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WWE 2K24 Blows Rhea Ripley Away With Throwback Version Of Her Character

Aaron Varble
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WWE 2K24 is set to drop on March 8th, and we just got the whole roster. There are over 200 playable characters, and some of them have variations. Rhea Ripley is very happy about one pre-Nightmare of herself that made it in the game.

Rhea Ripley Reacts To WWE 2K24 Character

2K dropped a screenshot of Rhea Ripley from WWE 2K24, one where she doesn’t look like herself today. They added the WWE NXT UK version of Ripley, a younger version of herself with long blonde hair and far fewer tattoos.

Mami before she was Mami! Exclusive #FirstLook from the Deluxe Edition! #WWE2K24

Rhea Ripley saw this, and she couldn’t contain her excitement. The Judgment Day member re-posted that screenshot and included a caption saying, “Oh. Oh My God…”

WWE Games’ official Twitter/X account also re-posted Ripley’s response. They are obviously very proud of the work they did on that character design.

Brock Lesnar’s WWE 2K24 Status

Although there are going to be multiple playable versions of Rhea Ripley in the new WWE 2K24 game, Brock Lesnar is absent. He was pulled, along with Vince McMahon, after Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

2k couldn’t totally remove Lesnar from the game, so he will still be in the game files. We will have to see how long it takes for a fan to crack that code to get Lesnar in their gameplay.

From Getting Bullied to Becoming A Powerhouse: John Cena On How Workout Helped Him Find “new pathways in life”

Bishal Roy
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WWE legend John Cena has become one of the most prominent figures in the world mostly due to his storied career in WWE. His incredible physique and strength have been on display and his accolades make him one of the greatest to ever grace the ring.

Cena, a 16-time World Champion is certainly a powerhouse but he has had the figure while growing up. He has revealed that he was bullied as a child and picked up training to become a muscle man which he is today.

John Cena talks about his weight training journey

Cena had found his passion in workout and it helped him to seek and gain a degree in exercise science and kinesiology from Springfield College in Western Massachusetts. But growing up in his hometown, ‘The Leader of Cenation’ was bullied a lot. 

Speaking with Howard Stern, John Cena revealed that he picked up the weights at the age of 13 and never looked back. Over the years he focused on training and during his high school days, he realized that the hard work paid off for him. He said:

“I was getting beat up every day. I didn’t always look like this. I was a small, scrawny kid. I had my dad buy me a weight set to be at home and I just started on my weights at home every day without fail,” Cena recalled. “Because I was getting beat up, I didn’t exactly have a huge social circle, so I had a lot of time to myself.”

He added that the coaches took notice and even wanted him to join the football team. Cena added: 

“Three-and-a-half years of working out in the prime of adolescence, and eating well, started to show its yield. It kind of helped me get new pathways in life.”

Though he was all buffed up, Cena never beat up his old bullies and he never will.

“That would be very costly today — that’s a poor management decision,” he said with a laugh.

As Cena became more muscular, many questions surrounded him of using potentially using steroids. He recently cleared the air regarding the matter. Read about it below:

Randy Orton Takes a Dig at Logan Paul, Calling Him as ‘Jake’ Ahead of WWE Elimination Chamber

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s 2024 Elimination Chamber is going down in Perth, Australia on February 24th, and fans will have to wake up early if they want to catch the show. The Chamber event is set to start at 5:00 AM for fans in the East Coast, and we have so much more information about the event in our official rundown. Logan Paul and Randy Orton are set to take part in the Men’s Chamber match, and they’re already having words.

Randy Orton and Logan Paul’s Twitter Battle

Randy Orton feels the best he has after his back fusion surgery. He is booked for the Elimination Chamber, and it seems that Logan Paul may have an RKO in store for him.

During the company’s Elimination Chamber conference in Perth prior to the big event, Paul and Orton had a little interaction. The Maverick then jumped on Twitter/X to share that video, along with a little comment to poke The Viper.

“What’s Wrong, Randy Orton?”

The Apex Predator saw this, and he responded to say, “You’ll find out tomorrow, Jake.” One would argue that calling Logan his brother’s name wins this little social media battle for Orton.

What’s Next On The Road To WrestleMania

The Elimination Chamber will set the stage for Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania. The Messiah is currently nursing an injury, so he’s likely going to stay out of the ring in any singles action until the show of shows.

I previously reported that there was serious talk of LA Knight challenging Logan Paul for the United States Title at WrestleMania, but you also never know if the company will book another multi-challenger match for that secondary title, and Randy Orton would be a prime contender to find a place in that contest.

AEW’s MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrating Milestone In Their Relationship

Thomas Lowson
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Former AEW World Champion MJF and Alicia Atout are celebrating after hitting the one-year mark in their relationship. 

Taking to Twitter, Atout made it clear that there is nobody else she’d rather have by her side. Atout also made it clear that she loves MJF, even if her descriptors for the AEW wrestler were hardly complimentary. 

MJF & Alicia Atout

Atout and MJF met during their respective runs in Major League Wrestling, where Atout worked as a backstage interviewer. The pair would also interact on Atout’s A Music Block Yeah (AMBY) vlog when MJF was active on the independent circuit.

While the pair are celebrating one year of their relationship, much of that time has been kept out of the public eye. It was only when the pair were spotted at a baseball game together in late 2023 that rumors circulated of a relationship. In November 2023, the couple went public with their relationship. 

Past Relationships

MJF had previously been engaged to artist Naomi Rosenblum. During a fiery promo segment in early 2023 with Bryan Danielson, MJF said that his fiancé dumped him since he wanted to have kids with her. It was later confirmed that the breakup was legitimate and not an angle for the feud with Danielson. 

Atout was previously in a relationship with Richard Holliday. She managed Holliday during their time in MLW. It would appear that Atout and Holliday ended their relationship at some point in 2023. 

How Much Did Scott D’Amore Offer Anthem to Purchase TNA Wrestling?

Thomas Lowson
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Scott D’Amore was willing to pay big money to purchase TNA Wrestling and save his role with the promotion in the process. 

D’Amore was fired as TNA President by Anthem Entertainment, TNA’s parent company, earlier this month. The Team Canada alum has been replaced by Anthony Cicione, Anthem’s President, in an effort to strengthen ties between the two parties. The decision to cut D’Amore has been met with backlash. TNA’s roster has issued a letter to Anthem, expressing their views on the matter. 

Purchasing TNA Wrestling

Shortly before his exit from TNA Wrestling, D’Amore attempted to purchase the company from Anthem. While the figure was not disclosed at the time of his departure, it was said to be a serious offer with the backing of a major financial institution. 

D’Amore offered $10 million to acquire TNA Wrestling, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported this week. In addition to this, Scott offered to take on all existing debts. Anthem turned down the offer out-right without a counter offer being made. The D’Amore group believed the company value was between $7 million and $12 million.

What’s Next?

A meeting will take place at this week’s tapings of TNA Wrestling and it is believed the D’Amore situation will be addressed. Some in TNA believe that Len Asper, the head of Anthem, will be at the meeting. 

With or without D’Amore, TNA will move on ahead with its weekly entertainment. On March 8, the promotion will host its Sacrifice pay-per-view from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The show will be TNA’s second PPV since relaunching at last month’s Hard to Kill show.

WWE Planned Injury Angle To Take Cody Rhodes Out Of WrestleMania 40 Main Event

Aaron Varble
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WWE has seen quite a ride on the road to WrestleMania 40 so far. This included The Rock re-entering the fold, and plans changing multiple times. CM Punk’s injury also threw a wrench in WWE’s plans, so there were several things that they needed to address. Their plan to take Cody Rhodes out of the picture was also nixed in the process. 

WWE Planned Injury Angle For Cody

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cody Rhodes was informed in the fall that he would face Reigns. However, he was not informed about Rock’s involvement in the match until January 3rd. Therefore, any interviews he gave about concluding the story before the Rumble assumed he was part of the match, despite rumors about The Rock.

The report also went on to say that WWE planned an injury angle for Cody to write him out of the WrestleMania 40 main event match once The Rock showed up. Of course, they pivoted from those plans in a big way.

[Cody] was told the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to swerve people as much a build a later match. But the fact it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was keep secret from almost everyone (obviously a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday a surprise. Even fewer knew the injury angle planned for Rhodes because even people who knew this complete story were not aware of the original idea of how to get Rhodes out of the match and Rock in.

WWE Changed More WrestleMania 40 Plans

The report also noted that Punk’s injury changed plans, but there was still no use for a men’s Elimination Chamber match because Rhodes was going to choose Rollins as his opponent. The Rock was also not wrestling in Australia, at an event that takes place at 5:00 AM on the East Coast. 

The angle with Rhodes endorsing Rock, which was reportedly suggested by Triple H, was well-received by the crowd and WWE thought it went well at first. Then social media backlash changed things. Johnson reportedly already considered turning heel if fans booed him, which led the company to push in that direction.

I reported the entire time that The Rock was the only one who could change those plans. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that it should be Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns. 

If the Rhodes injury angle was followed through with, they would have likely faced an even greater negative social media reaction. Now, fans have a chance to see Cody finish his story.

Elimination Chamber 2024: WWE Stars Entertain At Rowdy Perth Press Conference

Thomas Lowson
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The Superstars of WWE certainly put on a show at this week’s press conference ahead of the Elimination Chamber: Perth event. 

The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. Understandably, the excitement in Perth is at a fever pitch ahead of tomorrow’s show. The show will feature two Elimination Chamber matches, with the Men’s and Women’s winners challenging for the World Heavyweight and Women’s World Championships at WrestleMania 40. 

Elimination Chamber Press Conference

Some of WWE’s top Superstars made their presence felt at the press conference. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins led the Aussie crowd in trashing The Rock. Rollins & Cody Rhodes will be guests on the Grayson Waller Effect tomorrow. 

Things got heated between Men’s Chamber participants Kevin Owens and U.S. Champion Logan Paul which resulted in Triple H having to step in. 

Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair, both of whom will compete in the Women’s Chamber Match, also came face-to-face in a tense stare down.

WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley certainly had the crowd on her side when she came face-to-face with her upcoming opponent Nia Jax.

And finally, Australia’s own Rhea Ripley and Grayson Waller celebrated WWE coming to Perth with the Australian good-luck tradition of doing a ‘Shoey.’ 

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

  • Kick-off Show: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
  • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

Drew McIntyre’s Current WWE Contract Situation Amid Ongoing Stories

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s roster has some notable contracts that are set to expire this year, and one of them has not inked a new deal. Drew McIntyre’s contract situation is a very interesting one, especially considering everything they’re booking for the Scottish Warrior.

Drew McIntyre’s Contract Situation 

Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract has a big question mark over it right now. At this point, he has not inked a new deal, but all signs point to the idea that he will be sticking around.

Not only is McIntyre throwing jabs at CM Punk with his latest merchandise, but he is also booked for shows past his contract expiration date. Although it appears that WWE has plans for him, Drew has not agreed to terms on a new deal.

McIntyre’s current contract is supposedly up after WrestleMania. WWE was able to extend it a bit due to time he missed.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, although Drew McIntyre has not signed on the dotted line just yet, all signs point to him agreeing to another contract with WWE.

While one would think McIntyre has signed his new deal, and I’d at this point be shocked if he goes anywhere given they’ve set up a major Rhodes vs. McIntyre program, seemingly for after Mania, and he’s got an already-written program with Punk that he’s been pushing hard for around November. But there is no new deal signed yet but clearly the expectation is that he’s staying and he’s in the best position he’s ever been given between his work and how hot the company is.

Drew McIntyre’s Future in WWE

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk seem destined for battle, but the Second City Savior will be out of action for a while with his triceps injury. Only time will tell if McIntyre is able to stay around WWE long enough to see Punk return to action.

In the meantime, McIntyre is in the 2024 Elimination Chamber match, where he is battling for a chance to take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. 

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

WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Preview: Final Match Card, Special Start Time

Michael Shalik
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Elimination Chamber 2024 goes down this Saturday, from Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. Wrestling fans can stream the show live on Peacock. The special start time is 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.

This is the final WWE PLE on the road to WrestleMania, just 42 days later. When all is said and done in Perth, we’ll have a much better idea of where things stand as the Road to WrestleMania kicks into high gear.

After Elimination Chamber, the #1 contenders and WrestleMania challengers will be determined for Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship and Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Championship.

Seth Rollins and Rhea Ripley will be watching this year’s Chamber matches closely

That’s what’s assured going into the event, but we will probably learn more than that. Cody Rhodes and Rollins will guest on the Grayson Waller Effect. Rollins has been directly involved in Rhodes’ ongoing feud with the new and improved Bloodline. The four men are also the focal point of the big-budget WrestleMania 40 trailer. 

Rhodes will attempt to finish his story against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, while Rollins is expected to face the winner of the men’s Chamber match. If WWE is planning to somehow incorporate Rollins into a match with Cody and the Bloodline, Waller’s show would be an ideal venue to set it up.

Match Card

There are four matches on the main card, plus one match on the kickoff show.

Kickoff Show (4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT.)

  • Candice LaRae and Indi Hartwell vs The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Main Show (5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.)

  • The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
  • Rhea Ripley defends the Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul
  • Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins

Enjoy the event and stick with SE Scoops for 24/7 WWE news coverage. 

Becky Lynch On Singles Ronda Rousey Match That Never Happened: “Fans Wanted It”

Thomas Lowson
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WWE fans were eager to see Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch go one-on-one, according to Lynch, but the match never happened. 

Lynch and Rousey were scheduled to face off at Survivor Series 2019 before The Man was infamously concussed by an errant punch by Nia Jax. Instead, Rousey faced Lynch’s friend and rival Charlotte Flair at the Premium Live Event. 

Becky Lynch On Ronda Rousey

After Lynch won the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble match, it seemed destined that she and Rousey would have their one-on-one encounter. After several booking changes however, Lynch’s WrestleMania 35 match would end up as a triple threat match including Flair. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lynch reflected on the one-on-one match with Rousey never happening. 

“Do I think that was the match that everyone was clamouring for? Yes it was. Everyone wanted that singles match. And I think, people thought that moment in time would be evergreen and it wasn’t. That’s OK.”

While Rousey left WWE last year following her SummerSlam 2023 loss to Shayna Baszler, Lynch remained open to the possibility that the match could still take place.

“If she ever comes back again, maybe that season will be right there. Maybe it will be spring time on that story again, but it never got back to that.”

What’s Next?

Lynch will compete at tomorrow’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event. The Man will step into the Women’s Chamber match for the first time in her career and is a heavy favourite to win. The victor will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Billy Jack Haynes To Face Arraignment After Being Released From Hospital

Bishal Roy
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We have an update on former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes following a fatal shooting that took place earlier this month.

Haynes was arrested after cops were called to his home in the Lents neighborhood of Portland. After the gunfire, authorities were called. Haynes “eventually came out” of the house and was taken into custody following a lengthy confrontation with the offices. 

Haynes was brought into prison two hours later. During the standoff, everyone in his neighborhood was told to stay inside their homes. Although the identity of those involved were not disclosed in the initial reports, it was later claimed that Billy Jack Haynes was the one arrested and that Janette Becraft, his wife, was the one discovered dead, purportedly as a result of a shooting.

Haynes is still in the hospital and he hasn’t been formally detained or prosecuted in connection with his wife’s death.

Billy Jack Haynes yet to be charged

Reports have emerged that Haynes will be charged with the murder, but they are going to be filed the moment he is discharged from the hospital. He is currently in at a local hospital where he is receiving medical attention.

PW Insider reported: 

“Charges are forthcoming once Haynes is released and can be booked into jail and face arraignment.”

Haynes had been a massive popular star in the Portland territory and worked with the WWF/E in the late 1980s, in WCW (under as mask as Black Blood) as well as in Florida, World Class Championship Wrestling. Other promotions include Jim Crockett Promotions, New Japan, and other territories.

Haynes departed WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. It is claimed that Haynes quit the WWF after declining to do a job in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Another version of his exit states that he wrestled the match and agreed to the finish but he was fired afterward.

We will keep you updated when more details of the situation emerge.

Nic Nemeth Signifies Start of New Era With Championship Win At The NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo, Full Results

Anutosh Bajpai
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The NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo event signified the start of a new era for NJPW as a new crop of foreign talent took center stage in the wake of some older names leaving.

The show built around Nic Nemeth’s debut for the promotion saw the officials putting their trust into the wrestling veteran in his very first outing for the company. The star formerly known as Dolph Ziggler not only main-evented the show but also picked up the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship in his debut match for the promotion.

Nemeth made it very clear in his first promo as the new champion that he will be taking this responsibility very seriously. The Global Champion declared passionately that the title means everything to him and he won’t be just sitting on his ass around after this big victory:

“This might be 20 more years of me holding this title and defend it in every goddamn night. If that’s what it means, that’s how I will go into my grave holding this, holding this championship that says, I am better than the best and I don’t just sit on my ass now and go home and wait for a call in three months to say it’s time to defend it.

You want a shot, you earn it, you step up to me, man to man, face to face, look me in the fucking eye and say, I think, I think. I think I can go with you. I think I can hang and you better believe that I’m gonna knock your head off your fucking body.”

https://twitter.com/prowresclips/status/1760996719083368734

Nic Nemeth wasn’t the only name who was trusted by the company to lead it forward. In an event that also featured one of Kazuchika Okada’s final matches for the promotion before his departure, Matt Riddle made headlines by picking up the NJPW World TV Championship from the new company president Hiroshi Tanahashi.

NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo Full Results: Nic Nemeth, Matt Riddle And More

Apart from this the show also showcased names such as Shota Umino who now have the responsibility to step up as the next generation of pillars for the legendary promotion. You can check out the full results from the event below:

  • Toru Yano & Tomoya def. Shoma Kato & Tomoaki Honma
  • Zack Sabre Jr. def. Yuji Nagata
  • HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita) def. Boltin Oleg, Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Kazuchika Okada, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI def. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Francesco Akira & Callum Newman
  • Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji & BUSHI) def. Just Five Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku)
  • IWGP Women’s Championship Match: Mayu Iwatani (c) def. Mina Shirakawa
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: SHO def. El Desperado (c)
  • NEVER Openweight Championship Match: EVIL (c) def. Shota Umino
  • NJPW World TV Championship Match: Matt Riddle def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c)
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match: Nic Nemeth def. David Finlay (c)

With the recent backstage changes and the confirmed departure of top names such as Will Ospreay and Okada, NJPW has a lot of challenges ahead. The latest event, however, was a declaration from the company that they are ready to face the music and there is a new set of faces that are going to help them rebuild the company in wake of older talents leaving. 

Related: Hiroshi Tanahashi Acknowledges NJPW’s Need For New Stars After Recent Departures

WWE’s WrestleMania 40 Stallone Deal Fizzles Out Due to Scheduling Conflict

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event is preparing to take over Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th, and the company usually prepares memorable cards for the showcase of the immortals. Sadly, Sylvester Stallone won’t be able to make it.

Stallone and WrestleMania

There are a lot of rumors going around about WrestleMania this year, but one rumored megastar will not be on the show of shows. Sylvester Stallone has appeared for WWE before, but it’s not going to work out for Mania 40.

WrestleVotes reported that WWE has strong interest in Sylvester Stallone appearing at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. The extent of discussions or Stallone’s potential role remains uncertain at this point.

Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there’s hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined.Stallone, born in NYC, gained fame through the iconic Rocky films, deeply associated with Philadelphia.

Additionally, Stallone is no stranger to the WWE world, having inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

I asked around about this, and I was told that, “They are months behind on the Stallone ‘scoop.’ Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn’t match up.”

Dave Meltzer also reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to say that, “Those at WWE have confirmed the talk but said that as of earlier in the week Stallone had said there was a schedule conflict, so the deal hasn’t been done unless you can or wants to remove the conflict.”

We will have to see if WWE can get Sylvester Stallone to make an appearance at a future event. WrestleMania 40 in Philly seemed like the perfect location, but it just didn’t work out.

What’s Next

WWE has a lot of things planned for WrestleMania, and John Cena may just be in the mix. I exclusively reported that Cena is trying to do something for Mania this year.

As of this writing, Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns and Bayley vs IYO Sky are the only two confirmed matches. We will have even more after the Elimination Chamber event as well, because both Chamber matches will determine Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins’ opponents on the grandest stage of them all.

WWE Elimination Chamber Stage Set-Up Is All Ready In Perth

Aaron Varble
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The Elimination Chamber event is set for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. With less than a day until the big event, the stage is already set.

The Elimination Chamber Stage

We previously reported the progress of the Elimination Chamber set, and now they are totally ready for the show. Optus Stadium will be packed full of fans the next time we see it.

A video of the completed set-up is now making the rounds, as it shows off all the work WWE’s crew has done in the stadium over the past week.

What’s Next

WWE’s Elimination Chamber event will start at 5:00 AM EST on February 24th. The card is stacked with matches that will directly impact the road to WrestleMania, with both Chamber matches set to determine who will face Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins at the show of shows.

2024 Elimination Chamber Card: 

  • The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) (with Iyo Sky) vs. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell: Tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate): Tag team match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez: Elimination Chamber match for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul: Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XL

Randy Orton’s Hilarious Response to John Cena’s OnlyFans Account

Aaron Varble
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John Cena recently shocked fans when he opened his first-ever OnlyFans page. That free account is in conjunction with the upcoming Ricky Stanicky movie, which will drop on Amazon Prime on March 7. Now, Randy Orton is commenting on this bold marketing strategy.

Randy Orton Reacts

Although John Cena’s OnlyFans page is a joke account for the Ricky Stanicky movie, it certainly got a lot of attention. When Orton saw that Cena is on OnlyFans now, he had a very clever reaction. 

Orton saw Cena’s post, and he had a hilarious answer. He also obviously knows some of the OnlyFans lingo, as he asked the 16x World Champion if he would like to “collab.”

Let’s collab

John Cena also saw this tweet from Orton. He responded to say, “Excited to create some content together! DM for more!”

What’s Next

Randy Orton is on the road to WrestleMania 40, even though he doesn’t have a match yet. He may just take a pit stop in order to shoot some content with Cena, but it’s very likely that this was all in good fun, and they’re not serious at all.

In the meantime, John Cena’s WrestleMania hopes for this year are not over. I was able to exclusively report that the 16x World Champion is trying to do something on the grandest stage of them all this year, although nothing is locked in yet.

SEScoops will have more on this story as more information is available. 

John Cena Trying To Do Something For WWE WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is set to go down at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. With Royal Rumble winners Cody Rhodes and Bayley having already staked their claims for WrestleMania, the lineup is taking shape. John Cena might also grace the grandest stage of them all in Philly, if they can make things work.

John Cena and WrestleMania 40 (Exclusive)

John Cena and Charlotte Flair were both spotted at the WWE Performance Center on Feb 22nd. The Queen is still recovering from knee surgery, but Cena’s situation is a very different one.

Cena took off from WWE once again to make a return to work in Hollywood the moment he could after the SAG-AFTRA Strike ended. He has a couple of projects in the pipeline, and he’s doing promotion for Ricky Stanicky’s March 7th release. That promotion also saw Cena open his very first OnlyFans page.

The fact that Cena showed up at the WWE Performance Center was very interesting, especially since we’re on the road to WrestleMania. After all, Cena had to have surgeries on both arms after his Crown Jewel match against Solo Sikoa. As of this writing, Cena has not been advertised for the show of shows, but that could change.

After asking around, I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that John Cena is “trying to make it in” for WrestleMania XL “to do something.” Nothing is confirmed yet, but it is not out of the picture.

What’s Next For John Cena

While speaking on the Howard Stern Show, John Cena said a lot. He addressed the allegations on Vince McMahon from Janel Grant’s blockbuster lawsuit. Cena addressed the fact that he has remained clean from PEDs as well.

The 47-year-old shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer has also made it clear that he plans to retire from the ring by the time he’s 50. That only leaves a few years for Cena’s in-ring career if he sticks to that goal.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WrestleMania 40’s build, and everything else that comes with it. Keep checking back for more updates as more information is available.

Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe Set for Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Tyriece Simon
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Game Changer Wrestling returns this year to host with Orange Crush for their third Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame. The annual event will occur on April 7 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tickets are still on sale on Eventbrite for as low as $25. So far, the company has announced two inductees for this year’s Hall of Fame.

GCW announced on February 19 on Twitter that Michael Verdi, AKA Trent Acid, was the first inductee of the 2024 class. He unfortunately passed away in 2010 after a drug overdose. Verdi will be inducted posthumously by his former tag team partner, Johnny Kashmere, with whom he won several tag titles, including the Ring Of Honor Tag Team Championship. 

After revealing Verdi as the first inductee of the 2024 class, GCW has quickly announced another addition to this year’s Hall of Fame.

The company shared on February 21 that The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) are the second inductees via Twitter. Mark will accept the honors for himself and his brother, who passed away on January 17, 2023 in a car accident.  

Mark has not commented on the announcement but has reposted GCW’s reveal on his Twitter account. 

More On The Briscoes Induction Into The Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame

The inclusion of The Briscoes is well-deserving, as they were regarded as one of the best tag teams of the last two decades. They won championships for several different independent promotions, including GCW. Briscoes also have the record for most ROH Tag Team Championship reigns with 13. 

In 2021 and 2022, they had a career resurgence and had a memorable feud with FTR(Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) in ROH. Briscoes also competed in different companies consistently, proving they were one of the best tag teams in the world. 

Their last match together was a loss against Mane Event (Jay Lyon & Midas Black) in a Two Out Of Three Falls Match at House Of Glory: Revelations on December 17, 2022.

Although it’s unfortunate that Jey, AKA Jamin Pugh, is no longer with us, he hasn’t been forgotten. His induction alongside his brother at the Indie Wrestling Hall Of Fame further solidifies his legacy as one of the greats in wrestling. 

GCW Event Announced With Connection to Breaking Bad

Rayan Saayed
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Game Changer Wrestling, also known as GCW, announced on Thursday, February 22 that its Breaking GCW event will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at The Dirty Bourbon.

Taking place on Sunday, April 21, the event will be coming live from the same city where the hit AMC show Breaking Bad’s spinoff Better Call Saul is set in. If you notice the name of the show and its graphics, it’s a reference to the classic series.

But what’s even more interesting is the fact that Breaking GCW will take place in the same location that the Breaking Bad spinoff was filmed in:

Fans online were quick to notice the location of the event, which they recognized from the spinoff show. You can compare the event’s location in the left picture with the same location from Better Call Saul on the right:

Better Call Saul is a legal crime drama series featuring Bob Odenkirk that aired from February 2015 to August 2022, spanning six seasons. The show follows the journey of ex-con artist Jimmy McGill, portrayed by Odenkirk, as he evolves into a small-time attorney. 

Throughout the series, Jimmy faces a series of trials and tragedies, ultimately transforming into his alter ego, a morally dubious criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. The location was used as Goodman’s office in the series. 

Breaking GCW will be the promotion’s debut in the city of Albuquerque. Tickets are going live on February 23 at 10 AM MT. You can also catch the show live on Triller TV.  

Daily Drop (2/23): WWE Sees John Cena, Hangman Page’s Injury Situation Exposed

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 23 will see two pre-taped shows tonight for wrestling fans. AEW Rampage and WWE SmackDown were both filmed ahead of time. Of course, Rampage is usually taped, but SmackDown is in the can because the roster is in Australia for Elimination Chamber.

Coming up on February 24, Elimination Chamber kicks off bright and early at 5:00 am for fans on the East Coast, as the event takes place in Perth, Australia.

WWE

– Austin Theory got some attention for an interview he did in Australia. Theory got pretty angry and threatened a reporter because they disrespected pro wrestling.

– Hulk Hogan’s son, Nick, is not over his DUI case yet. He has a court date set now.

– John Cena and Charlotte Flair were spotted at the WWE Performance Center. Charlotte posted a photo of them together, while claiming that the photo was taken on Feb 22.

– Bobby Roode admitted that he will never wrestle full-time again. At this point, he is a WWE producer. I am told he is thriving in that position.

– A new report from WrestleVotes claims that WWE is eyeing a WrestleMania collaboration with Sylvester Stallone.

– It turns out that Brock Lesnar was not 100% removed from WWE 2K24. He won’t be a regular playable character, but he’s still in the game files.

– You can check out the full spoiler post for tonight’s SmackDown here, since it was pre-taped last week.

Full WWE SmackDown Card:

  • Bron Breakker WWE SmackDown Debut
  • The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
  • Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne vs. ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh
  • LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre

AEW

– Apparently, AEW is kayfabing injuries now. Fightful Select reported that whole Hangman Page injury scare was a work.

– For the record, Jerry Lynn, who is a producer for the company, was not happy about Hangman’s kayfabe injury leaking.

– AEW had to change their plan for Sting on Dynamite this week due to his father’s passing.

– There was a bit of chaos backstage at AEW Dynamite this week, because they had to change several plans, including one for Jeff Hardy.

– AEW’s Forbidden Door event is coming to Arthur Ashe Stadium this year.

Full AEW Rampage Card:

  • The Young Bucks vs two local talents
  • Mariah May vs Anna Jay
  • Roderick Strong vs Jake Hager
  • Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti vs Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander & Bryan Keith and Matt Sydal & Private Party

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

AEW Collision To Face Off With WWE WrestleMania 40, TNA Meeting Called

Thomas Lowson
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AEW Collision will be in for the fight of its life for ratings this April when the show goes head to head with WWE WrestleMania: Night One.

AEW will hold a live Dynamite on Wednesday, April 3, in Worcester, MA at the DCU Center. That same night they will tape the AEW Collision that will air that week. The show will air at the same time as WrestleMania 40: Night One, on TNT. 

So far, no matches have been announced for either Dynamite or Collision. WrestleMania 40 has two matches currently confirmed. They are.

  • IYO SKY (c) Vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)

This weekend, WWE will host its Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event from Perth Australia. Next weekend, AEW will host its Revolution pay-per-view from Greensboro, North Carolina.

TNA Wrestling Meeting

TNA will host a meeting this Saturday with it’s roster, ahead of the day’s tapings in New Orleans, PW Insider reports. There are some in the company who believe Anthem head Len Asper will be at the meeting. Anthem Entertainment recently fired Scott D’Amore and as TNA President and have replaced him with their own President Anthony Cicione. TNA’s roster has issued a letter to Anthem expressing their support for D’Amore. It has since been reported that 

New Name for AXS TV

TNA Wrestling currently airs on AXS TV, which could soon be getting a rebrand. The report adds that the current front runner for a new name is ANTHEM.

Mr. T’s WrestleMania 2 Trunks Commanding Big Money At Auction

Thomas Lowson
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The famed trunks worn by Mr. T during his match at WrestleMania 2 have gone on auction and already received significant interest.

The actor, best known for his role as The A-Team’s BA Baracus and as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, competed at the the 1986 event which was hosted at three separate locations.

Mr. T fought ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper at the event. The match headlined the New York portion of the show and saw T win over Piper after the WWF wrestler got himself disqualified. 

Mr. T wore red and black trunks for the fight, featuring a yellow WWF logo. Now, these trunks have gone up for auction in association with Heritage Auctions. 

This one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia has already received some huge bids with the current highest bid standing at $4,100. The trunks come with a certificate of authenticity from Heritage Auctions. 

Mr. T in Wrestling

A year before his boxing showdown with Piper, Mr. T teamed with Hulk Hogan to defeat Piper and Paul Orndorff at the first WrestleMania in 1985. He returned to the WWF in 1987 when he’d serve as a special enforcer and confront The Honky Tonk Man.

In 2001, Mr. T appeared in the front row of Raw and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. His infamous acceptance speech saw several references to his mother and ran long before being interrupted by Kane. 

Mr. T would also dabble in World Championahip Wrestling. After appearing for WCCW in 1989, the actor was in Hulk Hogan’s corner for his World Championship match against Ric Flair at Bash at the Beach 1994. At that year’s Starrcade, he defeated Kevin Sullivan. 

Seth Rollins Mocks The Rock For Recent Peculiar Comments Ahead Of Elimination Chamber 2024

Tyriece Simon
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The war of words has been ongoing between Seth Rollins and The Rock after their altercation at the WWE WrestleMania 40 Press Conference. It all started when Cody Rhodes chose to challenge Roman Reigns for his title at the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All’ against the Hollywood star’s wishes. This was After The Rock slapped Rhodes and aligned himself with the Bloodline, while Rollins decided to side with the “The American Nightmare.’ 

Rhodes and Rollins are set to be in a talk show segment with Grayson Waller at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, on February 24. Rhodes has yet to accept Rollins’s help to go against the Bloodline, but that may change at the premium live event. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped The Rock from taking jabs at the ‘babyfaces.’

In a video on Twitter promoting WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24, The Rock praised Waller and acknowledged that he won’t be at the event. He also took another shot at Rollins and Rhodes, which some fans have felt were dated. 

“…Here’s the bullsh*t that happening now down in Australia. Cody Rhodes and his little girlfriend, Seth Rollins, are going to go on the Waller Effect,” said The Rock.

He then warned both of them not to mention him or that he would come to Australia to slap them. The Hollywood star also kept referring to Rollins as Rhodes’s “Little Girlfriend.” 

The Rock’s choice of words has left some wrestling fans feeling that he is out of touch, and Rollins has clapped back at him and Reigns. 

Seth Rollins Delivers Creative Response To The Rock & Calls Out Roman Reigns 

In response to The Rock, Rollins reposted an article about his comments on Twitter and replied with a popular GIF to symbolize that he’s old. Rollins also decided to call out Roman Reigns at the WWE Elimination Chamber Press Event on February 22. 

One of Rollins’s gripes with Reigns is his lack of appearances for WWE events. The WWE Champion is not advertised for WWE Elimination Chamber and doesn’t seem like he will appear on the show. A fan chanted Reign’s name during the Rollins segment at the press event, to which the WWE World Heavyweight Champion chose to highlight Reign’s absence. 

“…He(Reigns) isn’t coming, sorry,” said Rollins. He laughed briefly and continued, “Come on, that’s kind of his M.O. He don’t show up, you know what I mean.”

It doesn’t seem like the back-and-forth between these two factions will stop anytime soon. After WWE Elimination Chamber, it could be clear what the creative direction will be for them as the “Road To WrestleMania” continues. 

Randy Orton Feels He’s In Prime of His Career Post-Surgery

Bishal Roy
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WWE Superstar Randy Orton believes he’s currently in the prime of his career, even after being in the business for more than two decades.

Randy Orton, one of the greatest superstars in WWE, boasts multiple championships and accolades. As a 14-time world champion, he has cemented his legacy as a mainstay in WWE history. Orton’s unparalleled talent, combined with his ability to evolve with the industry, solidifies his status as one of WWE’s most decorated superstars. 

Over the years ‘The Viper’ has dealt with his several injuries which have put him on the shelf for months at a time but made his return every time. However, he underwent back surgery in the summer of 2022 which put his wrestling future up in the air. The procedure was serious enough that retirement seemed to be a possibility. But, he managed to battle through it and made a triumphant return at WWE Survivor Series last year.

Randy Orton:  I’m smack-dab in the middle of my prime 

Randy Orton recently joined in for an interview with Bleacher Report and spoke about the possibly considering retirement prior to the surgery. MRI results showed that there was an good amount of degeneration in his back as well as stenosis on the lower spine and slipped disc. 

He concluded that no shot was going to help him and that spinal fusion was his only option.
Orton also revealed that he dealt with persistent pain after damaging his back in the ring between 2010 and 2020. Here is what he said:

“The surgery was a success. I put on 30 pounds of muscle, purely because of my change in diet and the fact that I was able to train differently and areas I had to leave alone for such a long time. My body really reacted. I feel, at 275 pounds, I’m the weight that I should be, so I feel great now.

I feel like I got a new lease on life that, at 43, I can honestly say I’m smack-dab in the middle of my prime. Some people might roll their eyes at that statement after 24 years in the business, but that’s how I feel. Never in my 30s was I feeling this durable or as pain-free as am I now. I’ve got a new outlook and I don’t want to take a second for granted because I realized how quickly it can all be taken away because it almost was.”

Randy Orton is set to compete against Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Kevin Owens and Logan Paul in the Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40.

The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in the Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST, and keep an eye on SEScoops for the coverage of the show.

Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae vs. Kabuki Warriors Added To WWE Elimination Chamber

Tyriece Simon
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WWE superstar Indi Hartwell has been hoping to be on the WWE Elimination Chamber card since it was announced last year. It’s the first premium live event in Australia since 2018 and is Hartwell’s home country. The ‘Aussie’ native wanted to be in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match but could not qualify. However, WWE has decided to put her in a tag team contest to add her to the show. 

During the WWE Elimination Chamber Press Event, the company announced that Hartwell and Candice LeRae will challenge the Kabuki Warriors(Asuka & Kairi Sane) for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. It will occur on the PLE kick-off on February 24, starting at 4 AM ET/1 AM PT. 

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Kabuki Warriors

The matchup will mark Hartwell and LeRae’s first opportunity to challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. They have tried to qualify twice for a chance but were unsuccessful. Their last attempt to become contenders was on the November 11, 2023, WWE Monday Night Raw episode, where they lost a Tag Team Fatal Four-Way Match to Natalya & Tegan Nox. 

WWE allowing the ‘Babyface’ team to challenge for the titles is also a great way to showcase their ability. They have struggled to maintain a consistent winning streak in the women’s tag division, but an impressive performance could get them featured more on TV. 

That said, the Kabuki Warriors are seemingly the favorites to retain their titles at WWE Elimination Chamber this Saturday. 

More On Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae vs. The Kabuki Warriors At WWE Elimination Chamber 

Although they are fresh in their title reign, the Kabuki Warriors could be holding the titles heading into WWE WrestleMania 40 this April. 

They won the Women’s Tag Team Championship by defeating Katana Chance & Kayden Carter on the January 26 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. The ‘Heel’ team also followed up with a successful title defense against Chance and Carter two weeks later on WWE Monday Night Raw.

Asuka and Sane seemingly have momentum on their side, making it unlikely the company would have them drop the titles at WWE Elimination Chamber. However, this Saturday is a moment for Hartwell and LeRae to perform on a big stage. Although they may not win, they could steal the show and create demand for another title opportunity in the future. 

For Hartwell personally, she has a chance to live her dream and perform in front of close to 50,000 Australian fans. 

Real-Life Pirates Affected Elimination Chamber Cage’s Journey To Perth

Rayan Saayed
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Believe it or not, actual pirates are the reason why the WWE Elimination Chamber cage had to change course during its journey to Perth, Australia.

The WWE Elimination Chamber Press Event took place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on February 23. It featured names such as the company’s Chief Content Officer Triple H, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Grayson Waller, United States Champion Logan Paul, and more.

Michael Cole revealed to the Australian crowd at the event that the Elimination Chamber structure had to go through its own trials and tribulations to make it Perth.

“A structure which took over a month to get here,” Cole said. “Originally it was supposed to ship through the Suez Canal, but pirates ended those plans. So it was sent to Miami, transported via truck to Los Angeles, taken by ship to Sydney, and then by train to Perth.”

It fortunately did manage to get to the city in time, and we will see it at Elimination Chamber: Perth PLE this weekend.

AEW Ring Size Controversy Explained

Elsewhere at the Press Event, Logan Paul got into an altercation with Kevin Owens after the two exchanged some heated words. Randy Orton and Triple H had to separate the two.

The Press Event concluded with a shoey from Waller and Ripley. For the uninitiated, a “shoey” is a popular practice in Australia where you drink liquid from a shoe. The two native stars honored the tradition in front of a delighted Australian crowd by downing a couple of beers from their shoes.

Triple H Meets With Impressive Tryout Athletes Ahead Of WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

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