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WWE 2K24 DLC: The Dudley Boyz Entrance Video & Ratings

Aaron Varble
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We’ve got a first look at the Dudley Boyz’ ring entrance in WWE 2K24. WWE Hall of Famers Bubba Ray and Devon Dudley will be available next Tuesday, May 14 as part of the game’s first DLC pack. The ‘ECW Punk Pack’ also includes The Sandman, Terry Funk and CM Punk.

Devon Dudley is rated 84 in the game, while Bubba Ray is an 85. 

Future DLC Packs

Here’s a look at future WWE 2K24 DLC packs:

  • June 26: DLC Pack #2 (“Post Malone & Friends Pack) includes Post Malone, Sensational Sherri, Mosh, Thrasher, Honky Tonk Man, and a Jimmy Hart Manager, along with MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • July 24: DLC Pack #3 (“Pat McAfee Show Pack) features Pat McAfee, Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, and additional MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • September 20: DLC Pack #4 (“Global Superstars Pack”) includes Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Michelle McCool, Carlito, Kairi Sane, Lyra Valkyria, Dragon Lee, and MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • November 13: DLC Pack #5 (“WCW Pack”) features Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, Lex Luger, and MyFACTION Superstar Cards.

WWE 2K24 Reception

WWE 2K24 launched on March 8, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game received positive reviews from critics, noted for its improvements and refinements over the previous version. 

It received scores of 8/10 from IGN and GameSpot, and an 81% on Metacritic. Users have rated it 3.7 based on 316 reviews.

We rated the game an 8.5/10 in our exclusive review:

Presale Passcode For WWE SummerSlam 2024 Tickets

Staff
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WWE fans looking to attend this year’s SummerSlam event from Cleveland, OH can now purchase tickets.

The WWE SummerSlam 2024 tickets pre-sale is now live at Ticketmaster. 

The Exclusive Passcode sent in to SEScoops to participate in the presale is WWEVIP.

Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, May 9.

WWE SummerSlam takes place Saturday, August 3, 2024 from Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Will Ospreay Calls Himself “Officially Grizzled” After 31st Birthday, Sabu Reassures He Has Many More Years

Dominic DeAngelo
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Will Ospreay may think he old in wrestling, but one ECW legend in Sabu believes the top AEW star is quite far from that. 

Ospreay only turned 31 on May 7, and youth is wasted on the young as Will thinks he’s well beyond his years going past 30. The top AEW star made note of his assumed state in the world of wrestling on social media.

“I’m 31 now. I’m officially grizzled,” Ospreay mentioned in a post on X. The Tweet got a kick out of pro wrestling legend Sabu, who reassured Will that he’s got a ways to go before he truly hits grizzled status.

“Officially grizzled? Lol. I wish I wasn’t officially grizzled. Lol you have many more years until you are grizzled.”

Will has basically just started his in-ring career with All Elite Wrestling, but Sabu has had already had some involvement with the promotion. He played a primary role in a program with Chris Jericho almost a year ago at AEW Double Or Nothing. Jericho took on Adam Cole in an unsanctioned match and Sabu played the enforcer of the fight. While he was dressed to the nines, he wasn’t afraid to get physical and did just that to take out Jericho.

Quite the dream birthday present for Will Ospreay would have to be a dream fight against Sabu. The legend actually has been getting himself back into ring shape to have one last match, stating that he’d love to involve AEW regular and best friend, RVD.

WWE Joining Vince McMahon & John Laurinaitis In Efforts To Compel Arbitration in Janel Grant Lawsuit

Thomas Lowson
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WWE will join its former CEO Vince McMahon in an effort to compel arbitration in the lawsuit brought against them by ex-employee Janel Grant. 

The shocking allegations in Grant’s lawsuit resulted in McMahon’s second resignation from WWE in January 2024 though he has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and trafficking. McMahon’s lawyer has claimed that Grant’s lawsuit is ‘revenge’ for McMahon ending their relationship, a claim Grant’s legal team has denied. 

In April 2024, McMahon filed to compel arbitration in the case that would see this lawsuit settled quietly outside of court, a move John Laurinaitis, who is also among the defendants, supports. In a new filing, it is revealed that WWE will align with both men in their efforts to compel arbitration.

“WWE also anticipates filing a motion to compel arbitration and stay this action pending arbitration”, which removes any doubt that all three defendants will be moving to compel arbitration.”

It is proposed that the three defendants file their motion by Tuesday, May 14. WWE has yet to file a motion while Laurinaitis has filed the motion but not a memorandum in support. McMahon has already filed both. 

Not a Comeback

While McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE may be on the same side, fans shouldn’t see this as a sign of a potential return for either man. There is said to be nobody defending McMahon in WWE given the seriousness of the allegations against him. McMahon has listed all of his remaining stock in TKO for sale, and there have been no movements for Laurinaitis to return either. 

Daily Drop (5/8): Sexyy Red Defends Trick Williams, Ric Flair Busted As Unflattering Footage Surfaces

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for May 8, 2024. There is a lot to cover every day in the pro wrestling world, but this should get you up to speed.

Before we get going, Vince McMahon and WWE came up in an unlikely place yesterday. Daniels mentioned her initial interest in discussing professional wrestling when she first met Trump. She knew about the long-standing friendship between McMahon and Trump and wanted to explore that connection. She shared a conversation with Trump where he realized the similarities between adult film stars and professional wrestlers, noting both are like athletes. Daniels, who works in adult films, chuckled in court as she compared her industry to pro wrestling, describing it as “real but not real.”

Now, let’s get into the Daily Drop!

WWE:

Announcer Call-Up: NXT ring announcer Alicia Taylor is on her way up to SmackDown. That will see female ring announcers on each WWE main roster brand for the first time in history, as Samantha Irvin still has RAW on lock.

Jacy Jayne Injured: During NXT this week, it was confirmed that Jacy Jayne suffered a broken nose during Spring Breakin’ week two. She needed surgery, and at this time there is no return time table for her return to the ring.

Sexyy Red Is For Trick: Popular rapper Sexyy Red was watching NXT this week, and she wasn’t happy about Noam Dar jumping Trick Williams. She posted on Twitter/X to say make it very clear that she was watching NXT this week.

Randy Orton Auditions: While speaking to Adam’s Apple, Randy Orton opened up a bit about acting outside WWE. He does still do auditions from time to time, but in the end, he’s actually glad when he doesn’t land those roles.

”I was just talking to Cody Rhodes about this (venturing into acting) in Marcé, France and it’s… I really love what I’m doing now. I love watching movies. There’s a lot of work that goes into them. 10, 12 hours a day on set… and I do auditions. I’m with U.T.A. and I do turn in some auditions, I do some self-tapes here and there but, sometimes I’ll see these roles pop up a year or two later that I don’t get and I’ll see it and I’ll be like, ‘Man, I’m glad I didn’t get that role.’ I would’ve busted my ass.

AEW:

AEW Dynamite 5/8 Card:

  • TNT Championship: Adam Copeland vs. Brody King
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta
  • Mariah May vs. Harley Cameron
  • Swerve Strickland face-to-face with Christian Cage
  • We’ll hear from Serena Deeb
  • Kenny Omega will make an important announcement

RVD Is All Elite: Although he never inked a deal with AEW, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam stated that he is more than willing to go back to AEW for an extended run. So far, all of his appearances were handshake deals.

Hardy Boyz Want To Retire Together: In an interview with ComicBook, Matt Hardy discussed his retirement plans alongside Jeff Hardy. He mentioned that both he and Jeff aim to conclude their wrestling careers together, mirroring the way they started.

“That would definitely be our goal. It is very important to us to finish how we started. We started as two brothers on this journey. Our goal was to win the tag team titles of the world one time, and obviously we did that many times over. We do want to end that way. We’ve talked, and we’re both very aware of that. We want to end our careers together as a team.”

Ric Flair Footage: Tiktok user @bussines11.11 uploaded footage of Ric Flair’s incident at Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza in Gainesville, Florida. This was not the best look for the Nature Boy at all, as the footage captured him using strong language toward the manager by calling him a ‘dip****’ and challenging him to a fight outside the restaurant. Flair concluded the incident by offering a $1000 tip to a staff member.

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

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

Details On How WWE Superstars Get Paid & How It’s Changed From the Past

Thomas Lowson
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Does WWE’s current method of paying talent leave Superstars reluctant to the ‘grind’ that Paul Levesque spoke of during WrestleMania week? 

At a WWE World event, the WWE COO spoke of talent choosing other promotions because they don’t want to deal with the ‘grind’ of being a Superstar. While Triple H didn’t mention any names or companies, AEW’s Will Ospreay saw the line as a dig at him which led to a scathing comment about Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

In a recent interview with WWE alum Maven Huffman, Mace and Mansoor discussed how being paid works in the modern-day. Maven explained how when he was under contract, he was paid a percentage of what events made, giving him a reason to try and work events as much as possible. 

Those days are a thing of the past, as Mansoor explained how like Maven, modern talent are paid weekly, but at a fixed rate no matter what.

“So we do get a check in the mail every week, but it’s the same number every time. No matter how many shows you work; no matter how many times you wrestle. Even if you don’t wrestle at all. We get the same payment every week. We get guaranteed money no matter what.”

Mace added that a talent knowing they will receive the same amount each week may be discouraged from working as they’ll make just as much money sat at home. 

“In a way you’re actually not incentivized to work because when you’re working house shows, doing all these dates, you have to pay for your car. You have to pay for your hotel and the only thing we don’t pay for are our flights. If you were just sitting at home hurt, you’re just getting your weekly paycheck.”

Maven questioned how factors like merch sales and appearances are relevant given this system and Mansoor would explain how the ‘bucket system’ works. 

“Every time you work a show, you get an invisible payment that doesn’t actually go into your bank account. It goes into the metaphorical bucket. The top of the bucket is your downside… If your downside is $125,000, then every time you work a show, they make an invisible payment of $1,000. Now you don’t see that $1,000 until you make $125,000 worth of bookings on top of your downside. So everything above $125,000 is a bonus for you.”

With the bucket system, talent can be left waiting for some time before they see the benefits of working house shows and other events. Unfortunately, as the pair explained, a talent getting close to overflowing their ‘bucket’ may find themselves be kept off TV and house shows with the reasoning that ‘creative has nothing for you.’ This, of course keeps talent from being paid the bonus they would have had their ‘bucket’ overflowed.

WWE’s way of paying talent has clearly changed since Maven’s tenure and while it may have flaws, it has made many wrestlers (and of course the company) a lot of money. In this new era, we can’t count out that WWE could change its payment to a system more favorable to the talent in the ring. 

Rob Van Dam Is Open To An Extended Run With AEW

Bishal Roy
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0

Pro wrestling legend Rob Van Dam has shed some light on his future at AEW after making only a handful of appearances. 

Since making his debut in August 2023, he has competed in only six matches. This sparked concern for his future with the promotion but RVD is not ruling out a longer run with AEW. Speaking on 1 of A Kind Podcast, he said that he would consider an offer but he is yet to have discussions for a possible extended run. He said:

“I would like to think that I’m open to any conversation. So anything’s worth considering. Let’s hear what you got in mind, whatever. But no, I don’t have any of those talks. What you see is what you get, and that’s all anybody is talking about. All anyone is talking about doing, let me put it that way.”

He further said that taking time off and not wrestling full-time has a disadvantage – it impacts the conditioning. RVD has explained that if he wrestled more often then fans could see a more ‘fluid’ version of himself. He said:

“One thing the fans don’t take into consideration that I do, it’s cool having time off and I don’t want to be full-time, anything like that. But it is a big disadvantage, being in the ring, because no matter how much conditioning that I do, there’s no wrestling conditioning like wrestling. So if I was wrestling like every week, instead of sometimes every six weeks, maybe eight weeks, whatever, then you would have a little bit even more fluid RVD.”

Rob Van Dam’s AEW career

The 53-year-old has been making sporadic appearances in AEW. He immediately made a mark after his debut when he went up against then-FTW Champion Jack Perry. Though he was unsuccessful in dethroning the champ, he received massive praise for the match. RVD then went on to team up with Hook for a couple of matches over two months.

Earlier this year in January, the veteran wrestler faced Sean Strickland in a Hardcore match but endured a defeat. RVD competed in a six-man tag team match joining forces with Adam Page and Hook in February. His last match for the promotion took place a few weeks back when he picked up his maiden win after defeating Isiah Kassidy, Komander, and Lee Johnson.

While fans might wonder why RVD is not heading to WWE, the veteran star blames the lack of connection with WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H. Read more below:

Tony Khan: ‘AEW Is Where The Best Wrestle. That’s Not Me’

Thomas Lowson
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Tony Khan may have taken steps towards being an on-screen presence for AEW but don’t expect the 40-year-old billionaire to lace up a pair of wrestling boots. 

With Khan becoming more of a presence on programming in recent years, it’s not hard to see why some have speculated on a potential match for the AEW President. When asked about this possibility on Cincy 360 however, Khan explained why headlock and suplexes aren’t in his future.

“AEW is where the best wrestle, and we mean that…in this case, I’m not the best person to pay those people back.”

Khan also pointed out that things hardly went his way the last time he was in an AEW ring as he was the victim of an attack by The Elite. 

“After what happened to me last time, I don’t think I’d be making a smart move trying that [having a match].”

The AEW President hasn’t been seen on TV since the attack by the Elite in April 2024. This marked Khan’s first time getting physical as part of an AEW storyline and he took a piledriver from the Young Bucks. The faction attacked Kenny Omega the following week. 

Wrestling Bosses

While Khan doesn’t plan on having a match, there are some names from wrestling’s corporate side who would step into the ring. Perhaps the most obvious example is Vince McMahon who competed a total 63 times between August 1998 and April 2022. Shane and Stephanie McMahon would also establish themselves as business people in WWE before they stepped into the ring. 

Chris Jericho Reveals The Idea Behind New ‘Learning Tree’ Gimmick

Bishal Roy
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Chris Jericho is focused on storylines and characters which he believes are the major aspects of pro wrestling. 

The former AEW World Champion has portrayed several interesting gimmicks during his illustrious career, the latest being ‘The Learning Tree.’ Chris Jericho recently joined the Kevin Karius Show to outline the significance of evolving gimmicks over time. The 53-year-old veteran said that the matches are important but the stories and characters draw the attention of the fans which remains  “the most important aspect” to him. He said:

“I just started doing this Learning Tree gimmick a few weeks ago. That’s the best thing about wrestling, when people start to get mad at you, you turn into a bad guy and when people like you, you turn into a good guy. This is the start of this whole new persona as we continue the story. That’s the most important thing about wrestling, the story. The matches are important, but the characters and the storylines are what really draws people into watching you and draws people into following what you’re doing. To me, that’s always been the most important thing.”

‘The Learning Tree’

Chris Jericho further explained that ‘The Learning Tree’ gimmick is based on the role of a teacher. Being a seasoned veteran of the game and with extensive pro wrestling knowledge, Jericho’s persona is a reflection of his real life. He aims to teach and guide the up-and-coming AEW stars. However, he possesses heel traits as he gets people “mad,” given the fact that he is a treasure of knowledge. He explained:

“The teacher. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I thought, what’s a cool way to personify that and make people mad? I’ve been doing this at a high level, I thought, I’ll adopt this persona of being the seasoned vet that teaches the rookies the ways of the game. That’s how it started, and the way we’ve portrayed it, people get really mad at me for it. That’s what you want. By being the seasoned vet who knows everything, that makes people mad at me. That’s wrestling for you.”

The Canadian legend had wanted to take Hook under his wing which the latter rejected. ‘The Learning Tree’ dethroned Hook and captured the FTW Championship. However, the veteran got ‘Go-away heat’ after the title win. On last week’s Dynamite, Jericho retained his title against Katsuyori Shibata.

AEW star Big Bill has been trying to learn from the veteran star, who agreed on last week’s Rampage. It has been announced that Chris Jericho will join forces with Big Bill on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

Jericho is not only enjoying his title run but he is also gearing up for an acting role in an upcoming action horror movie. Read more below:

Drew McIntyre Threatens To Tear CM Punk Apart in Glasgow in WWE Clash At The Castle Tease

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre has continued to hype a showdown with CM Punk in the Scottish Warrior’s home country as part of WWE Clash At The Castle. 

During this week’s Raw, Punk once again had plenty to say about McIntyre, albeit after his nemesis had already left the arena. Teasing a showdown at the June 15, event, Punk said: 

“I’m gonna find you. If you make me go to Glasgow, Scottland, I’m gonna be hiding in a bowl of haggis, and I’m gonna pop out, and I’m gonna break your face.”

Now McIntyre has also teased confronting Punk in Scotland. In a lengthy Twitter video, the three-time WWE World Champion ends by saying he’d be ready if Punk does indeed come to Glasgow. 

“I heard what you said. If you actually turn up to Glasgow, you’re not going to leave in one piece.”

Should Punk appear in Glasgow, he may not receive a warm welcome from the UK crowd. Not only will McIntyre receive a hero’s welcome in his home country but the fans at AEW All In gave a mixed-at-best response to Punk for what would eventually be his final All-Elite match. 

Will CM Punk and Drew McIntyre come to blows in Glasgow? 

WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland

The June 15, event will be WWE’s second Clash At The Castle event and will follow on from the 2022 show in Cardiff, Wales. The name is somewhat inaccurate this time around, as while Cardiff and the surrounding area is home to several castles, there is no actual castle in Glasgow. Clash At The Castle: Scotland will take place at the OVO Hydro which will also host a SmackDown taping the night before. 

WWE Drops Another Clue Linking Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan

Thomas Lowson
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Something is going on between WWE Superstars Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. Wrestling fans have noticed a series of subtle hints linking the Judgment Day member and the former Women’s World Champion. With Rhea Ripley off TV due to injury, it seems there’s another woman stealing Dirty Dom’s attention as of late.

Ripley suffered an injury during a backstage attack by Morgan that forced her to relinquish the Women’s World Championship. Morgan, the last woman to have a pinfall victory over Ripley, has been relishing in the fact that she put the Australian out of action. 

During the April 29, episode of Monday Night Raw, Dominik was seen leaving a room backstage and Liv was seen leaving the same area moments later. This has led to speculation that something may be brewing between the two despite their on-screen differences as Mysterio is the on-screen ‘squeeze’ of Ripley.

Latest Clue: The Bandana

Now you see it, now you don’t 

The latest ‘blink you and you miss it’ clue was shown on this Monday’s 5/6 WWE Raw. Mysterio appeared in-ring with his signature purple bandana, but was not wearing it later in the show during a backstage segment with The Judgment Day and Carlito. 

Mysterio didn’t address his missing bandana on Raw, but we may have found it. Morgan posed for a photo backstage at Raw and if you look closely at her front left pocket, there’s a purple bandana poking out. 

Oh, there it is!

Could Liv Morgan’s efforts to ruin Rhea Ripley’s life lead to her stealing Dominik away from her? Or is there another reason why the two have been getting closer in recent weeks? All we know is that something appears to be brewing between the former SmackDown Women’s Champion and ‘Dirty Dom.’

Dominik isn’t the only goal in Morgan’s sights, however. The young Superstar will challenge Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s World Championship (a title Ripley once held) at WWE King and Queen of the Ring. 

NXT Ring Announcer Alicia Taylor Receives Main Roster Call-up

Bishal Roy
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NXT ring announcer Alicia Taylor’s hard work has paid off as she will soon take over her announcing duties on SmackDown.

Reports floated that Alicia Taylor would be called up to the main roster and NXT Creative Head Shawn Michaels recently took to X and confirmed the move. He said that Taylor is an “irreplaceable part” of NXT and acknowledged her for the “countless unforgettable moments” on the brand. HBK is delighted that “she’s bringing her endending passion” to SmackDown. He thanked her for her valuable contributions and congratulated her on her next step.

Following last night’s edition of NXT, on-air personnel, wrestlers and the broadcast team assembled to give a farewell to Taylor. Michaels also posted a video clip of the announcement being made to the NXT locker room about Taylor’s main roster move. 

Alicia Taylor has gained massive popularity for her unique announcing style. The 43-year-old has a heavy metal background which has a major influence on her voice. Taylor is also a drummer and has played drums for Kate Nash, Kelly Osbourne, Colton Dixon, Selena Gomez, and more. 

Alicia Taylor signed with WWE in 2018 and has ever since been the lead announcer of NXT.  However, she has filled in on the main roster as per the requirements. Now, she has secured her move to the blue brand permanently. 

As Alicia Taylor will announce for SmackDown, Mike Rome, who has enjoyed a lengthy tenure on the blue brand, will return to NXT. Meanwhile, Samantha Irvin will continue her duties on Raw. Taylor’s move to the main roster has also scripted history as this marks the first time WWE main roster will feature two black women announcers. 

Jacy Jayne Face Injury Confirmed On 7/5 Episode of WWE NXT

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT Superstar Jacy Jayne is on the shelf for the time being after undergoing surgery for a facial injury. 

During the May 7, episode of WWE NXT, Jazmyn Nyx revealed that Jayne suffered a broken nose during her match against Thea Hail that took place at NXT Spring Breakin (Night Two). Photos of Jayne showed how bad the injury was and Nyx confirmed that Jayne had undergone surgery. Nyx vowed that she would do everything she could to get revenge on Hail for what happened. 

Jayne and Hail faced off on the April 30, episode of WWE NXT. During the match, Hail kicked out of a cover and smacked Jayne’s face in the process, causing the injury. Jayne, a former WWE NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, could be seen bleeding before she lost the match via submission. After that match, Jayne teased that she’d been injured by sharing a 2015 photo of John Cena after his nose was broken by Seth Rollins. 

It’s currently unclear when Jayne will be back given the nature of her injury. In Cena’s case, he returned within weeks of his broken nose to face Rollins at SummerSlam. With that said, the 16-time WWE World Champion has always demonstrated a freakishly quick recovery time from injuries. 

Whatever the timeframe for Jayne’s recovery is, it’s enough to keep her from plans for the NXT Women’s North American Championship. On this week’s NXT, the 12 names who will compete in qualifying matches were revealed, with neither Jayne nor Nyx making the list. Hail did make the top 12 rankings as the #2 seed. 

We at SE Scoops are wishing Jacy Jayne a speedy recovery from this setback. 

WWE Star Michin (Mia Yim) Breaks Unfortunate 16-Month Streak On NXT

Thomas Lowson
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Mia Yim just took a big towards becoming NXT’s first North American Women’s Champion and she snapped a 477-day losing streak in the process. 

WWE announced 12 women will compete in qualifying matches on NXT TV, with the six winners advancing to a ladder match at NXT Battleground to crown the inaugural Women’s North American Champion. Battleground takes place Sunday, June 9 from Las Vegas at the UFC Apex facility.

The new NXT Women’s North American Championship belt

On this week’s 5/7 edition of NXT TV, Yim defeated Arianna Grace to advance to the championship ladder match at Battleground. This win has been a long time coming for Yim, who returned to television last week . Prior to defeating Grace, Yim’s most recent televised win hadn’t taken place since WWE Raw on January 16, 2023 when she faced Iyo Sky.

Yim was brought back to WWE in late 2022 after being let go the previous year. While fans had high expectations for her, especially after she joined The O.C., her 477-day streak shows that not everyone brought back to WWE has been used effectively. 

Backstage after her win, the former O.C. member spoke about how much it would mean to hear to be the first woman to hold this new championship.

Since returning, Yim has had just one singles title opportunity, which ironically saw her be beaten by SKY in January 2024. With her first TV win in a long time, it remains to be seen whether Yim can capitalize on this and become the first NXT Women’s North American Champion. 

Keep checking into SE Scoops for all the latest from WWE NXT as the gold brand continues forward on the road to NXT Battleground. 

Bret Hart Shares Touching Tribute To Owen Hart On His Birthday

Dominic DeAngelo
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Owen Hart would have turned 59 years old on May 7, and his older brother Bret Hart wanted to be sure to share his love for the late King Of Harts.

The Hart Family are one of pro wrestling’s greatest families, but they are also a family mired in tragedy. The wrestling world was forever shaken on May 23, 1998 when Owen fell from the rafters and passed away at WWF Over The Edge.

Owen however, will forever been known for his amazing wrestling skill, but also his fun-loving sense of humor and his innate good-natured ability to rib “the boys.” Bret Hart took to social media on his younger brother’s birthday, telling fans how Owen happened to visit him in a dream and it warmed ‘The Hitman’s’ heart.

“I had a wonderful dream two days ago, Owen came to me briefly and it was that big smile that quickly brought about a bigger smile of my own. He was ribbing me and I was surprised that he almost got me again. I woke up smiling. I think of you in my happy thoughts, I often see you in the highest and farthest corner of a room. Those warm blue eyes and expressions of amusement and reflection. Sometimes I hear your voice often behind my right ear, or just driving down the highway. Hey Oje’, just so you know, that I know that it’s you.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6rZ3MivzOB

Owen is still honored in pro wrestling today in many ways. Kevin Owens took his last name in WWE in homage to Hart and AEW annually runs the Owen Hart Memorial Cup that involves his wife Martha Hart.

Ric Flair Berates Restaurant Manager, Offers Waitress $1k Tip In Candid Video

Aaron Varble
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Ric Flair has seen controversy follow him for decades, and things aren’t slowing down for the 75-year-old legend. The 16-time World Champion was recently involved in a controversy after criticizing Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza in Gainesville, Florida. He claimed he was treated disrespectfully, but a video of an incident he had with the staff paints a different picture.

Flair stated, “I graciously took 20 pictures with customers and staff,” after spending $1,500 at the restaurant. Despite this, he was asked to leave following a disagreement with the kitchen manager, which Flair attributed to the manager spending too much time in the bathroom. This led to a heated, profanity-laden exchange.

Here’s the footage, courtesy of Tiktok user @bussines11.11:

Flair advised people looking for a pleasant dining experience in Gainesville to avoid Piesanos. In response, the co-owner of the restaurant defended the decision to ask him to leave, supporting the staff’s actions during the incident.

The ‘Nature Boy’ is visibly frustrated, uses strong language towards the manager, calling him a ‘dip****’, and challenging him to a physical fight outside the restaurant. Flair ended the incident by offering a $1000 tip to one of the staff members.

Read more about this story, including previous statements from the restaurant owner and Flair:

Ric Flair’s Controversies

Flair has gotten his share of negative headlines in recent years.  His involvement in the infamous ‘Plane Ride From Hell’ carrying WWE executives and wrestlers was brought back to the public consciousness when it was documented on Vice’s Dark Side of the Ring two years ago. Flair was involved in an incident where he flashed two stewardesses and allegedly sexually assaulted them by backing one against the wall while only wearing his ring robe. 

Dark Side producers emphasized that the episode recounting these events is not mere mischief, but a dark and troubling account that highlights the severe impact on the flight crew forced to handle the aggressive behavior of intoxicated wrestlers.

WWE & Vince McMahon Referenced In Donald Trump Hush Money Trial

Aaron Varble
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Vince McMahon and WWE were referenced in court several times on Tuesday during Stormy Daniels’ testimony as part of the ongoing hush money trial against former US President Donald Trump. 

Daniels said that when she first met Trump, she “really wanted” to ask him about professional wrestling. McMahon and Trump have been close friends for decades and she was eager to explore that connection. She recalled a conversation with Trump where it “sort of clicked” for him that adult film stars are similar to athletes and pro wrestlers. Daniels, an adult film star, laughed on the stand as she her world to pro wrestling. Like WWE, “it’s real but it’s not.”

Visit Google News for more coverage of Stormy Daniels testifying in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial.

Former US President Donald Trump sits in court at Manhattan criminal court at the New York State Supreme Court in New York, NY, (Tuesday, May, 7, 2024)

Trump faces charges of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to Daniels, who asserts they had an affair. He has entered a not guilty plea and denies the affair claim. 

On Monday, both current and former officials from the Trump Organization provided testimony on how Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was reimbursed for the $130,000 payment to Daniels.

Judge Juan Merchan has reiterated that Trump violated his gag order twice and has warned him again about the potential for jail time if he continues to post attacks on witnesses and the jury. 

New York Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city’s Department of Correction and Rikers Island are prepared to accommodate Donald Trump if he is incarcerated for violating Judge Merchan’s gag order in the trial.

AEW Dynamite Preview: Kenny Omega To Make Important Announcement

Thomas Lowson
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Kenny Omega will share something very important with the fans during the upcoming May 8, episode of AEW Dynamite. 

On Twitter, news of Omega’s importance announcement was shared by the official AEW account. Whatever the EVP has to say will happen inside the Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 

It’s unknown what Omega will have to say on Dynamite, though it will likely refer to the actions of The Elite. The group (which now includes Jack Perry), attacked Tony Khan recently and ambushed Omega during last week’s episode of Dynamite. 

AEW Announcements

AEW is no stranger to announcements but these have often been met with mixed reviews from fans. Some announcements have certainly been massive, such as the reveal of AEW All In in April 2023, or the announcement of AEW Collision the following month. 

Some announcements, however, have fallen flat with fans who expected much bigger revelations from the company. In November 2023, a much-hyped announcement revealed that tickets for All In 2024 would be going on sale the following week. Many fans found this news to be a dud and hardly needed teasing as an announcement first. 

AEW Dynamite – 5/8/2024

Dynamite will see much more than an announcement from Kenny Omega. Orange Cassidy will face off against Trent Beretta in the latest chapter of their deeply personal rivalry. 

Mariah May will look to continue proving herself to AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm when she takes on Harley Cameron. The Australian will likely have Saraya in her corner. 

Mere days after defending his TNT title against Buddy Matthews, Adam Copeland will put his gold on the line again. This time it’ll be the House of Black’s Brody King who gets a shot at the gold. 

Keep checking in to SE Scoops for all the latest from AEW Dynamite as the company builds towards their Double or Nothing pay-per-view. 

The Undertaker: ‘Paul Bearer Wouldn’t Have Felt Disrespected By WrestleMania 29 Angle’

Thomas Lowson
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Paul Bearer would’ve loved being in one final WWE storyline after his passing, according to his long-term ally The Undertaker. 

The legendary manager’s passing rocked the wrestling world in 2013, as did WWE’s decision to incorporate it into a storyline. Bearer’s passing was repeatedly poked fun of by CM Punk as part of the Best in the World’s ‘mind games’ with The Undertaker ahead of their clash at WrestleMania 29. 

At the time, many felt that WWE crossed a line and that more respect should have been shown to Bearer after his passing. On his Six Feet Under podcast, however, The Undertaker argued that being in the story is what his late manager would’ve wanted. 

“Everybody was a little uptight about bringing that to me, thinking it might be disrespectful. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Paul would love the fact that even after he’s gone… I don’t think he would have felt like it was disrespectful.”

The Undertaker isn’t the only one who feels this way. Speaking to TMZ at the time, Bearer’s son Michael Moody made clear WWE had the family’s permission. 

“We felt that dad would have wanted us at RAW last week and agreed to the angle… We knew Dad wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

The storyline ultimately saw The Undertaker defeat CM Punk at WrestleMania, giving the Phenom his 21st win at the event; the final win of his legendary undefeated streak. As for Paul Bearer, he’d be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame that same year, and would have relished one last time in the spotlight. 

Jey Uso On His Viral Entrance At WWE Backlash: ‘I Felt Like Bray Wyatt Was Showing Love To Me’

Bishal Roy
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Jey Uso got “emotional” when the fans reminded him of late WWE star Bray Wyatt during his entrance at last Saturday’s WWE Backlash: France Premium Live Event. 

Jey’s entrance is always a spectacle as thousands of fans groove and ‘yeet’ to his entrance song. Well, Backlash PLE in Lyon, France was no different. However, it was a bit more special as the fans showered love on him with Bray Wyatt-esque ‘fireflies.’ 

Speaking with Cathy Kelley in a Raw Exclusive, the former Bloodline member said that witnessing the fireflies, he felt that Wyatt showed him love from heaven and it was a touching moment for him. He further said that he is “blessed” to have experienced it. He said:

“It was dope, though. Seeing all the fireflies came out, I got real emotional. Ain’t had much [time] to talk about it. But a lot of people were asking me what it was from my point of view. I just felt like Bray Wyatt was showing love to me.

That’s the first time I’ve seen the fireflies appear, I feel like, since he’s been gone. So I was really emotional seeing all of that. For that to happen to me, I was blessed with that.”

Jey Uso is eyeing to win KOTR

Things didn’t go in favor of ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso at WWE Backlash: France. In a high-intensity bout, he came pretty close to dethroning Damian Priest. However, ‘The Archer of Infamy’ successfully retained his title after his stablemates, JD McDonagh and Finn Balor assisted him.

Now, he’s got a new goal. On this week’s edition of Raw, Drew McIntyre was pulled from his first-round match against Finn Balor as he was not medically cleared to compete. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Jey Uso would replace ‘The Scottish Warrior.’ 

After a gruesome battle, Jey Uso emerged victorious and qualified for the next round where he will face the former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov.

Check out the full Raw Exclusive clip below:

Daily Drop (5/7): Kendrick Lamar & Drake Beef Gets WWE Spotlight, AEW Star Combats Injury Rumors

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for May 7, 2024. It’s Tuesday, so NXT has the fallout from their two-week Spring Breakin’ special tonight. There is also a lot to unpack from all over the pro wrestling world.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s beef has stretched into the pro wrestling realm. After Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music was brought into the picture, he extended an open invitation to have them settle their beef in NXT. CM Punk then quoted Kendrick on WWE RAW, as he cut a promo on Drew McIntyre.

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

WWE:

WWE NXT Card for 5/7:

  • NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Chelsea Green
  • Singles Match: Wes Lee vs. Josh Briggs
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Combine

The King is Gone: Jerry Lawler is no longer under WWE contract, ending a relationship that continued since 1992. He is still under a Legends deal, but the company decided not to renew his commentator deal on January 2024. The news just broke on May 6.

WWE 2K24: They just released the Sandman’s entrance, which will be a part of the next wave of DLC content for WWE 2K24. 2K also put a new patch through that should correct some issues that gamers have been experiencing.

Internal Promotion: WWE’s corporate structure has undergone another change, with Chris Legentil stepping in as the new Head of Talent Relations. He replaces Dan Ventrelle, who was released from the company in April 2024.

Ricochet Vents: Following his loss to Ilja Dragunov in the King of the Ring tournament on RAW this week, Ricochet took a moment to vent backstage for a camera. He posted this shoot sounding promo on Twitter/X with a caption that said, “who gives a sh*t anymore?”

AEW:

Absolutely Not Injured: Ricky Starks has spoken out to squash the narrative that he is injured. He’s been taking time off from AEW, but he claims to be physically ready to go.

Flair’s Ejection: The pizza shop owner, who kicked Ric Flair out recently, spoke up to justify his actions. Co-owner Jerry Roberts responded to inquiries via text about Ric’s departure from their establishment, confirming that he had a reason to kick The Nature Boy out.

“We have reviewed video of the incident that took place recently at our restaurant. It is clear, our team worked in a professional manner to ensure the safety of guests and staff. We have thanked our team for their professionalism. We are proud of how they responded to this situation using and displaying our team values.”

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

Drew McIntyre Retaliates By Torching CM Punk’s Autographed Photo

Bishal Roy
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Drew McIntyre has had enough of CM Punk and has taken a shot back at his rival in unique style. 

‘The Scottish Warrior’ is losing his cool after consistently being at the end of multiple scathing promos from CM Punk. McIntyre left this week’s Raw early but ‘The Second City Savior’ made a surprise appearance on the show a few moments later. He soon seized the opportunity to take jabs at the Scottish wrestler. 

Drew McIntyre did not return to the show. However, he noted CM Punk’s comments on him. Taking to his X account, the former WWE Champion took a shot back at Punk by setting the latter’s autographed photo ablaze and throwing the ashes on the ground. This is the same photograph that McIntyre acquired last week on Raw.  

Drew McIntyre was originally scheduled to face The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor in the  King of The Ring tournament’s first round. But, ‘The Scottish Warrior’, who injured his elbow at WrestleMania 40, was not medically cleared to compete. Raw GM Adam Pearce announced that his replacement would be Jey Uso, who went on to qualify for the next round. 

CM Punk-Drew McIntyre rivalry

The Chicago legend has been getting under the skin of McIntyre since WrestleMania 40 where he cost Drew McIntyre the World title as Damian Priest cashed in his Money In The Bank contract. The feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre is now intensifying every passing week. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ and ‘The Second City Savior’ have had several verbal exchanges in the past and they don’t seem to stop anytime soon. 

Punk has shown impressive recovery after undergoing tricep surgery but he is yet to be medically cleared. Both Punk and McIntyre are currently injured and it seems we will have to wait a little longer to witness them settle the matter in the ring. 

King & Queen Of The Ring Results: Talent Advance On 5/6 WWE Raw, Several Stars Replaced

Thomas Lowson
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WWE took its first steps towards crowning a new King and Queen of the Ring this week with a total of six first-round matches on the May 6, episode of Raw. 

Both tournaments will culminate at the WWE King and Queen of the Ring PLE later this month which will take place in Saudi Arabia. WWE had initially planned on hosting the event last year but nixed the idea in favor of WWE Night of Champions. That event saw Roman Reigns reach 1,000 days as Universal Champion and Seth Rollins crowned World Heavyweight Champion. 

King of the Ring Results

On Raw, the recently called-up Ilja Dragunov defeated new WWE Speed Champion Ricochet to advance to the next round. Meanwhile, Jey Uso got payback on The Judgment Day with a tournament victory over 2021 runner-up Finn Balor. Originally, Drew McIntyre was supposed to be in Jey’s spot but his injury forced changes to be made. Dragunov and Jey will face each other in the quarter-finals next week. 

Queen Of The Ring Results

Raw also saw Zoey Stark advance with a win over Ivy Nile, while Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai. Like Jey Uso, Kai was a last-minute replacement for Asuka, who Damage CTRL confirmed is out with an injury. Stark and Valkyria will face each other in the next round on the May 13, episode of Raw. 

What’s To Come? 

While WWE promoted four matches from each tournament for Raw, only three took place. At a WWE live event this week, Kofi Kingston and Rey Mysterio will face off in a first-round match. This was supposed to be Rey Vs. Xavier Woods but the latter has been replaced due to not being medically cleared. The winner will face GUNTHER next week. 

Shayna Baszler and Zelina Vega will also do battle at a WWE live event, despite being previously promoted for the Raw taping. The winner will face IYO SKY on next week’s Raw with a spot in the semi-finals on the line. 

First-round matches will continue on the May 10, episode of WWE SmackDown. Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight, and Santos Escobar have all announced their participation.

WWE King & Queen Of The Ring 2024: Title Matches Confirmed On 5/6 Raw

Thomas Lowson
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Liv Morgan will have one more shot at becoming WWE Women’s World Champion when she challenges Becky Lynch at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring. 

On the May 6, episode of Raw, it was confirmed that Morgan will challenge The Man at WWE’s next PLE in Saudi Arabia. This has quickly become a very personal feud between the pair, as Morgan was the last woman to be eliminated in the battle royal that saw Lynch capture the title in April. 

Morgan has made it clear that she believes she deserves to be called WWE Women’s World Champion. After all, it was Morgan who injured Rhea Ripley in an assault that forced Ripley to vacate the title in the first place. Morgan is also the last woman to hold a pinfall victory over the ‘Mami’ of The Judgment Day. 

Intercontinental Title Match Announced

Morgan’s title opportunity wasn’t the only match confirmed on the May 6, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. On the show, ‘Big’ Bronson Reed faced Gad Gable in a match that saw interference from Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn. This would ultimately backfire for the underdog, as Reed would lay out Sami and Gable. 

In a backstage interview with Jackie Redmond, Zayn said the only way to settle things is a triple threat match for his Intercontinental Championship. This will mark the first Intercontinental title opportunity at a PLE for both Gable and Reed. 

SE Scoops will have full coverage of the King & Queen of the Ring event, as well as tournament matches. Keep checking in ahead of WWE’s next Saudi Arabia event. 

CM Punk Borrows From Kendrick Lamar To Cut Promo On Drew McIntyre During 5/6 WWE RAW

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk showed up on WWE RAW this week without an arm brace on, showing that he is closer to a return to action. Sadly, Drew McIntyre is injured, and he was pulled from the King of the Ring tournament. That led to the Second City Savior cutting a memorable promo.

Drew McIntyre exited the arena early during this week’s RAW, coinciding with CM Punk’s arrival. Punk then urged fans to tweet at McIntyre to return to the arena and proceeded with his promo, during which he sharply criticized the Scottish Warrior.

During his promo, CM Punk dropped a line that said McIntyre hates the way that he walks, and hates the way that he talks. Many fans were quick to notice that Punk quoted one of Kendrick Lamar’s recent songs in that promo.

Punk and McIntyre have been feuding for months, but both have sustained injuries during this period. McIntyre seemed poised for significant roles in King of the Ring and Clash at the Castle. However, his injury might disrupt these plans.

In case you missed it, Kendrick bodied Drake in a few songs, including Euphoria, where he spit the lyrics.

It’s always been about love and hate, now let me say I’m the biggest hater I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress. I hate the way that you sneak diss, if I catch flight, it’s gon’ be direct. We hate the bitches you f*ck ’cause they confuse themself with real women.

Pro Wrestling Connection

This Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud entered the pro wrestling bubble when Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music was mentioned.

In his song, “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar references pro wrestling by alluding to Shawn Michaels’ famous finishing move. Lamar uses the imagery of “tuning up the band” to metaphorically deliver a Sweet Chin Music. The notable line starts at 2:23 in the track:

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

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

Shawn Michaels later commented on Twitter/X, as he invited Kendrick and Drake onto NXT so they can hash out their beef. HBK even offered to mediate the proceedings. We will have to see if they take him up on that offer.

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