WrestleMania 40 is less than 30 days away, and this week’s episode of RAW saw a lot of momentum toward the show of shows. Jey Uso took the microphone, and he had a lot to say.
Jimmy Uso screwed his brother, Jey, out of an IC Title match a couple of weeks ago. Now, Jey wants to face his brother on the grandest stage of them all. He was on RAW this week, where he laid down that challenge.
Jey Uso’s WrestleMania Challenge
Main Event Jey Uso’s journey as a singles competitor on RAW saw him carve out his own path and establish his legacy apart from The Bloodline. That being said, his progress has often been impeded by interference from The Bloodline, particularly his estranged brother, Jimmy Uso. Frustrated over his brother’s interference and tired of missed opportunities, Jey Uso took matters into his own hands on the latest edition of RAW.
During the show, Jey Uso confronted the situation head-on and proposed a solution to resolve their ongoing conflicts. He issued a challenge to his older brother, Jimmy Uso, for a high-stakes ‘Brother vs Brother’ showdown at WrestleMania 40.
The crowd responded with enthusiastic YEET chants, indicating their excitement for the potential clash between the siblings on the grand stage of WrestleMania. It looks like we may get YeetMania this year.
This match holds significant value for WWE’s stories, and The Bloodline saga. After all, a brother vs brother match for the Usos has been on fans minds for a very long time. Given the history between the two brothers, particularly Jimmy’s betrayal of Jey at last year’s SummerSlam, things could get very interesting.
SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are made available. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with all the headlines you need.
Sami Zayn hopes to win his second championship in as many WrestleManias when he challenges Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER next month.
On Monday Night Raw, Zayn emerged as the victor of a Gauntlet Match to determine the Austrian’s next challenger. The match featured Zayn, Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, ‘Big’ Bronson Reed, Ricochet, and JD McDonagh of the Judgment Day.
The match started with Ricochet, the man GUNTHER dethroned in June 2022, taking on McDonagh. The One and Only pinned McDonagh before Bronson Reed eliminated Ricochet. Zayn would be the fourth entrant in the match and would eliminate Reed. He would then eliminate Nakamura and Chad Gable to get the win and the coveted title shot.
Sami Zayn as Intercontinental Champion
Zayn is a three-time Intercontinental Champion and won the title for the first time in March 2020. After opting to take a break from WWE programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zayn would be stripped of the title but in storyline claimed to still be the champion when he returned to TV in August that same year.
At Clash of Champions in September 2020, Zayn was crowned the Undisputed Intercontinental Champion but lost the title to Big E in December. His third reign began in February 2022 but he would lose the gold to Ricochet mere weeks later.
WWE WrestleMania 40
This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
GUNTHER (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
The WWE WrestleMania stage has been a magnet for celebrities in recent years. As such, it is no surprise to see that the Road to WrestleMania itself has elicited similar results.
Monday’s episode of Raw marked WWE’s official return to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. It also marked a special guest appearance from award-winning rapper Travis Scott. Scott, of course, is a native of Houston, as he was born and raised in the surrounding areas throughout his childhood.
As seen in a new X video, Scott arrived to the venue earlier today, where he was greeted by former Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Jey Uso. After shaking hands, Uso promptly announced Scott’s presence with his signature “Yeet.”
Later in the evening, Scott posed for a photograph with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
“Too sweet having Houston’s own [Travis Scott] in the building for #WWERaw,” Levesque wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alongside an image of the two men gesturing a too sweet.
As Scott situated himself backstage, several WWE superstars brought forth some action on-screen.
One of the night’s notable matches saw Becky Lynch defeat an infuriated Liv Morgan, after which Nia Jax unleashed an attack on both competitors. Elsewhere on the card, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) successfully defended their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
General Managers Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis also announced that the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships will be on the line in a six-pack tag team ladder match at WrestleMania 40. The challengers for this particular title bout will be decided over the next few weeks.
AEW’s CJ Perry and Miro are moving on from one another.
Earlier today, TMZ Sports reported that CJ Perry (formerly known as Lana) and Miro (formerly known as Rusev) had “broke[n] up once and for all” in the winter of 2023 after several years of an on-and-off relationship. The couple, who officially tied to knot in July 2016, is said to have simply drifted apart.
While the couple has yet to file for divorce, Miro reportedly moved back to his home country of Bulgaria shortly after he and Perry made the decision to break up.
CJ Perry has since confirmed their split to TMZ, stating, “Miro and I have made the difficult decision to separate after many wonderful years together, and have decided to move on as friends, and hopefully onscreen characters somewhere down the road.”
AEW Ventures
In the months following his release from WWE in 2020, Miro inked a contract with All Elite Wrestling, where he became a one-time TNT Champion.
In September 2023, Perry would follow suit as she attempted to save Miro from a post-match attack from Powerhouse Hobbs in her AEW debut, which took place at the All Out pay-per-view. Upon signing with AEW, Perry has reprised her role as an on-screen manager, taking on the likes of Action Andretti and Andrade El Idolo.
Perry’s most recent appearance occurred at AEW Worlds End in December, in which she accompanied Andrade to the ring in his match against Miro. However, in a surprise turn of events, Perry turned on Andrade, subsequently causing him to lose his aforementioned match to Miro.
Paul Heyman was the first name announced as an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This was a completely non-controversial choice among the wrestling community. Even if one were to only consider his on-screen work as a manager, his efforts have been worthy of recognition.
Heyman’s career spanned a number of territories, leading to an important run at the head of The Dangerous Alliance that dominated WCW programming in 1992. From there, he served as the manager, consultant, or wise man to no fewer than three long-reigning world champions in WWE (in addition to briefer stints managing others).
Heyman was a key color commentator in the late stages of the Attitude Era as well, particularly during the Invasion angle, and then an on-screen authority figure.
On top of the work fans have seen firsthand, though, there are Heyman’s behind-the-scenes work, which include major contributions during multiple eras of WWE programming. Perhaps most importantly of all, though, he’s the evil genius most widely credited with masterminding ECW when it caught fire in the 1990s.
For all of the aforementioned reasons and more, Heyman should become the first non-wrestler WWE Hall of Fame inductee to go on last, officially headlining the Class of 2024.
The 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Will Occur In Philadelphia
Paul Heyman was born and got his start in pro wrestling in New York. His first claims to national fame came in the south or in the Midwest with the AWA, depending on which promotions one most paid attention to.
However, when it comes to the heart of Heyman’s contributions to the wrestling business, it all comes back to Philadelphia. In the Cit of Brotherly Love, Heyman was the driving creative force behind Eastern Championship Wrestling’s reinvention as Extreme Championship Wrestling. More than a simple rebrand, Heyman tapped into the wrestling atmosphere. He recognized the limitations of the family friendly products WWE and WCW produced at the time and capitalized on an opportunity, promoting an edgier, more adult style.
Indeed, the general consensus is that the more realistic presentation WCW embraced in the Monday Night War and the Attitude Era that elevated WWE to such heights were directly influenced by ECW’s success. In addition to pushing a different style of wrestling, there were the individual stars Heyman cultivated. Some, like Mike Awesome, Raven, and The Sandman peaked in ECW as Heyman hid their weaknesses, capitalized on their strengths, and put the right creative behind them. Other acts like The Dudley Boyz, Taz, and Eddie Guerrero would become foundational contributors for bigger promotions for years to come—talents in whom Heyman recognized profound potential who might not have wound up on the radar of bigger companies had Heyman not spotlighted them first.
All of these successes were born out of a bingo hall in Philly. Hardcore mirrors the gritty spirit of the city and the city remains inextricably linked to the ECW legacy. As such, Heyman is quite arguably the wrestling legend most synonymous with Philadelphia and a perfect choice to headline during a WrestleMania weekend staged there.
Paul Heyman Is Part Of The Current WWE Main Event Picture
One of the struggles of the WWE Hall of Fame is that, in presenting the induction ceremony is a live event held in a reasonably sized arena, broadcasted live. There’s a pressure not to simply induct worthy names, but induct draws—names modern fans will recognize and be excited about. Main eventers tend to have staying power, such that even fans who weren’t watching their primes stil know the names and have at least some familiarity with their work. Mid-card acts, tag teams, and managers have a tougher go of it.
In 2023, Rey Mysterio headlined the Hall of Fame class. In addition to having had a lengthy, legendary career the luchador benefited from still being a part of the active roster, embroiled in a hot father-son feud at the time. This dynamic meant everyone who might attend a Hall of Fame induction ceremony—even children who weren’t yet born for either of Mysterio’s world title wins—were still familiar with him.
Paul Heyman has been active in wrestling since since the 1980s, meaning he truly spans generations of fans. But perhaps most importantly for his status as a Hall of Fame draw, he has been heavily embroiled in The Bloodline’s main event storyline that has dominated nearly four years of WWE programming. That’s in addition to standing in the corner of top champions like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk off and on for the preceding two decades. Thus, Heyman is that rare manager whose main event level credentials are beyond reproach.
Paul Heyman Could Deliver One Of The Greatest WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Speeches Ever
One of the awkward realities of WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is that not all speeches are created equally. Regardless of star power, some talents are simply better talkers than others. Meanwhile, there are those talents who clearly take the induction seriously and craft speeches perfectly tailored to the moment, in contrast to those who take a more cavalier approach.
A big part of Paul Heyman’s legacy in wrestling is being an all-time great promo guy. He’s a brilliant wrestling mind with a real sense of history too, all of which is a recipe for a genuinely special induction speech. Rather than someone else being forced to follow the speech of the night, the most straightforward answer is to let Heyman close out the evening.
In the end, whether Paul Heyman goes on first, last, or somewhere in between for his WWE Hall of Fame induction, the bottom line is that after WrestleMania 40 weekend he’ll be a bona fide Hall of Famer. Few men—and particularly few men who were never proper wrestlers—were ever more worthy of this particular brand of recognition. There’s also a small sense of poeticism to Heyman being featured here as a sort of antithesis to Vince McMahon’s style and aesthetic. Heyman headlining may well further establish the launch of a new era in WWE.
Max Caster knows how to get under fans’ skin. He makes a living as a heel now, and the Bang Bang Scissor Gang gives him a lot of creative freedom. He may have gone over the line recently, but he was HACKED!
AEW’s resident rapper recently took to Twitter/X to said that all of his mean tweets last night was the result of a hacker. That being said, he’s not taking any of them down and agrees with each word that hacker had to say.
Max Caster’s “Hack”
Max Caster knows how to use his words in very creative ways. He recently went on a tear, where he released a few brutal tweets at fans.
On Monday morning, he logged back onto Twitter/X, where he made it very clear that he was the victim of a hack. This was all part of his character, because he’s not going to dismiss himself from anything that nefarious hacker said to fans.
He released a message along with a text graphic that let everyone know what he was up to. As he cleaned up the mess left by the hacker, he decided to leave all traces of this phony cyberattack.
From Max, Hello, users of X (formerly Twitter).
My followers, my former followers, and wrestling fans… Last night, while I was asleep, I was hacked by a hacker. That person proceeded to correspond antagonizing messages to you, the fans. They caused a lot of problems that I would never intend to start. Ironically, I stand behind all the opinions and statements made by my hacker, and I will not be deleting the posts. However, rest assured that I have full control of my account once again. Thank you for understanding.
Humbly, The Best Wrestler Alive
Never thought I’d have to do this… Please understand at this difficult time ? pic.twitter.com/KcfqlBBy06
You can check out a few of the mean tweets that Max Caster’s “hacker” sent out in the space below. They are still up, and there are a few more as well. He’s obviously not backing down from any of them.
We will have to see what Max Caster does next to catch attention. He is known for catching headlines with controversial remarks, and this one was incredibly inventive.
Max Caster and Anthony Bowens’ drive in AEW was put on another level when Billy Gunn joined them. We have to wonder whose idea it was to pull off this hacker deal, but we have to give him credit.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for the headlines that you need.
WWE marked a significant social media achievement last week when their official YouTube channel reached a major milestone, surpassing 100 million subscribers.
With this number, WWE has entered into ultra-rare territory, as only nine other channels have reached that same feat. Given the magnitude of this accomplishment, YouTube has honored the company with an ultra-rare award as well.
Earlier today, WWE Chief Content Offer Paul “Triple H” Levesque revealed that WWE had received the coveted Red Diamond Play Button, which recognizes channels that have obtained 100 million subscribers on the YouTube platform. As the name indicates, this award was complemented with a red crystal that was carved into a triangular “play” button. According to Triple H, this award also carries some massive weight to it.
Thank You To The WWE Universe
While unboxing the Red Diamond Play Button for a YouTube video, Triple H took a moment to thank the WWE talent and staff, as well as the WWE Universe, for supporting the company in their growth on social media and as an overall brand.
“On behalf of all of us at WWE, I want to thank our talent. I want to thank our crew and our staff and all the people behind the scenes that you don’t get to see on TV every single week for this,” Triple H said. “But more importantly than anything else, I want to thank the WWE Universe, all of you, everybody that’s out there that just can’t get enough WWE loves it, watches it, just sort of lives that WWE lifestyle – this is for you. Thank you.”
In eclipsing 100 million subscribers and 81 billion lifetime views, WWE has now positioned themselves as the largest sports channel on YouTube. Notably, this updated subscriber total is more than the MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL combined.
John Cena could indeed be free for an appearance at WrestleMania 40, despite previous concerns that his filming schedule could prevent him being at the show.
Cena’s blossoming acting career keeps him very busy, which is why WrestleManias 37 and 38 came and went without an appearance. Now, the show’s own Jennifer Holland has given hope to fans wishing to see Cena at WrestleMania 40. Responding to a fan’s question about the show’s second season, Holland, who portrays Emilia Harcourt shared her excitement. She also noted that the plan is for Peacemaker season two to begin filming this Summer, long after WrestleMania.
“Yessss we start filming this summer! It’s gonna be so gooooood.”
John Cena at WrestleMania
Cena made his WrestleMania debut in 2003 during the pre-show, and would open the show by winning the U.S. Championship the following year. Cena has competed a total of 16 times at WrestleMania with eight of those matches being for a World Championship. He currently boasts a win/loss record of 10-6.
WWE is well on their road to WrestleMania 40, and it appears that a couple dream matches are possible. The Bloodline splintered, and Jey Uso is on RAW, but it appears that twin warfare is coming.
Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso are expected to collide at WrestleMania 40. When thinking about his potential Mania match, Jey is hyped for the promos that await fans.
YeetMania
Jey Uso discussed the possibility of facing his brother. After all, they are slated to face each other at WrestleMania 40. Uce is very excited about the possibilities, especially the build.
Following Jimmy Uso’s interference that led to Jey Uso losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Roman Reigns at WWE SummerSlam, it appears that the twin siblings are heading towards a showdown at WrestleMania 40.
In the buildup to their potential clash, tensions escalated on the February 19 episode of WWE Raw when Jimmy’s actions caused Jey’s defeat against GUNTHER in a match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
While addressing the situation on Battleground with Tim & Eli, Jey shared his thoughts on the prospect of facing Jimmy in the ring. He can’t wait for the promos.
“Personally, I’m a little kid all over again. Hopefully it’s me and Jimmy at WrestleMania. If it is, I’m a little kid. It’s going to be so easy. We’re just going to do what we do all the time. What I’m most excited about is the lead up, the promos. I love talking. I’m trying to talk. You thought you had emotion in the Bloodline storyline with me and Roman, and me and Sami, watch me and my twin go at it. Ya’ll are going to be like, ‘They are 100% real.’ That’s what is going to make it fire. It’s going to be real. I’m excited to pump that out to the fans and give them that. It’ll be different from every other angle.”
The Road to WrestleMania
The Bloodline Saga has lasted years at this point, and we all knew a Jimmy vs Jey match was coming. It seems that we are getting that match this year.
Roman Reigns and The Rock will also be busy at WrestleMania. They will face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins during the first night of WrestleMania 40. Then Roman will defend the Undisputed Universal Title against Cody Rhodes on the next night.
The only Bloodline member left without a match is Solo Sikoa so far, as even Paul Heyman is accepting a WWE Hall of Fame induction. Odds are, Solo will find something to do so he can get a Mania paycheck.
SEScoops will have full coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for the updates and headlines you need!
AEW has faced criticism from all over the pro wrestling world for a variety of things from their booking to the wrestlers Tony Khan signs to a contract. The fact that injuries seem to be prevalent is also a topic of conversation.
Al Snow is a veteran in the pro wrestling business, and he has a lot to say. He recently expressed the idea that, unless things change, someone will die in an AEW ring.
Al Snow’s Deathly Prediction For AEW
Former WWE star and OVW owner, Al Snow, appeared on Vince Russo’s Youtube channel to share his concerns about the current AEW product, which he perceives as unsafe.
Snow explained to Russo why he believes that a wrestler may eventually suffer a fatal injury inside an AEW ring. Regarding the potential criticism of his views, Snow stated, “You’re going to have those that are going to defend it, and they’re going to get upset and take the… that I’ve got an axe to grind, and that I’m bitter, and I’m not,” emphasizing that he is satisfied with everything.
Snow highlighted his past efforts in advocating for standards of training and safety in wrestling, particularly during his tenure at OVW. He expressed his belief that the escalation of risks in AEW matches may lead to a tragic accident.
We now have escalated to where we watched Will Ospreay go up into a vertical suplex with the guy standing on the second rope and drop straight on his head. We watched Orange Cassidy get dropped bodily on the top rope and could almost be cut in half. OK? How much exponentially has the scale went up, that we’re going to watch someone die? Meaning… legitimately, they’re going to die right in front of your eyes in a match.
AEW & Injuries
AEW just suspended Sammy Guevara for injuring Jeff Hardy. There is also an idea that he ignored concussion protocol in the process. This suspension also sparked a lot of conversation within the pro wrestling fan base.
Last month, WWE made their way to Perth, Australia for the 2024 Elimination Chamber. In addition to featuring two marquee Elimination Chamber matches, this premium live event also served as a homecoming for four superstars — Indi Hartwell, Grayson Waller, Nia Jax, and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
Given the setting, WWE boosted Jax and Ripley, who were facing off in a women’s title match, to the main event of the card. As it turns out, though, Jax didn’t become aware of this decision until the night before Elimination Chamber.
“I didn’t know until the night before,” Jax recently told The Hall of Fame podcast. “I think somebody had like sent a card to me, and I’m like ‘Wait a minute, does this mean that we’re on in the main event?'”
An Immense Honor
Realizing that she was now also positioned as one of the show’s headliners, Jax felt an elevated sense of nervousness heading into her WWE Women’s World Championship match. Despite the added pressure, Jax firmly cherished the opportunity to not only perform before her home country of Australia, but to also do it in the main event.
“Not gonna lie, it felt like a lot of pressure because you had some pretty stacked Elimination Chambers, a great tag on the card, and then you had the Grayson Waller Effect. Being main event of that show, it was a pretty big deal for me,” Jax said. “I just wanted to put on the best match I possibly could with a great story. [It was] easy with Rhea Ripley, but I wanted to be able to tell a really good story to the fans and hope that it resonated to them. It was an honor to be a main event in front of all those people.”
Ultimately, it was Rhea Ripley who emerged victorious in the Elimination Chamber main event, as she laid out “The Irresistible Force” with the Riptide to secure the pinfall and retain her title.
Looking forward, Ripley now has her sights set on Becky Lynch, who is set to challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
Coming out of Elimination Chamber, most of the top title matches for WrestleMania 40 appear settled. Fans already knew Cody Rhodes would challenge Roman Reigns and learned Drew McIntyre would challenge Seth Rollins. Bayley vs. Iyo Sky has built nicely on SmackDown, while Becky Lynch made good on the teases that she’ll go after Rhea Ripley. Even the United States Championship picture appeared to crystallized when WWE set the wheels in motion for Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton during the men’s Elimination Chamber match.
Intercontinental Champion Gunther is all but assured to work a high-profile match at WrestleMania, if only for the combination of his talent and how well WWE has pushed him and this reign. Gunther surpassed The Honky Tonk Man for the longest single reign with the title months ago, and more recently this single reign has positioned him as the longest cumulative reigning IC champ ever.
The question remains whom Gunther will face at ‘Mania, particularly as a number of pundits have speculated the title might changes hands on this auspicious occasion.
Ahead of the Gauntlet Match on tonight’s WWE Raw to determine who will in fact battle Gunther at Wrestlemania, here are five Superstars we’d like to see in that spot:
Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn had a stare down with Gunther on Monday Night Raw and certainly is well-positioned as a prospective challenger for the Intercontinental Championship. Indeed, Zayn is on a very short list of men who don’t yet have a match for WrestleMania, is a credible threat to The Ring General, and is also a fresh opponent who hasn’t yet challenged for the belt during this reign. All that’s not to mention that Zayn vs. Gunther would all but guarantee a strong match.
There are those fans who are underwhelmed with this idea on the premise that they’re still holding out hope Zayn’s big push from 2023 could culminate in a world title reign. Besides that, he is already a four-time former Intercontinental Champion. Nonetheless, dethroning Gunther would, in and of itself be a major milestone that would have to be considered among Zayn’s biggest career accomplishments to date.
Damian Priest
The Raw after Elimination Chamber also saw WWE tease a confrontation between Damian Priest and Gunther as Judgment Day confronted the Intercontinental Champion. Explicit references to Senor Money in the Bank cashing in on Gunther arose, introducing possibilities for Priest challenging formally at WrestleMania or else stealing the title via cash-in after Gunther works someone else.
Priest vs. Gunther has potential has a clash between two big men who can go in the ring. Though some fans are lukewarm on Money in the Bank being used to challenge for secondary titles, Priest cashing in could also be seen as a way of elevating the Intercontinental Championship. That’s not to mention that if any secondary champion ever warranted a challenger taking advantage of a cash-in, it would have to be Gunther, and this would be a way to protect The Ring General while he transitions out of the IC title picture.
Andrade
Andrade has had one of the more confounding careers in American pro wrestling. He was a breakout star for CMLL, then had and up and down run in NXT before hitting his stride and arriving as NXT Champion. It looked like he’d be big deal when he moved up to the main roster, but he promptly found himself lost in the mid-card shuffle. Even more frustrating, Andrade’s run with AEW yielded similar results as he never quite seemed to find his spot. It’s telling that his most memorable accomplishment in his three years away from WWE may well have been teaming up with his father in law to headline the Ric Flair’s Last Match indie event.
If Andrade were to challenge Gunther, and especially if he were to take the Intercontinental Championship off him, it would be a nice testament that this WWE tenure really is going to be different for Andrade. His in-ring abilities are not in question. If WWE were to afford him this WrestleMania match, there’s every chance Andrade would make the most of the opportunity.
Ilja Dragunov
Gunther hasn’t suffered many losses under the WWE banner. Quite arguably the biggest loss of his WWE career to date came in developmental when Ilja Dragunov was the man to “pull the sword from the stone” and end Gunther’s 800+ day reign as NXT UK Champion.
There would be some poeticism to Dragunov—now the reigning NXT Champion—being the one to end Gunther’s next marathon title reign as well. No less important, Dragunov and Gunther have a proven track record as truly great opponents for one another. Dragunov making his main roster debut at WrestleMania in a show-stealing match in which he beats Gunther could do wonders for the Russian Superstar’s career.
John Cena
There’s no guarantee at all that John Cena will work WrestleMania 40. Indeed, between his busy acting schedule and not appearing on WWE television since his loss to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel this fall, it looks like the odds are Cena is sitting out ‘Mania this year. If he does appear, the smart money is on a surprise promo, altercation, or impromptu match more so than a full-fledged ‘Mania program and major bout.
Cena notoriously remains in great shape, though, and he’s the kind of legend who can readily be slotted into any title picture at the drop of a dime. Moreover, there is a ready made story to be told of Cena chasing the biggest title that’s eluded him throughout his WWE career, the Intercontinental Championship. Cena also marks an ideal opponent for Gunther. If Gunther were to lose, there’s little shame in him dropping a match to the guy WWE has pushed as “the greatest of all time.” Meanwhile, if Gunther were to win, this is one of the few one-on-one victories–shy of a world title win–that would undeniably elevate him at this point.
In the end, fans will probably find out the identity of Gunther’s WrestleMania challenger in the near future. The possibilities outlined here, not to mention the prospect of a Triple Threat or a multi-man ladder match offer all manner of interesting possibilities and every opportunity for Gunther to deliver another memorable performance on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
CM Punk made his grand return to WWE back in November in the closing moments of Survivor Series 2023 from Chicago. He began feuding with Seth Rollins and they were on track to have a top match at WrestleMania 40. Unfortunately, Punk tore his right tricep in the Royal Rumble, underwent surgery and won’t be cleared for action any time soon.
Although it’s unclear exactly how long CM Punk will be out of action, he probably won’t be wrestling for several more months.
The injury was a devastating setback for the controversial figure, who had been away from WWE for nearly a decade prior to his return. Punk arrived in WWE the same way he did in AEW: seemingly rested, refreshed and excited to write the final chapter of his career on his own terms.
Whenever CM Punk does return, we can expect a motivated veteran eager to get back to his game-plan to remind fans why he’s still the Best in the World.
Charlotte Flair’s efforts to thin her impressive wardrobe has resulted in the WWE Superstar donating 200 items of clothing to a shelter.
On her Instagram Stories, Flair noted that her closet was getting out of hand. Rather than just throw away items of clothing, the former WWE Women’s Champion donated 200 pieces to a local women’s and children’s shelter in an incredible act of generosity. Flair also shared a before and after photo to show the difference to her closet.
Charlotte Flair’s WWE Status
During the latter part of her December 9, match with Asuka, Flair was hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. The injury happened when Flair came off the top rope at an awkward angle and her legs bounced off the ropes. Despite this, Flair was able to finish the match that saw Asuka get the victory.
This injury wasn’t enough to keep Charlotte from supporting her husband Andrade at a CMLL event, in what would be one of the former NXT Champion’s final appearances before returning to WWE. In January, Flair had knee surgery and has been showing significant improvements.
Rob Van Dam is a bonafide WWE Hall Of Famer and now so is the man who put him on the map in Paul Heyman, but who will induct the original orchestrator of extreme?
In the upcoming episode of “1 Of A Kind With RVD” Van Dam said that he wasn’t originally planning on attending the WWE Hall Of Fame this year, but with Heyman getting announced, RVD said he’ll have to make plans.
Per usual, a lot of the fun speculation heading into WrestleMania is who will induct the inductees and there are several names who are worthy of inducting Heyman, including RVD. However, Rob had his own thoughts regarding that matter.
“I think they can definitely find somebody better than me. You know, it’d be an honor. And of course, if I was, nominated and asked to do it, I would give it my best.”
Who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame?
If I were to induct Paul Heyman…
Van Dam added that if he were to induct Heyman, he’d want input from other wrestlers who were impacted by Heyman, but named three names who would be more fitting to do the actual induction.
“I mean, [Tommy] Dreamer, Bubba [Ray Dudley]. Taz, those guys, they know Paul a lot more than I do. They were in New York.
“I would see him on the weekends. They’d see him all week too and they were there in the office and the production studio helping move the TV forward, also with the merchandise and just booking towns.”
Taz or RVD would both be interesting names considering both have a working relationship with AEW, but Van Dam is featured in WWE 2K24 and has an upcoming figure set to be released by Mattel.
Heyman leads a Hall Of Fame class that so far has Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express and Muhammad Ali.
The new episode of 1 Of A Kind With RVD releases Monday at 4:20 PM ET.
Please credit “1 Of A Kind With RVD” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
The Road to WrestleMania rolls on as WWE heads to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw
Here are the 3 matches announced for Raw, followed by our detailed preview into each one:
Gauntlet Match (Winner will challenge Gunther for Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40): Ricochet vs. Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. JD McDonagh
Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) (c) vs Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
Here’s what you need to know heading into this week’s WWE Raw:
Gauntlet Match: Winner Challenges GUNTHER at WrestleMania
After a successful title defense over Jey Uso, Intercontinental Champion Gunther declared that he was on the hunt for his WrestleMania 40 challenger. Naturally, this statement then boasted several possibilities. In the weeks following, various members of the WWE Raw locker room pitched their case as to why they should be the one to oppose “The Ring General.”
While Chad Gable is out for familial vindication, Ricochet pointed out that he was the last person to hold the Intercontinental Championship before Gunther’s historic reign began. Sami Zayn, on the other hand, is simply eager to secure his spot on the WrestleMania card (as well as potentially tacking on a fourth run with the title).
Who will challenge Gunther at WrestleMania 40?
With many names expressing interest in facing Gunther, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce finally narrowed the field down to six. In addition to Zayn, Gable, and Ricochet, the likes of JD McDonagh, “Big” Bronson Reed, and Shinsuke Nakamura will have an opportunity to punch their ticket to WrestleMania when they compete in a number one contenders match.
The winner, of course, will also earn the right to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at the two-night premium live event.
What goes around, often comes back around. That certainly was the case for Becky Lynch last week.
Two weeks ago, Nia Jax blindsided Becky Lynch with an attack from behind on WWE Raw. Lynch later retaliated with an ambush of her own while Jax competed in a match against Liv Morgan. As a result, Morgan was handed a loss via disqualification, and Adam Pearce set up a rematch between Lynch and Jax.
Though Jax and Lynch were keen on settling their score, Liv Morgan used their match as an opportunity to get some revenge of her own. As Jax stood on the outside of the ring, Morgan launched herself off the barricade to deliver an elbow to Jax’s face, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
Upset by Morgan’s actions, Lynch confronted her backstage, and subsequently challenged her to a fight on this week’s episode of Raw.
Women’s Tag Title Match
Six days after successfully defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley on WWE NXT, Kairi Sane and Asuka look ahead to their next challengers — Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
Sane, Asuka, in addition to IYO SKY and Dakota Kai, watched on as Baszler and Stark defeated Kayden Carter and Katana Chance on last week’s episode of Raw.
Seemingly impressed by their performance, Kai announced that the two would earn an opportunity to challenge Sane and Asuka for their titles tonight. Kai, however, also vowed that Sand and Asuka would leave the both of them crying, much like they did with former Damage CTRL stablemate Bayley.
WWE offers fans a great time for their live events. It’s worth the price of admission whenever they’re in town, and fans at a recent house show got quite a treat, especially if they are fans of The Man.
On March 10, 2024, at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, in a mixed tag team match, Becky Lynch and Kevin Owens emerged victorious against Grayson Waller and Nia Jax during the WWE Road To WrestleMania house show. The interesting part is that it was Lynch who pinned Waller.
How The Match Went Down
Becky Lynch joined forces with her friend, Kevin Owens, in a tag team match against her rival, Nia Jax, and Grayson Waller. The matchup went down as a classic WWE mixed tag team encounter, where the men and women didn’t mix it up at all. Other companies might let a woman take a suplex from a man on television, but WWE isn’t going there, especially with TKO calling the shots.
This match provided fans in attendance with an engaging spectacle. The chemistry between the stars added to the intensity, and they had some fun along the way. After all, Lynch and Owens are known to cut it up at house shows if the mood strikes them.
In the closing moments of the match, Kevin Owens created an opening for Becky Lynch, allowing her to execute her Becksploder on Grayson Waller. With Waller on the mat, Lynch secured the victory for her team and took the pinfall.
Fans in the building loved the finish of the match, and everyone was happy, except for the heel team of Waller and Jax. It was not the way Grayson Waller probably wanted things to go down, but he’s a pro and game to do anything possible that’s best for business.
Becky Lynch is the only person in that match who has a match at WrestleMania. She won the 2024 Elimination Chamber match, and now she is set to take on Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Title at the show of shows.
We will have to see how Grayson Waller and Kevin Owens are booked for WrestleMania. There are many things you could do with talent like them, and they both deserve a match on the showcase of the immortals after each of them had impressive achievements in 2023.
Nia Jax was re-signed by Triple H, and she is still clawing at the top of the roster. Only time will tell if she gets involved with The Bloodline’s story. She is The Rock’s cousin, but WWE has done a pretty good job keeping her away from that situation by placing her on RAW.
SEScoops will have even more of the road to WrestleMania. You never know what headlines will break next!
WWE has unveiled another addition to its 2024 class of the WWE Hall of Fame. In an announcement today, it was revealed that they will induct The Greatest. Muhammad Ali will be immortalized in this year’s hall of fame class.
This year is Triple H’s first year to make the WWE Hall of Fame call, and he is going all out. Muhammad Ali will join this year’s class. Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, set to induct him.
WWEShop is already selling this t-shirt commemorating Ali’s forthcoming induction.
Muhammad Ali t-shirt on sale at WWEShop
Muhammad Ali In Pro Wrestling
Variety reported first that Muhammad Ali will be in the 2024 class of the WWE Hall of Fame. Ali’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame adds to the roster of esteemed inductees for the Class of 2024, which includes Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and the tag team the U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham).
Ali is known worldwide for his legendary boxing career, also ventured into professional wrestling on several occasions. He was also involved in the pro wrestling world.
He engaged in an exhibition match against Japanese wrestling icon Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976. Prior to that bout, he made a memorable appearance at a WWE event, where he challenged Gorilla Monsoon in the ring.
Ali was also a special guest referee for the main event of WrestleMania I in 1985, where Hulk Hogan and Mr. T faced off against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. That may be his most famous footnote in WWE history.
He was also the guest of honor at the historic “Collision in Korea” pay-per-view event held in North Korea in 1995, the same event that is still mysteriously absent from the WWE Network or Peacock.
Who was Muhammad Ali
Renowned as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Ali achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including winning an Olympic gold medal for the United States in boxing in 1960 and becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion.
His boxing record includes victories over opponents such as Sonny Liston, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman, among others. His final professional boxing match went down in 1981, wrapping up his career with 56 wins, 5 losses, and 37 knockouts. Will Smith also played him in a 2001 biopic.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Ali was also involved social activism, famously refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. That decision resulted in him being stripped of his heavyweight championships.
Sadly, Ali passed away in 2016 at the age of 74, leaving behind an enduring legacy both inside and outside the ring.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for April 5 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The event will be available for live-streaming on Peacock starting at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.
While Omega hasn’t been competing, the AEW EVP has remained active on Twitch where fans can find him playing video games and sharing updates about his life and condition. Taking to Twitter, Omega said he’s thinking about delivering match ratings. the Cleaner admitted that the idea of rating matches may rub some fans the wrong way.
I’ve been enjoying the streams lately but have been thinking about adding a new activity.
One that’s sure to unite all wrestling fans and encourage peaceful discussion.
Kenny Omega isn’t rating matches yet but the former AEW World Champion knows all about giving high-star performances. Omega currently has 25 matches rated five or more stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. 12 of these matches surpassed the five-star scale. His highest rated match took place at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall and saw Omega and Kazuchika Okada give a seven-star performance.
What’s Next?
It’s ironic that Okada and Omega had the seven-star match as it seems the pair will face off nice more. On last week’ AEW Dynamite, the Young Bucks fired Omega as a member of the Elite. That same show saw Okada debut and align with the Bucks, seemingly replacing Omega in the role.
AEW has a number of former WWE Superstars on their roster. It appears that they may be adding one more, but that doesn’t mean it will be a universally praised decision.
Shelton Benjamin was released from WWE in September last year, but he hasn’t signed with another company yet. He may just end up in AEW at this point, and Max Caster couldn’t keep his opinion to himself. Caster doesn’t think AEW needs Shelton.
Max Caster Reacts
It was previously reported that AEW is in talks with Shelton Benjamin. That would be a great get for Tony Khan, because Shelty hasn’t ended up anywhere else since his WWE release in September 2023.
Max Caster apparently heard this report, and he couldn’t keep his opinion to himself. While reacting to this new story about another former WWE Superstar who may be coming into the Land of All Elite, Caster posted on Twitter/X to let everyone know how he feels about things.
Shelton Benjamin’s release was a surprise for many, because he is a veteran and has a ton of tools to offer any company he works for. At 48-years-old, Benjamin still has a lot of gas in the tank, and he just may end up in AEW soon enough.
For what it’s worth, there have been people in AEW pulling for Tony Khan to sign Shelton Benjamin since before WWE released him. So, he does have people on the roster who are on his side.
AEW is looking ahead for their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston this week. March 13th’s episode will likely see the debut of Mercedes Mone for the company. It’s anyone’s guess how much longer fans will have to wait until Shelton Benjamin joins the mix.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and everything else that AEW is doing to gain headlines. Please keep checking back for more details on the stories you need.
The Undertaker carved out a big place for himself in pop culture. His iconic WWE entrance and all the pageantry that goes along with it is immediately identified as being a tribute to him. When Taker saw Michael Page’s entrance at UFC 299, he just had to say something.
Michael “Venom” Page’s entrance during 299 was a big time tribute to The Undertaker. When The Phenom was made aware of the clip, he responded by complementing the entrance and also congratulated Page on his win over Kevin Holland.
At UFC 299, Michael Page paid homage to The Undertaker with a tribute entrance. He walked out to The Undertaker’s iconic theme music, donning a robe with a hoodie that he discarded at the start of his entrance.
The Undertaker’s distinctive gong continued to resonate, accompanying MVP as he made his way to the Octagon. Making his UFC debut against Kevin Holland, Page delivered an impressive performance, emerging victorious in the fight.
The Undertaker responded to Michael Page’s tribute on Twitter/X, expressing appreciation for the tribute while congratulating Page on his big win over Kevin Holland.
Nice entrance & congrats on the W, @MichaelPage247 .
The Undertaker has seen plenty of tributes. His song is on regular rotation for many spots teams out there, and they have used his entrance theme for many introductions in the past. That doesn’t make it any less special whenever a new homage to Taker pops up.
WWE fans may not see The Undertaker wrestle again, but he’s still around. The WWE Hall of Famer’s One DEADMan shows have become a fan-favorite event that will usually accompany a WWE show. He will have another one during WrestleMania weekend for fans as well.
SEScoops will have any updates on this story as they are made available. For more on this story, and many more, please keep checking back on a regular basis.
On the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Copeland ambushed Cage and challenged him to an I-Quit natch for the TNT Championship for the March 20, episode. The choice of date is no coincidence, as the show will take place in Toronto, Canada.
On the March 9, edition of AEW Collision, Copeland once again got the better of Cage and the Patriarchy. He also teased having a surprise for Cage when they next face for the TNT Championship. Taking to Twitter, Copeland continued to tease having something special for his former friend.
Hopefully, Copeland’s surprise will help nullify the numbers advantage that the Patriarchy gives the reigning AEW TNT Champion. In addition to Killswitch, Cage has Nick Wayne at his beck and call, as well as Mama Wayne. Copeland has some allies of his own in AEW, including Darby Allin and FTR.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Monday, March 11. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at, including RAW tonight. Let’s jump right into it.
Days until WrestleMania 40: 26
WWE:
– Brock Lesnar is back on WWE.com’s roster, and that was very interesting. I asked around to see if there is any word about his return, and was I was told that the creative team has not heard anything new about him since his stories were nixed after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public.
Brock Lesnar is back on the WWE website roster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be right back on TV.
After asking around I can confirm that the creative team has not been told that anything has changed with Lesnar.
He was supposed to be in the Rumble, face Dom at EC and…
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
A recent AEW Collision match featuring Jay Lethal saw a tribute to the wrestler’s mother who sadly passed away very recently.
On last week’s episode of Collision, Lethal teamed with Mark Briscoe and Jeff Jarrett to face the House of Black in a street fight. The match saw the House of Black get the win after Malakai Black put Briscoe through a flaming table.
Jay Lethal’s Tribute
Those who watched the Collision match closely may have noticed an armband worn by Jay Lethal. This is because Lethal’s mother Shirley Shipman passed away on February 29, PW Insider has learned. A celebration of her life will take place at the Nesbitt Funeral Home tomorrow in Elizabeth, New Jersey. More information can be found here.
A Family Affair
Shirley Shipman, like her husband Ron, was deeply supportive of their son’s pursuit of wrestling glory. The Shipman’s even got involved from time to time in their son’s career. During a 2012 ROH show, Lethal challenged Kevin Steen (now Owens) for the ROH World Championship. During the match, Steen antagonized the Shipman’s who were sat at ringside by biting Jay. Ron fired back by throwing his drink at the Canadian, prompting Steen to spit in Shirley’s face. This exchange would fire up Jay to the delight of the crowd.
During a JAPW show, Lethal and his father were outnumbered by heels for a six man tag where Ron was to team with his son against Steve Corino, Ricky Landell and Rick Silver. Shirley came out to proclaim that they had a partner before introducing Charlie Haas.
We at SE Scoops would like to extend our deepest condolences to Jay and his family at this very sad time.
WWE’s own John Cena has revealed the truth that he’s buried for decades behind a lie; that he is visible and that fans can indeed see him.
Despite being one of WWE’s most prominently featured Superstars for years, Cena’s catchphrase ‘You Can’t See Me’ would become synonymous with Big Match John. The line has since branched off into a meme among fans who pretend not to be able to see Cena when he makes appearances both in and out of the ring.
John Cena Comes Clean
During a recent interview with MTV’s Josh Horowitz, Cena and Ricky Stanicky co-star Zac Efron were asked whether they’ve ever lied in an interview. Cena (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) used the question to make his stark confession.
“[I lie in interviews] All the time. I don’t think there’s an ounce of truth in anything I’ve said. Ever. I’m living in a lie. I’m living a whole lie. I think I’m visible. I think people can see me.”
The topic of dishonesty is a pivotal part of Ricky Stanicky. The film tells the story of friends who in their youth made up a fake friend (the titular Stanicky) to get our of trouble and obligations. Now grown up, the friends are confronted about Stanicky and hire an actor [Cena] to bring their fake friend to life.
What’s Next for John Cena?
Should the fans forgive Cena for his years of lying, the WWE Universe may indeed see John at WrestleMania 40. Cena is eager to do something at WWE’s annual two-night Showcase, though there are no confirmed plans for Big Match John publicly known at this time.
