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Will Ospreay Fires Back At Triple H’s “Not In It For The Grind” Insult

Aaron Varble
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Will Ospreay took Triple H’s comments about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE personally. He returned fire on the 4/10 episode of AEW Dynamite.

While speaking to the Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend, Triple H said, “When I see people trying to make it, and they pick the job where they go, ‘Well I work less and the schedule’s lighter,’ okay I’m glad I didn’t get you. Because if you’re not in it for the grind in that point in your career, you have no business being here.”

Will Ospreay cut a promo on AEW Dynamite, where he answered Triple H’s comment about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE.

“Normally I wouldn’t rise to this type of bait, right? But seeing how the guy who said it is only in the position because he was grinding the boss’ daughter, you have no business telling me what the grind is all about, my friend, because you have no idea what I fight for.

It Was Ospreay’s Idea

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that it was all Will Ospreay’s idea to throw a dig at Triple H into the promo on Dynamite. He collaborated with the creative team on the promo. The media’s recent portrayal of him confused wrestlers from various organizations. A WWE member noted his efforts to honor the process and WWE, despite choosing AEW for his family’s benefit.

AEW’s Recent Signings

AEW signed three big names in a row with Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone. All of those stars were talking to WWE at one point, and they decided to take Tony Khan’s deal instead.

Mone and WWE came to a financial roadblock. She signed an incredibly lucrative deal with AEW, one that is reportedly the largest woman’s deal in pro wrestling history.

AEW locked down Kazuchika Okada with a three-year contract valued at approximately $13.5 million. Okada is earning about $4.5 million a year with his All Elite deal.

Will Ospreay has been open about why he turned down a WWE contract. Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE, but he emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

“I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

WWE’s Grayson Waller Trolls AEW Over Tease Of CM Punk All In Footage

Aaron Varble
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AEW is set to air footage from CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl and WWE star Grayson Waller couldn’t resist a little trolling on social media. Waller referenced tonight’s highly-publicized release of AEW All In footage by teasing a scandalous video of his own.

Waller claims he and SmackDown tag team champion partner Austin Theory recently beat ip the entire WWE locker room backstage and the whole thing was captured on video. 

There are several pro wrestlers from WWE, AEW and beyond who have proven to be experts and hurtling insults online. Waller recently took aim at NXT star Lexis King and compared the second generation star to the infamous Tiger King.

SEScoops published an in-depth article about the footage that AEW will air on the 4/10 episode of Dynamite, including all the supporting information for this controversial chain of events.

It seemed highly unlikely that the AEW All In footage would ever see the light of day, Tony Khan has doubled-down on his pledge to deliver what fans are expecting. 

Naturally, the pro wrestling world is giving this situation a lot of attention, and that includes those in WWE.

AEW All In Footage & CM Punk’s Backstage Fight With Jack Perry

Aaron Varble
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  • CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a physical altercation backstage at AEW All In: London 2023 from Wembley Stadium (August 27, 2023).
  • This was Punk’s final date with the company before a messy breakup. 
  • Punk told his side of the story last week on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. He and AEW have been taking digs at one another ever since, and now AEW is teasing:
  • “The Young Bucks Present Backstage Footage From ALL IN LONDON & Will Discuss For The First Time”
  • Tony Khan and the Young Bucks say they’ll deliver tonight on Dynamite

AEW delivered on their promise to air the footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl.

https://twitter.com/WrestlingCovers/status/1778222984869593412

WrestleMania XL is history, and wrestling fans are already getting another big topic to talk about: the release of the AEW All In Footage of CM Punk’s backstage brawl with Jack Perry that led to his abrupt departure from the company. Now, that footage has been released.

The Young Bucks introduced the footage on AEW Dynamite. They also took several underhanded digs at Punk, including saying that they don’t want to spread rumors. Nicholas and Matthew Jackson centered the entire promo around hyping their match against FTR at Dynasty on April 21, and how Punk is a friend of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.

Why AEW and the Young Bucks Are Releasing The “Backstage Footage”

Punk’s April 1 appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani got intense. He commented on his physical altercation with Jack Perry backstage right before his final AEW match against Samoa Joe inside a packed Wembley Stadium. Punk, now a top-paid WWE Superstar, buried AEW and its management. 

A perceived tipping point was Perry’s intent to use glass in a spot on AEW Collision, but Punk stopped him. At All In, Punk didn’t have the same influence, and Jungle Boy Jack taunted the Chicago legend live on camera.

Shortly thereafter, Khan gave his side of the story to a live AEW audience. “I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over thirty year, I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt, until Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life was in danger.”

CM Punk Discusses Tony Khan

Punk placed onto AEW’s President for not diffusing his volatile situation with Perry before it ignited. He watched backstage as Perry taunted him in front of the world during the Zero Hour kickoff show.

After urging his boss to handle the situation, Punk says that Khan replied, “What do you want me to do?” The Second City Savior warned he’d be pushed to take action the company wouldn’t approve of.

“Man, that’s a loaded question because I don’t want this to be…I don’t like the drama, but the truth is the truth, he is not a boss, he’s a nice guy and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company.”

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland started off the first Dynamite after Punk’s interview by indirectly addressing the controversy. The ‘Rated R Superstar’ said, “There’s been a lot of negative BS that’s spewed this week, right? There has … SCREW THAT! I wanna talk about positives!”

AEW Delivered The Controversial Footage

CM Punk

Wrestling fans naturally wondered if this was legit or a bait and switch situation. Tony Khan made it clear that they will air the ‘real’ footage. Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the AEW President clarified:

“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

Punk continues to prove that he is a lightening rod for controversy. He’s long gone from All Elite Wrestling, but he will probably help Dynamite draw viewers on Wednesday night. Love him or hate him, people just can’t stop talking about CM Punk.

Damian Priest: The Judgment Day Is In The Conversation of the All-Time Best Factions

Thomas Lowson
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Damian Priest’s stunning victory at WrestleMania 40 solidifies The Judgment Day as one of the all-time great factions according to the World Heavyweight Champion.

On Night Two of WWE’s annual mega-show, Priest successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre, who had dethroned Seth Rollins mere minutes earlier. Appearing on WWE The Bump, Priest discussed his win and how it further elevates the legacy of The Judgment Day. 

“Winning the World Title means a lot of us. I mean, it solidifies our group. We have Rhea, the Women’s World Champion [and] me, the Men’s World Champion. I think if you look at the history of factions, where does that put the Judgment Day now?

“We’ve had Undisputed [Tag Team] Titles. We’ve had North American Titles. Now we have World Titles. I don’t see how we’re not in the conversation for one of the best factions of all time.”

WrestleMania 40 was also a big night for Rhea Ripley who retained her Women’s World Championship. The ‘Mami’ of the faction successfully defended the gold against Becky Lynch in the opening match of the two-night event. 

The Judgment Day

Priest’s comments ring true given how many championships The Judgment Day has accumulated in its two-year run. The faction had a shaky start when launched by Edge in 2022 as fans struggled to boo the Rated-R Superstar following years of his forced retirement.

The group began to hit its stride when it ejected the WWE Hall of Famer in a segment that saw Finn Balor added to its ranks. The faction reached new heights at Clash at the Castle 2022 when Dominik Mysterio betrayed his father and joined. In addition to championships, The Judgment Day has been represented in the main event of shows such as WWE Survivor Series 2023 and WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. 

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

AEW Dynamite Preview [4/10]: All In Footage To Be Aired, World Title Eliminator Match

Thomas Lowson
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All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS live from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia. 

The show will see AEW continue on the road to AEW Dynasty on April 21. Here’s what’s on tap for tonight’s show: 

AEW All In Footage to Be Aired

In one of the boldest moves AEW has made in its five years, Dynamite will see The Young Bucks present backstage footage from AEW All In. This footage will seemingly show what happened in Wembley Stadium between CM Punk and Jack Perry that resulted in Punk being fired from AEW in September 2023. 

Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo – AEW TNT Championship

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will once again prove he’s a fighting champion when he puts the gold on the line against Penta El Zero Miedo. While a former AEW Trios & World Tag Team Champion, Penta hopes to win his first singles title tonight. 

Mariah May vs. Anna Jay

The understudy of ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm has been on a roll as of late and hopes to keep that going when she faces Anna Jay. Storm will have her own special role on AEW Dynamite. 

‘Timeless’ Toni Storm to Toast Thunder Rosa

It was announced on Rampage that Toni Storm would ‘toast’ Thunder Rosa with some Charleston Championship Champagne during Dynamite. The two will face off for Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship at AW Dynasty. 

Six-Man Tag-Team Action

Anthony Ogogo has officially joined Shane Taylor Promotions and the Olympic Bronze medalist hopes to prove his worth. That’ll come easier said than done as Ogogo, Taylor, and Lee Moriarty will face the formidable trio of Chris Jericho, HOOK, and Katsyori Shibata. 

Samoa Joe (c) Vs. Dustin Rhodes – AEW World Championship Eliminator

Mere days after his brother Cody finished the story at WWE WrestleMania 40, Dustin Rhodes will face Samoa Joe with huge stakes. A win for Rhodes will earn the Natural a future AEW World Championship match though it’ll be far from easy when he faces the Samoan Submission Machine. 

SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage later tonight from AEW Dynamite.

The Studios At WWE: Massive New Complex to Take “Productions to the Next Level”

Thomas Lowson
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WWE has marked the launch of a new era with a new studio complex to help lead the company’s production side of things in the future. 

The 30,000-square foot studio complex is called ‘The Studios at WWE’ and features several studios. The studio is based at WWE’s new headquarters in Stamford, CT. 

The main studio is an impressive 5,000-square-foot center. There is also a 1,500-square-foot Cyclorama studio and a 1,500-square-foot volumetric LED studio set to open this spring. The complex also features a 1,000-square-foot photo studio and two insert stages that are approximately 600 square feet each. 

The Studios at WWE is the first U.S. facility to install Crystal LED Verona, with 150 cabinets across its main wall. Joe Solari, WWE VP of Studio Operations shared his enthusiasm for the new complex when speaking to Sports Video. 

“It gives us new tools and a new canvas to push the limits of what we do here at the WWE. We can take our productions to the next level and really increase our fan engagement. I don’t think that there is anything in Connecticut right now that even comes close to what we built here.”

Production Changes

The Complex at WWE comes at an interesting time for WWE with several changes being made to the company. With the departure of Kevin Dunn, WWE has appointed Lee Fitting as the promotion’s head of production. Changes to the on-screen product have been received well by fans so far. 

Perhaps the biggest change to WWE’s on-screen presentation will come in January 2025 when Raw moves to Netflix. The five-billion-dollar deal will see the red brand hosted on Netflix for ten years, though the timeframe can change based on the show’s performance. Those outside the U.S. will also receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. 

Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania 40 Storyline Arc Explained

Bishal Roy
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The word ‘cinema’ has been thrown around a lot to describe WWE’s storytelling over the past year, particularly the gripping Bloodline saga involving Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. As great as all that has been, the main event of Sunday’s WrestleMania XL spectacular delivered perhaps the greatest masterstroke of all. 

Nearly a decade after the breakup of The Shield, Seth Rollins delivered on his promise to serve as Cody Rhodes’ ‘shield’ by sacrificing himself to bring down the Tribal Chief. Reigns was nearly unbeatable, but Rollins placed a winning bet on the belief that his former ‘brother’ would be unable to resist exacting revenge, one of the msot al seven deadly sins.

Apart from Cody Rhodes finishing his story, the tension between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns was one of the talking points. There was no shortage of drama or layers of depth to dig into. The former Shield members have a long history together and WWE played out an angle beautifully that has been in the making for over ten years. 

Seth Rollins is one of the key figures who helped in building what could be regarded as one of the greatest stories ever told in WWE. After all, he is ‘The Architect.’ He was among many superstars who came to the aid of Cody Rhodes, who dethroned Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

Let’s take an in-depth look into the angle between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, thanks to Mith Gifs Wrestling.

Reopening old wounds

Roman Reigns’ decision to exact revenge upon Seth Rollins cost him everything

‘The Visionary’ is a master of playing mind games and he got into the head of ‘The Tribal Chief.’ Reigns had the chance to hit Cody Rhodes with a steel chair to win the match but he ended up deciding to hit Seth Rollins in the back, mirroring Rollins to dissolve The Shield back in the day. 

Reigns certainly got flashbacks of the betrayal and couldn’t help but get his payback. However, at the cost of the title which he held for 1,316 days. 

Seth Rollins, who was partly responsible for the creation of the ‘monster’ knew that Roman would be unable to contain himself long enough to exact revenge on his former Shield brethren. ‘The Architect’ did what was necessary to bring down the monster he helped create.

The Hero’s Shield

After what went down at WrestleMania 40, fans soon recalled what Rollins told Cody Rhodes back in February. During a fateful promo on WWE Raw, Rollins said:

“When it comes to fighting Roman Reigns, there is only one man on earth, who is uniquely suited to be your shield.” 

Well, Rollins is a man of his word. He took the bullet for and protected Cody.

Mind Games

Last year, it was Sami Zayn who backstabbed ‘The Trible Chief’ in a similar fashion, which still haunts him to this day. Betrayal has been Roman Reigns’ worst fear and Rollins was well aware of that. 

Rollins could get into Roman’s head like no one else and from time to time, he has messed with his former Shield teammate. This is something ‘The Tribal Chief’ couldn’t escape and thus Rollins managed to outwit his former friend despite getting attacked. 

Well, this is not the first time Rollins reopened Reigns’ old wounds. At the Royal Rumble in 2022, Seth deliberately messed with Roman when he walked out to the Shield’s old music, wearing the Shield’s old gear ahead of the title match.

During their match, Seth mocked Roman and even offered the Shield fist bump which caused Roman to snap and got Rollins in a guillotine choke. It was comprehensible enough that Rollins controlled Roman’s emotions. With rage and trauma getting the better of him. Roman Reigns refused to relinquish the hold and that night Rollins won the contest via DQ. 

The Next Chapter

Seth Rollins had dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40. Meanwhile, with Roman Reigns returning empty-handed as well, there is a huge possibility that we could witness another feud between the two down the road. 

Will they ignite a new rivalry to settle the dispute once and for all? With Triple H at the helm of this new era, wrestling fans can rest assured that it’s safe to invest in these longterm stories.  

John Cena On Dwayne Johnson-Vin Diesel Feud: “You Have Two Very Alpha, Driven People”

Bishal Roy
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Pro-wrestler-turned-actor John Cena feels there can be only ‘one alpha’ in the longstanding feud between his Fast & Furious co-stars Vin Diesel and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

On the Armchair Expert podcast, host Dax Shepard noted to Cena that Johnson and Diesel made “a tough pairing” after WWE’s ‘Final Boss’ joined the Fast & Furious franchise with 2011’s Fast Five. Cena replied that both the stars are very alpha, driven people but there can be only one.

“There’s certainly rumors about that. I can’t deny that. You have two very alpha, driven people. You get two, there can only be one.”

Additionally, the 16-time World Champion feels that he was simply “a guest” in the Fast & Furious world and expressed gratitude for the chance to be involved. 

“I’m not trying to get the sandbox. That’s not my thing,” he said. “I’m grateful for what you’ve given me, I just want to be the best firetruck I can.”

Cena had joined the franchise when he starred in F9: The Fast Saga as Jakob Toretto, Dom’s estranged brother. 

Dwayne Johnson, who starred as Luke Hobbs, has worked in as many as five films in the Fast & Furious franchise from 2011 and 2019. His character was originally introduced in Fast Five as an antagonist for Diesel’s Dominic Toretto character. However, as the story rolled, the two characters eventually joined forces in the future films. 

Dwayne Johnson-Vin Diesel feud

In 2016, rumors started floating that Johnson and Diesel don’t share a cordial relationship behind the scenes. In a now-deleted Instagram post from 2016, Dwayne Johnson had called out his “male costars” of the franchise without naming anyone.

Johnson, who is also popularly known as The Rock had claimed in 2021 that he would not make appearances for the franchise. However, he did a cameo in last year’s Fast X. Apparently, the duo squashed the beef after Johnson returned for a mid-credits scene in the latest installment which potentially leaves the chance of him being featured in upcoming films.

The Rock at WrestleMania 40

‘The Great One’ teamed up with Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on WrestleMania Saturday. On the next night, ‘The Final Boss’ had a face-off with a returning John Cena during the main event of the show that saw Cody Rhodes dethrone the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns to finish his story.

On the highly-anticipated Raw after WrestleMania, ‘The Final Boss’ showered praise on the newly crowned champion Cody Rhodes and announced that he is taking some time off but will return in the future.

You can read more about The Rock’s schedule below:

Daily Drop (4/10): Cody Rhodes Makes History, AEW To Air CM Punk Footage

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, April 10. Last night’s NXT carried on after Stand & Deliver, and we saw what was possibly Bron Breakker’s final farewell on the brand.

After Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin lost the NXT Tag Team Titles this week, Breakker addressed the NXT fans with a goodbye speech.

Let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!

WWE:

– The Final Boss Gets Stock: TKO awarded The Rock with $9.4 million in company stock after WrestleMania 40. In total, he was given 96,558 additional shares, adding to around 400,000 shares of TKO stock is already had currently valued at approximately $39 million.

– Cody Rhodes Merch Sales: Cody had an incredible WrestleMania 40 weekend, and in the end, WWE sold over $1 million in his merch.

– Damian Priest Contract Status: Priest confirmed after his WWE World Heavyweight Championship win that he inked a new contract with the company.

– Cody Rhodes Made History: The American Nightmare made history at WrestleMania by racking up a triple crown title win. Rhodes became the fourth wrestler in history to hold the WWE World Championship and the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.

– The Nightmare’s New Fur Baby: Rhea Ripley celebrated her big WrestleMania 40 win by getting a new dog. Via her Instagram stories, she introduced fans to Bella.

Instagram Story va @rhearipley_wwe

– Seth Rollins’ Injury Hiatus: Rollins lost the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania, and he’s taking some time off. A recent report stated that Rollins won’t be out of action for long, as he just needs to rest up his knee injury.

– Cody Tops The Rock: Cody Rhodes actually beat The Rock in Google search volume on April 8, the day after his big WrestleMania 40 win over Roman Reigns.

AEW:

– Tony Khan Talks Footage: Khan has doubled-down that they are not bait and switching fans with the CM Punk footage.

– Limited Edition Merch: AEW has a new “Swerve When I Drive” t-shirt featuring Prince NaNa. This will be a limited edition offering, and you can check it out below.

– AEW Collision Rating: The April 6th AEW Collision show had about 463,000 people watching on average overnight, and it scored 0.15 for viewers aged 18 to 49. This is a bit higher than the last show, which had 458,000 viewers and a 0.11 score in the same age group.

AEW Dynamite Card This Week (4/10):

  • TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
  • AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
  • Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
  • Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
  • Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
  • Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • 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.

Cody Rhodes Joins Elite Club, Makes Triple-Crown History with WWE Universal Title Win

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship win at WrestleMania 40 continues to make history as the new champion has joined a very exclusive club.

Rhodes ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns in an emotional main event to WrestleMania 40: Sunday on April 7. With this win, Rhodes becomes the fourth wrestler in history to have held the WWE World Championship and the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. He joins an elite club of talent that includes the inaugural WWE Champion Buddy Rogers, 16-time World Champion Ric Flair, and the Phenomenal AJ Styles. 

This fact was pointed out on social media by Brian R. Solomon, an author of several wrestling books. In 2022, his book ‘Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik’ won the Wrestling Observer’s ‘Best Book’ award for the year. His next book, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, is scheduled to be released in 2024. 

Triple Crown History

Rhodes didn’t just join the exclusive club of WWE/NWA World Champions, but he also made history by becoming the first person in his own unique club. With his win, Rhodes became the first man to have held the WWE, NWA, and Ring of Honor World Championships. Rhodes won the NWA title from Nick Aldis at 2018’s All In show. His Ring of Honor World Championship win would come the year prior with a victory over Christopher Daniels at Best in the World 2017.

The American Nightmare is certainly riding high with his victory at WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The fans are clearly behind Rhodes who also achieved a new personal record over WrestleMania week. 

Bron Breakker Bids Farewell to NXT Ahead Of 2024 WWE Draft

Thomas Lowson
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Bron Breakker has wrapped up his time as part of WWE NXT after he and Baron Corbin lost the brand’s Tag Team Championships to Nathan Frazer & Axiom. 

In a WWE Digital Exclusive after the show, Corbin spoke about Breakker being an incredible competitor and “one hell of a friend.” Corbin was also confident that Bron is going to become a WWE World Champion on the main roster. 

Amid chants of “Thank you Bron,” Breakker thanked the fans for their support and reflected on his time as part of WWE NXT. 

“I got my start right here in this very building from day 1 back in NXT 2.0. Right here in the WWE Performance Center since day 1 all of you guys have been on this journey, on this ride with me the whole time, so I can not thank you enough.”

Breakker thanked Shawn Michaels, the staff at WWE NXT, the roster he’s worked with, and Corbin for being both a friend and rival. Breakker concluded by saying this isn’t goodbye (as fans will soon see him on the main roster) before taking photos with fans and making his way to the back. 

What’s to Come for Bron Breakker? 

Breakker was signed to SmackDown in February of 2024 but was allowed to remain with NXT during his run as a Tag Team Champion. With his farewell to WWE developmental, he’s a sure thing for an imminent main roster call-up. 

Expectations are high for Breakker, a former two-time NXT Champion, as the second-generation Superstar is set to take WWE by storm in the coming years.

We’ll see if he goes back to SmackDown, or if he’s shifted to Raw, where he’d also have plenty of fresh competition. 

The Rock Awarded Over $9 Million of TKO Stock After Competing at WrestleMania 40

Michael Reichlin
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Dwayne Johnson was awarded 96,558 shares of TKO Group Holdings Class A common stock on Sunday, April 7, the day after returning to the ring at WrestleMania 40. The shares are valued at approximately $9.4 million.

According to a new financial filing, the previously restricted stock units vested upon “completion of certain services described” in his Independent Contractor Services and Merchandising Agreement dated January 22, 2024. He joined TKO’s 13-person Board of Directors the following day.

That agreement allows WWE to use The Rock’s name, image and likeness for up to ten years in exchange for approximately 400,000 shares of TKO stock currently valued at approximately $39 million.

According to Sportico, the first 25% of shares were awarded in January when the deal was completed. The next 25% will be awarded at the end of the year. Another 25% distributed monthly throughout 2025 and the remaining 25% was the completion of the ‘certain services.’

Damian Priest Takes Huge Step to Build His Profile Outside of Pro-Wrestling

Thomas Lowson
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New WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest is looking to expand his brand outside of professional wrestling by signing with the Paradigm talent agency.

Paradigm will work to build Priest’s business across books, acting, marketing, unscripted appearances, and more, Variety reports. Paradigm will look to find Priest work outside of the squared circle in what is expected to be a huge shift for him and a sign that big things are coming in the future of the Puerto Rican Superstar. Perhaps a future in music is in the cards for Priest, who provides the vocals for his new theme song that debuted on the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw. 

Priest is hardly the first Superstar to sign with a talent agency. In August 2022, Bianca Belair signed with William Morris Endeavor to build her brand outside of wrestling. WME also represents Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and John Cena. 

This signing comes at a pivotal time for Priest, who captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. The Judgment Day member cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre mere minutes after the Scottish Warrior dethroned Seth Rollins. Priest had held the Money in the Bank contract since capturing the briefcase in July 2023 and had failed to cash in multiple times. 

What is the Paradigm Talent Agency? 

Founded in Beverly Hills, CA, in 1992, Paradigm has more than 200 agents representing clients in various aspects of the media. The future looks bright for Priest as Paradigm is a four-time winner of Pollstar’s ‘Booking Agency of the Year’ award. Notable names represented by Pollstar include author Stephen King, actor Sydney Sweeney, director James Wan, and musician Billie Eilish. 

Cody Rhodes Sold Over $1 Million In Merchandise Over WrestleMania 40 Weekend

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes finally finished his Story at WrestleMania 40 by defeating Roman Reigns to bring the WWE Championship home to his family. Cody’s win was celebrated around the world by his legion of fans who are proud to show their support for the American Nightmare.

WrestleMania 40 was monumentally successful in many ways and we’ve just learned a new one. Fightful Select reports that WWE sent an internal company memo touting that Cody Rhodes merchandise grossed over $1 million during WrestleMania weekend.

The amount of Cody Rhodes merchandise in the crowd at WWE events is a sure sign that they have the right Superstar on top.

WWE released a commemorative t-shirt immediately following Cody’s win with the phrase, “The Story Continues.”

Credit WWE Shop: Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 40 Champion The Story Continues T-Shirt

Cody Rhodes also out-performed The Rock in terms of Google searches on Monday, April 8, after he won the Undisputed Universal Title. Cody obviously has the WWE Universe’s attention right now, and for good reason.

WrestleMania 40 took place in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7 in Lincoln Financial Field. WWE SmackDown (4/5) and the RAW After WrestleMania (4/8) were both held in the Wells Fargo Center.

Cody Rhodes’ WWE Contract Situation

Rhodes previously stated that it was his goal to retire from in-ring competition before he turned 40. Cody Rhodes recently signed a new multi-year contract with WWE. The 38-year-old second-generation Superstar revealed this fact in a recent interview.

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

He does not have an immediate challenger for the Undisputed Universal Championship yet, but The Rock made it clear that he is coming back to WWE for a match against the American Nightmare.

Cody Rhodes Tops The Rock in Google Searches After WrestleMania 40

Michael Shalik
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WrestleMania XL is in the books and the show was a blockbuster success by every conceivable metric. WWE’s latest press release touts too many broken records to list here.

Business was booming last year, but 2023’s numbers seem tame compared to what Triple H and company delivered this past weekend. The live gate for WrestleMania XL was up a staggering 78% from last year’s record, while viewership surged 41%. 

Looking at Google search volume, The Rock won the weekend. However, Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns received more Google searches than the Final Boss in the day following their legendary clash, an incredible feat when you see the chart below. 

Google Trends for WrestleMania XL

Google Trends is a very useful tool that allows you to view the Google search volume for any phrase during a period of time across various regions and formats. The data we’re using here is for Worldwide searches.

Dwayne Johnson is one of the most famous people in the world, so it’s no surprise that his usual search volume resembles a megastar like Beyonce than anybody in WWE.  (The Rock had higher search volume over the past 90 days, but Beyonce had the 3 highest spikes during that period – More)

Despite this built-in advantage, Rhodes still prevailed. Over the past 12 months, The Rock averaged 13x greater search volume than the new champion, which makes this feat even more impressive. The Rock says he returned to elevate WWE and this metric of fan interest shows he did just that:

Cody Rhodes finishing the Story at WWE WrestleMania 40 earned him an extremely rare ‘Google Trends’ victory over Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

The Rock and Cody Rhodes shared a ring for the third consecutive night on Monday’s WWE Raw. The 45-minute segment featured some memorable moments, including a “this is awkward” chant, The Rock delivering a comeback to the crowd that longtime fans may have recognized and a mysterious cliffhanger fans are trying to figure out.

The Rock told Cody Rhodes and the WWE Universe that he needs to leave again, but he’ll be back. When he returns, he plans to face the face of this new era, whether he’s still champion by then or not. Cody Rhodes vs. The Rock sure sounds like a WrestleMania main event.

John Cena stated on Monday at WWE World that his Hollywood schedule will keep him busy through the end of the year, so he’s taking time off as well. From there, Cena plans to go on one final run before calling it a career.

Hopefully we won’t have to wait until 2025 to see them again, but Cena and Rock are making it known they’re not retired.

However you feel about The Rock’s on-screen character, his latest WWE run was a resounding success. This is supported by WrestleMania breaking so many records, as well as the interest surrounding Cody Rhodes as the Rock rides off into the sunset. 

Roman Reigns Breaks Silence, Has Finished Mourning WrestleMania 40 Loss

Thomas Lowson
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Roman Reigns has finished ‘mourning’ his recent defeat and has taken the first step to rising to the very top of WWE once more. 

The now-former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion lost the title to Cody Rhodes in the main event of WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The title change marks the end of a historic 1,316-day reign for Roman Reigns who had dominated for three-and-a-half years. 

Taking to social media, the Head of the Table made clear that he has mourned for his title loss and has embarked on ‘Day 1’ of the next chapter of his career. 

What’s to Come for Roman Reigns? 

Reigns is expected to take a break from WWE programming and is not expected to appear at WWE’s next Premium Live Event, Backlash: France. Reigns is similarly not being advertised for the upcoming WWE Clash At the Castle: Glasgow event that will see the roster return to the UK. He is expected to appear at WWE SummerSlam this August in Cleveland, Ohio. 

While Reigns won’t be appearing on TV for some time, there are said to be big things in the works for the Tribal Chief. On the post-WrestleMania 40: Sunday press conference, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said that a “whole new story” for Reigns is coming that will take him “to a whole ‘nother level.”

Reigns has also earned praise from Cody Rhodes despite their on-screen issues. On the Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes called Reigns an “exceptional champion” and hopes he “can be half the champion Roman Reigns was.”

Tony Khan On Airing AEW All In Backstage Footage: ‘We’re Putting On The Best Show’

Thomas Lowson
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Airing backstage footage from All In 2023 is all in the interest of the fans who want to see the best show possible, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed.

On the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite, behind-the-scenes footage of AEW’s largest-ever event will be aired. While not confirmed, many believe this will be footage of the Jack Perry-CM Punk altercation that would result in Punk being fired a week later. 

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Tony Khan said that this will not be a bait-and-switch and that AEW has a history of delivering on its promises. Khan also said the decision to air the footage is simply in AEW’s best interest.

“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

The Young Bucks will also discuss the footage that is to be aired on Dynamite. Khan added that the AEW EVPs should explain why this is relevant ahead of AEW Dynasty.

Why is the Footage Really Being Aired?

The decision to air this footage has been met with criticism, despite Khan’s insistence that this is all to give fans the best show. Many have argued that AEW is using the much-anticipated footage as a ratings ploy in the wake of the highly successful WWE WrestleMania 40 event.

There’s also an argument to be made that AEW should seek to move on from the backstage incidents that have often overshadowed their production. CM Punk was also part of the infamous All Out 2022 backstage fight that led to himself, The Elite, and others being suspended.

CM Punk’s recent interview with the MMA Hour has likely also played a role in Khan’s decision. The WWE Raw Superstar was critical of AEW on the show in which he stated that Khan isn’t a real boss and that AEW isn’t a real company focused on making money. 

Punk also gave his take on the All In brawl. In his recollection of events, Punk said he didn’t punch anybody but “choked somebody a little bit.” Punk stopped when Samoa Joe told him to before telling Khan “You’re a clown. I quit.”

Damian Priest Confirms Signing New WWE Contract After WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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Damian Priest is WWE’s new World Heavyweight Champion after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract in shocking fashion at WrestleMania 40. 

On Monday’s post-WrestleMania WWE Raw, Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match to become Priest’d first challenger. Priest and Uso both cut promos about each other backstage after the show. While hyping up their upcoming match (date and location TBA), Priest revealed he’s signed a new contract with WWE.

“This has already been a great year for me,” he said. “New contract, new title, new theme song voiced by yours truly. Judgment Day is on fire.”

Priest spent several years wrestling for Ring of Honor (as Punishment Martinez) before signing with WWE in 2018. He was a dominant force in NXT and held the North American Championship before making a surprise appearance in the 2021 WWE Royal Rumble. He joined the Raw brand the following night.

The Judgment Day leader has had great success on the main roster, including runs with the United States Championship, the SmackDown tag titles (2x) and of course, Money in the Bank 2023. The MITB cash-in was planned out months in advance.

All of this, coupled with his World title victory and new contract, demonstrate their faith in Priest to deliver in the ring and drive business.

Damian Priest WrestleMania 40 Videos:

Cash-In and NEW:

Backstage after cashing in Money in the Bank and winning the World Heavyweight championship from Drew McIntyre:

Post-WrestleMania 40 press conference, courtesy of Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture:

Timetable for Seth Rollins’ WWE Hiatus After WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins is expected to take a brief hiatus from WWE following this past weekend’s historic WrestleMania 40.

He competed at WrestleMania Saturday and Sunday and lost both nights. He and Cody Rhodes came up short against Roman Reigns and The Rock. He lost the World Heavyweight Championship that he worked so tirelessly to legitimize. Despite all this, he left Philadelphia a winner. Cody Rhodes conquered Reigns fair and square, but it was Rollins’ self-sacrifice that ultimately triggered the Tribal Chief’s downfall.

Rollins did not appear on Monday’s post-WrestleMania WWE Raw and is not expected to be back in action anytime soon. According to Dave Meltzer, Rollins is expected to take some time off, but “not that long.”

Seth Rollins’ Knee Injury

Seth Rollins suffered an MCL injury on the road to WrestleMania, but he did not need to miss the show of shows. He recovered enough to get cleared to compete, but now he is getting some much-needed time off.

Rollins has a history with knee injuries, so WWE obviously doesn’t want to risk any greater injury for one of their top stars. He’s been out of action for way longer in the past with a severe ACL injury that needed surgery, but this time reportedly won’t be that bad.

In a rare show of respect between heated rivals, Drew McIntyre addressed Rollins on Raw and thanked him for their match over the weekend. Triple H also gave Rollins his ‘flowers’ on Monday, praising his work putting the World Heavyweight championship on the match.

If anybody’s earned some time off to rest, it’s Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins. We wish him a speedy recovery.

When Sheamus Is Expected To Return To WWE

Aaron Varble
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Multi-time World Champion Sheamus will be back on television very soon. A promo aired on this week’s WWE Raw touting the Celtic Warrior’s imminent return.

Sheamus has been out of action since last summer. His most recent match took place on a very special episode of WWE SmackDown back on August 18, 2023. He wrestled WWE Hall of Famer Edge that night in what would ultimately be the Rated R Superstar’s final match before jumping to AEW.

While WWE says Sheamus is officially back, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that WWE sources have indicated we may not see him until the week of the 2024 WWE Draft, “or won’t have a defined brand until then.”

More on the 2024 WWE Draft

The 2024 WWE Draft begins later this month on WWE SmackDown (4/26) and will continue on WWE RAW (4/29). WWE typically runs a ‘supplemental draft’ with additional roster moves announced in the following day(s). 

The WWE Draft is a chance to ‘shake things up’ and creating a host of fresh matchups for the year ahead. It’s also an opportunity for the top stars of NXT to be ‘called up’ to the main roster.  

We already know that NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov will be part of this year’s Draft and will be a top prospect for General Managers Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis. Another NXT star expected to be joining Raw or SmackDown is Carmelo Hayes, who we spoke with over the weekend just before Saturday’s NXT Stand & Deliver premium live event:

Daily Drop (4/9): WWE Draft Returning, Cody Rhodes Gives Flowers To MJF

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, April 9. Last night was the RAW after WrestleMania 40, and Jey Uso is the new #1 contender for Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Title.

Before we get going, there was a very ominous glitch during the RAW after WrestleMania. The live crowd also heard a strange clip from a song that they didn’t know, as the lights were cut out for a bit. Something is certainly brewing, and you can get all the info we have so far in our report.

You can find what happened after RAW this week here, as the company wrapped up WrestleMania week. Check out our complete WrestleMania 40 Saturday coverage by visiting our WrestleMania 40 hub.

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

– Damien Priest’s Cash-In: I asked around about Priest’s cash-in at WrestleMania 40. This was not a last-minute booking, because the company has been planning this for six months. 

– Time Off: Seth Rollins is expected to take some time off. His knee needs to heal up a bit.

– WWE Draft Confirmed: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW.

–Cody and Bray Connection: It turns out that the mask Cody Rhodes wore at WrestleMania 40 has a connection to Bray Wyatt, because he used the same man, Jason Baker, to construct his mask.

–Mick Foley Cancels: Foley has officially called off his last match, so he will never wrestle again at this point.

–Samantha Irvin: WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin received some huge props from legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer after her WrestleMania performance.

– John Cena Returns: Cena returned for a spot during the RAW after WrestleMania 40. He helped Awesome Truth beat Judgment Day, but Cena isn’t expected to be back for any longer run at this time. He did express a desire for Hollywood to “pump the brakes” so he can make a WWE return for one more run.

– TKO Buying Vince’s Shares: TKO is buying a ton of stock from Vince McMahon. He will still have millions in the company, but his ownership percentage is down to under 5% now.

WWE NXT Card (4/9):

  • NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Wolfdogs vs. Nathan Frazer & Axiom
  • Appearance by Je’Von Evans
  • Appearance by Natalya

AEW:

– MJF Gets Flowers: Cody Rhodes said he’s proud of MJF, as he praised him in a big way.

– Mark Henry Controversy: The World’s Strongest Man caused a bit of controversy when he said that Kairi Sane showed disrespect for the business at WrestleMania 40.

AEW Dynamite Card This Week (4/10):

  • TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
  • AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
  • Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
  • Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
  • Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
  • Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • 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.

Cody Rhodes Reacts To Wrestling Legends Uniting For His WrestleMania 40 Battle

Anutosh Bajpai
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Fans were expecting to see The WWE Avengers assembling for Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 battle against The Bloodline and they were not disappointed.

Not only people such as Jey Uso and Seth Rollins came out to help even the odds but fans were greeted with the welcome surprise of John Cena and Undertaker making an appearance to help The American Nightmare finally finish the story.

The new Undisputed WWE Champion was asked about these cameos during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show after the PLE. He first noted how everyone who came down to the ring brought a unique characteristic with them:

“I think one of the most exciting parts about this moment where individuals start showing up is everybody brings something uniquely different.

I had not forgot in a negative way. It just had been some time since I had felt what it’s like when John Cena runs down to that ring. The level of just energy and effect and his commitment to hearing the people and giving the people what they want. That was something special to see.

The Undertaker, the only real thread with me and The Undertaker is simply that I’m up against one of his opponents. But when I saw the Undertaker, that to me, it just felt like here’s the old sheriff. Here’s the guard. Here’s the judge. Here was 40 years of WrestleMania and I was really impressed and blown away and touched at The Undertaker being part of that.”

The Best Era Ever: Cody Rhodes

Despite the inclusion of some of wrestling’s biggest legends, the final chapter of this theatrical played out between Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins. The Architect fulfilled his promise to be Cody’s Shield. The obsession with his former partner’s betrayal is what ultimately caused The Tribal Chief his title.

Speaking about the ending of the match, Rhodes mentioned that he loves the past eras of wrestling but this proves that the current era is the best ever:

“You gotta wonder how does it feel when you have The Undertaker, when you have ‘The Final Boss’ The Rock. When you have these luminary figures and the last thing you’re seeing is myself, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.

That is a testament to what I have been saying before even AEW. I love the Attitude Era with all my heart. I love the golden age of the 1980s, but we are in the best era ever.”

You can check out Cody Rhodes’ full interview below:

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

Dakota Kai Backs Up Kairi Sane After Mark Henry Claims Japanese Star ‘Disrespected the Business’ at WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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Dakota Kai has shared her support for her Damage CTRL ally Kairi Sane following criticism by WWE Hall of Famer & AEW correspondent Mark Henry. 

At WWE WrestleMania 40, Sane, Kai, and Asuka lost to Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Jade Cargill. During the entrance for the faces, Sane remained in the ring a few seconds longer than Asuka and Kai. You can check out hew delayed exit from the ring in the video clip below. 

On Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry shared that he was livid watching WrestleMania 40 when he saw Sane taking slightly too long to exit the ring for his liking. The World’s Strongest Man even went as far as to say the Pirate Princess had shown a level of disrespect to the wrestling business. 

“She should have got out the f*cking ring. I was so mad. You got to respect the business first. And she didn’t, but she would if I would have been in the ring.”

In a tweet, Dakota Kai didn’t address Henry’s comments directly but made it clear that she supports Sane who has a deep respect for the wrestling business. The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion responded by she loves and respects Kai and was thankful for everything her Damage CTRL ally has done for her.

In a follow-up tweet, Kai added that she wanted to focus on positivity moving forward. She again did not mention Henry by name. 

Ultimately, Sane would not have intended to have come across as disrespectful and it appears only Henry felt her actions at WrestleMania were out of line. In the comments, many supported Sane and some pointed out times that Henry has remained in the ring during the entrance of opponents. 

Kairi Sane At WrestleMania 40

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Damian Priest & Jey Uso Sound Very Ready For Their Upcoming Showdown

Thomas Lowson
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Jey Uso will be the first man to challenge Damian Priest for his new World Heavyweight championship, but the Judgment Day big man isn’t sweating it.

‘Main Event’ Jey won a four-way match on Monday’s WWE Raw to become #1 contender. He survived Bronson Reed, Ricochet, and Drew McIntyre to win the match. Uso scored the win with a little help from CM Punk. McIntyre was on the verge of victory, but Punk was a thorn in his side once again, ramping up the tension between these two yet another notch.

WWE has released backstage promos from both men after Raw went off the air. Each of them shows respect for the other, but are confident in their own chances. Uso says he’s been studying Priest for a long time. He respects his game and isn’t taking him lightly.

Priest says he’s impressed by what he’s seen from the former Bloodline member. He congratulated him on earning the title shot, but also dropped an ominous threat. Priest vows to to “beat the YEET” out of Uso when they share a ring.

“Jey Uso. Let me be the first to congratulate you on earning the first shot at my World Heavyweight Championship. But don’t get carried away with the celebration. Because when the match happens, I’m going to beat the YEET out of you.”

WWE has yet to announce when the match will take place. The next premium live event headed our way is WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4.

Coming out of a very eventful WrestleMania 40, wrestling fans have two exciting rivalries to  look forward to in Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk.

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