Kevin Von Erich is all too familiar with what it takes to run a wrestling promotion and the wrestling legend credits Tony Khan for a strong ability to hit the reset button.
Speaking on the A2TheK, Von Erich talked about what he thought of AEW, who happened to showcase his sons, Ross and Marshall on their programming.
“I love those people. It’s a great company. I know this isn’t anything, but the catering was great! What good food. The people are really nice.
“Tony Khan is something else. Every company needs a guy like that. Somebody that loves the business. That can look at the business like it was his first day every morning. That’s that guy. I have a lot of admiration for him. The wrestlers, all great, old friends,”
The Von Erichs starting appearing on AEW programming back when The Iron Claw was being released in theaters. Marshall and Ross actutally recently appeared on an episode of AEW Rampage as they teamed with Dustin Rhodes in triple tag action.
The Von Erichs would certainly be a great fit for the upcoming AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament. Already in the mix is Orange Cassidy and Trent Barretta as well as the AEW EVPs, The Young Bucks, who inserted themselves into the equation. Both Ross and Marshall are former MLW World Tag Team Champions as they actually defeated Richard Holliday and MJF to become the champions.
If you haven’t gotten to see The Iron Claw, we have several reviews on the site, including a recent write-up from B.J. Bethel.
WWE WrestleMania 40 could see music from rock sensations Paramore if the band’s lead singer Hayley Williams has her way.
WrestleMania 40 will take place in just four weeks time from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The show will be the fifth-annual WrestleMania to take place across two nights, a tradition that bean thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paramore and WrestleMania?
Last month, A movement began on social media for Paramore to perform at WrestleMania 40. This caught the attention of Bayley, who expressed her support for the fan campaign.
Now, the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner has once again taken to social media, this time with a message from the band itself. Bayley shared a video of Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams who made clear that she was aware of wrestling fans wanting Paramore at WrestleMania. Williams gave the Role Model permission to use the band’s hit ‘Simmer’ for her entrance next month.
”Bayley says ‘Dude, I wanna play Simmer for my entrance at WrestleMania.’ You have our permission, that’s sick, holy s***.”
The Role Model is a huge fan of Paramore and has made no secret of her devotion. In 2018, Bayley wore a Paramore-themed attire for WWE Evolution, the company’s first (and to date, only) event to feature an all-female card. Bayley teamed with Sasha Banks and Natalya to defeat the Riott Squad at the event.
Bayley at WrestleMania 40
Paramore or no Paramore, Bayley will compete for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40. The Role Model will challenge former Damage CTRL ally IYO SKY who has held the title since SummerSlam 2023. This will mark Bayley’s first singles match at the Show Of Shows.
The Rock has a lot of pull in WWE as a member of TKO’s board of directors. That is a shoot, and so is the idea that he may place someone very close to him in the WWE Hall of Fame this year.
It was previously noted that The Rock has a say in picking the WWE Hall of Fame this year. He apparently pulled for one name in a big way and now we know who it is. His own grandmother.
Lia Maivia Rumored For 2024 WWE Hall of Fame
Reports from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select suggest Lia Maivia as a potential inductee into this year’s class. While not confirmed, this speculation aligns with previous reports indicating The Rock’s involvement in selecting this year’s inductees.
Maivia’s legacy is noteworthy, and she had a big hand in pro wrestling history as a promoter. She took over Polynesian Pro Wrestling in 1982 following the passing of her husband, “High Chief” Peter Maivia. As one of the first female wrestling promoters, Maivia led PPW to its best year in 1985, drawing a crowd of 20,000 fans. She sadly passed away in 2008, but she remained a part of the pro wrestling world until her death.
2024 WWE Hall of Fame Inductees
WWE has already started the process of unveiling names for the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony, with Paul Heyman notably taking the spotlight as the first announcement under the Triple H era.
Additionally, The US Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham) and Bull Nakano have been confirmed. More names are expected to follow in the upcoming weeks. Haku is also rumored for this year’s class.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled to coincide with WrestleMania weekend, following SmackDown on April 5th, at the Wells Fargo Center, the night before Mania’s first night.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more. Please keep checking back for the stories you need.
McKenzie Mitchell may no longer be a part of WWE, but the former interviewer has landed on her feet with a new musical role.
Mitchell was released from WWE in December of last year in a shock to fans as she had been a regular presence on programming right until her exit. WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels would later say he was sad to see her cut and that he hadn’t been part of the decision. WWE Superstars also shared their support to Mitchell, the wife of WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph.
McKenzie Mitchell’s Musical Move
Mitchell will be a part of ‘The Last Match,’ a new rock musical centered on professional wrestling. On Twitter, Mitchell, in character as commentator Scarlett Sublime, shared her excitement for the project.
Since I could walk and talk I’ve had a microphone in my hand. Performing is where I have always felt most comfortable and where I shine. Fun fact! When I was young I used to sing and dance and actually performed in front of thousands of fans at the age of 6. I won’t necessarily… pic.twitter.com/jBk1fdzCEl
Mitchell won’t be the only notable name on stage for The Last Match. Popular Wrestling YouTube personality Simon Miller will be portraying Alexander Swagger. In addition to his work online, Miller has also gotten in the ring from time to time, including at IMPACT Wrestling’s Turning Point show last year.
The show’s inaugural performance will take place on April 26, from the Temple in Rochester, New York. The show tells the story of Ben Vengeance who is walking into his final wrestling pay-per-view event to challenge for the BTD Championship held by Swagger/Miller.
For more information about The Last Match, including news on tickets and how to buy them, click here.
Vince McMahon is no longer officially associated with WWE, a company he boosted into an internal publicly traded company. He recently sold a ton of stock, but what is his standing in the company now?
TKO disclosed today that Vince McMahon sold 5,350,000 TKO shares at $77 each, generating $411,950,000 from the transaction. According to the filing, McMahon retains ownership of 15,002,105 shares. As of today’s closing price of $81.39 per share, McMahon’s total investment in TKO is valued at $1,221,021,326.
McMahon’s Big Pay Day
Vince McMahon’s association with WWE came to an abrupt turning point following his resignation from his role within the company. Now, he is cashing in after leaving the company he helped build and merge into a global conglomerate.
In a recent disclosure, it was revealed that McMahon opted to sell a substantial portion of his TKO shares, totaling an estimated $412 million. This strategic move not only serves to enhance McMahon’s financial standing but also raises a lot of questions about how he will spend that money.
With the sale of 5,350,000 shares, McMahon’s remaining stake in TKO now stands at around 15 million shares, constituting approximately 9% of the total outstanding TKO stock. So, he doesn’t own enough of the company to perform any kind of takeover in the future, as he did after his first “retirement” when the story first broke that he had a ton of NDAs and hush money agreements floating around.
Vince McMahon’s Resignation From WWE
Vince McMahon was forced to resign from WWE after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public, along with the heinous allegations against him. The minute Slim Jim pulled their Royal Rumble in the eleventh hour before the big event, WWE knew they couldn’t have that slippery slope.
TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro reportedly “urged” Vince to step down, and leave the company. Not long after his resignation was announced, Slim Jim returned to sponsor the Royal Rumble, and they even got an advertisement as part of LA Knight’s entrance during the show.
The Rock is going all out when it comes to being a big time heel this time around in WWE. He took a shot at Cody Rhodes this week that drew a lot of attention, and it cut deep for some people.
There was a bit of outrage when The Rock dropped his line about Cody Rhodes being a “mistake,” because of the age gap between him and his siblings. Amanda Huber made a crack at this line as well, and Dwayne Johnson’s own daughter read the message.
Ava is an NXT Superstar now, and he is currently serving as the brand’s General Manager. She was formerly with The Schism, but that faction disbanded as their members found new places in the pro wrestling world. The Rock’s daughter was watching her father on SmackDown this week, and she also paid attention to social media.
When Ava saw that post on Twitter/X, she only commented back to say, “What a mark,” with a re-post. It seems that she isn’t going to let this negative backlash shake her.
The Rock actually commented on Ava getting death threats, so it was a serious situation. He said it was a “crazy” situation. Thankfully, she is back on social media to chime in on matters like this.
WrestleMania 40 Plans & Beyond
WWE confirmed this week that WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock and Roman Reigns take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of night 1 this year. If the heels win, then it’s Bloodline Rules in the night two Mania main event. However, if Cody and Seth can defeat Rock and Roman, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside during night 2.
It is also rumored that The Rock may wrestle again, next time in Saudi Arabia. So, he may still get that singles match against Roman Reigns after all, or he may just have to take Cody Rhodes up on that one-on-one challenge.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates on the stories you need.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Saturday, March 9. WWE SmackDown was last night, and we have AEW Collision tonight. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at.
Days until WrestleMania 40: 28
Before we get started, we have to address Ricky Stanicky. John Cena’s new movie, directed by Peter Farrelly, is a brilliant R-rated comedy. If you loved movies like There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene, then this is a movie for you. It dropped on Amazon Prime a couple of days ago, and we have a great review of the film on SEScoops.
WWE:
– WWE’s YouTube subscribers hit 100 million. The Rock posted about this as he said the channel is “Only the 10th channel globally to ever do so! Helluva milestone that deserves the well-earned flowers of recognition.”
100 MILLION YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS! ????
Only the 10th channel globally to ever do so! Helluva milestone that deserves the well earned flowers of recognition ??
Hyped to see this growth, and much more exciting and expansive work is ahead of us.
– WWE and Prime’s new deal is the largest in company history. This will secure center ring placement for the first time for any advertiser as well. The exact details and money numbers of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely they will come out when the next financial earnings report drops.
The brand new deal between PRIME & WWE is the largest sponsorship deal in WWE history.
– Tony Schiavone confirmed on his What Happened When podcast that Tony Khan did ask Martha Hart’s permission before Sting’s final descent from the rafters. He said, “Tony [Tony Khan] did call Martha Hart, I was there when he fucking called her. He told me, ‘Go let Sting, Darby, and the Bucks know that Martha Hart and I have talked and she has given it her blessing.’ I went and told them what the communication was. Would not have done it without first talking to Martha Hart.”
– Santana made his first remarks since his AEW departure. He dropped a length text graphic in a post on Twitter/X. You can check that out below.
– Former WWE Superstar Elias, now going as Elijah, said to For The Love of Wrestling that he would like to go to NJPW, but also, “The same with AEW, or TNA, I mean I love the idea. I have plenty of ideas about how to evolve my character and take it to the next step, and I feel like you need a TV audience in order to show that. So we’ll have to see what kind of opportunities come my way and which way we go, but all three of them are very appealing.”
AEW Collision March 9th, 2024 Lineup
Atlanta Street Fight: Mark Briscoe, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. House of Black’s Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews
Chris Jericho vs. CMLL star Titan
Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Taylor
Mistico vs. Angelico
Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks in trios action
Mariah May will wrestle this week
Toni Storm presents the first-ever Toni Award
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Mike Santana has shared his gratitude to the fans, Ortiz, and others following the Inner Circle alum’s exit from AEW.
Earlier this month, . The tag-team specialist had been with the company since 2019 and had been a regular fixture of programming during the days of the Inner Circle.
Mike Santana is Grateful
Taking to Twitter, Santana reflected on his exit from AEW. The wrestler was immensely grateful for the opportunities he received in the company.
”Took a few days to reflect and I can’t tell you how truly blessed and grateful I feel. It’s been 5 years full of ups and downs, but above all it taught me so much about myself and this business. I’m thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of history at the ground level. I can say that I’ll forever be a part of that legacy right at day one. But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself. We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks.
You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in “When one door closes, a bigger door opens”, and im so excited for what the future holds for me. With that being said, I want to thank God and my father for continuing to guide me. My family for their endless support.”
”All the fans who have backed me endlessly no matter what. To Ortiz, for the years. And AEW for the knowledge and opportunity.
Okada’s debut this week saw him tease aligning with Eddie Kingston who was on the show to confront the Young Bucks. Instead, Okada attacked Kingston, certifying his role as a heel and shook hands with the AEW EVPs. With Kenny Omega fired as a member of The Elite during the same segment, Okada has seemingly replaced the absent former World Champion.
There was no hesitation in bringing in Okada as a heel, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. All parties involved, that being the Bucks, Okada, and Tony Khan agreed that being a heel was the better fit, especially given his original big run in Japan being as a playboy heel. The idea that he should start as a heel came directly from Khan. Multiple sources confirmed that Okada has immense trust in the AEW President’s vision.
What’s Next?
Okada competed in a six-man-tag at this week’s AEW Collision tapings, which will air tonight. SI reports that all indicators are that Okada will feud with Kenny Omega once the Canadian wrestler is ready to wrestle again.
It’s time for the wrestling world to move on from Vincent Kennedy McMahon, at least according to AEW commentator and ex-McMahon employee Jim Ross.
McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon and was trafficked to other influential men in the company. Brock Lesnar is suspected to be one of the alleged men, resulting in the Beast being pulled from all WWE plans.
Vince McMahon’s Response
McMahon has claimed that the litigation is rife with fabrications and has claimed he is completely innocent. Former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who is named in the suit, has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation. Brock Lesnar has not commented publicly on the allegation against him.
Jim Ross Weighs In
Ross worked closely with McMahon for decades and in addition to being a commentator, served as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations for years. On a recent edition of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross spoke about McMahon’s sullen exit from the company he created.
“I’m tired of it. It’s embarrassing in a lot of ways that it’s happened this way. It’s affected a lot of innocent people. That’s my take on it.”
Ross added that he hopes the wrestling world can look to the future and leave the alleged activity of McMahon in the past.
“It’s time to move on. It’s time to move on and cause some rest and peace for some people and it’s time to move on in my opinion.”
Teil Rhodes, the sister of Cody, has fired back at The Rock following scathing comments from the Bloodline member made on this week’s SmackDown.
During the March 8, episode of the blue brand, The Rock and Roman Reigns came face to face with Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, in the first confrontation between the four since the explosive WrestleMania 40 kick-off event. Amid a barrage of insulting comments, The Rock questioned why there is a 20-year age difference between Cody and his older brother Dustin Rhodes (it is actually a gap of 16 years.) The Rock concluded that such a gap shows that Cody was an unplanned child or a “mistake” as the Brahma Bull put it. This infuriated Rhodes who slapped The Rock to close the show.
Teil Rhodes on The Rock’s Comment
The Rock’s comment against Rhodes would catch the attention of Teil, who often weighs in on storylines surrounding her brother. Taking to Twitter, Teil reminded The Rock that there is only a three-year difference between herself and Cody.
Teil Rhodes wasn’t the only woman connected to Cody to have a strong response to what The Rock has had to say. AEW’s Amanda Huber questioned the Great One’s comment about an age gap, considering the notable gaps in his own family.
Talking about an age gap when your own daughters are almost 20 years apart is a weird choice….
Not satisfied with just mocking Cody, The Rock has had some insulting comments about Rhodes’ dog Pharoah. In a tweet, Brandi Rhodes made it clear she’s ready to fight for her beloved pet.
The Rock didn’t just insult Rhodes this week, but also flexed his muscles as a TKO board member. On SmackDown, Rock announced that if Rhodes loses to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, he’ll never get another opportunity at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Mace and Mansoor, collectively known as the Maximum Male Models, were among the names cut from WWE in September of last year. Now the pair have captured championship gold. At an event for Beyond Wrestling, the pair won the promotion’s tag titles. WWE NXT Superstar DIJAK was in attendance at the show to commemorate the win for the models.
In WWE, neither Mace nor Mansoor won championship gold. Mace’s only title opportunity in WWE came at a 2020 WWE NXT live event where he unsuccessfully challenged NXT Champion Adam Cole. Mansoor would never even get an opportunity at a title in WWE, with his biggest win being the 51-Man battle royal victory at WWE Super Showdown 2019.
Championship Releases
Notable names cut at the time included Matt Riddle and Nic Nemeth, both of whom have gone on to capture championship gold in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nemeth is the current, and second-ever IWGP Global Champion while Riddle is currently the NJPW World Television Champion.
Mustafa Ali has gone on to join TNA Wrestling and is the reigning TNA X-Division Champion. The Retribution leader captured the title, his first championship in a major wrestling promotion, in the main event of TNA No Surrender.
Is Matt Hardy’s time in AEW set to expire? The tag team legend addressed as much on the latest episode of his “Extreme Life” podcast.
A report from Fightful surfaced this week that Hardy’s AEW contract was set to expire this Month and “Extreme Life” co-host Jon Alba asked Hardy if he’d like to address the report. Matt did give details about his current status with AEW and decided to have a little fun with fans while doing so.
“It didn’t come from me because no one had known anything about it so once again, Sean Ross Sapp breaking the news, right? Yes, it is coming up in March and we’ve spoke about it, we’ve talked about it and I guess we’ll see what happens. So we’ll see, if you listen to the podcast just give me your feedback, tell me what you think I should do next. I’m a person of the people, I listen to the people.”
Alba calls Hardy the consummate teammate and Hardy says that’s what he’s about.
“If I work with you and you’re taking care of me, I’m gonna fly that flag high and with pride, that’s what I do, man and that’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s what being a wrestler is.”
Hardy mentioned how close he is with The Young Bucks and how much he likes Tony Khan as a person too.
“I love AEW. I’m cool with staying with AEW. I really enjoy the locker room there, I enjoy the vibe there, but if that’s not what happens then that’s not what happens and life goes on. It’s all good.”
Hardy first showed up in AEW in 2020 under his “broken” persona, but has gone through several persona changes since, including being the manipulative “Big Money” Matt Hardy alongside Private Party and eventually reuniting with his brother Jeff as The Hardys.
Please credit “The Extreme Life” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
The Rock got a taste of his own medicine at this week’s explosive episode of SmackDown from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on the road to WrestleMania.
The blue branded show then saw a confrontation between teams of The Rock & Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins where a lot of heated words were exchanged.
During the promo, The Rock challenged his opponents to a tag team match at WrestleMania once again with the same stipulations as before. This time, Seth Rollins went ahead and accepted the bout.
Roman Reigns then declared that Cody won’t be getting another shot at him if he doesn’t finish the story this time while The People’s Champion reminded Rhodes and Rollins that he was their boss now.
Everything That Happened After SmackDown Went Off Air
Rock talked about the Rhodes family once again and told The American Nightmare that he was actually a mistake. This riled up Cody enough that he responded with a slap to the Hollywood star.
The show abruptly went off air after this development making fans wonder if there was more to this segment which was cut from the broadcast due to time constraints.
In a video that has since emerged however, we can see that after SmackDown went off air, the two sides exchanged some more words before The Rock’s music hit and he retreated alongside The Tribal Chief.
Multiple fan videos show that The Rock had to be escorted out of the arena by security while Rhodes and Rollins stayed in the ring to pose for the fans.
Later in the night, Becky Lynch had a dark match with Nia Jax. Becky won the bout after putting Jax through a table and she ended the show with a short promo for the crowd.
Wrestler turned Hollywood star John Cena is hitting his stride since focusing more on his acting career. He has shown flashes of his acting ability but caught fans’ attention with his role in James Gunn’s DC film Suicide Squad in 2021 as Peacemaker. Cena’s performance as the morally gray character led to his show on MAX(FKA HBO Max) reprising his role, which was highly successful.
Cena’s star power has continued to grow as he’s been featured in more movies recently, including Fast X, Barbie, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Film and WWE fans have been enjoying his work but were taken aback by the promotion of his latest film, Ricky Stanicky.
The new film, currently streaming on Amazon Prime, has been getting some added attention due to Cena’s unique promotion. Ricky Stanicky is being advertised as an “X-rated comedy,” so the former WWE superstar created an Onlyfans account to help garner interest. Although it may sound risque, the videos of Cena Onlyfans were in good taste. That said, fans have wondered if the movie is worth watching.
After watching the nearly two-hour film, I can share this review of Ricky Stanicky and will rate it between 1 and 10 at the end.
Ricky Stanicky: Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, Jermaine Fowler & John Cena at Bar
What Is Ricky Stanicky About?
The movie follows Dean (Zac Efron), JT (Andrew Santino), and Wes (Jermaine Fowler), who created a fake person, Stanicky, to help them escape their problems and responsibilities. Their lies continue from their childhood to being adults. However, the three friends’ latest lies finally cause their romantic partners to become suspicious.
On the verge of getting exposed, the three friends call upon failed actor and celebrity impersonator Rod (Cena) to act as Ricky Stanicky to remove their partner’s doubt. This led to many shenanigans in the film as Dean, JT, Wes, and Rod try to keep up the Stanicky persona.
Ricky Stanicky: Zac Efron, Andrew Santino & Jermaine Fowler at Airport
Mixed Bag Of A Film
Ricky Stanicky may feel like two different movies for fans. It starts out being very raunchy, and that’s when it can be the least funny. In the first 30 seconds of the film, we get our first d*ck joke, and it’s neither creative nor funny. Unfortunately, this was the tone for the first half of the movie.
After Cena is introduced to the family and friends of Efron, Santino, and Fowler, the film takes a turn. The film turns down the raunchiness a little and begins to feel like a completely different movie. The jokes in Ricky Stanicky start to land a little more as Cena tries to keep up with the persona, to the later disdain of Efron and Santino. However, the film attempts to make another d*ck joke, which goes on for too long and is referenced again towards the end of the film.
The film gets more ridiculous when Cena gets a reason to stay in the movie after he initially meets Efron, Santino, and Fowler’s family and friends. The reason is absurd, but it does lead to funny moments between Cena, Efron, and Santino.
If the movie had been less heavy-handed with the raunchiness early on, it could have been a funnier film.
Ricky Stanicky: John Cena at a Party
John Cena Shines In Performance
The film’s central focus is Efron, Santino, and Fowler, but Cena shines the most on-screen. After an incredible performance in The Iron Claw, Efron feels wasted in Ricky Stanicky, and anyone could’ve played his character. His role has more dramatic screens than the rest of the cast. However, he feels misplaced, and a serious revelation comes later in the film about his childhood that feels unearned.
Santino and Fowler try their best to use their comedic expertise to film. The jokes may be hit or miss for fans, but it wasn’t enough to carry the plot. Fowler had some good moments that made me laugh and surprised me. That said, it’s Cena who was able to show his range from being silly to having a few good emotional scenes.
The former WWE superstar gives his all by being outrageous, with one scene peeing on himself in an airport. When he first appeared on screen, he was given raunchy material to work with that wasn’t really clever and may not work for everyone. However, he’s shown later when he can deliver his charisma and not force a joke to be naturally funny in the movie. Cena’s performance in Ricky Stanicky makes me hope he is involved in more serious roles to showcase his acting ability. However, his talents weren’t enough to elevate the film from watchable to great.
John Cena, Zac Efron & Andrew Santino in a scene for Ricky Stanicky
Conclusion & Why Fans Should Give It A Try
The Ricky Stanicky is suitable for being on stream. If fans have Amazon Prime, they can watch it on Amazon Prime Video at no additional cost. The subscription service also has a 30-day trial deal. I believe this makes the film more accessible to watch than going and paying to see it if it went to theaters.
If you are a Cena fan and want to see his acting range, you may want to see the film. He steals the show with his performance in Ricky Stanicky with his comedic and dramatic scenes. Although it’s not enough to save the movie, ultimately, he gives his all to playing his role.
The film is okay and watchable, but it could’ve been better. I give the film a 6 out of 10.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley may have an on-air partnership for WWE television, but their actual friendship holds no boundaries as “Mami” made certain Dirty Dom’s wedding was complete.
Mysterio happened to marry his high school sweetheart Marie Juliette this week in a private ceremony, but some familiar faces were certainly on hand including Damian Priest who was a groomsman and the WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley. Mysterio even got a heel’s welcome at his own wedding as he was showered with boos from his loved ones.
Following the wedding, Ripley took to X to share some special photos of herself with Damian and the happy groom Dominik, congratulating him and his new wife.
“What an amazing love-filled day! Congratulations Dom Mysterio & Marie!”
Mysterio’s week sure finished in a great way, but didn’t start off swell in the ring as he went up against Gunther on WWE Raw and was left defeated by the WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Now six competitors will battle in a gauntlet match next week on Raw to face Gunther at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. The six stars are Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed, Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet and Dirty Dom’s Judgment Day ally, JD McDonagh.
From a storyline standpoint, Zayn and Gable have made the most compelling cases to compete against Gunther. Zayn has promised himself future championship gold while Gable seeks retribution for Gunther making his daughter cry.
Rhea Ripley already has her opponent lined up for WrestleMania as she’ll be battling Becky Lynch, but it still remains to be seen what Philadelphia holds for the newly-wedded Mysterio.
Kenny Omega knows his role in AEW and it’s something that he believes separates him from Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, but will The Cleaner make a return to the ring?
While on his Twitch stream, Omega happened to give an update on his recovery after his diverticulitis diagnosis, something that had him very close to death’s door.
“I would love to say, ‘Hey guys, I’m on track to coming back next week, next month, a half of year.’ I don’t have that confidence this time. When they’re explaining to me that I was 24 hours away from a terrible blood infection and possibly dying, this is like news to me. I’ve never heard of anything like that. ‘I wasn’t close to dying, are you kidding me? No way.’ The doctors are there to ensure my safety and educate me as to how important this is. I don’t want to talk out of my ass too much and say I’m going to for sure be back, and I’ll be back at a certain date or time because I don’t know. I will say, after watching Dynamite, and getting a feel of the lay of the land. If I can come back, I feel like I have to.”
With the official AEW debuts of Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay, the athletic bar has been raised in AEW and Kenny hopes that he’ll still be able to show who runs the show in All Elite Wrestling.
“I used to be that guy. I used to have that confidence, and now instead of being the guy that’s got a chip on his shoulder, it’s my job as the old guard to be the gatekeeper. You want to call yourself the best? F***ing prove it, b****. That’s what I’m here for.”
From a storyline perspective, Kenny Omega isn’t quite “running the show” as fellow EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson have “fired” Kenny from his position this past Wednesday on Dynamite. Kenny caught wind of it and simply used a photo of himself to express his surprise.
Omega has been advertised for AEW’s upcoming residence in Canada, but there is no word as to what he may be doing.
WWE is less than 30 days away from WrestleMania 40, and they booked a huge match during SmackDown this week. The Rock issued a challenge to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, and this week he got his answer.
During the closing segment of WWE SmackDown this week, they confirmed that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will take on Roman Reigns and The Rock during Night One of WrestleMania 40. They did so with a very tense closing segment on the show this week.
WWE SmackDown Closing Segment
The Bloodline took to the ring during the closing segment of SmackDown this week. The Rock joined them, and then Reigns told Dallas to acknowledge them, because greatness stands before them.
Before they could get much further, Cody Rhodes’ music hit, and he entered the screen from the crowd. He didn’t come alone, as Seth Rollins was there in the crowd as well as his backup.
Cody Rhodes admitted that it is very tense in the ring. Then he suggested that they just soak up that moment in Dallas, Texas. Then Cody asked if The Rock had the authority to make any stipulations for WrestleMania, because he acknowledged Roman as his Tribal Chief last week on SmackDown.
The Rock cut Cody off, and then he laid down a bit of a promo about being a family. Then he made it clear that he was serious about the stakes of the match. Suddenly, “diarrhea” chants broke out and interrupted him. Seth Rollins laughed at this, because it was his “Diarrhea Dwayne” line from RAW that inspired the chant.
Finally, The Rock continued, and then Seth Rollins told him to “shut the hell up,” while calling him “Mr. Midlife Crisis.” Then he accepted the tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
The whole segment ended with The Rock taking things too far, and then it was Cody Rhodes who nailed him with a slap this time.
The Rock made it clear that this tag team match at WrestleMania will have big consequences for the main event of WrestleMania 40. If Cody and Seth can win, then The Bloodline will not be around for the main event match. If the Bloodline wins, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for the main event.
Then The Rock said that, as a member of the TKO board, he has another thing to say. He made it clear that Cody will never get another shot at the title if he loses at WrestleMania 40. Interestingly enough, that is the same stipulation he had in AEW that stuck with him throughout his run with the company, where he was never allowed to challenge for their World Title.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and the rest of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for more updates.
Logan Paul opened up WWE SmackDown this week by drawing a ton of heat from fans after he unveiled a Prime bottle logo in the middle of the ring. It turns out that wasn’t just a gimmick, because his company just signed a massive deal with WWE.
WWE and Paul’s brand, Prime Hydration, announce a global partnership, making Prime the exclusive Official Hydration Drink Partner of WWE. This undisclosed deal promises Prime Hydration unparalleled exposure across key WWE assets, alongside activations at live events and social media support, while extending its reach beyond WWE with an exclusive global partnership with UFC.
Prime x WWE Deal
Logan Paul achieved another milestone today with WWE and his beverage brand. Prime and WWE have joined forces in a global partnership, making Prime Hydration the exclusive Official Hydration Drink Partner of WWE.
Forbes reports that Prime Hydration will be WWE’s first hydration partner and the very first sponsor ever to feature its logo at the center of the WWE ring. While specific details of the deal remain undisclosed, it stands as WWE’s most significant sponsorship agreement to date.
Prime Hydration’s partnership with WWE guarantees outstanding exposure and integration across key WWE assets. It is reported that this will include center mat branding at PLEs like WrestleMania and Money in the Bank.
The deal also encompasses match sponsorships, live event activations, social media support from WWE superstars, and more.
It was also reported that Prime Hydration’s collaboration extends beyond WWE, as it secured an exclusive global partnership with UFC in January 2023, becoming the Official Hydration Drink of UFC and an Official Partner of the UFC Performance Institute.
As part of the announcement, Triple H said that, “We’re thrilled to highlight Prime Hydration across our major events.” It seems that this is the start of a much longer relationship between the two parties.
SEScoops will have additional information as new details are available. It seems that fans should expect a lot more from Prim and WWE in the months to come.
Logan Paul knows how to rile up WWE fans. He kicked off SmackDown this week by enraging them with a big change to the WWE. Then he invited one of his old friends, who didn’t get the best reception, either.
Paul opened up this week’s SmackDown by unveiling a big Prime bottle logo in the center of the ring. He then said that Prime is the first center ring sponsor in WWE history, and they will be seeing that logo at WrestleMania. Then KSI came out to join the fun.
Logan Paul Brings KSI to SmackDown
Logan Paul got fans in Dallas to boo him relentlessly, and then he no-sold their “What” chants. In the middle of his promo, he announced that Prime has made history as the first company to ever book a center ring deal with WWE.
The Maverick unveiled a big Prime bottle in the middle of the ring. He said that fans will see that Prime bottle on the ring at WrestleMania and all premium live events from now on. This got a big boo from fans in Texas. Then, Logan Paul introduced KSI, who came to the ring through the crowd.
Randy Orton came out next, and LP ran away. Sadly for KSI, he ate an RKO and was laid out in the middle of the Prime bottle logo on the mat. Then Orton picked up a bottle of Prime for good measure, took a sip, and poured it on KSI’s crotch for good measure.
At least Orton did sip the Prime and remark, “This is very good,” before he capped things off by drenching the influencer.
This is not the first time fans have seen KSI on WWE television. He was at WrestleMania last year, where he did a pretty crazy spot in a Prime bottle costume.
WWE is open for business when it comes to selling off ad space for their ring. Nick Khan has made it very clear in the past that they are interested in renting out any asset they have for advertising purposes. It will be interesting to see how many times we see a Prime bottle in the middle of the ring, but the company is not opposed to the idea.
SEScoops will have more coverage of this story, and many more, as we continue down the road to WrestleMania 40. We will have additional updates as new details are made available.
The Rock has said a lot since returning to WWE this time around. Last week’s 21-minute promo was brutal, but one thing really stuck out for Cody Rhodes, and he drew attention to that fact. The People’s Champion made fun of Cody’s dog, Pharaoh, and The American Nightmare didn’t like that.
It seems that The Rock didn’t get Cody’s message from his promo on RAW this week. Cody made it clear that Dwayne Johnson needs to keep Pharaoh’s name out of his mouth, and that didn’t seem to matter to the Jumanji star.
A message from the Outlaw People’s Champ
“when I die I may not go to heaven I don't know if they let outlaws in If they don't just let me go to Texas, boys 'Cause Texas is as close as I've been”
The Rock brought up Pharaoh in his new online promo. He also mocked the name of The American Nightmare’s four-legged friend.
Before mocking Pharaoh’s name, The Rock also called him a “goofy ass dog.” It seems that was on purpose, as he continued to twist the knife a little with a jab at Cody’s dog. This was especially clear after he was warned not to.
We will have to see if Pharaoh becomes a part of this WrestleMania storyline, but fans just may see him again on the road to WrestleMania. If anything, this extra jab from The Rock will give Cody even more reason to take some aggression out on him at WrestleMania 40.
The Rock, once again, takes aim at Cody Rhodes’ dog Pharaoh in new social media video. pic.twitter.com/9FT5GtdzBA
The Rock has a bit of pull this time around. As a member of the TKO Board of Directors, his say certainly matters. He received $30 million in stock after taking that job, which came with a match at WrestleMania.
It seems The Rock also got to make his mark on the WWE Hall of Fame this year. It was previously reported that The Great One got to pick some of those inductees.
SEScoops will have more on The Rocks’ time in WWE, and everything else that involves.
The Rock took a seat on the TKO board of directors, and that came with $30 million in company stock. He also has a lot more say in things than some fans realized at first.
Currently, Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and the U.S. Express duo of Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda have been confirmed as inductees for the ceremony scheduled on April 5, 2024.
WWE is starting the process of announcing Hall of Fame inductees this year. Although fans thought that Triple H was the only man in control of those names, it seems that The Rock’s new deal has given him some say in that as well.
Rock’s Involvement
The Rock is making significant moves, both behind the scenes and in the wrestling ring. Not only is he set to wrestle at WrestleMania, but he also holds a position on the board of TKO and has secured the intellectual property rights for all Rock-related terms and names.
Johnson’s influence extends beyond his upcoming tag team match with Roman Reigns against Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania weekend. According to Fightful Select, WWE sources have confirmed The Rock has provided input on this year’s WWE Hall of Fame inductees.
Rock’s influence should become more apparent once the remaining members of this year’s class are announced, but it’s worth noting that one WWE source told Fightful Rock had a hand in selecting all of this year’s inductees
The Rock is scheduled to appear on tonight’s SmackDown, where Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins answer the WrestleMania challenge laid out last wee by the Bloodline. If (and when) that match is made official, it will be his first time wrestling a full match in nearly a decade.
Aside from an impromptu 6-second victory over Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32 in 2019, the People’s Champ hasn’t wrestled since 2013, when he dropped the WWE Championship to John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 29.
WrestleMania 40 will be huge, but The Rock didn’t get in ring shape for just one match. There’s still big money in Rock vs. Roman Reigns, and WWE has a plan for when that match could happen:
AEW brought in Will Ospreay as a big signing, but he had to wait out his NJPW contract. Now that he is a member of the Don Callis Family on AEW television, he is ready for what is next. That being said, it will take some bumps along the way.
Will Ospreay addressed fans after his first tour with AEW. He is incredibly motivated to keep going, but he is still nursing some issues with his health. After all, his style has never been what anyone would consider easy on his body.
Ospreay Addresses Health Status After First AEW Tour
In a post on Twitter/X, Will Ospreay expressed gratitude as he wrapped up his inaugural tour with AEW. He conveyed appreciation for the warm reception he received and extended thanks to everyone behind the scenes for welcoming him into their environment.
Despite feeling physically worn out, he emphasized his unwavering dedication. Now, he looks forward to returning home to his family and relishing the rewards of his hard work, reaffirming his belief in AEW.
And thus my first tour under the @AEW banner has come to an end. Thank you so much for such an overwhelming response. To everyone backstage thank you so much for allowing into the home you’ve built, I will cherish this place & treat it as my own. I’m banged up bad but my foot is still on the gas pedal. But now I’m gonna get on this flight home to my beautiful Mrs & step son and enjoy the fruits of my labour. I believe in AEW.
And thus my first tour under the @AEW banner has come to an end.
Thank you so much for such an overwhelming response. To everyone backstage thank you so much for allowing into the home you’ve built, I will cherish this place & treat it as my own.
— Will Ospreay • ????????? (@WillOspreay) March 8, 2024
What’s Next For Ospreay in AEW
Will Ospreay is now a full-time talent for AEW. Tony Khan will likely use him for some big matches in the pipeline, and he already has one huge one in store. Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay’s face-to-face on AEW Dynamite this week was certainly a sign of things to come.
Ospreay entered AEW as one of the best pro wrestlers on the globe. Now he will get a chance to prove himself in front of a fan base that might be full of people who haven’t seen everything he has in store for them yet.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story in case there are any additional updates.
