Nic Nemeth continues to make moves since becoming a name free agent and his most recent might have put himself between a “Stone Pitbull” and a hard place.
The IWGP Global Champion took to social media to lay down a challenge New Japan makes its way to Chicago, IL on April 12,, but before he did, he made clear that he wants a piece of NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi when he’s healthy, and he’s willing to put his gold on the line against “The Ace.”
“I will take on anyone, any time, any place and I see New Japan has a show in Chicago, April 12, Windy City Riot! You better believe ‘The Wanted Man’ is gonna be there, and I’m calling you out cause I want the hardest hitters there are! Tomohiro Ishii! Ishii vs. ‘The Wanted Man’, Windy City Riot – you hit hard, but I hit harder. Chicago, April 12, let’s rock.”
Nic Nemeth was released by WWE back in September of 2023, and once he officially became a free agent, the former Dolph Ziggler hit the ground running by making an appearance at January’s Wrestle Kingdom and later showing up at TNA Hard To Kill.
Nemeth later did become the IWGP Global Champion by defeating David Finlay at New Beginning. As for TNA, Nemeth just defeated former TNA World Champion Steve Maclin at Sacrifice and is set to face Moose for the World Title at Rebellion.
Nic isn’t just keeping his wrestling work inside the ring ropes, however. Just last week he made his debut as a new co-host on Busted Open Radio.
Jack Perry’s AEW absence continues, but his time in NJPW is still going strong. Now, Tony Khan has commented on things.
It was previously reported that Tony Khan is very upset at Jack Perry. He is the reason why CM Punk was fired from AEW, and Khan apparently has nothing for him. Now, Tony Khan is speaking on Jungle Boy in NJPW, and he sees the great things he’s doing.
Tony Khan Speaks on Jack Perry
Tony Khan expressed his views on Jack Perry’s recent endeavors in NJPW during a recent interview with Comic Book Nation. Perry’s absence from AEW dates back to his suspension following an altercation with CM Punk at All In last August. Then, the former Jurassic Express member made a surprise debut for NJPW at Battle in the Valley earlier this year, where he symbolically tore up his AEW contract.
In NJPW, Perry has adopted the moniker “Scapegoat” and participated in the New Japan Cup, progressing to the quarterfinals. It seems that fans are questioning whether this is a work or a shoot.
When questioned about the potential continuation of Perry’s current persona upon his return to AEW, Khan remained ambiguous, praising Perry’s achievements in NJPW and emphasizing his development within the promotion.
Well, I think you gotta stay tuned. Absolutely, Jack’s doing great things in New Japan. The New Japan Cup – he’s had a great run. He’s established himself over there. He feels he’s the ‘Scapegoat.’ But he’s doing great things, and he’s wrestling for a great promotion, and it’s been great tracking Jack’s progress in New Japan. And I think he’s done excellent work there.
Jack Perry’s AEW Suspension
CM Punk’s departure from AEW occurred following his altercation with Perry and subsequent return to WWE in November. It is interesting that Punk has returned to WWE, gotten injured, and he’s already making big headway on his return from injury; meanwhile, Jungle Boy Jack Perry is nowhere to be seen in AEW.
Jack Perry’s AEW suspension reportedly ended months ago, but he was never brought back to television. Although some thought he might have made a good Devil, that role went to Adam Cole.
Now, we will have to see how this road might take Jack Perry back to AEW, but Tony Khan seems happy with that he’s doing in NJPW.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from all over the pro wrestling world. You never know what will happen next, but we will be here with all of the headlines!
The pro wrestling scene can shift on a dime at this point. MLW has a lot of money to spend, and they may just invest in their commentary team.
MLW is exploring the possibility of bringing veteran commentator Mauro Ranallo back into the wrestling world, with talks underway for a potential collaboration. Ranallo, known for his work in WWE and other combat sports events, could make a wrestling comeback with MLW after being absent from the pro wrestling scene for some time.
MLW & Mauro Ranallo
Fightful Select reports that a longtime commentator known for both combat sports and pro wrestling has been absent from the wrestling scene for a considerable time, but that might soon change.
Reports suggest that MLW has been engaging in discussions with Ranallo regarding a potential role within the promotion. While no deal has been finalized, there appears to be genuine interest from MLW’s side, especially considering Ranallo’s prior collaborations with MLW owner Court Bauer on a Strikeforce project.
Ranallo’s departure from WWE in 2020 led him to focus primarily on calling combat sports events, such as the main event of IMPACT Rebellion in 2021.
Mauro Ranallo’s WWE Exit
Mauro Ranallo discussed his departure from WWE in the past, as he highlighted the mental strain of the environment without casting it negatively. Ranallo said the challenging nature of WWE made it difficult for his mental wellbeing.
He also said that there was added stress working under Vince McMahon while expressing personal struggles within the system. He recounted his desire to work with WWE as a broadcaster and his evolving role, including shifts in commentary teams and formats, ultimately leading to his decision to prioritize his mental health.
Despite his exit from WWE, Ranallo remained engaged in combat sports announcing, notably calling the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing match last month.
WWE & MLW’s Lawsuit
With MLW recently securing a $20 million settlement in an antitrust lawsuit against WWE, the promotion seems financially poised to pursue Ranallo, who has been absent from the pro wrestling landscape for some time.
In January 2022, MLW launched legal action against WWE, accusing the wrestling giant of using coercive tactics to deter third parties from collaborating with MLW, particularly citing interference in potential deals with media outlets like Vice TV and Tubi.
After nearly two years of legal wrangling, WWE and MLW finally reached a settlement in December 2023, bringing closure to the acrimonious dispute. Recent revelations from TKO Group Holding’s 2023 business report unveiled on Tuesday shed light on the terms of the settlement, disclosing WWE’s commitment to pay a substantial $20 million sum as part of the agreement, marking a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings and clarifying WWE’s financial obligations resulting from MLW’s antitrust lawsuit.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. You never know what story will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need!
WWE is celebrating a boom in popularity right now, and their parent company, TKO is raking in the cash. Some believe that RAW’s new Netflix deal has given a huge surge for the company’s stock price.
TKO Group Holdings experienced a significant surge of over 7% in mid-day trading, reaching around $86 per share. Bank of America raised TKO’s price target, attributing the optimism to the company’s recent partnership with Netflix.
TKO’s Stock Price Surge
On Monday, Citi reiterated its Buy rating on TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and raised the stock price target to $130 from $125. This adjustment came after TKO Group’s recent deal with Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), which didn’t cause the expected increase in the company’s share price.
Citi’s analysis identifies three factors impeding the stock’s performance: the potential EDR transaction, the ongoing UFC lawsuit, and McMahon’s share sales. Despite these challenges, Citi sees a favorable risk-reward balance for TKO Group, with the current share price of around $80 offering significant upside potential to their $130 bull case scenario and limited downside to their $65 bear case.
Wednesday morning saw TKO trading up over 7%, reaching around $86 by mid-day. Bank of America has also raised its price target for TKO, attributing the increase to optimism surrounding the Netflix deal.
This is certainly a good sign for the company as they round the corner into the road to WrestleMania 40, a time when they historically see another surge in business.
Vince McMahon’s Resignation From WWE
Vince McMahon was removed from power after Janel Grant’s lawsuit exposed a number of heinous allegations, including sex trafficking and assault. He resigned from his position with the company after Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship prior to the 2024 Royal Rumble event.
Since McMahon’s departure, WWE has continued to grow, and their new Netflix deal is a sign of that. Only time will tell where RAW goes from November to December 2024, as USA Network and Netflix’s deal has a three-month gap. They will certainly cash in with a huge Netflix deal once 2025 starts.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we continue down the road to WrestleMania 40. For more on this story, and so many more headlines, please keep checking back throughout the day.
Nick Aldis has reportedly been injured and the WrestleMania status for WWE’s heralded SmackDown GM is currently unknown.
Aldis is expected to soon undergo surgery on his arm, according to PWInsider. The exact nature of the injury is unclear, but multiple sources have confirmed that surgery is imminent.
Hopefully this situation doesn’t keep him off WWE programming for too long. WrestleMania 40 would be Aldis’ first appearance on the “grandest stage of them all,” a moment that has been a long time coming for the former NWA Champion.
The Added Impact Of Nick Aldis & Adam Pearce As GMs
Aldis first showed up on WWE television back in October 2023 where Triple H revealed him as the new general manager of SmackDown. The tendency for most on-air authorities in the past would be to have them act as a corrupted heel, but both Aldis and WWE Raw GM Adam Pearce have brought legitimacy and reason back to the roles.
Before becoming an on-air persona once again, Aldis worked months as a WWE producer backstage and fans were understandably curious as to when Aldis could put the boots back on and grapple up. This thought was especially prevailent in his initial debut, considering he has a strong rivalry with Cody Rhodes. However, with this reported injury, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion won’t be getting physical anytime soon.
We at SEScoops all wish Nick Aldis a speedy recovery.
TNA may be making a significant change on how they ink deals with most talent. According to a new report from Fightful Select, TNA may me leaning more towards offering wrestlers per-date deals rather than full-time contracts.
The impression has been that the offers have been quite different than what talent typically expected of a TNA deal. There is currently no confirmation whether this is a widespread movement for the company, but it would be a notable difference for TNA. The company notoriously parted ways with long-time TNA President Scott D’Amore earlier this year which caused the roster to write a petition on behalf of their former boss.
Update On The Contracts Of The Motor City Machine Guns
Could the Motor City Machine Guns be moving on from TNA already? According to recent reports, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin may have that option.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider intially got word that Shelley and Sabin’s contract could be up soon and Fightful followed up with their sources who believed that it could be in the within month of March. However, Sabin nor Shelley confirmed such news directly. The legendary TNA tag team actually signed with the company back on March 23, 2023.
It’s been a beneficial run for both Sabin in Shelley while Impact transitioned back to TNA as both became stalwart singles champions with the promotion. Sabin secured the X-Division Title during his tenure while Shelley had a very strong run as TNA World Champion before he dropped it to Moose at TNA’s first official PPV back at Hard To Kill.
If you don’t think John Cena reads the dirt sheets, think again because the future WWE Hall Of Famer took notice of Kenny Omega’s recent remarks.
Kenny Omega had extremely high praise for Cena on his latest Twitch stream, noting that he has never met John, but realizes how much he’s done for the wrestling business in and outside the ring. Omega noted how Cena has reached heights wrestling stars hadn’t seen in years and the work he does for charity is unparalleled.
Cena has a wide range of personalities on social media as most times on Twitter/X he’ll write out thoughtful words of motivation while his Instagram is always a wordless vessel, simply pictures that either troll or indicate something on his mind. On Wednesday morning, Cena made clear he was thinking of The Cleaner.
Omega is out indefinitely from in-ring action after being diagnosed with diverticulitis. He noted in a previous Twitch stream that he was actually very close to dying but did express a big desire to get back into the ring.
In AEW storylines, Omega has been relieved of his duties as an Executive Vice President of All Elite Wrestling (and replaced in The Elite by his most hated rival). Despite the suspension, Omega did appear in promotional ads for AEW’s upcoming tour of Canada.
Catching Up with Cena
John Cena returned to WWE last year during the Hollywood strike:
After wrapping up that run, the 16-time World Champion has been keeping very busy. His HBO show The Peacemaker will film a second season this year. He also recently made his (unannounced) minor league baseball debut in February 2024:
WWE has gone through a significant amount of changes since TKO took control. The company’s merger with the UFC ushered in a brand-new era, and now someone who was there through that transition is gone.
WWE recently saw the departure of John Porco, a longtime executive who had been with the company since June 1999. Porco’s exit adds to WWE’s ongoing organizational changes following Vince McMahon’s resignation earlier this year, with Justin Scalise stepping in as the new Executive Vice President of Live Events.
New WWE Exit
PW Insider has reported that WWE experienced a significant departure as a longtime executive, John Porco, left the company last month. It seems that we are just now hearing about this departure.
Porco had been with WWE since June 1999, initially serving as a Public Relations Coordinator before transitioning to roles in the live events department. He was Senior Vice President of Live Events Marketing. He was named EVP of Live Events in May 2022. They already have the position covered.
With Justin Scalise stepping in as the new Executive Vice President of Live Events, WWE continues to navigate organizational changes in the wake of corporate restructuring and leadership shifts.
Recent WWE Departures
The departure of Porco adds to the ongoing turnover within WWE, particularly after Vince McMahon’s resignation earlier this year amid legal issues. McMahon’s heinous actions were outed in Janel Grant’s lawsuit, and he left the company after Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship prior to the 2024 Royal Rumble event.
Mr. McMahon was also scrubbed from memory on WWE 2K24. He was blurred out, or cut entirely. Now, we will have to see how the company continues from this point on.
There was no allusion in the report about Porco’s exit that he had anything to do with the terrible allegations against Mr. McMahon. His exit, following Kevin Dunn’s in December, is another longtime departure from someone who spent a majority of their tenure in WWE under Vince McMahon’s watch.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more as we continue covering the always-changing pro wrestling news landscape. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more updates and headlines that you need.
Ronda Rousey held nothing back in her recent estimation of Vince McMahon, following the ex-Chairman’s resignation from WWE.
It’s been just under two months since McMahon’s second exit from wrestling’s top federation, this time due to Janel Grant’s damning lawsuit. Grant alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon during her tenure with WWE. He has denied all allegations.
Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon
Our Fight by Ronda Rousey is the ex-Superstar’s second book and is due to be released next month. The former WWE Women’s Champion does not hold back in her take on the 78-year-old billionaire.
In the memoir, Rousey calls McMahon the ‘Emperor Palpatine’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. She adds:
“It’s hard sometimes to know where the evil, unethical, slimeball character of Vince McMahon played out for the cameras ends and the actual questionably ethical, many times sued, and multiple times accused of sexual misconduct Vince McMahon begins.
“That blurred line between character and reality is a recurring theme within the WWE Universe.”
Restricting Women
As an athlete who redefined what women could do in the world of MMA, the treatment of women is understandably an important theme in the book. When discussing WWE’s Premium Live Events, Rousey suggested that the ultra-conservative views of Saudi Arabia are something McMahon would like to replicate.
“[PLEs are] held in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, as well as now twice a year in Saudi Arabia, a nation that restricts the rights of women in a way that I’m certain Vince McMahon wishes he could.”
Positive Thoughts
While McMahon is lambasted in Rousey’s memoir, that doesn’t extend to everyone in the family. Rousey has much more positive words for McMahon’s son-in-law Triple H.
“In addition to being my in-ring WrestleMania nemesis, he is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in history and one of the better people on the business side.”
More Reading Material
Rousey’s book isn’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her ‘The Man’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
How Goldberg’s undefeated streak ended in WCW will often be polarizing, but Kevin Nash explains why it ultimately had to happen at some point.
On the latest episode of his Kliq This Podcast, the two-time WWE Hall Of Famer talked about a fan complaining to him that Bobby Heenan once said that WCW should have never ended Goldberg’s streak. However Nash told co-host Sean Oliver, that there were signs that Goldberg’s popularity was waning because he was becoming too popular.
“Like if we’d go to the northeast they were booing Bill,” Nash said.
“It wasn’t like all of a sudden, it was like, ‘We have to beat Bill.’ It was like, ‘Bill’s starting to be the Yankees.’ Bill’s starting to beat the Yankees … nobody wanted the Patriots to beat the [1972] Dolphins f***in’ record.”
Nash defeated Goldberg in the main event of WCW Starrcade 1998, but the match finish itself was not without controversy. There’s clean pins, and then there’s achieved thanks to outside interference in the form of having your opponent zapped with a cattle prod. Yes, that really happened.
At a key moment in the match, Scott Hall delivered an ‘electrifying’ message to the former Georgia Bulldog, who was soon looking up at the lights and parting with his WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
Fallout From Goldberg’s Loss to Kevin Nash
The decision to end Goldberg’s streak in this fashion is debated to this day, as evidenced by Nash still dropping new details about it on his podcast.
Did Nash have any heat with Goldberg as a result? Former WCW star Disco Inferno gave his backstage account of what went down between the two men immediately afterwards:
“He was like talking about like an appearance he had to make or something and started talking like, ‘if they even want me now?’ Like he was thinking, like he got completely buried. This was his first loss. Right?
Nash was showering and then when Nash was drying, Nash asked Bill, he goes, ‘Do I have heat over this?’ Bill was like, ‘nah, nah, nah man. No. Not at all. I’m not talking about you. And I’ll never get that.”
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker sees a bright future for GUNTHER, who continues to impress the Deadman each week.
The Ring General has certainly proven to be dominant since coming to WWE. GUNTHER is one of the a handful of men to have held two championships for over one year, a group that includes Randy Savage, Pedro Morales, and Roman Reigns.
The Undertaker on GUNTHER
On a recent edition of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker gushed about GUNTHER, who he believes has plenty to show in WWE.
“The sky’s the limit for him. I think he’s a little bit of a throwback to a different era, but has the ability to work and tell stories.”
The former WWE World Champion spoke about GUNTHER’s recent match with Dominik Mysterio and praised the Austrian for remaining a heel without turning ‘Dirty Dom’ face in the process.
GUNTHER Vs. The Undertaker?
By the time GUNTHER made it to the main roster, The Undertaker had long retired from action, robbing fans of what’d be an epic showdown. Speaking about how such a match would go down, the Phenom predicted that they’d descend into a fistfight after two chops.
WWE is making a lot of headway toward WrestleMania. As the card comes together, that makes fans wonder how many matches the company will cram into the two-night event.
A new report has suggested that WWE is planning around 14 matches for the WrestleMania 40 weekend. That will equal out to be around 7 a night, if all goes according to plan.
WrestleMania 40 Card Size
WrestleVotes reported that sources indicate that we could expect up to 4 additional WrestleMania matches to be announced for the event. Currently, the working plan is to include 7 matches per night on the main card.
The indication from sources suggests we’ll see up to 4 more WrestleMania matches announced for the event. As of now, the working plan is to feature 7 matches per night on the main card.
As of this writing, WWE has some room to add more matches to the WrestleMania card. We are 17 days away from the show of shows, so fans may see some rapid-fire booking in the next two weeks.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40, and everything that goes along with it. Keep checking back throughout the day for ongoing coverage of the stories you need.
WrestleMania 40 Card (so far):
WWE Women’s Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Bayley
WWE Women’s World Championship Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch
World Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther vs. Sami Zayn
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: Finn Balor & Damian Priest vs. DIY vs. Awesome Truth vs. The New Day vs. Two Teams TBD
WWE United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
NIGHT ONE: The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins
NIGHT TWO: World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
NIGHT TWO: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes
WWE’s showcase of the immortals will be here in a matter of days at this point. Fans should expect the company to bring out the best product they can for the show of shows, and that could include a special musical performance.
Cody Rhodes’ theme song, The Kingdom by Downstait, will be heard at WrestleMania 40 a couple of times. Now, Downstait has teased a significant announcement tied to WrestleMania 40, hinting at their involvement during the weekend. This could result in an epic live performance for one of The American Nightmare’s entrances.
Downstait Teases WrestleMania 40 Appearance
Cody Rhodes has risen as a top babyface in WWE, partly due to his theme song, The Kingdom, performed by the band Downstait. The song has become synonymous with Rhodes, with fans wait for their crowd participation part every week, as each city seemingly tries to top the last with a gigantic “WOAH!”
Downstait has hinted at a significant announcement linked to WrestleMania 40. During an interview with Steve Fall, Daren Zack Call, the band’s lead singer, teased their involvement in WrestleMania 40 weekend. He didn’t say anything definite, but he strongly hinted at an upcoming announcement on April 5, 2024.
“So we’re gonna leave that to our announcement on 4-5-24 and all of our teasers. We’ll have to wait and see what’s going on there.” Call said in a coy manner. Then he followed that up by revealing, “I can tell you this. I will be in Philadelphia WrestleMania weekend.”
Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40
Cody Rhodes is set to wrestle twice during WrestleMania 40 weekend. He will be in a tag team match with Seth Rollins against The Rock and Roman Reigns during the first night of the show of shows this year. He will follow that up on night two, as he tries to finish his story.
We will have to see which night Downstait performs on, if they get a live performance. WWE is known to bring special entrances for WrestleMania 40 events, and hearing The Kingdom live may produce the biggest “WOAH” ever from the WWE Universe.
SEScoops will keep our eye on this story for further updates. Keep checking back throughout the day, because you never know what will break as we head down the road to WrestleMania.
The WWE Hall of Fame has inducted a few stables into their halls of history. It seems only natural that the Wyatt Family will eventually receive that honor, but Erick Rowan believes it is too early for that.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame is set to include Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson. Lia Maivia is also expected as an inductee this year, but Bray Wyatt is still absent, along with the Wyatt Family.
Bray Wyatt’s Legacy
Since Bray Wyatt’s passing last year, the WWE Universe has urged the company to acknowledge The Wyatt Family. Now, Erick Rowan, one of the group’s members, has addressed the rumors and speculation.
It was thought that Wyatt would be a likely lock for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. At this time, he has not had his name called. One would argue that Wyatt deserves three inductions, one for himself, with The Wyatt Family, and another as The Fiend, because that character broke out of the pro wrestling bubble as well.
Led by The Eater of Worlds, The Wyatt Family engaged in battles against notable opponents like The Shield and John Cena, etching a significant legacy in WWE. Despite fans and his peers advocating for Wyatt or the group’s Hall of Fame induction this year, it seems unlikely to happen this time.
During an interview with Counted Out, the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion commented on the fan-driven campaign, noting that it reflects the impact Wyatt and Harper had on people’s lives.
“I wouldn’t even begin to think about it [who would induct us]. It’s so soon since everything, with the passings and to even think about something like that, is just ridiculous to me, but I’m holding a tiny microphone talking to you about this, I feel ridiculous in that sense as well. So it’s just not something that really crossed my mind.”
2024 WWE Hall of Fame
On March 4, 2024, Paul Heyman was revealed as the inaugural inductee. Heyman had previously declined WWE’s proposal due to his active wrestling career but accepted the honor in 2024 due to WrestleMania’s location in Philadelphia.
The following day, Triple H announced Bull Nakano as the second inductee. Then, on March 8, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) were named as the next inductees, and on March 11, Muhammad Ali was announced as an inductee into the Celebrity Wing. Finally, on March 13, Thunderbolt Patterson was revealed as the fifth inductee.
The Rock is expected to have a hand in his grandmother, Lia Maivia, receiving an induction this year as well. As of this writing, Maivia has not been officially announced.
It only makes sense that Bray Wyatt will receive a WWE Hall of Fame induction, and quite possibly the Wyatt Family as well, but they may have to wait. Bray Wyatt’s upcoming documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, will drop on April 1st. We will have full coverage of the program here at SEScoops.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 20.
Last night’s NXT saw a big match added to the upcoming Stand & Deliver PLE over WrestleMania 40 weekend. In just a matter of hours, All Elite Wrestling presents a 3-hour live block of AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
WrestleMania 40 Countdown: 17 DAYS
Let’s get into it…
WWE News
Jade Cargill: I’ve been informed that Jade Cargill is not dealing with any injuries. Upon inquiry, I was informed that significant plans are in place for her future, described specially as “big plans.” They have a plan in place for her, so fans need to be a bit more patient.
Jade Cargill is not injured. Let’s get that out of the way.
I asked and was told there are plans for her, and they are “big plans.”
Bray Wyatt Documentary: We’re going to keep mentioning this, because everyone needs to see this. Bray Wyatt’s upcoming documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, will drop on April 1st. WWE made the official announcement yesterday, and fans should expect quite a presentation for that passion project.
Apology: NXT star Brooks Jenson has been getting backlash for wearing an Ole Anderson t-shirt on television after the legend’s recent death. Despite his accomplishments in wrestling, Anderson has a well-documented history of racially insensitive comments and general ‘old-school’ / caveman opinions. \
RAW Ratings: The March 18th episode of WWE RAW, which took place at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, attracted 1.69 million viewers, marking a 4% decrease from the previous week’s broadcast. The 0.55 rating in the P18-49 demographic was essentially even with the previous week’s 0.56.
AEW:
AEW Dynamite Preview: Matches for tonight’s broadcast include:
TNT Championship I Quit Match: Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
AEW Continental Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa vs. Toni Storm & Mariah May
Chris Jericho vs. HOOK
Plus, we’ll hear from Mercedes Mone and will see more build for next month’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.
Lost In The Jungle? Speaking of TK, it seems that he’s still upset with ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry for his role in CM Punk’s departure from AEW. That said to be the reason why we haven’t seen him on TV since his suspension. Perry still under contract with AEW, and competing in NJPW.
Matt Hardy at RAW: Matt Hardy and his wife Reby were spotted in a luxury box during WWE RAW in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was there visiting friends and sources backstage said they didn’t see Matt mingling. Hardy later claimed that he was only in the building for about an hour and a half.
Suspended Star Grateful: Sammy Guevara issued a statement, where he explained how grateful he is for the wave of fan support after his AEW suspension.
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.
We’ll see you back here tomorrow for another installment of the Daily Drop.
NWA wrestler Silas Mason has surrendered the promotion’s National Championship to keep himself focused on EC3’s NWA World Championship.
On the March 19, episode of NWA Powerrr, Mason relinquished the title and stated he was coming for the gold held by EC3. NWA President Billy Corgan then announced a tournament to determine the next NWA National Champion. The eight-man competition will see two finalists advance to a title match at NWA Hard Times.
The NWA National Title Tournament
Paul Burchill, Thom Latimer, ‘Magic’ Jake Dumas, Carson Drake, AJ Cazana, Blake Troop, Bryan Idol, and Zyon were announced for the tournament. In the main event of NWA Powerrr, Troop defeated Idol to qualify for the next round.
Silas Mason’s Title Reign
Mason captured the title at the NWA 75 anniversary event in August of last year. Ironically, Mason won the title which had been vacated by EC3. The reigning NWA Worlds Champion gave up the gold in order to challenge (and later defeat) Tyrus to become NWA World Champion.
Mason held the title for a collective 205 days. His reign surpasses several notable names in the NWA including Ted DiBiase Sr., Paul Orndorff, Terry Taylor, and Tully Blanchard.
Silas Mason’s Setback
Mason is focused on becoming NWA Worlds Champion, which comes at a unique time in his life. Earlier this month, Mason’s home was destroyed by a fire. On Twitter, the NWA brought awareness to the tragedy and shared a GoFundMe for fans who want to help. Generous fans have already raised over $16,000, far surpassing the initial $10,000 goal.
Our own Silas Mason suffered an unfortunate house fire today.
Mason will challenge EC3 at NWA Hard Times 4. The show has already been filmed at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama. The show was initially announced as a pay-per-view but will instead air as a special NWA Powerrr episode.
NXT youngster Brooks Jensen apologized to the fans after he found himself in hot water for donning Ole Anderson shirt on NXT.
Last month, Four Horsemen member Ole Anderson passed away. While the legendary superstar had a decorated career, it was tarnished by several allegations of racism, especially his demeanor towards the Black wrestlers.
Jensen was spotted sporting an Ole Anderson shirt on the March 12 edition of NXT when he challenged North American Champion Oba Femi in a losing effort. It turns out Jensen sparked a firestorm of criticism from the fans on social media for what seemed like a tribute to the late wrestler.
One of the fans on Twitter/X questioned Brooks Jensen why he thought it was fitting to wear a shirt in support of Ole Anderson. The fan wrote:
so @BrooksJensenWWEwhy do you think it’s appropriate to wear a t-shirt of a massive racist in 2024
Brooks Jensen responds to the criticism
The 22-year-old superstar responded to the flak by admitting that he was not aware of the allegations surrounding Ole Anderson. In his statement on social media, Brooks clarified that he would never support racism, hate, or bullying. Furthermore, the former one-half of the NXT UK Tag Team champs expressed his regret to those who were offended by his actions. Here is what he wrote:
Livin, learnin, and lovin – thanks guys
I will never support any racism, hate, or bullying. While I respected Ole for his wrestling it was news to me after wearing the tshirt that he was associated with these allegation’s. Ive noticed my “looks” and where I’m from are frequently stigmatized with the underbelly of our society (i.e racists) but this mullet just likes to give love and party. My apologies to anyone who knew the allegations prior and were offended by the shirt. I’m learning and this was noted.
Three tag teams will soon collide in a triple-threat action to determine the challengers for the NXT Tag Team Champions, The Wolf Dogs (Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker).
A few weeks back, NXT General Manager Ava made the announcement that as many as six talented tag teams would lock horns, and after the brutal fights, now three teams stand tall. They are all set to compete in the #1 contender’s match and the winning team will be declared as the challengers. They will then head to NXT Stand & Deliver for the tag team title opportunity.
Teams competing in the #1 Contender’s match
Last night’s edition of NXT saw a couple of tag team matches. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger squared off against The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson). On the other hand, the No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey and Myles Borne) battled Axiom and Nathan Frazer.
After the intense contests, The O.C. and the team of Axiom and Frazer were triumphant in their respective matches. The winning teams are all geared up to join LWO’s Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro in a triple-threat tag-team bout on the April 2 edition of NXT.
Alpha Academy’s Otis and Akira Tozawa endured a disappointing loss against The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) on this week’s Raw, failing to punch a ticket for the WWE Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 40. They have now decided to go after the NXT Tag Team titles. The duo alongside Maxinne Dupri showed up backstage on the yellow and white brand to issue a challenge to Breakker and Corbin. Dupri coaxed The Wolf Dogs into accepting and they have a high-stakes match next week.
Tozawa and Otis are all set to face The Wolf Dogs on next week’s NXT and the stipulation suggests that should the Alpha Academy prevail, they will be added to the NXT Tag Team Championship match at the Stand & Deliver premium live event.
NXT Stand & Deliver takes place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, April 6.
Trish Stratus & Lita, affectionately known as ‘Team Bestie’ have their eyes on the WWE Women’s Tag Titles and breaking the ‘curse’ that often befalls champions.
The pair of WWE Hall of Famers were at Monopoly Events’ ‘For the Love of Wrestling’ convention that took place this month. During a Q&A with the fans in Manchester, England, the pair were asked about winning the tag titles, which Lita was all for.
“People like to talk about this imaginary curse of the [women’s] tag titles, but I think that if Trish and I were tag champs, that somehow the curse would magically disappear.”
Stratus was similarly enthusiastic at the notion of challenging for the titles, warning the Kabuki Warriors “You’re not ready for Team Bestie.”
The Curse of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
While Lita described the ‘curse’ as imaginary, it’s hard to ignore the setbacks that various champions have faced. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later.
In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which has kept WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar out ever since.
Another Injury
This curse has shown no sign of slowing down, as we’ve learned in recent days. Four-time and current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka is dealing with an injury and was recently pulled from live events. It’s unclear how extensive the injury is, but with WrestleMania 40 growing closer, this could not come at a worse time for the Empress of Tomorrow.
WWE once had plans for a blockbuster match pitting Mercdes Mone against Megan Thee Stallion, according to WWE alum Mojo Rawley.
Rawley was in attendance for the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards and was there to support Mone, who presented alongside Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The All-Elite talent presented the Best Slice of Life Award and was spotted with Megan Thee Stallion.
Megan Thee Stallion Vs. Mercedes Mone
Appearing on Mandy Rose & Tino Sabatelli’s Power Alphas podcast, Mojo Rawley spoke about meeting Megan Thee Stallion, who was also at the awards ceremony. The former WWE 24/7 Champion then shared that WWE had something planned for her at a previous year’s SummerSlam.
“She was going to do something with Mercedes at WWE SummerSlam in years previous, and it just never materialized and fell through for one reason or another. We all know how those situations can go.”
Mojo added that Stallion was “cool” and far taller than he first thought. He didn’t give a year as to when she was going to be involved with WWE. It was reported in 2021 that WWE had planned to have Stallion do something, though that never materialized.
Mercedes Mone Today
Mone never had her match with Megan Thee Stallion in WWE, and left the promotion in 2022. She joined AEW earlier this month at the Big Business Dynamite and is reportedly the highest-paid woman in wrestling. Despite her AEW arrival, Mone has said she’s sure she’ll compete for WWE again one day, which unsurprisingly went down poorly with those in AEW.
Mojo Rawley Outside WWE
Rawley, the winner of the 2017 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, was released from WWE in 2021. The following year, he got engaged to Gracie Tracy and the couple married in Florence, Italy that October.
Rawley has remained in the public eye outside WWE and appeared in the G.I. Joe prequel film, Snake Eyes. He is currently a co-host for TMZ Sports which airs on Fox Sports FS1.
Celebrity Matches
While Stallion never competed for WWE, several artists have stepped between the ropes over the years. Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny has competed multiple times in WWE, while Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan appeared on ECW on TNN in 1999, years before he acquired the NWA. For TNA’s first event, country singer Toby Keith got physical with Jeff Jarrett and delivered a vertical suplex to Double-J.
AEW’s Sammy Guevara has expressed his gratitude to fans who have shown their support amid his ongoing suspension from the All-Elite promotion.
Guevara was suspended earlier this month from AEW for going against protocol during a match with Jeff Hardy. Hardy would suffer a broken nose during the match and was suspected to have suffered a concussion. While Jeff did not suffer a concussion, Guevara did not stop the match like he should have to allow for immediate testing, resulting in his suspension.
Sammy Guevara Speaks
In his latest Vlog, Guevara shared some of the highlights of his life outside of the ring, including spending time with his wife Tay Melo, and their child. At the end of the video, Guevara shared a message of appreciation to the fans.
“To the people who support me, whether it be at the beginning or in the beginning it in the middle or maybe this is your first video you’ve watched of mine, I just want to say thank you.”
Guevara added that he acknowledges he has made mistakes, but is trying to be better.
“I understand that I am a person who has made mistakes but I am also a person who has tried to be better.
“‘Roll with the punches’ is a saying that I truly understand now at 30 years old. Life will throw a lot at you. But it’s how you deal with those adversities that make you who you are. I know who I am and I know what I’m going after.
“See you at the top.”
Guevara’s Past Controversies
The incident with Jeff Hardy is hardly the first piece of notoriety for Guevara in AEW. Back in 2020, a chairshot from Guevara who used the wrong type of chair resulted in Jeff’s brother Matt requiring 13 staples. Hardy also took a nasty spill during a forklift spot at All Out that September.
In June 2020, Guevara was suspended for comments made in 2016 in which he said he wanted to “go r*pe” Sasha Banks. Guevara underwent sensitivity training and his salary at the time was donated to the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. Guevara would apologize publicly and in private to Banks, who recently joined AEW as Mercedes Mone.
WWE is gearing up for the road to WrestleMania 40, and that will include Stand & Deliver on April 6th. This afternoon show will be a big one, and it grew by one important match this week.
NXT Stand & Deliver will now feature an NXT Women’s Title match. Lyra Valkyria will put her title on the line against a freshly turned Roxanne Perez.
The Set-Up
Roxanne Perez explained her heel turn in detail last week during NXT. This brought on a new side of her character, and she was able to demonstrate even more of that mean streak as she took onTatum Paxley, who she beat via submission. Then she had a lot to say about her quest to regain the NXT Women’s Title.
Perez told Ava to come out and give her the NXT Women’s Title. She claimed to have taken out Lyra Valkyria already, so she wanted the belt.
That is when Lyra made her return instead. Then, Paxley’s brief unintentional distraction opened the door for Perez, who capitalized by applying the Crossface on Valkyria. After securing the hold, Perez triumphantly displayed the NXT Women’s Title over her vanquished opponent. Later on, Ava confirmed that the two will battle for the NXT Women’s Title.
Another Possible NXT Stand & Deliver Match
Later on, Oba Femi came out for a promo, and Josh Briggs joined him. Briggs wants a shot at the NXT North American Title. Dijak entered the conversation next, and it looked like the three were going to throw down. That match was not booked, but NXT Stand & Deliver is taking shape.
It certainly appeared that Oba Femi is going to defend his NXT North American Title against Josh Briggs and Dijak at Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 6. Only time will tell what they book for the big show.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver Card (so far):
Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match for the NXT Championship
Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes: Singles match
Lyra Valkyria vs Roxanne Perez – NXT Women’s Title
AJ Lee left WWE in 2015 due to ongoing back issues, and things weren’t okay with the company for a while due to their feud with her husband, which included serving his release papers on their wedding day. AJ Mendez’s name is not on any banned list, because her husband, CM Punk, made his miraculous return in November last year. That was, and still is, no guarantee that the former Divas Champion will follow him.
As the rumor mill churns, another report about AJ Lee, now going as AJ Mendez, has started going around. I can confirm that there are no talks to bring her into WWE at this time, but she is still loved internally.
Fact Check: AJ Lee Return Rumor
There’s been talk circulating on social media that AJ Lee might return to WWE following CM Punk’s comeback, with discussions reportedly initiated through Punk prior to the Royal Rumble, but ultimately, they didn’t materialize.
A rumor going around is that ‘despite ongoing efforts from WWE, AJ wants a memorable return run rather than a one-time appearance.” Upon investigating this topic, we can report this one is not true.
I reached out to inquire about any talks of bringing AJ Lee back into the fold. After all, CM Punk was introduced as “AJ Lee’s husband” during the WrestleMania conference in the T-Mobile Arena. He has also made mention of his wife a couple of times on television.
As much fun as an AJ Lee return might be, I am told that there is no talk in that direction internally, nor with AJ about wrestling again. I was also told by a tenured source within the company that:
“She’s very well liked, and respected. Just not a topic at the moment.”
AJ Lee had to retire due to health reasons, and her back needed the rest.
On March 30, 2015, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, AJ Lee, Naomi, and Paige emerged victorious against Natalya and The Bella Twins. That match marked AJ Lee’s final outing in the ring to this date. Based on this latest rumor killer, it doesn’t seem like she will be ending that hiatus any time soon.
WOW brought AJ Mendez in as an Executive Producer for the company. Her involvement with WOW brought a lot of eyeballs, but she did not compete for the company. Tessa Blanchard, who did compete for WOW, had some disagreements with AJ during their time together.
AJ announced in August 2023 that she was moving on from WOW, but she wishes them the best and thanked them for the opportunity and the big payday. She has no shortage of projects, writings, and other things to keep her busy.
SEScoops will continue to monitor this story and will provide an update if new information becomes available.
WWE has a ton of potential on their NXT roster. It seems that Oba Femi has attracted some big attention during his quick rise to the top of the roster.
NXT’s Oba Femi is garnering praise for his performances as the NXT North American Champion, with officials tipping him as a future WWE champion. Despite his surging popularity, WWE plans to continue developing Femi’s potential in NXT before considering a move to the main roster.
Oba Femi Set For Greatness in WWE NXT
According to a new report from Fightful Select, sources within NXT have expressed admiration for Femi’s performances, anticipating significant success for him in WWE’s future, even tipping him as a potential WWE champion.
Femi’s rapid development on television has caught the attention of NXT officials, who frequently refer to him as the “total package” backstage. Despite his rising popularity, WWE remains committed to nurturing Femi’s untapped potential, opting not to hasten his ascent to the main roster.
Who is Oba Femi
At a towering 6 feet tall and weighing in at 310 pounds, Oba Femi hails from Lagos, Nigeria. With his sights set on domination, Femi’s journey to wrestling began after a successful stint as a track and field athlete, where he previously showcased his athleticism on the SEC playing fields.
Transitioning his talents from the track to the wrestling ring, Femi has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with, securing victory after victory. Emerging triumphant as the winner of the 2024 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament, Femi’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of remarkable.
Fueled by a relentless drive to succeed, Femi made history by becoming the youngest NXT North American Champion, adding another accolade to his rapidly growing list of achievements. With each match, Femi demonstrates his determination and unwavering resolve, leaving no doubt that his potential knows no bounds within the realm of professional wrestling.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more from all over the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, so please keep checking back for more updates on the stories you need!
WWE lost a big time player when CM Punk went out of action with a triceps injury, but he is working hard toward his return to the ring. A new video should give fans hope that they will see him compete again sooner than later.
CM Punk suffered a triceps injury, forcing him out of action after the Royal Rumble. However, he recently showcased his progress by shedding his cast six weeks post-surgery and returning to training without his arm brace, signaling positive strides toward his comeback.
Punk is Working Hard Toward His WWE Return
CM Punk sustained a triceps injury following an incident at the Royal Rumble, leading to his sidelining. Despite this setback, Punk embarked on a diligent rehabilitation journey, recently marking a significant milestone by shedding his cast six weeks post-surgery.
Although Punk’s absence from WrestleMania 40 disappointed fans worldwide, he has been transparent about his recovery progress, regularly updating them. It appears that he is making very good progress on his return to the ring.
Punk took to his Instagram story to showcase his rehabilitation, and show off the fact that he is now pushing weight in training without his arm brace.
CM Punk might have a return feud ready-made for him. Drew McIntyre has been throwing jabs at him on social media for weeks. He also dropped some merchandise to get under Punk’s skin even more.
Only time will tell if CM Punk will walk right into a World Heavyweight Championship program, but he may not miss WrestleMania. He made it clear that he is showing up at the show of shows, whether he’s invited or not.
Punk is slated to appear at WWE The World, the company’s first joint effort with Fanatics, for an autograph signing. Only time will tell if he gets involved in the showcase of the immortals this year as well.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more as we get closer to WrestleMania. You never know what will break next as the show of shows approaches.
