Mat Basso, the head trainer of Riot City Wrestling could not be happier for the success of his former student Rhea Ripley as a WWE Superstar.
After signing with WWE in 2017, Ripley has become one of the company’s top stars. Not only is she the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, but her star power has also extended to social media with 2.6M followers on TikTok and another 3.4M on Instagram.
Rhea Ripley’s Rise to the Top
This weekend, Ripley will return to her native Australia as part of the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. The Women’s World Champion will get a thunderous ovation from her native Aussies when she defends against Nia Jax in Optus Stadium. Speaking to ABC Australia, Basso addressed Ripley’s success.
“We always knew that there was a possibility for her because she had that special spark and that magic to her… Her rise through the ranks has been crazy and I just couldn’t be happier for her. She’s absolutely going to be a future Hall of Famer.”
Basso also recalled Ripley’s time with RCW, which she continues to visit when she’s back home and helps new talent.
“That’s one of my favorite things about her, she’s still a girl from Adelaide… She was essentially a toned-down version of what she is now. While she was with us, she was still finding her feet a little bit.”
What’s Next for Rhea Ripley?
Ripley is the heavy favorite to retain her title when she faces Nia Jax at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. If she wins, Ripley will go on to WrestleMania 40 and defend against the winner of the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Ripley is also set to be one of the cover stars of WWE 2K24 when the game releases next month.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place this Saturday.
WWE is currently on the ‘Road to WrestleMania’ as the company prepares for its biggest event of the year. That said, fans have also been interested in when the company will announce where WWE SummerSlam will be located.
The annual Summer event is expected to occur this August, but WWE has yet to provide more information. However, Cleveland, Ohio, has been rumored to be the host of ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer.’
Cleveland Scene’s Vince Grzegorek reports that WWE was awarded a $1.6 million tax credit from the Ohio Department of Development last week. While the company has yet to confirm, this hints towards Cleveland, Ohio, being this year’s WWE SummerSlam location.
“…WWE was awarded $1.6 million in credits for an unspecified TV series, but with rumors continuing to build since last year that Cleveland would be the home for WWE’s second-biggest pay-per-view event, it seems more than plausible that the credit is for SummerSlam,” said the report.
WWE has held events at stadiums for WWE SummerSlam for the last three years. If the company continues the trend, the event will likely occur either at the Cleveland Browns Stadium or Progressive Field.
The company has tickets on sale for two events in August, including WWE Bash In Berlin at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany, on August 31. WWE SummerSlam will likely occur within the first two weeks of the month. ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer, ‘ which takes place earlier in August, would allow the company to build towards their first premium live event in Germany.
Current Ticket Status For WWE Elimination Chamber
On February 24, WWE will head to Perth, Australia, for the WWE Elimination Chamber. The event will occur at the Optus Stadium and looks far from sold out.
WrestleTix reported on February 19 that 46,242 tickets had been sold and had 2,867 left available. While impressive, Optus Stadium could have a capacity of 60,000. It’s worth noting that the structure of the elimination chamber could have resulted in fewer seats being available. However, the event tickets have not sold quickly and successfully as other events like WWE WrestleMania 40 or even WWE Royal Rumble.
This weekend’s event won’t shatter attendance records the Optus Stadium has had previously, but it is still great. An announcement for WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland, Ohio, could continue WWE’s hot streak of impressive turnouts for their 2024 live event schedule.
WWE history is full of incredible artifacts, and some of them have hit the open market. Of course, WWE has their legendary warehouse, but they didn’t have Eddie Guerrero’s low rider, because that is now property of Vanilla Ice.
Eddie Guerrero’s Low Rider Has A New Owner
One of Eddie Guerrero’s low riders, previously showcased on WWE television, has been acquired by Vanilla Ice. Of course, the famous one-hit wonder rapper was very happy to show off this item.
Vanilla Ice revealed in a video on his YouTube channel that he acquired the vehicle for $15,000 from someone who seemingly underestimated its value, unaware of its connection to Eddie Guerrero.
Ice speculated that the seller may not have realized the potential six-figure worth of the car. He also mentioned that the seller had already invested $30,000 in improvements. In the video, Ice showcased the car, complete with a custom Eddie Guerrero WWE Championship. Obviously, he knew the connection to pro wrestling history, and he wants to make sure that the low-rider is in good hands.
The ownership history of the car remains uncertain, but Ice apparently has the real McCoy. When low riders were featured in Eddie’s entrances on television, WWE typically rented them from local car dealers in each city. Additionally, the specific car was featured in a photoshoot for Low Rider Magazine, with Eddie posing alongside it. So, it got special attention from Latino Heat.
Eddie Guerrero and His Low Riders
Eddie Guerrero frequently incorporated low riders into his persona and entrances. These customized vehicles, known for their lowered bodies and unique features, added flair and authenticity to Guerrero’s character. Notably, a Chevrolet Impala was often seen as his preferred low rider during his time in WWE, becoming iconic among fans.
Beyond wrestling, Guerrero was known to have a genuine passion for low riders, collecting and enjoying them as a reflection of his cultural identity and personal interests. His association with these custom cars remains a cherished aspect of his legacy in both wrestling and automotive enthusiast circles. Now, Vanilla Ice has a piece of that history himself.
Cash Wheeler is facing the consequences of his gun charge as the prosecutor moves forward with legal proceedings. Now, he is headed to court as prosecutors have opted to pursue the case.
Cash Wheeler Going To Trial
Daniel Wheeler, also known as Cash Wheeler, faces one count of aggravated assault with a firearm following his arrest in 2023. A warrant for his arrest was issued on July 28, the day after the incident occurred on July 27.
The FTR member already asserted his innocence through his attorney during his initial court appearance on August 3. All firearms belonging to Wheeler were mandated to be surrendered to the local sheriff’s department until the resolution of the case.
During a road rage incident, Wheeler purportedly brandished a firearm. His attorney emphasized that the altercation was not of a domestic nature and that Wheeler was not acquainted with the individuals involved. The charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.
According to court documents obtained by PW Insider, Wheeler was absent from his arraignment today. The trial is scheduled to commence on May 20th, with pre-trial proceedings set for May 7th, where Wheeler has been directed to attend.
What Happened During This Incident
On July 27, 2023, Orange County in Florida issued an incident report. Officer M. Bowhay arrived at the scene of an aggravated assault involving a firearm and interviewed the victim, Daniel Matta.
Matta claimed that Wheeler aimed a gun at him while both were driving on Interstate 4. After positively identifying Wheeler from a photo lineup, Matta’s statement resulted in the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm against Wheeler.
SEScoops is sending out our best for Cash Wheeler at this time. Hopefully, he can get this matter taken care of.
On February 24, WWE will head to the land down under to host the 2024 Elimination Chamber premium live event from the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
As usual, the Elimination Chamber marks a key stop on the Road to WrestleMania, as a trio of upcoming matches have WrestleMania 40 implications. This PLE also marks WWE’s first Australia-based event since Super Show-Down in October 2018, making this show all the more exhilarating for Australian WWE fans. As of February 15, WWE’s 2024 Elimination Chamber had distributed over 45,000 of the 49,000 tickets currently up for the event (h/t WrestleTix).
The Magnitude Of Elimination Chamber
Who will survive to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania?
One of the marquee matches will see Logan Paul, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley compete inside the Men’s Elimination Chamber. The winner of this grueling contest will then move on to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Despite the danger that lies ahead, Kevin Owens is ready to give it his all, and ready to step onto a stage that seems to parallel that of WrestleMania.
“This may very well be the biggest Chamber event – the biggest Chamber match we’ve ever had as well,” Owens said in a WWE SmackDown digital exclusive. ‘It’s in Perth, it’s going to be in front of thousands and thousands and thousands of people that have been waiting for a PLE in their city, in their country, on their continent for a very long time. It really does not get much bigger than this.”
“WrestleMania is huge, but Elimination Chamber is going to give WrestleMania a run for its money as far as the sheer magnitude of the event and what it means to everybody. Chamber, bring it on. As risky as it is, as dangerous as it is, I’m all in. I’m going to give everything I have. I’m going to leave it all in Perth.”
2024 WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Card
The 2024 Elimination Chamber will broadcast this Saturday, with the main show beginning at 5:00 AM EST. The current lineup is as follows:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate
Elimination Chamber match (winner earns shot at Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40): Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. TBD
WWE Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax
Elimination Chamber (winner earns shot at World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul
The Grayson Waller Effect: Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins as special guests
It’s been almost a decade-and-a-half since Rob Van Dam first grappled up with Samoa Joe in TNA and now the roles are somewhat reversed this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.
RVD first wrestled Samoa Joe on the July 8, 2010 episode of TNA Impact. Back then, Van Dam was the World Heavyweight Champion of the promotion and he took on Samoa Joe in a non-title match main event.
RVD came out victorious after he pulled a “Bret Hart to Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII” 1-2-3 when Joe had him in the Kokina Clutch, but Van Dam used the turnbuckle to flip over and pin the then “Samoan Suplex Machine.”
“Samoa Joe is awesome by the way, you know, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago to me having that match. So when you put the year in like that it makes sense, then it’s like, ‘Wow, okay.’ So I guess 14 years ago, that’s a pretty big chunk of time. You only get so many 14 [year] blocks of time in your life.”
Now this Wednesday RVD will tag up once again with HOOK and the wild card, Hangman Page as they take on Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage. However, this time, it’s Joe who’s the World Champion in this full-circle situation.
Does Van Dam Have His Eyes On AEW Gold?
RVD later makes note that he isn’t one to shy away from making firsts in pro wrestling and getting hold of the AEW “Big Platinum” isn’t something he’s ruling out of the cards forthcoming.
“So if I go after the AEW Championship, say I collect that f***ing gold and add that and become the only wrestler to have held the WWE, TNA, ECW and AEW Championship. I mean, I do s*** like that. I’m always finding new ways to stand out and be one of a kind. Imagine if that happened, how inspired people would be in general to think they grew up watching me decades ago. And then here at 53, they’re seeing me, perspectively, maybe having the best matches or the best year of my career.”
The main event picture surrounding Roman Reigns, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes has gobbled up a disproportionate amount of the spotlight on the Road to WrestleMania. Nonetheless, one of the best-built stories WWE has cultivated in recent months revolves, instead around Bayley.
Bayley won the women’s Royal Rumble and is on a collision course with Iyo Sky after splintering from the Damage CTRL faction. Bayley reached new heights in these past four-plus years as a heel in WWE, but the timing is right for her to return to her babyface roots. There’s all the potential in the world for this new run to exceed Bayley’s first face campaign at the dawn of her WWE career.
WWE Main Roster Fans Have Been Along For The Ride
When WWE launched NXT as its developmental brand and, all the more so, after the WWE Network came around and made developmental programming more accessible for a wider range of fans, the company faced a conundrum. On one hand, NXT was very good. It featured great matches and creative, which cultivated a loyal fan base. The black and gold brand appealed especially well to fans who appreciated the stronger indie sensibility there over what was happening on the main roster.
On the other hand, there are real questions as to whether NXT was succeeding as a developmental training ground, given the disconnect between its style and that of Raw or SmackDown. That’s not to mention that a series of NXT stars struggled on their transition to the main roster.
Bayley was among stars who shone bright in NXT—working her way up the ranks until she became Women’s Champion and arrived as the face of her division. She carried some of that momentum into her main roster run, including promptly becoming a part of the title picture, but never gathered nearly the same level of momentum on Raw or SmackDown.
Part of the problem was a disconnect in how much fans knew or appreciated her story. While a portion of the audience followed NXT faithfully, there was also a portion that only did so casually, or who did not watch the black and gold brand at all. So, while, Bayley came across as a talented hand, they didn’t have elements like her climbing the ranks or her relationship with Izzy to tap into and fall in love with the character. The result was that she felt like a pretty flat babyface a few months into her run.
In 2024, fans know who Bayley is and what she’s capable, not to mention that they’ve had a over seven years to invest in her character. No longer is she the goody-two-shoes they’re supposed to like. They actually like her.
Bayley Is Enough Of A Veteran WWE Fans Like Her By Default
Ric Flair has more than once posed a classic example of the problems with trying to book a truly great heel veteran. No matter how much better a performer is at playing the bad guy, when fans have invested in a performer for long enough at a high enough level, they tend to respect him. Moreover, they want to cheer him.
This same matter has played out for talents ranging from Triple H to Randy Orton to Stone Cold Steve Austin, and there’s a case to be made that it’s happening now with Bayley. The 2024 Royal Rumble winner has proven herself as a great hand and a likable personality inside the ring and out.
While Bayley has succeeded as a heel, there’s no question she also has an organic groundswell of support behind her from the WWE Universe. Moreover, her heel run stretched long enough that fans were itching to cheer her again, and now they have their chance.
Bayley Has A Compelling Storyline To Kickstart This Babyface Run
A big part of what got Bayley over the hump as one of the franchise players in NXT was her rivalry with Sasha Banks. The Hugger was an underdog who worked her way up to title contention, only to be overmatched against The Boss. As time marched on, though, and a proper feud took shape, Bayley arrived at her crowning moment with show-stealing performance against Banks at the original NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
Enough time had passed and few enough eyes—proportionally—were on Bayley when she was working classics against Banks that the good will from that run didn’t really carry over to the main roster. Now Bayley has another shot as a babyface, and has not only a Royal Rumble win, but a long story WWE has told in organic fashion between her and Damage CTRL.
Having her own faction betray her by degrees has set up Bayley as sympathetic. Moreover, her wielding a pipe to fend off an attack she saw coming has set her up not as a victim, but an all-too-rare intelligent babyface who was ready to defend herself against a heel surprise.
The most likely scenario is that Bayley beat Iyo Sky for the title at WrestleMania 40, but even if she doesn’t, she’ll remain a credible part of the title picture as a face, and likely as not win the title shortly thereafter. In either case, Sky is not only a performer Bayley has history and emotional story with, but also an outstanding worker sure to facilitate great matches as Bayley returns to the top.
Only time will tell how Bayley’s new babyface run will play out or how fans will receive it. Regardless, there are plenty of reasons for optimism and plenty of history to play off to make this one of the best runs of her career.
During the Attitude Era, The Rock made sure to let fans know that he was wearing $500 Versace shirts as a sign of his affluence and arrogance. Given inflation though, those shirts cost much more in 2024. When adjusted for inflation, a shirt that cost $500 in 1998, a year that saw The Rock’s first WWF title win, would cost $946 in 2024.
The Rock’s heavyweight paychecks more than keep up with inflation
The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.48% per year between 1998 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 89.21%. While Versace’s shirts should cost close to $950, items listed on Versace’s website are going for $1,500.
Dressed to Impress
The Rock’s Versace look would become a staple of the Brahma Bull’s presentation when he exploded in popularity during the Attitude Era. While the look was initially introduced when he was a heel, The Rock continued to dress well as a face, a sign of how much the Versace clothes had become associated with the Great One.
Some of The Rock’s looks from his time on top of the Attitude Era.
Feeling a Harlem Hangover due to Booker T’s NXT absence? Fear not, sucka, the two-time, two-time, two-time WWE Hall Of Famer says he’ll be back behind the commentator’s table.
Booker T revealed back on February 4 that he’d be undergoing an undisclosed medical procedure that would keep him off television for a few weeks.
“I will not be at #NXTVengenceDay tonight and I’ll be off TV the next couple weeks due to a medical procedure I had to have. But – I’m all good and I’ll be back in action on NXT in no time! Thank you all for your support, couldn’t do it with out the people. Shucky Ducky!”
I will not be at #NXTVengenceDay tonight and I’ll be off TV the next couple weeks due to a medical procedure I had to have. But – I’m all good and I’ll be back in action on @WWENXT in no time! Thank you all for your support, couldn’t do it with out the people. Shucky Ducky!
Speaking on the latest Hall Of Fame podcast, Booker said he’s likely only seven days away from being back by the side of Vic Joseph.
“I’m back in the gym. I’m feeling good. I’m one week out, and I’ll be back at the table, doing my thing, doing it like it’s supposed to be done, making all them suckas bow down, making them pay, making them say, ‘Daddy, I don’t want none.’ I can’t wait, man.”
While Booker was away, Byron Saxton sat in his steed as he and Joseph both got to witness Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin becoming the new NXT Tag Team Champions against The D’Angelo Family last week.
Booker in the past has giving big credit to Vic Joseph as being a stellar play-by-play man, even making a play for Joseph to get called up to the main roster in a commentary role.
Please credit Hall of Fame and h/t Fightful for the transcription.
Ace Steel has found a landing spot in a role he’s already very familiar with.
The good friend of CM Punk revealed on the latest episode of “Two Man Power Trip” that he is now currently working as a producer with TNA Wrestling. Steel expressed his excitement in addition to the great backstage dynamic the promotion has already presented to him.
“Working with TNA as a producer at the moment. Loving that, loving the atmosphere there. Just a great backstage feel.”
Steel happened to work previously with TNA during their Bound For Glory event back in October and even CM Punk had his recent ties with the former Impact Wrestling being an influencial presence backstage before making his suprise return to WWE at Survivor Series late November.
Previously a producer for AEW, Steel was notoriously involved in the infamous “Brawl Out” fight back in 2022 and remained in limbo for a good amount of time with the company before eventually making his exit.
Steel joins several notable minds backstage in TNA including Gail Kim, Lance Storm and Tommy Dreamer. It was initially reported that Dreamer had taken on a new role as the head of TNA Creative in light of Scott D’Amore’s exit but “The Innovator Of Violence” later dispelled such scuttlebutt from catching fire on Busted Open Radio.
TNA will have a busy weekend forthcoming as the promotion will fire off its first PPV under the new Anthem regime with No Surrender on February 23. They just announced that they re-signed stalwart star Josh Alexander to a new deal.
It has been over four years since WWE made one of the most questionable booking decisions that angered fans. On the October 4, 2019, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, Kofi Kingston put the WWE Championship on the line against Brock Lesnar. Although it was expected that Lesnar would win, WWE made the decision to have ‘The Beast’ defeat Kingston in seven seconds.
To this day, fans are upset with how WWE handled Kingston’s match with Lesnar, and the longtime company ‘Babyface’ agrees.
In an interview with SEScoops’ MuscleManMacolm, Kingston spoke about his infamous title match with Lesnar and believes it should’ve gone longer than it did.
“…There’s two lines of thought on it. One, I don’t get paid by the hour, so that is probably the most amount of money that I’ve made in the least amount of time on the roster.
But obviously, when you have a WWE Championship match, especially with what it meant to win that title, I would’ve loved for it to have last longer and I would’ve loved to beat Brock Lesnar, but of course, I came up short,” said Kingston.
Although Kingston hasn’t gotten more opportunities to reclaim the WWE Championship, he’s looking to move forward with his career.
Kofi Kingston On Letting Go Of Brock Lesnar Title Match
In the interview, Kingston stayed true to believing in the “Power of Positivity” and isn’t focused on dwelling on what happened in the Fall of 2019.
“…It’s always forward in this industry and that’s the route of chosen to take,” said Kingston.
Kingston may not be in the hunt for the WWE Championship, but he has reunited with Xavier Woods in the tag division. The New Day(Kingston & Woods) is feuding against Imperium(Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). The company recently announced on Twitter that the two teams will settle their difference in a Street Fight Tag Team Match on the February 26 WWE Monday Night Raw episode.
A win for New Day could build momentum for them to challenge for the WWE Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship. At 42 years old, Kingston is still a featured talent on the WWE roster and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
WWE fans expect a yearly video game at this point, and WWE 2K24 is not disappointing when it comes to the hype so far. We are getting more information about the game as the weeks tick down until the latest offering from 2k drops, and this will also include the return of a much-requested feature.
WWE 2K24 Bringing Back Fan-Favorite Feature
2k dropped a new teaser video today that said a lot. The short hype video included several tweets from WWE fans, begging them to bring back the special guest referee feature. Then they cut to a striped shirt Randy Orton delivering an RKO outta nowhere as a referee.
The post on Twitter/X also included a caption that simply said: “Master of the rules.” This post has already caused a stir with fans who missed the ability to play as a referee in their 2k video game experience.
Songs from the upcoming WWE 2K24 soundtrack have already been released, and it has an impressive lineup. The hype is certainly there, and it appears that the 2k team is listening to fans as well, so we’ll have to see if they add any other lost features down the line.
WWE 2K24 Release Details
WWE 2K24 will offer three editions: Deluxe, Forty Years of WrestleMania, and Standard. These editions will roll out globally on March 8, 2024. Keep an eye out for updates on the game’s soundtrack, roster, Superstar ratings, and other details.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for ongoing coverage of WWE 2K24 and all the latest in the world of professional wrestling.
It was reported that Bruce Prichard had surgery earlier this month for his triceps. Conrad Thompson, who co-hosts Bruce Prichard’s podcast Something to Wrestle With, revealed that Prichard was scheduled for surgery on February 1. Now, in the latest update, he’s back after the surgery.
According to PWInsider, Prichard was backstage at Raw on February 19 in Anaheim, CA. Mike Johnson reported that he believes this could be Prichard’s comeback after the triceps surgery.
Prichard has undergone surgery before. He has had a couple of shoulder surgeries in the past, and this is actually the fourth time he has needed it done in the last five years.
Prichard’s role backstage at WWE is the executive director of Raw and SmackDown, which is a significant position in the company.
“Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before.”
On the Something to Wrestle With podcast, Prichard was asked about the lawsuit against McMahon and WWE. Prichard stated that he won’t comment on the matter because he is “not at liberty” to discuss the “legal matters of the company whatsoever.”
“There can’t be a response from the legal standpoint. You can ask until you’re blue in the face, and that’s going to be your answer. I’m not involved, I’m not being sued, I’m not being accused of anything. It’s a legal matter.”
All Elite Wrestling superstar Kenny Omega wants to bring more non-wrestling fans into the profession. He has been involved in the wrestling business for over 20 years, allowing him to understand how to build a fanbase. The former AEW World Champion believes that giving your program time and care is one of the key factors in bringing in a new audience to your company.
In an interview with Gamespot’s Dave Jewitt, Omega shared his thoughts on the video game Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and how it can relate to wrestling. He believes wrestling shouldn’t be afraid to be creative and have fun like the video game. Omega’s philosophy is that wrestling fans will appreciate it and can bring a new audience to the profession.
“As a wrestler in 2024, you always think of new ways. How are we going to bring new fans in? How can we get a new fanbase,” said Omega.
The former AEW World Champion explained that he believes wrestling should try to appeal to different people, whether it be age or culture.
“…We want anyone to appreciate what we do as an art form, as a form of entertainment. Much like the Like A Dragon universe, it can be whatever you want it to be as long as you give it a proper introduction, explain it, and have fun with it,” said Omega.
He added, “…That’s sort of my take on wrestling and clearly that sort of like the take on this game where if you put time and care into everything that you do, you’ll get the appreciation back. People will have fun with it.”
It’s expected Omega will take his time to heal before he steps back into a ring. Although it’s unfortunate that ‘The Best Bout Machine’ could be out for most of the year, it should be encouraging that he looks in good shape and spirits during his interview.
WWE’s NXT brand saw Shotzi return for a match against Lyra Valkyria, and that did not end well at all. The WWE Superstar was injured, and she suffered a serious knee injury. Now, she is going under the knife to repair the damage. That match will air tonight, Feb 20th, on the USA Network’s weekly show.
Shotzi Blackheart’s Injury
The injury for Shotzi prompted WWE to alter plans, as she was originally scheduled to compete in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying match against Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown. For what it’s worth, it was always the plan to have Stratton in the Chamber match.
According to PW Insider, reports circulating at Monday Night Raw suggested that Shotzi had traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, possibly for knee surgery. WWE often sends injured wrestlers to Birmingham for surgical procedures.
The word making the rounds at yesterday’s Monday Night Raw taping was that Shotzi was in Birmingham, Alabama ahead of a possible (likely) knee surgery after getting hurt on the WWE NXT episode that will air tonight.
Now, the charismatic WWE Superstar will have to wait in the wings for a majority of 2024 as she recovers. Only time will tell how much momentum she comes back with, but fans will certainly be more than excited to see her return happen.
Everyone at SE Scoops is wishing Shotzi the best on her recovery.
Update: Shotzi Confirms Injury
Shotzi got on Instagram to share that she tore her ACL.
WWE has a lot of Superstars on their roster who are champing at the bit for their opportunity to shine. Omos is a bit different, because he knows his value and understands how the company is using him. As a special attraction, WWE just needs to figure out a situation where he fits best.
I asked about Omos’ current creative status, and was told that WWE is “holding Omos for the right program for either him or an opponent who could use a big win.”
After @sescoops' exclusive interview with Omos yesterday, where he confirmed his special attraction status, I asked around about what WWE is waiting for to use him.
I was told and WWE is "holding Omos for the right program for either him or an opponent who could use a big win."
At this time, Omos is doing community events for the company, interviews, and other things. He also makes house show appearances, with his latest being on February 18, 2024 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, USA, where he beat Akira Tozawa during a WWE Road To WrestleMania event.
Who is Omos
Omos has a background in college basketball, and WWE was quick to sign him to a deal once they met him. He played basketball at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland after transferring from USF
As the tallest wrestler on WWE’s active roster, he stands out for his imposing stature. Now managed by MVP, they are categorized as “free agents,” granting them the flexibility to appear on both the Raw and SmackDown brands. As of this writing, fans are still waiting to see the 31-year-old Nigerian giant re-appear on television for either side.
SE Scoops will have more on this story if there are any further developments.
Josh Alexander aims to be the face of TNA wrestling moving forward.
Alexander has inked a new deal with the promotion, as first reported by Justin Barrasso of SI. The the exact terms of the contract were not disclosed, but Alexander confirmed his motivation for sticking with TNA:
“With the rebranding and the return of those iconic letters, TNA, those letters that inspired me to get in the ring in the first place and chase this wild dream of being a wrestler, I’ve dreamt of that moment, being there at Hard To Kill, hearing those letters.” said Alexander.
The Walking Weapon has accomplished a lot over the past few years, but still he’s still looking to accomplish a few more bucket list items. He’s doing it for the younger version of himself who never dreamed all of this is possible, as well as his his son.
“I got a lot of work to do this year. I have to find some success because I think more so than myself, the 15-year-old kid who was sitting on the couch never dreamt this was possible wouldn’t believe that I could be TNA World Champion or TNA X-Division Champion, things that are still on my bucket list, but, I know my son wants me to bring home some gold.”
Josh Alexander: TNA Franchise
New TNA President Anthony Cicione called Alexander one of the most popular wrestlers in TNA history and he’s thrilled to have him on board as the brand embarks on the coming year.
Josh Alexander is set to compete this weekend at TNA No Surrender as he faces former Vaudevillain Simon Gotch in singles action.
He’s well on his way to being an all-time great for TNA, as he’s spent his whole mainstream career with the promotion. He’ll even be one of the figures featured in the first line of toys from PowerTown Wrestling.
Zelina Vega has revealed her goal to become a champion in WWE and will go the extra mile to achieve that.
Over the years, Zelina Vega’s role in WWE has evolved. From serving as a manager to becoming an active in-ring performer, her career has seen a major shift. She has also become a part of LWO and one of the biggest moments in her career took place last year when she faced Rhea Ripley at Backlash in Puerto Rico where she received a grand ovation from the fans.
Zelina Vega has also showcased impressive performances in the recent past and earned support from the fans. However, her momentum was lost at the end of last year and has been striving ever since.
On last week’s SmackDown, Zelina Vega competed qualifying match for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match against Tiffany Stratton in a losing effort.
On last night’s Raw, Vega yet again had the chance to qualify as she competed in the Last Chance Battle Royal. However, her arch-rival Elektra Lopez eliminated her and Raquel Rodriguez eventually emerged victorious by last eliminating Chelsea Green.
Zelina Vega: I will make sure that at some point, I am standing there as champion
In a WWE Raw Exclusive, Zelina Vega shared her thoughts on her loss but said that she won’t back down and contend for the title. She said:
“I don’t think anybody could imagine…not many people know what it’s like to be just having the title within your grasp, and I’ve been chasing this since Backlash, okay, and now Rhea gets to go along to Australia and have exactly what I had in Puerto Rico. She gets to just have that love and be the champion, and it’s great, except now I’m here getting left behind because now I’m trying to get my hands on Zelina Vega-lite, Zelina Vega 2.0. Again, this is bigger than Elektra. I don’t care about Elektra. This is all Santos’ fault. Realistically, what did he do? He’s trying to find somebody to equalize me because I wouldn’t feed bus delusions? Is that really what this comes down to? I’m done with playing second-best or being in people’s shadows. I’m done with that. They get to go on to Elimination Chamber and go to WrestleMania, and have these amazing moments, and I’m stuck behind.”
She added:
“I’m not gonna let that happen anymore. When I tell you that something in me recently has broken, I’m not saying that to scare anybody. I’m not saying it as a threat. I’m telling you, this is what’s going to happen, and it is a warning to anybody that gets in my way. Whoever walks out of WrestleMania the champion, that is who I’m setting my sights on, and that is exactly who I’m gunning for, to take that title. I don’t care if I’m on Raw or SmackDown. I will make sure that at some point, I am standing there as champion. I don’t care how I have to do it. But first thing’s first, I’m going to find Elektra. I don’t care if I have to rip this arena apart to find her.”
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST, and keep an eye on SEScoops for the coverage of the show.
GUNTHER is still the Intercontinental Champion, but many in WWE were confident that the title would be changing hands this week.
On the January 19, 2024, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, GUNTHER put his title on the line against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. The Austrian retained thanks to a distraction by Jimmy Uso, who would lay out his brother after the match. The match marked Jey’s first shot at the workhorse title.
A Possible Title Change?
Jey Uso didn’t win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, which will have come as a surprise to some in WWE. Wrestle Votes reports that “multiple people” within WWE were under the impression that Jey would be ending GUNTHER’s historic reign.
As far as 6 pm, several internal rundowns for Raw stated that Jey Uso was going to be winning the title. With that said, it cannot be counted out that WWE were using false rundowns to avoid the actual match result getting out. With this win, GUNTHER now holds the record for the most collective days as Intercontinental Champion.
What’s Next?
The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia. Due to strict immigration regulations, GUNTHER is currently unable to leave the United States, which could mean he misses the recently- announced WWE live event in Vienna, Austria.
As for Jey Uso, this week’s Raw has led to speculation that a match against Jimmy is an inevitability. After Jimmy betrayed his brother at SummerSlam 2023, it was reported that WWE was considering a match between the pair for WrestleMania 40.
WWE has treated Cody Rhodes like a bona fide Superstar since he made his return to the company. As Cody continues the mission to finish his story, that doesn’t give a lot of time to lose matches.
Cody Rhodes’ Big Loss
Monday’s WWE Raw kicked off with Cody Rhodes against Drew McIntyre. The match took a dramatic turn when The Bloodline intervened to assist McIntyre.
Jimmy Uso’s interference led to his ejection from ringside, while Solo Sikoa made his presence felt by attacking Rhodes with a Samoan spike. As he seized the opportunity, McIntyre delivered a devastating Claymore Kick to secure the victory via pinfall, which marked a very rare loss for The American Nightmare.
According to CageMatch.net, this loss represents Rhodes’ first television singles match defeat since May 2016, when he was known as Stardust and lost to Zack Ryder on an episode of Superstars. Since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Rhodes has only suffered singles match losses to Reigns and Brock Lesnar on television or premium live events.
Rhodes’ most recent loss took place last November on WWE RAW, when he and Jey Uso dropped the Undisputed Tag Team Titles to The Judgment Day. Since then, WWE has protected him in a big way, but they also gave a huge win to Drew McIntyre this week in the process.
What’s Next For Cody Rhodes in WWE
This defeat comes as Rhodes prepares to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40. Additionally, Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins are scheduled to appear on the Grayson Waller Effect at Elimination Chamber this Saturday, where WWE is anticipated to finalize a match between Rhodes & Rollins and The Rock & Reigns for the first night of WrestleMania.
That Solo Sikoa interference was the same spot that saw Cody lose to Roman at WrestleMania 39. Odds are, WWE is setting fans up for the same spot at Mania 40, but Cody will kick out next time.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and many more, on the road to WrestleMania 40.
WWE Superstar Raquel Rodriguez recently celebrated her massive win with WWE fan Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias on Raw.
Rodriguez surprised the Anaheim crowd on last night’s Raw when she returned to in-ring action on the red brand. Raquel Rodriguez competed in the Last Chance Battle Royal Match that also featured the likes of Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Natalya and Chelsea Green. Rodriguez eventually emerged victorious to become the final participant in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Raquel Rodriguez celebrates with Gabriel Iglesias
In a WWE Raw Exclusive, renowned comedian and known WWE fan Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias interviewed Raquel Rodriguez following her win. Rodriguez hugged Iglesias, and they both yelled with excitement. Iglesias then asked Rodriguez about her return.
“It feels good. It feels good. Those couple of months out felt like years to me. You don’t understand how crazy I was going, just being at home, walking back and forth like, ‘I gotta get back in the ring, I gotta get back in the ring, I gotta get healthy, I gotta get back.’ Finally, I’m here, and not only am I here, but I won, and I get to go to go Australia, and I get to go to the Chamber,” Rodriguez said.
Iglesias noted that he ran into Chelsea Green, and she was not happy. Rodriguez responded by saying that she lost, and she had eliminated Chelsea in other battle royals. Iglesias agreed that Green probably didn’t like her too much before he congratulated her again.
Rodriguez had been away from in-ring action for quite some time. Last month, she revealed that she has been diagnosed with a disease called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome [MCAS], which stopped her from competing inside the squared circle. Her last match before the hiatus was at a live event back on December 3. She suffered a loss against Nia Jax in a singles bout during the house show in Portland.
Now, she has a huge task at hand and will be eyeing to outlast the other competitors inside the brutal steel structure and head to WrestleMania 40.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST, and keep an eye on SEScoops for the coverage of the show.
Jade Cargill made a big impression on the WWE roster when she finally made her debut. Although she hasn’t mixed it up much, she is around. There was a slot for her at the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, but WWE changed those plans around.
During this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, Raquel Rodriguez made her big return and secured the final spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match by winning the last-chance battle royal. Cargill wasn’t even in the last chance battle royal.
WWE initially had plans for Jade Cargill at Elimination Chamber, but those were ultimately discarded. While speaking about this on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shed light on Jade Cargill’s situation, as he said that the possible reason for pulling her laid on the fact that it made no creative sense to put her in that match if she is not going to win it.
“Obviously we saw something change in the women’s match. The women’s battle Royal, and it probably did since Friday. Because, if you saw the scene on Friday where they had everyone there that was for the women’s Chamber, they had Cargill in the room, basically foreshadowing and the plan was Cargill, and then they took her out, probably for all the reasons I said they should. I mean, because if you actaully looked at it, it made no sense to put her in that chamber match, none at all, and so they didn’t. They put Raquel Rodriguez in there instead.”
Jade Cargill’s First Impression In WWE
Earlier this week, I inquired about Jade Cargill’s status for the Royal Rumble. In response, I was informed that WWE has several plans in store for Cargill. While it wasn’t explicitly confirmed whether she would participate in the Royal Rumble match, her presence at rehearsals on Thursday strongly suggests her involvement.
Following her signing with WWE, Jade Cargill made a notable appearance during the Fastlane kickoff show. However, her visibility has been limited since then, with only brief appearances on RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. During these instances, she remained backstage, with her entrance music undisclosed and her presence in the ring unseen.
After Cargill’s debut for the company, I was told that there was “a ton of buzz about how professional Jade Cargill was backstage, how impressive she is up close, how well she fit in, and how quickly she did that.”
What’s Next In WWE
Raquel Rodriguez apparently took Cargill’s spot in the last-chance battle royal. We will have to see how WWE books the big chamber match in Perth, but Jade Cargill apparently didn’t factor into their plans.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of Elimination Chamber, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world.
WWE is on the road to WrestleMania, and they are setting up the matches for the big show as we speak. This week’s episode of RAW saw a lot of momentum toward the grandest stage of them all, and a big match is already coming together. This match is also one that some fans have dreamed about witnessing for years.
WWE’s WrestleMania Plan
During WWE RAW this week, Jey Uso battled GUNTHER for the IC Title. Uce didn’t win that match, but he was really close at one point.
Jimmy Uso interrupted that match by ringing the bell to stop a count when Jey was pinning GUNTHER. That distraction caused GUNTHER to get another shot in the match, and he ended up pulling off the win.
“No matter how big you get, I’m always the big brother.”
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer made it clear that Jimmy vs Jey Uso is the match at WrestleMania. This has been the plan for months, so they are going that way with them.
“Obviously, they’re setting up Jimmy vs Jey at WrestleMania, which has been the plan for like, six months.”
What’s Next on the Road to WrestleMania 40
Jimmy and Jey Uso have won a ton of titles together, and they are one of the best tag teams of all time. They have yet to really battle it out in the ring, and this year’s showcase of the immortals will certainly give them that opportunity.
The card is always subject to change, and you never know what obstacles may arise in the next month and a half, but it looks like fans will finally see The Usos get their WrestleMania moment in a singles match this year.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Please keep checking back for more updates.
Welcome to SEScoops‘ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.
Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.
WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 46 days away
WWE
– CM Punk showed up after WWE RAW this week. Footage of his appearance went viral shortly after this week’s show. He had a nice segment for the live crowd with Cody Rhodes, with Jey Uso in the ring.
– Michael Chandler showed up on WWE RAW this week, and he had a very interesting thing to say. He grabbed the microphone and called out Conor McGregor in epic fashion. We will have to see if this is the beginning of more WWE and UFC joint programming down the line.
– AEW continues to get grief over how the Jeff Hardy injury spot was recently handled. Eric Bischoff called it a mess, adding to the many negative things he’s had to say about All Elite Wrestling in recent memory.
TNA & Beyond
– There are some serious questions going around about the TNA roster right now. They may lose a few top members of their locker room at this point.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
AEW wrestler Nyla Rose has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the ring, and she now wants to take her shot at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Taking to Twitter, Rose shared her experience watching last year’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and was moved by a scene in which the humans helped the Turtles leader Shredder. In a follow-up tweet, Rose shared her hope to play TMNT staple baddie Krang in the sequel.
It has been confirmed that Mutant Mayhem will receive a sequel though details remain scarce on the plot. A TV series about Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo is also in the works.
Who is Krang?
An alien being from Dimension X, Krang first appeared in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated show as part of the second episode. His first comic book appearance was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures vol. 1, #1, published by Archie Comics in August 1988. Krang is often seen working alongside Shredder, another staple villain of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe.
While not physically imposing, Krang possesses an impressive intellect and some psychic powers. He can often be found piloting an android body which provides him with great strength.
Wrestling and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Should Rose be selected as the voice of Krang, she’ll join former WWE Champion John Cena who voiced Rocksteady in Mutant Mayhem. Sheamus played the same character in the 2016 live-action film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows.
