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Butch Returns To Pete Dunne Name With Character Change On WWE SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans resisted Pete Dunne’s name change to Butch at first. That one-word name grew on people eventually, but it appears more changes are coming for the former NXT UK Champion.

Changes Coming For Butch

The Brawling Brutes stable, consisting of Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch, are no more. The faction quietly broke up, as Butch made mention of that fact during a promo with Tyler Bate a couple of weeks ago.

Now, Sean Ross Sapp reports on Fightful Select that Butch is in for a presentation change. Those hints were already dropped on SmackDown. 

It was noted that, during that pre-produced vignette on Smackdown where Butch revealed that the Brawling Brutes broke up, he said he had to make a name for himself. Now, a change back to Pete Dunne is being discussed. 

Fightful has confirmed that a change back to Pete Dunne has long been discussed, with one source in WWE telling Corey Brennan “it’s exactly what it looks like.”

Backstage Reaction To Butch’s Initial Name Change

The report further noted that when “Butch’s name was changed from Dunne, it got some of the heaviest pushback in recent WWE memory.”  Fans did not love the name change at first, either.

One source reportedly brought up Bushwhacker Butch as they said, “It wasn’t even that it was a bad name. The name was okay, it was fine. But there was already a Butch. An actual wrestler named Butch already in our Hall of Fame.”

WWE has changed Superstar names for one reason or another throughout the years, for any number of reasons. While Butch did have a good run on the WWE main roster, it appears that Vince McMahon change to Pete Dunne’s character may get swapped back by Triple H.

That segment with Butch and Tyler Bate also represented a big change in WWE’s production after Kevin Dunn’s exit. The company is going through many changes on several levels at this point.

UPDATE: Pete Dunne Returns

Pete Dunne returned this week on SmackDown, under that name, He received a massive pop as he came out to team with Tyler Bate. The team took on Pretty Deadly, and his change back to the Dunne name received a great reaction.

Kazuchika Okada in WWE? Exiting NJPW Star Dreams of WrestleMania Match

Thomas Lowson
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Kazuchika Okada dreams of competing at WrestleMania, and that’s a dream that those in WWE management are well aware of. 

This week, it was confirmed that Okada’s tenure with New Japan Pro Wrestling will finish at the end of this month. While his contract will run out on January 31, Okada will compete at the NJPW New Beginnings events scheduled for February. Okada is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He is the only person to hold the latter title more than once. 

Is Kazuchika Okada WWE Bound? 

WWE has had interest in Okada for some time and has sought to win him over in recent months. The push of Shinsuke Nakamura in late 2023 was reportedly an effort to show Okada that Japanese talent can thrive in WWE. Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports Triple H and Shawn Michaels have “significant interest” in bringing Okada on board. 

Multiple sources close to NJPW revealed that he has always wanted to perform at a WrestleMania, a dream Triple H is aware of. The belief is that should a match happen, AJ Styles or Finn Balor would be the right opponents for Okada’s WrestleMania match. Both men have pre-existing relationships with Okada thanks to their respective NJPW runs. 

Is Okada All-Elite? 

WWE may want Okada, but AEW also has its sights set on the Japanese star. Okada has worked with AEW in the past via the Forbidden Door crossover events with New Japan. He is also close with AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. Okada has formed a rivalry and friendship with Bryan Danielson, whom he faced at Forbidden Door II in 2023 and earlier this month at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Okada also competed on an October 2023, edition of Dynamite. 

Reported Episode Topics For Dark Side of the Ring Season 5

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestling fans got excited the moment it was confirmed that it was confirmed that Dark Side of the Ring is coming back for season five. Now, we are getting even more details about what is in the pipeline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V7xEp5hGzg

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 Plans

VICE TV’s Dark Side of the Ring has become a must-watch for wrestling fans, as they dive into sometimes controversial topics from pro wrestling’s past. With its past four seasons generating significant discussion in recent memory, season five has a lot to live up to. 

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that the upcoming fifth season of Dark Side of the Ring is in the works, and a list of episodes has been revealed. 

Season five is set to cover “Black Saturday,” the 1984 moment when Vince McMahon orchestrated a takeover of Georgia Championship Wrestling’s lucrative TBS cable TV timeslot. Additionally, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle and ECW legend The Sandman will each have episodes dedicated to their life stories. 

Other people slated for featured episodes in season five reportedly include Brutus Beefcake, Buff Bagwell, and Harley Race, who passed away in 2019 due to lung cancer. 

Chris Adams, who is credited for training Stone Cold Steve Austin and popularizing the superkick, will also get a focus for an episode on season five.

For the new season of Dark Side of the Ring, we know of these episodes: Brutus Beefcake, Harley Race, Buff Bagwell, Kurt Angle, Chris Adams, Sandman and Black Saturday (when Vince McMahon purchased Georgia Championship Wrestling to get access to the TBS time slot in 1984. Glenn “Kane” Jacobs was campaigning for Donald Trump in Iowa. 

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 Air Date

As of right now, there is no information on the air date for season five on VICE TV, as filming is scheduled for later this year. We will keep you updated when an actual date comes out.

The show is unafraid to tackle wrestling’s darker moments, such as The Plane Ride from Hell, the Benoit family tragedy, and Owen Hart’s tragic death. The success of the show also led VICE TV to produce several spinoffs, including Dark Side of the ’90s, Dark Side of Comedy, and Dark Side of Football in recent years. 

Latest Update On Seth Rollins’ Injury & WWE Status

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins beat Jinder Mahal on RAW to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but the night’s celebration was hindered by an injury for the Visionary. Now, Rollins’ future on the road to WrestleMania is questionable.

Seth Rollins’ Current Injury Status

Seth Rollins’ current injury status is unknown. WWE has not sent out any official word about his status. However, the company’s recent actions paint a picture that things are not okay with him.

It was previously noted that Seth Rollins was pulled from this weekend’s house shows. That was not a good sign. Now, they have removed him from even more shows.

At this time, PW Insider reports that Seth Rollins has been removed from all WWE live event advertising and promotion for the next week. Additionally, WWE is not advertising Rollins for upcoming episodes of WWE RAW. He is not included in the group of advertised superstars for the upcoming shows.

He was scheduled for an MRI following this week’s RAW. As we wait for an update about his status, this makes us worry about his WrestleMania status.

The Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky is promoting Seth Rollins for the February 12th episode of Monday Night RAW. However, this doesn’t guarantee his participation in the show.

Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania Plans

Seth Rollins is set to face CM Punk at WrestleMania 40. At this time, the match is still apparently in the plans. Hopefully, Rollins taking some time off the road will help his knee heal.

CM Punk and Seth Rollins’ feud goes back a long way. The story wrote itself, so losing Rollins on the road to the show of shows is not what Punk needs right now, either.

Seth Rollins’ History With Knee Injuries

Seth Rollins has a history of knee injuries. In 2015, he suffered a terrible knee injury that put him on the shelf for about a year. Hopefully, that is not the case this time.

Rollins injured his knee before at a house show, in a No DQ match, as he was executing a powerbomb through a table onto Kane. You may check out that throwback clip below.

WWE Sources Hopeful For Mercedes Mone in 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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Mercedes Mone is currently a woman without a contract, but some in WWE believe a Royal Rumble return could happen. 

Mone debuted for NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2023, but her contract has since expired. While there were talks with WWE, the two sides could not come to terms over money. 

A WWE Royal Rumble Surprise? 

With her talks with WWE fizzling out, many suspect that Mone will join AEW soon enough. There is an expectation within AEW that she’ll be joining after finishing up some acting commitments this month, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. 

With that said, nothing has been made certain at this time. The Observer adds that some in WWE believe there’s still a shot she could make a surprise return in the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match. One name who’d certainly want to see Mone make a return is Bayley, her friend and former tag-team partner. The Damage CTRL member recently spoke at length about her deep connection to Mone.

Mercedes Mone in the Royal Rumble

Mone competed as Sasha Banks in two Women’s Royal Rumble matches. The Boss has the distinction of being the first entrant in the first Women’s Rumble in 2018, and would also enter at #1 in 2022. Mone has spent a total 1:04:30 in Royal Rumble matches and has a total of five eliminations to her name. 

Royal Rumble 2024

Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands: 

  • Men’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER. 
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax)
  • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship) 
  • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

Who should fans expect to see return at the Royal Rumble… 

WWE Planned For CM Punk To Face Seth Rollins At WrestleMania Before Injury

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s grandaddy of them all, WrestleMania 40, is coming up in a matter of months. As the card comes together on the road to WrestleMania, it is evident that some things pay have to change along the way. Seth Rollins’ recent possible injury is further proof of that.

WWE’s Plan For CM Punk and Seth Rollins’ History

CM Punk’s return to WWE is remembered for a lot of things, including how Seth Rollins reacted to seeing him in the Allstate Arena to close out Survivor Series. Rollins was irate, and video of him being held back from rushing at Punk.

Fans did not forget that, just a few months prior, Rollins called Punk “cancer” and told him to stay away” from WWE. This came up with Nick Hausman questioned Rollins whether he wanted to see Punk back during his AEW issues.

WWE’s Plan For WrestleMania

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that “Seth Rollins vs. Punk is the confirmed WrestleMania plan.” That is the plan, but Rollins’ recent injury really puts a huge question mark on things.

It was not noted whether their match would be for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but Rollins’ current status as champion makes that a real possibility.

Seth Rollins’ Most Recent Injury Update

Seth Rollins defended the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Jinder Mahal on RAW this week, and the Visionary won with his signature Stomp. Sadly, he didn’t make it through the match without sustaining an injury.

We are uncertain about the current extent of Seth Rollins’ injury, but we do know that he was pulled from this weekend’s WWE live events. No official word has come through about his injury status, but this is not a good sign.

We will provide further updates on Seth Rollins’ knee injury when they are made available. Right now, he is taking it easy and sitting out this weekend’s shows. Hopefully, CM Punk doesn’t lose a possible WrestleMania main event match in this fashion. 

Another Sad Update

Seth Rollins was okay, and he didn’t need to miss WrestleMania. Sadly, CM Punk was injured during the Royal Rumble, and he needs triceps surgery. That injury will cost fans that WrestleMania match.

In his place, WWE decided to book Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes at the showcase of the immortals, when The Rock returned to take his spot against Roman Reigns.

WWE Considering Rock/Rhodes/Reigns Triple Threat for WrestleMania 40 (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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The richest prize in WWE could be decided in a triple-threat at WrestleMania 40, featuring some of the biggest stars of the company’s past and present. 

WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fourth two-night event in the show’s history. For Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, it will mark his fourth WrestleMania in a row during the same title reign (should he retain at next week’s Royal Rumble). Reigns captured the title at Payback 2020 and his WrestleMania defense has seen him best Edge & Daniel Bryan (in 2021), Brock Lesnar (in 2022), and Cody Rhodes last year. 

Two Worthy Contenders

Up until recently, it seemed destined that Rhodes would challenge (and dethrone) Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, finishing his story in the process. Many have speculated that Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss at WrestleMania 39 happened so that his big moment (and the end of Reigns’ historic Undisputed WWE Universal Championship reign) would happen on the 40th-anniversary milestone. 

Cody’s road to WrestleMania hit a serious obstacle during the Day 1 Raw when The Rock returned to WWE and teased coming for Reigns’ spot as The Tribal Chief. WWE had Reigns Vs. Rock ‘locked in’ at one point for WrestleMania 39 before plans changed. 

WWE’s Plans

While we don’t know who Roman Reigns will face at WrestleMania, it will be either The Rock or Cody Rhodes, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. WWE have yet to make up their mind about the match. The report adds that WWE is also considering a triple threat between the three men. 

Rhodes will enter the Men’s Royal Rumble match next week, a bout he won in 2023. The same show will see Reigns defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. Despite rumors of The Rock appearing at next month’s Elimination Chamber: Perthy event, the Great One is not scheduled for the Australian PLE. 

Jim Ross Reveals His AEW Contract Renewal Is Pending

Bishal Roy
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AEW veteran commentator Jim Ross has disclosed that he is yet to ink a contract extension with the promotion.

Good Ol’ JR is certainly willing to stay with AEW for a long time to come and that is only possible if he pens a fresh deal. 

Ross has been a part of AEW since 2019, which is years after his controversial firing from WWE. He has been a familiar voice in the world of pro wrestling and has called the action for AEW shows regularly. 

Last years, rumors floated that Ross was looking to retire but the Oklahoma native shut down the claims. His contract expires on February 14 which is almost a month ahead of AEW icon Sting battles his final match on March 3 at AEW Revolution.

Jim Ross wants to extend his contract with AEW

Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross said that he’s happy the way the contract situation is developing and he’d love to announce his contract extension to the fans before February 14.

“It seems to be that it just makes sense that the original two guys that called the very first Sting-Flair match if they were available and could still carry their share of their water, would be a good opportunity,” Ross said.

“I mentioned it to Tony Khan. He loved the idea. My problem is not that. My problem is my contract is up February 14th, which I’ve mentioned ad nauseam…that event is in March. So we gotta take care of some business and I’m sure that we will. I feel good about where I’m headed with Tony and AEW. I’d love to have something to announce before the 14th, if possible.”

Ross has stated that the contract talks are still in the same place and believes that it would be apt if he and Tony Schiavone call Sting’s last match. He said:

“We’re still at the same place right,” Ross said about his contract talks. “I gotta get there contractually to be able to pull that off. I’m not using it as a leverage ploy. It just seemed like it makes sense.

I think the best booking is booking this logically and having JR and Schiavone call the match to me seems logical. So we’ll see how it all works out. It’s going to work out the way it’s supposed to be and we’ll see how it goes from there, but I’m happy with the way things are moving along.”

Recently, during the main event of AEW Dynamite ‘Homecoming’, Jim Ross made his return to the commentary booth and joined the regular team of Tony Schiavone and Excalibur. They went on to call the match which featured the team of Sting and Darby Allin facing  Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs.

Mandy Rose Sets the Record Straight Amid WWE Return Rumors

Bishal Roy
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0

Former WWE superstar Mandy Rose recently addressed the rumors surrounding her potential return to WWE. 

The former NXT Women’s Champion had been a locker room leader in WWE’s development brand. She had been the leader of Toxic Attraction. Shortly after her controversial split with WWE in late 2022, Rose decided to leave the pro wrestling industry and establish herself with independent endeavors. The former WWE star tasted massive success behind the initial paywall of FanTime before she eventually switched to the popular exclusive content platform, OnlyFans.

Rumor has it that WWE would be open to bringing back The Golden Goddess if the opportunity allows. Will fans be able to see her back in WWE? Well, Mandy Rose has answered.

Mandy Rose addresses the rumors

Speaking on the Power Alphas Podcast, Mandy Rose stated that she’s uncertain whether she’ll ever be able to rejoin WWE. The former NXT Women’s Champion is aware that her fans miss her so she isn’t entirely ruling out a return to the ring. She said:

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be back in WWE. I don’t know what the future holds. However, I’m enjoying my life a lot right now, and we’re getting married soon. We got a lot of big plans, a lot of trips, lot of exciting things in the works. So yeah, that’s your answer… You never shut doors. I will say, if I was to ever come back, it would be for my fans, for you guys. Because I know you guys miss me, and I miss you guys too,” Rose said.

As the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event is right around the corner, fans are speculating that Mandy Rose might make an appearance as a surprise entrant in the namesake match.

We will have to wait and see if fans get to witness Mandy Rose back inside the WWE ring.

Randy Orton RKO’s Cameraman In Eladio Carrión’s ‘RKO’ Music Video

Thomas Lowson
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Countless WWE Superstars have fallen victim to Randy Orton’s RKO, and the Viper recently busted out the move in a new music video. 

Orton returned to WWE programming at last year’s Survivor Series: WarGames event after over a year away. The Viper was off TV due to a severe back injury and had been advised to retire by doctors at one point. Orton’s comeback saw himself, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn defeat The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre. 

Randy Orton RKO’s in RKO

Orton features as himself in ‘RKO’ the new music video for the track of the same name by Eladio Carrión. The track sees Carrión talk about celebrating his wins to those who doubted him, adding that he caught those haters by surprise like Orton with the RKO. 

The Apex Predator appears over halfway through the video and RKO’s a cameraman hoping to snap a picture of Carrión, who in the video is a baseball star. Orton admits to being a huge fan of Carrión. Orton makes it clear that if Eladio Carrión needs anything, he’s ready to help out. You can check Orton’s role in the video below.

The History of the RKO

Orton is hardly the first wrestler to adopt the ‘Cutter’ as his finisher. Variations include the Ace Crusher, which was used by John ‘Johnny Ace’ Lauriniatis. ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page would make opponents feel the bang with the ‘Diamond Cutter’ while ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin would leave opponents decimated with the ‘Stone Cold’ Stunner. 

What drove Randy Orton to use the RKO as a finisher… 

Kazuchika Okada Final Match Against Rival Booked for NJPW The New Beginning Tour

Bishal Roy
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0

NJPW legend Kazuchika Okada is set to face his rival Hiroshi Tanahashi in his farewell match.

‘The Rainmaker’ will soon end a 16-year run with the company after his contract expires on January 31. However, Okada will still work on February 11 in Osaka, and February 23 and 24 in Sapporo as part of the New Beginning tour.

NJPW has shuffled the upcoming The New Beginning tour lineup in the wake of Okada’s departure. 

Kazuchika Okada will face Hiroshi Tanahashi in their last clash 

Okada and Tanahashi will battle for one last time on February 11 at The New Beginning at the EDION Arena in Osaka. It was the same venue where Okada faced Tanahashi at The New Beginning in 2012. That night, Okada stunned the fans by defeating Tanahashi to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. 

Kazuchika Okada’s last appearance under NJPW contract will take place on January 24 in Korakuen Hall. At the show, he will compete in the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag team Championship match, previously scheduled for New Beginning in Osaka.   Okada will join forces with Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi to face TMDK’s Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Kosei Fujita.

Okada will be making his final NJPW appearances in Sapporo on February 23 and 24. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada are certainly two of NJPW’s biggest superstars, and their storied rivalry which began in 2012 remains to be one of the greatest chapters in pro wrestling. They have put on legendary matches over the years and it is quite a way for Okada to bid adieu to NJPW fans.

Wrestling Revolver & House Of Glory To Host Joint Show Over WrestleMania Weekend

Thomas Lowson
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Pro Wrestling Revolver and House of Glory Wrestling will come together to host a giant show during the weekend of WrestleMania 40. 

On Twitter, it was announced that the two companies will host an event on April 5, from Philadelphia, PA, the home of WWE’s upcoming two-night megashow. More details about the event are set to be released very soon. 

Wrestling Revolver & House of Glory

Wrestling Revolver was founded in 2016 by Sami Callihan. The promotion’s next event will take place on January 25 from Dayton, Ohio. Upcoming events are set for Grand Prarie, Texas, and Clive, Iowa. 

House of Glory Wrestling was created by Amazing Red but is currently owned by Master P. The promotion’s current World Heavyweight Champion is Mike Santana, who defeated Matt Cardona at The Darkest Hour 2023 last month. 

WWE WrestleMania Weekend

The city of Brotherly Love will have more than its fair share of pro-wrestling entertainment this April. The same night as the Revolver/HOG Wrestling show, WWE will host its SmackDown show and the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Saturday will feature WWE NXT Stand & Deliver & WWE WrestleMania 40: Night One, while Night Two will take place on the Sunday. The action won’t stop there with Monday Night Raw set for April 8. 

With WrestleMania set for Philadelphia, an ECW experience has been announced for the weekend. ECW legend Masato Tanaka is also coming to Philly and plans to wrestle during the weekend. 

Cody Rhodes recently went the extra mile for some fortunate young fans… 

“She is Ash… By Elegance” TNA Knockout to Make In-Ring Debut This Week

Thomas Lowson
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Fans have learned more about TNA’s newest Knockout Ash By Elegance, who is set to make her in-ring debut for the promotion very soon. 

Elegance debuted for TNA at the recent Hard to Kill pay-per-view, which also served as the promotion’s relaunch. She is best known for her time as Dana Brooke in WWE, where she competed from 2015 to 2023. The bodybuilder-turned-wrestler became a 15-time WWE 24/7 Champion before being released among others in September of last year. 

She is Ash… By Elegance

During this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! on AXS TV, fans, Elegance was featured in a video promo resembling a perfume campaign. A voice-over said how Ash’s “caress raises goosebumps”. The elegant Knockout was described as a “hurricane force of nature” and “undeniable” in addition to being “irresistible” and “unforgettable.” 

Ash By Elegance’s TNA In-Ring Debut

Ash By Elegance has had fans talking and is set to make her TNA Wrestling in-ring debut later this week. The elegant Knockout will compete at this Saturday’s show from Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida. 

This will be the first match for Ash By Elegance under her new ring-name, and her first match since September. Her most recent bout to date saw Elegance (then Dana Brooke) lose to Lyra Valkyria on the September, 12, edition of WWE NXT. 

General Admission for the Saturday show starts at $35 with the most expensive tickets selling for $80. More information about the show can be found here.  

What does Ash By Elegance make to comparisons to a certain AEW star…

‘Wanted Man’ Nic Nemeth: “I am Going to Become TNA World Champion”

Thomas Lowson
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Nic Nemeth made his goals in TNA abundantly clear during the Wanted Man’s first promo since arriving in the company. 

In the main event of TNA Hard to Kill, Moose dethroned Alex Shelley to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Nemeth made his debut by confronting the new champion in the ring. Nemeth would end the show by celebrating with the fans and ripping his shirt off to reveal the TNA shirt underneath. 

Nic Nemeth is Coming for the TNA World Championship

After his thrilling debut at TNA Hard to Kill, fans were excited to hear what the former WWE World Champion had to say. On this week’s iMPACT! On AXS TV, Nemeth reflected on his past, and his arrival in TNA, and gave a very clear message about his future plans. 

“I was very fortunate to rack up a lot of accomplishments in 19 years, but I did it all in one world [WWE]. So I’ve got to admit to you guys, this start right here, this is a little intimidating. I’ve got some emotions running through.You say I’ve still got it, I never lost it.

“I’m intimidated, I’m scared. I’m nervous. I’m excited. And make no mistake about it, I picked my time and place. I showed up in this ring and I lined up face-to-face with the TNA World Champion. And, I am going to become TNA World Champion.”

What’s Next for Nic Nemeth? 

Nemeth’s debut match will take place on next week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! where he will face Zachary Wentz. The show will also see Kazuchika Okada & Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. The System (Moose, Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards). In a rematch from TNA Hard to Kill, new Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace will defend against Trinity.

TNA Wrestling isn’t the only place fans will be able to see the Wanted Man in action… 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Kazuchika Okada Leaving NJPW, Tells Fans to “Keep Watching”

Thomas Lowson
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The 16-year run of Kazuchika Okada with New Japan Pro Wrestling will end very soon, the promotion has confirmed Thursday evening. 

Okada debuted for New Japan in 2007 and has since gone on to become one of the promotion’s biggest stars. He is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion where his fourth reign with the championship is the longest in history at 720 days.

He is also a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, having held the gold more times than any other wrestler. Currently, he is one-third of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.

Kazuchika Okada is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling

In a statement, New Japan confirmed that Okada’s contract will expire on January 31. Despite this, Okada will appear on February dates on February 11 in Osaka, and February 23 and 24 in Sapporo as part of the New Beginning series of events. 

New Japan apologized for the abrupt nature of this announcement. In a statement, Okada was thankful for his NJPW tenure: 

“I have nothing but gratitude for having been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2007, and for NJPW bringing me from a 19 year old kid off the plane in Mexico to the Rainmaker I am today. Thank you to the best of companies in NJPW, to the best of opponents that I’ve been able to face here, and to the best of fans that have cheered and booed over the years. I promise to make it rain in every match I have left, so keep watching.”

What could be next for the career of Kazuchika Okada… 

WWE Removes Seth Rollins From This Weekend’s Live Events After Injury Report

Aaron Varble
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0

WWE has a lot of things going on, and a few members of the roster are currently out of action. Seth Rollins’ status may have a huge question mark over it, and this new report is not a great sign about his status.

Seth Rollins Pulled From WWE House Shows

Seth Rollins is the current heavyweight champion, but this is not a great time for him. He suffered a knee injury in the main event of the January 15th episode of RAW while successfully defending his title against Jinder Mahal.

Following Rollins’ match on RAW, multiple sources backstage at Raw informed PWTorch that Rollins was helped in the back and eventually put weight on it, Rollins was said to be walking on his own but with a “definite limp.”

The full extent of The Visionary’s injury is yet to be determined, but it is confirmed by PW Insider that he will not be participating in the upcoming weekend’s house show events. 

Randy Orton will step in as a replacement to allow Rollins to take the necessary rest. As of this writing, we have no further updates on Rollins’ status.

Seth Rollins’ Injury Status

As fans await an official diagnosis for Seth Rollins’ knee, we are definitely sending our best. Obviously, WWE is hoping to have him back in fighting shape without taking any considerable time off.

Seth Rollins does not have an opponent in store for WrestleMania 40 yet. CM Punk has strongly hinted at facing the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, because there is history behind their beef. Hopefully, Rollins won’t have to miss the showcase of the immortals this year. 

WWE 2K24 Cryptic Undertaker Tease Drops

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans love video games, and every year they are typically given a new addition to their library. 2K is hard at work on their next release, and the teases are a plenty.

WWE 2K24 Is Coming

WWE 2k24 is coming this year, and 2k got started early this year to hype the game. All they needed to do was send out a graphic and a date. Then it was open season for excitement as the franchise’s next offering started trending on social media.

WWE Games’ official Twitter/X account posted to remind fans that January 22nd is a day worth marking on your calendar. They also dropped a very cryptic, yet obvious, tease that The Undertaker will be a part of whatever they’re doing.

WWE 2K24 “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Tease

We previously covered that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin got some love in the form of a spoiler from 2K. Obviously, the teases will continue as momentum builds toward the new game’s release.

WWE 2K24’s Release Date

The release date for WWE 2K24 is currently unknown, but there’s a possibility that we might learn this important information in the coming days. The latest installment, WWE 2K23, was released on March 14th, 2023.

WWE 2K23 is currently accessible on Amazon for PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Feel free to explore our game review here.

Charlotte Flair Shows Off Physical Therapy Progress After Knee Surgery

Aaron Varble
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Charlotte Flair suffered a significant injury in her singles match against Damage CTRL’s Asuka on the Tribute to the Troops edition of SmackDown on December 8th. She went under the knife, and now The Queen is on her way back to reclaim her throne.

Charlotte Flair Putting In The Work After Surgery

Charlotte Flair is expected to be out of action for 9 months after her knee surgery. Of course, that is a projection and Flair would obviously like to see a return much sooner than that.

Many people might want to take it easy after surgery, but Charlotte Flair is in a league of her own. The shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer didn’t wait around at all before jumping right into physical therapy. 

Flair updated her social media to show off her progress. She is already on the treadmill, which she was happy to showcase on her Instagram story.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C2Qc0Q3u3SP

How Charlotte Flair Was Injured

The injury occurred when Flair attempted her signature moonsault outside the ring towards Asuka. The match was then ended abruptly due to interference by Bayley, leading to Flair’s defeat. Despite her injury, Flair still finished the match.

Unfortunately, Flair suffered multiple knee injuries during the incident, including tears to her ACL, MCL, and meniscus.

Charlotte Flair was spotted on crutches at the CMLL event after her injury. That was before her surgery, but now she is totally focused on making a return to the ring.

A24 To Release The Iron Claw Action Figure Of Zac Efron’s Kevin Von Erich

Tyriece Simon
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Popular film company A24 has been praised for their biographical drama The Iron Claw, based on Kevin Von Erich and the rest of the Von Erich family. The film was released in the United States on December 21, 2023, and is currently enjoying critical and financial success. To celebrate the film’s performance, A24 has announced the upcoming release of their action figure based on the film. 

On Twitter, A24 revealed an action figure of Zac Efron’s portrayal of Kevin and shared that it will be available for pre-order soon. It will be the first merchandise released from the film on their website.

“Bringing the Iron Claw to YOU. Available for pre-order on the A24 Shop next month: the official Zac Efron-as-Kevin Von Erich Action Figure,” wrote A24.

kevin von erich action figure 1

The film company added that it will also come with a warm-up jacket for the action figure seen in the movie. It’s unclear if A24 plans to release other action figures based on The Iron Claw, like Jeremy Allen White’s role as Kerry Von Erich.

img 4924 1

The back of the package for their upcoming action figure, besides Efron and White, also has Holt McCallany(Fritz Von Erich), Harris Dickinson (David Von Erich), and Stanley Simons(Mike Von Erich). The success of their first action figure could possibly lead to more with the rest of the Von Erich Family featured in the film. 

No official release date has been shared from A24. However, fans in the comment section have pointed out that the film has yet to be released worldwide. 

The Iron Claw Box Office & Future Release In Other Countries

Business Report’s Dillion Lowe shared that the film was made on a $15 million budget. According to Box Office Mojo, it has grossed over $29 million in the United States. Although The Iron Claw has made a profit, it hasn’t been available to people in different parts of the world. 

The film is slowly being released in other countries this year and three countries in the last two weeks. Box Office Mojo has shared that the film has been released in the United Arab Emirates(January 4), Russia (January 11) and Iceland (January 12). All three countries boosted sales for a combined over $181 thousand. 

Digital Spy’s Sam Warner reported that the film will go to theaters in the United Kingdom on February 9. It’s unclear if the movie will go to other markets like Japan, France, and Mexico. A24’s film could cross well over $30 million at the box office, but it may not be as much as it could’ve been. The long wait will have the film competing with newer releases in different countries. 

Regardless, A24’s The Iron Claw is already a success and will try to add more revenue with their upcoming action figure. 

Adam Copeland Makes It Clear He Wouldn’t Wrestle In AEW If It Wasn’t Fun

Aaron Varble
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Adam Copeland had a WWE contract renewal in his inbox, but he decided against signing it. He wanted something else out of this chapter of his career, and he is finding it in AEW.

Adam Copeland Is Having Fun In AEW

Since arriving in AEW, some fans have noticed that Adam Copeland has worked with a variety of people, including an old frenemy in Christian Cage. The fact that Copeland is holding open challenge matches is also proof that anyone could face him next.

During a conversation with Busted Open Radio, Adam Copeland made it very clear that he wants to have as much fun as possible with his life. Wrestling is his first love, and it’s also a pleasure to work in that world, so he is making the most of every opportunity he can.

Anything I do at this stage of life has to be fun or I’m not going to do it. Wrestling was the first love and it always will be. That can never be taken away. I still find so much fun. The minute it stops being fun is the minute I need to be done. Because it was taken away from me the first time, and then to come back, and have this whole new generation of talent that I’ve never performed with or got in there with. It’s fun. I’ve repeatedly said how much fun I’m having. That’s what it boils down to. No matter what I’m doing, I’m having fun, or I wouldn’t be doing it. I wouldn’t be wrestling Griff Garrison if I didn’t find the fun in that. I wouldn’t be wrestling Lee Moriarty if I didn’t find the fun in that. It’s just a blast.

Copeland later stated that he’s still having fun while wrestling. At this stage in his career, the Rated R Superstar wouldn’t keep going if he wasn’t enjoying himself.

This may sound like a lie, but I’m at a stage in life where, if it’s not fun, I don’t need the money. I know that sounds really bad, but I was always really smart. I still drive a pick-up truck. I don’t waste my money. It hurt too much to make. If I’m doing it, it’s purely for the joy of it.

Adam Copeland’s Road in AEW So Far

Tony Khan was quick to place Adam Copeland right in a feud with Christian Cage, a spot he remains to this day. As the two carry on, it is evident that there are a lot more stories to tell that reek of awesomeness.

Copeland beat Christian at AEW Worlds End for the TNT Title, but then Killswitch gave his guaranteed title shot to Cage, who promptly beat the WWE Hall of Famer for the TNT Title once again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUjhZokvAqs

MLW Expands Programming With Free Monthly Signature Events

Rayan Saayed
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In 2024, Major League Wrestling (MLW) is undergoing changes to its programming. The promotion aims to broaden its schedule by presenting one premium live event and one free signature event each month.

The monthly premium live events will be broadcast as part of Trille TV+. For viewers interested in MLW’s free signature events, they can catch them on TV through BeIN Sports and online via MLW’s YouTube channel.

Recently, MLW made an announcement about returning to its origins in Florida, where the promotion first began over two decades ago. In the upcoming spring, MLW is set to make a comeback with War Chamber, one of its key PLEs, at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL.

In addition to its return to Florida, the company is also marking a comeback to Chicago with its Aztecha Lucha event on Saturday, May 11. This marks MLW’s return to the city for the first time since 2019.

SEScoops had reported back in December 2023 that MLW was gearing up for substantial changes, and this included a comprehensive overhaul of its front office.

On the flip side, MLW was engaged in a legal dispute with WWE in the form of an antitrust lawsuit. The two companies recently settled the lawsuit last month, with the details of the settlement remaining undisclosed.

With the upcoming programming schedule changes, 2024 appears to be an exciting year for MLW. The promotion has added notable names back to its roster such as Matt Riddle, Richard Holliday, Salina de la Renta, Tom Lawlor, and Satoshi Kojima. However, the company experienced a setback as Alex Hammerstone became a free agent. 

MLW Reload

MLW’s inaugural event under the new schedule is Reload, scheduled to air on Saturday, January 20, on both YouTube and BeIN Sports.

TNA Wrestling Bringing Back Classic Theme Song With Company’s Re-Branding

Aaron Varble
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Impact Wrestling is no more as they have totally re-branded to TNA Wrestling once again. Morale is high within the company as they look toward their next chapter. That will also bring back a nostalgic tune for longtime fans.

TNA Wrestling Bringing Back Iconic Theme

As fans think about TNA’s peak in 2008, many think about the iconic ‘Cross the Line’ theme song. Despite its initial popularity, the song was eventually phased out amid various changes within the company.

In a noteworthy announcement on TNA Wrestling’s official Twitter/X account, it was confirmed that the ‘Cross the Line’ theme song would be making a permanent return.

TNA Wrestling noted that this decision stems from the overwhelmingly positive reception the song received during live events, with its reintroduction slated to begin with the upcoming show.

”Due to the overwhelmingly positive reception to it being featured on our recent live events, the iconic Cross the Line theme will return starting TONIGHT on #TNAiMPACT on @AXSTV !”

What’s Next For TNA Wrestling

The recent Hard to Kill pay-per-view marked a significant milestone for TNA Wrestling. It was not only their largest live gate in about a decade, but it also trended on social media. This achievement suggests that the company’s strategic decision to rebrand and embrace its historical roots has already yielded substantial returns.

Bayley Believes Her Story With Mercedes Mone Will Live On Forever

Aaron Varble
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Mercedes Mone and WWE were speaking during a time, but that came to a financial roadblock. Now, all indications point toward an AEW debut very soon. Still, Bayley still believes her story with The Boss will last forever.

Bayley Believes She Will Face Mercedes Mone Again

Bayley, who once admitted that she begs Mercedes Mone to make a WWE return at every chance she has, recently spoke about her old friend, the former Sasha Banks. As Bayley sees it, there is still story left to be written for the two.

While speaking with Sports Illustrated, Bayley admitted that it is their destiny to face each other again. She firmly stated that their story has the ability to live on forever in pro wrestling lore. 

“We’ll always be destined for one more match. We’re going to live on forever because of that match, and it’s something we can carry on forever.”

What Happened To Sasha Banks’ WWE Return 

WWE and Mercedes Mone were talking about a return, but then those negotiations hit a roadblock. Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select at the time that, although the dialogue was friendly, the process was ended as WWE walked away from the deal. 

Top free agent Mercedes Mone aka Sasha Banks and WWE had been engaged in conversations to possibly bring her back to the company. However, WWE sources stated to Fightful Friday night that the two sides are no longer in active negotiations regarding a return. The two sides had recently been engaged in conversations about a return. We’re told the dialogue was friendly, the back and forth failed to progress, and WWE sources claim that their side walked as a result of it.

Bayley & Mercedes Mone’s Current Relationship

Bayley and Mercedes Mone are still close, and the two old friends are still in close contact. They were both spotted watching Trinity at TNA Wrestling’s Hard to Kill event. 

There may be a spot open for Mercedes on the Damage CTRL roster, because that stable apparently can’t get enough members. All signs point toward Mone’s eventual AEW debut, so a WWE return may have to wait.

Newly Signed AEW Star Will Have To Change Gimmick To Avoid Legal Issues

Aaron Varble
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AEW has inked deals with a number of talented wrestlers over the last twelve months, and many of them kept their personas, or simply built onto a pre-existing idea of their character. One star is set to see a gimmick change, but the extent of that alteration is uncertain.

AEW Signs New Star

Tony Khan has successfully secured a new deal for someone who will now be working for both All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. Black Taurus, who has experience in AAA, Impact Wrestling, and so many more destinations, has previously competed under the AEW and ROH banners. Now locked into a contract. 

In the past month, Taurus engaged in three title matches against El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship, two of which occurred within the AEW/ROH events.

Taurus has also made appearances for TNA Wrestling since 2019. However, with this new contract development, he is now making a transition. 

AEW Star’s Gimmick Has To Change

As reported by Luchablog, who is a reliable source for luchador news, Taurus and Tony Khan have reached an agreement for his services. It’s worth noting that due to AAA’s ownership of the ‘Black Taurus’ name, the wrestler will need to undergo a character and name change to avoid potential legal complications. 

This precautionary step is particularly crucial, given AAA’s previous legal dispute over the Luchasaurus mask, which was eventually settled. The report indicates that Taurus is ready for these alterations to his character.

It is unclear how much Khan will have to tweak Black Taurus’ presentation, but he can’t keep that gimmick he’s been using since 2018.

Killer Kelly on TNA Wrestling morale, working with Masha Slamovich & more (Exclusive)

Zack Heydorn
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Killer Kelly had every right to feel all sorts of emotions walking out the TNA Hard to Kill 2023 PPV event over the weekend. She and tag team partner, Masha Slamovich, lost the Knockout Tag Team Championships to Decay during the event, but the show itself was one of the most successful that TNA has put on in the last ten years. All things considered, Kelly said it all was “crazy.”

In an exclusive interview with SEScoops, Kelly spoke fondly about her company and the progress she’s seen it make the last few years. She also detailed how her chemistry with Masha Slamovich came to be, their Dog Collar Match, and what her top future goals are for herself.

Here’s our interview and highlights:

TNA backstage morale

“The first thing that comes to mind is ‘crazy,'” Kelly said of company morale after Hard to Kill. “Everyone is so happy backstage. Everyone is excited to be a part of TNA. People from the roster, people that aren’t on the roster. Will Ospreay. He was just a kid. Super happy to be a part of TNA. Everyone who arrived at the venue, who saw the tunnel, just freaked out. Like ‘oh my god this is so cool!’ Everyone wanted to show out. Everyone was like, we’re going to show what TNA is all about and everyone did.”

Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich were a part of a heated rivalry over the summer — a rivalry that jumpstarted their work as a team and one that culminated in vicious Dog Collar Match. Kelly was insistent that working with Slamovich as a partner or opponent was easy due to just how good Slamovich is in the ring.

“We were very lucky that we’re very alike,” Kelly said of Slamovich. “It wasn’t hard at all to get on that level and have that chemistry. It just popped up. We didn’t have to force it. It was just natural to us. That Dog Collar Match was one of my favorite matches ever. We’ve created history together and that chemistry, you can’t make it up. It was there the moment we had our first lock up.”

Regarding the Dog Collar Match between Kelly and Masha Slamovich at Against All Odds 2023 in June, Kelly revealed it was quite easy putting the match together. 

“We didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about that,” Kelly said of planning the match. “It was literally, we got in that day and we’re like ‘ok,’ let’s see how the chain and the dog collar feel because we hadn’t done anything like that before. It was on the day a few hours before the match and we were like ‘oh, this is quite heavy.’ But it was so easy and so quick to come up with ideas. Of course, we had Tommy Dreamer there helping us with the match and it was easy for us because we have the same mind. We’re twisted in our own way. The storytelling, everything. It was a beautiful ending to our little feud and a beautiful start to the relationship of Masha and Killer Kelly.

Jordynne Grace

With TNA momentum behind her, Killer Kelly says she wants to regain the Knockouts Tag Team Championships that she lost, but also would like to have a match with Jordynne Grace.

“I’ve never had a singles match with Jordynne Grace,” Kelly said. “That is one match I’d love to have. Just to push me to my limits. Because every single person you see wrestle her, they just go to another level when they step in the ring with her. She would beat my ass probably, but I would love it.”

Follow Killer Kelly on Twitter @Kelly_WP. She and TNA will be in Florida over the weekend for a set of shows. Visit TNAWrestling.com for ticket information.

TNA No Surrender returns to pay-per-view on February 23 in New Orleans.

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