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.
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.
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.
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.
It may be some time yet before fans see Netflix’s docuseries on the life of Vince McMahon, due to the allegations against him.
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.
Netflix Docuseries Delayed?
In 2020, a docuseries focusing on McMahon was announced, though a lot has changed since this project was first revealed. While it was reported in 2022 that the project was scrapped, it was later confirmed that this was not the case.
On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the future of the Netflix project. Meltzer said that while the project was set to be released soon, the resignation of McMahon may have resulted in the project being delayed.
“I haven’t heard anything about [the release of] the doc. This changes the whole doc 100%… They were done. It was going to be out very, very soon. I don’t know how it can possibly be out very, very soon now.”
WWE And Netflix
It’s unclear when this project will be released, but WWE is set to have close ties with Netflix in due time. In January of next year, WWE Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix as part of a five billion dollar deal with the streaming service. Fans outside the U.S. will also receive SmackDown, and WWE NXT, as well as Premium Live Events.
Tonight’s episode of WWE RAW will emanate from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and serves as one of the go-home shows to Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth premium live event.
Here are the 5 matches announced for Raw, followed by our detailed preview into each one:
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
Jey Uso challenges GUNTHER for the IC title
Battle Royal to determine Women’s Chamber Final Participant
R-Truth, Miz & DIY vs. Judgment Day
Chad Gable vs. Ivar
Raw Preview (2/19/24)
“Next Week” is TONIGHT!
Here’s what you need to know headed into this week’s WWE Raw:
Cody Rhodes v Drew McIntyre
Two weeks ago, Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match. Unfortunately, his post-match celebration was short-lived, as he was blindsided by an attack from “The Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre. Now, the once WWE Tag Team Champions will go one-on-one for the first time ever on WWE television.
With the Elimination Chamber just five days away, WWE is also tasked with determining the final participant in the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match. As of this writing, five of the six entrants have been confirmed — Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi.
Later tonight, five women (who previously lost their respective qualifying matchups) will collide in a “Last Chance” Battle Royal, in which the winner will be granted the final spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. The Battle Royal competitors will include Shanya Baszler, Michin, Alba Fyre, Zelina Vega, and Zoey Stark.
A week after losing his Men’s Elimination Chamber qualifier to LA Knight, Ivar looks to bounce back with a win as he takes on a tag team division rival, Chad Gable. Ivar and Gable most recently wrestled each other last month, with Ivar taking home the victory.
The Judgement Day
Elsewhere on the card, The Judgment Day (JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest) will face off with The Miz, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and R-Truth in an eight-man tag team competition. This tag bout comes on the heels of Judgment Day attacking R-Truth in the ring last week, after which Gargano and Ciampa made the save for Truth.
GUNTHER’s Latest Challenge
Finally, WWE RAW is also set to feature an Intercontinental Championship match between Jey Uso and the reigning titleholder, GUNTHER. Should Uso dethrone “The Ring General,” it will mark the first singles championship win of his WWE career.
WWE has fans all over the whole, but some markets don’t get as much attention from their schedule. Now, fans in Austria have some big news, because WWE is returning to their country.
WWE’s Return to Austria
WWE announced their next live event in Austria on February 19th. The next show is set to take place at the Wiener Stadthalle Halle D in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. This event marks WWE’s return to Vienna since its last appearance in 2019.
Fans in attendance can anticipate a showcase featuring top WWE Superstars. Among the stars scheduled to appear are “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso. More Superstars are expected as well, and the card is always subject to change..
Tickets and VIP packages, which offer exclusive Meet & Greet opportunities with WWE Superstars, will go on sale starting at 10 AM CET on Thursday, February 22, through Ticketmaster.at.
What’s Next
This Austrian WWE Live show serves as a precursor to the upcoming WWE Backlash France event, scheduled to take place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines, France, on Saturday, May 4, 2024. WWE is certainly making waves outside North America, as Endeavor’s vision for the company continues in the TKO era.
SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of WWE’s activities and will keep track of all updates.
Paul Heyman has a long history of managing clients in the pro wrestling world. The Bloodline might not last forever, especially as the road to WrestleMania 40 becomes even more tumultuous. There are many more Superstars in WWE who may benefit from Heyman’s guidance, and we collected a list to explore a few options.
Throughout his career, Heyman has managed many top names including Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Rob Van Dam, The Dudley Boyz, Steve Austin, Rick Rude, and Matt Hardy. Additionally, Heyman has had stints managing factions such as The Dangerous Alliance in WCW and The Dangerous Alliance and The Alliance in WWE. That doesn’t even count his position as The Bloodline’s Wise Man.
Brock Lesnar is no longer in any WWE creative plans due to his name being connected to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. I asked just last week and was able to confirm that is still the case, and Lesnar’s name is not coming up in any creative fashion. Since the Beast Incarnate’s return to WWE might take a long while, let’s see who might be next for Heyman if the Bloodline implodes.
Bron Breakker
It seems that Breakker is the #1 candidate to become the next Paul Heyman Guy after The Wise Man’s Bloodline tenure is over. Heyman paid special attention to Breakker during SmackDown, as he made extra effort to introduce himself. Heyman and Breakker also had a segment on NXT months ago. The former NXT Champion also has all the tools needed to become a breakout star for the main roster once he can get things moving for himself after his NXT obligations are over.
GUNTHER
GUNTHER’s imposing presence and hard-hitting style would make him a perfect candidate for Paul Heyman’s stable. Heyman could amplify the IC Champion’s intimidating persona and help him become a dominant force in WWE, both in the ring and on the microphone. The Ring General has a pretty great thing going with Imperium right now, but that stable has showed signs of cracks in the past, and GUNTHER’s domination in WWE will not end with the stable’s eventual demise.
Pete Dunne
The former Butch is known for his intense in-ring style and captivating presence. Triple H gave Pete Dunne is name back, and the Brawling Brutes is now over. He teamed up with Tyler Bate, and they are getting a chance as a tandem. Some would say that Dunne may thrive under Paul Heyman’s guidance. Heyman could help Dunne further develop his character and storytelling abilities, solidifying his status as a top star in WWE.
Dexter Lumis
With his unique character and silent intensity, Dexter Lumis would be an intriguing addition to Paul Heyman’s stable. Heyman could help Lumis further develop his character and storytelling abilities, positioning him as a standout star in WWE. If anything, it would give Lumis something to do. I’ve asked around about his status many times, and I’ve been told that he’s not injured. Hopefully, WWE will figure out a way to use the serial killer with a heart of gold soon.
Raquel Rodriguez
As the current NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Rodriguez has already proven herself as a dominant force in WWE. With Paul Heyman’s guidance, she could further elevate her character and mic skills, establishing herself as a top star on the main roster. She hasn’t been able to find her footing on the main roster since her call-up, although she has seen glimpses of good booking. Perhaps, Heyman advocating for her may do the trick.
Shotzi Blackheart
With her unique look, high-flying style, and charismatic personality, Shotzi Blackheart would be an excellent addition to Paul Heyman’s stable of clients. Heyman could help Blackheart refine her character and mic skills, positioning her as a standout star in WWE’s women’s division. Sadly, Shotzi is out of action with a knee injury which will keep her on the shelf for a majority of 2024, but her return as a Paul Heyman Girl may be just what she needs.
Rhea Ripley
The Nightmare could be a good fit as a Paul Heyman Girl due to her distinct appearance, impressive in-ring skills, and ability on the microphone. Ripley’s unique look and imposing presence make her stand out performer. With Heyman’s guidance, Ripley could further develop her in-ring storytelling and refine her microphone skills, enhancing her ability to connect with the audience and establish herself as a dominant force in the women’s division. She is currently in the Judgment Day, but that stable may open the door to Heyman swooping in eventually.
There are many options for WWE Superstars that would make fine Paul Heyman clients. SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE, just in case any of these prospective pairings becomes a reality.
Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker just became your new NXT Tag Team Champions this past Tuesday, but now Breakker is SmackDown bound. Fear not, fans of “Wolf Dogs.”
Although Bron Breakker may be headed for bluer horizons on Friday night, Fightful Select is reporting that officials have been very impressed with the pairing of Breakker and Corbin. They’ve appeared to leave enough of a mark together as a tag team that there’s been consideration to bring Baron up along with Bron on SmackDown.
This all happened despite Breakker making his main roster debut at the WWE Royal Rumble and then making an appearance on main roster programming as he considered his “free agent” options.
The latest episode of SmackDown featured GM Nick Aldis making it official that Breakker has been signed to his brand and that he will be exclusive to Fridays.
A Possible New Name For Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker?
Even if the future of the “Wolf Dogs” is up in the air, there is an interesting tidbit to add from the Fightful report. If the pairing between Corbin and Breakker continues to cultivate, a new name is being considered for the team.
Instead of “Wolf Dogs” WWE officials are considering “Spear Of Days” for the dynamic duo.
While they are the new champs, Corbin and Breakker have been teasing uncertainty considering Breakker’s future in WWE, but the Capitol Wrestling Center was fully behind their victory on Tuesday night.
WWE saw a huge shift in their creative direction when Then Rock returned to television. He found himself in the ring with Cody Rhodes, as they hugged before The Great One had a showdown with Roman Reigns. Everything happened very quickly after that, and we all know how everything escalated after that. Anthony Ogogo saw that footage, and it rocked his world as well.
Anthony Ogogo Reacts To Cody Rhodes & The Rock’s Segment
Anthony Ogogo recently spoke with Boxing Scene, where Cody’s segment with The Rock came up. That was a bit of a mind-blowing experience for him to see, because he knows The American Nightmare and has shared the ring with him.
“I saw Cody in the ring with The Rock the other day, I saw it on YouTube, over a 100m views or whatever and I thought…”
After he took a moment to pause, Ogogo continued to say, “I took a screenshot. And I just thought, ‘F*ck. I was in the ring with him a couple of years ago, now he’s in with the biggest star in the world.’”
Anthony Ogogo then revealed what he texted Cody Rhodes after that momentous segment on WWE television.
Everyone knows The Rock. “I’m happy for Cody. He’s a very good professional wrestler. He’s worked hard. He’s bet on himself. I’m happy for him.” “And I text Cody and said, ‘Mate, this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time. Buzzing for you. Go get it’. That’s what I text him. And I mean that, it’s a big thing for him.”
Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story after all, because fans spoke out and cause The Rock to pivot from his original plan.
WWE Changed WrestleMania Plans
I exclusively reported on SEScoops that a source within WWE confirmed that The Rock initially intended to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current scenario regarding the show was not The Rock’s original preference, indicating that it was not part of a preconceived plan from the outset. He then conceded that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns should be the main event match.
I was later told that“The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” It was Dwayne Johnson’s call to switch things up, and now Cody vs Roman is the main event of WrestleMania. At this point, a tag team match with The Rock joining the Bloodline seems to be the direction against Cody and Seth Rollins.
On a recent episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Kai was spotted out of her knee brace, raising speculation that she was healed. Kai would later explain that she simply forgot her brace for the show. On Instagram this week, Kai shared a photo of her training session with UFC’s Israel Adesanya, and was once again sans knee brace. The pair trained together at the City Kickboxing event in Kai’s native New Zealand.
While he’s yet to compete for WWE, Adesanya’s love for pro wrestling can’t be denied. For UFC 276 in 2022, Adesanya made an Undertaker themed entrance that caught the attention of the WWE Hall of Famer. Adesanya has also been open to competing for WWE but believes such a match would be a one off.
Fans online are appreciating Cody Rhodes’s kind gesture towards a blind fan at the recent WWE live event in Fresno, California. The heart-warming moment, captured on camera, has been viewed 17,000 times on X.
At the WWE: Road To WrestleMania SuperShow event held at the Save Mart Center in Fresno on February 18, Cody Rhodes faced off against Shinsuke Nakamura in a Street Fight match and emerged victorious in the night’s main event.
Following the match, he addressed the fans in the arena to finish the evening. Rhodes expressed his gratitude towards the enthusiastic Fresno crowd, stating, “I really appreciate it. There’s one sign that has caught my eye. It’s over here and it says, ‘Blindness can’t stop me from seeing Cody.'”
The audience in the arena couldn’t help but appreciate the heart-warming sign. In a gesture of gratitude, Rhodes approached the barricade to meet the fan at her seat.
Will Cody Rhodes Finish the Story at WrestleMania 40?
The fan’s husband took to X and shared a photo of them together with the wrestler, expressing, “My wife meeting Cody Rhodes tonight was a dream come true! Cody, she is blind and loves you so much! You reading her sign made her world! Thank you!”
The audience in the arena naturally appreciated The American Nightmare’s sweet gesture, with chants of Cody’s name echoing throughout. Online, people are also showing their love, dubbing him “The people’s champ” and hoping for a lengthy reign if he clinches the championship.
The title in question is the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, which Rhodes is slated to compete against Roman Reigns for at WrestleMania 40, set to take place at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Fans attending WrestleMania 40 will be able to enjoy a time like no other as part of the ‘WWE World’ experience.
In a statement, WWE announced their partnership with Fanatics to produce WWE World, which will serve as a successor to the popular WrestleMania Axxess.
Scott Zanghellini, WWE’s Co-Head of Revenue Strategy & Development, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Fanatics:
“Fanatics has a phenomenal ability to customize offerings for fans and we’re excited to partner with them on this first-of-its-kind experience for the WWE Universe at WrestleMania XL.”
Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events, shared Zanghellini’s enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“Through unique content, Superstar access and immersive experiences, we look forward to curating a captivating event for all fans who are in Philadelphia for WWE’s marquee event.”
WWE World: What to Expect
Tickets for WWE World will go on sale this Thursday at 10 AM Eastern, with prices ranging from $30 to $300. Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of attractions, including roundtable discussions with top WWE Superstars, a WWE 2K24 gaming tournament, live podcast recordings, and direct memorabilia and autograph sales facilitated by Fanatics Live.
WWE World will be a five-day event, scheduled for April 4 to April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event will also feature a WWE Superstore filled with merchandise.
WWE WrestleMania 40
WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, and mark the promotion’s fifth two-night event. The card for the show so far is as follows:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes
AEW star Darby Allin recently explained why he mentioned former AEW VP and current WWE star Cody Rhodes during his recent promo on AEW Dynamite.
Darby Allin and ‘The Icon’ Sting are set to team up for latter’s retirement match against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution pay-per-view next month. Ahead of the highly- anticipated battle, Darby Allin grabbed the attention as he namedropped Cody Rhodes on the February 14 February edition of AEW Dynamite. The reference took fans by surprise and the former TNT Champion has explained his decision to mention WWE Superstar in hyping the upcoming bout.
Darby Allin gives credit to Cody Rhodes
During a recent interview with Digital Spy, Allin addressed his decision to mention ‘The American Nightmare’ though the latter is not signed with AEW anymore.
“That’s easy because he’s the reason I’m in AEW. You think back to my debut, I wrestled him at Fyter Fest and we went a 20-minute Broadway draw. For him to take a chance on me that early… I was relatively super unknown still, I was never really the guy on the independent scene. He did that. You’ve got to give respect where respect is due. I feel very strongly on paying homage to how I got here because I never thought I was going to get here.”
Allin also addressed online criticism after his he cut the promo but he highlighted the importance of his history with the company and mentioned Rhodes’ contribution in his career and in the company overall. He said:
“I only pay attention to what I think, I really don’t care about what anyone else thinks. You’ve just got to listen to yourself about things. I really felt it was important for me to tell my part of the story leading into that match and not just be this second-rate character going into the match. I have a lot of things I wanted to say to the Young Bucks and I said it and so be it. I just want to go out there and speak my mind on things.”
Allin will team with Sting to defend the AEW Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) at AEW Revolution pay-per-view on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Pro wrestling can take a lot out of someone, and Ryback understands that all too well. He walked out of WWE a number of years ago, and he hasn’t looked back except to call out WWE for their misdeeds. Although Ryback hasn’t wrestled much since his WWE departure, there is a hope that he will lock up again some day.
Ryback Talks About In-Ring Return
Ryback’s last match took place in August 2018 when Northeast Wrestling presented an event as part of their Wrestling Under The Stars 7 Tour. The event took place at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut, USA. One of the featured matches of the evening saw Ryback emerge victorious over Dylan Bostic in a hard-fought battle. The Big Guy hasn’t wrestled since then.
During a recent TikTok video, Ryback addressed his return to the ring. It seems that stem cell therapy has helped repair his back, but his shoulder still has issues. There is also a problem with the scar tissue that remains.
The one question I get all the time is ‘Ryback, when are you going back to WWE? When are you going back pro wrestling?’ The answer is that I don’t know. The reason I don’t know is in 2016, when I walked out on a multi-million dollar contract in WWE, I was told I needed a five-disc fusion and shoulder replacement at 34-years-old. See, I was able to get stem cell treatments, and they were able to regrow all five discs in my back, so that is not an issue. My right shoulder, which I have no cartridge due to negligent WWE doctors injecting cortizone into it multiple times a year and lying to me, that has been a bigger issue.
Ryback then explained that he has a massive amount of scar tissue that has built up. They are working daily to break that up, and if they can succeed, then he can make a return to the ring. Until that happens, he will keep working toward that goal.
In the meantime, Ryback said that he is happy running his Feed Me More nutrition brand of supplements. He also runs daily live shows on his social media accounts, which he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.
We will have to see if Ryback ever makes a return to the ring. At this point, he seems to be working hard for that day to come, although he still has some more work to do.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event is going down on February 24th in Perth, Australia. They have a big show in store, and the stage is already being set in Opus Stadium.
The Chamber Set-Up
Opus Stadium in Perth, Australia boasts a capacity of 70,000 seats, and WWE plans to utilize 55,000. We will have to see how the stadium looks as it is full of WWE fans, but we already have a look at the set-up for the event.
Given that Opus Stadium is an open-air venue, attendees can anticipate an energetic atmosphere for the show. The stage setup for the Elimination Chamber is already well underway and nearing completion within days.
The staging is already being set in the stadium. They might not have a ton up already, but this is a great start. A photo is now circulating showing off exactly how much they had constructed as of last night.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will start at 5:00 AM EST. This might be a very early day for fans in America, but it will give those Australian fans a chance to catch some unforgettable action.
This event will be the last stop on the road to WrestleMania XL, an event that no Superstar wants to miss.
At the Elimination Chamber event in Perth, Australia, several matches are set to unfold. The Judgment Day, represented by Finn Bálor and Damian Priest, will defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against challengers Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate from New Catch Republic. In one of the Chamber match, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Naomi, and the winner of a last-chance Battle Royal will compete for a shot at the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania XL.
Rhea Ripley will defend her Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax in a singles match. Additionally, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Kevin Owens, and Logan Paul will face off in an Elimination Chamber match for the opportunity to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of the Elimination Chamber as more information is made available.
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: 47 days away
Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 19, 2024:
WWE
– The Rock is staying in Daytona for the second day of NASCAR’s big race. The race was delayed due to rain, but Dwayne Johnson isn’t leaving until he tells drivers to start their engines.
– Malakai Black made his in-ring return, but it wasn’t during an AEW event. He competed at the Dark Arts gym. His last singles match took place in September 2022 when he competed for PRESTIGE. Meanwhile, his last singles match in AEW took place in June 2022.
– AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.
– WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
– WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.
– Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
– WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock.
– WWE Money in the Bank will take place 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 set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
WWE Superstar Grayson Waller has continued to pull off heel tactics and took a jab at 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes.
‘The American Nightmare’ recently won the Men’s Royal Rumble for the second time and he is on his Road to WrestleMania. While the road is bumpy, Rhodes is trying to overcome the hindrances and ‘finish his story.’
Cody Rhodes seemingly made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but that soon changed. After fans outraged and WWE received , the main event was reverted back to the original plans of Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal title match at ‘The Show of Shows.’
This year, Elimination Chamber is heading to Perth, Australia which is Grayson Waller’s homeland. Ahead of the show, the Aussie star decided to take a shot at Rhodes.
Grayson Waller claims to have finished his story before Cody Rhodes
During the flight to Australia, Grayson Waller stated that he already finished his book and highlighted the fact that at least someone in WWE can finish a story which is a jab at Cody Rhodes.
“Halfway to Perth and already finished my book. At least someone in WWE can finish a story”
Halfway to Perth and already finished my book. At least someone in WWE can finish a story pic.twitter.com/RrJIEIPZOM
At Elimination Chamber: Perth, Grayson Waller will host Cody Rhodes and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on his ‘The Grayson Waller Effect’ show. We will have to wait and see how it pans out.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in the Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST, and keep an eye on SEScoops for the coverage of the show.
AEW star Malakai Black recently competed in a singles match and this marks his first singles match since 2022. However, the match didn’t take place in AEW but in his wrestling school, the Dark Arts Gym.
Black has been competing in tag-team action alongside Brody King and Buddy Matthews since returning from injury in October last year. Black had suffered a slight calf tear and knee hyperextension that put him on the shelf for several months. Following his return, fans noticed that Malakai Black has not been competing in singles matches which sparked a rumor.
His last singles match took place in September 2022 when he competed for PRESTIGE. Meanwhile, his last singles match in AEW took place in June 2022.
Malakai Black competes in singles match
For those who are unaware, The House of Black leader runs this school, Dark Arts Gym with his wife, WWE Superstar Zelina Vega. He competed in its latest show.
The Dark Arts Gym recently posted the full show on YouTube from their latest event, Dark Prospects: Ritual 1. Malakai Black headlined the event as he faced Orion. The match also featured AEW commentator Tony Schiavone’s commentary. The match lasted for almost 15 minutes and Malakai hit the Black Mass on his opponent to secure the win.
Last week, former NXT star Bobby Fish also made his presence felt in Malakai Black’s Dark Arts Gym. He paid a visit to share his experience with the up-and-coming superstars.
Former WWE Superstar Mandy Rose won’t have to worry about paying the bills for some time thanks to just one fan who paid for her FanTime account.
Rose was released from WWE in December 2022, a day after she lost the NXT Women’s Champion to Roxanne Perez. Rose’s sudden release came after WWE officials learned of the explicit content shared on her website. Rose has stated that she was never given any warning to take her website down prior to her contract being terminated.
Mandy Rose’s Crazy Amount
Rose’s website has certainly granted the former NXT Superstar financial security. Within a month of her WWE departure, it was reported that the website had earned $1 million. Rose opened an OnlyFans account in September of last year.
Speaking on the ‘Power Alphas‘ podcast hosted by her fiancé Tino Sabbatelli, Rose recalled one fan who was willing to pay big money to see her exclusive content.
“I’ve had one person, I won’t say any names. One person, and this is on FanTime, spent $55,000 on me. One person. $55,000. So I’m like ‘Wow, what does he do for a living that he’s able to spend this kind of money on one person?’ $55,000. And it wasn’t even [over a long period.] It was definitely over a little time period. But it was definitely, yeah. Wild. So thank you! It is kind of crazy.”
Mandy rose says 1 person spent $55,000 on her onlyfans account
Speaking to TNT Sports at UFC 298, Ford was asked if he’d ever shown interest in stepping into the Octagon. The Street Profit made it clear that it is something he’s considered.
“100 percent. Now I do get nervous about messing up this pretty face. I do look better in person, I know the camera is a little different. But I will say I’ve always been a fan of it, always trained for it. It is something I was talking about in the last two years, about actually going over and having a match. Seeing CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, and even Bobby Lashley, the guy I’m with now, doing different promotions, doing those fighting promotions… It’s something I had interest in but it got shut down quickly by… ahem [gestures to Belair.]”
Bianca Belair on UFC
While Ford is itching for a chance in the cage, Bianca Belair doesn’t share her husband’s desire. With that said, Belair made clear that she’d love to train with MMA fighters to hone her skills.
“I would love to train and get the skills that they have. I’ve been in the ring with some women who have some of this background like Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler and they are tough. I would love to have some skills that they have. But as far as competing, I think I’m good in the WWE ring.”
WWE meets UFC ?
Is there an octagon appearance on the cards of either of these two superstars? @BiancaBelairWWE says no, but @MontezFordWWE didn't rule it out… ?
While not a UFC cage, Belair will step inside the Elimination Chamber later this week for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Belair will face Tiffany Stratton, Becky Lynch, Naomi, Liv Morgan, and another entrant. A battle royal featuring Shayna Baszler, Mia Yim, Alba Fyre, Zelina Vega, and Zoey Stark will take place on this week’s Raw to decide the final entrant.
The Daytona 500 is an annual event that serves as the season-opening race for the NASCAR Cup Series. This year’s race was a bit rainy, so they’re running it tomorrow. The Rock was a bit bummed to see the race delayed, but he will be around for day 2.
The Rock Speaks On NASCAR Daytona 500 Rain Out
The Rock was in Daytona to be the Grand Marshal for this year’s race. He knew that a rain out was possible, which he stated during his video that he dropped today.
Dwayne Johnson didn’t get to tell racers to start their engines, but he was around for the rain out. He also spoke to the panel at the raceway, where he assured them that he will be around for tomorrow’s delayed race.
The Rock spoke about his midnight workout session, and how driving past the raceway was an incredible experience. Even in the middle of the night, workers filled the iconic NASCAR venue, preparing themselves for today’s race.
While he was there, The Rock also spoke about the XFL’s new deal with the USFL to form the UFL. He is very happy to bring that gridiron action to FOX as part of their new deal as well.
According to Dave Meltzer’s Daily Update, the Daytona 500 getting bumped could help WWE SmackDown make history.
Meltzer explained that, “Due to the cancellation of today’s Daytona 500, there’s a strong possibility that Smackdown on Friday could emerge as the highest-rated show on network television for the week. However, due to the holiday, this may not be confirmed until Wednesday or Thursday. Such an occurrence has never been recorded in the history of televised professional wrestling, which has been ongoing since 1947.”
What is the Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 will run on February 19th, due to this rain delay. The annual race takes place at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in American motorsports and attracts a large audience both at the track and through television broadcasts. The Daytona 500 features high-speed racing, with drivers competing for the coveted title of Daytona 500 champion.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more updates are made available.
WWE is gearing up for their Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, and there is a lot going on to set up the big show. One Australian WWE Superstar is rather bummed, because it seems the company has snubbed her from the show.
WWE Didn’t Include Indi Hartwell
Indi Hartwell voiced her frustration on social media towards WWE official Adam Pearce for not arranging a qualifying match for her in the upcoming Elimination Chamber event.
In preparation for WWE Elimination Chamber, the company held numerous qualifying matches to secure spots in the men’s and women’s chamber matches. Indi Hartwell, although she’s from Australia, is not included.
The final participant in the women’s match remains undetermined, with a Last Chance Battle Royal scheduled to feature previous qualifying match losers and additional female talent competing for the coveted spot.
On February 18, Indi Hartwell responded to a fan’s tweet showing support with the hashtag #WeWantIndi, which was posted under WWE’s announcement of the “Last Chance” Battle Royal. In her reply, Hartwell directly addressed Adam Pearce, questioning why she was not given the opportunity for a qualifying match.
“Crazy how @ScrapDaddyAP didn’t give the Aussie a qualifying match.”
Indi Hartwell isn’t the only Aussie who is upset about not getting into an Elimination Chamber match. Bronson Reed was not happy either, and this caused him to do a lot of thinking about how things are panning out for him in WWE.
What’s Next
This week’s episode of WWE Raw, on February 19, will feature a Last Chance Battle Royal. Sadly, Indi Hartwell isn’t advertised to be in that match, but the lineup includes names like Shayna Baszler, Michin, Zoey Stark, Zelina Vega, and Alba Fyre.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in the Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST, and we will have coverage of the show.
SE Scoops will have more updates on this story as they are made available.
WWE has a few Superstars who are out of action with an injury. Braun Strowman needed neck fusion surgery in June 2023, and he hasn’t been back to the ring since then. As fans wait for his return to action, Strowman is still making appearances for WWE.
Strowman Arrives in Saudi Arabia
Braun Strowman surprised fans with an appearance at the WWE Experience in Saudi Arabia. This indoor theme park in Riyadh’s Boulevard City solidifies WWE’s connection with its Saudi fan base. They promise an immersive WWE experience, which goes along with the name.
WWE launched the WWE Experience in Riyadh on Friday, February 16th, featuring interactive attractions like The Undertaker’s Graveyard Escape puzzle. Tons of WW artifacts are also there, along with interactive exhibits. Visitors can also create their personalized entrance experience.
Despite his absence from the ring since last May due to neck fusion surgery, Braun Strowman made a notable presence at the event. Throughout his recovery, the former Universal Champion has kept fans updated on his health journey.
WWE recently shared some images from the Saudi Arabian WWE Experience on social media. Among the attendees were Natalya, Jinder Mahal, Chelsea Green, and Braun Strowman.
Braun expressed gratitude on social media for the opportunity to participate in the Riyadh event, acknowledging how great the WWE experience is, while saying it was an honor to make the trip.
We haven’t heard when Braun Strowman may make his way back to the ring. At this time, it doesn’t appear that they have set any timetable to make that happen. In the meantime, he seems to be doing well, and he is still in great shape.
SEScoops will have more on this story as more updates are available about Braun Strowman’s return to the ring.
Now WWE has released a YouTube video package showcasing the skills and achievements of Breakker down during his NXT days and it starts with a voiceover by current Wiseman of The Bloodline, Paul Heyman.
Heyman hasn’t been shy about his enthusiasm for the talent and limitless ceiling of Breakker and that is clearly on display in the video.
The following SmackDown after the notorious WrestleMania Kickoff, Heyman even interrupted Breakker and Triple H to further hammer home his interest in the son of Rick Steiner.
Paul Heyman keeps crossing paths with Bron Breakker on WWE TV
Breakker’s trajectory to the SmackDown roster did get a bit interesting this past Tuesday as he along with Baron Corbin became the new NXT Tag Team Champions after winning the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. That aspect won’t slow Breakker’s rise to SmackDown down, however, but their have been discussions at bringing Corbin to the blue brand too due to the duo’s strong chemistry with one another.
Heyman has had a wide range of “Paul Heyman Guys” in his WWE tenure. Including Roman Reigns, Heyman has managed Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, CM Punk, Big Show, Brock Lesnar, Claudio Castagnoli and Curtis Axel.
Fans who attended the most recent Revolution Pro Wrestling event received a huge surprise in the form of reigning AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy.
Cassidy was part of a multi-man scramble match that saw the International title on the line at the company’s High Stakes show. He defended the gold against Sha Samuels, Spike Trivet, Richard Holliday, Cameron Khai, and TNA Wrestling’s Flash Morgan Webster. On Twitter, Rev Pro shared the moment Cassidy made his entrance and the electric response he received from the fans.
In a tweet of his own, Webster shared his delight at challenging for the AEW International Championship and believes it is a strong start to what will be an epic 2024.
Just wrestled for the @AEW International Championship in front of 2000 rapid @RevProUK fans.
While Cassidy’s appearance at the show was a surprise, it was no secret that the Freshly Squeezed wrestler was overseas in the United Kingdom. Cassidy, alongside AEW World Tag Team Champion Darby Allin, was seen with AEW President Tony Khan at a Fulham FC soccer game. Unfortunately for the AEW trio, Fulham lost 2-1 to Aston Villa.
Orange Cassidy in AEW
Cassidy is in his record-setting second reign as the AEW International Champion. His first reign with the title is the longest in the title’s history. Cassidy also holds the record for the most successful title defenses in AEW. Outside of singles competition, Cassidy is part of the Best Friends stable alongside Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, and Kris Statlander. Cassidy made his debut for AEW at their inaugural Double or Nothing event in 2019 and would sign with the promotion that same year.
Clark, better known to fans as Velveteen Dream, was part of a show earlier this month that marked the former WWE NXT Superstar’s return to wrestling. In 2020, Clark faced allegations of sending inappropriate messages to minors. WWE claimed that their investigation into the matter showed no proof of misconduct, though one of Clark’s accusers would state that WWE never reached out as part of their investigation. After massive fan backlash, Clark was released from WWE in 2021.
Terra Calaway on Dynasty Wrestling
Given the allegations Clark has faced as well as additional run-ins with the law, Dynasty’s decision to use him at their event has received a mixed response from fans. On Twitter, Dynasty defended using Clark, saying they wanted to give somebody a second chance to live out their dream.
This message caught the attention of Terra Calaway, a former member of the Dynasty Wrestling roster. In a tweet of her own, Calaway shared her disappointment and disgust at using Clark. Calaway, a victim of sexual assault, said that using Clark made it clear that victims are not safe at Dynasty Wrestling.
As a former member of your roster and a sexual assault victim, I am so beyond disappointed and disgusted.
Thank you for showing other victims they are not safe in your locker room or your crowd. https://t.co/p9HoWbKXVg
Clark recently emerged in Culpeper and spoke at a County Board of Supervisors meeting. The former WWE NXT Superstar urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of solar power. In a recent video, Clark apologized to WWE and Triple H for causing them problems but stopped short of admitting to any of the allegations against him.
