressed her desire to face the former WWE star.

After being the hottest free agent on the market for quite some time, it seems Moné is AEW-bound.  She tasted success in WWE but departed in 2022 due to issues with the creative team. Soon after that, the former ‘Boss’ made her presence felt in NJPW and World Wonder Ring Stardom while also becoming the IWGP Women’s Champion.  

While Mercedes Moné is on the verge of her return from injury, NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia has stated that she is still wishing to face Mercedes Moné, who has been on the sideline since Giulia won the title from Willow Nightingale in July last year.

Speaking with Tokyo Sports, the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion said that she has been aiming to put her title on the line against Mone. Here is what she said:

“I have been thinking ever since I won the belt that I have to put this belt on the line and beat Mone to overturn this saying,” Giulia said. “I can’t tell you right now where I will go from here, but I will continue to defend this belt until I find Mone.”

Mercedes Moné responds

Taking to Twitter/X, Mercedes Moné seemingly indicated her AEW debut at Big Business and wants the champ to show as she wrote:

“You standing on big business or u just standing around! YoU know where to find me
Julia
@giulia0221g “

Giulia is set to be a free agent when her STARDOM contract expires at the end of March. Meanwhile, Moné is reportedly set to debut for AEW this month at Big Business.

It was last month that AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that the March 13, episode of Dynamite will take place at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. The location and the show’s name being billed “Big Business” indicates that Mercedes Moné will make her debut at the show.

Tony Khan: AEW Is Well-Equipped To Tackle Allegations of Misconduct

Thomas Lowson
-
0

AEW is well-equipped to handle any allegations of misconduct brought to its disciplinary committee, according to company President Tony Khan. 

In the wake of Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, there has been a spotlight on how allegations of misconduct are handled in the wrestling industry. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused and trafficked by the 78-year-old billionaire. McMahon had denied all allegations but resigned from WWE in January of this year. 

AEW’s Allegations

In late 2023, Chris Jericho was accused of acting inappropriately with Kylie Rae four years earlier, which allegedly led to her abrupt exit from AEW. At the following Worlds End event, Jericho faced hostile chants from fans addressing the allegations. Speaking on the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan he said he took accusations of sexual harassment seriously, though many felt choosing to wear Toni Storm’s silly glasses and hat undermined his point. 

Tony Khan Comments

Speaking on the media call ahead of this weekend’s Revolution pay-per-view, Khan addressed how AEW can handle allegations of misconduct. 

“We have trained professionals on the disciplinary committee, including two attorneys and Bryan Danielson. And they’re different backgrounds, and that’s the idea to have people from different backgrounds. And different experiences in wrestling, which is certainly its own unique business with its own unique set of challenges. 

“And they would be looking out against all misconduct claims, and we’ve tried to train them up to do their best. I think, to really whatever the situation is, in terms of misconduct, to do whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of the wrestlers, which is first and foremost here above everything else.”

AEW Revolution will take place this Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Cody Rhodes Shares Stacked WWE Schedule for March 2024

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Cody Rhodes will be one busy individual for the month of March as he continues on the road to WrestleMania. 

At the two-night event, Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The bout will be the long-awaited rematch between the two following Rhodes’ emotional loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in April 2023. Rhodes earned this match by winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, becoming the fourth man in history to win back-to-back Rumbles. 

Cody Rhodes’ March Schedule

On Twitter, Cody Rhodes shared his schedule for March of 2024. Rhodes will be on every episode of Monday Night Raw this month and will be at the majority of SmackDown tapings. Rhodes will also compete at ten ‘Road to WrestleMania’ live events. 

This is quite the workload for Rhodes, in stark contrast to his WrestleMania opponent. Cody will compete more in one month than Reigns did in all of 2023. In the comments of Cody’s tweet, fellow Raw Superstar Chad Gable was impressed by Rhodes’ work ethic, calling him “the standard.”

Another WrestleMania Match? 

Rhodes will be in for the fight of his life at WrestleMania, but the match with Roman Reigns may not be his only showdown in Philadelphia. At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one. Seth Rollins reminded Cody that it’s never one-on-one when it comes to The Bloodline. A blockbuster tag-team match has been discussed as WrestleMania 40: Saturday’s main event, which would pit Rhodes and Rollins against Rock and Reigns. 

WWE’s The Rock & Bad Bunny Among 2024 Academy Award Presenters

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Notable WWE names The Rock and Bad Bunny will be on hand to present Oscars at this month’s annual Academy Awards ceremony in LA. 

The Hollywood Reporter notes that The Rock and Bad Bunny have been added to the list of presenters, alongside Michael Keaton, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney, and others. This group adds to the previously announced list of presenters which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Zendaya, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Yeoh, among others. 

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer led this year’s nominations with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things with 11, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon with 10 and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie with eight. The ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and take place on March 10 at 7 pm ET at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

Bad Bunny in WWE

Bad Bunny debuted in WWE in 2021 and immediately wowed fans with his in-ring ability. After competing at WrestleMania 37, Bunny was equally impressed in the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble match. At Backlash 2023, the Grammy Award-winning artist competed in his first singles match and defeated Damien Priest in the San Juan Street Fight.

What’s Next for The Rock? 

The Rock is back in WWE as a heel and has been confirmed as the newest member of The Bloodline. The Great One has vowed that he will prevent Cody Rhodes from finishing his story at WrestleMania. The upcoming two-night show could see The Rock in action as a blockbuster tag team match has been discussed for Night One of WrestleMania 40. The Great One will be on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

When Can Fans Expect to See Kazuchika Okada in AEW?

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Kazuchika Okada is reportedly on his way to All Elite Wrestling, and fans may not have to wait long to see his official debut. 

Last month, it was confirmed that Okada’s contract with NJPW was set to expire. Okada worked the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Okada had been with New Japan for 17 years before his departure. 

Joining AEW and WWE Interest

At first, it appeared that Okada would be joining WWE and the idea was that he would be debuting in WWE NXT first. Speculation around his supposed WWE arrival grew to the point that Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER said Okada would be welcome in the company. 

Last month, it was reported that AEW had beaten WWE and secured a deal with Okada. It was confirmed that WWE had spoken with Okada and that AEW had been “confident” in their offer to the Japanese wrestler

When to Expect Kazuchika Okada

The tentative plan is for Okade to be around for the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Fightful Select reports. During the AEW Revolution 2024 media call, Tony Khan spoke about something big coming to next week’s show in Atlanta, Georgia. 

“There’s a lot of really exciting things coming. I’m very excited for Revolution and the shows after that. I can promise you I have something very exciting, I’m very excited about for the fans in Atlanta.”

The timing of Okada’s expected debut is certainly interesting. The March 13, episode of AEW Dynamite will be the promotion’s ‘Big Business’ show and is expected to mark the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone. 

Hammerstone Signs With TNA Wrestling, Says It’s “Time to Get to Work”

Thomas Lowson
-
0

TNA Wrestling is pleased to welcome Alex Hammerstone as the newest member of its roster in a move that was made official this week. 

On Twitter, TNA confirmed that Hammerstone has signed with the promotion. Responding to the tweet, Hammerstone made it clear that it’s time for him to show what he can do in a TNA ring. 

Hammerstone in TNA Wrestling

Hammerstone made his debut for TNA at Hard to Kill 2024 last month in a match against Josh Alexander. In the sixth match on the main card (and ninth overall), Alexander defeated Hammerstone. The pair are scheduled to compete in a rematch at TNA Sacrifice. That show will take place on March 8, 2024, from the St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

While Hard to Kill was Hammerstone’s TNA debut, he had briefly worked for the promotion once before. In January 2019, he competed on IMPACT Wrestling’s Xplosion show and earned a victory over Nick Brubaker. 

Hammerstone In the Ring

Hammerstone made his debut in the wrestling business in 2013 and is best known for his success in Major League Wrestling. Joining the promotion in 2019, Hammerstone quickly became part of The Dynasty, a faction that would include Richard Holliday and AEW’s MJF. 

That same year, he became the first MLW National Openweight Champion, and in 2021, defeated MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu in a title-for-title match. 

Outside of MLW, Hammerstone competed for Pro Wrestling Noah in 2019. In February 2016, he did extra work for WWE and appeared on screen as a bodyguard for Tyler Breeze. 

Ex-WWE Writer Claims They Were Punished For Challenging Racially Insensitive Content

Thomas Lowson
-
0

A former WWE writer lost their job for challenging the company’s racially insensitive content the company was producing, it has been claimed. 

On LinkedIn, Michael Leonardi shared two videos explaining his exit from the company in 2016. He explained that the Muhammad Hassan character proved to be pivotal in his firing from WWE. 

“Back then, there was a character by the name of Muhammad Hassan. In July of 2005, while in the build-up to a PPV match with the Undertaker, WWE aired a controversial segment that made national news as hitting a little too close to home with the ongoing “war on terror.

“Shortly thereafter, the london bus bombings occurred which brought more attention to the angle and the concern amongst UPN.”

Leonardi, who was assigned to oversee the Hassan Vs. Undertaker match at that year’s Great American Bash, made clear to WWE that he did not feel comfortable with the angle. 

“I told my boss that I had a problem being associated with the project (I felt strongly that it was just wrong of us to keep going with it) and asked if I could be assigned to one of the other matches (which I was) Eddie vs. Rey (with little dominick, which is crazy to see where he is now!)”

The former WWE writer then explained how he felt the company punished him for taking a stance against the controversial character. 

“I was then promptly stripped of all my responsibilities as an associate producer and given grunt work. A week or so later, UPN put enough pressure on WWE that the character was eventually wiped from WWE programming after the PPV and never seen again.

“I was then given back my responsibilities. As much as I loved working there, I thought it was F’d up that the situation was handled that way and soon thereafter put in my notice.”

Other Claims

Leonardi isn’t the first former WWE employee to claim they were punished for challenging racially insensitive content. Last year, Britney Abrahams claimed she was fired by WWE after she challenged shocking story ideas, including one that would see Mansoor be responsible for 9/11. Abrahams alleged that she was fired for taking a WrestleMania chair home, despite other employees being allowed to do the very same. She voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit last August. 

Pat McAfee: No Way I Could Pass A Drug Test To Compete At WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
-
0

Pat McAfee has wrestled at WrestleMania in the past, but that isn’t happening this year. Due to his current drug intake, the publicly traded company with a Wellness Policy wouldn’t sign off on the former NFL kicker doing his thing in the squared circle.

McAfee discussed his connection with WWE during an appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast with hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. When questioned about his potential participation in WrestleMania 40, McAfee expressed doubt, citing concerns about his ability to pass a drug test.

Pat McAfee Won’t Compete At WrestleMania

In response to whether he’ll be competing at WrestleMania 40, McAfee admitted uncertainty due to his current regimen. Explaining his pursuit of “rich guy stuff” post-retirement to maintain his physique, McAfee acknowledged experimenting with various substances. Despite lacking awareness of the long-term effects, McAfee pondered potential health risks but remained open to futuristic solutions, including cryogenic preservation.

McAfee was asked if he knew about the long-term effects of the drugs he’s taking. He does not, as he continued to say, “Am I gonna die? Who knows. Probably. They say everybody is. But is this one gonna take years off my life? Maybe. But was that gonna happen anyways?”

The RAW announcer went on to say that if something is going to kill him that will be cured someday, “I would like to be frozen until we find the cure. Bring my ass back 2120, two thousand, one hundred twenty years in there. Think about me getting dropped in that society. I’ll be f*cking pumped up about it.”

In the end, Pat McAfee conceded that he has too much in his bloodstream to pass a WWE physical at the moment. So, he won’t be competing at WrestleMania 40.

All that being said, I don’t think I could pass any drug tests for a WrestleMania, because they drug test people so that’s real deal… and I’m on everything I think they’re testing for.

WWE’s stringent drug testing policies and McAfee’s current substance intake nixes the chances of that happening this year. That being said, he will likely be on commentary during the show of shows, as he calls the action in the ring.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of Pat McAfee, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for future updates. h/t to Andrew Thompson at Post Wrestling for the grab.

Sting Says He Could Have Ended Career With Match Against The Undertaker

Aaron Varble
-
0

Sting is retiring on Sunday at AEW Revolution, and this is a time when fans can look back at his legendary career. Sadly, they do not have a match against The Undertaker to remember, because it never happened.

The Undertaker and Sting never had their Icon vs Dead Man match that fans wanted to see. Sting wanted to see that match happen too, and he said that he could have ended his career on that note.

Sting Laments About Lost Undertaker Match

Although The Undertaker and Sting were under the same roof, Vince McMahon never booked the match to happen in WWE. If it did take place, The Icon believes that would have been a fitting end to his career.

Sting spoke with Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports, where he said that he thinks that his career could have ended against The Undertaker instead.

“I think if it was done right, it could have been a night, for sure, everyone would remember and never forget. They would be talking about it to this day. But it just was not going to happen. I thought, ‘Well, maybe if I get my foot in the door, we’ll see what happens.’ So I got my foot in the door. We did a WrestleMania with Triple H and then Vince [Vince McMahon] called and said, ‘Hey, I want you to have a world title match with Seth. Would you be willing to do that?’ ‘Yeah, I’d be willing to do that.’ Still, in hopes that somehow I could get in there with Taker.”

Sting went on to say, “I had so many ideas over the years, A lot of times, smoke and mirrors aren’t good things. But in our situation, I think with his gimmick and the mystiques of his character and mine, we couldn’t have enough smoke and mirrors. I think it definitely would have been a night that people remembered.”

The WWE Hall of Famer said that he would have loved a match with Undertaker, and if that happened then,“I wouldn’t have had to do anything else.”

The Stinger had an amazing career with multiple Hall of Fame entries to his name. Now, he is wrapping things up at AEW Revolution on March 3rd. SEScoops will be here with all of the coverage you need for the next AEW pay-per-view.

AEW Full Gear 2024 Card:

  • Sting and Darby Allin (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) in a Tornado tag team match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship; This will be Sting’s retirement match.
  • Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) in a Singles match for the AEW International Championship.
  • Samoa Joe (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) in a Three-way match for the AEW World Championship.
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship.
  • Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson in a Singles match for the Continental Crown Championship (AEW Continental Championship, ROH World Championship, and the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship); If Danielson loses, he has to shake Kingston’s hand.
  • Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita in a Singles match.
  • Christian Cage (c) (with Killswitch, Mother Wayne, and “The Prodigy” Nick Wayne) vs. Daniel Garcia in a Singles match for the AEW TNT Championship.
  • FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli) in a Tag team match.
  • Chris Jericho vs. Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer vs. Hook vs. Brian Cage vs. Dante Martin vs. TBA in an All-Star Scramble match; The winner will receive a future AEW World Championship match.

MLW Intimidation Games 2024: Final Card feat. Minoru Suzuki, Mistico & Matt Riddle

Michael Reichlin
-
0

Major League Wrestling is back tonight with MLW Intimidation Games 2024 from New York City’s Melrose Ballroom. Intimidation Games will stream live on TrillerTV+. 

Fans in attendance will also witness additional matches as part of a beIN SPORTS TV taping. For fans in the New York area, visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

MLW Intimidation Games Card (TrillerTV+)

MLW Intimidation Games 2024

MLW World Heavyweight Title Fight
Satoshi Kojima (champion) vs. Minoru Suzuki

NJPW World Television Title Fight
Matt Riddle (champion) vs. Bad Dude Tito

MLW World Middleweight Title Fight
Rocky Romero (champion, presented by Salina de la Renta) vs. Místico (with Cesar Duran)

MLW World Tag Team Title Fight
Second Gear Crew (champions) vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (promoted by Saint Laurent)

Bobby Fish vs. Alex Kane (cornered by Mr. Thomas)

NYC Street Fight
The Calling (Rickey Shane Page & Sami Callihan) vs. AKIRA & Jake Crist

5 minute $5000 challenge
MLW World Featherweight Champion Janai Kai fights

MLW at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, NYC

beIN SPORTS Card

MLW cameras will be rolling for these additional matches:

¡Lucha Libre Espectacular!
Star Jr. (presented by Salina de la Renta) vs. Magnus (with Cesar Duran)

CozyMAX open contract fight
Delmi Exo vs. Zayda

Scramble-6 match
Ichiban vs. Love, Doug vs. Brett Ryan Gosselin vs. Marcus Mathers vs. Cannonball vs. Dyln McKay

Plus, there will be a special Meet & Greet with Satoshi Kojima, Minoru Suzuki, and Mistico.

DAY OF EVENT SCHEDULE:

  • 5:30 p.m.: Early entry for front row ticket holders
  • 6:00 p.m.: Doors open for general public (all ticket holders)
  • 7:00 p.m : Showtime

WWE 2K24 & Snickers Confirmed As WrestleMania 40 Presenting Partners

Thomas Lowson
-
0

WWE 2K24 and Snickers will serve as the Presenting Partners of WrestleMania 40, which will take place from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field this April.

This marks the third consecutive year that WWE 2K and Snickers have teamed up as the Presenting Partners of WWE’s annual supershow. In a statement, Martin Terwilliger, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley, was excited to continue the partnership.

“SNICKERS is proud to return to WrestleMania, bringing a satisfying solution to WWE fans around the world. We look forward to showing up for the passionate fanbase with WWE 2K24 as presenting partners for WrestleMania XL, bringing fans what is sure to be one of the most exciting sporting events of 2024.”

Dennis Ceccarelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports at 2K, was also pleased to be a presenting partner of WrestleMania 40

“While fans can relive forty years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K24, we’ll once again tag-team with SNICKERS to co-present WrestleMania XL. We’ll be cheering on our cover Superstars: Rallying Cody Rhodes to ‘Finish the Story,’ rooting for Rhea Ripley to defend her title, and looking forward to Bianca Belair putting on the ‘EST’ WrestleMania performance of all.”

Grant Norris-Jones, EVP & Head of Global Partnerships, TKO, addressed the size of WrestleMania 40 with great fervor.

“WrestleMania XL is shaping up to be the biggest event in WWE history and we are excited to take our partnership with 2K and Snickers to new heights as the brands unite for a third consecutive year.”

WrestleMania 40

WWE WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night event, a tradition established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The card for the show as it currently stands is as follows:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Mustafa Ali Championship Celebration Set For 2/29 TNA Impact

Tyriece Simon
-
0

Free agent Mustafa Ali’s year is off to an incredible start after leaving WWE in 2023. He recently became the TNA X-Division Champion by defeating Chris Sabin at TNA No Surrender on February 23. The new title holder has revealed on Twitter that he’ll have his official inauguration to start his reign on this week’s episode of TNA Impact. 

“…Citizens of
@ThisIsTNA! It’s happening! With great pride, I invite you all to attend the X-Division Title Inauguration Ceremony, this Thursday 8/7c on AXIS TV,” wrote Ali.

It’s unclear what exactly Ali has planned for his reign, but he wants it to feel important. The free agent has made himself into a superstar on the independent wrestling scene and has fans looking to see what he does next. He also has fans questioning WWE’s decision to release him. 

The company let go of Ali last September, as well as other superstars. Although some former WWE talent are still trying to find their way outside the company, Ali thrives on the independent wrestling scene. 

Ali has started the year competing for different promotions in his quest to prove he’s one of the best in the world. He has competed and earned wins for popular independent organizations like Game Changer Wrestling, Prestige Wrestling, and  Revolution Pro Wrestling. However, his big win to date happened for TNA, defeating Sabin to become the TNA X-Division Champion. 

As of now, it is unclear if Sabin will get a rematch for the title. However, he seems to continue in TNA as a ‘heel.’ 

What’s Next For Mustafa Ali (Spoiler)

TNA had tapings for the next few episodes of TNA Impact last weekend. PWInsider’s Billy Krotchsen shared the results from the taping and Ali’s first opponent as champion. 

It was revealed that Ali would be aligned with The Good Hands (Jason Hotch & John Skyler) for his inauguration as X-Division Champion. He also won a match during the tapings against Kevin Knight. Interestingly, it’s reported that Ali and The Good Hands got into an altercation against Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA, and Sabin after the match. 

It seems the issues between Ali and Sabin aren’t over. However, TNA may also have a Six-Man Tag Team match between the two groups. 

The free agent’s announcement and spoilers for the upcoming TNA Impact episode are significant for Ali fans, as TNA seemingly has exciting plans for him and his reign. 

John Cena Locked Out Of Twitter Due To OnlyFans Posts

Aaron Varble
-
0

John Cena’s new movie got some special promotion, as Ricky Stanicky opened his own OnlyFans page. He wasn’t kidding, and that page is also free. It seems that Twitter/X wasn’t too sure about things.

In a surprising move, John Cena has ventured into the realm of OnlyFans, adopting the moniker Ricky Stanicky, a nod to his character in the upcoming film of the same name. The announcement sparked considerable buzz among fans, intrigued by the wrestler-turned-actor’s foray into the subscription-based platform. Twitter blocked Cena out of his own profile for a bit out of fear that this whole thing wasn’t legit.

John Cena Locked Out Of Twitter/X

Cena encountered an unexpected hurdle when he took to Twitter to promote his OnlyFans page. The social media platform flagged his account, suspecting it to be fraudulent. Cena promptly clarified the legitimacy of his OnlyFans presence, assuring followers that his content is genuine and diverse.

To be fair, John Cena has been getting rather risqué with his latest posts. He dropped one about fisting that stopped many fans on the endless scroll of their timelines.

I really got locked out of X account because they thought my @OnlyFans was fake! It’s not. It’s the real deal! Teabagging, scissoring, creampies… and ALL FREE!

To be fair, John has a new video on the Ricky Stanicky OnlyFans where he’s taking a cream pie to the face, but it’s a literal pie like in a comedy routine. This is all for laughs on Cena’s part, and the page will likely go away after Ricky Stanicky drops, but the 16x World Champion is having a blast with it so far.

We cannot post the video here due to copyright reasons, but the Ricky Stanicky account is still free. You can check out this link for more details.

Randy Orton Wants To Collab

Adding to the intrigue of all this OnlyFans talk, fellow WWE superstar Randy Orton expressed interest in a potential collaboration on OnlyFans with Cena. This revelation has fueled further speculation about the duo’s potential ventures on the platform.

Cena seemed down to do it as well, because the two have certainly locked it up enough times in the ring. Those two have reportedly gone at it in 261 different matches over the course of their careers.

As Cena continues to navigate this unconventional promotional strategy, the success of his film “Ricky Stanicky” remains to be seen. Only time will tell if Cena’s innovative marketing tactics will pay off in the long run. Ricky Stanicky will drop on Amazon Prime on March 7. It is being advertised as an R-Rated comedy, so this one will need parental supervision. 

Nia Jax Joins Her Own Haters To Drag Herself In Hilarious Fashion

Aaron Varble
-
0

Nia Jax has been with WWE since early 2014, and she was also released in the process. Obviously, she realizes how many fans love her and that she also has a fair share of detractors. Now, it appears that she is joining her haters.

The Irresistible Force recently saw a post where fans were asked about their opinion of her. Instead of waiting for her notifications to fill with shade, she jumped ahead of them to drag herself.

Nia Jax’s Hilarious Response

The Rock’s cousin makes a good living in WWE, and she also has a firm spot on the roster. Triple H is using Jax well, so it appears as though she is very confident in her position with the company at this point.

WrestleOps asked fans, “Your honest overall opinion on Nia Jax’s second run back in WWE thus far,” and Nia Jax just couldn’t resist. She chimed while quote, re-posting the question in order to let fans know how she apparently views herself.

She’s the drizzling [poo emoji]

https://twitter.com/linafanene/status/1763199727229685780

Nia Jax’s Road To WrestleMania

Nia Jax does not have a match at WrestleMania yet, but she’s coming off a big championship contest at the Elimination Chamber. She not only had a good match with Rhea Ripley in Perth, but a ton of fans realized that Nia Jax was born in Australia in the process.

Odds are, Nia Jax will continue making herself a force on the WWE roster, so she can secure a spot on the WrestleMania 40 card.

SEScoops will keep our eye on this story, and many more, on the road to WrestleMania. You never know what will pop off next, but we will be here for all the updates you need.

Drew McIntyre Teases The Return Of His ‘Broken Dreams’ WWE Theme Music

Rayan Saayed
-
0

Drew McIntyre says wrestling fans who want WWE to bring back his classic ‘Broken Dreams’ theme music should raise the issue with his boss, Triple H.

McIntyre appeared on WWE digital series The Bump this week and fielded some questions sent in by fans. When asked about the possibility of ‘Broken Dreams’ making a return, McIntyre revealed it’s a question he receives on a daily basis.

“Wow, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that question, ever,” McIntyre quipped. “I get that question literally every day. Be it social media or be it in person or every interview I do which is countless. I’m always asked about it, we had a little tease at Clash at the Castle.”

Encouraging fans to memorize the lyrics in anticipation, McIntyre referenced Cody Rhodes’ memorable line to Roman Reigns regarding learning the lyrics to his theme song Kingdom. McIntyre issued a similar challenge to fans:

“The cool thing about it [Broken Dreams] was the fans singing along. As I knew they would, because they’ve talked about it for so long. And I always tell everybody to learn the lyrics to Broken Dreams because when it happens you better know them.”

While contemplating the possibility of a WrestleMania surprise, McIntyre talked about the alignment of the theme with his current character trajectory.

“It’d be cool to get a little teaser at ‘Mania. I don’t know if it sits the character right now or if it sits me right now. I love the war drums.”

However, he urged fans to redirect their inquiries about Broken Dreams to WWE executive Triple H.

“But instead of tagging me, start tagging Triple H constantly. He’s made it very clear on the show that he’s the man in charge, so tag his arse to death.”

Drew McIntyre won the men’s 2024 Elimination Chamber match to earn the right to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight championship at WrestleMania 40.

WWE RAW May Be Homeless In Months Before Netflix Jump

Aaron Varble
-
0

RAW is leaving the USA Network, because SmackDown is going to that channel. The longest-running weekly episodic television show in history is actually leaving cable altogether, as they are jumping to Netflix. There is a lot to unpack with this story, and it gives WWE an interesting situation as well.

WWE’s deal with Netflix shook the pro wrestling world for many reasons. The groundbreaking arrangement will also leave the red brand in a strange transition state after their deal with the USA Network expires.

WWE’s Lack Of A Plan

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE doesn’t have anything arranged at this time for RAW’s final months in 2024. Their deal with the USA Network is up in September, and there is no home for the red brand until their Netflix deal starts in January next year.

“RAW will end on the USA network on the last week of September, and it will debut on Netflix on the first week of January 2025, so we have three months where we don’t know anything. On the investor’s call, it was brought up — the three months — and one thing that was very clear is that they have no idea. They expect that it will be somewhere, they told me that they’d have something to announce relatively soon, and now here we are, and not only do they not have anything to announce, but when they did their perspective of 2024, you know as far as money and profits, their predictions of 2024 were lower.”

Looking Ahead For WWE Television

It was then noted that since WWE has nothing in line for RAW during October, November and December 2024, those three months are left without any note next to them on the budget sheet, so they are going to draw no television money at this point.

WWE is in a tough spot here, because any network would love to have RAW, because it would draw a lot of viewers. The problem is that the show would be entering the situation with the intention of going to Netflix as soon as 2025 starts.

WWE NXT is also leaving USA Network, as the CW is picking up that weekly show in October. As of this writing, we still have no official announcement of WWE’s plan for October through December this year when it comes to RAW.

WWE may already have a television arrangement in line for RAW for the last three months of the year. If that is true, then that begs the question about why WWE hasn’t announced those plans yet. At this point, it is affecting WWE’s overall earnings to leave three months blank before their jump to Netflix.

SEScoops will keep a close eye on this story for more updates. You never know what will happen next in the pro wrestling world, especially when it comes to television rights deals.

WWE Roster Boost: Incoming Superstar Could Be Addition To Roman Reigns’ Bloodline

Aaron Varble
-
0

Roman Reigns has been very good to his family with the Bloodline stable. Their family tree is extensive, and there may be more room at the table for an incoming star who already has a veteran’s level of experience. 

Tama Tonga did his thing in NJPW for years, but now it is reported that he is coming to WWE. His exact start date has not been mentioned yet, but there could be a massive role waiting on him whenever that day comes to make his debut for WWE after years of interest from both sides.

It is theorized that Tama Tonga’s role in WWE may involve becoming a member of The Bloodline. The faction considers him family, and his impending arrival could be perfect timing for a WrestleMania moment.

Tama Tonga’s Possible WWE Future

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that it is very possible that Tama Tonga may join The Bloodline when he makes his way to WWE. He is considered family by everyone in the faction.

“He’s on his way, I don’t know the role, but you know very likely at some point could be part of the Bloodline situation, because he’s considered family by all those guys, so if they need somebody new, it could be him.”

It was noted that Tonga is done with NJPW, and he was talking with WWE a year ago as well. “He should start pretty soon,” Meltzer concluded. 

The Bloodline’s Future in WWE

WWE introduced Solo Sikoa to the Bloodline fold at Clash at the Castle in 2022, and that was the last addition to the stable, other than Sami Zayn’s program with the faction. It could be very possible that Tama Tonga might add a new flavor to the mix that will give the Bloodline saga even more time.

SEScoops will have complete coverage of this story, and so many more, in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates as additional information is available. 

1...365366367...3,369Page 366 of 3,369