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Watch Seth Rollins vs. Becky Lynch on ‘Hot Ones Versus’ – Who Can Take The Heat?

Michael Shalik
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Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch have each clawed their ways to the top of WWE, but can they handle “Wings of Death” spicy hot wings on Hot Ones Versus?

Rollins and Lynch, one of pro wrestling’s premiere married couples, are scheduled to play huge roles in April’s WrestleMania 40 premium live event. Rollins will put his World Heavyweight championship on the line against Drew McIntyre, while Lynch battles Rhea Ripley for the women’s World Championship.

Rollins vs. Lynch on Hot Ones Versus

The rules are simple on Hot Ones Versus. ‘The Man’ and ‘Freakin’ have two choices: Tell the truth, or suffer the wrath of the Last Dab. Whoever eats the most wings, loses.

“Will Becky best Seth in a thumb wrestling match and take home the golden chicken wing trophy? Watch an all-new episode of Hot Ones Versus and find out!”

Watch: Hot Ones Versus featuring Seth Rollins vs. Becky Lynch

Young Bucks: We’re So Happy for Cody, AEW’s Founders Have a Lifetime Bond

Thomas Lowson
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The AEW EVPs share a bond that cannot be broken, no matter if one leaves and joins the promotion’s chief competition.

Alongside Tony Khan, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks oversaw the creative of AEW, which was officially announced on January 1, 2019. Since then, AEW has risen dramatically to become the biggest rival to WWE since the demise of WCW in March 2001. 

The AEW EVPs Unbreakable Bond

Currently, Matt and Nick Jackson are the only EVPs currently appearing on AEW TV. Kenny Omega remains absent due to his diverticulitis while Cody Rhodes parted ways with AEW in February 2022. 

Since then, Rhodes has returned to WWE and is poised to capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania. Speaking to SI, the Bucks were pleased to see Cody do well in WWE and addressed the bond they share. 

“Cody is the face of the WWE now, and it’s cool to see because we always knew how much of a star he was,” said Nick Jackson. “The founders of AEW will always have a lifetime bond with each other because we all know what we did for wrestling. We talk every week and in a weird way him leaving made us grow more as friends.”

Matt Jackson had similar praise for the American Nightmare and former AEW EVP.

“We’re proud of the things we accomplished with Cody and happy to see him rising to the occasion. We’re all rooting for each other.”

What’s Next? 

Cody will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania. There’s also the possibility he’ll pull double duty at the event. A tag match, pitting Rhodes and Seth Rollins against Reigns and The Rock has been disccused as a Night One headliner. 

The future is more clear for the Young Bucks. They will challenge AEW World Tag Team Champions Sting and Darby Allin this weekend at AEW Revolution. The match will be the last of Sting’s career. 

Special Entrance Planned For Sting’s Final Match at AEW Revolution 2024

Thomas Lowson
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‘The Icon’ Sting will be going out in style this weekend at AEW Revolution, with a special entrance planned for his last match.

In October 2023, Sting announced that he would retire in 2024 at the Revolution pay-per-view. It was at Revolution 2021 that the Stinger made his wrestling debut for AEW, after arriving in the company the previous December. 

Special Entrance For Sting

For his final match, Sting and Darby Allin will put their AEW World Tag Team Championships on the line against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. Sting was initially against the idea of winning the titles (or even challenging for them) but was talked into the idea. 

AEW is expected to go all-out (pardon the pun!) for Sting’s final match and give the wrestling legend a proper send off. Speaking to Fanatics View, Darby Allin spoke about plans for his tag-team partner. 

“I got a special thing planned for Sting’s final entrance that I’ve been working on. So, we’ll see how everything plays out in Greensboro.”

AEW Revolution 2024

AEW Revolution will take place on Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum from Greensboro, NC. Here is how the card currently stands. 

  • Sting and Darby Allin (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
  • Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) (AEW International Championship)
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (AEW Women’s World Championship)
  • Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson (Continental Crown Championship, If Bryan loses, he must shake Kingston’s hand)
  • Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Christian Cage (c) (with Killswitch, Mother Wayne, and “The Prodigy” Nick Wayne) vs. Daniel Garcia (AEW TNT Championship)
  • Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer (Meat Madness)
  • FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli)
  • Samoa Joe (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) (AEW World Championship)

WWE Legend Virgil Dies: Wrestling Star Mike Jones Was 61

Dominic DeAngelo
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Some sad news coming out of Pittsburgh this morning as the pro wrestling veteran known as Virgil, real name Mike Jones, passed away at the age of 61.

Close family friend Mark Charles III was the first to break the tragic news as he was the family during his passing which occured Wednesday morning.

“My dear friends, it is with great sorrow that I bring news from the Jones family of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones, whom we know and loved as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Train Jones and more.  Virgil passed peacefully at the hospital this morning and I ask that you pray for him and for his family. May his memory be eternal!”

Jones has been diagnosed with dementia in 2022 and also suffered two minor strokes that year as well. 

According to SLAM Wrestling, Charles was making an effort to move Jones into an ICU after just suffering another bout of minor strokes. According to Jones’ sister, Virgil never had cancer as it’s been previously reported by some outlets.

WWE Honors Virgil

WWE acknowledged the passing of Michael “Virgil” Jones.

Virgil, aka Mike “Soul Train Jones

Mike Jones first got his start in CWA as “Soul Train” Jones, a moniker he later brought back in a cameo for AEW, and feuded with Ray Traylor and Chick Donovan.

Following that he was signed to the WWF and notoriously became the butler to “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. After a babyface turn, Virgil eventually found his way to WCW as Vincent, a member of the NWO.

We at SEScoops would like to extend our condolences, thoughts and prayers to Mike Jones, his family, friends and fans at this time.

TKO’s Mark Shapiro: We’re Not Having Any Talks With Vince McMahon

Thomas Lowson
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TKO Group Holdings is not in contact with former Chairman Vince McMahon, according to TKO COO Mark Shapiro.

McMahon stepped down from WWE one month ago due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon has claimed that the litigation is rife with fabrications and has claimed he is completely innocent. Former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who is named in the suit, has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation.

Mark Shapiro On Vince McMahon

During TKO’s recent 2023 fourth quarter earnings call, Mark Shapiro was asked about the McMahon situation and a potential impact on TKO. Shapiro made clear that TKO has continued to distance itself from the 78-year-old McMahon.

“He’ll do whatever he’s going to do, and we’re all on the sideline. We’ll have a look, we’ll see. We have no idea on timing. We’re not having any discussion with him. He’s given us no point of view on his motive or his plans to sell or not sell, or if he does, how much. So, we’re going to wait around and find out just like you.”

Shapiro did not specifically address the allegations against McMahon. Ari Emanuel, the CEO of both Endeavor and TKO Group Holdings, did not comment on McMahon. 

What’s Next for TKO?

With McMahon gone, Ari Emanuel has replaced the 78-year-old as the Executive Chair of TKO. Emanuel already serves as the company’s CEO. Steven R. Koonin has been appointed the Lead Independent Director of the McMahon allegations and how it relates to TKO. Both appointments came into effect as of February 22. 

H/T – Deadline

Shawn Spears Reveals Why He’s Back In WWE Following Shocking Return On 2/27 NXT

Aaron Varble
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WWE has teased a mysterious Superstar during NXT for the past few weeks. We’ve now learned the identity of the man behind the mystery is former AEW star Shawn Spears.

After weeks of mysterious vignettes, the mystery reached its conclusion when Ridge Holland was in the ring, having previously dismissed NXT Women’s champion Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley and addressing recent events in the black and gold brand.

The lights went out, one final cryptic message echoed throughout the arena and a hooded figure appeared. He then proceeded to knock out Holland with a chair, revealing himself, to the shock and surprise of the entire WWE Universe.

Spears Comments on His WWE Return

WWE cameras caught up with Spears backstage at NXT just moments after his shocking return.

Why did Shawn Spears return to NXT? Why has he been taunting the NXT roster with strange and unsettling messages? According to the man himself, he’s there to deliver the truth.

Reactions

‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes acknowledged his longtime friend’s WWE return with a simple tweet:

Spears’ wife and former WWE Superstar Cassie Lee also showed some love on social media:

Shawn Spears’ Road Back to WWE

Shawn Spears wrestled in WWE developmental (2006-2008) and then WWE’s version of ECW for the next year before getting released.

He re-signed in 2013 and wrestled in NXT until 2017, where he was on the SmackDown brand until 2019. The ‘Perfect Ten’ signed with AEW later that year and gave his notice at the end of 2023.

Spears is coming up on two decades in the wrestling business. His career has come full circle and he’s now back with WWE and working with up and coming talent. This time around, he brings a wealth of experience that will serve both himself and the rising stars he’ll be working with.

Daily Drop (2/28): WWE Loses Millions, Tony Khan Is Happy With AEW Viewership

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 28. It should be the last day of the month, but we have leap year this time, so the 29th is coming tomorrow. In the meantime, let’s get right into the news!

Days until WrestleMania XL: 38

WWE:

– SEScoops ran a comprehensive retrospective of WWE Superstar reactions to the allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon. It is worth a read to catch up on everything that has been said.

– Shawn Spears made his return to WWE NXT last night. This came a few months after he left AEW when his contract expired. Now, he is back in WWE, with a brand-new gimmick and momentum.

– It was revealed in the TKO earnings report that WWE gave MLW $20 million to settle their antitrust lawsuit. This would explain Major League Wrestling’s current spending trend.

– RVD heavily insinuated that Vince McMahon has ties to the Mafia.

– It was reported by several outlets that Tama Tonga is on his way to WWE.

AEW:

– AEW revealed a brand-new logo for Dynamite. Needless to say, fans have been quite vocal about their feelings regarding this new change. Most of it has been positive, but there are always going to be fans who resist change.

– Darby Allin had a great quote when he recalled the first time he met Sting. He said in the Player’s Tribune: “When I got paired with Sting, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s funny — for weeks they had me up in the rafters, and I wasn’t sure why. You’d think I would’ve put two and two together, but I didn’t. I was just like, ‘Sit in the rafters? OK cool.’ But then at some point someone said, ‘Yo….. you know why we’re doing this, right? Sting’s coming.’ And I just remember thinking how crazy that sounded. Like, I couldn’t process it. STING? And in his first show back…. he’s going to have a staredown with ME? Haha what the f***.”

– Hangman Page is set to address his Revolution status on Dynamite this week.

– Tony Khan spoke to GV Wire about AEW’s ratings situation. He is very happy with how things are going for his company. “I think our ratings are tremendous,” Khan said. “We’ve beaten the NBA on Wednesday nights three out of the last four weeks. That’s pretty good for a league that’s been around for less than five years. The NBA is a very established league and ESPN is a very established network, so to premier AEW, a league that’s been around for less than five years, and beat the NBA straight up several weeks in a row is pretty powerful.” 

– QT Marshall cleared up his in-ring situation with AEW as he posted on Twitter/X to say, “I’m not wrestling at AEW. The fans didn’t like me out there so I’m going to wrestle everywhere else. I’m a man of the people.” 

AEW Dynamite card for 2/28/24:

  • Sting’s Farewell Match Set for AEW Dynamite
  • Hangman Page Set to Reveal Revolution Plans
  • Blackpool Combat Club Collides with Eddie Kingston & FTR
  • Will Ospreay Joins All Elite Roster
  • Chris Jericho Faces Atlantis Jr. in AEW Bout
  • Kris Statlander Clashes with Skye Blue on Dynamite
  • Final Countdown to AEW Revolution Begins

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Paul Wight Reflects On Learning Valuable Lessons From Sting

Bishal Roy
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0

Pro wrestling legend Sting is retiring soon and another veteran Paul Wight (formerly Big Show in WWE) has shared some lessons he has learned from ‘The Icon.’

Sting joined AEW back in 2020 and ‘The Icon’ has since created some memorable moments with his age-defying spots and moves as he faced several high-profile talents. The final run of his career has been a fairytale for him. In 2015 it seemed that a neck injury would threaten his career, Sting has overcome the odds and he’s ending his storied career on his own terms. 

Sting will bring down the curtain on his decorated career with his final match in AEW taking place at next month’s AEW Revolution 2024. 

Sting brings more than four decades of experience to the table and has shared his wisdom with several young superstars over the years. It was back in 1994 when Paul Wigh met Sting and they became not only on-screen rivals but also great friends. In the May of 1996, Wight headlined WCW’s Slamboree pay-per-view against Sting which remains to be the former’s landmark match. 

Wight recently spoke with Sports Illustrated and recalled some priceless lessons he has learned from Sting. Back in 1995, the infamous brawl between “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff and Vader broke out. While Wight was eager to get a closer view, Sting had another opinion on the matter.

“As I was getting up, Sting said to me, ‘Nothing good will come from that,’” said Wight. “I said, ‘What? I want to see what’s happening.’ And he said, ‘That’s their business.’ So we stayed there and finished the game.”

In the process, Paul Wight learned a valuable lesson.

“I learned something a lot deeper than that, too. I still remember how I wanted to jump right into the chaos. But he was right–it was between Orndorff and Vader. I didn’t have any business getting involved in it.”

Paul Wight couldn’t have asked for better influence than Sting 

During the interview, Paul Wight said that Sting had a huge influence on him in shaping his career. He recalled another lesson he’d learned about the business. He said:

“Somebody has to cook and somebody has to eat, and Sting taught me that core philosophy. I learned that my first job in a match is to get my opponent over, then get the match over. That’s Point A and Point B. If you do that right, you’ll automatically get yourself over. That’s not, ‘You do your stuff, I’ll do my stuff.’

It’s bigger than you. Some guys only take care of themselves, and good for them. But the guys I respect most are the ones who make people better in the ring. That’s someone like Ric Flair, he has to be mentioned. So does Sting. I couldn’t have asked for a better influence early in my career.”

Sting and Darby Allin recently defeated Ricky Starks and Big Bill to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship. This marks ‘The Icon’s first title run in the promotion and it seems that his title run is in jeopardy with The Young Bucks setting their sights on the gold.

RVD Says Vince McMahon Must Have Mob Ties That Allowed WWE In New York

Thomas Lowson
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Could Vince McMahon have ties to the mob which led to the Chairman’s dominance in New York City for decades? Rob Van Dam believes so. 

During the territory days, McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation was based in New York. It was from the Big Apple that McMahon launched his ‘aggressive expansion’ that resulted in McMahon domination of the United States and subsequently the world of professional wrestling. 

Vince McMahon & The Mob? 

With Madison Square Garden in the heart of the city, McMahon could not have picked a better home for his base of operations than NYC. On a recent edition of his 1 of a Kind podcast, however, Rob Van Dam had a theory as to how McMahon was allowed to operate in the city that never sleeps. 

“I am expecting to hear something about Vince and the mafia eventually, you know. Yeah, you know he’s got to be tied up in the mafia.

“There were certain years you couldn’t do anything in New York without working with them, his dad worked with them they ran the Arenas and the and the entertainment business pretty much everything you know at one point, so I know there’s some stories there yeah.”

Van Dam also referenced the alleged text messages sent by McMahon, which he believes were referencing the mafia instead of lawyers. 

“When he was like, ‘Hey you can’t give me any problems on this. I have phone numbers on speed dial, I have contacts on speed dial in my phone, they solve problems instantly. 

“Things of that nature and at the time I was thinking it read like I thought he met like big ass High powerful lawyers but now I’m thinking [imitates gun] someone will knock her off.”

Responses to Janel Grant’s Lawsuit

McMahon has denied all allegations of misconduct and has claimed that Janel Grant’s lawsuit is rife with fabrications. 

John Laurinaitis, who is named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit, has claimed he is a victim in this situation and not a predator. 

Brock Lesnar has been pulled from all WWE plans. Grant’s lawsuit claims she was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Chris Jericho Return Confirmed for This Week’s AEW Dynamite

Bishal Roy
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0

AEW veteran star Chris Jericho is set to make his return on this Wednesday’s edition of AEW Dynamite against CMLL’s Atlantis Jr.

AEW has built a working relationship with CMLL recently and AEW has featured several stars from the Mexican promotion. Atlantis is one of CMLL’s legendary stars, and he has competed around the world. He has held various titles in the promotion. He is a five-time CMLL World Tag Team Champion, a four-time CMLL World Trios Champion, and a two-time World Light Heavyweight Champion.

Now, his son, Atlantis Jr., who is the reigning NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Champion and one-third of the CMLL World Trios Champions will be making an appearance on Dynamite.

Chris Jericho set to return

Jericho will be making his return to the ring for the first time since the February 7 Dynamite. On the Wednesday, February 28 episode of Dynamite, Jericho will compete under his “Lionheart” gimmick and face Atlantis Jr. as announced by AEW President Tony Khan on Tuesday. 

The legendary Atlantis will be in his son’s corner for the match. Khan noted that Jericho and Atlantis teamed together in CMLL more than 30 years ago:

TOMORROW

Huntsville, AL Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite TBS, 8pm ET/7pm CT

Atlantis Jr vs “Lionheart” Chris Jericho

Over 30 years after @Atlantis_CMLL’s tag team with Corazon de Leon, he’ll be in his son’s corner vs his former partner when Atlantis Jr fights @IAmJericho

TOMORROW

Meanwhile, it has been announced that Kris Statlander & Skye Blue will square off for the third time on the show as well. Skye Blue had issued a challenge for a rubber match on last week’s Rampage and Statlander has accepted. Tony Khan has also announced on social media on Tuesday that the third match between Statlander & Blue has been made official for this week’s Dynamite.

Ex-Divas Champion Wishes She Was A Part Of WWE 2K24 Video Game

Thomas Lowson
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WWE 2K24 will see one of the series’ largest-ever rosters, but one former Superstar wishes that she was a playable character in the new game.

WWE 2K24 will be the latest game in the 2K series of games that began with the release of WWE 2K14 a decade ago. The Standard Edition of WWE 2K24 will be released on March 8, while the Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania Editions will be released three days earlier on March 5. Earlier this week, fans caught their first glimpse of gameplay footage from WWE 2K24. 

Kelly Kelly and WWE 2K24

With 4 decades of WWE being on display in WWE 2K24, not everybody can be featured in the upcoming video game. Recently, Kelly Kelly’s name was trending on social media as fans rallied for her to be included. Responding, Kelly said that she wishes she could be a part of WWE 2K24. 

WWE 2K24 Omissions

When WWE 2K recently revealed its roster for the upcoming game, fans noticed how several notable names were missing. Two-time WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, who will compete for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, was among those missing. In a statement, 2K said this was a simple error and has since included McIntyre and others in updated rosters. 

Kelly Kelly in Video Games

Kelly appeared in six video games during her run with WWE and made her in-game debut in SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008. From there, she appeared in SVR 2009, 2010, and 2011. After the game series rebranded, she appeared in WWE ’12 and WWE ’13. In Mexico, a videogame store sold an exclusive cover of WWE ’12 featuring Kelly Kelly on the cover. 

Cody Rhodes Has The ‘Perfect’ Response to Shawn Spears’ WWE NXT Return

Thomas Lowson
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Shawn Spears is officially back with WWE as part of the NXT brand, and Cody Rhodes has had the perfect reaction to the return of his fellow AEW alum.

Spears returned to WWE during the February 27, 2024, edition of WWE NXT. Spears was revealed to be the man behind weeks of mysterious vignettes. The former AEW star attacked Ridge Holland with a steel chair, much to the shock of the WWE Universe in Florida. 

Cody Rhodes Reacts to Spears’ Return

During his return, Spears was referred to by the Spears name, as opposed to his previous WWE moniker Tye Dillinger. During his days as Dillinger, Spears was referred to as the ‘Perfect 10.’ Reacting to Spears’ return, Cody Rhodes took to Twitter and gave an appropriate score for his friend’s comeback. 

Other Reactions

In a tweet of his own, Spears confirmed that his appearance on this week’s WWE NXT was not a one-off, and that he is back. 

Cassie Lee, the wife of Spears who competed for years in WWE as Peyton Royce, had her own reaction. The IIconic wrestler made clear that it was pleased to see Spears is back ‘home.’

Cody Rhodes wasn’t the only wrestler who had quite the high score for Spears’ return to WWE, as seen in the tweets below. 

Spears Return to WWE NXT

WWE went to great efforts to keep Shawn Spears’ return a secret ahead of this week’s NXT. During rehearsals for the attack on Holland, NXT head Shawn Michaels filled in for Spears. The Canadian’s name was also kept off of run sheets for this week’s NXT. Spears received a warm welcome backstage after his appearance on the show. 

TKO Gives Statement on Vince McMahon, Says He Has “Significant Portion of the Voting Power”

Thomas Lowson
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0

TKO has given a clear statement regarding the departure of Vince McMahon who despite his exit, is said to have a significant amount of voting power. 

McMahon stepped down from WWE one month ago due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon has claimed that the litigation is rife with fabrications and has claimed he is completely innocent. Former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who is named in the suit, has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation.

TKO Group Holdings Comments

In the 2023 Earnings filing, TKO Group Holdings had the following to say about McMahon in their “Legal Proceedings” division of the filing: 

“Vincent K. McMahon, who served as Executive Chair of the Company’s Board of Directors until January 26, 2024, controls a significant portion of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. 

Mr. McMahon has agreed to make future payments to certain counterparties personally. In accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5T, Miscellaneous Accounting, Accounting for Expenses or Liabilities Paid by Principal Stockholders (“Topic 5T”), the Company concluded that these amounts should be recognized by the Company as expenses in the period in which they become probable and estimable.

In connection with the acquisition of WWE, the Company assumed $3.5 million of liabilities related to future payments owed by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties, of which $2.0 million was paid directly by Mr. McMahon during the period of September 12, 2023 through December 31, 2023.

“During the period of September 12, 2023 through December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $3.5 million of expenses associated with payments made directly by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties. These costs are included within selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.

Additionally, during the period of September 12, 2023 through December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $3.5 million of costs associated with payments made directly by Mr. McMahon related to WWE’s global headquarters lease. These costs are included within finance lease right-of-use assets, net in our consolidated balance sheets. These payments are considered non-cash capital contributions and are included as a component of principal stockholder contributions in our consolidated statements of stockholders’/members’ equity.

“As of December 31, 2023, total liabilities of $1.5 million are included within accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheets related to future payments owed by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties.

What’s Next for TKO? 

With McMahon gone, Ari Emanuel has replaced the 78-year-old as the Executive Chair of TKO. Emanuel already serves as the company’s CEO. Steven R. Koonin has been appointed the Lead Independent Director of the McMahon allegations and how it relates to TKO. Both appointments came into effect as of February 22. 

How Did WWE Keep Shawn Spears Return A Secret At 2/27 Episode Of NXT?

Thomas Lowson
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Shawn Spears is back with WWE, and fans should get used to hearing that name instead of his previous moniker Tye Dillinger. 

Spears returned to WWE during the February 27, 2024, edition of WWE NXT. Spears was revealed to be the man behind weeks of mysterious vignettes. The former AEW star attacked Ridge Holland with a steel chair, much to the shock of the WWE Universe in Florida. 

What’s In A Name? 

While he previously competed for WWE as Tye Dillinger, the Canadian Superstar will go by Shawn Spears in this run, Fightful Select reports. The veteran began using the Spears name before joining WWE and used it again when he joined AEW in 2019. 

Kept a Secret

Few in WWE NXT were aware of Spears’ return, with one describing it as a “complete shock.” As of 8 pm EST, Spears was not listed on internal documents, nor was anyone else listed for Ridge Holland’s promo. In terms of rehearsals, Shawn Michaels would fill Spears’ role in rehearsals with Holland earlier today. One source told Fightful that Spears was signed to a deal for some time before the first ‘Three Faces’ vignettes began to air.

What WWE Superstars Had To Say About The Vince McMahon Scandal So Far

Dominic DeAngelo
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0

WWE Superstars are certainly in a tough position when it comes to addressing the Vince McMahon allegations. Not only are they talking about something that came out of left field regarding their former employer, but it was about someone whom many had a personal relationship with and in turn, changed their lives. 

However, it goes without saying that the allegations levied against Vincent Kennedy McMahon are heinous and jaw-dropping. Any person with common sense would hope that the truth of it all comes out. In this case, time is a friend to no one and questions get asked, meaning WWE talent have to wade tough waters on a subject that’s not only personal, but uncomfortable and a cobweb of legalities. At this juncture, many top names in WWE have had to address it and each have come with their varying levels of praise and criticism for how they’ve handled it.

Triple H, Bruce Prichard & Shawn Michaels

Triple H, Bruce Prichard and Shawn Michaels clearly have had a strong working relationship with Vince McMahon, but Paul Levesque has even another layer to his relationship being Vince’s son-in-law. The Game was one of the first names asked about McMahon during the Royal Rumble press conference and chose to not address the Janel Grant allegations, but rather currently look at the positive things WWE was doing that week. When asked specifically if he had read the legal document from Grant’s lawyers, Levesque said he hadn’t at the moment.

Another name asked not long after Hunter was his close friend HBK during the NXT Vengeance Day press conference. Michaels, who leads NXT, mostly focused on the safety and well-being of the talent, and made sure to say that he hopes to continue to cultivate a positive enviroment down in the black and gold.

Bruce Prichard was a third figure in power who addressed it personally on his Something To Wrestle With podcast. Prichard told co-host Conrad Thompson that he’s not at liberty to talk about the matter considering it is a legal situation.

Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens & Becky Lynch

Surprisingly enough, the first major star or WWE figure asked about the Vince McMahon allegations was Cody Rhodes, right after winning the 2024 Royal Rumble nonetheless. Rhodes happened to step up and lay the groundwork as to how a top talent should handle such a polarizing subject by mentioning how it was a “dark cloud” and credited the people behind-the-scenes as to how the situation was handled.

“This crew is very team-based, and perhaps that’s the ingredient. Everyone looking out for everyone. Being accountable.”

Moving forward, WWE has seemingly allowed their Superstars to address the matter as they see fit and Seth Rollins was another name who stepped up, stating it was a “crap situation,” and went on to mention how if the allegations are indeed true, he hopes the appropriate parties get what’s coming to them.

Seth Rollins’ wife, “The Man” Becky Lynch was recently asked about the allegations while in Perth for Elimination Chamber and provided a feminine perspective to the matter, noting that the allegations are hard to reconcile.

Another name asked about Vince in Perth was Kevin Owens who outright condemned the accusations, labeling it “shameful.”

Overall, the modern stars of WWE managed to walk that line of being professional, but also understanding the gravity of the allegations.

Randy Orton & John Cena

Randy Orton is fully an active member of the WWE roster, but he, like John Cena, have had a longer relationship with Vince McMahon than anyone aside from Michaels, Triple H and Bruce Prichard.

When asked about McMahon, Orton credited all that Vince McMahon has done and given to him, but in the same breath mentioned how heinous the accusations were.

“As far as commenting on that, it f*cking hurts my heart. It hurts my heart.” 

While Orton did directly reference the allegations outright, John Cena noted that the situation was super unfortunate and it deals with an entity and a man he loves.. While on Howard Stern, Cena spoke about accountability, but to the public eye, Cena was heavily criticized for his comments. Former WWE head writer Vince Russo even predicted that the star would get killed for his stance and believes his comments missed the mark.

With WrestleMania season picking up, one would have to suspect that several WWE names will still get asked about McMahon, even with the potential of more allegations surfacing against the former WWE Chairman. Many are still waiting to hear from current WWE CEO Nick Khan or even what The Rock may have to say about his one-time boss. One could hope they are handled as well as what many have already done and that justice will be served where warranted.

New AEW Dynamite Logo First Look, New Stage To Debut On 3/6

Dominic DeAngelo
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AEW appears to be fully embracing a new beginning for the company in light of Sting’s retirement.

The company is set to send Sting off in a big way as “The Icon” will be competiting in his final match at AEW Revolution on March 3 in a city he’s very familiar with in Greensboro, NC. However, although Tony Khan and AEW are losing a bonafide legend in the business with Sting’s exit, the company aims to ride that moment right out of Revolution.

Notorious AEW fan Drainmaker on X noted that on Sammy Guevara’s latest video blog that the company is set to reveal a new logo and set for Wednesday night’s AEW Dynamite. 

The logo AEW Dynamite logo has been spotted in the wild for the first time in this ad for an upcoming Dynamite from Winnipeg. Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast says he’s seen a “different color logo” so there may be variations to this logo when it premieres on TV. 

Those changes won’t take place until after Revolution, but Guevara, along with Matt Sydal did note that they saw the new logo ahead of time. Sydal commented on the new logo in time during Sammy’s video.

“It looks good. A good color scheme. It’s kind of Neo.”

New Look AEW Dynamite

This Wednesday will mark the final week for the current look of AEW as they hail out of Huntsville, AL.

My This new look will only be a week away from when AEW presents Big Business from Boston where all signs point to Mercedes Mone making her very long-awaited debut with the company.

As AEW has built towards Revolution, they have been making some significant changes not just externally, but internally. QT Marshall is back in a behind-the-scenes role with the company, but an even more notable move is the hiring of Jennifer Pepperman, former senior writer at WWE and daytime Emmy winner. Pepperman happened to leave her position at WWE not even a week before it was announced she inked a deal with Tony Khan.

WWE Settled MLW Antitrust Lawsuit For Massive $20 Million Price Tag

Aaron Varble
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MLW and WWE were in a legal battle for a long time in an antitrust lawsuit. That ended last year, and then MLW seemed to have a lot more money to spend. Although details of the exact amount of that settlement were not disclosed, that all came to light thanks to TKO’s earnings report.

The financial aspects of the antitrust lawsuit settlement between WWE and MLW have finally come to light, shedding new insights into the resolution reached between the two wrestling promotions. In the end, WWE forked over $20 million.

WWE and MLW’s Legal Battle

The legal dispute originated in January 2022 when MLW initiated legal action against WWE, alleging that the wrestling giant engaged in coercive practices to dissuade third parties from establishing or maintaining partnerships with MLW. Specifically, MLW cited instances where WWE purportedly interfered with potential agreements involving media outlets like Vice TV and the streaming platform Tubi.

After nearly two years of legal proceedings, WWE and MLW reached a settlement agreement in December 2023, bringing an end to the contentious litigation. While the financial terms of the settlement were initially kept confidential, recent revelations have uncovered crucial details regarding WWE’s financial obligation to MLW.

According to TKO Group Holding’s 2023 business report, which was unveiled on Tuesday, WWE has committed to paying a substantial sum of $20 million as part of the settlement agreement. This disclosure marks a significant development in the legal saga, providing clarity on the financial repercussions for WWE resulting from the antitrust lawsuit filed by MLW.

For the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s consolidated pre-tax results included $34.2 million in costs related to certain litigation matters at UFC and WWE, including the impact of a $20.0 million charge related to the settlement of an antitrust lawsuit at WWE. A reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 can be found in the supplemental schedule on page 14 of this release.

History of MLW

MLW was established by Court Bauer, who came from WWE roots. Bauer joined WWE in 1999, where he started as a writer for the Smackdown brand. Later on, he transitioned to the RAW brand and also worked on writing for various pay-per-views events. In 2002, Bauer went on to establish MLW.

Following MLW’s initial closure in 2004, Bauer evolved the brand into a radio and podcast network before making a comeback in 2017 as a pro wrestling company.

The promotion is now gearing up for its upcoming event, MLW Intimidation Games 2024, scheduled to take place in Queens, New York, this Thursday, February 29th.

SEScoops will have even more on this story as more news, if more news is available. 

Unmasking Real Identity of NYPD Officers That Attacked Cody Rhodes On Raw

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes had quite a match against Grayson Waller on WWE RAW this week, but then Paul Heyman came out with some reinforcements. While Heyman claimed that his backup was off-duty police, it seems that wasn’t the case at all.

The WWE extra who was brought in to take a brunt of Cody Rhodes’ abuse has now stepped forward. It was indie wrestler Nessy Skylark was the man behind the stunt.

Backstory of Unprotected Chair Shot

Amidst the aftermath of the match, Paul Heyman made an appearance, seeking to dissuade Rhodes from his pursuit of The Rock. Unfazed by Heyman’s attempts at persuasion, Rhodes stood firm, armed with a chair as a defensive measure against Heyman’s men.

Rhodes’ then said that one more step toward him would result in a lot of violence, and Heyman thought this didn’t apply to him at first, but he was mistaken. After Cody destroyed Heyman’s henchmen, that action forced Heyman to retreat, while calling up The Rock and Roman Reigns in the process.

During the melee, Rhodes delivered a devastating blow to one of Heyman’s associates, striking him squarely in the face with a chair before executing a punishing Cross Rhodes maneuver.

Cody Rhodes’ Victim Revealed

The repercussions of Rhodes’ assault were evident as the injured associate, later revealed to be professional wrestler Nessy Skylark, took to social media to showcase the aftermath, revealing a visibly swollen half of his face.

”Only slightly less handsome than before, but we good”

Some fans were a bit shocked that Cody Rhodes whacked this extra with a chair, because unprotected shots to the head are not allowed in today’s WWE. That being said, it seems that everything is okay in the situation.

On another note, right after RAW went off the air, Cody Rhodes also took part in a gender reveal for an expecting couple in the San Jose crowd. It’s a boy, and it was also quite a moment.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE RAW, and Cody Rhodes’ journey as he tries to finish his story at WrestleMania 40.

Drew McIntyre Dunks on Logan Paul For Trying To Cut Down His WWE RAW Promo

Aaron Varble
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Drew McIntyre is never one to hold back his opinions, especially as his current WWE character is prone to let things loose on the mic, and that carries over onto social media as well.

Logan Paul recently tried to mock McIntyre with a video on TikTok, one where he dissected the Scottish Warrior’s promo on WWE RAW this week, but McIntyre knew how to handle things in a big way.

Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul’s Battle on Social Media

Logan Paul dropped a TikTok video where he roasted Drew McIntyre’s promo on RAW. He dismissed McIntyre’s claims that he was standing at the end of the Chamber match, because he ended the match while still selling a high-risk move from Logan.

It didn’t take very long for Drew McItnrye to see that post from Logan Paul. He responded to throw LP under the bus, while referring to Jake Paul as the smarter of the two brothers.

I see your brother got all the talent and the brains. Admittedly, it’s a very low bar.

Interestingly enough, Randy Orton also shaded Logan prior to the Elimination Chamber event by calling him by his brother’s name. In the end, Logan cost The Apex Predator the Chamber match, but they had a little social media battle before the event even started.

Logan Paul and Randy Orton are now set to throw down at WrestleMania 40 with the United States Title on the line.

Logan Paul and Nina Agdal

LP and Nina Adgal were engaged to be married last year, and that brought a storm of insults from Dillon Dannis to hype their fight in Manchester. That fight almost went the distance, and in the end, Paul won after chaos broke out at the end of the boxing match.

Although Logan avenged his fiancé’s pride in that Danis fight, things certainly got ugly online as Danis shared a ton of content to troll the Danish model. Agdal sought and obtained a temporary restraining order instructing Danis to cease posting “sexually explicit photographs” of her “on the internet without her consent.” In her complaint, she further claims that he shared a sexually explicit photograph that was not intended for public dissemination or was “acquired without consent.”

On a related note, Triple H also asked Logan Paul not to do the nasty in his WWE United States Title. It seems that the Maverick has respected this request, and he is still holding onto that title to this day.

Darby Allin Recounts Cody Rhodes First Introducing Him To Sting

Dominic DeAngelo
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Darby Allin is grateful for his three years with Sting and got the opportunity to express as much in the written word.

One of the pillars of AEW was given a platform to speak his mind on “The Player’s Tribune” and starts it off by when he first got paired with “The Man They Call Sting” and how it didn’t click with him at first.

“When I got paired with Sting, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s funny — for weeks they had me up in the rafters, and I wasn’t sure why. You’d think I would’ve put two and two together, but I didn’t. I was just like, ‘Sit in the rafters? OK cool.’ But then at some point someone said, ‘Yo….. you know why we’re doing this, right? Sting’s coming.’ And I just remember thinking how crazy that sounded. Like, I couldn’t process it. STING? And in his first show back…. he’s going to have a staredown with ME? Haha what the f***.”

Allin notes that it was Cody Rhodes who implored Darby to be introduced to Sting before they had a moment in the ring together. He recalled when “The American Nightmare” took him to meet the WWE Hall of Famer.

“He was like, ‘Alright. Sting’s here. I want you to meet him before you go out there.’ Then he walked me over to Sting’s trailer. It happened so fast, I barely had time to remember how nervous I was. But there was nothing to be nervous about. We started talking through the segment, and it was actually wild: there was no ego from him, no big-timing, no This is how it’s gonna happen, kid. None of that. If anything, it was the other way around. He was asking me how it’s gonna happen, and if I was OK with this, this and this, and if everything was cool.

“We’re talking about a guy who’s headlined some of the biggest shows ever, made shitloads of money, been on top longer than I’ve been alive. He’s showing up for this massive return. And his main concern is that I’m feeling comfortable. A 27-year-old nobody who he’s probably thinking jacked half his look. I was just like, WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS INSANE. HOW IS STING SO NICE.”

Sting is not only genuinely a nice person, but he’s been notoriously nice for AEW as a major star. Sting, along with Darby, are set to square off against The Young Bucks in what is more than likely the main event of AEW Revolution on March 3 in Greensboro, NC.

Drew McIntyre WWE Contract Update Heading Into WrestleMania 40

Dominic DeAngelo
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As strong argument can be made that Drew McIntyre is the top heel in WWE heading into WrestleMania 40, but is the Scotsman finally signed to a deal?

According to Alex McCarthy of the Daily Mail, McIntyre has yet to put his name down on the dotted line for WWE despite being in the World Title match against champion Seth Rollins. And although McIntyre is by all accounts having the characer run of his career, it’s being reported that the two parties are still far away from an agreement.

McIntyre shined in Australia as he along with LA Knight were the first two to start the men’s Elimination Chamber match, with the story being that Drew capitalized on every opportunity to get a pinfall in the match. This all culminated in a clash with Randy Orton as the final two men as Drew got added assistance thanks to Logan Paul who slugged Orton with a pair of brass knuckles, soldifying Drew’s path to WrestleMania in Philadelphia.

Despite a busted ear drum, Drew continued to carpe diem his star power as he along with Seth Rollins had a compelling confrontation in the middle of the show (with McIntyre continuing to take digs at CM Punk). Later on,  a match was set up next week between McIntyre and Jey Uso.

Considering the massive push he is getting, it’s hard to fathom that there may not be at least a verbal handshake agreement between McIntyre and Triple H as they head towards WrestleMania, but whether signed or not, McIntyre is proving his worth as a top star in wrestling.

Shake-Up in WWE NXT: Writer Parts Ways with Company

Aaron Varble
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WWE just saw Jennifer Pepperman depart from the company, and now she is VP of Content for AEW. Now, NXT is losing a creative mind from their writers room,

Nick Bonanno, a member of the NXT creative team serving as a writer and producer, has departed WWE following the recent television tapings. It was not noted where he may go next.

WWE NXT Loses Writer

Mike Johnson of PW Insider broke the news of Bonanno’s exit from the company. He actually hadn’t been with the company for an entire 2 years. 

Bonnano joined WWE in April 2022, having previously worked as an executive producer and showrunner for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. His departure marks a notable change within the NXT creative department.

While the specific reasons for Bonanno’s exit remain undisclosed, SEScoops will update you to provide additional information as it becomes available.

WWE NXT This Week

In other related news, you can check out the lineup for the upcoming episode of NXT scheduled for February 27th below:

  • NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar (c) vs. A member of No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp, or Myles Borne)
  • Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov confront each other
  • Ridge Holland addresses the WWE NXT Universe
  • Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows vs. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade
  • Lexis King vs. Von Wagner
  • Dijak vs. Luca Crusifino
  • Kelani Jordan vs. Kiana James
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Jakara Jackson

WWE Signing Tama Tonga Out Of Free Agency After NJPW Exit

Aaron Varble
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WWE has had their eye on Tama Tonga for a long time. Now, his time is finally coming to work in the biggest pro wrestling company in the world after taking over NJPW for so many years.

Dave Meltzer has confirmed on F4WOnline that Tama Tonga is on his way to WWE. This will mark a huge step in his pro wrestling journey.

WWE sources have confirmed that Aliopate Aloisio Leone, better known as Tama Tonga, is headed to the company.

Tama Tonga expressed a desire to prioritize family time after spending extended periods away from home on wrestling tours, much like his father did. Despite negotiations with WWE last year following the expiration of his New Japan contract, Tonga ultimately chose to extend his stay in Japan for another year.

More Confirmation

Fightful Select also reported to confirm that it appears WWE landed this big free agent. The report simply backed up Meltzer’s report to say that Tonga is WWE-bound.

Tuesday, Wrestling Observer reported that longtime NJPW wrestler Tama Tonga Is headed to WWE. Fightful was able to confirm that is the expected move, barring unforseen circumstances.

Who is Tama Tonga

Tonga, the nephew and adopted son of professional wrestler Haku, partnered with his cousin and adoptive brother Tanga Loa to create the tag team Guerrillas of Destiny. Their collaboration lasted until Tonga departed NJPW in 2024. He played a pivotal role as a founding member of Bullet Club and remained one of the stable’s longest-serving members until 2022.

Tonga is named after his father Haku, who initially competed under the name Tama Tonga before adopting the monikers King Tonga, Haku, and Meng.

Tonga, alongside his tag team partner Loa, achieved seven IWGP tag team championship reigns. Transitioning to singles competition, Tonga secured the Never Openweight title on four occasions. However, he recently lost the title to Evil on January 22 in Nagoya, coinciding with the expiration of his contract at the end of the month. He returned for a final farewell match on Saturday.

Drew McIntyre Suffered Legitimate Injury During WWE Elimination Chamber

Aaron Varble
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Drew McIntyre gave his all in the 2024 Elimination Chamber match. In the end, he also suffered a bit of an injury. The current #1 contender for Seth Rollins’ title is now dealing with an eardrum injury.

McIntyre already mentioned an eardrum injury, but it wasn’t known if this was legit. Now, a new report has been able to confirm that he did suffer this injury in the chamber.

Drew McIntyre’s Injury Status

PW Insider has reported to confirm that Drew McIntyre’s eardrum injury is 100% legit. He really did suffer that injury during the Elimination Chamber.

The flight back from Australia was a very long one for WWE Superstars. We can only imagine how a busted eardrum made things worse for the Scottish Warrior.

It was all worth it, because McIntyre will battle Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40.

McIntyre Spoke About His Injury Already

We previously reported that Drew McIntyre talked about his possible eardrum injury during an interview after Elimination Chamber. While speaking to The Bump, McIntyre said:

“I can barely hear the words after getting hit in the ear so hard. It’s fine. I said I would do whatever it takes, not just for me but for everybody else. And every superplex, every dive off the cage, every power bomb in the back of my neck was worth it. I said I’d go through any obstacle. Push Cody to finish his story, that’s what the fans wanted. Push Seth to stop being selfish. Some people are like, it’s just so you can get Seth at WrestleMania.”

“Yeah, I just had to beat AJ Styles and I just had to put myself through hell while jet lagged, while this eardrum appears to be burst. Worth it. I did it for each and every one of you. We’re so close, so close. WrestleMania, we finish our own story and I finally get my moment.”

Drew McIntyre has not signed a new contract as of this writing. With his current booking trajectory, it stands to reason that he wouldn’t want to go anywhere, but only time will tell what he decides to do.

We’re hoping that Drew McIntyre will be 100% by WrestleMania. If anything, bot champion and challenger will be going into that match a bit banged, up, as Seth Rollins is overcoming an MCL injury as well.

SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for more updates.

WWE’s Rumored Plan For GUNTHER’s IC Title Loss Squashed

Aaron Varble
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GUNTHER’s IC Title reign has been historic so far, and he recently beat Jey Uso to retain his belt. That match helped re-spark Jimmy vs Jey for their WrestleMania match, but there were never any real plans for things to go any other way.

It was noted on Twitter/X prior to the match that some were under the impression that Jey Uso would win the title. It was noted in some circles that talent were thinking that GUNTHER’s reign may end, but that’s not the case.

IC Title Plans Did Not Change

Fightful Select reported that there were never any real plans in place for Jey Uso to win the WWE IC Title from GUNTHER. There were a few rumors going around that he may win the title prior to the match.

Regarding rumors that Jey Uso was to win the IC Title last week, we’re told that info was relayed to a couple of people but it wasn’t actually planned.

I also asked around after the match and was told that there were never any plans for Jey Uso to win the title. The road to WrestleMania is underway, and that will include GUNTHER as IC Champion.

GUNTHER’s Historic IC Title Run

GUNTHER was already the longest-running WWE NXT UK Champion from 2019 to 2022, and he took that dominance to the main roster.

Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship reign reached a new milestone on February 20, as he broke the record for the most cumulative days as champion. This achievement surpasses the previous record-holder, Pedro Morales, who held the title for a total of 619 days across two reigns. Morales had held this record for an impressive 41 years.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40. So, keep checking back for more updates.

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