Home Blog Page 383

Seth Rollins Drops Bombshell Injury News While Responding To The Rock During Fiery RAW Promo with Cody Rhodes

Aaron Varble
-
0

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.

Seth Rollins Joins the Situation

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 Cash-Out: Former Chairman Sells Over $400 Million Worth of TKO Shares

Aaron Varble
-
0

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.

Mr. McMahon’s WWE Exit

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. 

Sting Maintains That His Partnership With Darby Allin Was Mutually Beneficial

Ella Jay
-
0

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. 

AEW Exit: Mike Santana Parts Ways with Company Following Roster Removal

Aaron Varble
-
0

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.

Nic Nemeth Wants To Face Bryan Danielson Without The Constaints Of WWE

Ella Jay
-
0

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. 

Bryan Danielson Had A Pivotal Realization After AEW Revolution

Ella Jay
-
0

Sunday’s match between Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson may have been contested for a trio of championships on paper, but in reality, it meant much more.

Danielson challenged Kingston for the Continental Crown Championship (ROH World, NJPW STRONG Openweight, and AEW Continental Championships) at Revolution 2024. The contest stipulated that if Danielson lost, he’d have to shake Kingston’s hand out of respect. In the weeks leading up to this face-off, ‘The American Dragon’ demonstrated repeated signs of disrespect toward Kingston, such as spitting in his face and flipping him off.

Danielson later revealed that his disregard stemmed from his belief that Kingston had fallen into several bad habits, and never lived up to his true potential. After Kingston defeated him at Revolution, though, Danielson came to a pivotal realization.

“I thought it would hurt me more than anything to shake Eddie’s hand and say that I respect him.” Danielson said in a post-match promo. “But there was a moment in that match where I knew I f***ed up his wrist. I’m good at that. I’m good at f***ing people up. And I know exactly how hurt he was, and he fought through it. There was this just this internal moment, this internal click that me not respecting Eddie, it wasn’t Eddie.”

Danielson Says The Underachiever Has Finally Realized His Potential

Though it may have taken longer than expected for Kingston to push past some of his struggles, Danielson is proud that he eventually did. In that same vein, Danielson is also proud of himself for seeing through his own “bull****” so he could give Kingston the nod that he well-deserved and earned.

 “All the things that we said about Eddie 20 years ago, about how much potential he had, about how he needed to work harder, about he needed to do this, and how he needed to do that, and how he needed to change his bad habits, and all of that. It took him a while, but he f***ing did it.

Here I was holding on to this petty bull****, and I realized it might have taken him longer, but the things that he’s battled through and the things that he’s struggled through, I should have given him my respect a long time ago.”

Eddie Kingston Is Grateful

For Eddie Kingston, the element of respect is all he ever wanted from his peers. 

While championships are great resume boosters, Kingston believes that one’s legacy is truly based on the amount of respect one garners from their cohorts. In his case, he was specifically aiming to impress the Blackpool Combat Club members — Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and Claudio Castagonli.

“I don’t care about promoters. No offense to the Twitter fans or fans that came out there. I appreciate y’all, but what I care about is the respect from the boys, because at the end of the day, you guys are the ones that are going to be talking about me,” Kingston told Danielson.

“Whether I was good, whether I was bad, whether I was a waste or not. I don’t want to get too emotional, so I’m gonna get out of here. I just want to say thank you, Bryan. Dude, thank you for everything.”

Wrestling World Reacts to Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction Announcement

Thomas Lowson
-
0

The wrestling world has shared their respect for Paul Heyman following the news that Heyman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame later this year. 

The industry veteran who today serves as the special counsel to The Bloodline is the first name confirmed for this year’s class of inductees. It’s fitting that Heyman is being inducted in Philadelphia, as ECW is synonymous with the City of Brotherly Love. 

Reactions to Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame

With such a significant career in wrestling, many stars have paid tribute to Heyman ahead of his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made it clear he acknowledges the Wise Man. 

Heyman’s fellow ECW alum Bully Ray was happy to welcome Paul E. into the club of WWE Hall of Famers. The Dudley Boyz took their spot in 2018. 

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce may have had issues with the Bloodline, but he was able to recognize that Heyman’s induction is well deserved. 

Tommy Dreamer, another man who worked closely with Heyman in ECW, was appreciative of all that Paul had done for the industry. 

Sam Roberts, who has worked with WWE and Heyman several times, is excited to hear what Heyman has to say in his induction. 

Triple H was pleased to share the news of the induction of the legendary wrestling personality. 

Rafael Morffi, who until recently was a VP for All Elite Wrestling, also shared his congratulations to Heyman.

WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Heyman is so far the only name confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, following that night’s edition of SmackDown on FOX. Heyman will become the first active manager to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

WWE RAW Preview (3/4): Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax, Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Ella Jay
-
0

The Road to WrestleMania continues as WWE makes a stop at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw.

Here are the 2 matches announced for Raw, followed by our detailed preview into each one:

  • Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax 
  • Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Raw Preview (3/4/24)

Here’s what you need to know heading into this week’s WWE Raw:

Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax

Following her win in the grueling Women’s Elimination Chamber match, Becky Lynch confronted the woman she will now be challenging at WrestleMania 40 — WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. Unfortunately for Lynch, their February 26th meeting was interrupted by “The Irresistible Force” Nia Jax, who blindsided Lynch with a pair of leg drops and an Annihilator. 

Fueled by her “Irish rage,” Lynch later retaliated, unleashing a counterattack on Jax during her singles bout against Liv Morgan. While Jax was eventually able to flee from her flurry of strikes last week, Lynch convinced Raw General Manager Adam Pearce to let them settle their differences in a one-on-one match tonight. This contest, of course, will serve as a rematch of their encounter at the Day 1 episode of Raw, where Jax emerged victorious.

Despite losing in their previous entanglement, Lynch is confident that she can permanently take Jax out of her path, so she can then properly focus on her WrestleMania title match against Rhea Ripley.

Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Old foes will meet once again following a backstage brawl on last week’s episode of WWE Raw. 

A week after his brother, Jimmy Uso, cost him the Intercontinental Championship, Jey Uso reflected on the pattern of his recent losses in a backstage interview with Jackie Redmond, pointing out that they seem to occur when the stakes are raised. Despite these losses, though, Jey Uso has vowed to keep showing up to Raw as the “Main Event” superstar he knows he is.

Before Uso could complete his thoughts, he was approached by “The Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre. Initially appearing to be extending Uso some empathy, McIntyre’s expression then turned cold as he proclaimed that Uso “deserve[s]” the misfortune that has come his way. Naturally, this led the two men to a backstage brawl.

Interestingly, former Intercontinental Champion Ricochet is also advertised — via WWE.com and the Frost Bank Center website — to appear on Raw. Should he compete, it will mark his first televised match since the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble.

AEW Loading Up ‘Big Business’ Dynamite With Darby Allin vs Jay White

Dominic DeAngelo
-
0

Darby Allin walked into the AEW Revolution press conference not knowing that he already had a match lined up at Big Business in Boston on March 13.

Before Allin and Sting made an unexpected appearance at the Revolution media scrum, Tony Khan revealed that he already had plans in place for the daredevil Darby. 

First, Khan made it known that the AEW World Tag Team Championships would now be vacated after Sting and Darby defeated The Young Bucks to retain the gold and that a tournament would be held to determine the new champions.

Secondly, Tony Khan then made it known that Darby Allin would be a big match at Big Business as he’ll take on Switchblade Jay White in singles action.

Much to Tony Khan’s surprise, it was almost immediately after when Sting and Darby Allin showed up at the scrum. Tony told Darby that he just revealed his upcoming match, but Darby Allin had no clue who his opponent was. Sting and Allin addressed the media for about 15 minutes until Khan dropped the news to Allin that he’d be facing White. Despite having a stitched-up bloody back due to the insane ladder and glass spot, Allin was still eager to go one-on-one with Jay White.

Allin mentioned how he purposefully showed up to the scrum to show everyone that he was okay and doing fine after the insane bump he took. Sting jokingly noted that took his fair share of table crashes in his last match too, but showed appreciation to The Young Bucks and Darby Allin for the effort everyone gave.

Paul Heyman To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Paul Heyman, the legendary manager of some of WWE’s biggest stars, will take his place in the WWE Hall of Fame later this year. 

The Associated Press broke the news of Heyman’s induction, which will fittingly take place in Philadelphia, PA. Heyman is no stranger to the City of Brotherly Love, where ECW held some of its biggest shows with the industry veteran at the helm. In a statement to the AP, Heyman recalled the efforts made in the original ECW. 

“The extreme in ECW stood for the work ethic involved… The legacy of ECW is firmly rooted in the very simple concepts of paying attention to the cultural curve and obsessively trying to stay a few steps ahead of it.”

Paul Heyman Isn’t Finished Yet

While Heyman will soon be a WWE Hall of Famer, this won’t mark the end of his current work on TV as part of The Bloodline. Speaking to the Associated Press, Heyman made clear that there is still work to be done.

“I consistently feel like I’m just getting started, and I’m just figuring this out. To me, what is an incomplete body of work, because there’s still things I want to accomplish, I never felt comfortable accepting that is a reflection upon an entire career.” 

Triple H Reacts

On WWE programming, Paul Heyman and Triple H have often been rivals, with Heyman being in Brock Lesnar’s corner when the Beast feuded with the Game in 2012 and 2013. On Twitter though, the WWE COO was pleased to share his take on Heyman’s impending induction. 

WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Heyman is so far the only name confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, following that night’s edition of SmackDown on FOX. Heyman will become the first active manager to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

Rhea Ripley’s Instagram Account Targeted in Hacking Attempt

Aaron Varble
-
0

WWE Superstars need to be aware of hacking attempts at all times, because nefarious actors are waiting in the wings around every corner to steal their platforms. Those hackers can use Superstar profiles to bilk fans out of tons of cash, and that is why an extra step of authentication is always needed. Rhea Ripley knows this all too well.

The Nightmare woke up this morning, and her Instagram had been apparently tampered it. She said it was gone, which means hackers tried to do their thing again. Thankfully, they were not successful this time.

Hackers Target Rhea Ripley

The Eradicator shared on Twitter/X today that she went to bed with her Instagram account, but woke up to find it missing, suspecting a hacking attempt.

“Went to sleep with IG, woke up to no IG… ??? Guess someone tried to hack me.”

It’s unfortunate that someone attempted to hack Rhea Ripley’s Instagram account. We hope such incidents don’t occur again, but pro wrestlers have often been targeted with hacks.

Past Pro Wrestling Hacks

Matt Hardy’s social media has been hacked before, but he’s not alone. Ricky Starks also claimed that his account was hacked after sending out some nice words for CM Punk.

Of course, everyone remembers when Seth Rollins was hacked by crypto fiends, as his account briefly promoted an NFT collection with his “buddy” The Undertaker. That NFT scam was not legit, and the posts were removed when Rollins regained access to his account.

Mercedes Mone Drops Bold Tease For AEW Big Business Debut

Aaron Varble
-
0

All Elite Wrestling is coming back to TD Garden in Boston, MA on Wednesday, March 13 with AEW Big Business. That very special episode of Dynamite is also expected to include a huge debut for the company, as the former Sasha Banks is set to make her big first appearance on an AEW stage.

Mercedes Mone is thought to have inked a deal with AEW some time ago. The trick was waiting for the right moment. With Big Business’ date in place, Mercedes is now putting out some pretty blatant teases about her future.

Mone Teases AEW Debut

Mercedes Mone is very good at keeping things close to the vest, especially when it comes to her business. She left WWE fans guessing for months about her return time and time again. Now, it’s AEW’s turn, but fans should know where to expect her.

While taking to her Instagram stories, Mercedes Mone dropped a pretty clear tease that she will be at Big Business. She also made it clear that she isn’t done in Japan, either.

Handled all my Big Business in Japan. See you again this Summer.

Mercedes Mone will be permitted to work in Japan while under AEW contract. This is the case with other stars on the roster, as they can take special appearances and matches for other companies.

Mercedes Mone’s Road To AEW

The terms of Mercedes’ deal with AEW are not clear yet, but she was asking a lot from WWE. That being said, she wasn’t asking for more than the top female on the roster receives, but they still couldn’t come to an agreement. Tony Khan was apparently willing to offer that paycheck to her, and now we find ourselves waiting on Mercedes’ big moment in the Land of All Elite.

Mercedes Mone appeared at AEW All In, but she couldn’t even be shown on camera standing. She was injured at the time, but the thought was that AEW was going to secure her services. After months of back-and-forth, and WWE entering the picture as well, Big Business looks to be the night when AEW fans finally see what Tony Khan has in mind for her.

Drew McIntyre Fires Shot at CM Punk: “I’m Keeping Him Relevant”

Aaron Varble
-
0

CM Punk’s return to WWE sparked a wave of excitement from fans, but they only got to see him wrestle at the Royal Rumble before an injury took him out of action. Drew McIntyre believes that he has a lot to do with the reason fans are still talking about the Second City Savior.

Since Punk’s injury, Drew McIntyre has continued to throw shade at him. He even put out a t-shirt, where he was photoshopped posing over Punk’s grave. If you ask The Scottish Warrior, that relevancy CM Punk is seeing is all thanks to him.

Drew Makes Bold Claim

In recent weeks, McIntyre has taunted CM Punk through his WWE Raw promos and social media posts. All of this led fans to speculate that he will actually re-sign with the company, even though his contract is set to expire prior to Punk’s return.

During his appearance on WWE The Bump, McIntyre discussed his jabs at CM Punk. When questioned about whether he was being too harsh, the former WWE Champion responded that Punk should express gratitude for the attention, stating, “I think Punk and everyone should be thanking me. All his fans should be thanking me because I’m the one keeping him relevant right now by constantly talking about him.”

McIntyre also provided an update on his ear after mentioning a blown eardrum at WWE Elimination Chamber. Reiterating his comments from the February 26 episode of WWE Raw, he assured that the injury wouldn’t sideline him for WrestleMania, adding, “I might be hurt, but who do you think I am, CM Punk? It’s not gonna take me out the game.” 

He acknowledged the frustration of compromised hearing but humorously noted that it seemed to enhance his other senses. It seems that McIntyre’s quick wit is not injured one bit.

What’s Next For Drew McIntyre

We will have to see what is going to happen with CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. The two seem destined to throw down in some fashion. Hopefully, WWE and Drew can figure out their contract issues and get something official very soon.

Drew will take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 for the World Heavyweight Championship. That will be a fantastic opportunity for him at the showcase of the immortals, and only time will tell what is after that. A lot of things with McIntyre seem to be pending on his contract situation at this point. 

WWE Called Out For Snubbing Sting After AEW Revolution Retirement Match

Aaron Varble
-
0

Sting wrestled his final match at AEW Revolution, and the pro wrestling world reacted in a big way. Despite his time in WWE, it seems that the company forgot to give The Stinger his flowers.

Pro wrestlers, fans, and companies from all over the world sent out tributes to Sting. WWE was not one of the companies that sent out a message, and this was noticed in a big way.

WWE No-Sells Sting’s Retirement

Sting and Darby Allin took on The Young Bucks in the final match of Revolution. That was a brutal glass-filled match, and tons of action went down. In the end, Sting and Darby Allin walked out of the building as champions.

NJPW, NOAH, TNA, and AEW sent out tributes to Sting. Plenty of other pro wrestling fans also sent out their favorite memories from The Icon. WWE was radio silent, as they did not give him any sort of tribute on any platform.

The fact is that WWE owns a majority of Sting’s career. They have the video libraries from practically every company Sting ever traveled through in their database. WWE could have put out a fantastic tribute video, but they decided not to.

https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1764649664081531363

What’s Next for Sting

Sting said he’s done with in-ring competition, and he doesn’t really have any interest in becoming a coach. We will have to see what he does next, but the 64-year-old legend will get some time to enjoy his retirement now.

We will have to see if Sting gets any flowers at all during WWE RAW this week. Then again, the company is well on the road to WrestleMania 40 at this point, so odds are they are preoccupied and won’t be sending out any tribute for Sting.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, just in case there are more updates. Sting will be missed, but he certainly left it all in the ring as he inspired generations to come.

Thank you, Sting.

AEW PPV Schedule 2024: 9 Events, Dates & Locations

Aaron Varble
-
0

All Elite Wrestling is gearing up for it’s biggest year yet. When AEW launched in 2019, the company’s initial PPV schedule featured 4 quarterly events: Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out and Full Gear. 

With the addition of AEW Dynasty, a new pay-per-view event on Sunday, April 21, here is the updated AEW PPV Schedule for 2024. This list includes all available information for all 9 events:

  1. AEW Revolution: March 3, 2024 – Greensboro, NC
  2. AEW Dynasty: April 21, 2024 – St. Louis, MI
  3. AEW Double or Nothing: May 26, 2024 – Las Vegas, NV
  4. AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door: June 30, 2024, Long Island, NY
  5. All In: London: August 25th – London, England
  6. AEW All Out: Labor day – September 1, Chicago, IL
  7. AEW WrestleDream: October 12, Tacoma, WA
  8. AEW Full Gear: November, 23, Newark, NJ
  9. AEW Worlds End: December 28, Orlando, FL

SEScoops will update this list when the remaining dates and locations are announced.

History of AEW PPV Events

AEW Double or Nothing

All Elite Wrestling launched in May 2019 at AEW Double or Nothing, the promotion’s inaugural pay-per-view event. Over the course of the next calendar year, they’d introduce All Out, Full Gear and Revolution.

The quarterly PPV schedule was kept until 2022, when the expansion period began. It began with AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door, a groundbreaking event that featured the top stars from both AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Last year, we saw the additions of All In: London from the historic Wembley Stadium, WrestleDream honoring the late Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki and Worlds End, right before the end of the year.

AEW Dynasty now bridges the gap in the spring season between Revolution in February/March and Double or Nothing in late May over Memorial Day weekend. 

9 PPV’s appears to be a sweet spot for AEW, in addition to the three special events presented by Ring of Honor. If that’s not enough, AEW also runs special themed-editions of AEW Dynamite throughout the year, such as Big Business, Grand Slam, Fyter Fest, Holiday Bash & New Year’s Smash, and others.

Tony Khan Reveals Future Plans For AEW Tag Team Titles Following Sting & Darby Allin’s Victory

Dominic DeAngelo
-
0

Sting indeed had a great send-off at AEW Revolution and his final match came off with a victory. This means he and Darby Allin are still the AEW World Tag Team Champions. Now Tony Khan has revealed what the future holds for those titles after Sting’s retirement.

Speaking with the media during the AEW Revolution press conference, Khan noted that after Allin and Sting retained, the Tag Team Titles will be vacated. 

Not only that, but Khan noted that a tournament will be held to determine the new champions. The AEW President said that it would all unfold in the month of March, coinciding with NCAA March Madness.

“We are going to vacate the AEW World Tag Team championship. So going forward, there will be a tournament — I’ll talk more about that, there will be more to reveal, a lot of exciting tournaments, there will be more than one bracket to fill out in March”

Sting & Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks rightfully closed out the evening in the main event spot in Greensboro, NC, but the fans were also treated with another tag bout earlier on that had a lot of ties to the location. 

FTR, two talents from North Carolina, took on Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli, who happened to pay homage to the legendary Road Warriors by coming out in spiked shoulder pads. Moxley and Castagnoli will likely receive a top seed in the tournament considering they got the victory over Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.

As for Sting and Allin, their tornado tag battle with The Young Bucks created a lot of buzz, not just because of the significance of the match but because of how brutal the fight itself was. 

All men in the bout took some significant bumps. The most notable of it came from Allin who leapt from a massive ladder only to come crashing down on a pane of glass. The spot brutally cut up his back, requiring him to receive several stitches. Though despite this spot, Darby has confirmed that he will be taking a break from AEW for a significant undertaking later this month. 

You can check out the full media scrum below:

Daily Drop (3/4): WWE Hall of Fame Update, Sting Bids Farewell

Aaron Varble
-
0

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Monday, March 4th. Last night was AEW Revolution, which was a big event. Now, we have seen how Sting wraps up his in-ring career. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.

There is a ton of Sting news, and you can click here for a run-down of everything that went into his big retirement match.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 33

WWE

– I was told that WWE Hall of Fame announcements for this year’s ceremony are coming ASAP.

– Dragon Lee is also expected to end his hiatus very soon.

– It turns out that Virgil kept a huge secret about his age for decades. It wasn’t until after his passing when fans finally found out how old he really is.

– Trish Stratus has teased retiring at WWE Money in the Bank in Toronto this Summer.

– New evidence in Ashley Massaro’s rape case has been unearthed after a FOIA request brought the entire redacted file is now public.

– Kamille confirmed in a recent interview that she has spoken to Shawn Michaels about joining WWE’s NXT brand. “Never say never is great in professional wrestling. I mean, look at CM Punk going back to WWE. Literally never say never. Once again I just appreciated so much that, that he’s even taking the time out to look at my work, to enjoy my matches, watch my promos, stuff like that. I mean, you know, I had conversations with Shawn Michaels and I had no clue that Shawn Michaels had any idea who in the world Kamille was and found out he was a big fan. Stuff like that blew my mind. And it was super humbling and amazing. And yeah, to hear Tony have such nice feedback when you asked him the question the other day, was really refreshing.”

WWE RAW Card for March 4, 2024 Episode:

  • Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso
  • Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
  • Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will address The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 challenge
  • Match to determine Gunther’s WrestleMania 40 opponent will go down

AEW

– Darby Allin commented on his insane AEW Revolution stunt with the glass. He’s still alive, but he was very cut up.

– Pro wrestling legends showed up for Sting’s last match. Along with Ric Flair, Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, and Scotty Riggs were there.

– A lot of planning went into Sting’s retirement match, and you can check out more information here.

– Hangman Page may have a long break from AEW in store for him after Revolution.

– The pro wrestling world reacted in a big way to thank Sting after his retirement match.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • 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.

Tony Khan Addresses Rumors Regarding The Contract Status Of Ricky Starks

Dominic DeAngelo
-
0

Tony Khan has made clear that Ricky Starks is still “All Elite.”

Starks has not been seen on television since losing the AEW World Tag Team Titles to Sting and Darby Allin.This weekend rumors surfaced that Starks contract with AEW was set to expire, and that he could be headed to WWE soon.

During the post AEW Revolution press conference, Tony Khan confirmed that the wrestling star was not a free agent just yet. Khan said he was completely unaware of the reports but did note that Starks was absolutely still with the company:

“No, Ricky’s definitely still under contract in AEW so I haven’t seen that but obviously we were doing Revolution today so it came out very good.

“Ricky was a big part of Sting’s run. He was Sting’s first match in AEW teaming with Brian Cage against Darby and Sting at Revolution three years ago and then to come back here three years later, of course Ricky and Big Bill, I’m very grateful.”

Khan said Starks and Big Bill were great tag team champions and mentioned how thankful he was for what Starks has done for Sting.

“I’m very excited about having him here. He’s definitely a part of AEW.”

While TK confirmed that Starks has not left AEW yet, there is no shortage of speculations about his future when the former champion’s contract finally comes up.

There is a very good possibility that Ricky Starks can make the leap to WWE considering he is close friends with Cody Rhodes and it was actually “The American Nightmare” who recruited Ricky to AEW after his time with the NWA. 

You can check out the full Revolution media scrum below:

Will Ospreay: “I Will Happily Give You A Cuddle If You Are Ever Feeling Sad, But I Am One Mean M*********r”

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Will Ospreay wrestled his first match in AEW as a full-time talent at AEW Revolution 2024 and showed the world why he is considered one of the best in ring talent in all of wrestling. People are already calling his fight with Konosuke Takeshita a match of the year contender and Ospreay is aware that he has set the bar pretty high for himself.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion took part in the post-Revolution media scrum after his big win. When asked how he’s feeling after the bout, Ospreay praised Takeshita and mentioned that he’s got a lot of work to do now:

“I mean I’ve got a lot to top now, haven’t I? Once again, I can’t do those type of matches without a great partner to do it with. Takeshita is every bit as good as Will Ospreay. Just on that night I was just better, pure and simple. But look at the move that I had to put him away with – the tiger driver.

I keep saying this so much the tiger driver 91 is the most dangerous move in wrestling. It was used back in the day by Mitsuharu Misawa. It is one of the most dangerous moves in wrestling. Some guys were able to kind of figure out a way of getting out of it but it’s complete pressure on your neck man. It’s a sheer drop. I won’t be surprised if in five months’ time people will be like ‘Hey you can’t do that move anymore'”

Most Dangerous Man In Wrestling: Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay noted that he is a very lovely man outside of the ring. When it comes to wrestling, however, the former champion claimed that he is ‘a mean motherfucker’:

But this is what I bring to the table man. I’m one of the most dangerous professional wrestlers in the world. I’m a lovely man. I’ll walk your mom across the street any day of the week. I will happily give you a cuddle if you are ever feeling sad. I’m always a good shoulder to cry on and I will look after you till the day I die but I am one mean motherfucker when I want to be.

That’s all I care about man. This is the first PPV of AEW this year, 2024. Right so we got Dynasty, we’ve got Forbidden Door, Double or Nothing, All In, All Out, WrestleDream, Full Gear, and Worlds End. That’s the first one. Like I said, the most dangerous man in wrestling right now bruv.”

You can check out the full AEW Revolution media scrum below:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription.

Darby Allin Is “Still Alive” After Insane AEW Revolution 2024 Spot, Will Climb Mt. Everest This Month

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Darby Allin will begin his most dangerous stunt to date later this month when the AEW star attempts to reach the summit of the imposing Mt. Everest.

Last May, Allin shared his intentions to climb Mt. Everest, in the latest escalation of his out-of-the-ring death-defying stunts. The following month, he declared that not only would he scale the mountain, but he would proudly place a flag bearing the logo of AEW on the summit. 

Darby Allin on Mt. Everest

At AEW Revolution 2024, Allin and Sting retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships in the main event of the show. Allin, as expected, held nothing back in the match and displayed the caution-to-the-wind attitude that has made him a hit with fans. One particular dangerous spot saw Allin sent off a ladder through panes of glass. 

On the AEW Revolution 2024 media scrum, Allin felt it was important to let fans know he’s still alive after the spot. 

“I wanted to come here to let people know I was still alive. I was in the middle of getting stitched up, but I wanted to show everybody that the doctors are on top of it, I’m still breathing. I feel fine, and as long as Flair, Steamboat, Sting, the Bucks, everybody else feels fine, then we’re beautiful.”

Allin then discussed his plans to climb Everest and said he will start for the summit within a matter of weeks.  

“I talked to the doctors. They gave me a doctor’s note to climb Mount Everest. I leave on March 27.”

The Dangers of Everest

According to Himalayan databases, at least 322 people have died attempting to scale the mountain since records began in 1922. Climbers who perish on the mountain are often left there, due to the risks related to removing the body, a sign of their dedication to climbing, and as a somber reminder to others of the dangers of nature. 

One landmark on Everest is ‘Green Boots,’ which is the body of an unidentified climber on the Northeast Ridge route who is noticeable for his brightly colored boots. While never officially identified, it is believed to be the body of Tsewang Paljor, an Indian member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition who died as part of a 1996 climbing disaster. 

One part of the mountain has been named ‘Rainbow Valley’ in reference to the bodies of deceased climbers still wearing bright thermal clothing.

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

Samoa Joe Says Locker Room Environment Has Never Been Better In AEW: “This Is AEW Under My Reign

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Samoa Joe says locker room troubles in AEW are a thing of past and this is a different AEW under his reign.

The AEW World Heavyweight Champion took part in the post-Revolution media scrum after successfully defending his title against Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page in a triple threat match at the show.

During the interview, he was asked about Swerve making fun of his commentary stint in WWE, and if he ever doubted he would be competing at this level again. The AEW star replied negatively, explaining that it was all about taking the time to heal properly:

“No, because obviously, I was planning and taking the time to recover so that I could be back here at this capacity, competing at this level. Far too many dumber athletes in this industry don’t take the time to heal, don’t bet on themselves and say, ‘Hey, listen, I’m gonna step away from things a little bit. And I’m going to come back, not 90%, not 80%, 110’%’

I took that time and I came back 110%. Now I’m AEW world champion. So this is just indicative of me understanding what I need to do to get things done. I’m playing this on a very different level than everybody else. Everybody else out here just hoping they get their shot. Hoping they’re doing things. I’m planning dynasties. It starts with me, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.

They’re playing checkers. I’m out here playing chess. It’s totally different game. That time doing commentary in ponchos, I still a millionaire. I don’t know what he’s talking about. He may not like that, but hey, that guy on the poncho just whipped his ass tonight and is still world champion. So I mean, you tell me, you tell me who’s running things around here?”

Samoa Joe Comments On Locker Room Issues In AEW

Samoa Joe was also asked about the many backstage issues that plagued AEW in 2023 and how are things now. The heavyweight star mentioned that there is genuine excitement in the locker room that has not been felt in a long time:

“I think you summed it up perfectly, that was last year. This is the AEW underneath my reign. As far as our locker room community and stuff, I don’t think it’s ever been tighter. I don’t think it’s ever been better. There’s a enthusiasm backstage that is infectious.

It’s because we have so much new talent. We have so many new opportunities to go out there and entertain the crowd with the people that we have at our disposal. There’s just genuine excitement among the locker room. I think it’s been a long time since the spirit has been felt here. I’m very much looking forward to where this leads us in the future.”

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription.

AEW Revolution 2024: Wrestling Legends Came to Greensboro for Sting’s Final Match

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Some of the most legendary names in pro wrestling descended on Greensboro, NC last night to watch the final match of the Icon known as Sting. 

In the main event of the show, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, who with their heel term have ditched their Young Bucks moniker. This win means that Sting will end his AEW career undefeated. After the show, Sting spoke passionately to the fans in attendance and was grateful for all the support he has been shown during his retirement tour and throughout his professional wrestling career. 

Wrestling Legends at AEW Revolution 2024

Given the influence of Sting’s career on pro wrestling, it was fitting that some legends of the mat made the trip to Greensboro to support the legend. In the crowd during AEW Revolution 2024, fans could spot Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, and Scotty Riggs. 

Ric Flair was also at AEW Revolution 2024. Flair has been a key component of Sting’s retirement tour since joining AEW last year. Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat and Lex Luger were also reported to have been in attendance. 

What’s Next? 

During the AEW Revolution media scrum, Sting made clear he’s done in the ring and does not want to be a manager or agent. Sting said that Tony Khan has spoken with him about staying on with AEW in some form but nothing has been worked out yet. 

The AEW World Tag Team Championships have been vacated now that Sting has retired from the ring. A tournament will determine the next team to hold the gold. 

AEW Revolution 2024: Sting Didn’t Want Last Match With Anyone Other Than The Young Bucks

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Sting’s final wrestling match was a spectacle to behold at AEW Revolution 2024, and the Icon didn’t want to end his career against anyone other than the Young Bucks. 

In the main event of the show, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, who with their heel term have ditched their Young Bucks moniker. This win means that Sting will end his AEW career undefeated. 

Sting’s Final Opponents

In the weeks leading up to AEW Revolution 2024, much was said about the Jackson brothers being given the honor of being Sting’s final opponents. Some believed a singles match should have marked the end of Sting’s career, possibly against Allin. The more cynical of fans argued that the Jacksons were inserting themselves into a storyline they didn’t need to be a part of.

Sting on Matthew & Nicholas Jackson

Sting was allowed a ton of say over his final match; a sign of respect and appreciation from Tony Khan. Sitting down with Sports Illustrated, Sting made clear that he chose to face the brothers, not the other way around. 

“Whose choice was it? It was mine. Matt and Nick, they deserve everything good that’s coming at them. I didn’t want to do this last hurrah with anyone else.”

The Icon added that he doesn’t care about “rumors” that are spread about the AEW EVPs and reiterated that he has immense respect for the brothers. 

“I don’t see any flaws in these guys in the ring… They consider AEW as a whole and what’s best for their opponents. I have so much respect for these guys.”

What’s Next? 

During the AEW Revolution media scrum, Sting made clear he’s done in the ring and does not want to be a manager or agent. Sting said that Tony Khan has spoken with him about staying on with AEW in some form but nothing has been worked out yet. 

AEW Revolution 2024: Wrestling World Reacts to Sting’s Final Match

Thomas Lowson
-
0

The wrestling world has shared their appreciation for the legendary Sting following his final wrestling match that happened at AEW Revolution 2024. 

In the main event of the show, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, formerly known as the Young Bucks. This win means that Sting will end his AEW career undefeated. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

With Sting being such an inspiration to wrestlers, it’s hardly a surprise that many in the industry have paid tribute to the legend. On Twitter, Heath shared a selfie with the WWE Hall of Famer. 

https://twitter.com/HEATHXXII/status/1764530570816610806

WWE Superstar Kevin Owens shared a video of himself delivering the iconic Sting yell. 

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/1764508177708490998

AEW commentator Jim Ross was appreciative to Tony Khan that he was able to call Sting’s final match. JR had a blast working with Tony Schiavone and Excalibur. 

Shawn Spears, who recently returned to WWE NXT, had some choice language immediately after Sting’s final match. 

Stokely Hathaway used a gif of Darby Allin’s dive through a pane of glass, saying it was akin to Sean Kingston when he saw a beautiful girl. The song of the same name by Kingston includes the lyrics “You’ll have me suicidal, suicidal.”

AEW’s Matt Hardy was simply grateful that he was able to work with Sting before the Icon called it a career. 

Sting may not have worked with TNA Wrestling in a decade, but the promotion made sure to show their appreciation for the Icon. 

Ethan Page was among the many wrestlers who appreciated being able to work with Sting. 

https://twitter.com/OfficialEGO/status/1764516376515838137

Dustin Rhodes felt that Sting had an incredible outing in his final-ever wrestling match. 

And in a tweet of his own, Sting was thankful to the Greensboro crowd for giving him a fantastic response. 

Sting Addresses Past Steroid Usage & Team With Ultimate Warrior

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Sting went through many different phases in his almost 4 decades-long wrestling career. One such phase that came very early in his run was his tag team with Jim “Justice” Hellwig, who would later become known as the Ultimate Warrior.

Teaming with Warrior got The Icon some of his early opportunities in wrestling but according to the wrestling veteran himself, it could have also killed him.

The former champion took part in the media scrum following his retirement match at AEW Revolution 2024 where he talked about the different stops of his career. Answering a question about his time with Ultimate Warrior, Sting mentioned how they got opportunities because they looked pretty intimidating together:

“I think it was definitely good that we were both together to begin with, because, he just, he looked like a freak. I was 265 pounds and I looked like a little kid compared to him. But both of us together were pretty intimidating. And you know, we had a lot of people saying, ‘Maybelline Road Warriors,’ I don’t know if you remember any of that. But yeah. But we thought who cares? You know, we get a match with the Road Warriors, we hit the big time.”

Sting Comments On Past Steroid Usage

The former WCW Champion then mentioned that while they were meant to start together, the tag team wasn’t meant to last long. According to Sting, the duo would have killed each other due to steroid abuse if they stayed together:

“So, but you know, I think it was good that we ended up splitting up it was good that he went his way and I went mine. We were not meant to be together. We were meant to start together and it got us in the door for sure.

But he needed to be on his own and I needed to be…we were gonna kill each other, literally on the road. Two roided out young man. That’s what it was then. Two roided out guys. Just shooting straight here. That stopped in 1990 for me, so yeah. It didn’t stop for him, but it stopped for me.”

Ultimate Warrior sadly passed away at the age of 54 back in April 8, 2014, only three days after his induction into WWE Hall of Fame. An autopsy confirmed that the legend died of a heart attack caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

You can check out the full AEW Revolution media scrum below:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

1...382383384...3,389Page 383 of 3,389