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Tributes Pour in For Francisco Ciatso After Journeyman Wrestler’s Death Aged 48

Thomas Lowson
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Wrestlers, fans, and promotions alike have paid tribute to Francisco Ciatso following his sudden passing at the age of 48. 

Ciatso was the subject of a 2019 documentary, Journeyman, and his death was shared publicly by Florida promoter Barry Rose via a Facebook post. 

“We’d like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Francisco Ciatso, who passed away overnight. Frankie was a part of two CWF Legends Fanfests as he proudly presented the movie based on his life, Journeyman. RIP, champ.”

Tributes to Francisco Ciatso

As a competitor in multiple promotions, Ciatso created several friendships throughout his career. On Twitter, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was at a loss for words. 

Indy-God Matt Cardona would also share his condolences with a picture of the late wrestler. 

Kenny King described Ciatso’s sudden passing as “unreal.”

Eric Koenreich recalled working with Fransico during his career. He said that Ciatso was a larger-than-life personality both in and out of the ring. 

TNA Wrestling also shared their condolences to Ciatso’s friends and family. Ciatso appeared for the promotion off and on as Frankie Capone. 

Byron Saxton said that Ciatso was the definition of passion and fortitude in the wrestling business. 

Brian Heffron, asks the Blue Meanie, shared a tribute shirt that is available to purchase. Proceeds will go to Ciatso’s family. The NWA’s

The NWA’s Jeremiah Plunkett recalled Ciatso helping him through some difficult times in his tribute. 

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Ciatso’s family. It has already surpassed its goal but can still be donated to. Click here to find out more. 

Hulk Hogan Teases Royal Rumble Involvement: “I Might Have One Left In Me”

Thomas Lowson
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Could WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan make his return to competition as part of this weekend’s Royal Rumble event? You never know… 

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Hogan’s historic world title win over the Iron Sheik, which is cited as the day that Hulkamania was born. WWE reportedly has big plans to celebrate the historic title change. 

On this week’s Raw, Hogan looked back on the magic of his first World Championship win, and spoke about the Royal Rumble event that will take place this weekend. Teasing involvement in the match, Hogan said that you never know who may show up, adding “I might have one left in me.”

Hulk Hogan in the Royal Rumble

Hogan is one of three men to have won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches, putting him in an elite class with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. The Hulkster was the first person in history to win multiple Rumble matches, having emerged victorious in 1990 and 1991. Hogan has competed in four Royal Rumble matches in his career. Combined, he has scored 27 eliminations and has lasted a total of 56:49 

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, Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Kofi Kingston, Damian Priest) 
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Ivy Nile)
  • 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… 

Adam Copeland Uses Three Words To Sum Up His Upcoming Match Against Minoru Suzuki

Dominic DeAngelo
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Aside from his friend turned enemy in Christian Cage, Adam Copeland has his toughest competition forthcoming this week on AEW Dynamite in Minoru Suzuki.

In light of the first-ever battle between two long-established veterans, Copeland took a moment to comment on the fight. AEW shared a clip of the former TNT Champion lamenting for his eagerness to step into the ring with a legend of NJPW.

“Minoru Suzuki vs. ‘The Rated R Superstar.’ Man, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. We are gonna beat the hell out of each other – two grizzly gnarled evil bastards beating eachother up and I can’t wait.

“Suzuki I know what you’re going to bring, I hope you know what I’m going to bring. I’m gonna sum this match up in three words for all of you. Grit your teeth.”

Minoru Suzuki has squared up against several top stars in AEW including Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston and current AEW World Champion Samoa Joe.  Back at Forbidden Door, Suzuki also stood across the ring from a different WWE Hall of Famer in Sting as he teamed up with Jericho and Sammy Guevara to battle The Icon, Darby Allin and Tetsuya Naito in trios action.

AEW Dynamite this week sure has a stacked card on Wednesday. Not only do fans get Copeland vs. Suzuki, but will get to see Swerve Strickland vs. Jeff Hardy and Hangman Page take on Penta El Zero Miedo in singles action. Additionally, the aforementioned Sting and Darby Allin will be in attendance

Seth Rollins Vows To Make WrestleMania Despite 3-4 Month Injury Recovery Time

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins suffered a partially MCL tear and a meniscus tear during the January 15th episode of WWE RAW. That World Heavyweight Championship defense against Jinder Mahal was a success, but now the Visionary needed to address his future.

Rollins’ Big Announcement

The January 22nd episode of WWE RAW promised to open with Seth Rollins, as he addressed the WWE Universe. The subject of his promo was set to be his future as World Heavyweight Champion.

Rollins made his way to the ring with a brace on his left knee. Then he got in the squared circle as “Thank you, Seth” chants rang out.

The WWE World Heavyweight Champion addressed the New Orleans fans by welcoming them to Monday Night Rollins, before thanking them for their amazing reception to his entrance.

Rollins said he felt something give in with his knee after doing a moonsault during his match against Jinder Mahal. It wasn’t until he got backstage on January 15th, after that title match, when he first started to think that a lengthy hiatus is possible.

Then, Rollins said that he thought there was a real possibility that he may miss WrestleMania. Then he had his MRI done, and the new wasn’t great, but it could be much worse. His MCL tear is only a grade-two tear, and with surgery, he may be out of action three to four months.

As Seth said he is taking things day-by-day, GUNTHER and Imperium entered to stop him mid-sentence.

GUNTHER said that Rollins been a champion that everyone can be proud of, just like him. He said it pulls on his heartstrings to see Seth suffer a knee injury, and it makes him “honestly sad” that he may miss WrestleMania.

That is when Rollins said that GUNTHER should have let him finish. He said he doesn’t give a damn how hard he has to rehab and push his knee, because he will walk into WrestleMania 40 as WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

What’s Next

WWE is planning a WrestleMania 40 match between CM Punk and Seth Rollins. This has been the plan since Punk’s reintroduction to the WWE landscape.

I previously reported on Rollins’ status and the possibility of alternate matches for CM Punk at WrestleMania, I asked a tenured member of the WWE creative team, who stated as of Friday evening, “Rollins is still on for Mania at this moment.”

Randy Orton was advertised to step in for Seth Rollins at this weekend’s WWE live events. Interestingly enough, The Viper did not make that appearance, either. WWE’s Royal Rumble event is going down on January 27th, where Seth Rollins is not scheduled to compete, but Orton is in a fatal four-way for the Undisputed Universal Title against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Roman Reigns. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C2bMaTrJFJj

CM Punk Reportedly Used Political Leverage In AEW To End Longstanding Company Tradition

Aaron Varble
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AEW is bringing back their weekly ranking system, something that some fans really missed. Now, fans who love stats will have something else to comb through every week. It seems that the disappearance of that ranking system was to blame on CM Punk.

Why AEW Nixed Their Ranking System The First Time

In the early years of AEW, a ranking system was employed to determine upcoming championship matches in each division. However, it disappeared in the final months of 2022.

CM Punk had significant backstage influence over certain aspects of AEW while he was with the company. This included things going away, and one of those things was the AEW rankings, which vanished during his tenure with the company.

During the Bryan & Vinny Show, Bryan Alvarez reported that he was told it was Punk’s idea was to eliminate the rankings. He apparently had a discussion with Tony Khan about them, and then they were gone

“These f*cking rankings. Do you know whose idea it was to get rid of the rankings? I was told it was CM Punk. He talked Tony into getting rid of the rankings.”

CM Punk also got to pick his roster for AEW Collision. He had say-so in which talent AEW brought in for the show as well, and he could ban talent from the company’s Saturday night show as well. This is why the Collision roster was loaded with his friends, a practice that remained until his AEW release.

After CM Punk’s AEW Release

Following a discipline committee, consisting of Bryan Danielson and two attorneys, AEW terminated Punk due to a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023. This decision came after Punk’s All Out brawl with The Elite the previous year and various backstage issues. It did not take Punk long until he returned to WWE after his AEW release.

Now, it appears that Tony Khan is bringing back his ranking system. Interestingly enough, this is coming during a time when he has received a significant spotlight due to his reliance on CageMatch rankings.

WWE 2k24 Cover Illustrator Shuts Down Accusation Of Using AI To Make Art

Aaron Varble
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WWE Games revealed the cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. Cody Rhodes will appear on the regular version’s cover, while Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will share the deluxe edition cover. They are also releasing a Forty Years of WrestleMania edition, and that cover brought some controversy.

WWE 2K Artist Speaks Out Against AI Rumor

On Monday, January 22, 2K disclosed new details about the latest addition to their WWE game series, WWE 2K24. The game will offer three editions: the Standard Edition, the Deluxe Edition, and the 40 Years Of WrestleMania Edition.

The cover for the 40 Years Of WrestleMania Edition showcases iconic WWE figures from the past and present, including The Rock, The Undertaker, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Triple H, and John Cena. The artwork is pretty incredible, but in today’s world, so many believe that AI has a hand in everything.

WWE 2K24 Covers: 3 Editions

A group of online fans criticized this cover, accusing 2K of using artificial intelligence to generate it. Jonathan Bartlett swiftly refuted these claims, asserting that he personally illustrated the cover as he replied to a now-deleted post.

ummmmmm HI. this is 100000000% human made, by me.

but honestly, im gonna triple down on my FUCK A.I, because this is what we deal with now. Skepticism from others that will be quick to jump to a conclusion with out giving it thought. And now here I am defending my hard earned AND learned craft of picture making.

One fan told Jonathan that this was just a joke, one he must have missed. To that, the artist replied to say, “I… did? I get the Hogan joke. AI accusations are hella sensitive and if I missed the sarcasm in his personality, thats on me.”

WWE 2K24 Release Date

WWE 2K24 is scheduled for release on all current generation consoles. A complete roster reveal is still pending at the time of writing.

The game will be launched in two waves for different editions. On March 5th, the WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions will be released.

The standard and cross-gen digital editions of the game are set to be available on March 8th. Pre-orders are currently open.

Ivy Nile Shares Excitement For 2024 Royal Rumble Match, Potential Surprise Entrants (Exclusive)

Ella Jay
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The road to WrestleMania will soon begin charting its course. Before we can reach the final destination at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia though, we must first head to the starting point in St. Petersburg, Florida — the site of the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble. 

This weekend, 30 men and 30 women will compete in their respective Royal Rumble matches, with the winner of each guaranteeing themselves a title shot of their choosing at WrestleMania 40. SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay spoke with WWE Raw star Ivy Nile ahead of this premium live event, where Nile shared her excitement about the possibility of competing in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

“Isn’t that crazy that I was an alternate last year? That’s crazy,” Nile said. “I really believe in visioning yourself. Like last year, I envisioned just making that run down the way, and just envisioning myself in it. I definitely am doing the same thing this year and gosh, I’m just getting goosebumps thinking about it. To say you were in a WWE Royal Rumble, that’s insane to me. I’m very hopeful that I’ll be in it, but you never know. If Nia Jax is in it, we will see, I’m coming after her first. We’ll see. It’s definitely an exciting time backstage, and just hoping and waiting.”

Potential Surprise Entrants

As of this writing, only a handful of competitors have been confirmed for the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, leaving the field wide open for surprise entrants to appear. When asked about who she’d like to see emerge as a surprise in the match, Nile pointed toward another powerhouse — WWE NXT star Lash Legend.

“I gotta say, I hope my girl Last Legend comes up from NXT. Like I said, we’ve had some of the best fights, but that’s also my girl. Gosh, I honestly love the element of surprise. I think that’s why everyone watches the Rumble, because you just never know who’s gonna show up, and I think that’s so exciting. I mean, you kind of wish for some things, and then if someone is there and you’re starstruck, you’re just standing there like ‘What?’ So gosh,I really love the element of surprise.”

On the topic of surprises, Nile tells SEScoops that there are specific two names that would cause her to feel starstruck if they were to compete in the Royal Rumble this year. 

“I think AJ [Lee] would be amazing. Gosh, like star-struck by, I’m a huge Ronda Rousey fan. Of course, I just think she’s amazing. I would definitely — I don’t know what I would do. I would start running down, or if I’m running to them in that case, I don’t know, it would be crazy.”

WWE Royal Rumble takes place Saturday, January 27 from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

5 Surprises To Watch For At WWE Royal Rumble 2024

Mike Chin
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The 2024 edition of WWE’s Royal Rumble is right around the corner. One of the reasons fans look forward to this show each year is propensity for it to feature not only major surprises across the field of 60 Rumble participants between the men’s and women’s versions of the matches, but also surprises of consequence given this PPV also kicks off the Road to WrestleMania.

There is an especially high volume of speculation this year. There’s the possibility of noteworthy clashes within each Rumble match, as well as a number of talents poised to return from injury or other absences from WWE. Moreover, there are NXT talents who could be very interesting to add to the main roster mix right about now.

A Cody Rhodes Vs. CM Punk Encounter

cm punk 24 1

One of the bigger dream matches WWE currently has its disposal is Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk. The only encounters between the two have come in tag team situations and battle royals, besides a couple of forgettable singles bouts on Raw before either man had attained main event status in WWE.

A proper feud between Rhodes and Punk doesn’t necessarily make much sense for the next few months. Assuming they both stay healthy, Punk appears to be on a collision course with Seth Rollins for WrestleMania, besides teasing a feud with Drew McIntyre. Meanwhile, The American Nightmare has unfinished business with Roman Reigns.

The Royal Rumble affords a natural spot for these two to face off though, perhaps working together or, all the more appealing, trading some moves to hint at an eventual destiny with one another going one-on-one on a big stage. The pairing is all the more intriguing because these two are on the short list of legit contenders to win this year’s men’s Royal Rumble, and given how Punk called out Rhodes recently on Raw.

Ava Raine Gets Established On The Main Roster

ava raine paul heyman 1

Despite her inexperience and not having the most prominent placement in NXT, The Rock’s daughter, Ava Raine, has had a great deal of intrigue around her since she signed with WWE. The 2024 Royal Rumble would provide an interesting platform to more formally introduce her to the main roster audience.

On one hand, there’s a low stakes opportunity for Raine to participate in the women’s Royal Rumble. WWE has, on quite a few occasions, had developmental prospects make one-off main roster appearances to work in this spot. This role both makes fans aware of an up-and-comer and gives them a proving ground working in front of a larger audience than usual.

On the other hand, The Rock’s recent appearance on WWE Raw brought up its share of speculation about his involvement moving forward with WWE, up to and including main eventing WrestleMania opposite Roman Reigns. With Rock’s own daughter in the company and one of the few people tied to the Anoa’I family who is not already in the Bloodline story, it could be pretty fascinating to introduce her as a point of intrigue, perhaps with Rock and Reigns dueling for her loyalties.

A Protected Appearance From Gable Steveson

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Gable Steveson was a white-hot prospect when WWE signed him fresh off winning a gold medal in wrestling in the Olympics. Unfortunately, both from what fans have been able to observe from his on-screen appearances to date and from the rumor mill coming out of the Performance Center, it seems he hasn’t picked up pro wrestling as quickly as one would hope.

Still, he has worked house show matches in NXT, and more recently dark matches before SmackDown tapings, all of which suggests WWE hasn’t given up on him and may even be looking at introducing him on the blue brand in the near future. The Royal Rumble would be a natural spot to have him show up, hit a few belly-to-belly suplexes, and remind fans he’s around before someone sneaks in an elimination or the numbers game catches up to him.

The Return Of Andrade

Andrade

Andrade’s AEW contract ran out at the end of 2023, as confirmed by Tony Khan in the media scrum after the Worlds End PPV, making him an intriguing free agent. His previous WWE run ended in frustration when he didn’t get much of a push on the main roster.

With Triple H now in charge of WWE creative though, and the history of Helmsley pushing Andrade in NXT, there might be a friendlier landscape for the luchador to return to the company now. That’s in addition to him having married WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair last year.

Rey Mysterio Tends To Unfinished Business

rey mysterio 994 1

Rey Mysterio has been out of action due to a knee injury. While there’s no definitive word on when he’ll be ready to get back in the ring, most of the early forecasts suggested he should be healed up by mid-January.

Mysterio is a fan favorite, sure to get a good pop for a surprise return in the Royal Rumble. Moreover, there are multiple roles he could naturally play upon coming back. The most obvious route would be for him to seek revenge on Santos Escobar and company who, in kayfabe, were responsible for his absence. 

Mysterio has also commented on wanting to work an eventual hair vs. hair match with his son Dominik. The father returning to spoil the son’s Rumble could set the wheels in motion for that big-time gimmick match at WrestleMania this year.

There are plenty of possibilities for how this year’s Royal Rumble PPV could play out. That includes other rumors around prospective returns for Naomi or Liv Morgan, and speculation about whether some of Sean Waltman’s social media posts may be hinting at an appearance. Regardless, it seems fans can be certain there’s an entertaining show in store, and that it will have at least few twists and turns.

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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0

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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0

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

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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

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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

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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

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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… 

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