In October of last year, Flair joined AEW and has been part of Sting’s retirement run. The pair were fierce rivals in the NWA and WCW and competed in the final WCW match during the March 26, 2001, edition of WCW Monday Nitro.
Ric Flair’s Birthday Wish
As a megastar in wrestling, Flair’s birthday earned a ton of well-wishes from fans around the world. On Twitter, Charlotte shared a heartfelt message to her father, saying her love for him is as big as the sky. The Younger Flair included a photo of herself, Ric, and her husband Andrade El Idolo.
In a tweet of his own, Ric Flair was grateful for the well-wishes by fans.
Thank You To All Of My Family & Friends For Coming Together For Such A Special Birthday Celebration! It Was A Very Sentimental Night For Me! I Am So Blessed To Be Able To Make These Memories With You All! Here’s To 75! WOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/aY2mLvceJp
Randy Orton is motivated by giving back to the wrestling business in the latter stages of his career with WWE.
Orton is one of WWE’s most decorated Superstars, with 14 World Championships, a Grand Slam, and two Royal Rumble victories to his name. The Viper returned to TV at last year’s Survivor Series: WarGames event after a severe back injury nearly ended his wrestling career.
Randy Orton On His Role in WWE
Speaking for his A&E Biography: Legends episode, Orton addressed the importance of giving back to the business that has done so much for him.
“I’d say paying it forward, giving back to the business [is the most important thing to me at this stage of my career.] Just helping out the guys who need the help. When I was coming up, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Triple H, all these guys. They made sure to instill in me as many good habits as they could. Here I am, 20 years later and a lot of things come full circle.”
WWE Superstars on Randy Orton
Borrowing a line from his WWE return promo, Cody Rhodes spoke about his mentor, and how despite Orton often being against authority, he has become a moral compass.
“The path we take to avoid our destiny is often the one that leads us directly to it. I think Randy senses that he is now in a position where he can leave the industry better than he found it.
Cody also recognized the irony of Orton of all people now being a person who is looked to as a leader given his often controversial actions in the past.
For an individual who has [been] so adamantly against rules and structure and management, the irony is that he’s become such a great leader.
Seth Rollins, who was Orton’s first feud after his 2015 WWE World Heavyweight Championship win, was appreciative of all the Viper does.
“He’s really taken on the responsibility of helping out the younger generation.”
The Miz, who defeated Orton in November 2010 to win his first of two WWE Championships, also had praise for the Viper.
“Yeah he’s a locker room leader now [but] he didn’t have to be either. But he took on that role because he cares about this business. And he doesn’t get the credit. He’ll never get the credit that he deserves. Until now hopefully.”
What’s Next?
At last weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 event, Orton competed in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. The Viper was able to eliminate Logan Paul but was attacked by the Maverick with brass knuckles afterward. The match was won by Drew McIntyre. Given what happened in Perth, it has been rumored that Orton and Paul will face off at WrestleMania 40.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The meeting was meticulously planned out ahead of time, according to Fightful Select. Attendees of the meeting included TNA Wrestling talent and bosses within Anthem, some familiar to TNA’s roster and others that talent will be answering to from now on. Some of the TNA wrestlers had spoken with higher-ups on a one-on-one basis as well.
What Was Said at the Meeting?
The general consensus of the meeting was that nobody wanted the roster to abandon the hard work they’ve done collectively, even if the roster wasn’t in agreement with the decision to fire D’Amore. One top name with TNA was reportedly looking to leave the company as a result of D’Amore’s exit. They later decided to work the weekend’s taping and see how the meeting went before doing anything too extreme.
The Future of TNA Wrestling
TNA’s new higher-ups were said to be open to feedback from the talent roster. Many wrestlers in the company said that while they disagreed with the decision, the meeting did do a good job of getting them excited about the possibilities going forward. While many in the company are still hoping Scott D’Amore will rejoin TNA at some point, it is not expected to happen.
Swerve Strickland may have found a home for himself in AEW, but the popular star remains in touch with one of WWE’s most notable on-screen personalities.
Strickland joined WWE in 2019 and the former NXT North American Champion was released in late 2021. He would later join AEW at Revolution 2022 in March. On the latest edition of his Swerve City podcast, Strickland spoke about his journey in wrestling and revealed that he still converses with Paul Heyman.
“Little do people know, I still talk to Paul Heyman. Just on a mentorship-type state. I go to him for advice on like my promos and my segments that like … when I was doing the home invasion segments and all this stuff, I was like ‘how did this make you feel?’ I would get reception back from him.”
Paul Heyman on AEW
Heyman has unsurprisingly never appeared for AEW, but the special counsel to Roman Reigns does keep an eye on the competition. Speaking to BT Sport ahead of Survivor Series 2021, Heyman was asked for his take on Tony Khan’s company.
“Oh, they’re viable. They are a viable entity, and God bless them for being there.”
What’s Next?
This weekend, Swerve Strickland will compete in the main event of AEW Revolution 2024. Strickland will challenge AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in a triple threat match that will also feature ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. With that said, the Cowboy may not be in the match despite his recent ‘injury’ on Dynamite being confirmed to be a work. This match will mark Strickland’s first AEW pay-per-view main event.
WWE has many hours of television to fill, and they are always open to good ideas. The company will also bring in fresh minds from time to time so liven things up. Now, we can confirm that they have hired an indie wrestler for that part of the company.
WWE Hires New Writer’s Assistant
WWE’s internal hirings don’t go public very often, unless it’s a newsworthy event. They have posted openings for their creative team in recent memory, and now they have hired Patrick Scott to join the company.
Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net reported that WWE has hired a new writer for their team. Patrick Scott, who is a retired indie wrestler, is now joining WWE’s creative team as a writer’s assistant for the SmackDown brand. His start date was not disclosed in the report.
Sources have confirmed to me that Independent Wrestler Patrick Scott has been hired by WWE has the new writer’s assistant for SmackDown, and is said to be starting this Monday.
Patrick Scott Speaks Out
Scott has previously posted on social media to indicate that a big career change is coming. He promised to have more updates soon as he posed a photo to illustrate this transition.
I’ll have a lot more to say in the coming days. For now, I will just say this… Thank you.
I’ll have a lot more to say in the coming days. For now, I will just say this…
SEScoops would like to congratulate Patrick Scott for this great opportunity. He is joining WWE’s team as they embark on the road to WrestleMania, an event that will likely be an all-hands-on-deck kind of situation creatively.
Vince McMahon was forced to resign from WWE a second time when Janel Grant filed a damning lawsuit that alleged him of heinous acts including sex trafficking, assault, and more. The locker room is starting to speak out on the matter, and now it is Becky Lynch’s turn.
Becky Lynch Speaks on Vince McMahon Allegations
During an interview with Inside the Ropes prior to yesterday’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth, Becky Lynch was questioned about the allegations against Vince McMahon.
Becky Lynch responded, “I’ve been fortunate in my career that I’ve always felt supported by the company. These allegations are horrible. It’s hard to reconcile, as a talent and as a woman, but my experience in WWE has only ever been amazing.”
The Man went on to explain that, in the beginning of her time in WWE, the company limited talent. They pushed through that, and she has had a great ride in the company. Those words were spoken in a solemn tone, because Lynch realized that not everyone can say the same about their experience.
“Yes, in the beginning, there were some restrictions put on things. We couldn’t punch, we had to hair pull, there were weird things there. Being able to push us forward, push women forward, I’m very grateful for that and the opportunity to even have my family. This company…some of these things are hard to reconcile.”
Becky Lynch won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Now, she will go onto WrestleMania 40, where she will take on Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title.
Other WWE Superstar Reactions To Vince McMahon Allegations
Randy Orton also addressed Vince McMahon, expressing that the allegations against him were heartbreaking. The Apex Predator further acknowledged that he owes his entire career to Mr. McMahon.
John Cena also spoke out about this situation, but he also stated that he still loves McMahon. They went through a lot over the years, and Cena was as frank as he could while speaking on the Howard Stern Show.
Kevin Owens has also reacted to the Vince McMahon allegations in recent memory. He condemned McMahon’s actions as he spoke carefully on the subject.
As of this writing, WWE has handed down no directive to any talent saying that they are not allowed to speak about Vince McMahon’s situation. Obviously, they are speaking out as this question comes up, and the number of Superstars who are speaking out on the matter is likely to grow as time goes on.
WWE RAW’s February 26th episode will go down in the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The episode promises to feature fallout from the recent Elimination Chamber event held in Australia. As WrestleMania approaches, with only 40 days until the grand event, the anticipation is palpable. Let’s take a look at what WWE has booked already.
There are currently two matches scheduled for RAW, including Sami Zayn taking on Nakamura, and a Street Fight between the New Day and Imperium. Additionally, Drew McIntyre emerged victorious in the Elimination Chamber, earning the opportunity to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Furthermore, Becky Lynch secured a significant victory in the Elimination Chamber, earning the right to challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at the upcoming WrestleMania 40 event.
Sami Zayn vs. Nakamura
Street Fight: New Day vs Imperium
Raw Preview (2/26/24)
Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Zayn and Nakamura were excluded from WWE’s Elimination Chamber booking. They already had this contest booked for RAW, and both men have a lot to prove. Sami is still trying to find his footing, and his eyes are on GUNTHER for a WrestleMania IC Title shot. Also, Nakamura could use a big win, as his efforts to derail Cody Rhodes as he tried to finish his story were not successful.
Street Fight: New Day vs Imperium
New Day and Imperium have been building toward this match for a while. Both teams were left off Elimination Chamber, and odds are, they will leave it all on the table in San Jose. Since we are on the road to WrestleMania, every match is even more important, especially in a contest like this were both teams could use the boost in momentum. After Judgment Day retained their titles in Perth, it is very possible that the winner of this match will have a title match in their future.
Drew McIntyre’s Next Move
Drew McIntyre won Elimination Chamber to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. The Scottish Warrior will be there to really start his WrestleMania build, something that he has actually been at work on for a while now.
Becky Lynch Celebrates Road to WrestleMANia
Becky Lynch won Elimination Chamber to challenge Rhea Ridley for the Women’s World championship at WrestleMania 40 as well. With both Chamber winners coming out of the red brand, it seems that this week’s episode of WWE RAW is more must-see than ever.
SEScoops will have more coverage of WWE RAW as updates are made available. Keep checking back during the show for breaking headlines!
Janel Grant’s blockbuster lawsuit caused Vince McMahon to resign from the company he helped build. Now, McMahon’s memory is being erased in many ways as the world takes a step back to see the man that he tried to hide for years. Some members of the locker room are now speaking out to express their shock at the whole situation.
Kevin Owens Reacts To Vince McMahon Allegations
The allegations against Vince McMahon sparked reactions from all over. The pro wrestling bubble was busted wide-open, as main stream outlets also picked up the story.
Vince McMahon was responsible for booking Kevin Owens as Universal Champion, his WrestleMania main event match against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and so much more. He may owe McMahon a lot for giving him those opportunities, but it doesn’t change the heinous allegations of sex trafficking, assault, and abuse that Janel Granted included in her lawsuit.
While speaking to Alex McCarthy of Daily Mail, Owens spoke out against the allegations.
“Everything that has come out is awful. Just terrible. There’s really no words to describe how sad this makes me feel. If the people spoke out went through what they went through, that’s terrible. It’s shameful and it can’t ever happen again. That’s what it comes down to.”
Other Reactions To Vince McMahon Allegations
Randy Orton also spoke out against Vince McMahon, and he said the allegations against McMahon were heartbreaking. The Apex Predator also admitted that he owes his entire career to Mr. McMahon.
John Cena also spoke out about this situation, but he also stated that he still loves McMahon. They went through a lot over the years, and Cena was as frank as he could while speaking on the Howard Stern Show.
“I’ve openly said, I love the guy, I have a great relationship with the guy, and that’s that. It’s largely my construct of operating with honesty and communication. The whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks. It deals with an individual I love and an entity I love.”
What’s Next
Vince McMahon will likely never be back in WWE. At this point, he has no leverage to cause a return like he saw after his first retirement stint. He cannot return with the same amount of power, and this is also comforting for some to know.
Bill Simmons is still working on his six-part Netflix docuseries about Vince McMahon. That series will likely blow the lid off a lot of McMahon’s life, as it promises to pull no punches.
Elimination Chamber went down in Perth on February 24th, making the company’s return to Australia for a huge event since 2018’s Super Show-Down event. Tons of fans turned out for the Chamber, and those Superstars had a long trip to make it there.
WWE Elimination Chamber Travel
WWE Superstars are used to time on the road, and they certainly raked up frequent flyer miles this week. A majority of the roster went to Australia for the Elimination Chamber event, and there was a lot of travel required.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that some talent had quite a trip to Australia. Some of them required multiple flight transfers to make sure that they made their way to Elimination Chamber in time.
The WWE travel to Australia for some went to California, Hawaii, then Australia. There were some that ended up taking 4-5 legs of a flight to get back home.
WWE Elimination Chamber Attendance
Triple H showed up before the main event of the Chamber pay-per-view, and he had a big announcement. The WWE COO revealed that the attendance in Optus Stadium was 52,590.
Elimination Chamber drew a significant crowd, but it fell short of WWE’s previous major event in Australia. That event was the 2018 Super Show-Down, held on October 6, 2018, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The attendance for WWE Super Show-Down was reported to be approximately 62,000.
What’s Next
WWE is well on the road to WrestleMania at this point. There is a lot at stake for Superstars to stay healthy and maintain focus during this time. Thankfully, the flight to Elimination Chamber, although it was grueling, it didn’t seem to negatively change anyone’s performance during the massive event.
Sting has certainly given his all since signing with AEW. Few fans thought that he would get involved in AEW matches like he has, and now The Icon is set to have his final match at Revolution on March 3rd, and he wanted to go out with all guns blazing at this point.
Sting Insisted On Danger
Darby Allin and Sting took on the Don Callis Family during AEW’s Homecoming episode in Daily’s Place. That match ended with The Stinger going through a table, but that wasn’t supposed to be his spot.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Darby Allin was supposed to take the big bump in Daily’s Place that ended their tornado tag team match, but that wasn’t how things turned out. It seems that Sting insisted on taking that bump instead.
In asking around about the road to Sting’s retirement match, there were some backstage that had pushed for Darby Allin to take the bump at the end of the Daily’s Place tag team match instead of Sting, but Sting was insistent. Obviously he’s been fine in the follow up.
Sting Was Advised Against This
Darby Allin previously spoke about that dangerous spot at Daily’s Place. He told Sting not to take the bump, but that didn’t convince The Icon from doing it anyway.
What’s Next For Sting
Sting and Darby Allin are set to take on The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution on March 3rd. That will be a historic event at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it will also mark the company’s first pay-per-view in the city. It will also be the end of Sting’s in-ring career, so odds are the whole pro wrestling world will be watching.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of Sting’s final days as an active wrestler for AEW.
WWE Superstars can sometimes work for a decade or longer in the pro wrestling business before getting their shot. Kevin Owens certainly had to put in his time on the indies, but now that he is a WWE Superstar, although he appreciates his past, he is looking forward.
Kevin Owens Speaks on His Time in ROH
Kevin Owens is known all over the world now for his work in WWE. However, prior to rising to prominence in the global wrestling scene, Owens was a fixture in Ring of Honor from 2011 to 2013. It seems that he doesn’t really think about that time in his career anymore.
During conversation with Wrestle Radio Australia, Kevin Owens mentioned that the current phase of his career aligns more closely with his true self compared to his time in Ring of Honor. He acknowledged that during his Ring of Honor days, he often aimed to shock people and gain recognition, even if it meant doing things he wouldn’t do now.
Owens then expressed gratitude for reaching his desired destination in his career, although he doesn’t necessarily reminisce about his Ring of Honor years. He doesn’t watch that footage, and some of it is cringe-worthy for him now.
I mean, this is a lot closer to myself than I am, you know, the Ring of Honor stuff. A lot of it was about shocking people and trying to get my name out there and for better or for worse, you know? There’s a lot of things I did back then that I would not do today. You know what I mean? So I’m glad that I’ve managed to get to where I wanted to get to, and the Ring of Honor years are great years for me, but they’re not necessarily years I even look back on. I don’t really watch that stuff back. If I did, I’d probably cringe at a lot of stuff I did. You know, licking people’s blood and just a lot of crazy things in the ring that I probably shouldn’t have been doing. But, you know, it all paid off ultimately. I am where I wanted to go.”
What’s Next For Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens does not have a match on WrestleMania 40 yet, but odds are that will change as the weeks tick down for the show of shows. This could be an eventful time for him, because the road to WrestleMania has been known to pick up for the Prize Fighter since his debut on the main roster.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of Kevin Owens’ career, and everything else in the pro wrestling world.
Drew McIntyre appears to have regained the momentum he lost during his WWE championship reign. After winning the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match, the Scottish Warrior has a World Heavyweight Championship match waiting for him at the showcase of the immortals. He was also banged up a bit in the process, but it was all worth it.
Drew McIntyre’s Big Win
Drew McIntyre has been through a lot on the road to WrestleMania. It appears that he may have also ruptured his eardrum in the process.
This win has secured him a World Heavyweight title shot against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. Speaking with Byron Saxton on WWE’s The Bump after the match, Drew McIntyre expressed that every hardship endured in the chamber was worthwhile. He is now focused on concluding his journey for all those who believed in him at The Show of Shows.
“I can barely hear the words after getting hit in the ear so hard. It’s fine. I said I would do whatever it takes, not just for me but for everybody else. And every superplex, every dive off the cage, every power bomb in the back of my neck was worth it. I said I’d go through any obstacle. Push Cody to finish his story, that’s what the fans wanted. Push Seth to stop being selfish. Some people are like, it’s just so you can get Seth at WrestleMania.”
“Yeah, I just had to beat AJ Styles and I just had to put myself through hell while jet lagged, while this eardrum appears to be burst. Worth it. I did it for each and every one of you. We’re so close, so close. WrestleMania, we finish our own story and I finally get my moment.”
Drew McIntyre’s WWE Journey
The Scottish Warrior ascended to the main event scene in 2020, capturing the World title from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36. Unfortunately, the global pandemic prevented an audience from witnessing McIntyre’s triumph.
However, since the start of 2024, McIntyre’s popularity has surged once again, with fans firmly supporting his dominant performances. The Elimination Chamber match at WWE’s PLE in Perth, Australia was just what he wanted to maintain that momentum.
What’s Next for Drew McIntyre
The Scottish Warrior will take on Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. That match may be a massive notch in his belt, but it could also be a huge highlight near the end of his road with WWE.
Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract is up soon, and while he has not re-signed yet, the thought is that he has far too much momentum at this point to leave. SEScoops will have more on this story as more information is available.
AEW has pulled in a few former WWE names in the past, and they scored a big behind-the-scenes acquisition by securing a tenured Senior Writer and Producer. Matt Hardy remembers his days in WWE, and he can see why this signing will be very beneficial.
Matt Hardy Speaks on AEW’s New Creative Force
Former WWE Senior Writer and Producer Jennifer Pepperman opted to leave the company. Her departure was voluntary rather than a result of being let go. I was told at the time that the overall thought was that she already landed a job elsewhere.
Pepperman has since joined AEW for an extended period, a move that Matt Hardy sees as beneficial. She has also worked extensively with Sasha Banks in the past, and Mercedes Mone is expected to make her AEW debut during March 13th’s Big Business Collision in Boston.
While speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the show’s co-host, Jon Alba, highlighted the recruitment of Jennifer Pepperman. Hardy then pointed out that he views her as a valuable addition to AEW, particularly given her background in WWE.
“I worked with her when I went back to WWE in 2017. I was there [from] 2017 through 2020, got along good with her, interacted with her some. I don’t know her extremely well, but I do know her. I think it’s very interesting.”
“I think it’s a positive thing that Tony is bringing someone that has been in the WWE format and the WWE writing room and the WWE structuring room, to bring them and give insight on AEW. I think it’s a positive.”
What’s Next for Jennifer Pepperman in AEW
Jennifer Pepperman has taken on the role of Vice President of Content at AEW. She is expected to work closely with Mercedes, similar to Brian Gewirtz’s collaboration with The Rock.
We will have to see how her creative influence changes AEW’s product. She had a lot of creative pull in WWE, and many were shocked by her departure.
SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is available.
WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Baron Corbin is ready to improve after clinching a silver medal in a Jiu-Jitsu World League tournament.
Taking to Instagram, the Lone Wolf shared a photo of himself as well as the Bronze and Gold medalists on their respective podiums. Corbin admitted it wasn’t the result he wanted but is ready to learn from his mistakes.
Obviously not the result I wanted last night! Lost 2-0 on points in the finals. @the305mvp put it in perspective and said “You win or you learn. What did you learn?” I defn learned a few things and will get back in the Lab and work! The work is never done! @rudos_bjj already has a plan.
We all stumble and it should push us to get better. I’m taking home another gold in the next tournament. I hope the guy who beat me is there so I can get it back. Let’s go!
Corbin has been a part of the WWE roster since 2014. In addition to his current reign as an NXT Tag Team Champion with Joe Gacy, he is a former United States Champion. Corbin has also captured the King of the Ring crown and Money in the Bank briefcase but failed in his cash-in attempt.
Baron Corbin’s Fighting Prowess
Baron Corbin’s fighting skills were long established before he stepped foot in a WWE ring. He is a two-time Golden Gloves regional amateur boxing champion. In 2008, he competed in the Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions in the super heavyweight division and made it to the quarter-finals.
Tony Khan has done a lot while booking AEW so far, but his transformation of Orange Cassidy has been impressive to see. Some were initially worried when TK signed the indie darling who couldn’t keep his hands out of his pockets. After introducing Cassidy to the world, they have not accepted him as a pro wrestling star. Still, it’s hard to shake that comic stigma that brought him to the table.
Orange Cassidy Speaks on Comedic Wrestling
Orange Cassidy, a prominent figure in Tony Khan’s AEW, is celebrated for his captivating in-ring abilities. Despite his silence and comedic routines, Cassidy has garnered immense popularity among wrestling enthusiasts.
The current AEW International Champion is often seen as a comedic attraction, known for his playful gestures such as teasing opponents with kicks and responding to others with his signature thumb raise.
During a recent interview with theathletic.com, Cassidy expressed gratitude towards AEW, highlighting the opportunity it provides to showcase a range of emotions. He emphasized the importance of versatility in professional wrestling, stating that being pigeonholed into one role would lead to stagnation. In the end, he doesn’t really care for the term “comedic wrestling.”
“I don’t really like the term comedy wrestler because I feel that professional wrestling is an art. This is the art I create and art, to me, should generate emotions out of people. Those emotions could be laughter. They could also be joy, it could also be sadness, it could be regret, it could be depression. If I was just a comedic wrestler, would people really care, would they be invested?“
Orange Cassidy remarked that in a movie solely filled with laughter for 90 minutes, there’s always a moment that deeply resonates with the audience. He expressed gratitude towards AEW for providing him with the opportunity to display various emotions, emphasizing that elsewhere, he might be confined to a single comedic role. Cassidy noted the risk of becoming stale if restricted to one-dimensional character portrayals. He stressed the importance of being a professional wrestler above all else to evoke genuine emotions from the audience.
It was once difficult to get more than three words out of Orange Cassidy. Now, he’s doing full-fledged interviews, while diving into his own version of pro wrestling theory.
What’s Next
AEW has built Orange Cassidy into a legitimate champion, as fans follow what Freshly Squeezed does next. We will have to see how Tony Khan books OC in the future, because he has certainly done a lot for him so far.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of AEW and Orange Cassidy whenever new headlines drop, so keep checking back for more.
An update has emerged on Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Finn Balor following some concerning scenes at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024.
In the sole tag-team match on the card, Balor and Damian Priest retained the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne.) The British tag team qualified for this match by winning a four-way tag match and then became number-one contenders by defeating DIY.
Latest On Finn Balor
After the match, WWE’s camera team spotted Balor who was bleeding heavily from his thumb. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez gave an update on the Judgment Day member.
“We had Finn Balor who, at the end of the match, holds up his hand and his thumb is bleeding like crazy. And man, he sold that thing big. And we weren’t sure if he had broken his thumb or cut it open or whatever. But apparently, whatever it was, he’s alright.“
What’s Next?
With Elimination Chamber 2024 out of the way, Balor and Priest will be looking ahead to WrestleMania 40 and defending their titles in Philadelphia. The show will mark one year since the Undisputed WWE Tag Titles headlined WrestleMania 39: Saturday.
It’s unclear who the champs will face this April but the future is clear for Judgment Day ally Rhea Ripley. After retaining against Nia Jax in Perth, the WWE Women’s World Champion will defend against Becky Lynch, who won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match to earn a title shot at WrestleMania 40.
Raquel Rodriguez Almost Missed The Elimination Chamber
WWE held the WWE Elimination Chamber PLE with Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Naomi, and Raquel Rodriguez competing in the women’s Elimination Chamber match. Lynch emerged victorious in the match, but one competitor had a pretty difficult time before the match even started.
Raquel had previously mentioned that her Mast Cell Activation Syndrome was flaring up before the event.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, it was reported that Raquel’s condition was uncertain at one point due to the MCAS, resulting in her absence from the practice match.
“It was touch and go […] as you know her thing flared up. She missed the, they basically did a practice match while in Australia, and she missed that, but she was able to do the match today, so good for her, she got to do it, but she had a flare-up on the flight over.”
After her Elimination Chamber match, Lynch is now set to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40.
What’s Next for Raquel?
We can only hope that Raquel Rodriguez doesn’t have any more issues with her MSAC. It seems like a terrible problem that hasn’t gone away yet. She certainly means a lot to WWE fans, who want to see her healthy and able to compete without worrying about this kind of complication.
SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 25. The Elimination Chamber started off yesterday with a very early, and exciting, event. Now, we have a lot to unpack.
Days until WrestleMania XL: 41
WWE:
– WWE released a full video of 2024 Elimination Chamber highlights. You can check that out below.
– I was able to confirm that Logan Paul vs Randy Orton
– Becky Lynch won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match, which was her first-ever appearance in that dangerous match set-up. Now, she will face Rhea Ripley for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40.
– Seth Rollins said during Elimination Chamber that he is “days away” from being medically cleared to compete. So, we may see the Visionary wrestle on the road to the show of shows.
– Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to a match at any time during Elimination Chamber as well. Then Seth Rollins stepped up to say that he has Cody’s back, because it’s never just one-on-one against The Bloodline.
-After Elimination Chamber, WWE has two more big matches booked for WrestleMania. You can check out the updated card below, but there will be a lot more added to fill the two-night extravaganza.
WrestleMania 40 Card:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
– Jun Akiyama dropped a message on Twitter/X after his Collision match this week. He said, “Thank you very much to all AEW fans! Everyone’s cheering helped me. See you again.”
Thank you very much to all AEW fans! Everyone's cheering helped me. See you again.#ddtpro#AEW#JunAkiyama
– Tony Khan’s explanation about why AEW keeps running larger venues despite crowds that can’t fill them was not received well online.
– During AEW Collision this week, they booked a big trios match for next week’s AEW Dynamite featuring Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, and Jon Moxley) facing off against FTR and Eddie Kingston.
– Eric Bischoff had great things to say about AEW picking up former WWE senior writer Jennifer Pepperman as their new VP of Content. During his Strictly Business podcast, Bischoff said, “She’s a very sweet person, easy to get along with, she’s got a great personality and she’s very outgoing. But, she’s also tough. She’s not gonna be intimidated. I’ve watched her interact with Vince, and Vince can be very, very intimidating. I watched her stand up to Vince, I watched her react to pressure that a lot of creative people that I’ve worked with in the past would’ve probably taken pretty hard. She digs in and does the work.”
TNA Wrestling
– Mustafa Ali cut a very emotional promo when he became the X-Division Title at TNA No Surrender. He has certainly been through a lot, and fought hard for his spot. Everyone here at SEScoops is wishing him the best as he keeps going to achieve great things.
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Rhea Ripley, Grayson Waller, and Indi Hartwell were all given the chance to appear in her native Australia, but Bronson Reed wasn’t at the show. As Reed explained, he was pulled from the show so he could be with his wife when she gave birth to their child. Triple H congratulated Reed on social media and said that the Australian Superstar was exactly where he needed to be.
Original Plans for Bronson Reed
Reed made clear that he was once planned for the show, but did not specify what his role would’ve been. The original plan was for Reed to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, according to Fightful Select. Their match was hinted at earlier this year when Reed started cutting promos saying he was coming after a champion who had no idea he was being targeted.
Even if Reed’s wife hadn’t given birth, these plans had to be scrapped due to Seth Rollins’ knee injury suffered earlier this year. The report adds that Reed was “more than willing” to compete in Perth in some capacity, but when his wife went into labor earlier than expected “everything ended up working out for the best.”
WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Results
Here are the results of WWE Elimination Chamber 2024:
Kick-off Show: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) defeated Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) defeated New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
Becky Lynch defeated Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Naomi, and Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
Rhea Ripley (c) defeated Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Drew McIntyre defeated Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Kevin Owens, and Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
Including the hour-long kick-off show, WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 lasted for four hours and 30 minutes. Of that time, only 1:50:13 was dedicated to in-ring action from bell to bell. That means that approximately 40.8% of the total run time was scheduled for wrestling. The rest of that run-time was video packages, Peacock advertisements, and endorsements from the Australian Tourism Board.
The biggest gap in the action took place between the Undisputed WWE Tag Title match and the opening bell of the Men’s Elimination Chamber. The time between these two matches was 55 minutes. The Grayson Waller Effect which featured Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins lasted 22 minutes.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Results
Here are the results of WWE Elimination Chamber 2024:
Kick-off Show: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) defeated Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) defeated New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
Becky Lynch defeated Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Naomi, and Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
Rhea Ripley (c) defeated Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Drew McIntyre defeated Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Kevin Owens, and Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
Kevin Owens was thrilled to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles with Sami Zayn last year, though feels more could’ve been done with their reign.
The pair captured the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships in the main event of WrestleMania 39: Saturday in April of last year. The emotional climax of Zayn’s story with the Bloodline saw the pair end the record-breaking reign of The Usos.
Kevin Owens On His WWE Tag Team Title Reign
The pair held the titles until Payback 2023 where they would lose the gold to Damian Priest and Finn Balor of the Judgment Day. Speaking with Mail Sport, Owens reflected on his title reign and felt much went under the radar due to being kept off of Premium Live Events.
“Me and Sami worked our asses off to give main events on RAW every week that had people going wild and we succeeded, and I’m not one to toot my own horn, I really am not, but I think Sami and I did a lot of special things as champions that went under the radar because they weren’t on pay-per-views. They weren’t under the big bright lights. They were usually on RAW.”
It’s not hard to see why Owens believes a lot of the title reign wasn’t given a spotlight. As champions, the pair were granted just one successful title defense, which came at WWE Night of Champions 2023. The pair held the gold for 154 days but is recognized by WWE as lasting 160 days.
Randy Orton was honored to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam 2004, despite feeling totally unprepared for the responsibility.
In the main event of the event from Toronto, Canada, Orton dethroned Chris Benoit, who had won the title at WrestleMania 20. The win marked Orton’s first of 14 World Championship wins in WWE. At 24 years old, Orton also became the youngest WWE World Champions in history when he captured the title.
Orton On His First World Title Win
Winning a World Championship was a feat for Orton that neither his father nor grand father could lay claim to. In a video previewing his upcoming A&E Biography: Legend documentary, Orton spoke about how it felt to win the title and being able to speak with his family after the match.
“This was the culmination of all this hard work. I knew my father and my grandfather would be watching me, proud of me. I believe Stephanie McMahon gave me her cell phone. She was like ‘Call your dad. Call your grandpa. Talk to them.’ And I’m so glad that she did.
My grandpa, he was only around for a few years after so just hearing his voice, hearing how proud he was of me, you know, that’s a conversation I will never forget.
“Same with my father, I called him next. I’d never heard my old man get choked up. Like, he’s old school to the bone. But he was choked up on the phone that night. So it was a special night.”
Orton’s father, Cowboy Bob Orton, was also interviewed for the documentary and recalled his father’s reaction to his grandson’s huge victory.
“Dad was just beaming. To come up that fast and to learn so much in such a short period of time, [I was] so proud.”
Not Ready to Be Champion
With little more than two years on the main roster, Orton’s thrust to the World Heavyweight Championship picture was rapid, to say the least. In the interview, the Legend Killer recalled the pressure and not being ready to be the top star.
It’s hard to describe the feeling of the responsibility, the amount of awesomeness that comes with holding that belt. I had the title but I didn’t have the maturity. I definitely was not ready. I’m really just sitting on top of the world. I’m making a lot of money for someone my age and I’m living the dream. And I am a cocky son of a b**ch.”
What Came Next?
After retaining the title the next night on Raw against Benoit, Orton was betrayed by Evolution as Triple H wanted to be World Heavyweight Champion again. This led to Orton turning face but he would lose the title to the Game the following month at Unforgiven 2004.
For the use of quotes please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Raquel Rodriguez was happy to walk into the Women’s Elimination Chamber match sans make-up amid her battle with Mast Cell Activiation Syndrome.
Rodriguez was one of six women in the Elimination Chamber match that started the main show. The match marked Raquel’s second time stepping foot inside the Elimination Chamber. The fifth woman to enter the match, Rodriguez was the third eliminated after being pinned by Bianca Belair following the KOD. Becky Lynch would win the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, earning a Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
For the Women’s Chamber match, Rodriguez arrived sans make-up in a unique look from the former WWE NXT Women’s Champion. Taking to social media, Rodriguez explained her ‘Alicia Keys style,’ a nod to the singer who stopped wearing makeup in 2016.
WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio surprised fans with an appearance at the UFC Mexico event, in the latest example of a crossover between the two companies.
Mysterio was shown on the video screen during the show and was seen to be having a great time. The three-time former WWE World Champion had a beverage and threw up his signature hand gesture as the crowd cheered for him.
Mysterio’s presence at the event is just the latest example of a crossover between UFC and WWE. On this week’s Raw, Michael Chandler appeared in the crowd with plenty to say. The UFC fighter grabbed the mic and called out Conor McGregor and said he’d “See you at the top.”
WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 was live from the Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. It was an early show for fans on the East Coast, and there is a lot unpack, as well. Chris Jericho was far away from the show, but he had his namedropped in the process.
Chris Jericho’s Name Mentioned During WWE Elimination Chamber
AEW star Chris Jericho, who is formerly a WWE Superstar, was referenced during the premium live event. Jericho spent much of his wrestling career with WWE before joining AEW in 2019. He has achieved numerous titles and accolades in WWE and is widely regarded as one of the premier talents in WWE history.
While WWE typically avoids mentioning AEW stars on their programming, Jericho was recently mentioned during the 2024 Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event. This occurred during the men’s Chamber match, which featured Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, LA Knight, Logan Paul, Bobby Lashley, and Kevin Owens.
As Randy Orton made his entrance, WWE commentator Michael Cole noted that Orton had tied Chris Jericho’s record for most appearances in the Elimination Chamber match.
With his participation in this year’s Chamber match, Orton has now established a new record, surpassing Jericho’s previous mark of eight appearances.
Michael Cole menciona que Randy Orton iguala a Chris Jericho en más apariciones en la Elimination Chamber, con ocho. Leyenda. #WWEChamberpic.twitter.com/sIPXeanAXX
Chris Jericho seems very happy in AEW, so a full-fledged WWE return might not be in the cards. Still, The Wizard is having a good time in AEW, and it must feel good for him to know that all the effort he made in WWE to carve out a legacy for himself is now getting credit on television once again.
We will have to see if WWE lifts the ban on other names of people who are not with the company anymore. Jon Moxley’s name is still not spoken about much, and Shield video packages are even edited to exclude him.
SE Scoops will have more on this story as more information is known on the matter.
