Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre’s war of words continued after this week’s Raw and their feud may be the most personal one fans see at WrestleMania 40.
McIntyre earned a World Heavyweight Championship match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. This will be the third World Championship match for both men at WrestleMania. The match will mark Rollins’ first title defense as a WWE World Champion at the Showcase of the Immortals.
A Spotlight Junkie
During this week’s Raw, McIntyre had some choice words for Rollins and declared the World Heavyweight Champion a “spotlight junkie.” McIntyre’s point was that when something big happens, Rollins can usually be found latching on to it. Drew gave several examples including CM Punk’s return to WWE last year, Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, and his involvement with The Rock’s return and alliance with The Bloodline.
McIntyre added that Rollins should have been focusing on Monday Night Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship. The Scottish Warrior added that the title in question deserves better than Seth whose life as a ‘junkie’ has also cost the champion physically.
Rollins wasn’t going to take the notion that he hasn’t been focused on Raw or the World Heavyweight Championship. In a scathing response made after Raw, Rollins said that he had been working for the last two years to ensure “jackoffs” like McIntyre have a championship to compete for at WrestleMania.
McIntyre had a response of his own, questioning where this focus has been from the World Heavyweight Champion.
WWE WrestleMania will take place on April 6, and April 7. The show will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September.
WWE provided Michael Cole with a fantastic life where he can experience some incredible things. It seems that this week’s episode of RAW included a moment that he’s been dreaming about since his childhood.
Valhalla from the Viking Raiders is known for her fierce energy, face paint, and antlers. Whenever she doesn’t have the antlers, Cole is a sad man. This week on RAW, the former Sarah Logan placed those antlers on Michael’s head, and it was a joyous experience, to say the least.
The crowd chanting Michael Cole's name after he got the antlers
Michael Cole and Pat McAfee have incredible chemistry on commentary, and there is no debating that. So, when Cole gets excited, Pat gets hyped as well. This all added up to an incredible moment during the February 4th episode of RAW.
During the latest episode of RAW in San Antonio, Michael Cole experienced a memorable moment when Valhalla showed up with her antlers after several weeks without the presence of her headgear. Every time she showed up without antlers, Cole it out and he was noticeably bummed about it.
In an unexpected turn, she adorned Cole with the antlers, who seamlessly continued his commentary while wearing them. Michael even held his headset in his hand, only speaking into the microphone to accommodate his new Viking drip. He was very happy to make this change, as he obviously had nobody in his ear giving direction during that match.
While taking to Twitter, Michael Cole uploaded a photo of himself alongside Pat McAfee, with Cole wearing the antlers. Cole expressed that his boyhood dream had finally come true. It might have been the antlers, or fans chanting his name, but it was still an incredible moment.
Michael Cole has dedicated 27 years to his tenure in the company, and he has been able to separate his home life and career in WWE. Only time will tell when he steps away from commentary, but bringing McAfee back to join him on the RAW announce team has arguably revived the seasoned play-by-play announcer.
SEScoops will have more on this story, just in case there are further developments with Michael Cole and Valhalla’s antlers.
The excitement didn’t stop once this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air from San Antonio, Texas.
The March 5, 2024, edition of the red brand saw WWE continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins declared that they are coming to this week’s SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns & The Rock. It’ll be the first time the four men have come face to face since the explosive WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference.
What Happened After Monday Night Raw?
In the chaotic closing moments of Raw, Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso thanks to interference from Jimmy Uso. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins would send Jimmy scarpering but Rollins would eat a Claymore Kick from the man who’ll face him at WrestleMania 40.
After Raw went off the air, Cody would deliver some payback for his ally by attacking McIntyre with a steel chair. In the ring, Rhodes, Rollins, and Jey regrouped. After speaking of a fan who’d used a whistle throughout the show, Rhodes thanked the fans in San Antonio for coming out. He and Rollins gifted a couple of steel chairs to members of the WWE Universe while Jey threw his signed shoes into the crowd.
Wrestling fans around the world can finally play WWE 2K24, the installment of WWE and 2K’s best-in-class wrestling video game franchise.
WWE 2K24 Deluxe ($99.99) and 40 years of WrestleMania ($119.99) editions are now availablefor PlayStation 4 &5, Xbox Series X|S/One and Steam. The Standard Edition ($69.99) will be released this Friday, March 8.
After a remarkable entry in the series last year, fans wonder if WWE 2K24 can be even better. I’ve played WWE 2K24 enough in advance on Xbox Series X to share this review, which I will rate between 1 and 10 at the end.
The developers of WWE 2K24 did a great job improving the gameplay from last year’s game. At first glance, fans may think the wrestling mechanics is precisely the same as WWE 2K23. However, the newest title adds minor tweaks that make it stand above its recent predecessors.
One of the notable additions in the game is the ability to exchange strikes in the middle of a match. WWE 2K24 adds a fun mini-game where you and your opponent must press a button at the correct meter to land a blow. This allows a fun exchange as you try to get the better of your opponent and take control of the match.
Another interesting decision was making the managers outside the ring as challenging as the opponent standing across from you. A player can choose managers like Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan or Miss Elizabeth, who can cause distractions, hand weapons, or even remove the turnbuckle pad. It makes having or going against someone with a manager competitive, as you deal with a wild card at ringside.
WWE 2K24: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels Casket Match
WWE 2K Adds Fan Favorite Match Types
The exact match types, including War Games, are present in the newest game. That said, WWE 2K24 adds a few new matches, like the highly requested Casket and Ambulance match. Both are a great addition to WWE 2K24 and deliver fan service that longtime WWE 2K gamers have hoped to see.
The two new match types also create an exhilarating experience as you try to put your opponent in a position to be victorious. When trying to close the casket or the doors of an ambulance on your rival, you are put to the test in a mini-game of rapidly pressing the right buttons to end the contest.
WWE 2K24 also has the Special Guest Referee match, which puts players in control or at the mercy of an official. I found this returning match type fun when playing online with someone as a referee, as you don’t know if they will keep it neutral and add an exciting challenge.
All Persona Cards we've found so far:
– Elite Cody Rhodes (Pre-Order) – Elite John Cena – Elite Hulk Hogan – Seth Rollins '14 – Sheamus '09 – Trick Williams '22
One of the delightful additions to WWE 2K24 was the improvement on My Faction mode. After WWE 2K23, fans wanted to be able to take characters they collected and play in other parts of the game. The developers have listened to the demand and have effectively made playing My Faction mode important to the overall experience.
WWE 2K24 introduces unique character cards called Personas, which could be a variation of a wrestler or potentially someone completely new. This allows fans to play with that character elsewhere in the game. One of the wrestlers I unlocked when selecting my pack of cards to begin My Faction was Sheamus from 2009, and he had his older theme and appearance.
If anyone had hesitations about playing My Faction in the past, WWE 2K24 makes it worthwhile. The ability to play with unique wrestlers in different game modes allows for more options to the already stacked roster.
WWE 2K24: My Rise Psycho Sally
My Rise Takes Another Step Forward
This year’s My Rise mode is one of the best efforts of the WWE 2K series. The newest title does stick to the same formula of two different storylines for a created male and female character but improves on past games.
It feels like the developers had fun being creative and thinking of different scenarios for gamers to explore. WWE 2K24 My Rise mode puts your character on the journey to the WWE as you try to become a superstar and champion. Fans also have more options than in the past when creating their character, as WWE 2K24 adds new features like different hairstyles and clothing.
I appreciate WWE 2K developers’ ambition and use of My Rise mode to create fun storylines. Another great addition was having different wrestlers contribute voice acting, making the journey worth exploring. WWE 2K24 My Rise was a delightful surprise and makes me wonder if the 2K decides to focus more on it in the future.
WWE 2K24: Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant
WWE 2K24 WrestleMania Showcase Mode Doesn’t Live Up To Its Past
When it was announced that WWE 2K24 would have a WrestleMania showcase mode, I was excited about the possibilities. The last game that celebrated the history of the ‘Grandest Stage Of them All’ was WWE 2K14, and, unfortunately, the newest title couldn’t replicate what made it special.
2K had 39 WrestleManias to highlight and celebrate some of its legendary matches but made the disappointing decision to showcase 21 bouts, some from the same event. This is unfortunate as WWE 2K14 allowed fans to go through the years and highlight one or two matches at every WrestleMania.
What makes it worse is the decision to have cutscenes of the actual matches occur while you are playing them. This leads to jarring moments that take you out of the experience and makes the 40 years of WrestleMania Showcase mode feel like a chore.
A decade after WWE 2K14’s successful attempt to take fans on a nostalgia trip, the WWE 2K24 showcase feels like a half-baked idea and makes me wonder if the developers had too much on their hands.
WWE 2K24: 40 Years Of WrestleMania Cover
Overall Conclusion Of WWE 2K24
WWE 2K24 is a step up from his past titles, especially with the gameplay and new features. The graphics look amazing, as they should for a next-gen console. WWE 2K developers also show that they listen to fan feedback about the game’s improvements.
Although the showcase mode was a letdown, it wasn’t enough to ruin my appreciation of the game. The improvements in My Faction are great and what I believe fans will gravitate toward for replay value as they try to unlock new characters. I also think gamers will be intrigued by going through My Rise to see what unfolds in the storylines.
WWE 2K24 has My GM and My Universe, but it is still relatively the same as WWE 2K23 compared to the other game modes. The game does have me wondering if there needs to be a new WWE 2K game every year, as more time could’ve possibly made the latest installment better. However, it’s hard to deny WWE 2K24 delivers a satisfying experience and overall lays the smackdown on past WWE 2K games. I give WWE 2K24 an 8.5 out of 10.
One of wrestling’s most legitimately tough men and a former WWE Tag Champion could be joining Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, it was noted that Haku’s name has come up as a potential WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
Haku is the father of Tama Tonga, who recently signed with WWE after wrapping up his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. TKO Board Member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has previously called Haku his uncle, though the pair are not blood-related.
Haku in the Ring
Haku’s sole championship win in WWE saw him hold the Tag Team Championships with Andre the Giant. Haku held several titles in the NWA and other promotions, including Puerto Rico’s WWC.
During his time in WCW, Haku, known as Meng, won the WCW Hardcore Championship. In one of the final defections of the Monday Night War, Haku returned to the WWF in January 2001 while still holding the WCW Hardcore title.
The Toughest Man in Wrestling
Haku, who also competed as Meng, is widely regarded by wrestlers to be one of, if not the toughest man to ever step in the ring.
Ric Flair once described Haku as “the toughest son of a b**** I’ve ever met” and said he would have dominated MMA had he entered the Octagon.
Many more of his contemporaries have acknowledged Haku as the most legitimately tough person in wrestling, Hulk Hogan, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Goldberg, Big Van Vader, and The Rock.
One legendary tale of Haku’s toughness saw the wrestler get into an altercation with some men at a Baltimore Airport bar in 1989. After the men called wrestling fake, Haku handily fought the men, despite being outnumbered, and bit the nose off of one of the individuals.
Shane Douglas once said that he’d be better off fighting the U.S. Army than legitimately fighting Haku. He also recalled an incident when law enforcement attempted to restrain Haku, who was able to fight them off.
During the altercation, Haku was hit in the face with a baton while sprayed with a can of mace but neither caused him any pain.
WrestleMania is known for larger than life match-ups, and you never know what will happen on the grandest stage of them all. John Cena and Bray Wyatt made history in their Firefly Fun House match, but it turns out that they didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for things.
The pandemic halted a ton of plans for the entire world. Thankfully, WWE was able to figure out how to operate in Florida, a state that deemed pro wrestling as an essential service. All of that craziness surrounding logistics for WrestleMania 36 also only gave them three days to figure out what to do at the show of show with Cena and Wyatt.
That match against Bray Wyatt was actually supposed to be a standard match. The Firefly Fun House aspect was tacked on later, and they had to figure out what that match even was in a very short amount of time.
“I remember three days before we filmed the Firefly Fun House match. It was the last TV taping where they came in and they’re like, ‘You’re gonna have a Firefly Fun House match’, and I remember there were three people in one of the conference rooms in NXT with me. I said, ‘What’s a Firefly Fun House match?’ They said, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Great! What can we do’, and that was like, oh, man, again, control the controllable. I wish we had an audience. Performers are like. I wish there could be blood. I wish we could do chair shots to the head. I wish we could swear. I wish I could flip people off. Control the controllable. Use the tools in your tool belt. How do we make something entertaining over a two day period with no audience, and they gave us a stipulation.
Everybody else has a regular match and it’s your stip. It’s not a doctor of Thuganomics match or a Hustle, Loyalty, Respect match that’s completely different. You have these definitive characters. You have all this ammunition. You have all this personality and that’s what people really radiate towards. Holy sh*t. We can make this a meta look at my life and we can get away with it. What do we have up in the warehouse? We have the fist. We have the blue cage. I can get some NWO stuff. We can make this work. I remember this the only match I’ve ever written from start to finish. My poor wife, I made her print it out and I’m writing and giving her paper. She said, ‘What is this? What does it even mean?’ ‘Just print it. I need it’, and somewhere I still have the original draft in my handwriting of the Firefly Fun House. Bray couldn’t have been better.
He knew what was up and he knew the whole thing. I wrote it the night before so I’m trying to text these guys like, I got something weird. I think I might have a picture of the draft still in my phone. I don’t have it with me, but I have it saved as a text that I sent him the night of the match, especially after we saw The Undertaker’s match the night before. Oh, my man, they crushed it, and there was a whole lot more physicality. We got one punch and I texted him how nervous I was, but I wanted to thank him for being so brave and trusting me and I think I couldn’t have done any more. I think we gave it our best shot and hopefully, it works, and it was an effort that I am very proud of.”
Things worked out in the end, as John Cena got to work that whole match without any physicality until the final moments. Bray Wyatt also gave a fantastic performance throughout, adding another amazing highlight to his ingenious character.
John Cena’s Candid Interview
John Cena also revealed what he said to MJF during The Iron Claw premiere. He wanted to know when the Salt of the Earth might switch sides and play for WWE. Only time will tell if that actually happens any time soon.
Cena certainly made a ton of memories during his time in WWE, and he can speak candidly about that now. Sadly, Bray Wyatt passed away in August 2023, and the pro wrestling world is still mourning that great loss. At least, Cena was able to mix it up with the Eater of Worlds to create an unforgettable WrestleMania moment.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, so please keep checking back for updates!
John Cena is a shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer at this point, and he is a bona fide Hollywood heavy-hitter as well. Although he’s been a good guy for his entire career, there was one big plan that would have changed history.
The Rock and John Cena battled at two consecutive WrestleMania events in a row at Mania 28 and 29. It seems that WWE had a plan to turn Cena heel during that first encounter, and he even had new gear made. So, the idea got far enough along for Cena to drop money on the idea of a new character.
John Cena’s Nixed Heel Turn
During the conversation with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, John Cena reflected on his experience while preparing for his first Once In A Lifetime match against The Rock. It seems that a heel turn may have been in the pipeline for a time.
Upon learning about the plan, Cena swiftly took action, recording a new song, acquiring fresh gear, and contemplating his character’s direction. However, he admitted feeling unprepared for the transition to “Ruthless Aggression.”
Despite the rush, Cena embraced the challenge, delving into the mindset of a heel. He deliberately contrasted his previous persona by embodying traits opposite to his usual demeanor, such as laziness, untrustworthiness, and disrespect. Rather than focusing solely on physicality, Cena prioritized crafting compelling narratives and character development to evoke a genuine sense of antagonism. Ultimately, he acknowledged that while the concept had potential, it was ultimately deemed impractical.
“I heard rumblings of, we’re going to do it, and in 48 hours, I had a new track, a new studio mix theme song, and a final mix. I had seven new singlets, low-cut singlets with boxing-type robes. I already had the boots in storage, so I dusted them off. I was ready to go and already thinking about what I could do with the story. Okay, what is a heel? A heel is not just new gear. The objectivity, or the message behind the singlet and the boxing robes and the boots is the exact opposite of what you saw with the street gear, the jeans shorts, the t-shirt, the ball cap, the sneakers.”
John Cena’s WWE Future
Of course, John Cena never turned heel, and he will probably never be a full-on bad guy in WWE at this point. His career may not be over, because he still wants to, at least, do something at WrestleMania 40. The fact is that WWE makes way too much money with Cena as a babyface.
Only time will tell what is in the future for WWE. They may just find themselves with another career babyface, because it would be hard to turn someone like Cody Rhodes at this point. There will certainly never be another John Cena, because no matter how many times they could have turned him heel, Vince McMahon never pulled that trigger.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story in case there are any additional updates.
MJF is one of AEW’s pillars, and Tony Khan certainly doesn’t want to lose him. That being said, there is a whole pro wrestling world who would be very interested to see if the Salt of the Earth could excel in another environment.
When John Cena and MJF were caught having a little chat at The Iron Claw premiere, fans didn’t know what to think. It turns out that Cena was suggesting to MJF that he join a different team in the future.
Cena Tells All
John Cena and MJF made headlines when they had a chance to meet at The Iron Claw premiere. The two had a bit of a conversation, and everyone was wondering what was said. Now, we have a much better idea.
While speaking to Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cena revealed that during their encounter, Cena found MJF to be remarkably courteous and professional, contrary to any initial assumptions he might have had. He expressed regret for any misconceptions and commended MJF for his professionalism. Despite the potential for theatrics at the movie premiere, MJF conducted himself admirably.
John Cena went on to say that he had a couple interactions with MJF that night. First off, he apologized to him for not knowing how professional he would be. Then Cena made a comment to MJF about trying to get him to play for a different team down the line.
“Sports entertainment is a finicky business, and again, there’s a lot of chances to make moments. This is one of their top performers for AEW and I don’t know if I’m going to be the target of a moment. I’m just going to support my friend in a movie. He couldn’t have been nicer. He couldn’t have been more cordial. We met each other and I got pulled away to take some pictures and then we were about to go do everything else before I even got to you, and I was like, ‘Hold on. Give me two minutes.’ I shook his hand. I said, ‘Man, I’m so sorry. Excuse my ignorance, I didn’t know what to expect from you today. You are a class act. I can’t believe you’re as professional as you are. That’s just my ignorance. I’m sorry I had that judgment. I want to thank you for being so special. Thanks for making my night.’ Then we got back and I was able to talk to him more and I kind of was like, ‘Maybe we can get you to play for the right team one day’, and all that. There’s no denying the fact that he’s doing good work and I don’t think that I should ignore that. Honestly, I was floored by his professionalism. Where it would have been an easy target at a wrestling movie premiere to have yourself a moment, and we did have a moment, and it was one that the internet paid attention to. It was one where I was hoping that this person that I met, I could once bet on like, ‘Man, oh, we just get you over here. That’d be awesome’ but it was great. It was great to meet a professional, classy, driven young man.”
MJF’s Contract Situation
MJF’s contract situation is a very interesting one. Many believe that he inked a new deal with AEW in 2022 prior to his return from hiatus. Others are not so sure, because he claims that no contract was signed.
I asked people throughout WWE about the possibility of MJF signing. The overall belief is that he is still under a contact with Tony Khan, and that is not going to change any time soon.
We will have to see what the future holds. Right now, MJF is enjoying a break from AEW television, after a long run as World Champion. His body is healing, but you never know what he will decide to do so he can get everyone talking about him again.
WWE’s current product is doing big business and has proven to be a hit with fans and the company’s efforts are also being recognized by users of Cameo.
On Twitter, Cameo asked its followers what they think is the most searched term on the platform, before revealing that WWE has taken the top spot. This caught the attention of the USA Network, which hosts Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT, who was pleased with the result.
Cameo allows fans to receive personal videos from their favorite WWE Superstars and legends for a price that can vary. In November 2022, Mick Foley was revealed as the highest-earning sports figure on the platform, earning over $500,000 that year. Second to Foley was Bret Hart followed by AEW’s Matt Hardy and Danhausen.
WWE And Cameo
WWE has had a unique history with Cameo. In 2020, WWE clamped down on third-party deals featuring Superstars. Then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself oversaw a meeting in which he made clear that deals with Twitch, Cameo, and Only fans would no longer be allowed.
This decision saw backlash from fans, given that the COVID-19 pandemic meant that Superstars were unable to make extra income from in-person interactions (such as at conventions.) The situation worsened when WWE announced that The Undertaker would be making Cameos to mark his ‘Final Farewell’ that November, while full-time Superstars were still banned.
Sting’s in-ring career may now be in the rearview mirror, but his legacy continues to live on.
On Sunday night, the 64-year-old competed in what would be his final professional wrestling match in the main event of AEW Revolution. There, Sting, along with Darby Allin, successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) in a tornado tag team match.
A Thank You To ‘The Icon’
Following Sting’s victory, several wrestling personalities weighed in on social media to pay homage and share positive memories of “The Icon.” One of those was Sting’s colleague, and former AEW Tag Team Champion, Anthony Bowens.
As evidenced by the throwback photo posted to X (formerly Twitter), Bowens is a long-time fan of “The Icon,’ even going as far as donning Sting-inspired facepaint when he was younger. Bowens also credits Sting with sparking his love for professional wrestling.
“Thank you Sting. My love of this sport started with you,” Bowens wrote. “Your support and confidence in me has meant the world. There’s a saying you should never meet your heroes, but I’m so glad you proved that to be false. You’re the f***ing man. Thank you for everything.”
Thank you Sting. My love of this sport started with you. Your support and confidence in me has meant the world.
There’s a saying you should never meet your heroes, but I’m so glad you proved that to be false. You’re the fucking man.
In addition to sharing a locker room with Sting, Anthony Bowens also received the opportunity to wrestle him. On the January 19, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite, Bowens and Max Caster (together known as The Acclaimed) faced off with Sting and Allin in tag team action.
The ending of the contest saw Allin sidestep while Bowens charged toward a previously exposed turnbuckle. After laying out Bowens with a flipping stunner, Allin then nailed him with a Coffin Drop for the win.
Darby Allin wrecked himself at AEW Revolution. He took a bold dive off a ladder onto the floor, but his target moved, and he went through a sheet of glass, cutting himself to ribbons in the process. It seems that he’s all fixed up now.
Despite the fact that fans saw Allin bleed like a stuck pig on live pay-per-view, his damage wasn’t terrible. It turns out that he only needed 12 stitches to fix him up.
Sting and Darby Allin, AEW Tag Team Champions, defended their titles against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution last month. During the intense bout, Darby Allin took a brutal dive from a ladder through a glass panel, resulting in significant injury. Despite the risky move, Sting and Allin managed to retain their titles in the main event, securing Sting’s retirement with an undefeated streak.
Following the match, Wrestling Observer Radio‘s Brian Alvarez revealed that Darby Allin required only twelve stitches for his injuries sustained during the match. This news may surprise fans who anticipated a more severe outcome given the nature of the spot.
“The update from the pay-per-view is that Darby Allin needed 12 stitches. That is crazy. I saw his back. I thought it was gonna be 12,000 stitches, but he needed 12.”
Dave Meltzer then noted that there were tons of little cuts on Darby’s back. So, “by the time the match went for a while all the blood from those cuts was all over the place, but it wasn’t like it was slashed from top to bottom like that.”
This gotta be one of the most insane things I've seen in modern wrestling. I hope Darby Allin is ok. What a fucking badass. pic.twitter.com/fggN2y88mh
It turns out that they didn’t need a ton of attention to fix Darby Allin up. Regardless, he is now on her way to climb Mount Everest at this point.
It will be interesting to see how AEW books Allin from this point on. His time with Sting is over, and now he is going to be on his own at this point. Only time will tell what kind of dangerous spot he does next, but he’s not done with his pro wrestling career by a long shot.
SEScoops will have more on this story if there are additional updates.
Ringside footage of Darby Allin’s insane swanton from the top of the ladder through chairs and glass. #AEWRevolution
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 5th. We had WWE RAW last night, and it was quite a show. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.
– John Cena may have teased a 17th World Title run. While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, he said, “My next one. I have often said that the time is coming for me to hang them up and I’m not lying when I say, but it’s not tomorrow. It’s probably soon but not tomorrow, so you never know.”
– The NXT brand is presenting Roadblock tonight on the USA Network. They have quite a card ready, and you can check it out below.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver
Dijak vs. Joe Gacy: Asylum match
The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley: Tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin (c) vs. Chase University (Andre Chase and Duke Hudson) (with Riley Osborne): Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
– Lance Archer teased that his AEW contract may be coming up soon. While speaking to Wrestling Purists, he said, “I mean, there could be some renegotiations pretty soon (for my AEW deal) but, everything’s good right now.”
– Deonna Purrazzo addressed her recent loss on Twitter, confirming that she tapped out Toni Storm and breaking her silence on the surprising defeat. She said, “Toni Storm tapped out. That is all.”
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
WrestleMania is in Philadelphia this year, and that city means a lot to Paul Heyman. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, which is a perfect location for him to receive that honor. It turns out that this was not the first time WWE tried to enshrine him into their Hall of Fame.
This year will mark the first year that Triple H gets to pick his Hall of Fame. Paul Heyman just so happens to be the first name that was announced under this new era. Although it’s not clear when WWE tried to induct him before, Heyman turned down that spot in the past.
Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction
Paul Heyman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this year wasn’t unexpected, given his longstanding contribution to WWE programming. As we stated above, the Philly location made everything perfect.
During a segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed insights into Paul Heyman’s induction. He highlighted that this year’s class was selected by Paul Levesque rather than Vince McMahon, signifying a shift in decision-making authority.
Meltzer mentioned that Heyman had previously declined the offer to join the Hall of Fame but accepted this time, likely influenced by being the inaugural Paul Levesque inductee and the connection to Philadelphia, the birthplace of ECW, a pivotal chapter in Heyman’s career. Additionally, Meltzer speculated that Heyman’s inclusion might fulfill the requirement for a main eventer in the class.
“Yeah, so trivia note, this will be the first Hall of Fame class chosen by Triple H, and not Vince McMahon. So, Paul Heyman is the first Triple H Hall of Famer. He’s been offered the Hall of Fame before, but he turned it down with the idea that, you know, he’s still active. He didn’t want to be in the Hall of Fame until his career was over. I think the idea of being the first Triple H inductee, and it’s in Philly where ECW is from, and one of his main career claims to fame is ECW, maybe his biggest in a lot of ways, so there’s that.”
It was noted that “he has been offered this before,” but this year was a year he took the honor. It’s unknown exactly why Heyman didn’t turn it down this year, but fans in Philly will certainly show up to give Paul E his flowers.
2024 WWE Hall of Fame
As of this writing, we do now know who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame. We will have to see who else receives an honor this year to round out the class.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will go down after the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 40. Although no other inductees have been announced, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer mentioned that they heard a rumor that Haku is receiving an induction this year as well.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information is made available.
John Cena is becoming a leading name in Hollywood, but the 16-time World Champion will always choose his WWE family above anything else.
One plastered across WWE programming, Cena has become a rarer sight in the ring in recent years as his acting career continues to grow. Cena’s most recent match took place at WWE Crown Jewel and saw him lose (another rarity) to Solo Sikoa.
John Cena and WWE’s Family First
On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, Cena was asked about transitioning from WWE to acting and in what role he feels that transition was made official. WWE’s Greatest of All Time stated that he’ll never stop seeing as a member of WWE’s ‘family’ before anything else.
“I don’t think I’ll ever not be a member of the WWE family first… from my perspective, the switch has never happened. You know me, I always speak fondly of WWE, my time and experience there.”
Cena also made sure to credit the fans, both those who supported him and those who reviled him, for making him the performer he is today.
“I can’t tell you how much the audience has made me the man I am today. Having to deal with all the polarizing audiences. We’ve seen a lot of performers not be able to do that and to have to do that for so, so long, it teaches you about you and you really go through a journey of self-worth, so I don’t think I’ll ever not be WWE family first.”
WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre had some fun after this week’s episode of Raw, at the expense of fans who have rallied behind CM Punk.
McIntyre has taken credit for CM Punk’s torn triceps injury which will prevent the ex-AEW star from competing at WrestleMania. McIntyre has even gone as far as to say he’s ‘saved’ WrestleMania by ridding the show of Punk, ensuring that Cody Rhodes would win the Men’s Royal Rumble and challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
Drew McIntyre Taunts CM Punk Fans
On this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, McIntyre defeated Jey Uso in the show’s main event. McIntyre would send a message after the match by leveling WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins with a Claymore Kick.
After Raw, McIntyre shared a video as he prepared to leave the area. The Scottish Warrior noticed a gaggle of fans who heavily booed McIntyre. After a CM Punk chant broke out, McIntyre played Punk’s theme to antagonize the crowd. McIntyre found it hilarious as he embarked on his “victory lap” in front of the fans.
After winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia, McIntyre’s Road to WrestleMania is crystal clear. The Scottish Warrior will challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at the two-night event this April. On this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, it was stated that this match will take place on WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
CM Punk won’t be competing at WrestleMania 40, but they still could still see an appearance from the Best in the World. CM Punk has been advertised for the April 1, go-home episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.
Jimmy and Jey Uso appear to be on course to a match at WrestleMania 40, and their father Rikishi is open to being a part of their story.
At WWE SummerSlam 2023, Jimmy betrayed his brother during the Tribal Combat match, costing his brother the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. While Jimmy said he did what he did to protect his brother, Jimmy has since done all he can to interfere with his brother’s plans.
Last week on Raw, Jimmy distracted Jey, costing his brother in his Intercontinental Championship match with GUNTHER. During this week’s show, Jimmy again got involved, costing Jey in the main event match against Drew McIntyre.
Rikishi Getting Involved?
It’s been reported for some time that a match at WrestleMania 40 pitting Jimmy against Jey is in the works. Many fans have argued that their father WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi should have a role in the feud, potentially as the special guest referee. Speaking at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling convention in Manchester, UK, Rikishi teased getting involved when asked about the rumored match.
“I think it’s going to be a good match for WrestleMania. But there’s just a piece missing in that match. What do you guys think? There’s a piece missing. We’ve got Jey Vs. Jimmy. But there’s just that [piece missing.] Is it #WeWantRikishi?”
WWE WrestleMania 40
WWE WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night event, a tradition established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The card for the show as it currently stands is as follows:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
GUNTHER (c) vs. Winner of Next week’s WWE Raw Gauntlet Match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso (EXPECTED)
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
This is hardly Allin’s first death-defying stunt in an AEW ring, but it may have been his most dangerous spot of all time (to date!) Taking to Twitter, former WWE personality Jonathan Coachman blasted the spot as unnecessary. Coachman acknowledged that his opinion will hardly go down well with AEW’s “army” of fans.
“Ok AEW army come after me. This is bananas and SO unnecessary. Can someone please teach the writers and Tony Khan that if you tell a good story you don’t have to do that crap and damn near kill yourself. Other than Mick Foley find any videos of a top star from WWE doing anything this reckless. I am all about getting talked about after a show but my god. If he hits one of those chairs he could have paralyzed himself and broken his back. Tell a story and make the fans care. Then this won’t have to happen or even be talked about doing.”
Ok AEW army come after me. This is bananas and SO unnecessary. Can someone please teach the writers and Tony Khan that if you tell a good story you don’t have to do that crap and damn near kill yourself. Other than Mick Foley find any videos of a top star from WWE doing anything… https://t.co/MlTyTazVzq
Sting is not interested in being a manager on AEW programming, but is open to talks with Tony Khan about a backstage role. As for the AEW World Tag Team Championships, they have been vacated and a tournament will determine the next set of champions.
Which of John Cena’s WWE World Championships does the Hollywood star cherish the most? According to the man himself, it’ll be the next time he holds WWE gold.
Due to his blossoming career in Hollywood, Cena hasn’t been a full-time competitor for WWE in years. Cena competed in four televised matches in 2023, the most in one year for ‘Big Match John’ since 2018. His most recent match saw him lose to The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa at WWE Crown Jewel in November of last year.
John Cena Teases 17th World Championship
At 16 WWE World Championships, Cena ties the record with Ric Flair for the most recognized title wins. Fans have often discussed the possibility of Cena surpassing the Nature Boy though that seems increasingly unlikely given his acting schedule. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet of Insight though, Cena was asked for his favorite World Championship win and teased one more run.
“My next one [is my favorite.] I have often said that the time is coming for me to hang them up and I’m not lying when I say, but it’s not tomorrow. It’s probably soon but not tomorrow, so you never know.”
Cena’s first WWE World Championship would come at WrestleMania 21 when he ended the reign of JBL, who had been the longest-reigning WWE Champion for the prior decade before his defeat. Five of Cena’s World Championship reigns came by defeating WWE Hall of Famers, with Edge falling victim to the Chaingang leader on three separate occasions. His most recent World Championship win came at the 2017 Royal Rumble PLE and saw John dethrone AJ Styles.
WWE’s biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 40, will go down on April 6 and 7, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. GUNTHER will wrestle at the show of shows, and we are so much closer to figuring out his next opponent.
Brock Lesnar was originally set to face GUNTHER at WrestleMania 40. Now, WWE has set up a gauntlet match for next week’s episode of RAW to determine who will face the Ring General.
GUNTHER’s Next Opponent
WWE is gearing up for WrestleMania 40, with numerous superstars vying for a significant spot at what is slated to be the grandest WrestleMania ever.
A major talking point revolves around GUNTHER and his WWE Intercontinental Championship reign, which surpasses all others in the company’s history.
Dominik Mysterio, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet, JD McDonagh, and Sami Zayn are among the top stars eager to challenge The Ring General at the marquee event.
RAW General Manager Adam Pearce has been considering everyone’s arguments for weeks and has finally made his decision. On tonight’s episode, he announced a monumental 6-man gauntlet match featuring former WWE Intercontinental champions Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Ricochet, along with rising talents Bronson Reed, Chad Gable, and JD McDonagh. The victor will earn the opportunity to face GUNTHER for the prestigious title at WrestleMania 40.
We will have to see what WWE does to continue building toward WrestleMania 40. In the meantime, you can check out the card so far below. Obviously, the card is always subject to change, so keep checking back with SEScoops for more updates!
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. TBD: Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Sting wrestled his final match during AEW Revolution on pay-per-view. He and Darby Allin won the match, and Sting will retire a champion. Now, WWE is speaking out on the matter.
Although WWE remained radio silent about Sting’s retirement, even not allowing AEW to use footage of The Icon that they owned, Michael Cole gave Sting his flowers during the first match on RAW this week.
Sting Gets Love On WWE RAW
During RAW this week, as GUNTHER was gearing up for his match, Michael Cole was able to give Sting some love. He mentioned Sting’s retirement and congratulated him in the process.
“GUNTHER has been a great champion, and I want to send out our congratulations to another great champion, after 40 years, the great Sting has retired from professional wrestling. Thanks for the memories, congratulations to Sting.”
Pat McAfee them chimed in to say, “Absolutely epic match last night.” They did not mention AEW, or AEW Revolution. That being said, everyone know what happened last night on pay-per-view.
WWE referencing not only Sting, but his ‘epic match’ from an AEW pay-per-view, shows just how much respect the icon has earned across all walks of the industry.
Cody Rhodes Also Acknowledges Sting
Cody Rhodes also threw in a little name-drop for Sting during his first promo of the night. This was not lost on fans, either.
WWE RAW kicked off this week by addressing The Rock’s challenge that he laid down on SmackDown. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins targeted The People’s Champion, and that came with a big announcement, too.
Seth Rollins is now 100% medically cleared. He confirmed that he will be on SmackDown this week to confront the Bloodline, and he’s ready to go.
Cody to the ring first this week, and after some words for fans, he invited Seth Rollins to join him, and that is what happened. Fans sang Rollins’ song for him, and then Cody had a chance to speak.
The American Nightmare thanked Seth Rollins for having his back before. Then he made things very interesting. He said that if he wants to get out of this match against the Bloodline and focus on his match with Drew McIntyre, then he could do that.
Rollins appreciated Cody giving him an out, but he didn’t take it. He then said that taking down the Bloodline is the biggest thing they can do. Because it’s not just Cody’s story that needs to be finished, it’s Seth’s too.
Rollins and Roman Reigns have a long history with each other. From The Shield, they formed quite a bond, but then their paths split up. They are now on different sides of the equation, and “they are so close to Roman Reigns having absolute power” with The Rock in the Bloodline.
The decision was then made that Seth is not backing down, as “Rocky Sucks” chants rang out from the crowd. Rollins then invented a new nickname for The Rock: Diarrhea Dwayne. This is in reference to The Rock’s long promos, and then a “Diarrhea” chant rang out from the fans.
WWE SmackDown This Week
Rollins said he will be on SmackDown this week. He is medically cleared, and he’s ready to answer the Great One. Cody Rhodes has quite a message to deliver as well.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, on the road to WrestleMania 40.
Vince McMahon’s story with WWE may be over after he resigned from his position. That being said, the company still made him a very rich man, with the ability to cash out his massive stockpile of assets, and he decided to cash in on some of those options today.
McMahon recently sold 5,350,000 shares of TKO, worth around $412 million. It’s unclear why he needs the money, but he’s certainly getting a nice windfall of cash from this exchange.
Vince McMahon Unloading Stock
In a recent filing, it has been disclosed that Vince McMahon has sold a significantly large portion of his shares in the company. The filing reveals that McMahon has divested 5,350,000 shares of TKO, amounting to a total value of approximately $412 million.
Following this transaction, McMahon’s remaining stake in TKO stands at around 15 million shares, which corresponds to approximately 9% of the total outstanding TKO stock. This move indicates a substantial reduction in McMahon’s ownership interest in the company, although he still retains a significant portion of TKO shares.
Vince McMahon still has a ton of stock, but it’s not enough where he can re-insert himself into the WWE fold as he did before. The fact that he is selling even more stock would also give an idea that he has no intention to come back in the same way.
NEW FILING: Vince McMahon sells 5,350,000 TKO shares, a value of $412 million.
After the transaction, he has about 15 million shares, or about 9% of all TKO stock. pic.twitter.com/SropbXk5Dg
McMahon resigned from his position with the company after Janel Grant’s lawsuit included damning allegations of sex trafficking and so much more. Now, we will have to see if anything happens with that lawsuit, or if they decide to settle out of court.
Vince McMahon helped build WWE into what it became today, but he no longer has an active hand in the company’s product. It remains to be seen if he will hold onto every bit of TKO stock he has left, but he’s certainly not opposed to selling some of it.
SEScoops will have more updates on this story as they are available.
In late 2020, Sting made a surprise return to wrestling television, as he officially came aboard All Elite Wrestling and firmly aligned himself with Darby Allin.
While Sting has claimed numerous singles championships over the years, the bookends of his historied career are marked with tag-team gold. On the closing end, Sting boasted an AEW Tag Team Championship reign with the ever-fearless Darby Allin. Looking back on their three-year partnership, Sting believes Allin elevated him just as much as he elevated Allin.
“I hope, for Darby, that he’ll be remembered for being in a tag team with Sting, one of the veterans who pretty much did everything under the sun in wrestling for so many different wrestling organizations. And that was the goal, to try to elevate him, but I’m telling you, he elevated me. It went both ways,” Sting told Pro Wrestling Illustrated. “And I want to be remembered for this time as Darby’s tag team partner, for sure.”
Commonalities
Despite being at different points in their careers, Sting feels he and Allin shared similar backgrounds, especially with the circumstances surrounding their respective starts in professional wrestling. Through these commonalities, Sting and Allin were then able to establish a deep connection both in and outside of the ring.
“I don’t know if we’re kindred spirits, per se, but we have a lot in common in the wrestling world, with how our careers started,” Sting said. “We didn’t have a way to get into wrestling. We didn’t have an uncle or a father or a friend; we both slept in our cars, and that was our address. We both know what it’s like to get the tiny little payoffs and pretty much starve out there while making a name for yourself.”
“And then there’s what we have in common, like the painted face and the willingness to take risks. Darby blows me out of the water, but I was one of the first guys my size to take running dives over the top rope and to the floor.”
Sting and Allin’s journey together culminated at AEW Revolution, as they successfully defended the AEW Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks in a tornado tag team match. This match also served as Sting’s official retirement match.
With Sting hanging up his wrestling boots, AEW President Tony Khan recently announced that new tag team champions will be crowned in an upcoming tournament.
Santana has been around since the early days of AEW, as he and Ortiz’s debut was an early surprise for the company when they joined the Inner Circle. Santana was the adamant one behind a Proud n Powerful breakup, and now he is no longer in AEW.
There have been issues between Santana and AEW for a while. Now, it has been confirmed that his removal from the company’s roster page on their site meant an official departure.
Santana Is No Longer All Elite
Fightful Select has confirmed that Mike Santana is no longer with AEW after his removal from their roster page. The separation between Santana and AEW reportedly occurred last week.
Mike Santana has not been present backstage at AEW events for several months, and sources close to him have indicated his departure from the company following his removal from the AEW roster page. He made his return to AEW on the August 23, 2023, edition of AEW Dynamite after being sidelined for over a year due to a torn ACL sustained during the Blood & Guts match in June 2022.
His last appearance for AEW was in the Stadium Stampede match at AEW All In, after which he began a feud with his former tag team partner, Ortiz. Santana emerged victorious against Ortiz on the October 27 episode of AEW Rampage but has not competed for the company since.
What’s Next For Santana
Despite his departure from AEW, Santana has remained active on the independent circuit, participating in events such as House of Glory’s Reckoning on March 2, where he successfully defended the HOG Heavyweight Championship against Penta El Zero Miedo. Additionally, he has appeared for promotions like C4 and Beyond Wrestling.
Santana and Ortiz joined AEW in 2019 amid significant anticipation, given their status as four-time IMPACT World Tag Team Champions and other achievements. They were known as LAX in Impact Wrestling and worked well with Konnan.
During Santana’s time with AEW, he was prominently featured as a member of the Inner Circle alongside Chris Jericho, Ortiz, Sammy Guevara, and Jake Hager. Although the group disbanded during Santana’s injury hiatus, he briefly reunited with Ortiz, despite personal differences, for the Stadium Stampede match.
As the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, Nic Nemeth is looking to make a significant mark in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Once he fulfills that quest, though, Nemeth is keen on rekindling a rivalry with one of his former WWE colleagues, who is now a prominent player in AEW.
In a recent interview with Monopoly Events, the former “The Most Wanted Man” expressed his desire to wrestle “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson for the first time outside of the WWE setting. Nemeth and Danielson — who were previously known as Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan, respectively — shared the ring on over six-dozen occasions while under the WWE umbrella.
Wanted Man Wants The American Dragon
Due to the creative constraints placed on them at the time, though, Nemeth isn’t sure if their matches ever lived up to their true potential.
“I’d like to be back in [the ring] with Daniel Bryan too, without WWE saying he has to win and protecting him,” Nemeth said. “I want to go one-on-one with a guy that everybody treats as one of the best of all time and in the world and I go ‘You’re not better than me, not by a long shot.’ So I want to fight him one-on-one while everybody watches and goes ‘Oh right, I guess Nic’s pretty good too.’ No, I’m freaking great at this.”
“I would absolutely love that. I have a long list of some Japanese legends that I want to get into because I want to test myself, but man, when I come out on the other side of that, I’m looking for Daniel Bryan. I’m going headbutt him right in the head, knock him down, choke him out, tap him out. You name it, I can’t wait.”
Since departing from WWE in September 2023, Nemeth is now one of wrestling’s hottest free agents. Aside from his work in NJPW, Nemeth has also landed opportunities in TNA Wrestling, Game Changer Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Council.
Given that NJPW and AEW have a well-established partnership, it is possible that Nemeth could also find himself in the territory of AEW and compete in his first non-WWE match against Danielson.
