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Karrion Kross Wants to Unleash ‘The Truth’ From R-Truth

Dominic DeAngelo
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What if R-Truth tried joining The Final Testament? Karrion Kross says he’d bring out a different type of person than the one The Judgment Day is currently dealing with.

A fan proposed the hypothetical to Karrion Kross on X of R-Truth trying to hang with him, AOP, Scarlett and Paul Ellering and the former NXT Champion made it known he’d conjure up a R-Truth that WWE has yet to see.

“What would we do? I remind & show the world about Ron “The Truth” Killings. And you would run for your life. Because Ron doesn’t joke or laugh until he puts you in the hospital. I like Ron. A lot. The world is lucky they’re getting the nice guy right now.”

R-Truth like what he heard out of Kross because he reposted Karrion’s comments.

Before he donned the R-Truth moniker, Ron Killings went by his real name in TNA and became the first African-American NWA Worlds Champion while there.

At the moment, R-Truth is looking to become the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions with The Miz. The two have punched their ticket to WrestleMania 40 to be apart of the six-pack ladder match. Truth and Miz have a score to settle with Judgment Day and they’ll be battling Damian Priest and Finn Balor in the bout, along with four other tag teams.

Funny enough, the first iteration of Awesome Truth did happen to feature a heel version of R-Truth and the two happened to take on The Rock and John Cena in tag action.

Unlikely AEW Tag Team Pairing Bonds After Rampage

Dominic DeAngelo
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Could we see a new alliance made between Dustin Rhodes and The Butcher?

Dustin Rhodes took on The Butcher in singles action during AEW Rampage after the latter stepped up to the former during an interview segment on AEW Dynamite. Dustin accepted The Butcher’s challenge and ‘The Natural’ came out on top in the battle. Following the fight, The Butcher took to X to tip his cap to Rhodes and offered him a lending hand in the future.

“I thought i had that match last night. I had him in my grips. I was doubting his legendary status. Everyone should know that Dustin Rhodes is every bit of a legend and he humbled me. From this day forward, I’ve got your back, Natural. If you ever need me, I’m here for you.”

Rhodes took note of The Butcher’s offer (which also offered three heart emojis) and replied, “Love you dude.”

The Past “Unlikely Alliances” For Dustin Rhodes

Rhodes is certainly no stranger to “strange bedfellows” as there’s been several occassions where he’s teamed up with someone of a different ilk. Probably the most memorable unlikely alliance took place back in WWE when he as Goldust joined up with Booker T. However, you can even go back further when Dustin was originally ‘The Natural’ in WCW when he teamed with Arn Anderson until ‘The Enforcer’ stabbed him in the back.

However, there has also been names whom Rhodes has had history with and has gotten to tag together. Obviously, him and his brother Cody had found success as a tag team, notoriously beating The Shield at WWE Battleground 2013. He also just recently teamed up with Marshall and Ross Von Erich on a previous episode of AEW Rampage.

WWE Made Several Changes To Jade Cargill’s Entrance Before 3/29 SmackDown Debut

Aaron Varble
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Jade Cargill is now in WWE, and she’s making a lot of noise. “The Storm is Here,” seems to be more than just a new catchphrase.

A new report states that WWE had Jade Cargill’s entrance figured out well in advance. They also had input from a lot of people to make sure everything looked the best it could for the former TBS Champion.

Jade Cargill’s SmackDown Entrance

During the March 29th episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Jade Cargill debuted on the blue brand with a new entrance. This received a lot of attention from fans.

According to Corey Brennan on Fightful Select, Cargill’s entrance underwent extensive planning, with adjustments made over recent weeks. Input on various aspects of the entrance, including angles, lighting, and sound, was provided by “all major producers” within the company. 

Jade Cargill At WrestleMania 40

Although WWE waited until late in the game, Cargill was booked for a WrestleMania 40 match during the March 29 episode of SmackDown.

Cargill will join Naomi and Bianca Belair to take on Damage CTRL’s Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai in a six-woman tag team match. That will also mark Cargill’s second match in the company after her 2024 Royal Rumble debut.

Cargill’s entrance is anticipated to undergo further modifications, possibly even at WrestleMania, although its foundational elements were established during SmackDown. We will have to see how things evolve from this point on.

Cargill has been quite open about her AEW departure. Tony Khan offered her more money to stay with AEW than she asked for, but she left anyway. In the end, Cargill unapologetically says that she did what she had to do.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as Jade Cargill continues making her mark in WWE. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

Cody Rhodes Signs New Multi-Year WWE Contract Before WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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Contracts are always important in pro wrestling, and now it appears that WWE has done everything they could to make sure that Cody Rhodes is locked down.

Cody Rhodes recently confirmed that he signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. This will keep him with the company past his 40th birthday.

Cody Rhodes’ New WWE Contract

Cody Rhodes is riding a wave of momentum, and the WWE Universe can’t wait to see if he finishes his story at WrestleMania 40. No matter how the show of shows turns out, he will be around WWE for a long time to come.

During an interview with Justin Walker, Cody Rhodes confirmed he has signed a new multi-year contract with WWE. He did not confirm exactly how many years he signed on for, but it is certainly more than two. He had planned on retiring by 40, but plans changed for him.

“I can tell you 40 is out of the question just because, not to give you scoop, it was widely reported, but I did sign a new contract with WWE. It extends beyond my 40th birthday.”

“The plan is still, when it’s time to step out, to step out without it being a painful process. Solely because I saw my dad [Dusty Rhodes] as an old man wrestler and he loved it and enjoyed it, but as his son it was hard to see. My daughter is two going on three, there does have a be a time, just like he was with us, where I have to be home all the time and be there with her. It’s not 40 anymore. I’ll update the number. I hit the prime run late in the game. I often forget that I’m nearing 40.”

Cody Rhodes is 38-years-old right now. Since his new deal will extend past his 40th birthday, WWE fans can look forward to a lot more moments from the American Nightmare.

Cody Rhodes’ History of Betting on Himself

Rhodes has a history of betting on himself. He left WWE in May 2016, when he didn’t like Stardust’s creative direction and, and he thought he could do better. That certainly transpired for him in the months following his WWE exit.

After achieving an EVP spot in AEW, and being featured in many high-profile feuds, Cody Rhodes left Tony Khan’s company as he bet on himself once again. He never won the AEW World Title, because an early storyline in the company disqualified Cody from challenging for it in the future after he failed to beat Chris Jericho at Full Gear in 2019. Jericho won that match as MJF threw in the towel for Cody.

Now, Cody Rhodes is back in WWE, and he’s not leaving. We will have to see what stories he helps tell in the future, and how many massive venues end up singing along to his famous Kingdom entrance.

Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes will compete twice during the two-day WrestleMania event on April 6 and 7. He will team with Seth Rollins to take on The Rock and Roman Reigns during the first night of Mania. The second night will feature Cody vs Roman for the Undisputed Universal Title in the main event match.

If Cody and Seth’s team can win during the first night of WrestleMania, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside during the main event of WrestleMania 40’s second night. If Roman and Rock win, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for the Undisputed Universal Title match.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more. Keep checking back for more updates throughout the day for more headlines!

Bryan Danielson Confirmed For Major CMLL Match WrestleMania Weekend

Dominic DeAngelo
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Bryan Danielson will continue to check items off his bucket list WrestleMania weekend, but it won’t be anywhere near Philadelphia.

CMLL announced that Danielson will indeed take on the legendary Blue Panther on April 5, 2024 in Arena México for their Wrestling Spectacular. It was just this last Friday where Danielson stood across the ring from Blue Panther as he teamed with Jon Moxley, Claudio Castignoli and Matt Sydal to battle the legend, Volador Jr., Ultimo Guerrero, and MLW World Middleweight Champion Mistico. After the battle, Danielson challenged Blue Dragon to a singles match.

Danielson shared in his excitement for the four-man tag on 3/28 and taking a moment to note that Blue Panther holds a special place in his pro wrestling hiearchy.

“The BCC will be standing across the ring from 4 incredible wrestlers, one of whom, Blue Panther, is my FAVORITE LUCHADOR OF ALL TIME!!! What a life!”

Who Is Blue Panther?

Blue Panther actually started his wrestling career in the late 1970s and is an absolute legend in Mexico. He has won a bevvy of championships under the CMLL banner and really established himself with in a memorable feud with Art Barr in the early 1990s. 

Pro Wrestling Illustrated listed him as #58 in the 1998 edition of the PWI 500 and Panther was just inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall Of Fame in 2023.

Putting Blue Panther on Danielson’s list of opponents is giving ‘The American Dragon’ a heck of a resume for 2024. He’s faced Shibata weeks ago on AEW Collision and then will tie up with Will Ospreay on April 21 for AEW Dynasty.

Sabu To Be Inducted Into Indie Wrestling Hall Of Fame

Tyriece Simon
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As WWE WrestleMania 40 approaches, many independent wrestling events will occur that weekend. One of the events is Game Changer Wrestling and Orange Crush’s annual Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame. The 2024 class on April 7 will highlight several independent wrestling legends like The Briscoes(Jay & Mark Briscoe) and Trent Acid. 

On Twitter, GCW has shared that their latest inductee will be former ECW superstar Sabu. The high-flying and risk-taking legend had a long career in the defunct company but competed on the independent wrestling scene for many years. GCW and Orange Crush’s decision could also be due to the event occurring in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where ECW held many events. 

Regardless of the decision, Sabu is a great addition to the 2024 Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame class. His style has left an influence in wrestling that has helped inspire others to be as daring as he was in his career. He’s also been honored by GCW over the years and has made appearances for them, including The Wrld On GCW on January 23, 2022. 

Tickets for the 2024 Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame are still on sale on Eventbrite. The general admission to attend is $25, and the VIP table seating costs $49.99. Both also come with an additional fee for a ticket. GCW has announced that it will stream live at noon ET/9 AM PT on their YouTube Channel for fans who can’t attend. 

More On GCW Plans For WrestleMania Weekend

GCW will host 11 shows as part of their Collective schedule from April 4 to April 6. The popular independent company is still finalizing some of the cards, but it’s looking to be an incredible slate of events. One of the notable shows that fans are excited about is Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X on April 4. 

The event will feature several independent talents engaging in a more grappling and hard-hitting match than fans may see in other shows. WWE has gotten involved in the unique attraction by allowing Shayna Baszler to appear and take on Masha Slamovich. A few outlets reported that more WWE talent could appear for GCW and Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. However, neither WWE nor GCW has made an official announcement. 

The entire GCW Collective schedule will stream live on TrillerTV+, which fans can watch for a 7.99 subscription. Tickets for most of the event are sold out or close to it on Eventbrite. Fans looking to attend one of the shows will have to buy their ticket now as they all may sell out very soon.  

Updated Plan For Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal On 4/5 SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania is a week away, and now we know what is set to go down on the go-home edition of SmackDown next week. That will include a very special annual match, where the winner will receive an accolade they can brag about for the rest of their career.

WWE will bring SmackDown to the Wells Fargo Center next week for SmackDown. Directly after the event, they will put on the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame as well.

Next week’s SmackDown will see the return of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. This match has a long history around WrestleMania weekend. Even if it is no longer on the show of show’s card, it will get a featured spot this year on SmackDown. The participants in the match are yet to be determined, but they have the winner figured out.

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Return

The WrestleMania 40 go-home episode of WWE SmackDown will feature the annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. During Friday’s SmackDown, WWE disclosed that the 10th edition of this memorial match is slated for the Friday, April 5 episode of SmackDown.

No participants in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal were announced yet. We will have to see who gets in that annual match. Past winners include: Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley.

Since its inception in 2014, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has been a staple of WrestleMania weekend, except for the year 2020. Initially held at WrestleMania itself from 2014 to 2019, the match has transitioned to the final SmackDown before WrestleMania since 2021.

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Plan (Exclusive)

I asked around about the upcoming Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal on SmackDown next week. I was told that the complete participant list for the match is “to be determined.”

So far, Superstars expected for the match include Andrade, Ricochet, Chad Gable, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, Omos, Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, Ivar, Akira Tozawa, Otis, JD McDonagh, Apollo Crews, Veer, Sanga, Cameron Grimes, Kit Wilson, Elton Prince, Ashante Adonis, and Cedric Alexander. Of course, plans can always change in pro wrestling. 

I was, however, told that they have already determined who will win the tenth annual match.

WWE SmackDown Card for 4/5:

  • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
  • Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
  • The KO Show with Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
  • New Catch Republic’s Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
  • Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez

SEScoops will have full coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40. We never know what can happen with a week until the showcase of the immortals. WWE is certainly booking a loaded go-home SmackDown before the event.

MLW War Chamber Results: Team MLW vs. Team WTF, Matt Riddle Defends NJPW World TV Title

Dominic DeAngelo
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This recap was originally written by SEScoops’ staff writer Dominic DeAngelo on MLW.com

Watch the replay of MLW War Chamber HERE.

Major League Wrestling is in St. Petersburg, FL and there’s not one, but two rings hoping to contain all the entrants in tonight’s War Chamber as Team MLW will take on the World Titan Federation. The St. Pete Coliseum is packed and they’re ready for action. We’re sure going to get that with a World Featherweight Title fight!

MATCH 1
World Featherweight Championship
Unagi Sayaka vs. Janai Kai (c) (presented by Salina de la Renta)

Janai Kai has had a trend of knocking out her opponents in the first several seconds, but not this tie. Sayaka is just about as even as a fighter you can get to combat the ‘Kick Demon’ and there were some still boots by both women! However, that all changed when Janai caught Sayaka in the corner with a bad roundhouse, stacked her up and got the 1-2-3!

WINNER and STILL MLW World Featherweight Champion: Janai Kai

MATCH 2
AJ Francis vs. Alex Kane

Francis comes out with MSL who joins commentary but AJ also has words in the ring, running down both Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas and disrespecting the BOMAYE Fight Club. Francis keeps running his mouth which finally prompts Kane to cut the BS.

Alex Kane wastes zero time at exacting revenge on Francis, sending the big man to the outside before diving on him! Kane quickly follows up with his patented body splash on the apron! Kane soon splashes Francis into the ring post, but AJ forces him off into the BOMAYE Fight Club who sends their leader back into action. However, Francis pops him up for a massive apron powerbomb!

Francis continues to exude his strength in the ring, and Kane is game to match that, launching Francis up for a big vertical suplex! He then hits a belly-to-back! MSL gets concerned and leaves the booth. When Francis is caught on the ropes, MSL grabs hold of his client and it allows AJ the opportunity to regain momentum and chokeslam Kane! He covers and the ref makes an extremely fast three count!

WINNER: AJ Francis

Post-fight, the BOMAYE Fight Club sans Mr. Thomas is standing in the ring to confront Francis, but instead of attacking they align! Fists are raised and Francis has been backed by BOMAYE! Kane and Thomas are not pleased but definitely have retribution on their minds!

We see AKIRA entering the Coliseum and the first person he sees is Sami Callihan. However, he’s ambushed from behind by RSP and The Calling. This was clearly an orchestrated attack as RSP wraps barbed wire around AKIRA’s face to put him in a crossface! They want to make sure he doesn’t make it to his War Chamber match!

The next match is supposed to involve Devin Diaz, but former bounty hunter Brian Brock attacks him from behind and grabs the mic. He issues an open challenge, but he may have got more than he bargained for in Mads Krule Krugger!

MATCH 3
Bryan Brock vs. Mads Krule Krugger

Krugger doesn’t take long to send Brock to the outside and the brawl begins. Members of the Sentai Death Squad help Krugger in his cause both The Black Hand rules with an iron fist. Kendo sticks, and doors are introduced. Kruger comes charging as Brock but Brock moves and Krugger goes through the door. Brock hits his signature lariat and has to fight off more soldiers. He cracks Krugger with both halves of the door, but it doesn’t phase Mads!

He catches Brock with a chokeslam then his full nelson faceplant for the 1-2-3!

WINNER: Mads Krule Krugger

Post-fight, it appears that CONTRA aims to zip up Brock in a body bag, but for some reason, Kruger decides against it and instead carries Brock out of the St. Pete Coliseum!

MATCH 4
Richard Adonis vs. Bad Dude Tito (presented by Salina de la Renta)

Adonis is making his Major League debut but this one might be a match he puts in the archives. Bad Dude Tito makes quick work of him, nailing Adonis with a Steiner Screwdriver and getting the pinfall.

WINNER: Bad Dude Tito

Tito gets on the mic and makes his reasons known why his signed with MLW: gold. He doesn’t care if it’s Kojima or Rickey Shane Page, he wants to secure a title. Ringside, you can tell Salina de la Renta couldn’t be happier.

MATCH 5
NJPW World TV Championship:
Kosei Fujita vs. Matt Riddle (c)

Both these fighters are ready to go and you can tell that by their similar gameplans. Mat work starts it all off for these two and several impressive “stalemates” occur. Fujita hits a beautiful hurricanrana that sends Riddle to the outside, but these two want to settle it in the ring.

Fujita eventually catches Riddle in a front face scissors hold that is looking to do Riddle in, but Riddle fights. He tries to break it in the corner but can’t and finds himself back in the center of the ring. Amazingly, Riddle suplexes himself out of it with a fisherman’s buster. He almost gets a pinfall out of it but doesn’t! He calls an audible and picks Fujita back up for a gutbuster GTS and turns it into a German suplex!

Speaking of German suplexes, Fujita nails Riddle with an avalanche German and nearly gets a pinfall but Riddle just grabs hold of the ropes at the witching hour!

Riddle ends up getting the hard-earned W after hitting a Gotch-style piledriver! Still the champ!

WINNER and STILL NJPW World Television Champion: Matt Riddle

Post-fight Joe Dombrowski catches up with Riddle who makes note that it’s been 6 yeaers since he last challenged for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship and he now wants to change that!

As the War Chamber gets set up we get a special look of Mistico successfully defending his MLW World Middleweight gold in CMLL!

We also get words from Cesar Duran as he makes his massive offer to Salina de la Renta. At Azteca Lucha on May 11 in Chicago, she brings her luchadores and he’ll bring his. Whoever gets the most wins, gets the coveted “key” that Duran now holds in his hands. Will she accept?

It’s main event time.

MAIN EVENT
War Chamber Match
Team MLW vs. Team WTF

The first entrant in the match is Josh Bishop with a decked out MSL in war fatigues. This means that WTF will start off with a man-advantage, but Team MLW picked the right man for the job in Matthew Justice as their first entrant. He’s not alone as Bill Alfonso accompanies him to the ring!

The fight begins and you better believe it doesn’t take long for weapons to get introduced. Bishop and Justice exchange chair shots and kendo stick swings as they try to survive one another’s attack for the first five minutes.

The next man out is Tom Lawlor and Justice takes it to him right away! He knows the deck is stacked against him, but he doesn’t let that slow him down as he fends both fighters off until 1 Called Manders enters the fold. The SGC utlize their tag expertise to maximize their minutes before Davey Boy Smith Jr. is the next fighter to roll out. SGC fight on, but a war helmet gets introduced and the World Tag Team Champions in DBS and Lawlor use it to their advantage.

Next out is Okumura who
is a literal one-man wrecking crew as he takes everybody out before wrapping Tom Lawlor in a figure four!

The fight spreads across the two rings before the final entrant for WTF is in: Richard Holliday. Holliday targets Okumura before we get the Bread Winner himself, MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima!

The match officially begins and it’s absolute chaos as Matthew Justice makes a major momentum change when he leaps off the top of the cage onto everybody!

Doors are busted, bodies are broken and Team MLW looks to make it all in their favor when Manders and Justice put Holliday onto two tables. Lawlor saves him, delivering chair shots in the corner to Justice who is aiming to climb the cage. However, Manders puts Lawlor in an electric chair and Justice comes leaping off with a tornado DDT, sending Lawlor through the table! MSL sees the writing on the wall and hands Holliday a white powder. Holliday tries to utilize it but gets caught by a Lariato! He gets the 1-2-3 and Team MLW wins!

WINNERS: Team MLW

The celebration is set to begin but who interrupts: CONTRA Unit. Soldiers by the dozens come out and fill the ring as Mads Krugger leads the attack. There’s a familiar face in that mix: IKURO KWON! The death pit fighter returns and mists Matthew Justice in the face! It’s an absolute takeover by CONTRA as they drape the flag over the cage, indicating that a takeover is possibly on the horizon!

Details On How Seth Rollins & CM Punk Are Getting Along Backstage

Dominic DeAngelo
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Seth Rollins has made clear he isn’t a fan of CM Punk, but people change and time can heal all wounds.

CM Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series in Chicago and an angle was worked where Rollins and Drew McIntyre in particular were “irate” at Punk showing up. All that certainly makes sense in today’s WrestleMania 40 landscape considering that the reported plan was for CM Punk to face Rollins, but Punk’s triceps injury clearly tabled that and Drew McIntyre has seamlessly fit into the role of a true “raw” antagonist who will challenge Rollins in Philadelphia.

Punk made his return to the All State Arena in Chi-town this past Monday on RAW and eventually found himself in the crosshairs of Rollins and McIntyre. Rollins happened to take on a heelish persona as he ran down Punk, making note that he doesn’t even think about him and told him flat-out that would find it appropriate if Punk was on commentary to announce that he retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew.

The Reported Dynamic Between CM Punk & Seth Rollins Backstage

Last year, way before CM Punk came back to WWE, Rollins unbashedly called CM Punk a “cancer” when asked of his thoughts regarding ‘The Best In The World,’ making it quite clear he wasn’t exactly fond of Punk.

To substantiate that, earlier this week, Wade Keller of the Pro Wrestling Torch wrote “by all accounts” there was no love loss between Punk and Rollins, but then reports how that dynamic has changed since Punk has been back in the fold.

“While Seth harbored legitimate gripes with Punk, the two are getting along backstage when planning their segments. Punk continues to get all positive reviews from many sources regarding how he is carrying himself amongst colleagues and management.”

CM Punk will indeed be guest commentator during the WrestleMania match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre.

AJ Styles Teases New Entrance Music Ahead of WWE WrestleMania 40

Tyriece Simon
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WWE superstar AJ Styles may get an all-new presentation for WWE WrestleMania 40 next month. He has been featured as a ‘Babyface’ and a ‘Heel’ in the past but has retained the same entrance music. However, ‘The Phenomenal One has recently hinted that he may be getting a new theme along with his new persona. 

Styles recently did a live auction on the UpUpDownDown YouTube Channel alongside Tyler Breeze. While signing merchandise for fans, Styles said they shouldn’t be surprised to hear something different when he appears at ‘The Grandest Stage Of Them All’ next month.

“…You’ll be surprised come WrestleMania when it comes to music. I probably shouldn’t have let the cat out of the bag,” said Styles. 

Breeze replied that Styles’s changing his music is a big deal, as it has been the same since his WWE debut in 2016. However, Styles feels that it’s necessary for his current persona and that it is time for him to evolve. 

“…It’s big because my music is pretty freaking awesome, but it doesn’t suit the AJ Styles that people are seeing at this moment,” said the former WWE Champion

Styles’s personality shift changed after he was taken out of action for two months by The Bloodline(Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso) last year. Styles would return with a different physique and attitude, looking to go against the faction. He also set his sights on popular ‘Babyface’ LA Knight, as he feels Knight took his spot when he was on hiatus. 

Preview Of AJ Styles vs. LA Knight At WWE WrestleMania 40

Styles is currently involved in a heated rivalry with Knight. Both prevented the other from winning crucial matches that had championship implications. They will compete at WWE WrestleMania 40 next month to settle their feud. 

On the March 29 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, they got into a brawl, with Knight winning the exchange. They aren’t advertised to appear on next week’s show, but it could change. However, fans reacted well to their segment and seemed excited for their matchup at the company’s biggest event of the year. 

If Styles isn’t on TV next week, fans may not hear his new theme song until he comes out for his match against Knight. The hope is that the former WWE Champion’s next entrance music will be great and add to his character. 

Will Ospreay vs. Powerhouse Hobbs Announced For 4/3 Episode Of AEW Dynamite

Tyriece Simon
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Newly signed All Elite Wrestling superstar Will Ospreay has been getting plenty of action on TV lately. He made his in-ring debut as a talent in a win against Don Callis Family ally Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution on March 3. Since then, he has racked up wins over Kyle Fletcher and Katsuyori Shibata on AEW Dynamite.

On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan has shared that Ospreay will again be featured in a match on the April 3 episode of the company’s flagship show. The ‘Commonwealth Kingpin’ will take on Powerhouse Hobbs on the upcoming AEW Dynamite. Khan also revealed that Callis will be on commentary as he watches two people from his faction face off. 

AEW Dynamite: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Will Ospreay

The decision to have Ospreay challenge another Don Callis Family member is interesting, as it could cause a split within the group. AEW currently positions Ospreay as a ‘Babyface,’ while the faction remains ‘Heel.’ It may not happen in the next week, but the company may be laying the groundwork to eventually separate their newly signed superstar from the faction. 

Ospreay is also expected to defeat Hobbs next week, as he is set to face Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty on April 21. The matchup was announced on the March 7 episode of AEW Collision. Both superstars have been gaining wins on TV to build anticipation for their pay-per-view bout. 

A win for either Ospreay or Danielson would immediately put them in the running for the AEW World Championship. That said, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion must first get through Hobbs on April 3. 

What Else Has Been Announced For April 3 Episode Of AEW Dynamite?

Ospreay vs. Hobbs wasn’t the only featured match announced for the upcoming AEW Dynamite episode. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) will take on Best Friends (Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta) in the semifinals of the AEW tag team tournament. The winners will move to the finals, where they will compete for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships. 

The April 3 episode will also have the contract signing segment between Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland for their match at AEW Dynasty. It’s expected that they will get enough time to hype up their bout for next month.

Khan may announce more matches as the show approaches next week. The upcoming AEW Dynamite looks to be important as it continues to set the stage for the company’s next PPV. 

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler Undergoes Knee Replacement Surgery

Aaron Varble
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WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler has gone through a few health setbacks in recent years. Now, he is recovering after surgery.

SEScoops has learned that Jerry “The King” Lawler recently had to undergo knee replacement surgery. Now, he will have a stint in physical rehab ahead of him.

Jerry Lawler’s Surgery

PW Insider reports that WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler recently underwent a knee replacement surgery. It was not noted exactly when this took place.

The 74-year-old pro wrestling legend’s last match took place on January 21, 2023, at the AML Acts Of War Games 2, where Jerry Lawler emerged victorious against The Beer City Bruiser.

Other Health Issues For Jerry Lawler

During the September 10, 2012 episode of WWE RAW when Jerry Lawler suffered a heart attack and collapsed at the commentary booth. He hasn’t wrestled for WWE since, but he continued taking indie bookings.

Lawler also suffered a stroke in early 2023. He has since made a recovery, but he has not wrestled since.

Jerry Lawler mentioned that despite undergoing various treatments, he continued to attend rehabilitation sessions three times weekly. He emphasized the noticeable change in his voice and expressed the need for further improvement before feeling confident in his ability to communicate effectively.

The WWE Hall of Famer has made appearances, via pre-taped message, on WWE television since. He also recorded a brief video tribute to Andy Kaufman before his WWE Hall of Fame induction.

SEScoops would like to wish Jerry Lawler the best as he recovers from his latest health issue.

Mark Briscoe Discusses Legacy of FTR vs Briscoes: “They’ll always be special”

Bishal Roy
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Mark Briscoe has reminisced about the iconic rivalry between FTR and The Briscoes which he has labeled ‘special.’

The intense feud between The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) and FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) is one of the greatest chapters in pro wrestling history. The two critically acclaimed tag-team went on to collide in what is labeled as the best tag-team trilogy of recent memory and with the matches, the two highly regarded tag teams cemented their legacy in tag-team wrestling. 

Speaking with PW Insider, Mark Briscoe recalled the matches against the Top Guys. One-half of the Dem Boyz also spoke about how Tony Khan buying ROH and booking the matches benefitted them. Reflecting on the unfortunate passing of his brother shortly after, Mark mentioned how those matches have become even more special: 

“Those matches, now especially in hindsight, not that they weren’t amazing and special when they happened, but then a month after the dog collar match when the accident happened, it’s like, it’s almost like how, I don’t know how appropriate that’s how Jerry Briscoe went out.”

Mark mentioned that they were already feuding with FTR over twitter when Tony bought ROH and put them together. After the first two matches, things came full circle with the classic encounter at Final Battle 2022:

“We come full circle to Final Battle and they’ve beaten us twice and now it comes down to this dog collar match and we get the final win and Jay Briscoe puts on a career…like one of the best performances in professional wrestling history and he’s sitting there with the crimson mask, bloodied and just…what a fitting way for him to go out. 2022 as a whole was a really amazing year, but those FTR matches, and then that last, the dog collar match specifically, yeah, they’re always, they’ll always be special.”

The trilogy between The Briscoes and FTR

The two teams competed in three matches in 2022. The first match which was a standard tag-team match saw FTR prevailing at ROH Supercard of Honor in April. Then they battled in a two-out-of-three-falls match at Death Before Dishonor in July which FTR again won. The trilogy culminated in December at Final Battle when the Briscoes finally emerged victorious in a Dog Collar match to capture the ROH Tag Team Championships.

The rivalry that ended in 2022 has raised the bar for tag team wrestling and the fans continue to cherish the hard-hitting battles that they have put on in the past.

Now, Mark Briscoe has a huge task at hand as he challenges for the top prize in ROH. Read more in detail below:

Jade Cargill on Parting Ways With AEW: “I did what I had to do”

Bishal Roy
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0

WWE Superstar Jade Cargill has proclaimed that she departed AEW on a positive note without any ill feelings.

Cargill became one of the hottest free agents in the industry when she left AEW in September last year. It soon came to light that her contract had expired and she decided to venture out onto a different path. 

The former AEW TBS Champion later penned a multi-year deal with WWE, becoming the first signing of the new regime of TKO Group Holdings and the second high-profile former AEW star to join WWE after Cody Rhodes, who signed in 2022. 

Jade Cargill has revealed that jumping ship to WWE was “all business”. Speaking with Fightful, the former AEW star made it clear that everybody was elated for her future and she left in a professional manner. Cargill said: 

“It’s all business, it’s all business. I left in a very loving, professional manner. I did what I had to do. Everybody was very elated for me, whether they figured something out or not. They were elated for me, they were happy for me. No ill feelings towards in any manner.”

Later in the interview, it was noted to her that many people in AEW will be ready to welcome her if she ever decides to go back to the promotion. The 31-year-old superstar replied that she has friends in both the promotions and she wants them to succeed. She said:

“Yes, it did. At the end of the day, these are my friends. Like, I have friends here, I have friends over there. I just want to see everybody excel and make money. Like, we all want to make money and create a name for ourselves and help out the next generation of wrestlers that want to adopt this sport.”

Jade Cargill’s WrestleMania 40 match 

Though Cargill has been with WWE for several months she has only competed once when she made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. However, her next match is set. Last night, the SmackDown superstar made an appearance on the blue brand and said that she is bringing the storm at WrestleMania 40.

In the main event on SmackDown, Jade Cargill came to the aid of Bianca Belair and Naomi when Damage CTRL assaulted them. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis later made it official that Cargill will team up with Belair and Naomi to take on Damage CTRL (Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) at the ‘Show of Shows’.

WWE Announces WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Event At Wells Fargo Center

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 will go down on April 6 and 7 in Philadelphia. Before the shows starts, WWE has something special planned for fans. The company just announced a WrestleMania 40 kickoff event.

WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Event

WWE is gearing up for WrestleMania 40 with a special kickoff event set to take place in Philadelphia before the big weekend. During the latest episode of SmackDown, it was revealed that this event will happen on Friday, April 5. Superstars will be present to share their thoughts ahead of Mania.

Scheduled to appear at the kickoff event are Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Gunther, and Sami Zayn.

The event will be held outside the Wells Fargo Center and is open to all fans free of charge. Starting at 5 p.m. Eastern time, it will be broadcasted live on Peacock and WWE’s social media channels, with Cole and McAfee serving as hosts.

More WrestleMania 40 Shows

On April 5, both SmackDown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will also be hosted at the Wells Fargo Center. WrestleMania 40 itself will unfold at the Lincoln Financial Field on April 6 and April 7.

Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson are among the inductees in this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Additionally, it was announced during SmackDown that Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, CM Punk, Big E, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett will be leading WWE’s Countdown to WrestleMania pre-shows ahead of both nights of WrestleMania 40. These pre-shows will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 and April 7, with the main events kicking off at 7 p.m. Eastern on each night.

SEScoops will have more on WrestleMania 40, and everything surrounding the big event. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

Becky Lynch Calls Rhea Ripley’s “Edgy” Stinkface A Step Backwards For Women in Wrestling

Thomas Lowson
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Rhea Ripley’s recent activities at WWE live events may have proven popular with fans, but Becky Lynch believes they are beneath a female Superstar. 

At a recent live event, Ripley defended her Women’s World Championship in a triple-threat match against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. During the match, Jax attempted to hit a stinkface on Ripley but the Aussie escaped and hit a stinkface on Jax. This spot immediately went viral online and Baszler herself would want to get in on the action the following night. 

Becky Lynch Isn’t Impressed

While the spot has proven popular with fans, Becky Lynch has questioned the message these stinkfaces are sending. Speaking recently to Wrestling News, Lynch said that it “sucks” that this spot is what people are talking about mere days ahead of WrestleMania. Lynch, a mother to a baby girl, pondered what some in the audience may have been feeling. 

“It’s edgy. But if I’m a little girl sitting in the crowd, or if I have my daughter, and she’s seeing that and she’s thinking that that’s what she needs to be if she’s a professional wrestler.”

Lynch added that for years, women had to fight to be acknowledged for more than just titillation, a fight that she feels Ripley is undoing with spots like the stinkface. 

“When I think of the amount of women that were at one stage, fighting against that treatment… Maybe I’m just like stuffy and and jaded because this is the stuff that I had to fight against.”

What’s to Come? 

Lynch and Ripley will face off next weekend at WrestleMania 40 for the WWE Women’s World Championship. This will be Ripley’s fifth consecutive championship match at WrestleMania and her second time defending a title. For Lynch, it’ll be her fifth championship match and her third time challenging. 

Rey Mysterio Issues Challenge For WWE WrestleMania 40 Grudge Match

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is a week away, and fans haven’t seen the full card just yet. There was a report that the company will add more matches from the SmackDown side, and this week’s show included a lot of progress.

Rey Mysterio proposed a tag team challenge to Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio for WWE WrestleMania 40. This could set up another son vs father confrontation on the grandest stage of them all.

Rey Mysterio’s WrestleMania 40 Challenge

During Friday’s SmackDown, Rey Mysterio, accompanied by the LWO, announced his intention to face Escobar and Dominik with a mystery partner. Then, that mystery partner was revealed.

Rey later said that Dragon Lee is his chosen partner for the WrestleMania match, and a brawl ensued between the LWO and Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma.

The ongoing storyline between the LWO and Legado Del Fantasma gained momentum on the 3/29 SmackDown when Dominik Mysterio appeared to align with Santos Escobar’s faction.

Dominik, originally part of The Judgment Day on Raw, did not have a clear WrestleMania 40 direction. Now, it appears he may have a match. Despite this development, WWE has not yet confirmed the tag team match for WrestleMania.

In the aftermath of Friday’s segment, a match between Zelina Vega and Elektra Lopez is scheduled for next week’s SmackDown, serving as the go-home show for WrestleMania 40.

Rey Mysterio’s Recent Injury

The 48-year-old had been working through a torn meniscus for nearly three months. Then he needed to go out of action to get that corrected. He is now back in WWE, where he is more than ready to step up at the show of shows.

We will have to see how WWE books things for WrestleMania 40. You may find the updated lineup for the 4/5 episode of SmackDown in the space below.

WWE SmackDown Card (4/5):

  • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
  • Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
  • The KO Show with Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
  • New Catch Republic’s Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
  • Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez

Bryan Danielson: Kazuchika Okada’s Being Presented As a Star, That’s Tony Khan’s Way

Thomas Lowson
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Bryan Danielson is pleased with how AEW has presented Kazuchika Okada thus far, as the Raimaker is coming across as the “star” that he is. 

Okada made his debut as an All-Elite talent on the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite and instantly established himself as a heel by aligning with the Young Bucks. There was no hesitation regarding Okada being a heel which was a creative idea that came from Tony Khan.

Danielson on Okada

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Danielson had high praise for his recent match with the Rainmaker and is excited about what’s next. 

“I loved my match against Okada… I love what I’m doing, and I’m excited about what’s to come.”

Danielson added that Okada is a “great fit” for AEW and has been right at home since aligning with the Young Bucks. The American Dragon chalked this sense of belonging to the efforts of AEW President Tony Khan. 

“That’s the way Tony presents stars in AEW,” said Danielson. “It’s not about starting over in AEW. So he was brought in as a star and introduced as a star.”

Bryan Danielson Vs. Kazuchika Okada

Danielson and Okada have shared the ring four times, with their first encounter being at the inaugural AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door show in June 2023. That match saw Danielson get the win though he also suffered a fractured forearm. 

On the October 25, AEW Dynamite, Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Okada and Orange Cassidy. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, Okada defeated Danielson. The pair would be on the same side of an eight-person tag match the next night.

What’s to Come? 

Danielson is currently embarking on his final year as a full-time active wrestler. On April 5, the American Dragon will compete against CMLL’s Blue Panther. This is a dream match for Danielson who recently called Panther his favorite luchador of all time. 

As for Okada, he will continue to defend the AEW Continental Championship. He is also expected to feud with Kenny Omega as the Rainmaker has replaced Omega in the Elite. With that said, there’s no word on when fans can expect Omega back from his ongoing fight with diverticulitis. 

Daily Drop (3/30): WWE WrestleMania 40 Booking Plans, Jon Moxley’s New Look

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, March 30. We are officially one week away from WrestleMania 40. Let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 7

WWE:

– WWE World: The full list of Superstar appearances at WWE World was announced. You can click here for that comprehensive article.

– The Man’s Book: We learned a lot from Becky Lynch’s new autobiography, ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl’, and you can find that article here.

– WrestleMania Mystery Slot: WWE has reportedly blocked off a segment during WrestleMania 40 for a mystery slot. We will have to see what they book.

– Martha Hart Reacts: Owen Hart’s widow, Martha Hart, unloaded on Vince McMahon’s allegations. Naturally, she had a lot to say.

– WrestleMania 40 Additions: WWE is still expected to add a few matches to the Mania card.

AEW:

– Jay White’s Absence: It turns out that Jay White hasn’t been around AEW in recent weeks due to visa issues.

– Matt Hardy Contract: AEW has offered Hardy a new contract with the company. That could keep him in the Land of All Elite for even longer.

–Moxley’s New Look: Jon Moxley has updated his look ahead of his CMLL appearance.

– Kenny Omega Update: It seems that Omega may need surgery for his diverticulitis battle after all. We’re sending him our best.

AEW Collision (3/30) Card:

  • Thunder Rosa vs. Lady Frost
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) vs. Ricky Starks & Big Bill
  • Adam Copeland’s TNT Championship Open Challenge: Adam Copeland (c) vs. TBA
  • Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) & Lance Archer

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER Will Join An Exclusive Club At WWE WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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GUNTHER is hoping to remain undefeated at WrestleMania this April, and will join an exclusive club when he puts the Intercontinental title on the line. 

The Austrian Superstar has been a dominant champion since capturing the gold back in June of 2022. Not only has GUNTHER proven himself in his own right, but having Imperium alongside him has made the Ring General even more dangerous. 

GUNTHER’s Record at WrestleMania

At WrestleMania, GUNTHER will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Sami Zayn. The Austrian has been immensely confident in recent weeks and is sure that Zayn is simply not good enough to beat him. 

Win, lose, or draw, GUNTHER will become the fourth Superstar in WWE history to defend the gold at back-to-back WrestleManias. This is a feat accomplished by only three Superstars at WWE’s biggest show of the year. 

Who’s In the Club?

The first man to do so was ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, who put the gold on the line at WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania 3. The latter match is the much-acclaimed bout that saw Savage lose the gold to Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat.

The Ultimate Warrior would defend the title at WrestleMania 5 and WrestleMania 6, with the latter match seeing him capture the WWF title. The most recent man to have back-to-back title defenses is The Rock, who retained at both WrestleMania 13 and WrestleMania 14.

GUNTHER’s Other Records

This is hardly the first accolade for GUNTHER. In September 2022, GUNTHER broke the record for the longest solo Intercontinental Championship reign. In February 2024, GUNTHER broke the record for the most days combined of any Intercontinental Champion. 

GUNTHER is also part of an elite club of Superstars that have held two championships in WWE for over a year. In addition to his current reign, GUNTHER held the NXT United Kingdom Championship for 870 days. 

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal & More Set for Go-Home SmackDown Before WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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The final episode of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 40 will be a stacked show and will see the return of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

On the March 29, episode of WWE SmackDown, it was confirmed that the battle royal will take place on the April 5, episode. This will mark the tenth-annual battle royal, named after the legendary giant who was WWE’s first Hall of Famer. 

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

The match was first introduced in 2014 by WrestleMania 30 host Hulk Hogan, who fittingly dedicated the battle royal to his friend and rival. Cesaro (now AEW’s Claudio Castagnoli) won the inaugural match by eliminating the Big Show, who won the match the following year. Since then, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley have lifted the trophy.

Losing Out on a Payday

Hosting the show on SmackDown will come as a blow to many WWE Superstars. For the first years of the battle royal, the match was held at WrestleMania. Though it was on the pre-show, this guaranteed the entrants a WrestleMania-sized pay-day, which of course won’t be the case with the match being on SmackDown instead. 

Other SmackDown Plans

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will be just part of the stacked final episode before WrestleMania 40. The show will also see Solo Sikoa take on Jey Uso. The former NXT North American Champion has been ordered to ‘take out’ his brother on orders from Roman Reigns. 

The New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate) will take on Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. Both teams qualified for the WrestleMania six-pack challenge during the March 29, episode of SmackDown. 

Zelina Vega will take on Elektra Lopez on the go-home SmackDown. The pair have been at odds as part of the LWO’s feud with Legado Del Fantasma. 

Kevin Owens will host an edition of the ‘KO Show’ with Randy Orton as his guest. The two men will challenge WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania 40. 

Bryan Danielson Yes/No Chants From WWE Run Make Return In AEW Vs. CMLL Tag Match

Thomas Lowson
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Bryan Danielson may no longer be a WWE Superstar, but that didn’t stop him from using an old WWE catchphrase of his at a recent event for CMLL. 

At the event, Danielson was part of Team AEW (Bryan, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Matt Sydal) and came up short against Team CMLL (Blue Panther, Ultimo Guerrero, Mistico, & Volador Jr.) During one spot, Danielson and Mistico (aka WWE’s Sin Cara) shared dueling chants reminiscent of Bryan’s time as a Superstar. 

What’s Next? 

After the match, Danielson issued a challenge to Blue Panther for next Friday night’s Arena Mexico show on April 5, which Panther accepted. This has been a match that Danielson has called a dream match in the past. He recently called Pather his favorite luchador of all time. 

Yes! No!

Bryan began using the Yes chant following his 2011 WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory. Not long after winning the title, Bryan’s ego would grow, causing him to yell “YES!” and celebrate even the smallest of victories in over-the-top fashion. 

After his 18-second World Heavyweight Championship loss to Sheamus at WrestleMania 28, a dejected Bryan changed his tune. Bryan blamed the fans (and AJ Lee) for his loss and in response to the crowd being on board with the yes chant, would chant “NO!” in response. 

Bringing Back the Chant

This isn’t the first time that Bryan has embraced his WWE catchphrases. Following a December 2023 edition of AEW Collision, the crowd chanted “YES” for Bryan, who admitted he’s not allowed to do that anymore. Thinking better of it, Danielson decided to join in with the YES! chant and sarcastically told fans to definitely not record the moment in question. 

Paul Heyman: The Rock’s ‘L’ Symbol is a Conspiracy But There May Be Something to It

Thomas Lowson
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0

Paul Heyman doesn’t know of any hidden intentions behind The Rock’s ‘L’ but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to the fan-led conspiracy. 

The Great One returned to WWE earlier this year and was poised to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This didn’t sit well with the WWE Universe, who believed the spot rightly deserved to Cody Rhodes. 

The Rock and His L

With the WWE Universe rejecting The Rock, the company changed course, turning the Brahma Bull heel and aligning him with the Bloodline. In segments, Rock has been aligned with his family but his choice of hand gesture has raised some eyebrows. 

While the Bloodline points to the sky, The Rock has performed the same gesture with his thumb outstretched, giving an ‘L’ shaped symbol. Fans have speculated as to whether there’s a reason for this. Some have even speculated that it could be a sign of his intent to betray Roman Reigns when the time is right. 

Paul Heyman on The Rock’s L

Sitting down with Forbes, Heyman was asked about The Rock’s ‘L’ symbol and whether there’s some meaning behind the gesture. The future WWE Hall of Famer argued that there’s no hidden meaning that he’s aware of, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to it. 

“It is a conspiracy. And just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean there’s not a conspiracy behind it.”

“My father always taught me, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the whole world’s not against you.”

Heyman added that he is sure there’s “something to it” and suggested that the only person who knows the truth is the Final Boss himself. 

What’s to Come? 

The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring at WrestleMania 40: Saturday where he’ll team with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Title match.

If Rhodes & Rollins win, the next night’s match between Rhodes and Roman Reigns will be free of Bloodline interference. Should the Bloodline win the Saturday match, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’

AJ Styles Says “Redacted” Vince McMahon Had No Idea Who He Was Upon Joining WWE

Thomas Lowson
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0

AJ Styles may have made a huge name for himself before coming to WWE, but a certain ex-chairman of the company had no idea who the Phenomenal One was.

Styles made a huge splash in 2016 when he was part of that year’s Royal Rumble match. While treated as a debut, Styles had competed a handful of times for WWE years earlier following the demise of WCW. 

AJ Styles and the Redacted One

Speaking during a recent Fanatics livestream, Styles stated that for all his goodwill with fans, Vince McMahon didn’t know who he was. McMahon, whom Styles avoided mentioning by name, had to be convinced to give AJ a prominent spot in the Rumble match.

“The redacted name did not know me. He had no clue who I was. So it was guys who had worked with me with TNA and whatnot that were able to say ‘Let this guy come in [the Royal Rumble match] third, be third in the Rumble, please.’ Finally he goes ‘Fine, let them!’ And then the reaction happens.”

Despite getting a huge reaction during the Rumble match, McMahon still was not convinced that Styles was a big deal, as the Phenomenal One explained: 

“He still didn’t believe them.”He was like ‘Ah it was just a fluke.’ And then the next night I had a match. It was okay but it was nothing special. He was like ‘I’ve got a hundred guys who could do what you just did.’ But what he was saying was true. 

The Redneck Rookie? 

With McMahon overseeing all of WWE’s on-screen production at the time, the promotion tried to present Styles as a brand new wrestler despite his prior accomplishments. One galling example of this was when he was bestowed the nickname of the “rookie redneck,” eight years after entering the wrestling business. It wouldn’t be until much later that WWE would come around and acknowledge AJ’s work in other companies.  

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

The Storm is Here: Jade Cargill to Compete in Six-Woman Tag Match at WWE WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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0

Jade Cargill will make her WrestleMania debut next month as part of a six-woman tag-team match confirmed on Friday Night SmackDown. 

The March 29, edition of SmackDown saw the blue brand continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. WWE’s annual Showcase of the Immortals will take place on April 6 and April 7 from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. 

Jade Cargill at WrestleMania

On this week’s SmackDown, Nick Aldis welcomed Cargill to the show, mere days after it was confirmed she’d signed with the blue brand. Jade said that while WWE’s women’s division is the best in the world, nobody else can be Jade Cargill and was ready to bring the ‘storm’ to Friday nights. 

Later in the show, Bianca Belair defeated Dakota Kai in a hard-fought match but the EST was ambushed by Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane after the match. Naomi emerged to aid the EST but the numbers game proved to be too much for Belair and the former TNA Knockouts Champion. 

That would be when Cargill arrived and cleared house. The ‘Storm’ stood tall with Belair and Naomi and the three women pointed in unison at the WrestleMania sign. It was later confirmed that the trio will take on Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 40. 

Jade Cargill

Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023 and was immediately treated as a massive high-profile acquisition for the company. Prior to this, Cargill made her name in AEW, where she was the first AEW TBS Champion. Her 508-day reign remains the longest title reign of any champion in AEW history. 

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