McMahon’s departure from WWE/TKO was announced mere hours ago. Earlier this week, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, alleged that McMahon had sexually abused her and trafficked her during her tenure with the company. After his resignation was announced, McMahon continued to deny the claims made against him in the lawsuit, which he has previously described as “obscene made-up instances.”
More Departures to Come?
There is a belief in WWE that Endeavor may sweep out anyone close to Vince McMahon following the billionaire’s resignation this week, PW Insider reports. The gist is that a complete “fresh start” for the company is needed going forward, which may mean cuts to his remaining team.
There were employees who exited WWE when McMahon initially re-signed in 2022 who would find a way back when he strong-armed his way back onto the Board of Directors in January 2023. There is also a belief among those PW Insider spoke to that anyone with a connection to McMahon may be seen as a major negative going forward, and that may affect their WWE status.
Backstage Reaction
Those within WWE expected a fallout after Slim Jim paused their big-money sponsorship with the company due to the allegations. Sources within WWE added that anyone’s connection to McMahon may be seen as a “major negative going forward.” Those who left when McMahon did in 2022 and who returned when he returned in January 2023 could be on the chopping block.
WWE presented the Royal Rumble go-home edition of SmackDown from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida tonight with the final build for the PLE tomorrow.
The show opened with a confrontation between Randy Orton, AJ Styles and LA Knight before they all challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed title in a Fatal Four-way match on Saturday. This segment ended with Knight retreating while AJ caught Orton with a Pele Kick.
The show also included a face-off between The Pride and The Final Testament and a Women’s Tag Team Championship match where The Kabuki Warriors defeated Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to capture the gold.
What Happened After SmackDown
The main event of SmackDown saw LA Knight taking on Solo Sikoa in a singles match. Though the bout ended in a double disqualification after AJ Styles came out of nowhere and delivered a Phenomenal Forearm to Knight.
The whole thing quickly turned into a brawl with Jimmy Uso and Randy Orton also joining in on the fight. Randy Orton hit an RKO to Styles after taking out both Bloodline members. LA Knight then delivered a BFT to The Viper and the Megastar stood tall in the ring to end the broadcast.
Though Orton remained in the arena for quite a while after the show went off air and greeted the fans for as long as he could.
That wasn’t all as fans also got to see Drew McIntyre in action after SmackDown. McIntyre faced The Miz in a singles match. The stars delivered an entertaining match for the crowd before the Scottish Warrior picked up the victory with the Claymore Kick.
A bombshell lawsuit came out from former WWE employee Janel Grant. The court documents contain a range of sexual assault allegations asserted by the individual. The distressing nature of the lawsuit has resulted in Vince McMahon completely severing ties with the company. Now, he has spoken on the matter, and while McMahon is now acknowledging wrongdoing, he is stepping away completely from the company he led for decades.
Vince McMahon Breaks His Silence
Deadline reported that Vince McMahon has resigned from WWE after those horrific allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Now, we have an official word from Mr. McMahon on the matter.
“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said to the outlet in response to the jaw-dropping lawsuit that was filed this week. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”
“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” the former Chairman of the Board added.
Vince McMahon’s Previous Response
Vince already responded to these allegations, as his camp issued a statement of denial. In a statement released to Deadline, it was said that the allegations are full of lies, and Mr. McMahon will defend himself.
“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”
Vince McMahon Was Already a Risk
TKO Group Holdings had already named Vince McMahon as a risk factor. TKO gave its 2023 third-quarter financial results. In an SEC filing, McMahon, who serves as TKO’s Executive Chairman, was listed under the ‘Risk Factor’ section. The description underneath McMahon’s name said that the hush-money scandal of 2022 could prove detrimental to the company.
“The special committee of independent members of WWE’s Board of Directors’ investigation into allegations of misconduct by Mr. McMahon, and any further allegations and investigations may have an adverse financial and operational impact on our business performance.”
Although he was not named in the lawsuit, Brock Lesnar is believed to be involved as well. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was in the midst of a WWE contract negotiation in 2021 was mentioned. It was alleged that Vince set up Ms. Grant to be part of this unnamed Superstar’s contract in the form of sexual relations.
WWE Superstars were reportedly told to lay low regarding questions about McMahon’s allegations as they do press commitments to promote the Royal Rumble event. This is certainly a huge story, and we will have more updates as they are made available.
Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE following the public exposure of a hush money scandal in 2022. An internal investigation was conducted in response, and McMahon later made a comeback to WWE, playing a role in the eventual merger with the UFC. Now, substantial allegations have surfaced due to a recent lawsuit, and that led to his total separation from WWE.
Vince McMahon Resigns From WWE
A bombshell lawsuit came out from former WWE employee Janel Grant, who claims a variety of damning sexual assault allegations in the court documents. That lawsuit was terribly troubling, and now that has caused Vince McMahon’s total separation from the company.
In 2022, McMahon resigned from his position as WWE’s CEO amidst an investigation into allegations that parallel those outlined in the lawsuit. The legal action was filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is headquartered. The lawsuit additionally includes WWE and John Laurinaitis, the company’s former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants. Brock Lesnar, although he was not mentioned, was heavily implied to be involved in the allegations as well.
Deadline reports that Vince McMahon had submitted his resignation from WWE. He has broken off completely from the company he helped rise to power for decades.
Major news. Vince McMahon resigned from all roles with TKO.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 27, 2024
Email Confirmation
Brandon Thurston and others confirmed that Vince McMahon has quit WWE. Nick Khan sent out an email to all staff, which stated that McMahon is no longer with the company.
“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
Can confirm Vince McMahon has resigned from his role as Executive Chairman, according to an all staff email from WWE President Nick Khan.
Khan wrote:
“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the…
There have been some major differences in Vince McMahon’s removal from the company this time around. Unlike his ‘retirement’ in 2022, There has been no farewell for the former chairman and talents have been instructed not to comment on the matter.
The TKO officials seem to be doing everything they can to distance themselves from the longtime WWE owner after the latest wave of accusations. This includes removing references to McMahon from their websites.
The profile page for McMahon on WWE’s website has been made private and visiting users are met with a message reading ‘You are not authorized to access this page.’
WWE runs on the money they make, and this situation has already cost the company cash. Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship for the Royal Rumble a day prior to the event. It was anyone’s guess, and certainly a fear, that other revenue streams may pull out of dealing with WWE as well.
We will keep an eye on this brand-new story at SE Scoops. We now live in a world where Vince McMahon is not employed by WWE after this week’s landmark lawsuit.
UPDATE: Vince McMahon Makes Statement
Vince has now released a statement about quitting WWE. Although he did not admit to any wrongdoing, he made his reasoning very clear. He also made it crystal clear that he will continue fighting to clear his name.
Former New Japan Pro Wrestling superstar Kazuchika Okada has the wrestling community buzzing as he enters free agency. It was revealed on January 18 that he would be leaving NJPW and is looking to find a new home.
It’s speculated that he will either go to WWE or All Elite Wrestling after his contract expires. Okada is seemingly keeping his decision private as he figures out where he wants to sign.
However, the Japanese wrestling outlet Monthly Puroresu reported on January 23 that they’ve spoken to sources close to Okada, who shared he’s expected to sign with WWE. Furthermore, Puroresu shared that, instead of starting on the main roster, he would compete on WWE NXT, similar to how his friend Shinsuke Nakamura began his WWE career.
Although it’s worth noting Okada hasn’t publicly made a decision, fans started thinking of potential matches for him in WWE NXT. One talent that fans asked about facing the ‘Rainmaker’ is Dijak, who isn’t enthusiastic about the potential matchup.
In response to fans’ interest, Dijak downplayed the idea of facing Okada on Twitter unless it came with bigger stakes.
“I don’t give the slightest sh*t about wrestling Okada unless he’s the NXT Champion, so you can take your fantasy booking nonsense and go F yourself with it,” wrote Dijak
It’s unclear if Dijak is responding in character or if he feels this way. He is currently focused on becoming an NXT Champion but is also involved in a feud with Joe Gacy. If Okada were to join WWE NXT, he’d seemingly be another opponent that would stand in Dijak’s way of becoming champion.
Conflicting Reports On Kazuchika Okada Free Agent Status
Although Puroresu reported that Okada is seemingly WWE-bound, other outlets have shared that AEW believes they will be with them soon, including recently Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.
Meltzer reported on January 26 that “…The last word was that he had not made up his mind. I know people here(AEW) range from hopeful to, I’d perceive as confident he will be coming. If he was to sign, the likely arrival would be around the Greensboro show with his final New Japan date on 2/24.”
It seems nothing is yet set in stone as both companies look to sign Okada. As of now, potential dream matches will have to wait until the former NJPW superstar decides.
The recent bombshell lawsuit against Vince McMahon brought some honorific allegations to the public. The WWE headquarters sounded like the setting for a psychological horror movie by the accounts of the victim, Janel Grant, in the court paperwork. That negative public attention has now cost WWE a longtime sponsor.
Slim Jim Pulls Out Of WWE Business
WWE SummerSlam showcased a Slim Jim Battle Royal, which LA Knight won. This success granted him a place at the post-SummerSlam press conference, where he seized the opportunity to boast about his triumph and plug Slim Jim as their new spokesman. Now, that situation has changed dramatically.
However, recent developments suggest that LA Knight may no longer be associated with Slim Jim, as WrestleVotes shared concerning information about the beef jerky stick company’s sponsorship with WWE. As of right now, Slim Jim has pulled their advertising money from WWE.
Hearing rumblings that Slim Jim has notified WWE they are pulling their sponsorships from tomorrow’s Royal Rumble event. It is yet to be determined if they will remain partners in the future.
Hearing rumblings that Slim Jim has notified WWE they are pulling their sponsorships from tomorrow’s Royal Rumble event. It is yet to be determined if they will remain partners in the future.
Sean Ross Sapp reports that he received word from Slim Jim on this matter. It was stated that they decided to pause their relationship with WWE after those allegations about Vince McMahon came to light.
“Slim Jim values integrity and respect in all of our partnerships. Given the recent disturbing allegations against Vince McMahon, at this time we’ve decided to pause our promotional activities with WWE. This decision reflects our commitment to our brand values and responsibility to our community. We will continue to monitor the situation and base our future engagements on our values and what’s best for our brand.”
Slim Jim got back to us with the same comment that was given to POST Wrestling about their partnership with WWE being paused (reported by @WrestleVotes) due to the allegations against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and others.
"Slim Jim values integrity and respect in all of…
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 26, 2024
Vince McMahon’s Lawsuit
The decision by Slim Jim to distance itself from WWE comes on the heels of an explosive Wall Street Journal report outlining allegations against Vince McMahon by former WWE employee Janel Grant. In her lawsuit, Grant provided graphic details and text messages that detailed mental and physical mistreatment by McMahon, as others were names as well.
In light of these accusations, we will have to see what steps TKO takes as public demand starts to rally behind McMahon’s total removal. While such a move seems unlikely unless McMahon voluntarily steps down, sponsors like Slim Jim have the potential to influence this decision by withdrawing their financial support from the sports entertainment giant.
WWE’s History With Slim Jim
Slim Jim and WWE’s partnership has nostalgia written on it at this point. It’s hard to see one of those meaty snacks in any supermarket without imagining Randy Savage jumping through the ceiling for a 30-second promo on protein snacks.
Now, Bianca Belair and LA Knight have taken the helm of those Slim Jim commercials. They still open up those ads with Macho Man’s iconic voiceover. Sadly, this partnership has come to an end.
We’re six weeks away from AEW’s first pay-per-view of the year. Revolution will be the home of Sting’s final match. Matches have steadily been added to the show.
Since the Undisputed Kingdom were revealed as The Devil and The Devil’s Masked Men, they’ve made it clear that they’re on the hunt for gold. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett have a head start with the ROH Tag Team Championships. Roderick Strong has his sights set on the International Championship.
Last week following Cassidy’s match, Strong let Cassidy know that he wanted to wrestle him for the title. The champ was ready to go right then and there, but in true heel fashion, Strong wanted to wait. Weeks. He named the time and place: Revolution.
The Undisputed Kingdom left the ring before getting an answer. During a backstage segment, Renee Paquette asked Cassidy what his reaction was. He replied, “my reaction is…okay. I will wrestle you, Roddy for my International Championship at Revolution on March 3.”
The #AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy has a message for Roderick Strong.
Orange Cassidy hasn’t defended his title on a pay-per-view since Full Gear. Since his match with Strong is six weeks away, he wants to continue defending his title. In his segment with Paquette that he asked Tony to “get some of my friends, some of my enemies, some like, friends and enemies. Put them together in a match on Rampage and then the winner of that will wrestle me on Collision on Saturday for my International Championship.”
Kip Sabian, The Butcher, Komander, and Vikingo will face off this Friday for a shot at Cassidy’s title on Saturday.
TKO Executive Chairman Vince McMahon’s past has caught up to him yet again after a lawsuit was filed against him by a former employee. As of now, it is unclear what actions will be taken on McMahon after new allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The lawsuit comes at an interesting time for WWE superstars, as the company prepares for the WWE Royal Rumble and is speaking with the media on-site. While some focused questions will be about Saturday’s premium live event, talent may also be asked about their thoughts on the new allegations about McMahon.
One of the superstars who has spoken about her mindset heading into the PLE after the startling allegation is Nia Jax. She talked to Nick Hausman about whether the news on McMahon has affected her as she prepares for the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match.
In the interview, Jax shared that it doesn’t and that she is focused on the WWE Royal Rumble this Saturday.
Hausman transcribed the following quotes.
“… I’m all business,” said Jax. She continued, “… this business is built on hard work and dedication, and that’s what every single wrestler in this room is doing right now, and so we just move forward. And it’s, you know, and we’re gonna put on an amazing show.”
It’s unclear if other superstars feel the same way as they prepare for one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. However, McMahon’s recent allegation has made fans question if more questions will be asked this Saturday.
Will There Be A Press Conference After WWE Royal Rumble?
The current expectation is that the company will hold a press conference after WWE Royal Rumble. If it were to occur as usual, it’s unknown what talent will be available for questions, but it is assumed that the Head Of Creative, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, will appear.
Wrestling’s Observer’s Dave Meltzer has reported that WWE has told talent to “Lay low and not talk about anything other than the Royal Rumble or storyline-related things.” It’s unclear if Levesque or other WWE superstars will comment directly on McMahon as the TKO Chairman deals with the new lawsuit.
WWE superstar Tyler Bate is looking for his big moment at the WWE Royal Rumble this Saturday. Since joining the main roster, Bate has looked impressive, showcasing his strength and technical in-ring ability. However, he plans to have his most ambitious showing on the main roster at the expense of ‘The Nigerian Giant.’
Bate spoke recently with TNT Sports’ Chamatkar Sandhu about being on the WWE Friday Night Smackdown brand and his year-long goals. The former WWE NXT United Kingdom Champion said he wants to win the tag team championships with Pete Dunne and potentially end the Judgement Day’s(Damian Priest & Finn Balor) title reign. He also admitted wanting to showcase his strength in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match against Omos.
“…We also have the Royal Rumble coming soon, and for the past seven years, I’ve been a part of the WWE, I’ve been saying that I want to get into the Royal Rumble and I want to Airplane Spin the biggest guy in the middle of the ring. So Omos, if you are listening,” said Bate. He added, “…I’ve been saying it and it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen at some point.”
Although Bate wants to compete in this year’s match, WWE has yet to announce if he will be an entrant in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
Tyler Bate’s Status In The The Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Currently, WWE has only advertised seven participants in the men’s match, including CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. For the past few years, the company has shared most of who would be involved in the match before the event. It’s unclear if that has changed, and fans will have to wait to see who makes an appearance.
While there is uncertainty, it’s possible Bate could be one of the other competitors involved in the 2024 Mens Royal Rumble Match. He has been featured since jumping to the main roster, and the company would seemingly want to showcase the former WWE NXT United Kingdom Champion.
For now, fans will have to wait for a full reveal of who will have a chance to main event WWE WrestleMania 40 in April.
Roman Reigns Vs. The Rock has yet to be made official behind the scenes by WWE, but the Brahma Bull is focused on making the match a reality.
The Brahma Bull returned to WWE on the Day 1 episode of Raw and teased coming for Reigns’ spot as the Head of the Table. A match between the pair has been teased for years and was at one point locked in for WrestleMania 39.
The Rock & WrestleMania 40
A potential Reigns-Rock match will come as bad news to fans of Cody Rhodes, who until the Day 1 edition of Raw, seemed poised to face the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 40. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that despite the anticipation of a match between the two, The Rock has yet to sign a deal confirming his involvement with WrestleMania.
The road to WrestleMania 40 begins this weekend at the 37th annual Royal Rumble from Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida.
You can watch the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble live this Saturday, January 27 starting at 8 ET/5 PT on Peacock in the United States on the WWE Network internationally.
Here’s the card for WWE’s first premium live event of the year:
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
30-Woman Royal Rumble Match
Kevin Owens vs. United States Champion Logan Paul
Randy Orton, LA Knight and AJ Styles vs. Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship
The Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s most anticipated events of the year. The Rumble match itself is a spectacle like none other, but it also marks the beginning of the Road to WrestleMania. The winner of the Royal Rumble match earns a ‘championship opportunity’ at the ‘Grandest Stage of them All.’
This year’s Rumble matches are unique in that WWE has not announced many of the participants in advance. There’s a lot of uncertainty heading into the show, but that’s part of what makes this show in particular so exciting.
SEScoops correspondents Thomas Lowson, Mike Chin, Tyriece Simon, Bishal Roy, and Aaron Varble got together this week to run down the card and share their predictions for each match.
Kevin Owens challenges Logan Paul for the United States Championship
Thomas: I see this as an easy one. Paul isn’t dropping the title just yet, WWE want to keep him around for WrestleMania. Owens will give him a fight, but he’s not the guy right now (Prediction: Logan Paul)
Mike: Kevin Owens finds himself in the familiar role of challenging for a title at the Royal Rumble, but rather than chasing Roman Reigns like he did two out of the last three years, he’s pursuing the United States Champion Logan Paul. Paul is well-positioned to make the United States Championship matter at WrestleMania 40, and this match seems like it’s mostly there to add credibility to his reign, with an opponent who all but guarantees a good bout and who has the credibility to further Paul’s standing as a champion fans should take seriously. (Prediction: Logan Paul)
Bishal: Amid their intensifying rivalry, Logan Paul’s title run might face a formidable challenge at the hands of Kevin Owens. However, Paul’s surprising resilience and momentum could tilt the scales in his favor, potentially outmatching Owens’ experience and securing a narrow, yet memorable victory in this high-stakes battle. (Prediction: Logan Paul)
Tyrese: I think Logan Paul will retain the title in a great back-and-forth match. I don’t believe Paul will lose the WWE United States Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. My prediction for the finish is Owens getting close to winning, and Paul lands the right-hand punch for the win. (Prediction: Logan Paul)
Aaron: Logan Paul is a fine US Champion, and he got his title reign in with WWE. I actually asked about any serous issues with having a part-time United States Champion when LP won the US Title. I was told in November last year that “the internal feeling about Logan Paul is that he’s already generated great publicity for the US Title.” Although it would be fun to see Kevin Owens win the match, KO doesn’t need the title, and he can make The Maverick look great in the process. The bottom line is that WWE will get a lot more attention with Logan Paul as US Champion as they head into WrestleMania 40. (Prediction: Logan Paul)
Prediction: Logan Paul retains
Roman Reigns defends the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship in a Fatal 4-way match against Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight
Aaron: Roman Reigns is winning this match. Do I need to explain why? As Paul Heyman puts it, this is not a prediction, it is a spoiler. The Royal Rumble starts the road to WrestleMania, and since Roman Reigns vs The Rock is once again a very real possibility, it stands to reason that the Bloodline will help the Tribal Chief pull off another win. The bigger question is whether this match will close the show, and if The Rock is poised to break the internet at Tropicana Field, if he doesn’t really shock us by winning the Royal Rumble match. (Spoiler: Roman Reigns)
Mike: While hardly anyone thinks Roman Reigns is losing his title before WrestleMania, if anyone were to unseat him, it’s conceivable it could be one of his three challengers—not to mention that the Fatal 4-way structure offers an out in which Reigns can drop the title without eating a pin or tapping. More realistically, though, fans get a fun, fresh mix of talents here that all but guarantees a solid match. That’s as much as we can ask for while WWE bides its time on the Road to WrestleMania (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Bishal: I believe Roman Reigns is poised to prevail of in this bout, of course with the help of Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso. Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight will pose a massive challenge for ‘The Tribal Chief.’ However, we know that Reigns has a tactical edge over them. Though he has odds stacked against him, he will find a way to hold onto the title. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Thomas: Despite the numbers, I can’t see WWE taking the title off Reigns this close to WrestleMania 40. I’m interested to see how the match goes but I don’t think the winner is in any doubt. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Tyrese: It’s not time for Roman Reigns to lose heading into WWE WrestleMania 40. I can see a scenario where Randy Orton, RKO’s AJ Styles, and LA Knight lead to Reigns stealing the win. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Prediction: Roman Reigns retains
30-Woman Royal Rumble Match
Confirmed entrants include Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, Bayley and Bianca Belair.
Thomas: This really could go a lot of ways, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes to Becky Lynch. That being said, I think WWE will surprise fans by having Bayley win, and despite her recent claim about challenging Rhea Ripley, will stand against IYO SKY at WrestleMania (Prediction: Bayley)
Mike: While surprises are always possible, there are two key candidates WWE has set up as logical choices to win this match. On one hand, Bayley’s Damage CTRL has unexpectedly reached a new peak since the addition of Kairi Sane to their ranks and fans are just waiting for the group to turn on Bayley. Bayley winning the Royal Rumble offers a natural road to get to her babyface turn and challenging Iyo Sky at WrestleMania. On the other hand, WWE has Becky Lynch teased Becky Lynch challenging Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. I could see this Rumble going either way, but a Rumble win feels like a nice reward for how hard Bayley has worked and her key role in getting her Damage CTRL counterparts over at such a high level, not to mention that her winning continues to “spread the wealth,” with no two-time women’s Rumble winner to date. (Prediction: Bayley)
Aaron: WWE has been teasing the Damage CTRL implosion for a while, so Bayley vs IYO Sky could be plausible, but another women’s match is also ready for the show of shows. Becky Lynch has stood up to Rhea Ripley as well, so fans may see The Man win in Tropicana Field. This Royal Rumble match is very unpredictable, because there are many options, including the idea that they may strap a rocket to Jade Cargill by letting her debut and win the Royal Rumble match. Since this one is a toss-up and the betting odds are also all over the place, I rolled a six-sided die for my prediction. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
Bishal: Fans ar
e buzzing with the possibility of Mercedes Mone and Naomi returning to WWE, adding an exciting twist to the match. Additionally, Jade Cargill is poised to make her much-anticipated WWE in-ring debut. I think Bayley, a frontrunner, is likely to emerge victorious, amplifying her storyline with Damage CTRL. This triumph could set the stage for a compelling WrestleMania 40 showdown with IYO SKY for the Women’s Championship, adding depth to an already intriguing storyline. (Prediction: Bayley)
Tyrese: I think Bayley will get her moment. She had a great 2023 as both a performer and a manager for Damage CTRL. I believe she will win the Women’s Royal Rumble Match and challenge Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship (Prediction: Bayley)
Prediction: Bayley
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
Confirmed entrants include: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, Gunther, Damian Priest and Kofi Kingston.
Mike: It’s a very interesting year for the men’s Royal Rumble. The Rock hangs over the match as a specter, unannounced but teased. If the rumored match between him and Roman Reigns is going to happen at WrestleMania, a Rumble win is the most straightforward way to get there. However, I’m of the school of thought Rock simply doesn’t need the Rumble win to be credibly inserted in the main event picture. CM Punk is one of the more favored candidates, and another talent who seems to destined for a world title picture at WrestleMania. In the end, though, I’m going with Cody Rhodes. If WWE does intend to “finish the story” one way or another—be it in a Triple Threat or challenging Roman Reigns one-on-one on either night of WrestleMania this year, he’s the both the talent who most needs this win for storytelling purposes and the one who best fits the ethos of this journey—fighting his way against the odds to become the first man to win back-to-back Royal Rumbles in over twenty-five years and staking his claim to challenge The Head of the Table one more time. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)
Bishal: The Men’s Royal Rumble 2024 promises a spectacular affair with an array of wrestlers, blending current stars and potential surprise entrants, including wrestling legends. This year’s match is anticipated to be a thrilling showcase of superstars. I pick CM Punk as the winner. He is widely tipped as the likely winner, given his growing momentum, potentially scripting a remarkable comeback story in this spectacle similar to what Cody Rhodes attained last year. (Prediction: CM Punk)
Thomas: Okay, so this really could go a lot of ways. Up until recently, I would have said Cody. But with all that’s been said, I’m not so sure. With it being his first TV match in a decade, I’m predicting a Best in the World victory (Prediction: CM Punk)
Tyriece: There are several superstars that can win this match, but I think CM Punk will walk away victorious. I can see him entering at number 30 and winning his first Men’s Royal Rumble Match. For fans worried about Cody Rhodes finishing his “Story,” I can see him competing in an elimination chamber match to earn his shot at Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40. For Punk, I’m confident he faces Seth Rollins at the “Grandest Stage Of Them All.” (Prediction: CM Punk)
Aaron: Currently, GUNTHER and CM Punk are tied for most likely in the betting odds, with +150 each, Cody Rhodes has +225, and The Rock is in the 4th spot with +900. If you asked me in September who would win the 2024 Royal Rumble match, my answer would have been 100% Cody Rhodes. A lot of things have changed since then. I’ve exclusively reported this, and I welcome you to read up on how the winner of this match went from confirmed to questionable. Since Cody Rhodes is no longer set to finish his story at WrestleMania 40, as he is going to face CM Punk, then that makes things difficult to predict. I’m also holding out hope for GUNTHER vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 40, so let’s go with Black Adam on this one; just because it would guarantee front page headlines on every publication the next morning. (Prediction: The Rock)
As the WWE Royal Rumble approaches, Bayley is ready to show the wrestling world that 2024 will be her year. She helped make Damage CTRL (Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) one of the dominant groups in the WWE. While she is proud of the success of her faction, ‘The Role Model’ wants to win gold and cement her legacy this year.
In an interview with Uproxx Sports, Bayley boasted that she believes she is on a different level than her peers and plans to prove it at the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27. Uproxx Sports’ Raj Prashad transcribed the following quotes.
“To me, this year in particular is about cementing my legacy and my career,” Bayley said. “I’ve done a lot up until this point. With Damage CTRL, I feel like I’m on a different level than everybody else, even the women that I came up with because it comes with a different responsibility.”
This year marks Bayley’s fifth attempt at winning the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. However, ‘The Role Model’ is seemingly one of the favorites to be victorious and challenging for a woman’s title.
Bayley’s Chances Of Winning The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match
She is currently involved in a storyline where her group is counting on her to win and challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. She also aims for all members of Damage CTRL to hold titles at the same time this year.
“Let me just say it, this is the last time I’m gonna say it. IYO is champion, right? And in Damage CTRL, that means we’re all kind of a champion,” said Bayley.
She explains, “She deserves to have that all to her own. Kabuki Warriors, we’re gonna get them those tag titles because it’s what they deserve. If I get a title from Rhea Ripley, how cool would that look?”
She added that she wants Kai to win the NXT Women’s Championship when she is cleared to wrestle again. This would mark a rare achievement, with an all-female faction in WWE simultaneously holding all the women’s titles in the company.
“…We’re about making history. We’re about never before seen, and we’re about taking over the world. So, the only way we could do that is by knocking Mami off her little high horse. She thinks she’s the stuff right now. Wait til I get my hands on her,” said Bayley.
It’s unclear if Bayley will ultimately win, as she has 29 other opponents vying to defeat her in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. That said, the former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion remains confident that she will shock the world and have her moment this weekend.
A lot has already been said about the latest allegations against Vince McMahon, but don’t expect any comments from current WWE Superstars.
This week, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit against McMahon and the promotion. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon and John Lauriniatis and was trafficked to several wrestlers, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon’s camp, which includes former WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, has denied the claims, calling the suit “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.”
WWE Superstars Keeping Quiet
The allegations against McMahon have led to a lot of discussions about WWE and their business practices but those within the promotion are keeping quiet. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that Superstars have been encouraged to “lay low.” The gist is that talent should not talk publicly about anything other than the upcoming Royal Rumble Premium Live Event or storyline related matters.
This lawsuit comes at a time of great attention on WWE. In addition to this weekend’s Royal Rumble event, the promotion recently finalized a ten-year deal to bring Monday Night Raw to Netflix.
A Company-Wide Clean Up
While WWE Superstars won’t be speaking on the matter, the same rule doesn’t apply to ex-WWE talent. On Wrestling Observer Live, Lance Storm gave his view on the matter.
“I think there needs to be a legitimate cleaning house of anyone who covered anything up, who knew about this. This is absolutely disgustingly horrible and Vince McMahon needs to be gone and done. And I hope there’s criminal charges brought if any of this is even remotely true.”
Storm deemed the situation “absolutely disgustingly horrible” and stated that if any of the accusations were remotely true, Vince McMahon should be held accountable, even if that leads to criminal charges.
AEW fans are all too familiar with the idea of wrestler injuries at this point. Although there was hope that Fenix may be returning soon, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The famous luchador still has some recovery time before he can make a full return to the ring.
Fenix’s Injury
Concerns about Rey Fenix surfaced after WrestleDream, where he had a brief appearance in the AEW World Tag Team Fatal-Four Way Number One Contender Match and was taken backstage during the event. Fenix later took to Twitter, mentioning he was grappling with an “old injury” but had initially intended to defend the AEW International Championship.
Despite holding the title at the time, he worked two matches, including losing the championship to Orange Cassidy on October 10th. Since then, he has not participated in any matches and was withdrawn from an independent show scheduled for January 5.
However, according to Dave Meltzer’s latest report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, despite Fenix appearing on television with Penta recently, he is significantly battered and not anticipated to make a quick return.
Even though Rey Fenix was on television with Penta last week, he’s pretty banged up and not expected back that soon
AEW has a list of injured talent that seems to be growing every week. We will have to see when Fenix can make it back to the ring, where he may have a Death Triangle reunion waiting for him if Tony Khan can make things work.
Bianca Belair is a former Women’s Champion in WWE, and she has maintained a consistent position as one of the top babyfaces since entering the main roster in 2020. Notably, her Royal Rumble win in 2021 and WrestleMania main event with Sasha Banks marked significant highlights in her WWE career. She did that as a babyface, but the idea of turning heel is always out there for the EST of WWE.
Bianca Belair Discusses Possible Heel Turn
Despite her established face status, fans vividly recall Belair’s time as a heel in NXT, and some would like to see her flex that side of her character on the main roster. With ongoing speculation about a potential heel turn being a frequent topic of discussion, she obviously heard that chatter from fans.
During a conversation with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Belair addressed these rumors. She acknowledged that her heel run in NXT contributed to her standing out as a performer, but did not necessarily benefit others in the company.
‘At NXT, I was a heel, but if I ever turned heel now, I want to be the right type of heel. I was the cool heel in NXT, which I don’t feel like benefitted anyone but myself. I got myself over.
If I’m in there with a babyface that’s not as established, it’s very hard for them. I learned when I got to the main roster how great it is to work with an amazing heel like Bayley when I first came in.‘
Belair Wants To Help Other Talent
The WWE superstar also emphasized the importance of Bayley’s heel character in helping her establish herself as a babyface on the main roster. If Belair were to turn heel in the future, she expressed a desire to play a similar role in supporting other talents.
‘The reason why I think I hit the ground running, as a good guy, was I had this amazing heel who was established and over. She helped introduce me to the audience and helped people get to know me and care about me.
That’s what I want to do if I ever turn heel, so I won’t be the heel you like and cheer for.‘
Since the Street Profits aligned with Bobby Lashley in 2023 to form The Pride, speculation has surrounded the possibility of Belair joining the group and experiencing her first heel turn since her main roster debut. As of this writing, that hasn’t happened yet, but you can never write off any possibility in WWE.
AEW is well aware of the free agent market right now, and Tony Khan intends to remain a player for big contracts. It appears that All Elite Wrestling is very close to locking down two deals that could be incredibly important for the company’s future.
AEW’s Reported New Signings
In terms of Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that there is a belief that both will start with AEW soon. Mone is anticipated to have a substantial debut, with an announcement expected shortly. Despite negotiating with WWE, her return to AEW was anticipated for several months, even predating her appearance at Wembley, where she had to appear while seated due to her still-recovering ankle injury. However, until the contract is finalized, nothing is definite due to significant differences in financial terms.
As for Okada, the latest information indicates that he has not yet made a final decision. Speculation among various individuals ranges from hopefulness to a degree of confidence regarding his potential arrival. If Okada were to sign, the probable start would align with the Greensboro show, with his final New Japan date set for February 24th. In the event of a WWE signing, it could potentially be postponed until WrestleMania.
Regarding Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone, the belief from this side is that both will be starting soon. Mone was doing acting work, but there is talk her debut will be played up extremely big and that announcement could be soon. She has been back training to return to the ring.
What’s Next
It’s noteworthy that Tony Khan has expressed particular enthusiasm for 2024, anticipating new signings and returns in the coming months, including MJF, Adam Cole, Kenny Omega, Bandido, Rey Fenix, Pac, and Britt Baker. As of this writing, MJF is still believed by many within the business to be under AEW contract.
Tony Khan has some big plans for 2024, and he is very excited about the possibilities. They’ve brought big names into AEW before, but signing Okada and the former Sasha Banks to deals would be a great way to start this year in the Land of All Elite.
Fans can expect to see several surprise returns as part of the upcoming Royal Rumble event, it has been reported.
The WWE 2024 Royal Rumble premium live event will take place on Saturday, January 27 from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. It will be the 37th annual Rumble event and the seventh event to feature both men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches.
SE Scoops will have a live correspondent on hand for the Royal Rumble. Stay tuned for more information about exclusive content coming to the site, social media and YouTube from St. Petersburg.
Wrestling fans are eagerly anticipating some surprise entrants in the men’s and women’s matches. Less than three weeks out as of this writing, the first round of rumored names include Sean Waltman, Naomi, and Liv Morgan, according to reporting from PW Insider.
Who Not To Expect In The 2024 Royal Rumble
Hulk Hogan
Okay, let’s get this one out of the way, because we must address it. Hulk Hogan’s name was not churning in the rumor mill for the 2024 Royal Rumble match until he put it there. The Hulkster showed up on RAW this week and said he may have one more match left in him. That is not happening this year. I asked around about this right after Hogan’s promo, and everyone gave me a resounding “No way” and/or “Hell No!” when I asked whether Hulk Hogan is coming in for the match at Tropicana Field.
This goes without saying, but I received a resounding "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" when asking if Hulk Hogan is scheduled to be in the Royal Rumble match this Saturday…
Shane McMahon used to have a lot to do with the Royal Rumble match, as he also used to help produce it. I asked around as late as this week and was able to confirm that Shane-O Mac is not in any discussion for the 2024 Royal Rumble match. So, despite many expected surprises, Vince McMahon’s son will not be one of them either.
As if this needs to be said, but I'm still reporting it, cause I CAN.
I've asked around and no, Shane McMahon is not involved in the 2024 #RoyalRumble planning, nor is he slated to be in the match.
Waltman was recently at the WWE Performance Center which is also in Florida. On January 12, the nWo and DX alum said he can still go in the ring, but there’s “zero chance” he’ll be there:
There was talk last week at the PC about Waltman being in Florida over the Rumble weekend. Last year, Waltman told a fan “maybe” when asked about competing in the match. Waltman is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. His most recent match for WWE was a 10-person tag-team match on the July 8, 2002, edition of Monday Night Raw.
I can still go at the drop of hat, at least for a few minutes. I can do all my kicks, except the one in the corner & I can do that again with a few weeks training. I'm at least month away from taking my shirt off in public, so zero chance I'll be in the Rumble.
Former WWE star Naomi is among those being discussed for a return in the Women’s Rumble match. The reigning IMPACT/TNA Knockouts World Champion competes as Trinity but is expected to finish with that promotion at tapings later this month. The belief within WWE is that she will be returning once her run with IMPACT/TNA expires. Naomi/Trinity famously walked out of WWE in May 2022 alongside Sasha Banks (now Mercedes Mone) due to creative differences with WWE.
Giulia’s status is a very interesting one. Rumors have been flying around about WWE interest in here. In face, it was reported that AEW backed off of her completely after interest from WWE was evident. Only time will tell if Giulia shows up at the Royal Rumble. She has not been to the WWE Performance Center yet, but the idea of her showing up in Tropicana Field is certainly possible.
Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks
Mercedes’ free agent situation is very interesting. The former Banks, who is notorious for keeping her contracts close to the vest, is now bound for another company after her NJPW deal expired. Although rumors of a WWE return are strong, those in WWE still believe that she is heading to AEW. Others, like Sean Ross Sapp have indicated the same. There were talks between WWE and Mone, but they hit a financial roadblock.
Jade Cargill
A lot of things are going on with Jade Cargill, and WWE has big plans for her. As a former TBS Champion in AEW, World Wrestling Entertainment didn’t jump right to debuting her in the ring. Instead, they opted for a slow burn debut, where she showed up at Fastlane. Then, they placed her in the WWE Performance Center, so she could polish up her skills and get ready for her big moment. It will be interesting to see if WWE pulls the trigger on her debut at the Royal Rumble, and just how much time they give her in the match.
Kazuchika Okada
Okada is leaving NJPW, and that news broke the pro wrestling world wide open. We have not heard any explicit report of a WWE contract offer, but the man has been on WWE’s radar for years. It may be possible that NJPW would allow Okada to perform at the Royal Rumble, even if he has more dates with them. Obviously, Okada’s addition to WWE would also greatly shake up the WrestleMania landscape as well.
Kamille
Although it is expected that Kamille may debut for NXT first, WWE has their eye on the former NWA Women’s Champion. She was just backstage at AEW Dynamite, but that was only because they were very close to her home. That didn’t give any indication that Tony Khan is close to snatching her away from WWE. By all appearances, Kamille is going to WWE, where she will probably be a major player when the time comes.
This page will be updated in the weeks and days leading up to the Royal Rumble.
AEW superstar Darby Allin recently revealed that he isn’t listening to pro wrestling legend Ric Flair’s advice.
Allin has a reputation for involving himself in high-risk spots in his matches. He has captivated the fans with his dangerous stunts that thrill the fans. However, suffering career-threatening injuries look inevitable. He has suffered injuries from time to time but that isn’t stopping him anytime soon.
Pro wrestling takes a toll on the physical health of the performers and it is no secret. Veterans of the business have dealt with complications at the latter stage of life and WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who has experienced the same, shared a piece of advice for Allin.
Darby Allin won’t listen to Ric Flair
During a recent interview with Rock 106.1, Darby Allin revealed that though he appreciates Ric Flair’s advice to slow down he won’t listen to him. Allin says that he feels good physically and doesn’t see himself stopping. He said:
“Ric Flair, a couple weeks ago, he came up to me and is like, ‘Darby, you need to slow down.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ ‘You’re crazier than Mick Foley.’ I’m like, ‘Getting advice from Ric Flair?’ What’s funny is, people don’t know how great I feel physically. I feel amazing, like nothing hurts.“
“DDP also, he’s like, ‘We have to put you in a lab. They have to test you out and see what’s going on because you’re not human.’ I feel amazing. I won’t stop doing it. Sorry for anybody trying to give me advice, all the people out there telling me to slow down. I can’t and I won’t.”
Darby Allin and his tag team partner ‘The Icon’ Sting have their sights set on the AEW Tag Team Championships. On the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, the duo challenged the champs Big Bill and Ricky Starks, who eventually accepted the challenge.
Former Bloodline member Jey Uso has nothing but high praise for his cousin and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
‘The Trible Chief’ has become one of the most recognizable and unstoppable characters in WWE history. His journey to superstardom dates back to his early days at Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was then WWE’s developmental territory. It was there that Reigns developed his skills and started laying the groundwork for his future success.
His history-making WWE Universal Championship reign for 1,243 days and counting remains to be one of the greatest chapters in WWE and Reigns has established himself as the ‘Tribal Chief.’
He has demonstrated unmatched skills in the ring and has become the face of WWE SmackDown brand. His phenomenal development as a performer and a character highlights his commitment to the business which cements his place among the greatest of all time in the WWE.
Jey Uso lauds Roman Reigns’ meteoric rise
Just like any other WWE fan, Jey Uso is also thrilled about the idea of Roman Reigns vs. The Rock. Regarding the dream match potentially materializing as soon as this year’s WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, Jey is excited while highlighting how far Reigns has come.
During a recent interview with Chamatkar Sandhu of TNT Sports, “Main Event” Jey Uso said:
“Yeah, I’m so excited because, like I said, people want to see that match, and it’s a big W for my family still,” Jey stated. “Like that makes me joyful. It’s breathtaking. I look at my cousin now, Roman, and I’m just happy on how far he’s come. From the day he walked into FCW, developmental, which I was there, to present. Inspiring, man.
“He’s the blueprint of what hard work does and you can never knock that. He has great work ethic. He deserves all the time off that he has, he earned it. But I really fell like The Rock is stepping back into a place where he don’t know what’s gonna hit him, let alone The Great One. We The Ones, or we used to be The Ones, but that’s The Great One.”
Roman Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, Randy Orton and AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event on Saturday, January 27.
This weekend’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event will be a massive show but ahead of the event, WWE has announced a blockbuster clash for Royal Rumble’s go-home SmackDown show. LA Knight is set to take on the Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa on this week’s Friday Night SmackDown lineup.
LA Knight and Solo Sikoa clash in a rematch
Knight vs. Sikoa is a rematch from the October 13 SmackDown where Knight secured a win over Sikoa in the build up to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal title at Crown Jewel in November.
Knight has a huge opportunity at hands as he participates in a four-way Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match with title holder Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton.
Apart from LA Knight vs Solo Sikoa, WWE announced a Women’s Tag Team title match as Katana Chance & Kayden Carter put their titles on the line against Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). On the other hand, Carlito will square off against Santos Escobar, while Austin Theory faces Carmelo Hayes. A face-to-face segment with The Pride and The Final Testament factions has also been announced.
Lineup for the Friday, January 26 SmackDown:
LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa
Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance & Kayden Carter defend against Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin Theory
The Pride (Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits) & The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Authors of Pain, Scarlett & Paul Ellering) face-to-face
Rhea Ripley has become one of WWE’s very top Superstars, but that has only come about after she narrowly avoided being released.
Ripley is WWE’s reigning Women’s World Champion, a reign that began at WrestleMania 39 with her SmackDown Women’s Championship win over Charlotte Flair. Ripley’s work with The Judgment Day has been praised by fans and has helped make the ‘Mami’ one of WWE’s must-see Superstars.
With her unique look, Ripley certainly stands out among the roster of WWE’s women. When she debuted in WWE, Ripley had a more traditional look to her, complete with long, blonde hair. During a recent interview with The Ringer, Ripley recalled trying to fit in with what she believed WWE wanted from her, which ironically led to talks about whether to let her go.
“I was on the chopping block. I nearly got fired a few times. I don’t know if they wanted me to know that, but I did know that
Realizing that a change needed to be made, Ripley looked to her taste in music and the performers she has gravitated toward throughout her life.
“They didn’t care about what anyone thought. And I really aspired to be like that. I love the studded jackets, I love the painted jackets. I love the black makeup, the black hair. I’ve always loved that grungy look. And that’s been me, deep down. I’ve just been hiding it for so long because I was trying to be the girl next door, the beachy sort of vibes, but it wasn’t me.”
Ripley’s most recent title defense saw the Eradicator retain against Ivy Nile on the Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw. She is not booked to compete at this weekend’s Royal Rumble event.
Rhea Ripley recently reached another milestone in her WWE career…
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, the promotion founded by the late Dusty Rhodes will host an event next month, the first in over two decades.
PW Insider reports that TCW will host an event on February 8, in Atlanta, Georgia from the Nightmare Factory school in McDonagh. Rhodes’ daughter Teil and QT Marshall are said to be heavily involved with the promotion. Last month, Cody Rhodes and Marshall filed a trademark for the company’s name, which led to the belief that a revival was in the works.
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes started making plans for TCW in 1999 and would establish offices in East Cobb County, Georgia. At the time, Rhodes described his idea for the new promotion as “old school but with modern ideas.” The first TCW event took place in July 2000 and saw Glacier win a tournament to become the first TCW Heavyweight Champion.
The following year, TCW would host its first pay-per-view, and would also begin airing on TV. In March of 2001, Scott “The Clap” Anton and “The Extreme Dream” Erik Watts became the first TCW Tag Team Champions defeating Glacier and Jorge Estrada.
With the demise of WCW and ECW, TCW welcomed talent that the WWF did not pick up. In an August 2001 interview with Greg Oliver, Dustin Rhodes had high praise for TCW.
“TCW is the alternative to the World Wrestling Federation. To me in my mind, my opinion, and my dad’s opinion, we are the World Wrestling Federation’s competition. We are not an independent, we are a company. We want to be treated as one.”
The original TCW saw several notable names compete, including Scott Hall, ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, New Jack, Leilani Kai, Daffney, and Steve Corino. Years before he’d make it big as part of TNA Wrestling, James Storm would compete during the latter stages of the company.
Kazuchika Okada made sure to express his gratitude to TNA and the fans after wrestling his first match for the promotion in over a decade.
In the main event of this week’s episode of iMPACT! on AXS TV, Okada teamed with the Motor City Machine Guns to defeat The System’s Eddie Edwards, Bryan Myers, and TNA World Champion Moose. After the match, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin spoke about their love for TNA before handing the microphone over to Okada.
“Thank you! Many people asked me ‘Why you hate TNA?’ You know, but I don’t hate TNA. Thank you TNA! TNA made me, not the Rainmaker, but [it was] a good thing for me. Thank you TNA! Thank you everyone!”
Okada would shake hands with fans after his promo as the popular ‘Cross the Line’ theme for TNA iMPACT! played. Okada would return to the ring and kiss the mat, which features the TNA Wrestling logo, in a sign of respect to the promotion.
Kazuchika Okada and TNA Wrestling
Okada doesn’t hate TNA Wrestling, despite what some have claimed based on a previous run with the company. Okada first appeared for TNA in 2010 and would be established as a fan favorite in 2011. Dubbed ‘Okato’, the future IWGP Heavyweight Champion would use a look inspired by Kato from The Green Hornet series. A Green Hornet film would come out that same year, though TNA Wrestling had no official partnership with the project. Many felt that the gimmick was goofy and beneath someone of Okada’s immense skill set.
In a vignette aired during this week’s episode of iMPACT! a voiceover speaks about the changes TNA has experienced in recent weeks. The voice adds that it’s now time for a different kind of change, to images of a politician being escorted and prepared by secret service officers. Ali then appears on camera, and true to his political campaign, says that he approves of this message.
