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AEW’s Swerve Strickland Lands Role In Upcoming Slasher Movie

Thomas Lowson
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The star power of Swerve Strickland is only continuing to grow with the AEW wrestler landing a role in an upcoming slasher movie. 

Strickland will star in ‘Stiletto‘, a new film from Samuel Gonzalez Jr. which will see Gigi Gustin (Night of the Missing) star and produce. Other names attached to the film include Charlotte McKinney (Fantasy Island), Colleen Camp (Amsterdam, American Hustle), Pancho Moler (3 from Hell), Tyler Abron (Fear), and Stephen Blackehart (Guardians of the Galaxy)

A plot summary for the film reads as follows: 

“A year after the grisly murder of a local exotic dancer, the victim’s sister, Lyric [Gustin], searches for the serial killer responsible as he stalks and kills his favorite dancers on the night of the anniversary.”

It is unclear what role Strickland will have in the film. He is being represented by Fourth Wall Management and this will be his feature film debut. 

What’s Next for Swerve Strickland? 

While Strickland has yet to hold singles gold in AEW, many feel his time will come, possibly this year. Last month, Strickland declared that he will be AEW’s first African American World Champion, a goal he plans on achieving in 2024. Whatever Strickland’s future holds, it seemingly won’t include Keith Lee. The former allies were set to face off at Worlds End before Lee was pulled from the show due to a persistent injury. Speaking after the event, Strickland said he was done waiting for the Limitless One. 

Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After Raw Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Cody Rhodes continued his new tradition after this week’s episode of Raw.

The Red Branded Show this week featured a number of strong segments that got people talking. The show opened with a heated confrontation between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk.

The episode also featured a segment between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal leading to the announcement of a World Title Match between the two next week.

The matches on the show included bouts such as The Miz taking on JD McDonagh, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance defending the Women’s Tag Team Titles and more.

What Happened After Raw

cody table 1

The main event of this week’s Raw saw Cody Rhodes facing off against Shinsuke Nakamura. Both these stars have been involved in a personal rivalry the last few weeks and due to it, this match had been turned into a street fight.

Neither Nakamura nor Rhodes shied away from using various weapons in this match and they introduced objects such as Kendo Sticks, Tables, and even Nunchucks.

At one point, Nakamura accidentally spit his red mist into the timekeeper’s eyes, originally meant for Cody. This took Cody’s mind out of the match for a minute as the timekeeper was Berkley Ottman, the son of former WWE star Typhoon and a cousin of Rhodes.

At the end of the night however, Cody managed to pick up the victory. He sent Nakamura crashing through a table and then pinned him with a Cross-Rhodes.

The cameras went off air with Cody Rhodes celebrating in the ring. After the show, he continued the tradition he has built recently and the American Nightmare gave away another table to one of the fans in attendance.

Related: Cody Rhodes Gives Away Christmas Tree To Fan After Raw

Cody Rhodes gives table to fan after 08/01 Raw

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Andrade El Idolo Pulls Out Of GCW No Compadre Event

Aaron Varble
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Andrade El Idolo departed from AEW, and he had kind things to say about Tony Khan’s company. Now, it appears that he is on his way back to WWE, and there is more evidence to support that idea now.

Andrade El Idolo Expected Back In WWE

Having debuted for GCW at the ‘Highest In The Room 2’ event on December 9th, 2023 as he took on Joey Janela at the show. There was a plan to see Andrade’s return to GCW. However, it seems that won’t be happening now.

Game Changer Wrestling announced Andrade El Idolo’s withdrawal from the GCW No Compadre event, where he was initially set to face Jonathan Gresham on Friday, January 12th. Lio Rush will step in to replace Andrade in the matchup.

Due to circumstances out of control, ANDRADE and MAKI ITOH will be unable to compete on Friday’s event in Chicago.

The following replacements have been signed: MASHA SLAMOVICH will replace Maki Itoh LIO RUSH will replace Andrade

*Additional Matches TBA tonite and this week*

It was previously reported that Andrade was expected to be pulled from this event. Now, GCW has confirmed this cancellation. Andrade was advertised for at least one GCW event for 2024, and that is no longer the case. Of course, WWE famously prefers to keep their talent away from other promotions, with only a select few exceptions.

Andrade’s Next Moves in Pro Wrestling

Andrade El Idolo’s departure from AEW strongly indicates his intention to return to WWE. Now, pulling out of this Game Changer Wrestling event gives even more weight to the idea that he’s WWE-bound once again.

Clearing his schedule aligns with the typical transition for individuals moving from indies to WWE, considering WWE’s demanding schedule that doesn’t often allow for independent bookings. There have been times when WWE allowed incoming stars to finish up their indie dates in the past.

The specific reasons for Andrade El Idolo’s removal from the GCW event remain undisclosed, but many speculate that this is part of the process leading up to his WWE return. There’s a strong possibility that he will return to WWE, but nothing is definite until it actually happens.

Matt Riddle Will Drop His 420 Persona While Working In Japan

Aaron Varble
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Matt Riddle’s WWE release opened a lot of doors for him. Now, at 37-yaers-old, he is ready for different challenges, even if he has to switch things up along the way.

Matt Riddle Changing Up His Character For Japan

While speaking to Signed by Superstars, Matt Riddle was asked about the possibility of facing the Bullet Club in Japan, to which he replied that his 420 Bro character probably won’t work against that kind of opponent. 

“I’ve read a lot of things. The 420 Bro probably won’t make it to Japan,” Matt Riddle responded. This implies that he might have to switch up his in-ring style, which he has already covered. 

Matt Riddle expanded on this idea, as he responded that the 420 Bro persona is going to stay in America. So, whenever Riddle is in Japan, that 420 lifestyle is going to stay out of the country. He’s never been arrested for anything, nor does he have a criminal record. He wants to keep it that way as well.

“Regardless of what people think, I’ve never been arrested. I’ve never been arrested, I don’t have a criminal record. I want to keep it that way. Regardless of what people think, I’m going to keep it that way. That’s what we’re going to do. 420 Bro stays in America.”

What’s Next For Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle has shared his desire to challenge NJPW World TV Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi. However, his “420 Bro” persona might face drawbacks in Japan. He realizes that all too well, so things may have to change when he’s in Japan.

It was previously noted by Dave Meltzer that Matt Riddle and Jeff Cobb were almost a team in NJPW before. It’s anyone’s guess to see if that team may get a second chance in 2024. Cobb would definitely help Riddle tap into a more aggressive in-ring style. 

Amazon Prime May Emerge As Top Contender For WWE RAW’s New Home

Aaron Varble
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WWE has some huge deals in the pipeline for 2024, and we already know that SmackDown and NXT have new network homes. Now, a major player in the streaming wars may be in play for RAW’s rights.

Amazon Prime Could Secure WWE RAW

With WWE’s existing media rights deal for Monday Night Raw with NBCUniversal set to conclude in October 2024, speculation is arising about the company’s next broadcasting partner. Since the USA Network secured SmackDown, the red brand’s long-time home is expected to change.

Sports Business Journalism reporter John Ourand predicts that Amazon is likely to secure the rights to WWE’s flagship show. This would see WWE RAW move behind Amazon Prime’s streaming paywall.

John Ourand’s forecast envisions Amazon keeping Raw on Monday nights. The show would then air live from whichever city they are in that week.

Amazon Prime has been trying hard to target a young male audience and provide Prime Video with an additional night of premium live programming alongside Thursday Night Football. Shifting from cable television to a streaming service would represent a notable transformation in the wrestling television rights industry.

Amazon Prime’s Possible Plan For WWE RAW

This transition to a streaming service like Amazon Prime Video aligns with the changing landscape of television consumption. Cable TV is experiencing a decline in viewership, while streaming services are gaining prominence. This shift has redefined how television content is monetarily valued. Streaming services offer precise data insights, enabling companies like WWE to accurately assess viewership and the value of their product.

Utilizing streaming data alongside advertising revenue and sponsorships lets companies determine the worth of their brand when negotiating media rights deals. WWE may secure an incredibly lucrative deal compared to its previous agreement with NBCUniversal after breaking down those numbers.

WBD’s Interest In WWE RAW

Warner Bros Discovery is also reportedly interested in WWE RAW’s next contract. CM Punk may have brought even more interest from them, as it ramped up after his Survivor Series debut.

If WBD secures WWE RAW, then that could mean a big change is coming for AEW programming, as their television deal is up at the end of 2024.

Tony Khan, who said that AEW’s relationship with Warner Brothers Discovery is “very strong,“ has already spoken on WBD’s reported interest in WWE, and he said that it is “a part of sports.”

WWE’s Possible RAW Backup Plan

WWE has some big money deals in motion right now, but there is another contender if Warner Bros Discovery and Amazon don’t lock in the rights for RAW.

John Ourand proposed that Disney could enter the scene. Disney might consider a deal involving both renewing its existing UFC deal and broadcasting Monday Night Raw on its FX cable channel.

FX was previously reported as a top contender to lock down the longest running weekly episodic television show in history, and they may still be in the running. This alternative option would provide WWE with a broadcasting partner, albeit on cable television.

‘In An Ideal World’ Eric Bischoff Would Love Sting to Retire Against Ric Flair

Dominic DeAngelo
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Eric Bischoff knows Sting deserves a million dollar type send-off and in a universe where the stars aligned, he thinks The Icon would have the ultimate final match dance partner in Ric Flair.

Speaking on the latest episode of 83 Weeks, the former WCW President was joined by special guest co-host Matt Mitchell for an “Ask Eric Anything” episode and was asked about how would he handle Sting’s retirement match. Would he have him do a singles bout or team up in tag action to lighten the load? Bischoff gives a sound reason as to why he wouldn’t have him to a tag match.

“It’s faster paced, usually less emotion as a result of the pace and the fact that your attention is spread out.”

Bischoff then makes the case as to why he’d love to see Flair do his ‘Nature Boy strut’ across the ring from his longtime rival.

“In an ideal world (and it’s not an ideal world, trust me, I know that), but in an ideal world I would love for it to be Ric Flair. And I know I’m gonna get blistered, ‘Ah, Ric, he’s too old, blah, blah, blah.’ Bull****. Now Ric may not be interested in going out there and physically being in that position because again, he was almost dead a couple years ago so and 74 freaking years old so it’s kind of understandable that he’s not going to want to go out there and bounce around, but if he could, if he could go out there it would be the coolest thing in the world to see Ric Flair and Sting.”

bischoff flair sting 1

Bischoff understands that Flair vs. Sting in 2024 isn’t really possible, but hopes Sting gets a proper sendoff and delivers one more classic match.

“Whoever it is, I would want it to be meaningful from a storyline point of view, and I would want that person to want nothing more in his life than to make Sting look like a million bucks because he deserves that.”

Sting’s final battle will take place at the very PPV he made his AEW debut at three years ago, AEW Revolution.

Take a Look into Pro Wrestling’s Hot Free Agent Market

Zack Heydorn
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2024 is here and with it comes a treasure trove of free agent wrestlers that are chomping at the bit to make a difference and collect a paycheck. 

2023 was a boom for the pro wrestling industry. WWE stood strong at the top of the food chain and ushered in a new era of the company under the banner of Endeavor and the newly formed TKO Group with the UFC. With Vince McMahon on the creative sideline for much of the year, the WWE roster as it’s shaped right now was done through the thoughtful lens of WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul (Triple H) Levesque. 

Levesque constructed his talent roster with standard WWE mainstays like Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and others, but also rounded it out with “Triple H guys and women” like Karrion Kross, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Nia Jax, and Bronson Reed — all talents that made their way through the Triple H led NXT system at some point early in their run with the company. Triple H also broke the internet and the brains of wrestling fans when he orchestrated the WWE return of CM Punk.

Over in the land of AEW, Tony Khan added to his roster in 2023 by bringing in notable talent like Kota Ibushi, Adam Copeland, Billie Starkz, Nick Wayne, Jay White, Mariah May, and also announced signing of world renowned wrestler, Will Ospreay, to a contract beginning this year.

Impact Wrestling and their soon rebrand back to TNA saw an influx of new talent hit their ring in 2023. Trinity was the most notable name of the bunch. After being away from wrestling for months due to her walkout of WWE with Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) Trinity made her debut in April and won the Impact Wrestling Knockouts Championship in July. 

New Japan Pro Wrestling maintained the status quo in a lot ways when it comes to their roster with the likes of Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, Sanada, and Hiroshi Tanahashi at the top of the company. They onboarded a few new faces including Wheeler Yuta and Mike Bailey for one off appearances and will continue to make a splash in 2024 with the appearances of Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler) and Matt Riddle.

Many potential free agents landed with companies at the end of 2023. CM Punk signed with WWE, Rey Mysterio renewed his deal with WWE, Dominik Mysterio did the same. Charlotte Flair also signed with WWE and will remain with the company for the foreseeable future. Tony Khan opened up the checkbook to keep Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Adam Page under contract with AEW.

There are plenty of free agents that will hit the open market in 2024 and where they’ll land could significantly change the outlook of the industry by the time things are said and done. The free agents we’ll analyze are talents that would have considerable impact on the organization they’re leaving and joining, and have contracts that will reportedly be up in 2024, leaving them open to joining a new promotion. First up..

Mercedes Mone

Mercedes Mone, formerly Sasha Banks, is the talk of the wrestling world and the top free agent that is currently open and available to sign a contract. Mone famously stormed out of Monday Night Raw in May of 2022, walking out of the company where she became famous and landed in Japan as a part of New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom. Mone had matches against Kairi Sane and others in Japan, but was injured in the summer of 2023 and has appeared for any wrestling promotion since. 

Both AEW and WWE will try to roll out the red carpet for Mone. Talks between Mone and WWE reportedly stalled, but with the Royal Rumble on the horizon and WWE showing their chops in hiding major surprises with CM Punk, a surprise appearance at the annual event can’t be overlooked.

Mone in AEW is an interesting proposition. The women’s division in the company has searched for it’s face and top star since it’s inception in 2019 and Mone could finally bring direction and top tier star power that it’s needed. With matches against Toni Storm, Britt Baker, Jaime Hayter, Saraya, and Hikaru Shida all potentially viable, signing Mone gives Tony Khan multiple years worth of material for his women’s division. 

Mone to WWE is a safe play that will pay her lots of money, but AEW is the intriguing one with fresh matches and business abound.

Drew McIntyre

Much has been made about Drew McIntyre’s contract situation in WWE, but he’s a virtual lock to stay with the company. McIntyre has been the focus of Monday Night Raw for months and has lead the show with a compelling character turn that has bolstered his act, moving it from upper mid card to main event. 

McIntyre is a WWE guy. He sees himself as a company guy and the company sees him as such. If McIntyre slides into a role as heel foil for the likes of Cody Rhodes and CM Punk in 2024, that’s a premiere spot to be in and not something that Tony Khan will be able to compete with.

AEW can offer McIntyre a fresh start and lots of money, but McIntyre vs. Omega, McIntyre vs. Copeland, and McIntyre vs. MJF just doesn’t have the same juice like his potential WWE bouts. 

Drew McIntyre is a top talent, but defined by his work in WWE at this point. Can he move the needle for AEW? A little, but his impact there won’t be as significant as it will be in WWE.

Mustafa Ali

Since officially hitting the free agent market at the end of 2023, Mustafa Ali has filled up his calendar with various independent wrestling events like GCW, Freelance Wrestling, and others. 

Ali released a video that declared his purpose as a wrestler and it very much indicated he’s out to change the narrative of himself. He clearly is set to use his time to prove how much of a draw he can be, but also how much of a character wrestler he can be. To that end, I don’t think we see him sign a contract.

Look for Ali to continue to make appearances at various top indy promotions and maybe pick up a run in Impact Wrestling. When it’s all said and done, Ali impresses with this run and creates enough demand for WWE to sign him again in a few years.

Giulia

All indications point to Giulia signing with WWE when her contract in Japan wraps up in the spring and it’s a perfect signing for both parties.

Giulia is a wonderful worker with a great look that is tailor made for the WWE product. Starting in NXT will get her the lay of the land working on a national television show in the United States and when the time is right, she’ll move up to the main roster for a permanent run there. 

Giulia is a master in the ring and the number of great matches she can have with WWE talent like Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and others is endless. 

Kamille

Another perfect signing for WWE. Kamille has “WWE wrestler” written all over her. She was able to show her skills and wrestling chops in the NWA for the last few years, but being under the banner of WWE will help her greatly from a promotional perspective, but also for an in-ring work perspective as well.

Kamille in AEW would be an interesting twist if it ever happened, but the rest of the women’s roster there doesn’t match up well with what Kamille brings t
o the table. WWE can get the most out of her and she can deliver the most for them.

Kazuchika Okada

Reports indicate that Kazuchika Okada may hit the open market this year and let the bidding ceremony commence. Both AEW and WWE will be in on a generational talent and draw like Okada. 

AEW would have to be the likely landing spot given the working relationship that he and Tony Khan already have due to the business partnership between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Okada has worked with much of the talent on the AEW roster and the company seems like a comfortable landing place for him to slow the work down, earn good money, and get national television exposure in the United States.

Okada wouldn’t take a first look at a Vince McMahon-run WWE. McMahon has a terrible reputation pushing Japanese talent in a prominent way and likely wouldn’t take the time to understand how special of a performer Okada is. Paul Levesque isn’t Vince McMahon. It’s obvious that Levesque respects talent from other parts of the world and would give Okada the respect he deserves as the star that he is. 

If WWE has aspirations for entering the Japanese market, Okada would be the guy to bring in to help with that endeavor. He’d be top guy regularly as well.

Opposite to the situation with Mercedes Mone, AEW is the safe option for Okada, but WWE is infinitely more intriguing. 

Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler)

Well, Nic Nemeth, formerly Dolph Ziggler in WWE, is a free agent, but is also tied to New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nemeth appeared at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on Thursday and had a physical altercation with David Finlay — the new IWGP Global Champion. 

Nemeth and New Japan is a strong fit for both parties. He only has his WWE work to lean on and with such a good reputation as a worker in the ring, trying his hand in Japan is a nice way for him to break away from the WWE mold. As for New Japan, 

Nemeth can help the company as a well-known American act that can help drive some interest for high level U.S. shows. He’s also someone Gedo can beat regularly, while not damaging his aura as a draw. If Nemeth enters the G1 this year, it’s a thumbs up signing for NJPW.

Becky Lynch

“The Man” will become a free agent in 2024, but she’s not going anywhere. If it hasn’t been done already, the TKO Group will send Lynch a new contract with lots of zeros on a gold platter with a platinum pen to sign it with. 

Lynch is one WWE’s top stars and TKO Group will not want to be in the business of losing her. She’s said openly that she wants to finish her career with WWE and she will do just that.

Mandy Rose

Mandy Rose doesn’t need professional wrestling. Her modeling career has flourished since leaving NXT at the end of 2022 and she’s stated on many occasions that she simply doesn’t know if a return to the ring is in the cards.

If it is, AEW should give Rose a hard look. Rose can’t wrestle like Shida can, but she’s a character wrestler that the AEW women’s division could desperately use. Being in AEW would give Rose the chance to expand her in-ring work and grow that part of her game.

WWE would certainly try to win her back, but she’s background noise in a company that is now stocked with top tier women. She likely wouldn’t crack the top tier of the women’s division on the WWE main roster, so why go back there? AEW is the landing spot as it gives her the most upside possible.

Ronda Rousey 

Since leaving WWE, Ronda Rousey has made a couple appearances for Pro Wrestling Revolver and Tony Khan’s ROH. Who had that on their bingo card? 

Rousey joining those companies was a fun gesture, but she’s certainly going to be looking for a big payday if and when she decides to sign on again as a full or part time wrestler. That leaves two companies open to her — AEW and WWE.

How much value does Rousey have to WWE anymore? She’s feuded with almost every top tier woman on the roster already aside from Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley and the run she just completed wasn’t that memorable. She’s a top name, but not nearly as “household” as she was when she first joined the company. Is she worth it? 

For AEW? She sure is. AEW needs pillar stars in their women’s division. Rousey can provide that and she also provides fresh matches for wrestling fans. Most of the AEW women’s roster she hasn’t worked with, so anything she does will feel new.

Conclusion

There’s the picture. We’ll see how each company paints it. WWE is in a strong position to sign whoever they want. Not only does the company have deep pockets, but it owns a hot product right now and case studies of outside talent being featured strong. That goes a long way.

AEW has come on some hard times as far as it’s product goes, but is still a strong landing spot due to the money they can throw at potential stars. They have deep pockets as well. 

It’ll be a fight, but a fun one to watch play out.

Nic Nemeth On The End Of His WWE Run: “I’m Being Paid Way Too Much To Sit At Home“

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nic Nemeth is now a “Wanted Man” after now officially being a free agent. The former Dolph Ziggler was one of several releases by WWE back in September, and he kicked 2024 off with a surprise appearance at Wrestle Kingdom.

However, Nemeth’s impending exit was something he actually fully expected and even inquired about.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Nemeth touched upon how his leave felt like a long time coming.

“I was planning for half of this entire last contract going, ‘I know at some point, I’m being paid way too much to sit at home so I’m gonna have to get out of here.’ I always wanted to be ready to go, just in case they said, ‘I know you’ve been doing 90-second matches, can you do 30 minutes with The Undertaker?’ You’re damn right I can. I was ready to go anyway.

“I just wanted to have every option available. It wasn’t out of the blue. I had sent emails to the boss over the last few months saying, ‘I have to move on to somewhere else, can you let me do this?’ Eventually, without exact back and forth, that’s how it worked out.”

Nemeth has plenty to look forward to as free agency is a new beginning for him. His appearance at Wrestle Kingdom even surprised talent backstage at NJPW, but Nemeth will be keeping busy overseas in the wrestling realm as he’ll be making appearances in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Since his release, Nemeth also has been doing stand-up appearances with his younger brother Ryan.

Please credit Busted Open Radio and h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

Rey Mysterio Eyeing WWE Royal Rumble For Return From Injury

Aaron Varble
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The WWE Royal Rumble is approaching on January 27th, and that will always spark speculation about potential returns. Rey Mysterio may be out of action with an injury, but he is eyeing a return at Tropicana Field.

Rey Mysterio Gives Positive Injury Update

Rey Mysterio is currently in recovery after undergoing knee surgery a few weeks ago. His absence from television was prompted by an attack from Santos Escobar. In reality, this was a planned procedure, because Mysterio needed to get this work done on his knee.

Unfazed by this physical setback, Rey Mysterio is determined to make a swift return to the ring. While speaking to Baker Banter, Mr. 6-1-9 mentioned actively engaging in physical therapy and expressed optimism about being back in action for the Royal Rumble.

“I’m really working hard on my physical therapy,” Mysterio stated. “I just had knee surgery, thanks to Santos Escobar, and his time will come eventually. I do hope that I can return for the Rumble, if not shortly after that. I am working very hard to make my return as soon as possible.”

Rey Mysterio Speaks on Seth Rollins

If Rey Mysterio can win the 2024 Royal Rumble match, he may elect to take on Seth Rollins for his WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 40. Myserio has seen Seth Rollins operate, and he had a unique take on The Visionary’s career metamorphosis in WWE.

“Seth Rollins, to me, he’s like a chameleon. He disguises himself as many characters. He had beef with a lot of Superstars because he does carry the World Title. But now that CM Punk is on board, it’s like he pushed all the rivals that he had on [in] his site and is now focused strictly on one person. Personally, I respect Seth Rollins. I enjoy watching his work, and I appreciate that he was Dominik’s godfather. He was the first superstar to step in the ring with Dominick [SummerSlam 2020] and trusted Dominik. So at that time, Dominik and I were very close and that makes me feel full of respect towards Seth Rollins. But in the ring right now, he’s a crazy man.”

What’s Next For Rey Mysterio in WWE?

Rey Mysterio has admitted in the past that he had to slow down a bit in the ring. The legendary luchador can feel that, as he has given so much to fans for years.

Rey Mysterio also inked a new deal with WWE, along with his son, Dominik Mysterio. While it is believed that Dominik’s contract is a full five-year deal, many believe that Rey Mysterio only inked a three-year agreement. Either way, that will ensure that WWE fans have years to come for that father/son storyline to finally circle back to each other. 

First Look at New TNA World Tag Team Championships

Thomas Lowson
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Fans have caught their first glimpse of the new TNA World Tag Team Championships, ahead of the promotion’s official relaunch at Hard to Kill.

It was announced in the closing moment of Bound for Glory 2023 that IMPACT would be rebranding as TNA. This news has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from fans. Reigning World Champion Alex Shelley told SE Scoops that the reaction has even taken some in IMPACT/TNA by surprise. 

New TNA World Tag Team Championships

In a video shared to YouTube, TNA President Scott D’Amore spoke to reigning World Tag Team Champions ABC. D’Amore spoke about watching Chris Bey and Ace Austin grow up in the promotion, before revealing the new TNA World Tag Team Championships. 

Fans will be immediately drawn to the bright red strap of the new TNA World Tag Team Titles. Each title has a total of five silver plates with the center plate being ornated with various patterns, as well as the TNA Wrestling logo. 

What’s Next? 

ABC may be the proud holders of the TNA World Tag Team Championships, but their time with the new titles may be short-lived. At TNA Hard to Kill, ABC will defend the gold in a four-way tag-team match. They will be challenged by The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel), Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey and Trent Seven), and the debuting former WWE tag-team of the Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake).

These new Tag Team Championships aren’t the only titles to get a makeover… 

Cody Rhodes Explains Why He Agreed To Be Best Man For Fan’s Wedding

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes is a WWE fan favorite, and that is very evident every time fans blare out “WOAH” during his Kingdom entrance. He has consistently gone above and beyond for his Nightmare Family, and that included recently agreeing to be a fan’s best man during a live event in Spokane. 

Cody Rhodes Is Going To Be A Best Man

During a WWE live event in Spokane, Washington, Rhodes secured a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura as the two prepare for their January 8th battle on RAW. WWE fans often bring signs to events, but one caught the American Nightmare’s eye.

After the match, Cody Rhodes noticed a fan’s sign requesting him to be the Best Man at their upcoming wedding. Cody readily agreed, which brought a huge pop from the Washington crowd.

Cody Rhodes Explains His Actions

This spontaneous and rather significant gesture surprised many fans who initially doubted Cody Rhodes’ sincerity. In a video released by WWE, Cody Rhodes addressed the fan’s request, confirming his commitment to being the best man at the wedding scheduled for March this year. 

‘‘I should have not seen that sign. Turns out, I’m gonna be his Best Man. Now here’s the funny thing, don’t even know his name. He’s gonna send me a DM on Instagram he told me. Man of my word. I’m gonna end up at that guy’s wedding. So congratulations to future guy I’m the Best Man to. Yup, I’m the Best Man.”

Cody Rhodes has his eye on winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He wants to finish his story, and make his way to WrestleMania 40. With this kind of connection with fans, it’s evident that he will be a huge babyface favorite when January 27th’s big event in Tropicana Field rolls around.

The Undertaker On His Scariest Moment In The Ring

Ella Jay
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WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has conquered several daunting match stipulations and moments in his wrestling career, but which was the scariest? On episode 12 of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker provided an answer, pointing to one of his most memorable appearances inside Hell in a Cell. 

The moment in reference happened during The Undertaker’s Hell in a Cell match against Mick Foley (Mankind at the time) at the 1998 WWE King of the Ring pay-per-view. 

While many remember this match for Foley’s thunderous plunge through the announce table, The Undertaker considers another part of the match to be even more terrifying. 

Mankind / Mick Foley and Hell in a Cell (1998)

“I think probably the scariest moment was when Mick went through the Cell. When I choke slammed him through it. Not when I threw him off, but when I choke-slammed him through the cell. The way that he landed. I was legit like, ‘Come on, please move,’ because I didn’t know that he was going to. That was pretty tense there for a little bit,” Undertaker said. 

“And I’m thinking the worst because of just the way that it looked from my perspective. From my perspective, it looks like he landed on his head. And regardless of the reason why or how, in my head, it’s like, ‘You’re the one that just choke slammed him through it.’ So if he doesn’t get up, all those things are already going through your mind like ‘Are you going to be the guy that crippled Mick Foley?’ Yeah, that was pretty gnarly.”

Another ‘Scary’ Moment

Outside of his Hell in a Cell match against Mick Foley, The Undertaker says another scary moment occurred during his 2019 WWE Super ShowDown match against another fellow WWE Hall of Famer — Goldberg. At one point, Goldberg set The Undertaker in position for a suplex. However, when the two crashed onto the mat, The Undertaker then+ experienced what he described as an “incredible lightning bolt of pain” in his back. 

Mercedes Mone’s AEW Arrival Is Expected Soon

Aaron Varble
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Mercedes Mone is anticipated to make her debut on AEW television in the near future, according to sources within the company. The big question is when that debut will take place.

Mercedes Mone May Become All Elite

Dave Meltzer emphasized that the certainty of her appearance is contingent on the formalization of a signed contract. AEW has been known to have stars sign contracts just before their debut, so there is no word on whether anything official has been signed. 

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that there were no indications or teases during the last night’s show regarding Mercedes Mone’s potential appearance in Jacksonville. Despite this, AEW is reportedly expecting her to start her television journey soon. 

On last night’s show there were no teases for Mercedes Mone or for her appearing Wednesday in Jacksonville. What I know is that AEW does expect her to start on TV soon, but as noted, until it happens and the contract itself is signed, I wouldn’t consider anything 100 percent.

One would think there would be some sort of a tease of a surprise if she was to appear, since that’s been the case with most major signings. But Sting’s original debut in Jacksonville came out of nowhere.

Mercedes Mone’s Expected AEW Arrival

Dave Meltzer previously noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that, “WWE and AEW have clearly both been talking with her. Obviously this has gone on with AEW for months, if not a year, and she’s never signed yet. There was a lot of talk within wrestling of her on this week’s Dynamite, which she wasn’t on.”

He continued to say, “We do know that the expectation is she will be in AEW fairly soon, but until a contract signing is confirmed, anything can happen.”

AEW Dynamite will air their Homecoming episode from Daily’s Place on Wednesday, January 10th. That very well may be the first time we see Mercedes Mone grace an AEW ring, but AEW hasn’t dropped any blatant teases to confirm those theories yet.

There were talks between Mercedes Mone and WWE, but they reportedly hit a financial roadblock. Bayley still begs Mercedes to make a return at every chance she can, but it appears that the former Sasha Banks may sign with AEW after all. 

Backstage news on WWE changing plans for the Royal Rumble main event

Dominic DeAngelo
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WWE had an original plan for Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble, but Chief Content Officer Triple H decided to call an audible.

Royal Rumble will naturally be featuring the two 30-person matches as its cornerstone bouts, but Roman Reigns will have his table full to kick off the road to WrestleManai. Reigns will be putting his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship on the line against AJ Styles, LA Knight and The Apex Predator, Randy Orton.

From a television and speculation perspective, the overall thought was that it would be Randy Orton facing Roman Reigns one-on-one for the gold, but that clearly wasn’t the direction taken.

According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, the original plan was indeed Orton vs. Reigns, but there were certain parties within WWE that felt that The Viper shouldn’t be taking a loss so soon after making a major return.

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By adding AJ Styles and LA Knight to the equation, WWE has more latitude for Reigns to keep his historic championship reign in tact without Randy Orton having to take a pin or submission, even under dubious circumstances. Everybody knows there’s money in in Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton and the company isn’t playing that card just yet.

If one were to put money on who would take the pinfall on Royal Rumble Saturday, the safe bet may likely be AJ Styles considering that LA Knight already took a pinfall loss to Roman at Crown Jewel. Styles just made a return back to the company as well, but Meltzer stated he believes AJ Styles would make the most since to take a loss.

Latest WWE trademark may be used for SmackDown’s newest faction

Ella Jay
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A new WWE trademark filing with a biblical connotation may be used for Friday night SmackDown’s newest faction.

According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office database, WWE applied to trademark the name ‘Final Testament’ on Sunday. The ‘Goods and Services’ usage description on the January 7 filing discusses the usual:

“Wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service;”

The application does not reference any WWE Superstar(s) in particular, but there are a few clues to follow regarding the true nature of Final Testament.

Karrion Kross & AOP’s New Faction

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On the January 5 episode of WWE SmackDown, a promo segment involving Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits was interrupted by Karrion Kross, Scarlett, and a returning Paul Ellering. 

As Kross, Scarlett, and Ellering emerged onto the stage, Akam and Rezar of the Authors of Pain snuck up into the ring from behind, providing a pathway for them, along with Kross, to promptly attack Lashley and The Street Profits. The end of the segment then saw Kross, Akam, Rezar, Scarlett, and Ellering standing tall on the entrance ramp. 

In the lead-up to Akam and Rezar’s on-screen return, Kross began teasing that he was in need of some “authors” to help put his vision, or rather, “proclamation” into motion. 

The group is officially a faction and we should find out soon if their name has anything to do with ‘Final Testament.

The Undertaker Reveals If Any WWE Backstage Pranks Went Too Far

Aaron Varble
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The Undertaker is a WWE Hall of Famer who led the locker room for decades. While he led the troops for Vince McMahon backstage, he also saw many instances of tomfoolery along the way.

The Undertaker Speaks on Backstage Pranks in WWE

WWE Superstars spend their lives on the road, and sometimes they get bored. This was especially true during The Undertaker’s heyday, because WWE’s schedule was far more grueling. To pass the time, Superstars would often prank each other backstage.

The Undertaker is famously afraid of cucumbers. Owen Hart took advantage of this fact on several occasions, as he pranked the Deadman with the common vegetable. Through it all, things never got too intense as Taker remembers it. He did remember how The Rockers would tamper with other wrestlers’ belongings while they were busy in the ring.

During his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker was asked what was the most juvenile prank he ever saw backstage in WWE.

“When I first started with WWE, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. They were a couple little turds. That’s what they were. They were just bad. I would go out and have a match. Back then, we’d have somebody there that would bring our ring gear back. Every time I’d come back from a match, there would be my hat sitting on a case somewhere, and it would be poked. The top of it would be poked in. It’d be like sugar poured all over the top of it, flowers put in it. Just silly things that they would do to my hat. I didn’t know who was doing it. One thing with a rib when you’re in the wrestling business is, you don’t sell it. You don’t sell the rib. You don’t let anybody know that the rib’s getting to you. Because if it’s bothering you, it’s only gonna get worse. So I’m just playing it cool and I kind of set it up like a trap one day. I had my hat sitting out on the case. My coat was lying next to it and I’m kind of hiding.”

“This is kinda juvenile in its own right. I’m kind of hiding behind the curtain backstage, watching. I set a trap [and] here comes Shawn Michaels, just be-bopping down the hallway, and he stops. He walked in, he sees my hat and he stops. I remember him looking both ways like ‘Is there anybody around?’ I remember him pushing my hat, the top of my hat, caving my hat in, and I caught him right away. I was like, ‘You son of a bitch.’ And he about pissed himself like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ That was some of the more juvenile. I’ve been fairly lucky.”

“There’s only been a few guys that would rib me. Paul Bearer would rib me and Brian Adams would rib me. Those are the only two. Yeah, those are the only two guys or whatever. I mean Vince. Yeah, he went out of his way to rib me. He would spend thousands and thousands of dollars just to rib me and get a kick out of it. But as far as the talent, though, the only two guys that would rib me were Paul Bearer and Bryan Adams.”

The Deadman was also asked if he ever saw a prank go too far. That is when the former judge of Wrestlers Court was candid in his response. There were what he called “close calls,” and cucumbers were involved. In the end, those ribs were relatively harmless.

“There were a couple of close calls with cucumbers, that got a little bit too close to consumption, which would have been really bad. But most of them were pretty harmless.”

History of Practical Jokes in Pro Wrestling

Another notable instance of a famous backstage rib went down during a European tour in 1993 when Owen Hart switched his brother Bret Hart’s wrestling gear with a smaller-sized version, so the Hitman had to go out alone. Owen Hart also put sliced cucumbers in The Undertaker’s boots, which caused quite a reaction from the Deadman.

Mr. Fuji, who was a legendary prankster backstage, was known for mischievous ribs. He did things like filling babyface wrestlers’ water bottles with salt. Bobby Heenan was also legendary for his outlandish ribs, one that would entertain Superstars for hours on the road.

The infamous “Plane Ride from Hell” in 2002 saw various disruptive ribs, including Ric Flair’s naked antics, which did not age well at all. A wrestling match also broke out between Brock Lesnar and Mr. Perfect, who also allegedly dosed wrestlers with halcion tablets for giggles at times as well. 

Ethan Page Believes Cody Rhodes Paid Him Out Of His Own Pocket For All In Match

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes left his position as a top star and EVP for AEW, and he helped build that company in many ways. He also had a big hand in All In, the event which many agree spawned AEW’s creation. It turns out that he also paid for some of that out of his own pocket.

How Ethan Page Ended up on All In Card

Ethan Page played a role in the inaugural All In event back in 2018. The goal of All In was to demonstrate that an independent show could successfully sell 10,000 tickets, and the event’s triumph marked the birth of AEW. After being started by a $10 bet by Dave Meltzer, The Elite took on that challenge in a big way.

According to Ethan Page, he believes that Cody Rhodes personally invested to ensure his participation in this groundbreaking event.

The Bragman Breakdown podcast recently spoke to Ethan Page where he opened up about how he believes he was paid, because it came from Cody Rhodes’ own PayPal account. 

“Ultimately, my payment came from his name to my PayPal, so I’m pretty sure I was hand-selected by my friend to get this opportunity. The Bragman Breakdown” podcast. “He also put me in the media scrum… he was definitely looking out. I’ll always deliver on my end to make sure whoever puts their neck out for me is not doing it in a way that is going to get them in trouble. He definitely put his foot forward for me.”

How Ethan Page Ended up in AEW

Despite his involvement in All In, Cody Rhodes didn’t promptly secure a deal for Page with AEW. The former Impact Wrestling star only joined the promotion in 2021, a couple of years after its establishment. Nevertheless, Page doesn’t harbor any resentment towards Rhodes for the delayed signing, as he understands the reasons behind the decision.

Before joining AEW, Ethan Page had discussions with WWE. While acknowledging that Cody Rhodes reached out to him during this period, Page chose not to exploit their friendship to secure a deal with the company. Instead, he opted to sign a contract with AEW after parting ways with Impact Wrestling.

“Ironically, when I was signing with AEW, he told me that he wouldn’t [sign me] because he didn’t want me to be a friend hire, and that’s how I started my career. So I actually respected that. He’s always had my back, and I appreciate him putting me in that because it was such a huge spotlight.”

AEW did not own the rights to the All In show, because ROH helped produce the event. Later on, Tony Khan stated that attaining the rights to the All In event was a big selling point for him buying ROH.

Cody Rhodes may be raking up records and merchandise sales in WWE, as he tries to finish his story. Ethan Page is still in AEW, but he will never forget about everything the American Nightmare did for him.

Brian Cage Shows Off Insane Bruising After Rough Spot On AEW Dynamite

Aaron Varble
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Brian Cage was a stand-out performer wherever he went before arriving in AEW. He has made fans stand in awe as they watched the big man pull off moves nobody his size could do. Despite his incredible abilities, The Machine is still a man.

Brian Cage’s Latest Bad Bump

Brian Cage is not immune to injuries. Recently, Cage shared evidence of substantial bruises he took during an intense moment in his AEW Dynamite match last week. 

During the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Brian Cage participated in a fatal four-way match, facing off against Trent Beretta, Bryan Keith, and El Hijo de Vikingo. The was set to determine the next contender for the AEW International Championship. 

In the end, Trent Beretta emerged victorious, cementing his match against Orange Cassidy for his title. 

While taking to Instagram, Brian Cage posted a video showcasing the severe bruises he obtained during the match. These bruises were the result of a particularly intense spot where he was thrown onto his arm from the top rope. 

”Welllllll, I may or may not have gotten a “boo boo” last Wednesday night on Dynamite…..but I’m not a man, I’m a machine! And the show must go on. #takencareofbusiness #machine #cantstopwontstop #cantbereasonedwith #itsnotballet”

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Brian Cage’s Future in AEW

Brian Cage committed to long-term contracts with both AEW and ROH before any speculation arose about his potential departure from AEW. Since then, he has seen a notable increase in his booking within the company.

Tony Khan knows what kind of talent he has on his roster, but The Machine may need a bit of rest to heal up from this latest batch of bruises.

“Please Be Careful!” Kota Ibushi Warns Fans of “Scam” Clinic Operating in Tokyo

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Kota Ibushi has hit out at a clinic in the Asakusabashi district of Tokyo, Japan, which he claims is little more than a scam. 

In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ibushi speaks about being presented with a strange powder during a procedure. Ibushi added that the ‘scam’ is charging people 200,000 yen per visit, equivalent to $1384 USD. 

“As for the details of the C5 clinic scam that I mentioned before, it starts with an IV drip, but when it doesn’t work midway through, they bring a strange powder (marijuana) without permission, so isn’t this a problem for the police? This is a fraudulent clinic that operates in Asakusabashi and all over the country. Please be careful as it will take about 200,000 yen per time.”

You can see Ibushi’s deleted post below. 

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Kota Ibushi’s Injury

Fans won’t be seeing Kota Ibushi in the ring for some time after suffering an injury during a recent match for Pro Wrestling NOAH.  Ibushi was seen clutching his foot after a moonsault, and reportedly walked into the match with an injury. Ibushi was rushed to hospital after the match. NOAH would later give an update on Ibushi, who suffered a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury. The Japanese wrestler has confirmed that he will have surgery to deal with this situation. There is no word on when he can be expected back in the ring. 

SEScoops wishes Kota Ibushi a speedy recovery.

Bayley Gifts NFL’s San Francisco 49ers Custom WWE Belt to George Kittle

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Bayley recently showed her support for the San Francisco 49ers at the team’s recent game against the Los Angeles Rams. 

Not only did Bayley attend the game, but she brought one of the WWE Legacy Championship titles, which featured the branding and colors of the 49ers. WWE entered a multi-year deal with the NFL last year that has seen custom titles created for each team.  

The Role Model also helped psyche up the crowd in the pre-game festivities, as seen in the clip below. 

Despite Bayley’s support, the 49ers would lose to the Rams in a close-fought game which ended with the Rams winning 21-20. 

George Kittle and Wrestling

Kittle will be thrilled to have received this title given that he is a known fan of WWE. Earlier in the 2023 season, he wore an Edge shirt ahead of a Monday Night Football game. Kittle also appeared at WrestleMania 39 and would help Pat McAfee defeat The Miz. 

Speaking to Rich Eisen after his appearance, Kittle said that he’s been hoping for something with WWE for some time and was pleased to help out “one of the boys.” Kittle admitted that appearing at WrestleMania was the second-most anxiety-inducing experience of his life, only being beaten by singing with Kelly Clarkson. 

Kittle added that he was worried about clotheslining The Miz, and was encouraged to hit harder than he thought was needed. Sure enough, Kittle decked the two-time WWE Grand Slam Champion and would help get the Miz back in the ring. 

Matt Hardy Blasts “Pathetic” Fans Creating Narrative That Jeff Isn’t A Good Wrestler

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Matt Hardy has hit back at ‘haters’ who have taken aim at his brother Jeff following a mistake on the most recent episode of Rampage. 

The January 5, edition of AEW Rampage saw the Hardyz team with Mark Briscoe for the first time in their careers. The trio of tag-team specialists proved to be quite the group as they defeated Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade. 

Jeff’s Mistake & Matt Reacts

During the match, Jeff attempted to jump off his brother’s back but slipped in an awkward moment. Many fans leapt onto this mistake on social media and have attempted to make it into a big deal. Not every fan has acted this way, however, and one sarcastically commented that the world was going to end because Jeff made a mistake. Replying to this tweet, Matt pointed out that mistakes are bound to happen. The veteran also had some choice words about those trying to create a ‘narrative.’

Speaking about a Whisper in the Wind spot from Jeff’s return to AEW that was ‘botched’, Matt claimed that this was supposed to be messed up to show some ring-rust on his brother’s behalf. Matt also made it clear he’s extremely proud of what his brother has been doing. 

Jeff joined AEW in 2022 following his controversial release from WWE the previous year. In June of 2022, Hardy was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The case against Hardy was later dropped due to unreliable breath test results and he returned to programming in April 2023.

Triple H Shares Generous Offer to NFL Legend & Wrestling Superfan Shannon Sharpe

Thomas Lowson
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Shannon Sharpe and the crew of the Nightcap Show are more than welcome to visit a WWE event anytime after the NFL legend shared his love for the wrestling business. 

During a recent episode of the Nightcap Show, the topic of wrestling came up. Sharpe spoke about growing up watching Georgia Championship Wrestling and named some of the stars of the era he loved to watch. Sharpe recalled traveling across Georgia with his family to see the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Bobo Brazil, Ox Baker, Andre the Giant, Harley Race, and Nick Bockwinkel. 

Taking to Twitter, Triple H was impressed by Sharpe’s love of the business. In a tweet, the Game appreciated Sharpe’s passion and said that he and the Nightcap Show crew are welcome to attend a WWE event any place any time. 

Shannon Sharpe

Regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, Sharpe is best known for his time with the Denver Broncos, who he played for from 1990 to 1999 and later from 2002 to 2003. Sharpe holds the record for the most receiving yards in a game by a tight end (214) and is a three-time Super Bowl Champion (twice with the Broncos and once with the Baltimore Ravens). 

WWE & The NFL

Despite Vince McMahon being the founder of the XFL, WWE and the NFL have close ties. Not only are several Superstars former football players, but WWE entered a multi-year licensing deal with the NFL last year to create team-themed titles. Last month, Liv Morgan gifted one of these titles to the Green Bay Packers ahead of their win over Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs. 

ESPN Responds After Pat McAfee Claims Executive “Rat” is Sabotaging Show

Thomas Lowson
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ESPN has responded to recent accusations by Pat McAfee stemming from alleged sabotage of his popular talk show. 

In May 2023, McAfee signed a multi-million dollar deal with ESPN to bring his show to the sports channel. This deal saw McAfee leave a lucrative contract with FanDuel in which he was set to earn $120 million over four years.

ESPN Responds to Pat McAfee

During a recent episode of his show, McAfee claimed that some in ESPN were trying to sabotage his efforts. The WWE correspondent called out ESPN executive Norby Williamson, claiming he is a “rat” leaking false information. 

In a statement, ESPN said the following: 

“No one is more committed to and invested in ESPN’s success than Norby Williamson. At the same time, we are thrilled with the multi-platform success that we have seen from The Pat McAfee Show across ESPN. We will handle this matter internally and have no further comment.”

Pat McAfee Show Controversy

McAfee’s show recently saw criticism after Aaron Rodgers made baseless claims that Jimmy Kimmel would be named on the list of those who traveled to the island of Jeffrey Epstein. So far, no hard evidence has proven Rodgers’ claim, and several fake lists shared online have been debunked. McAfee made no effort to challenge Rodgers on his claim. 

Corey Graves took it personally when Pat McAfee replaced him on SmackDown. Click here to find out more. 

Chris Masters Hopeful for Opportunity in WWE, AEW, or TNA Wrestling

Thomas Lowson
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Chris Masters is ready to take his skills to a larger stage than the NWA and has set his sights on AEW, IMPACT, and WWE. 

The Masterpiece is best known for his time with WWE from 2005 to 2007 and his subsequent run from 2009 to 2011. He has also competed in IMPACT Wrestling and the NWA and is a two-time NWA National Champion. 

Chris Masters Wants To See What’s Out There

In a video shared on his Instagram, Masters spoke about wanting to see what’s out there beyond the realities of the NWA. 

“[I’m looking to] see what’s out there for me. The last couple years I’ve been at NWA, [I’ve been] trying to develop myself and kind of evolve my character in every way I possibly could. And now I’d like to bring that to AEW, Impact Wrestling, and of course, WWE.”

Masters recently shared a video of himself making his entrance at an event. With the caption “and now the participant who drew number 2”, Masters was referring to a surprise return in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. 

Chris Masters and Returning to WWE

This isn’t the first time Masters has made his intentions to return to WWE very clear. In late 2022, Masters spoke about a potential feud with Bobby Lashley, which would see a battle of the Full Nelson submission hold. In January, Lashley said he’d love to face Masters, though a match has yet to happen. 

Chris Masters was seriously worried about his reputation after his WWE debut match went horribly wrong. Click here to find out more. 

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