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WWE Adds Major Stakes To 2024 Elimination Chamber Match

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins does not have an opponent at WrestleMania 40, but WWE has a plan to determine who will face him next. After all, Cody Rhodes will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, whether The Rock likes it or not.

Big Elimination Chamber Announcement

This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown opened up with Triple H, and he had a lot to say. The Game took several shots at The Rock by borrowing from his phrases.

Then Nick Aldis made it clear that Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania will be determined at the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia. We will have to see who gets in the match, but qualifying matches are already underway.

Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, AJ Styles, The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Dominik Mysterio and LA Knight will battle in qualifying matches. 

2024 WWE Elimination Chamber Location and Start Time

The Elimination Chamber event, named Elimination Chamber: Perth, is set to happen on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions will participate. The event kicks off at 5am.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, including the Elimination Chamber build. 

Triple H Takes Several Shots At The Rock While Addressing WWE WrestleMania Controversy During SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WWE held quite an event in Las Vegas on Thursday. At the end of the day, Cody Rhodes picked Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent, and The Rock wasn’t happy. After Triple H was told to “fix this” by The Rock, he appeared on SmackDown this week to address the matter.

Triple H Sets The Record Straight

Triple H opened up SmackDown this week to address this WrestleMania situation. Of course, he was greeted with an amazing ovation. Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were also in the ring waiting on the WWE COO.

After saying that it feels like we’re on the road to WrestleMania, Triple H addressed last night’s conference in Las Vegas. Triple H wanted to clear up one thing, but then “Rocky sucks” chants interrupted him.

Triple H said that he felt that there was some confusion in the air, because they don’t know their role, and they tried to assert their authority when they didn’t have anyone. He then said he doesn’t care where anyone sits, because Triple H is the one who makes all the creative shots in the company.

Triple H Continued

Then, Triple H confirmed that Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. He said that some people may not like that decision, but “it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that decision.”

It seemed that Triple H took a lot of shots at The Rock with that promo as he welcomed everyone to the road to WrestleMania once again.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of whatever happens next on the road to WrestleMania.

Teddy Hart Has Arrest Warrant Issued After Failing To Appear For Court

Aaron Varble
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Teddy Hart once had the world ahead of him, and he was representing a famous pro wrestling family in the process. Sadly, his recent years have been filled with legal issues, and now he has an arrest warrant for out on his name.

Arrest Warrant for Teddy Hart

PW Insider reports that a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Teddy Hart after he failed to appear in court on February 8. This adds to his string of problems with the law in recent years.

Hart was arrested in July 2023 on charges of possession of MDMA and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, both of which are third-degree felonies in Florida.

The court date was scheduled as a mandatory appearance for “Early Resolution,” but the hearing was postponed multiple times. Additionally, the court has revoked Hart’s $2,000 bond.

More Information On Teddy Hart’s Arrest

The arrest occurred on July 14, 2023, when Officer Eduardo Gonzales observed Hart’s vehicle speeding and running a red light. Upon pulling him over, Gonzales detected the smell of burnt marijuana and found loose leaf marijuana in the vehicle. Further searches uncovered MDMA pills and powder, as well as anabolic steroids, leading to Hart’s arrest on the mentioned charges.

Following his arrest, Hart wrestled his first match in three years in Florida on the same evening. However, he has not competed since then.

Teddy Hart’s Controversial History

Hart’s troubled history was depicted in the Peacock reality series Dangerous Breed, which drew attention to his tumultuous personal life.

The show demonstrated his problematic behavior towards former partners, including allegations of abandonment, abuse, extortion, drug use, and passport confiscation. That troubling track record led to a few arrests over the years, and he’s been blackballed by many pro wrestling companies since then.

The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania Power Play ‘Feels Gross’ To Seth Rollins

Aaron Varble
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The Rock’s return to WWE caused shockwaves all over. Fans spoke out with a lot of unhappiness, because they didn’t like the idea of the Great One taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Now, we are looking at what is next, and Seth Rollins saw the whole thing unfold.

During Thursday’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event, Cody Rhodes announced his challenge to Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40.

Seth Rollins Speaks On The Rock

There was anticipation that WWE would unveil The Rock vs. Reigns instead, a plan that remains intact, while Rhodes was initially expected to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

The plan for Rock vs. Reigns had been kept under wraps last month following Dwayne Johnson’s appointment to the TKO Board of Directors. This arrangement was part of a deal that Johnson strongly advocated for, despite Rhodes expressing his desire to conclude his ongoing storyline.

While speaking with FOX News, Seth Rollins said that The Rock’s entire return to take a WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns felt gross, but now it appears that Cody Rhodes is going to get what he wants.

“It’s just what happens when powerful people exert their power. They just think they do whatever they want and get away with it, and that sucks. It just sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it. I guess it (resulted) in Cody getting what he wanted. We’ll figure out what’s next for the World Heavyweight title. But Cody said it best. It’s bullsh*t. It feels pretty gross to me.”

What’s Next

We will have to see how WWE books WrestleMania 40 at this point. As we previously noted, there is an interesting expectation at this point.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, “The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania.”

It is also important to note that three days ago, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

Triple H is set to be on SmackDown this week to address the current WrestleMania situation. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, because it’s anyone’s guess what they book at this point. 

AEW May Be Running Another Stadium Show This Year

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling has been ambitious in the past few years, expanding their business and running larger venues. AEW added two stadium shows in 2023, notably the successful AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Currently, the company has tickets on sale for this year’s AEW All In event and is expected to hold the AEW Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.  

However, a new report shares they are expected to add another stadium show to their 2024 schedule. 

On the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, Andrew Zarian answered a fan question on whether AEW would run a stadium show in the United States. He noted that AEW has AEW Grand Slam, held yearly since 2021 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He also confirmed that he believes they will run another stadium show in the U.S. sometime this year. 

It’s important to note that while Zarian believes AEW will have a third stadium this year, the company has yet to make an official announcement. That said, AEW may look for another stadium show in the United States as they continue to expand their business. The report does raise questions on whether it is the right time for the company to run a second stadium show with inconsistent ticket sales success. 

AEW Live Event Ticket Sale Concerns

AEW weekly live event episodes of AEW Dynamite and Collision haven’t done consistently well in attendance. WrestleTix shared on Twitter that the February 7 episode of AEW Dynamite at the Footprint Center in Phonix, Arizona, had a setup for a 5,285 seating capacity. However, it’s well below the seating capacity the venue can hold, which could be over 12,000. 

Although the company may be inconsistent in selling out or reaching capacity weekly, their more significant events have proven to do well. The upcoming pay-per-view event, AEW Revolution, on March 3 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, is expected to be a sold-out show. On February 8, WrestleTix reported on Twitter that the company had sold over 15,651 tickets with a setup of 16,207. 

It’s unclear what success AEW could have at this time doing a second stadium event in the U.S. However, they are taking chances and hoping to give their fans a great year of wrestling. 

Ex-WWE Star Billy Jack Haynes Arrested After Fatal Shooting Leaves Woman Dead

Thomas Lowson
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Former wrestler Billy Jack Haynes was arrested at his home in Portland this week following the fatal shooting of a woman believed to be his wife. 

Local news reports that the incident unfolded on Thursday morning with police receiving a call at around 9:52 AM. Upon arrival, they found a woman’s lifeless body inside the home of the former wrestler. Hanes had “not cooperated with officers” and with fears that he was armed, a tactical team was brought in. 

After a tense standoff, Haynes “eventually came out” of the home and was detained. There is no ongoing threat to the community according to police. Neighbor Steve Odry said the following: 

“I decided to go for a walk when I saw all the cops down by my house. And I just then noticed all the blocks taped off and I just came down here.”

Police at the scene did not identify the woman found in the house. It was noted by neighbors that Haynes lived in the home with his wife. 

Billy Jack Haynes in Wrestling

Trained by Stu Hart, Haynes broke into the wrestling business in 1982 and would join the World Wrestling Federation in 1986. Haynes would feud with Randy Savage over the Intercontinental Championship and later with Hercules Hernandez over who was stronger. Haynes and Hernandez fought in the ‘Battle of the Full Nelsons’ at WrestleMania 3, as both men used this move as a signature hold. The match went to a double count-out. 

Haynes left the WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. In one version of his exit, Haynes q
uit the WWF after refusing to do a job in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Another telling of his exit said that he wrestled the match and the finish and was fired afterward.

Bret Hart Likens Vince McMahon to Jeffrey Dahmer, Harvey Weinstein & Jeffrey Epstein

Rayan Saayed
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Bret Hart thinks that the Vince McMahon allegations are “too sick and disgusting to really imagine.” 

Hart discussed the lawsuit filed by former WWE employee named Janel Grant, accusing McMahon of sexually assaulting, coercing, and trafficking her to others in WWE, during an interview with Slate’s Abraham Josephine Riesman.

Despite Hart’s previous respect for McMahon, his opinion of the former promoter changed drastically. 

“I’m going to speak my truth. I’m not worried about Vince’s feelings. He’s never cared about mine,” Hart told the outlet. “I don’t have any problem with everybody kicking his head around the parking lot. I’m OK with the truth coming out.”

‘Sounds Like Vince’

Hart also revealed that a few months ago, he was “warned” by “wrestling insiders” that McMahon “was in big trouble that he wasn’t going to be able to sweep under the rug.”

Speaking about the heinous acts committed by McMahon described in the filing, Hart said, “When you get that vision in your head, you go, ‘That’s messed up.’ It’s too sick and disgusting to really imagine.”

Hart even remarked that the screenshots of the text messages included in the suit, which are alleged to have been sent by McMahon after committing the acts, “sound like Vince.”

Corrupt Culture

Hart also mentioned that this is not the only instance of “predatory behavior” in the company, acknowledging that he had heard about sexual abuse incidents throughout his time in the wrestling industry.

“I think you’ll find that it’s everywhere in [WWE],” he added. Hart admitted that he never spoke against it because McMahon was “kind of like The Godfather,” who would “be your enemy again” over something you say or do, besides being extremely powerful and wealthy.

The Hitman likened McMahon to Jeffrey Dahmer, Harvey Weinstein, and Jeffrey Epstein.

“Vince will be a joke.. He’ll be used for humor, and you’ll shake your head at the shock value of some joke about, ‘What did Vince McMahon do?’ He’ll always be associated with this story, especially as it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Hart admitted that he used to think that whatever wrong McMahon did, it was for the wrestling industry and for promoting it as an art form. However, these accusations had nothing to do with the business, which made Hart reflect back on his thinking. 

“I always had respect for him,” Hart said. “Now it’s tainted. I’m embarrassed that I thought so highly of him.”

Meanwhile, McMahon has resigned from WWE, but there is a belief that he may still retain some power in the company.

Ashley Massaro Says Vince McMahon Sexually Preyed On Women in Previously Unreleased Statement

Thomas Lowson
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Ashley Massaro saw Vince McMahon act inappropriate with women and made her uncomfortable, a previously unreleased statement from the late wrestler claims.

Before her death in 2019, Massaro claimed that she had been sexually assaulted during an overseas tour for WWE, but that the company pressured her to keep quiet. WWE management has always denied any knowledge of Massaro’s claim. This month, a representative for former WWE executive John Lauriniatis has claimed that higher-ups were aware of the alleged incident.

Ashley Massaro’s Statement

The Massaro allegations have received new attention given the ongoing lawsuit against Vince McMahon by former WWE employee Janel Grant. In a previously unreleased statement now shared by Vice, Massaro alleges that McMahon was inappropriate with women, including herself following her Playboy magazine release.

“During my time with the WWE, I had observed Vince McMahon making-out with other divas in the locker room, but he never paid attention to me, and I assumed I was not his type. This changed after my Playboy cover was released. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to fly on the company jet and stay at the same hotels as the executives for a period of time so that I could get home faster to spend more time with my daughter.

“On one of these occasions, Vince was attempting to get me alone with him in his hotel room late at night and I felt extraordinarily uncomfortable. He began calling the hotel room phone and my cell phone nonstop. I called Kevin Dunn to explain the situation and he said I should tell Vince I was not feeling well and would see him on TV the next day, so I did.”

Massaro claims that her attempts to rebuff the Chairman led to McMahon making efforts to sabotage her career. 

“Immediately after that night, Vince started writing my promos for me. Vince does not write promos for female wrestlers—that is the job of the creative department—and he certainly wouldn’t have, under any normal circumstances, written a promo for me. But he did, and the promos were written with the clear intention of ruining my career.

“I brought the first script Vince wrote for me to the WWE employee in charge of Creative at the time, Michael Hayes, and he said, ‘you’re not saying this, who the [expletive] wrote this?’ and I told him that Vince did. He said, ‘Well kid, these are the breaks,’ meaning that Vince wanted to end my career and destroy my reputation on my way out.

McMahon wasn’t just satisfied with trying to sabotage Massaro’s career, as the late wrestler claims he would also be inappropriate when passing. 

“He is known for this type of behavior and also did this to [REDACTED] upon her departure from WWE. In addition, after that night, each time I walk by him he would make vulgar sexual comments that were clearly designed to make me uncomfortable.”

McMahon has denied all allegations against him made in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. John Lauriniatis has claimed that he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation.

Damage CTRL Stable May Be In For More Changes On Road To WWE WrestleMania

Aaron Varble
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Damage CTRL started out with Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO Sky. That SummerSlam 2022 surprise marked one of Triple H’s first big flexes in creative, as he created the stable by bringing Kai back from free agency and convincing IYO to stick around WWE instead of going back to Japan. Now, the stable is much different.

Changes for Damage CTRL

Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the stable much later, after Kai was taken out of action with a knee injury. She has remained on television consistently, but she hasn’t been wrestling. Bayley soon found herself losing control of the stable’s direction.

In recent memory, Bayley won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match. This gave her the chance to call her shot at WrestleMania. She picked IYO Sky as her opponent for the WWE Women’s Title, and then she was promptly kicked out of the stable.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that it is very interesting to note that Damage CTRL filmed graphics for WrestleMania with only IYO Sky, Asuka, and Kairi Sane, with no Dakota Kai in sight. 

Damage Ctrl filmed WrestleMania graphics without Kai for what it’s worth. 

It was also noted that, “Kai should be returning relatively soon.” It will be interesting to see how WWE re-inserts her into the situation.

What’s Next For Bayley

Bayley is now a babyface, and she may need an ally. Dakota Kai siding with her may add an intriguing aspect to this WrestleMania program.

On a related note, CM Punk spoke out in a big way about how he believes Bayley deserves far more respect on her name. She won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble, and she wasn’t included in promotional material, and she wasn’t featured in the WrestleMania kickoff press conference event at the T-Mobile Arena in Last Vegas this week.

SE Scoops will have more coverage on this story as additional information is made available. 

Paul Wight Set To Undergo Knee Surgery

Bishal Roy
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Pro wrestling veteran Paul Wight (formerly known as The Big Show in WWE) is set to undergo knee surgery. 

Paul Wight has had a storied career spanning several decades. He made a major impact on AEW when he joined the promotion in early 2021. His signing was a massive coup for AEW and he brought a veteran presence to the promotion alongside his wealth of experience to AEW’s roster.

Paul Wight returned to the squared circle on AEW Dynamite in November last year. He teamed with Kota Ibushi, & The Golden Jets (Jericho & Kenny Omega) and defeated Brian Cage & The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs) in a street fight. 

Most recently, Wight reunited with his WWE tag team partner Chris Jericho on the Chris Jericho Cruise. However, fans were concerned for Wight, who has had knee issues.

Paul Wight will undergo surgery

Over the years, performing in the ring has taken a physical toll on him and his body has started to show wear and tear and he revealed that he will undergo surgery. 

In this brief conversation with a fan on the cruise, Wight said:

 “I’m going to get knee surgery.” 

Apart from competing in the AEW ring, Wight’s presence provided invaluable mentorship to rising superstars of tomorrow and helped elevate their performances. With his larger-than-life persona, Wight continues to be an integral part of AEW’s ongoing growth and success.

Currently, it is not known when he is planning to get the knee replacement surgery.

TCW Crowns Inaugural Champions At First TV Tapings (Results)

Rayan Saayed
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Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling made its return this Thursday, marking the revival of the promotion created by the late Dusty Rhodes after a hiatus of 20 years.

The event took place at Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory in McDonough, Georgia, and it was a sold-out affair. Dusty Rhodes’ daughter Teil and QT Marshall were also in attendance.The event was filmed for television.

Turnbuckle Championship TV taping results from February 8

Here are the results from Thursday night’s TCW’ show:

– Kay Jay Impala & Dylan Lesynd defeated Jimmy Wild & Shaun Moore in a match that took place before the tapings began.

– Brady Booker defeated Elijah Drago (with The Diamond Sheik)

– Carlie Bravo (with Shawn Dean) defeated “The Mexican Rockstar” Vary Morales

– Dyland Lesynd defeated Matt Cardona

– The East Coast Outlaws defeated The Supastarz, Nikki Eight & Tommy Mars – TCW Tag Team Championship match

– Angelica Risk defeated Hyena Hera – TCW Women’s Championship match

– Adrian Ward defeated Aaron Solo – Nightmare Factory Championship match

– QT Marshall, Luther Biggs, Scotty Riggs & Glacier defeated Sunny Daze, Owen Knight, Duncan Mitchell & Adam Priest (w/ Matt Griffin) – Eight-man tag team match

In addition to the matches, various promos and vignettes showcased the history of the promotion and introduced some wrestlers to the audience.

Teil Rhodes was introduced as the Executive Vice President (authority figure) of TCW.

About TCW’s return

In December 2023, reports emerged that Cody Rhodes and his Nightmare Factory partner QT Marshall filed a trademark for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.

The promotion initially set up its offices in East Cobb County, Georgia, and held its inaugural event in July 2000. It later had its first PPV in 2001 and secured television airtime. Following the closure of WCW and ECW, many notable names such as Scott Hall, ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, and New Jack competed in the promotion.- 

Current Backstage Morale In AEW Despite Disappointing Dynamite Viewership Turnout

Aaron Varble
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AEW has been through a few peaks and valleys since opening their doors several years ago. As Tony Khan leads his roster through 2024, it appears that he has spirits up at this time.

Backstage Morale In AEW

AEW is still going, and they have a lot of things in the pipeline. Although Kazuchika Okada’s signing is still up in the air, all appearances are that Mercedes Mone is coming into the company.

It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone has actually been on the AEW payroll since last month. For whatever reason, morale seems to be up within the company.

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 805,000 viewers on TBS. It was down 1.6 percent from the previous week and marked the lowest audience total for the show since January 10. 

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that morale has significantly improved within AEW. This is in spite of the low viewership rating this week.

A couple of people have noted that the morale has really picked up and is the best in some time, even if the rating this week was universally disappointing for such a loaded show that was promoted as the biggest Dynamite of the year, with a match to determine the Revolution main event, a title match involving Sting where the expectation was he would win, and a Tony Khan big announcement. I did get that from a big announcement standpoint, people weren’t impressed with the idea of a show and if Okada or Mone were announced that would have been considered like a big announcement

What’s Next For AEW

AEW has a lot of plans in the pipeline, including their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston on March 13th. That is expected to be Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company, as Bean Town is her home, and AEW also included “BO$$TON” on the graphic for the upcoming show.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of AEW Dynamite and whatever else Tony Khan has planned.

Current Expectation For WWE WrestleMania 40 Main Event Matches

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans were left shocked by the press conference in Las Vegas. Although there are a lot of questions left to answer, we now have an idea how the WrestleMania main event matches are taking shape.

WWE’s Expected WrestleMania 40 Main Event Picture

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that The Rock finalized a deal on January 3rd with Ari Emanuel and Nick Khan, not only securing a spot on the Board of Directors but also committing to headline WrestleMania this year. That match was presumably against Reigns. 

Dwayne Johnson mentioned that the storyline had been in the works for years. The Bloodline storyline with Roman Reigns has been going on for that long as well.

Following a non-press conference at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Reigns vs. Rhodes for WrestleMania was announced, with no additional match announcements beyond teasing the Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch matchup. Ripley is set to face the winner of the Elimination Chamber match on February 24th in Australia. 

Although it’s believed that Rollins will defend against the winner of the men’s Chamber match at the same event, no such match has been confirmed. The tease for Rhodes vs. Rollins suggested that an announcement will likely be made in the coming week, but we’re waiting on official confirmation on that.

It was also reported that the current idea is a potential tag team clash between Reigns and Rock versus Rhodes and Rollins, possibly scheduled for day one at WrestleMania, for a main event match. During the conference, Rock turned heel on Rhodes after a dispute about families, siding with Reigns and slapping Rhodes, while Rollins sided with Rhodes during the whole thing.

The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania. Rock ended up going heel on Rhodes, slapping him in the face after an argument about families, and siding with Reigns. Rollins was out there at the time and ended up backing up Rhodes.

WWE Tried To Book The Rock vs Roman Reigns Before

The matchup between Reigns and Rock had been discussed before the pandemic as a one-time return match, initially considered for WrestleMania in Dallas in 2022. However, Dwayne Johnson aimed for Los Angeles in 2023, later withdrawing due to time constraints, but he left Philadelphia in 2024 as a possibility. 

Rhodes was initially slated for the match against Roman Reigns due to The Rock pulling out last year, as Rhodes and Seth Rollins were reportedly set to create the second world title last year, which was delayed. Now, we find ourselves in a very interesting situation on the road to WrestleMania 40.

Scott D’Amore Attempted To Acquire TNA Prior To Being Fired

Bishal Roy
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Scott D’Amore was recently fired from TNA Wrestling and recent reports suggest that he tried to purchase the promotion before being dismissed.

TNA Wrestling recently got re-branded from IMPACT Wrestling. Scott D’Amore was the driving force behind the company’s recent surge in attention. However, he won’t be there to witness the business enter the subsequent stage.

D’Amore had been with TNA since 2003 and had occupied some important leadership roles while being instrumental in the company’s successful rebranding last month. Meanwhile, Anthony Cicione, who has worked with Anthem for the past 16 years supervising technical operations and managing many cable and digital channels, has taken his place.

The success of The Score was greatly attributed to his work as a sports content producer for the channel WWE before he joined Anthem. Cicione has taken the role of managing TNA Wrestling’s day-to-day operations. His extensive background in executive-level management, spanning over three decades, is certainly a valuable asset to the company.

Scott D’Amore made an attempt to buy TNA

As per a report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, D’Amore made a bid to buy TNA from Anthem. The former President had backing from a major financial institution but his offer was rebuffed.

In addition to this, the change at the top of TNA had been in the works for several weeks and D’Amore learned around 10 days ago that he would be replaced.

It seems that the massive rebranding leading to Scott’s firing has left the talent shocked. Know more about the situation below:

WWE 2K24’s WrestleMania Showcase Features 21 Matches, Greater Female Representation

Thomas Lowson
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Gamers will be able to enjoy the 40 years of WrestleMania across 21 matches in the upcoming WWE 2K24 video 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. 

40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase

Much of the buzz around WWE 2K24 surrounds the 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase mode. Similar to WWE 2K14, this mode will see players work their way through WrestleMania history by reliving some of the show’s most iconic matches. 

In a Q&A session with WCCFTech, WWE 2K gameplay producer Bryan Williams shared some details about the 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase.

“There are 21 matches from the 80s, the 90s, the 2000s, 2010s, up to the 2020s… the current day. So we have a wide selection, every era is represented.

Williams also spoke about the female representation in the WrestleMania showcase and how, unlike WWE 2K14, this year’s Showcase will feature women’s matches. 

“I will say one of the cool things about this year for Showcase of the Immortals is that there’s a lot more female representation than there was ten years ago when 2K14 hit the shelves. So very excited and happy about that.

“One of the matches there is Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair from WrestleMania 39. That is one of the matches that players will be able to experience in this year’s Showcase.”

Don’t expect to see Brock Lesnar as part of WWE 2K24’s promotional build… 

The Rock and Roman Reigns Show The Bloodline Is Stronger Than Ever At WrestleMania Kickoff Press Conference

Bishal Roy
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0

The Rock recently grabbed the headlines with his actions at the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press event on Thursday evening. Is he allying with his cousin and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns?

We are less than a couple of months away from WrestleMania 40 which will take place at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6th and 7th. 

It has been determined that 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes will have an opportunity to ‘finish the story.’ Rhodes previously made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. However, this decision faced a massive fan backlash which might have influenced WWE to alter the decision. Rhodes clarified his choice during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference as he faces Roman Reigns at ‘The Show of Shows.

Roman Reigns and The Rock left the venue together

Following the event, WWE cameras caught Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman leaving the venue alongside The Rock which raised more questions regarding their alliance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C3HEfFKsc76

During the Las Vegas presser, Reigns said Cody was as irrelevant as his late father, Dusty Rhodes. Cody took a shot back and said if the grandfathers of The Rock and Roman Reigns were alive, they’d be disgusted with “The Tribal Chief.”

The Rock reminded Cody that when he talks about Reigns’ family, he’s talking about his ancestors. ‘The Great One,’ who seemingly turned heel ahead of the event, slapped Cody and both men had to be separated before a brawl could break out.

The Rock entering the fray makes the storyline more interesting and we will have to wait and see how this pans out heading into WrestleMania 40.

Seth Rollins: If the Vince McMahon Allegations Are True, I Hope Everyone Involved Gets What They Deserve

Thomas Lowson
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Seth Rollins hoping that anyone in WWE who knew about Vince McMahon’s activities gets their just desserts if the allegations against the former chairman are accurate. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.”

Seth Rollins on Vince McMahon

In a recent interview, Rollins described the scandal as a “disgusting situation.” In a more recent interview with Fightful, Rollins referenced his previous comments and argued that if Janel Grant’s claims are true, then anybody who knew should get what they deserve. 

“It’s a crap situation. I said it in that interview on radio row. It sucks. It’s horrible. It’s disgusting. I don’t like hearing about it, reading about it, it’s abhorent.

“I hope, if the allegations are accurate, I hope anybody involved with it gets what’s coming to them. It sucks.

“For me, it’s very difficult because I didn’t see that side of him. I didn’t experience that. When you see stuff like that, it’s jarring and it’s painful. It sucks all around. There is just no other way to say it. It sucks. It really sucks.”

What’s Next? 

While McMahon has resigned from WWE, it is believed he still may have some power in the company. Comments from Grant’s legal representative Ann Callis have indicated that Miss Grant has no intention on settling this matter out of court, and it has been suggested that other women may come forward. 

Both Seth Rollins & CM Punk are currently out with injuries, but that won’t stop the World Heavyweight Champion from taking shots… 

Cody Rhodes Makes Sure Fan Receives Prizes 10 Years After Winning WWE Contest

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes made sure that a fan who won a WWE contest got prizes from the company, ten years after the promotion didn’t deliver the goods. 

Last month, a Twitter user by the name of Danny marked a whole decade since winning a Tribute to the Troops Holiday giveaway in January 2014. Danny was supposed to receive an event-themed T-shirt and a dog tag set, but never received either of these prizes. 

Danny’s story caught the attention of Cody Rhodes, who told the fan to check his DMs. This week, Danny gave a positive update on his situation, revealing that Rhodes had sent him a T-Shirt, cap, and ‘American Nightmare’ belt. Danny was thrilled to receive the prizes and finish the story and now hopes to see Rhodes finish his at WrestleMania 40. 

Cody Rhodes & The Fans

Danny’s situation is hardly the first time Rhodes has gone the extra mile for a wrestling fan. Last week, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding. 

At WWE live events, Cody has been competing in Extreme Rules matches and has been gifting pieces of a broken table to those in the crowd. After the final live Raw of 2023, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan. Speaking of the Holidays, Rhodes made one young fan’s season extra special by sending a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt.

Becky Lynch: Rhea Ripley Will Learn To “Be A Bottom” When I Face Her at WrestleMania

Thomas Lowson
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Rhea Ripley may claim that ‘Mami’ always comes out on top, but Becky Lynch hopes to give the Women’s World Champion an education on being a ‘bottom’ this April. 

The reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley was at last night’s WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference that took place at Las  Vegas’ T-Mobile arena. Ripley admitted to being surprised that Bayley chose to face IYO SKY at WrestleMania. The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner confirmed her face turn and parted ways with Damage CTRL on last week’s SmackDown. 

Ripley then turned her attention to her own road to WrestleMania and said she has one more stop; the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event later this month. This brought out Becky Lynch, who pointed out that she has qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match that will determine who faces the Women’s World Champion at WrestleMania. 

Lynch didn’t hold back in her face-to-face with Ripley, as she said: 

“It doesn’t matter who you face because Mami’s always on top, huh? It does matter Rhea. It does matter who you face. I have made a legendary career out of knocking golden girls out of their top spot. So Mami is gonna learn what it’s like to be a bottom because that’s what happens when The Man comes around.”

What’s Next? 

Lynch will be joined by five other women in the Elimination Chamber match. Next week’s Raw will see either Liv Morgan or Zoey Stark join her as they’ll face off in a qualifier. Rhea Ripley will defend her Women’s World Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth against Nia Jax. 

Ripley is eager to face The Man at WWE’s biggest show of the year… 

Wrestling World Reacts As Cody Rhodes Makes His Choice For WWE WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes’ choice to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 has had the wrestling world buzzing after a complicated road to this decision. 

Rhodes made his choice clear during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Leading up to this event, there had been a lot of talk about who Cody would pick, especially after Rhodes said last week he wouldn’t be facing Reigns this April. A massive fan backlash may have influenced WWE’s decision, with the ‘We Want Cody’ movement being heard both at WWE events and on social media. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

Triple H was present for Cody’s decision at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Taking to Twitter, the WWE’s Chief Content Officer made it clear that the decision has been made. 

WWE U.S Champion Logan Paul had backed Cody Rhodes in the run-up to the press conference. On social media, Paul shared a video of his reaction to Cody’s decision and The Rock slapping him. 

Cody’s fellow AEW alum Amanda Huber spoke highly of Rhodes and is excited to see him finish the story in April. 

TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth used some political satire to explain what’s going on with the Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns/The Rock dynamic. 

With Cody Rhodes not challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship, Drew McIntyre is pleased that his quest to win the gold became all that much clearer. 

Cody’s wife Brandi used some emojis to share her excitement for the upcoming match. 

And as for the man of the hour himself, Cody Rhodes had a clear message after challenging Roman Reigns. 

“I’ll be happy to stomp out that comeback ” – Seth Rollins Roasts CM Punk At WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press Conference

Bishal Roy
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WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has yet again taken a shot at CM Punk. 

With WrestleMania 40 coming up in a matter of months the card continues to get stacked. However, some changes had to be made recently. Seth Rollins and CM Punk were likely to clash at ‘The Show of Shows’ but that had to be nixed after both the superstars suffered injuries.

Seth Rollins suffered knee injury during his title defense against Jinder Mahal on RAW. However, he is eyeing to recover by WrestleMania 40. Meanwhile, CM Punk is sidelined with a tricep injury that required him to go under the knife.

Seth Rollins takes a shot at CM Punk

Speaking with Denise Salcedo at WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press Event, Seth Rollins yet again took a jab at CM Punk and shared his thoughts on their match not happening at the show. He said:

“I mean look one of us is a fragile old man and one of us is a a young stallion so I’ll be back in a couple weeks, he’ll be back in a year or two till his next injury I don’t know. I’d love to kick the crap out of him, I’m sure he’d love to get in there try to do something to me but it’s not going to work. So am I disappointed? I’d say a little bit only because I really thought if we had an opportunity to do it, stomping his head into the mat would be the best at WrestleMania. Like would be the best at WrestleMania in front of the biggest audience so little bummed by that but I I feel like he’s talking about the greatest comeback of all time, I’ll be happy to stomp out that comeback when the time comes.”

Rollins has been unhappy ever since CM Punk made his return to WWE at last year’s Survivor Series: WarGames Premium Live Event. Fans were delighted to witness ‘The Best In The World’ return to Chicago except for Seth Rollins. 

‘The Visionary’ was enraged to see Punk and in a fan-recorded footage, Rollins was even spotted flipping off Punk and had to be held back.

Fans did not forget that, just a few months prior, Rollins called Punk “cancer” and told him to stay away” from WWE. Well, Seth Rollins even spoke about his dislike towards CM Punk.

CM Punk Says We Need To Put Some Respect On Bayley’s Name During Road To WrestleMania

Aaron Varble
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Fans all over are talking about Cody Rhodes’ big decision to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, but CM Punk believes that a lot of people are overlooking Bayley. She won the Women’s Royal Rumble, after all, but she hasn’t received nearly as much attention.

CM Punk Backs Bayley

CM Punk was on hand in the T-Mobile Arena as WWE brought their WrestleMania kickoff press conference. It was quite an event, one that concluded with a huge cliffhanger.

During his time at the event, CM Punk addressed a camera, where he let it be known that Bayley deserves more love. She wasn’t featured on promotional material, nor was she present at the T-Mobile Arena for the big event in Las Vegas. Punk believes that Bayley is more than deserving of a WrestleMania spotlight.

“I really need to, as a broadcast journalist, I really need to talk about Bayley, and how she won the Royal Rumble for the women, and she wasn’t represented on the poster, I felt like she needed a presence there. Got caught up talking about The Rock and Reigns and Cody and Seth and all that, but very much in the mix is Bayley who won the Royal Rumble and you need to put some respect on her name.”

What’s Next for Bayley

Bayley decided to face IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Rhea Ripley made reference to this during the WrestleMania kickoff show event, but she actually referenced IYO with the last name Shirai, which hasn’t been the name she’s used since her main roster call-up. We will have to see where Bayley vs IYO falls on the WrestleMania card, but CM Punk is definitely pulling for them to get a good spot.

CM Punk is injured, and he will have to set out this year’s show of shows. This is sad, but at least he is around to provide his two cents on how this year’s event is taking shape.

The Rock Says It’s “Crazy” Ava Received Death Threats Over WWE WrestleMania Build

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT General Manager Ava receiving death threats over her father’s return to the company is simply crazy, according to The Rock. 

Ever since The Rock’s return to WWE last week, the fans have made clear that they wanted to see Cody Rhodes challenge Roman Reigns instead of the Great One. Videos of The Rock at WWE events have been booed, while the YouTube video of his comeback has become WWE’s most disliked video of all time. This week’s Raw saw “Rocky sucks” chants so loud that Michael Cole acknowledged them on commentary. 

The Rock on Ava’s Death Threats

The Rock’s daughter Ava has not been spared from the backlash of her father’s comeback. Ava was on the receiving end of death threats from fans which ultimately led to the youngest General Manager in WWE history deactivating her Twitter account. During an episode of the Pat McAfee Show, The Rock said it was crazy to see her daughter receive death threats over WWE’s plans and his return. 

“She’s feeling it too [the fan backlash]… Oh yeah, Cody’s gotta finish his story… By the way, she’s also got death threats. It’s crazy… C’mon guys, we’re all in this thing, and by the way, what happens in the middle of the ring and on these storylines, don’t forget that, again inside baseball, outside the ring, we all talk. We all can figure this thing out while working together.”

What’s Next? 

At the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference, Cody Rhodes chose to face Roman Reigns at the two-night event in April. This would infuriate Reigns, who had earlier in the show said that he would be facing The Rock in April. The Rock would also slap Cody during the press conference, with suspicions that all three men could face off at WrestleMania 40. 

WWE Speed Confirmed: New Show Coming to Twitter/X In Spring 2024

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Speed, a new show featuring high-speed matches, is coming to Twitter this year, the company has confirmed. 

During the WWE WrestleMania 40 Kick-Off event, Michael Cole announced that WWE and Twitter have partnered up to launch WWE Speed. The matches will have a five-minute time limit, meaning that Superstars will have to give it their all to score a win in the allotted time limit. WWE Speed will be distributed exclusively on Twitter. 

WWE Speed

Before the December 15, 2023, SmackDown began broadcasting, the fans in attendance were treated to the introduction of the WWE Speed Match. The taping saw ‘Big’ Bronson Reed facing NXT Superstar Nathan Frazer in the first match. Later on, Cedric Alexander faced NXT’s Axiom.

Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick were on commentary, and the matches were filmed as if they’d be broadcast. Given Kevin Patrick’s release from WWE though, it’s unclear if WWE will dub over the commentary with a more current announce team. 

WWE’s Fastest Matches

Five Minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but there are some matches that more than fit this time limit. On the September 4, 2000, episode of Raw, Chris Jericho and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler defeated Tazz and Mideon, with Lawler getting the roll-up over Tazz and his team winning in three seconds. 

More recently, Aliyah scored a 3.17-second win over Natalya during a January 2022, edition of SmackDown. WWE would lean heavily into the win, with the now former Superstar receiving an ‘Aliyah 3:17’ shirt to celebrate her victory.

Cody Rhodes Enrages The Rock With His WrestleMania 40 Opponent Choice During Blockbuster Las Vegas Press Conference

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 will take over Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6th and 7th. This year’s Mania event will be a massive one, and they set the stage in Las Vegas.

The Stage Is Set

Seth Rollins came out after Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley had time to speak. Becky Lynch also interrupted Ripley to make it known that she wants to face Mami at Mania.

Rollins didn’t want to waste any time, so he invited Cody Rhodes out. However, Roman Reigns made his way out to the stage instead. As Rollins looked at his former Shield brother, the Tribal Chief raised his title for the T-Mobile Arena crowd.

Seth took a shot at Roman for showing up to work for once, but the Head of the Table wanted to talk about Cody Rhodes. Then Roman Reigns said that Cody didn’t make his decision, so he’s choosing The Rock.

The Rock Makes His Presence Known

Suddenly, The Rock made his way out to add even more star power to the situation. The Rock asked the crowd if they think Roman Reigns will beat him at WrestleMania, and there was a mixed response. Then he asked the same question with himself as the winner to the same mixed reaction.

When The Rock asked if fans think his match with Roman Reigns will be the biggest in WWE history, fans were not happy about that either. After Dwayne Johnson said that he loves the fans’ passion, fans stopped him with “We want Cody” and “Cody sucks” chants.

Johnson got even more boos when he introduced the world to the “Cody crybabies.” Then The Rock started getting tons of “what” chants as he introduced an image of the Bloodline family tree. He also said it doesn’t matter what fans think if they don’t believe that the Bloodline is the best family in pro wrestling.

Cody Rhodes Makes His Announcement

The Rock vs Roman Reigns was then hyped for WrestleMania as fans booed the announcement. Suddenly, Cody Rhodes came out and said, “this right here is bullsh*t.” He didn’t like how The Rock and Reigns were calling the shots, because Cody reminded them that he won the Royal Rumble.

Cody said he made his decision, and he will wrestle Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40. Fans chanted as Reigns said that Cody must be crazy or stupid. He told Cody to go to the #2’s with Seth Rollins. He also said nobody cares about him finishing the story. Reigns said that Cody is irrelevant, just like his father.

Triple H, Nick Aldis, and Adam Pearce came out for backup as tensions raised. Cody told Roman that his grandfather would be ashamed of him if he was here. Then The Rock told Cody, “let me make something perfectly clear to you, when you talk about his family, you’re talking about my family.” It seems that The Rock wasn’t happy with Cody, and they suddenly had a problem.

The Rock slapped Cody across the face, and they needed to be broken up. Seth Rollins also had to be taken off the stage, but he said “I don’t give a sh*t if you’re on the board, you can’t do whatever you want,” as he left.

Now, it appears that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns is going to happen at WrestleMania, but the story is far from over. Later on, Triple H was interviewed backstage when The Rock walked by, who said, “you’ve got to fix this, let him talk sh*t about our family again, you’ve got to fix this.”

Just this week, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. It will likely be a wild ride. Keep checking back for even more updates.

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