As of today, SKY has reached 200 days as WWE Women’s Champion. The Damage CTRL member has now held the title for longer than some of WWE’s top stars who held the title when it was the Raw Women’s Champion. Superstars SKY has surpassed include Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Nikki Cross/A.S.H, Bayley, and current WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
IYO SKY’s Title Reign By the Numbers
Since capturing the gold at SummerSlam, SKY has defended the title 28 times. Six of these matches have taken place on TV or Premium Live Events with the rest being at untelevised live events. SKY’s most recent televised title match saw her retain against ‘Michin’ Mia Yim on the New Year’s Revolution edition of SmackDown last month.
WWE Raw Superstar Raquel Rodriguez has shared her battle with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in an emotional video online.
During this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, Rodriguez returned to action to win a Women’s Battle Royal. This win secured the former NXT Women’s Champion the final spot in this weekend’s Women’s Elimination Chamber Match at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth.
Raquel Rodriguez’s Emotional Video
Rodriguez returned this week after spending a month out with MCAS. Taking to Twitter, Rodriguez shared her battle with the disease. The WWE Superstar’s skin was red and swollen in most of the clips, but they were gradually getting better. Raquel made it clear that her fight isn’t over and had some words of support for others facing hardship.
The journey is far from over. I finally got some answers as to what caused this but it’s going to be a while til I can get it fully under control.
I know one thing. I’m blessed to have an amazing support system. Family, friends, I love you all??
MCAS is a condition in which the patient experiences repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as allergies. These episodes may include hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and severe diarrhea. High levels of mast cell mediators are released during those episodes.
What’s Next?
Rodriguez will face some steep competition this weekend at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. She will be joined inside the Chamber by Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi. The winner will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
That title will also be on the line at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. Current champion Rhea Ripley will no-doubt receive a thunderous response from her fellow Australians when she defends against Nia Jax.
UFC fighter Michael Chandler recently made a bold prediction about The Rock’s involvement at WrestleMania 40.
Cody Rhodes recently won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble for the second time and he’s determined to ‘finish his story’ this time around. ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes had made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but that saw a massive twist.
The main event was changed back to the original plan of Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal title match at ‘The Show of Shows.’ However, The Rock is still involved in the storyline as he has now joined forces with Roman Reigns and become a part of The Bloodline.
Michael Chandler feels The Rock will claim the World title
Now, while speaking with Sports Illustrated, he shared his prediction for WrestleMania 40 which is unique. Many fans believe that Cody Rhodes will finally finish his story at ‘The Show of Shows’ while another set of fans feel Roman Reigns will continue his dominance as the champ.
But Chandler offered an out-of-the-box prediction. Chandler believes that ‘The Great One’ will work his way into the world title match and take the title.
“I got The Rock taking the title. He’s coming back to shock everybody. All the doubters, all the naysayers, all the crybabies, The Rock is about to put an ass-whooping on all of them.”
WrestleMania 40 is still more than a month away. But WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth, the final stop before ‘The Show of Shows’ is taking place this weekend.
Fans can catch the Elimination Chamber event on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST. Keep checking SEScoops for the coverage of the show.
Welcome to a new feature we’re running here at SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top news and rumors in wrestling. It’s Wednesday, February 21, 2024 and we’ve got AEW Dynamite tonight from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Preview below).
Here are the special Elimination Chamber 2024 start times:
WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Start Times
WrestleMania Countdown: 45 days away
WWE
– Carlito turns 25 years old today. He was born February 21, 1979.
– We’ve added exclusive interviews with Bianca Belair and Omos to the SEScoops YouTube channel. These interviews were conducted at the WWE 2K24 media event that was held over Royal Rumble weekend.
– The Rock is back wearing those ‘$500 shirts’ that he made famous during the Attitude Era. We wanted to know how much they’d cost in 2024. calculated the value of The Rock’s $500 shirts in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
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.
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.
Steve Austin wants to see UFC fighters Colby Covington and Sean Strickland in WWE and that’s the bottom line. Why? Because ‘Stone Cold’ said so.
A crossover between WWE and MMA has been quite common as a bunch of former MMA fighters have been a part of WWE. Now, with the recent formation of TKO Group Holdings, WWE and the UFC come under one umbrella which means more crossovers are likely to happen.
At UFC 298, WWE stars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford were spotted in attendance. Meanwhile, on this week’s Monday Night Raw, UFC lightweight Michael Chandler made an appearance and went on to call out former UFC Double Champion Conor McGregor.
Now, Steve Austin has stated that he feels that the aforementioned UFC fighters could taste success in the squared circle as well.
Steve Austin outlines why he wants Sean Strickland and Colby Covington in WWE
Speaking with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Stone Cold Steve Austin highlighted former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland’s mic skills while he said Colby Covington backs his trash-talking with incredible athletic ability which could help in WWE.
“If I’m going right now, I’m going Sean Strickland,” Austin said. “I like Sean Strickland. Boy, he stays economic in the Octagon right now, but what a promo. And so, then I go with Colby Covington. All the trash talk, all the athletic ability. Guy never runs out of gas, he’s always in shape, talks a mean streak and can back it up. He’s very exciting, he has that X-factor that you always look for. He’s double tough.”
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin thinks two UFC fighters could cross over successfully into WWE. His answers may or may not surprise you pic.twitter.com/7XrCzbl9Qh
Strickland has built a reputation for speaking his mind without any reluctance which has garnered a lot of attention lately. It is something that could come in handy for him in WWE. Meanwhile, Covington’s trash talk could be put to the test against some of the biggest mic workers if he decides to ever step foot in WWE.
While they are being highlighted to crossover to WWE, former WWE tag-team Champion Montez Ford expressed his desire to compete in UFC.
AEW veteran commentator Jim Ross recently shared positive updates on his health.
Ross has been facing health issues recently but he has now disclosed that he’s making good progress in his recovery. ‘Good Ol’ JR has combated skin cancer multiple times. He first underwent a skin procedure in 2016 and after a couple of years he revealed that the cancer had been completely removed from his shoulder.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Jim Ross confirmed the news of his surgery on his right hip which was said to have gone well and he expressed gratitude to his fans for their support.
Jim Ross provides an update on his recovery
Recently, taking to his Twitter/X account, Jim Ross revealed that it was his first day out of the rehab facility and said he is improving daily. He went on to disclose that he was using a cane. However, his recovery is going well. He wrote:
“First full day on Jax Beach and out of the rehab facility! Using a cane for now. Improving daily. Broken hip responding well. Excited for my future with @AEW!” Ross tweeted.
First full day on Jax Beach and out of the rehab facility!
Ross has been with AEW since 2019, after his controversial firing from WWE. He has lent his iconic voice to several memorable AEW matches. However, a concern remains for him as he is yet to pen a contract extension with the promotion. JR is willing to stay with AEW for a long time to come but he recently spoke about contract renewal being pending.
We at SEScoops wish Jim Ross a full and speedy recovery.
The UFL’s inaugural season will kick off on March 30, less than two months after an explosive NFL Super Bowl LVIII that saw WWE and AEW stars in attendance. Taking to Instagram this week, Johnson shared his excitement for the UFL which he hopes will deliver exciting football as well as opportunities for the players.
ECW alum Francine has reflected on a moment from the company in which she nearly lost her sight, stating nothing compares to the original promotion.
Francine was a staple of the original ECW and was one of the most featured women in the promotion’s history. This week marked 25 years since one of ECW’s most dominant tag teams, the Impact Players was formed. The duo of Lance Storm and Justin Credible.
During their formation, Credible and Storm brawled with Shane Douglas, who was being managed by Francine at the time. During a shocking moment (even by ECW standards!) Credible swung for Douglas with a cane but clocked Francine in the face. Taking to Twitter, Francine recalled nearly being blinded by the shot and named Paul Heyman as someone who told her not to block.
This was BRUTAL @HeymanHustle told me not to block it, so I didn’t. The kendo stick hit me right in the face/cheekbone. An inch more and I could have went blind. Nothing compares to the original #ECW! https://t.co/nF3mTEDFlo
By the time ECW closed its doors in 2001, Francine was managing Justin Credible, though was not signed to the WWF as part of the Invasion angle. Instead, Francine debuted for NWA: TNA in June 2002 and would feud with fellow ECW alum Elektra.
In 2005, Francine appeared for WWE as part of the ECW One Night Stand event, where she was attacked by Beulah McGillicutty. The next year, she signed with WWE as part of the revamped ECW brand. After competing in house show bikini contests, Francine would face Ariel to a no-contest on the September 26, 2006, edition of ECW on Sci-Fi before being released the next month.
In July 2021, Francine appeared in a backstage segment in Impact Wrestling via a video call with Brian Myers.
WWE opted to air the heartbreaking moment Shotzi suffered an injury on this week’s NXT which resulted in her match being called off.
This week’s episode of WWE NXT was actually filmed last week to allow NXT higher-ups time to travel to Australia for this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth premium live event. During the taping, Shotzi’s match with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria was called off and it was reported that she’d suffered a severe injury.
Shotzi’s Injury
With this week’s NXT being taped in advance, there were questions as to whether WWE would air the spot in question or even the match. During last night’s show, those questions were answered as the match did air. The unfortunate spot saw Shotzi bounce from the ring to the outside and immediately clutched her foot, proving that it doesn’t take some high-risk move in wrestling for an injury to happen.
Shotzi’s match had to be called off due to the injury. WWE NXT General Manager Ava announced that the fans deserved to see a title match and made an open challenge. This was answered by Lash Legend who had competed earlier in the show. Despite having no prep time, Legend and Lyra Valkyria put on a fine match that saw the Valkyrie retain her title.
Mat Basso, the head trainer of Riot City Wrestling could not be happier for the success of his former student Rhea Ripley as a WWE Superstar.
After signing with WWE in 2017, Ripley has become one of the company’s top stars. Not only is she the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, but her star power has also extended to social media with 2.6M followers on TikTok and another 3.4M on Instagram.
Rhea Ripley’s Rise to the Top
This weekend, Ripley will return to her native Australia as part of the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. The Women’s World Champion will get a thunderous ovation from her native Aussies when she defends against Nia Jax in Optus Stadium. Speaking to ABC Australia, Basso addressed Ripley’s success.
“We always knew that there was a possibility for her because she had that special spark and that magic to her… Her rise through the ranks has been crazy and I just couldn’t be happier for her. She’s absolutely going to be a future Hall of Famer.”
Basso also recalled Ripley’s time with RCW, which she continues to visit when she’s back home and helps new talent.
“That’s one of my favorite things about her, she’s still a girl from Adelaide… She was essentially a toned-down version of what she is now. While she was with us, she was still finding her feet a little bit.”
What’s Next for Rhea Ripley?
Ripley is the heavy favorite to retain her title when she faces Nia Jax at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. If she wins, Ripley will go on to WrestleMania 40 and defend against the winner of the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Ripley is also set to be one of the cover stars of WWE 2K24 when the game releases next month.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place this Saturday.
WWE is currently on the ‘Road to WrestleMania’ as the company prepares for its biggest event of the year. That said, fans have also been interested in when the company will announce where WWE SummerSlam will be located.
The annual Summer event is expected to occur this August, but WWE has yet to provide more information. However, Cleveland, Ohio, has been rumored to be the host of ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer.’
Cleveland Scene’s Vince Grzegorek reports that WWE was awarded a $1.6 million tax credit from the Ohio Department of Development last week. While the company has yet to confirm, this hints towards Cleveland, Ohio, being this year’s WWE SummerSlam location.
“…WWE was awarded $1.6 million in credits for an unspecified TV series, but with rumors continuing to build since last year that Cleveland would be the home for WWE’s second-biggest pay-per-view event, it seems more than plausible that the credit is for SummerSlam,” said the report.
WWE has held events at stadiums for WWE SummerSlam for the last three years. If the company continues the trend, the event will likely occur either at the Cleveland Browns Stadium or Progressive Field.
The company has tickets on sale for two events in August, including WWE Bash In Berlin at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany, on August 31. WWE SummerSlam will likely occur within the first two weeks of the month. ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer, ‘ which takes place earlier in August, would allow the company to build towards their first premium live event in Germany.
Current Ticket Status For WWE Elimination Chamber
On February 24, WWE will head to Perth, Australia, for the WWE Elimination Chamber. The event will occur at the Optus Stadium and looks far from sold out.
WrestleTix reported on February 19 that 46,242 tickets had been sold and had 2,867 left available. While impressive, Optus Stadium could have a capacity of 60,000. It’s worth noting that the structure of the elimination chamber could have resulted in fewer seats being available. However, the event tickets have not sold quickly and successfully as other events like WWE WrestleMania 40 or even WWE Royal Rumble.
This weekend’s event won’t shatter attendance records the Optus Stadium has had previously, but it is still great. An announcement for WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland, Ohio, could continue WWE’s hot streak of impressive turnouts for their 2024 live event schedule.
WWE history is full of incredible artifacts, and some of them have hit the open market. Of course, WWE has their legendary warehouse, but they didn’t have Eddie Guerrero’s low rider, because that is now property of Vanilla Ice.
Eddie Guerrero’s Low Rider Has A New Owner
One of Eddie Guerrero’s low riders, previously showcased on WWE television, has been acquired by Vanilla Ice. Of course, the famous one-hit wonder rapper was very happy to show off this item.
Vanilla Ice revealed in a video on his YouTube channel that he acquired the vehicle for $15,000 from someone who seemingly underestimated its value, unaware of its connection to Eddie Guerrero.
Ice speculated that the seller may not have realized the potential six-figure worth of the car. He also mentioned that the seller had already invested $30,000 in improvements. In the video, Ice showcased the car, complete with a custom Eddie Guerrero WWE Championship. Obviously, he knew the connection to pro wrestling history, and he wants to make sure that the low-rider is in good hands.
The ownership history of the car remains uncertain, but Ice apparently has the real McCoy. When low riders were featured in Eddie’s entrances on television, WWE typically rented them from local car dealers in each city. Additionally, the specific car was featured in a photoshoot for Low Rider Magazine, with Eddie posing alongside it. So, it got special attention from Latino Heat.
Eddie Guerrero and His Low Riders
Eddie Guerrero frequently incorporated low riders into his persona and entrances. These customized vehicles, known for their lowered bodies and unique features, added flair and authenticity to Guerrero’s character. Notably, a Chevrolet Impala was often seen as his preferred low rider during his time in WWE, becoming iconic among fans.
Beyond wrestling, Guerrero was known to have a genuine passion for low riders, collecting and enjoying them as a reflection of his cultural identity and personal interests. His association with these custom cars remains a cherished aspect of his legacy in both wrestling and automotive enthusiast circles. Now, Vanilla Ice has a piece of that history himself.
Cash Wheeler is facing the consequences of his gun charge as the prosecutor moves forward with legal proceedings. Now, he is headed to court as prosecutors have opted to pursue the case.
Cash Wheeler Going To Trial
Daniel Wheeler, also known as Cash Wheeler, faces one count of aggravated assault with a firearm following his arrest in 2023. A warrant for his arrest was issued on July 28, the day after the incident occurred on July 27.
The FTR member already asserted his innocence through his attorney during his initial court appearance on August 3. All firearms belonging to Wheeler were mandated to be surrendered to the local sheriff’s department until the resolution of the case.
During a road rage incident, Wheeler purportedly brandished a firearm. His attorney emphasized that the altercation was not of a domestic nature and that Wheeler was not acquainted with the individuals involved. The charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.
According to court documents obtained by PW Insider, Wheeler was absent from his arraignment today. The trial is scheduled to commence on May 20th, with pre-trial proceedings set for May 7th, where Wheeler has been directed to attend.
What Happened During This Incident
On July 27, 2023, Orange County in Florida issued an incident report. Officer M. Bowhay arrived at the scene of an aggravated assault involving a firearm and interviewed the victim, Daniel Matta.
Matta claimed that Wheeler aimed a gun at him while both were driving on Interstate 4. After positively identifying Wheeler from a photo lineup, Matta’s statement resulted in the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm against Wheeler.
SEScoops is sending out our best for Cash Wheeler at this time. Hopefully, he can get this matter taken care of.
On February 24, WWE will head to the land down under to host the 2024 Elimination Chamber premium live event from the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
As usual, the Elimination Chamber marks a key stop on the Road to WrestleMania, as a trio of upcoming matches have WrestleMania 40 implications. This PLE also marks WWE’s first Australia-based event since Super Show-Down in October 2018, making this show all the more exhilarating for Australian WWE fans. As of February 15, WWE’s 2024 Elimination Chamber had distributed over 45,000 of the 49,000 tickets currently up for the event (h/t WrestleTix).
The Magnitude Of Elimination Chamber
Who will survive to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania?
One of the marquee matches will see Logan Paul, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley compete inside the Men’s Elimination Chamber. The winner of this grueling contest will then move on to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Despite the danger that lies ahead, Kevin Owens is ready to give it his all, and ready to step onto a stage that seems to parallel that of WrestleMania.
“This may very well be the biggest Chamber event – the biggest Chamber match we’ve ever had as well,” Owens said in a WWE SmackDown digital exclusive. ‘It’s in Perth, it’s going to be in front of thousands and thousands and thousands of people that have been waiting for a PLE in their city, in their country, on their continent for a very long time. It really does not get much bigger than this.”
“WrestleMania is huge, but Elimination Chamber is going to give WrestleMania a run for its money as far as the sheer magnitude of the event and what it means to everybody. Chamber, bring it on. As risky as it is, as dangerous as it is, I’m all in. I’m going to give everything I have. I’m going to leave it all in Perth.”
2024 WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Card
The 2024 Elimination Chamber will broadcast this Saturday, with the main show beginning at 5:00 AM EST. The current lineup is as follows:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate
Elimination Chamber match (winner earns shot at Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40): Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. TBD
WWE Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax
Elimination Chamber (winner earns shot at World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul
The Grayson Waller Effect: Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins as special guests
It’s been almost a decade-and-a-half since Rob Van Dam first grappled up with Samoa Joe in TNA and now the roles are somewhat reversed this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.
RVD first wrestled Samoa Joe on the July 8, 2010 episode of TNA Impact. Back then, Van Dam was the World Heavyweight Champion of the promotion and he took on Samoa Joe in a non-title match main event.
RVD came out victorious after he pulled a “Bret Hart to Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII” 1-2-3 when Joe had him in the Kokina Clutch, but Van Dam used the turnbuckle to flip over and pin the then “Samoan Suplex Machine.”
“Samoa Joe is awesome by the way, you know, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago to me having that match. So when you put the year in like that it makes sense, then it’s like, ‘Wow, okay.’ So I guess 14 years ago, that’s a pretty big chunk of time. You only get so many 14 [year] blocks of time in your life.”
Now this Wednesday RVD will tag up once again with HOOK and the wild card, Hangman Page as they take on Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage. However, this time, it’s Joe who’s the World Champion in this full-circle situation.
Does Van Dam Have His Eyes On AEW Gold?
RVD later makes note that he isn’t one to shy away from making firsts in pro wrestling and getting hold of the AEW “Big Platinum” isn’t something he’s ruling out of the cards forthcoming.
“So if I go after the AEW Championship, say I collect that f***ing gold and add that and become the only wrestler to have held the WWE, TNA, ECW and AEW Championship. I mean, I do s*** like that. I’m always finding new ways to stand out and be one of a kind. Imagine if that happened, how inspired people would be in general to think they grew up watching me decades ago. And then here at 53, they’re seeing me, perspectively, maybe having the best matches or the best year of my career.”
The main event picture surrounding Roman Reigns, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes has gobbled up a disproportionate amount of the spotlight on the Road to WrestleMania. Nonetheless, one of the best-built stories WWE has cultivated in recent months revolves, instead around Bayley.
Bayley won the women’s Royal Rumble and is on a collision course with Iyo Sky after splintering from the Damage CTRL faction. Bayley reached new heights in these past four-plus years as a heel in WWE, but the timing is right for her to return to her babyface roots. There’s all the potential in the world for this new run to exceed Bayley’s first face campaign at the dawn of her WWE career.
WWE Main Roster Fans Have Been Along For The Ride
When WWE launched NXT as its developmental brand and, all the more so, after the WWE Network came around and made developmental programming more accessible for a wider range of fans, the company faced a conundrum. On one hand, NXT was very good. It featured great matches and creative, which cultivated a loyal fan base. The black and gold brand appealed especially well to fans who appreciated the stronger indie sensibility there over what was happening on the main roster.
On the other hand, there are real questions as to whether NXT was succeeding as a developmental training ground, given the disconnect between its style and that of Raw or SmackDown. That’s not to mention that a series of NXT stars struggled on their transition to the main roster.
Bayley was among stars who shone bright in NXT—working her way up the ranks until she became Women’s Champion and arrived as the face of her division. She carried some of that momentum into her main roster run, including promptly becoming a part of the title picture, but never gathered nearly the same level of momentum on Raw or SmackDown.
Part of the problem was a disconnect in how much fans knew or appreciated her story. While a portion of the audience followed NXT faithfully, there was also a portion that only did so casually, or who did not watch the black and gold brand at all. So, while, Bayley came across as a talented hand, they didn’t have elements like her climbing the ranks or her relationship with Izzy to tap into and fall in love with the character. The result was that she felt like a pretty flat babyface a few months into her run.
In 2024, fans know who Bayley is and what she’s capable, not to mention that they’ve had a over seven years to invest in her character. No longer is she the goody-two-shoes they’re supposed to like. They actually like her.
Bayley Is Enough Of A Veteran WWE Fans Like Her By Default
Ric Flair has more than once posed a classic example of the problems with trying to book a truly great heel veteran. No matter how much better a performer is at playing the bad guy, when fans have invested in a performer for long enough at a high enough level, they tend to respect him. Moreover, they want to cheer him.
This same matter has played out for talents ranging from Triple H to Randy Orton to Stone Cold Steve Austin, and there’s a case to be made that it’s happening now with Bayley. The 2024 Royal Rumble winner has proven herself as a great hand and a likable personality inside the ring and out.
While Bayley has succeeded as a heel, there’s no question she also has an organic groundswell of support behind her from the WWE Universe. Moreover, her heel run stretched long enough that fans were itching to cheer her again, and now they have their chance.
Bayley Has A Compelling Storyline To Kickstart This Babyface Run
A big part of what got Bayley over the hump as one of the franchise players in NXT was her rivalry with Sasha Banks. The Hugger was an underdog who worked her way up to title contention, only to be overmatched against The Boss. As time marched on, though, and a proper feud took shape, Bayley arrived at her crowning moment with show-stealing performance against Banks at the original NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
Enough time had passed and few enough eyes—proportionally—were on Bayley when she was working classics against Banks that the good will from that run didn’t really carry over to the main roster. Now Bayley has another shot as a babyface, and has not only a Royal Rumble win, but a long story WWE has told in organic fashion between her and Damage CTRL.
Having her own faction betray her by degrees has set up Bayley as sympathetic. Moreover, her wielding a pipe to fend off an attack she saw coming has set her up not as a victim, but an all-too-rare intelligent babyface who was ready to defend herself against a heel surprise.
The most likely scenario is that Bayley beat Iyo Sky for the title at WrestleMania 40, but even if she doesn’t, she’ll remain a credible part of the title picture as a face, and likely as not win the title shortly thereafter. In either case, Sky is not only a performer Bayley has history and emotional story with, but also an outstanding worker sure to facilitate great matches as Bayley returns to the top.
Only time will tell how Bayley’s new babyface run will play out or how fans will receive it. Regardless, there are plenty of reasons for optimism and plenty of history to play off to make this one of the best runs of her career.
During the Attitude Era, The Rock made sure to let fans know that he was wearing $500 Versace shirts as a sign of his affluence and arrogance. Given inflation though, those shirts cost much more in 2024. When adjusted for inflation, a shirt that cost $500 in 1998, a year that saw The Rock’s first WWF title win, would cost $946 in 2024.
The Rock’s heavyweight paychecks more than keep up with inflation
The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.48% per year between 1998 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 89.21%. While Versace’s shirts should cost close to $950, items listed on Versace’s website are going for $1,500.
Dressed to Impress
The Rock’s Versace look would become a staple of the Brahma Bull’s presentation when he exploded in popularity during the Attitude Era. While the look was initially introduced when he was a heel, The Rock continued to dress well as a face, a sign of how much the Versace clothes had become associated with the Great One.
Some of The Rock’s looks from his time on top of the Attitude Era.
Feeling a Harlem Hangover due to Booker T’s NXT absence? Fear not, sucka, the two-time, two-time, two-time WWE Hall Of Famer says he’ll be back behind the commentator’s table.
Booker T revealed back on February 4 that he’d be undergoing an undisclosed medical procedure that would keep him off television for a few weeks.
“I will not be at #NXTVengenceDay tonight and I’ll be off TV the next couple weeks due to a medical procedure I had to have. But – I’m all good and I’ll be back in action on NXT in no time! Thank you all for your support, couldn’t do it with out the people. Shucky Ducky!”
I will not be at #NXTVengenceDay tonight and I’ll be off TV the next couple weeks due to a medical procedure I had to have. But – I’m all good and I’ll be back in action on @WWENXT in no time! Thank you all for your support, couldn’t do it with out the people. Shucky Ducky!
Speaking on the latest Hall Of Fame podcast, Booker said he’s likely only seven days away from being back by the side of Vic Joseph.
“I’m back in the gym. I’m feeling good. I’m one week out, and I’ll be back at the table, doing my thing, doing it like it’s supposed to be done, making all them suckas bow down, making them pay, making them say, ‘Daddy, I don’t want none.’ I can’t wait, man.”
While Booker was away, Byron Saxton sat in his steed as he and Joseph both got to witness Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin becoming the new NXT Tag Team Champions against The D’Angelo Family last week.
Booker in the past has giving big credit to Vic Joseph as being a stellar play-by-play man, even making a play for Joseph to get called up to the main roster in a commentary role.
Please credit Hall of Fame and h/t Fightful for the transcription.
Ace Steel has found a landing spot in a role he’s already very familiar with.
The good friend of CM Punk revealed on the latest episode of “Two Man Power Trip” that he is now currently working as a producer with TNA Wrestling. Steel expressed his excitement in addition to the great backstage dynamic the promotion has already presented to him.
“Working with TNA as a producer at the moment. Loving that, loving the atmosphere there. Just a great backstage feel.”
Steel happened to work previously with TNA during their Bound For Glory event back in October and even CM Punk had his recent ties with the former Impact Wrestling being an influencial presence backstage before making his suprise return to WWE at Survivor Series late November.
Previously a producer for AEW, Steel was notoriously involved in the infamous “Brawl Out” fight back in 2022 and remained in limbo for a good amount of time with the company before eventually making his exit.
Steel joins several notable minds backstage in TNA including Gail Kim, Lance Storm and Tommy Dreamer. It was initially reported that Dreamer had taken on a new role as the head of TNA Creative in light of Scott D’Amore’s exit but “The Innovator Of Violence” later dispelled such scuttlebutt from catching fire on Busted Open Radio.
TNA will have a busy weekend forthcoming as the promotion will fire off its first PPV under the new Anthem regime with No Surrender on February 23. They just announced that they re-signed stalwart star Josh Alexander to a new deal.
It has been over four years since WWE made one of the most questionable booking decisions that angered fans. On the October 4, 2019, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, Kofi Kingston put the WWE Championship on the line against Brock Lesnar. Although it was expected that Lesnar would win, WWE made the decision to have ‘The Beast’ defeat Kingston in seven seconds.
To this day, fans are upset with how WWE handled Kingston’s match with Lesnar, and the longtime company ‘Babyface’ agrees.
In an interview with SEScoops’ MuscleManMacolm, Kingston spoke about his infamous title match with Lesnar and believes it should’ve gone longer than it did.
“…There’s two lines of thought on it. One, I don’t get paid by the hour, so that is probably the most amount of money that I’ve made in the least amount of time on the roster.
But obviously, when you have a WWE Championship match, especially with what it meant to win that title, I would’ve loved for it to have last longer and I would’ve loved to beat Brock Lesnar, but of course, I came up short,” said Kingston.
Although Kingston hasn’t gotten more opportunities to reclaim the WWE Championship, he’s looking to move forward with his career.
Kofi Kingston On Letting Go Of Brock Lesnar Title Match
In the interview, Kingston stayed true to believing in the “Power of Positivity” and isn’t focused on dwelling on what happened in the Fall of 2019.
“…It’s always forward in this industry and that’s the route of chosen to take,” said Kingston.
Kingston may not be in the hunt for the WWE Championship, but he has reunited with Xavier Woods in the tag division. The New Day(Kingston & Woods) is feuding against Imperium(Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). The company recently announced on Twitter that the two teams will settle their difference in a Street Fight Tag Team Match on the February 26 WWE Monday Night Raw episode.
A win for New Day could build momentum for them to challenge for the WWE Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship. At 42 years old, Kingston is still a featured talent on the WWE roster and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
WWE fans expect a yearly video game at this point, and WWE 2K24 is not disappointing when it comes to the hype so far. We are getting more information about the game as the weeks tick down until the latest offering from 2k drops, and this will also include the return of a much-requested feature.
WWE 2K24 Bringing Back Fan-Favorite Feature
2k dropped a new teaser video today that said a lot. The short hype video included several tweets from WWE fans, begging them to bring back the special guest referee feature. Then they cut to a striped shirt Randy Orton delivering an RKO outta nowhere as a referee.
The post on Twitter/X also included a caption that simply said: “Master of the rules.” This post has already caused a stir with fans who missed the ability to play as a referee in their 2k video game experience.
Songs from the upcoming WWE 2K24 soundtrack have already been released, and it has an impressive lineup. The hype is certainly there, and it appears that the 2k team is listening to fans as well, so we’ll have to see if they add any other lost features down the line.
WWE 2K24 Release Details
WWE 2K24 will offer three editions: Deluxe, Forty Years of WrestleMania, and Standard. These editions will roll out globally on March 8, 2024. Keep an eye out for updates on the game’s soundtrack, roster, Superstar ratings, and other details.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for ongoing coverage of WWE 2K24 and all the latest in the world of professional wrestling.
It was reported that Bruce Prichard had surgery earlier this month for his triceps. Conrad Thompson, who co-hosts Bruce Prichard’s podcast Something to Wrestle With, revealed that Prichard was scheduled for surgery on February 1. Now, in the latest update, he’s back after the surgery.
According to PWInsider, Prichard was backstage at Raw on February 19 in Anaheim, CA. Mike Johnson reported that he believes this could be Prichard’s comeback after the triceps surgery.
Prichard has undergone surgery before. He has had a couple of shoulder surgeries in the past, and this is actually the fourth time he has needed it done in the last five years.
Prichard’s role backstage at WWE is the executive director of Raw and SmackDown, which is a significant position in the company.
“Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before.”
On the Something to Wrestle With podcast, Prichard was asked about the lawsuit against McMahon and WWE. Prichard stated that he won’t comment on the matter because he is “not at liberty” to discuss the “legal matters of the company whatsoever.”
“There can’t be a response from the legal standpoint. You can ask until you’re blue in the face, and that’s going to be your answer. I’m not involved, I’m not being sued, I’m not being accused of anything. It’s a legal matter.”
All Elite Wrestling superstar Kenny Omega wants to bring more non-wrestling fans into the profession. He has been involved in the wrestling business for over 20 years, allowing him to understand how to build a fanbase. The former AEW World Champion believes that giving your program time and care is one of the key factors in bringing in a new audience to your company.
In an interview with Gamespot’s Dave Jewitt, Omega shared his thoughts on the video game Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and how it can relate to wrestling. He believes wrestling shouldn’t be afraid to be creative and have fun like the video game. Omega’s philosophy is that wrestling fans will appreciate it and can bring a new audience to the profession.
“As a wrestler in 2024, you always think of new ways. How are we going to bring new fans in? How can we get a new fanbase,” said Omega.
The former AEW World Champion explained that he believes wrestling should try to appeal to different people, whether it be age or culture.
“…We want anyone to appreciate what we do as an art form, as a form of entertainment. Much like the Like A Dragon universe, it can be whatever you want it to be as long as you give it a proper introduction, explain it, and have fun with it,” said Omega.
He added, “…That’s sort of my take on wrestling and clearly that sort of like the take on this game where if you put time and care into everything that you do, you’ll get the appreciation back. People will have fun with it.”
It’s expected Omega will take his time to heal before he steps back into a ring. Although it’s unfortunate that ‘The Best Bout Machine’ could be out for most of the year, it should be encouraging that he looks in good shape and spirits during his interview.
WWE’s NXT brand saw Shotzi return for a match against Lyra Valkyria, and that did not end well at all. The WWE Superstar was injured, and she suffered a serious knee injury. Now, she is going under the knife to repair the damage. That match will air tonight, Feb 20th, on the USA Network’s weekly show.
Shotzi Blackheart’s Injury
The injury for Shotzi prompted WWE to alter plans, as she was originally scheduled to compete in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying match against Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown. For what it’s worth, it was always the plan to have Stratton in the Chamber match.
According to PW Insider, reports circulating at Monday Night Raw suggested that Shotzi had traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, possibly for knee surgery. WWE often sends injured wrestlers to Birmingham for surgical procedures.
The word making the rounds at yesterday’s Monday Night Raw taping was that Shotzi was in Birmingham, Alabama ahead of a possible (likely) knee surgery after getting hurt on the WWE NXT episode that will air tonight.
Now, the charismatic WWE Superstar will have to wait in the wings for a majority of 2024 as she recovers. Only time will tell how much momentum she comes back with, but fans will certainly be more than excited to see her return happen.
Everyone at SE Scoops is wishing Shotzi the best on her recovery.
Update: Shotzi Confirms Injury
Shotzi got on Instagram to share that she tore her ACL.
WWE has a lot of Superstars on their roster who are champing at the bit for their opportunity to shine. Omos is a bit different, because he knows his value and understands how the company is using him. As a special attraction, WWE just needs to figure out a situation where he fits best.
I asked about Omos’ current creative status, and was told that WWE is “holding Omos for the right program for either him or an opponent who could use a big win.”
After @sescoops' exclusive interview with Omos yesterday, where he confirmed his special attraction status, I asked around about what WWE is waiting for to use him.
I was told and WWE is "holding Omos for the right program for either him or an opponent who could use a big win."
At this time, Omos is doing community events for the company, interviews, and other things. He also makes house show appearances, with his latest being on February 18, 2024 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, USA, where he beat Akira Tozawa during a WWE Road To WrestleMania event.
Who is Omos
Omos has a background in college basketball, and WWE was quick to sign him to a deal once they met him. He played basketball at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland after transferring from USF
As the tallest wrestler on WWE’s active roster, he stands out for his imposing stature. Now managed by MVP, they are categorized as “free agents,” granting them the flexibility to appear on both the Raw and SmackDown brands. As of this writing, fans are still waiting to see the 31-year-old Nigerian giant re-appear on television for either side.
SE Scoops will have more on this story if there are any further developments.
