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NFL to WWE: The Miz Offers to Train Jason Kelce If He Wants to Make Pro Wrestling Jump

Aaron Varble
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Philadelphia is going to be booming for WrestleMania. Celebs like Meek Mill may be around for the show of shows. You also never know who will make an appearance to take in the showcase of the immortals.

WWE is gearing up for WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, and there are a ton of potential appearances for the show. Former Philadelphia Eagles standout Jason Kelce and his brother, Travis Kelce may just show up. If Jason wants to train in the ring, The Miz is even down to help out.

The Kelce Brothers in WWE

Seth Rollins already extended an invitation for the Kelce brothers to attend WrestleMania 40. They might just take him up on that offer.

In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, The Miz was asked about the idea of the Kelce brothers’ potential venture into the pro wrestling world. 

“The way I look at is [as] more of a fan of the Kelces. I’ve played golf with Travis, and what an incredible human being. Even when we were golfing, I was like, ‘When are you coming to WWE? When are you coming to WrestleMania? Jason, I’ve never met him, but those are Cleveland guys, and that guy, he’s played for Philadelphia, it seems like a home run to me. But who knows? He’s retired. He might just want to relax and chill out. Or he’d like to come to Philadelphia for WrestleMania,”

The Miz Offers to Train Jason Kelce

The Miz expressed interest in training Jason Kelce to become a WWE Superstar, “Hell yeah. I’d train him into a superstar. As big of a superstar as he is in the NFL, we’ll make him as big of a superstar in WWE. He could be very dangerous in a WWE ring.” 

He highlighted Jason Kelce’s athleticism and charisma, suggesting he could excel in various aspects of WWE. Additionally, The Miz acknowledged Kelce’s versatility and suggested promising opportunities in WWE or other ventures.

The recently retired NFL center’s future endeavors remain uncertain, so he jus may take The Miz up on that offer.

The Undertaker Reacts To Paul Heyman’s Hall Of Fame Induction

Anutosh Bajpai
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Paul Heyman is arguably one of the most influential managers of the wrestling business of all time. From Steve Austin to Jimmy Snuka and from CM Punk to Roman Reigns, the former ECW promoter has been an instrumental figure in the careers of some of wrestling’s biggest names. The Undertaker is another such guy who credits Heyman for his early success in wrestling without which his legendary WWE run may have never started.

The Dead Man talked about the legendary manager being announced as an inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2024 on the latest episode of his podcast. He said that the accolade is well deserved and discussed the many ways Paul helped him out when they got paired together in WCW:

“Hall of Fame man. Well-deserved too. Not only has he got like a brilliant wrestling mind. But even for as long as he’s been involved in the business and around, he’s still so passionate. He’s one of those guys like Paul Bearer was the same way with me. When he was managing Brock and obviously now he’s managing Roman Reigns. He is so invested in those guys and their well-being, their decision-making.

When I went solo in WCW, after Danny left, they put Paul with me. He was so instrumental in keeping me sane because I was so frustrated there with what they were doing with me. Obviously, the infamous meeting that I had with WCW’s upper management. He was such an advocate for me, in the sense of getting me to Bruce [Prichard], who would eventually get me to Vince [McMahon] and that whole thing.

He was a little better off than I was, I wasn’t making any money. A lot of times, he would just pick up the rental cars instead of us splitting it or help me out when he could, but obviously, the biggest contribution on my part with him was just that connection to get me out of WCW and into an opportunity with WWE”

Paul Earns His Money: The Undertaker

The Undertaker then discussed how Paul Heyman not only plays the part of an on-screen manager for any talent he is paired with but also acts as a real-life advocate for them behind the scenes:

“Paul, if he’s passionate about an idea, or his guy is passionate about an idea, he will flat out go to battle. It’s not his hill really to die on, but he will. He truly is representing, what they feel is the best move for where they’re positioned. Not every manager is like that. Not every manager is as invested as Paul is.

Paul can be brash and he can say some things that will ruffle your feathers. But overall he’s very smart about the business. He’s totally invested. A lot of times too, he’ll go and rely things that maybe his guy doesn’t wanna do. ‘Hey what you think about this.’ Paul earns his money man. He does a really, really good job of advocating for his guys.

Not everybody is that invested. But he’ll fight and argue and try and get his point across and change people’s minds which is what you want. As a talent sometimes, you’re trying to focus on ‘Okay, I have to focus on this match’ and whatever that might be. So it’s nice to have somebody, who is so knowledgeable of the business, going in there and not to say politicking, but being an advocate.”

You can check out Undertaker’s full interview below:

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

CM Punk Got Jokes Ahead of 3/25 Chicago WWE Raw

Dominic DeAngelo
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CM Punk is ready to spit fire on Chicago. Punk will make his long-awaited return to the Windy City under the WWE banner tonight on WWE Raw and he has clearly been taking note on what’s been going on television and at live events.

On his Instagram stories very early Monday morning, Punk shared a doctored photo of him and Cody Rhodes closed-eye kissing with the caption:

“I see what Rhea Ripley been doing on house shows and I’m prepared to raise the bar. See you tomorrow Chicago!”

Punk then added, “Live TV is the best, let’s all swear!”

CM Punk hasn’t been a featured star on WWE since tearing his triceps during the Royal Rumble match, which now the heel Drew McIntyre takes great credit for. When Punk confirmed his injury the following night on Raw, McIntyre came out to confront, demean and beat down Punk. McIntyre has made it a calling card of his to relentlessly take digs at Punk and ruining his opportunity to main event a WrestleMania.

Punk was last seen as a guest commentator during the WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff in Las Vegas and had several thoughts regarding the ongoings at the T-Mobile Arena.  Punk made clear that Cody Rhodes should’ve punched The Rock in the mouth after he slapped him and even mocked The Rock while he was still on stage about 50 yards away.

One would imagine Punk’s return will likely involve McIntyre tonight and Punk has previously said that he plans to be at WrestleMania 40 even if he’s not invited.

The Man Calls Her Shot: Becky Lynch Wants Opening Match Of WrestleMania 40 Night 1

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is coming up in less than two weeks, and fans are excited. As the roster, and a ton of fans, prepare to make their way to Philadelphia, the card is coming together. 

Becky Lynch won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match, and she didn’t waste any time calling her shot for WrestleMania. The Man will battle Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Title at the showcase of the immortals.

WWE’s WrestleMania card is always stacked carefully, and many things are taken into consideration. Lynch has now called her shot, because she wants to go first during night one of the WrestleMania event.

Becky Lynch Calls Her WrestleMania 40 Shot

Lynch vs Ripley will be one of many marquee WrestleMania matches this year. However, the main event of both nights will likely go to Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes’ Mania angle.

During an interview with ClutchPoints, Becky Lynch made it clear that she is not worried about the Mania main event this year. In fact, she would love to open the showcase of the immortals this year. 

Nah, man, I’m not worried about card order. I would love to open the show. I would love that. I’ve never opened WrestleMania before.

And to open this one, as big as it is in Philadelphia, I’m just putting that out there. It would be pretty cool because if it’s not the main event, I always want to be the opening spot — it’s always a great place on the card because people are so excited.

Women Represented at WrestleMania 40

Rhea Ripley vs Becky Lynch will be the big women’s match on the RAW brand. On the other side, Bayley will take on IYO Sky for the WWE Women’s Title. Bayley won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match to get her spot.

As of this writing, the Kabuki Warriors have not been announced for a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match. Asuka just returned to action after an injury scare, so that is a good sign it is still possible for that to happen.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40. You can check out the updated card (so far) below.

WrestleMania 40 Card:

  • The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins in a tag team match
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre in a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley in a singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch in a singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn in a singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. SmackDown tournament winners in a Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles 
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso 
  • Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens in a United Stated Title Match

4/6 AEW Collision To Air At Later Time To Avoid WrestleMania 40 Showdown

Thomas Lowson
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The April 6, edition of AEW Collision will air at a later time than usual to avoid being decimated by the viewing might of WrestleMania 40.

TNT’s programming schedule reveals that the show will air at 11:30pm EST, much later than the usual 8pm EST slot. This will likely prevent it from going head-to-head with WrestleMania 40: Saturday, which is set to start at 7pm EST. 

Not only that, but the April 6, edition of Collision will be taped in advance. The show will be taped following the April 3, edition of AEW Dynamite. Both shows will take place at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Currently, no matches have been announced for the April 6, edition of AEW Collision. 

A Change from the Norm

This strategy marks a change for AEW Collision. In the past, the show has aired head-to-head with WWE Premium Live Events, including this year’s Royal Rumble that featured AEW alum Cody Rhodes & Jade Cargill. AEW Collision also went head-to-head with  WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 last month. 

AEW Collision

Collision was launched in 2023 and marked CM Punk’s return to AEW programming following his first suspension. Punk was immediately presented as the focal point of the show and was said to have a say in picking talent for the show. After Punk’s firing from AEW in September 2023, this soft brand split was relaxed. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth-annual WrestleMania to take place across two nights. Currently, ten matches have been announced for the show. The event will mark the in-ring return of The Rock, who hasn’t wrestled for WWE since 2016. 

Raising The Bar: CM Punk Is Prepared To Outdo Rhea Ripley’s Stinkface During 3/25 WWE RAW

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans saw CM Punk go out of action with an injury after the Royal Rumble, but he intends on being at WrestleMania 40, whether he’s invited or not. He plans on raising the bar during WWE RAW this week.

CM Punk will be on hand for the March 25 episode of WWE RAW in Chicago. He wants to leave a mark, and he wants to told Rhea Ripley’s recent stinkface activities. 

CM Punk Makes Bold Claim

Rhea Ripley’s stinkface antics have gone viral at this point. Shayna Baszler also drew attention to the spot by practically begging for The Nightmare to execute Rikishi’s signature move on her.

CM Punk is out of action with a triceps injury, but he’s been paying attention. The Second City Savior posted on his Instagram story to make it clear that he’s seen what Ripley has been doing at WWE live event, and he intends on outdoing her.

Punk also included a photo of himself face-to-face with Cody Rhodes. The story also had a soundtrack of “Like A Parasite” by The Queers.

I see what Rhea Ripley has been doing on house shows and I’m prepared to raise the bar. See you tomorrow Chicago!

On another note, CM Punk said that he’s also ready to step in the ring with Rhea Ripley. WWE has a ban on intergender matches in place, but that contest would bring a lot of eyes to it.

CM Punk’s WrestleMania 40 Story

WWE RAW will be in Chicago this week, and CM Punk won’t miss it. It is unclear what he will do at this point, because he is not involved in any WrestleMania match at this time. He may reply to Drew McIntyre’s barrage of attacks that he’s been shoveling Punk’s direction since his injury hiatus started. 

CM Punk was originally slated to face Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes was always going to win the Royal Rumble, but an injury angle was going to take him out of action. The Rock was initially going to take on Roman Reigns in the main event, with Cody waiting until later to cash in his Rumble win. After Punk’s injury and the #WeWantCody reaction from his “Cody Crybabies,” WWE changed the WrestleMania 40 card to what we have today.

CM Punk’s WrestleMania Plans

Punk said that he will be at WrestleMania 40, whether he’s invited or not. He has not been announced for any match or segment during the two-night extravaganza at this time. He will make an appearance during WWE World, Fanatics’ first-ever WWE event.

CM Punk also showed off some gear on Instagram recently that he may use to surprise fans at WrestleMania. You may find that post below.

Swerve Strickland Thinks Drew McIntyre Would Be A ‘Major Fit’ For AEW

Dominic DeAngelo
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Swerve Strickland sees unlimited value in Drew McIntyre and would like to see the Scotsman make his way to AEW.

Speaking on “Bootleg Kev” Strickland was asked by one of the hosts if he had to chose a WWE talent to jump ship to AEW, who would he pick. Swerve laid out a big case as to why Drew McIntyre would equal major value for All Elite Wrestling.

“Man, I would love to see a Drew McIntyre over here, you know? Contract status, I don’t know. I can’t speak on it, but I’ve heard it’s not fully [finalized].

“I think Drew McIntyre could work anywhere in the world like he’s proven that before like that’s why WWE wanted him back so badly … the transformation he made he can just work anywhere and do anything with anybody. I think he’d be a major fit in AEW.”

Regarding his own WWE tenure, Swerve made clear that it wasn’t that he was not properly utilized, but just not used to his fullest potential. He said that it could have taken a year to several for that to possibly happening, noting that it took The Usos and Roman Reigns to finally get where they are today.

What Is The Contract Status Of Drew McIntyre?

As of now, Drew McIntyre is not under a new deal with WWE despite the fact that he’s going to be in one of the main event matches at WrestleMania 40 against Seth Rollins. Drew did say that he’s just having fun right now, but a new contract is very important to him. He also added that you’ll see him continue to wrestle for a very long time, whether that be as Drew McIntyre or Drew Galloway, noting “that would get everyone’s attention.”

Please credit “Bootleg Kev” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

WWE Raw Preview (3/25): CM Punk Returns, Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed, Andrade vs. Ivar

Ella Jay
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As the Road to WrestleMania inches closer to the finish line, WWE makes a stop at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

Here are the 5 matches (and 1 segment) announced for Raw, followed by our detailed preview of each one:

  • CM Punk Returns
  • Andrade vs. Ivar
  • Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh
  • Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae
  • Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed
  • Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

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

CM Punk Returns

CM Punk returns to WWE programming in his hometown of Chicago.

While he may not be able to compete at WrestleMania 40, CM Punk will make a special appearance on the penultimate WWE Raw on the Road To WrestleMania. Tonight will mark Punk’s first appearance on the red brand since he revealed that he sustained a torn triceps during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match.

Tonight will also serve as Punk’s official return to the city of Chicago, which, aside from being his hometown, holds an added significance given that his surprise return to WWE emanated from this very same venue. 

What will “The Voice of the Voiceless” have to say?

Andrade vs. Ivar

At the 2024 Royal Rumble, Andre made his official return to WWE. As he continues to reacclimate himself with the WWE Raw roster, Andrade has been approached by Dominik Mysterio with the idea of potentially joining The Judgment Day stable.

Earning an entryway into this stable is no easy task, though. As such, Andrade will attempt to gain favor with the Judgment Day as he takes on Ivar on tonight’s episode of Raw.

Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh

On last week’s episode of WWE Raw, Ricochet earned a hard-fought victory against The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio. After the match, Mysterio’s Judgment Day stablemate JD McDonagh attempted to blindside Ricochet with an attack from behind. Unfortunately for McDonagh, Ricochet’s flexes kicked in relatively quickly, allowing him to duck under McDonagh, and eventually, escape him altogether. Now, the two will meet one-on-one inside the ring.

Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae

After Candice LeRae launched several unkind remarks toward Maxxine Dupri, Indi Hartwell implored her tag team partner to issue an apology to Dupri. While it seemed like LeRae was headed down the course of making amends, she, instead, double-downed on her previous statements, telling Dupri she was “rotten” at wrestling. 

Infuriated by LeRae’s comments, Ivy Nile seized the opportunity to stand up for Dupri, and challenged her to pick on her instead. As such, LeRae and Nile will now settle their differences in the ring. 

Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed

Sami Zayn has earned the right to challenge Gunther for Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40. Before he steps onto WWE’s grandest stage, though, he must overcome a giant obstacle, literally.  

Two weeks after eliminating “Big” Bronson Reed in a grueling gauntlet match, Sami Zayn is slated to face him again on this week’s episode of WWE Raw. Will Zayn’s wave of momentum continues its course, or will Bronson Reed come crashing through with a thunderous Tsunami?

Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

In less than two weeks, Jey Uso will face off with his own brother, Jimmy Uso, on “The Grandest Stage of Them All.” Tonight, though, he is tasked with taking on the unpredictable Shinsuke Nakamura in what will be their first singles match since January 2021.

Cameron Grimes Questions Drake About Beef With Future & Kendrick Lamar

Aaron Varble
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Cameron Grimes is a fan of rap music, and he had a burning question for Drake. With the recent beef between Future and Kendrick Lamar heating up, there are a lot of questions to be asked.

During a recent concert, Grimes had a chance to shout some questions in Drake’s direction. Sadly, the atmosphere of the live concert did not allow for Drizzy to hear what he was being asked.

Grimes Wants Answers

Drake just ran two shows in Sunrise, Florida on March 23 and 24. Cameron Grimes was likely’s at one of those shows, and he had a question for Drizzy. 

As soon as the former Degrassi star got on stage, the former NXT North American Champion launched into journalism mode as he shouted at the stage.

“Drake, I just want to know what the beef is between you and Future and Kendrick. Drake, let me know what’s going on between you guys, okay?”

Drake did not hear Cameron Grimes’ questions, so there was no immediate answer. Perhaps fans will hear the whole story eventually, but Grimes did his best to get to the bottom of things. 

Drake, Future, and Kendrick Lamar Backstory

Many fans believe that Future criticized Drake on a new song. Future and Metro Boomin released their joint album “We Don’t Trust You,” which included the controversial track. There’s speculation among fans about a brewing feud between Future, Kendrick and Drake. Kendrick gave Drake and J. Cole a piece of his mind on “Like That.”

In the new drop, Future raps in the intro to the title track, “Fake written all over you/Hate written all over you,”

Kendrick rapped in a feature, “Your best work is a light pack / N***a, Prince outlived Mike Jack / N***a, bum, ‘fore all your dogs get buried / That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see Pet Sematary.” He also spit: “Yeah get up with me, f*ck sneak dissing / ‘First Person Shooter,’ I hope they came with three switches. Motherf*ck the big three, n***a, it’s just big me.”

Future’s aggressive context did not come out of nowhere. Drake mentioned an issue with Future involving a woman on For All The Dogs. There have been a few sneak disses in this ongoing beef.

Daily Drop (3/25): WWE WrestleMania 40 Invitation Goes To Famous Rapper, AEW Dynasty Ticket Sales

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Monday, March 25. Monday Night RAW is tonight, and there are a lot of stories to get to, so let’s jump right into it!

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 12

WWE:

– WrestleMania 41 Location: Minneapolis is very confident that they are going to land the location for WrestleMania 41.

–Bayley Gets Love From WWE Shop: Bayley got a new t-shirt for the road to WrestleMania 40. She’s very excited about this new drop as well. You can click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.

– Baszler Wants Stinkfaced: Rhea Ripley’s stinkface activities got around the roster. Now, Shayna Baszler is begging to receive one from The Nightmare.

– Meek Mill x WrestleMania 40: Triple H sent rapper Meek Mill an invitation to attend WrestleMania 40 in Philly. We will have to see if he is spotted at the show with his sons.

– Asuka Is Cleared: Good news for Asuka and Damage CTRL, because she was cleared to compete again. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion took part in live events over the weekend.

WWE RAW (3/25) Advertised Card:

  • C.M. Punk returns to Raw
  • Ricochet vs. J.D. McDonagh
  • Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae
  • Andrade vs. Ivar
  • Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed

AEW:

– The Snake is All Elite: While speaking to SEScoops, WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts confirmed he inked a new deal with AEW.

– AEW Avoiding WrestleMania Competition: AEW Collision’s April 6 episode will air at 11:30 PM EST. They are being bumped up due to college basketball on the schedule, but this change will also see them avoid direct competition with WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event.

– AEW Dynasty Ticket Sales: WrestleTix reports on their Patreon that AEW Dynasty in St. Louis on April 21st has sold 5,321 tickets, with 783 tickets left out of the current setup of 6,104. This turnout is significant, particularly when compared to AEW’s previous event, which drew 3,109 fans on January 20th for a Collision episode.

AEW Dynasty ticket chart via WrestleTix

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

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

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

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

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

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

2 Former TNA Champions Say Their ‘Goodbyes’ Ahead of Free Agency

Dominic DeAngelo
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TNA Wrestling may have its old brand name back, but two originals from the first era of those letters seem to be moving on.

Reports have been made that Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin’s contracts with the company were both set to expire this month and according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, The Motor City Machine Guns were apparently saying some goodbyes to current TNA colleagues backstage during the TV tapings this weekend in Philadelphia.

“There were some farewells said backstage at the TNA tapings tonight for Sabin and Shelley. Anything can happen but as of now they’re free agents in about a week.”

Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin Were Top Stars In Recent TNA Run

Shelley and Sabin both had extremely memorable runs with Impact and TNA this go-around. Shelley had a more than formidable inaugural reign as the World Champion and was such heading into TNA’s first PPV back, Hard To Kill, where he finally dropped the gold to Moose. 

Sabin, a former World Champion with the promotion as well, was the X-Division Champion before he lost to Mustafa Ali just recently at TNA Sacrifice, which also served as Ali’s debut with the promotion.

Obviously, Sabin and Shelley are best known for their work as a top tag team, not just in TNA, but all of wrestling. What the future holds for both is currently unknown, but Sabin and Shelley have appeared at AEW All Out 2022 and Shelley even had a cup of coffee in NXT with KUSHIDA, serving as his tag team partner in the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

The Rock Issues A Warning To ‘Mama Rhodes’ Before 4/1 WWE Raw Appearance

Dominic DeAngelo
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The Rock is staying the course to his gameplan heading into WrestleMania 40 and ‘The Final Boss’ made that very clear this weekend.

‘The People’s Champ’ took to social media to hype his upcoming appearance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as Rocky makes his road to Philadelphia, making sure he reiterated a few key points he has touched upon these past few appearances on SmackDown.

“The Rock has made pro wrestling cool and exciting – again. The Rock has made pro wrestling unpredictable and he’s changed the game and raised the bar – again. The Rock is THE most electric, disruptive, distinctive, and hottest heel professional wrestling has seen in the last 20 years. You’re Welcome. F*ck off crybabies. Mama Rhodes ~ The Rock has a very special belt being made just for you. Your tears. Cody’s blood. My hands. I’ll see you soon, Mama Rhodes… ~ Final Boss”

What The Rock completely disregarded is all that Cody Rhodes had to say this past Monday on WWE Raw about his ‘Mama Rhodes.’ Cody made quite clear that his mother, Michelle, will not be shaking in fear if she’s approached by The Rock. Rhodes even recounted a story where his mom beat up an undercover cop while at a Willie Nelson concert one time. 

The Rock was nowhere to be seen on SmackDown last Friday as Roman Reigns and Cody confronted one another and he’s not scheduled for this week’s Raw or SmackDown either. However, one name who is scheduled for Raw tomorrow is CM Punk as WWE makes its return to Chicago and vows to be at WrestleMania 40 in some capacity.

Killer Kelly With TNA Despite Reports to the Contrary

Bishal Roy
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2-time TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion Killer Kelly is not yet ‘finished up’ with the promotion. 

Last week, reports suggested that Killer Kelly was done and would be parting ways with TNA Wrestling. She teamed up with Masha Slamovich and dropped the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships to Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat) at the Sacrifice pay-per-view on March 8. 

Kelly’s absence from TNA’s television tapings in Philadelphia, which took place on March 22 and 23 led to speculation that she might be leaving. Further reports floated stating that, as Kelly would be leaving TNA, plans were in the pipeline to have a potential new tag team partner for Slamovich. 

Killer Kelly’s contract with TNA runs through 2025, according to Fightful, and was at this past weekend’s tapings last weekend. She could be taking some time off, but she has not officially departed the company as is this writing. 

Killer Kelly’s recent TNA run

In the summer of 2022, Killer Kelly made her return when she assaulted a couple of local wrestlers. She eventually went to form a team with Slamovich which is known as MK Ultra. They soon tasted success when they captured TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions twice.  

We will now have to wait and see what Killer Kelly’s future holds.

Minneapolis Officials Working Under The Assumption WrestleMania 41 is Theirs

Thomas Lowson
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0

WWE WrestleMania 41 will be heading to Minneapolis according to the latest reports, especially if those in the Minnesotan city have their way.

WWE has yet to publicly confirm the location of their biggest event of 2025, in a break from tradition from the norm. In recent years, WWE has given plenty of advance notice regarding the date and location of their annual Showcase of Immortals.

As we’ve been reporting in recent months, Minneapolis has been the front runner to host WrestleMania 41 in 2025. City officials all but confirmed this during public hearings and an official announcement is expected to be made in the next week or two, as is customary with this year’s WrestleMania coming up. 

The U.S Bank Stadium would likely be the home of WrestleMania 41 if the show does indeed go to Minneapolis. The home of the Minnesota Vikings, the stadium was opened in 2016 and hosts a max capacity of 73,000. 

Political Hints

Minnesota officials have been loose-lipped when it comes to WrestleMania 41 coming to the state. In April 2023, officials let ‘slip’ that they were a finalist for the show. While this has gotten fans talking about the show being in Minneapolis, the report says it’s cost the city ‘leverage’ in discussions rather than create buzz. 

Governor Walz said last week that “this is the place to be” and listed several events, including the U.S. Gymnastic Trials and the U.S. Junior Hockey Championships. Walz then mentioned WrestleMania before speaking about a potential $20 million boon to the economy. 

Another Option? 

While Minneapolis is expected to host the show, there had been reports that Las Vegas could be in line for WrestleMania 41. When Fightful asked their WWE sources. They said that if this was the plan, then the show would’ve been announced at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event that took place in Las Vegas.

WrestleMania Overseas

Many fans across the pond had hoped for WrestleMania 41 to come to London, England. While John Cena told the crowd at Money in the Bank 2023 that he intends to bring the show to the English capital, there’s no word yet on whether there are any plans for an overseas WrestleMania.

Seth Rollins Bites Back After The Rock Takes Credit for Making Wrestling Cool Again

Thomas Lowson
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Seth Rollins hasn’t taken kindly to The Rock taking credit for making wrestling cool again, staying the claim is some “dumb s**t ”

Since returning to WWE, the Bloodline member has done all he can to establish himself as a heel, a tall order given his immense popularity both in and out of the world of professional wrestling. Recently, The Rock took credit for making wrestling cool again, and had some strong words for Michelle, the mother of his WWE adversary Cody Rhodes.

Seth Rollins Responds

At a WWE event in Rockford, Rhodes and Seth Rollins got some practice in ahead of the WrestleMania tag team match when they defeated Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa.

After their main event win, Rollins grabbed the mic and brought up The Rock’s return to WWE to a chorus of boos from the Illinois crowd. The fans punctuated the sentiment with a chant of “Rocky Sucks.”

Rollins then addressed the “dumb s**t” that The Rock has been saying as of late, and argued that the worst comment was that The Rock had made wrestling cool once again. This earned more boos and a “bulls**t” chant from the fans which Rollins would take notice of.

When Rhodes gave his suggestion for who has made wrestling cool again, naming Byron Saxton, Rollins admitted that Saxton was part of the answer. Growing more impassioned, Rollins then said that it’s everybody who has been “busting their ass” for years who should be acknowledged as part of the “revolution” that has made wrestling cool again.

Rollins made sure to acknowledge the role of the fans in this revolution. Seth noted that the fans are just as much a part of this movement and that as the ‘WHOA’ gets louder in Rhodes’ theme each week, it’s got nothing to do with The Rock.

What’s to Come?

The Rock will make his return to the ring at WrestleMania 40 as part of the main event of Night One. The Great One will team with Roman Reigns to face Rhodes and Rollins. The match will determine the stipulation for the following nights Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Reigns and Rhodes.

Heartwarming: The Rock Sings You’re Welcome For Brave Young Fan Fighting Brain Disorder

Thomas Lowson
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The Rock may be the ‘Final Boss’ and a villain on WWE programming, but the Great One proved he has a heart of gold in a video to a very young fan. 

On Twitter, The Rock shared a video of himself singing ‘You’re Welcome’ from Disney hit film Moana. The Brahma Bull explained that this song was for Naomi, a two-year-old who is currently in hospital fighting a brain disorder. 

The Rock spoke about the importance of bringing positive energy into the world at a time when there’s a lot of negativity out there. 

The Rock’s Kindness

This is hardly the first example of The Rock showing immense kindness to others. Last month, the TKO board member donated $50,000 to a foundation. The foundation in question was created by a couple called Esperenza and Edwin, whose daughter Lily-Rose had died and aims to help parents struggling with the loss of a child. 

In June 2023, The Rock bought a home for WWE Superstar Tamina Snuka. In his social media post at the time, Rock praised the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion as someone who always makes it through tough times. 

Last September, a U.S. Navy serviceman shared some of the signed items they had received from The Rock after losing his leg in combat. The Rock had to break the bad news that these autographs were fake but vowed that he would send him the genuine article. 

What’s Next?

The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring at WrestleMania 40. On the Saturday portion of the show, The Rock will team with Roman Reigns to face Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes. The match will determine the stipulation of the following night’s main event for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

Shayna Baszler Pleads For Rhea Ripley’s Stinkface At WWE Rockford Live Event

Thomas Lowson
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Shayna Baszler was hoping to get up close and personal with Rhea Ripley after a stinkface from the WWE Women’s World Champion went viral online. 

At an event on March 23 in Springfield, IL, Ripley avoided taking a stinkface from Nia Jax during a title match triple threat that included Baszler. After escaping the corner, Ripley hit a stinkface of her own on the Irresistible Force, much to the delight of the crowd. 

Shayna Baszler Wants A Stinkface

The next night, the three women had the same match, as WWE live events often use the same card in different cities. Once again, Ripley was poised to hit Jax with the finishing move of WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi. This time, however, Baszler interjected and placed herself in the corner, eager to be hit by the move. 

Unfortunately for Baslzer, who has dated both men and women in the past, it wasn’t meant to be. Nia Jax would interrupt before Shayna’s face got well-acquainted with the buttocks of the Australian Superstar. Ripley would go on to retain the title. 

Buddy Matthews Weighs In

Ripley has some flirty fun in the ring, but she is happily engaged to AEW star Buddy Matthews. After her stinkface on Nia Jax went viral, Matthews said it was a regular occurrence for him. 

What’s Next? 

Rhea Ripley will defend the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch. The Man earned the title match by winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber last month. The match will be Ripley’s second time defending a title at WrestleMania. She previously failed to retain the NXT Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36,  

Triple H Extends WrestleMania 40 Invite To Meek Mill

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s biggest show of the year is coming in less than 2 weeks, and celebrities are usually expected. Now, we can add Meek Mill to that list.

Triple H will book his first WrestleMania event this year. This will also be the first Mania after TKO Group Holdings took control of the company. The Game wants to make sure that the event is star-studded.

Meek Mill Receives WrestleMania Invitation

After Meek Mill expressed interest in WrestleMania 40 in Philly, Triple H replied. The WWE Hall of Famer said that Meek Mill should clear his schedule.

When Meek Mill sent out an Instagram post to hype WrestleMania, he tagged Triple H in the process. He also said that his sons want to come to the show of shows, and he’s thinking about bringing them.

Meek Mill is from South Philadelphia, so WrestleMania 40 coming to his city is a big deal. Fans are expected to pack Lincoln Financial Field for both nights on April 6 and 7.

It did not take Triple H very long at all to reply to the famous rapper. He said that WWE is coming to have some fun, and Meek Mill should clear his schedule to attend the show of shows.

I got you, Meek Mill. It’s your city, and WWE is just coming to have some fun. Clear your schedule…

Sylvester Stallone & WrestleMania 40

Sylvester Stallone was in talks to make an appearance at WrestleMania 40, and that would have been great considering his Philly roots. They could not make that deal work out, but there will likely be plenty of famous faces at the showcase of the immortals this year.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Please keep checking back for more on this story and so much more in the pro wrestling world.

Good News For WWE: Asuka Cleared for Action After Injury Scare

Aaron Varble
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WWE is on the road to WrestleMania 40, and they don’t need any top stars out of action. Now, there is one less situation to worry about when it comes to Asuka’s status.

There was some concern that Asuka was out of action with an injury. SEScoops has learned that Asuka is cleared to compete after missing last week’s events. She wrestled during last night’s WWE house show in Springfield, Illinois.

Asuka’s Return

The March 23 WWE event in Springfield, Illinois included a positive update concerning Asuka, as she made her return to the ring.

During the live event, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Naomi emerged victorious against Damage CTRL, consisting of Asuka, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane. Although it was a six-woman tag team match, Asuka still saw action.

This comes following concerns about a potential injury sustained during her recent match on WWE RAW. As a precautionary measure, she was granted time off from last weekend’s live events.

The Kabuki Warriors

Asuka is not booked for a match at WrestleMania 40 yet. She will likely be on hand for IYO Sky’s WWE Women’s Title defense against Bayley.

The Kabuki Warriors reunited after Kairi Sane made her return. She was previously with STARDOM during the interim time between her WWE runs, but the Pirate Princess decided to leave her Japanese pro wrestling home after Rossy Ogawa’s ousting.

They won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions during a January 26th episode of WWE RAW, and the two have remained champions since, as Damage CTRL has been covered with gold on the road to WrestleMania 40.

Jake Roberts Re-Signs With AEW (Exclusive)

Dominic DeAngelo
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Jake Roberts remains a hot commodity in pro wrestling and ‘The Snake’ slithered some major news about what he decided to do regarding his future with AEW.

SEScoops can confirm The Master of the DDY has inked a new contract with Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling. Roberts addresses the situation on the next episode of his Snake Pit, which has yet to be released publicly. Roberts tells co-host Marcus DeAngelo:

“Well folks, just to let you know, you’re gonna be looking at me on AEW for another year. That’s right, they re-signed me so that’s great news. Looking forward to doing it.”

Roberts has notoriously been a creative mind on screen and behind the scenes in pro wrestling and he revealed that he had a big pitch in mind to make to Khan for this upcoming year.

“Crossing my fingers that – wouldn’t be something if we started the ‘Snake Pit’ back up? Listen, I’d love to talk to Tony about that.

“I’m damn sure gonna pitch it.”

Much like ‘Piper’s Pit,’ ‘The Snake Pit’ was Roberts’ memorable talk show segment in WWE that featured major names such as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Piper himself and many more.

Roberts signed with AEW back in 2020, confronting Cody Rhodes and teasing further doom to come for ‘The American Nightmare.’ He then became the manager for Lance Archer whom he has been paired with ever since.

Jake Roberts Has Even More Pro Wrestling Related Plans For 2024

In the same breath of breaking the AEW news, Jake Roberts also revealed that like Chris Jericho, ‘The Snake’ plans to set sail like a fellow legendary AEW colleague.

“Everybody’s been on a Jericho Cruise, but have you been on the Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts cruise? That’s on the way so folks get ready, we’re gonna take it out on the middle of the ocean and do what I do.”

You can the new episode of  “The Snake Pit” this coming Tuesday or you can catch it early at AdFreeShows.com.

Please credit “The Snake Pit” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes Honor Bray Wyatt At Springfield, IL WWE Live Event

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins honored Bray Wyatt at a recent WWE live event in a touching tribute to the late WWE World Champion.

The event in Springfield, IL saw Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins get some training in a a tag-team ahead of WrestleMania 40. The pair united to defeat The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso.

After the match, Rhodes pointed out that there were a lot of ‘fireflies’ in the arena, which sparked more fans to join in. Rollins went on to say that while fans love singing his song, he wouldn’t mind if they sang “for Windham.” This led to a rendition of ‘He’s got the Whole World in His Hands’ by the fans.

WWE’s Wyatt Tributes

This tribute to Bray Wyatt was not the first, nor will it be the last celebration of the late wrestler. Last December, Rollins paid tribute to Bray at a WWE live event. He also paid tribute to Brodie Lee, who died in December 2020.

Following Wyatt’s passing in August 2023, Rollins fixed Bray-inspired sideplates to his World Heavyweight Championship. Wyatt became a three-time World Champion before his untimely death. 

A new documentary about the life and career of the late wrestler will release next month. You can check out a trailed for what’ll no doubt be a gripping documentary below. 

WWE in Springfield, IL

Here’s the results for WWE’s live event in Springfield, Illinois. 

  • Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair & Naomi defeated IYO SKY, Kairi Sane and Dakota Kai
  • Sami Zayn defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
  • WWE Intercontinental Title Match – Gunther (c) retains over Jey Uso
  • Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) defeated Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh via DQ
  • Awesome Truth and The New Day def. The Judgment Day
  • Omos defeated Odyssey Jones
  • WWE Women’s World Title Match – Rhea Ripley (c) retains over Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler in a Triple Threat match
  • Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso

John Cena recalls his WrestleMania match being cut for time

Tyriece Simon
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For many years, John Cena has been involved in many big matches and moments at the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All.’ He has won championships and even proposed at a WrestleMania. However, Cena has recently shared that he also had a featured match involving him being cut short compared to what was initially planned. 

On his TikTok account, Cena shared that his Triple Threat Match against Big Show and Adam Copeland (FKA Edge) for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was cut short. The match occurred at WWE WrestleMania 25 on April 5, 2009. 

Fans may recall that the match before Cena’s was Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker. While Michaels and ‘The Deadman’ put on an all-time classic WrestleMania performance, the Triple Threat Match was cut for time. 

Cena reflected on the match on TikTok and spoke about WWE’s decision. He also thanked Big Show and Copeland for their cooperation. 

“…Those guys had a long match, which means you got to find the time somewhere, which means they took a lot of time away from this match. Yes, taking time away from your match happens at every level. I want to thank my opponents, Edge and The Big Show, for being so calm and collected and adjusting what we needed to do, and still being able to take some high-risk and give the audience some crazy moments,” said Cena.

One example he remembered was picking up both his opponents at the same time. He also revealed the match was supposed to last 30 minutes and noted how quickly he got out of the ring after his win. 

Will John Cena Make An Appearance At WWE WrestleMania 40?

As WWE WrestleMania 40 approaches, fans wonder if Cena will appear. He is not scheduled for a match or a segment at the event. 

Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has reported that he is currently available, but his film commitments may prevent him from being physical. If true, Cena could be involved in a segment and avoid contact to stay on schedule for his next movie or TV role, which includes Peacemaker Season 2. 

Cena will likely not be in a match or be limited in how physical he can be with others, but fans will still enjoy seeing the former WWE Champion make a surprise appearance. 

Daily Drop (3/24): Top WWE Prospect Moves Closer To Company, Kota Ibushi Provides Injury Update

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Sunday, March 24. The weekend is never dull in the pro wrestling world, and with under 2 weeks until WrestleMania XL, things are always likely to heat up.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 13

WWE:

– 2024 Slammy Awards: WWE announced the nominees for the 2024 Slammy Awards. Fans can vote on their favorites now.

– Johnny Ace is a Dirtbag: Ronda Rousey had a lot to say about John Laurinaitis. She called him a dirtbag, among other things.

– The Rock Surprise: The Rock surprised customers at a Target in Memphis. He was there to promote his Papatui brand of men’s healthcare products:

– Top WWE Prospect: Giulia announced that she is leaving STARDOM in a matter of days, presumably at the end of March. WWE has been watching her for a while, and it is widely thought that she is coming in.

– WWE Shop Arrival: Ahead of their WrestleMania 40 collision, WWE has dropped a two-pack Usos Funko Pop set. You can click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.

– Rhea Ripley Stinkface: The Nightmare paid tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi by pulling off his signature Stinkface move at a recent WWE live event on Nia Jax.

AEW:

– AEW Streaming Deal: While speaking to Comicbook Nation, Tony Khan said that AEW is still in talks for a streaming deal with MAX. “We’re actively negotiating right now. Something I would be really excited about would be bringing AEW to Max, and it’s something I think we’ve talked about, it just needs to make sense for everybody,” Khan stated.

– Bittersweet Debut: Bayley said that Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut was bittersweet. She was there to see the former Sasha Banks’ debut for Tony Khan’s company, along with Naomi and Tamina Snuka.

– Kota Ibushi Injury Update: Ibushi updated fans with a promising message on Instagram. He posted a clip of him training for a return, with a caption in Japanese that translates to: ”1 year in and out, my ankle is still sprained, but I was able to explode with lab practice since surgery. It doesn’t take a year to come back. It will surely heal in six months. CURE !!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C41Lpv5SyaB

– Kenny Omega’s Favorite Wrestler: Omega explained why Kurt Angle is his go-to wrestler to study, because he’s his favorite. He also gave him flowers for being able to embrace the silly side of pro wrestling.

– Not A Fraud: Eric Bischoff cleared the air about how he feels about Tony Khan. He doesn’t believe he is a fraud, but he just allegedly doesn’t know anything to do with producing television.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

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

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

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

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

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

Ronda Rousey Says ‘All-Around Dirtbag’ John Laurinaitis Was a ‘60-Year-Old Fratboy’ in WWE

Thomas Lowson
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0

Ronda Rousey continues to not mince her words when it comes to WWE and has taken aim at former Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. 

“He looked and acted like an entitled sixty-year-old former frat boy… Whereas Triple H looked for talent and potential in NXT prospects, it appeared John Laurinaitis looked for f*ckability.”

Rousey goes on to describe Laurinaitis as an “all-around dirtbag.” The former Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion is heavily critical of Laurinaitis and Vince McMahon morphing WWE NXT into NXT 2.0 following Triple H’s health scare in 2021. 

John Laurinaitis Latest

Laurinaitis is named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. The former Raw & SmackDown GM has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation. More recently, Laurinaitis waived his right to be served, making clear that he is aware of the litigation.

Ronda Rousey on Bruce Prichard

In the book, Rousey admits that she loves the majority of people in WWE, but that love doesn’t extend to Bruce Prichard & John Laurinaitis. Rousey, in her own words, says the pair can “go f*** themselves.” 

This isn’t the only time Rousey has hit out at Prichard. Following Vince McMahon’s resignation in January 2023,  Rousey claimed that as long as Prichard was with WWE, McMahon would always have a significant role in decisions.

Rousey on Vince McMahon

Rousey compares Vince McMahon to Emperor Palpatine, the antagonist of the Star Wars franchise, in her book. She adds that it’s hard to differentiate between the evil Mr. McMahon character and the man himself, especially in light of the allegations against McMahon and WWE in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. 

The Rock Surprises Memphis Target Customers to Promote Papatui Line of Products

Thomas Lowson
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Customers who shopped at a Target in Memphis, TN probably didn’t expect to see Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson walking the aisles while they were on the hunt for deals. 

The Brahma Bull was at the store to mark the launch of his new Papatui brand of men’s healthcare products. In the caption for the video, The Rock discusses starting his wrestling career in Memphis and being able to come back and see his “big ass head” on every TV in Target. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C44eHSirrEe

Papatui

The line of products includes a collection of hair, body and tattoo care products, and is available on papatui.com as well as at all Target stores. 

The name comes from Johnson’s love for his family. The Tui part of the brand comes from a granted him by his grandfather ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia. The Papa part comes from The Rock’s devotion to his family and children, including WWE NXT General Manager Ava. 

The Rock’s Future

When not promoting Papatui, The Rock can be found appearing on WWE programming. At WrestleMania 40: Saturday, The Rock & Roman Reigns will face Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. If the Bloodline wins, the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’ Should Rollins and Rhodes win, the title match will be free of Bloodline interference. 

Other Ventures

Papatui is hardly the first venture that Johnson has committed to. In addition to his work in WWE and in Hollywood, Johnson also has his own brand of Tequila called Teremana. Johnson also has his own brand of ZOA energy drinks and recently launched his ‘Big Dwayne Energy’s line of flavors.

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