Brock Lesnar’s name did not appear in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. However, the mention of a former UFC Heavyweight Champion negotiating a new contract with WWE raised concerns for Lesnar. Now, he is being erased.
WWE 2K24 Taking out Brock Lesnar
2K has already removed Lesnar from their SuperCard mobile game, and it appears he will not be featured in WWE 2K24. It was also reported that they will make efforts to remove him from the game.
Now, those changes are being seen. A new cover of the Forty Years of WrestleMania is out, and Lesnar is gone, He was replaced by John Cena on the cover. They did not add anyone to the new cover, but they shuffled things around to make Cena larger and take the Beast Incarnate out.
The lawsuit from Grant alleges that Lesnar requested a video of Grant urinating and proposed a “play date” as part of his contract negotiations. Despite the date not materializing as planned, the lawsuit alleges it eventually occurred.
As per new gameplay footage uploaded by WWE today, Brock Lesnar has officially been removed from WWE2K24’s ‘40 Years of #WrestleMania’ showcase cover.
Lesnar made big money for WWE for years. There is an assumption in WWE that if Vince McMahon was still in charge, then Lesnar would be booked despite the allegations against him. Of course, Vince is the reason why Lesnar is in this situation in the first place now.
As of this writing, Lesnar’s camp has not responded to this lawsuit. Vince already denied everything, and Johnny Ace is claiming to be a victim in the situation.
The first WWE 2K24 gameplay trailer gives fans a glimpse at some of the game’s unique modes and playable characters.
Game Modes Shown:
Ambulance match
Backstage brawls
Csket match
The ability to play as a guest referee
The signature ’40 Years of WrestleMania’ mode.
Playable Characters
Playable Superstars shown in the trailer include Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, John Cena, Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Bret Hart, Rey Mysterio, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Kevin Owens, Solo Sikoa and many more.
More on WWE 2K24
WWE 2K24 will be released in just over a month for Playstation, Xbox and PC.
The Deluxe and ‘Forty Years of WrestleMania’ editions will be released on Tuesday, March 5 and the Standard and Standard Cross-Gen Digital editions will be out that Friday, March 8.
The game looks as visually impressive as ever, but it’s worth noting the trailer contains a disclaimer that the footage used is a mixture of gameplay and cinematics captured on a PC.
Make sure to visit our WWE 2K24 news hub for much more on the game, including additional playable characters game modes. Here are some recent news articles about the latest release from WWE and 2K:
The Rock is set to be in Las Vegas on Thursday for the WrestleMania kickoff show, and fans can’t wait to see what goes down. As #WeWantCody intensifies, it is evident that The Rock’s return to WWE wasn’t a last-minute decision.
WWE’s Booking For The Rock Wasn’t Last Minute
Cody Rhodes has not officially lost his WrestleMania slot to The Rock yet, but that is expected. As we previously reported, The Rock is 100% wrestling Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE actually booked the T-Mobile Arena far in advance. This event wasn’t a late addition to anyone’s schedule.
“They had booked T-Mobile for Thursday with The Rock long ago, like someone there mentioned it in passing. It was, ‘it’s not like you can get T-Mobile Arena four days in advance for something that we’re changing.’ This thing was booked way in advance. This thing was, you know when I mentioned January 3rd, to make a date and have an agreement on January 3rd, there was pretty much an understanding well before that. They kept that one quiet. However it plays out, whatever it is, it’s working.”
It was also noted that “it’s business,” and that is the idea. The Rock, although he is upsetting some fans by his mere presence on the card, is set to have this match against Roman Reigns, and that has been the plan for a while.
When The Rock Called His WrestleMania 40 Shot
When I asked if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”
After asking around days later, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
Giulia is a prominent figure in STARDOM, and she is WWE-bound eventually. That being said, she is not going to be leaving as soon as she can.
WWE Debut Delayed For Giulia
Giulia has decided to postpone her WWE debut in order to fulfill her commitment to assist STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa with his new promotion. Despite WWE’s interest in Giulia for some time, her dedication to Ogawa played a pivotal role in her decision-making process.
Dave Meltzer spoke about this on Wrestling Observer Radio, where he said that Giulia’s primary focus is to support Rossy Ogawa in launching his new promotion before embarking on her journey with WWE. She had made a promise to assist Ogawa with his new venture and intends to honor that commitment, even after receiving a lucrative offer from WWE.
Giulia’s choice to delay her WWE debut underscores her commendable loyalty and integrity. Meltzer noted that this is not typical, but it is the situation we find ourselves in.
“Other than Giulia, who is going to be going to Rossi’s promotion first. The gist with her is that she — when the thing with Stardom and Giulia was pretty much the biggest thing in Stardom and Bushiroad tried to promote her when they bought the company, because she’s the most marketable and all that. When Rossi was going to start, because Giulia was going with him, because she is on board, and the reason that she delayed her WWE start is because she, at least, wanted to be there to kick off the promotion to get the promotion going, and then she is going to end up in WWE at some point. When WWE was interested, she basically gave her word that she would help when he started out. That’s what she is going to do. She is actually postponing her WWE debut because she gave her word.”
What’s Next For Giulia
WWE could have big plans for Giulia, but they will have to wait. We have no way of knowing how much longer those plans will be delayed, but Giulia is not going to let Rossy go without her during this important stage in his own career.
SE Scoops will have more on this story and many more in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates.
A lawsuit by Anthony D. Wilson, who has accused WWE & AEW multiple times of plagiarism, has been officially served against both promotions.
The lawsuit was previously dismissed in November of last year after neither WWE nor AEW had been served within 90 days of the lawsuit being filed. At the time, it was clarified that the suit was dismissed without prejudice, which meant that Wilson could re-file and attempt to move the case forward if he chose to.
Latest On The WWE/AEW Lawsuit
The lawsuit has now been served upon both wrestling promotions, according to recent court records. AEW has received permission from the court to extend their time to respond and must do so by February 23. WWE has been granted permission to respond by March 7.
The Lawsuit
In a hand-written suit rife with spelling errors, Wilson claimed that both companies engaged in “plagiarism, market damages, product damages, personal damages, and financial damages.”
Wilson claimed that WWE had “used my creative works without permission, infringing on my wrestling gimmicks, names, slogans and likeness.” He did not give a specific example of an idea that was used by WWE without his blessing.
As for AEW, Wilson alleged that he had talked with Bullet Club members to join him and that the plan of starting a wrestling company was his plan. Wilson again did not provide clarification but stated that the Bullet Club members stole his plans to create AEW.
Wilson was seeking $250,000,000 in damages as well as control of AEW in addition to a public apology. From WWE, Wilson was seeking stock for his freelance work as well as a WWE board chair. He also sought the ‘return’ of “all ships and plunder.”
CM Punk was supposed to win big down under in Australia, had a torn triceps injury not derailed plans for the former WWE & AEW World Champion.
During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, CM Punk suffered a triceps injury which Drew McIntyre has taken full credit for. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40 due to the injury, and vowed to wrestle McIntyre when he’s able to make a return.
This injury comes at an awful time for Punk, who is set to miss his first WrestleMania in over a decade. The Best in the World’s most recent match at the Showcase of the Immortals was at WrestleMania 39 and saw him become one of the many souls to fall to The Undertaker’s streak.
Original Plans for CM Punk
On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shared that Punk was planned to win the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia. This would have earned Punk a shot at World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins at WrestleMania XL.
“The idea for Punk is that Punk was going to win the Elimination Chamber and that’s how that was going to work.”
CM Punk in the Elimination Chamber
Punk has competed in four Elimination Chamber matches throughout his career, with his first being the ‘Extreme’ Elimination Chamber match from the infamous December to Dismember 2006 pay-per-view. Punk boasts a 1-3 record in the match, with his sole victory being in the 2012 Raw Elimination Chamber match that saw him retain the WWE Championship. CM Punk has five eliminations to his name in the Chamber match.
CM Punk, who underwent surgery last week for his torn right triceps that he suffered in the Royal Rumble match, had some hopeful words about his return.
In a vignette aired on Raw, CM Punk declared about his return, “My comeback will be the greatest of all time.”
The video depicted Punk heading to the medical facility for surgery, followed by the aftermath. Post-operation, Punk encountered difficulty in performing simple tasks. “This is the most frustrating thing, simple tasks like these,” he said while trying to open the zip of a bag. “I am in a lot of pain. It’s mental more than anything. I can handle a lot of pain. I can power through hard PT. The mental aspect of it, I think, is a lot harder than the physical.”
You can watch the vignette in the video below:
Full video of CM Punk going into surgery that was shown tonight on #WWERaw “My comeback will be the greatest of all time.” YOU DAMN SURE! pic.twitter.com/w70YGBrd4W
The triceps injury occurred during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, which Drew McIntyre claimed responsibility for. As a result of the injury, Punk will miss WrestleMania 40.
At the event, he was supposed to face Seth Rollins, but that plan sadly had to be scrapped.
It remains to be seen if we will see Punk calling matches on TV, but when it comes to his recovery time for the surgery, it depends on the injury. A torn triceps can take quite some time to heal, and Punk could easily be out of action for at least six months, if not longer. This would mean that Punk would not be seen in the ring until August, at the very least.
One of the founders of the Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom, Rossy Ogawa, had to step down from his role as executive producer as the promotion after Bushiroad announced the termination of his contract on February 4.
The reason cited for the termination on Stardom’s official website is that Rossy had been poaching talent. Rossy revealed that the company informed him that his contract was terminated right after a 13th-anniversary event at Edion Arena Osaka on February 4. Speaking to Tokyo Sports, he revealed that “They even put me in a taxi and sent me home.”
“I have no attachment to this company,” he said. “It’s just the way they did it. They could have communicated properly, right? Even if they didn’t announce it suddenly. They could have said, ‘Please leave by February 5.’ But instead, they abruptly cut ties…”
“I was being pressured into playing certain cards, and there was harassment within the company,” he said. “It continued, and I lost the will to continue here.”
Rossy also talked about his efforts to start a new organization. “A new organization? Yes, that’s right. There are quite a few things that I can’t do here that I want to do again. Just because it’s a large corporation doesn’t mean you can do anything.”
About the poaching accusations about him, Rossy clarified: “We didn’t do it. We heard rumors, and many players expressed their desire to come here (to the new organization). So, they (Stardom) might have panicked as well. However, President Okada (Taro) ‘approved’ (the new organization). He said, ‘We’ll offer (it) to BUNTAI (in Yokohama),’ and ‘Let’s have a competition in two years for the 15th anniversary.’ So, why are they saying this now?”
However, Stardom president Taro Okada said that they heard about Ogawa’s poaching talent in December. “We verbally told him to stop such activities and expressed our desire to continue working together. However, as we continued to confirm that he was persisting with headhunting, we took this action,” Taro told Tokyo Sports.
Taro also noted, “We recognize that the players affected by the headhunting are many popular players, including titleholders. If these players were to leave, Stardom’s promotions would not be sustainable, and in the worst-case scenario, the company might have to fold. Therefore, after internal deliberation, we immediately notified him of the contract termination.”
He also added that regardless of Rossy starting a new organization, they consider it a violation of contract that he solicited Stardom talents to leave while still being in a contract with the company.
As for other wrestlers following Rossy to his organization, Taro said, “We have received expressions of intent to leave from several wrestlers and consultations about whether to leave.”
Taking to Twitter after this week’s Raw in St. Louis, Rhodes shared his appreciation for the passion shown by the fans at the show. Rhodes also urged fans to trust him as questions remain over what’s to come.
“Though not yet official, it appears The Rock & Roman Reigns are on a collision course perhaps at WrestleMania. [The Rock’s] appearance sparked controversy. Will this match become official? We're going to find out Thursday."
On this week’s Raw, WWE acknowledged the ‘We Want Cody’ movement. Fans also chanted ‘Rocky Sucks’ which prompted Michael Cole to question if we’d traveled back to 1996.
George Kittle’s WrestleMania Solution
During a Super Bowl opening night event, Kittle was asked about the situation revolving Cody Rhodes and the backlash WWE has faced. Kittle, a known wrestling fan, was excited to talk about the situation.
“We’re starting off hot and I love it. That is the question I have been wanting, ooh! So, it’s funny to see everything online, and everybody talking about ‘We Want Cody’ or it’s Roman [Reigns] and The Rock. You know what? I’m a huge Cody Rhodes fan. I like Roman Reigns. The Rock, hey! He coined the term the People’s Tight-End so I’m indebted to The Rock. Huge fan of him.”
Kittle then suggested an idea he’d seen shared by others which would allow for The Rock and Reigns to share the ring, and grant Cody his deserved rematch with the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
“I saw this online. Roman shows up, signs the contract. Cody’s on the other side [and] The Rock referees. Wouldn’t that be fun and special? Let’s make it fun and interesting. Now that was not my idea.”
Triple H Reacts
George Kittle isn’t the first person to suggest a solution that could see Cody Rhodes indeed finish his story against Roman Reigns this April. In a tweet, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Triple H was impressed by what Kittle had to say.
Are you tired of looking at WWE’s weekly programming and screaming to your TV “I could do a better job booking this!”
Do you want to see your favorites emerge on top instead of being fodder for the likes of Roman Reigns and other Superstars?
Well now, WWE has a job opening for somebody to join their creative team as a Writer/Producer. A listing on WWE’s corporate website reads as follows:
WWE Producer/Writer – Key Responsibilities
Develop clearly defined, yet emotionally sophisticated, characters for a diverse group of WWE Talent.
Script descriptive, thought-provoking, captivating, and creative storylines for RAW, SmackDown, and select programming on the WWE Network
Collaborate with a team of writers to build compelling stories that capture a global audience fitting multiple demographics
Provide punch-up for specific scripted segments as well as review the totality of entire episodes for continuity and flow
Incorporate consumer insights and social media to deliver impactful storylines that are consistent with the WWE brand and each Talent’s skills and history
Weekly travel to our shows (RAW or Smackdown) & rotating travel to PPV’s (Pay-Per-View’s)
Attend and contribute in creative writing team meetings every week at our Stamford, CT HQ
Qualifications:
5+ years of writing for TV, film or social media
Producing and Directing experience a plus
Professional TV staff experience in drama and comedy a plus
Experience in Live TV production a plus
Plugged into social media trends
Previous experience working with On-Screen Talent, Creative Writers, and Producers
Understanding of WWE’s audience (demographic and psychographic) a plus but not required
BA/BS in Film, TV, Drama, Media Studies, Communications or similar field of study or validated experience in lieu of a degree
Those planning to watch WWE WrestleMania 40 will have to be ready early as the start time for the upcoming two-night supershow has been moved forward.
Those with tickets for WWE WrestleMania 40 received emails this week with the following information (courtesy of PW Insider):
“The official start time for the event each night has been moved up to 6:30 PM Eastern.
“Lincoln Field in Philadelphia will open doors for the event each night at 4:30 PM Eastern.”
Typically, WWE Premium Live Events start at 8 PM Eastern.
WWE WrestleMania 40
WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA, on April 6, and April 7. The show will mark WWE’s fifth two-night WrestleMania; a concept introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic that proved popular with fans. The current card for the show is as follows:
IYO SKY (c) Vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Either Rhea Ripley or Nia Jax (c) Vs. The Winner of the Women’s Elimination Chamber match (WWE Women’s World Championship)
WWE’s Big WrestleMania Dilemma
Right now, there are huge questions as to the direction of Cody Rhodes regarding the biggest event on WWE’s calendar. While fans are eager to see Rhodes face (and defeat) Roman Reigns, the American Nightmare stepped aside on last week’s SmackDown, allowing The Rock to return and tease facing his cousin.
One NXT Superstar’s days with WWE may be numbered if a new contract with the promotion isn’t finalized in the coming weeks or months.
Fightful Select reports that Dijak’s WWE contract is up in June of 2024. The former Retribution member signed a five-year deal with WWE in 2019. At the time, WWE signed many Superstars to lengthy contracts to prevent anyone from leaving for AEW, which had launched in January of that year. It is unclear at this time if WWE and Dijak are currently in talks over a new deal. It has been stated for other contracts that WWE is leaving things much closer to the expiration date before entering talks.
Dijak in WWE
Dominik Dijakovic was initially offered a contract from WWE in January 2017, but that offer was pulled following a legal threat from ROH, who still had him under contract. The following month, Dijakovic opted not to re-sign with ROH, and his signing with WWE was confirmed by the company that September.
Initially part of the NXT brand, Dijakovic was one of the gold brand’s prominent stars but failed in efforts to capture the NXT and NXT North American titles. In September 2020, he was revealed as a member of Retribution under the name T-Bar, which he’d continue to use after the group’s split in early 2021. In 2022, Dijakovic returned to WWE NXT, now dubbed Dijak. His most recent match saw the veteran defeat Joe Gacy in a No Disqualification match at last weekend’s NXT Vengeance Day event.
Dijak recently had some choice words for fans spamming WWE NXT Superstar posts with pro-Cody Rhodes messages…
Cody Rhodes got emotional acknowledging the outpouring fan support he’s been receiving since last Friday after this week’s episode of Raw went off air.
The American Nightmare defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match in the main event of the Red Branded Show. After the win, however, he was attacked by Drew McIntyre and the broadcast ended with the Scottish Psychopath standing tall.
Drew stayed in the ring after the show ended until Sami Zayn made the save for Cody. After McIntyre retreated, Zayn spoke to Cody and put over the fan support for the son of Dusty Rhodes:
“You told me you hadn’t been looking on your phone so you might not be aware of this but a lot of people have been talking about you this week. Look man, a lot of people have a lot of opinions and a lot of guys back there probably have a lot they’re gonna say to you, but the truth is it doesn’t matter what they have to say to you.
It doesn’t even matter what I think I have to say to you. What matters is what they have to say to you. And I’m pretty sure they’ve got three words for you that I’ve been hearing all week online. Three words that I’ve heard when you guys were walking into the building. Three words that you kept screaming before the show even started. Cody, I think these people have three words for you… [crowd chanting We Want Cody].”
Cody Rhodes Gets Emotional
The former AEW star then addressed the crowd himself. Cody Rhodes mentioned how the unprecedented support of fans has made him an emotional mess and said that it’s all he has wanted since he was a little boy:
“They’re freaking out right now cause I’m bleeding. So I gotta definitely go get it looked at but those three words…well all I can say is this – since I was a little boy who grew up loving everything. For you to want me is special because I have always wanted you. I love you guys so much. I’m sorry I’m an emotional mess.
Please, let’s hear it for the man who came in and just saved my ass, Sami Zayn. It’s been a wonderful night, a long night. I hope all of you come back the next time WWE is here in St. Louis. This crew has done an incredible job. Samatha has done an incredible job. I love you guys all very much. Have a great night, drive safe, be safe. We love you. Good Night.”
WWE heavily leaned into the fan reaction to the SmackDown segment featuring the Rock on Raw this week. However, they used it to sell the upcoming WrestleMania press conference and fans will have to tune in on Thursday to hopefully get some answers about Cody’s future.
PW Insider reported to confirm that The Rock will wrestle at WrestleMania 40. He will take on Roman Reigns as well.
It was reported that, “multiple sources have noted that The Rock is 100% performing in the ring at WrestleMania 40. That is a done deal and, as we noted on Saturday, likely something that was contractually locked in as one of the milestones Rock would be involved in as part of his TKO Board of Directors deal. We were told there is ‘no scenario’ where Rock is not wrestling Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, unless something unforeseen happens, like an injury.”
We previously reported that The Rock’s WrestleMania match was also a part of him taking a seat on TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors.
Previous Report About The Rock and WrestleMania
As I previously reported, I asked around about this situation with The Rock. I was told that this is a complete “power play” on Dwayne Johnson’s behalf. Upon asking if this situation is like when he tried to muscle his way into the DC Cinematic Universe with Black Adam, I was told that is a “great analogy.”
So much has gone down in the last 18 hours.
I was told that Seth vs Cody was booked when Punk was injured. A triple threat match with Roman v Rock vs Cody was “never on the table.”
Regarding The Rock, the word for replacing Cody was “a power play.” I was told “It's so heavy”…
When asking if the fan backlash is noticed within the company, that was also confirmed. It’s impossible to ignore at this point, as USA Today, TMZ and more have already run headlines about how fans are upset about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot on the show of shows.
I followed up after Johnson broke a report saying that WWE is monitoring the situation and things could change with Rock vs Roman.
Yes. WWE realizes that they are in a hole that they need to dig themselves out of.
After asking if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”
After asking around days later, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
Rock vs Roman is locked in, but I was told over the weekend that creative has been working on the rest of the Mania card.
Just enjoy the show, even if you think it should be Cody instead of The Rock.
Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes is the new match, something that was booked after CM Punk was taken out of action with an injury during the Rumble match. Now, fans have a much different WrestleMania 40 ahead, and they have yet to warm up to the idea.
WWE Fans Are Not Happy
Fans voiced their displeasure after The Rock returned on SmackDown. They want to see Cody Rhodes finish his story.
WWE fans are very upset about this booking. They hijacked the opening segment of WWE RAW this week with “Rocky Sucks” chants.
“We Want Cody” signs were also handed out in the crowd to add to the drama. No matter how much WWE tries to turn the American Nightmare into a martyr, he isn’t getting that Mania main event against Roman Reigns from The Rock.
The ‘We Want Cody’ movement was in full swing during this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
The February 5, 2024, episode of Raw was the first following Cody Rhodes’ decision to step aside and allow The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 instead. This booking has been met with backlash from fans, who believe that Cody’s story should be finished at WrestleMania by dethroning Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Despite being considered the ‘People’s Champion’, the fans have turned on The Rock, with the video of his return being WWE’s most disliked video.
In photos shared online, fans displayed signs making it clear that they wanted to see Cody Rhodes challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. It has been reported that these signs were handed out to fans. While it has been speculated online, there is no hard evidence that these signs were created by WWE.
We Want Cody signs at this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw.
The Rock is Booed Yet Again
While The Rock didn’t appear on this week’s Raw, the crowd in St. Louis made their feelings known on the People’s Champion. During the show, a video was played hyping the Great One’s return on last week’s SmackDown. That video was booed by the crowd in St. Louis, a far cry from the response The Rock usually receives.
CM Punk is out of action with a triceps injury. He had successful surgery and plans to make a big comeback. That being said, WWE may want him to appear in the meantime.
WWE’s Alternative Plan For CM Punk
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that Punk attended the Smackdown event in Birmingham, having undergone surgery in the area the previous day. Additionally, he made several appearances at the Performance Center in Orlando, leading many to speculate about his future involvement.
Ace Steel, who is a close associate of Punk, potentially revealed that WWE is interested in him providing commentary on the Wrestling Perspective Podcast this week, set to release Tuesday on Fightful. When asked by Dennis Farrell about Punk’s potential role on WWE TV until his return, Steel hinted at the possibility.
“Definitely, they want him commentary, they want him on commentary. I don’t know that they go that route since they did an injury angle to pull him out since they did the storyline on him; [Drew] stomps on his arm. There’s the physicality that puts him out. I personally don’t want to see him in an onscreen role unless it’s in the meantime he’s doing NXT or something. I really don’t want to see him on the same show as Drew Mcintyre because his sole focus would be going after Drew Mcintyre. “Well, I can’t fight you. Well, I’m gonna try.”
“We see people hit by cars and forktrucks and all these things, you know. Still, I feel like the fact that they did the injury that a lot of people think they, they put the storyline to it now that a lot of people think it’s, he’s faking it, which is hilarious that it’s a storyline 100% which of course it’s wrestling. So, you’ve done so many of those, like, oh, well, let’s do this where he hurts guys.”
CM Punk’s Cancelled WrestleMania 40 Plan
CM Punk was supposed to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. Sadly, his injury during the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match put him out of action for a number of months.
During WWE RAW this week, they provided an update on CM Punk. The Second City Savior showed a lot of confidence that he will make a full recovery and comeback. SE Scoops will have more information as new updates are made available.
Coming off her victory in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Bayley was tasked with choosing her opponent for WrestleMania 40. While initially eyeing WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, Bayley ultimately decided to challenge her now former ally, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY.
With Bayley vs. IYO SKY locked in, WWE announced that the WrestleMania challenger for the WWE Women’s World Championship will determined inside the Elimination Chamber later this month. So far, one woman has qualified for this grueling match stipulation.
On Monday’s WWE RAW, Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler competed in the first qualifying matchup, making a callback to their WrestleMania 36 clash over the RAW Women’s Championship. Despite a valiant effort, Baszler’s fate would repeat itself, as Lynch defeated her with a Manhandle Slam to claim the first spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Next week, Liv Morgan and Zoey Stark will battle to secure the second slot. Ahead of their qualifier, Morgan delivered a backstage promo, highlighting her six-month absence from WWE programming due to injury. Now that she is cleared to compete again, Morgan is not only eager to challenge Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Championship, but also to enact some revenge on her for taking her out of action last July.
Rhea Ripley To Defend Women’s World Championship At Elimination Chamber
Before she can get to WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley has one obstacle in front of her — a title defense at Elimination Chamber.
During tonight’s episode, WWE RAW General Manager Adam Pearce informed Ripley that she will put the WWE Women’s World Championship on the line against Nia Jax at the upcoming premium live event. This title match was made after Jax recently unleashed a pair of attacks on Ripley.
Should Ripley retain her championship there, she will then move on to face the winner of the Women’s Elimination Chamber in a title match at WrestleMania 40.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber PLE will emanate from the Optus Stadium in Perth Australia, airing live on February 24.
Seth Rollins opened up WWE RAW this week, and he commented on how big his pop was. Then he mentioned SmackDown and said that he smells what’s cooking. This received a lot of boos from the crowd, and then Rollins said, “I think it sounds like you guys want Cody.”
Rollins said that he wants Cody too, and then fans booed the idea of that WrestleMania match instead of Rhodes vs Reigns. When Cody asked, “what do we wanna talk about?” The St. Louis crowd chanted, “Rocky sucks” and “We Want Cody.” This was followed by even more “Rocky sucks” chants.
Rollins admitted he didn’t expect to hear that chant. Michael Cole asked if it’s 1996 on commentary.’ There were also tons of “We Want Cody” signs in the crowd, which were handed out.
Then, Rollins pressed Cody once again to accept the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania. He wanted to know he’s better than he was when they faced off before.
Seth Rollins asked Cody if he’s going to fight him at WrestleMania, and the fans booed. Suddenly, Drew McIntyre came out to insert himself into the situation. He begged Cody to finish his story, and the fans agreed.
Rollins told McIntyre that he wouldn’t get a match against him for the title, because he’s beat him twice. Then Drew reminded Seth that Cody already beat him three times.
The segment ended with McIntyre nailing a headbutt on Rollins, and then Cody knocked Drew out of the ring. The WrestleMania match with Cody vs Seth was not officially booked, but fans certainly let WWE know how they felt about The Rock.
What Would It Take To Change Roman Reigns vs The Rock at WrestleMania
As previously reported, the match between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is confirmed. Despite any fan opinions, The Rock insisted on this contest, and it’s set to proceed as planned.
Due to CM Punk’s injury, WWE adjusted the lineup, resulting in Seth Rollins facing Cody Rhodes instead. The possibility of a triple threat match involving Cody, Rock, and Roman was never considered.
Additional information confirms that the current arrangement is unlikely to change unless The Rock withdraws. This decision has been under The Rock’s control since January 1st, when he first asserted his authority on the Day 1 episode of RAW.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but that doesn’t seem to sway WWE fans who were set on seeing Cody Rhodes finish his story.
WrestleMania. The Showcase of the Immortals. The Superbowl of Wrestling. The Show of Shows. The Grandest Stage of Them All. The Biggest Sports Entertainment Show of The Year.
If there is one thing that WWE has been consistent about the last 4 decades, it’s selling the story of WrestleMania. With the constant hammering of the importance of the show, they have made it a legend in and of itself.
This legend has reached a point where attending the event is a bucket list item for any wrestling fan and competing on the show is a dream that every aspiring wrestler holds in his heart while entering the squared circle for the first time.
It’s hardly a surprise that Main Eventing WrestleMania is the highest honor in all of Sports Entertainment. The fact that names such as Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Eddie Guerrero, Goldberg, and CM Punk have never been in one only shows that it takes the combination of all four – skill, popularity, timing, and luck for a superstar to reach this pinnacle.
Considering all these factors, it’s hardly a surprise that The Rock, someone who has experienced the phenomenon 5 times in his career before, can’t resist the urge to do it one last time before he calls it a career. The big question, however, is if it’s the right time for it?
The Rock vs. Roman Reigns – A Match Made In Heaven?
The Rock vs. Roman Reigns is a WrestleMania Main Event. The Rock vs. Roman Reigns is THE WrestleMania Main Event. There is no arguing this point.
With almost 400 million followers on Instagram, The Great One is far ahead in terms of popularity and global recognition than the next 9 WWE superstars combined. As John Cena likes to say, The Rock is in a whole other universe of his own.
This is not to say that Roman Reigns is any less. ‘The Big Dog’ already possessed all the tools that he needed to become one of the greatest performers when WWE strapped the rocket to his back in the aftermath of The Shield’s breakup.
Since the start of The Tribal Chief era, however, Reigns has shown that he is also proficient in using all these tools together. The work that Roman has put into his character is something that aspiring wrestlers will be studying for a long time to come, to learn what it truly means to achieve a larger-than-life status.
With everything these two individuals have achieved in their respective careers, the impact of a collision between them will be impossible to replicate. It’s almost impossible to argue why this match shouldn’t Main Event a WrestleMania, but that’s the keyword -almost.
Cody Rhodes – An X Factor
Cody Rhodes has proven he’s ready to be the face of WWE and take on all the responsibilities that entails
If there is one thing fans have made clear in the aftermath of the events of Friday, it’s that they will not be giving in to this booking decision so easily, if at all.
But why?
There are many who are confused about the reaction of the fans. After all, The Rock vs Roman Reigns IS the bigger match.
It’s the match that will make the most buzz. It’s the match that will make the most headlines. It’s the match that will make the most money.
Cody Rhodes’ story is not about beating Roman Reigns and even then, he can face Roman anytime down the line, but a match like The Rock vs Roman Reigns only happens…. once in a lifetime.
So why fans are insisting that it should happen this year? Well, it’s because WWE told us so.
If you look at the same time last year, people had many different ideas about who should end Roman Reigns’ undefeated streak. From Seth Rollins to Drew McIntyre and from Sami Zayn to Jey Uso, every contender had a group of fans rooting for them and giving good reasons why their chosen name should be the one that gets the glory.
All this changed however on April 3, 2023.
It was the night after Cody Rhodes’ disheartening defeat at the hands of The Head of The Table the day prior. All the scenarios, all the possibilities that fans had envisioned for the end of Roman’s streak had been used up and for the first time in many months, they had no idea what to expect from this unprecedented run next.
This changed when Cody Rhodes showed up on RAW. While he had worked the whole year to get to Mania 39 and then failed, Rhodes proclaimed that he was not giving up the chase. And WWE let him do so.
While the two stars went on a different path from there, the American Nightmare never lost sight of his bigger goal. From that moment on, the stories of these superstars intertwined in a way that finishing the story became the synonym to ending Roman’s streak.
Match after match, promo after promo, and show after show, Cody worked hard to rebuild the momentum he had lost. And every time he poured his heart into this effort, one more fan bought into his story.
From that moment on, to Royal Rumble this past week, there had been nobody else who fans had in sight to end Roman’s undefeated streak and they had been patiently waiting for the time to come, until plans changed.
The Big Mistake
WWE’s big mistake isn’t booking The Rock vs Roman Reigns, it’s shunning Cody Rhodes on the way to it.
For a whole year and even longer than that, people have bought into the story that Cody is the one. That all the complaints about Roman’s reign have been null, that we are being prepared for a story with as epic of an ending as has been its run.
And now they have gone ahead and changed it.
Hello darkness, my old friend…
It’s important to understand here that people are NOT against a match between Roman Reigns and The Rock. If anything, I’d love to see this showdown and all that it will bring, just not at the expense of the only full-time talent in this mix.
This moment, THIS MATCH, is the one that belongs to Cody.
It’s not so much about making the biggest WrestleMania headline. It’s much more about the people who bought tickets to a house show in a lesser-known city 5 months ago. Who went there not expecting Roman Reigns, or The Rock. They were there to see Cody Rhodes. Now once again, they want to see Cody Rhodes.
What’s next?
Will Cody Rhodes regret his decision?
It’s not like WWE doesn’t know what happens when you test people’s patience beyond the limit. From the Yes Moment! to KofiMania, fans have shown that once the line is crossed, they are willing to go to great lengths to make the company realize their mistake.
Yes, The Rock vs Roman Reigns is still the bigger money match, but the new WWE management now has to decide whether they are willing to trade in the trust of their fans for it.
It wasn’t long ago that pictures of half-empty WWE arenas were a common occurrence, and they were willing to try the most ridiculous of ideas to stop the ratings from falling even further next week – all because they had lost the trust of the fans.
Yes, The Rock is the biggest star on the planet, but if the last few years have shown anything it’s that even the Great One is not invisible.
The failure of the relaunched XFL and the debacle that was the attempted takeover of the DC Universe is still fresh in people’s mind, and now the People’s Champion has to decide if he’s willing to trade in his equity with the only fans that will always welcome him back with open arms otherwise.
Conclusion
WWE can still go ahead with their plans, and as fans, we can’t really stop them. But they won’t be able to stop the fans from reacting to it either.
It’s the one situation where they can’t have their cake and eat it too.
If there is one show The Rock should really be thinking about saving, it’s Elimination Chamber and not WrestleMania.
Over 45,000 fans have bought tickets for the event at Optus Stadium and they’re expecting a grand show. With the absence of notable names such as Seth Rollins and CM Punk, WWE desperately needs to come up with a plan to make the event a success and a half-baked conclusion to the Rhodes vs Roman saga ain’t it. An appearance from TKO’s latest board member, however, could be just the thing it needs.
The Rock needs to realize that a WrestleMania Main Event is not just a match, it’s the personification of the passion that fans hold in their heart. It’s not just about winning and losing, it’s about the dedication that people show by tuning in to episodes of Raw and SmackDown week after week.
For everything he has done for the business, The Rock deserves one last adventure, one final send-off and he deserves it without any controversies. It should be an occasion that fans can cherish for a long time, not something that fans remember as an unjust calamity that came at the cost of hard-working talents.
It’s time that talents coming in for a headline realize that they have to respect the people who have held the fort down in their absence. If not they should be ready to face the consequences. I doubt The Rock wants that for his return match after more than a decade. I doubt Ari Emanuel wants that for the first WrestleMania Main Event under his management.
That’s why I say, The Rock can have his WrestleMania main event, justnot this year.
Mustafa Ali’s hopes to pick up championship gold when his ‘world tour’ rolls through TNA Wrestling later this month.
On January 25, Mustafa Ali appeared in a video package on TNA Wrestling television, stating that the company has undergone several changes recently. As a part of his political campaign though, Ali vowed to bring a “different kind of change” to TNA Wrestling — one that will seemingly impact TNA’s X-Division.
Following his original message, Ali then interrupted a backstage segment involving X-Division Champion Chris Sabin. In this vignette, Ali noted that can change is necessary, and only achieved when one faces their fears head-on. Ali also declared that the “fearful” need leadership to guide them, implying that he may soon assume that responsibility.
With Ali’s eyes now directed at Sabin, TNA Wrestling has confirmed the two will square off at the No Surrender event in New Orleans on February 23. There, Ali will challenge Sabin for the X-Division Championship, while simultaneously marking his official TNA in-ring debut.
BREAKING: @SuperChrisSabin will defend the X Division Championship against @MustafaAli_X on February 23rd at #NoSurrender LIVE on TNA+ and YouTube for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders!
Ali was released from WWE in September 2023 in the days following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Upon the completion of his 90-day non-compete clause, Ali revealed that he had a stacked lineup of bookings on the independent circuit. Now, he looks forward to making his debut for TNA Wrestling as well.
As of now, TNA has announced two other matchups for No Surrender, one of which is a rematch that will see Moose defend the TNA World Championship against the previous titleholder, Alex Shelley. Elsewhere, Gisele Shaw will cash in her title shot against Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace after winning the Knockouts Ultimate X match at Hard To Kill last month.
Cody Rhodes stepping aside and allowing The Rock to wrestle Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40 is the hottest topic in wrestling. Trends were jump started, and many fans are a bit upset about the direction that they are going with things.
Fans Upset By WrestleMania 40 Direction
Some people are urging fans to ‘let it play out,’ but the vocal majority of fans on social media are outraged that the American Nightmare will not ‘Finish The Story’ at WWE’s grandest stage for the second consecutive year.
Everybody has an opinion about the matter, including Pat McAfee, who is now back doing commentary on WWE RAW each and every week alongside Michael Cole. This pairing was made once again due to Wade Barrett getting moved to SmackDown after Kevin Patrick was removed from the blue brand and fired.
Pat McAfee’s Take on The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40
The #WeWantCody debacle went down in the final segment of Friday’s SmackDown. On Monday’s Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, McAfee acknowledged that WWE fans are incredibly pissed that Cody surrendered his ‘WrestleMania moment’ to The Rock the way he did.
Pat McAfee went on to note that he was bummed out, and he does know what’s going to happen moving forward. He loves everyone involved in this booking fiasco, but the overall feeling is that they feel bad for the American Nightmare.
“Now, I love Cody Rhodes. I love The Rock and just love Roman Reigns. So, I’m very torn on this entire thing, but the Internet was not happy. I’m bummed out…. we’re all pretty bummed out for Cody, but also very pumped if this is a Rock-Roman situation. I don’t know what’s going to happen”
What’s Next For The Rock and Roman Reigns
This Thursday, WWE will host a special ‘WrestleMania 40 kickoff’ at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV at the T-Mobile arena. Several top Superstars will be on hand, including The Rock Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley and more.
WWE has yet to confirm The Rock vs. Roman Reigns as the main event of WrestleMania 40, but they’re advertising that Rock and Reigns will have an “iconic face-off” at this free fan and media event.
Fans are not happy about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania. Due to this, they are taking to social media and his daughter, Ava, is taking fire.
The Rock’s Daughter Ava Taking Fire From Angry Fans
Ava used to be a member of the Schism faction with Joe Gacy. The faction is now over, and she is onto her next assignment. Even though she is far away from her father’s match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, fans are still giving her a hard time.
The fan reaction over The Rock taking Cody’s spot at Mania has been immense. The company took fire from all over the place, mainstream outlets picked up the scent of a controversial story. Naturally, everyone is talking about The Rock, and it’s not in a great way.
Ava does not want anything to do with the controversy that her father is in. She logged onto Twitter/X to make it very clear that she just wants to be the General Manager of NXT, and do her job.
can ya’ll just leave me out of this ffs i’m busy running a SHOW
can ya’ll just leave me out of this ffs i’m busy running a SHOW
The Rock’s daughter also replied to let fans know that some are taking this way too far. She said, “death threats over a situation i have nothing to do with … bffr.”
death threats over a situation i have nothing to do with … bffr
It’s hard to believe that fans are reacting this negatively toward The Rock’s WWE return, but this is where we find ourselves today. The circumstances for this match were not there, as many wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish his story.
After asking around, I was told by a source in WWE that there is, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
Later this month, WWE will head to the land down under as they host the 2024 Elimination Chamber premium live event from Perth, Australia. While no matches have been announced, this officiail poster indicates that this event will serve as a major homecoming for WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, a native of Adelaide, Australia.
Ripley has seen a significant rise in her stock over the last two years. As she continues to wreak havoc with her fellow Judgment Day members, Ripley has also kept a firm grip on the WWE Raw women’s division and the WWE Women’s World Championship — a title she has successfully defended against the likes of Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, Ivy Nile, and Zoey Stark.
High Praise From ‘The Hitman’
Outside of her in-ring accomplishments, Ripley’s menacing character has also attracted the attention of many viewers, one of whom is WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Hart issued praise for Ripley’s character, specifically pointing toward the realism that she conveys through her on-screen portrayal.
“I really like her a lot. I really like her poise, her staying in character and sort of living her.. she seems like she’s adapted a character that’s fun to play, and she’s playing into that, full tilt,” Hart said.
“She’s putting that realism into it; that’s what I miss in a lot of wrestling today, just making it feel more real, and she makes it feel pretty real all the time.”
With Elimination Chamber on the horizon, Rhea Ripley is not only thrilled about returning to her home country, but also about the possibility of defending her title in front of them.
During a recent interview with Sam Roberts, Ripley noted that she would embrace the opportunity to defend her WWE Women’s World Championship inside the grueling Elimination Chamber structure.
