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Vince McMahon’s Victim Rita Chatterton Makes Special Appearance At Indie Show

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a lot of names throughout their history that brings up a variety of memories. Rita Chatterton is a name that reminds fans Vince McMahon has been up to the kind of acts that Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleged he did for a long time. She is still getting out there and recently made a rare public appearance.

Rita Chatterton’s Allegations Against Vince McMahon

Rita Chatterton claimed that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her in his limousine in July 1986. She departed from WWE that year amidst conflicting narratives, with WWE’s attorney stating she was “fired for cause.”

Chatterton joined WWE at 27 years old. During her initial role with WWE, Pat Patterson reportedly doubted her credentials as a referee. After presenting her referee license, Patterson was visibly angered. Chatterton alleges Patterson stormed off, exclaiming, “Who the f*ck would give a female a referee license?”

Her name has come up a lot more in recent memory, especially after Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon brought heinous allegations to light. 

Chatterton’s Special Appearance

Rita Chatterton is back in the pro wrestling scene, and she recently made another appearance at an indie show. The Dynasty hosted Chatterton as a special guest, and she was the timekeeper for a match during the event. 

On a related note, this was the same event where Velveteen Dream also made his return to the ring. As Patrick Clark, he won the main event match after issuing an open challenge.

What’s Next

Bret Hart apologized to Rita Chatterton after years of doubting her story. The recent allegations about Vince McMahon shined a new light on a part of McMahon’s life that he never wanted to be exposed.

It will be interesting to see if Chatterton is interviewed by Bill Simmons’ upcoming six-part Netflix docuseries. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available. 

The Rock Jokes That 100k Sold Out Daytona 500 Crowd Is Due To His Grand Marshal Gig

Aaron Varble
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WWE saw The Rock’s return to the fold as he inserted himself on the road to WrestleMania. He still has a full schedule outside the company, and today is an exciting day for him.

The Rock is ready for Daytona 500

The Rock is back on WWE television as WrestleMania 40 approaches, but he’s not thinking about that today. The Daytona 500 is going down and he has an important role.

Dwayne Johnson will be the Grand Marshal for this iconic race, The Great One will likely get a grand introduction during the pre-race rituals as well.

While taking to Instagram, The Rock shared his arrival in Daytona Beach in his pick-up truck a day before the race. However, he also noted heavy rain and expressed hope for clearer weather to ensure a safe racetrack.

Gettin’ into some midnight tequila trouble in Daytona Beach baby!! (actually, heading to the gym because I can’t sleep;) I’m pumped to pull Grand Marshall duties for tomorrow’s iconic DAYTONA 500 – a super cool honor for me and I can’t wait. Hoping our weather clears up for a safe track and awesome race for the boys. Completely SOLD OUT – 100,000+ STRONG! LFG!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3euU4vMjs5

The Rock talked up the 100,000 plus sold out crowd for the Daytona 500 race, and he joked that it was all because of him. Then he quickly admitted that he had nothing to do with any ticket sold for that event. He said it was all thanks to the incredible NASCAR drivers.

He also hoped that it doesn’t rain for the big race. It was pouring last night, and he said that they have had discussions about what they will do. In the end, he hopes for all the drivers’ safety. 

What’s Next for The Rock

Although The Rock might have had a huge smile on his face for this video, that is far from his current WWE character. He is currently a huge heel on WWE television, as he lambasted the crowd in Salt Lake City for SmackDown this week.

The Rock also made it very clear that he joined The Bloodline stable. His road to WrestleMania also saw a big change as he conceded his match against Roman Reigns to Cody Rhodes. It will be interesting to see if his current heel streak carries over into some boos from the Daytona 500 crowd.

Update: Rain Delay

The Daytona 500 was rained out. That being said, The Rock made it clear that he will be around to be the Grand Marshal for the race on Monday. 

Daily Drop (2/18): LA Knight’s WrestleMania Plans, Mercedes Mone’s AEW Payday & More

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

  • WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 48 days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 18, 2024:

WWE

– SEScoops was able to report who had a hand in The Rock and Roman Reigns’ SmackDown promo this week.

– LA Knight is being considered for a big title match at WrestleMania 40.

– Fightful Select provided a new extensive report about Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE.

– Velveteen Dream ended his long hiatus from the ring by re-appearing at an indie wrestling show.

– Nic Nemeth revealed that he actually requested his WWE release several times before the company finally fired him in September 2023.

AEW

– Rush made his current visa situation very clear, as there was a previous report on the matter.

– There was another injury for the AEW roster 

– Ric Flair, who is now associated with Tony Khan’s company, discussed the fact that skeletons in his closet ended his political aspirations.

– New information is out that revealed the ballpark of how much Mercedes Mone asked for from WWE. She reportedly inked a deal with AEW and will make her debut during the March 13th episode of AEW Collision in Boston.

What’s Next

– WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

– AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

– WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

– WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

– Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

– WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock.

– WWE Money in the Bank will take place 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 set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Elias (now Elijah) Endures Defeat In First Match After Departing WWE

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE Superstar Elias, now known as Elijah recently suffered a loss in his first match after he was let go from WWE last year. 

Elias was released from WWE in September 2023 and was part of the first wave of talent releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. He had joined WWE in 2014 and during his run he became a 4-time 24/7 Champion. He is also a one-time Slammy Award winner (Best Musical Performance of 2020) and a one-time WWE Year-End Award winner (Breakout Superstar of 2018). 

Over the years, Elias was involved in high-profile rivalries with the likes of John Cena and Braun Strowman. However, he was always on the losing end. In 2022, he even re-debuted as his brother, Ezekiel.

With the Elias name owned by WWE, the former Superstar repackaged his gimmick and is now known as Elijah. It’s worth noting that the Elias and Elijah names come from the Old Testament prophet of the same name. 

Elijah suffered a loss against ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey

Elijah recently made his comeback to the ring at last night’s Wrestling REVOLVER event, where he faced ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey in a singles match. The former Elias was in great shape despite being away from the ring since May last year.

In the end, Mike Bailey defeated Elijah. The former WWE 24/7 Champion was furious with the outcome and launched a brutal attack on Bailey after the match, thus cementing his heel character.

We will now have to wait and see what the future holds for Elijah.

El Hijo del Vikingo Match Stopped After AAA Mega Champion Suffers Knee Injury

Thomas Lowson
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El Hijo del Vikingo’s immediate in-ring future is currently uncertain after the wrestler suffered what is feared to be a serious injury at a recent event. 

On Twitter, Mas Lucha informed fans that Vikingo’s match at the López Mateos Arena had to be called off due to an injury to his right knee. Vikingo was assessed at the arena and there has been talk that he may have damaged a ligament. Mas Lucha also shared photos of Vikingo being tended to at the event. 

“El Hijo del Vikingo could not finish the fight in the López Mateos Arena. He injured his right knee after a movement.

“After the first assessment in the arena, there is talk that it may be a ligament rupture.”

El Hijo del Vikingo’s Injuries

This is the latest setback for Vikingo, who suffered a significant injury in late 2023. Vikingo suffered a hip injury at an ROH event when a dive went wrong and was seen using a wheelchair after the match. That incident happened just one month after Vikingo collapsed backstage at AAA TripleMania XXXI: Mexico City. On social media, a video backstage made its way around, showing the Vikingo down backstage and being stretchered away.

More on El Hijo del Vikingo

El Hijo del Vikingo is the current AAA Mega Champion in his first reign. He captured the title at Triplemanía Regia II in December 2021 in a five-way to win the vacant title. At over 800 days, Vikingo’s reign is the longest in the history of the title. He has the second most amount of collective days as champion, only behind El Texano Jr.’s 1,096 days across two reigns. Vikingo also holds the record for the most title defenses at 23. 

Reality Of Wrestling To Host Competition In “Search for the Ultimate Athlete”

Thomas Lowson
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Reality of Wrestling, the promotion run by Booker T & Sharmell Huffman, are in search for their next break-out star with their ‘Search for the Ultimate Athlete.’

In a statement, Booker T shared the following information about their search: 

Embark on a Journey of Grit and Glory with “ROW Games: The Search for the Ultimate Athlete”

Reality of Wrestling (ROW), co-founded by WWE Hall of Famers Booker T and Sharmell Huffman, is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking competition series, “ROW Games: The Search for the Ultimate Athlete.” Hosted by the enigmatic Marty “The Boogeyman” Wright, this intense series will pit 20 of the country’s most promising athletes — 10 men and 10 women — against each other in a series of grueling physical challenges.

Over the span of six episodes, these competitors will test their limits, showcasing their strength, agility, and determination, all for the chance to be crowned the Ultimate Athlete and claim a grand prize of $5,000.00. The twist? Stars from Reality of Wrestling will not only serve as officials but also participate in the challenges, blurring the lines between competitors and the seasoned pros.

“ROW Games is not just another athletic competition; it’s the heart of what wrestling embodies — the blend of physical prowess, mental toughness, and sheer will to succeed,” says Booker T. “These athletes are about to face a challenge like no other, and only the best will make it to the end.”

Sharmell Huffman adds, “We’re looking for those who have the spark, the charisma, and the story that will inspire. It’s more than a competition; it’s about finding that star quality that shines even when the going gets tough.”

The Reality of Wrestling Games will be held at the Texas Entertainment Xperience (TEX), the largest indoor entertainment and gaming complex in the state of Texas located at 10000 Emmett F Lowry Expressway in Texas City, TX 77591. This top-tier venue is set to provide a spectacular backdrop for the physical prowess on display, ensuring an unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators.

Auditions are set to take place at the Texas City World Gym, with production slated to start on April 20th, 2024. The ROW Games will be accessible to its nearly 750,000 subscribers on the Reality of Wrestling YouTube Channel, bringing fans closer to the sweat, tears, and triumphs of these aspiring athletes. Check realityofwrestling.com

Searching For a Wrestler

It’s fitting that Marty Wright will have a role in the search for the ultimate athlete. Wright appeared on 2004’s edition of WWE Tough Enough but was ejected early on after he was found lying about his age to make the show’s limit. 

TNA Wrestling has also had its share of competitions to find new talent. In addition to TNA Gut Check, the promotion also had two seasons of TNA British Boot Camp. The first season resulted in Rockstar Spud earning a contract with TNA, while Mark Andrews would secure a contract after winning season 2. Notable names from British Bootcamp include Kris Travis, Grado, Noam Dar, Alba Fyre, Nikki Cross, and Piper Niven. 

WWE’s Bianca Belair, Montez Ford & “Retired Welterweight” CM Punk Appear At UFC 298

Thomas Lowson
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UFC 298 saw some of the best fighters in the company step into the Octagon and also saw some notable names in the crowd for the night. 

WWE SmackDown Superstars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford were acknowledged in the crowd during the event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The real-life couple wore matching outfits for the evening. 

WWE’s power couple weren’t the only names from the world of Wrestling at the event. CM Punk was also referenced in the crowd. The Best in the World wore a Bret Hart hoodie for the show and was described by UFC’s name banner as a “Retired UFC Welterweight.”

WWE & UFC

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise to see WWE Superstars at the UFC premier event. In September of last year, the two companies were merged with the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Since then, the two companies have been closely linked, with UFC President Dana White giving away tickets for WrestleMania 40. In November of last year, WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul attended UFC 295 alongside his fiancee Nina Agdal. The Maverick sat alongside former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic for the event. 

What’s Next? 

Earlier this week, WWE & UFC both signed deals with the Honda Center that will keep both companies appearing in the venue through 2028. Next week’s episode of Raw will also take place at the Honda Center, with fans able to purchase combo tickets for the UFC and WWE shows. 

Rush Sets Record Straight on Injury; In Process of Getting Visa Through AEW

Bishal Roy
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AEW star Rush is currently working on getting a Visa through AEW. That doesn’t mean he was not injured.

‘El Toro Blanco,’ leads La Faccion Ingobernable which consists of Dralistico, Preston Vance, and Jose The Assistant. He recently revealed that he is planning to expand the faction this year. He has missed AEW action due to an injury and has been on the shelf for quite some time. 

In December last year, Rush participated in the AEW Continental Classic tournament but he pushed through an injury. He was part of the Gold League where he racked six points by defeating Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal. However, he faced losses to Jay White, Jon Moxley, and Swerve Strickland.

Rush managed to battle through his injury to compete in the tournament. After being on the shelf for more than a months he recently took to Twitter and announced his impending return.

Meanwhile, fellow AEW superstar and La Faccion Ingobernable member Dralistico recently stated that he and Rush were in the process of getting their visas. This led to many believing that the visa issue was the actual reason he was not on AEW programming.

Rush clarifies

Taking to Twitter/X, Rush cleared the air regarding his absence. He wrote:

“I was injured as confirmed by AEW doctors. Now I am recovered, I had a visa with someone else and now in the process of getting my visa through AEW. Stop posting bullshit for fucking likes. I don’t ever lie about injuries.”

It is currently not known when Rush will make his comeback to the programming. We will now have to wait and see.

Ric Flair Says “Skeletons In My Closet” Ended U.S. Political Ambitions

Thomas Lowson
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Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair could have had a fruitful career in politics had his prior controversies not intervened, according to the Nature Boy himself. 

In wrestling, Flair had a long, lustrious career with 16 World Championship wins to his name, though the actual amount of World title wins is reportedly much higher. Speaking to FOX News recently, Flair was asked what he’d look for in a leader of the United States. 

“I think we need someone who shows strength. We need somebody to say, ‘Hey, we are the United States. Kiss my ass!'”

Flair was then asked if he’d considered running for office himself. While the Nature Boy has never set his sights on the White House, he did recall a proposed run for Governor in 2001. 

“No [I have not thought about running for President] but I should have run for Governor in 2001. But, they said I had too many skeletons in my closet. Imagine that! I’d make Trump look like a baby.”

Flair didn’t go into what skeletons caused him to reconsider. During a 2020 interview, Jesse Ventura recalled encouraging Flair to reconsider after Ric disclosed 143 speeding tickets. 

Ric Flair And Politics

Flair has long supported Republicans in North Carolina politics. In 2008, Flair declared his support for the Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. In 2016, Flair endorsed Ted Cruz’s campaign.

 In December 2021, Flair was a guest at a fundraiser for former President Trump. This appearance came shortly after allegations of sexual misconduct on the infamous Plane Ride from Hell were addressed during an episode of Dark Side of the Ring. While Flair denied the allegations, WWE would temporarily remove Ric’s signature Woo! from their intro video. 

Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael Diagnosed With MRSA In Latest Health Battle

Thomas Lowson
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Pro Wrestling and NFL legend Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael has been diagnosed with MRSA in the latest of several health battles. 

On Twitter, Jarrett Payton, son of NFL icon Walter Payton and a former NFL star himself, gave an update on Mongo, who has been battling several issues. 

Health Issues

In April 2021, McMichael was diagnosed with ALS, six months after former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and broadcaster Tunch Ilkin, announced his own ALS diagnosis. The disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, results in the progress loss of neurons that control voluntary muscles. Earlier this week, McMichael was rushed to the emergency room with suspected pneumonia. 

Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael

Mongo would first be introduced into wrestling in the build to WrestleMania 11, as he would be one of the NFL entourage backing Lawrence Taylor for his main event with Bam Bam Bigelow. That same year, he signed with WCW as a commentator, and earned the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s worst TV announcer award of 1996. Shortly after, he transitioned into an in-ring role the following year and captured the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1997. 

McMichael is also known for his NFL career, where he played for 15 seasons as a defensive tackle. He would be part of the Super Bowl XX-winning Chicago Bears and would also play for the New England Patriots and for the Green Bay Packers before his career ended in 1994. Earlier this month, it was announced that McMichael will take his much-deserved spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year. 

Ex WWE NXT Star Velveteen Dream Returns To The Ring In Surprising Fashion

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestling gets in your blood, and it’s hard to get out once you’ve started. Even for controversial figures, they find a way back in. Now, Velveteen Dream is making his mark in the pro wrestling world in his own way, years after his WWE release.

Velveteen Dream Returns

Velveteen Dream, now known as Patrick Clark, returned to wrestling, stepping back into the ring at Dynasty in New York. This was a big surprise, one that nobody saw coming.

The former WWE NXT Superstar interrupted the first match and issued an open challenge. The responses online were shocked, and posts started coming out directly after that about Dream’s surprise.

Alec Odin took Dream’s open challenge. In the end, the former NXT North American Champion won the main event match. Dream was also working as a babyface and he greeted fans around the ring as well.

Allegations Against Velveteen Dream

In March 2020, Patrick Clark faced allegations of inappropriate contact with a minor on social media. He addressed and denied the accusation in April 2020. During the Speaking Out movement in June 2020, Dream faced further accusations of inappropriate contact with a minor and grooming by pro wrestler Joshua Fuller.

WWE released Velveteen Dream in May 2021. On August 26, 2022, Dream was arrested in Orlando, Florida, on a charge of Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. This followed an incident on August 20, 2022, at a gym in Florida where he allegedly assaulted an employee.

Patrick Clark’s Recent Advocacy

Prior to his return to the ring, Patrick Clark was also spotted in another settling that few saw coming. During the February 6th Culpeper County Board of Supervisors meeting, he urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of implementing large-scale solar power.

SEScoops will have more on this story and many more in the pro wrestling world. 

Who Had Creative Hand In The Rock & Roman Reigns’ 2/16 WWE SmackDown Promo

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans saw The Rock make his big return to the company on the road to WrestleMania 40. His match already saw a change, one that he conceded to, and this week’s SmackDown opened up Pandora’s Box for The People’s Champ when it came to heel promos. Although The Rock had a lot to do with what went down, he didn’t accomplish it all by himself.

The Rock & Roman Reigns’ Creative Input (Exclusive)

A report got out before SmackDown this week that The Rock and Roman Reigns did not have a script for their promo this week. That time on the microphone saw The Great One unleash on fans in epic fashion, drawing from his heel roots with brutal insults and one-liners. 

I asked around about this situation after The Bloodline closed out SmackDown this week. It was confirmed to me that the Bloodline’s promo was scripted. They did not go out there without a net or anything figured out beforehand.

Roman Reigns and The Rock had major influence on the script. In the end, it was a discussion between Triple H, Roman, Heyman, Rock and Brian Gewirtz. Michael Hayes produced the segment, as he produces practically all of Roman Reigns’ segments and matches.

What’s Next For The Rock

The Rock channeled his 1998 heel character on SmackDown this week. This is far from the end, as Dwayne Johnson commanded the WWE Universe to shut their mouths and enjoy the ride.

WrestleMania 40 will be a huge show, and The Rock will compete. He may not get the singles match against Roman Reigns that he initially wanted, but they will undoubtably stir up a lot of headlines along the way. 

Wrestling’s Legal Saga: Unpacking Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE Lawsuit With New Insight

Aaron Varble
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Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE continues to receive a spotlight from outside the pro wrestling bubble. As many still examine this situation, there is now additional details.

Mystery WWE Executive

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there is a lot of talk about this lawsuit, especially within WWE. One big thing that remains a mystery is who the other executives in the company that Grant mentioned in her lawsuit. 

Regarding the unidentified executives under speculation, their identities remain a mystery to many within WWE. Nonetheless, it was reported that a credible source within the company indicated that one of them may have departed from WWE a while ago.

Insight On John Laurinaitis

John Laurinaitis has been vocal through his attorney, a development anticipated by some insiders. One long-serving WWE employee regarded Laurinaitis as McMahon’s “fall guy” since the summer of 2022, assuming he had financial safeguards in place. However, the potential filing of actual charges was seen as a significant turning point by many within the company.

Another source said “I’m sure he thinks he’s doing himself favors by saying management knew and proper WWE protocols were followed, but too many things happened there under his watch.”

Ashley Massaro’s Addition To The Situation 

The recent resurgence of headlines involving the late Massaro stemmed from a Vice article. It was reported that Fightful spoke with Massaro in March 2019 to arrange an interview at Starrcast II in Las Vegas that May. She intended to discuss her plans to resume in-ring training and weigh whether to delve deeper into her allegations of rape during a WWE Tribute to the Troops tour. Tragically, Massaro passed away just two weeks prior Starrcast.

Based on conversations with WWE talent, they have reportedly not been instructed to refrain from discussing the lawsuit in interviews or public appearances. Several have been queried about it. While no other companies are reportedly participating actively in the investigations, talent from various US-based companies have been given permission to address issues or participate in investigations if they choose to do so.

We’ve spoken to one former talent who has indicated that they’re weighing the options of whether to tell their story via the media, or whether or not they wanted to take legal action. We will not provide their identity unless they approve of such.

SEScoops will have more updates on this ongoing story as they are made available. There is already a lot to unpack, and there will likely be even more before this situation is over.

Wrestling Legend Floats Intriguing Theory For The Rock & Bloodline Storyline

Dominic DeAngelo
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On SmackDown this week, fans saw The Rock officially align with The Bloodline, but could it all be just a ruse by Rocky? One ECW Original has been taking notes during this whole saga between The Rock, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.

After The Rock returned back to his 1998 ways in the closing segment of SmackDown, Blue Meanie took to social media to present an interesting theory that all may be not what it seems regarding this notorious Samoan family tree.

“After watching last night’s Smackdown I have a feeling the Rock is joining the Bloodline on behalf of Cody to help distrupt the Bloodline from within. After the Rumble Cody looked like he was stepping down. The Rock whispered ‘something’ in Cody’s ear. The camera intentionally shoots Cody walking away down the aisle. We see Rock and Roman inch their way towards each other before the show goes off air. 

“At the press event the Rock says he’s challenging Roman for the title and on cue Cody interrupts says he’s challenging Roman at Mania after all. Cody tells the Rock and Roman that their grandfather’s would be ashamed of them. Rock initiated the contact before Roman could because this is all a ruse. He signifying that he is on Roman’s side.

“He’s further disarming Roman.  Last night on Smackdown the Rock comes out to ‘join’ the Bloodline. He cuts the heel promo. If you notice when they all do the finger point upwards, the Rock has his thumb out. The hand gesture commonly known as the ‘loser’ hand gesture.

“Basically Rock is signaling that he is there to help Roman lose to Cody at Mania because it’s actually The Rock who is ashamed of how Roman is acting. The Rock just had Cody say it at the press event that lead to the contact between Rock and Cody.

“Last year at Mania Cody was outnumbered by the Bloodline. This year, Seth Rollins and the Rock are his back up to any interference and will help Cody attain the goal of winning the title that his father never did. Just my 2 cents.”

Whichever side The Rock may or may not be on, Cody Rhodes will indeed have a “shield” in Seth Rollins who came out on WWE Raw to show him added support. We may see something develop even further at Elimination Chamber as Cody and Seth are set to sit down in Perth as guests of “The Grayson Waller Effect.”

WWE Raw’s Ivy Nile Would Love MMA Fight With Ronda Rousey

Thomas Lowson
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It’s been years since Ronda Rousey competed in a UFC cage, but WWE’s Ivy Nile is eager to step into the Octagon with the former Women’s Champion.

Rousey last competed for WWE at SummerSlam 2023, where she lost the first-ever MMA Rules match to Shayna Baszler. After Rousey informed WWE of her plans to finish up her career at SummerSlam, WWE fast-tracked her feud with Baszler. Rousey reportedly wanted to feud with her fellow MMA horsewoman to give her friend a singles spotlight.

Ronda Rousey Vs. Ivy Nile 

Before her impressive WWE career, Rousey dominated in the world of UFC and was arguably the first female fighter to become a name in the mainstream. While Rousey hasn’t fought in close to a decade, Ivy Nile is interested in throwing down. Speaking with Fightful, Nile was asked who she’d like to face in MMA. 

“Is Meisha Tate still in the UFC? I think the world of her. I love her. I’m a huge fan of Ronda Rousey too. I think I would do pretty well going toe-to-toe, I think we’re better off as allies.”

More on Ivy Nile 

The first female champion of NBC’s “Titan Games,” Ivy Nile has a background in CrossFit, Jiu Jitsu, and weightlifting. In 2021, she joined the Diamond Mine in WWE NXT, which would put her in a team with Brutus and Julius Creed. Last year, the three were called up to the main roster and signed with Monday Night Raw.

Have we seen the last of Ronda Rousey in UFC…

Nic Nemeth Asked WWE For His Release Several Times Before They Actually Fired Him

Aaron Varble
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Dolph Ziggler was one of the more surprising releases that WWE handed down in September 2023. Since then, he has appeared for NJPW and made his TNA Wrestling debut as well. It seems that he wanted to get started on his life after WWE prior to his release, because he asked WWE to let him go in the past.

Nic Nemeth’s WWE Release

Now going as Nic Nemeth, he has garnered attention post his WWE departure with his ventures in the pro wrestling realm.

Nemeth showed up during NJPW during last month’s Wrestle Kingdom event, where he has since participated in various matches. Additionally, he has begun working in TNA Wrestling following his promotional debut at the Hard to Kill pay-per-view event.

Ziggler was let go by WWE alongside several other wrestlers due to budget cuts after the sale to Endeavor. He had been with WWE since 2004, predominantly featured as an upper-mid card talent, and held the Intercontinental and United States Titles multiple times.

During a conversation with Denise Salcedo, Nemeth revealed that he had requested his release from WWE several times with the intention of returning, but WWE consistently refused, citing their need for him.

“It would be different if I was hobbling around or if I didn’t get reactions or wasn’t good at my job. I would be happy to take a backseat and help people out. But I’m sitting around six days a week, not working, basically in the prime of my career. So let’s get going. And so I said, ‘How about this? How about I leave for six months? How about I leave for a year?’ How about I get the hell out of here?’ But even a couple of years ago, when they said yes, the next Sunday, I’d get a phone call saying, ‘Hey, we need you.’ It’s great.”

Nemeth also reminisced about sending an email to WWE officials, including Vince McMahon, expressing his heartfelt thoughts about his situation. In the email, he outlined both positives and negatives of how he felt. McMahon was the sole individual to acknowledge the message and expressed a desire to have a conversation. Approximately two weeks after this email exchange transpired, Nemeth received his release from the company.

What’s Next

Nic Nemeth is still taking stand-up comedy dates, and he’s doing his thing in TNA Wrestling. At this time, we haven’t heard about him coming into AEW, but you never know what the future will hold for the former Dolph Ziggler.

SEScoops will keep our eye on this story for more developments.

Mercedes Mone’s Price Tag: WWE Refused Top Salary Demand To Secure Sasha Banks’ Return

Aaron Varble
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AEW is expected to bring in former WWE Superstar Mercedes Mone. A big date is set for Boston, and many are expecting her to show up on Collision. WWE was in the game for her, but it was already reported that they hit a financial roadblock. That being said, it seems that Mone wasn’t even asking for more than someone on the top of the Women’s Division is making.

Mercedes Mone’s Big Pay Day

AEW has a ton of money to throw around, but that hasn’t kept everyone around. Tony Khan admitted that he offered Jade Cargill more than she asked for to stay in AEW, but she is now a WWE Superstar. Mercedes Mone saw that money on the table and she took it.

Tony Khan has a lot of money to spend on AEW contracts. He has a reported net worth of $1 billion. His father, Shahid Khan, has a net worth of 11.7 billion. Mercedes Mone made it clear that she’s going to where the money is, and AEW was able to offer more.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Mercedes Mone asked WWE for a lot of money, but it wasn’t more than the top female Superstar is getting. One would assume that he is talking about Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, because they have the top paychecks in the women’s division.

“I don’t know her actual money demands, but I know in a general what she was looking for from WWE, and it was kinda in the range, and for a star of her caliber, while it would be a little bit more than WWE would be paying her, what she was looking for, maybe even more than a little bit more, but it was not more than they pay other women, and she was one of their bigger stars.”

AEW outbid WWE, and they’re getting The Boss. It was then stated that what this tells us is that when AEW is able to outbid for Mone, that they may be losing out on the deal financially. That being said, it’s not enough to worry the company, because “we would see it, because there would be talent cut.”

What’s Next

It is very much expected that Mercedes Mone will debut for AEW at their March 13th episode of Dynamite, that Big Business show in Boston’s TD Garden will provide the former Sasha Banks with a grand entrance for AEW in her hometown.

On a totally unrelated note, but I couldn’t resist from including this, AEW also rolled out a similar red carpet for CM Punk’s debut. They booked a large arena in Chicago without announcing Punk’s debut. They simply strongly alluded to it by naming that episode of Rampage “The First Dance.”

Of course, CM Punk and Sasha Banks both walked out of WWE. At this point, Punk is back in WWE, albeit he’s on the shelf due to an untimely injury. Now, it’s Mercedes Mone’s time to get a spotlight in AEW. 

TNA News: Eyes On Next Tapings, Morale Amid Latest Shakeups

Rayan Saayed
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Scott D’Amore was unexpectedly ousted from TNA Wrestling, with reports indicating that the decision was made prior to the promotion’s rebranding.

Subsequently, it was reported that several TNA talents joined forces and endorsed a letter to Anthem, expressing their discontent with D’Amore’s departure from the company. Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports the letter that was released online (by Fightful) was incomplete, large portions were left out.

The report suggests that there are still talents who remain unhappy with the entire D’Amore situation and are awaiting to see, “how they are addressed and treated at the New Orleans tapings next week.” 

Scott D’Amore was part of TNA’s foundation and the fallout from his abrupt departure is still unfolding. One wrestler we spoke with said management has been good communicating the changes to creative and the backstage structure, but they’re in a holding pattern until the next show and there’s an overall feeling of uncertainty.

Last week’s debunked report by Dave Meltzer that Tommy Dreamer has taken over as the new head of TNA creative did not help matters. Dreamer addressed the rumor on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio and set the record straight. He called the Wrestling Observer scoop “fictitious” and said he, RD Evans and Delirious are continuing their roles as usual as they embark on yet another new era for TNA .

Following the recent arrival of Nic Nemeth (former WWE Star Dolph Ziggler), we’ve seen hype for Mustafa Ali’s TNA debut. who challenges for the X-Division championship later this month on pay-per-view at TNA No Surrender. Overall, there’s a feeling of cautious excitement and we’ll have a much better idea of where things stand by the end of February 2024.

WWE’s WrestleMania 40 Strategy: LA Knight Planned For Marquee Title Match

Aaron Varble
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Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. LA Knight doesn’t want to miss the showcase of the immortals this year, and odds are he will find himself in a rather important match.

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For LA Knight

WWE has a lot of options for WrestleMania, and they want to make sure their biggest stars are represented. LA Knight has a massive fan base at this point, and this latest update could get them very excited about the show of shows.

I reported on February 8th that WWE had an idea for LA Knight that would see him battle Logan Paul for the United States Title. It appears that they have narrowed down their options and are very possibly going with that idea.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that WWE had those plans for LA Knight at WrestleMania. This could see him walk out of the showcase of the immortals as US Champion, because that match was the plan.  

“That was the plan I don’t still know if it is the plan but that was discussed at one point.”

What’s Next

Only time will tell if LA Knight is able to beat Logan Paul for the WWE United States Title at WrestleMania 40. He has certainly worked hard over the past year and seen a huge rise in popularity. 

The Elimination Chamber could also see LP and LA have a chance to jumpstart their feud, because they are both in the unforgiving structure for that big match in Perth.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available. 

Daily Drop (2/17): The Rock Makes Huge Move, WWE SmackDown Spoilers & More

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

  • WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 49 days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 17, 2024:

WWE

– The Rock officially joined The Bloodline during the February 16th episode of WWE SmackDown. That closing segment of the show did not feature any match getting booked for WrestleMania 40, but they are well on their way to cementing a match.

– WWE taped their February 23rd episode of SmackDown after this week’s show. You can check out all of those spoilers here.

– Shotzi is still pretty devastated over her serious knee injury. Her NXT Women’s Title match against Lyra Valkyria ended in terrible fashion with an injury, and she will likely miss a lot of time.

– After a lot of speculation about where he would land, Bron Breakker finally signed with WWE’s SmackDown brand. He is still 1/2 of the NXT Tag Team Champions, but he did not have his title with him during the 2/16 episode of the blue brand.

AEW

– Mercedes Mone is hyping an upcoming fight, and this is right in time for the hype before AEW’s Big Business special episode of Dynamite on March 13. The TD Garden will likely see the former Sasha Banks make her debut for the company during that show.

– Tony Khan announced that RVD will return to AEW for their 4/20 episode of Collision.

TNA & Everywhere Else

– Scott D’Amore is out, and TNA Talent aren’t happy. They reportedly banded together and signed a big letter to express how unhappy they are. 

– There is some contradicting information on who is in charge of TNA creative now. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Tommy Dreamer has the book now, but Tommy Dreamer has denied this.

– PW Insider later clarified this report, and it was reported that there is a different man making the calls for creative. 

Coming Up

– WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

– AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

– WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. 

– WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

– Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

– WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock. 

– WWE Money in the Bank will take place 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 set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Shane McMahon’s Son Kenyon Announces His Commitment To UNC Football Team

Bishal Roy
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WWE legend Shane McMahon’s son Kenyon McMahon recently made the announcement that he has committed to play college football. 

Each of Shane’s sons has impressed in their respective athletic fields. Kenyon McMahon is now committed to college football as a safety and wideout for UNC. With his brother Declan playing for Indiana University, eyes are on Kenyon McMahon as well.

Meanwhile, Shane McMahon has not appeared on WWE television since suffering an injury in a match against The Miz at WrestleMania 39.

Kenyon McMahon: I’m extremely blessed and excited

Shane’s son Kenyon McMahon took to social media and announced his commitment to play college football for the University of North Carolina. The post reads:

“I’m extremely blessed and excited to announce my commitment to play football at the University of North Carolina. #GoHeels”

Kenyon is listed at 6’1?, 170-pound, and played safety and wide receiver at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, New York.

Meanwhile, Declan McMahon started with Indiana University in 2023 and is listed as a running back, but did not see a snap last season.

At WWE Fastlane last year, Declan appeared alongside other Indiana Hoosiers football team players. Speaking with Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald, Declan discussed focusing on his football career. However, he also stated that he has been impressed by the WWE’s Performance Center. 

“I went down there once and it’s gorgeous. Obviously being in Florida, which is one of the greatest places to live. Especially with state tax and everything. The weight room in there [the Performance Center] is amazing. They’ve got a ton of rings. It’s just great because obviously when you’re wrestling it’s not only about how you look it’s about how safe you can be and how you can protect who you’re in the ring with.”

Well, someday Declan could hit the squared circle just like his father. He also has his debut plan plotted and you can read about it below:

Tommy Dreamer Is Not TNA Head of Creative – Who is?

Bishal Roy
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Pro Wrestling legend Tommy Dreamer recently snubbed the reports of replacing Scott D’Amore as TNA Head of Creative. Now, more reports have come to light regarding who is the captain of the ship. 

D’Amore was recently released as TNA President and has been replaced by Anthem Entertainment’s President Anthony Cicione. Reports suggest that Anthem, TNA’s parent company, wanted to have a closer connection to the promotion and thus Cicione was appointed.

Scott D’Amore even attempted to purchase TNA Wrestling and made a serious offer to Anthem. D’Amore’s offer was not in response to the success of TNA Hard to Kill show. This week, reports emerged that Tommy Dreamer is running TNA’s creative now that D’Amore has gone. This led to Dreamer’s name trending on social media. However, the former ECW star snubbed the reports.

Who is in charge of TNA Creative?

PWInsider has confirmed that:

“Ariel Shnerer will be overseeing all TNA content going forward and will be working in conjunction with new TNA President Anthony Cicione. It will be Shnerer who will have the last word on any talent and creative decisions, although Cicione will be the top of the pyramid.” 

Shnerer is the former General Manager of the Fight Network and has been associated with TNA since Anthem acquired the company. He has made appearances on TV from time to time as Dr. Ariel. 

However, he has been a key figure backstage and manages the distribution of TNA across Anthem. He was involved in bagging TNA’s deal for DAZN and several TNA streaming deals for Roku and Pluto TV, among other platforms. He also lead the way for the launch of TNA+ streaming service.

In addition to this, the outlet has reported that the existing TNA Creative team of Tommy Dreamer, RD Evans and Hunter “Delirious” Johnston “will remain in place and continue to work as they did prior to Scott D’Amore’s departure.”

Moreover, TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim will be supporting the group as she was one of the top officials for the company backstage in the past and has been heavily involved whether it’s talent relations or production. 

It has also come to light that Jorge Barbosa has joined the creative process. Barbosa served as a Senior Producer for Anthem Sports & Entertainment for a long time and was the person behind all Fight Network Diary documentaries that focused on TNA and MMA personalities.

Mercedes Moné Hypes Her Upcoming ‘Fight’ Amid AEW Debut Speculation

Bishal Roy
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Mercedes Moné (formerly Sasha Banks) is currently one of the hottest free agents in the market and she has teased the fans about her upcoming move.

Moné had a successful run with WWE before she departed in 2022 due to issues with the creative team. The former ‘Boss’ went on to make her mark in NJPW and World Wonder Ring Stardom while also becoming the IWGP Women’s Champion. Now, it seems that she is AEW-bound. 

In WWE, Moné captured the Women’s Tag Team Titles three times, two of which with Bayley. It has come to light that ‘The Role Model’ recently sent a touching message to her best friend, Mercedes Moné, and expressed her gratitude for their run together in the company. 

Taking to Twitter/X, Bayley shared a picture of herself and Moné with the Women’s Tag Team Championships and wrote:

“And we fought for them for over 6 years. For our division and more opportunity. Grateful for my time with you,” she wrote.

Mercedes Moné responds

 Mercedes Moné took note of the post and replied:

“Wait till you see what I’m fighting for next.”

On a recent edition of AEW Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that the March 13, episode of Dynamite will take place at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. The location and the show’s name being billed “Big Business” has created a buzz that Mercedes Moné will make her debut at the show.

It seems that Moné has already inked a deal with AEW and has been on AEW’s payroll since early January. It’s worth noting that Moné also made her presence felt at AEW All In: London last year. 

We will have to wait and see if Mercedes Moné shows up in AEW on March 13.

Shotzi Is “Devastated” After NXT Injury Costs Her Elimination Chamber Opportunity

Thomas Lowson
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WWE SmackDown Superstar Shotzi has shared her heartbreak after her recent injury robbed her of a potential spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. 

During a taping for next week’s episode of WWE NXT, Shotzi returned to the gold brand to challenge Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. Unfortunately, Shotzi suffered a serious leg injury that resulted in the match being called off. WWE NXT officials were left “in a panic” over Shotzi’s injury as there was a scramble to fill the time left by her match ending early. 

Shotzi is Devastated

This injury meant that Shotzi could not compete at this week’s SmackDown, where she was set to compete in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Had Shotzi won this qualifier and won inside the Chamber, she would have competed for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40. 

Taking to Twitter, Shotzi expressed her disappointment over being robbed of such a golden opportunity. 

The Women’s Elimination Chamber Match

With Shotzi out of the picture, this week’s SmackDown saw Naomi and Tiffany Stratton qualify for the match with victories over Alba Fyre and Zelina Vega respectively. Naomi and Stratton now join Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Liv Morgan. A battle royal will determine the final entrant in the match. 

One name fans shouldn’t expect to see advance is Jade Cargill. While a graphic accidentally spoiling the participants seemingly confirmed the former AEW TBS Champion’s involvement, plans have seemingly changed. Cargill has reportedly been pulled from the match and is not expected at Elimination Chamber: Perth. 

Cargill appeared on this week’s SmackDown in a backstage segment that included Stratton and Belair. 

Brogan Finlay Makes WWE In-Ring Debut At NXT Live Event Against Another Multi-Generation Star

Thomas Lowson
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0

Brogan Finlay’s WWE in-ring debut saw him share the ring with another multi-generational Superstar this week. 

Finlaym the brother of New Japan’s David Finlay, signed with WWE in December of last year. He has been competing since 2021 and has worked for GCW, New Japan, Wrestling Revolver, Black Label Pro, and Blitzkrieg! Pro to name just a few companies.

At last night’s WWE NXT event in Tampa, Florida, Finlay added WWE to the list of promotions he has worked for. In his in-ring debut, he faced Charlie Dempsey. Unfortunately for Finlay, it was the No Quarter Catch Crew member who got the win. 

Family History

It’s fitting that Finlay faced Dempsey in his WWE NXT debut, as the pair’s fathers also had some wars in the ring. Fit Finlay and William Regal feuded in WCW, with Finlay making his debut in the promotion with an attack on the Blackpool brawler. Years later, the pair would be forced to face off for Finlay’s U.S. title at Great American Bash 2006, after Bobby Lashley, Finlay’s original opponent, failed his medical test. Finlay bested Regal at the WWE pay-per-view to retain. 

On Twitter, Finlay made reference to the fact that their fathers fought in the past.

WWE NXT: Tampa Results

Here are the results for the February 16, 2024, WWE NXT live event, courtesy of Wrestling Bodyslam:

  • Fallon Henley and Wren Sinclair defeated Kiana James and Izzy Dame
  • Charlie Dempsey defeated Brogan Finlay
  • Josh Briggs defeated Jonah Niesenbaum
  • Karmen Petrovic defeated Jazmyn Nyx
  • Chase U (Thea Hail, Riley Osborne, & Duke Hudson) defeat OTM (Jaida Parker, Scrypts, & Bronco Nima)
  • Hank Walker and Tank Ledger defeated Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe
  • Luca Crusifino defeated Je’Von Evans
  • Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson defeated Lainey Reid and Carlee Bright
  • Andre Chase defeated Oro Mensah and Brooks Jensen in a Triple-Threat match to earn a future North American Title opportunity
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) defeated Blair Davenport
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