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WWE Signing Top Prospect: Giulia Set to Join NXT Brand

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s NXT brand is likely going to get a new boost of star power, especially on the women’s division. Giulia is close than ever to making her debut for the company, and now we know that she is not main roster bound right away.

Giulia has long been rumored to be on her way to WWE following a brief stint in Rossy Ogawa’s new promotion. SEScoops can confirm Giulia is slated to join the WWE Performance Center and NXT soon.

Giulia is slated to finish up her existing commitments before reporting to Orlando, according to Corey Brennan of Fightful.

Giulia’s Stardom Exit

Rossy Ogawa, a founder of STARDOM, was terminated from the company, sparking speculation that many top stars would depart. Giulia was one of them, and she did leave the company.

Giulia had informed STARDOM officials of her departure in March. This came as no surprise to them, given the months of speculation surrounding her potential exit.

In early February, reports emerged that Giulia would delay her WWE debut to fulfill her commitment to assist STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa with his new promotion. The STARDOM standout had previously stated that she had unfinished business in Japan.

Now, it appears that she is on her way to NXT soon enough. We do not have any confirmation on when she will be out of her obligations with Rossy, but she is WWE Performance Center bound.

Mark Briscoe Honors Late Brother Jay After ROH World Title Win

Bishal Roy
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Mark Briscoe has secured the ROH World Championship after grinding in the promotion for more than two decades.

In the headlining clash of Friday’s ROH Supercard of Honor, Briscoe dethroned Eddie Kingston and secured his first major singles title. As expected, it was a bloody affair on Friday night. 

During the brutal match, Briscoe’s head was slammed into the announcer’s table and it busted him open. In the final moments of the match, Mark Briscoe hit his finisher Jay Driller for the three count to win the title.

After his triumph, his family and some members of the locker room included ROH veterans such as Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, Dalton Castle, and others entered the ring to celebrate his memorable victory. 

It’s quite a special moment for Mark Briscoe, not only for the title win but also because it marks the same day when his brother Jay won the title eleven years back at the same event. That night, Jay Briscoe defeated Kevin Steen (now Kevin Owens) in the main event. 

Mark Briscoe sends a message to Jay Briscoe

During the post-show media scrum, Mark Briscoe was asked to share what he would tell his brother Mark Briscoe, who tragically passed away last year. He said:

“I love you, dog. There’s no words, man. It’s just too many coincidences for it to be a coincidence. I wear my faith on my sleeve, and God is good, man.”

He added that memorable nights like those help him keep going but it’s not an easy task. With his efforts, Mark Briscoe is trying to make his brother proud: 

“Stuff like this, the tragedy that happened, you don’t want to go on, you don’t want to get out of bed…and then nights like tonight…this is what helps you move on. It’s not easy. But nights like tonight make it a whole hell of a lot easier. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but there are no words. I love you dog, be with me. Until we meet again, just trying to do him proud, man.”

Back in the day, Jay Briscoe held the title for 89 days before relinquishing it due to a storyline injury. Now, we will have to wait and see how Mark’s championship reign pans out.

Billie Starkz Fakes Broken Neck Injury to Become First ROH Women’s World TV Champion

Thomas Lowson
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Billie Starkz has entered the history books as the first Ring of Honor Women’s World Television Champion but used some underhanded tactics to get the win. 

At ROH Supercard of Honor 2024, Starkz met Queen Aminata in the finals of a 16-woman tournament that began in February. During the match, Starkz went for a Senton Bomb but Aminata countered by putting her knees up. 

Starkz immediately crumpled in the ring and called for the referee and medical personnel to help her. Aminata was kept away while the commentary team spoke about the injury which they hoped was not a career-ender. 

Aminata held the ropes open for Starkz in a sign of sportsmanship. Starkz grabbed Aminata and hit a suplex before locking in a sleeper, revealing that the neck injury had been a ruse. The referee stopped the match and awarded Starkz the win and the title. 

Billie Starkz’s Road to the Gold

This is certainly an underhanded tactic by Starkz as the crowd were left in a stunned silence when they believed they had seen the end of her wrestling career. Starkz’s first match in the tournament saw her defeat Robyn Renegade by submission before defeating Diamante in the quarterfinals. A win over Mercedes Martinez (a former ROH Women’s World Champion) saw her advance to the finals. 

Aminata also had a tough road to Supercard of Honor. After defeating J-Rod in her first-round match, she bested the veteran Taya Valkyrie in the quarterfinals. She advanced to the finals with a win last month over Red Velvet. 

Jade Cargill Reveals Multiple Factors Behind AEW Departure

Aaron Varble
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Jade Cargill’s departure from AEW surprised a lot of fans. It did not take long for her to sign with WWE, but the company has certainly waited for the right moment to debut her.

Cargill is set to team up with Bianca Belair and Naomi as they take on Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 40. That will mark Cargill’s first-ever actual match in WWE, and it will happen on the grandest stage of them all. As her WWE star shines even brighter every week, many believe that AEW dropped the ball with her.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, host Dave LaGreca said that he feels as though AEW didn’t make the most of Jade. When asked if this was a reason for her AEW departure, she confirmed that many factors played into this decision.

“There are a couple of things that made me go to WWE other than the fact that the machine is ridiculous over here, the connections, the history, the legacy, it’s one of one, you know? AEW was a new company, they’re still figuring things out, obviously. That happens with every company, right? You have to figure out what’s good and what’s bad.” “I’m 31. I don’t have time to grow with the company at my age. I have to be in an established company, and I have to go over there and let it be known, because I can’t do this forever.”

She said that fans want to see “20 somethings on TV,” and she knew that her time is limited in the pro wrestling business. Jade went on to say that “time was not on my side, and I knew I had to make the best decision for me, and my family.” So, she decided to join WWE.

Jade Cargill’s AEW Exit

Tony Khan revealed that AEW offered Cargill more money to stay with them than she asked for. She still decided to do what was best for herself and make the jump to WWE.

Jade Cargill remained undefeated for nearly three years and was prominently featured by both AEW and WBD as one of their top talents. She was even showcased as the main athlete at the network’s upfronts for the past two years. Despite achieving everything possible in AEW, Cargill felt that only a move to WWE would allow her to reach the next echelon in the pro wrestling business.

In September 2023, Jade Cargill parted ways with AEW as her contract with the company came to an end. Just days after her departure, WWE secured Cargill with a multi-year contract.

Top WWE Prospect Spotted Backstage At 4/5 SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WWE is keeping a close watch on the pro wrestling scene, with one major prospect possibly on the horizon. Giulia’s contract with STARDOM reached its end, and she is already on WWE territory for WrestleMania weekend. 

Giulia, who has been a long-time prospect for WWE, departed from STARDOM. As fans wait for her next move, it appears she may have already made it.

PW Insider reported that Former STARDOM owner Rossy Ogawa and GIULIA, who WWE has been wanting to sign, were both backstage at SmackDown in Philadelphia for the April 5 episode. 

Giulia was also spotted at WWE World. So, they aren’t really keeping her necessarily hidden. She has showed interest in WWE for a while, and it appears that she may be getting even closer to that destination. 

Giulia’s STARDOM Exit

The STARDOM standout said in the past that she had unfinished business in Japan. So, her WWE debut didn’t come in a hurry, but it may happen sooner than later at this point.

Rossy Ogawa, one of the founders of STARDOM, was fired, and many top stars were reportedly on the cusp of leaving too. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki’s contracts ended in March, along with Giulia’s deal.

Giulia told STARDOM that she was leaving in March, which wasn’t a surprise as there have been rumors about it for a while. Stephanie Vaquer also won the NJPW Strong Women’s Title from Giulia as she was finishing up her time with the company.

In early February, it was said that Giulia would delay her WWE debut to help Rossy Ogawa with his new promotion. Now, it appears that wait may be over. SEScoops will keep our eye on this story for any further updates.

Daily Drop (4/6): WWE Draft Returning, AEW Called Out For Budget Cuts

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, April 6. This is a day that a lot of fans have waited for, because it is officially WrestleMania Saturday. We also have NXT Stand & Deliver to take care of, so let’s get right to it!

NXT: Stand & Deliver starts first today, with the broadcast beginning at noon EST. You can check out the updated card below:

  • Singles Match: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo
  • NXT Women’s Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez
  • NXT North American Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs
  • NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker (c) vs. Axiom & Nathan Frazer
  • Thea Hail, Fallon Henley & Kelani Jordan vs. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James & Izzi Dame
  • Pre-Show Match: Shawn Spears vs. Joe Gacy

WWE:

– WWE World Brawl: AJ Styles and LA Knight threw down at WWE World for a brawl that lasted well over three minutes. It was chaos, and we have the video.

– Stand & Deliver Gate: Shawn Michaels disclosed that Stand & Deliver in Philly is set to become the second highest-grossing event for NXT, following closely behind NXT Brooklyn.

– The Rock’s Training: SEScoops also had an exclusive where Shawn Michaels explained exactly why Gallus was picked to train with The Rock for his WrestleMania 40 match.

– WWE Draft: Triple H confirmed that another WWE Draft is coming, possibly in May.

– Andre Winner: Big Bronson Reed won the 10th annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown.

– Cody’s Bus Fire: Cody Rhodes’ bus caught on fire before WrestleMania. That was not a surprise he wanted at all.

– Vince McMahon’s Absence: The fact that Vince McMahon isn’t around for WrestleMania 40 weekend has made a lot of people within the company pretty happy.

– One More Match: Triple H spoke on the idea of wrestling again. He’s happy being retired, but he does train every day.

WrestleMania 40 night one starts at 7:00 PM EST. It will be a loaded show, headlined by a massive tag team match, that is being billed as the biggest ever. You may check out the updated card below:

  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
  • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
  • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
  • Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Andrade) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
  • The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins

AEW:

– Tony Khan Called Out: Brandon Tate of The Boys detailed exactly what happened when it comes to them “no-showing” events to combat Tony Khan’s narrative.

– AEW May Move: AEW and WBD are exiting their window of exclusive talks. We may see AEW programming move if they can’t figure something out.

– AEW At WWE HOF: Keith Lee was accidentally shown on screen during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. He is married to Michin, so he was there for the ceremony. However, he wasn’t supposed to be seen on camera.

– Forbidden Door: Toni Storm claimed that the Forbidden Door is always open. We will have to see who steps through that door to challenge her next.

Upcoming Wrestling Shows

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

The Rock Explains How His WrestleMania 40 Feud Came Together

Bishal Roy
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The Rock has been the mastermind behind his recent heel turn that perfectly fits in the storyline involving The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes.

‘The Final Boss’ has been promoting WrestleMania 40 and on the Will Cain Show, he revealed that he decided to become the biggest heel of all time after making his massive return to WWE. 

The Rock discussed WWE fans turning against him when he tried to take Cody’s spot against Roman Reigns. Thereby, he kept the Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes intact but remained involved in the storyline and brought back the iconic ‘Hollywood Rock’ persona.

“Back in January, I called Nick Khan, our friend. And I said, I have an idea. How about this? Why don’t we take care of the people. Give them this story of Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. And Nick said, great. And I said, however, it’s a little bit of a twist. He said, what’s that? I said, what if I became the greatest bad guy of all time?”

The Rock is set to make his highly-anticipated comeback to the squared circle at WrestleMania 40. On WrestleMania Saturday, he will join forces with Roman Reigns to face the team of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. 

The outcome of the match will determine the stipulation for Sunday’s main event. If The Bloodline wins then Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes under ‘Bloodline Rules’. 

However, if Cody and Seth Rollins win, the next night’s main event will be free of The Bloodline.

The Rock’s future 

The Rock’s involvement in the Road to WrestleMania 40 has certainly helped to garner more attention to the ‘Biggest WrestleMania Ever.’ However, it seems his commitments in Hollywood will prevent him from making appearances in WWE following the ‘Show of Shows.’  

He will soon start filming his next movie, The Smashing Machine which will affect his schedule and he might not be available for WWE dates after the upcoming PLE. 

Watch: Bray Wyatt Acknowledged With Touching Tribute At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Bishal Roy
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A heart-touching tribute was rightfully paid to the late WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) at the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Induction ceremony.

In an emotional segment, the Rotunda Family honored Bray Wyatt, who tragically passed away in August last year. While Wyatt was not inducted, his father, Mike Rotunda, alongside Barry Windham was inducted as part of the U.S. Express.

Tribute to Bray Wyatt

Wyatt’s real-life brother, Taylor Rotunda (better known as Bo Dallas in WWE) and his sister Mika Rotunda did the honors of inducting the legendary U.S. Express into the Class of 2024. During the segment, they paid homage to Wyatt.

“We would be remiss not to take a moment not to acknowledge Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt. He should also be standing on this stage with us tonight. He may not be on this stage. But we know he’s here.”

After the speech concluded, Mike Rotunda urged the fans to join him and light up their phones like Wyatt’s entrance. This was a fitting tribute to the late superstar.

“I wish that our son Windham could have been here, he would have liked to see his old man go in the Hall of Fame.”

The segment concluded with Mike and the crowd lighting up their phones with Bray Wyatt’s entrance song playing in the background.

This year’s class included Paul Heyman, U.S. Express, Bull Nakano, Muhammed Ali and Thunderbolt Patterson. There had been talks of Bray Wyatt possibly being inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame Class but that didn’t happen.

Bray Wyatt’s legacy

Wyatt gained massive success when he revamped his persona as the leader of the Wyatt Family back in NXT. The character would lead him to great heights after joining the main roster where he won the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship. 

Eventually, he debuted his popular ‘Fiend’ gimmick which was widely well-received by the fans. However, he was released by the company in 2021 but would go on to make his comeback the following year.

In his returning match, Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match at Royal Rumble last year. Unfortunately, it was his final match before passing away.

Bray Wyatt is not with us anymore, but his legacy will live on forever. 

The Rock Presented With the ‘People’s Championship’ At WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony

Thomas Lowson
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The Rock may not have the people on his side anymore, but he was presented with a custom ‘People’s Championship’ at the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 ceremony. 

The Final Boss was at the ceremony to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of this year’s class. Before this induction though, The Rock was invited to the ring by Lonnie Ali, the widow of the legendary Muhammad Ali. Lonnie spoke about The Rock asking for permission to use the term ‘People’s Champion,’ a moniker that had often been associated with the boxing icon. Lonnie then presented The Rock with the People’s Championship which features the Brahma Bull logo. 

Who Has Been Called the People’s Champion? 

While Ali and The Rock have been known as the People’s Champion, they’re not the only individuals to have been bestowed with that moniker. In World Championship Wrestling, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was referred to as the People’s Champion before the name was given to The Rock. During an Inside the Ropes event, Page recalled discussing the name with the Brahma Bull. 

“I hear, ‘Hey Diamond’… he says, ‘You know, there’s only one people’s champion’… I just look at him, took that pregnant pause and said, ‘you know, Rock, you’re right… And you, well, you’re looking at him‘.”

There have also been ‘People’s Champions’ outside the world of wrestling. In addition to Ali, boxers Michael Spiknks and Manny Pacquiao have used the moniker. Cricketer Usman Khawaja, Snooker player Alex Higgins, and Basketball player Will Barton have also used the term.

Kevin Owens Doesn’t Care About CM Punk’s Return: ‘We’re Not Each Other’s Type of Person’

Thomas Lowson
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Kevin Owens is “perfectly fine” with CM Punk’s return to WWE as the two do not have any kind of working relationship in the world of professional wrestling. 

Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 in an act that immediately sparked discussions about whether he could co-exist with the roster. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Owens was asked for his thoughts on Punk’s return. 

“Well, we have no relationship. No, we’re not each other’s type of people I don’t think. There’s a ten-foot vicinity that if we enter in, then we have to kinda ‘Hey. Hi.’ Otherwise, we just don’t, and it’s fine. It’s perfectly fine.”

Since Punk’s return, there’s been a lot of talk about how the Best in the World has changed since walking out of WWE in 2014, with Triple H making clear Punk had changed during the post-Survivor Series press conference. When asked if he’s noticed a change, Owens was curt with his response.

“I don’t know that and I don’t care, to be honest. I am who I am. He is who he is, and it’s fine that way.”

CM Punk’s Return

While Owens may not care one bit about CM Punk’s return to WWE, his unlikely comeback has had a lot of people talking. So far, reports about Punk’s conduct in WWE have been glowing, with the ex-AEW star being open to ideas and eager to help at the WWE Performance Center.

Last month, Booker T claimed that he and CM Punk had a ‘run-in’ at a WWE NXT taping. Many were skeptical of the claim given that nobody saw the alleged altercation and given Punk’s exemplary track record since returning. Booker quickly said after his initial claim that fans were making too big a deal of things. Booker later admitted that this was his attempt at “clickbait” and he was “just playing around.”

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

The Rock Gets Into Verbal Altercation With Fan At WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Ceremony

Thomas Lowson
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The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony saw some controversy towards the end as The Rock had a verbal altercation with a fan in attendance. 

The Brahma Bull was on hand to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the closing moments of the show, however, The Rock could be seen having a tense face-off with a fan who was in the front row. 

The fan told the Final Boss that “Cody’s coming for you,” referencing Cody Rhodes’ efforts to ‘finish the story’ at WWE WrestleMania 40. The Rock told the fan to “watch your f***ing mouth.” 

You can check out another perspective of the altercation in the tweet below: 

Lia Maivia is the third person that The Rock has inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In 2008, on the eve of WrestleMania 24, The Rock inducted his father Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather (and Lia’s husband) ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia. 

This interaction with the fan highlights The Rock’s heel persona which has been a hit with audiences since WWE decided to turn him into a villain. The character change has also been praised by those who know the Brahma Bull best. 

The Rock at WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes hopes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania 40 but The Rock is planning on ruining the American Nightmare’s weekend. On WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face The Rock & Roman Reigns. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night. 

On WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This match will either be under ‘Bloodline Rules’ or see the Bloodline banned from getting involved. No matter the stipulation, this match will be Cody’s final title shot at Reigns, an edict put in place by The Rock. The Final Boss flexed his muscles as part of TKO’s Board of Directors to make this stipulation happen. 

AEW’s Keith Lee Makes Accidental Appearance At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Thomas Lowson
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It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. 

The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way. 

Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.

This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake. 

Keith Lee

In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021. 

Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.

WWE WrestleMania Match Changed During 4/5 Go-Home SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania kicks off tomorrow, but it’s not too late to change the show of shows. This week’s SmackDown saw a big change for the LWO’s tag team match.

Dragon Lee was supposed to team with Rey Mysterio to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 40. Then, this week’s show saw Dragon Lee get taken out with a backstage attack.

Andrade, who initially appeared to align with Dominik and Santos, turned on the heels to join the babyfaces. This was a big moment as it put Zelina Vega and Andrade on the same side once again.

It was later revealed that Dragon Lee will not be able to compete at WrestleMania 40. Since Lee was not medically cleared, Andrade agreed to take his place. Carlito entered the scene after that with the news that Dragon Lee couldn’t compete, but he was already too late to get in the match. Instead, Carlito told Andrade to take out Santos Escobar at WrestleMania 50.

Now, Andrade and Rey Mysterio will take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at the showcase of the immortals. 

You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

  • Night 1 Matches:
    1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
    2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
    3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
    4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
    6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Andrade) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
    7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Night 2 Matches:
    1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
    2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
    3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
    5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
    6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)

Bronson Reed Wins 10th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal On 4/5 WWE SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is a loaded show, so they held the annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the go-home SmackDown episode.

The 10th annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal was the first match on this week’s episode of SmackDown. The Wells Fargo Center was pumped to get things going. In the end, Bronson Reed won the big match to kick off WrestleMania weekend the right way from the big man from Australia.

Bronson Reed, Omos and Ricochet received special entrances, while all the other Superstars were in the ring already. Omos made his way to the ring last, and he had MVP with him.

Andrade, Ricochet, Chad Gable, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, Omos, Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, Ivar, Akira Tozawa, Otis, JD McDonagh, Apollo Crews, Veer, Sanga, Cameron Grimes, Kit Wilson, Elton Prince, Ashante Adonis, and Cedric Alexander were some of the participants in the match.

In the end, Bronson Reed and Ivar were the two final contestants. The two battled as fans chanted “meat.” Ivar missed a moonsault from the top rope, and then Reed nailed a rolling senton before clotheslining him over the top rope to secure the win.

Previous Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winners

Bronson Reed’s name now joins a list of former winners, some of them are future WWE Hall of Famers.

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner list includes a few notable names. Sadly, the big win doesn’t always translate into a massive push. Past winners include: Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley.

Brandon Tate Of The Boys Combats Tony Khan’s Reason For Their AEW Release

Aaron Varble
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AEW recently released several names from its roster, including Brent and Brandon Tate, known as ‘The Boys.’ Their departures surprised fans, especially considering their involvement in the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV.

At the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan disclosed that the Tates had been absent from work on multiple occasions. This prompted Khan to release them, though he emphasized the difficulty of this decision.

Khan clarified that these releases were part of AEW’s careful budget management, ensuring resources are available to pursue top talent in the industry.

Brandon Tate, who previously denied Tony Khan’s story, but he deleted that tweet, has now responded with a lengthy story. He told all about the Twins’ time in AEW, and what led to the alleged story around them no-showing events.

He said that The Twins had initially intended to maintain silence regarding their release from AEW, in order to avoid overshadowing the significance of the upcoming ROH Supercard event. However, following Tony Khan’s remarks and the overwhelming support from fans, media outlets, friends, and colleagues, they felt compelled to address the situation publicly.

Brandon Tate and his brother were informed that they would be prominently featured in the storyline leading up to Supercard, alongside Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie. They were encouraged to pitch ideas for their characters, suggesting that they would have opportunities to showcase their wrestling abilities in the future.

However, on March 16th, the scheduled date following a storyline development, which involved Dalton Castle losing custody, they encountered an unprecedented change in their travel arrangements. Instead of departing from their home airport in Knoxville, their travel was booked out of Nashville. This departure from their usual travel pattern, which previously involved Sinclair ROH and now Tony Khan’s ROH, raised questions and concerns.

He said the next thing that took place was their release. They were told they were let go due to budget cuts, with no mention of them no-showing any event.

On Monday April 1st, we were contacted by management accompanied by HR on a call to inform us of our release due to “budget cuts.” At that time we raised concerns and repeatedly questioned if the release was due to the travel issues, we were repeatedly and adamantly assured that this was not the case and based solely on budget cuts. Since Tony’s statement, we reached out yesterday providing the specific details asking for Tony to clear this up. We have gotten no response. Unfortunately in the court or public opinion for a lot of people commenting, it’s assumed that we’re guilty from 1 man’s words until we now have to prove we’re not.

https://twitter.com/tatetwinbrandon/status/1776330031536488749

AEW’s Recent Signings

It was a very interesting turn of events to see AEW release so many names from their roster. This came after Tony Khan stated for so long that he intends on fulfilling any contract he signs.

AEW has just inked big contracts with Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Mone. That was followed by some cuts. We will have to see if Tony Khan has any response to Brandon Tate, but he’s been radio silent for now.

In the end, those released names were The Boys, Dasha Gonzolaz, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl, Anthony Henry, Gravity, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J. You may find an updated list of AEW’s 2024 releases here with our tracker.

Brandi Rhodes Reacts To Cody’s Bus Catching Fire Before WrestleMania

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes is set for the biggest match of his career at WrestleMania 40. That being said, he doesn’t need any distractions, let alone his bus catching fire, but that is exactly what happened.

The American Nightmare updated fans to let them know that his bus caught fire last night in Philadelphia. Everyone seems to be fine, but he was able to grab a couple of things before making it off the bus.

Cody Rhodes dropped a message on Twitter/X to update his fans. He also wanted to make sure that they heard it from him first. He also thanks the Philly fire department for their prompt response.

Before you hear it elsewhere – my tour bus caught fire last night. Everybody is safe and okay The 2 items I grabbed before I got off will probably pop wrestling fans Again, thank you @PhillyFireDept

Brandi Rhodes commented to say that this incident was one “hell of a curveball.” Obviously, they were not expecting something like a bus fire to be involved in their WrestleMania week plans.

Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Plans

Cody Rhodes will wrestle twice at WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare will team up with Seth Rollins to take on The Rock and Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania on April 6.

If the heel team wins, then it will be Bloodline rules for the Undisputed Universal Title match on April 7. If Cody and Seth are able to win, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside.

You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

  • Night 1 Matches:
    1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
    2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
    3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
    4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
    6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
    7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Night 2 Matches:
    1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
    2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
    3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
    5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
    6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)

Triple H Confirms Another WWE Draft is Soon

Aaron Varble
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WWE is known to mix things up after WrestleMania with a draft, and this year will be no exception. Another edition of the WWE Draft is coming soon enough.

While appearing on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Triple H confirmed that the WWE Draft will be coming back. He said that fans will see if again in a couple of months.

Right now, the 2024 WWE Draft is planned for sometime in May. It was May 1 in 2023, so they are right on schedule if that is the case.

This year’s WrestleMania and WWE Hall of Fame saw Triple H book his first events without Vince McMahon’s input. That will also be the case for the upcoming WWE Draft.

WWE will likely wait until their Saudi Arabia trip is out of the way before implementing a new draft. We will have to see what they decide to do when it comes to timing.

WWE Draft History

The draft was first started in 2002 alongside the introduction of the brand split. Over the years, it was further renamed as the WWE Brand Extension Draft in 2006 and eventually simplified to the WWE Draft from 2007 to 2011.

Now, fans get the WWE Draft every year as a way to mix up the rosters. The company is also known to proclaim several Superstars as “free agents,” meaning they can pop into any brand where they can be of most use.

WWE is known to surprise fans with their yearly draft. Now with three brands in the mix, that can also mean that main roster call-ups are in store for NXT Superstars. 

Drew McIntyre Trains With AEW Wrestler Ahead of WrestleMania

Bishal Roy
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Drew McIntyre is going the extra mile in preparation for his upcoming battle against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ was spotted doing a workout session in the gym with none other than AEW star Brian Cage.

We are just a few days away from what is being billed as ‘The Biggest WrestleMania Ever’ and Drew McIntyre is pushing himself in the gym. The former WWE Champion took to his Twitter/X account and dropped a video clip of a bench press session with Brian Cage being the spotter. McIntyre said that it was his last chest workout session before ‘The Show of Shows’. His caption read: 

“It’s #WrestleMania week and the beast has been let out the CAGE.”  

Brian Cage took note of the post and replied to McIntyre:

Drew McIntyre and Brian Cage in gym

Drew McIntyre is set to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ has overcome a lot of hindrances on his way to this weekend’s high-stakes match. He outlasted five other competitors to win the 2024 Elimination Chamber match and secured his title opportunity.

He has been involved in a rivalry with CM Punk as well. From time to time, McIntyre has taken shots at ‘The Second City Saviour.’ Notably, CM Punk was the original challenger planned for ‘The Visionary’ at WrestleMania 40. But those plans were nixed when Punk suffered a torn tricep at the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match and it came upon as a blessing in disguise for McIntyre.

Drew McIntyre’s future 

Fans are buzzing about his future. Though McIntyre is set for a huge match at WrestleMania 40, it’s quite interesting that his contract with WWE is running out soon. A new deal hasn’t been inked yet which means he could be a top free agent on the market shortly. 

AEW has been the preferred destination for the free agents in recent memory. It will be no surprise if Tony Khan splurges a massive sum of money to rope in ‘The Scottish Warrior’ similar to how he has signed stars such as Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada. 

Well, all that depends on what McIntyre wants in the future. Will it be WWE? or AEW? Only time will tell.

AJ Styles Would Love To Step In The Ring With CM Punk Despite Past Animosity

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AJ Styles has expressed his eagerness to battle CM Punk despite ‘expecting a problem’ after the latter’s return to WWE.

‘The Phenomenal One’ was asked to share his thoughts on CM Punk’s return to WWE during his interview on The Ringer Wrestling Show. Styles admitted that he predicted it would be a problem to have his former rival in WWE but all seems well. The former WWE Champion further said that he would want to share the ring with Punk. He said:

“I mean, if you know anything about AJ Styles and CM Punk, you would know that we really don’t care for each other. But if you want me to ruin everything that you think you know, I can. Past performance predicts future behavior, right? Some over at AEW are my best friends – love ‘em, trust ‘em, know ‘em. And I was expecting a problem when [Punk] came here – and I was wrong. The guy looks like he’s happy to be here. He looks like a guy that I’d want to step in the ring with and tear the house down with.”

It is no secret that AJ Styles and CM Punk have had a tumultuous relationship since the 2000s. They previously shared the ring when they were a part of the ROH roster but Styles parted ways with the promotion in 2004. That was the last time they battled each other and notably Styles has been vocal about not wanting to face Punk ever again. 

AJ Styles and CM Punk’s involvement in WrestleMania 40

AJ Styles is set to face LA Knight at this weekend’s WrestleMania 40. On the other hand, things haven’t turned out too well for CM Punk lately. ‘The Second City Saint’ scripted one of the historic moments in WWE when he made his comeback at Survivor Series: WarGames PLE last month. Without question, the pro wrestling world was shocked by what transpired in Chicago. He soon gained momentum and seemed that a title shot would be on the cards for WrestleMania 40.

However, he sustained a torn tricep during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match which has kept him on the shelf. But he has made it clear he would be still involved in the ‘Show of Shows’ in some capacity.

With Styles changing his stance and CM Punk returning to the squared circle in the next few months, we could certainly witness the two legends work with each other again.

Xfinity Gets Into WrestleMania 40 Spirit With WWE-Themed Custom Browsing Experience

Thomas Lowson
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Xfinity is getting into the spirit of WWE WrestleMania 40 with new customizable features on its platform ahead of the two-night mega-show. 

WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. A statement sent to SE Scoops reads: 

In celebration of WrestleMania XL, Xfinity customers with the X1 platform can customize their browse experience with all new WWE themes. Fans can show their support for their favorite WWE Superstars with customized timeline pucks and guide cursors featuring WWE Superstar logos and colors (screenshots attached). Choose from:

Cody Rhodes

The Rock

Roman Reigns

Seth “Freakin” Rollins

Bianca Belair

IYO SKY

The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

WWE WrestleMania XL

Customers can say “Change my theme,” “WWE” or “WrestleMania” into their X1 voice remote to choose their favorite WWE Superstar theme ahead of WrestleMania XL this weekend.

WWE WrestleMania 40

This year’s WrestleMania will air on Peacock and will also be the final WrestleMania that’ll stream on the standalone WWE Network. From January 2025, the service in various countries will shut down with WWE content moving to Netflix. The show will air on Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Disney+ in the Philippines, Binge in Australia, Abema in Japan, and SonyLIV in India. 

The upcoming two-night event from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field will also be the first of its kind under the TKO banner and with WWE not under the control of the immediate McMahon family. With that said, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque will still oversee the show as the promotion’s Chief Content Officer.

Vince McMahon’s WrestleMania 40 Absence Sparks Sense Of Excitement Within WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE saw a huge change when Vince McMahon resigned from the company before the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Now, Triple H is holding the book, and this year’s event will mark a huge landmark for the company.

A new report from Fightful Select noted that there is a sense of excitement among WWE talent, described as an “aura of excitement” by one prominent figure, due to Vince McMahon’s absence. While the allegations against McMahon aren’t disregarded, the apprehension of his potential interference has gone away.

Furthermore, McMahon’s absence extends beyond WrestleMania, with sources reportedly suggesting that he isn’t expected to make an appearance at the show at all. There have been instances where McMahon’s presence wasn’t necessarily welcomed in the past.

Looking ahead, WWE’s RAW After Mania also has a sense of excitement surrounding it without McMahon’s influence. Many within the company believe that this year’s RAW After Mania has the potential to be a memorable event, free from McMahon’s last-minute changes that marred previous episodes.

Vince McMahon’s Removal From WWE Creative

McMahon originally retired from WWE after the story about hush money payments broke. Then, he returned to the company a short time later to help usher in a sale.

Leading up to WrestleMania 39, McMahon had reasserted himself within WWE, exerting influence over creative decisions. Despite not directly engaging with the creative team, McMahon’s impact was felt as he would later intervene to alter aspects of the show via zoom or telephone call.

Although McMahon had been absent from shows for several months, he resurfaced during last year’s WrestleMania weekend, reportedly altering the outcome of at least one match. While McMahon had favored Roman Reigns retaining over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, this decision had already been finalized beforehand.

However, McMahon’s influence has waned significantly for this year’s WrestleMania, with reports indicating that he no longer has any sway over the event directly or indirectly. Additionally, it’s been noted that McMahon’s focus has shifted towards addressing pressing issues, such as the allegations involving Janel Grant.

Now, Triple H is the Chief Creative Officer, calling the shots on what fans see during the company’s weekly television shows. This includes WrestleMania 40, where Vince McMahon is not expected to be seen at all.

Triple H on Scouting Talent: ‘I Need to See For Myself That They’re Good Enough for WWE’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque insists on seeing a prospective Superstar for himself to see if they’re the right fit for the promotion. 

As part of his many roles as Chief Content Officer, Levesque oversees talent relations and ultimately has the final say over who is hired to a contract. On the Pat McAfee Show, the Game shared why he thinks it’s vital he personally sees a talent’s work for himself. 

“I see what’s out there. I don’t subscribe to, ‘this guy says they are good, that guy says they are good.’ I have to see it… Because they succeed someplace else doesn’t mean they’ll succeed at the big time.”

Levesque compared the situation to football, stating that players who performed at a high level in college often fail to make waves in the NFL. 

Triple H on ‘The Grind’

Being a WWE Superstar is far from an easy job as talent are expected to compete almost every night across the globe. WWE is also not the only option for a young wrestler as various promotions exist in the U.S. and abroad. On the show, Levesque shared his skepticism for any wrestler who’d choose a promotion because it may be easier than WWE. 

“When I see people coming out of trying to make it, and then they pick a job where, well, they work less, the schedule is lighter, then I’m like, ‘I’m glad I didn’t pick you.’ If you’re not in it for the grind, at that point early in your career, you have no business being here.”

Triple H as Head of Talent

In 2011, Levesque was officially made Executive Vice-President of Talent and Live Events, a role that expanded to include live events and creative two years later. In July 2022, following the resignation of Vince McMahon, Levesque was promoted to Executive Vice-President of Talent Relations and was named Chief Content Officer in September. In October 2023, Ari Emanuel ensured that Vince McMahon (who was back with WWE at the time) would not interfere with Levesque’s work and it was said the Game controlled “99.9% of the creative” at the time. 

EXCLUSIVE: Shawn Michaels Explains Why Gallus Was Chosen To Train With The Rock Ahead WWE WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars all have their own ways of preparing for WrestleMania. The biggest show of the year will see The Rock return for a match, and he had some special assistance. 

Gallus is a stable that has been largely underutilized by WWE, but they put them to good use when training The Rock for his WrestleMania match. Wolfgang, Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey were up for the task.

During WWE’s media day before WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels spoke to SEScoops about Gallus training with The Rock. He said that this came out because the faction is so reliable, and they are also incredibly professional.

These are three guys who know what they’re doing, understand every aspect of it, sometimes you need a guy who’s younger who can fly around, but sometimes you need guys who are mature, and professional, who can adjust to everything to what Rock wants. Obviously, I’m partial to those guys, they’re fantastic guys, they’re professional and very dependable.

HBK then said that he received a photo of Gallus and The Rock doing the stable’s trademark pose. We hope that they release that soon. It seems that WWE picked the right people for the job to help train The Rock.

More on The Rock’s WrestleMania Training

The Rock had a lot of help to prepare for his in-ring return. After all, he is promoting this as the biggest tag team match in history, and it very well may be. 

WWE assisted in transporting two rings, one to Los Angeles and the other to Hawaii, working with Johnson’s team to secure warehouses for training venues. This arrangement provided The Rock with the necessary resources for his training regimen.

During his training, The Rock participated in simulated matches with NXT’s Gallus faction. As he prepared for an upcoming tag-team match, Johnson needed three wrestlers to practice in-ring sequences and refine his timing. Therefore, Wolfgang, along with real-life brothers Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey, were selected for this specific task.

Supervising the training sessions were Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode, accompanied by referee Chad Patton. Additionally, WWE medical personnel were present to oversee the safety of the rehearsals.

Cody Rhodes & Others “Safe & Okay” After Tour Bus Catches Fire Ahead of WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes is doing okay after his tour bus caught fire in what could be a bad omen for the American Nightmare ahead of WrestleMania 40. 

Taking to Twitter, Rhodes wanted fans to hear the news from him first before anywhere else. The 2023 & 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner then shared news of the fire before making clear that everybody was safe and okay. Rhodes added that he grabbed two items from the bus that will ‘pop’ fans and expressed his gratitude to the Philadelphia Fire Department. 

Cody Rhodes’ Busy Weekend

A bus fire is hardly a great omen for Rhodes to kick off arguably the biggest weekend of his professional wrestling career. At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team up with Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns & The Rock. 

The next night, Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The stipulation for this match will be determined during the previous night’s tag-team match. This match will come one year on from Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, CA. 

Win or lose this weekend, Rhodes will have little time to reflect on what happens at WWE WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare is expected to appear on the post-WrestleMania edition of Monday Night Raw from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. If history is any indicator, this show will be a raucous night thanks to the international flavor of fans who traveled to Philly for WrestleMania. It’ll also be the final Raw after WrestleMania on broadcast television. 

Triple H Speaks On Possibility Of Wrestling Again as He Still Trains Every Day

Aaron Varble
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The ring has called many retired Superstars back for another match. Although Triple H is around every single week, he doesn’t intend on booking himself in matches any time soon.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque appeared on The Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend at WWE World. During that appearance, Triple H was asked a very interesting question about his future in the ring.

McAfee inquired if Triple H continues to train, despite his heart issues.“I still train, I still do all that,” Levesque said.

The return of The Rock this year sparked rumors online about Triple H possibly returning to the ring for a feud with The Rock or another wrestler at 54-years-old.

The Game was asked if he has any intention of getting back in the ring. He made it clear that time has passed for him.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think I should be out there taking bumps.”

Triple H’s Pro Wrestling Career

Triple H did just about everything he can in the pro wrestling ring. The Game has won the WWF/WWE Championship nine times, the World Heavyweight Championship five times, and the WWF/WWE Intercontinental Championship five times.

He also racked up many other title wins in the company. Moreover, Triple H is a WWE Hall of Famer as part of DX.

After becoming WWE COO after Vince McMahon departed, he holds the creative reins. Needless to say, things have gone very well for Triple H, and he is enjoying his current situation in a big way.

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