WWE fans have seen Sonya Deville on the screen as herself on Total Divas, but they are about to get another chance to see her flex that acting muscle.
Sonya Deville’s New Project
Deville is working on a movie in Florida. She’s taking on the role of a police officer in the film “DNA Secrets,” currently being shot in Clearwater. The movie, described as a murder mystery, revolves around the owner of an antique store, as shared by producer TJ Yates in a discussion with the Tampa Bay Times.
While speaking with 10 Tampa Bay, Deville commented on acting and highlighted how it’s different from performing in WWE.
“Obviously, the hustle and bustle, the hurry up and wait, the cameras, the memorization of lines, the having to constantly be ready and on, is very similar. I do have to say, I do like that in filmmaking you get more than one take. When you’re on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown, it is live, live, and that is it.”
Deville experienced a torn ACL during the July 28th, 2023, episode of WWE SmackDown while being one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions with Chelsea Green. Piper Niven stepped in to replace Deville due to her need for surgery. Deville has been on the path to recovery ever since.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will serve as the grand marshal for the 2024 Daytona 500. He will give the command for drivers in the NASCAR race to fire their engines on Sunday, February 18.
The announcement was made during the NFL’s NFC Championship game on FOX. The Daytona 500 race will also be broadcast on the same network. The race is set to take place on February 18, 2024 at the Daytona International Speedway in in Daytona Beach, Florida.
This is the 66th edition of the Daytona 500, and Johnson’s opening command will be for 40 race car drivers participating in the race.
This isn’t the first time a WWE star has been involved as a grand marshal for NASCAR. Johnson himself served in the role for a Cup Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2004. Last October, Liv Morgan was the grand marshal for the fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and in 2021, Sasha Banks was the honorary starter for the Daytona 500. John Cena has also been involved several times with NASCAR races.
Some other celebrities who have appeared as grand marshal include Pitbull and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson over the years. Last year, NASCAR legends had taken on the role of grand marshal. This was done in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the sport.
As for the WWE ring, it appears that the anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 is still expected to happen, but there is no precise confirmation regarding the same, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
The Rock is reportedly interested in a match for this year, but more details are expected to be revealed after the Royal Rumble.
After 2K revealed the character design of Bayley for WWE 2K24, the image quickly went viral, but not for positive reasons. The model bore little resemblance to the female wrestler and was generally poorly executed.
The official WWEGames Twitter account, responsible for revealing in-game character models, shared Bayley’s image from WWE 2K24. However, fans observed significant discrepancies in the character’s appearance, including hair that didn’t match Bayley’s and a face that aged her considerably.
It appears that the official account removed the post after facing backlash, but the damage was already done as the image had circulated widely within the community. Bayley herself took notice and responded with “HELP ME,” an understandable reaction. Below is a glimpse of the character model:
WWE 2K24 will be playable on two different dates, depending on the version you purchase:
Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions
Friday, March 8, 2024: Standard and Standard Cross-Gen Digital editions
WWE 2K24 Covers: 3 Editions
The Standard Edition features “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes on the cover, while the Deluxe Edition showcases Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. The game boasts updated gameplay, new match types, and more. Notably, it includes the 2K Showcase of the Immortals, celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania, along with four new match types like Ambulance and Special Guest Referee, and two new MyRISE experiences, among other additions.
WWE 2K24 boasts a massive roster of wrestlers, comprising current-day Superstars and Legends. The roster includes icons like The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, Andre the Giant, Becky Lynch, Batista, Kurt Angle, Asuka, Bret Hart, Brock Lesnar, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Chyna, among others.
WWE made a big change to the SmackDown announce team when they took Kevin Patrick off of his duties. It was confirmed a short time later that Patrick has been released from the company, but they still needed to figure out a replacement.
According to PW Insider, Wade Barrett has been moved over to SmackDown to replace Kevin Patrick. The new SmackDown announce team will be Corey Graves and Barrett.
The future broadcast team for WWE SmackDown involves Wade Barrett and Corey Graves. Graves is set to take on the lead announce position, while Barrett will continue in his role as a color commentator.
The reason given to me for Kevin Patrick’s removal was that it just wasn’t working out. Now, Barrett is taking that role for him.
WWE RAW’s New Announce Team
Pat McAfee was revealed as the new full-time announcer on RAW. He will sit alongside Michael Cole every Monday night to call the action in the ring. That helped facilitate this change for Barrett’s blue brand move.
Wade Barrett’s Career In WWE
Wade Barrett’s real name is Stu Bennett, which he has used for several projects outside WWE. He had a notable career in WWE as a Superstar as well.
He joined the company in 2007 as part of the developmental system, Florida Championship Wrestling, and he rose to prominence in the first season of NXT, as he won the competition.
Barrett later led the group known as The Nexus, making a significant impact in storylines. Throughout his WWE tenure, he engaged in various feuds and alliances, including commentator and an authority figure role.
After leaving WWE in 2016, Barrett pursued other ventures, contributing to his diverse career in the wrestling industry. He eventually returned to WWE in 2022, where he was placed on the NXT announce team. He was later placed on main roster commentary, and that is where we find ourselves today.
This week on Raw, Punk addressed the fans and said he will miss this year’s WrestleMania. Eventually, Drew McIntyre interrupted him and said that “I’m not a spiritual person, but I prayed for this to happen.” Then Punk said that he would be coming back for McIntyre when he returns.
It’s worth noting that McIntyre’s future in WWE is uncertain. His contract is not confirmed beyond April. Meanwhile, Punk’s return from injury is likely to be around in September. Now, the question stands what will be the future of the feud.
Uncertainty looms over CM Punk-Drew McIntyre feud
Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that a reasonable timeline for CM to return is in September. Given Drew McIntyre’s contract status, doubt remains what the future holds for the storyline.
I’d say September is a reasonable return (for CM Punk). Which is interesting, really interesting, because they set up the big angle with Drew McIntyre tonight to be his opponent when he returns, and Drew McIntyre’s not under contract past April. And that has not changed. Which really surprised me when I watched it.”
This is not the first time Punk has suffered this injury. He has sustained a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. After immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months and made his return for the debut of AEW Collision show. We will have to wait and see when he is able to return this time around.
Brock Lesnar was set for the 2024 Royal Rumble event, where he would have been a part of the big over the top rope match. He was replaced by Bron Breakker in that match, and now there is a lot of doubt that Lesnar will be back any time soon.
Brock Lesnar May Not Be Back In WWE
Lesnar’s name was not explicitly mentioned in the earth-shattering lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was a WWE Superstar talking about a new contract at the time was mentioned. This didn’t paint Lesnar in the best light at all.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned that he has heard from some people who believe that Brock Lesnar may not ever be back in WWE. Then again, with a name that draws the kind of money that Lesnar does, you can never say never.
“As far as what happens next, I don’t know. It appears that Brock Lesnar is not going to be around for a while, some people think ever, you know, when it comes to talent I hate to say ‘forever,’ because it is almost never the case, because if someone can draw they almost always find their way back. As far as Vince, I cannot imagine Vince coming back this time.”
Brock Lesnar’s Link to Vince McMahon Lawsuit
The Janel Grant lawsuit did not specify a wrestler but described one as both a former UFC Heavyweight Champion fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline of 2021, it’s relatively easy to narrow down those choices, although it’s important to note that Brock Lesnar was not explicitly named.
The lawsuit mentioned that McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who stated, “he likes what he sees.” Four WWE Producers and television production techs were also alleged to have received this explicit content.
In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).
In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit claims that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, calling her ‘b*tch.” She was also later informed that sleeping with this talent was part of his contract renewal, although a “play date” could not be arranged.
‘The Great One’ is certainly one of the biggest superstars of WWE and has tasted success outside the company as well. Whether as an actor in Hollywood or in his business ventures, The Rock has excelled in every aspect.
The former WWE Champion has a diverse business background that includes Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila, ZOA Energy, Project Rock, and the United Football League (UFL), a recently merged spring football league. He has also involved himself in revenue-generating opportunities in live events, media rights, sponsorship, licensing, and social media. In addition, he is among the most popular men on the planet with massive social media followers.
The Rock: I have the privilege now to sit at the table
Taking to Twitter/ X, The Rock once again cherished the huge opportunity that has come in his path. He posted a video capturing the moments from his TKO Board of Directors appointment and in the caption, he said that it was his “honor to join” TKO Board of Directors.
He believes that it was “an historic day of big business.” The Rock noted that the achievement holds “life comes full circle” significance for him. He added:
“I have the privilege now to sit at the table, that my grandfather and my dad helped to build. Now the fun part – we go to work. We build. Thanks to all you guys out there for your support and hype.”
He finally thanked TKO/WWE partners- Ari Emmanuel, Mark Shapiro, Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
My honor to join @TKOGrp Board of Directors (parent co who owns @WWE@UFC)
An historic day of big business with deep and personal “life comes full circle” significance for me.
I have the privilege now to sit at the table, that my grandfather and my dad helped to build.
TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace was stunned when she learned that she’d be in the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match and that she’d walk down the aisle.
During the post-Royal Rumble press conference, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared his gratitude to TNA for allowing them to use Grace for the match. In a video shared by TNA’s Twitter account, Grace explained how her surprise appearance came together.
“Scott called me, I’d actually just landed from our tapings that we did in Orlando. And I was waking up and he called and he was like ‘Oh, how do you feel about wrestling this weekend?’ And I was just there thinking to myself ‘Oh my God, what does he want me to do?’
“And he was like ‘How do you feel about being in the Rumble?’ And I was like ‘What? What are you talking about?’ And he just said ‘Yeah, how do you feel about being in the Rumble?’ Did they ask? And he would go ‘No, they didn’t ask. I just want you to be there and jump the barricade.’ And honestly, that was more realistic to me than WWE calling TNA and being like ‘Can your Women’s Champion be in our Royal Rumble?'”
In a recent segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer highlighted the possibility of two current AEW roster members making a move to the Stamford-based promotion WWE.
Meltzer identified Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews as the two wrestlers who could potentially transition to WWE. Both Black and Matthews are presently associated with the House of Black faction, alongside Brody King and Julia Hart, within AEW.
The wrestling journalist was talking about the recent cage match between House of Black and Daniel Garcia & FTR on Saturday’s episode of Collision. The fight was originally announced as an Elimination bout but later changed to an Escape the cage match. Meltzer implied that the change was due to the House of Black not wanting to be pinned during the bout:
“[…] Malakai Black never does jobs, and when this was going on and I am watching this, one of the things I was thinking watching this is like, these freaking House of Black guys never do jobs. And here is the other thing. I was thinking what if they win this match and they are just going, like, two of those three guys are going to the WWE.”
Meltzer also remarked that both wrestlers are reluctant to take losses as they aim to maintain the strong image of their characters once they become free agents. He questioned why AEW continues to book them strongly when they are expected to leave for WWE.
“I mean, they are going. As soon as they can go, they are gone. Even though they were treated like shit in the WWE, and they never do jobs here, and they are still going back to the WWE. And my thought is kinda like, why do you keep putting them over when you know they are leaving?”
House of Black Responds
Multiple members of the faction took exception to these comments from Meltzer and reacted on social media. Matthews responded to Meltzer’s remarks with a picture of his AEW stats, stating that Dave lacked research skills.
“For a ‘Reporter,’ he doesn’t know much or do ANY research! Lol,” he commented.
The attached image displayed Matthew’s career stats in AEW, revealing that in 2024, he won one match and lost three. Overall, in his career, he won 25 matches and lost 13. These figures contradict Meltzer’s statement, as Matthews has indeed lost a considerable number of matches, if not the majority:
Brody King explained that the format of the match was always going to be Escape The Cage. Will Washington, who works as a coordinator for AEW came to his support confirming the reason for the graphic change:
Funny how someone’s opinion just becomes fact because they’ve been watching wrestling a long time. The format and stipulation of the cage match was always what it was going to be. It’s not our fault the wording on the graphic changed. https://t.co/zGuNP61TxN
While the wrestling journalist has not responded to these remarks from the AEW stars, this discourse seems to be far from over. Stay tuned for more updates on the situation
Kevin Owens’ efforts to regain the United States Championship were in vain at the Royal Rumble, and the Prizefighter walked into the match with a serious injury.
Owens unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Champion Logan Paul at last Saturday’s Premium Live Event. The Prizefighter had earned a shot at Paul by winning a tournament on SmackDown. Owens dispatched of Austin Theory and NXT’s Carmelo Hayes before defeating Santos Escobar in the finals on the New Year’s Revolution edition of SmackDown.
Kevin Owens Worked Hurt
Much of Owens’ storyline during the tournament and with Paul saw the Canadian wrestler deal with an ‘injured’ hand which resulted in KO wearing a cast. Despite this, F4W Online reports that Owens worked his match with Logan Paul at the Royal Rumble with a fractured foot injury. Owens reportedly suffered the injury during his tournament finals match with Escobar. While Owens had been in physical segments after suffering this injury, the match with Paul was his first actual match since the injury occurred.
Owens failed to capture the U.S. title at the Royal Rumble as he was disqualified. While Paul had introduced the brass knuckles into the match, Owens used them and the referee spotted them on KO’s hand during a pinfall attempt.
Kevin Owens and the U.S. Championship
In 2015, Owens made his WWE main roster debut by confronting then-U.S. Champion John Cena. After cleanly beating Cena in non-title action, Owens would fail to dethrone John at that year’s Battleground event. At WrestleMania 33 in 2017, Owens would win the U.S. Championship for the first time, defeating former ally Chris Jericho. After losing the gold to AJ Styles at a WWE MSG event, Owens would win it back at Battleground 2017 but lost the title back to Styles two days later on SmackDown.
Pat McAfee’s music surprised fans in Tropicana Field as he kicked off the Royal Rumble event. He joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves to call every match on the show, even the Men’s Royal Rumble, where McAfee had an impromptu appearance in the match. Now, he is back on WWE television on a weekly basis.
Pat McAfee Is Back on WWE Television
McAfee’s “Let’s Goooo!” music kicked off WWE RAW this week. This appearance was more than Royal Rumble fallout, because Cole and McAfee are back together.
Michael Cole was happy to announce that McAfee is now back on WWE RAW as a full-time announcer for the red brand. He will be joined by Cole on the show every week, and they were very happy about this reunion.
Cole and McAfee work together very well, because they are legit good friends. Cole has spoken on many occasions how close he is with McAfee, and now the two real-life friends get to talk about pro wrestling on RAW for three hours every week.
McAfee cut his teeth in WWE on the NXT brand. He not only got some commentary experience in, but he also had one impressive feud with Adam Cole, which resulted in a legit match. He later went on to become SmackDown announcer.
Austin Theory stepped up to face Pat McAfee at WrestleMania 38, in a match that was first thought to be Vince McMahon vs McAfee. That match was quite interesting, as it saw McMahon make his final WrestleMania appearance (probably ever) as he sold a Stone Cold Stunner like a lead balloon.
Since then, we’ve learned the new SmackDown announce team has been finalized:
Endeavor instituted two-man announce teams with their new set-up. It appears that three-man teams are out now, which is what helped lead to Michael Cole and Pat McAfee’s reunion on the red brand.
It was reported today that CM Punk suffered a triceps injury during the Royal Rumble match. There was no official confirmation from Punk or WWE. Then, the Second City Savior addressed the WWE Universe to kick off RAW this week.
Punk made his way to the ring with his right arm in a sling. After saying that he hopes Cody finishes his story, Punk said he never believed in luck, but he feels unlucky.
“In the course of the Rumble, I tore my right tricep,” Punk admitted. He thought about taping it to work on that injury, but WrestleMania is not in the cards for him. He said that maybe main eventing WrestleMania isn’t in the cards for him after all.
Fans cheered for CM Punk as he continued on and said this is just a bump in the road. He’s overcome adversity countless times in the past, and he doesn’t focus on people who tell him that he can’t. His promo, although the message was terrible that he will miss Mania, was very motivational.
Then CM Punk said, “there’s always next year,” before Drew McIntyre interrupted him. McIntyre could only relate to Punk’s heartbreaking career setbacks. Then he said that “I’m not a spiritual person, but I prayed for this to happen,” to get a big heel reaction from fans. Then Punk said that he’s coming back for McIntyre upon his return.
What’s Next for CM Punk?
At this time, we do not have an exact return timetable for CM Punk. We can only hope that he gets that WrestleMania match eventually, but this year’s show of shows isn’t happening for Punk.
Punk suffered a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. Following immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months before making his return for the debut of the Collision show. Now, he is dealing with another similar injury.
The pro wrestling world was shaken up in a huge way when Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon was made public. This lawsuit, which alleges sexual abuse, extortion, and assault, could break the company wide open if private texts and emails are exposed for all to see. To prepare themselves for what’s to come, Nikki and Brie Bella are now speaking out.
The Garcia Twins Respond
The Bella Twins are no longer in WWE, as they allowed their contracts to expire. Now as the Garcia Twins, they are doing their thing in the public eye. After those damning allegations against Vince McMahon, Nikki and Brie had to speak up.
The official Twitter/X account for the Garcia Twins sent out a public announcement about the recent lawsuit and the mountain of allegations that it included. It was made very clear that the WWE Hall of Fame team do not condone anything that the earth-shattering lawsuit alleged, and they support women in every way that they can.
We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE. It has been a lot to process since we found out this past week as you all did. This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are. We want all women to feel safe and supported in the workplace and in their everyday lives.
The Bella Twins’ Connection to Vince McMahon’s Big Lawsuit
That lawsuit from Janel Grant wasn’t just against WWE and Vince McMahon, because John Laurinaitis was also named as a defendant. Laurinaitis is also married to Nikki and Brie’s mother.
John and Kathy Laurinaitis were married in 2016, years before the allegations in that lawsuit allegedly took place. Their wedding was also used as a storyline device on Total Divas. As of this writing, Laurinaitis has not released any public statement on this matter, but Vince McMahon’s camp sent out a response of denial.
It was also made clear in McMahon’s statement after his resignation from WWE that he was still claiming total innocence from the allegations in Grant’s lawsuit. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story.
Allegations In Janel Grant’s Lawsuit
Former WWE employee Janel Grant has filed a lawsuit against McMahon, accusing him of sex trafficking. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday morning, alleges that McMahon, while serving as WWE’s Chief Executive, subjected Grant to sexual abuse and exploitation. The suit claims McMahon coerced her into sexual relations under the promise of career advancement and later trafficked her to other men within WWE.
Grant, who signed a nondisclosure agreement with WWE in 2022, asserts that she first encountered McMahon in 2019 in their shared apartment building. McMahon purportedly promised her work at WWE and showered her with gifts. The lawsuit further claims that McMahon pressured her into sexual activities to secure her a job. Grant was hired as an “administration coordinator” in June 2019, a position the suit alleges McMahon created for her under John Laurinaitis. However, she reportedly had little work, leading to complaints from other WWE employees and Grant feeling her job was undeserved.
Grant further alleges that McMahon sent explicit messages, increased demands for sex, and used “toys” forcefully during intimate encounters, causing injuries. She claims McMahon shared photos and videos of her with other WWE executives and wrestlers, recruiting others within WWE to have sex with her, including then WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis. The suit alleges Grant’s mental and physical health declined, leading to McMahon sending her to a “celebrity doctor” in November, with McMahon later paying $20,000 for surgery.
The lawsuit contends that Grant was transferred to the talent-relations division in May 2021, working directly under Laurinaitis. A month later, Grant alleges McMahon and Laurinaitis locked her in an office, sexually assaulting her in turns, followed by McMahon assaulting her again a week later.
Dutch Mantell has always gotten bad vibes when he was around Vince McMahon and the Memphis wrestling legend thinks with the latest allegations where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
On his “Story Time with Dutch Mantell” podcast, Mantell and his co-host covered the 67-page legal document of the horrific allegations McMahon has been accused of.and Dutch thinks with all the NDAs signed that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
“If he’s already paid out that much money, he’s guilty.”
Mantell then pulls from his personal experience with Vince McMahon and how he got some different energy from McMahon.
“I think he’s guilty of all of this and Vince is not right. I’ve always detected a vibe around Vince that something is off.
“I didn’t know exactly what it was, but even talking to him sometimes, he’d look at you and you’d think, ‘What the f*** is he talking about?’ And then you get up and leave the room and you may not have even gotten an answer to the question you asked, but you got a lot of Vince’s vibe cause when he would walk into the whole room, the attitude in the room would change.”
Mantell then addresses the allegations that McMahon used sex toys on the victim, Janel Grant, named after WWE Superstars. Dutch believes this certain detail is so unique that nobody could conjure something up like that.
“This is only a detail that she would know. I mean, if I was a woman and I was making up stuff, I couldn’t even make that up so that’s what makes me think it’s real, that it really happened because that does sound like Vince.”
Mantell goes on to add that he doesn’t believe that we’ll see this matter go to trial and a settlement will be reached because other parties don’t want to be implicated and the damage is already done.
Please credit “Story Time With Dutch Mantell” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
Becky Lynch is going around to make towns for her forthcoming book.
With her autobiography, “Becky Lynch: The Man” coming out on March 26, Lynch. revealed that she’ll be hitting several book stores to sign copies of the book in person with fans. Lynch posted the following on social media.
“I can’t wait to share my story, in person, when The Man’s book tour comes around starting March 26th!”
Lynch is set to appear at the following book stores starting on March 26, the day the book hits stores.
Becky Lynch Book Tour Dates & Cities
March 26 at 123:00 PM ET: Barnes & Noble, Fifth Ave., New York, NY
March 27 at 6:00 PM ET: Bookends, Ridgewood, NJ
March 28 at 7:00 PM ET: Washington, DC
March 29 at 12:00 PM ET: RJ Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
April 2 at 6:00 PM ET: Barnes & Noble, Philadelphia, PA
April 13 at 2:00 PM PT: Barnes & Noble, The Grove, Los Angeles, CA
I can't wait to share my story, in person, when The Man's book tour comes around starting March 26th! pic.twitter.com/th7atUuHOr
Lynch was one of the few favorites to win the Royal Rumble and “The Man” made her run-in at #21 and lasted over 20 minutes in the bout before being eliminated by a returning Naomi and a debuting Jade Cargill. The winner ended up being Lynch’s fellow Four Horsewoman, Bayley who entered the match at #3.
Where Lynch may land for WrestleMania is currently undetermined, but with Bayley likely challenging her current Damage CTRL teammate Iyo Sky for her title, Rhea Ripley still needs an opponent.
As she continues the transition to life on WWE’s main roster, Ivy Nile looks forward to partaking in some major premium live events and wrestling some notable competitors from RAW and SmackDown.
During a recent conversation I had with Nile, she spoke about her aspirations on WWE’s main roster, citing a pair of powerhouses as women she’s particularly keen on working with.
“I love working with huge, strong women because I feel like I’m really good at breaking them down,” Nile said. “I’ve worked with Lash Legends a lot in NXT and some of my favorite fights have been with her. Rhea Ripley [as well]. I just love working with these strong big women because it makes me want to match their energy and match what they can do. I’m like, ‘You can do that, I can do that.’
So to name a few, Nia Jax maybe. Bianca Belair, we’re [from] the same Knoxville place. I don’t know if I want to go toe to toe with her, maybe team up with her, maybe. I think the sky’s the limit. I’ll go toe to toe with anyone. Just because they’re bigger than me doesn’t doesn’t mean anything.”
In addition to competing with more main-roster talent, Nile is also aiming to land a spot on some of WWE’s biggest events, such as Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania 40, and the 2024 Royal Rumble, which will take place on January 27.
“There’s so many things I’ve trained for that I didn’t know what was to come, but I’m ready for it,” Nile said. “So many people will be like, so you have this certain event in a couple of weeks, ‘Oh, I have to get ready.’ That’s not me. I’m ready.
It’s ambitious to say, this is my first year in, in RAW, we have Rumble coming up. We have Elimination Chamber coming up. We have WrestleMania. There’s so many things this year, dare I say, I want to get my hands on everything, but gosh, you just never know.”
NXT Standouts
While her focus on now centered on the main roster, Ivy Nile hasn’t forgotten about the up-and-coming stars in WWE NXT. In assessing the current landscape in NXT, Nile pointed out three competitors she has been particularly impressed with, all of whom Nile has previously shared a ring with.
“I worked with Fallon Henley a lot. I feel like she’s definitely starting to get more noticed and more eyes on her. And I think she is one of the sassiest and feistiest girls there. She definitely will pack a punch, let me tell you. We worked together a lot and she’s always just one of the hardest workers in the room. Kiana James is another one. To work with her, she is just incredible. She’s just always bringing out new things and just very, very fierce in everything that she does.
I think Roxanne Perez is also so, I wouldn’t say underdog at all, it’s just when you look at her, she just always surprises me in what she does. I can just feel her emotion and feel everything she’s doing. Every time I see her, she just elevates herself. And that’s so inspiring for myself to kind of just keep getting better if she’s elevating herself every single match. I think she’s amazing.
Read more from my interview with WWE Superstar Ivy Nile:
The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble came equipped with several surprises, one of which was the return of Liv Morgan. The former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion had been out of action since sustaining a second shoulder injury — an injury that later resulted in her being written off WWE television in late July 2023.
After six months on the shelf, Morgan resurfaced in WWE’s Women’s Royal Rumble match on January 27, entering the field from the number 30 position. Morgan was one of the final two competitors in the match, but was eliminated by the winner, Bayley.
During an interview with Denise Salcedo, Morgan commented on her return, sharing her excitement to being back in a ring.
“It’s been a journey the
last 6 months,” Morgan said. “It’s been a fight, it’s
been a struggle, so to come back at the
Royal Rumble in the coveted 30 spot, I
was very happy. I felt honored and
just happy to be back, happy to be back
doing what I love, doing my thing, came
really really really close, but I am
happy for Bayley, nonetheless.”
Despite a lengthy absense from WWE due to injury, Morgan returned to action just in time to keep an impressive Royal Rumble streak in tact.
“Last year
I came very close as well. I was also a
runner-up last year when Rhea beat me. I think Nattie and I are the
only superstars in WWE to be in all
seven women’s Rumble match, so I am a
little bit of a veteran in this match. Maybe next year will be my year.”
Liv Morgan Channels Christina Aguillera
Morgan paid homage to singer Christina Aguilera’s outfit from her Dirrty music video with her ring gear in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble:
CM Punk had his first match on WWE television at the Royal Rumble, but sadly, that resulted in an injury. Now, there is a plan for Punk, but it doesn’t include wrestling right away.
CM Punk is Injured
According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, over the weekend, WWE had concerns about a potential significant injury to CM Punk. It was previously reported that Punk suffered a triceps injury, with PW Insider suggesting that surgery might be necessary, projecting a prolonged absence extending beyond WrestleMania.
Although information about Punk’s triceps injury was reported, there’s no official confirmation from Punk or WWE. At this time, fans should still expect to hear from Punk this week on RAW.
Punk suffered a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. Following immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months before making his return for the debut of the Collision show.
WWE’s Plan For CM Punk On RAW Tonight
It is reported that Punk is currently listed for tonight’s WWE RAW, where it’s anticipated that he will address the reported injury. Internally, he was planned to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania, who is dealing with a torn MCL and meniscus.
During the conclusion of the WWE Royal Rumble match, a WWE referee checked on CM Punk, inquiring about the need for medical attention. Punk declined, expressing his intent to complete the match. There’s no information suggesting that Cody Rhodes’s Royal Rumble win was a result of Punk’s injury.
WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For CM Punk
This is terrible timing for CM Punk, because he was set to take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. Now, with Punk out of the mix, they will need to figure out a new match for the Visionary.
The ‘Road To WrestleMania’ may look bleak for WWE superstar CM Punk. He competed at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 for the first time in over a decade and looked in good shape. However, fans noticed he favored his arm in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
According to PWInsider, Punk suffered a torn triceps during Saturday’s Royal Rumble match. Sources indicate that he will need surgery, which would keep him out for 4-6 months.
‘The belief among sources we have spoken with is that post-surgery, CM Punk would likely need in the area of 4-6 months of recovery and physical therapy.’
Punk is expected to address the WWE Universe on the January 29 episode of Monday Night Raw from Tampa, FL.
How did CM Punk’s Injury Occur?
Fans have pointed out that Punk looked hurt after he took a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The report noted that Punk allegedly told a referee during the match that it was his tricep.
CM Punk might've injured his arm last night #RoyalRumble
he was clutching his right arm after the DDT and spent several minutes in the corner having a lengthy chat with the referee. hopefully it's nothing serious. pic.twitter.com/yPf7ZS3hqz
PWInsider has confirmed CM Punk did suffer a torn triceps during the Royal Rumble, likely on a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre, and will need surgery. His Wrestlemania hopes have been dashed. Thankfully for WWE, they have a deep bench, but that’s a huge blow to that card.
While it seemed WWE was leaning towards a Punk and Rollins showdown at WWE WrestleMania 40, they have also teased WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther as the title challenger. On the January 22 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, ‘The Ringe General’ had an in-ring segment with Rollins and showed interest in becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Although Punk vs. Rollins may have been in the works, a potential title vs. title match between Gunther and Rollins could make for a big program for WWE WrestleMania 40. If Punk is injured, hopefully, he can fully recover and reignite his feud with Rollins later this year.
WWE saw a few surprises during the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Naomi and Andrade both returned to the company, and now we have an update on what is next for them.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Andrade was scheduled for tonight’s WWE Raw. Charlotte Flair, who advocated for his return, showed support backstage at the WWE Royal Rumble, as she helped prepare him for his big moment.
Charlotte, who is on the Smackdown brand, is currently sidelined with a terrible knee injury. She may be out for about a year at this point, so the fact that they are on different brands isn’t a big deal.
Having previously performed in TNA under her real name, Trinity, Naomi openly communicated her return to WWE and likely participation in the Royal Rumble. TNA sources reportedly mentioned that it became apparent by the start of the year that Naomi would be concluding her time with TNA.
WWE maintained interest in Naomi for over a year, but due to an informal hiring freeze, her return was delayed until after her TNA obligations were fulfilled. Now, she is back, and ready to battle on the blue brand, where her husband, Jimmy Uso, is still a top act as part of The Bloodline.
Prior to her victory in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, Bayley loudly proclaimed that if she won the match, she intended to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley for her title at WrestleMania 40. Ripley, however, believes “The Role Model” should be looking elsewhere right now.
Following Bayley’s Royal Rumble win, ‘The Eradicator’ addressed this previous claim during an interview with Denise Salcedo, suggesting that Bayley may be better served by looking inward at her Damage CTRL stablemates, particularly WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY.
“I love Bayley. I think she’s great,” Ripley said. “I’ve danced with her in the ring a couple times, and we’ve teamed together with WarGames and all that.I want to say that she has love for me too, and she wouldn’t choose me for Wrestlemania and just throw away her ticket to WrestleMania like that. If I were her, I would keep my eyes on the people around her because it’s good to keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”
As Ripley alluded to, recent months have seen the majority of Damage CTRL (IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) gradually distance themselves from Bayley. Coming off her Royal Rumble win, Bayley now has an opportunity to confront that divide head-on by facing SKY for her title at WrestleMania 40.
For right now, though, wrestling fans will have to stay tuned to find out which champion Bayley will officially issue a challenge to.
Assessing The Royal Rumble Field
While she didn’t partake in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley kept a close eye on the events that unfolded within the match. In surveying her potential competition, Ripley noted this year’s entrants thoroughly impressed her, making her even more excited to see who would eventually prevail.
“I was just standing there watching it and I’m like ‘Yo, all of these women they’re competitors.’ I could easily step in the ring with any one of them and you would think that I’m in danger and I love that,” Ripley said.
“That’s a way that the women’s division is thriving and it’s all about competition. I live for that, so I was so over the moon and thrilled to see these women going in there and getting their opportunity to shine. Then watching the whole thing, like everyone did so exceptionally well. I’m proud of our division. We really showed everyone exactly what we’ve got and I’m very proud of them.”
This year’s field featured several surprises as well, including the returns of Naomi (also known as Trinity) and Liv Morgan. Recent signee Jade Cargill also made her official WWE in-ring debut, eliminating the likes of Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Naomi during her outing.
Wrestling legend Kevin Nash believes former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley is in a different class than everyone else in All Elite Wrestling.
The nWo founder spoke about AEW on the latest episode of his Kliq Thispodcast. Nash acknowledged he’s gotten heat for not watching AEW, but was able to watch last week’s AEW Dynamite due to a shift in his schedule.
Nash didn’t hold back while reviewing each match and segment of the show along with co-host Sean Oliver. He took issue with several creative decisions, but one segment in particular left him wanting more.
Jon Moxley brings realism to AEW
According to Nash, Jon Moxley’s pre-recorded backstage promo was the best part of the entire show. He’s seen it all throughout his legendary career and knows talent when he sees it. AEW has a lot of talented wrestlers, but Nash says Moxley is the only one who comes across like it’s real.
“There was a promo he cut a couple weeks ago where he was bloody and he was talking s*** about all the different, uh, belts that are out there and ‘he lost and he didn’t get one tonight.’ And it’s just like..
Moxley gets it. I think Moxley’s the only one that gets it on that show and he owns it. He comes across f******, like, real.”
Nash mentioned how bummed he was that that particular segment was the only thing Moxley was in the entire night. Elsewhere on the show, Nash appreciated the presentation of AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, but felt that HOOK came across as minor league due to the way he was dressed.
Moxley has been with AEW since the beginning and has stepped up for the company countless times throughout tumultuous times.
WWE lost Mercedes Mone and Trinity when they walked out of the company in May 2022. Since then, Naomi made her return to WWE during the 2024 Royal Rumble after a successful stint in TNA. Sasha Banks, on the other hand, has not returned. Now, the latest update casts even more doubt that will happen.
There have been many developments for Mone over the past few months. Her NJPW contract expired, and she was free to discuss her future with another company, and that included WWE.
Although Mone and WWE were talking about her return, they seem to have hit a roadblock. Now, it is no longer anticipated that fans will see her WWE comeback, because another company is expected to snag her.
To provide an update on the situation, PW Insider has reported that Mercedes Mone will be back working in pro wrestling by March and “not for WWE.” This may disappoint some WWE fans, but at least she will be seen soon enough.
Although it was not explicitly stated, the current thought is that Mercedes Mone is going to end up in AEW. That debut has obviously not happened yet. AEW Revolution will take place on March 3rd in the Greensboro Coliseum. The event will see Sting’s final match, but it may also include Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company if this report lines up.
What’s Next For Mercedes Mone
Mercedes Mone just registered trademarks for, what could be, a clothing line. She has other options in the entertainment industry, as her acting career could see more credits than the Mandalorian down the line.
Bayley may believe that her story with Mercedes Mone will live on forever, but the former Sasha Banks is not making a return to WWE at this point. It will be interesting to see if her road brings her back to the company, but that isn’t happening this time around.
Roman Reigns’ historic journey as WWE Undisputed Universal Champion is still going. The book is not closed on a possible match against The Rock this year, and many eyes are on the Tribal Chief. Hulk Hogan is one man who certainly paid attention.
Hulk Hogan’s High Praise For Roman Reigns
Hulk Hogan praises Roman Reigns, acknowledging Reigns’ significant impact on the pro wrestling business. According to Hogan, Reigns’ success could have been substantial in any era of WWE’s history.
Currently holding the Undisputed WWE Universal title, Roman Reigns has an impressive reign spanning over 1,240 days. This extended tenure as a champion is a rare occurrence in recent years. Reigns has the opportunity to further etch his name in history by surpassing Hulk Hogan’s longest reign, which lasted for 1,474 days.
While speaking with Sports Illustrated, Hulk Hogan praised Roman Reigns a huge way. He said that the Tribal Chief would have been able to paint masterpieces in the ring, no matter what year it is.
“It takes a really long time to be able to transition and pivot on a dime the way he does. That’s how he paints masterpieces you’ve never seen before. He’s working on a whole different level.”
Sika Anoa’i, Reigns’ father, taught him the fundamentals of the business, which is evident in his matches. Hogan pointed out Reigns’ ability to evoke emotions, make the crowd angry, and keep them engaged in anticipation of a comeback. According to Hogan, Reigns learned these techniques in an old-school fashion from his father but has successfully adapted to the modern era. Hogan expressed his belief that Reigns is versatile and can adjust to any opponent, emphasizing his remarkable skills.
“Roman’s dad, Sika, he explained the ABCs of it all to him. Watch his matches and you can tell. You can see it in the way Roman creates emotion, understands how to make the crowd mad, and how he puts people on the edge of their seat calling for that comeback. Roman Reigns learned this all old-school from his dad, but he adapted to the newer era, too. He can do it all. Roman is adaptable to whoever he is wrestling. That’s important. At any moment in time, he can switch gears on you. He’s amazing, and he’d fit in any era.”
What’s Next
Roman Reigns was able to defend his Undisputed Universal Title at the Royal Rumble. He beat LA Knight, Randy Orton and AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match. Now, it appears that he will have to deal with Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, where the American Nightmare will have a chance to finish his story.
Damage CTRL leader Bayley is headed to WrestleMania 40 after a thrilling victory in Saturday’s 30-Woman Royal Rumble match.
Bayley, a multi-time Women’s Champion in WWE, has earned an opportunity to show the world that she’s still a championship-caliber competitor. She’s also looking to build a legacy on par with her peers Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks, which is no small task.
WWE regularly plans out big matches months in advance, but the company also makes changes to plans at the last minute on a pretty regular basis. The Royal Rumble winners set the course for the top matches at WrestleMania, so late changes to the winners would indicate that situation is still in flux.
According to PWInsider, WWE had Bayley booked to win the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble for quite some time and this was not a late decision.
Bayley made history at the Royal Rumble
Bayley’s performance this past Saturday set a new record for the longest time spent a Women’s Royal Rumble at one hour and three minutes.
After entering at #3 following Natalya and the returning Naomi, Bayley (with some help from Damage CTRL allies Asuka and Kairi Sane) eliminated Candice LaRae, Indi Hartwell, Maxxine Dupri and finally Liv Morgan to win the 7th Women’s Royal Rumble.
Who was backstage at the Royal Rumble?
In other Royal Rumble news, several pro wrestling legends were backstage visiting.
Based on speaking with people at the event, as well as photos posted on social media, the list of special guests included Mike Rotunda, Brian Blair, Steve Keirn, Dory Funk Jr. & Marti Funk and Gerald Brisco.
