AEW has called Warner Bros Discovery their home since the company debuted Dynamite. As their deal with the television company ticks down, they are exiting a very important window of time.
Tony Khan confirmed during the ROH Supercard of Honor media call that AEW’s deal with Warner Bros Discovery is exiting their exclusive negotiation window. The AEW President did not reveal any further details or timetable of the contract’s actual expiration.
“I’m not sure that I am able to answer that question. I don’t want to endanger anybody who works here or get anybody in trouble. I’m not sure I can say. It’s coming up soon. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. I do appreciate you asking that. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. It’s coming up pretty soon here.”
TNT and TBS hosts All Elite Wrestling’s weekly television shows: Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. Their partnership even caused AEW Dark to cease production on YouTube, because they wanted exclusivity.
How AEW Got Their Television Deal
In January 2020 AEW’s deal with WBD was extended with a four-year, approximately $175 million contract that included the addition of Rampage for Friday nights. Now, as we get even further into 2024, a new deal has not been signed. It all started in a rather interesting way in 2018.
AEW first came to Warner Bros Discovery thanks to Tony Khan’s friend, Kevin Riley, who helped him get on the network. Years later, and Riley is no longer a part of the company. His firing as part of WBD’s massive restructuring was a big blow to AEW, as they lost an important ally.
I explained that to them pretty clearly in the interview, to be fair. I officially started on the project that became AEW on April 6, 2018 when I saw my friend Kevin Reilly at a party in Beverly Hills & said that I was interested in creating a wrestling league + working together.
In 2021, Tony Khan appeared on AEW Restricted, as he walked Aubrey Edwards and Tony Scahivone down the road to AEW’s first television deal. It really all happened thanks to a close friend he already had, and the fact that Khan dressed as “Macho Man” Randy Savage at a Halloween party
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, April 5. This is a day that a lot of fans have waited for, and now we’
Also, tonight is the go-home episode of SmackDown before WrestleMania, followed by the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame at the Wells Fargo Center. This year’s ceremony will see Paul Heyman, Lia Maivia, Muhammad Ali, The US Express, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Bull Nakano receive inductions.
– Waiting for The Rock: Fans at WWE World saw The Rock appear on April 4, but they had to wait hours. The Final Boss was two hours behind schedule, but he still had a wild crowd to cut a promo for.
– Free Agent Spotted: Giulia, who just left STARDOM, was spotted at WWE World. That is a very interesting place to see her, especially as NXT promoted a surprise audience member for Stand & Deliver.
– Damage CTRL’s Breakup:New information was reported on WWE’s original plans to break up the Damage CTRL stable. It seems Charlotte Flair was supposed to be in the mix.
– The Rock Trained With NXT Superstars: A new report from ESPN revealed that The Rock had the Gallus faction come in to help him train for his tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
WWE SmackDown Card (4/5):
Andre The Giant Battle Royal
The KO Show w/ Kevin Owens – Special Guest: Randy Orton
Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez
New Catch Republic vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
– Firing The Boys: Tony Khan claims that The Boys no-showed events, and that is why they were fired. In a deleted tweet, Brandon Tate called that a lie, and he claimed AEW said their release was due to budget cuts.
– AEW Dynamite Viewership: The April 3rd episode of AEW Dynamite brought in 752,000 viewers and secured a 0.23 rating in the highly sought-after 18-49 demographic. This marks a slight uptick from the previous week’s broadcast, which garnered 747,000 viewers with the same 0.23 demographic rating.
– AEW Media Rights: During the Supercard of Honor media call, Tony Khan confirmed that AEW’s exclusive negotiation window with WBD is ending soon.
Upcoming Wrestling Shows
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
WrestleMania weekend is always packed with events. There are indie pro wrestling shows going on, and other fan conventions. WaleMania went down at the Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on April 4, and there are a ton of highlights.
Since its first show in 2015, WaleMania has combined hip-hop and wrestling. It stands apart from other events during WrestleMania weekend, serving as a gathering where fans and wrestlers come together, and every year it’s usually the best party all weekend.
Pro wrestlers from practically every company on the planet linked up for WaleMania this year. As you can see, it was quite a party, and there are many highlights to feature.
WaleMania 2024 Highlights
First off, we have to give Samantha Irvine all the flowers for this one. She not only rocked Razor Ramon’s theme music, but she did it on a flute.
Samantha Irvin, singing and playing a flute to razor Ramon’s theme was not in our bingo card today. pic.twitter.com/7geSUH2XPF
Rob Van Dam was there, smoking on stage, alongside Katie Forbes. It was quite a party as the crowd fed into the performance on stage, who were having just as much fun as the fans.
R-Truth was present at WaleMania, and he gave fans in attendance a different kind of show than they’re used to seeing from him. He grabbed the microphone and spit some fire bars for the fans.
Although he’s not booked for WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer RVD was also present. NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap a photo with the Whole F’n Show.
Big E couldn’t miss WaleMania, either. The New Day member cut one of his trademark promos for fans, where he introduced Wale. As you can see in the clip, Trick Williams was there as well, and he had a wonderful time ahead of his main event match at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Carmelo Hayes.
Zilla Fatu didn’t miss the show, either. He was there in attendance at WaleMania, and he had a great time. As you can see in the video below, he also spent some time on the stage.
Kiera Hogan stunned the crowd with her dancing skills. Willow Nightingale didn’t miss WaleMania, either, as the two AEW stars had a great time on stage in front of the live crowd.
Emmy Award winner Paul Walter Hauser has another wrestling win to his name after defeating Sami Callihan at WrestleCon’s Supershow, albeit with some extreme help.
The match took place at the WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow on April 4 and was an ode to hardcore wrestling. Chairs, kendo sticks, and doors were used as weapons, and ECW alum Bill ‘Fonzie’ Alfonso also got involved.
Near the end of the match, Callihan was in control and it appeared that he’d be the first man to defeat Hauser in the ring. That was until the lights went down and “Enter Sandman” played, signifying the arrival of The Sandman. Inside the ECW Arena, Sandman helped Hauser get the win over Callihan.
Hauser, best known for his roles in Black Bird, I, Tonya, and Cruella, is now 3-0 in the world of professional wrestling. The actor made his wrestling debut at Wrestling Revolver’s UnReal event in November 2023 with a win over Matthew Palmer. He followed up on that by defeating Matt Cardona at Revolver’s Ready or Not event in March 2024.
Hauser has hardly kept his love of professional wrestling a secret even when not in the ring. At the 75th annual Emmy Awards, Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird. His acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and ‘get the tables!’
Fans who attended the recent STARDOM event were stunned to see AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm appear with a very special message.
Storm appeared at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, better known as the ECW Arena. Storm began by expressing her gratitude for STARDOM, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the promotion.
The three-time and reigning AEW Women’s World Champion then presented flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. Turning her attention towards Mina Shirakawa, Storm got in the face of the Artist of Stardom Champion and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”
Shirakawa is booked for Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor 2024. She’ll team with Maika and Mei Seira against Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM. As for Storm, her next high-profile match will come later this month at AEW Dynasty. The Starlet of Wrestling will put her gold on the line against Thunder Rosa.
Another Surprising Name
Toni Storm wasn’t announced for the event, making her appearance at STARDOM American Dream a big surprise, but she wasn’t the only notable non-STARDOM name at the show. WWE Superstar Natalya was also at the event. On Twitter, the former Women’s Champion spoke about reuniting with Kyoko Inoue at the STARDOM show and shared some pictures from backstage.
In 2005 I got my first big break in wrestling and got the opportunity to wrestle in Japan with some of the greatest female wrestlers in the world. I was lucky enough to work with and compete against the one and only Kyoko Inoue. It’s been almost 20 years since I’ve last seen her.… pic.twitter.com/c4RaSqvRqk
Natalya is not currently booked for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40. With that said, some fans are hoping to see a Women’s Battle Royal at the event, which would likely include the BOAT. The hashtag #WomensBattleRoyal trended for multiple days on Twitter.
One of the most popular free agents on the market has been spotted at the WWE World event in Philadelphia amid reports of major interest by the promotion.
Giulia was seen walking the floor at the event and took photos with fans who recognized her. Giulia was seen alongside STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa who was ousted from the promotion earlier this year.
In November 2023, it was reported that WWE had shown great interest in Giulia, a former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. At the time it was said that the company had a “massive” interest in obtaining her services. While it was believed she would be attending a private try-out at the WWE Performance Center, those plans fell apart.
Giulia told STARDOM higher-ups last month that she was planning on leaving the promotion. While several signs point to Giulia joining WWE, it may not happen as quickly as the company would hope.
Giulia gave her word to Ogawa that she would help out if he launched a promotion which has taken priority over joining WWE. Ogawa has refuted the claim that he poached talent away from STARDOM. With his exit, Bushiroad, the parent company of STARDOM, has appointed Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager in charge.
Chelsea Green is ready to be rid of WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce for good and has proposed a loser leaves town match with the ‘Scrapdaddy.’
Appearing on an episode of The Bump from the WWE World event in Philadelphia. , Green once again shared her gripes about Pearce. At the event, the self-prescribed Hot Mess suggested a ‘Loser Leaves Town’ match between herself and the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. Not done yet, she added that if she wins the match and sends Pearce packing, she should become the new General Manager of Raw.
This caught the attention of Pearce, who neither accepted nor refused the match. Instead, the Raw General Manager took to Twitter to claim that he’d easily pin Green and have her escorted away by security. This was seemingly a nod to Green being mistaken for an escort at a hotel a few days earlier.
Responding, Green was far from amused by what Pearce had to say.
Since her historic (if not for the right reasons) return in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Chelsea Green has been a thorn in the side of Adam Pearce. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has repeatedly complained to Pearce about what she considers unfair treatment and has also complained about Pearce not resolving her minor gripes.
Green’s act since returning to WWE has proven to be popular with audiences. The former TNA Knockout has been nominated for ‘Social Star of the Year’ at this year’s Slammy Awards. Green is up against Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, and Grayson Waller in her category. The Slammys will take place at WWE World on April 7.
The stage of WrestleMania 40 has been officially revealed by WWE ahead of this weekend’s two-night show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On YouTube and social media, Kayla Braxton and Jackie Redmond were at Lincoln Financial Field to introduce the dance group ‘The Ninja Kidz.’ The group performed in the ring before the WrestleMania stage was revealed. The set includes this year’s WrestleMania logo as well as large ‘XL’ letters, as these are the Roman numerals for 40.
The stage for WrestleMania 40 is certainly impressive, though isn’t entirely a surprise. In the days leading up to the reveal, candid photos had given a tease as to what the stage would look like.
WrestleMania 40: What’s in Store?
This year’s WrestleMania is already one of the most hotly-anticipated ‘Manias of all time thanks to its stacked main events across both nights. On WrestleMania 40: Saturday, The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring to team with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. The following night, Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line against Cody Rhodes.
Drew McIntyre will seek to finally win a World Championship in front of a live crowd when he competes at WrestleMania 40. This’ll be easier said than done for the Scottish Warrior, who’ll be facing off with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
This match will be see CM Punk serve as a guest commentator. The Second-City Savior has had issues with both men since his return to WWE. McIntyre has even taken credit for the injury Punk suffered during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
For full coverage of WWE WrestleMania 40 and other events across WrestleMania weekend, keep checking back here at SE Scoops.
A victory for Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday wouldn’t just see him ‘finish the story’ but could also usher in a new Undisputed WWE Universal title design.
Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns on Night Two of the upcoming WrestleMania 40 Premium Live Event. Speaking at WWE World, Rhodes was asked about his plans for a potential title reign.
“If I do [win the Championship] maybe we change how the title looks.”
Rhodes earned the opportunity against Reigns by winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. Cody’s ‘Road to WrestleMania’ has not been easy, as for a time, WWE intended on having The Rock challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40 instead.
Cody’s Title Design Changes
If Cody does change the design of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, it wouldn’t be his first time. After capturing the Intercontinental Championship in 2011, Rhodes brought back the classic white-strap version of the gold. This design lasted until 2019 when it was replaced with the Intercontinental Championship design currently held by GUNTHER.
In May 2022, one month after his stunning return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, Rhodes appeared on an episode of WWE After The Bell. During the show, Rhodes teased bringing back the ‘Winged Eagle’ WWE Championship design that had been held by Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels in the past.
“I think there’s a particular design of the WWE Championship that people are very fond of… It really would be something to achieve the ultimate industry dream, being the best of the best ever in terms of that moment in time, and then perhaps give it a fresh coat of paint with the Winged Eagle.”
In addition to his match with Reigns, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40: Saturday.
Shayna Baszler’s step through the ‘forbidden door’ was a successful one for the Queen of Spades, who earned a big win at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X.
At the event, Baszler made a rare non-WWE appearance to take on TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. Both women had back-up as Baszler was accompanied by Zoey Stark while Slamovich arrived alongside reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace.
The crowd was at a fever pitch, delivering a “Holy S**t” chant before things for underway. The two combatants traded leg locks and fought to a stalemate to get things started. The crowd was noticeably pro-Slamovich and anti-Baszler, though this could have been more pro-GCW and anti-WWE.
Baszler took control with jabs to the ribcage while Slamovich fought back with strikes and a flying armbar. Baszler tried to lock in an armbar of her own before Slamovich reversed the attempt.
The finish saw Baszler slip out of an armbar and lock in an ankle lock. Slamovich tried to escape but Baszler released the hold and hit a flurry of stomps so brutal the ref called for the bell. There were loud boos and “F**k You Shayna” chants as she was declared the winner.
Baszler wasn’t the only WWE name in action at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. Earlier in the show, Charlie Dempsey got a submission victory over Matt Makowsi. The finish of the fight saw Dempsey hit a stiff European uppercut on the BJJ Black belt and follow with a German Suplex and double wrist-lock to get the submission victory.
The Rock made an appearance at WWE World today, Thursday, April 4. Everything was supposed to kick off at 4 PM EST, but that is not how things went down at all.
Fans showed up to WWE World on Thursday to see The Final Boss, but he was very late. Some fans were a bit impatient, and they released some of their frustrations on social media. The Rock did show up two hours after he was supposed to be there.
The Rock used his busy schedule as an excuse for his tardiness. He explained that he arrived late for his WWE World appearance because he got caught up watching Jalen Hurts lose in the playoffs on YouTube.
The Rock says he was late to his appearance at WWE World because he was on YouTube watching Jalen Hurts lose in the playoffs again.#WrestleMania
Dwayne Johnson’s return to WWE saw him take on a Hollywood heel persona. He initially wanted a match against Roman Reigns, but that didn’t pan out. Due to fan reaction from the “Cody Crybabies,” he conceded that the main event should give Cody a chance to finish his story.
Original plans called for Cody Rhodes to miss Mania due to a kayfabed injury. CM Punk was also set to take on Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but things shifted after Punk’s injury.
Now, The Rock will team up with Roman Reigns to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of WrestleMania on April 6. The Rock will leave WWE once again after WrestleMania, because his next project, The Smashing Machine, is set to start production just a couple of weeks after WrestleMania 40.
WrestleMania is right around the corner, and Bayley got to call her shot for the grandest stage of them all after she won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. The breakup with Damage CTRL that followed was a long time coming.
WWE fans saw Damage CTRL break up as Bayley declared her shot at IYO Sky’s WWE Women’s Title. That split came in a hurry, but there were plans in motion already for the stable’s demise.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select to explain that plans regarding Bayley and Damage CTRL’s breakup dates back to last year.
The split within Damage CTRL was strategically planned several months prior to the actual breakup, and Charlotte Flair was supposed to be involved as well. It was reported that, “the idea was for Charlotte to aid Bayley in fighting off Damage CTRL when the turn eventually happened.”
Mercedes Mone’s Involvement
Mercedes Mone and WWE were in talks, but they hit a financial roadblock. Her involvement in Bayley’s breakup with Damage CTRL was never factored into any plan.
It was also noted that things may have changed if Mercedes had worked out a deal with WWE. However, that never came to pass. It was also nothing that ever got far enough along to plan out.
One source in WWE said that Mercedes signing with WWE when they had talks definitely could have changed things, but that wasn’t the working plan and things didn’t get far enough for advanced creative pitches.
Bayley will battle IYO Sky for the WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania 40, and that will be a crescendo for a long storyline. We will have to see if Bayley will be able to overcome her former faction on the grandest stage of them all.
Two wrestlers recently cut from All Elite Wrestling have themselves to blame for being cut from the company after they no-showed multiple events.
AEW released several names from its roster earlier this week, including Brent and Brandon Tate, better known as ‘The Boys.’ Their releases came as a surprise to fans as they have been integral to the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV.
During the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan explained how the Tates had failed to show up to work on multiple occasions. This led to Khan deciding to cut them but made clear it was a difficult decision.
Khan explained that these releases were made with AEW carefully monitoring their budget, ensuring they have resources available to compete for top talent in the industry. The promotion recently reached high-budget deals with new signings including Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada.
Who Else Was Let Go?
In total, ten stars were released from All Elite Wrestling. In addition to the Tate brothers, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, Slim J, Gravity, Anthony Henry, Jora Johl, Jose The Assistant, and broadcaster Dasha Kuret were also cut from the promotion.
While Anthony Henry has been released, fans can expect him back with ROH and AEW very soon. On the media call, Khan said that Henry got injured during an independent show and said his situation is a “challenging grey area.” He added that Henry will come back to AEW and Ring of Honor once he is cleared to wrestle again.
WWE WrestleMania 40 will be a massive event. Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and John Cena have been reported for possible appearances. That being said, Cena will be restricted if he shows up.
Filming for “The Peacemaker” series’ second season starring Cena is scheduled to start this summer, a detail corroborated by James Gunn. Cena’s health is very important to that project staying on schedule.
PW Insider reports that if John Cena can make WrestleMania this year, then “he will be off the board for anything major in the physical WWE realm for most of the remainder of 2024.”
It was also noted that John Cena’s WrestleMania 40 appearance hasn’t been confirmed, but there are many in the company who believe that he will be there.
Likely WrestleMania Appearances
John Cena and Steve Austin were both featured on WrestleMania 40 trucks in the background of WWE RAW two weeks ago. It was reported that them appearing on those truck wraps was not an accident at all.
The Undertaker will also be in town for another one of his 1 deadMAN SHOW engagements. That event is sold out, but this is common for Taker’s one-man show gigs at this point. We will have to see if The Deadman makes an appearance at WrestleMania 40 as well.
Cody Rhodes is proud to be part of a ‘renaissance’ in professional wrestling which he believes has not only met but has surpassed the much-acclaimed Attitude Era.
While the Attitude Era is often heralded as the greatest period of wrestling, it’s hard to ignore how well WWE and other promotions have done as of late. In a recent interview with FOX News Digital, Rhodes compared the product of today to that fans consumed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“I’ve heard it coined as the Renaissance Era, and I really like that outlook on it. For me, as a wrestler, I’m most excited that we no longer have to stand in the shadow of the Attitude Era because of the last two years we’ve done better business than they ever did — and they did exceptional, unbelievable, amazing business. I’m only making comparisons on a black and white level, dollars and cents, in terms of what WWE’s been able to do over the last two years.“
WWE’s Renaissance
It could be argued that WWE’s renaissance began at WrestleMania 38, the night Cody Rhodes returned to the promotion. Since then, the promotion has seen significant changes, with Triple H being granted greater creative sway behind the scenes.
With Vince McMahon out of the picture (seemingly for good,) the Game has been allowed to try things that would’ve never made it to TV under his father-in-law. This has ranged from more long-term storytelling to giving opportunities on unlikely talent like Chad Gable and Ivar. WWE’s new era has even allowed for talent to work outside the promotion, with Shinsuke Nakamura competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2023 and Charlie Dempsey wrestling for All Japan earlier this year.
WWE’s biggest show of the year usually draws celebrities appearances. Lil Wayne isn’t going to miss WrestleMania this year.
Weezy was on WWE RAW this week, where he confirmed to Jey Uso that he will be on hand for WrestleMania 40. He will also debut a new single in Lincoln Financial Field.
Lil Wayne is set to make an appearance at WrestleMania this weekend, where he will unveil a fresh single from his forthcoming album, Tha Carter VI, but the big question remains about which song he will pick. A recent social media update from Wayne hints at the possibility of the track being “Bless,” featuring Young Thug.
The Young Money founder posted a blatant tease that “Bless” is the track that they will debut at WrestleMania 40. This came with a video that features a cartoon of Wayne and Thugger in a wrestling ring setting.
Although Lil Wayne will be at Mania, most likely debuting “Bless,” Young Thug will not be there. He is still incarcerated in Georgia, where he is subject to a state RICO case.
In May 2022, Thug was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Atlanta News First just reported that prosecutors have provided an amended witness list to the presiding judge in Young Thug’s case. The updated list, comprising 153 individuals, will be a part of what has already been an incredibly lengthy trial.
The Rock is training hard for his tag team match at WrestleMania 40. This requires a lot of work, and WWE is helping him get ready for greatness on the grandest stage of them all.
ESPN ran an article about The Rock’s return to the ring, and just how much work he’s putting into getting ready. Dwayne Johnson established a training camp, reminiscent of those commonly seen in MMA or boxing circles. Johnson first began training for WrestleMania in February.
WWE facilitated the transportation of two rings, one to Los Angeles and the other to Hawaii, collaborating with Johnson’s team to secure warehouses for use as training venues. That gave The Rock the tools he needed for this training schedule.
The Rock had mock matches alongside NXT’s Gallus faction. Given his upcoming participation in a tag-team match, Johnson required three wrestlers to rehearse in-ring sequences and get his timing down. So, Wolfgang and real-life brothers Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey made the trip for this special assignment.
Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode were also there to supervise the training sessions, with referee Chad Patton there as well. WWE medical personnel were also present to ensure the safety of the rehearsals.
WWE is promoting the WrestleMania 40 tag team match as the biggest of all time. The Rock will team up with Roman Reigns to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 on April 6.
The possibility of The Rock’s return to a full-fledged singles wrestling match remains uncertain. However, his impact will keep going, both within and beyond the wrestling world. He made it very clear that he will still be on TKO’s Board of Directors, so his influence will remain within the company.
“I’m not off the Board after WrestleMania. I’m still on the Board, and I will always be a part of this & we are in it now. This is our thing & will forever be our thing.”
The Rock’s writer Brian Gewirtz clarified to ESPN that The Rock’s presence on RAW won’t necessarily become a regular occurrence. We will have to see if the stars can align for another return run of any kind for the shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer.
Pro wrestling gets into your blood, and it’s really hard to get out of the business totally. This is especially true for someone who is as beloved as Kelly Kelly. Fans just may see her wrestle again eventually, because she keeps showing interest.
Kelly Kelly previously stated that she would like to get back in the ring, because she wants her twins to see her wrestle a match.
She doubled-down on that desire as she spoke to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, where she expanded on what she hopes to gain out of her possible return to the ring.
“I really want my twins to see me wrestle. I think it would be so amazing when they’re like four or five. And I don’t even know if they would still [understand], they probably would get it then. But like seeing that’s my mom and they’re sitting in the front row. And I just remember watching Michelle McCool when she came and did into the Rumble and her daughter was sitting there and her daughter’s face was priceless. I want and I’m like, Oh my gosh, because that’s what I want. If you could just see her daughter’s eyes we’re just so big. And she was just like, that’s my mom, so proud. And I just want that moment for me and my twins one day for them to just be like, That’s my mom and just go out there and kick some butt for a few minutes.”
Kelly Kelly also discussed her decision to retire early from wrestling, noting the toll of constant travel and injuries. She recalled incidents like a knee injury that swelled significantly hours after the initial impact, requiring medical attention. Despite injuries, she continued working, even participating in events like “The Price Is Right” with Bob Barker while dealing with knee issues.
Feeling burnt out and experiencing neck pain, Kelly Kelly expressed her desire for a break, which WWE supported. During this time off, she contemplated pursuing opportunities outside of wrestling, such as modeling and acting. Conversations with Triple H left the door open for a potential return. Eventually, Kelly Kelly received a call informing her of her release from WWE, but it came with a reassurance that she could return in the future.
“I was happy to be at home. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I just was like, kind of burnt out, and I think they could feel that. And here’s the thing with wrestling, your heart has to be in every match. If it’s not you, it’s gonna be sh*t. And I just wasn’t 100% in it at that time. Like, I just was like, I was burnt out. I was tired. I just wanted to be at home. Yeah, and I just think that was just like that moment in time, because I had worked so hard. And I was like, I just need some time.”
She acknowledged that her heart wasn’t fully invested in wrestling at the time of her departure, recognizing the importance of passion in the sport. Ultimately, she viewed her retirement as a necessary break after years of hard work and dedication to wrestling.
Kelly Kelly’s WWE Career
Her career started in the company’s version of ECW, eventually leading to her becoming WWE Divas Champion.
During her six-year tenure as a full-time wrestler from 2006 to 2012, Kelly Kelly achieved significant milestones. She was also working hard to gain exposure for women in WWE during a time when their role on the programming was not what it is today.
She held the WWE Divas Championship once and the WWE 24/7 Championship later on during a cameo appearance after her initial retirement. Additionally, she won a Slammy Award for Divalicious Moment of the Year in 2011, and she was ranked No. 15 in the PWI Female 50 in 2011 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. She retired from in-ring competition the next year.
She has not competed in an official contest since her last singles match on December 8, 2012, during a WWE SmackDown House Show at Linco Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan. In that match, Kelly Kelly emerged victorious over Natalya.
Since her retirement, now known as Barbie Blank, she has made sporadic appearances for WWE, including participating in three women’s Royal Rumble matches, the latest being in 2022. She was also in a Battle Royal at the Evolution pay-per-view in 2018.
Kelly Kelly’s Personal Life
On May 29, 2020, Barbie Blank got engaged to bodybuilder Joe Coba. Their wedding took place on April 9, 2021, in Oak Glen, California.
Then, on March 28, 2023, Blank shared the news of her pregnancy with her first child. By April, she revealed she was expecting twins. Finally, on September 10, she welcomed her son Jaxon Matthew and daughter Brooklyn Marie.
Barbie Blank also appeared on a number of television shows, and was a main cast member of the reality television program WAGS. Her personal life after WWE was also highlighted on that show
The Rock is back for the road to WrestleMania 40, but The Final Boss is still a Hollywood juggernaut, and he will have to get back to Tinsel Town after the bright lights of Mania are switched off.
The Rock will start filming his next movie, The Smashing Machine, immediately following WrestleMania 40. This will impact his schedule, reducing his availability in the upcoming months.
Dwayne Johnson’s involvement in the WrestleMania 40 night one main event and top storyline has garnered significant attention. Despite teases and fan hopes that they will see him in singles matches against Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns, that is not expected in the near future.
WrestleMania 40′s main event on April 6 will see The Rock team up with Roman Reigns to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins. That match will directly affect the main event contest on night two, where it will be Bloodline rules if the heel team wins. WWE fans might not see much of The Rock after the show of shows.
Nick Khan Confirms The Rock’s Plans
WWE CEO Nick Khan confirmed on The Town podcast that The Rock will be taking off after WrestleMania 40. He has to shoot The Smashing Machine, and that will be a rare project for The Great One, as it is not a big budget production.
“[His next film] Smashing Machine. So it’s his first, I think from what I understand, like not a hundred million dollar picture since he’s become a big megastar. So he goes into that a week or two after WrestleMania. Yeah. And then goes into live Moana after that, which knock on wood should be a big hit.”
It was later confirmed to ESPN that his influence will continue within and outside the wrestling world. He emphasized his ongoing role on TKO’s Board of Directors, ensuring his impact remains within the company.
“I’m not off the Board after WrestleMania. I’m still on the Board, and I will always be a part of this & we are in it now. This is our thing & will forever be our thing.”
Roman Reigns’ schedule has decreased significantly over the last few years. He only wrestled 11 matches in 2023, and 3 of those contests were at house shows. The Head of the Table has also only wrestled once in 2024 so far, as he successfully defended the Undisputed Universal Title against LA Knight, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match at the Royal Rumble.
Becky Lynch has achieved yet another remarkable feat as her memoir, “Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl,” secured a spot on this week’s New York Times Best Sellers list.
Lynch’s autobiography ranked third in the combined print and e-book nonfiction category and fourth in the hardcover nonfiction category. The 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber winner can now add best-selling author to her already impressive resume.
WWE joined in the celebration, extending their congratulations to Lynch via a tweet. They are obviously very proud that The Man’s book was so well-received.
Leading up to the release of her memoir on March 26, Lynch embarked on a media tour to promote the book. That included a book signing events across seven different cities.
Published by Gallery Books, which is a division of Simon & Schuster, Lynch’s memoir covers her journey in pro wrestling from her earliest days through her humble beginnings to her ascent to stardom.
Becky Lynch is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. The two will reportedly open up the two-night event, which is a match placement that Lynch wanted in the first place.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Thursday, April 4. Fans had AEW Dynamite last night, and it’s only one day away from the WWE Hall of Fame the go-home SmackDown before WrestleMania.
– Ronda Rousey Accuses Drew Gulak:Rousey brought attention to Drew Gulak when she claimed that he grabbed the string on her sweatpants, which she said was an illustration of the culture within WWE toward women. He later responded to the allegation.
– Dax Seemingly Responds: Dax Harwood had a chance to cut a promo after AEW Dynamite this week. Many fans believe that he was answering back to CM Punk’s comments about the company that he made during his Ariel Helwani interview on the MMA Hour.
Dax cut a promo following AEW Dynamite last night responding to the comments his friend CM Punk made on MMA Hour. pic.twitter.com/L9BT3pmtpx
– MJF & The Rock: MJF had to respond to The Rock when the People’s Champion wanted to buy a work of art that MJF’s ex painted. Needless to say, that resulted in quite a viral moment.
– AEW Releases: In case you missed it, we have compiled a tracker for AEW releases and departures in 2024. You may find that list here.
Upcoming Wrestling Shows
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
WrestleMania 40 is right around the corner and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is brimming with confidence that he can finally put an end to Cody Rhodes’ story for good.
Roman Reigns and The Rock made an appearance onThe Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote this weekend’s event. ‘The Tribal Chief’ minced no words when asked about Cody Rhodes trying to ‘finish the story.’
The reigning champion feels Cody is ‘reading the wrong book.’ In addition to this, he highlighted the cutthroat pro wrestling world where everyone thinks they’re number one – taking a shot at his upcoming opponent in the process.
“I think Cody’s reading the wrong book at this point, because we don’t care about his story,” Reigns quipped. “It’s a funny thing because [turns to The Rock] you told me this a long time ago. In the wrestling business, there’s no call sheet. There’s no, ‘He’s number one, he’s number two.’ So everybody in our roster believes they’re number one. So it’s just a shark tank.”
This is Cody’s second attempt to dethrone Roman Reigns but the latter is determined to ‘close the book’ on his arch-nemesis.
“Everybody’s trying to take each other out. This guy’s been chasing me for two years now. I’ve beaten him, we’ve crossed this bridge already. So this is where we close the book completely on this guy, Cody Rhodes, and we display what the most powerful family in pro wrestling is all about. That’s what this weekend is all about.”
Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns saga
‘The American Nightmare’ has been relentless in pursuing Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Last year, Cody came close to beating ‘The Tribal Chief’ for the title at WrestleMania 39 but the champ had the last laugh.
Now, the stage is set at WrestleMania 40 for Cody to pen the final chapter of his story and put an end to this rivalry once and for all.
However, it’s a daunting task at hand for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner. On WrestleMania Saturday, he will join forces with Seth Rollins to face The Rock and Roman Reigns. The outcome of the match will determine whether it’s ‘Bloodline Rules’ when he faces Roman Reigns for the Universal title the next night.
EA Sports NFL Madden 24 Ultimate Team mode has been bolstered by the addition of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
After being a part of the WWE games for several years, now ‘The Tribal Chief’ will be featured in an NFL Madden 24. The official Twitter/X account has revealed that their Ultimate Team mode will include Roman Reigns as a right-end player and will make his debut on Thursday, April 4.
From the Gridiron to Hollywood, these famous players-turned-actors are dropping in #Madden24 tomorrow
— Madden Ultimate Team (@EASPORTS_MUT) April 3, 2024
Reigns will be joining the legendary actor Burt Reynolds as part of the Reel Deals program. This news comes ahead of this weekend’s WrestleMania 40 where Roman Reigns will headline both nights.
Before transitioning as a full-time pro wrestler as Roman Reigns, Leati Joe Anoa’i had a successful football career. He initially played for Pensacola Catholic High School and then Escambia High School.
Roman Reigns’ football career
He attained further success when he started playing for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. He eventually signed with the Minnesota Vikings but his run with the franchise soon ended when he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Later, Roman Reigns joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, he was let go in less than a week. Following his release from Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL, he decided to hang up his boots prematurely in November, 2009. He then transcended into the world of pro wrestling and the rest is history.
Most recently, Roman Reigns stated that hadn’t his football career ended prematurely, he wouldn’t have stepped foot inside the squared circle. Luckily, he did and we are witnessing one of the greatest championship runs in WWE history.
WWE Superstar Sami Zayn will be flexing his comedy muscles at the upcoming ‘Netflix is a Joke’ entertainment festival.
Taking to Twitter, Zayn said he is “so excited” to be part of the festival that’ll take place this May in Los Angeles. Zayn’s comedy show ‘Sami Zayn & Friends’ will take place on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 pm local time in Avalon, Hollywood, CA.
??? So excited about this!
I will be doing a live comedy show as part of @NetflixIsAJoke Festival in LA.
Pre-Sale tickets will go on sale on Thursday, April 4, at 10 am PDT. General Sale tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 5, at 10 am PDT.
It’s hardly a surprise that Zayn is making moves in the world of comedy. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion has often been heralded for his humor which was on full display during his 2022 role as part of The Bloodline. Zayn was even able to make some members of the group ‘corpse,’ meaning they couldn’t help but laugh at what he was doing even when they were supposed to be serious.
Wrestling & Comedy
Zayn isn’t the only wrestler to try his hand in the world of comedy. For years, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has hosted stand-up comedy gigs both in the United States and overseas.
TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth has also hosted stand-up comedy shows in the past and was previously in a relationship with Amy Schumer. Nemeth hosted a comedy show with his brother Ryan in November 2023, mere weeks after his WWE release.
Considered one of the best talkers in wrestling, it seemed inevitable that ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper would try his hand at stand-up comedy. The Hot Rod hosted sets after his in-ring career ended and his work was praised by comedians including Ari Shaffir of Comedy Central. He also was in a handful of episodes of the hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Raw’s Move to Netflix
WWE Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix in January 2025 in a blockbuster move that’ll take the red brand off traditional broadcast television. The deal is even sweeter for fans outside of the U.S. who will see Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events all moved to the streaming giant.
