The match saw plenty of creative add-ons that made a title change look possible, with Indus Sher providing backup for Mahal. Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest would also make his presence felt at ringside but was neutralized by Drew McIntyre.
Jinder Mahal Reacts
Mahal didn’t shock the world for the second time on this week’s Raw, and was left with some buyer’s remorse after the match. On Twitter, Mahal regretted ordering a ton of pyro for his championship celebration.
Welp, so much for sending that extra Pyro for my Punjabi Celebration…
Earlier reports indicated a potential injury to Seth Rollins’ left leg during the match. Despite the apparent setback, Rollins completed the match. It was later mentioned that he managed to put weight on the injured leg backstage.
While discussing Seth Rollins’ injury status on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer provided insights into the situation. Meltzer mentioned that Seth Rollins is scheduled for an MRI to assess the extent of the injury, determining whether it is a serious concern or a minor issue.
“I just know he’s getting an MRI. Then we will find out. Basically, I was told it could be something minor, or it could be something worse. We won’t know until the MRI result comes back.”
What’s Next For Seth Rollins
It was noted that this “could be a bad time if he’s out for a couple of months, really, really bad.” At this time, we do not know how long Seth Rollins will be out of action, but he has a history of knee issues in the past.
Rollins would miss WrestleMania if he needs to be out of action for three months at this point. As of this writing, it is a waiting game to see how bad his injury is.
Seth Rollins does not have a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match scheduled for the Royal Rumble on January 27th yet. We will have updates on his condition as they are made available.
Bayley was as shocked as the WWE Universe to see CM Punk return to WWE, as her friend/mentor AJ Lee gave no hints leading up to the show.
Punk made his shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, which took place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, IL. The event marked Punk’s first time appearing in front of a WWE crowd since walking out of the company following the 2014 Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The show also marked Punk’s first appearance at a wrestling event following his firing from AEW in September.
Bayley on CM Punk’s Return
WWE went to great measures to keep CM Punk’s return to WWE under wraps. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Bayley recalled her reaction and the atmosphere backstage.
“Someone has it on film somewhere, I’m watching the monitor and his music hit, I frick’n went crazy. I’m like, no way did they actually do this. I ran into Gorilla [position] to go say hi to him and he was so happy.”
The Damage CTRL member admitted that she was extra surprised as she keeps in contact with Punk’s wife AJ Lee, who had kept mum on the return of her husband.
“I didn’t text her [before]. Everybody reads online, but I was like there’s no way. This is crazy… And I was like, wait, no, it’s not gonna happen. He would have said something. She would have said something.”
Bayley on AJ Lee Returning
With CM Punk a WWE Superstar again, fans are buzzing over the possibility of AJ Lee returning to the ring. In the interview, Bayley shared her own excitement that the former Divas Champion could lace up her boots again.
“He gives me the best hugs. He’s like, ‘This one’s from me. This one’s from April.’ It’s nice to have him there but it makes me want her around. So I’m like, ‘Hey what’s up? What are you doing? Are you gonna hang out with us?’ ‘Sorry, I’m watching [our dog] Larry’”
AEW may have proved to be pivotal in the career of Lexis King, but the NXT Superstar experienced the worst case of self-doubt of his career while he was ‘All-Elite.’
King has quickly become a top guy in NXT, in stark contrast to his tenure with AEW. On the latest edition of the Insight podcast, King spoke about making his WWE NXT TV debut and how he’d felt in AEW.
“It [his WWE NXT TV debut] was great. I was just sitting in it and I’m backstage thinking ‘Is this real?’ I spent, and this isn’t a knock on anybody, but I spent so many months of my career at the previous company, just second-guessing myself. Am I really any good? Am I worth it? A lot of self-doubt. And just to see how my career has done a total 180 since then [is incredible].
“I went from just sitting in the back and filming a few dark matches in Orlando here and there. Six-minute tag matches, barely getting in the ring and feeling the canvas to now, I’m sitting on a throne, making my entrance. In the biggest wrestling company in the world, they have this confidence in me. And it fuels me, now I have confidence in myself.
“Hell, they gave me the name King! It doesn’t get any better than that. So just to feel that 180 and go out there and perform with a certain level of grit and attitude. You know, I’m going to prove everyone one wrong, everyone who didn’t believe in me, It’s a dream come true.”
While King feels he is thriving now that he’s part of WWE NXT, the second-generation wrestler wanted to make it clear he doesn’t resent AEW or his time with the company.
“There’s no ill-will [towards AEW] but it’s just sort of that mindset. I put myself in that mindset. Nobody else put me in that. I just put myself in that mindset of ‘What’s going on here?’ That self-doubt. And I kept griding. Like I said I moved back home. I kept grinding, going to the local [wrestling] school. Trying to find out what makes me tick as a performer. And just the experience living there, the experience I gained traveling with AEW made me the performer I am today.”
King has been embroiled in the storyline surrounding Trick Williams’ mystery attacker from months ago. The former AEW star has implicated Trick’s longtime ally Carmelo Hayes as the culprit.
Lexis King recently had a unique request for his fans…
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Seth Rollins was in good spirit and cheering the fans on, but clearly hurt from his match after this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw on USA Network.
This week’s episode of the red branded show was centered around the Architect defending his title against Jinder Mahal. This match had been the center of attention for wrestling fans all week after Tony Khan’s latest Twitter tirade.
There were a lot of moving parts in this bout that was also the main event of the show. Jinder was accompanied by Indus Sher for this opportunity while Damian Priest also came out with his Money In The Bank Briefcase.
Seth Rollins managed to overcome the defying odds in the end, however. After Drew McIntyre attacked Priest and Indus Sher were sent back by the referee, the Visionary defeated Mahal to retain his title.
The show went off air soon after the bell rang but Seth remained in the ring for a while. He cut a promo referencing the cold weather that forced WWE to change the set for tonight’s Raw. Rollins finally thanked the fans for coming to the show.
While the WWE World Heavyweight Champion was in good spirits after the show, reports have confirmed that he did hurt his knee during the match with The Maharaja. You can check out more about it here.
Becky Lynch plans on making history at the upcoming Royal Rumble PLE and has her sights set on a WrestleMania showdown with Rhea Ripley.
On this week’s Raw, Rhea Ripley spoke about the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match. Ripley said that whichever woman wins the match shouldn’t waste their opportunity by challenging her for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
This brought out Lynch, who was declared for the Women’s Rumble match during the WWE 2024 Preview Special earlier this month. Lynch vowed to make history by becoming the first two-time winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Lynch also made it clear that if when she wins, she’ll challenge Ripley at WrestleMania 40. Ripley seemed amused by the idea and said she’s rooting for Lynch to win.
Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley
Arguably WWE’s two most popular women on the roster at this time, Lynch and Ripley have shared the ring as adversaries on five occasions. Their first match was on the November 20, 2019, edition of WWE NXT and ended in a no-contest. The most recent match between the two was at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2022. In the titular structure, Lynch, alongside Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and Bianca Belair, defeated Ripley, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY.
Tony Khan may cut loose on Twitter from time to time, but Powerhouse Hobbs believes it only demonstrates his boss’ dedication to AEW.
In the days leading up to this week’s Raw, Khan fired off a series of tweets, outraged at the booking of Jinder Mahal in a World Heavyweight Championship match. Khan’s comments would be mocked by fans online, with some pointing out AEW talent who have been thrust into title matches after lengthy breaks from programming.
Powerhouse Hobbs Reacts
Khan has never shied away from letting his views known on social media, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the AEW roster. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Powerhouse Hobbs shared his two cents on Khan’s online activity.
“It’s his company. He believes in us, and you know, if you believe in something, speak your mind. If you’re 100% sure on it, speak your mind. If you’re 99% sure on it, don’t speak on it. He’s 100% sure and he’s speaking his mind. He believes in his company and he believes in us.”
Tony Khan on Social Media
Khan’s outburst about Jinder Mahal is hardly the first time the AEW President has run his mouth on social media. Ahead of the Tuesday Night War of October 2023, Khan made a series of disparaging remarks about WWE’s gold brand. Khan labeled Triple H and Shawn Michaels “bald a**holes” which made it all the more embarrassing when NXT decisively beat Dynamite in the ratings. While NXT soared to its third-highest viewership of all time, Dynamite hit its lowest viewership in close to two years.
With GUNTHER’s impressive run on the main roster, CM Punk is keeping an eye on the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion. On Instagram, Punk reacted to GUNTHER’s declaration, saying if what he’s heard is real, it’s going to be a tough time for the 28 other Superstars in the match other than himself and GUNTHER.
Punk’s comment is a nod to the infamous tweet by Keith Lee that he sent in early 2022 about the Austrian. Following reports that WWE would be changing the name of WALTER to GUNTHER, Lee had the following to say.
The tweet has become a meme among fans given GUNTHER’s exceptional tenure on the main roster. In contrast, many have felt that Lee’s tenure with AEW has been far from groundbreaking, with many believing he is being wasted in the promotion.
The 2024 Royal Rumble Matches: Who’s In?
GUNTHER and Punk are just two names confirmed for the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The pair are joined by Bobby Lashley, who like Punk and GUNTHER is yet to win a Rumble match. Former winners Cody Rhodes (2023), Drew McIntyre (2020), and Shinsuke Nakamura (2018) have also been confirmed for the match.
On the women’s side of things, Bayley and Nia Jax are hoping to win their first Royal Rumble matches. Bianca Belair, the winner of the 2021 Rumble, and Becky Lynch, who stood tall in 2019, hope to make history by becoming the first two-time Women’s Royal Rumble match winner.
Could WWE be on course to a highly-physical match at WrestleMania 40…
This week’s Raw looked far different than what fans are used to seeing, but the decision to change the stage wasn’t entirely the company’s call.
The January 15, 2024, edition of Monday Night Raw saw the red brand continue toward the Royal Rumble PLE on January 27. The show saw the return of GUNTHER and Xavier Woods, while Becky Lynch vowed to win the Women’s Royal Rumble match and face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40.
This week’s Raw saw the use of a new stage which was far different from what the WWE Universe is used to seeing. While some suspected that this was merely a cosmetic change, the move was one made of necessity. The Wrestling Classic reports that WWE had to ground rig everything for Raw, as there was a risk that attaching the usual stage to the ceiling would prove to be too much pressure.
The show took place at the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, which has been hit hard by recent weather. There was a concern that the traditional stage hung from the ceiling, in addition to the heavy snow on the roof of the venue, would have made the venue unsafe for fans.
Matt Cardona has been making his name ever since his release from WWE, and now the ‘Indy God’ had his name mentioned during the Emmy Awards.
The 75th annual Emmy Awards took place this week from the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The awards covered programming from June 2022 to May 2023, with nominations announced in July of 2023.
Paul Walter Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird.
Hauser’s acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and ‘get the tables!’
Paul Walter Hauser brings pro wrestling to the Emmy’s
If Hauser’s name sounds familiar, it’s because had a match for Pro Wrestling REVOLVER last November.
During his acceptance speech, Hauser name-dropped Matt Cardona, saying he’s going to beat the ‘Indy God’ at the upcoming Ready or Not event on March 16.
Kota Ibushi and Matt Cardona shoutouts during the Emmys by Paul Walter Hauser. Incredible.pic.twitter.com/JYhFMdfLqB
It wasn’t just Matt Cardona that Hauser referenced during his rap-based acceptance speech. The actor also gave a shoutout to Kota Ibushi and referred to the ‘Wolfpac’, a nod to the NWO off-shoot faction.
WWE Hall of Famer ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was among the lengthy list of people that Hauser wished to thank. Hauser ended his speech with a “get the tables”, a nod to the legendary tag team the Dudley Boyz.
Paul Walter Hauser won his Emmy award in a category that also included Murray Bartlett (Welcome to Chippendales, Nick De Noia), Richard Jenkins (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Lionel Dahmer), Joseph Lee (Beef, George Nakai), Ray Liotta (Black Burd, James ‘Big Jim’ Keener), Young Mazino (Beef, Paul Cho), and Jesse Plemons (Love and Death, Allan Gore).
Last time Paul Walter Hauser was in an @PWRevolver ring… He K!LLED a man!
Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins may have left Raw as the World Heavyweight Champion, but the Visionary was left worse for wear by the end of the show.
In the main event, Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal in a hard-fought match for both men. The bout had one of the biggest ‘big fight feels’ fans have seen in some time, thanks in part to Tony Khan’s recent outburst.
The match saw plenty of creative add-ons that made a title change look possible, with Indus Sher providing backup for Mahal. Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest would also make his presence felt at ringside but was neutralized by Drew McIntyre.
Amid all that was happening, Rollins was able to put Mahal away with a stomp, keeping his impressive World Heavyweight Championship reign alive. Rollins was seen favoring his knee during the match, which wasn’t just for the storyline.
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 champion will be further evaluated to determine the severity of the injury. The reigning World Heavyweight Champion looked notably worried as Raw ended and stood on one leg when presented with his title by the referee.
When Did Rollins Get Hurt?
It’s unclear when exactly the injury happened, but Rollins began favoring his leg after a dive to ringside. Further damage may have been done by Rollins using the Pedigree and the Stomp during the match.
WWE has not commented publicly on his situation at this time, but we’ll provide an update when more details became available.
Mustafa Ali has been making waves after his departure from WWE. There are numerous opportunities for him in the pro wrestling scene, and it’s evident that he is drawing attention and generating ticket sales.
Mustafa Ali Doing Well After WWE Release
Sean Ross Sapp shared a note on Fightful Select about Mustafa Ali’s time after WWE, and just how profitable of a venture it is.
Ali has been successful in selling tickets for indie companies, and promoters have reportedly seen a positive response when booking him for their shows, capitalizing on Ali’s recognition as a former WWE Superstar.
We’ve heard from indie promoters that Mustafa Ali’s impact on ticket sales for some of his first events are the most they’ve seen for a WWE departure in years.
Despite a promising run in NXT and being in contention for an NXT North American title match, Ali saw an unexpected release. Now, as he is navigating his own path, fans are definitely responding.
On January 19th, Ali is set to journey to Ottawa, Canada, for a wrestling appearance with C4 Wrestling. Following this, he will mark his debut on the UK independent wrestling scene at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28th. The former leader of Retribution is scheduled to participate in an event with DEFY on February 9th in Seattle, Washington.
WWE’s September 2023 Superstar Releases
On September 21, 2023, WWE underwent a series of releases, parting ways with several members of their roster in the midst of television rights talks after the TKO Group Holdings merger.
The list of released individuals included Mustafa Ali, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Top Dolla of Hit Row, Tegan Nox, Emma, Riddick Moss, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke, Mansoor, Mace, Quincy Elliot, Dabba-Kato, and Yulisa Leon. The departure of these talents signaled a significant shift within the WWE landscape, prompting attention and discussions within the wrestling community.
WWE released several roster members in September, and now these individuals are re-emerging in the world of professional wrestling. It seems that some of them are proving to be profitable for promoters who choose to book them.
Seth Rollins won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. He went on to carry that title for 234 days, until he met Jinder Mahal in Little Rock, Arkansas on RAW for a much-hyped title match.
Seth Rollins vs Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal gained a lot of attention since stepping up to Seth Rollins for his WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The Modern Day Maharaja was after the title to reclaim a top spot in WWE.
Is this @JinderMahal's night to become WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION?
This match was significant as well, because it revisited history. Seth Rollins vs Jinder Mahal was the match to decide the first-ever NXT Champion, a contest that Rollins won in 2012. They did not bring this match up on commentary, because it ended in the same way.
Indus Sher, Veer and Sanga, accompanied Jinder Mahal to the ring for his match, and they made their presence felt early in the match as they distracted Rollins. This allowed Mahal to start the match off with an advantage.
The match continued for a bit, and then Damian Priest emerged from the back, with his Money in the Bank briefcase in tow, right before they cut to commercial. Eventually, Drew McIntyre interrupted Priest from cashing in, and they brawled away. Those two will battle on RAW next week on January 22nd in New Orleans during the go-home RAW before the Royal Rumble.
In the end, Indus Sher were ejected from ringside after Mahal nearly cheated to win the match. Seth Rollins then retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after nailing a Stomp. That is the same move that put Mahal away 12 years ago in NXT.
What’s Next For Seth Rollins
WWE kicked off the year with a World Heavyweight Championship contest during the Day 1 episode of RAW. For that match, Drew McIntyre’s bid for the title fell short. Defeating the Modern Day Maharaja marks Rollins’ second successful title defense this year.
Seth Rollins is not presently booked to defend his title at the Royal Rumble. After beating Mahal this week in Little Rock, we will have to see if Rollins will defend his title at Tropicana Field.
Brock Lesnar is known for his ultimate part-time schedule with WWE. He also makes a truckload of money every time he shows up to work. The Beast Incarnate has been off since the summer, but WrestleMania season is right around the corner.
Lesnar has received plenty of big matches at WrestleMania. Some of them were more successful than others, but he usually makes himself known around the showcase of the immortals.
In his Daily Update, Dave Meltzer noted on F4Wonline that Brock Lesnar is expected to make a comeback soon. It might not be very long until his monstrous music breaks the moment again on WWE television.
Brock Lesnar will be back on WWE television very soon.
Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania History
Brock Lesnar has a rich history with WrestleMania. It will be interesting to see how Triple H books him for WrestleMania 40, but we may know his direction soon enough.
Brock Lesnar participated in several WrestleMania matches, each with unique circumstances. At WrestleMania XIX, held in Seattle, Washington on March 30th, 2003, he faced Kurt Angle in a singles match for the WWE Championship to win, and start a fantastic Mania legacy for himself.
Moving forward to WrestleMania XX in New York, New York on March 14th, 2004, Lesnar engaged in a singles match against Goldberg, with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee. That match was infamous, because it marked Lesnar and Goldberg’s exits.
After his return to WWE, at WrestleMania 29, which took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 7th, 2013, Brock Lesnar had a No Holds Barred match against Triple H, which The Game won.
Lesnar continued his WrestleMania journey, participating in matches against various opponents. WrestleMania XXX in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 6th, 2014, featured a singles match between Lesnar and Undertaker, where the Beast Incarnate broke Taker’s Mania undefeated streak.
Another notable match occurred in Santa Clara, California on March 29th, 2015 at WrestleMania 31, where Lesnar faced Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That match was originally a singles match, but Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to enter the match and win the title.
The WrestleMania legacy of Brock Lesnar includes encounters such as a Street Fight against Dean Ambrose in Arlington, Texas at WrestleMania 32, April 3, 2016, a match that didn’t really pan out as many hoped. Then, at WrestleMania 33, he beat Goldberg in Orlando, Florida for the Universal Title.
A singles match for the WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in New Orleans, Louisiana at WrestleMania 34 followed that. Rollins went on to beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 35 for the Universal Title. Then, Drew McIntyre beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 for the title in front of zero fans.
WrestleMania 37 did not see Brock Lesnar appear, but Roman Reigns beat him at WrestleMania 38 to become Undisputed Universal Champion. Then at WrestleMania 39, Lesnar shut down Omos in a match that surprised many fans to see on the card. Now, we are going to have to wait and see who he faces next, but it’s obvious that Lesnar’s booking is something that WWE takes seriously.
The Hollywood star helped to make waves for the recently released biopic surrounding the heartbreak and tragedy behind The Von Erich family and it didn’t hit a note with just movie goers, but Efron himself.
Efron took to his social media to pen a short love letter showing his appreciation for all of the talent that make a decision to step inside the squared circle and points out one star in particular.
Notable WWE stars took a moment to commend both for their work on “The Iron Claw” including Natalya, Chelsea Green and Mojo Rawley.
Guerrero was a recent interview of SEScoops and went into detail behind the training process, particularly with Holt McCallany, who portrayed the patriach of the Von Erich family, Fritz.
Mercedes Mone and Bayley were on-hand to witness Trinitiy’s Knockout Title defense, but she ended up not being the only talent they showed support for.
Mone and Bayley were captured watching from afar at TNA Hard To Kill as Trinity put her championship on the line against Jordynne Grace, but unfortunately for the former Naomi, she suffered the loss.
However, there appears to be no ill will as after the fight went down, Grace got a photo opportunity with both Mone and Bayley. She also took a moment to commend the two for the love they have shown for their long-time friend.
“Women supporting women is my favorite. I may have won the title, but don’t think Trinity Fatu can ever really lose with friends like these in her corner.”
After Grace posted that, Mercedes Mone replied to her, giving her further praise after the big victory.
Grace has already built a track record for being a force in the TNA Knockouts division as her victory against Trinity marks her third reign as champion. Not only that, but Grace has also been a Knockouts Tag Team Champion and a Digital Media Champion.
What does 2024 have in store for Bayley, Trinity and Mercedes Mone?
2024 is setting up to be a bountiful year for Bayley, Trinity and Mone. The speculation for Trinity is that she could make a return to WWE and reports have indicated that Mercedes Mone is likely going to sign with AEW.
With Royal Rumble on the horizon, Bayley is aiming to win the women’s match and earn her first singles match at WrestleMania 40.
WWE saw a lot of changes in 2023, as the company merged with the UFC under Endeavor’s new TKO Group Holdings. Now in 2024, the company’s production is on the verge of breaking out some new ideas for the company.
WWE Programming Changing After Kevin Dunn’s Exit
Kevin Dunn’s era in WWE is over, and many fans are paying close attention to what the company puts on television. Some observant fans noticed two distinctive segments that didn’t seem to fit the norm that Dunn established for decades.
Two segments have stood out from WWE Raw and SmackDown in recent memory. One featured Chelsea Green and Piper Niven at a club, confronting Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. The other, showcased on Smackdown, puts the spotlight on Butch/Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that fans making comparisons to NXT would be accurate to do so. Triple H let Jeremy Borash make up a team in NXT, one that was off Kevin Dunn’s radar of influence. Now that Dunn is gone, they can do a lot more that he would previously nix.
We’re told that Triple H allowed Jeremy Borash to put together a team in NXT for the past three years, where it would be safely under Kevin Dunn’s radar. Triple H was said to have been happy with how they played out, and with Dunn’s departure, there is a door open to feature that style of promos across all WWE shows.
We’ve spoken to several people associated with helping put together the promos that spoke highly of the new process and the freedom to to them. One source noted that under Dunn, the segment would have likely cut away to several different things, but the new method was to let the characters breathe, and the segment to play out.
WWE After Kevin Dunn’s Exit
It seems that the people making these promos are having a good time. It was also noted that both segments received positive internal feedback.
Lee Fitting took over for Kevin Dunn upon his exit from the company. Many were shocked to see Dunn finally leave, but it came after Vince McMahon’s retirement, as Dunn was Mr. McMahon’s right-hand man in production.
Last month, CJ Perry sustained a serious MRSA infection after getting a small splinter in her finger while backstage at AEW. After the infection began spreading up Perry’s arm, Perry was then required to undergo emergency surgery Perry and real-life Miro later announced that the surgery was successful.
Unfortunately, Perry is now experiencing a setback in her recovery journey.
Infection ‘Relapse’
Over the weekend, CJ Perry provided an update on her post-surgery care (via X), revealing that she had a ‘relapse’ in her MRSA infection after her antibiotics stopped working. As a result, Perry was rushed to the hospital, where a surgeon cleaned out her wound in the search for blood.
When no blood emerged, the doctor inserted a long IV needle into Perry’s hand, which Perry described as a fire-like ‘stinging sensation,’ to numb the area around her finger. The doctor then continued to dig through Perry’s finger until they spotted blood.
Following this treatment, Perry was instructed to return to the surgeon to repeat the process every day this week. Perry has also been put back on antibiotics.
In a separate TikTok video, Perry revealed she may need a second surgery on her finger. Should doctors determine that a follow-up operation is necessary, Perry says they plan on taking skin from either a ring finger or her palm to act as a skin graft.
For now, though, Perry will continue forward with her daily doctor’s visits in the hope that her recovery continues on an upward trajectory.
From everyone here at SEScoops, we send our best wishes to CJ Perry.
Eager to secure herself a singles match at WrestleMania 40, former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was the first to declare herself for the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble. And while the event is still nearly two weeks away, Bayley has made it clear that if she wins the Women’s Royal Rumble match, she plans to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
Praise For Ripley
Speaking with The New York Post, Bayley shared praise for Ripley’s journey through WWE, which has resulted in her now being the most talked about woman on WWE programming.
“If I’m able to work with [Rhea] at WrestleMania, that would just be a dream match I never even thought of before,” Bayley said. “She is obviously untouchable. She is the most talked about woman on TV right now and she backs it up. She doesn’t just have the look. She doesn’t just have the body. She doesn’t just have – besides Damage CTRL – a badass group to align with. She’s so good and it makes me so mad. ‘I’m like why are you so good, you are so young.’ I can’t even throw a drop kick and she can do one over my head. Just little things that she does that she’s able to do and portray on TV is very hard to do and she does it with ease.”
Excluding past Royal Rumble matches, “The Role Model” and “The Eradicator” have only shared a ring on three other occasions. After teaming together in the 2022 Women’s WarGames match, Ripley and Bayley found themselves in opposite corners during a triple threat match to determine the number one contender to the WWE RAW Women’s Championship — a match that saw Bayley emerge victorious. The two later met again in March 2023 for a singles affair on RAW, in which Ripley picked up the win.
Should Bayley and Ripley face off at WrestleMania 40, it will mark only their second singles match.
“She carried that title on her back proudly,” Bayley said. “I’m gonna have to take it off of her and it will be an honor to do. It will be an honor, Rhea.”
Cora Jade and Lyra Valkyria faced each other in the main event, and regrettably, Jade fell to the mat at some point. This resulted in, what could be, a drastic change of plans for Shawn Michaels’ NXT booking.
We previously covered that Jade went down during an NXT live event, and she did not get up. This caused alarm as WWE’s medical team tended to her in the ring.
Dave Meltzer has now updated fans to say that the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion suffered an ACL tear. The severity of her tear was not noted.
The Cora Jade knee injury from the weekend house show we talked about on the show last night is an ACL tear.
The Cora Jade knee injury from the weekend house show we talked about on the show last night is an ACL tear.
Cora Jade has a bright future in WWE, and she has some great connections in the company. Not only has she impressed many with her work ethic at this point, but she is also a favorite of CM Punk’s.
While Jade was a WWE fan in her younger days, she was a huge fan of CM Punk and AJ Lee. Now, in her career as a WWE Superstar, she has a much different appreciation for everything they’ve done.
Jade received a nice surprise from Punk while he stopped by NXT after his WWE return. The two got along very well, and the Second City Savior worked out with Cora Jade, and others, at the WWE Performance Center while he was around.
WWE released a lot of talent in September, and Dolph Ziggler’s name was arguably the most surprising one. Now the former World Champion is making his own way through the pro wrestling world, as he has popped up for both TNA Wrestling and NJPW so far. There were a lot of options on the table for Nic Nemeth.
Nic Nemeth Had Options
The former Dolph Ziggler has garnered attention in recent weeks by appearing for NJPW and, most recently, TNA, marking a nearly 20-year tenure in WWE. One thing is very clear, he is getting priority booking wherever he goes.
During a conversation on TNA’s Instagram after Hard To Kill, Nemeth disclosed that numerous individuals contacted him post his release, expressing their desire to have him in their company.
Nic Nemeth reflected on the past three, four, five, six months, contemplating how to prolong his legacy and embark on a distinct chapter with a new mindset and persona.
He expressed feeling like a wanted individual, recounting the multitude of people who reached out to him after his departure from his previous job. These messages weren’t mere expressions of thanks or congratulations, but rather indications of a significant level of interest and desire for his involvement.
A bunch of people reached out instantly and said, ‘We want you here.’ I go, man, it is great to feel that. I’m very fortunate and lucky that people [said], ‘How can we get you? What can we do?’ I was like, I’m kind of a wanted man, it got me more excited, like I’m back in, okay. I was like, ‘I could show up and be a hired gun here. I could take this guy out, and we could go run. I’m figuring out, where could we go, and I watched TNA go to IMPACT and become TNA in this special moment at Hard To Kill, where this is a coming-out party for TNA again. I go, that could be a perfect fit. Hopefully, I can back it up in the ring, other than just talking about it and showing up.
Dolph Ziggler’s Next Moves in Pro Wrestling
Many fans expected Nic to arrive in AEW eventually, because Ryan Nemeth, his brother, is on Tony Khan’s roster. He was also telling Nic for a decade that he should leave WWE. That has not happened yet, but at this rate, nothing would surprise us.
TNA Wrestling delivered on a big surprise at the end of Hard to Kill with Nemeth, and he has already wrestled for the company. Someone like Nic Nemeth obviously has options on the table.
TNA Wrestling presented their Hard to Kill event on Saturday, and a few titles changed hands. After Jordynne Grace won the Knockouts Title from Trinity, many assumed that reports about Naomi’s WWE return were on the money. That comeback may have to wait.
Trinity Fatu’s Current Status
Following her loss of the Knockouts Title to Jordynne Grace at Hard To Kill, some speculated that Trinity’s time with TNA Wrestling had concluded. Contrary to expectations, reports now suggest that her return to WWE might not be imminent.
PW Insider noted that Trinity had additional scheduled dates with TNA Wrestling, and she did not fulfill her commitment on Sunday. This may push her WWE comeback even further.
We are told Trinity had several more dates with the promotion and did not finish up yesterday at TV, where she wrestled Jordynne Grace.
In the past, WWE typically prefers to bring in talent after they wrap up commitments with another television-prominent promotion. They don’t really like to share talent on television, and it’s a rarity that they will even allow a Superstar to do anything else for another company.
TNA Wrestling’s Morale is Good
The report from Mike Johnson further noted that morale within the promotion reportedly experienced a boost after these events, coinciding with the official reintroduction of the TNA brand at Hard to Kill.
It was also noted that Kazuchika Okada’s return to the company after many years was a “healing” moment. This comes after he had been treated so poorly by the previous administration so many years ago.
Trinity may still be WWE-bound, but it appears she has a few more dates with TNA Wrestling to go. Nothing is 100% until contracts are signed, so she may just decide to stick around with the freshly re-branded company, because that option is likely there for her as well.
Bret Hart is unquestionably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and the Hitman has high-expectations for his new grandchild. In a wholesome video shared online, Hart can be seen holding his new grandchild and asking how their ‘tie-ups’ are.
Bret is became a Grandfather again this week. First thing he asked him was "how's your tie ups?" What amazing man. pic.twitter.com/JXVlaovmMs
TNA Hard to Kill was a historic night for the promotion, with Nic Nemeth debuting in the closing moments of the show to confront Moose. Ash By Elegance also made her debut during the show. Before Hard to Kill went on the air though, one member of the ring crew won big when he popped the question to his partner, who was thrilled to say yes.
For some time, MJF teased that he would be leaving AEW when his contract expired on January 1, 2024, and that he’d be joining WWE, Despite reports that MJF signed a new deal with AEW last year, Bet Online have listed MJF as a potential winner of the Royal Rumble, giving him +1000 odds. The current favorite to win the match (according to Bet Online) is CM Punk with +150 odds, followed by GUNTHER (+300) and Cody Rhodes (+400)
Teddy Hart is no stranger to the legal system at this point, and he keeps his attorneys very busy. Now, he will have to wait even longer to see his day in court, but the judge made it clear that they won’t let him push things back again.
Teddy Hart’s Latest Legal Situation
Teddy Hart appeared in court on January 11th, stemming from his arrest on July 15th, 2023, facing charges of possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription—both classified as third-degree felonies in Florida.
Alongside these charges, he was cited for failing to stop at a steady red light, the incident that led to his initial arrest. This encounter with the law adds to Teddy Hart’s history of previous run-ins with the police.
Teddy Hart Granted One More Continuance
The court appearance in Titusville, Florida, last Thursday was designated as a mandatory session for “Early Resolution.” However, according to PW Insider, Teddy Hart’s defense sought and was granted a continuance during the hearing.
The rescheduled hearing is now set for February 8th, with a clear message from the court that it will be the final opportunity for the defense to request any further delays.
Edward “Teddy Hart” Annis’ defense requested and received a continuance at his hearing on 1/11. The court agreed and moved the hearing to 2/8, noting it would be the final time the defense is allowed to do so.
The judge emphasized that no additional continuances would be granted. Teddy Hart, initially expected to follow the path of the legendary Hart family and become a prominent wrestling figure, has faced setbacks in the wrestling industry due to personal issues and legal challenges.
