Seth Rollins has made clear he isn’t a fan of CM Punk, but people change and time can heal all wounds.
CM Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series in Chicago and an angle was worked where Rollins and Drew McIntyre in particular were “irate” at Punk showing up. All that certainly makes sense in today’s WrestleMania 40 landscape considering that the reported plan was for CM Punk to face Rollins, but Punk’s triceps injury clearly tabled that and Drew McIntyre has seamlessly fit into the role of a true “raw” antagonist who will challenge Rollins in Philadelphia.
Punk made his return to the All State Arena in Chi-town this past Monday on RAW and eventually found himself in the crosshairs of Rollins and McIntyre. Rollins happened to take on a heelish persona as he ran down Punk, making note that he doesn’t even think about him and told him flat-out that would find it appropriate if Punk was on commentary to announce that he retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew.
The Reported Dynamic Between CM Punk & Seth Rollins Backstage
Last year, way before CM Punk came back to WWE, Rollins unbashedly called CM Punk a “cancer” when asked of his thoughts regarding ‘The Best In The World,’ making it quite clear he wasn’t exactly fond of Punk.
To substantiate that, earlier this week, Wade Keller of the Pro Wrestling Torch wrote “by all accounts” there was no love loss between Punk and Rollins, but then reports how that dynamic has changed since Punk has been back in the fold.
“While Seth harbored legitimate gripes with Punk, the two are getting along backstage when planning their segments. Punk continues to get all positive reviews from many sources regarding how he is carrying himself amongst colleagues and management.”
CM Punk will indeed be guest commentator during the WrestleMania match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre.
WWE superstar AJ Styles may get an all-new presentation for WWE WrestleMania 40 next month. He has been featured as a ‘Babyface’ and a ‘Heel’ in the past but has retained the same entrance music. However, ‘The Phenomenal One has recently hinted that he may be getting a new theme along with his new persona.
Styles recently did a live auction on the UpUpDownDown YouTube Channel alongside Tyler Breeze. While signing merchandise for fans, Styles said they shouldn’t be surprised to hear something different when he appears at ‘The Grandest Stage Of Them All’ next month.
“…You’ll be surprised come WrestleMania when it comes to music. I probably shouldn’t have let the cat out of the bag,” said Styles.
Breeze replied that Styles’s changing his music is a big deal, as it has been the same since his WWE debut in 2016. However, Styles feels that it’s necessary for his current persona and that it is time for him to evolve.
“…It’s big because my music is pretty freaking awesome, but it doesn’t suit the AJ Styles that people are seeing at this moment,” said the former WWE Champion
Styles’s personality shift changed after he was taken out of action for two months by The Bloodline(Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso) last year. Styles would return with a different physique and attitude, looking to go against the faction. He also set his sights on popular ‘Babyface’ LA Knight, as he feels Knight took his spot when he was on hiatus.
Preview Of AJ Styles vs. LA Knight At WWE WrestleMania 40
On the March 29 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, they got into a brawl, with Knight winning the exchange. They aren’t advertised to appear on next week’s show, but it could change. However, fans reacted well to their segment and seemed excited for their matchup at the company’s biggest event of the year.
If Styles isn’t on TV next week, fans may not hear his new theme song until he comes out for his match against Knight. The hope is that the former WWE Champion’s next entrance music will be great and add to his character.
Newly signed All Elite Wrestling superstar Will Ospreay has been getting plenty of action on TV lately. He made his in-ring debut as a talent in a win against Don Callis Family ally Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution on March 3. Since then, he has racked up wins over Kyle Fletcher and Katsuyori Shibata on AEW Dynamite.
On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan has shared that Ospreay will again be featured in a match on the April 3 episode of the company’s flagship show. The ‘Commonwealth Kingpin’ will take on Powerhouse Hobbs on the upcoming AEW Dynamite. Khan also revealed that Callis will be on commentary as he watches two people from his faction face off.
AEW Dynamite: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Will Ospreay
The decision to have Ospreay challenge another Don Callis Family member is interesting, as it could cause a split within the group. AEW currently positions Ospreay as a ‘Babyface,’ while the faction remains ‘Heel.’ It may not happen in the next week, but the company may be laying the groundwork to eventually separate their newly signed superstar from the faction.
Ospreay is also expected to defeat Hobbs next week, as he is set to face Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty on April 21. The matchup was announced on the March 7 episode of AEW Collision. Both superstars have been gaining wins on TV to build anticipation for their pay-per-view bout.
A win for either Ospreay or Danielson would immediately put them in the running for the AEW World Championship. That said, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion must first get through Hobbs on April 3.
What Else Has Been Announced For April 3 Episode Of AEW Dynamite?
Ospreay vs. Hobbs wasn’t the only featured match announced for the upcoming AEW Dynamite episode. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) will take on Best Friends (Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta) in the semifinals of the AEW tag team tournament. The winners will move to the finals, where they will compete for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships.
The April 3 episode will also have the contract signing segment between Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland for their match at AEW Dynasty. It’s expected that they will get enough time to hype up their bout for next month.
Khan may announce more matches as the show approaches next week. The upcoming AEW Dynamite looks to be important as it continues to set the stage for the company’s next PPV.
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler has gone through a few health setbacks in recent years. Now, he is recovering after surgery.
SEScoops has learned that Jerry “The King” Lawler recently had to undergo knee replacement surgery. Now, he will have a stint in physical rehab ahead of him.
Jerry Lawler’s Surgery
PW Insider reports that WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler recently underwent a knee replacement surgery. It was not noted exactly when this took place.
The 74-year-old pro wrestling legend’s last match took place on January 21, 2023, at the AML Acts Of War Games 2, where Jerry Lawler emerged victorious against The Beer City Bruiser.
Other Health Issues For Jerry Lawler
During the September 10, 2012 episode of WWE RAW when Jerry Lawler suffered a heart attack and collapsed at the commentary booth. He hasn’t wrestled for WWE since, but he continued taking indie bookings.
Lawler also suffered a stroke in early 2023. He has since made a recovery, but he has not wrestled since.
Jerry Lawler mentioned that despite undergoing various treatments, he continued to attend rehabilitation sessions three times weekly. He emphasized the noticeable change in his voice and expressed the need for further improvement before feeling confident in his ability to communicate effectively.
The WWE Hall of Famer has made appearances, via pre-taped message, on WWE television since. He also recorded a brief video tribute to Andy Kaufman before his WWE Hall of Fame induction.
SEScoops would like to wish Jerry Lawler the best as he recovers from his latest health issue.
Mark Briscoe has reminisced about the iconic rivalry between FTR and The Briscoes which he has labeled ‘special.’
The intense feud between The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) and FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) is one of the greatest chapters in pro wrestling history. The two critically acclaimed tag-team went on to collide in what is labeled as the best tag-team trilogy of recent memory and with the matches, the two highly regarded tag teams cemented their legacy in tag-team wrestling.
Speaking with PW Insider, Mark Briscoe recalled the matches against the Top Guys. One-half of the Dem Boyz also spoke about how Tony Khan buying ROH and booking the matches benefitted them. Reflecting on the unfortunate passing of his brother shortly after, Mark mentioned how those matches have become even more special:
“Those matches, now especially in hindsight, not that they weren’t amazing and special when they happened, but then a month after the dog collar match when the accident happened, it’s like, it’s almost like how, I don’t know how appropriate that’s how Jerry Briscoe went out.”
Mark mentioned that they were already feuding with FTR over twitter when Tony bought ROH and put them together. After the first two matches, things came full circle with the classic encounter at Final Battle 2022:
“We come full circle to Final Battle and they’ve beaten us twice and now it comes down to this dog collar match and we get the final win and Jay Briscoe puts on a career…like one of the best performances in professional wrestling history and he’s sitting there with the crimson mask, bloodied and just…what a fitting way for him to go out. 2022 as a whole was a really amazing year, but those FTR matches, and then that last, the dog collar match specifically, yeah, they’re always, they’ll always be special.”
The trilogy between The Briscoes and FTR
The two teams competed in three matches in 2022. The first match which was a standard tag-team match saw FTR prevailing at ROH Supercard of Honor in April. Then they battled in a two-out-of-three-falls match at Death Before Dishonor in July which FTR again won. The trilogy culminated in December at Final Battle when the Briscoes finally emerged victorious in a Dog Collar match to capture the ROH Tag Team Championships.
The rivalry that ended in 2022 has raised the bar for tag team wrestling and the fans continue to cherish the hard-hitting battles that they have put on in the past.
Now, Mark Briscoe has a huge task at hand as he challenges for the top prize in ROH. Read more in detail below:
WWE Superstar Jade Cargill has proclaimed that she departed AEW on a positive note without any ill feelings.
Cargill became one of the hottest free agents in the industry when she left AEW in September last year. It soon came to light that her contract had expired and she decided to venture out onto a different path.
Jade Cargill has revealed that jumping ship to WWE was “all business”. Speaking with Fightful, the former AEW star made it clear that everybody was elated for her future and she left in a professional manner. Cargill said:
“It’s all business, it’s all business. I left in a very loving, professional manner. I did what I had to do. Everybody was very elated for me, whether they figured something out or not. They were elated for me, they were happy for me. No ill feelings towards in any manner.”
Later in the interview, it was noted to her that many people in AEW will be ready to welcome her if she ever decides to go back to the promotion. The 31-year-old superstar replied that she has friends in both the promotions and she wants them to succeed. She said:
“Yes, it did. At the end of the day, these are my friends. Like, I have friends here, I have friends over there. I just want to see everybody excel and make money. Like, we all want to make money and create a name for ourselves and help out the next generation of wrestlers that want to adopt this sport.”
In the main event on SmackDown, Jade Cargill came to the aid of Bianca Belair and Naomi when Damage CTRL assaulted them. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis later made it official that Cargill will team up with Belair and Naomi to take on Damage CTRL (Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) at the ‘Show of Shows’.
WrestleMania 40 will go down on April 6 and 7 in Philadelphia. Before the shows starts, WWE has something special planned for fans. The company just announced a WrestleMania 40 kickoff event.
WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Event
WWE is gearing up for WrestleMania 40 with a special kickoff event set to take place in Philadelphia before the big weekend. During the latest episode of SmackDown, it was revealed that this event will happen on Friday, April 5. Superstars will be present to share their thoughts ahead of Mania.
Scheduled to appear at the kickoff event are Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Gunther, and Sami Zayn.
The event will be held outside the Wells Fargo Center and is open to all fans free of charge. Starting at 5 p.m. Eastern time, it will be broadcasted live on Peacock and WWE’s social media channels, with Cole and McAfee serving as hosts.
More WrestleMania 40 Shows
On April 5, both SmackDown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will also be hosted at the Wells Fargo Center. WrestleMania 40 itself will unfold at the Lincoln Financial Field on April 6 and April 7.
Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson are among the inductees in this year’s Hall of Fame class.
Additionally, it was announced during SmackDown that Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, CM Punk, Big E, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett will be leading WWE’s Countdown to WrestleMania pre-shows ahead of both nights of WrestleMania 40. These pre-shows will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 and April 7, with the main events kicking off at 7 p.m. Eastern on each night.
SEScoops will have more on WrestleMania 40, and everything surrounding the big event. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
Rhea Ripley’s recent activities at WWE live events may have proven popular with fans, but Becky Lynch believes they are beneath a female Superstar.
At a recent live event, Ripley defended her Women’s World Championship in a triple-threat match against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. During the match, Jax attempted to hit a stinkface on Ripley but the Aussie escaped and hit a stinkface on Jax. This spot immediately went viral online and Baszler herself would want to get in on the action the following night.
Becky Lynch Isn’t Impressed
While the spot has proven popular with fans, Becky Lynch has questioned the message these stinkfaces are sending. Speaking recently to Wrestling News, Lynch said that it “sucks” that this spot is what people are talking about mere days ahead of WrestleMania. Lynch, a mother to a baby girl, pondered what some in the audience may have been feeling.
“It’s edgy. But if I’m a little girl sitting in the crowd, or if I have my daughter, and she’s seeing that and she’s thinking that that’s what she needs to be if she’s a professional wrestler.”
Lynch added that for years, women had to fight to be acknowledged for more than just titillation, a fight that she feels Ripley is undoing with spots like the stinkface.
“When I think of the amount of women that were at one stage, fighting against that treatment… Maybe I’m just like stuffy and and jaded because this is the stuff that I had to fight against.”
What’s to Come?
Lynch and Ripley will face off next weekend at WrestleMania 40 for the WWE Women’s World Championship. This will be Ripley’s fifth consecutive championship match at WrestleMania and her second time defending a title. For Lynch, it’ll be her fifth championship match and her third time challenging.
Rey Mysterio proposed a tag team challenge to Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio for WWE WrestleMania 40. This could set up another son vs father confrontation on the grandest stage of them all.
Rey Mysterio’s WrestleMania 40 Challenge
During Friday’s SmackDown, Rey Mysterio, accompanied by the LWO, announced his intention to face Escobar and Dominik with a mystery partner. Then, that mystery partner was revealed.
Rey later said that Dragon Lee is his chosen partner for the WrestleMania match, and a brawl ensued between the LWO and Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma.
The ongoing storyline between the LWO and Legado Del Fantasma gained momentum on the 3/29 SmackDown when Dominik Mysterio appeared to align with Santos Escobar’s faction.
Dominik, originally part of The Judgment Day on Raw, did not have a clear WrestleMania 40 direction. Now, it appears he may have a match. Despite this development, WWE has not yet confirmed the tag team match for WrestleMania.
In the aftermath of Friday’s segment, a match between Zelina Vega and Elektra Lopez is scheduled for next week’s SmackDown, serving as the go-home show for WrestleMania 40.
Rey Mysterio’s Recent Injury
The 48-year-old had been working through a torn meniscus for nearly three months. Then he needed to go out of action to get that corrected. He is now back in WWE, where he is more than ready to step up at the show of shows.
We will have to see how WWE books things for WrestleMania 40. You may find the updated lineup for the 4/5 episode of SmackDown in the space below.
WWE SmackDown Card (4/5):
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
The KO Show with Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
New Catch Republic’s Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
Bryan Danielson is pleased with how AEW has presented Kazuchika Okada thus far, as the Raimaker is coming across as the “star” that he is.
Okada made his debut as an All-Elite talent on the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite and instantly established himself as a heel by aligning with the Young Bucks. There was no hesitation regarding Okada being a heel which was a creative idea that came from Tony Khan.
Danielson on Okada
Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Danielson had high praise for his recent match with the Rainmaker and is excited about what’s next.
“I loved my match against Okada… I love what I’m doing, and I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Danielson added that Okada is a “great fit” for AEW and has been right at home since aligning with the Young Bucks. The American Dragon chalked this sense of belonging to the efforts of AEW President Tony Khan.
“That’s the way Tony presents stars in AEW,” said Danielson. “It’s not about starting over in AEW. So he was brought in as a star and introduced as a star.”
Bryan Danielson Vs. Kazuchika Okada
Danielson and Okada have shared the ring four times, with their first encounter being at the inaugural AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door show in June 2023. That match saw Danielson get the win though he also suffered a fractured forearm.
On the October 25, AEW Dynamite, Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Okada and Orange Cassidy. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, Okada defeated Danielson. The pair would be on the same side of an eight-person tag match the next night.
What’s to Come?
Danielson is currently embarking on his final year as a full-time active wrestler. On April 5, the American Dragon will compete against CMLL’s Blue Panther. This is a dream match for Danielson who recently called Panther his favorite luchador of all time.
As for Okada, he will continue to defend the AEW Continental Championship. He is also expected to feud with Kenny Omega as the Rainmaker has replaced Omega in the Elite. With that said, there’s no word on when fans can expect Omega back from his ongoing fight with diverticulitis.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, March 30. We are officially one week away from WrestleMania 40. Let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!
– The Man’s Book: We learned a lot from Becky Lynch’s new autobiography, ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl’, and you can find that article here.
– WrestleMania Mystery Slot: WWE has reportedly blocked off a segment during WrestleMania 40 for a mystery slot. We will have to see what they book.
GUNTHER is hoping to remain undefeated at WrestleMania this April, and will join an exclusive club when he puts the Intercontinental title on the line.
The Austrian Superstar has been a dominant champion since capturing the gold back in June of 2022. Not only has GUNTHER proven himself in his own right, but having Imperium alongside him has made the Ring General even more dangerous.
GUNTHER’s Record at WrestleMania
At WrestleMania, GUNTHER will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Sami Zayn. The Austrian has been immensely confident in recent weeks and is sure that Zayn is simply not good enough to beat him.
Win, lose, or draw, GUNTHER will become the fourth Superstar in WWE history to defend the gold at back-to-back WrestleManias. This is a feat accomplished by only three Superstars at WWE’s biggest show of the year.
Who’s In the Club?
The first man to do so was ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, who put the gold on the line at WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania 3. The latter match is the much-acclaimed bout that saw Savage lose the gold to Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat.
The Ultimate Warrior would defend the title at WrestleMania 5 and WrestleMania 6, with the latter match seeing him capture the WWF title. The most recent man to have back-to-back title defenses is The Rock, who retained at both WrestleMania 13 and WrestleMania 14.
GUNTHER’s Other Records
This is hardly the first accolade for GUNTHER. In September 2022, GUNTHER broke the record for the longest solo Intercontinental Championship reign. In February 2024, GUNTHER broke the record for the most days combined of any Intercontinental Champion.
GUNTHER is also part of an elite club of Superstars that have held two championships in WWE for over a year. In addition to his current reign, GUNTHER held the NXT United Kingdom Championship for 870 days.
The final episode of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 40 will be a stacked show and will see the return of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
On the March 29, episode of WWE SmackDown, it was confirmed that the battle royal will take place on the April 5, episode. This will mark the tenth-annual battle royal, named after the legendary giant who was WWE’s first Hall of Famer.
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The match was first introduced in 2014 by WrestleMania 30 host Hulk Hogan, who fittingly dedicated the battle royal to his friend and rival. Cesaro (now AEW’s Claudio Castagnoli) won the inaugural match by eliminating the Big Show, who won the match the following year. Since then, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley have lifted the trophy.
Losing Out on a Payday
Hosting the show on SmackDown will come as a blow to many WWE Superstars. For the first years of the battle royal, the match was held at WrestleMania. Though it was on the pre-show, this guaranteed the entrants a WrestleMania-sized pay-day, which of course won’t be the case with the match being on SmackDown instead.
Other SmackDown Plans
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will be just part of the stacked final episode before WrestleMania 40. The show will also see Solo Sikoa take on Jey Uso. The former NXT North American Champion has been ordered to ‘take out’ his brother on orders from Roman Reigns.
The New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate) will take on Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. Both teams qualified for the WrestleMania six-pack challenge during the March 29, episode of SmackDown.
Zelina Vega will take on Elektra Lopez on the go-home SmackDown. The pair have been at odds as part of the LWO’s feud with Legado Del Fantasma.
Kevin Owens will host an edition of the ‘KO Show’ with Randy Orton as his guest. The two men will challenge WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania 40.
Bryan Danielson may no longer be a WWE Superstar, but that didn’t stop him from using an old WWE catchphrase of his at a recent event for CMLL.
At the event, Danielson was part of Team AEW (Bryan, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Matt Sydal) and came up short against Team CMLL (Blue Panther, Ultimo Guerrero, Mistico, & Volador Jr.) During one spot, Danielson and Mistico (aka WWE’s Sin Cara) shared dueling chants reminiscent of Bryan’s time as a Superstar.
Bryan Danielson and Místico breaking out a SÍ/NO battle. Hahaha.
After the match, Danielson issued a challenge to Blue Panther for next Friday night’s Arena Mexico show on April 5, which Panther accepted. This has been a match that Danielson has called a dream match in the past. He recently called Pather his favorite luchador of all time.
Tomorrow will be my first time stepping foot in the legendary Arena Mexico. The BCC will be standing across the ring from 4 incredible wrestlers, one of whom, Blue Panther, is my FAVORITE LUCHADOR OF ALL TIME!!! What a life! #CMLLvsAEW@CMLL_OFICIAL@AEWpic.twitter.com/3sv4ztbDAh
Bryan began using the Yes chant following his 2011 WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory. Not long after winning the title, Bryan’s ego would grow, causing him to yell “YES!” and celebrate even the smallest of victories in over-the-top fashion.
After his 18-second World Heavyweight Championship loss to Sheamus at WrestleMania 28, a dejected Bryan changed his tune. Bryan blamed the fans (and AJ Lee) for his loss and in response to the crowd being on board with the yes chant, would chant “NO!” in response.
Bringing Back the Chant
This isn’t the first time that Bryan has embraced his WWE catchphrases. Following a December 2023 edition of AEW Collision, the crowd chanted “YES” for Bryan, who admitted he’s not allowed to do that anymore. Thinking better of it, Danielson decided to join in with the YES! chant and sarcastically told fans to definitely not record the moment in question.
Paul Heyman doesn’t know of any hidden intentions behind The Rock’s ‘L’ but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to the fan-led conspiracy.
The Great One returned to WWE earlier this year and was poised to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This didn’t sit well with the WWE Universe, who believed the spot rightly deserved to Cody Rhodes.
The Rock and His L
With the WWE Universe rejecting The Rock, the company changed course, turning the Brahma Bull heel and aligning him with the Bloodline. In segments, Rock has been aligned with his family but his choice of hand gesture has raised some eyebrows.
While the Bloodline points to the sky, The Rock has performed the same gesture with his thumb outstretched, giving an ‘L’ shaped symbol. Fans have speculated as to whether there’s a reason for this. Some have even speculated that it could be a sign of his intent to betray Roman Reigns when the time is right.
Paul Heyman on The Rock’s L
Sitting down with Forbes, Heyman was asked about The Rock’s ‘L’ symbol and whether there’s some meaning behind the gesture. The future WWE Hall of Famer argued that there’s no hidden meaning that he’s aware of, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to it.
“It is a conspiracy. And just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean there’s not a conspiracy behind it.”
“My father always taught me, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the whole world’s not against you.”
Heyman added that he is sure there’s “something to it” and suggested that the only person who knows the truth is the Final Boss himself.
What’s to Come?
The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring at WrestleMania 40: Saturday where he’ll team with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Title match.
If Rhodes & Rollins win, the next night’s match between Rhodes and Roman Reigns will be free of Bloodline interference. Should the Bloodline win the Saturday match, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’
AJ Styles may have made a huge name for himself before coming to WWE, but a certain ex-chairman of the company had no idea who the Phenomenal One was.
Styles made a huge splash in 2016 when he was part of that year’s Royal Rumble match. While treated as a debut, Styles had competed a handful of times for WWE years earlier following the demise of WCW.
AJ Styles and the Redacted One
Speaking during a recent Fanatics livestream, Styles stated that for all his goodwill with fans, Vince McMahon didn’t know who he was. McMahon, whom Styles avoided mentioning by name, had to be convinced to give AJ a prominent spot in the Rumble match.
“The redacted name did not know me. He had no clue who I was. So it was guys who had worked with me with TNA and whatnot that were able to say ‘Let this guy come in [the Royal Rumble match] third, be third in the Rumble, please.’ Finally he goes ‘Fine, let them!’ And then the reaction happens.”
Despite getting a huge reaction during the Rumble match, McMahon still was not convinced that Styles was a big deal, as the Phenomenal One explained:
“He still didn’t believe them.”He was like ‘Ah it was just a fluke.’ And then the next night I had a match. It was okay but it was nothing special. He was like ‘I’ve got a hundred guys who could do what you just did.’ But what he was saying was true.
The Redneck Rookie?
With McMahon overseeing all of WWE’s on-screen production at the time, the promotion tried to present Styles as a brand new wrestler despite his prior accomplishments. One galling example of this was when he was bestowed the nickname of the “rookie redneck,” eight years after entering the wrestling business. It wouldn’t be until much later that WWE would come around and acknowledge AJ’s work in other companies.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Jade Cargill will make her WrestleMania debut next month as part of a six-woman tag-team match confirmed on Friday Night SmackDown.
The March 29, edition of SmackDown saw the blue brand continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. WWE’s annual Showcase of the Immortals will take place on April 6 and April 7 from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
Jade Cargill at WrestleMania
On this week’s SmackDown, Nick Aldis welcomed Cargill to the show, mere days after it was confirmed she’d signed with the blue brand. Jade said that while WWE’s women’s division is the best in the world, nobody else can be Jade Cargill and was ready to bring the ‘storm’ to Friday nights.
Later in the show, Bianca Belair defeated Dakota Kai in a hard-fought match but the EST was ambushed by Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane after the match. Naomi emerged to aid the EST but the numbers game proved to be too much for Belair and the former TNA Knockouts Champion.
That would be when Cargill arrived and cleared house. The ‘Storm’ stood tall with Belair and Naomi and the three women pointed in unison at the WrestleMania sign. It was later confirmed that the trio will take on Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 40.
Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023 and was immediately treated as a massive high-profile acquisition for the company. Prior to this, Cargill made her name in AEW, where she was the first AEW TBS Champion. Her 508-day reign remains the longest title reign of any champion in AEW history.
Mike Santana could be back on pro wrestling television again soon.
The former member of Proud ‘n’ Powerful was released by AEW earlier this month and has since made his hay on the independent wrestling scene. However, there has been expectation that the talented star could be landing with another wrestling promotion soon enough.
Fightful Select is reporting that TNA is planning to bring in Santana, which happened to be a former home for the LAX member. Santana currently is the House Of Glory Champion.
Before heading to AEW in 2019, Santana and Ortiz were undoubtedly the top tag team in TNA (then known as IMPACT Wrestling) and the two certainly showed plenty of promise when becoming All Elite. The duo aligned themselves as members. of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle and the two’s star power grew even further as time went on.
However, it was Konnan who first revealed that legitimate tension rose between Ortiz and Santana. As time went on, it confirmed by both men that they grew apart. In a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Santana made mention that he and Ortiz began to have different philosophies about tag team wrestling, indicating that he has a super driven mindset and was more willing to fight for himself and the team.
Not too long before Santana was released from AEW, he revealed that he was a full year sober on social media and made clear to Chris Van Vliet that he holds no ill will to his former partner, stating that he was a different person back then.
Fans were graced with the presence of The Mami Rhea Ripley after the 3/29 SmackDown from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut went off air.
The Women’s Champion made a brief appearance during the show. This came after the segment between LWO and Legado Del Fantasma. A tag team match between Dominik Mysterio & Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee for WrestleMania 40 was announced during this confrontation.
The whole Judgement Day was shown backstage after this and Dom apologized to his teammates for not informing them of his intentions ahead of time.
This wasn’t the last of Rhea Ripley fans got to see, however. The World Champion competed in a dark match after SmackDown went off air where she retained her title against Shayna Baszler.
After smackdown went off the air Rhea Ripley faced Shayna Basler for the women's title. No surprise Rhea retained obviously. It was a good match. pic.twitter.com/C0Pm0zt7n0
The second dark match of the night featured another member of the Judgement Day. Finn Balor squared off against Sami Zayn in this match but unlike Mami, he failed to win the contest.
What Happened On SmackDown
Apart from this, the show also featured an appearance from former AEW star Jade Cargill. The female star made her SmackDown signing official during the show and put the whole roster on notice.
Cargill made her presence felt in a big way during the main event segment as well. The final broadcasted match of the night featured Bianca Belair defeating Dakota Kai in a singles contest.
Asuka and Kairi Sane attacked the EST immediately after the bell rang and Naomi also failed to stop this assault. Jade Cargill made the save for the babyfaces and they stood tall to end the show.
WrestleMania is coming up in 8 days at this point, but even before that, WWE World will open for fans. This will replace the company’s former Axxess event, and give fans an opportunity to meet their favorite Superstars.
The WWE World at WrestleMania is a five-day interactive fan event set to run from Thursday, April 4 through Monday, April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Tickets are slated to become available this Thursday, February 22 at 10 a.m. ET, with prices ranging from $30 to $300.
WWE World has announced the complete schedule of superstar appearances for April 4th to April 8th. Those appearances include some top Superstars on WrestleMania 40 weekend.
WWE World Superstar Appearances
This year’s WWE World is Fanatics’ first-ever fan event for the company. WrestleMania weekend will be busy for fans, especially if they get in on the meet & greets.
Operating hours vary each day: Thursday, April 4th will see the venue open from 12 pm to 8 pm, followed by Friday, April 5th from 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday, April 6th from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday, April 7th from 10 am to 5 pm, and Monday, April 8th from 10 am to 5 pm. The event will be hosted at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.
You can find the complete list of Superstar appearances at WWE World below. SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as additional updates are made available.
WWE World: Full Schedule of Superstar Appearances
THURSDAY, A?PRIL 4: 12 PM – 8 PM
AJ Styles • Bobby Lashley • Carlito • Chelsea Green • Damian Priest
• Dragon Lee • Finn Bálor • Ivy Nile • Jade Cargill • JD McDonagh
Akam • Angelo Dawkins • Asuka • Cora Jade • Dakota Kai • Kairi Sane • Kevin Owens • Liv Morgan • Luke Gallows • Lyra Valkyria • Montez Ford • Noam Dar • Rezar • Ridge Holland • Tegan Nox • Trick Williams • Xavier Woods • And More!
Recently, Becky Lynch’s memoir ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl‘ hit shelves, and has proven to be a gripping read for wrestling fans and casual readers alike.
In the book, she writes candidly about her life in and outside of the ring. She shares unpleasant aspects of her journey, including insecurities that have made her feel cowardly at times.
Here’s a link to some prominent Becky Lynch book reviews, followed by our five takeaways from reading Becky Lynch’s new book, The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl.
She Wasn’t a Fan of WWE Evolution
In 2018, WWE held its first (and to date, only) all-female Premium Live Event. WWE Evolution was quite the show and saw Lynch retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match.
While Lynch considers the match one of her favorites, the show concept itself did not sit right with her. Lynch writes how WWE would never promote an event being an all-men show, so to do so with the women’s roster seemed like the opposite of equality. Lynch was also not a fan of the ending of WWE Evolution, which saw all the women come out on stage, something else the company wouldn’t do for the men.
She Didn’t Like the Look of Finn Balor at First
Finn Balor (or Fergal) plays a huge role in Lynch’s memoir, as her trainer and a long-term boyfriend. Even after splitting, the pair remained close in a friendship that lasts to this day.
Despite this, Becky was far from impressed when she first saw Balor in promotional material for a wrestling school, as she told her brother:
“That Fegal lad looks like a real douchebag.”
Who, me?
Upon meeting Balor in person, Lynch would realize the handsome good looks of WWE’s first Universal Champion and it wouldn’t be long before the pair became an item.
She Struggled With Confidence for a Long Time
In her memoir, Becky doesn’t hold back on her feelings of inadequacy in her youth, but these feelings extended long into her WWE career. While many would see being hired by WWE as the definition of ‘making it’ Lynch continued to feel like she was always on the cusp of being let go.
Becky Lynch in NXT during the early years of her WWE run
Even after making it to the main roster, Lynch writes about feeling like she’s not enough, and feared being pulled from the WrestleMania 32 Women’s Triple Threat at the last minute. Even as the first SmackDown Women’s Champion, Lynch’s doubts didn’t go away, proof that mental health issues can affect us all.
She Was Engaged & Didn’t Want to Be
Becky Lynch has been married to Seth Rollins for some time now and the pair have a lovely young daughter in Roux. Years earlier though, Lynch would be engaged to somebody else, but hated that she was. From the start of the relationship, Lynch knew this man was not right for her, but she felt like she needed something outside of wrestling, in which she was struggling at the time.
A self-professed “f***ing coward” Lynch said yes when the man in question popped THE question on a Ferris wheel and did her best to hide the news of their engagement from friends and family. Lynch did tell Rollins, who had only weeks earlier listened as she spoke about not wanting to be with this guy. Wearing an engagement “ring of sadness” was not easy for Lynch, who eventually broke things off via text after a fight with her fiance.
She Knew Her 2018 Charlotte Feud Wouldn’t Work
In 2018, Lynch turned ‘heel’ after Charlotte Flair won the SmackDown Women’s Championship at that year’s SummerSlam, or at least that was the idea. The fans rallied behind the plucky Lynch and therefore rejected the second-generation wrestler who many had felt had been handed opportunities others should have been given.
Lynch knew from the get-go that this story wouldn’t work and constantly brought this up to management. Despite her pleas, Lynch was put on TV to cut generic heel promos, berating fans for never really supporting her, when they had all along. Even having Lynch berate the then-retired Edge did nothing to make fans boo her. While WWE eventually relented, Lynch’s 2018 heel run wasn’t easy or fulfilling for The Man.
AEW pulled in Jay White after he took over NJPW. As leader of Bullet Club Gold, things looked like they were taking an interesting turn as the Bang Bang Scissor Gang broke up in violent fashion. Then White disappeared, but there is a reason for that.
Switchblade Jay White has been absent from recent live appearances on AEW Dynamite or Collision. Visa issues prevent Jay White from working in Canada, but he’s anticipated to return to action once the company resumes U.S. shows.
Jay White’s Absence Explained
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Jay White has been absent from live appearances on AEW Dynamite or Collision in recent weeks. They have featured him in pre-filmed videos alongside Bullet Club Gold.
The ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions have not appeared live since parting ways with Bang Bang Scissor Gang and attacking Billy Gunn. This situation is blamed on Visa issues, a typical problem with foreign talent as they attempt to navigate red tape.
“Switchblade” Jay White is currently unable to work in Canada due to visa issues. He is expected to return to action once the company resumes running shows in the United States.
What’s Next For Jay White
They are still hyping the feud between Bullet Club Gold against The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. AEW will likely take care of that rivalry once Jay White is able to make his return.
As of this writing, Jay White does not have a match booked for AEW Dynasty on April 21. They have plenty of time before the St. Louis show goes down, so we will have to see how they work him into things.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
The clock is ticking on Matt Hardy’s future with All Elite Wrestling. He shared that his contract expires at the end of the month and that he has reached an agreement with the company. In giving an update to fans, Hardy revealed that AEW has offered him a new deal.
The wrestling legend admitted on his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, that he was given a new contract to stay with AEW for quite some time.
“…There is a little news to go along with my contract negotiations. I have a contract sitting in front of me for a few years, and now I’m looking through it, I’m like deciding what I want to do moving forward,” said Hardy.
Although Hardy has revealed that he already has an offer to stay, he seems still undecided. One of the wrestling legend’s concerns is that he wants to be utilized to his full potential while he can still compete.
“…There’s obviously still some options. I got to make sure that I’m aware of the ins and outs of the contract, and I want to make sure everything is up to par as far as like want I want it to be because, once again, as I say pretty often and I know that I only have a couple more years of doing this and I want to make the most out of those years whatever they may be. I want to be optimized in whatever I am doing, so that’s very important to me,” said Hardy.
More On Matt Hardy Remaining Undecided On Future With AEW
The AEW superstar comments are interesting as the company has decided to feature less on TV over the years. He signed with AEW in 2020 and has been given opportunities to be involved in multiple storylines throughout his tenure. However, he has been seen less on TV over the last year.
Hardy has remained adamant that he likes working for AEW and shared on the podcast that he is happy he was offered a contract to return. That said, the wrestling legend acknowledged on the podcast that he has several other options.
“…I’m very happy to, you know, be invited to return to AEW and work for the foreseeable future, but you know, we shall see because right now, I’m just currently weighing out the options. There’s a couple of things out there, and I would say in the next month, I should probably know what my immediate future is going to hold,” said Hardy
It seems fans will have to continue speculating on Hardy’s future until he makes an announcement next month. However, it doesn’t look promising that he has yet reached an agreement with a few days left in March.
WWE has something special planned for their upcoming WrestleMania 40 event, but plans are being kept under wraps for the time being.
WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will take place on April 6 and April 7 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
John Cena & Steve Austin on Raw
During the March 25, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, The Rock battered Cody Rhodes in the closing moments of the show, leaving the American Nightmare in a bloody heap.
During the assault, production trucks were seen in the background bearing the faces of John Cena and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. This immediately led to speculation that either (or perhaps both) could play a role at WrestleMania 40.
A WrestleMania Mystery
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer addresses the rumors of Cena and/or Austin being part of the WrestleMania 40 main event. He was “told not to read into that regarding the main events.”
While Cena and Austin may not interfere with the main event of the show, it appears something is in the works for WrestleMania 40. Meltzer writes that there is said to be a “mystery slot” on the card for the show. It is currently unclear if this is for Cena or somebody else.
WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is doing well following surgery after suffering a “freak accident” injury to his bicep.
It was reported in March 2024 that Aldis had suffered an injury and that it would require surgery. The British veteran later disclosed that he had ruptured a tendon in his bicep in what he described as a “freak accident.” Aldis added that he would continue to fulfill his obligations as general manager of the blue brand.
Nick Aldis Gives An Update
On a recent edition of the Gabby AF podcast, Aldis discussed his injury. The SmackDown GM explained how getting injured to the extent that he needs surgery is hardly a regular thing for him.
“Before this one, I’ve only had one major surgery my whole career and it was the other bicep, so it was just a freak thing.”
Aldis added that he is feeling much better now he’s gotten the surgery and hopes to be back in the swing of things in time for WrestleMania 40 next weekend.
“I feel great. I’m in a stupid splint cast thing for a little bit longer and then hopefully I’ll transition to a brace, kind of like the one that we’re seeing Punk wearing. I’ll be switching into one of those hopefully in time for WrestleMania.”
Nick Aldis
Aldis debuted in WWE in October 2023 on the very same night he was appointed SmackDown General Manger by Triple H. The Brit is perhaps best known for his NWA run which saw him reign as NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion for over 1,000 days.
Aldis also enjoyed success in TNA Wrestling, though his initial gimmick ‘Brutus Magnus’ (a nod to his time on the athletic game show ‘Gladiators’) left a lot to be desired. Aldis is a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and held the title for 128 days.
