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Skateboarding Legend Tony Hawk Makes Special Appearance On AEW Dynamite

Bishal Roy
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Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk surprised the fans when he made a special appearance alongside Darby Allin on last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite. ‘Birdman’ used the opportunity to promote his foundation on AEW television.

Darby Allin has managed to effectively combine his love for skateboarding and pro wrestling. His skating background helps him embrace the fast-paced action inside the squared circle. It is no secret that skateboarding has a major influence on Allin and now he has joined forces with Tony Hawk for a noble cause.

Tony Hawk promotes his foundation

In a video clip, Darby Allin revealed that originally, he decided to embark on a climb to Mt.Everest to support Hawk’s foundation, The Skatepark Project. Unfortunately, that plan has to be put on hold due to Allin’s broken foot. Tony Hawk then explained the cause behind the foundation. 

It was formerly known as The Tony Hawk Foundation and helps underserved communities by creating safe and inclusive public skateparks for youngsters. As per Hawk, they have been operating for 20 years and helped to fund almost 900 skateparks.

The Legend Of Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk has been an iconic figure in the skateboarding world. He has made immense contributions to the sport and has remarkable achievements. Notably, he became the official National Skateboard Association World Champion for 12 consecutive years. Nicknamed ‘Birdman’, he went on to establish his skateboard company, Birdhouse. 

Now, with his philanthropic efforts, Tony Hawk is helping to build a safe environment for the skateboarding community and continues to inspire skateboarding aspirants around the globe.   

Fans can donate to the noble cause at Skatepark.org

Mark Henry’s Son Jacob Admits Being ‘Fooled’ By Father’s Fake Retirement Segment

Bishal Roy
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WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry had pulled off one of the biggest swerves in the company’s history with his fake retirement speech back in 2013. It seems that not only the fans but his son Jacob as well, was ‘fooled’ by the stunning segment. 

Jacob Henry admitted that his father’s fake retirement segment was as shocking for him as the fans. In a recent Tweet, Jacob Henry agreed to a user on Twitter/X joking that Mark Henry had done irreversible damage to retirement speeches. He replied:

“I 100% agree. As his son I can say that I was just as much fooled as anyone else.”

Mark Henry’s retirement segment

The June 17, 2013 edition of Monday Night Raw featured Henry’s retirement segment. While the fans believed that Henry was legitimately putting an end to his illustrious career, ‘The World Strongest Man’ scripted one of the most shocking moments in the history of wrestling.

Henry, who was dressed in a salmon suit gave an emotional address to the fans. The then-WWE Champion John Cena also got involved to assist the fans in giving Henry a fitting farewell. However, Henry deceived everybody and assaulted Cena, indicating that he had a lot left in the tank.

Mark Henry has had a storied career and has been a former World Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. Following his run with WWE, the 52-year-old went on to sign with AEW and has been a part of the promotion since then. 

Earlier this year, Henry announced that the A&E Network would air a brand new documentary on his life.

It was also recently revealed that Mark Henry will be in attendance at the inaugural Shad Gaspard Memorial Cup to honor the late WWE star. 

The tournament is set to take place on April 20 in Jacksonville, FL. Eight participants who will compete in the tournament have been revealed, including Gaspard’s Cryme Tyme tag partner JTG. 

Alex Shelley Shares Profound Message On Change Ahead of Expected TNA Departure

Tyriece Simon
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TNA Wrestling has been experiencing some significant changes to start the year, with bringing in new talent and the letting go of others. The most notable decision came from TNA Wrestling’s owners, Anthem Sports & Entertainment, to terminate Scott D’Amore’s contract on February 7. 

Although the company has also seen hot free agents like Nic Nemeth and Alex Hammerstone debut this year, TNA Wrestling is on the verge of losing longtime veterans The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin). 

Shelley and Sabin’s deals with TNA Wrestling are expected to end next week. They’ve already taped an episode for their final match for the company, which is slated to air on April 18 on AXS TV. It is unclear if TNA Wrestling will make a final attempt to re-sign them, but The Motor City Machine Guns will likely be free agents soon. 

Shelley recently hinted at his future and shared a positive message on Twitter about change. Although he doesn’t address leaving the company directly, the former TNA World Champion seemingly sounded like the end is drawing near. 

“While things change, I want to express this – try to leave things better off than when you found them. Everyone is someone, treat them with respect, show up enthused, do your best, and help others whenever possible. I hope this isn’t too “Live, Laugh, Love” wall art cringe,” wrote Shelley.

It isn’t certain if Sabin and Shelley want to sign up with another company, such as WWE or All Elite Wrestling. However, they are already being advertised for an independent wrestling appearance next month.

What’s Next For Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin?

The Motor City Machine Guns will hold a meet-and-greet for Smash Wrestling’s event Riot At The Music Hall on April 21 at the London Music Hall in London, Ontario, Canada. The promotion shared that fans who bought a VIP Perk to the show will be able to take in-ring photos with them and potentially ask questions. 

Neither Shelley nor Sabin have advertised other appearances at this time. However, they could be competing on the independent scene for a while. Shelley holds titles for independent wrestling promotions, including the Prestige Championship. They’ve also competed for Deadlock Pro Wrestling over the past few months and were the tag team champions until they lost to Jake Something & Mike Bailey on March 10. 

The team will have many options if they decide to leave TNA Wrestling. While anything can change to make them re-sign, Shelley’s comments seem to point towards looking at a fresh start after creating great moments over  the years with the company. 

D’Lo Brown Doesn’t See a ‘Top-Tier Echelon Guy’ In Cody Rhodes

Tyriece Simon
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After a year of hardship, WWE superstar Cody Rhodes has found his way to a rematch against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. In their first encounter, the ‘Tribal Chief’ retained his title at WWE WrestleMania 39 on April 2. After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, Rhodes aims to avenge his loss and “Finish his story” at WrestleMania 40 on April 7.

Since the match announcement, many wrestling fans have picked ‘The American Nightmare’ to defeat Reigns. Former WWE superstar D’Lo Brown recently shared his prediction for the match and believes the company has to give Rhodes the win at the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All.’

Brown appeared on Sirius XM Busted Open on March 27 to explain why Rhodes must become the new champion at WWE WrestleMania 40. 

“…You have to because I don’t know if his character could go another 365 days to a third WrestleMania. I don’t know if fatigue will play in,” said Brown. He continued, “It is hard to keep the interest of the fans and get them sympathetic with you. It’s even more difficult to do it for two years, damn near impossible to keep it up for a third year to finish the story, in my opinion.” 

Despite believing Rhodes should win, Brown was also hesitant to say whether he had proven himself to be the company’s true leader.

D’Lo Brown Doesn’t See Cody Rhodes As The Guy 

Brown shared that Rhodes is in his position because the company has set him up to be its most featured superstar. However, he is yet to think of ‘The American Nightmare’ on that level.

“He’s going to be the guy because that’s what the direction they are going. I look at Cody, and I don’t say this disrespectfully; I’ve never seen that top-tier echelon guy,” said Brown.  He added, “…They have made Cody since he’s come back over from AEW into that top-tier guy, so for the purposes of the story they are telling, he’s the guy.”

It’s unclear what Rhodes could do to change Brown’s position on him to see him as “The guy.” It’s possible a big win at WWE WrestleMania 40, and how he moves forward in the company may change his point of view. 

Eric Bischoff’s Strictly Business Podcast Finishes After Two-Year Run, Tony Khan Responds

Thomas Lowson
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Strictly Business, the podcast hosted by WWE Hall of Famer & Jon Alba, has come to an abrupt end with its final episode airing this week. 

On Twitter, Alba shared the news about the podcast’s end. Alba was appreciative of being able to work for ‘Easy-E’ who will now be putting his effort into other endeavors. 

“Unfortunately, this week’s episode of Strictly Business with Eric Bischoff will be the last edition of the podcast. Eric’s schedule is loaded these days, and for good reasons, he’ll [be] putting his efforts into other endeavors. 

“I’m extremely grateful to have had a chance to share a platform with Eric for the past two years. We are 38 years apart, and have wildly different views of pro wrestling, storytelling, and even life. Yet I think that has been one of the most fascinating parts of our dynamic and never fails to make for engaging conversation. I have always said Eric is one of the greatest television performers in wrestling history, and doing this show has been one of the most exciting challenges of my career. He has made me a better broadcaster, helped open new professional doors for me, and has been extremely gracious to me personally. 

I hope you’ll join us this week as we bid farewell to the show! Thank you to the Ad Free Shows team as well for always making it featured programming and everything who has tuned in the past couple of years. Hopefully we’ve been “different than” the rest.”

The Strictly Business Podcast

Bischoff launched Strictly Business in April 2022, providing his insight into the business of professional wrestling both past and present. The show is the second podcast as part of Ad Free Shows, as Bischoff also hosts the ’83 Weeks’ podcast. The name of that show comes from WCW’s 83-week winning streak in the Monday Night Wars before losing to WWE Raw. 

Tony Khan Responds 

On both his podcasts, Bischoff has never shied away from sharing his hot takes. The WWE Hall of Famer has often been highly critical of AEW and the machinations of AEW President Tony Khan. 

In a tweet, Khan didn’t hide his feelings about the show coming to an end. The AEW President that it was wise for this “fraud” of a business podcast to end before AEW’s next media deal. 

The Undertaker Finally Explains His Bizarre Fear Of Cucumbers

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker has finally explained the one point about him that has always puzzled the fans.

The Dead Man is the epitome of the old-school wrestler. He is one who likes to live by a code and maintain order. His loyalty and ethics are the reason why he served as a locker room leader for a long time in WWE. Taker is a man who has the respect of almost anyone who knows anything about the wrestling business. The one thing that doesn’t seem to match all of these qualities, however, is his fear of cucumbers.

The WWE Hall of Famer was asked about the origin of this hate during his most recent Patreon Q&A. The wrestling legend finally explained that it comes from a childhood experience with a bowl of pickled cucumbers:

“Why do you give me some bullshit question like that? I don’t even like talking about the cucumbers man. Alright, here it is. When I was just a weeee little Undertaker, like a kindergarten, first grade Undertaker, I come home from school one day. My mother had taken a bunch of fresh cucumbers and cut them up into slices and had them soaking in a big bowl of vinegar. It was that day. [At that time] it was the greatest thing ever.

So I proceeded to eat the whole bowl of cucumbers soaked in vinegar. Well, something about that didn’t settle well with my stomach. Shortly after I ate all of the cucumbers, I expelled all of the contents of my stomach. From that moment on, the smell, for a long time even to see a cucumber I would get somewhat, I wouldn’t say nauseous but queasy. Smell a cucumber? Forget about it. My stomach is just like [nope]…it’s like my mouth starts watering.

So that’s why I hate cucumbers because I ate too many once as a child, left a horrible, horrible scar in my memory of how bad I threw up. How sick that I got. Then just the very smell of a cucumber [made me sick], heaven forbid I taste one. Let me get one in a bit of sushi or something like that [if] you want to see some drama. Because anytime I go to order sushi, like I’ll ask. If there’s cucumbers that are supposed to be in a roll or [something] I ask specifically ‘Can I get this without the cucumber?’ Usually [it’s] ‘Yeah, that’s no problem.’

Heaven forbid they forget or they screw up and I get cucumber in my mouth. It is not a good day at the sushi restaurant. I will show my ass real quick and I try really hard not to do that. I know people are working hard trying to do things. I am level-headed as I can be, do not put cucumber in my sushi, especially when I make it very clear that I do not want cucumber in my sushi.”

Paul Bearer Was An Evil, Evil Man: The Undertaker

The Undertaker also talked about how Paul Bearer always took advantage of his weakness. He told a story of Bearer sabotaging his food during a meal:

“The other part of that question, Did Paul Bearer [put cucumber in my boots]. Paul Bearer put cucumber in everything that I owned. Paul Bearer was evil, an evil evil man. Now I love him to death. I love him to death. I miss him every day. But the man was evil and was so much like, okay, you put them in my boots, ha ha ha. But he got to the point where that didn’t satisfy him enough.

So he would have to push the envelope to the point where I remember once getting up. I had to go to the restroom or whatnot. I come back and he’s sitting there and I could just tell by the look on his face that he had done something. Didn’t know what it was. [I] didn’t know that anything had been ordered that had cucumber in it. Anyway, I guess he went to the salad bar and got a slice of cucumber and somehow got it at the bottom of the glass of my iced tea.

So I think I had, I was eating a hamburger or something. So I take a bite of this burger. I’m chewing it up. I take the tea, gonna wash it down. I’m drinking and then I see it. It’s like that moment of [realization] like ‘Oh my god. That’s a cucumber and it’s in my drink.’

I slam the drink down and get the big spit pop from him. He spits what it is in his mouth out. I’m cussing him right in the middle of the restaurant and he’s like, ‘What, What I didn’t do that.’ I’m like ‘You’re a damn liar. You know you did that.’ That’s why I don’t like cucumbers. I ate too many as a child, got sick and travelled the world with a evil manager who would sabotage my food with cucumbers. So there it is.”

Taker later revealed that he has the same problem with tomatoes as well. According to the former world champion, he can eat tomato sauce or ketchup but raw tomatoes are ‘right under the cucumber’ for him.

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

WWE Speed: Superstars React Ahead of Tournament to Crown Inaugural Champion

Thomas Lowson
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The announcement that WWE Speed will feature its own champion has certainly gotten the Superstars of WWE talking. 

WWE Speed was announced earlier this year and will stream exclusively on Twitter/X starting on April 3. This week, it was announced that the show will feature its own championship. The first champion will be crowned via a tournament though no names have been confirmed as of this time. 

WWE Superstars React

The prospect of a new championship and becoming the inaugural WWE Speed Champion has proven to be enticing to the WWE roster. On Twitter, Noam Dar said there’s not much he can’t finish in the WWE Speed three-minute time limit. 

Nathan Frazer said that his name being associated with the WWE Speed Championship just makes sense. 

Cedric Alexander is ready to use his agility to his advantage as part of WWE Speed.

WWE Speed: Changes Made 

WWE Speed will feature three-minute matches, meaning there’ll be no time for Superstars to waste in their pursuit of victory. There’s no word yet on what the new WWE Speed Championship will look like. 

Matches for the new show were first filmed at the December 16, 2023, edition of WWE SmackDown. Corey Graves, who appeared in this week’s WWE Speed announcement video, was on commentary for these matches, as was Kevin Patrick. It’ll be interesting to see if the commentary is changed given Kevin Patrick’s release 

Originally, the matches were given a five-minute time limit, but the video announcement this week said matches will last three minutes at max. It’s unclear if the matches filmed in December will be edited to fit the time limit. 

Mustafa Ali Working Without A TNA Wrestling Contract Despite X-Division Title Reign

Thomas Lowson
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Mustafa Ali may be on quite the roll in TNA Wrestling as the X-Division Champion, but he has yet to be locked into a contract with the promotion. 

The former WWE Superstar made his debut for TNA in January of this year quickly after his non-compete clause with WWE had expired. At TNA No Surrender the following month, Ali won the X-Division Championship, marking his first taste of gold in a major wrestling promotion. 

Mustafa Ali Working Without A Contract

Mustafa Ali is yet to ink a contract with TNA Wrestling, despite his ongoing reign as X-Division Champion, Fightful Select reports. Instead, he is working on a ‘per appearance’ basis despite being one of the most prominently featured stars in TNA today. 

Mustafa Ali Outside TNA

In addition to his role with TNA, Ali has appeared for New Japan Pro Wrestling as well as a series of independent promotions. Fightful adds that other televised wrestling companies have maintained interest in possibly working with Mustafa.

TNA Contracts

Ali isn’t the only notable star whose name has come up in discussions about TNA Wrestling contracts. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are set to finish with the company very soon in a huge blow to the promotion. There were “farewells said” backstage at the most recent TNA tapings. 

Killer Kelly was believed to have finished up her time with TNA at the recent TNA Sacrifice tapings. It was later clarified that she is still under contract with TNA but is instead taking a break from wrestling for the time being. Her deal will not expire until 2025. 

What’s to Come? 

Ali will defend his title at TNA Rebellion against Jake Something. The latter earned the match by winning a ‘Rebellion Referendum’ six-way match on the March 21, episode of TNA Impact! 

The show will take place on April 20, from the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. It’ll be the sixth Rebellion event for TNA and will be headlined by TNA World Champion Moose defending his title against Nic Nemeth. 

Mike Rotunda: WWE Felt It Was Too Soon & Too Stressful On Us for Bray Wyatt’s Hall of Fame Induction

Thomas Lowson
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Bray Wyatt will not be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, but his father Mike isn’t all that upset about his late son being snubbed. 

The WWE Hall of Fame will take place on April 5, following that night’s episode of WWE SmackDown. This year’s class includes Paul Heyman, the US Express, Bull Nakano, Muhammed Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson. 

Mike Rotunda On the WWE Hall of Fame

While Mike Rotunda will be inducted this year as one-half of the US Express, his son Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda won’t be inducted as many had expected. Sitting down with Sportskeeda’s Wrestle Binge podcast, Rotunda expressed his initial surprise at this. 

“With Windham passing, I thought they were going to immediately put Windham into the Hall of Fame — which he will be at some point.”

Rotunda then explained that WWE likely felt it was too soon for Windham’s induction, which is hardly a bad thing for the family considering all they’ve been through. 

“I think that WWE reassessed stuff and thought it was too soon to go there with our family and the reactions and the stress on us.”

WWE Honors Bray Wyatt

While the three-time World Champion will not be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, WWE is doing what it can to honor Bray Wyatt. On April 1, a new documentary about Wyatt’s life and career will be released via WWE and Peacock. The new doc will be narrated by The Undertaker and include interviews with Bray’s family and colleagues. It has been reported that the release of the documentary is linked to why Wyatt won’t be inducted this year. 

Following Wyatt’s passing, WWE announced that proceeds of his merchandise would go to benefit his widow JoJo and Bray’s four children. WWE also hosted a tribute episode of SmackDown in August 2023 following his passing. 

AEW Adds Multiple Title Matches To Dynasty Pay-Per-View

Aaron Varble
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AEW is planning even more pay-per-view events in 2024, and they will have a chance to introduce Dynasty to fans in April. The card is coming together, and they booked another title match this week.

AEW Dynasty will go down in St. Louis on April 21. It will be the first-ever event of its kind, as Tony Khan’s company adds another pay-per-view to their schedule of events.

During AEW Dynamite this week, Willow Nightingale won a four-way match to become the #1 contender for Julia Hart’s TBS Title. Also, in the main event, Swerve Strickland became the #1 contender for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Title. 

New AEW Dynasty Title Matches

Willow Nightingale emerged as the top contender for the TBS Championship after winning a four-way match on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. She did so with Mercedes Mone on the commentary booth, where she provided insight during the contest.

Competing against Anna Jay, Skye Blue, and Kris Statlander, Nightingale secured the victory by pinning Anna Jay with a Doctor Bomb. Following her win, it was revealed that Nightingale would face Julia Hart for the title at AEW’s upcoming Dynasty pay-per-view.

Swerve Strickland also beat Konosuke Takeshita in the main event of the night, earning a number one contender spot for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship. Following his win, it was promptly announced that Strickland’s title challenge against Samoa Joe will headline AEW Dynasty on April 21 in New Orleans.

AEW Dynasty Plans

As of this writing, Mercedes Mone does not have a match booked for AEW Dynasty. She certainly seemed interested in the conclusion of this #1 contender match for the TBS Title.

AEW Dynasty will be the first-ever event of its kind, and it will go down on April 21 in St Louis. SEScoops will have full coverage of the event as we get closer to the big date.

AEW Dynasty Card (So Far):

  • Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Title
  • Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
  • TBD vs. TBD: Tournament final for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship
  • Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale: Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship

WWE Speed Will Introduce New Championship for Superstars

Aaron Varble
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WWE has three working brands right now, but they are about to add another show to their weekly lineup. That new show will also come with another championship.

The new WWE Speed show will make its debut on Twitter/X on April 3. The new innovative show format will also come with a new championship.

WWE Speed’s New Title

WWE commentator Corey Graves provided a few new details about WWE Speed. The new show will exclusively premiere on Twitter/X on April 3.

WWE Speed will introduce three-minute matches, showcasing wrestlers in intense competition, aiming for a new prize. Graves seemed excited to explain the format of the new show, as each match will be like a finish, to further up the intensity. With only three minutes per match, each Superstar must enter every contest like they are looking to close things quickly.

Additionally, it was confirmed that WWE will introduce a new WWE Speed Championship. Fans will see the first-ever champion crowned through a unique tournament format on the upcoming show.

WWE did not reveal what their new Speed Championship will look like.

WWE and Social Media Shows

Some fans are getting WWE Mixed Match Challenge vibes from the new WWE Speed show, and they have a reason to feel this way. Much like how the mixed tag team show was exclusively on Facebook, the new WWE Speed show is being produced through a deal with Twitter/X.

These are not the only digital programs that WWE has going. WWE The Bump still airs every Wednesday, with interviews and recaps from the week. Some older fans may also remember WWE’s original venture into the digital space with Byte This that streamed through their website from 1997 to 2006.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is available. 

“She Couldn’t Wrestle”: Becky Lynch Takes Aim at Ronda Rousey’s Skills In WWE

Aaron Varble
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Ronda Rousey has not been shy about spreading her opinion on WWE since her exit from the company. Likewise, Becky Lynch has a firm opinion on the former Women’s Champion as well. The Man recently stated that Ronda Rousey couldn’t wrestle when she entered WWE, and she was mishandled after that.

Becky Lynch stated that Ronda Rousey couldn’t wrestle when she made her way to WWE. Lynch suggested that Rousey was given special treatment and not given sufficient time to develop her wrestling craft before being pushed into the spotlight.

The Man Speaks on the Baddest Woman on the Planet

While speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Becky Lynch opened up about Ronda Rousey. She said that the Baddest Woman on the Planet couldn’t wrestle. The company only placed her in a position where she was protected, but it was not “off to the races” as many perceived at the time following Rousey’s in-ring debut.

“I mean this with respect, but she couldn’t wrestle. Like, what we do isn’t just something that you can have one good match and then, okay, yeah, I’m off to races. It’s a craft and you have to learn your craft. And you have to be diligent about learning your craft. But everybody treated Ronda like she already knew it because when she first came in she was good in that first bout, but she was working with Kurt Angle, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon — it was a well-rehearsed match, because everyone wanted her to have a good first match. Then it was like, ‘okay she can do this it’s off to the races,’ and that was mishandling her.”

Becky vs Ronda

Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch were supposed to have a match at Survivor Series in 2018, but that didn’t happen. Nia Jax famously broke Lynch’s face before the match, creating an eternal meme in the process, but it took The Man out of that match, where Charlotte Flair had to take her spot.

At WWE WrestleMania 35, Becky Lynch won a historic Triple Threat match for both the WWE RAW Women’s Title and the WWE SmackDown Women’s Title. She faced off against Charlotte Flair, who held the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and Ronda Rousey, who was the RAW Women’s Champion. This was the first-ever women’s main event in Mania history as well.

Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey never got their one-on-one match against Ronda Rousey. At this point, it does not seem likely that the contest will ever get booked.

The Man’s Future in WWE

Becky Lynch admitted that her deal with WWE expires in two months. We will have to see what she does next, but The Man admitted that she is not concerned about her current situation.

Lynch will battle Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. She has already expressed a desire to open up the two-day WrestleMania event with that contest.

Becky Lynch Announces Her WWE Contract Expires Within 2 Months

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a few interesting contract situations, but the even more fascinating part is that new deals have yet to be signed for some top talent. This may give fans a look at how TKO Group Holdings will handle these contract renewals.

Becky Lynch has not inked a new deal with WWE yet, and she recently confirmed that her current contract runs out in a matter of months. If The Man doesn’t ink a new agreement with WWE, then she may be a free agent in two months’ time.

Becky Lynch Speaks on WWE Contract Status

Lynch joined The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani as a guest on Wednesday, where she disclosed that she’s in the last two months of her existing contract with WWE. She mentioned that discussions regarding a contract extension have yet to commence.

Though Lynch largely evaded Helwani’s inquiry about her contract, she expressed skepticism that this would be her final WrestleMania. Lynch is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Helwani inquired if Lynch has the liberty to converse with non-WWE companies, as he asked, “Can you engage with others?”

“Ahhh…I’m with WWE,” Lynch replied. Then Helwani followed up with, “So it’s WWE or nothing?”

“Yeah, I’m uncertain,” Becky Lynch finally replied. She also admitted that it is not common for her not to have a new deal, with her current agreement expiring in a matter of months.

Then, Ariel Helwani asked her if she feels offended by the idea that she doesn’t have a new deal in front of her. The Man replied honestly to his point.

At this stage in the game, contrary to a lot of the thoughts in this book of where I was coming up, I am so confident in my ability and my worth. Nah, I’m not worried.

Other WWE Contract News

In other contract news, Drew McIntyre is reportedly telling people that he has no new deal with the company either. The Scottish Warrior is set to battle Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 40.

WWE has several contracts running up this year, because they inked so many Superstars to new contracts in 2021, and now those deals are coming up. We will have to see how TKO Group Holdings handles these new contract situations, but it will be very interesting to see what kind of precedent they set.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from the pro wrestling world, so please keep checking back for more updates.

Deal Ticking Down: Drew McIntyre’s Current WWE Contract Status on Road to WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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Drew McIntyre will battle Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. All of that attention on the Scottish Warrior apparently hasn’t encouraged him to ink a new deal.

It is now reported that, despite Drew McIntyre’s road to a World Heavyweight Title match at WrestleMania, and the continued feud against CM Punk, that no new deal has been signed. McIntyre’s contract is still set to run out in the not too distant future.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE Contract Status

PW Insider reports that Drew McIntyre has given the impression to those close to him that he still has no new deal arranged with WWE. This fact comes in light of the fact that WWE has booked him in an incredibly strong role on the road to WrestleMania 40.

“The belief is that everyone is working under the understanding a new deal will be struck, but the word out of his camp is that nothing has been signed and that whatever his next move will be, focusing on family will be a major piece of the decision.”

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk

Drew McIntyre won’t stop with the shade at CM Punk. The two even traded insults on the March 25 episode of RAW in Chicago.

On a related note, I was able to confirm that Punk’s line about Vince McMahon was totally improvised. We will have to see if there is more of a plan for Punk and Drew to collide down the line, but it may require him to ink a new deal with WWE.

Drew put Punk on his merchandise, and he continues to troll him mercilessly. That is why McIntyre showed up at Mindy’s Bakery in Chicago before RAW to take a shot at Punk’s Brawl Out past. 

McIntyre has also commented on how CM Punk is “made of glass,” as he continues to hype an eventual collision. The trolling has not stopped from Drew to Punk, so one must think that he wants to eventually cash in with a match. Only time will tell what he does with his next contract situation.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

WWE Discussing WrestleMania 40 Spot For Hulk Hogan

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is only ten days away, and the speculation and reports about WWE’s plan for the show of shows is not slowing down at all.

It is now being reported that WWE is talking about having Hulk Hogan do something at WrestleMania 40. It is not known what their intention is, but the Hulkster may be at the showcase of the immortals this year.

Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 40

PW Insider reports that WWE is currently talking about bringing Hulk Hogan on board for WrestleMania 40 weekend. Although it’s not expected that Hogan will be part of any storylines or angles, WWE is looking to have him show up at some point during the event’s activities.

Hulk Hogan has played host of WrestleMania in the past. We will have to see what role they give him this year, if he can make the journey to Philly. As of this writing, WWE has not announced any host for WrestleMania yet.

More Legends At WrestleMania 40

WWE has also reportedly reached out to Steve Austin about an appearance at WrestleMania 40. As of this writing, we do not know if The Texas Rattlesnake has accepted that invitation.

John Cena has already stated that he has time off for WrestleMania. It was also reported that the 16x World Champion wants to do something for the show of shows this year.

Controversy Surrounding Hulk Hogan

In July 2015, National Enquirer and Radar Online released details of a leaked sex tape from 2007 in which Hulk Hogan made offensive comments. He expressed strong disapproval of his daughter dating a black man, using racial slurs in the recording, including the N-word. He also admitted to being “a racist, to a point.”

Hogan has gone on to apologize for those comments, citing that he was going through a very difficult part of his life when that recording was made. He has made select returns to WWE since then, but he has not established himself as a weekly face on television since.

SEScoops will keep an eye on this story, and so many more from all over the pro wrestling world. So please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

Clearing Up Confusion: Ivar’s Expected WWE In-Ring Return Following Concerning Social Media Post

Aaron Varble
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WWE doesn’t need any more injuries on the road to WrestleMania, so any Superstar who goes out of action is going to cause attention. This is exactly what happened with Ivar, but now we have an update.

Ivar was supposed to face Andrade on RAW this week, but Giovanni Vinci had to take his spot. After fan concern started to grow about the Viking Warrior, it is now reported that he will not miss more in-ring action.

Ivar’s Current Status

Ivar concerned some fans after he missed RAW. He posted a photo from an X-Ray, but it seems that is not an indication of his current status.

Sean Ross Sapp posted an update about Ivar on Fightful Select. It is reported that Ivar is going to be okay, and he won’t miss any more time from the ring. That image he posted was an older X-ray, so fans shouldn’t be worried.

Ivar is not expected to miss any extended time in the ring. The X-Ray he posted on twitter Monday was from his previous neck injury.

The Viking Raiders on RAW

It was previously reported that Ivar is going to be fine after missing this week’s episode of WWE RAW. Now, 1/2 of the Viking Raiders will continue.

Erik recently underwent C6/C7 neck fusion surgery and is currently in the process of recovery. To help with his rehabilitation, Erik and his wife Valhalla went to get stem cell therapy at the Ways2Well clinic in Austin, Texas.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more as more information is known. Keep checking back for more updates and headlines on the stories that you need.

WWE Has Made Contact With Steve Austin About WrestleMania 40 Role

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s biggest event of the year is coming up in 10 days, and there is no shortage of WrestleMania hype. It appears that fans may need to expect the Texas Rattlesnake as well.

Although nothing has been confirmed, WWE has been in contact with Steve Austin about making an appearance at WrestleMania 40.

WWE Wants Austin For WrestleMania

PW Insider reports that WWE is in discussions to include Stone Cold Steve Austin in WrestleMania 40 weekend. The details of Austin’s role are undisclosed, but an overture has been made.

Steve Austin’s appearance on a production truck during this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW was noticed by many fans. Several other legends have also been rumored for WrestleMania 40 weekend, because John Cena was on that truck as well.

WWE’s WrestleMania Aspirations

It was previously reported that WWE is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40. As of this writing, we have not heard of any possible role that they will play at the show of shows.

Steve Austin’s last match took place at WrestleMania 38 in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens. That marked Austin’s first match to date since WrestleMania XIX in 2003.

John Cena and WrestleMania 40

It was reported in February that John Cena wants to do “something” for WrestleMania 40. He has since confirmed that he has the day off.

Cena is going to start shooting the second season of Peacemaker in the early summer. We will have to see if WWE can get Cena to appear at the show of shows before that obligation starts.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back throughout the day for more updates.

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair Are Still Working On Repairing Their Friendship

Tyriece Simon
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WWE fans rejoiced last year when friends turned rivals Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair teamed up in a Wargames Match at WWE Survivor Series. For a few years, their relationship was strained and evident when they both were on TV. However, Lynch and Flair were able to reconcile and appear to be on better terms lately. 

In her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl, Lynch discusses her relationship with Flair from her perspective. She also discussed their fallout and reconciliation in depth in a recent interview with Adam Silverstein of Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast.  

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair at WWE Survivor Series Press Conference 

Lynch was asked about how they repaired their friendship and her thoughts on where she stands with her currently. Lynch replied that despite their issues, they still loved each other and would’ve been there for each other in bad times. She also noted the passing of her peers like Bray Wyatt and put into perspective that life is too short to hold on to past issues. 

“…Having that hostility towards somebody kind of weighs on you, you know what I mean? I think life is too short for that and we witnessed that. We’ve seen the tragic passing of people that went far too young, like Bray Wyatt, like Luke Harper, and other friends who passed away that were very close to me in the last few months too, and so all of those things I think as you grow and mature you realize that these petty differences aren’t worth the toxicity it leaves in you and the weight that it carries,” said Lynch.

She also confirmed that the interactions fans saw from them at the WWE Survivor Series were genuine and that they reconciled. 

More On Becky Lynch’s New Book

Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl is available on Amazon and other platforms in hardcover, digital, and audio. Her peers, including her husband, Seth Rollins, Stephenie McMahon, and John Cena, have praised the book. 

One of the notable praises comes from Mick Foley, who helped inspire her to write a memoir.

Amazon shared and transcribed Foley’s thoughts on her book on their website. 

“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read. Actually, it was equal parts, honor and pleasure; Becky allowed me in on the ground floor of her creative process, and I read with great joy as she found her voice as a writer. I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”

Lynch’s rollout of her new book seems to be going very well as she explores a new career venture. The hope is that she will add becoming a New York Times Best-Selling Author to her many accomplishments over the years.  

Former AEW Star Joins The New FBI In TNA

Dominic DeAngelo
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Don’t you dare “fuggedabout” The Full-Blooded Italians as Little Guido Maritato and two new members found a shiny new residence in TNA.

TNA was in Philadelphia this past weekend and being the home of ECW, Maritato brought the FBI back during the tapings at the 2300, the original ECW Arena on the corner of Swanson and Ritner.

Kevin McElvany, the editor for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, was on hand to document the tapings and he happened to capture the moment where Maritato introduced TNA to the new FBI which consisted of himself, Ray Jaz and former AEW star Zack Clayton.

Guido and Ray Jaz have previously teamed several times as The FBI in Major League Wrestling, but Clayton is a brand new member. Now he joins the legendary ranks of Tommy Rich, Tracy Smothers, JT Smith, Big Sal and Tony Mamaluke.

Introducing Ray Jaz & Zack Clayton, The New FBI Members

Zack Clayton was a member of the AEW roster, originally signing with the company back in October of 2022 but originally appeared on the program starting in 2020 as an extra. Clayton, whose real name is Zack Carpinello (very Italian), recieved a great deal of noteriety as JWoww’s fiance. He’s appeared on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

As for Ray Jaz, he is originally from South Plainfield, NJ and became an NCAA All-American while at NYU. He’s already shown his great athleticism in the MLW squared circle. Jaz and Little Guido have teamed up for over a year and their move to TNA is a new step for the faction.

WWE Releases Bizarre Roman Reigns ‘Diss’ With Unknown Artist on Spotify

Thomas Lowson
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Roman Reigns may demand the acknowledgement of fans, but WWE has shared a bizarre ‘diss track’ of the Tribal Chief. 

On Spotify, WWE has shared two tracks as part of this ‘Roman Reigns Diss’ with Kmg Bezzal. The tracks in question are ‘Purgin’ and ‘Switch That Flow.’ 

WWE On Spotify

On Spotify, WWE boasts 2.4 million monthly listeners and a bevy of music content from across decades of the promotion’s history. Currently, WWE’s most popular track is ‘This Fire Burns’ from the ‘WWE Wreckless Intent’ album. The track is best known as the theme CM Punk used from 2006 until 2011 (and was used one time by Randy Orton.)

As for Reigns, his theme is almost immensely popular among listeners. Reigns theme ‘Head of the Table’ currently sits as the third-most popular track from WWE, with 30.16 million listens. 

What’s Next for the Tribal Chief? 

Diss or no diss, Roman Reigns will be in action next week as part of WWE WrestleMania 40. On the Saturday show, Reigns will team with The Rock to face Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes. 

The next night, Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rhodes. If The Bloodline wins the tag-team match on Night One, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’ A victory for Rhodes and Rollins will mean The Bloodline will be barred from ringside. 

Whatever stipulation is decided upon, the main event spot of WrestleMania is familiar territory for Reigns. This year’s two nights will be the 8th and 9th main events at the show for the Tribal Chief. 

Can’t get enough of Spotify? We at SE Scoops have our own podcast on the streaming platform! Check it out below. 

Mike Santana Details Why He & Ortiz Spilt Up

Dominic DeAngelo
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Santana and Ortiz were one of AEW’s most popular tag teams, but the two’s friendship became very fractured and their professional relationship ended.

When there were reports of tension between the two, many speculated that it could have been storyline-based, but that wasn’t the case. 

In a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Santana talked about how him and Ortiz grew apart over time.

“We were together for 10 years, I think. When you’re together with someone that long, it’s like a married couple. There’s good, there’s bad, and I think, honestly, for the most part, it was like, I think we just grew apart over time.”

Santana says that the two’s philosophy on tag team wrestling became different and implied that he and Ortiz had different drives when it came to moving forward in the pro wrestling world.

“I’m a go-getter. I like to create opportunities for myself. I’m more than willing to fight for our spot, but also, I’m not going to be the only one.”

When asked if he and Ortiz still had heat with one another, Santana said that he holds no ill will to his former tag team partner and is in a different place in his life than he was during that time.

Santana & Ortiz really first caught fire during their run in TNA and it prompted Tony Khan and AEW to pick the duo up. They soon became a primary aspect to Chris Jericho’s first All Elite faction, The Inner Circle. Despite their popularity, they never did capture the AEW World Tag Titles and actually did turn their real life tension into an on-air storyline. Santana was released by AEW earlier this month.

Credit to Chris Van Vliet and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Game-Changing Money: Becky Lynch Comments On Mercedes Mone’s AEW Payday

Aaron Varble
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Mercedes Mone is just starting to make her mark in AEW, but she’s been under contract for a few months already. Tony Khan has also been cutting her some very large checks in the process.

Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but The Man is happy for The CEO’s new deal. She recently commented to say that the important part of the whole thing is that women are getting paid equally to their male counterparts.

Lynch Reacts To Mone’s Big Money Deal

Mercedes Mone’s new deal with AEW is a substantial one. In fact, she shattered the glass ceiling, and it’s now said that she is the highest-paid woman in the pro wrestling business. 

While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Becky Lynch touched on Mercedes Mone’s new AEW contract. She said that the important part is that women are getting paid on a higher level. Mercedes’ new deal is certainly proving that to be the case.

“I think that’s an important part, getting paid equally for the equal work and the equal position we are at right now,” Lynch said. “Women’s evolutions and revolutions are fine and well, but making sure that they equate to contracts and financial reward for these things when we are doing equal work, is hugely important.”

Mercedes Mone and WWE

It was reported that WWE and Mercedes Mone came to a financial roadblock when it came to bringing her in. It was noted that she didn’t want to be paid more than everyone on the women’s roster, but she did want to be paid what top stars are making. 

Mercedes Mone also said that she envisions herself going back to WWE someday. She said that prior to her AEW debut, but she was still under contract. That comment ruffled some feathers within AEW. Tony Khan has since endorsed Mercedes as a possible face of AEW.

Bayley said that she begs Mercedes every chance she gets to make a WWE return. The former Damage CTRL leader was actually at AEW Big Business in Boston along with Naomi and Tamina Snuka to see Mercedes Mone’s big debut first-hand. She later said that seeing Mercedes’ debut was a bittersweet moment.

Ridge Holland Is Not Actually Retired From WWE

Bishal Roy
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Ridge Holland announced that he’s stepping away from in-ring competition on Tuesday’s NXT television, but this is only a storyline and there are no plans for the 35-year-old grappler to legitimately retire from active competition.

Holland has faced a great deal of online backlash from fans due to his habit of inadvertently injuring his opponents. Most notably, it was Holland who dropped Big E on his head, putting him out of action for several years with a less than likely chance he’ll ever return. The former Brawling Brute was also involved when Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly sustained an injury. 

This is yet another instance of WWE turning a ‘real life’ situation and blurring the line between fact and fiction to fuel on-air angles. Fightful notes that Holland has been receptive to the angle, which is an encouraging sign, considering that Holland has let it be known that the public backlash he’s received has affected his mental health.

Ridge Holland Steps Aside

Holland delivered an emotional promo on Tuesday’s NXT and stunned the fans with his announcement. He said he’s been going through a lot lately and is concerned for the safety of not only his opponents, but himself. 

The segment ended with Holland leaving the ring and NXT Universe chanting “Thank you, Ridge.” 

In an effort to convince fans that Holland’s situation is legitimate, WWE swiftly moved his ‘Superstar Bio’ to the ‘Alumni’ section of the company website. Fans on social media noticed the change immediately. From WWE’s viewpoint, they took the bait.

WWE is currently gearing up for NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, which takes place Saturday, April 6, just hours before WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA. 

NXT Stand & Deliver Hosts Are Set

Bishal Roy
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Meta-Four will host NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, the next premium live event scheduled for WWE’s developmental brand.

This week’s NXT TV saw various talents participating in an ‘Open Call’ to earn this honor, which was held by Pretty Deadly last year. 

By the end of the broadcast, the hosting duties were awarded to Meta-Four’s Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakarta Jackson.

Jackson took to her Twitter/X and shared her thoughts on the news. 

Meta-Four are also set to host Supernova Sessions with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez on the go-home edition on April 2. 

During the March 26 episode of WWE NXT, Oba Femi also announced that he will be putting up his North American Title on the line against Dijak and Josh Briggs in a triple threat match. 

Stand & Deliver Matches

  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat for the NXT North American Championship

Daily Drop (3/27): Internal WWE Policy Leak, AEW Changing Pay-Per-View Platform

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 27. WWE NXT added a big triple threat title match to their Stand & Deliver event last night, and there’s a lot more to get into.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 10

WWE:

– WWE RAW Ratings: RAW averaged 1.729 million viewers for their 3/25 episode from Chicago. This number is up from last week, when RAW averaged 1.687 million viewers. They also garnered a .57 rating in the coveted 18 to 49 demographic this week.

– Punk’s Warning For Rock: CM Punk commented on The Rock recently, and he is confident that they will cross paths at this point.

– Indefinite Hiatus: Ridge Holland announced during WWE NXT this week that he is stepping away from the ring. It was later confirmed by Sean Ross Sapp that this is all a work and not really a retirement of any kind.

– Superstars Spotted In Public: Also, CM Punk, Jackie Redman, and Jey Uso were recently spotted at a Chicago Blackhawks game.

– Man Against The World: Becky Lynch has a nice new t-shirt on the WWE Shop. You may click here to see what they have to offer.

– Internal Leak: WWE’s policy on consensual workplace relationships leaked, and it’s worth a read. This document was updated in 2023, and it says that superiors are not allowed to date people under them in the company.

– NXT Stand & Deliver Card: You can check out the latest Stand & Deliver card below.

  • Host: Meta-Four
  • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match for the NXT Championship
  • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes: Singles match
  • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez: Singles match for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat match for the NXT North American Title

AEW:

– PPV Move: Starting with AEW Dynasty on April 21, all AEW pay-per-views will be on Triller in the United States, not B/R Live.

– Good To Wrestle: AEW’s Nigel McGuinness said that he felt fine getting back in the ring.

– AEW x WWE Friendship: AEW star Konosuke Takeshita was recently spotted with Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style posted a photo of the two on his Twitter/X account. It appears that they had a good meeting.

– AEW Dynamite Card: You may find the card for the March 27 edition of Dynamite below.

  • Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: The Young Bucks vs. Private Party
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal: Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom
  • Winner Earns TBS Title Shot: Anna Jay vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

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