WrestleMania XL weekend is just two weeks away and WWE’s biggest event of the year is shaping up to be memorable.
The card is nearly set for the first WrestleMania to be held under the new regime of TKO Group Holdings, the new entity comprised of both WWE and UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion.
WrestleMania is the culmination of the year’s biggest feuds and storylines. It’s where the stars shine brightest and Superstars deliver performances they know will echo through time. In addition to crafting the strongest possible match card, WWE often brings in legends and celebrities to ensure this PLE stands out from the rest.
Stacking WrestleMania 40
According to this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, this year will be no exception. WWE sources say the company is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40.
“Cena is free but depending on what acting stuff he has and how quick after he’s filming would determine how much he can or can’t do for insurance reasons,” Dave Meltzer wrote. “Austin and Undertaker would be based on willingness that they have.”
In asking around with sources linked to WWE’s creative process, we have not heard anything for Cena or Austin planned for WrestleMania. However, this late on the Road to WrestleMania, any surprises involving stars of this magnitude would be a very closely guarded secret.
Keep it locked to SEScoops for our continued coverage of everything WWE on the road to WrestleMania 40. It’s going to be a crazy few weeks, but we’re going to be all-hands-on-deck to continue bringing our readers the best wrestling news coverage around.
NJPW made the announcement last week that David Finlay would not be participating in the Nagoya event due to sudden illness, leading to his evaluation at a local hospital. The news came unexpectedly, leaving fans anticipating Finlay’s presence at the event.
David Finlay is now speaking out about his injury status. He called NJPW out for keeping him from gold as well.
Finlay Speaks on his Injury Situation
In light of Finlay’s absence, NJPW declared Hirooki Goto as the recipient of the advancement to the semifinals, courtesy of Finlay’s forfeiture. No official prognosis was given as to why Finlay was pulled from the 2024 New Japan Cup tournament. Finlay released a cell phone video from his car to really let fans know what is going on.
David Finlay accused NJPW of knocking him off his mental game before his title match against Nic Nemeth. He also addressed his currently injury status, because he’s still beaten up from his cage match.
Finlay said he’s had no time to rest, so he’s had no time to heal. He went from a cage match to a title match to the New Japan Cup. That called for “damage on top of damage on top of damage, so they wouldn’t clear me for my quarterfinal match, which quite honestly is bullsh*t.”
David Finley called a foul on NJPW keeping gold away from him, because they pulled him from the tournament. He said that he would have left in a hearse if that meant he could hold gold in NJPW again. He said that a cage match took out one of his WarDogs, but it won’t take out the leader.
David Finlay’s Brutal NJPW Schedule
On February 23, 2024, David Finlay faced Nic Nemeth for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s The New Beginning In Sapporo event. Unfortunately, Finlay lost the title to Nemeth after a 23-minute match.
Prior to that, on February 11, 2024, at NJPW’s The New Beginning In Osaka event, Finlay showcased his skills in a Steel Cage match as part of the BULLET CLUB War Dogs team. Alongside his teammates, Finlay emerged victorious after a grueling 64-minute battle against the United Empire faction. He has wrestles 9 times since that loss to Nemeth, and his last match was on March 15.
We will have to see when David Finlay is able to come back to the ring. He is not happy at all about how things are going.
SEScoops is sending David Finlay our best as he gets the rest he needs to heal. Hopefully, he will be able to get back to business and reclaim gold in NJPW.
Diverticulitis does not care who you are, because it can strike anyone. Brock Lesnar had a terribly nasty case of it years ago. Now, Kenny Omega is also out of action with the terrible disease, but there is hope that he will return.
Tony Khan addressed Omega’s status, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the fortunate timing of medical attention.
Tony Khan Speaks on Omega’s Recovery
Kenny Omega has been absent from the ring since December due to diverticulitis, a condition diagnosed after the December 13th Dynamite show when he exhibited signs of distress backstage. Following the diagnosis, Omega was informed of the gravity of his situation, emphasizing the fortunate timing of his medical attention to prevent potential catastrophic consequences.
The severity of Omega’s condition was underscored by the risk of a blood infection, which posed a significant threat with a roughly 50 percent chance of mortality had it not been promptly addressed. AEW President Tony Khan addressed inquiries about Omega’s condition during an interview with Comic Book.
“I don’t want to put pressure on it, He was really in a bad way. I don’t want to put a timetable or try to rush him back, but I’m optimistic we’ll see Kenny Omega again.”
“Certainly, it’s something for all the fans to look forward to. I think everybody’s just going to go crazy when Kenny does come back, which I think we’re all very optimistic about.”
Kenny Omega’s Eventual AEW Return
We’re sending out our best to Kenny Omega as he continues recovering from diverticulitis. AEW certainly misses him, and there are even new opponents in Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, both people he knows from NJPW, who are going to be there waiting for his return as well.
It seems that, after the Young Bucks “fired” Omega from The Elite, a match with Okada is ready-made for The Cleaner. We will have to wait for his return to see it happen.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more around the pro wrestling word. You never know what will happen next, so please keep checking back throughout the day for more updates and headlines that you need.
Janel Grant Lawsuit Update: John Laurinaitis waved being served with the Janel Grant lawsuit. After all, he already knew about it, because it was impossible to ignore.
WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The OC vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & ‘ The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes Face-To-Face
AEW:
AEW Dynamite Viewership: The March 20th episode of AEW Dynamite garnered 800,000 viewers and attained a 0.27 rating in the crucial 18-49 demographic. Those numbers show a slight decline from the previous week’s broadcast, which received 801,000 viewers and a demo rating of 0.27.
Fans of Lucha Libre in California will be in for quite the show this June, courtesy of Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix.
The Lucha Bros will be teaming up to host ‘ROL7: Hit The Lights’ which will take place at the historic ‘The Temple’ venue in Los Angeles, CA. The show will take place on June 1 and tickets will go on sale on March 22. There will be a 15% ticket price reduction for any fans who purchase seats for the show before April 1.
The Temple
Fans of Lucha Underground will be familiar with The Temple, which is the venue of the Hit the Lights show. Lucha Underground’s four seasons were all filmed at The Temple, which features a distinct ‘run-down’ and ‘underground’ aesthetic.
The arena is in an amphitheater style, with the ring in the center and rising bench seats on opposite sides. When not being used as a wrestling location, The venue is known as SCS warehouse and has been used as a filming location for films and TV shows.
Alongside Fenix (and PAC) Penta is a former AEW Trios Champion. He and Fenix have also held World Tag Team gold in AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor, as well as in AAA.
Yota Tsuji hopes to be the next IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but also hopes to be the final man to hold that particular piece of gold.
Tsuji, the winner of the New Japan cup, Tsuji will battle Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Sakura Genesis on April 6. Speaking to the press ahead of the much-anticipated title match, Tsuji shared his plans should he win the gold.
“I would want the 4th generation IWGP Heavyweight Championship. I want to make it exactly clear just how much IWGP means. That means I should take the IWGP World Heavyweight title, separate it again, officially retire the Intercontinental belt, and carry the IWGP Heavyweight.”
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created on March 1, 2021, with the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Naito won the title back in January of this year by dethroning Sanada at Wrestle Kingdom 18.
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Issues
In the three years since the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created, the title has seen a mixed-at-best response from fans. Many disagreed with the deactivation of the Intercontinental Championship, which had been held by the likes of Naito, Chris Jericho, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship got off to a rough start when the title eventually launched. A rather forgettable inaugural reign with Kota Ibushi was ended by Will Ospreay. The Brit would then suffer a neck injury, resulting in the title being vacated. Within three months of it being created, the title was on its third champion: Shingo Takagi.
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Design
Perhaps the biggest issue with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the title’s design. Many find the look of the title as ‘ugly’ especially compared to the IWGP World Championship. While Kota Ibushi said in 2021 that he was sure the title would grow on people, that’s yet to happen with many fans three years on.
2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bayley recently made her presence felt at the Finserv Forum during the NBA clash between Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.
Bayley remains to be one of the most popular stars in WWE and has attained several accolades during her illustrious career. However, winning the Royal Rumble had been the one achievement that had eluded her for long.
She finally added that to her long list of achievements this year. The hugger has since gotten into a feud with her former Damage CTRL partners. Before her confrontation with the former teammates on SmackDown, ‘The Role Model’ enjoyed her time at the NBA game last night.
Bayley hypes up the fans
A video clip recently emerged on social media where Bayley could be seen walking out to her theme song during the recent NBA game and was given a special introduction. She received a warm ovation from the fans and promoted tonight’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown. She said:
“Milwaukee, thank you for having me. That’s right I did win the 2024 Royal Rumble alright and I’m so excited to be here in this building tomorrow night, sold out might I add. Thank you Milwaukee.”
Bayley later took to Twitter/X and sent out a message. She yet again thanked the Milwaukee Bucks for hosting her and also congratulated the team for their triumph. The former Women’s Champion then reiterated that SmackDown is sold out and hyped the upcoming episode. She wrote:
“Thank you for hosting da Role Model, @NBA @Bucks! Way to get that win tonight. #Smackdown will be SOLD OUT in this very arena tomorrow night. Thank you Milwaukee!!” Bayley shared.
‘The Role Model’ has a huge task at hand heading into WrestleMania 40. After winning the Women’s Royal Rumble, she set her sights on WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY after her former Damage CTRL teammate attacked her.
Alongside, SKY, the other members, Kabuki Warriors turned on Bayley but she found support in Dakota Kai. Unfortunately, Kai eventually crossed her too. Bayley then faced Dakota on SmackDown last week. That match ended in a DQ after the former was outnumbered by Damage CTRL.
Bayley is now heading into the high-stakes match as an underdog and only time will tell if she is able to walk out as the champ at WrestleMania 40.
Mere weeks after he retired undefeated in AEW, the legendary Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s highest honor in professional wrestling.
Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, it has been announced. The award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a wrestler by the CAC. It is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler.
The honor celebrates significant achievements across a career. Previous inductees include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk.
What is the Cauliflower Alley Club?
Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name.
The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.
The 58th Annual CAC Reunion will take place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
AEW Hall of Fame?
Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 when it appeared his days in the ring were over. During a recent interview, Tony Khan said that if AEW was to have a Hall of Fame of its own, then the Icon would be the first name he’d like to see inducted.
Bushiroad may come to regret firing Rossy Ogawa from World Wonder Ring STARDOM as some of its top talent are expected to leave very soon.
Ogawa, the founder of STARDOM, was fired last month in a shocking and unexpected move. Bushiroad is the parent company of both STARDOM and NJPW and in their statement, apologized to fans for any concerns over STARDOM’s future. A series of tweets from Tony Khan suggested that he was firmly on STARDOM’s side.
In Bushiroad’s statement announcing Ogawa’s exit, it was reported that he had been poaching talent. While this has not been proven, it appears talent are eager to work with him, even if it means leaving STARDOM behind.
Some of STARDOM’s top wrestlers are set to leave the promotion in the wake of Ogawa’s exit, Tokyo Sports reports. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki all have contracts set to expire at the end of March and it is believed they’ll be leaving.
Hayashishita is a reigning Goddess of STARDOM Champion, a title she has held three times and currently holds alongside Saya Kamitani. She is a former World of STARDOM champion as well.
Tokyo Sports reports she has been speaking of a fresh environment, and wanting to start from scratch. MIRAI is a current Artist of STARDOM Champion alongside Akari and Ami Sourei.
What’s to Come?
It has been reported that the wrestlers are expected to join a new promotion that is to be created by Ogawa. At this time, Ogawa has not publicly confirmed plans for a new promotion.
Another Huge Arrival?
Another name who recently left Bushiroad is Giulia, who is expected to join WWE in the future. Before then though, it is believed she will join Ogawa’s new promotion and help the company get off the ground. Giulia recently lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title, signifying her split from Bushiroad.
Who Has Replaced Ogawa?
Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager, will immediately take over as the bookers for STARDOM. Neither has any previous experience as bookers, though Okada was part of a pro wrestling club that held matches during his college days.
AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will never forget how it felt to win the title in front of his hometown crowd, in a match with his most personal of opponents.
On the March 20, episode of Dynamite, Copeland captured the TNT Championship for the second time in his career. The night proved to be an emotional one on many levels for the Rated-R Superstar. Not only did he win the title, but he did so against his former best friend Christian Cage in the pair’s hometown of Toronto, Canada.
Adam Copeland On His Win
When AEW’s camera crew caught up with Copeland after the match, the TNT Champion was understandably reflective of what had transpired. Copeland said that this was a night he’d been dreaming of and would remember the show until his final breath.
“Tonight was the kind of night that you dream of. When you first get into this, when you decide to dedicate your life to this, you dream of nights like this. You know your hometown, against a man that you have known for 40 years who, in my opinion, has lost his way. And to get that kind of match, that war.
“It wasn’t even a match. To hear that audience, to hear them sing my music to me. Man, to have my family here, to have my buddies from school, my buddies from college. It’s just one of the nights that I will take me to the grave.”
EXCLUSIVE! After making Christian Cage utter the words, 'I QUIT', and capturing the TNT Title for the second time, we hear from the NEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland!@RatedRCope | #AEWDynamitepic.twitter.com/CUFyDk2GAj
Copeland aims to prove himself a fighting champion now that he has reclaimed the TNT title. During the video, Copeland said he will resurrect his Cope Open on the March 30, episode of AEW Collision. The show will take place from London, Ontario, Canada.
The March 20, edition of AEW Rampage proved to be a hit with fans, though that may be due to the unique placement of the show that traditionally airs on Friday nights.
Rather than air on Friday, AEW Rampage aired immediately after the March 20 Dynamite which aired from its usual Wednesday night spot. The shows aired from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada.
Rampage’s Record Rating
This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers. This is the highest rampage since the January 6, 2023 episode, which aired from its usual Friday spot. The show marked a 65% increase in viewers from the previous week’s episode (327,000.)
This week’s show also succeeded in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The show scored a 0.27 in this demographic, the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022 episode of the show.
Worrying Trend
While AEW Rampage did well for one episode, the show as a whole continues to see a worrying downward slide. The average Rampage number for the first quarter of 2024 has been 374,000 viewers, down from the 2023 Q1 number of 436,000 viewers. This trend is also the case when you compare March 2023 to March 2024. This month has seen an average viewership of 345,000, down from March 2023’s 394,000.
AEW Rampage Results – March 20
The results for this week’s editionof AEW Rampage are as follows:
The Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta) defeat the Don Callis Damily (Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs – AEW World Tag Title Tournament Match
Katsuyori Shibata defeats Kevin Matthews
Konosuke Takeshita defeats Rocky Romero
Julia Hart & Skye Blue defeats Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale – Street Fight
A few years back, Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay seemed impossible. Well, thanks to AEW, the dream match is taking place next month. Fans are getting hyped up for the hard hitting affair, and ‘The American Dragon’ is as excited as they are.
Danielson and Ospreay, two of the most talented wrestlers in the industry will lock horns for the first time at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. They both recently showcased remarkable performances against their respective opponents.
Ospreay put up an instant classic with Konosuke Takeshita earlier this month on March 3 at AEW Revolution. On the other hand Danielson squared off against Katsuyori Shibata at March 16 Collision, which was another match that had little chance to materialize a few years ago.
Bryan Danielson feels none can replicate Will Ospreay
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Danielson expressed his interest in knowing what are the opinions of the younger talents on pro wrestling. He further showered praise on his opponent and revealed which aspect makes the upcoming match exciting. Here is what he said:
“I’m not married to the idea that my take on professional wrestling is the best. I’m really interested in what the younger generation thinks about professional wrestling and what inspires them. Will Ospreay is the evolution of professional wrestling.
If Will Ospreay wanted to do a Bryan Danielson match, he could. If I wanted to do what Will Ospreay does in a match, I couldn’t. I don’t think there is anybody else in the world who can. That makes me super excited for this match.”
Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay is not the main event
Bryan Danielson also revealed that his match against ‘The Aerial Assassin’ will not headline the show and teased the fans that some thrilling plans are in the pipeline. He said:
“Me and Will Ospreay won’t be the main event at Dynasty. That tells you what type of show it will be. I have an inkling of some of the things that are lined up, and I think people are going to be really excited.”
He added:
“We have a chance to really stamp Dynasty as the newest brand in the AEW pay-per-view system. I’m really excited to be wrestling Will, especially in a historic wrestling city like St. Louis.”
While Danielson boasts his technical prowess in the ring, Ospreay has aerial offense and lighting-fast strikes up his sleeves. This contrast of fighting styles makes the affair more interesting to witness. The fans will certainly have a treat watching them share the ring at AEW Dynasty next month.
Former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg isn’t pleased that “some Japanese girl” eclipsed his WCW undefeated streak, in his latest shot against WWE.
During an interview with Nothing Left Unsaid, Goldberg was asked if there was any ill will towards him in WWE due to his time in WCW. Goldberg argued that the fact that WWE had Asuka surpass his undefeated streak proved there were some issues.
“A girl beat my winning streak… beat my undefeated streak. Yeah, I can’t even remember… ‘A-soo-ka’ is her name. Some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak.”
Goldberg added that when he returned to WWE in 2016, he also noticed a lot of wrestlers using the spear as a finisher, a move he also used. Goldberg insinuated that WWE management had something to do with this influx of spears.
Issues with Triple H
During the interview, Goldberg suspected that previous issues with Triple H led to WWE choosing Asuka to surpass his streak and for the influx of spears.
“The fact that I didn’t get along with Paul Levesque (Triple H), which is Vince’s son-in-law, I think had everything to do with it.”
Streak Vs. Streak
Goldberg’s WCW streak began in September 2017 which saw Hugh Morrus become the future World Champion’s first victim. It ended at WCW Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash (though a cattle-prod-wielding Scott Hall certainly helped the former Diesel.) W
Asuka’s undefeated streak began in late 2015 and would last for 914 days before she was defeated by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She surpassed Goldberg’s 173 wins at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017. While Goldberg isn’t happy that his streak was surpassed now, he was far more gracious when Asuka passed him 7 years ago.
With wrestling websites dedicated to counting every match and appearance, there’s no doubt Asuka’s streak is anything but entirely legitimate. Given that Goldberg’s streak was during the 1990s, when such websites were not as common, there have been claims his streak was not all it appeared to be.
It has been claimed that WCW inflated the number of wins, with the figure rising dramatically from week to week. Goldberg had actually lost before the streak ever began. His final wrestling match prior to his WCW TV debut was a dark match defeat to Chad Fortune.
Bret Hart has never forgiven Bill Goldberg for the career-ending kick at Starrcade 1999 and the wrestling legend continues to be outspoken about his issues with the former rival. However, there are always two sides to the story, and the former NFL star has broken his silence on the continued prosecution.
The former WCW star recently spoke to Tim Green for his Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. He discussed things such as his issues with Triple H, Asuka breaking the record for his undefeated streak and more.
When asked to speak on the Bret Hart story, Goldberg mentioned how he was very green at the time he was paired with the Canadian Star and he learned a lot from him:
“Bret Hart, I was a baby in the wrestling business. I was in WCW. They had a rocket in my butt as far as trajectory is concerned character-wise. Bret Hart had just left WWE and we all know about Bret Hart being one of the best wrestlers in the history of the world. I obviously was looking for as many mentors as humanly possible.
This guy was, he was one of the best ever and so I was enthralled with him. I didn’t idolize him by any stretch, I don’t idolize anyone, but I put him up on that pedestal as to be someone to very much learn from. They put us together and I did learn a lot from the guy. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”
It Was A Complete Accident: Goldberg
Speaking about the infamous incident, Goldberg took the blame for the accident but noted that he would never do something like that intentionally. The WWE Hall of Famer also objected to the continued animosity from Bret Hart and explained that he can only be remorseful for so long:
“Then we had a match and unfortunately, during the match, something went wrong. I kicked him in the head. It was very stiff, and it was an accident. I never maliciously would try to hurt anyone. Well, let me rephrase that. I would never hurt anyone in a situation like that where they give me their trust.
Because wrestling is like a dance. You can’t perform properly if both people aren’t doing their thing and I didn’t do the thing right. He caught it in the head and it ended his career. I’ve never lived it down. I’m not a malicious person and I would never take advantage of anybody, especially in a physical sense like that.
So it was a complete accident, but to this day, he thought or he thinks that either I did it on purpose or I was so horrible at what I did that it just happened. So that’s the Bret Hart story. I’ve heard it for 15 years and I’ve heard about him bitching and moaning about me kicking him on the head. I can only say I’m sorry so many times and I can only be remorseful for so long. So that’s where we are. I still want to kill him.”
You can check out Goldberg’s full interview where he talks about his time in Japan, his football career and much more below:
If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
Maryse had quite a scary health situation. Now, she is sharing an update with fans, and she had great progress to let us know about. Now, she is tumor-free.
Maryse shared that she recently underwent a hysterectomy and announced she is now tumor-free, expressing gratitude for the successful surgery and early detection. She thanked her doctor and supporters, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy in women’s health.
Maryse Shares Amazing Health Update
Maryse recently shared a health update with her followers, detailing her journey after being diagnosed with a rare pre-cancerous condition. The 41-year-old disclosed the diagnosis, revealing that the condition affected her ovaries and required laparoscopy surgery.
During the surgery, medical professionals identified and removed 11 implants located around Maryse’s uterus, ovaries, and abdominal cavity. Taking to her Instagram stories, Maryse provided her followers with an update on her condition, stating that the surgery was successful. Now, there is a new update for fans.
Maryse recently underwent a hysterectomy and has shared that she is now free of tumors. She explained that the surgery involved the removal of her ovaries, uterus, tubes, cervix, and omentum, as well as staging of lymph nodes to check for spread of the disease.
In her update, Maryse expressed gratitude for the pathology results, which confirmed that the disease had not spread and that she is now tumor-free. She emphasized the rarity of her condition, highlighting that only seven cases per million women occur in the US annually, and credited the early detection with saving her life. Additionally, Maryse thanked her doctor and medical team for their care and support, and expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support she has received from family, friends, and fans worldwide. She encouraged women to advocate for their own health and trust their instincts.
What’s Next for Miz & Maryse
At this time, Maryse is not factored into any WWE stories. Her husband, The Miz, has linked up with R-Truth once again, and fans are all about the Awesome Truth reboot. The two even have a match at WrestleMania, where they may emerge as champions.
Things are going very good for the It Couple once again. Only time will tell if we get another season of Miz & Mrs to let us see everything that went down behind-the-scenes and in their personal lives once again.
SEScoops would like to send out our best congratulations to Maryse after her amazing health update. Hopefully, she doesn’t have to deal with any more scary situations like this again.
AEW has a roster loaded with stars, but it’s hard not to notice when someone like Jon Moxley isn’t around. He is also not scheduled for the big tag team title tournament, and this raised some eyebrows.
Jon Moxley’s recent absence from AEW TV has raised questions, particularly regarding his exclusion from the tag team title tournament despite a recent victory. However, it appears his absence was planned due to prior commitments in Mexico and Japan, preventing his participation in the tournament.
Planned Break
Jon Moxley’s recent absence from AEW television has stirred curiosity among fans, especially considering his recent victory alongside Claudio Castagnoli against FTR. While many have questioned their absence from the ongoing AEW Tag Team Championship tournament, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports this is a scheduled break.
The former AEW World Champion has upcoming engagement scheduled in Mexico and Japan, rendering him unable to participate. The commitments were made over a month ago, solidifying his absence from the tournament.
Moxley as truly been a pillar of All Elite Wrestling since its inception and his presence will be missed. His level of intensity and the violence he brings are unmatched. Luckily, AEW has been stacking its roster with several high profile additions. Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada have changed the face of the company as we gear up for the months ahead.
SEScoops will monitor Jon Moxley’s return to AEW and we’ll provide an update when additional details become available.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is headed back to the main event of another WrestleMania. ‘The ‘Tribal Chief’ defends his championship in a highly anticipated rematch with Cody Rhodes on WrestleMania XL Sunday on April 7. Despite his dominance as champion, fans and some of his peers believe his reign may finally be nearing its end.
The stage is set for Rhodes to finally ‘finish his story.’ After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble and choosing Reigns as his opponent, fans believe WWE WrestleMania 40 will be his moment to win. WWE superstar Xavier Woods is also starting to believe Reigns will not make it past the event as champion.
In an interview with WWE Die Woche (WWE The Week) with Sebastian Hackl, Woods shared his prediction for the Reigns vs. Rhodes match. He doesn’t think Reigns holds the title past the event and that it will create new opportunities for other talent.
“…There’s no way he gets through WrestleMania with that championship. If he does, I don’t know. I can’t even say anything because, just in case that he does, but I fully believe he will no longer be champion after WrestleMania 40,” said Woods. He added, “…And then I feel like we might just have a champion who shows up and defends the title a bit more and then people will have a shot at winning the heavyweight championship. Excuse me, the universal championship.”
Potential Future With Cody Rhodes As Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
Woods’s statement may echo other talent beliefs and hope that Rhodes will be the new champion. While fans have appreciated Reigns’ championship run over the years, he hasn’t been as active in defending as some may hope.
His last successful title defense occurred at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 in a Fatal Four Way match against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. This is a problem, as he only defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship five times throughout 2023.
WWE WrestleMania 40 will mark more than two months since the ‘Tribal Chief’ put his title on the line. Rhodes’s winning the championship is expected to make him more active and put WWE in a position to consistently find fresh challengers. ‘The American Nightmare seemingly has the odds stacked against him but is confident he’ll win the title and usher in a new era in WWE.
John Laurinaitis was put under a microscope when his name was involved in the blockbuster lawsuit that Janel Grant brought forward against himself, WWE and Vince McMahon. In response to this, Laurinaitis has claimed victim status, and now we have more from his side of the story.
In January, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, initiated legal action against Vince McMahon, alleging charges including sex trafficking and rape. John Laurinaitis, also implicated in the lawsuit, recently submitted a waiver of service, indicating his awareness of the legal proceedings and his exemption from formal service. This paperwork was officially lodged with the United States District Court of Connecticut.
John Laurinaitis Doesn’t Need To Be Served
According to PW Insider, John Laurinaitis recently submitted a waiver of service, indicating his awareness of the legal proceedings and his exemption from formal service. This paperwork was officially lodged with the United States District Court of Connecticut.
Furthermore, Laurinaitis committed to providing a response within sixty days from March 15, marking the initial reaction from any of the defendants involved. This signifies a pivotal step in the legal process as the case continues to unfold within the court system.
Johnny Ace Claims To Be A Victim
John Laurinaitis found himself very much involved in a messy legal battle after being implicated in a lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. Accusations of complicity in the alleged sexual abuse suffered by Janel Grant surfaced, casting a shadow over his reputation.
Amidst the turmoil, Vince McMahon took the dramatic step of resigning from his position within WWE, vehemently denying the allegations levied against him. However, Laurinaitis, through his attorney Edward Brennan, emerged with a different narrative, claiming victimhood in the unfolding situation.
Brennan emphasized Laurinaitis’s denial of the allegations and asserted his intent to vigorously defend against them in court rather than engage in media speculation. The attorney underscored the assertion that both Laurinaitis and McMahon were victims of McMahon’s perceived control, signaling a defensive stance against the accusations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the truth behind the allegations remains a matter of speculation, awaiting resolution through judicial processes or potential internal investigations by TKO Group Holdings.
SEScoops will keep a close eye on this story, and so much more going around the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, especially with so many big stories with real consequences going around.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has a new record to his impressive resume after reaching a milestone with Raw’s secondary piece of gold.
GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June 2022 by dethroning Ricochet. The title marked the first for GUNTHER on the main roster and his first title under his current name. He previously held the NXT UK Champion for over a year as WALTER.
A New Accolade for GUNTHER
GUNTHER has proven to be a fighting champion since winning the Intercontinental gold, as his track record shows. Recently, GUNTHER reached 100 successful title defenses as WWE Intercontinental Champion. Superstars who’ve come up short against the Austrian include Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, and Jey Uso, among others.
GUNTHER’s toughest match (at least according to Cagematch statistics) took place on the October 2, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw. It took GUNTHER 22:53 to defeat Tommaso Ciampa in the match that finished via referee stoppage. The match earned 4.5 stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.
What’s Next for GUNTHER?
GUNTHER’s next confirmed title defense will come at WWE WrestleMania 40 when he puts the title on the line against Sami Zayn. The Underdog got a controversial win a gauntlet match to earn a shot at the Austrian. Some fans hope to see Chad Gable added to the match as it’s been claimed that the Olympian’s shoulders were not fully down during the decisive fall in the gauntlet match.
Impressing the Phenom
GUNTHER has impressed many fans and wrestlers alike and recently earned the praise of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker. The Phenom recently said that he sees a bright future for the Imperium leader who has a world of potential.
The Rock has received quite a bit of attention thanks to the fact that he has cut some non-PG promos in recent memory, especially online. This came after WWE sent out a memo reminding talent that they need to keep it clean. The story traveled all over the pro wrestling business, especially into Eric Bischoff’s line of sight.
Eric Bischoff is never short on opinions, and this is certainly the case yet again. Regarding reports of WWE talent’s discontent with The Rock’s promos, Bischoff suggested they may be exaggerated and emphasized the need for transparency in wrestling journalism.
The Backstory
I exclusively reported that a recent memo highlighted the mandate for talent to follow PG guidelines on TV and social media. Despite this, The Rock’s use of profanity, like in a recent promo, has raised questions among talent about double standards. They wonder why he’s allowed to curse while others aren’t.
I was told that the thinking among some talent, not the entire locker room, but SOME talent, is that “even if he is the big movie star, shouldn’t everyone play by the same rules? So he can curse and use that to get over, but everyone else is handcuffed?”
Eric Bischoff Weighs In
On the latest episode of Strictly Business, Eric Bischoff discussed various aspects of the wrestling business and WWE talent’s reported issues with The Rock’s promos. Bischoff expressed optimism about the wrestling industry’s overall state, citing its growing revenue and global appeal, particularly with WWE’s expanding reach and the excitement surrounding events like WrestleMania.
Regarding the state of the wrestling business, Bischoff emphasized the importance of revenue as the ultimate metric of success, highlighting WWE’s efforts in securing sponsorships and hosting premium live events like WrestleMania. While television ratings may raise questions, Bischoff noted the industry’s revenue growth and highlighted AEW’s collaboration with Warner Brothers Discovery as a positive development. He also cautioned against excessive violence and reliance on shock value, suggesting it could deter potential partners and advertisers.
On the topic of scripted promos and The Rock’s use of explicit language, Bischoff cautioned against overreliance on that vulgar shock value. He suggested that occasional use of explicit language could enhance storytelling but warned against its excessive use. Bischoff then speculated that WWE might be aiming to strike a balance between creative freedom and maintaining control over the product.
“They have [been entertaining], and I agree with you. I would love to see us get away from them [scripted promos]. When I say us, I don’t mean content-wise as much. It’s not like — I mean, the kind of language that we’re talking about, the kind of stuff that Rock has been saying, particularly in social media. Occasionally, appropriately done, can enhance the story or the moment and make it more interesting and feel more real and honest. Because that is how people talk. It’s how politicians talk, it’s how teachers talk. It’s how business executives talk. Maybe not in public, not when they’re on camera, but it is the conversation of our life across the board for the most part.”
“Not everybody, but for the most part. And sometimes, done judiciously and appropriately, yeah it can make things feel more real. It can have that kind of — I don’t want to say shock value because nobody is shocked. But it definitely makes you take notice when you hear something in terms of, you know, F-bombs or whatever that you wouldn’t normally hear on television. It gets your attention, that’s the purpose of it. But when it’s done too frequently, it then becomes boring. It becomes a crutch. That’s the best way to say it, it becomes a crutch. Much like blood and extreme violence, and jumping off a f**king ladder that the referee’s holding for you onto a plate of glass when there’s nobody around, just so you can say you did it… if that’s as far as you’re going to have to appeal to your audience and you rely upon that too much, it hurts the product overall. Because you’re relying on that, as opposed to great character and great story.”
WWE & Profanities
Cody Rhodes’ promo on WWE RAW this week included some notable profanities, and The American Nightmare delivered his lines like a champ. He had to answer back to The Rock’s profanity-filled rant, and now we will have to see what happens next.
Profanities can be valuable, if used correctly. AEW certainly saw the negative effects of dropping double-digit number of S-bombs in one two-hour show, and they have since toned things down greatly. Only time will tell if WWE will open up their roster to allow a bit more of an edge to their promos, but it’s really all about keeping a balance.
SEScoops will keep our eye on this story, and so much more, as we continue down the road to WrestleMania. You never know what will happen next, but we will be here with the headlines that you need.
It’s very difficult to retire from pro wrestling forever, and many legends and WWE Hall of Famers can attest to that. Now, Alicia Fox is dusting off her wrestling boots, because Foxxy is making a return to the squared circle.
Alicia Fox, now wrestling as Vix Crow, is poised to return to the ring for her first singles match in five years, facing former WWE star Mickie James. The match, announced on “Gabby AF,” marks their first singles encounter since October 2009.
Vix Crow Making Pro Wrestling Return
A former WWE star is set to return to the wrestling ring after a hiatus of five years, marking her debut in a singles match. Alicia Fox has a new name now, but it seems that it’s the same Foxxy we knew for years.
Now wrestling under the name Vix Crow, she is set to make her comeback. She also has a legendary opponent to do it with.
Recently announced on “Gabby AF,” Fox is scheduled to face off against fellow former WWE star Mickie James in a singles match. This bout marks a significant reunion between the two, as they haven’t squared off in a singles match since October 2009.
— GAW TV: Mickie James, Lisa Marie Varon & $oCal Val (@TheGAWTV) March 20, 2024
Who is Alicia Fox/ Vix Crow
Alicia Fox joined WWE back in 2008 and soon became a featured figure on the main roster, notably on the ECW brand. In 2010, Fox clinched the Divas Championship title, triumphing in a Fatal 4-Way contest against Gail Kim, Eve Torres, and Maryse.
After her last WWE appearance in January 2022, where she made a surprise appearance in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, Fox’s return to in-ring action has garnered attention. In addition to her tenure in WWE, Fox also participated in a Reality of Wrestling event in 2023.
This match also signifies Fox’s inaugural singles bout since April 2019, where she was defeated by Becky Lynch on an episode of Raw.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
Fresh off his viral Oscars 2024 moment, John Cena has yet again showcased his acting skills in another unique way with a video alongside soccer star Erling Haaland.
In a video call, Cena posed as the Norweigan striker, who currently plays for Manchester City. Cena went all out for the video as he donned a Man City shirt, scarf, and a long blonde wig to match the soccer star. Cena’s cosplay was complete with a glass of milk, which Haaland has claimed to be one of his favorite drinks.
In the video, the pair spoke about Manchester City’s upcoming tour of the U.S. that’ll kick off later this year. Haaland seemed far from impressed with John’s costume, telling the 16-time WWE World Champion “You have to stop doing this.”
Who is Erling Haaland?
Haaland is considered one of, if not the best soccer stars currently playing. Last year, Haaland broke the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single season, with 36.
His athletic prowess on the pitch is hardly a surprise, given that he is the son of Alfie Haaland, who played soccer for Norway, and women’s heptathlon athlete Gry Marita Braut. His cousins Jonatan Braut Brunes and Albert Tjåland are also professional footballers.
When Wrestling Met Soccer
Cena’s video with Haaland is hardly the first time soccer and wrestling have come together. In 2015, Wayne Rooney appeared at a UK edition of Monday Night Raw and would slap Wade Barrett.
Jose Mourinho appeared on an episode of Raw in 2007. The then-Chelsea boss was spotted by Shane McMahon, who proceeded to mock the Portuguese coach.
José Mourinho in the WWE is till date one of the most random crossovers ever. pic.twitter.com/wd3GTDz9tf
WWE released Dolph Ziggler in September 2023, along with a list of talented performers. The former World Champion has found other things to do, but he still has stories about his time in WWE.
Now going as Nic Nemeth, he recounted WWE’s reaction to his fabricated tweet about a minor injury, noting the pressure to retract his statement. Despite the initial tension. What made this interesting was that Hugh Jackman was involved.
WWE Threatened To Fire Dolph Ziggler For Working An Angle
During a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, the former Dolph Ziggler detailed a confrontation with WWE after a tweet he posted after Hugh Jackman’s appearance on WWE RAW. He that he alluded to having a fractured jaw, a fabrication of a minor injury to align with the storyline. He had so much buzz wound it, that he just couldn’t resist.
Nic Nemeth recounted, “I said, ‘I have to go for x-rays. I may have a slight fractured jaw’ and by the time the next morning came around, I was being threatened with being fired from WWE because I had lied and TMZ was calling them to check on it and I go, ‘I’m just trying to protect the storyline.’ I said, ‘I didn’t say Hugh Jackman put me in a hospital or I’m having a heart attack. I was like, oh, there’s a chance there’s a hairline fracture and I’m gonna get x-rays to keep it vague’, because it’s wrestling.”
Things certainly took a turn when a very upset call came from WWE, because TMZ was sniffing around the kayfabe story. After WWE’s pressure to retract his statement, Ziggler eventually complied, but he was just protecting the business with his tweet.
I was so excited. It all worked out and Broski was on a tear, I was so excited about it, I go, ‘Let me add a little extra to it’ and then the second-in-command was like, ‘I don’t wanna have to fire you but you’re gonna have to recant and take this down…’”
“Meanwhile, cut to two years later or the rest of WWE’s existence, they’d be begging for that kind of publicity but whatever and I said it in a nice way but I took it down but, for the next couple of weeks, I wore mouthguards and did Miz’s punch in the face gimmick that he did for a month or whatever… and it was really, really fun. I think I had matches with Miz anyway or Broski and it was like, the whole thing was not to not punch me in the face because my jaw might be broken and it was the best. That stuff makes it so much fun on the weekends.
Dolph Ziggler After WWE
Nic Nemeth is now working for TNA Wrestling and NJPW. He is also appearing on Busted Open Radio as a co-host, and that is a position he fits into very well.
Nemeth’s stand-up comedy goals are still going as well. He opened up for Mick Foley on his recent comedy tour. That is a profession and side hustle that the Show-Off has been perfecting for years now.
SEScoops will have even more coverage of this story and so much more in the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
Each year Royal Rumble Premium Live Event promises massive surprises and returns. Well, it has come to light that Shawn Spears, who is currently performing in NXT, aimed to be a part of this year’s Royal Rumble.
Royal Rumble 2024 took place at the Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg, Florida in January and the event was filled with some memorable moments and surprising debuts. Fans certainly loved what they witnessed and the event lived up to the expectations.
Shawn Spears opens up on his plan for Royal Rumble return
Speaking to Fightful, Shawn Spears stated that he “shot his shot” but he doesn’t think he got in early enough for Royal Rumble.
“All I will say is that, I shot my shot. I just don’t think I got it in early enough. I think I was too late. But I did shoot my shot. I tried. All I can do is, ‘Hey, how about this?’ and then I let it go. I let the rest play out as it can.I think I was a little late to the party. So you never know. That’s what they tell you, right? You never know.”
During the interview, Spears also stated that he preferred to use the ‘Shawn Spears’ name when he decided to make a comeback to WWE and even NXT head Shawn Michaels was in favor of the idea.
Shawn Spears has competed in a couple of matches on NXT following his return and racked wins over Ridge Holland and Uriah Connors.
We will have to wait and see what’s in store for him in the coming days.
Few WWE Superstars saw the same giant boost in momentum over the past year that LA Knight received. His gimmick and catchphrases clicked with the WWE Universe in a big way, but there was some concern on his part that things were moving too fast.
LA Knight has seen a lot of people get pushes and fans resist that change. He did not want to run into the same situation at all. While he is appreciative of everything WWE gave him, he also knew that he was walking a very thin line between fan acceptance and disdain.
Knight Talks His Big Push
LA Knight sold a ton of merchandise, and he kept getting spotlight matches. Through it all, fans still chanted back with him as he hit every one of this famous slogans.
While speaking to Busted Open Radio, LA Knight was quite honest about his genuine fear that WWE might have been pushing him too hard. This came after co-host Bully Ray suggested that fans may become sick and tired of the act eventually.
He did not want to see any backlash from fans, because he was constantly in a top spot. He certainly wanted to avoid the perception that the company was shoving him down their throats.
”There’s so many different ways to look at that. Maybe there was a little too far of a push a little too fast and that’s not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but a little bit of a steady build going into a championship match or something like that.”
”As far as going to the U.S. Championship or the Intercontinental Championship or something like that but jumping straight into the WWE Championship back at Crown Jewel was a little fast to where I almost worried that it might make people go, ah! They’re not gonna do this? They’re not gonna shove him down our throat like this? Are they? Because there is that potential. At the same time, right now, I think I’m in a damn good spot… I don’t know if I’m selling myself short so much as I’m just cautiously optimistic.”
LA Knight x WrestleMania 40
LA Knight will battle AJ Styles at WrestleMania 40. This is a match that may have been building for a long time. Styles and Knight shared the locker room together in TNA for years. Now, they will have a chance to throw down at the showcase of the immortals.
WWE fans have not rejected LA Knight yet. Even The Rock back, they are ready to participate in every chant, as he receives a big pop as well. Only time will tell what is next for LA Knight, but WWE is obviously not going to drop his push just yet.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, so please keep checking back throughout the day for more of the headlines you need!
