Seth Rollins was in good spirit and cheering the fans on, but clearly hurt from his match after this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw on USA Network.
This week’s episode of the red branded show was centered around the Architect defending his title against Jinder Mahal. This match had been the center of attention for wrestling fans all week after Tony Khan’s latest Twitter tirade.
There were a lot of moving parts in this bout that was also the main event of the show. Jinder was accompanied by Indus Sher for this opportunity while Damian Priest also came out with his Money In The Bank Briefcase.
Seth Rollins managed to overcome the defying odds in the end, however. After Drew McIntyre attacked Priest and Indus Sher were sent back by the referee, the Visionary defeated Mahal to retain his title.
The show went off air soon after the bell rang but Seth remained in the ring for a while. He cut a promo referencing the cold weather that forced WWE to change the set for tonight’s Raw. Rollins finally thanked the fans for coming to the show.
While the WWE World Heavyweight Champion was in good spirits after the show, reports have confirmed that he did hurt his knee during the match with The Maharaja. You can check out more about it here.
Becky Lynch plans on making history at the upcoming Royal Rumble PLE and has her sights set on a WrestleMania showdown with Rhea Ripley.
On this week’s Raw, Rhea Ripley spoke about the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match. Ripley said that whichever woman wins the match shouldn’t waste their opportunity by challenging her for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
This brought out Lynch, who was declared for the Women’s Rumble match during the WWE 2024 Preview Special earlier this month. Lynch vowed to make history by becoming the first two-time winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Lynch also made it clear that if when she wins, she’ll challenge Ripley at WrestleMania 40. Ripley seemed amused by the idea and said she’s rooting for Lynch to win.
Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley
Arguably WWE’s two most popular women on the roster at this time, Lynch and Ripley have shared the ring as adversaries on five occasions. Their first match was on the November 20, 2019, edition of WWE NXT and ended in a no-contest. The most recent match between the two was at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2022. In the titular structure, Lynch, alongside Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and Bianca Belair, defeated Ripley, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY.
Tony Khan may cut loose on Twitter from time to time, but Powerhouse Hobbs believes it only demonstrates his boss’ dedication to AEW.
In the days leading up to this week’s Raw, Khan fired off a series of tweets, outraged at the booking of Jinder Mahal in a World Heavyweight Championship match. Khan’s comments would be mocked by fans online, with some pointing out AEW talent who have been thrust into title matches after lengthy breaks from programming.
Powerhouse Hobbs Reacts
Khan has never shied away from letting his views known on social media, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the AEW roster. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Powerhouse Hobbs shared his two cents on Khan’s online activity.
“It’s his company. He believes in us, and you know, if you believe in something, speak your mind. If you’re 100% sure on it, speak your mind. If you’re 99% sure on it, don’t speak on it. He’s 100% sure and he’s speaking his mind. He believes in his company and he believes in us.”
Tony Khan on Social Media
Khan’s outburst about Jinder Mahal is hardly the first time the AEW President has run his mouth on social media. Ahead of the Tuesday Night War of October 2023, Khan made a series of disparaging remarks about WWE’s gold brand. Khan labeled Triple H and Shawn Michaels “bald a**holes” which made it all the more embarrassing when NXT decisively beat Dynamite in the ratings. While NXT soared to its third-highest viewership of all time, Dynamite hit its lowest viewership in close to two years.
With GUNTHER’s impressive run on the main roster, CM Punk is keeping an eye on the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion. On Instagram, Punk reacted to GUNTHER’s declaration, saying if what he’s heard is real, it’s going to be a tough time for the 28 other Superstars in the match other than himself and GUNTHER.
Punk’s comment is a nod to the infamous tweet by Keith Lee that he sent in early 2022 about the Austrian. Following reports that WWE would be changing the name of WALTER to GUNTHER, Lee had the following to say.
The tweet has become a meme among fans given GUNTHER’s exceptional tenure on the main roster. In contrast, many have felt that Lee’s tenure with AEW has been far from groundbreaking, with many believing he is being wasted in the promotion.
The 2024 Royal Rumble Matches: Who’s In?
GUNTHER and Punk are just two names confirmed for the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The pair are joined by Bobby Lashley, who like Punk and GUNTHER is yet to win a Rumble match. Former winners Cody Rhodes (2023), Drew McIntyre (2020), and Shinsuke Nakamura (2018) have also been confirmed for the match.
On the women’s side of things, Bayley and Nia Jax are hoping to win their first Royal Rumble matches. Bianca Belair, the winner of the 2021 Rumble, and Becky Lynch, who stood tall in 2019, hope to make history by becoming the first two-time Women’s Royal Rumble match winner.
Could WWE be on course to a highly-physical match at WrestleMania 40…
This week’s Raw looked far different than what fans are used to seeing, but the decision to change the stage wasn’t entirely the company’s call.
The January 15, 2024, edition of Monday Night Raw saw the red brand continue toward the Royal Rumble PLE on January 27. The show saw the return of GUNTHER and Xavier Woods, while Becky Lynch vowed to win the Women’s Royal Rumble match and face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40.
This week’s Raw saw the use of a new stage which was far different from what the WWE Universe is used to seeing. While some suspected that this was merely a cosmetic change, the move was one made of necessity. The Wrestling Classic reports that WWE had to ground rig everything for Raw, as there was a risk that attaching the usual stage to the ceiling would prove to be too much pressure.
The show took place at the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, which has been hit hard by recent weather. There was a concern that the traditional stage hung from the ceiling, in addition to the heavy snow on the roof of the venue, would have made the venue unsafe for fans.
Matt Cardona has been making his name ever since his release from WWE, and now the ‘Indy God’ had his name mentioned during the Emmy Awards.
The 75th annual Emmy Awards took place this week from the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The awards covered programming from June 2022 to May 2023, with nominations announced in July of 2023.
Paul Walter Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird.
Hauser’s acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and ‘get the tables!’
Paul Walter Hauser brings pro wrestling to the Emmy’s
If Hauser’s name sounds familiar, it’s because had a match for Pro Wrestling REVOLVER last November.
During his acceptance speech, Hauser name-dropped Matt Cardona, saying he’s going to beat the ‘Indy God’ at the upcoming Ready or Not event on March 16.
Kota Ibushi and Matt Cardona shoutouts during the Emmys by Paul Walter Hauser. Incredible.pic.twitter.com/JYhFMdfLqB
It wasn’t just Matt Cardona that Hauser referenced during his rap-based acceptance speech. The actor also gave a shoutout to Kota Ibushi and referred to the ‘Wolfpac’, a nod to the NWO off-shoot faction.
WWE Hall of Famer ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was among the lengthy list of people that Hauser wished to thank. Hauser ended his speech with a “get the tables”, a nod to the legendary tag team the Dudley Boyz.
Paul Walter Hauser won his Emmy award in a category that also included Murray Bartlett (Welcome to Chippendales, Nick De Noia), Richard Jenkins (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Lionel Dahmer), Joseph Lee (Beef, George Nakai), Ray Liotta (Black Burd, James ‘Big Jim’ Keener), Young Mazino (Beef, Paul Cho), and Jesse Plemons (Love and Death, Allan Gore).
Last time Paul Walter Hauser was in an @PWRevolver ring… He K!LLED a man!
Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins may have left Raw as the World Heavyweight Champion, but the Visionary was left worse for wear by the end of the show.
In the main event, Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal in a hard-fought match for both men. The bout had one of the biggest ‘big fight feels’ fans have seen in some time, thanks in part to Tony Khan’s recent outburst.
The match saw plenty of creative add-ons that made a title change look possible, with Indus Sher providing backup for Mahal. Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest would also make his presence felt at ringside but was neutralized by Drew McIntyre.
Amid all that was happening, Rollins was able to put Mahal away with a stomp, keeping his impressive World Heavyweight Championship reign alive. Rollins was seen favoring his knee during the match, which wasn’t just for the storyline.
Multiple sources backstage at Raw informed PWTorch that Rollins was helped in the back and eventually put weight on it, Rollins was said to be walking on his own but with a “definite limp.”
The champion will be further evaluated to determine the severity of the injury. The reigning World Heavyweight Champion looked notably worried as Raw ended and stood on one leg when presented with his title by the referee.
When Did Rollins Get Hurt?
It’s unclear when exactly the injury happened, but Rollins began favoring his leg after a dive to ringside. Further damage may have been done by Rollins using the Pedigree and the Stomp during the match.
WWE has not commented publicly on his situation at this time, but we’ll provide an update when more details became available.
Mustafa Ali has been making waves after his departure from WWE. There are numerous opportunities for him in the pro wrestling scene, and it’s evident that he is drawing attention and generating ticket sales.
Mustafa Ali Doing Well After WWE Release
Sean Ross Sapp shared a note on Fightful Select about Mustafa Ali’s time after WWE, and just how profitable of a venture it is.
Ali has been successful in selling tickets for indie companies, and promoters have reportedly seen a positive response when booking him for their shows, capitalizing on Ali’s recognition as a former WWE Superstar.
We’ve heard from indie promoters that Mustafa Ali’s impact on ticket sales for some of his first events are the most they’ve seen for a WWE departure in years.
Despite a promising run in NXT and being in contention for an NXT North American title match, Ali saw an unexpected release. Now, as he is navigating his own path, fans are definitely responding.
On January 19th, Ali is set to journey to Ottawa, Canada, for a wrestling appearance with C4 Wrestling. Following this, he will mark his debut on the UK independent wrestling scene at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28th. The former leader of Retribution is scheduled to participate in an event with DEFY on February 9th in Seattle, Washington.
WWE’s September 2023 Superstar Releases
On September 21, 2023, WWE underwent a series of releases, parting ways with several members of their roster in the midst of television rights talks after the TKO Group Holdings merger.
The list of released individuals included Mustafa Ali, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Top Dolla of Hit Row, Tegan Nox, Emma, Riddick Moss, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke, Mansoor, Mace, Quincy Elliot, Dabba-Kato, and Yulisa Leon. The departure of these talents signaled a significant shift within the WWE landscape, prompting attention and discussions within the wrestling community.
WWE released several roster members in September, and now these individuals are re-emerging in the world of professional wrestling. It seems that some of them are proving to be profitable for promoters who choose to book them.
Seth Rollins won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. He went on to carry that title for 234 days, until he met Jinder Mahal in Little Rock, Arkansas on RAW for a much-hyped title match.
Seth Rollins vs Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal gained a lot of attention since stepping up to Seth Rollins for his WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The Modern Day Maharaja was after the title to reclaim a top spot in WWE.
Is this @JinderMahal's night to become WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION?
This match was significant as well, because it revisited history. Seth Rollins vs Jinder Mahal was the match to decide the first-ever NXT Champion, a contest that Rollins won in 2012. They did not bring this match up on commentary, because it ended in the same way.
Indus Sher, Veer and Sanga, accompanied Jinder Mahal to the ring for his match, and they made their presence felt early in the match as they distracted Rollins. This allowed Mahal to start the match off with an advantage.
The match continued for a bit, and then Damian Priest emerged from the back, with his Money in the Bank briefcase in tow, right before they cut to commercial. Eventually, Drew McIntyre interrupted Priest from cashing in, and they brawled away. Those two will battle on RAW next week on January 22nd in New Orleans during the go-home RAW before the Royal Rumble.
In the end, Indus Sher were ejected from ringside after Mahal nearly cheated to win the match. Seth Rollins then retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after nailing a Stomp. That is the same move that put Mahal away 12 years ago in NXT.
What’s Next For Seth Rollins
WWE kicked off the year with a World Heavyweight Championship contest during the Day 1 episode of RAW. For that match, Drew McIntyre’s bid for the title fell short. Defeating the Modern Day Maharaja marks Rollins’ second successful title defense this year.
Seth Rollins is not presently booked to defend his title at the Royal Rumble. After beating Mahal this week in Little Rock, we will have to see if Rollins will defend his title at Tropicana Field.
Brock Lesnar is known for his ultimate part-time schedule with WWE. He also makes a truckload of money every time he shows up to work. The Beast Incarnate has been off since the summer, but WrestleMania season is right around the corner.
Lesnar has received plenty of big matches at WrestleMania. Some of them were more successful than others, but he usually makes himself known around the showcase of the immortals.
In his Daily Update, Dave Meltzer noted on F4Wonline that Brock Lesnar is expected to make a comeback soon. It might not be very long until his monstrous music breaks the moment again on WWE television.
Brock Lesnar will be back on WWE television very soon.
Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania History
Brock Lesnar has a rich history with WrestleMania. It will be interesting to see how Triple H books him for WrestleMania 40, but we may know his direction soon enough.
Brock Lesnar participated in several WrestleMania matches, each with unique circumstances. At WrestleMania XIX, held in Seattle, Washington on March 30th, 2003, he faced Kurt Angle in a singles match for the WWE Championship to win, and start a fantastic Mania legacy for himself.
Moving forward to WrestleMania XX in New York, New York on March 14th, 2004, Lesnar engaged in a singles match against Goldberg, with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee. That match was infamous, because it marked Lesnar and Goldberg’s exits.
After his return to WWE, at WrestleMania 29, which took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 7th, 2013, Brock Lesnar had a No Holds Barred match against Triple H, which The Game won.
Lesnar continued his WrestleMania journey, participating in matches against various opponents. WrestleMania XXX in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 6th, 2014, featured a singles match between Lesnar and Undertaker, where the Beast Incarnate broke Taker’s Mania undefeated streak.
Another notable match occurred in Santa Clara, California on March 29th, 2015 at WrestleMania 31, where Lesnar faced Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That match was originally a singles match, but Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to enter the match and win the title.
The WrestleMania legacy of Brock Lesnar includes encounters such as a Street Fight against Dean Ambrose in Arlington, Texas at WrestleMania 32, April 3, 2016, a match that didn’t really pan out as many hoped. Then, at WrestleMania 33, he beat Goldberg in Orlando, Florida for the Universal Title.
A singles match for the WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in New Orleans, Louisiana at WrestleMania 34 followed that. Rollins went on to beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 35 for the Universal Title. Then, Drew McIntyre beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 for the title in front of zero fans.
WrestleMania 37 did not see Brock Lesnar appear, but Roman Reigns beat him at WrestleMania 38 to become Undisputed Universal Champion. Then at WrestleMania 39, Lesnar shut down Omos in a match that surprised many fans to see on the card. Now, we are going to have to wait and see who he faces next, but it’s obvious that Lesnar’s booking is something that WWE takes seriously.
The Hollywood star helped to make waves for the recently released biopic surrounding the heartbreak and tragedy behind The Von Erich family and it didn’t hit a note with just movie goers, but Efron himself.
Efron took to his social media to pen a short love letter showing his appreciation for all of the talent that make a decision to step inside the squared circle and points out one star in particular.
Notable WWE stars took a moment to commend both for their work on “The Iron Claw” including Natalya, Chelsea Green and Mojo Rawley.
Guerrero was a recent interview of SEScoops and went into detail behind the training process, particularly with Holt McCallany, who portrayed the patriach of the Von Erich family, Fritz.
Mercedes Mone and Bayley were on-hand to witness Trinitiy’s Knockout Title defense, but she ended up not being the only talent they showed support for.
Mone and Bayley were captured watching from afar at TNA Hard To Kill as Trinity put her championship on the line against Jordynne Grace, but unfortunately for the former Naomi, she suffered the loss.
However, there appears to be no ill will as after the fight went down, Grace got a photo opportunity with both Mone and Bayley. She also took a moment to commend the two for the love they have shown for their long-time friend.
“Women supporting women is my favorite. I may have won the title, but don’t think Trinity Fatu can ever really lose with friends like these in her corner.”
After Grace posted that, Mercedes Mone replied to her, giving her further praise after the big victory.
Grace has already built a track record for being a force in the TNA Knockouts division as her victory against Trinity marks her third reign as champion. Not only that, but Grace has also been a Knockouts Tag Team Champion and a Digital Media Champion.
What does 2024 have in store for Bayley, Trinity and Mercedes Mone?
2024 is setting up to be a bountiful year for Bayley, Trinity and Mone. The speculation for Trinity is that she could make a return to WWE and reports have indicated that Mercedes Mone is likely going to sign with AEW.
With Royal Rumble on the horizon, Bayley is aiming to win the women’s match and earn her first singles match at WrestleMania 40.
WWE saw a lot of changes in 2023, as the company merged with the UFC under Endeavor’s new TKO Group Holdings. Now in 2024, the company’s production is on the verge of breaking out some new ideas for the company.
WWE Programming Changing After Kevin Dunn’s Exit
Kevin Dunn’s era in WWE is over, and many fans are paying close attention to what the company puts on television. Some observant fans noticed two distinctive segments that didn’t seem to fit the norm that Dunn established for decades.
Two segments have stood out from WWE Raw and SmackDown in recent memory. One featured Chelsea Green and Piper Niven at a club, confronting Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. The other, showcased on Smackdown, puts the spotlight on Butch/Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that fans making comparisons to NXT would be accurate to do so. Triple H let Jeremy Borash make up a team in NXT, one that was off Kevin Dunn’s radar of influence. Now that Dunn is gone, they can do a lot more that he would previously nix.
We’re told that Triple H allowed Jeremy Borash to put together a team in NXT for the past three years, where it would be safely under Kevin Dunn’s radar. Triple H was said to have been happy with how they played out, and with Dunn’s departure, there is a door open to feature that style of promos across all WWE shows.
We’ve spoken to several people associated with helping put together the promos that spoke highly of the new process and the freedom to to them. One source noted that under Dunn, the segment would have likely cut away to several different things, but the new method was to let the characters breathe, and the segment to play out.
WWE After Kevin Dunn’s Exit
It seems that the people making these promos are having a good time. It was also noted that both segments received positive internal feedback.
Lee Fitting took over for Kevin Dunn upon his exit from the company. Many were shocked to see Dunn finally leave, but it came after Vince McMahon’s retirement, as Dunn was Mr. McMahon’s right-hand man in production.
Last month, CJ Perry sustained a serious MRSA infection after getting a small splinter in her finger while backstage at AEW. After the infection began spreading up Perry’s arm, Perry was then required to undergo emergency surgery Perry and real-life Miro later announced that the surgery was successful.
Unfortunately, Perry is now experiencing a setback in her recovery journey.
Infection ‘Relapse’
Over the weekend, CJ Perry provided an update on her post-surgery care (via X), revealing that she had a ‘relapse’ in her MRSA infection after her antibiotics stopped working. As a result, Perry was rushed to the hospital, where a surgeon cleaned out her wound in the search for blood.
When no blood emerged, the doctor inserted a long IV needle into Perry’s hand, which Perry described as a fire-like ‘stinging sensation,’ to numb the area around her finger. The doctor then continued to dig through Perry’s finger until they spotted blood.
Following this treatment, Perry was instructed to return to the surgeon to repeat the process every day this week. Perry has also been put back on antibiotics.
In a separate TikTok video, Perry revealed she may need a second surgery on her finger. Should doctors determine that a follow-up operation is necessary, Perry says they plan on taking skin from either a ring finger or her palm to act as a skin graft.
For now, though, Perry will continue forward with her daily doctor’s visits in the hope that her recovery continues on an upward trajectory.
From everyone here at SEScoops, we send our best wishes to CJ Perry.
Eager to secure herself a singles match at WrestleMania 40, former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was the first to declare herself for the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble. And while the event is still nearly two weeks away, Bayley has made it clear that if she wins the Women’s Royal Rumble match, she plans to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
Praise For Ripley
Speaking with The New York Post, Bayley shared praise for Ripley’s journey through WWE, which has resulted in her now being the most talked about woman on WWE programming.
“If I’m able to work with [Rhea] at WrestleMania, that would just be a dream match I never even thought of before,” Bayley said. “She is obviously untouchable. She is the most talked about woman on TV right now and she backs it up. She doesn’t just have the look. She doesn’t just have the body. She doesn’t just have – besides Damage CTRL – a badass group to align with. She’s so good and it makes me so mad. ‘I’m like why are you so good, you are so young.’ I can’t even throw a drop kick and she can do one over my head. Just little things that she does that she’s able to do and portray on TV is very hard to do and she does it with ease.”
Excluding past Royal Rumble matches, “The Role Model” and “The Eradicator” have only shared a ring on three other occasions. After teaming together in the 2022 Women’s WarGames match, Ripley and Bayley found themselves in opposite corners during a triple threat match to determine the number one contender to the WWE RAW Women’s Championship — a match that saw Bayley emerge victorious. The two later met again in March 2023 for a singles affair on RAW, in which Ripley picked up the win.
Should Bayley and Ripley face off at WrestleMania 40, it will mark only their second singles match.
“She carried that title on her back proudly,” Bayley said. “I’m gonna have to take it off of her and it will be an honor to do. It will be an honor, Rhea.”
Cora Jade and Lyra Valkyria faced each other in the main event, and regrettably, Jade fell to the mat at some point. This resulted in, what could be, a drastic change of plans for Shawn Michaels’ NXT booking.
We previously covered that Jade went down during an NXT live event, and she did not get up. This caused alarm as WWE’s medical team tended to her in the ring.
Dave Meltzer has now updated fans to say that the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion suffered an ACL tear. The severity of her tear was not noted.
The Cora Jade knee injury from the weekend house show we talked about on the show last night is an ACL tear.
The Cora Jade knee injury from the weekend house show we talked about on the show last night is an ACL tear.
Cora Jade has a bright future in WWE, and she has some great connections in the company. Not only has she impressed many with her work ethic at this point, but she is also a favorite of CM Punk’s.
While Jade was a WWE fan in her younger days, she was a huge fan of CM Punk and AJ Lee. Now, in her career as a WWE Superstar, she has a much different appreciation for everything they’ve done.
Jade received a nice surprise from Punk while he stopped by NXT after his WWE return. The two got along very well, and the Second City Savior worked out with Cora Jade, and others, at the WWE Performance Center while he was around.
WWE released a lot of talent in September, and Dolph Ziggler’s name was arguably the most surprising one. Now the former World Champion is making his own way through the pro wrestling world, as he has popped up for both TNA Wrestling and NJPW so far. There were a lot of options on the table for Nic Nemeth.
Nic Nemeth Had Options
The former Dolph Ziggler has garnered attention in recent weeks by appearing for NJPW and, most recently, TNA, marking a nearly 20-year tenure in WWE. One thing is very clear, he is getting priority booking wherever he goes.
During a conversation on TNA’s Instagram after Hard To Kill, Nemeth disclosed that numerous individuals contacted him post his release, expressing their desire to have him in their company.
Nic Nemeth reflected on the past three, four, five, six months, contemplating how to prolong his legacy and embark on a distinct chapter with a new mindset and persona.
He expressed feeling like a wanted individual, recounting the multitude of people who reached out to him after his departure from his previous job. These messages weren’t mere expressions of thanks or congratulations, but rather indications of a significant level of interest and desire for his involvement.
A bunch of people reached out instantly and said, ‘We want you here.’ I go, man, it is great to feel that. I’m very fortunate and lucky that people [said], ‘How can we get you? What can we do?’ I was like, I’m kind of a wanted man, it got me more excited, like I’m back in, okay. I was like, ‘I could show up and be a hired gun here. I could take this guy out, and we could go run. I’m figuring out, where could we go, and I watched TNA go to IMPACT and become TNA in this special moment at Hard To Kill, where this is a coming-out party for TNA again. I go, that could be a perfect fit. Hopefully, I can back it up in the ring, other than just talking about it and showing up.
Dolph Ziggler’s Next Moves in Pro Wrestling
Many fans expected Nic to arrive in AEW eventually, because Ryan Nemeth, his brother, is on Tony Khan’s roster. He was also telling Nic for a decade that he should leave WWE. That has not happened yet, but at this rate, nothing would surprise us.
TNA Wrestling delivered on a big surprise at the end of Hard to Kill with Nemeth, and he has already wrestled for the company. Someone like Nic Nemeth obviously has options on the table.
TNA Wrestling presented their Hard to Kill event on Saturday, and a few titles changed hands. After Jordynne Grace won the Knockouts Title from Trinity, many assumed that reports about Naomi’s WWE return were on the money. That comeback may have to wait.
Trinity Fatu’s Current Status
Following her loss of the Knockouts Title to Jordynne Grace at Hard To Kill, some speculated that Trinity’s time with TNA Wrestling had concluded. Contrary to expectations, reports now suggest that her return to WWE might not be imminent.
PW Insider noted that Trinity had additional scheduled dates with TNA Wrestling, and she did not fulfill her commitment on Sunday. This may push her WWE comeback even further.
We are told Trinity had several more dates with the promotion and did not finish up yesterday at TV, where she wrestled Jordynne Grace.
In the past, WWE typically prefers to bring in talent after they wrap up commitments with another television-prominent promotion. They don’t really like to share talent on television, and it’s a rarity that they will even allow a Superstar to do anything else for another company.
TNA Wrestling’s Morale is Good
The report from Mike Johnson further noted that morale within the promotion reportedly experienced a boost after these events, coinciding with the official reintroduction of the TNA brand at Hard to Kill.
It was also noted that Kazuchika Okada’s return to the company after many years was a “healing” moment. This comes after he had been treated so poorly by the previous administration so many years ago.
Trinity may still be WWE-bound, but it appears she has a few more dates with TNA Wrestling to go. Nothing is 100% until contracts are signed, so she may just decide to stick around with the freshly re-branded company, because that option is likely there for her as well.
Bret Hart is unquestionably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and the Hitman has high-expectations for his new grandchild. In a wholesome video shared online, Hart can be seen holding his new grandchild and asking how their ‘tie-ups’ are.
Bret is became a Grandfather again this week. First thing he asked him was "how's your tie ups?" What amazing man. pic.twitter.com/JXVlaovmMs
TNA Hard to Kill was a historic night for the promotion, with Nic Nemeth debuting in the closing moments of the show to confront Moose. Ash By Elegance also made her debut during the show. Before Hard to Kill went on the air though, one member of the ring crew won big when he popped the question to his partner, who was thrilled to say yes.
For some time, MJF teased that he would be leaving AEW when his contract expired on January 1, 2024, and that he’d be joining WWE, Despite reports that MJF signed a new deal with AEW last year, Bet Online have listed MJF as a potential winner of the Royal Rumble, giving him +1000 odds. The current favorite to win the match (according to Bet Online) is CM Punk with +150 odds, followed by GUNTHER (+300) and Cody Rhodes (+400)
Teddy Hart is no stranger to the legal system at this point, and he keeps his attorneys very busy. Now, he will have to wait even longer to see his day in court, but the judge made it clear that they won’t let him push things back again.
Teddy Hart’s Latest Legal Situation
Teddy Hart appeared in court on January 11th, stemming from his arrest on July 15th, 2023, facing charges of possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription—both classified as third-degree felonies in Florida.
Alongside these charges, he was cited for failing to stop at a steady red light, the incident that led to his initial arrest. This encounter with the law adds to Teddy Hart’s history of previous run-ins with the police.
Teddy Hart Granted One More Continuance
The court appearance in Titusville, Florida, last Thursday was designated as a mandatory session for “Early Resolution.” However, according to PW Insider, Teddy Hart’s defense sought and was granted a continuance during the hearing.
The rescheduled hearing is now set for February 8th, with a clear message from the court that it will be the final opportunity for the defense to request any further delays.
Edward “Teddy Hart” Annis’ defense requested and received a continuance at his hearing on 1/11. The court agreed and moved the hearing to 2/8, noting it would be the final time the defense is allowed to do so.
The judge emphasized that no additional continuances would be granted. Teddy Hart, initially expected to follow the path of the legendary Hart family and become a prominent wrestling figure, has faced setbacks in the wrestling industry due to personal issues and legal challenges.
WWE Superstars are professionals, but they aren’t perfect. Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes’ match on SmackDown last week ended suddenly, but thankfully, they are both okay now.
Carmelo Hayes & Austin Theory’s Scary Botched Spot
On the January 12th episode of WWE SmackDown, the match featuring Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes was halted by the referee due to an incident during an Avalanche Spanish Fly from the top turnbuckle that resulted in both wrestlers landing awkwardly.
The referee, signaling the “X” position to indicate a potential injury, decided to wave off the match. Reports indicated that facial contusions were sustained by both wrestlers as a consequence of the spot.
Bryan Alvarez shared an update on Wrestling Observer Radio, suggesting that Austin Theory entered medical protocol, hinting at a potentially more significant impact from the incident.
Carmelo Hayes previously made his SmackDown debut towards the end of the preceding year, participating in the WWE United States Championship No.1 Contenders Tournament.
His return to the blue brand occurred in a backstage segment, discussing Royal Rumble chances with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, leading to a confrontation with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller and ultimately setting up the match between Hayes and Theory later in the show.
Hayes is currently booked with Trick Williams in a team as they take on the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. That storyline is getting a big spotlight in NXT, as it should.
Exclusive Insight On Austin Theory & Carmelo Hayes’ Botched Spot
I was told by a tenured member of the WWE team that the referee was actually concerned about both Theory and Hayes after that botches spot. It was not one more than the other.
I was further told that the “referee thought they were both hurt and did the proper protocol by calling for the bell and calling for the doctor.”
WWE’s commentary team also praised the referee in this instance for his quick decision-making, as they put an emphasis on keeping Superstar safety at the forefront.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan proved to be a good samaritan this week after helping a woman whose car had flipped over.
Hogan, his wife Sky, and a friend were driving on Sunday evening in Clearwater, Florida when they witnessed the wreck play out in front of them. Sources told TMZ that a car erratically swerved across the lanes to catch an exit it was about to miss. That car would clip another car, which would flip over and tumble.
Hogan’s vehicle pulled over immediately and the three rushed to the aid of the 17-year-old driver who was said to be “rattled.” Hogan and his friend Jake, a former marine, helped the young woman out of the car. Jake punctured the woman’s airbag and he and Hogan were able to lift her out of the vehicle to safety. Hogan, Jake, and Sky watched on as paramedics arrived.
The woman appeared to be okay, despite the shock of the ordeal. Hogan, who was wearing a blue bandana and a New World Order shirt, was said to be “happy to help.”
WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff is relishing in not working for Tony Khan, and is grateful for every day he doesn’t have to answer to the AEW President.
While Bischoff has made a handful of appearances for AEW, it’s been some time since the WCW magnate was invited to a show. Bischoff has been critical of AEW in recent years, and while he’s made it clear he wants AEW to succeed, he has been unimpressed by the work of Tony Khan. Last October, Bischoff claimed that Khan is “beyond help” and dismissed the AEW President as a Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman wannabee.
Bischoff Responds to Dax Harwood
Bischoff’s issues with Tony Khan are well-documented and Easy-E only added to the tensions this week. On the latest episode of his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff didn’t hold back. He first discussed Dax calling him out over his remarks on AEW:
“Either my skin has gotten so thick that I just don’t react to things the way I used to or maybe you just get wiser with age and having kind of been there when I was younger, kinda where Dax is right now, so I kind of get it. Where is Dax in his career? He’s got to say these things. He’s out there promoting his company. He’s defending his company. His boss made a complete Jackass of himself on social media during the week previous to this appearance he made.
So I get it, because what else is Dax going to do? If he doesn’t have a gig in AEW? And I don’t mean that as a shot because I like him. I like the tag team, like you do for the same reasons. But I don’t know if going back to the WWE is an option. Maybe it is. We’ve seen crazier things. I don’t know the situation where Dax left and how he left it and if he had heat or didn’t have heat or I don’t know any of that stuff. Maybe there’s chance he could go back but I think those odds are probably remote at this point. So what’s he’s got? He’s got the gig he’s got. And I don’t disagree.
Tony Khan has put a lot of money in a lot of talent’s pockets. I know people personally who are making more money who have been in the business for longer than I have and are making more money than they ever have. So you know that I’m not exaggerating anything here. You don’t hear anybody in AEW complaining about their paychecks, but the opposite. Sure, that’s great for talent. That’s great for those individuals, and I’m happy for them. Just like I’m happy for someone who wins a lottery. I don’t wanna see anybody not get what they can get out there in the marketplace. So let’s dispel that, I agree with that, it’s a wonderful thing for humanity.
But it doesn’t mean it’s good for the business. What Tony Khan has been doing and some of the presentations that we’ve seen out of AEW is not better for the business, because it’s turning off advertisers. It’s turning off his own viewers. The audience is deteriorating, it’s not growing and you can talk about ‘Yeah but less people are watching TV’ and go back to that trope all you want is. Is it a fact? Sure. Is it an excuse? Probably not. WWE is growing in the same environment. Why isn’t AEW? It’s because of lack of story, it’s because of lack of character development. It’s because of lack of vision, and it’s because a lot of the chaos that’s going on behind the scenes.”
Eric Bischoff Explains His Financial Troubles
Bischoff then went into length to explain the financial troubles that led to him filing for bankruptcy in 2017. He explained that he still had to pay off all his debts which he did earlier than expected:
“Let’s just get the elephant out of the room. I wrote a book called grateful. I talked a lot about having to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This isn’t a financial [podcast] but because that’s kind of there right? So I want to address it. I’m not gonna go into detail about the differences between Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 13 Because they’re all different. Chapter 11 is a business bankruptcy primarily. It doesn’t allow me to walk away from my debts. I ended up filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in 2017.
I’ve talked on this show at length about the reasons that led up to it. Basically me transitioning out of the television business. I went from making close to seven figures a year and I took an about 80% cut in pay over the course of 24 months. And then I had the state of California come knocking on my door and say, ‘I know you thought you paid all your taxes, but we realised we can find a different way to tax you on business that took place out of state simply because you have a mailbox in California.’
That was kind of a big hit. None of that really matters. To protect my home. This home is my legacy. I built this home in 1998 because I really really wanted to provide a place of stability in any situation for my family, to have a beautiful home in a beautiful part of the country. People from all over the world come here to visit. It’s that beautiful. I wanted to be able to leave this legacy to my children to enjoy it for the very same reasons. When it got to the point where that legacy, this property, this home was at risk.
I made a business decision to reorganize my debt. Not walk away from it, not fulfil my obligations to it, simply to reorganize it. That’s what a chapter 11 is. Now when I filed that chapter 11, this is back in 2017. You go through that process. At the end of it, the court says ‘Okay, you’re going to pay back 100% of this debt. you have, in my case, five years to do it.’ I did it in three. I have a seven-figure net worth. I have a very healthy credit score. I’m in really good shape as a result of being able to do some smart things.”
Eric Bischoff is Grateful
Later in the podcast, the former WCW President explained that his frustrations with AEW have nothing to do with him wanting a job with the promotion. He mentioned he had been very supportive of the promotion since the beginning and explained what changed his stance:
“I stayed supportive until I think it was around November two years ago, a little over two years ago. Tony came out and made that completely ignorant in a literal sense of [the word] comment about Ted Turner. Paraphrasing, if Ted Turner knew 1% of professional wrestling as I do maybe WCW would still be around. Completely ignorant. Tony doesn’t have a fucking clue what went on in WCW and why it’s not around. The only thing he knows is what Dave Meltzer told him. That’s it. He wasn’t there. He has no idea.
And it was disrespectful. It was ignorant and disrespectful simultaneously. As Tony Khan’s trying desperately to hang on to his television time on Turner Network Television and Turner Broadcasting System, disrespecting the man that made that opportunity even an option. Once someone disrespects publicly, someone who I respect or have a relationship with, they go on a different list. Doesn’t mean I don’t like them. I just don’t have any respect for them. They’re just like everybody else.
I don’t care if you’re a trust fund baby that’s a wrestling fan and has a wrestling company. I no longer have any respect for you. And I’m going to react to you just like I would anybody else. So that was it, Dax. It wasn’t because I asked for a job and didn’t get one. It wasn’t because I was hoping I would get an job offer and it never came. As I said before that clip. I wake up every day grateful that I don’t have to work for someone like Tony Khan. Or even if I wanted to work for Tony Khan, I’m grateful that I don’t have to jump on a plane every week and do it. As much as anything for sure. Or put up with what has obviously been….the amount of drama that’s taken place backstage in AEW far surpasses any of the fictional drama that’s taken place in the ring for the last five years. I don’t want to be a part of that.
Now Dax I understand you have to cause you don’t have opti
ons, but I do. As I said seven-figure net worth, I live in the most beautiful place in the world. I have almost no consumer debt. Nickels and dimes. I have a beautiful wife. I have great kids, i have a new grandson. Everybody’s healthy. Everybody’s successful. I can come and go as I pleae. I can work with who I want, on what projects I want. And I have absolutely no pressure. And I’m not saying that to brag even though it is, I don’t mean it to be – but it’s context. What I’m really grateful for Dax, is I have the freedom to say whatever I want to say about whoever I want to say it about. I don’t have to worry about it affecting my income or what I want to do. Can you say the same thing Dax?”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
This move from the former Jurassic Express member was shocking, to say the least. They also kept the angle very close to the vest.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer brought up Perry’s big NJPW surprise appearance. Apparently, even security was in the dark about what was going to happen.
“The security didn’t know about this angle. They thought it was a fan hitting the ring. They were quickly told it wasn’t.”
Jack Perry’s AEW Status
Jack Perry’s absence from AEW is notable, and it is even more odd that Tony Khan would allow this huge angle about his company to go down during a NJPW event. Obviously, there is a lot to unpack here, but Perry needs to make some kind of impression on AEW television to really send the message home.
He has been absent from AEW television for a very long time, as CM Punk, who was fired for his part in Brawl In, is already back in WWE at this point.
While some fans thought The Devil was Perry, that role went to Adam Cole. Now, the pro wrestling world will have to wait and see how Tony Khan plays his next move in this situation.
