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‘I Wanted To Rip His Face Off’: Goldberg Explains How Infamous WCW Segment Led To Real Altercation With Triple H

Anutosh Bajpai
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Goldberg has revealed that the reason for his real-life animosity with Triple H is rooted into an infamous WCW segment.

During the December 23, 1999 episode of WCW Thunder, the former World Champion was involved in a segment with nWo. The sequence of events led to him chasing the nWo limousine in a parking lot. The wrestling veteran was originally supposed to use a tool to break the glass windows of the car, but he chose to use his hands instead.

A shard of glass sliced an artery in Goldberg’s arm during this spot, leading to a serious injury. It nearly resulted in the amputation of one of his arms. The recovery took him out of WCW programming for nearly five months, and is considered one of the reasons for WCW’s eventual demise.

The former WCW World Champion reflected on this spot during his interview with Tim Green for his Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. He claimed that it was an incident where his inner defensive lineman took over:

“Yeah. It was one of those things when the defensive lineman took over. I was mad at one of my opponents in real life. He was in a limousine and I had to go from the backstage to the ring, dispose of someone and then go get in the limousine.

After I got out of the ring, I was supposed to grab a sledge hammer to take care of the limousine and I refused and wanted to use my hand therefore providing the highest-rated segment on TNT’s history on cable television.

It had to go to black and white because there was so much blood with the background of a white limousine and I got 199 stitches and came a centimetre away from losing the use of one of these arms. But it was good television.”

Goldberg’s Altercation With Triple H

Later in the interview, Goldberg also talked about his real-life issues with Triple H. He blamed the animosity between them for WWE undermining his undefeated streak and his character in various ways.

He was asked for the reason behind his issues with the WWE Executive. The wrestling veteran recalled back to the limousine segment and other injuries that kept him off TV while WCW was acquired by WWE. He claimed that Triple H made some comments about his absence from WCW programming, which led to a real-life confrontation between the two:

“I think a lot of that between Hunter and myself was real. We had an interaction when I was at WCW leading the charge in New York at a press event. I had heard, you knew all the behind-the-scenes [gossip] right so the Kliq and Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, they’re his buddies till the end.

So I hurt myself. I know some people that were friends, that weren’t with me, were talking to him when he was working in WWE. He made a comment while I was at home and I remember it like it was yesterday. He said I was tanking it or faking it or something and I wasn’t there for the demise of WCW. How could I [do that].

So from then on, I wanted to eat that guy’s… I wanted to rip his face off. So we had a confrontation prior to me signing with the WWE. And then ironically, we were represented by the same agent. So it made the situation quite uncomfortable once I signed with the WWE. Let’s just say that.”

You can check out Goldberg’s full interview below:

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

Becky Lynch Explains Why Seth Rollins Is The ‘Mona Lisa’ Of WWE And Her ‘Tree’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins may be happily married with a beautiful daughter, but that doesn’t mean the two have different personalities outside of the ring.

‘The Man’ and ‘The Visionary’ may mirror one another with their outlandishness inside the squared circle, but speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Lynch revealed that Rollins tends to internalize a lot while she is way more expressive with her emotions.

A Work of Art

“He’s the Mona Lisa of wrestlers, but he’s also very emotive when he’s out there, but I spend so much time being like, ‘You alright? You mad at me? What’s going on?’

“I’m very heart on my sleeve, here’s how I’m feeling, and he’s very contemplative, ‘no-selly’, has to think about things until he processes how he feels about them, where as I’m fiery, I know how I feel about a thing, and in processing I go, ‘Gosh I wish I could have been more like that,’ but we are very different in that regard. Very similar interests, very similar world views.”

She was also told by her brother once that she was a ‘squirrel’ that needed a ‘tree.’

“Seth is my tree. Seth is my tree. I’m very squirrelly.”

Lynch also added that the two were initially just really great friends, but she always looked forward to seeing him backstage and that Rollins would tolerate her bad jokes.

Becky is already having a wild Road to WrestleMania, including the upcoming release of her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl.

She also visited the White House on St. Patrick’s Day and officially became a United States citizen – all before she battles Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

Update on Vince McMahon Netflix Docuseries Following $5 Billion Streaming Deal with WWE

Aaron Varble
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Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE and the blockbuster lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant have shaken the company to its core. As the fallout continues to unfold, we’ve got an update on Netflix’s documentary on the controversial billionaire, which will surely need some updating after the events of the past year.

WWE signed a deal with Netflix to bring RAW to the streaming platform in January 2025. Every WWE premium live event for fans outside the USA will also air on Netflix as part of that deal. The whole time, Bill Simmons was working on a Netflix docuseries about Vince McMahon that will not pull any punches.

SEScoops has learned the Vince McMahon Netflix docuseries will not stop production, despite the Netflix committing billions of dollars to the company that was run for decades by the man they’re expected to provide an unbiased look at.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, veteran journalist Dave Meltzer says this project is still full-speed ahead. 

“Regarding the Netflix documentary on Vince McMahon, which at last word was to be a six-part series, some thought with the Netflix $5.2 billion deal with TKO and the Janel Grant lawsuit that maybe Netflix would just scrap the thing.”

Meltzer acknowledged, “they obviously have to change the direction based on what happened.”

Bill Simmons had more-than-enough material from McMahon’s ‘storied’ career to produce a jaw-dropping project. The most recent round of allegations, which McMahon vehemently denies, will take things into far darker territory than what was originally planned. 

Interestingly, Simmons recently revealed that he invited Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) to preview the show during development.

Janel Grant’s Lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon & More

Vince McMahon stepped down from WWE following a lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant, alleging sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other heinous offenses.

On January 25, Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit details Janel’s experiences of mistreatment in terms of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional harm.

Grant’s attorney also stated that there are others who want to come forward. Her attorney, Ann Callis, stated in a written interview, they are “frankly overwhelmed” as they begin the process of wading through the responses of people who have more allegations to share.

Josh Barnett Has Spoken To CM Punk & Other WWE & AEW Talent About Wrestling For Bloodsport

Thomas Lowson
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Former UFC fighter turned pro wrestler and promoter Josh Barnett says he’s spoken with CM Punk and other names from WWE and AEW about competing for his Bloodsport promotion, which is affiliated with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).

The upcoming Bloodsport X event over WrestleMania weekend will feature a special attraction match pitting WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler against TNA’s Masha Slamovich.

Barnett wants to get more WWE (and AEW) contracted names to step into his league’s domain. During a recent appearance on the Under the Ring podcast, he revealed that he’s actually spoken with CM Punk about participating, as well as AEW star Malakai Black.

Both Punk and Black have martial arts experience and their offensive styles would translate well to Bloodsports’ ‘shoot-fight’ presentation.

Barnett also named Chad Gable, Born Breaker and Miro as grapplers he’d like to see fight in Bloodsport.

Punk has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. The injury has robbed Punk of an opportunity to step in the ring at WrestleMania 40, but he still vows to make his presence felt. 

CM Punk signed with the UFC in 2014 just months after leaving WWE. He wouldn’t make his debut until 2016 and lost in decisive fashion. Stephanie McMahon mocked Punk’s loss on WWE television, one of many examples of how bitter that relationship was for many years.

Punk’s second and final UFC fight was another decisive loss to Mike Jackson. That loss was later overturned and the result ruled a ‘no contest’ due to Jackson failing a test.

Nic Nemeth Wants To See ‘One More Twist Of The Knife’ In Cody Rhodes’ Story

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nic Nemeth is really enjoying the story told between The Rock and Cody Rhodes, even getting himself worked up talking about it.

On Friday’s edition of Busted Open Radio, Nemeth was asked by Dave LaGreca what he thought of The Rock’s promo last Friday night on SmackDown where he went babyface on the city of Memphis, but heel on the mother of Cody Rhodes.

Nemeth says if being a heel was your play, it would be helpful to the story to be witty, but you have to make some moments count. Nemeth said he’d just like to see a little bit less of the “90’s jokey humor” and understand there’s some real life behind-the-scenes arch taking place right now.

“Let’s have it be where it’s so personal, it’s not jokey, it’s not catchphrase-y, it’s not ‘let’s sell t-shirts’, it’s ‘let’s sell this story and put a**es in seats even more than it already is, everyone is doing great, but there’s just something about that, man, I wish there could be just that little more realism that we’re kind of getting little teases of.”

He did say that times are different now where wrestling roles have been blurred, but he would like to see The Rock take another harrowing stab at the ribs of Rhodes.

“I would love just one more little twist of the knife of realism into the guts of Cody just to give one last piece to go, ‘You have to beat all these people to get by. Let’s do it.’”

Nemeth then also went on to say that he loved Rhodes’ rebuttal to The Rock as a whole on WWE Raw. Just seeing the clips out of context, he thought at first that they were trying to go “Attitude Era,” but then once he did the homework and watched the full segment, he really liked it.

Please credit “Busted Open Radio” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Bray Wyatt’s 2024 WWE Hall of Fame Absence Tied to Peacock Documentary

Aaron Varble
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WWE has announced their Hall of Fame inductees for this year, and Bray Wyatt’s name isn’t on the list. 

This year’s WWE Hall of Fame will mark the first year after TKO’s takeover. It will also be the first class that is chosen without any input from Vince McMahon.

Wyatt’s absence from this year’s WWE Hall of Fame induction is related to WWE’s upcoming ‘Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal’ Peacock documentary, which  premieres on April 1.

Hall of Fame Absence

Bray Wyatt was once thought to be a lock for this year’s Hall of Fame class, but his father Mike will be the only Rotunda family member inducted in Philadelphia.

This week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter states WWE sources indicate the decision to pass on inducting the Eater of Worlds  may have influenced by the Peacock doc.

“[It] had something to do with the decision not to induct Wyatt into the Hall of Fame this year, that this year they were doing the big documentary for him and would induct him later.”

WWE reportedly has plans to induct him at a later date, but it was not noted when he will receive this honor.

Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal

The new Peacock project, a documentary titled “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal,” set to premiere on April 1st, is receiving a big spotlight.

The Undertaker is slated to provide narration for the documentary. Interviews have been conducted with Wyatt’s family, as well as with such names like Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Becky Lynch, Triple H, Alexa Bliss, and Bo Dallas, along with archival footage from various points in his career.

WWE owns every moment of Bray Wyatt’s time in a pro wrestling ring. He did not appear for any other company during the time between his 2021 release and his Extreme Rules 2022 comeback. You can watch the trailer below.

2024 WWE Hall of Fame

Paul Heyman was the first to be revealed as part of the WWE Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. The US Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham) and Bull Nakano were later confirmed. Thunderbolt Patterson then joined this year’s group along with Muhammad Ali in the celebrity wing.

The Rock will reportedly have a hand in having his grandmother, Lia Maivia, inducted this year as well. It was previously reported that Haku was a strong possibility, but his name has not been announced.

The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will air on April 5th after SmackDown, one night before WrestleMania 40 kicks off.

WrestleMania Surprises: Steve Austin, Undertaker and John Cena Eyed for Potential Appearances

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania XL weekend is just two weeks away and WWE’s biggest event of the year is shaping up to be memorable.

The card is nearly set for the first WrestleMania to be held under the new regime of TKO Group Holdings, the new entity comprised of both WWE and UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion.

WrestleMania is the culmination of the year’s biggest feuds and storylines. It’s where the stars shine brightest and Superstars deliver performances they know will echo through time. In addition to crafting the strongest possible match card, WWE often brings in legends and celebrities to ensure this PLE stands out from the rest.

Stacking WrestleMania 40

According to this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, this year will be no exception. WWE sources say the company is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40.

“Cena is free but depending on what acting stuff he has and how quick after he’s filming would determine how much he can or can’t do for insurance reasons,” Dave Meltzer wrote. “Austin and Undertaker would be based on willingness that they have.”

In asking around with sources linked to WWE’s creative process, we have not heard anything for Cena or Austin planned for WrestleMania. However, this late on the Road to WrestleMania, any surprises involving stars of this magnitude would be a very closely guarded secret.

Keep it locked to SEScoops for our continued coverage of everything WWE on the road to WrestleMania 40. It’s going to be a crazy few weeks, but we’re going to be all-hands-on-deck to continue bringing our readers the best wrestling news coverage around.

David Finlay Accuses NJPW Of Keeping Him From Championship Gold During Injury Update

Aaron Varble
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NJPW made the announcement last week that David Finlay would not be participating in the Nagoya event due to sudden illness, leading to his evaluation at a local hospital. The news came unexpectedly, leaving fans anticipating Finlay’s presence at the event.

David Finlay is now speaking out about his injury status. He called NJPW out for keeping him from gold as well.

Finlay Speaks on his Injury Situation

In light of Finlay’s absence, NJPW declared Hirooki Goto as the recipient of the advancement to the semifinals, courtesy of Finlay’s forfeiture. No official prognosis was given as to why Finlay was pulled from the 2024 New Japan Cup tournament. Finlay released a cell phone video from his car to really let fans know what is going on.

David Finlay accused NJPW of knocking him off his mental game before his title match against Nic Nemeth. He also addressed his currently injury status, because he’s still beaten up from his cage match.

Finlay said he’s had no time to rest, so he’s had no time to heal. He went from a cage match to a title match to the New Japan Cup. That called for “damage on top of damage on top of damage, so they wouldn’t clear me for my quarterfinal match, which quite honestly is bullsh*t.”

David Finley called a foul on NJPW keeping gold away from him, because they pulled him from the tournament. He said that he would have left in a hearse if that meant he could hold gold in NJPW again. He said that a cage match took out one of his WarDogs, but it won’t take out the leader.

David Finlay’s Brutal NJPW Schedule

On February 23, 2024, David Finlay faced Nic Nemeth for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s The New Beginning In Sapporo event. Unfortunately, Finlay lost the title to Nemeth after a 23-minute match.

Prior to that, on February 11, 2024, at NJPW’s The New Beginning In Osaka event, Finlay showcased his skills in a Steel Cage match as part of the BULLET CLUB War Dogs team. Alongside his teammates, Finlay emerged victorious after a grueling 64-minute battle against the United Empire faction. He has wrestles 9 times since that loss to Nemeth, and his last match was on March 15.

We will have to see when David Finlay is able to come back to the ring. He is not happy at all about how things are going.

SEScoops is sending David Finlay our best as he gets the rest he needs to heal. Hopefully, he will be able to get back to business and reclaim gold in NJPW. 

Tony Khan is Optimistic About Kenny Omega’s AEW Return After Diverticulitis Battle

Aaron Varble
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Diverticulitis does not care who you are, because it can strike anyone. Brock Lesnar had a terribly nasty case of it years ago. Now, Kenny Omega is also out of action with the terrible disease, but there is hope that he will return.

Tony Khan addressed Omega’s status, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the fortunate timing of medical attention.

Tony Khan Speaks on Omega’s Recovery

Kenny Omega has been absent from the ring since December due to diverticulitis, a condition diagnosed after the December 13th Dynamite show when he exhibited signs of distress backstage. Following the diagnosis, Omega was informed of the gravity of his situation, emphasizing the fortunate timing of his medical attention to prevent potential catastrophic consequences.

The severity of Omega’s condition was underscored by the risk of a blood infection, which posed a significant threat with a roughly 50 percent chance of mortality had it not been promptly addressed. AEW President Tony Khan addressed inquiries about Omega’s condition during an interview with Comic Book.

“I don’t want to put pressure on it, He was really in a bad way. I don’t want to put a timetable or try to rush him back, but I’m optimistic we’ll see Kenny Omega again.” 

“Certainly, it’s something for all the fans to look forward to. I think everybody’s just going to go crazy when Kenny does come back, which I think we’re all very optimistic about.”

Kenny Omega’s Eventual AEW Return

We’re sending out our best to Kenny Omega as he continues recovering from diverticulitis. AEW certainly misses him, and there are even new opponents in Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, both people he knows from NJPW, who are going to be there waiting for his return as well. 

It seems that, after the Young Bucks “fired” Omega from The Elite, a match with Okada is ready-made for The Cleaner. We will have to wait for his return to see it happen.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more around the pro wrestling word. You never know what will happen next, so please keep checking back throughout the day for more updates and headlines that you need.

Daily Drop (3/22): John Laurinaitis Responds To Janel Grant WWE Lawsuit Update, Tony Khan Picks AEW Hall of Fame

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, March 22.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 15

WWE:

Making History: GUNTHER just made history with 100 successful IC Title defenses.

Your Starting Lineup: Bayley got a great intro at the Milwaukee Bucks game before WWE SmackDown this week.

Tumor-Free: Maryse just let fans know the amazing news that she is now tumor-free after surgery.

WWE Shop Time: MLB Legacy Titles, and so much more, is now available at the WWE Shop. Check it out, and don’t miss out and click here to see what they have to offer at the WWE Shop!

Janel Grant Lawsuit Update: John Laurinaitis waved being served with the Janel Grant lawsuit. After all, he already knew about it, because it was impossible to ignore.

Foxxy Is Coming Back: The former Alicia Fox, now going as Vix Crow, will wrestle her first singles match since 2019. She will take on Mickie James in that bout.

WWE SmackDown Match Card (3/22):

  • Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar
  • WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
  • WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The OC vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & ‘ The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes Face-To-Face

AEW:

AEW Dynamite Viewership: The March 20th episode of AEW Dynamite garnered 800,000 viewers and attained a 0.27 rating in the crucial 18-49 demographic. Those numbers show a slight decline from the previous week’s broadcast, which received 801,000 viewers and a demo rating of 0.27.

Sting Honored: The Cauliflower Alley Club is honoring Sting in a big way after his retirement.

AEW’s Reason: The company had a good reason for now including Jon Moxley and Claudio in their tag team tournament.

AEW Hall of Fame: Tony Khan revealed who he would want in the AEW Hall of Fame.

Mercedes Mone Drama: Britt Baker took on the subject of internal issues with Mone’s AEW debut.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows on the horizon:

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.

Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix Present: Hit the Lights Lucha Libra Show For 6/1 At The Temple

Thomas Lowson
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Fans of Lucha Libre in California will be in for quite the show this June, courtesy of Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix. 

The Lucha Bros will be teaming up to host ‘ROL7: Hit The Lights’ which will take place at the historic ‘The Temple’ venue in Los Angeles, CA. The show will take place on June 1 and tickets will go on sale on March 22. There will be a 15% ticket price reduction for any fans who purchase seats for the show before April 1. 

The Temple

Fans of Lucha Underground will be familiar with The Temple, which is the venue of the Hit the Lights show. Lucha Underground’s four seasons were all filmed at The Temple, which features a distinct ‘run-down’ and ‘underground’ aesthetic. 

The arena is in an amphitheater style, with the ring in the center and rising bench seats on opposite sides. When not being used as a wrestling location, The venue is known as SCS warehouse and has been used as a filming location for films and TV shows. 

The Lucha Bros

Rey Fenix has been out of action for some time, but he will be making a return to the ring soon. The former AEW International Champion has been booked for the House of Glory Wrestling event on May 5. 

Alongside Fenix (and PAC) Penta is a former AEW Trios Champion. He and Fenix have also held World Tag Team gold in AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor, as well as in AAA. 

Yota Tsuji Vows to Bring Back Beloved IWGP Heavyweight Title By Dethroning Tetsuya Naito

Thomas Lowson
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Yota Tsuji hopes to be the next IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but also hopes to be the final man to hold that particular piece of gold. 

Tsuji, the winner of the New Japan cup, Tsuji will battle Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Sakura Genesis on April 6. Speaking to the press ahead of the much-anticipated title match, Tsuji shared his plans should he win the gold. 

“I would want the 4th generation IWGP Heavyweight Championship. I want to make it exactly clear just how much IWGP means. That means I should take the IWGP World Heavyweight title, separate it again, officially retire the Intercontinental belt, and carry the IWGP Heavyweight.”

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created on March 1, 2021, with the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Naito won the title back in January of this year by dethroning Sanada at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Issues

In the three years since the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created, the title has seen a mixed-at-best response from fans. Many disagreed with the deactivation of the Intercontinental Championship, which had been held by the likes of Naito, Chris Jericho, and Shinsuke Nakamura.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship got off to a rough start when the title eventually launched. A rather forgettable inaugural reign with Kota Ibushi was ended by Will Ospreay. The Brit would then suffer a neck injury, resulting in the title being vacated. Within three months of it being created, the title was on its third champion: Shingo Takagi.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Design

Perhaps the biggest issue with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the title’s design. Many find the look of the title as ‘ugly’ especially compared to the IWGP World Championship. While Kota Ibushi said in 2021 that he was sure the title would grow on people, that’s yet to happen with many fans three years on. 

Bayley Gets Special Introduction At Milwaukee Bucks Game Ahead of Sold Out SmackDown

Bishal Roy
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2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bayley recently made her presence felt at the Finserv Forum during the NBA clash between Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.

Bayley remains to be one of the most popular stars in WWE and has attained several accolades during her illustrious career. However, winning the Royal Rumble had been the one achievement that had eluded her for long. 

She finally added that to her long list of achievements this year. The hugger has since gotten into a feud with her former Damage CTRL partners. Before her confrontation with the former teammates on SmackDown, ‘The Role Model’ enjoyed her time at the NBA game last night.

Bayley hypes up the fans 

A video clip recently emerged on social media where Bayley could be seen walking out to her theme song during the recent NBA game and was given a special introduction. She received a warm ovation from the fans and promoted tonight’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown. She said:

“Milwaukee, thank you for having me. That’s right I did win the 2024 Royal Rumble alright and I’m so excited to be here in this building tomorrow night, sold out might I add. Thank you Milwaukee.”  

Bayley later took to Twitter/X and sent out a message. She yet again thanked the Milwaukee Bucks for hosting her and also congratulated the team for their triumph. The former Women’s Champion then reiterated that SmackDown is sold out and hyped the upcoming episode. She wrote:

“Thank you for hosting da Role Model, @NBA @Bucks! Way to get that win tonight. #Smackdown will be SOLD OUT in this very arena tomorrow night. Thank you Milwaukee!!” Bayley shared.

Bayley’s Road to WrestleMania 40

‘The Role Model’ has a huge task at hand heading into WrestleMania 40. After winning the Women’s Royal Rumble, she set her sights on WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY after her former Damage CTRL teammate attacked her.

Alongside, SKY, the other members, Kabuki Warriors turned on Bayley but she found support in Dakota Kai. Unfortunately, Kai eventually crossed her too. Bayley then faced Dakota on SmackDown last week. That match ended in a DQ after the former was outnumbered by Damage CTRL. 

Bayley is now heading into the high-stakes match as an underdog and only time will tell if she is able to walk out as the champ at WrestleMania 40. 

Well Deserved: Sting to Receive Cauliflower Alley Club’s Highest Honor After AEW Retirement

Thomas Lowson
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Mere weeks after he retired undefeated in AEW, the legendary Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s highest honor in professional wrestling. 

In the main event of AEW Revolution, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. The tag titles have since been vacated. An ongoing tournament will culminate with new champions being crowned next month at AEW Dynasty. 

Sting’s Upcoming Honor

Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, it has been announced. The award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a wrestler by the CAC. It is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. 

The honor celebrates significant achievements across a career. Previous inductees include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk. 

What is the Cauliflower Alley Club? 

Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name. 

The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.

The 58th Annual CAC Reunion will take place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

AEW Hall of Fame?

Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 when it appeared his days in the ring were over. During a recent interview, Tony Khan said that if AEW was to have a Hall of Fame of its own, then the Icon would be the first name he’d like to see inducted.

Champions & Others Set To Leave STARDOM After Rossy Ogawa’s Shock Termination

Thomas Lowson
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Bushiroad may come to regret firing Rossy Ogawa from World Wonder Ring STARDOM as some of its top talent are expected to leave very soon. 

Ogawa, the founder of STARDOM, was fired last month in a shocking and unexpected move. Bushiroad is the parent company of both STARDOM and NJPW and in their statement, apologized to fans for any concerns over STARDOM’s future. A series of tweets from Tony Khan suggested that he was firmly on STARDOM’s side.

Champions Say Goodbye

In Bushiroad’s statement announcing Ogawa’s exit, it was reported that he had been poaching talent. While this has not been proven, it appears talent are eager to work with him, even if it means leaving STARDOM behind. 

Some of STARDOM’s top wrestlers are set to leave the promotion in the wake of Ogawa’s exit, Tokyo Sports reports. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki all have contracts set to expire at the end of March and it is believed they’ll be leaving. 

Hayashishita is a reigning Goddess of STARDOM Champion, a title she has held three times and currently holds alongside Saya Kamitani. She is a former World of STARDOM champion as well. 

Tokyo Sports reports she has been speaking of a fresh environment, and wanting to start from scratch. MIRAI is a current Artist of STARDOM Champion alongside Akari and Ami Sourei. 

What’s to Come? 

It has been reported that the wrestlers are expected to join a new promotion that is to be created by Ogawa. At this time, Ogawa has not publicly confirmed plans for a new promotion. 

Another Huge Arrival? 

Another name who recently left Bushiroad is Giulia, who is expected to join WWE in the future. Before then though, it is believed she will join Ogawa’s new promotion and help the company get off the ground. Giulia recently lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title, signifying her split from Bushiroad. 

Who Has Replaced Ogawa?

Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager, will immediately take over as the bookers for STARDOM. Neither has any previous experience as bookers, though Okada was part of a pro wrestling club that held matches during his college days.

Adam Copeland Will Remember AEW TNT Title Triumph in Toronto Until His Dying Day

Thomas Lowson
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AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will never forget how it felt to win the title in front of his hometown crowd, in a match with his most personal of opponents. 

On the March 20, episode of Dynamite, Copeland captured the TNT Championship for the second time in his career. The night proved to be an emotional one on many levels for the Rated-R Superstar. Not only did he win the title, but he did so against his former best friend Christian Cage in the pair’s hometown of Toronto, Canada. 

Adam Copeland On His Win

When AEW’s camera crew caught up with Copeland after the match, the TNT Champion was understandably reflective of what had transpired. Copeland said that this was a night he’d been dreaming of and would remember the show until his final breath.

“Tonight was the kind of night that you dream of. When you first get into this, when you decide to dedicate your life to this, you dream of nights like this. You know your hometown, against a man that you have known for 40 years who, in my opinion, has lost his way. And to get that kind of match, that war.

“It wasn’t even a match. To hear that audience, to hear them sing my music to me. Man, to have my family here, to have my buddies from school, my buddies from college. It’s just one of the nights that I will take me to the grave.”

What’s to Come? 

Copeland aims to prove himself a fighting champion now that he has reclaimed the TNT title. During the video, Copeland said he will resurrect his Cope Open on the March 30, episode of AEW Collision. The show will take place from London, Ontario, Canada. 

AEW Rampage Hits Year-Long Ratings High By Airing Immediately After Dynamite

Thomas Lowson
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The March 20, edition of AEW Rampage proved to be a hit with fans, though that may be due to the unique placement of the show that traditionally airs on Friday nights. 

Rather than air on Friday, AEW Rampage aired immediately after the March 20 Dynamite which aired from its usual Wednesday night spot. The shows aired from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. 

Rampage’s Record Rating

This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers. This is the highest rampage since the January 6, 2023 episode, which aired from its usual Friday spot. The show marked a 65% increase in viewers from the previous week’s episode (327,000.)

This week’s show also succeeded in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The show scored a 0.27 in this demographic, the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022 episode of the show. 

Worrying Trend

While AEW Rampage did well for one episode, the show as a whole continues to see a worrying downward slide. The average Rampage number for the first quarter of 2024 has been 374,000 viewers, down from the 2023 Q1 number of 436,000 viewers. This trend is also the case when you compare March 2023 to March 2024. This month has seen an average viewership of 345,000, down from March 2023’s 394,000. 

AEW Rampage Results – March 20

The results for this week’s edition of AEW Rampage are as follows: 

  • The Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta) defeat the Don Callis Damily (Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs – AEW World Tag Title Tournament Match
  • Katsuyori Shibata defeats Kevin Matthews
  • Konosuke Takeshita defeats Rocky Romero
  • Julia Hart & Skye Blue defeats Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale – Street Fight

Bryan Danielson: Will Ospreay Is The Evolution Of Professional Wrestling.

Bishal Roy
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A few years back, Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay seemed impossible. Well, thanks to AEW, the dream match is taking place next month. Fans are getting hyped up for the hard hitting affair, and ‘The American Dragon’ is as excited as they are.

Danielson and Ospreay, two of the most talented wrestlers in the industry will lock horns for the first time at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. They both recently showcased remarkable performances against their respective opponents. 

Ospreay put up an instant classic with Konosuke Takeshita earlier this month on March 3 at AEW Revolution. On the other hand Danielson squared off against Katsuyori Shibata at March 16 Collision, which was another match that had little chance to materialize a few years ago.

Bryan Danielson feels none can replicate Will Ospreay

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Danielson expressed his interest in knowing what are the opinions of the younger talents on pro wrestling. He further showered praise on his opponent and revealed which aspect makes the upcoming match exciting. Here is what he said:

“I’m not married to the idea that my take on professional wrestling is the best. I’m really interested in what the younger generation thinks about professional wrestling and what inspires them. Will Ospreay is the evolution of professional wrestling.

If Will Ospreay wanted to do a Bryan Danielson match, he could. If I wanted to do what Will Ospreay does in a match, I couldn’t. I don’t think there is anybody else in the world who can. That makes me super excited for this match.”

Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay is not the main event

Bryan Danielson also revealed that his match against ‘The Aerial Assassin’ will not headline the show and teased the fans that some thrilling plans are in the pipeline. He said:

“Me and Will Ospreay won’t be the main event at Dynasty. That tells you what type of show it will be. I have an inkling of some of the things that are lined up, and I think people are going to be really excited.”

He added:

“We have a chance to really stamp Dynasty as the newest brand in the AEW pay-per-view system. I’m really excited to be wrestling Will, especially in a historic wrestling city like St. Louis.”

While Danielson boasts his technical prowess in the ring, Ospreay has aerial offense and lighting-fast strikes up his sleeves. This contrast of fighting styles makes the affair more interesting to witness. The fans will certainly have a treat watching them share the ring at AEW Dynasty next month. 

Bill Goldberg is Angry “Some Japanese Girl” Surpassed His WCW Winning Streak

Thomas Lowson
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Former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg isn’t pleased that “some Japanese girl” eclipsed his WCW undefeated streak, in his latest shot against WWE. 

During an interview with Nothing Left Unsaid, Goldberg was asked if there was any ill will towards him in WWE due to his time in WCW. Goldberg argued that the fact that WWE had Asuka surpass his undefeated streak proved there were some issues. 

“A girl beat my winning streak… beat my undefeated streak. Yeah, I can’t even remember… ‘A-soo-ka’ is her name. Some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak.”

Goldberg added that when he returned to WWE in 2016, he also noticed a lot of wrestlers using the spear as a finisher, a move he also used. Goldberg insinuated that WWE management had something to do with this influx of spears. 

Issues with Triple H

During the interview, Goldberg suspected that previous issues with Triple H led to WWE choosing Asuka to surpass his streak and for the influx of spears. 

“The fact that I didn’t get along with Paul Levesque (Triple H), which is Vince’s son-in-law, I think had everything to do with it.”

Streak Vs. Streak

Goldberg’s WCW streak began in September 2017 which saw Hugh Morrus become the future World Champion’s first victim. It ended at WCW Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash (though a cattle-prod-wielding Scott Hall certainly helped the former Diesel.) W

Asuka’s undefeated streak began in late 2015 and would last for 914 days before she was defeated by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She surpassed Goldberg’s 173 wins at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017. While Goldberg isn’t happy that his streak was surpassed now, he was far more gracious when Asuka passed him 7 years ago. 

Was Goldberg’s Streak Legit? 

With wrestling websites dedicated to counting every match and appearance, there’s no doubt Asuka’s streak is anything but entirely legitimate. Given that Goldberg’s streak was during the 1990s, when such websites were not as common, there have been claims his streak was not all it appeared to be. 

It has been claimed that WCW inflated the number of wins, with the figure rising dramatically from week to week. Goldberg had actually lost before the streak ever began. His final wrestling match prior to his WCW TV debut was a dark match defeat to Chad Fortune. 

Goldberg Breaks Silence On Continued Animosity From Bret Hart: I Learned A Lot From Him, But I Can Only Be Remorseful For So Long

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bret Hart has never forgiven Bill Goldberg for the career-ending kick at Starrcade 1999 and the wrestling legend continues to be outspoken about his issues with the former rival. However, there are always two sides to the story, and the former NFL star has broken his silence on the continued prosecution.

The former WCW star recently spoke to Tim Green for his Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. He discussed things such as his issues with Triple H, Asuka breaking the record for his undefeated streak and more.

When asked to speak on the Bret Hart story, Goldberg mentioned how he was very green at the time he was paired with the Canadian Star and he learned a lot from him:

“Bret Hart, I was a baby in the wrestling business. I was in WCW. They had a rocket in my butt as far as trajectory is concerned character-wise. Bret Hart had just left WWE and we all know about Bret Hart being one of the best wrestlers in the history of the world. I obviously was looking for as many mentors as humanly possible.

This guy was, he was one of the best ever and so I was enthralled with him. I didn’t idolize him by any stretch, I don’t idolize anyone, but I put him up on that pedestal as to be someone to very much learn from. They put us together and I did learn a lot from the guy. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

It Was A Complete Accident: Goldberg

Speaking about the infamous incident, Goldberg took the blame for the accident but noted that he would never do something like that intentionally. The WWE Hall of Famer also objected to the continued animosity from Bret Hart and explained that he can only be remorseful for so long:

“Then we had a match and unfortunately, during the match, something went wrong. I kicked him in the head. It was very stiff, and it was an accident. I never maliciously would try to hurt anyone. Well, let me rephrase that. I would never hurt anyone in a situation like that where they give me their trust.

Because wrestling is like a dance. You can’t perform properly if both people aren’t doing their thing and I didn’t do the thing right. He caught it in the head and it ended his career. I’ve never lived it down. I’m not a malicious person and I would never take advantage of anybody, especially in a physical sense like that.

So it was a complete accident, but to this day, he thought or he thinks that either I did it on purpose or I was so horrible at what I did that it just happened. So that’s the Bret Hart story. I’ve heard it for 15 years and I’ve heard about him bitching and moaning about me kicking him on the head. I can only say I’m sorry so many times and I can only be remorseful for so long. So that’s where we are. I still want to kill him.”

You can check out Goldberg’s full interview where he talks about his time in Japan, his football career and much more below:

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

Maryse Reveals She Is Tumor-Free After Surgery

Aaron Varble
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Maryse had quite a scary health situation. Now, she is sharing an update with fans, and she had great progress to let us know about. Now, she is tumor-free.

Maryse shared that she recently underwent a hysterectomy and announced she is now tumor-free, expressing gratitude for the successful surgery and early detection. She thanked her doctor and supporters, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy in women’s health.

Maryse Shares Amazing Health Update

Maryse recently shared a health update with her followers, detailing her journey after being diagnosed with a rare pre-cancerous condition. The 41-year-old disclosed the diagnosis, revealing that the condition affected her ovaries and required laparoscopy surgery.

During the surgery, medical professionals identified and removed 11 implants located around Maryse’s uterus, ovaries, and abdominal cavity. Taking to her Instagram stories, Maryse provided her followers with an update on her condition, stating that the surgery was successful. Now, there is a new update for fans.

Maryse recently underwent a hysterectomy and has shared that she is now free of tumors. She explained that the surgery involved the removal of her ovaries, uterus, tubes, cervix, and omentum, as well as staging of lymph nodes to check for spread of the disease.

In her update, Maryse expressed gratitude for the pathology results, which confirmed that the disease had not spread and that she is now tumor-free. She emphasized the rarity of her condition, highlighting that only seven cases per million women occur in the US annually, and credited the early detection with saving her life. Additionally, Maryse thanked her doctor and medical team for their care and support, and expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support she has received from family, friends, and fans worldwide. She encouraged women to advocate for their own health and trust their instincts.

What’s Next for Miz & Maryse

At this time, Maryse is not factored into any WWE stories. Her husband, The Miz, has linked up with R-Truth once again, and fans are all about the Awesome Truth reboot. The two even have a match at WrestleMania, where they may emerge as champions.

Things are going very good for the It Couple once again. Only time will tell if we get another season of Miz & Mrs to let us see everything that went down behind-the-scenes and in their personal lives once again.

SEScoops would like to send out our best congratulations to Maryse after her amazing health update. Hopefully, she doesn’t have to deal with any more scary situations like this again.

Reason Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli Are Not In The AEW World Tag Title Tournament

Aaron Varble
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AEW has a roster loaded with stars, but it’s hard not to notice when someone like Jon Moxley isn’t around. He is also not scheduled for the big tag team title tournament, and this raised some eyebrows.

Jon Moxley’s recent absence from AEW TV has raised questions, particularly regarding his exclusion from the tag team title tournament despite a recent victory. However, it appears his absence was planned due to prior commitments in Mexico and Japan, preventing his participation in the tournament.

Planned Break

Jon Moxley’s recent absence from AEW television has stirred curiosity among fans, especially considering his recent victory alongside Claudio Castagnoli against FTR. While many have questioned their absence from the ongoing AEW Tag Team Championship tournament, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports this is a scheduled break.

The former AEW World Champion has upcoming engagement scheduled in Mexico and Japan, rendering him unable to participate. The commitments were made over a month ago, solidifying his absence from the tournament.

Moxley as truly been a pillar of All Elite Wrestling since its inception and his presence will be missed. His level of intensity and the violence he brings are unmatched. Luckily, AEW has been stacking its roster with several high profile additions. Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada have changed the face of the company as we gear up for the months ahead.

SEScoops will monitor Jon Moxley’s return to AEW and we’ll provide an update when additional details become available. 

Xavier Woods: There’s No Way Roman Reigns Leaves WrestleMania As WWE Champion

Tyriece Simon
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Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is headed back to the main event of another WrestleMania. ‘The ‘Tribal Chief’ defends his championship in a highly anticipated rematch with Cody Rhodes on WrestleMania XL Sunday on April 7. Despite his dominance as champion, fans and some of his peers believe his reign may finally be nearing its end.

The stage is set for Rhodes to finally ‘finish his story.’ After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble and choosing Reigns as his opponent, fans believe WWE WrestleMania 40 will be his moment to win. WWE superstar Xavier Woods is also starting to believe Reigns will not make it past the event as champion. 

In an interview with WWE Die Woche (WWE The Week) with Sebastian Hackl, Woods shared his prediction for the Reigns vs. Rhodes match. He doesn’t think Reigns holds the title past the event and that it will create new opportunities for other talent. 

“…There’s no way he gets through WrestleMania with that championship. If he does, I don’t know. I can’t even say anything because, just in case that he does, but I fully believe he will no longer be champion after WrestleMania 40,” said Woods. He added, “…And then I feel like we might just have a champion who shows up and defends the title a bit more and then people will have a shot at winning the heavyweight championship. Excuse me, the universal championship.”

Potential Future With Cody Rhodes As Undisputed WWE Universal Champion

Woods’s statement may echo other talent beliefs and hope that Rhodes will be the new champion. While fans have appreciated Reigns’ championship run over the years, he hasn’t been as active in defending as some may hope. 

His last successful title defense occurred at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 in a Fatal Four Way match against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. This is a problem, as he only defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship five times throughout 2023.

 WWE WrestleMania 40 will mark more than two months since the ‘Tribal Chief’ put his title on the line. Rhodes’s winning the championship is expected to make him more active and put WWE in a position to consistently find fresh challengers. ‘The American Nightmare seemingly has the odds stacked against him but is confident he’ll win the title and usher in a new era in WWE. 

John Laurinaitis Waves Right to Be Served in Janel Grant WWE Lawsuit

Aaron Varble
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0

John Laurinaitis was put under a microscope when his name was involved in the blockbuster lawsuit that Janel Grant brought forward against himself, WWE and Vince McMahon. In response to this, Laurinaitis has claimed victim status, and now we have more from his side of the story.

In January, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, initiated legal action against Vince McMahon, alleging charges including sex trafficking and rape. John Laurinaitis, also implicated in the lawsuit, recently submitted a waiver of service, indicating his awareness of the legal proceedings and his exemption from formal service. This paperwork was officially lodged with the United States District Court of Connecticut.

John Laurinaitis Doesn’t Need To Be Served

According to PW Insider, John Laurinaitis recently submitted a waiver of service, indicating his awareness of the legal proceedings and his exemption from formal service. This paperwork was officially lodged with the United States District Court of Connecticut.

Furthermore, Laurinaitis committed to providing a response within sixty days from March 15, marking the initial reaction from any of the defendants involved. This signifies a pivotal step in the legal process as the case continues to unfold within the court system.

Johnny Ace Claims To Be A Victim

John Laurinaitis found himself very much involved in a messy legal battle after being implicated in a lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. Accusations of complicity in the alleged sexual abuse suffered by Janel Grant surfaced, casting a shadow over his reputation.

Amidst the turmoil, Vince McMahon took the dramatic step of resigning from his position within WWE, vehemently denying the allegations levied against him. However, Laurinaitis, through his attorney Edward Brennan, emerged with a different narrative, claiming victimhood in the unfolding situation.

Brennan emphasized Laurinaitis’s denial of the allegations and asserted his intent to vigorously defend against them in court rather than engage in media speculation. The attorney underscored the assertion that both Laurinaitis and McMahon were victims of McMahon’s perceived control, signaling a defensive stance against the accusations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the truth behind the allegations remains a matter of speculation, awaiting resolution through judicial processes or potential internal investigations by TKO Group Holdings.

SEScoops will keep a close eye on this story, and so much more going around the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, especially with so many big stories with real consequences going around.

And Still: GUNTHER Reaches New Milestone As WWE Intercontinental Champion

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has a new record to his impressive resume after reaching a milestone with Raw’s secondary piece of gold. 

GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June 2022 by dethroning Ricochet. The title marked the first for GUNTHER on the main roster and his first title under his current name. He previously held the NXT UK Champion for over a year as WALTER. 

A New Accolade for GUNTHER

GUNTHER has proven to be a fighting champion since winning the Intercontinental gold, as his track record shows. Recently, GUNTHER reached 100 successful title defenses as WWE Intercontinental Champion. Superstars who’ve come up short against the Austrian include Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, and Jey Uso, among others. 

GUNTHER’s toughest match (at least according to Cagematch statistics) took place on the October 2, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw. It took GUNTHER 22:53 to defeat Tommaso Ciampa in the match that finished via referee stoppage. The match earned 4.5 stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.

What’s Next for GUNTHER? 

GUNTHER’s next confirmed title defense will come at WWE WrestleMania 40 when he puts the title on the line against Sami Zayn. The Underdog got a controversial win a gauntlet match to earn a shot at the Austrian. Some fans hope to see Chad Gable added to the match as it’s been claimed that the Olympian’s shoulders were not fully down during the decisive fall in the gauntlet match. 

Impressing the Phenom

GUNTHER has impressed many fans and wrestlers alike and recently earned the praise of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker. The Phenom recently said that he sees a bright future for the Imperium leader who has a world of potential. 

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