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WWE NXT Superstar Returns to the Ring After Lengthy 10-Month Injury Hiatus

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a few people on the NXT brand who are out of action for one reason or another. This week, at a house show in Florida, the brand welcomed back one star who hasn’t been able to wrestle since mid-2023.

Sol Ruca’s Injury

In May 2023, Sol Ruca suffered an ACL injury, prompting her absence from action. She was incorporated into the storyline leading up to Blair Davenport’s NXT debut as the masked attacker who targeted Ruca.

Following the injury, Sol Ruca underwent surgery to address the ACL issue. While she aims to return to the ring soon, the path to recovery is expected to be challenging.

Sol Ruca’s In-Ring Return

Sol Ruca made her long-awaited return to the ring this week during a live event at Crystal River Armory in Crystal River, Florida on February 9th. This was a big surprise to see her, and she walked out of that return match with a feather in her cap, because she made a return from injury.

In the match, Chase U, comprising Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail, emerged victorious over the duo of Brinley Reece and Sol Ruca.

What’s Next for Sol Ruca in WWE NXT

The storyline behind Sol Ruca’s injury was that Blair Davenport took her out, along with many more women in the NXT locker room. A string of injuries to the roster were blamed on Davenport, as they carried on as a hooded figure for a while.

We will have to see if Sol Ruca seeks out revenge against Blair Davenport. Odds are, NXT won’t want to wait long before making the most of Ruca’s in-ring clearance.

SE Scoops will have more updates on this story and many more as they break. Keep checking back for more updates on this story and so much more.

https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1705982508372721668

PROGRESS Wrestling & DEFY Wrestling Join Forces

Bishal Roy
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It has come to light recently that independent wrestling promotions PROGRESS Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling are joining forces and have completed a merger.

Having a passionate fanbase, PROGRESS Wrestling has propelled numerous talents to international recognition. The promotion earned acclaim, setting a high standard with its jam-packed action. 

Meanwhile, over the years, DEFY has pushed boundaries and captivated audiences with its dynamic storytelling and in-ring action. With a commitment to showcasing emerging talent and delivering high-octane matches, the promotion has got massive recognition in recent past.

PROGRESS & DEFY merge

The two promotions decided to issue a press release on Friday announcing that they are merging. PROGRESS is based in the United Kingdom and DEFY is based out of Seattle in the United States.

Notably, after the merger, DEFY content will soon be available on PROGRESS’ Demand PROGRESS Plus streaming service.

PROGRESS has been around since 2012 and was sold to Lee McAteer and Martyn Best. In a statement from Best in the press release, he said:

“Lee and I really welcome Jim [Perry] and Matt Farmer joining us at PROGRESS, and this is a major step in our wider plans for more international collaborations. We previously had a strong content partnership with WWE, and we have a developing relationship with Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH. With DEFY joining us, I am sure that our many combined fans will be very excited to see what happens next.

We will be continuing our closeness in Philadelphia with us both having shows at The Collective immediately prior to WrestleMania 40, and we are planning our second joint show in London later in the year. DEFY will also soon be seen on DEMAND PROGRESS PLUS, our content and live streaming platform, in the very near future and we have some fascinating ideas to highlight the great wrestling talent we both work with.

The announcement was made mere hours before DEFY’s seventh anniversary event on February 9. DEFY Wrestling’s Jim Perry said:

“I’ve been an admirer of PROGRESS from the start, and in some ways, they helped inspire the creation of DEFY. We have known each other for a number of years, and been working on many collaborations, including our successful double-show in London last August. I’m very excited about the opportunities of our more formal coming together, and the fans can expect to see some really neat ideas emerging.”

It is certainly a major step and we will have to wait and see how this merger helps in amping up the quality of the wrestling product.

WWE Stars Repackaged as Tag Team, Segment Gets Cut From SmackDown

Bishal Roy
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This week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown was stacked with major segments and matches. It seems due to time constraints, WWE yet again excluded a segment from the show. However, it was later featured in a WWE-exclusive video on social media.

WWE SmackDown features some of the best tag-teams and one more has been added to the list. Following last night’s WWE SmackDown, it was revealed that two superstars have been repackaged as tag team partners and they were none other than former Hit Row member Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis and former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander. 

A few weeks back in a segment on SmackDown, Adonis spoke with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis regarding an idea that would get him back on TV. Well this might be that idea.

Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis and Cedric Alexander bring threat to tag-team division 

In a video clip posted on WWE’s official Twitter/X account, it was revealed that Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis and Cedric Alexander have formed a tag team and put the whole tag-team division on notice.

As per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Cedric Alexander and Ashante “Thee” Adonis, were scheduled for a vignette on the show. However, it was cut from the show for unknown reasons.

Adonis had been a member of Hit Row with Top Dolla but the former has been on a singles run after the latter was released by WWE in September 2023. Meanwhile, another former member of Hit Row, B-Fab recently joined forces with Bobby Lashley-led group that includes the Street Profits as well.

Speaking about, Cedric Alexander, he was drafted to SmackDown in November, but hasn’t been on TV since two straight losses to Dragon Lee that month. He has some tag-team experience when he was part of The Hurt Business alongside MVP and Shelton Benjamin and the group was led by Bobby Lashley.

Becky Lynch Opens Up On Battle With Post-Partum Depression Last Year

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Becky Lynch has spoken candidly about her battle with post-partum depression that dominated her life for a significant portion of 2023. 

In December 2020, Lynch and her husband WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins became parents to a daughter they named Roux. This marked the first time becoming a parent for either Superstar. Lynch and Rollins have tried hard to keep Roux out of the public spotlight with the youngster occasionally appearing backstage at WWE events. 

Becky Lynch Opens Up

While Lynch does plenty of fighting in the ring, The Man also had a battle with post-partum depression last year. Speaking to Adam’s Apple, Lynch said that she had an incredible support group that was able to help her out. 

“I had a pretty severe postpartum depression last year for the first half of the year. I actually didn’t really know what was going on… But I had such a great support system that was able to help me and guide me through and yeah. I’m just very lucky.”

What’s Next for Becky Lynch? 

Lynch recently qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match that will take place later this month in Perth, Australia. The winner of this match will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40, which is currently held by Rhea Ripley. At this week’s WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference, Lynch vowed that Ripley would learn to “be a bottom” should they face off at the two-night show in April. 

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will see Ripley defend her title against Nia Jax. 

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

Logan Paul Wears Apple Vision Pro for WWE SmackDown, Demands “The Rock Treatment”

Thomas Lowson
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WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul is ready to take on the virtual world, judging by his arrival to last night’s episode of WWE SmackDown. 

The February 9, 2024, episode of WWE SmackDown saw the blue brand deal with the  WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference fallout and build toward WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The Men’s Elimination Chamber match will determine Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania opponent, as confirmed on SmackDown.

One name who could compete in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match is Logan Paul, who will face The Miz in a qualifying match next week. At SmackDown, Paul arrived wearing the Apple Vision Pro headset. As he dabbled in the virtual world, Paul spoke about a “member of TKO’s board assault an employee”, a nod to The Rock slapping Cody Rhodes at the WrestleMania kick-off press conference. 

Logan Paul Wants The Rock Treatment

During the show, Paul confronted SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, and made clear that he wanted a challenger for his U.S. title, not a qualifying match. These kind of matches are for unqualified people, as Paul argued, which he is not.  

The Maverick was also unhappy that his qualifying match will take place in Utah and said that he should be receiving “The Rock treatment”: walking in and doing whatever he wants, including “smack somebody across the face [and be] back on the jet.” Despite these frustrations, Paul agreed to face The Miz and vowed he’ll win, win inside the Elimination Chamber, and beat Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Champion. 

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

What happened after this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown… 

Watch: Unlikely Contender Steps Up To GUNTHER After WWE SmackDown

Thomas Lowson
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The dominant reign of Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER continued this week after the Austrian retained against an unlikely opponent after SmackDown. 

The February 9, 2024, episode of WWE SmackDown saw the blue brand deal with the fallout from the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference, and build toward WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The Men’s Elimination Chamber match will determine Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania opponent, as confirmed on SmackDown. Triple H was also on SmackDown and took several shots at The Rock given the Great One’s involvement with the WrestleMania kick-off press conference. 

GUNTHER After SmackDown

In a post-show dark match, GUNTHER was ready to defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship. In an unlikely course of action, the Imperium leader faced R-Truth. At one point in the match, as seen in the video below, Truth used the signature ‘Five-Knuckle Shuffle’ from his childhood hero, John Cena. 

Despite the popularity of the former WWE 24/7 Champion, it was GUNTHER who retained. 

This wasn’t Truth’s only appearance of the night. During a backstage segment, Truth spoke with Kevin Owens, who he mistook for The Miz. Given that Miz is a Raw Superstar, Truth warned Owens to not let ‘Nick’ catch him. Owens thought Truth was referring to the non-existent Nick Mysterio, but the veteran was more sensible than that and said he was referring to Nick Aldis. 

What’s Next for GUNTHER? 

Today marks day 610 of GUNTHER’s dominant reign as Intercontinental Champion. Should he hold on to the title for the rest of this month, he will break the record for the most combined days of anyone with the title. He already holds the record for the longest individual title run. 

GUNTHER’s win wasn’t the only dark match at SmackDown… 

Cody Rhodes promo after SmackDown 09-02

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The Rock’s Next WWE Appearance Confirmed During SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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The Rock and Roman Reigns may be determined to have their match, but Triple H put his foot down on the matter. The Las Vegas event in the T-Mobile Arena was quite a sight. This week’s SmackDown included some big shots at The Great One, and he will be around next week to continue this drama.

The Rock’s Next WWE SmackDown Appearance 

During WWE SmackDown this week, Triple H and Bron Breakker had a backstage segment where Breakker asked The Game if he could pick his brain about the big decision he has to make between RAW and SmackDown. Then, Paul Heyman stepped into the frame.

Heyman tried to speak to Triple H about what happened during the WrestleMania kickoff show conference, but The Game didn’t seem happy about Heyman’s presence. That stopped Heyman from proceeding with the WWE COO.

Instead, Paul Heyman stated that he will be back next week to further this discussion. He will not be alone, because Roman Reigns is coming with him. Also, The Rock will be there.

What’s Next

WWE SmackDown is hitting the Delta Center in Salt Lake Center, Utah on Friday, February 16, 2024. It appears that The Rock will be in the house as well. 

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this evolving situation. The Rock is still in the WrestleMania mix, even if Cody Rhodes got his match against Roman Reigns as well.

WWE Adds Major Stakes To 2024 Elimination Chamber Match

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins does not have an opponent at WrestleMania 40, but WWE has a plan to determine who will face him next. After all, Cody Rhodes will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, whether The Rock likes it or not.

Big Elimination Chamber Announcement

This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown opened up with Triple H, and he had a lot to say. The Game took several shots at The Rock by borrowing from his phrases.

Then Nick Aldis made it clear that Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania will be determined at the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia. We will have to see who gets in the match, but qualifying matches are already underway.

Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, AJ Styles, The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Dominik Mysterio and LA Knight will battle in qualifying matches. 

2024 WWE Elimination Chamber Location and Start Time

The Elimination Chamber event, named Elimination Chamber: Perth, is set to happen on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions will participate. The event kicks off at 5am.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, including the Elimination Chamber build. 

Triple H Takes Several Shots At The Rock While Addressing WWE WrestleMania Controversy During SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WWE held quite an event in Las Vegas on Thursday. At the end of the day, Cody Rhodes picked Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent, and The Rock wasn’t happy. After Triple H was told to “fix this” by The Rock, he appeared on SmackDown this week to address the matter.

Triple H Sets The Record Straight

Triple H opened up SmackDown this week to address this WrestleMania situation. Of course, he was greeted with an amazing ovation. Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were also in the ring waiting on the WWE COO.

After saying that it feels like we’re on the road to WrestleMania, Triple H addressed last night’s conference in Las Vegas. Triple H wanted to clear up one thing, but then “Rocky sucks” chants interrupted him.

Triple H said that he felt that there was some confusion in the air, because they don’t know their role, and they tried to assert their authority when they didn’t have anyone. He then said he doesn’t care where anyone sits, because Triple H is the one who makes all the creative shots in the company.

Triple H Continued

Then, Triple H confirmed that Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. He said that some people may not like that decision, but “it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that decision.”

It seemed that Triple H took a lot of shots at The Rock with that promo as he welcomed everyone to the road to WrestleMania once again.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of whatever happens next on the road to WrestleMania.

Teddy Hart Has Arrest Warrant Issued After Failing To Appear For Court

Aaron Varble
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Teddy Hart once had the world ahead of him, and he was representing a famous pro wrestling family in the process. Sadly, his recent years have been filled with legal issues, and now he has an arrest warrant for out on his name.

Arrest Warrant for Teddy Hart

PW Insider reports that a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Teddy Hart after he failed to appear in court on February 8. This adds to his string of problems with the law in recent years.

Hart was arrested in July 2023 on charges of possession of MDMA and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, both of which are third-degree felonies in Florida.

The court date was scheduled as a mandatory appearance for “Early Resolution,” but the hearing was postponed multiple times. Additionally, the court has revoked Hart’s $2,000 bond.

More Information On Teddy Hart’s Arrest

The arrest occurred on July 14, 2023, when Officer Eduardo Gonzales observed Hart’s vehicle speeding and running a red light. Upon pulling him over, Gonzales detected the smell of burnt marijuana and found loose leaf marijuana in the vehicle. Further searches uncovered MDMA pills and powder, as well as anabolic steroids, leading to Hart’s arrest on the mentioned charges.

Following his arrest, Hart wrestled his first match in three years in Florida on the same evening. However, he has not competed since then.

Teddy Hart’s Controversial History

Hart’s troubled history was depicted in the Peacock reality series Dangerous Breed, which drew attention to his tumultuous personal life.

The show demonstrated his problematic behavior towards former partners, including allegations of abandonment, abuse, extortion, drug use, and passport confiscation. That troubling track record led to a few arrests over the years, and he’s been blackballed by many pro wrestling companies since then.

The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania Power Play ‘Feels Gross’ To Seth Rollins

Aaron Varble
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The Rock’s return to WWE caused shockwaves all over. Fans spoke out with a lot of unhappiness, because they didn’t like the idea of the Great One taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Now, we are looking at what is next, and Seth Rollins saw the whole thing unfold.

During Thursday’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event, Cody Rhodes announced his challenge to Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40.

Seth Rollins Speaks On The Rock

There was anticipation that WWE would unveil The Rock vs. Reigns instead, a plan that remains intact, while Rhodes was initially expected to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

The plan for Rock vs. Reigns had been kept under wraps last month following Dwayne Johnson’s appointment to the TKO Board of Directors. This arrangement was part of a deal that Johnson strongly advocated for, despite Rhodes expressing his desire to conclude his ongoing storyline.

While speaking with FOX News, Seth Rollins said that The Rock’s entire return to take a WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns felt gross, but now it appears that Cody Rhodes is going to get what he wants.

“It’s just what happens when powerful people exert their power. They just think they do whatever they want and get away with it, and that sucks. It just sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it. I guess it (resulted) in Cody getting what he wanted. We’ll figure out what’s next for the World Heavyweight title. But Cody said it best. It’s bullsh*t. It feels pretty gross to me.”

What’s Next

We will have to see how WWE books WrestleMania 40 at this point. As we previously noted, there is an interesting expectation at this point.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, “The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania.”

It is also important to note that three days ago, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

Triple H is set to be on SmackDown this week to address the current WrestleMania situation. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, because it’s anyone’s guess what they book at this point. 

AEW May Be Running Another Stadium Show This Year

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling has been ambitious in the past few years, expanding their business and running larger venues. AEW added two stadium shows in 2023, notably the successful AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Currently, the company has tickets on sale for this year’s AEW All In event and is expected to hold the AEW Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.  

However, a new report shares they are expected to add another stadium show to their 2024 schedule. 

On the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, Andrew Zarian answered a fan question on whether AEW would run a stadium show in the United States. He noted that AEW has AEW Grand Slam, held yearly since 2021 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He also confirmed that he believes they will run another stadium show in the U.S. sometime this year. 

It’s important to note that while Zarian believes AEW will have a third stadium this year, the company has yet to make an official announcement. That said, AEW may look for another stadium show in the United States as they continue to expand their business. The report does raise questions on whether it is the right time for the company to run a second stadium show with inconsistent ticket sales success. 

AEW Live Event Ticket Sale Concerns

AEW weekly live event episodes of AEW Dynamite and Collision haven’t done consistently well in attendance. WrestleTix shared on Twitter that the February 7 episode of AEW Dynamite at the Footprint Center in Phonix, Arizona, had a setup for a 5,285 seating capacity. However, it’s well below the seating capacity the venue can hold, which could be over 12,000. 

Although the company may be inconsistent in selling out or reaching capacity weekly, their more significant events have proven to do well. The upcoming pay-per-view event, AEW Revolution, on March 3 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, is expected to be a sold-out show. On February 8, WrestleTix reported on Twitter that the company had sold over 15,651 tickets with a setup of 16,207. 

It’s unclear what success AEW could have at this time doing a second stadium event in the U.S. However, they are taking chances and hoping to give their fans a great year of wrestling. 

Ex-WWE Star Billy Jack Haynes Arrested After Fatal Shooting Leaves Woman Dead

Thomas Lowson
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Former wrestler Billy Jack Haynes was arrested at his home in Portland this week following the fatal shooting of a woman believed to be his wife. 

Local news reports that the incident unfolded on Thursday morning with police receiving a call at around 9:52 AM. Upon arrival, they found a woman’s lifeless body inside the home of the former wrestler. Hanes had “not cooperated with officers” and with fears that he was armed, a tactical team was brought in. 

After a tense standoff, Haynes “eventually came out” of the home and was detained. There is no ongoing threat to the community according to police. Neighbor Steve Odry said the following: 

“I decided to go for a walk when I saw all the cops down by my house. And I just then noticed all the blocks taped off and I just came down here.”

Police at the scene did not identify the woman found in the house. It was noted by neighbors that Haynes lived in the home with his wife. 

Billy Jack Haynes in Wrestling

Trained by Stu Hart, Haynes broke into the wrestling business in 1982 and would join the World Wrestling Federation in 1986. Haynes would feud with Randy Savage over the Intercontinental Championship and later with Hercules Hernandez over who was stronger. Haynes and Hernandez fought in the ‘Battle of the Full Nelsons’ at WrestleMania 3, as both men used this move as a signature hold. The match went to a double count-out. 

Haynes left the WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. In one version of his exit, Haynes q
uit the WWF after refusing to do a job in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Another telling of his exit said that he wrestled the match and the finish and was fired afterward.

Bret Hart Likens Vince McMahon to Jeffrey Dahmer, Harvey Weinstein & Jeffrey Epstein

Rayan Saayed
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Bret Hart thinks that the Vince McMahon allegations are “too sick and disgusting to really imagine.” 

Hart discussed the lawsuit filed by former WWE employee named Janel Grant, accusing McMahon of sexually assaulting, coercing, and trafficking her to others in WWE, during an interview with Slate’s Abraham Josephine Riesman.

Despite Hart’s previous respect for McMahon, his opinion of the former promoter changed drastically. 

“I’m going to speak my truth. I’m not worried about Vince’s feelings. He’s never cared about mine,” Hart told the outlet. “I don’t have any problem with everybody kicking his head around the parking lot. I’m OK with the truth coming out.”

‘Sounds Like Vince’

Hart also revealed that a few months ago, he was “warned” by “wrestling insiders” that McMahon “was in big trouble that he wasn’t going to be able to sweep under the rug.”

Speaking about the heinous acts committed by McMahon described in the filing, Hart said, “When you get that vision in your head, you go, ‘That’s messed up.’ It’s too sick and disgusting to really imagine.”

Hart even remarked that the screenshots of the text messages included in the suit, which are alleged to have been sent by McMahon after committing the acts, “sound like Vince.”

Corrupt Culture

Hart also mentioned that this is not the only instance of “predatory behavior” in the company, acknowledging that he had heard about sexual abuse incidents throughout his time in the wrestling industry.

“I think you’ll find that it’s everywhere in [WWE],” he added. Hart admitted that he never spoke against it because McMahon was “kind of like The Godfather,” who would “be your enemy again” over something you say or do, besides being extremely powerful and wealthy.

The Hitman likened McMahon to Jeffrey Dahmer, Harvey Weinstein, and Jeffrey Epstein.

“Vince will be a joke.. He’ll be used for humor, and you’ll shake your head at the shock value of some joke about, ‘What did Vince McMahon do?’ He’ll always be associated with this story, especially as it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Hart admitted that he used to think that whatever wrong McMahon did, it was for the wrestling industry and for promoting it as an art form. However, these accusations had nothing to do with the business, which made Hart reflect back on his thinking. 

“I always had respect for him,” Hart said. “Now it’s tainted. I’m embarrassed that I thought so highly of him.”

Meanwhile, McMahon has resigned from WWE, but there is a belief that he may still retain some power in the company.

Ashley Massaro Says Vince McMahon Sexually Preyed On Women in Previously Unreleased Statement

Thomas Lowson
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Ashley Massaro saw Vince McMahon act inappropriate with women and made her uncomfortable, a previously unreleased statement from the late wrestler claims.

Before her death in 2019, Massaro claimed that she had been sexually assaulted during an overseas tour for WWE, but that the company pressured her to keep quiet. WWE management has always denied any knowledge of Massaro’s claim. This month, a representative for former WWE executive John Lauriniatis has claimed that higher-ups were aware of the alleged incident.

Ashley Massaro’s Statement

The Massaro allegations have received new attention given the ongoing lawsuit against Vince McMahon by former WWE employee Janel Grant. In a previously unreleased statement now shared by Vice, Massaro alleges that McMahon was inappropriate with women, including herself following her Playboy magazine release.

“During my time with the WWE, I had observed Vince McMahon making-out with other divas in the locker room, but he never paid attention to me, and I assumed I was not his type. This changed after my Playboy cover was released. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to fly on the company jet and stay at the same hotels as the executives for a period of time so that I could get home faster to spend more time with my daughter.

“On one of these occasions, Vince was attempting to get me alone with him in his hotel room late at night and I felt extraordinarily uncomfortable. He began calling the hotel room phone and my cell phone nonstop. I called Kevin Dunn to explain the situation and he said I should tell Vince I was not feeling well and would see him on TV the next day, so I did.”

Massaro claims that her attempts to rebuff the Chairman led to McMahon making efforts to sabotage her career. 

“Immediately after that night, Vince started writing my promos for me. Vince does not write promos for female wrestlers—that is the job of the creative department—and he certainly wouldn’t have, under any normal circumstances, written a promo for me. But he did, and the promos were written with the clear intention of ruining my career.

“I brought the first script Vince wrote for me to the WWE employee in charge of Creative at the time, Michael Hayes, and he said, ‘you’re not saying this, who the [expletive] wrote this?’ and I told him that Vince did. He said, ‘Well kid, these are the breaks,’ meaning that Vince wanted to end my career and destroy my reputation on my way out.

McMahon wasn’t just satisfied with trying to sabotage Massaro’s career, as the late wrestler claims he would also be inappropriate when passing. 

“He is known for this type of behavior and also did this to [REDACTED] upon her departure from WWE. In addition, after that night, each time I walk by him he would make vulgar sexual comments that were clearly designed to make me uncomfortable.”

McMahon has denied all allegations against him made in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. John Lauriniatis has claimed that he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation.

Damage CTRL Stable May Be In For More Changes On Road To WWE WrestleMania

Aaron Varble
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Damage CTRL started out with Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO Sky. That SummerSlam 2022 surprise marked one of Triple H’s first big flexes in creative, as he created the stable by bringing Kai back from free agency and convincing IYO to stick around WWE instead of going back to Japan. Now, the stable is much different.

Changes for Damage CTRL

Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the stable much later, after Kai was taken out of action with a knee injury. She has remained on television consistently, but she hasn’t been wrestling. Bayley soon found herself losing control of the stable’s direction.

In recent memory, Bayley won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match. This gave her the chance to call her shot at WrestleMania. She picked IYO Sky as her opponent for the WWE Women’s Title, and then she was promptly kicked out of the stable.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that it is very interesting to note that Damage CTRL filmed graphics for WrestleMania with only IYO Sky, Asuka, and Kairi Sane, with no Dakota Kai in sight. 

Damage Ctrl filmed WrestleMania graphics without Kai for what it’s worth. 

It was also noted that, “Kai should be returning relatively soon.” It will be interesting to see how WWE re-inserts her into the situation.

What’s Next For Bayley

Bayley is now a babyface, and she may need an ally. Dakota Kai siding with her may add an intriguing aspect to this WrestleMania program.

On a related note, CM Punk spoke out in a big way about how he believes Bayley deserves far more respect on her name. She won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble, and she wasn’t included in promotional material, and she wasn’t featured in the WrestleMania kickoff press conference event at the T-Mobile Arena in Last Vegas this week.

SE Scoops will have more coverage on this story as additional information is made available. 

Paul Wight Set To Undergo Knee Surgery

Bishal Roy
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Pro wrestling veteran Paul Wight (formerly known as The Big Show in WWE) is set to undergo knee surgery. 

Paul Wight has had a storied career spanning several decades. He made a major impact on AEW when he joined the promotion in early 2021. His signing was a massive coup for AEW and he brought a veteran presence to the promotion alongside his wealth of experience to AEW’s roster.

Paul Wight returned to the squared circle on AEW Dynamite in November last year. He teamed with Kota Ibushi, & The Golden Jets (Jericho & Kenny Omega) and defeated Brian Cage & The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs) in a street fight. 

Most recently, Wight reunited with his WWE tag team partner Chris Jericho on the Chris Jericho Cruise. However, fans were concerned for Wight, who has had knee issues.

Paul Wight will undergo surgery

Over the years, performing in the ring has taken a physical toll on him and his body has started to show wear and tear and he revealed that he will undergo surgery. 

In this brief conversation with a fan on the cruise, Wight said:

 “I’m going to get knee surgery.” 

Apart from competing in the AEW ring, Wight’s presence provided invaluable mentorship to rising superstars of tomorrow and helped elevate their performances. With his larger-than-life persona, Wight continues to be an integral part of AEW’s ongoing growth and success.

Currently, it is not known when he is planning to get the knee replacement surgery.

TCW Crowns Inaugural Champions At First TV Tapings (Results)

Rayan Saayed
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Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling made its return this Thursday, marking the revival of the promotion created by the late Dusty Rhodes after a hiatus of 20 years.

The event took place at Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory in McDonough, Georgia, and it was a sold-out affair. Dusty Rhodes’ daughter Teil and QT Marshall were also in attendance.The event was filmed for television.

Turnbuckle Championship TV taping results from February 8

Here are the results from Thursday night’s TCW’ show:

– Kay Jay Impala & Dylan Lesynd defeated Jimmy Wild & Shaun Moore in a match that took place before the tapings began.

– Brady Booker defeated Elijah Drago (with The Diamond Sheik)

– Carlie Bravo (with Shawn Dean) defeated “The Mexican Rockstar” Vary Morales

– Dyland Lesynd defeated Matt Cardona

– The East Coast Outlaws defeated The Supastarz, Nikki Eight & Tommy Mars – TCW Tag Team Championship match

– Angelica Risk defeated Hyena Hera – TCW Women’s Championship match

– Adrian Ward defeated Aaron Solo – Nightmare Factory Championship match

– QT Marshall, Luther Biggs, Scotty Riggs & Glacier defeated Sunny Daze, Owen Knight, Duncan Mitchell & Adam Priest (w/ Matt Griffin) – Eight-man tag team match

In addition to the matches, various promos and vignettes showcased the history of the promotion and introduced some wrestlers to the audience.

Teil Rhodes was introduced as the Executive Vice President (authority figure) of TCW.

About TCW’s return

In December 2023, reports emerged that Cody Rhodes and his Nightmare Factory partner QT Marshall filed a trademark for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.

The promotion initially set up its offices in East Cobb County, Georgia, and held its inaugural event in July 2000. It later had its first PPV in 2001 and secured television airtime. Following the closure of WCW and ECW, many notable names such as Scott Hall, ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, and New Jack competed in the promotion.- 

Current Backstage Morale In AEW Despite Disappointing Dynamite Viewership Turnout

Aaron Varble
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AEW has been through a few peaks and valleys since opening their doors several years ago. As Tony Khan leads his roster through 2024, it appears that he has spirits up at this time.

Backstage Morale In AEW

AEW is still going, and they have a lot of things in the pipeline. Although Kazuchika Okada’s signing is still up in the air, all appearances are that Mercedes Mone is coming into the company.

It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone has actually been on the AEW payroll since last month. For whatever reason, morale seems to be up within the company.

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 805,000 viewers on TBS. It was down 1.6 percent from the previous week and marked the lowest audience total for the show since January 10. 

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that morale has significantly improved within AEW. This is in spite of the low viewership rating this week.

A couple of people have noted that the morale has really picked up and is the best in some time, even if the rating this week was universally disappointing for such a loaded show that was promoted as the biggest Dynamite of the year, with a match to determine the Revolution main event, a title match involving Sting where the expectation was he would win, and a Tony Khan big announcement. I did get that from a big announcement standpoint, people weren’t impressed with the idea of a show and if Okada or Mone were announced that would have been considered like a big announcement

What’s Next For AEW

AEW has a lot of plans in the pipeline, including their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston on March 13th. That is expected to be Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company, as Bean Town is her home, and AEW also included “BO$$TON” on the graphic for the upcoming show.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of AEW Dynamite and whatever else Tony Khan has planned.

Current Expectation For WWE WrestleMania 40 Main Event Matches

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans were left shocked by the press conference in Las Vegas. Although there are a lot of questions left to answer, we now have an idea how the WrestleMania main event matches are taking shape.

WWE’s Expected WrestleMania 40 Main Event Picture

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that The Rock finalized a deal on January 3rd with Ari Emanuel and Nick Khan, not only securing a spot on the Board of Directors but also committing to headline WrestleMania this year. That match was presumably against Reigns. 

Dwayne Johnson mentioned that the storyline had been in the works for years. The Bloodline storyline with Roman Reigns has been going on for that long as well.

Following a non-press conference at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Reigns vs. Rhodes for WrestleMania was announced, with no additional match announcements beyond teasing the Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch matchup. Ripley is set to face the winner of the Elimination Chamber match on February 24th in Australia. 

Although it’s believed that Rollins will defend against the winner of the men’s Chamber match at the same event, no such match has been confirmed. The tease for Rhodes vs. Rollins suggested that an announcement will likely be made in the coming week, but we’re waiting on official confirmation on that.

It was also reported that the current idea is a potential tag team clash between Reigns and Rock versus Rhodes and Rollins, possibly scheduled for day one at WrestleMania, for a main event match. During the conference, Rock turned heel on Rhodes after a dispute about families, siding with Reigns and slapping Rhodes, while Rollins sided with Rhodes during the whole thing.

The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania. Rock ended up going heel on Rhodes, slapping him in the face after an argument about families, and siding with Reigns. Rollins was out there at the time and ended up backing up Rhodes.

WWE Tried To Book The Rock vs Roman Reigns Before

The matchup between Reigns and Rock had been discussed before the pandemic as a one-time return match, initially considered for WrestleMania in Dallas in 2022. However, Dwayne Johnson aimed for Los Angeles in 2023, later withdrawing due to time constraints, but he left Philadelphia in 2024 as a possibility. 

Rhodes was initially slated for the match against Roman Reigns due to The Rock pulling out last year, as Rhodes and Seth Rollins were reportedly set to create the second world title last year, which was delayed. Now, we find ourselves in a very interesting situation on the road to WrestleMania 40.

Scott D’Amore Attempted To Acquire TNA Prior To Being Fired

Bishal Roy
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Scott D’Amore was recently fired from TNA Wrestling and recent reports suggest that he tried to purchase the promotion before being dismissed.

TNA Wrestling recently got re-branded from IMPACT Wrestling. Scott D’Amore was the driving force behind the company’s recent surge in attention. However, he won’t be there to witness the business enter the subsequent stage.

D’Amore had been with TNA since 2003 and had occupied some important leadership roles while being instrumental in the company’s successful rebranding last month. Meanwhile, Anthony Cicione, who has worked with Anthem for the past 16 years supervising technical operations and managing many cable and digital channels, has taken his place.

The success of The Score was greatly attributed to his work as a sports content producer for the channel WWE before he joined Anthem. Cicione has taken the role of managing TNA Wrestling’s day-to-day operations. His extensive background in executive-level management, spanning over three decades, is certainly a valuable asset to the company.

Scott D’Amore made an attempt to buy TNA

As per a report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, D’Amore made a bid to buy TNA from Anthem. The former President had backing from a major financial institution but his offer was rebuffed.

In addition to this, the change at the top of TNA had been in the works for several weeks and D’Amore learned around 10 days ago that he would be replaced.

It seems that the massive rebranding leading to Scott’s firing has left the talent shocked. Know more about the situation below:

WWE 2K24’s WrestleMania Showcase Features 21 Matches, Greater Female Representation

Thomas Lowson
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Gamers will be able to enjoy the 40 years of WrestleMania across 21 matches in the upcoming WWE 2K24 video game. 

WWE 2K24 will be the latest game in the 2K series of games that began with the release of WWE 2K14 a decade ago. The Standard Edition of WWE 2K24 will be released on March 8, while the Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania Editions will be released three days earlier on March 5. Earlier this week, fans caught their first glimpse of gameplay footage from WWE 2K24. 

40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase

Much of the buzz around WWE 2K24 surrounds the 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase mode. Similar to WWE 2K14, this mode will see players work their way through WrestleMania history by reliving some of the show’s most iconic matches. 

In a Q&A session with WCCFTech, WWE 2K gameplay producer Bryan Williams shared some details about the 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase.

“There are 21 matches from the 80s, the 90s, the 2000s, 2010s, up to the 2020s… the current day. So we have a wide selection, every era is represented.

Williams also spoke about the female representation in the WrestleMania showcase and how, unlike WWE 2K14, this year’s Showcase will feature women’s matches. 

“I will say one of the cool things about this year for Showcase of the Immortals is that there’s a lot more female representation than there was ten years ago when 2K14 hit the shelves. So very excited and happy about that.

“One of the matches there is Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair from WrestleMania 39. That is one of the matches that players will be able to experience in this year’s Showcase.”

Don’t expect to see Brock Lesnar as part of WWE 2K24’s promotional build… 

The Rock and Roman Reigns Show The Bloodline Is Stronger Than Ever At WrestleMania Kickoff Press Conference

Bishal Roy
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The Rock recently grabbed the headlines with his actions at the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press event on Thursday evening. Is he allying with his cousin and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns?

We are less than a couple of months away from WrestleMania 40 which will take place at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6th and 7th. 

It has been determined that 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes will have an opportunity to ‘finish the story.’ Rhodes previously made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. However, this decision faced a massive fan backlash which might have influenced WWE to alter the decision. Rhodes clarified his choice during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference as he faces Roman Reigns at ‘The Show of Shows.

Roman Reigns and The Rock left the venue together

Following the event, WWE cameras caught Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman leaving the venue alongside The Rock which raised more questions regarding their alliance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C3HEfFKsc76

During the Las Vegas presser, Reigns said Cody was as irrelevant as his late father, Dusty Rhodes. Cody took a shot back and said if the grandfathers of The Rock and Roman Reigns were alive, they’d be disgusted with “The Tribal Chief.”

The Rock reminded Cody that when he talks about Reigns’ family, he’s talking about his ancestors. ‘The Great One,’ who seemingly turned heel ahead of the event, slapped Cody and both men had to be separated before a brawl could break out.

The Rock entering the fray makes the storyline more interesting and we will have to wait and see how this pans out heading into WrestleMania 40.

Seth Rollins: If the Vince McMahon Allegations Are True, I Hope Everyone Involved Gets What They Deserve

Thomas Lowson
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Seth Rollins hoping that anyone in WWE who knew about Vince McMahon’s activities gets their just desserts if the allegations against the former chairman are accurate. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.”

Seth Rollins on Vince McMahon

In a recent interview, Rollins described the scandal as a “disgusting situation.” In a more recent interview with Fightful, Rollins referenced his previous comments and argued that if Janel Grant’s claims are true, then anybody who knew should get what they deserve. 

“It’s a crap situation. I said it in that interview on radio row. It sucks. It’s horrible. It’s disgusting. I don’t like hearing about it, reading about it, it’s abhorent.

“I hope, if the allegations are accurate, I hope anybody involved with it gets what’s coming to them. It sucks.

“For me, it’s very difficult because I didn’t see that side of him. I didn’t experience that. When you see stuff like that, it’s jarring and it’s painful. It sucks all around. There is just no other way to say it. It sucks. It really sucks.”

What’s Next? 

While McMahon has resigned from WWE, it is believed he still may have some power in the company. Comments from Grant’s legal representative Ann Callis have indicated that Miss Grant has no intention on settling this matter out of court, and it has been suggested that other women may come forward. 

Both Seth Rollins & CM Punk are currently out with injuries, but that won’t stop the World Heavyweight Champion from taking shots… 

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