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Trailer for ‘Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez’ premiering Feb. 2 on Hulu

Tyriece Simon
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WWE Superstars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford are ready to show fans behind the scenes of their married life. The couple’s Hulu Original reality TV show titled “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez is set to premiere on February 2. While the fans have to wait another week, Hulu released a trailer for the upcoming show. 

The trailer showed fans what to expect from the show, including the couple managing their personal life and being WWE superstars. One of the interesting moments of the trailer was Ford admitting to having difficulty figuring out his place in the company in his third year on the main roster and wanting to prove that he is more than “Bianca Belair’s husband.”

The show will have a total of seven episodes, which surprisingly will all be released on Hulu on February 2. The popular subscription service usually features episodes of an original series weekly until the finale. It’s unclear why the decision was made to release all seven episodes simultaneously. 

Regardless, “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez” should give fans more insight into Belair and Montez’s relationship, just in time before Valentine’s Day. However, it seems we will also get appearances from other WWE superstars, such as Omos and Angelo Dawkins, who appeared in the trailer. 

The timing of the new reality TV show is also interesting as the power couple tries to find their spot at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April.

Bianca Belair & Montez Ford Current Storylines Heading Towards WrestleMania 40 

WWE is currently on the “Road to WrestleMania,” the company is slowly putting the pieces together for what WWE WrestleMania matches could look like in April. A few superstars, including Ford, are starting to be involved in interesting storylines. 

Ford is involved in a faction with Dawkins and Bobby Lashley. The group is currently in a feud with The Final Testament(Karrion Kross,  Akam, Rezar, Scarlett & Paul Ellering), which started after the “heel” faction attacked Ford, Dawkins, and Lashley on the January 5 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. The two groups are set for a confrontation on the January 26 episode and could seemingly continue the feud heading into WWE WrestleMania 40. 

Belair is in an interesting position as she looks to win the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match on January 27. She hopes to challenge WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky for the title at WWE Wrestlemania 40. However, she has the tough task of defeating 29 other superstars to earn her opportunity. If she is unsuccessful, what WWE will have planned for her at this year’s event is unclear. 

The couple is excited about their upcoming show and hopes to have a match on the “Grandest Stage Of Them All.” 

Context Is Key: Why Tony Khan Should Heed His Critics’ Advice

Dominic DeAngelo
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Tony Khan may think some wrestling legends are rooting against him and AEW, but that’s extremely far from the case. All of his critics with any sort of credibility have benefited from competition and know that AEW being a success is only better for pro wrestling, including WWE.

Randy Savage notoriously said, “the cream always rises,” and the cream was rising for AEW for the first couple of years, but many factors have put a lid on that cream. Now it’s sitting in the fridge behind a carton of week-expired egg whites.

The AEW President needs to take any assumed vitriol out of his head and take heed of what the veterans are saying, especially if he wants AEW to catch that momentum it once had.

Khan and former WCW President Eric Bischoff have gone back and forth on X which is nearly as entertaining as the Monday Night Wars (and unfortunately, more engaging than the current AEW product), but a narrative is getting spun that is pretty inaccurate.

In a recent interview, FTR claimed that Bischoff has been critical of AEW because Khan didn’t give Bischoff a job with the company. On his podcast, Eric has stated several times he never wanted to work for AEW and that his original bone of contention with Khan began back when Tony took shots at Ted Turner. On top of that, Bischoff has made clear he wants AEW to succeed. Bischoff is blunt and abrasive in his criticisms at times, but his insight is always constructive. FTR and Khan just aren’t getting a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

Another name to get arrows slung his way is Bully Ray. On Busted Open Radio, the Dudley Boy has implored Khan to put his phone down and step away from social media. Additionally, he’s been very open about his criticisms of officiating and admits that he has to look at AEW with a different set of eyes than he does with WWE because AEW offers an alternative in wrestling. He noted that Khan didn’t grow up underneath the learning tree of a wrestling promoter, therefore he’s not technically a booker, but a matchmaker.

A third legend to give some sound advice has been Konnan. Much like he does with Bischoff, Khan has a contentious social media relationship with Konnan’s K100 co-host, Disco Inferno. After Khan posted some harsh words towards the former WCW star after Disco said the company needed a “reset” the two friends discussed it on their podcast with Konnan stating that Khan needs to listen to the constructive criticism thrown his way, filtering all the helpful feedback from the negative.

One name who is genius, but one can completely understand Khan steering clear from is Jim Cornette. Cornette is perhaps the most polarizing name out of all legends critical of AEW and does so with his signature venomous vernacular. Many fans simply tune in to hear Cornette crack back at AEW, but Khan would really have to void himself of all emotion to accept what Cornette has to say. Cearly one could get something beneficial from his input, but while Bischoff offers no sugar, Corny offers a spoonful of salt (to the wound). That being said, if Khan appointed someone to listen to the show, the AEW President would have plenty to garner and harvest.

Nuance and context have never coincided with the cesspool that can be social media. Just like it’s important to anyone dabbling in the dark arts, if the very busy Khan had the time to do further dive into what gets said about him and his company, he’d learn a lot about himself and the legends who only want what’s best for business.

WWE 2K24 Cover Star Cody Rhodes Gives Himself An Ultimatum Ahead Of The Royal Rumble

Tyriece Simon
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WWE is officially on the “Road to WrestleMania,” and fans wonder if Cody Rhodes will finish his “Story.” Although he is experiencing success in his second stint with the company and is the new cover star for WWE 2K24, Rhodes is still looking to become a WWE Champion. 

In an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso, Rhodes discussed the importance of being on the cover of WWE 2K24 and wanting to finish his “Story.” He also admitted to feeling a little overwhelmed when he faced WWE Champion Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 39 last year. 

Barrasso transcribed the following quotes. 

“WrestleMania 39, I don’t want to say I shrunk under the lights, but it hit me harder than it hit Roman Reigns,” said Rhodes. He continued, “Roman has been in those main events before. If anything, it motivated me further. It’s not just about being in the main event. It’s not about being happy to make the walk. You have to win.”

As he prepares for the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27, “The American Nightmare” has imposed a unique ultimatum upon himself.

Cody Rhodes Doesn’t Want To Be On The Next WWE 2K Cover If He Doesn’t Finish His Story

 Although he is happy to be the WWE 2K24 cover star, he doesn’t believe he should be in that position if he doesn’t win the WWE Championship this year. He also joked about not being in next year’s game if he doesn’t accomplish his goal. 

“If I haven’t finished the story by WWE 2K25, don’t bring me back for the commercial,” said Rhodes. “Don’t put me on the cover, don’t put me anywhere near it. I won’t deserve it. But it’s fun that this is happening in real-time, and we all get to experience it together.”

“The American Nightmare” is staying positive and highly motivated to bring the WWE Championship to the Rhodes Family. However, he will have 29 other superstars standing in his way at the WWE Royal Rumble. There is also the rumor that the company could be looking to have The Rock challenge Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. 

Regardless, Rhodes has pressured himself to finish his “Story” before the next WWE 2K game. 

Triple H Surprises Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, & Bianca Belair With WWE 2K24 Cover Reveal

Aaron Varble
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WWE knows how to make an announcement, and that includes telling Superstars about big career moments. We’ve seen countless videos of NXT Superstars discovering that they’re getting called up to the WWE main roster. Now, WWE has dropped a new video where Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair discover about a huge career landmark.

WWE 2k24 Cover Superstars

WWE Games unveiled the cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game, creating excitement among fans. Cody Rhodes is set to be featured on the regular version’s cover, while Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will be jointly featured on the deluxe edition cover. Further insights into the upcoming game were also revealed.

As part of the information release on January 22nd, a trailer was unveiled, offering more details. Fans are excited, but just imagine being told that you’re on the cover of the upcoming game.

Triple H’s Big WWE 2K24 Reveal

WWE released a video of Triple H telling Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley that they landed the cover of WWE 2K24. They were actually brought to the photo shoot in question under the guise of it being for WWE 2K23, but that was not the case.

Needless to say, Rhodes, Ripley, and Belair were incredibly excited about the news that they will be cover Superstars. Not only is this a huge honor, but it also comes with a nice paycheck.

After the big news was dropped, the three top WWE Superstars took part in a photo shoot, where they had a blast celebrating their recent career benchmark.

WWE 2K24 Release Date

WWE 2K24 will come out on all current generation consoles. As of this writing, we are still waiting on a full roster reveal.

The new game will have two waves for their release dates. On March 5th, WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions will drop.

The standard and cross-gen digital editions of the game will come out on March 8th. Pre-order is now open.

Austin Theory Confirms WWE SmackDown Status After Injury Scare

Aaron Varble
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During the January 12th episode of WWE SmackDown, the bout between Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes was interrupted by the referee. This interruption occurred following an incident during an Avalanche Spanish Fly from the top turnbuckle, causing both wrestlers to land awkwardly. There was some worry about Carmelo Hayes and Austin Theory, but now we have it all sorted out.

Austin Theory Addresses WWE Status

It was previously reported that Austin Theory may have entered medical protocol. Now, the former United States Champion has opened up for fans about his current status.

In an announcement, Theory shared that this upcoming Friday, despite being a busy individual, he took the time to discuss his schedule with Grayson Waller, who expressed sympathy, recognizing the challenges Theory faces and the extensive commitments he manages.

Theory pointed out the lack of understanding from internet “keyboard warriors” criticizing his work ethic. Despite Grayson suggesting pulling him out of the match, Theory declined, asserting his identity as Mr. All Day. He then confirmed that he will be in Miami for SmackDown this Friday.

“I was like, ‘Hey man, you know all these keyboard warriors on the internet, in their mom’s basement, eating cheese sticks all day, they don’t know a day of hard work. They just go ‘you don’t have potential, you don’t have what it takes’, but you know what, they have the ability to know how it looks to be a damn bean bag chair, so congrats to them.”

“But Grayson was like ‘you know what, let’s get you out of this match’, and I said no, because I’m Mr. All Day. So, I’m going to be there on Friday in Miami, and Carmelo (Hayes), you keep saying you’re him, you’re him, well, guess what? When all the greats come back they want to be in the ring with me, they want their 15 seconds of fame, and I give it to them, and that’s a fact because I’m Austin Theory.”

Carmelo Hayes’ Status

Hayes returned to WWE NXT television without missing a beat. He teamed with Trick Williams as scheduled, as the two carry on in the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

After asking around, I was told that the referee expressed concern for both Theory and Hayes after the spot went wrong. It wasn’t a matter of one being more affected than the other.

Additionally, it was said that the “referee believed both were hurt and followed the correct protocol by ringing the bell and requesting medical assistance.”

The WWE commentary team also commended the referee for swift decision-making, highlighting the priority placed on Superstar safety in this situation. Thankfully, both Theory and Hayes are okay now.

WWE 2K24: Details on My GM, New Match Types, 2K Showcase & Iconic Roster

Michael Shalik
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WWE sent in a  press release announcing tons of information about WWE 2K24.

WWE 2K24 Release Date:

  • Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions
  • Friday, March 8, 2024: Standard and Standard Cross-Gen Digital editions

Here’s the full press release:

WWE® 2K24 Celebrates 40 Years of WrestleMania with 2K Showcase…of the Immortals and Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition

Step into the ring and “Finish Your Story” with Standard Edition cover Superstar “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Deluxe Edition cover Superstars Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, new match types, updated gameplay, and more

New York, NY – January 22, 2024 – Today, 2K announced WWE® 2K24, the newest installment of the flagship WWE video game franchise developed by Visual Concepts, will be coming soon for PlayStation® 5 (PS5®), PlayStation®4 (PS4®), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. As he burns a path through WWE in an effort to claim world championship gold and fulfill his destiny, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will be featured on the Standard Edition cover. Multi-time champions and Women’s Royal Rumble winners Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley share the Deluxe Edition cover, marking the first time in history two women have graced a dedicated WWE 2K cover, while the Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition cover features original artwork celebrating the most iconic Superstars and Legends in WrestleMania history, including The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and more.

WWE 2K24 features several franchise advancements, including 2K Showcase…of the Immortals celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania, four new match types such as Ambulance and Special Guest Referee, two new MyRISE experiences, and much more. In addition, fans can also look forward to a massive roster of more than 200* WWE Superstars and Legends including Roman Reigns, Andre the Giant, Becky Lynch, Batista, Kurt Angle, Asuka, Bret Hart, Brock Lesnar, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Chyna, and more. Incredibly realistic graphics and improved animations – with over 90% of facial expressions updated – plus improvements to Ramp cameras and Dive cameras, and the ability to move the camera during live gameplay provide the most visually impressive WWE 2K experience to date. WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition are scheduled for worldwide release on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, followed by the Standard Edition and Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition on Friday, March 8, 2024.

“I’ve been known to keep a checklist of key milestones I want to experience on the path to finishing my story,” said Cody Rhodes. “As an avid gamer, being named WWE 2K cover Superstar is very, very close to the top of that list and I’m very happy to work with the teams at 2K and Visual Concepts to bring that dream to life.”

“This is an incredible milestone in my career and I’m so excited to show the world why WWE 2K24 is a must-have and the EST game for every WWE fan and gamer.” said Bianca Belair.

“I’ve proven myself to be the most dominant competitor to ever hold the WWE Women’s World Championship,” said Rhea Ripley, “Earning the accolade of WWE 2K24 cover Superstar is only fitting, and I’m proud to add it to my list of accomplishments.”

“Fresh off the highest-rated game in franchise history, the WWE 2K development team continues to build on that quality,” said Greg Thomas, President at Visual Concepts. “WWE 2K24 offers more match types, new MyRISE storylines and characters, improvements to gameplay throughout, a 2K Showcase 40 years in the making, and so much more. I’m very proud of the work the team has done to bring this experience to life, and I look forward to seeing players enjoy the game.”

WWE 2K24 features several hallmarks of the franchise, as well some new additions and twists on fan favorites:

  • 2K Showcase…of the Immortals: For 40 years, WrestleMania has captivated millions of fans around the globe as WWE Superstars became Legends and spectacular moments – from Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant, to “Mr. WrestleMania” Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker putting on a match for the ages, and many more – cemented WWE Hall of Fame legacies. “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” has drawn earth-shaking roars from 100,000+ in attendance, as the biggest icons in WWE made history, and left every drop of blood, sweat and tears in the squared circle. 40 years in the making, the WWE 2K24 Showcase…of the Immortals puts players in control, playing through the most iconic moments in WrestleMania history as 2K’s distinctive Slingshot Tech seamlessly morphs gameplay to live-action footage and back again for the most immersive WrestleMania video game experience to date. A host of unlockable content adds challenge and replay value to this historical experience;
  • Iconic Roster: WWE 2K24 boasts a star-studded roster featuring WWE Legends including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Andre the Giant, alongside current WWE Superstars including “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns, whose larger-than-life entrances and signature moves are heightened by ultra-realistic graphics.
  • New Match Types and Improvements on Existing Match Types: Players asked, and WWE 2K24 delivers, with four new, chaotic match types: Special Guest Referee, Ambulance Match, Casket Match, and Gauntlet Match. In addition, the Backstage Brawl now features 4-player support and new interactive environmental elements – including a working elevator, breakable control room glass, and a vending machine with throwable sodas – while the Royal Rumble now offers support for eight online players in 30-Superstar online matches. All of the familiar WWE 2Kmatch types, such as WarGames, Extreme Rules, TLC, Submission, Hell in a Cell, and many more also return. More details on each new match type will be shared soon;
  • Gameplay Upgrades: WWE 2K24 features improvements to gameplay throughout, including Super Finishers, the Trading Blows mini-game, top rope dive onto a group of opponents outside the ring, double title matches, new Paybacks and much more. New weapon types, including trash cans, guitars and microphones, plus the ability to throw weapons, allow players to bring the pain. Also, seven real WWE referees are featured to add to the immersive experience;
  • MyGM: The popular WWE brand management simulation continues to expand with new GMs and brands to choose from, more match types, more Dramas, more Championships, talent scouts, Superstar trading between brands, Superstar contract management and the new Superstar Journey, which allows Superstars to earn XP, train and level up to gain new benefits after participating in matches;
  • MyFACTION: The team-building mode in which players collect, manage, and upgrade an array of WWE Superstars and Legends to create their ultimate four-person factions returns with a new direct purchase card market and updated multiplayer experience. Players can now compete in ranked online QuickPlay with unique rewards and seasonal
    leaderboards, challenge themselves with Weekly Towers, and take on a revamped Faction Wars 2.0, featuring more real-world factions, more 4v4 match types, a Faction Wars specific reward shop and more. New themed card packs and goals will continue to roll out regularly throughout the year with seasonal content refreshes**;
  • MyRISE: In WWE 2K’s unique career mode experience, two new storylines – Undisputed (men’s) and Unleashed (women’s) – put players in control of custom created Superstars looking to make a name for themselves and cement their legacies in WWE history. Featuring Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Mick Foley and others performing MyRISE voiceover for the first time, alongside other Superstars and Legends, expanded rewards, original MyRISE characters and unlockables carrying-over into other game modes, and new environments, MyRISE is more impactful on the overall WWE 2K experience than ever before;
  • Universe: The ultimate WWE Universe sandbox that puts players in charge of Superstar rosters, feuds, champions, weekly shows, and Premium Live Events now features expanded Rivalry actions, including run-ins, Money in the Bank cash-ins, scenarios and brawls, as well as new cutscenes, Special Guest Referee support, Double Title Matches and a Loser Leaves Town stipulation;
  • Creation Suite: The crown jewel of the WWE 2K franchise, the best-in-class, most detailed and robust creation suite returns with all-new support for Create-A-Referee and Create-A-Sign, as well as new parts and animations to design custom Superstars, GMs, arenas, entrances, move sets, championships and more;
  • Peacock™ Promotion:*** New subscribers get 1 month of Peacock at no extra cost (a $5.99 value) with purchase of any edition of WWE 2K24 by April 14, 2024. Promotional code must be redeemed between March 12 and May 31, 2024. After offer ends, plan auto-renews at the then-current retail price (plus tax) until canceled by subscriber. Eligibility restrictions and terms apply. See https://www.peacocktv.com/offer-terms/2k for full terms, availability, redemption, and cancellation instructions.

WWE 2K24 Editions

WWE 2K24 features four editions of the game: Standard Edition, Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition, Deluxe Edition, and FortyYears of WrestleMania Edition:

  • The Standard Edition will be available for $59.99 on previous-gen platforms (PS4, Xbox One consoles) and PC and for $69.99 on current-gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S);
  • Pre-Order Bonus Offers****: Players who pre-order the WWE 2K24 Standard Edition will receive the Nightmare Family Pack a bonus pack of content including four playable Superstars – two alternate versions of Cody Rhodes (The “Undashing” masked Cody and the flamboyant Stardust), as well as the 1976 version of his father, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, plus one of Dusty’s greatest rivals, “Superstar” Billy Graham, all available as playable characters. Additional MyFACTION content includes three MyFACTION cards – a Mattel “Bruised” Cody Rhodes Gold Rarity card and, for the first time ever, Cody’s dog, Pharaoh, appears in WWE 2K as a Gold Rarity Manager card**. In addition, all Digital Pre-Orders of any edition of WWE 2K24 will include the Standard Edition of WWE 2K23, the highest-rated game in franchise history according to Metacritic*****;
  • The Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition will be available for $69.99 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition includes the Standard Edition across previous and current-gen platforms within the same console family and the same PlayStation or Xbox account******;
  • The Deluxe Edition will be available for $99.99 for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. The Deluxe Edition includes the Standard Cross-Gen Edition, Nightmare Family Pack, plus a Season Pass to all five post-launch DLC content packs*******; the MyRISE Mega-Boost and SuperCharger; Gold Rarity Rhea Ripley MyFACTION Card, Gold Rarity Bianca Belair MyFACTION Card, and alternate attires for Bianca and Rhea. The Deluxe Edition will be available from March 5, 2024 – three days ahead of Standard and Cross-Gen Editions!;
  • The Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition will be available for $119.99 for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. In addition to the Standard Cross-Gen Edition and all bonus content included in the Deluxe Edition, the Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition includes theForty Years of WrestleMania Pack, which features alternate attires for “Macho King” Randy Savage (WrestleMania 6), Rey Mysterio (WrestleMania 22), Triple H (WrestleMania 30), Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 33), and Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 36), as well as Gold Rarity MyFACTION cards for each, instant unlocking of all playable Showcase characters, and the WrestleMania 40Arena, which will be available after launch.******* The Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition will be available from March 5, 2024 – three days ahead of Standard and Standard Cross-Gen Editions!;

For more information on WWE 2K24, visit the game’s official website, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on TikTok, X, Instagram, and subscribe on Twitch and YouTube. Official campaign hashtags #WWE2K24 and #FinishYourStory. Tune-in to Monday Night Raw tonight to see the announcement trailer and cover stars.

Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

*Some Superstars require unlocking via gameplay, or pre-order purchase.

**WWE 2K24 and internet access required to play MyFACTION content. Online Account (13+) required to access online features. See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details.

***Purchase by 4/14/24. Must redeem between 3/12/24 and 5/31/24. Offer limited to US customers who are 18+ only. Offer available with a purchase of WWE 2K24. Offer includes one month of access to Peacock Premium at no extra cost (a $5.99 value), available to new Peacock subscribers only who have purchased and installed WWE 2K24 and linked their 2K Account (2K Accounts are free. After offer ends, pla
n auto-renews at the then-current retail price (plus tax) until you cancel. Code for Peacock Premium Subscription will be delivered via email to the email associated with the linked 2K Account. Eligibility restrictions and terms apply. See https://www.peacocktv.com/offer-terms/2k for full terms, availability, redemption, and cancellation instructions.

****Pre-Order Bonus Offers: Nightmare Family Pack pre-order bonus offer available through March 14, 2024. Pre-order WWE 2K24 Standard Edition and receive the Nightmare Family Pack, which includes four playable characters and three gold-tier MyFACTION cards (Dusty Rhodes ’76, Mattel Cody Rhodes, and Pharoah (Manager). The Nightmare Family Pack is included with Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions. For digital pre-orders, items will be automatically entitled in-game. For physical pre-orders, items will be redeemed in game via code provided in box. Terms apply. Pre-order WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (Digital) on any platform through March 14, 2024 and receive a digital copy of WWE 2K23 Standard Edition for the same platform. Digital copy of WWE 2K23 will be automatically entitled and available to download following pre-order. WWE 2K23 must be downloaded to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K24 and is non-transferable. Offer not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K23 on the same platform. Terms apply.

*****Based on WWE 2K23’s Metacritic scores on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC as of December 19, 2023.

******PlayStation 5 console required to play PS5 version. PlayStation 4 console required to play PS4 version. Xbox Series X|S console required to play Xbox Series X|S version. Xbox One console required to redeem and use Xbox One version.

*******For digital orders, post-launch Forty Years of WrestleMania Pack content and DLC will be automatically delivered on release for PC users, available for download in the PlayStation store/Library tile for PS4 and PS5 users, and available for download in Microsoft Store for Xbox users. For physical orders, post-launch DLC will be available upon release and redeemed in game via code provided in box. DLC will also be available for purchase separately.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment for video game consoles, personal computers, and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union, Cloud Chamber and HB Studios. 2K’s portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA®? 2K; renowned BioShock®?, Borderlands®?, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization®? and XCOM®? brands; popular WWE®? 2K and WWE®? SuperCard franchises; as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR®? 2K. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2K.comand on the Company’s official social media channels.

2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. The Company develops and publishes products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, Private Division, and Zynga. Our products are currently designed for console gaming systems, PC, and Mobile including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, including statements relating to Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.’s (“Take-Two,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or similar pronouns) outlook, are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for our future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including risks relating to our combination with Zynga Inc.; the risks of conducting business internationally, including as a result of unforeseen geopolitical events; the impact of changes in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, including on our short-term investment portfolio; the impact of inflation; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; our dependence on key management and product development personnel; our dependence on our NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles; our ability to leverage opportunities on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S; factors affecting our mobile business, such as player acquisition costs; the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games; the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games.

Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

WWE 2K24 Trailer Reveals New Details About Upcoming Game

Aaron Varble
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Fans waited for a big announcement from WWE2K 24 today, and it was certainly delivered. Now, we have even more information about what to expect.

WWE 2K24 Promises New Experience

WWE Games announced their cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game, and fans have a reason to be excited. Cody Rhodes will grace the cover of the regular version, whereas Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley are sharing the deluxe edition. Now, we have more information about the upcoming game.

A trailer was also released as part of the information roll-out on January 22nd. This includes even more tidbits about the upcoming Forty Years of WrestleMania mode.

It appears that the 40 years of WrestleMania mode will allow gamers to re-live every past Mania event. This could be an incredible undertaking, and they included a bit of text within the trailer to paint this picture.

Re-Live Forty Years of WrestleMania

All-New Match Types

New Career Mode Experiences

WWE 2K24 Downloadable Content

The Nightmare Family Pack will also be included in this game. That will feature four playable Superstars, including Dusty Rhodes, Dashing Cody Rhodes (in facemask), Stardust, and Superstar Billy Graham.

This will also include new MyFaction cards, including Pharaoh as a manager. Stardust’s inclusion in the game is incredibly interesting, considering Cody’s reluctance to give it a huge spotlight since his return.

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WWE 2K24 Release Date

The new game will have two waves for their release dates. On March 5th, WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions will drop.

The standard and cross-gen digital editions of the game will come out on March 8th. Pre-order is now open.

WWE 2K24 Covers Revealed: Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair & Rhea Ripley and 40 Years of WrestleMania

Michael Shalik
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The official WWE 2K24 cover has been released. On Monday, WWE and 2K announced Cody Rhodes as the cover star for this year’s game (standard edition). 

WWE 2K24: Deluxe Edition has Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley on the cover, while 40 Years of WrestleMania is collage of legends and might be one of the nicest wrestling video game box covers ever.

SEScoops is covering WWE 2K24 extensively. Lots more will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead, but the first WWE 2K24 trailer (below) provides some early and eye-popping in-game footage, as well as some details on features we can expect.

WWE 2K24 Cover: Cody Rhodes

The official WWE 2K24 Cover features The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes. 

This year’s tag line is Finish the Story, named after Rhodes’ quest to fulfill his destiny and become WWE Champion. Rhodes’ journey is the focus of the WWE 2K24 trailer, but the game’s career mode will see other Superstars venturing out to finish their own stories.

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WWE 2K24 Cover: Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley area featured on the cover of WWE 2K24: Deluxe Edition.

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WWE 2K24 Cover: 40 Years of WrestleMania

Some of the biggest icons in WrestleMania history are featured on this legendary box art for the ’40 Years of WrestleMania’ edition of WWE 2K24.

The Undertaker is front and center on the cover that also features all-time greats including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Andre the Giant, Bret Hart, John Cena, Becky Lynch, Shawn Michaels and many more.

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Randy Orton Doesn’t Show Up At Advertised WWE Live Event

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins sustained a knee injury during his match against Jinder Mahal on the January 15th episode of WWE RAW,. He was then removed from this weekend’s live events, but a replacement was announced. Interestingly enough, that replacement wasn’t present, either.

Randy Orton No-Shows Event

Randy Orton marked his return at the 2023 Survivor Series, as he helped the babyface team win WarGames. Despite being slated to compete at a recent WWE live event, he wasn’t on the show after all.

Randy Orton was advertised to take Seth Rollins’ place in the WWE live events. The Apex Predator’s render took the place of The Visionary’s on the promotion for the show.

Fans were anticipating Orton’s performance, but they were left disappointed when he didn’t show up. One fan noted that they drove hours to see him, as he dropped a disappointed looking video selfie.

The reason behind The Viper’s nonattendance remains unclear, but it’s plausible that the company may have made last-minute adjustments to its plans for the Montgomery event. Either way, that marked another change after Seth Rollins was taken off the card.

What’s Next

Randy Orton has other matters on his plate, as he is set to face AJ Styles, LA Knight, and Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble on January 27th for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. That fatal four-way match could have a very interesting outcome, for sure.

Seth Rollins, on the other hand, will be on WWE RAW this week. He will address his future as World Heavyweight Champion to open the January 22nd episode of WWE RAW.

Cody Rhodes Announced As WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar

Aaron Varble
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WWE 2K24 has generated some major excitement among gamers for its upcoming release, and the teasers are keeping fans intrigued. Now we know who got the cover of the game this year.

WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar Revealed

2K announced that Cody Rhodes will be the cover Superstar for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. He will be on the cover of the regular version.

The WWE Games account made this big announcement as they included some lyrics from Cody’s famous Kingdom theme song, “Crowd is here, about to blow Waitin’ for me to start the show Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home. WOAAAAHHH”

WWE 2K24 Deluxe Version

The WWE Games account also unveiled that Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will share the cover of the deluxe edition of the game. They are sharing the cover in a stylish split-screen fashion.

While saying that the deluxe edition of the game is the EST, they also noted, “Two groundbreaking superstars. One historic cover.”

Forty Years Of WrestleMania

WWE Games also announced that the upcoming WWE 2K24 game will include a special feature called “Forty Years of WrestleMania.” 

It is unclear what that feature will include at this time, but there will likely be a lot more updates to come. This could have also been why WWE Games dropped so many legendary teases over the past few days.

They sent out an Instagram post with a photo of a referee shirt and tagged “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the photo, which drew a lot of attention.

2K then dropped a very clear Undertaker hint, followed by John Cena dropping a photo of an NWO t-shirt with a WWE 2K24 logo on the hanger.

When WWE 2K24 Will Be Released

The release date for WWE 2K24 has not been announced at the moment, but examining the timing of last year’s release provides some insight into what to anticipate.

WWE 2K23, reviewed favorably by SEScoops, was launched on March 14th, 2023, available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Rhea Ripley Flaunts Her New Neck Tatoo

Bishal Roy
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WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has got a new ink.

Rhea Ripley has become a formidable superstar in WWE and experienced a meteoric rise in WWE after joining The Judgment Day. Her affinity towards body ink is no secret. In addition to her in-ring prowess, ‘Mami’ is recognized for her distinctive canvas of tattoos and they are very personal representations of her identity and her journey in life. With a variety of tattoos, Ripley has created a distinct look that is fitting for her character.

Rhe Ripley reveals her new ink

That being said, Rhea Ripley recently took to Twitter and flaunted her new tattoo on the back of her neck. It seems that it is a set of wings.

As we approach the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event this weekend, it’s worth noting that she has fond memories of the event. ‘The Eradicator’ had won last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match and earned a title shot. She defeated Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to capture the gold. This year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match will see a new winner and her reign could be at jeopardy at WrestleMania 40.

On the most recent edition of SmackDown, Bayley was ringside for the women’s tag team match. She called out Rhea Ripley and referred to herself as the ‘Mami Slayer.’ Bayley has been considered to be a favorite to win this year’s high-stakes match. On the other hand, Ripley and Becky Lynch recently had a confrontation which could to WrestleMania 40 as well. It is to be seen who steps up to Rhea Ripley next. 

Royal Rumble 2024 WWE Premium Live Event which will emanate live from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 27.

Natalya Picks TNA Legend As Her Dream Opponent

Bishal Roy
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WWE Superstar Natalya has expressed her desire to battle one of the legendary women’s wrestlers, Gail Kim. 

Natalya is a pro wrestling veteran and has been one of the mainstays in WWE for more than a decade. While he has several accomplishments and fought legendary superstars over the years, she never got an opportunity to face Gail Kim. Well, now she has revealed that she would have loved to face Kim and that she’s her dream opponent.

Natalya took to her Instagram story to repost Gail Kim’s recent picture with Nattie’s real-life husband, TJ Wilson (also known as Tyson Kidd).

“Always love you both. My Faves And you’re a DREAM MATCH OF MINE.”

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Natalya says Gail Kim is ‘so talented’

The former Women’s Champion also recently took to Twitter and responded to a post from a fan. The veteran star responded by saying that she would love to wrestle Gail Kim, and she believes that the former WWE superstar is very talented.

“Would so love to wrestle Gail. I think she’s so talented,” she wrote.

Gail Kim reacts

Gail Kim reacted to Natalya’s response and said that she could not believe they never crossed paths in a singles match. She added a crying emoji..

“Can’t believe we’ve never had a singles match to be honest… ,” she wrote.

Gail Kim’s legacy

Gail Kim’s legacy in wrestling is defined by her trailblazing achievements. In WWE, Gail Kim made an immediate impact by winning the WWE Women’s Championship in her debut match in 2003. However, she left the company in 2004. She returned to the company in 2008 and that run lasted until 2011.

It was in TNA where Gail Kim truly cemented her legacy. She is considered as a trailblazer, who helped to elevate the TNA Knockouts Division to new heights. With her in-ring prowess, she set a new standard for women’s wrestling.

She’s a 7-time TNA Knockouts Champion and apart from in-ring performances, she also played a pivotal role behind the scenes. In 2016, she was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame and it was certainly a fitting tribute to her contributions.

Kenny Omega Receives Concerning News As His Pro Wrestling Future Remains Up In The Air

Bishal Roy
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AEW star Kenny Omega is yet to have surgery and a concerning report has emerged regarding his health.

‘The Cleaner’ is currently out of action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis following his match with Ethan Page. The former AEW World Champion was hospitalized immediately after the match. Omega was set to team up with Chris Jericho at AEW Worlds End but that match had to be scrapped off due to Omega’s absence.

We had reported that Omega has a long road ahead for recovery. Now, it has come to light that his condition is bad enough that surgery could be risky at the time and a decision of the surgery is yet to be made.

Update on Kenny Omega 

Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that the current plan is to monitor Omega’s condition for seven weeks before deciding on surgery. Meltzer has highlighted that during this period, Omega will receive no treatment, and after seven weeks, a decision will be made depending on his progress on recovery.

Meltzer stated:

“It’s going to be nothing for seven weeks and then in seven weeks, they are going to see how everything goes and, at that point, he’ll either need surgery or he… I don’t know how he won’t need surgery, but if he can heal. 

Normally, you would have already done the surgery right away but his condition and everything was so bad that they could not risk the surgery at the time and now they are kind of just… it’s going to be in seven weeks he’ll either have the surgery or he won’t and then at that point we’ll see. He’s in a tough situation, I feel very bad for him. Until that happens, it’s a painful situation.”

It is certainly a tough time for Omega, given his future is up in the air. Fans are hopeful that he’ll recover and get back inside the ring soon.

We at SEScoops wish him a speedy recovery.

Watch: The Rock Meets Make-A-Wish Kids & Gives Presents In Incredible Video

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson may be one of the biggest stars in the world, but he’ll always have time to meet the fine folks at Make-A-Wish. 

In the video, The Rock recalled meeting 21 children from the Make-A-Wish foundation, who were thrilled to hang out with the People’s Champion. In the video, The Rock reflected on how incredible the experience was for him. 

“I anticipated having a great day hey but today was something unlike I’ve ever experienced.”

The Brahma Bull also reflected on his family’s history with Make-A-Wish and was honored to be performing in the same role as his father Rocky Johnson. 

“We [myself and Make-A-Wish] go way way back. Make-A-Wish and my dad, granting the first wish in the state of New Jersey. I was 11 at that time the concept of that, I remember then being blown away. Like ‘wait this is this little kid’s wish?’

“I always say that, you know, really they’re the heroes and their families are the superstars. It’s unbelievable and what an honor and and a privilege that I get to meet these kids to surprise them and it just gets no better than this.”

As part of the day’s festivities, The Rock toured Universal Studios with the kids and their families, and answered questions about his role in the Fast and Furious franchise. 

Later in the day, The Rock hosted a special party for the kids and their families. The Hollywood A-Lister gifted Project Rock merch and a Rock-themed Xbox to each kid, courtesy of ‘Dwanta Claus.’ Johnson also made sure to speak to every kid in one-on-one conversations and gave them some words of wisdom. 

Did The Rock reveal a massive WWE future plan when meeting a kid from Make-A-Wish… 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Inducted Into Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne Johnson has added another accolade to his impressive resume by being inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. 

Years before he was wowing fans as The Rock, Johnson played for the Miami Hurricanes as a defensive tackle. This week, The former WWE Champion was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes athletes from Tonga, Samoa and surrounding islands. On Twitter, the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment was honored to receive the induction. 

Speaking about the Brahma Bull, former Miami head coach Dennis Erickson recalled Johnson’s time with the University of Miami via the College Football Hall of Fame:

“Back then, he was a broad-shouldered defensive lineman and his teammates called him ‘Dewey’. He was often spotted walking around campus in a lava-lava skirt singing country music.”

During Johnson’s time at Miami, he was responsible for 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks, according to Pro Football Network. 

Returning to the Ring? 

 It’s been decades since Johnson played football, but a return to the ring may be in the works.  On the Day 1 edition of WWE Raw, The Rock returned and teased coming for Roman Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table. Currently, WWE is trying to decide whether The Rock or Cody Rhodes will challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Despite reports that a triple-threat match had been discussed, SE Scoops’ sources made clear that this is not the plan for the two-night April supershow. 

The Rock may wrestle at WrestleMania 40 against his cousin, but is this the right match for WWE… 

“Put Me In Coach!” WWE NXT Superstar Wants In 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Thomas Lowson
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One WWE NXT Superstar hopes to make an impression in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match, which will take place later this week. 

On Twitter this week, the USA Network account asked fans who they’d like to see in the upcoming Royal Rumble matches. In a response, NXT Superstar Thea Hail made clear she wants in her first Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

This year’s Women’s Rumble match will be the seventh in history after the match type was introduced in 2018. Previous winners of the Women’s Rumble match include Asuka, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Ronda Rousey, and reigning Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

Thea Hail is Over-The-Top

While Hail has yet to compete in a Royal Rumble match, the Chase U member has seen success in over-the-top-rope battle royals. Hail has competed in five battle royals in WWE and with a victory in 2 of those matches, she boasts a 40% win record. Hail was part of the battle royal that took place on last week’s WWE NXT, but failed to make it to the final four. 

WWE Royal Rumble 2024

Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands:

  • Men’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER.
  • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
  • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

Who should fans expect to see return at the Royal Rumble… 

Kazuchika Okada On Leaving NJPW: I Want the Hunger a New Home Will Provide

Thomas Lowson
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‘The Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada could have things easy if he stayed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but the departing star is hungry for a new challenge. 

Last week, it was confirmed that Okada’s contract will expire this month. Despite this, Okada will work the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Once these are finished, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will be a completely free agent. 

Kazuchika Okada on Leaving New Japan

New Japan Pro Wrestling has been very good to Kazuchika Okada, so it’s not hard to see why there’d be a temptation to stay. In an interview with Tokyo Sports, however, Okada explained that this comfort in New Japan was a factor in his decision to leave. 

“Maybe if I stay here, I can wrestle without any inconvenience. But I don’t want to become the same Kazuchika Okada without such hunger.

“I don’t want to be in a situation where I have to rest on my laurels. If I were “human” Okada, I would have friends here, and I would be in the best environment. But as “wrestler” Okada, it was different.”

What’s Next? 

Given his talents, it’s no surprise that both AEW and WWE are interested in bringing Okada on board. The Rainmaker has a history with AEW, as he competed at last year’s Forbidden Door event against Bryan Danielson. With that said, Okada has always dreamed of wrestling at WrestleMania, an aspiration that those in WWE, including CCO Triple H, are well aware of. 

Okada has something big in mind before he hangs up his boots for good… 

Latest clue essentially spoils the WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar

Aaron Varble
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WWE 2K24 has gamers excited about their next offering, and we can’t get enough of the teases. Who will be on the cover of the upcoming game is a huge discussion point, and now we have a possible spoiler for that big reveal.

WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar Tease

WWE 2K24 is coming, and fans are awaiting big news on January 22nd. If they plan to reveal the cover Superstar, it appears that a recent tease may have given that away.

WWE Games sent out a social media blast that drew a lot of attention. They parodied Cody Rhodes’ famous bucket list that he put out after he left WWE. This time, it included things to do upon his return to the company, including snagging a cover Superstar spot for a 2k game.

Return to WWE

Win the Rumble

Main Event WrestleMania

Conquer the Beast

Launch Pharaoh Merch

WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar

Win the Title

Finish the Story

The last three items on Cody’s new list were not checked off. This leads many to assume that he will be the cover Superstar for WWE 2K24.

If you need to be reminded of Cody Rhodes’ previous list, we’ve posted it below. He achieved a great deal of those bullet points and so much more.

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2K’s Teaser campaign

The WWE 2K series has been getting consistently better since it was overhauled two years ago and we’re hoping the improvements continue and 2K24 reaches new heights.

WWE and 2K are booting the hype machine for this year’s game. It’s WrestleMania 40, WWE is under new ownership and business is booming. This year’s game has to be big and we’re already seeing the attention being put towards ensuring a record-setting launch.

The revelation that Cody Rhodes included ‘WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar’ on his career bucket list is the latest drop from an ongoing social media campaign from 2K. They sent out an Instagram post with a photo of a referee shirt and tagged “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the photo, which drew a lot of attention.

2K then dropped a very clear Undertaker hint, followed by John Cena dropping a photo of an NWO t-shirt with a WWE 2K24 logo on the hanger.

When WWE 2K24 Will Be Released

The WWE 2K24 release date has not been announced as of press time, but we can look at the timing of last year’s release to get some idea of what to expect.

WWE 2K23, which SEScoops gave a strong review to in our review, was released on March 14th, 2023 for PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch. 

We will be covering WWE 2K24 extensively in the months ahead. Stay tuned!

WWE & AEW Both Hope To Snag Kazuchika Okada’s Next Contract

Aaron Varble
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Kazuchika Okada was one of the biggest names in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, but his time with the company is ending. He is not retiring, so Okada will find another pro wrestling home. That brings up a couple obvious choices, but nothing is in stone yet.

Kazuchika Okada leaving NJPW

Okada will depart NJPW when his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling concludes later this month, with potential moves to either WWE or AEW in early 2024.

WWE has shown interest in Okada for some time, but he has never made his way there from NJPW. There is currently a perception that Okada was significantly underpaid during his tenure as a top star in New Japan Pro Wrestling, especially in comparison to potential earnings in the United States, whether with WWE or AEW.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer brought up Okada’s current situation. At this time, he is still weighing his options, because he has a huge decision to make.

“He’s gonna go to whoever makes the best offer. I’ve heard from people and talked to people who know him very well, who have talked to him in the last day or two. And he has not decided. It’s not like a secret. He just hasn’t decided yet. I know people in AEW who think they’ve got him.”

“I know people in AEW who hope they’ve got him but don’t think they’ve got him. I know people in WWE who hope they’re gonna get him and who believe that..one person mentioned…..he wants the legacy, and it’s kinda like they’re like, ‘Well, maybe we can pay him less, but you can have your WrestleMania moment”. And again, what his goal is in his life, for some people that means more and either way he’s gonna make great money.”

Both WWE and AEW presented proposals for Okada, and it was rumored that AEW had put forth a more compelling initial offer. Although no agreement has been finalized, both companies believe that they have a shot at securing the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion’s services.

Dakota Kai Steps Up To Save Puppy Who Needed A Home

Aaron Varble
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Dakota Kai may play a heel on television for WWE, but she has a heart of gold outside the squared circle. She recently encountered a puppy who needed her help, and she took action.

Dakota Kai’s Puppy Story

The Damage CTRL member recently received a message from her friend. Someone dumped a puppy with her, and she couldn’t keep her. Kai wasted no time taking action.

Dakota posted on her Instagram story to show off this little puppy. She also included a caption to explain this humanitarian situation.

URGENT: Hey Florida people, this sweet anxious baby was ditched with my friend. She can’t keep her. HMU if you can help out even if it’s to foster in the meantime.”

The WWE Superstar updated fans with a few Instagram stories about this puppy. She was very happy to meet the little girl, but she was even happier to let fans know that she found a home for him.

It didn’t take much time for Dakota Kai to let fans know that it appears that they found a fur-ever home for this little girl. That is a great ending for this story.

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Dakota Kai’s Current WWE Status

Dakota Kai appears on WWE television practically every week, but she is not wrestling. She is still out of action with an injury.

Kai recently updated fans with a bit of apparent frustration, stating, “It’s irritating to hear people saying, ‘She can run and jump, so why isn’t she cleared yet?’ That’s not the process. I’ve been running and jumping for the past few months, but there’s a set date for official clearance because I need to go through matches, and they have specific criteria to meet before declaring me fully cleared. I won’t be in a wheelchair for nine months and then suddenly stand up and claim, ‘I’m cured.’ It doesn’t work that way.”

As fans await her in-ring return, this is definitely a great story to hear in the meantime.

New Details Emerge About Kevin Dunn’s Time In WWE

Aaron Varble
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Longtime WWE Executive Producer Kevin Dunn left the company recently after decades as Vince McMahon’s right-hand man in production. WWE fans have already seen changes in segments during RAW and SmackDown. A bit of backlash has also sprung up about Lee Fitting as Dunn’s replacement. There is a lot more to this story when you crack it open.

New Details about Kevin Dunn in WWE

In the aftermath of Kevin Dunn’s departure from WWE, notable changes have emerged, and recent developments shed light on the impact of this shift. Sean Ross Sapp dropped a detailed report on Fightful Select to shed light on new details. 

Numerous sources, approached by Fightful, provided insights into Dunn’s working dynamics. According to one source relayed by Corey Brennan, Dunn, contrary to expectations, was not excessively challenging to work with. However, he maintained a standard of excellence, expecting the best from everyone involved. 

Dunn’s influence extended across various facets of WWE broadcasts, encompassing graphics, lighting, camera work, audio, pyrotechnics, and video production. He actively engaged in providing feedback for improvements and played a central role as the orchestrator of the broadcasts.

Dunn’s consistent presence at almost every show was notable. In instances where he was absent, NXT producers stepped in to fill his role, particularly during the year-end shows he missed. Comparisons were drawn to Michael Cole’s regular attendance, but it was clarified that Dunn took a standard amount of holidays during his tenure.

It was also noted that Triple H took charge of the broadcast during WWE Survivor Series and CM Punk’s return, given Dunn’s absence from the show. 

Kevin Dunn as a Co-Worker in WWE

Colleagues attested to Kevin Dunn’s positive working relationships with Triple H, Vince McMahon, Bruce Prichard, and segment producers. So, there was no animosity there, which is a departure from the narrative some painted. 

Collaboration and idea exchange were reportedly common practices, and there was a notable emphasis on safety. For instance, during Cody Rhodes’ return at WrestleMania 38, Dunn ensured a prolonged hold on pyrotechnics to guarantee the safety of the camera crew on the ramp.

Kevin Dunn may be gone from WWE, but he left a lasting impression on the entire pro wrestling business with his contributions. Although he was a scapegoat for fans and a controversial figure for others, Dunn was a constant in WWE, and he also left very large shoes to fill. 

Big E Gives Honest Status Of His WWE In-Ring Return Timetable

Aaron Varble
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Big E’s life changed when Ridge Holland did a German suplex on him outside the ring, and he didn’t make a full rotation. Since the March 11th, 2022 episode of WWE SmackDown, Big E has dealt with the aftermath of a broken neck. As we approach two years since that injury, a return is always a big question.

Big E Addresses WWE Return

Big E has already stated that he won’t have any word on his WWE stats until after WrestleMania. He is not saying no to an in-ring return, but he needs to make sure that decision is carefully thought out.

While speaking to TMZ, Big E was asked how his neck is doing. “It’s all together, the bones connect to the other bones,” the former WWE Champion replied.

Then got honest about his expected return timetable from injury. The truth is that, at this present time, there is no such expectation for his return.

Big E stated that he doesn’t want to end up in a wheelchair, so he wants to make sure an in-ring return is the best choice to make for his own life.

“I don’t have a timeline, unfortunately, but thank you for asking. ‘I just want to make a smart decision. I didn’t start wrestling to end up in a wheelchair, so I just want to make sure I’m just making the best decision for myself.”

Big E In WWE During Injury Hiatus

Big E is widely adored as a WWE Superstar, but he continues to be absent from the ring due to a severe neck injury. That doesn’t keep him out of WWE activities, because he still stays busy for the company.

The New Day member has been present at WWE tryouts, where he kept an eye on talent. He has also acted as a scout in other respects. WWE uses Big E on a frequent basis for community events as well.

TNA Wrestling’s New Era Continues With Orlando Area Homecoming

Scott Fishman
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When that teaser came at Bound for Glory that Impact Wrestling was returning to its roots of TNA Wrestling, I admit to questioning the thought process. However, seeing the energy and excitement in the weeks leading up to Hard to Kill those concerns melted away. Then after a strong pay-per-view, I witnessed the rebrand firsthand over two nights of television tapings at the Osceola Park in Kissimmee. I can now say with confidence they made the right move. TNA! TNA! TNA!

The company used the venue just a year prior, but there was something about seeing the set complete with the yellow and red color scheme, and tunnel and hearing those TNA chants again. Talk about goosebumps. So many memories started flooding back for TNA’s Orlando homecoming, thinking about all the shows I used to attend at the Universal Orlando. A lot of the promotion’s history can be traced to Central Florida. My wife remarked to me on the first night of the shows that she felt the nostalgia, especially seeing longtime talents like Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, and Frankie Kazarian.

Friday’s event proved extra special for Trinity Fatu. The former Knockouts champion had family in attendance for this homecoming. This Orlando native and former Orlando Magic dancer glowed a little more than usual as she teamed with current women’s title holder Jordynne Grace against Gisele Shaw and Savannah Evans. Following the match, Trinity spoke to the fans about what her TNA run has meant. It was a tearful goodbye, amid rumors of where she would end up next including going back to WWE. Claps could be heard from the TNA team when Trinity made her way backstage.

It may have been the last night for one performer, but for the former Dolph Ziggler, the tapings served as the continuation of a new chapter. Nic Nemeth worked Trey Miguel and advanced his feud with Steve Maclin. In a nice tribute to Trinity, and in typical Nic fashion, he wore Trin’s robe during their meet-and-greet after. The Grizzled Young Vets showed up and showed out in their Orlando return, this time under the TNA banner, with two great matches during Friday and Saturday against ABC Bullet Club tag team chants Chris Bey and Ace Austin. Their chemistry was on full display.

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TNA Impact Tapings (Night 2)

Night 2 featured the TNA in-ring debut of the former Dana Brooke, now known as Ash by Elegance. The entrance, complete with George Iceman’s grand intro, made her come off as a big-time star. It’s too early to tell how fruitful this run will be, but it’s clear a lot of time and care is being put into Ash’s presentation. That alone is a step forward for the new signing. Speaking of fresh starts, it looks to be one for Simon Gotch. A strong return for the former Vaudevillian. Another AJ in AJ Francis certainly making an impact. The former Hit Rower had an entertaining segment with Joe Hendry.

It was fun experiencing high-production entrances at the events. At the top was PCO, whose Frankenstein-inspired visuals really added a lot. The same for the Decay and MK Ultra. Speaking of the female talent, Xia Brookside has come a long way since her first introduction to audiences in the WWE Mae Young Classic.

For me, a breakout during the tapings was Kevin Knight. The New Japan Pro Wrestling star really turned heads working with Alex Shelley and Kushida against The System. His interaction, particularly against TNA Champ Moose, made me want to see two from both of them.

In all, a good set of shows leading into the No Surrender event in the weeks to come. TNA is gaining momentum one fan at a time. I took someone who had never seen pro wrestling or been to a show before. She had the time of her life. So if you find them in your town, make sure to check them out and support this crew because they will give you your money’s worth. 

Watch: Cody Rhodes Meets ‘Mini Cody’ In Heartwarming WWE Live Event Moment

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes has continued to prove himself as a hero of modern fans with a heartwarming interaction at a recent live event. 

At the recent event in Montgomery, AL, Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bullrope match. After the bout, Rhodes met up with a young fan named Harrison, who was decked head to toe in a Cody-themed costume. Rhodes was thrilled to meet the young fan, and was relieved to learn that Harrison’s favorite wrestler is none other than Cody himself. You can check out the heartwarming interaction below. 

Cody Rhodes & The Fans

Young Harrison is hardly the first fan to have an epic encounter with Cody Rhodes. When a fan held a sign asking Rhodes to be his best man, the Raw Superstar gladly accepted. Rhodes has also given away items to fans at WWE events, including after this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. In the run-up to Christmas, Rhodes went the extra mile to ensure that one young fan had the best Holiday season ever. 

What’s Next for Cody Rhodes? 

Rhodes will compete in next week’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, a bout he won in 2023. Win or lose, many believe Rhodes will face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE is currently deciding whether it’ll be Cody or The Rock who faces Reigns in Philadelphia. 

Cody is the American Nightmare, but recently made some dreams come true for the popular ‘The Wrestling Club’… 

Ex-WWE Superstar Makes Surprise Appearance at TNA Tapings to Confront Former Ally

Thomas Lowson
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TNA Wrestling has been making an impact in recent weeks, and the latest tapings saw allies of a popular WWE faction face off.

During the latest aired episode of TNA iMPACT, Frankie Kazarian attacked Eric Young, turning heel on the former World Champion. The pair had previously lost to the Grizzled Young Veterans. During the most recent tapings, the angle continued and Kazarian told EY that he’d only face him once Young had banished a ghost of his past. This brought out Big Damp, better known to WWE fans as Killian Dain. Despite his best efforts, Damp would lose to Young.

SANITY

Damo and Young were part of SANITY in WWE, which was formed in 2016. The group would capture the NXT Tag Team Championships before being called up to the main roster in 2018 (sans Nikki Cross.) The faction’s time on the main roster would be underwhelming and the members were released in the coming years. The faction recently reunited in PROGRESS Wrestling and was represented by Damo, Young, and Axel Tischer (Alexander Wolfe in WWE.) 

Big Damo in TNA Wrestling 

Big Damo is no stranger to TNA, having had two matches for the promotion during their 2016 tour of the UK. Ironically, both of Damo’s matches for TNA would see him face Young. EY bested Damo in a singles match in their first encounter. Their second encounter saw Young retain the King of the Mountain Championship in a King of the Mountain match against Damo, Jimmy Havoc, Bram, and Will Ospreay. 

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