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Daily Drop (2/20): Conor McGregor Called Out On WWE RAW, CM Punk Appears After The Show

Aaron Varble
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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.

– Raquel Rodriguez returned to WWE television this week. She took part in the last chance battle royal, and she clinched the final spot in the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth.

– WWE 2K24 confirmed that Bad Bunny will be a playable character in the upcoming game.

AEW

– 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.

– There is also an hourglass trend that drew a ton of attention. Only time will tell how this situation escalates, but we will have continued coverage here at SEScoops.

Upcoming Events:

  • 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.

Nyla Rose is “Serious” About Voicing An Iconic TMNT Villain in the Mutant Mayhem Sequel

Thomas Lowson
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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. 

 

What Does the Hourglass Mean? TNA Wrestling Roster Come Together with Cryptic Message

Thomas Lowson
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The TNA Wrestling roster has left fans scratching their heads with the use of a single emoji, an hourglass, in a series of tweets. 

On Twitter, several wrestlers in the company shared the context-free tweet, leaving fans to speculate in the comments as to what this means. Some fans speculated that the talent were counting down until their contract expired, perhaps in response to the controversial decision by Anthem Entertainment to remove Scott D’Amore. D’Amore had been part of TNA for years and was a pivotal part of the company’s relaunch earlier this year which was a hit with fans. TNA’s roster recently issued a letter to Anthem expressing their support for D’Amore. 

You can check out some of the tweets from the TNA Wrestling roster below. 

What’s Next for TNA Wrestling? 

TNA will now be overseen by Anthony Cicione, who is the company’s new President in addition to being Anthem Entertainment’s President. The promotion’s next big event will be this week’s No Surrender pay-per-view. The card for the upcoming show is as follows: 

  • The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) (with Alisha Edwards) vs. Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kushida and Kevin Knight)
  • Chris Sabin (c) vs. Mustafa Ali (TNA X-Division Championship)
  • Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Gisele Shaw (TNA Knockouts Championship)
  • Decay (Havok and Rosemary) (c) vs. MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly) (TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships)
  • PCO vs. Kon
  • Josh Alexander vs. Simon Gotch
  • ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) vs. Grizzled Young Vets (James Drake and Zack Gibson) (TNA World Tag Team Championships)
  • Moose (c) (with Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) vs. Alex Shelley (with Kevin Knight and Kushida) (No Surrender Rules Match, TNA World Championship)

Eric Bischoff Blasts AEW For Recent Jeff Hardy Injury Scare: “It’s A Mess”

Anutosh Bajpai
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Eric Bischoff is not happy with the recent Jeff Hardy injury scare.

The Charismatic Enigma faced Sammy Guevara in a No Disqualification match on last Friday’s edition of Rampage. A clip from this match went viral on social media which saw Guevara botching a top rope dive and hitting Hardy on the face with his knee.

The former WCW president talked about this spot during the most recent 83 Weeks Episode. Bischoff was asked if such repeated botches are a result of talent wrestling a lot less frequently in AEW, and the wrestling veteran explained that AEW’s culture to promote high risk moves is also to blame:

“Very concerned for Jeff. He took that knee right to the side of the face. I don’t know where it actually hit him, but it looked to me like it planted right on his cheekbone, his temple. That’s a lot of power coming down off, that’s a lot of weight coming down off that top turnbuckle and there’s nowhere for Jeff’s head to go. So, fearful clearly, I didn’t really ask myself why.

But I think your observation’s probably mostly correct. Part of it is too because of the nature of what AEW finds appealing is so much of the high risk, justified ‘this is awesome’ chants, which usually are a result of something really, really high-risk and stupid. That’s what they’re going for. I think the talent probably feels like they’ve got to go to an extreme to get over.

Particularly cos you’re wrestling in front of 2000 people on a television show. The audience isn’t into your shit at all from the opening match on. It’s like wrestling in front of a high school cafeteria crowd. That makes it harder for talent and they push even further and they do things that are even riskier to try to overcome that issue.”

“What’s It Gonna Take?”: Eric Bischoff

Eric Bischoff also refuted Wrestling Observer’s report on Jeff Hardy’s status after the match. He questioned what will it take for officials to make an effort and tone things down:

“But I think mostly it’s the reps. Guys are just not as tight and sharp as they would be if they’re on the road three or four or five days a week. It is an issue. I think Dave Meltzer reported finish went according to plan and it’s not that big of an injury. I have heard substantially the opposite. It’s a mess. It’s a mess, and it’s a mistake.

Somebody’s gonna get hurt. Seriously hurt. People get hurt all the time. You start taking knees to the head from the top rope. What’s it gonna take? Somebody’s gonna need to die? Somebody’s gonna have to get brain injuries before somebody finally wakes up and goes ‘ok we need to get a little better control over what we do and how we do it.’ I don’t know. Hopefully not.”

Paul Roma: WWE Higher-Ups Pressued Male Talent To Do “Sexual Things” with Other Men

Thomas Lowson
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Multiple WWE higher-ups allegedly pressured male talent to perform sexual acts with other men, according to ex-Superstar Paul Roma. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Paul Roma on WWE’s Accusations

With the Grant lawsuit, McMahon’s practices with WWE Superstars have been under severe scrutiny over the past month. Speaking on News Nation, Paul Roma said you would hear talk of McMahon being inappropriate on a regular basis. 

“Yes. It was pretty regular. You heard it on a regular basis for the most part. Then you wouldn’t hear it for a while. Then it would come full circle. But it wasn’t so much Vince, as it was people that he had surrounding him. You’re talking about an industry where you have young, good-looking well-built men in the ring. Half naked, three-quarters naked actually. So yeah it left a door open. 

“He had a lot of people around him. Vice Presidents and bookers that were very much into that. And they put you in a really bad situation. Especially once you started making some money. You kind of get comfortable with that. Then you find out that your job’s on the line. Do it or get fired. And I witnessed quite a few walk away. The money wasn’t worth it.”

When asked to clarify what the male talents were asked to do that led to some walking away, Roma said that he saw talent being pressured to perform sexual acts. 

“They were asked to do things, sexual things, with other men, that they did not want to do. My former partner being one of them. I was actually in a cab ride in Washington, and we were coming back. The gentleman next to me kept saying it’s not worth it. It’s not worth the Benjamins… The next day we were filming for our second TV taping and he was gone. He jumped on a flight and went back home and never showed up again to wrestle.”

Roma was asked if the person in the cab ride with him was coerced by a member of management and said there would be no one else in the company who’d do such a thing. 

“Let’s leave it this way. That’s all it could be. If somebody is going to give you money, it has to be that. There is nothing else. It’s not going to be one of the boys that you’re wrestling with. They’re not going to offer you money.

“Even my former partner. They offered him money, drugs. ‘Just lay on your back you don’ have to do a thing.’ And he came running right to me when I came to TV and I said ‘Dude. What are you going to do?’ He told me ‘I’ve already spoke to Arnold.’ And I say ‘Well why would you do that? You just killed our team. What do you think he’s going to do? He’s going to go to the people who propositioned you.'”

When the host Ashleigh Banfield spoke about a prior interview with Mario Mancini, she reiterated a claim that there is at least once incident from years ago that are worse than any allegations in the Grant lawsuit. Roma said he was aware of the claim but did not feel it was his role to speak publicly on that specific situation. Roma added that the alleged victim may have their reasons for not coming forward. 

“We’re surprised no-one has come forward but on the flip side, I think that they’re of an age now. They may be married and have kids and they don’t want to open Pandora’s box. And I don’t blame them. And I said that to Mario. Can you blame them?” 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Potential Spoiler Of Which City Will Host WWE SummerSlam 2024

Thomas Lowson
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The citizens of Cleveland, Ohio could be flocking to Municipal Stadium later this year for WWE’s annual SummerSlam, if recent reports are to be believed. 

The Columbus Dispatch reports that WWE will be receiving a $1.676 million tax credit from the state of Ohio this year. This is part of Ohio’s $44 million credit that will be awarded to television and film productions happening there in 2024.

No major WWE event has been announced for Ohio yet, despite this $1.676 million tax credit. With that said, there has been speculation that the tax credit could be tied to rumors of Cleveland hosting SummerSlam. Fightful Select reported in October of last year that ‘The Forest City’ was the front-runner to host the Biggest Party of the Summer. 

WWE & Cleveland

WWE has a rich history of hosting Premium Live Events in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. WWE’s first PLE in the city was SummerSlam 1996 which saw then-WWF Champion Shawn Michaels retain his gold against Big Van Vader. Other WWE events hosted in Cleveland include No Mercy 1999, Survivor Series 2004, Unforgiven 2008, and WWE TLC 2014. 

The promotion’s most recent PLE in Cleveland was Fastlane 2019 which saw The Shield defeat Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre in a six-man tag-team match. The bout marked the first match featuring the Shield following Roman Reigns’ return from his second victory over leukemia. 

Several WWE Superstars are also native to Cleveland. While The Miz now calls Los Angeles home, the WWE A-Lister was born and raised in Cleveland, as was Johnny Gargano. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi Acknowledges NJPW’s Need For New Stars After Recent Departures

Tyriece Simon
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New Japan Pro Wrestling is currently undergoing massive changes to start the year. The company has seen featured stars on their roster leave for All Elite Wrestling in the past year. Recently, NJPW could not re-sign fan favorites Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Monè. In the wake of talent leaving, fans have questioned who can fill the void left. 

NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi knows the company’s condition and aims to create new stars. In an interview with Inside The Ropes’ Liam Wyatt, Tanahashi spoke openly about NJPW needing star power and its importance in the wrestling business. 

New Japan Pro Wrestling President Hiroshi Tanahashi at a press conference

Inside The Ropes‘ Alex Hunt transcribed the following quote.

“This is a star-driven business, and we need to make new stars. That goes beyond success in the ring as well- mainstream awareness and name value is the key to success. I want more of our wrestlers becoming household names,” said Tanahashi

In the past year, NJPW has tried to feature some of the talent the company views highly. Shota Umino, Ren Narita, and Yota Tsuji were named the Reiwa Three Musketeers. This is an honor to recognize talent they believe will lead the company for this generation. However, NJPW has made questionable decisions, like not having Okada or Ospreay take a loss against any of the younger talent.

The most notable decision was not to have Umino defeat Ospreay to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Power Struggle on November 4, 2023. Ospreay would sign with AEW a few weeks later at AEW Full Gear. 

Although the company has a star power issue, talent leaving puts NJPW in a position to be motivated to focus on its future. 

What’s The Next Big Events In NJPW?

NJPW has a chance to showcase their roster on the next big event, NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo, on February 23 and 24. The two-day show will have Okada compete in his final matches in NJPW and represent a new start for the company. 

One of NJPW’s younger stars, Umino, will be in a featured match against NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL for the title. The ‘Roughneck’ will attempt to win his first championship with the company and potentially end his rivalry with the NJPW veteran. 

The upcoming two-day event presents Tanahashi with an opportunity to start creating new stars that can lead the way in a new era for NJPW. 

“Love You Brother”: The Rock Gives Tribute to Man Who Changed His Life at Daytona 500

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne Johnson has become a huge megastar in the world of entertainment, but that wouldn’t have happened if not for the influence of a very special person. 

This week, The Rock served as the Grand Marshal of the Daytona 500. The Brahma Bull had been scheduled to kick off the annual race last weekend before severe weather delayed plans. 

The Rock’s Tribute

The Rock had a great time at the Daytona 500, which was covered on Twitter by the FOX: NASCAR account. During the video shared online, The Rock can be seen being interviewed by somebody, and looking up to the sky saying “Rest in peace, I love you brother.” In a tweet of his own, The Rock gave context, revealing that he was speaking about somebody who changed his life. 

“Crazy moment here. You’ll see at the end, I’m shooting a cellphone vid for a guy – he gets my attention, by yelling my old high school in Pennsylvania (Freedom) and mentioning my high school football coach, Jody Cwik.

“The last time I got arrested at 15, Jody said “hey stop getting arrested and come play football for me”.

“I did.

“And it changed my life.

“He changed my life. You’ll see me look up and point, and and say “rest in peace, I love you brother”

“Amidst the adrenaline and beautiful chaos of #DAYTONA500 this moment was the last thing I expected.

“I’m grateful it did.

Who Was Jody Cwik? 

Cwik passed away in 2006 at the age of 51. A graduate of Philipsburg High School, he would later study at Kutztown University, earning a BS in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. Later, he received his Master’s Degree in Education also from Kutztown University. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife and their one daughter Lauren. 

Dwayne Johnson has often spoken highly of Cwick and the profound effect he had on his life. In 2016, the former WWE Champion recalled shaking hands with Cwik and how his grades and attitude improved at school when he began playing football. Johnson said in an interview with Oprah’s Master Class that to this day, he tries to see the best in kids who have been written off by others. 

WWE trademark name for Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate Tag Team

Tyriece Simon
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The newly formed tag team of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate is on the rise in WWE. Dunne and Bate joined forces on the main roster last month and quickly became tag team title contenders. Ahead of their championship opportunity at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24, WWE has filed a trademark for their official tag team name. 

Dunne and Bate will go by the tag team name New Catch Republic moving forward. The trademark for the same was registered on February 18, 

Bate initially revealed the name on the February 16 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. In a backstage interview with Kayla Braxton, Dunne and Bate spoke about their match against The Judgement Day (Finn Balor & Damian Priest) for the WWE Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber. After the ‘Bruiserweight’ shared the team’s goal of winning the titles, Bate introduced the New Catch Republic, to which Dunne nodded his approval. 

Afterward, Dominick Mysterio interrupted their interview to set up a tag team match alongside JD McDonagh against the New Catch Republic. The match will occur on a taped WWE Friday Night Smackdown episode on February 23. WWE’s decision to have the match is a way to build momentum for the newly formed tag team ahead of their bout against Balor and Priest. 

More On The Judgement Day vs. New Catch Republic At WWE Elimination Chamber

The upcoming premium live event presents an excellent opportunity for the New Catch Republic to showcase their skills against the tag team champions. Since becoming a team, Dunne and Bate have impressed WWE fans and added a new level of interest in the tag division. 

That said, Balor and Priest are seemingly the favorites to retain their titles at WWE Elimination Chamber. Although the tag titles are set to be defended this Saturday, the company seems to already be teasing R-Truth and The Miz as possible future challengers for Balor and Priest.

The Judgement Day has held the tag championship since the October 16 WWE Monday Night Raw episode last year. Since then, they have only defended their belts four times but have looked dominant everytime they have put the titles on the line. 

The new Catch Republic vs. The Judgement Day still has the potential to be one of the best matches at the upcoming premium live event. While they may not win, an excellent showing for Dunne and Bate could garner more fan attention and make WWE consider featuring them more on TV. 

GUNTHER Breaks Pedro Morales’ Record for the Most Combined Days As WWE Intercontinental Champion

Thomas Lowson
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GUNTHER will go down in history as the WWE Superstar who has held the Intercontinental Champion more than any other. 

The Austrian captured the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown in June 2022 with a victory over Ricochet. Since then, GUNTHER has retained against a litany of different opponents. At WWE Clash at the Castle 2022, GUNTHER would retain in a five-star classic against Sheamus, who only needs the IC title to complete the Grand Slam. 

Smashing the Record

In September of last year, GUNTHER broke the record for the longest individual reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion. That record had been held for decades by the Honky Tonk Man, though GUNTHER wasn’t surprised to surpass the WWE Hall of Famer. 

Now, GUNTHER has another accolade to his name. As of today, the Imperium leader has surpassed Pedro Morales’ collective 619 days across two reigns to now hold the record for the most collective days with the gold. Morales held the title from December 1980 to June 1981 and later from November 1981 to January 1983. 

What’s Next? 

On last night’s 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. The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia. 

One thing fans shouldn’t expect to see next from GUNTHER is a pursuit of a WWE World Championship. Last August, GUNTHER expressed his hesitation at being a double champion and said it was not the time for him to pursue a World Championship. 

Watch: The Rock Teams With Dwayne Johnson In ZOA’s ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ Commercial

Thomas Lowson
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Consumers of The Rock’s new energy drink will experience ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ according to a new ad campaign from the Bloodline member. 

 BDE is the newest beverage from ZOA Energy, which is the sports drink company owned by the Brahma Bull. In a statement, Chief Visionary Officer Dany Garcia had this to say about BDE: 

“At ZOA Energy, we are illustrating that everyone has access to “Big Dwayne Energy” – this intangible concept of fearlessly owning who you are and unapologetically sharing your one-of-a-kind self with the world. By embracing this mindset and fueling the body with ZOA, people not only feel energized but confident, bold, and determined to reach their full potential.”

The Rock, who is the company’s ‘Chief Energy Officer,’ also weighed in on the impact of ZOA Energy: 

“When someone with a great, radiating energy enters the room, people feel it. ZOA Energy helps you be that best version of yourself and positively influence those around you – confidently owning your authentic self, having fun and doing your best to live life to the fullest. Before you know it, everyone is hooked on ZOA.”

ZOA Energy has also released a new video promoting BDE which shows consumers (literally) experiencing Big Dwayne Energy. The humorous commercial ends with modern-day Dwayne Johnson sharing the screen with his 90s counterpart. 

The Rock’s Other Ventures

In addition to ZOA, The Rock has his own award-winning Tequila brand which was launched in October of 2019. The Brahma Bull is also a co-owner of the United Football League. The UFL was confirmed last year and saw Johnson’s XFL merge with the USFL.

Watch: What Happened With CM Punk After Raw Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Tonight’s Elimination Chamber go-home episode of Raw was filled with many notable moments and this trend continued even after the show from Honda Center in Anaheim, California went off air.

The show opened with a PPV quality match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. The two competed in a hard-fought bout for nearly 20 minutes.

McIntyre interestingly came out with a victory in this match after Solo Sikoa interfered. This was Rhodes’ first Televised singles loss since May 2023, when Brock Lesnar beat Cody at Night of Champions.

Apart from this the show also featured Chad Gable picking up an impressive submission victory over Ivar and a returning Raquel Rodriguez earning her spot in the Women’s Chamber match for the upcoming show.

What Happened After Raw

The main event of this week’s Raw saw Gunther defending his IC Title against Jey Uso, as the Ring General overtook Pedro Morales to become the longest-reigning IC Champion for combined days.

Just like the opening match, this bout also ended with an interference from a Bloodline member. This time, Jimmy Uso helped Gunther pick up the victory over his twin brother.

Jimmy attacked his brother after this match and the show went off air with The Bloodline member standing tall. Though he didn’t leave the ring even after the broadcast ended and Uso only retreated when Cody Rhodes made the save.

After coming out to help Jey, Rhodes introduced another big name. He asked CM Punk who had been backstage for the show to come out. The Straight Edge star finally cut a short promo for the crowd before ending the night.

Cody Rhodes saves Jey Uso after Raw

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Michael Chandler Uses WWE RAW Appearance To Call Out Conor McGregor

Aaron Varble
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WWE is on the road to WrestleMania, and you never know what will happen during their weekly Monday night flagship show. This week’s episode of RAW included a call-out that no pro wrestling fan saw coming.

Conor McGregor Called Out During WWE RAW

During WWE RAW this week, Samantha Irvin introduced Michael Chandler, and the UFC fighter had a lot to say. Chandler grabbed the microphone, and he called out Conor McGregor in epic fashion.

He told Notorious to get his ass back in the cage, after all Conor last fought in July 2021 losing to Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout at UFC 264. In the loss, McGregor suffered a broken leg.

Chandler was pumped. He then ripped off his shirt and threw it in the crowd. The whole time, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee used this chance to hype how great a fight between Chandler and McGregor might be.

McGregor and Chandler served as coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter last year, leading many fans to anticipate McGregor’s return to the octagon by now. The former two-division champion announced on social media on Dec. 31 that he would be facing ‘Iron’ at International Fight Week this year. However, White refuted the accuracy of McGregor’s announcement, stating that his return date is still undetermined.

What’s Next for WWE and UFC

TKO Group Holdings comprises WWE and UFC under Endeavor’s umbrella. This might be the first UFC story and call-out during WWE programming, but it very well might not be the last. Needless to say, this is also a sure-fire way to make sure WWE fans are aware of what is going on in the UFC.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more updates are available. 

Raquel Rodriguez Returns From Injury To Take Final Elimination Chamber Spot During 2/19 WWE RAW

Aaron Varble
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The Elimination Chamber is set to go down in Perth, Australia this Saturday. The show will begin at 5:00 AM, which could be a great way to start the day. Logan Paul already clinched the final spot in the men’s Chamber match, and now it’s time for the women.

Final Women’s Elimination Chamber Spot

Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Raquel Rodriguez, and more were in the big last chance battle royal match. It is interesting to note that Jade Cargill was originally set to win this match, but the company pivoted. 

Rodriguez made her return from injury during this match. She’s been out of action for a number of months. They gave her a surprise entrance, and it was nice to see her return.

It all came down to Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, who dominated a majority of the match, along with Michin and Raquel Rodrigues. Then Michin was taken out of the match. 

In the end, Raquel laid out Baszler and Stark before she was able to eliminate both of them. Then Chelsea Green snuck back in, but she was quickly taken out too. 

What’s Next Before WWE Elimination Chamber

WWE SmackDown is this week, but the show was already taped. In fact, you can click here to check out the spoilers for this week’s blue brand show. 

2024 WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event Card:

  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. British Strong Style (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Tag team match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi and Raquel Rodriguez- Elimination Chamber match for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax – Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul – Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XL

SEScoops will have more on this story as more information is available. 

The Rock Honors Commitment, Lights Up Daytona 500 After Rain Delay

Aaron Varble
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The Rock was psyched about taking on Grand Marshal duties at the Daytona 500. Sadly, the race went on a rain delay, but it kicked off on Monday, and The Great One was around to shout those four famous words: drivers start your engines!

The Rock Showed Up For Day Two

While appearing during what should have been the Daytona 500 yesterday, Dwayne Johnson promised to stick around for the actual race after the rain delay. The People’s Champion showed up, as promised, and he put on quite a show.

The Rock assumed the role of official Grand Marshal at the iconic Daytona Beach race recently, bringing his signature People’s Champion flair to the NASCAR event.

In a video shared on NASCAR’s official Instagram account, The Great One was warmly welcomed by racing enthusiasts attending the Daytona 500. Taking the microphone, he ignited the race with his trademark WWE catchphrases, infusing the event with his characteristic energy and charisma.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3i0cGbJE9g

What’s Next

The Rock will be a part of the road to WrestleMania as a heel. He delivered a scathing heel promo on SmackDown last week, one where he joined The Bloodline. Now, it appears that the stage if being set for a tag team match instead of the one vs one match that Johnson wanted with Roman Reigns.

SE Scoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available. The Road to WrestleMania is still heating up, and that will certainly include The Rock this time around. 

Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael Improving After Recent Staph Infection

Ella Jay
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Last Thursday, Steve “Mongo” McMichael was admitted to the emergency room with a urinary tract infection. Two days later, it was confirmed that the former NFL and pro wrestling star had also contracted MRSA — an antibiotic-resistant staph infection — which resulted in him getting a blood transfusion.

On Monday, Jarrett Payton, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton and former football player himself, supplied a positive update on McMichael’s condition on X (formerly Twitter). According to Payton, McMichael is responding well to the antibiotics that doctors provided him and is now hoping to be back home tomorrow. 

“He’s one tough guy,” Misty McMichael, Steve’s wife, also told ESPN. “He’s Mongo and his DNA is different! Keep those prayers coming! Thank you!”

We at SEScoops would like to extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Steve “Mongo” McMichael and all the best to the McMichael family.

Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael

Following a 15-season career in the NFL, Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael joined the professional wrestling industry, making an appearance at WWE WrestleMania XI. There, McMichael stood in support of his fellow NFL retiree Lawrence Taylor, who squared off against Bam Bam Bigelow in the show’s main event. 

After a brief stint with WWE, McMichael signed a contract with WCW in the fall of 1995. Initially serving as a color commentator for WCW Nitro, McMichael eventually transitioned into an in-ring performer for the company. During his four-year WCW run, McMichaels wrestled over 150 matches, including one that saw him dethrone WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.

TNA Wrestling May Lose A Couple Former World Champions Soon

Aaron Varble
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TNA Wrestling is going through a big change with Scott D’Amore leaving the company. There were some conflicting reports about who is running the creative side of things, but that was cleared up. Still, a former World Champion may be on their way out as well, because Steve Maclin could be moving on.

Steve Maclin’s TNA Wrestling Contract Status

A former World Champion’s contract might soon reach its end. Steve Maclin, who performed under the name Steve Cutler in WWE, could be on his way out.

According to reports from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, Steve Maclin, a former IMPACT World Champion, is nearing the expiration of his contract with TNA, set for May.

Details regarding discussions between Maclin and TNA regarding a possible contract extension are currently not available. It will be interesting to see if he joins his wife, Deonna Purrazzo, in AEW.

Fightful Select has learned that former IMPACT World Champion Steve Maclin’s contract with TNA is currently set to expire in May. Maclin joined the company in 2020 after being released by WWE, and quickly established himself as a top star in the company.

Steve Maclin in WWE

Steve Maclin joined Impact Wrestling in 2020 following his release from WWE, and swiftly rose to prominence within the organization.

Having spent nearly seven years under the WWE banner, primarily in NXT, Maclin and Wesley Blake were promoted to the main roster but were subsequently sidelined from television due to Jaxson Ryker’s controversies. While Ryker remained with WWE before eventually being released, Maclin and Blake found themselves released.

Although things didn’t work out for him in WWE, due to many reasons, things went well for him in TNA Wrestling. In 2023, Maclin enjoyed a notable period of success in the ring, delivering what many considered to be some of the year’s finest matches in IMPACT.

Josh Alexander May Be Out

Josh Alexander also heavily implied that he may be out of TNA Wrestling soon as well. He posted an hourglass emoji to Twitter/X. That garnered some serious attention.

Will Ospreay then replied to the Walking Weapon, as he suggested that he go to NJPW. Only time will tell if he does depart from TNA as well.

Get this man on the lion mark

Alexander’s TNA Wrestling contract status is not known at this time. The rumor mill is certainly churning that a couple members of the locker room may decide to make their exit in light of circumstances within the company.

TNA Wrestling’s talent are not happy about Scott D’Amore’s forced departure. They signed off on a letter to the company, one where they were quite detailed in their demands. It was also stated during a mandatory talent meeting that release requests may be addressed if talent want out of their deals.

Update on Josh Alexander

Alexander inked a contract extension with TNA Wrestling on Feb 20th. You can click here to find more information on the Walking Weapon.

MLW Brings ‘Battle Riot VI’ to Atlanta’s Center Stage on Sat. June 1

Ella Jay
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Earlier today, Major League Wrestling announced that they will be coming back to the city of Atlanta for its sixth annual Battle Riot event. 

The company will host MLW: Battle RIOT VI from Center Stage on Saturday, June 1, marking the first MLW event in the Georgia area since the Super Series in September 2022.

MLW Battle Riot VI ticekts will be available for purchase this Thursday, February 22, at 10 a.m. EST at Ticketmaster and MLWLIVE.com.

While fans wait for more information on this year’s match card, MLW has confirmed the return of its yearly Battle Riot match, in which 40 wrestlers vie for a future shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship — a title that is currently held by Satoshi Kojima. 

Per match rules, two participants will begin the Battle Riot match in the ring as their fellow competitors enter the field every minute until all 40 have officially joined the match. Along the way, wrestlers can be eliminated by way of pin, submission, or by being tossed over the top rope and having both of their feet touch the floor outside.

Battle Riot Excitement

MLW CEO Court Bauer shared his excitement for the event, stating, “We’re thrilled to bring our biggest event of the year to the iconic Center Stage, the Mecca of southern wrestling.”

MLW Battle Riot VI, which has been labeled as a premium live event, will air globally on Triller TV+ (formerly known as FITE TV). Attendees and viewers will also be treated to a beIN SPORTS taping that is set to feature a series of bonus matches. The live audience will also receive the opportunity to meet their favorite MLW wrestlers and legends through exclusive meet-and-greets. They will also have the option to buy rare items used in MLW matches and MLW programming.

WWE Star Omos Addresses Special Attraction Status, Says WrestleMania Changed His Life (Exclusive)

Aaron Varble
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WWE has different uses for Superstars on their roster. Although Omos hasn’t been seen a lot, he is still around, and he understands his status as a special attraction. With WrestleMania 40 coming up, he also knows that this is a season where magic things can happen.

WrestleMania is Special for Omos

Omos appeared during Royal Rumble press events with a Rumble jersey from the Tampa Bay Rays. Although he didn’t appear in the Rumble match, he was happy to be around the atmosphere. 

While speaking to SEScoops‘ Scott Fishman, Omos mentioned the show of shows, and how much it means to him.

“To be honest, WrestleMania literally changed my life. I made my debut at WrestleMania. You know, with AJ Styles and the tag team titles, I will never forget it for the rest of my life, like that is in my brain. Although I didn’t know I would be booked, the next year against Bobby Lashley in Dallas was tremendous, just me on my own, which I think was my 3rd year in the business to then do it with Brock, that was just every year it just keeps going higher and higher. To me, WrestleMania holds a special place in my heart.”

Omos Addresses WWE Absence 

Omos was also asked about his absence from WWE television. He did not provide any clue that he is coming back soon, but the Nigerian did admit that he is a special attraction that requires a payday. 

“You know, I’m an attraction, they call me when they need to make the big bucks, that’s when they call me when they need me.”

Omos went on to say, “When they wanna see me on TV, man, cash those checks when you see me on TV.” 

WWE hasn’t made a lot of use of Omos in recent memory, but he has been paired up with MVP at recent live events. As of this writing, that pairing has yet to make their real debut on WWE television, but you never know what can happen on the road to WrestleMania 40. 

Dominik Mysterio Squashes Claims of WWE Piping In Boos from Live Crowds

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a few stars on their roster who love to ruffle the feathers of fans all across the world. Few have received the overall disdain from fans that Dominik Mysterio gets on a daily basis. According to the former NXT North American Champion, those boos are 100% authentic.

Dominik Mysterio’s Heel Reaction

WWE has piped in crowd responses in the past, especially when they want to prime the pump or get a chant started. Apparently, those tricks are not needed to assist fans in feeling comfortable about expressing how much they hate Dirty Dom.

Dominik recently appeared on K100 with Konnan, where he addressed the boos that he receives from the WWE Universe. The 2nd generation Superstar confirmed that those boos are organic, and they don’t need to pipe them in.

“They like it when I do that, when I go out and try to cut a promo, especially if they need to cut time out of something or they need to save time, I can go out there with a mic for two to three minutes, pretend to cut a promo. I’m still blessed to get booed. I can’t tell you, every city I go out to, it gets louder and louder.”

There is an idea out there that WWE lowers Dom’s microphone when fans are booing to make them appear that they are louder. It appears that may not be the case, at least Dominik isn’t admitting to any of those tactics.

What’s Next For Dominik Mysterio

Dominik will join forces with The Judgment Day comprising Damian Priest, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh to take on DIY, consisting of Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, as well as The Miz and R-Truth on Monday’s WWE RAW.

He was supposed to face Brock Lesnar at the Elimination Chamber event in Perth, Australia. Sadly for Dom, that match is not happening now, because Lesnar was removed from WWE’s landscape and all creative was nixed after his name was associated with the groundbreaking allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

Roman Reigns’ Latest WWE Milestone Puts His Unrivaled Dominance Into Perspective

Thomas Lowson
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Roman Reigns has surpassed almost every other WWE Superstar when it comes to his dominant title run, and the Tribal Chief has even surpassed an entire era. 

Reigns’ historic tenure as champion began on August 30, 2020, at that year’s Payback event. Reigns, who had returned to WWE TV the week prior at SummerSlam, defeated ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a triple-threat match to capture the gold. Reigns entered the match near the closing moments of the bout, signing a contract to make his participation in the bout official mere moments before his title victory. 

Surpassing An Era

Roman Reigns has dominated WWE for years, and now has surpassed the much-beloved Attitude Era. In WWE, the famed era is considered as lasting from Survivor Series 1997 (the Montreal Screwjob) to WrestleMania X-Seven in April 2021. This period of time spanned over 1,239 days. Recently, the Tribal Chief’s Universal title reign surpassed this figure. Roman Reigns is currently enjoying day 1268 of his historic tenure as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. 

What’s Next? 

Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. While Reigns intended to face The Rock this April (ensuring the title remained within his family) Rhodes’ decision to face Reigns has ruined the Bloodline’s plans. On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, The Rock officially joined the Bloodline. In his first heel promo in years, The Rock mocked Cody’s ‘crybaby’ fans and vowed that his goal at WrestleMania is to ensure Rhodes doesn’t finish his story in Philadelphia. 

Paul Heyman has been by his Tribal Chief’s side for years, but who could be next for the legendary manager… 

WWE Stars Buying Physical Copies Of WWE 2K24 For Historic Covers (Exclusive)

Aaron Varble
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WWE is gearing up for the launch of a new video game, and 2K24 is already getting a lot of attention. The roster reveal is ongoing, and fans can’t wait to dive into the Showcase of the Immortals mode. When everything is unpacked, there are a lot of people who are excited for a variety of reasons.

Pre-Order WWE 2K24 Now (Amazon)

Bianca Belair on the WWE 2K24 Cover (Exclusive)

The cover for WWE 2K24 was revealed with a lot of excitement. Cody Rhodes is the cover star for the standard edition of this year’s game on Monday. Additionally, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley grace the cover of the Deluxe Edition. The 40 Years of WrestleMania edition features a collage of wrestling legends, making it a standout among wrestling video game covers.

Ripley and Belair are making history as they are the first women to share a cover of the WWE video game. This is a big deal for them, but they are representing the entire roster, and everyone who came before them.

While speaking to SEScoops‘ Scott Fishman, Bianca Belair was asked about support in the locker room over this new video game cover. She said that everyone is excited, and they plan to buy hard copies of the game so they can keep it.

“They’re so excited. They’re all saying they’re getting a hard copy, they’re keeping it, they’re super excited. Because, I think that having an all-female cover, it just shows how amazing our roster is. It is showing how much the women’s division has evolved, and it shows how stacked it is.”

“We’re the first, but we’re not going to be the last. They’re super supportive of it, it’s representation for women, and no one does it like WWE for the women. We have representation for all cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, like we define what it means to be a woman. So, when you see myself and Rhea Ripley on that cover, it represents every single woman who came before us, every single woman on the roster right now”

WWE 2K24 Release Information

Three editions of WWE 2K24 will be available, including the Deluxe Edition, Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition, and Standard Edition, with release dates staggered worldwide in March 2024. Stay tuned for additional information on the game’s soundtrack, roster, Superstar ratings, and more.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE 2K24’s launch. Keep checking back for more updates.

WWE 2K24: Bad Bunny & More Join Post Malone as Playable Characters In Upcoming Game

Aaron Varble
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WWE 2K24 is coming soon, and fans are getting a lot more information. Now, it is confirmed that full-time megastar and part-time WWE Superstar Bad Bunny will make the game.

New Confirmed Characters In WWE 2K24

Several new additions have been revealed for WWE 2K24. These names are only a fraction of the playable characters that will be in the new game.

On February 19, WWE Games’ Twitter/X page unveiled Alba Fyre, Thea Hail, Bad Bunny, Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, Maxxine Dupri, Isla Dawn, and Tegan Nox as confirmed members of the WWE 2K24 roster. The announcement included a snapshot of Fyre’s character model.

In addition to these new characters, it was previously announced that Post Malone would also be featured as a playable character in WWE 2K24. Malone was heavily involved in the soundtrack, and he also has two songs in the game.

This means that fans will be able to book Bad Bunny vs Post Malone matches, and we can’t wait for those viral videos. On a semi-related note, Logan Paul has a 90 rating, so this game could be interesting.

Changes to WWE 2K24

2k is making efforts to remove as much of certain people as they possibly can from the upcoming game. Vince McMahon’s resignation, which was caused by a string of allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against himself, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, has caused many alterations to WWE’s product in recent memory.

PW Insider reported that Brock Lesnar will not be totally removed from the game, but the 2k team has obviously made efforts to remove him from advertising. The Beast Incarnate was also removed from the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover after his name was connected to heinous allegations in Janel Grant’s blockbuster lawsuit.

WWE 2K24 Release Date

The Deluxe Edition of WWE 2K24 will be digitally released worldwide, with physical availability in the US and select territories, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The Standard Edition and Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition of WWE 2K24 will be accessible globally on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Hollywood Heel: The Rock Takes Another Dig At Salt Lake City After SmackDown

Dominic DeAngelo
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The Rock is a full-fledged heel once again and “The People’s Champion” is clearly not a champion of Salt Lake City, UT.

Dwayne Johnson returned to his 1998 form once more on WWE Friday Night SmackDown and laid the verbal smackdown on the fans in attendance. The Rock was well aware of the strong Mormon contigency in the state of Utah taking the opportunity to lean into that aspect, but not before calling them trailer park trash.

“Finally you and your 50 wives will have a story to tell and you know what I’m talking about. You’ll have a story to tell your 600 inbred grandchildren one day and that is what it’s like to look at greatness in the flesh because finally The Rock has come back to Salt Lake City!”

The Rock then disparaged the crowd further, re-opening an always lingering wound when the Utah Jazz lost to the Chicago Bulls back in the late 1990s. He then took shots at the “Cody Crybabies,” stating that they blew their opportunity to have the biggest WrestleMania main event in history.

The Rock Sticks It To Salt Lake City One More Time

Even though The Rock left Salt Lake City, he made clear they didn’t forget him on Monday. Still in heel mode, Rocky made the following post on Instagram to add further salt to the wound.

“Rock knows all.

“50 wives = 600 inbreds.

“FINALLY. ~ people’s champ”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3hKF0GMgEO

The Rock did officially align himself alongside The Bloodline on Friday, but it was ECW original Blue Meanie who presented a theory that The Rock may pulling a fast one on Roman Reigns.

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