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WWE’s Largest Sponsorship Deal Ever: Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration Nabs Center Ring WrestleMania 40 Sponsorship

Aaron Varble
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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.

https://twitter.com/michaellore/status/1766270645371818181

More On WWE’s Prime Deal

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.

Triple H Reacts To New Prime Deal

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.

KSI Eats An RKO From Randy Orton As Logan Paul’s Special Guest On WWE SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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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.

More on WWE Sponsorships and Prime

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. 

This is also a very real deal between Prime and WWE. It is noted as the company’s largest sponsorship deal in history.

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. 

Cody Rhodes’ Warning Doesn’t Matter: The Rock Mocks Pharaoh Again In Promo Before WWE SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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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.

The Rock’s New Promo

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’s Actual Power in WWE

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 Had A Hand In Selecting This Year’s WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Class

Aaron Varble
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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:

Banged Up: Will Ospreay Addresses Health Status After First AEW Tour

Aaron Varble
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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.

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.

Damian 666 Update: Legendary Luchador Hospitalized After Heart Attack

Dominic DeAngelo
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Legendary luchador Damian 666 has sadly suffered a heart attack, but thankfully is being treated at the hospital in the Tijuana area. His son, Beastia 666 took to social media to provide everyone with an update on the status following the health scare.

“Good afternoon everyone, I want to inform family, friends and fans that my father, Damian 666 had a heart attack and it was necessary to undergo a “Hemodynamia” operation. At this moment he is stable and recovered. Tomorrow me and my sibilings will get the report and see how it progresses. We have a lot of faith that everything will be well with the favor of God to release as soon as possible.”

Sam Adonis, who works regularly in Mexico, also asked fans for prayers for Damian 666. Adonis also spoke to the positivity of sharing a locker room with the legend.

“Keep Damien 666 in your prayers right now while he’s in the hospital after surviving a heart attack. 

“Anyone who’s shared a locker room with him knows that he’s a joy to be around and deserves all the well wishes he can get!”

American fans may be most familiar with Damian 666’s work back in the heyday of WCW as he was an original member of the first LWO alongside Eddie Guerrero. He also worked in ECW as well. Beastia 666 has worked several matches under the MLW banner in recent years.

We at SEScoops would like to wish Damian 666 a speedy recovery as prayers and well wishes are sent his way.

Yuya Uemura’s Selfless Act: Hair vs Hair Match Loss Resulted in Donation for Cancer Patients

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestling is filled with a variety of gimmick matches to capture fan attention. Some of those stipulations can go on to have lasting effects on a wrestler’s image, especially if they’re in a hair vs hair match.

Although Yuya Uemura may have lost his hair vs hair match against Yota Tsuji, he made the most of the situation. The NJPW star donated his locks to make wigs for patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Uemura’s Great Gesture

Yuya Uemura is getting ready for his debut post-excursion New Japan Cup at a pivotal point in his career. Following his loss in the hair vs. hair match against Yota Tsuji in Sapporo, he needs to turn things around after such a significant defeat. Obviously, the ideal goal would be to find renewed motivation for the next phase of his career.

While speaking to NJPW’s website, Uemura disclosed that following his loss in the hair vs. hair match, he contributed his hair to a center that creates wigs for individuals undergoing chemotherapy.

I actually gave the hair to a hair donation place, to make wigs for chemotherapy patients, things like that. Hopefully some use can come from it.

When asked about how the match went in retrospect, Uemura said, “It was tense. I think we definitely both put all we had into it, stamina wise. It was 28 minutes, it was tough, and it definitely wasn’t fun.”

What’s Next

Yuya Uemura is incredibly pumped about starting his journey in the 2024 New Japan Cup. This year’s tournament started on Thursday, March 7, 2024, and will run until Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

The New Japan Cup is regarded as the second most significant heavyweight tournament in NJPW, trailing only the G1 Climax, which employs a round-robin format. The winner of the tournament will get a title match, and Uemura certainly wants to be in that conversation.

SEScoops will have more coverage of this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back for more updates as additional information is made available. 

SmackDown Spoiler: WWE Planning Musical Segment For The Rock

Aaron Varble
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WWE SmackDown will air live in Memphis, Tennessee next week. Since they are in the heart of country music territory, The Rock is going to apparently play to the crowd in a big way on March 15.

Dwayne Johnson is a man with many skills. He isn’t limited to physical abilities, because he is also a man of artistic talent as well. He flexed his vocal prowess in the past, and this week’s SmackDown may see him put on another Rock Concert.

Spoiler for WWE SmackDown 

The Rock has graced WWE fans with concerts in the past. With a guitar in tow, The Great One is known to bust out a song for a promo. Since his return to the fold on the road to WrestleMania 40, The People’s Champ has been on a tear.

Wrestle Votes posted on Twitter/X to reveal that sources have told them that The Rock might have a bit of a musical flare to his segment next week. This is a plan that has apparently been in the pipeline for a while.

According to sources, the much-anticipated return of ‘The Rock Concert’ could light up next week’s SmackDown, live from Memphis, TN. I’m told this idea has been brewing for weeks, with a possible announcement of it tonight on SD.

What’s Next On The Road to WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be on SmackDown this week to answer The Rock’s WrestleMania challenge. A tag team match with Rock and Roman Reigns versus Cody and Seth is in the pipeline, with night two ramifications in play.

If the Bloodline wins that Mania tag match on night one, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for Cody vs Roman in the main event of night two. If Cody and Seth win, then the Bloodline will be barred from the event. 

SEScoops will have complete coverage of WWE SmackDown this week. Keep checking back for more updates.

WWE SmackDown Preview (3/8): The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins & Logan Paul

Michael Reichlin
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WWE returns to Dallas, Texas tonight for Friday Night SmackDown at the American Airlines Center.

Over 13,000 fans will be on hand tonight at the American Airlines Center for the next stop on the Road to WrestleMania. This marks WWE’s sixth consecutive sold-out television taping, according to data compiled by WrestleTix.

WWE’s biggest Premium Live Event of the year, WrestleMania 40, is just 29 days away. The card is starting to take shape, but the elephant in the room is ‘almost official’ tag team match involving The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

Raw Superstars Rhodes and Rollins will be on hand tonight to give their response, as will the entire Bloodline.

SmackDown Preview (March 8, 2024)

Here’s what’s on tap for tonight’s show:

  • Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins answer the WrestleMania challenge made by The Bloodline.
  • The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear
  • United States Champion Logan Paul will appear
  • Bobby Lashley battles Karrion Kross

SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage later tonight from SmackDown.

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

WWE Hall of Fame 2024: US Express To Be Inducted This April

Thomas Lowson
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The US Express will take their place as WWE Hall of Famers next month as part of this year’s class of inductees.

The legendary team consisted of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham and wowed fans with their dynamic offense during the 1980s. One of several highlights of the team’s run saw them defend the WWF World Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 1. Unfortunately for the pair, they’d lose the gold to The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, marking the first title change in the show’s history. 

Despite the patriotic nature of the team, the pair were introduced to each other in a Toronto dressing room in 1982. The pair would work for various NWA territories before coming to the WWF. 

Family Ties

The pair’s bond extended beyond the ring though. Rotunda would marry Windham’s sister Stephanie. The pair would welcome two children, Taylor (Bo Dallas) and the late Windham (Bray Wyatt) Rotunda. 

Seeing Double

This induction will be the second for Windham. He was inducted in 2012 as part of the legendary Four Horsemen stable. Ironically, Windham’s first induction marked the first-ever two-time induction, as Ric Flair had become a WWE Hall of Famer four years prior. 

WWE Hall of Fame 2024

The US Express is the first tag team announced for this year’s class of indcutees and the third announcement overall. Earlier this month, Paul Heyman was announced as an inductee after turning down the honor in the past. More recently, Bull Nakano was announced as a WWE Hall of Fame inductee. The Japanese star is a former WWE Women’s Champion and is currently the commissioner for the all-women’s Sukeban promotion. 

The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will stream live on Peacock directly after WWE SmackDown on April 5.

Sonya Deville Reveals Touching Reason Bianca Belair Had A Guest Role At Her Wedding

Thomas Lowson
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Sonya Deville was pleased that Bianca Belair could have a role at her wedding, considering the role the EST has had on her life. 

Deville married her now-wife Toni Cassano earlier this year at The Legacy Castle in New Jersey. The happy couple was surrounded by friends, family, and WWE Superstars. Charlotte Flair, Andrade, Bayley, Montez Ford, Liv Morgan, Matt Cardona, Chelsea Green, Mandy Rose, Vic Joseph, and McKenzie Mitchell all attended. 

Bianca Belair’s Special Role

Belair, a former Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Women’s Champion did more than just attend the ceremony. The EST of WWE also served as a flower girl to the surprise of many in attendance. On her Instagram Stories, Deville explained that Belair was there when her relationship with Cassano began so it is fitting she had a role at the wedding. 

“Bianca Belair is the best. She was a surprise flower girl at my wedding because she was with me the night I met my wife (on our first date) and yelled ‘I’M GONNA BE THE FLOWER GIRL AT YOUR WEDDING ONE DAY!’ So her and [Toni] made it happen! And it was the greatest surprise ever.”

Another Notable Role

Bianca wasn’t the only notable name to have a significant role at the Deville-Cassano wedding. Entertainment personality Maria Menounos officated the ceremony and is a close friend of both Deville and her bride. Menounos is also a huge wrestling fan and competed at WrestleMania 28. The following year, she inducted Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

Dave Meltzer Disputes Report About Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Contract

Aaron Varble
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AEW was able to sign Kazuchika Okada to a three-year deal, and WWE had interest as well. After this blockbuster deal was confirmed, numbers started coming out. It seems that they are not what they seem to be.

It was reported that Okada’s deal with AEW is worth $4.5 million per year for three years. Although this number might be something that WWE would offer a top star like Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar, that isn’t what Okada is bringing in.

Okada’s AEW Deal

It was previously reported that Okada is making 2 billion yen over a three-year deal. That would certainly place Okada on top of any company’s payroll.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that this report about Okada’s massive AEW deal is not correct. The actual numbers were not revealed, but they were said to be much lower in reality to what he is actually bringing in.

Okada signed a three-year deal. Tokyo Sports reported Okada signed a three-year deal at 2 billion yen ($13.5 million) over the course of the period of the contract, or an average of $4.5 million annually, but that number is not accurate at all. The real number is considerably lower, but it was still a very large number that he signed for.

What’s Next For Okada

AEW booked Okada as a heel to join the Young Bucks as the newest member of The Elite. Kenny Omega was also fired in the process, which sets up an eventual match between the two old foes.

Omega has no timetable for his return from diverticulitis yet. Okada will have to find other things to do in the meantime, but AEW has no shortage of opponents for The Rainmaker.

It was reported that Okada is moving to the United States as part of his new AEW deal. He will also be a full-time performer for the company. Only time will tell how AEW books him in the weeks to come, but he certainly has the pro wrestling world’s interest.

SEScoops will have more information on this story as additional details are made known. 

Sting’s Retirement: AEW Didn’t Even Ask WWE For Permission To Use Archival Footage

Aaron Varble
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Sting gave everything he could during his last run in AEW. He was already a WWE Hall of Famer, but it seems that the company that owns a majority of the footage with his career wasn’t even asked to contribute.

WWE bought WCW in 2001 for a meager fee. $4.2 million got WCW’s brand, intellectual property, and video library. Arguably, this was an amazing deal for Vince McMahon’s company. Even though WWE owns all that Sting footage, Tony Khan didn’t reach out to inquire about using any of it.

Sting’s Final Match Footage

Before the match started at AEW Revolution, a video featuring Sting aired, depicting him alone in an empty movie theater in full ring gear. The video showcased photos and clips from his career, but they were missing a lot of action. After all, footage from Mid South, Crockett Promotions, WCW, and WWE, mostly owned by WWE, was notably absent.

Sting reacted to the clips, displaying shock at some of the recent stunts he had performed. Then Sting uttered, “It’s Showtime for the last time.”

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE wasn’t asked about using any footage of Sting for AEW Revolution. In the past, AEW has let their talent appear as talking heads for a few WWE things, but Tony Khan’s company apparently didn’t even reach out about using footage of Sting for his retirement match.

Many people wondered, given in the past Khan has allowed his talent to appear on WWE television to honor John Cena and at the Hall of Fame ceremonies, if WWE would reciprocate here. The answer is that we don’t know because WWE was never asked. There was also no TNA footage shown.

The report also noted that, “Most of the footage shown was from New Japan Pro Wrestling, as from AEW and his lone appearance in Pro Wrestling NOAH when he & Allin & Great Muta teamed up in the last match Keiji Muto donned the Muta gimmick. Sting made it clear that would be his last time in the ring in Japan.”

WWE Gave Flowers to Sting

WWE has a lot of things going on, and they did give Sting his flowers during the RAW after Revolution. That being said, whenever Pat McAfee spoke about how great his match was, Michael Cole quickly steered things back into talking about the WWE action in the ring.

SEScoops will have more on this story if there are additional updates. As always, keep checking back for the best comprehensive stories.

Fenix’s Comeback: First Post-Injury Match Booked Outside AEW

Aaron Varble
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AEW has a few stars on the injury list, but it seems that Fenix’s time away from the ring is coming to an end. The Lucha Bro member has been booked for an event in May.

Fenix has been missing from action for AEW since 2023, but he fought through some injuries to make that happen. He needed to take some time off, but he has now been booked for a May 5th event for HOG Wrestling.

Fenix’s Return

House of Glory is gearing up for another event on May 5th with the announcement of Cinco De Mayo at the NYC Arena. A notable addition to the lineup is AEW star Rey Fenix, who is set to grace the HOG stage for the event, streamed live on Fite+.

Fenix’s opponent has not been revelaed for the show yet, but he will apparently be wrestling, which is a good sign for his recovery.

Although he has been out of action since last year, Fenix has been trying hard to make his way back to the ring. It was reported in late January that his previous comments about returning soon were a bit exaggerated.

Fenix’s Injury

Fenix was dealing with a nagging injury for quite some time, leading to several months of absence from action. He sustained the injury during a four-way tag team match at AEW WrestleDream in Seattle. The match featured The Young Bucks, Lucha Brothers, The Gunns, and Orange Cassidy & Hook.

During the match, Fenix was thrown into the barricades multiple times, prompting ringside medical attention and his subsequent removal from the match. This injury marked the end of his reign as AEW International Champion, which lasted only 20 days. His last match before getting sidelined was against Orange Cassidy on the October 10 episode of AEW Dynamite, where he lost the championship.

HOG’s Upcoming Event

Mark your calendars as tickets for this spectacular event go on sale today, March 8th, at 12 PM EST. HOG’s social media channels will provide additional updates on talent to be revealed in the weeks leading up to the event.

Located in Jamaica, Queens, the NYC Arena, House of Glory will bring a big Cinco De Mayo event to life in New York City. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available regarding Fenix’s return to the ring.

The Rock’s WWE Return Sparks Buzz of Multiple Matches in the Pipeline

Aaron Varble
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0

Dwayne Johnson is one of the busiest men in Hollywood, but The Rock is back with WWE on a full-time basis through WrestleMania 40. The People’s champ has been heavily involved in the main event mix and will wrestle his first full match in a decade.

Although the match has not been finalized as of this writing, the challenge has been issued for The Rock and Roman Reigns to battle Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania XL: Saturday (night one). The match would have implications for the following night’s ultimate showdown: Rhodes vs. Reigns 2.

So, what happens with The Rock after WrestleMania? According to this week’ Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE fans should expect to see The Rock compete at least one more time in the coming months. 

WWE Wants The Rock to Wrestle in Saudi Arabia This Year

It’s been a rocky road to WrestleMania (pun indented). From the moment that Roman Reigns’ pinned Cody’s shoulders to the mat last April in Los Angeles, fans have expected the American Nightmare to rise from the ashes and ‘Finish The Story’ at this year’s big event. The Rock’s return changed everything and a lot of the chaos that we saw on television mirrored the changes and uncertainty going on behind the scenes.

The Rock got himself in shape for a WWE run, which is no easy task and there’s still blockbuster money in Rock vs. Reigns. According to the Observer, WWE is optimistic The Rock will wrestle again this year and there is “definitely a push” for this match to take place at one of the Saudi Arabia premium live events.

“When asking if Rock will be working that show, we’re told there are a lot of variables in play and a variety of factors, but obviously the company would like it if he would.

While nothing is set in stone, the belief as of right now is that Mania won’t be his only match in 2024 and there is definitely a push to get him to work at least one Saudi Arabia event this year.”

WWE is scheduled to run the first of this year’s two Saudi shows over Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 25, the day before AEW Double or Nothing 2024.

The Rock & WrestleMania 40

The Rock’s original WrestleMania 40 plans were derailed by a negative fan reaction, and he coined the term Cody Crybabies because of it.

In the end, The Rock decided to concede the main event of WrestleMania 40 to Cody Rhodes. That being said, the story is far from over between the two, especially since The Rock may still want that one-on-one match against Roman Reigns.

We will have to see what WWE can arrange with Dwayne Johnson’s incredibly busy schedule, but he seems to be able to block off time for WWE right now.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40, and everything afterward. This could be an exciting time for pro wrestling fans, because The Rock might just get more than one match in this time around.

AEW Suspension Fallout: Additional Ramifications Arise After Sammy Guevara’s Punishment

Aaron Varble
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AEW laid down a suspension for Sammy Guevara when after his botches top rope move on Jeff Hardy went viral. Hardy was injured, and there is a lot to unpack now.

Guevara had plans in place for him in AEW, but that didn’t matter once this incident took place. Now, he is waiting on the sidelines, and that also leaves Chris Jericho without a partner.

The Spanish God’s Suspension 

Sammy Guevara’s suspension stemmed from an incident during a match on February 14, where Guevara accidentally broke Jeff Hardy’s nose with a knee strike. Despite Hardy not suffering a concussion, the match continued, contrary to proper protocol, leading to Guevara’s suspension. 

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the intricacies surrounding a proposed tag team involving Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega, which ultimately didn’t materialize. Omega was taken out of action thanks to diverticulitis, and then Jericho went back to Sammy Guevara as his partner. 

Meltzer explained how the plan evolved to include Jericho teaming with Sammy Guevara for a tournament, only for it to be trashed by Guevara’s suspension. 

Meltzer noted the dissatisfaction regarding the handling of the situation, emphasizing that medical professionals should have intervened to stop the match rather than leaving it to Guevara. Consequently, the partnership between Jericho and Guevara was abandoned, leaving Jericho to potentially team up with Hook instead.

“In this situation, the doctors should’ve stopped the match, and it should not have been up to Sammy Guevara to take it home. And again, like what he was told, I mean, I guess whatever it was, the fact he did a GT H and nailed the guy with the knee after the concern of concussion was one of the reasons why it went the way it didn’t end up suspended. So anyway, yeah, so that was the deal with the Jericho and Guevara team is now out the window. So I guess it’s going to be Jericho and Hook.”

What’s Next

We will have to see how long Sammy Guevara’s suspension lasts. Since the length of Guevara’s time away from AEW is unclear, we will have to keep a close eye for his return.

Jeff Hardy is trying to get cleared for an in-ring return. His brother, Matt Hardy, commented to say that this will be a slow process. 

On another note, Matt’s AEW contract is set to expire soon. The Hardys were supposed to have contracts that ran out at the same time, but Jeff Hardy’s breaks from the company caused Tony Khan to pause his deal.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are made available. 

Kevin Kelly Fired: AEW Cuts Collision Commentator Over Twitter Outburst

Thomas Lowson
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Announcer Kevin Kelly has been fired by All Elite Wrestling following a series of tweets in which he shared frustrations within the company. 

This news, as first reported by PWTorch, comes shortly after wrestling fans noticed that his profile was was removed from the roster page of the AEW website.

Kelly was absent from Thursday’s AEW Collision tapings from Atlanta, which was another ominous sign about his ‘All Elite’ status. Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuiness called the action for the show, which airs Saturday night on TNT.

Kelly’s Twitter Outburst

Kelly Kelly’s posts on social media last weekend cost him his job, sources confirmed.  The commentator gained attention for his series of tweets in which he claimed his career was being sabotaged. 

He added that ROH announced Ian Riccaboni had libeled him and that he was being “pushed aside” in Tony Khan’s promotion.

You can read all about the ‘Twitter meltdown’ that precipitated the end of his stint working for Tony Khan:

Kevin Kelly

Kelly was brought to AEW last year to serve as the lead commentator for AEW Collision. His start in the company did not go well as he came across as being unfamiliar with AEW’s product and the history of the wrestlers. Within months of his arrival on Collision, Tony Schiavone was brought in to serve as lead play-by-play commentator though Kelly would remain at the desk. 

Outside of AEW, Kevin Kelly worked for WWE from 1996 to 2003 and was present for the infamous ‘Pillman’s Got A Gun’ segment that nearly saw Monday Night Raw thrown off the air. Later on, he would be the subject of ridicule from The Rock and has been critical of the company’s corporate policies and creative direction since his release. 

He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. His time with both of these promotions earned him a lot of favor prior to his signing with AEW last year.

Daily Drop (3/8): WWE Missing Top Stars From MITB Poster, AEW Sees Another Controversial Exit

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Friday, March 8. We have a lot of stories to get into, so let’s not waste any more time!

Days until WrestleMania 40: 29

WWE:

– Dominik Mysrterio married his long-time girlfriend. Interestingly enough, Dirty Dom was even booed during the reception.

– Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes are both missing from the Money in the Bank poster. I was told that there is nothing to read into regarding Cody’s absence from the graphic.

– Bianca Belair has received a ton of support after racist comments regarding her WWE 2K24 cover.

– The location for WrestleMania 41 may have been accidentally slipped out there already as Minneapolis Minnesota.

WWE SmackDown (3/8/24) Lineup so far:

  • Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross.
  • Logan Paul returns to Smackdown.
  • Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins to respond to Rock regarding WrestleMania challenge.

AEW:

– There is no timetable for Kenny Omega’s return to the company.

– AEW is paying Okada $4.5 million per year on a three-year deal.

– Kevin Kelly was removed from the AEW roster, and then he wasn’t around for Collision’s taping this week. It was later confirmed that Kelly has been fired.

– Tony Khan has been planning Okada’s debut for some time now.

AEW Rampage (3/8/24) Card:

  • Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs Kip Sabian & The Butcher
  • TBS Championship Match: Julia Hart (c) vs Robyn Renegade
  • Action Andretti vs Penta el Zero Miedo
  • Komander & Bryan Keith vs Private Party vs Top Flight

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.

No Timetable for Kenny Omega’s Return Despite Being Advertised for Canada Taping

Thomas Lowson
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Fans should not expect to see Kenny Omega back any time soon, despite the Cleaner being referenced on this week’s Dynamite. 

The former AEW World Champion has been out of action since late 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis. This situation forced AEW to change plans as Omega and Chris Jericho had been in line for an AEW World Tag Title shot before the Cleaner’s hiatus. Instead, Jericho teamed with his Inner Circle alum Sammy Guevara in a losing effort.

Kenny Omega Advertised

In January, Omega was advertised for upcoming AEW Dynamite tapings that will take place this month in Toronto, Canada. While fans took this as a good sign, Tony Khan made clear that fans shouldn’t expect to see the Cleaner at the tapings when he spoke at the AEW Revolution 2024 media scrum. 

“I don’t think it would be fair to create the expectation that Kenny Omega would be cleared by then… I don’t know the exact date.”

Latest on Kenny Omega

With that in mind, there is still no timetable as to when fans should expect Kenny Omega, according to Fightful Select. During this week’s AEW Dynamite, Omega was ‘fired’ as a member of The Elite and has been replaced by Kazuchika Okada. Fightful adds that the plan is for Okada’s inclusion in the Elite to set up Omega’s return and feud with the group. 

Mercedes Mone Is Against Tribalism In Wrestling: I Don’t Think You Should Like Just One Company

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Mercedes Mone has worked hard to prove that you can be a star and make money in other companies since leaving WWE and it’s a message she wants to send to every aspiring wrestler.

The former WWE Women’s Champion recently sat down with Evan Mack of the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast to discuss things such as the reason for her departure from WWE, her upcoming projects, and more.

Mone was asked about the aspiring wrestlers who set their minds to one company instead of thinking about all the options. The wrestling veteran explained your favorite wrestlers have to compete in many different places to get good and being part of any one company should never be your end goal:

“No, they should never think that. They should never think that there’s one place. I knew that from the beginning because there’s wrestling everywhere. Wrestling is for everybody. I don’t think you should just like one company. You should open your eyes to so many things.

Because your favourite wrestlers come from all different companies. They travel from around the world to gain their craft so much more so they can make it to a top company. They wouldn’t be there without all these different places and all these promotions. Because they need that experience, that growth so they can be the best.'”

Mercedes Mone Slams Fans Who Promote Tribalism

Mercedes Mone also discussed the tribalism among fans and how some people only seem to watch certain products to hate it. The former IWGP Women’s Champion questioned how fans can decide what’s right for a talent:

First of all, I think we’re just living too much in our phone, the internet. It’s like – will you just go outside for a little bit and then go back into your room and watch wrestling. [It] is so funny. They watch it just to critique it, to hate it. They hate to love it. That’s the thing – they hate to love it. [They should] just love it.

Have fun. It’s just television. It’s just entertainers putting their bodies on the line to entertain you. And you’re the ones that are getting angry and going ‘Well, they should be in this company because this company [blah blah blah]…..’ What? You’re telling us what company we need to be in? You’re telling us what job we need to take?”

You can watch Mercedes Mone’s full interview where she discusses the term Diva, her memories of Japan, and much more below:

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

Rush Shares Family Tribute to Akira Toriyama After Dragon Ball Creator’s Death Aged 68

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Rush has shared a touching scene in tribute to Akira Toriyama following the manga titan’s death this week at the age of 68.

Toriyama suffered an acute subdural hematoma, which is a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio reported following his death. Toriyama is best known for creating manga hit Dragon Ball, which has spawned shows, movies, video games and more. The main series follows Goku and his efforts to collect the titular Dragon Balls to protect the Earth. 

Rush’s Tribute

Taking to Twitter, Rush shared that he had begun re-watching the series, this time with his new-born son. Rush was grateful to Toriyama for making him happy in his childhood and is grateful he can now share Dragon Ball with his son. 

Pro-Wrestling and Dragon Ball

Rush is hardly the only professional wrestler to have their life influenced by Toriyama and his hit manga series. For WrestleMania 32, the New Day donned armor similar to the Saiyan alien species from Dragon Ball. In 2020, Rhea Ripley wore a Vegeta-themed attire for her WrestleMania debut against Charlotte Flair in the crowd-less WWE Performance Center. 

WWE Money in the Bank 2023 saw not one but two references to Dragon Ball. For her Women’s Tag Team Championship match, Ronda Rousey wore an attire based on Majin Vegeta, the darker version of the series staple. Zelina Vega, who has cosplayed several manga characters in the ring, wore an attire referencing series villain Frieza. The power of the Dragon Balls wasn’t with either Superstar as Rousey would lose her title match while Vega failed to capture the Women’s  Money in Bank briefcase.

Kevin Kelly Absent from 3/9 Collision Taping In Latest Sign of AEW Friction

Thomas Lowson
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Fans tuning into this week’s Collision will not be greeted by Kevin Kelly in the latest development in his issues with AEW. 

Earlier this week, Kelly took to social media to claim that he was being sabotaged within the promotion. Kelly added that in AEW he is being “pushed aside” but that nobody is better than him as a broadcaster.

The veteran broadcaster added that he had been libelled by ‘Ian’, believed to be Ian Riccaboni, a broadcaster for AEW, ROH, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He later stated that Ian’s attempts to tie Kelly to a”fringe conspiracy theory that everyone knows is bullsh*t” was libellous. 

Missing AEW Collision

Following his comments on social media, Kevin Kelly was removed from AEW’s roster section of its website. Many have taken this as a sign that his time with the company is ending, if it hasn’t already. 

Now, there has been another sign of Kelly’s exit from the company. This week’s episode of AEW Collision was filmed following this past Wednesday’s live edition of Dynamite. Kelly did not appear at the Collision taping, leaving Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone to call the action as a duo. This is particularly alarming given that Kelly was hired to AEW last year with the explicit reason being for him to commentate on Collision. 

Kevin Kelly

Outside of AEW, Kevin Kelly worked for WWE from 1996 to 2003 and was present for the infamous ‘Pillman’s Got A Gun’ segment that nearly saw Monday Night Raw thrown off the air. Later on, he would be the subject of ridicule from The Rock and has been critical of the company’s corporate policies and creative direction since his release. He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

WWE’s Pat McAfee & Stephen A. Smith Have ‘Explosive’ Argument Over ESPN Plans

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Raw’s Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith have seemingly patched things up following a heated exchange between the two. 

The New York Post reports that things got heated during a private conversation between the pair from several weeks ago which was described as an “explosive argument.” Things escalated to the point that McAfee branded Smith a “motherf****r.” The Post adds that following the spat, Smith banned McAfee from his ‘First Take’ show on ESPN. 

Source of the Issue

Their issues arose from creative differences involving a yet-to-be-announced project that Stephen A. Smith is executive producing. The show will be produced by Mr. SAS Productions and will air on ESPN. A specific airdate is not known at this time.

Issues Quashed

Both sides have told the New York Post that their animosity has been resolved. In a text message, McAfee said that he was unaware of any ban. 

“I think I’m still welcome on ‘First Take’? I was scheduled through football season to join on Tuesdays, hopefully next year that’ll happen as well.”

Smith similarly made clear the positive impact McAfee has had on First Take thanks to his experience as a football star.

“We are No.1 and he has absolutely contributed to us remaining No.1. McAfee was asked to come on each Tuesday through the Super Bowl and he did just that, kicking ass each time.”

Pat McAfee and ESPN 

This is hardly the first time that McAfee’s name has been at the center of controversy for ESPN. In January, McAfee claimed that Norby Williamson had been sabotaging his show and went as far as to call  the ESPN executive a “rat.”  Days later, ESPN responded said that Williamson was committed to making the show a success. 

Mercedes Mone Was Told Her Ankle Injury Was Career-Ending

Anutosh Bajpai
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Mercedes Mone has recovered from her ankle injury and is ready to make big business moves in 2024. This journey however wasn’t so easy for the former champion and it took both mental and physical fortitude to get back up on her feet.

The former IWGP Women’s Champion recently spoke to Evan Mack of the Kick Rocks Wrestling Podcast where she discussed a number of topics very candidly.

When asked about her recovery from the injury, Mone gave a shout out to the places that have helped her recover before revealing that she was actually told it would be a career ending injury:

“I’ve been posting my training videos. I’ve been training really really hard with Tyler Breeze at Flatbacks and Shawn Spears. Shout out to Hybrid School with [Sho] Funaki in San Antonio, and New Japan Dojo in LA. I’ve been working so hard to get back to this place that I love,

Because little do people know, I was told that this is a career ending injury. And I screamed at my doctor and surgeon. I said, ‘No, it’s not.’ I’m going to come back really soon and I’m going to have just the greatest time, the greatest matches, the greatest career that I’ve had yet, because I see it and I feel it, I know it.”

‘I Wasn’t Healed Inside’: Mercedes Mone

Mone suffered the injury while competing in a tournament to crown the inaugural Strong Women’s Champion back in May 2023 at NJPW Resurgence. She made it to the finals of the tournament where she lost to Willow Nightingale and also got injured. 

The CEO also explained how the injury changed her mindset. According to the former WWE star, she had a lot of trauma and the time off helped her deal with it:

“I’ve spent the past 10 months thinking about how much unfinished business I have in wrestling and how much I was on a hunger tour goal. I was so focused and so ready for my plans to succeed in 2023. For that to happen to me, it taught me so much about life and just taught me that I needed to slow down even more and heal.

Because prior to that a lot happened to me. A lot of hurt happened and a lot of healing needed to happen and I still was just going so fast but ready because I love wrestling so much and I couldn’t be away from it. But I wasn’t healed inside. I think it was just a message being like ‘you got to slow down and figure out what’s next for you and what are your plans.’ Your plans are good, but I think you need to reevaluate them a little bit more.

It’s insane to see how powerful your mind, your body can just overcome and heal something that is just so traumatic, but I feel more ready and more better than ever. I cannot wait to see all my prior plans of 2023 coming to fruition into 2024. I’ve been making some really big moves. Big business moves and big money moves. I think fans are gonna be really excited.”

You can check out Mercedes Mone’s full interview where she talks about her upcoming projects, her past struggles and more below:

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

Kenny Omega Recovering After ‘Roadblock’ Emergency Surgery Amid AEW Hiatus

Thomas Lowson
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0

AEW’s Kenny Omega was recently dealt another ‘roadblock’ in his recovery from diverticulitis which required the Canadian wrestler to go under the knife. The former AEW World Champion has been out of action for months, after disclosing in December 2023 that he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis. 

This led to AEW changing its plans as Omega and Chris Jericho had been scheduled to challenge for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Instead, Jericho teamed with Sammy Guevara in a losing effort. 

During a recent Twitch stream, Omega gave an update on his condition. The AEW EVP (who was recently fired as a member of The Elite) explained that the pain comes in waves. 

“It’s been really touch and go. I was feeling great for a week or two. When you feel terrible, a week or two feels like a long time… For two weeks, I was feeling great.”

Omega then added that after this period of feeling great, he required emergency treatment. 

“I ran into a bit of a roadblock and I had to get some emergency treatment again. Well, I wouldn’t say it’s two steps forward, two steps back, but maybe it’s one and a half steps back.”

What’s Next? 

While Omega would love to be back in the ring tomorrow, he explained during the stream that he can’t answer as to when he’ll be back in the ring. The former AEW World Champion added that he doesn’t want to get back in the ring until he’s healed and feels he can perform at the high-level fans expect from him. 

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