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Nic Nemeth Addresses Wrestle Kingdom Brawl With David Finlay: “I’m standing up for the fans”

Bishal Roy
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Nic Nemeth wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect towards the fans.

The former Dolph Ziggler kicked off the new year by surprising the fans with an appearance at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 and went on to have a brawl with IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay.

Nemeth, one of the top free agents in all of pro wrestling, arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling months after his surprising release from WWE. The former World Champion  was included in the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings and he was among the list of Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Riddle, Emma, Riddick Moss, Aliyah, and other Superstars. 

Nemeth’s presence was kept a secret from virtually everybody. Nemeth watched David Finlay face Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to crown the first IWGP Global Champion. Following the match, Finlay got in the face of Nemeth and had a heated exchange which led to the brawl.

Nic Nemeth apologizes for losing his cool

Following the incident, Nemeth spoke with NJPW interviewer Emily Mae and decided to explain his brawl with David Finlay. He said he was enjoying the show but Finlay messed it all up with his disrespectful gesture. Nemeth was apologetic for his actions:

“I don’t even work here. I was enjoying the show. I haven’t been to Japan in a really long time and I just wanted to see this big show, this beautiful show and see what it was like. I lost my cool and I completely apologize to the fans, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Finlay spit my face and shoved me and again I’m a grown up and I should have turned my cheek and walked away. Those three athletes beat the hell out of each other and put on a display and I was very proud to be a fan and just enjoy that moment and Finlay took that away from me and all the fans and I felt like someone had to do something.”

Nemeth said that he was standing up for the fans and wouldn’t tolerate disrespect towards the fans. He added:

“Ospreay and Moxley laid it all out there for that title just to show what that global championship means and I thought it was a spit in the face to the fans. Technically, I don’t work here, I’m an observer on the outside, he’s attacking a fan, I feel like I’m standing up for the fans and say, ‘hey, if you’re going to take the cheap shots someone’s going to knock you on your ass’ and again I am so, I’m sorry, I was out of line and if there’s anything I can do, I completely understand.”

“I lost my cool because I felt that everything that was laid out there in that match was something special, it took me back to a time when I was a kid and you just know what these wrestlers go through on a day to day basis and to have a chance on a giant stage to prove that you are this brand new title holder, that title deserves better and that’s all I should say, I think I apologize to the fans and New Japan Pro Wrestling, it’s a beautiful show, I’m so sorry, I lost my cool, I apologize”.

With the incident, NJPW is seemingly sowing the seeds of Nemeth facing Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship. There is a possibility that the match could take place at NJPW Battle in the Valley on January 13. 

Matt Riddle Arrives in New Japan to Challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle could be poised to make his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut very soon as part of the upcoming New Year Dash event. 

In a video shared on social media, Riddle can be seen donned in a gi and training intensely. The video also features clips of Riddle arriving in an expensive car in his signature flip-flops. In a promo at the end of the video, Riddle made his challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi. 

“Konichiwa New Japan! Let me introduce myself. My name is Matthew Riddle, the King of Bros. And I’ve got my sights set on Tanahashi-san, the Ace of New Japan. I’ll see you soon, bro.” 

In the clip below, you can see Tanahashi’s response to the challenge. The NJPW President said he’s ready to wrestle anytime, but has no idea who Riddle is. 

Matt Riddle 

Riddle was released from WWE in September 2023 as part of the first wave of talent releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Riddle, a former U.S. Champion, Raw Tag Team Champion, and NXT Tag Team Champion, was one of the biggest names cut. 

Since being released, Riddle has signed with Major League Wrestling and will compete at their event this week. The former Superstar recently spoke about changing up his style and wants to showcase his serious skills in the ring in contrast to his WWE ‘goofball’ persona. 

Riddle isn’t the only ex-Superstar coming to NJPW. Nic Nemeth made his debut at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Click here to find out more about the rebrand of the Show-Off. 

TNA Sacrifice & iMPACT Taping Coming to Ontario, Canada this March

Thomas Lowson
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TNA Sacrifice will take place on March 8, from Ontario Canada, the promotion confirmed this week. 

In a statement, it was confirmed that Sacrifice 2024 will take place at the campus of St. Clair College in Windsor and that there will be a taping of TNA Impact! the next night. Tickets for the show will go on sale on January 13 at 10 AM ET. Names announced for the Windsor shows include IMPACT/TNA World Champion Alex Shelley, Brian Myers, KUSHIDA, Chris Sabin, Moose, Tommy Dreamer, and Jordynne Grace.

TNA Wrestling in Windsor, Ontario

Windsor, Ontario is no stranger to TNA Wrestling. The city is the home of several TNA stars including Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, Bhuphinder Gujjar, and TNA Wrestling President Scott D’Amore. The city is also home to Petey Williams whose name is synonymous with TNA and is a two-time X-Division Champion. 

Last year, IMPACT Wrestling hosted its Slammiversary event at the St. Clair College Campus. The show saw Alex Shelley retain the IMPACT World Championship from Nick Aldis while Trinity kicked off her Knockouts World Championship reign by dethroning Deonna Purrazzo. 

The Return of TNA Wrestling

Next week, IMPACT Wrestling will officially relaunch as TNA Wrestling in a blockbuster move from the promotion. The change was announced at Bound for Glory last October. Speaking exclusively to SE Scoops, Alex Shelley said that the response from fans has blown the expectations within the company out of the water. 

TNA Wrestling just signed two former WWE Superstars. Click here to find out more. 

Watch: Jade Cargill Trains for WWE In-Ring Debut with WWE & AEW Stars

Thomas Lowson
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It remains unclear when Jade Cargill will make her in-ring debut for WWE, but the ex-AEW star will be ready for when it happens. 

Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023, shortly after her tenure with AEW came to an end. The former & inaugural AEW TBS Champion made her WWE TV debut on the Fastlane kick-off show and would make appearances on WWE Raw, SmackDown, and WWE NXT. 

Jade Cargill Trains for WWE Debut

Jade Cargill has yet to wrestle for WWE, but speculation continues to grow about what’s next for her. Despite her absence from TV, Cargill remains active in the ring. On her Instagram Stories this week, WWE Superstar Natalya shared a video of Jade training for her much-anticipated debut match.

Cargill wasn’t the only notable name training with Natalya. AEW’s Ricky Starks was also spotted training. Starks has friends in WWE and was infamously spotted backstage at the 2023 Royal Rumble event. WWE’s B-Fab and Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis were also at the training session. On Twitter, Natalya expressed her delight at the training session. 

What’s Next for Jade Cargill?

As Triple H made clear during the Survivor Series post-show press conference, WWE will not be rushing plans with Jade Cargill. While Cargill knows what brand she’ll be working with going forward, the former TBS Champion has not confirmed publicly where she’ll be heading. 

Whatever’s next for Jade Cargill, it likely won’t involve Charlotte Flair. It had been rumored for some time that Flair would be Cargill’s first WWE opponent, especially after an interaction between the two on SmackDown. Unfortunately, Flair suffered an injury last month that will keep her out for much of 2024. The Queen recently thanked fans for their support after undergoing surgery. 

WWE Schedule 2024: PPV Dates, Locations and Venues

Thomas Lowson
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WWE will also have international events in Saudi Arabia as part of the promotion’s decade-long agreement with the nation. The dates of these events have yet to be announced, but two will take place in the year ahead.

2024 is shaping up to be a big a year for the world’s premiere pro wrestling promotion, but they’ve got their work cut out for them if they want to make it their biggest year ever. WWE executive Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque recently touted last year’s record-shattering success:

CM Punk: Seth Rollins Wouldn’t Have Gotten The Chance if it Wasn’t For Guys Like Me

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk is ready for the upcoming Royal Rumble event and hopes a win in the Men’s Rumble match will set him on course for WrestleMania and Seth Rollins. 

Since his shocking return to WWE at Survivor Series, Punk has proven to be a thorn in Rollins’ side. The reigning World Heavyweight Champion has made it clear why he’s against Punk, who for years would put down WWE in public appearances. Rollins has also been shutting down CM Punk chants at events the Best in the World hasn’t been present for. 

CM Punk on the Royal Rumble

After competing on WWE’s record-breaking Holiday Tour, Punk will make his televised return to the ring as part of the Men’s Royal Rumble match on January 27. Speaking on the WWE 2023 Preview Special, Punk shared his mindset going into the match. 

“It’s just gonna be just like walking out in front of the Chicago audience for Survivor Series. I think there’s a lot of ghosts I’m trying to put to bed, and it’s almost Kismat. You couldn’t write a better story ten years after walking out, my last match was at Royal Rumble. I’m walking back in ten years later, and my good buddy Cody likes to say he’s gonna finish his story. To me, this is finishing what I started, this is picking back up where I left off.

“Ten years wiser and still all that experience that I have inside the Royal Rumble and inside the wrestling ring is gonna come in handy, and I’m gonna get to win the Royal Rumble and main event WrestleMania. At least that’s the plan, I know there’s 29 other guys that are gonna do their best to stop me, but I’m supremely confident.”

CM Punk on Seth Rollins

Punk’s most recent televised match for WWE was as part of the 2014 Royal Rumble match. Punk was the #1 entrant in the match while reigning World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins entered at #2. On the show, Punk was asked about his take on Rollins at the time. 

“I viewed Seth as somebody who was following in my footsteps, I think there’s a lot of people in wrestling as a whole that are in the WWE now that for better or for worse, I think looked up to a guy like me. I always like to thank the legends that helped pave the way for the roads that I travel now. Guys like Terry Funk, Eddie Guerrero, Brett Hart, Tracy Smothers, Chris Candido.

“There’s a litany of guys that I always feel that I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunities that I got if it weren’t for them, I don’t know. I guess I’m in a position where it feels maybe strange, me vocalizing it, but I think Seth is a guy at least I definitely thought it ten years ago that he’s a dude that I don’t think would have gotten the opportunities that he has gotten if it wasn’t for me.”

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Mick Foley Never Saw His WWE Title Win Coming, WCW Made a “Tactical Error”

Thomas Lowson
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Mick Foley’s first time capturing a World Championship felt all the sweeter as he never dreamed he’d be put in such an elevated position. 

Foley would win his first WWF Championship 25 years ago on January 4, 1999. The win would see Foley (as Mankind) best The Rock in a No-Disqualifcation match. With DX and the Corporation brawling at ringside, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin would ultimately aid Foley with a chair shot to the skull of The Rock. Post-match, Foley dedicated the win to his family. 

Mick Foley Wins the ‘Big One’

Speaking in a recent video for WWE, Foley reflected on his WWF Championship win on the January 4, episode of Raw. The Hardcore Legend admitted that while he knew he’d be winning the gold, it didn’t feel quite real until after the pinfall. 

“It set in for me the moment I held the title. Because I had never seen that coming for me, so I never made that my goal. I wanted to have memorable feuds, I wanted to try to move people up the ladder, I wanted to try to create great moments. But never once did I think one of those moments would be holding the WWE title. So because I never let it define success for me, I never felt bad when I did not have it. But I have to tell you, when they handed it to me, it felt more like a lifetime achievement award than it did a WWE title.”

Foley’s title win would prove to be historic for far more than just his win. On WCW Monday Nitro, Tony Schiavone was directed to spoil the result, as Raw had been taped the week prior. This strategy backfired as fans tuned into Raw in their droves to see Foley finally win the big one. 

“They made a tactical error in giving away the results of the Mankind Rock match. And so I believe within seconds, up to 500,000 homes or fans switch channels, and the rest is history.

“What should have been a solid victory for WCW turned into a route by WWE, almost specifically, almost exclusively, because they made so many people wanna watch our show to see history being made.

“Even among the WCW fans, there was a feeling that I had been a hardworking guy who had never quite gotten to the top. And there were a lot of fans, even their fans, who wanted to witness it.”

Working With The Rock

Foley’s victory over The Rock wouldn’t be their first time facing off and it would not be his last time sharing the ring with the Great One. In the video, Foley recalled feuding with the Hollywood star and later teaming for segments such as ‘This is Your Life’.

“The Rock and I had this great rivalry and a great chemistry. We’d later see it play itself out as tag team partners but we wouldn’t have been those great tag team partners without the rivalry and the chemistry as opponents.

“There’s a phrase I use, it’s called embracing the ridiculous. And some people, they’re just a little short of being able or willing to do that. I think it’s those who embrace the ridiculous, who sink their teeth into every opportunity they are given, that really make a difference.”

Foley would become a three-time WWF Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BahE2IpVptw

Mick Foley recently took his love of Santa Claus and Christmas to the world of indie wrestling. Click here to find out more. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

‘Scared of the Unknown’ – Charlotte Flair emotional following knee surgery

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair has shared her gratitude to those wishing her well after her recent injury. 

During the latter part of her December 9 match with Asuka, Flair was hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. The injury happened when Flair came off the top rope at an awkward angle and her legs bounced off the ropes. Despite this, Flair was able to finish the match that saw Asuka get the victory. 

Charlotte Flair is Thankful

In a tweet, Flair gave an update to her fans. The former Women’s Champion was dressed in a hospital gown, suggesting she has had her surgery. 

Family, Friends & Fans,

THANK YOU for all the positive, beautiful messages & flowers I feel supported in every way. It has taken me a few days and many MANY tears to wrap my head around everything. I happen to be an expert in overthinking and this is the first time I’ve ever been truly scared. Scared of the unknown but also feeling like I’m losing what I’m most proud of and that’s being an athlete. I don’t like showing physical weakness and this has left me feeling exposed. A process I know I will grow from but a very new one to me. This was a huge blow to me mentally and obviously physically going into 2024. 2023 was a rollercoaster and I am trying to stay positive and maybe this was the only way to stop, refocus, rebuild & eventually conquer again.

I can’t thank this year’s Smackdown locker-room enough. I enjoyed every second and will be rooting from the sidelines

I have been a bad guy for most of my career but this year was different for me. I CHERISHED every hug, high-five and fist pump this year at live events and for the first time in my career felt comfortable in my own boots being the good guy I learned so much as a performer and plan on starting right where I left off.

I promise I am going to work 24/7 over the next nine months to come back the best version of the Queen you’ve ever seen.

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

Climbing my own mountain will be my greatest test yet.

Thank you for all the love

Here is to 2024.

Love, Ashley

Aka Charlotte 

Charlotte wasn’t going to let her injury stop her from supporting her husband at a non-WWE event. Click here to find out more. 

Logan Paul Making Things Right With CryptoZoo Scandal By Paying Victims Back

Aaron Varble
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Logan Paul is known outside the WWE Universe for his varies ventures, but not all of them have been successful. The United States Champion’s name was involved in an NFT project in late 2021, and now he is paying back people who lost money.

What Was CryptoZoo?

The CryptoZoo NFT project, initially presented as a game, turned out to be a fraudulent venture. The idea was that investors would buy NFTs, pictures of an egg, and then they would hatch into an animal. A website was supposed to be created where investors could then take multiple NFTs and place them together, breeding them into a new animal form. That new form could be rare, and worth much more as an NFT. It was all a gamble, as is anything in Web3.

The problem started when the eggs never hatched. Animals were never revealed, leading to an OpenSea page full of unhatched eggs. Investors, who put in a ton of money on Logan Paul’s name, hoping for at least a pump and dump, never got that pump at all, because CryptoZoo remained an unrevealed project. 

Investors purchased NFTs with the promise of revealing creatures, but the eggs never hatched, leaving investors without returns. Despite Logan Paul’s pledge to reimburse victims at their mint price, which has decreased in Ethereum value since 2021, the promised restitution is yet to be fulfilled.

From 2019 to 2021, Ethereum price rallied and reached its highest price of $4,815 on November 9th, 2021. On January 4th, 2023, at the time of this writing, Ethereum is worth $2,277.67 each. The mint price for CryptoZoo was 0.1 ETH.

Logan Paul Paying Victims Back

SomeOrdinaryGamers, an incredibly popular YouTuber with over 3 million subscribers, and others used their influential platforms to call out Logan Paul for not fulfilling his commitment to repay those affected by the CryptoZoo scandal. 

Logan Paul got the message, and today he released a lengthy post, a message to all CryptoZoo investors with information about how to attain that refund in Ethereum. 

Today, I am incredibly happy to announce that I am delivering on my promise to buy back Base Egg and Base Animal CryptoZoo NFTs for their original purchase price. This buy-back program is being carried out at http://EGGNFTBUYBACK.COM. Claims can be submitted through this site through February 8.

I approached the CryptoZoo project like everything else I am passionate about – with only the best possible intentions and success for everyone who shared our vision. I never made a single penny from the project, period. In fact, the opposite is true, because I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to make it happen. With this buy-back program, I am personally committing more than $2.3 million to buy back Base Eggs and Base Animals from every person who intended to play CryptoZoo. Like you, I was highly disappointed that the game was not delivered.

As I said a year ago, CryptoZoo was derailed by bad actors. Bad actors who DID steal money and who betrayed our team while internally sabotaging the game. This has now been confirmed by an extensive investigation that has involved a forensic analysis of blockchain activity and the review of thousands of communications.

With this evidence in mind, today, I have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas to hold these bad actors accountable. The 25-page lawsuit is public and it can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bu0WMbW3co-HlXq-HlXbLdpAOZSzJKmf/view?usp=sharing… … This lawsuit is not based just on snippets of conversations taken out of context. This lawsuit is the result of an exhaustive investigation that included the review of the entirety of conversations and tracking nefarious trading activity related to the project. Nefarious trading activity taken behind our backs, without our knowledge, and with the intention of defrauding us all.

As far as the game itself, unfortunately it will not be released. I personally spent $400,000 to have it developed and after its completion in early 2023 & some further diligence, unfortunately, there are too many regulatory hurdles that would need to be cleared that I did not originally understand and would ultimately delay this buy-back even further. This buy-back is a way for me to make whole those who intended to play CryptoZoo. The buy-back is not intended to compensate those who gambled on the crypto market and lost. It’s important to remember that the Zoo Token was created to support the CryptoZoo game and its players; it was “not intended as an investment vehicle,” as outlined in the original WhitePaper.

This solution has been anything but simple, so I want to thank everyone for their patience as we figured out the logistics of making sure the first ever NFT buy-back is a smooth process: http://EGGNFTBUYBACK.COM

Insight Into The CryptoZoo Scandal

It is important to note that it was never proved in any fashion that Logan Paul intentionally scammed anyone with the CryptoZoo project. Coffeezilla produced an amazing documentary series about the entire fiasco, which showed documented evidence that people Logan Paul trusted may not have had the best intentions. 

The CryptoZoo game will never be released, leaving investors with yet another rugpull that they can add to a digital wallet full of NFTs that didn’t do anything except lose money.

Logan Paul is still WWE United States Champion, even though he traded Patrick Mahomes the title for his Super Bowl ring. The Maverick will defend his title again at the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field on January 27th. 

Jon Moxley Teases Bringing In Female BCC Member to Represent in Japan

Thomas Lowson
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The Blackpool Combat Club is yet to formally announce a female member, but Marina Shafir may soon be representing the faction overseas.

The BCC came together in March of 2022, with Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson and William Regal as the founding members. Later that year, the group would welcome Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta into the fold.
While Regal has since left AEW for WWE, the British veteran remains in touch with his BCC allies.

Marina Shafir in the Blackpool Combat Club?

At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, Jon Moxley represented the BCC when he competed to be the first NJPW Global Champion. Unfortunately for Moxley, both he and Will Ospreay lost to David Finlay, who brawled with Nic Nemeth after the match. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Moxley spoke about his plans for 2024.

“The Blackpool Combat Club has plans in Japan for 2024 and beyond. I want to comeback with Bryan Danielson, with Claudio Castagnoli, I want to get Wheeler Yuta, our young rookie out here and have him test himself.”

Moxley then addressed the women’s division in New Japan and teased bringing in Shafir as a BCC member.

“Marina Shafir, she wants a shot in Japan. Bring the best women you’ve got because that’s one of the baddest b*tches walking the planet and she’ll come over here representing the Blackpool Combat Club.”

Shafir has proven her toughness in the ring countless times, and teamed with Ronda Rousey during the latter’s appearances outside of WWE last year. Moxley’s BCC ally Bryan Danielson fared no better at Wrestle Kingdom 18. The American Dragon lost to Kazuchika Okada in a rematch from AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door II.

H/T – Fightful

Britt Baker Candidly Speaks On Her Lengthy AEW Television Absence

Aaron Varble
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Britt Baker, apart from Brandi Rhodes, was among the first female talents signed by Tony Khan. Transitioning from the indies with limited television presence, Baker rose to prominence as a key figure in AEW’s women’s division. However, her visibility on television has significantly decreased lately.

Britt Baker’s AEW Absence

On November 29th, Britt Baker dropped a post on X which insinuated that she isn’t thrilled about how much she’s been used in 2023 by AEW. 

It’s no secret that Britt Baker received zero promos in 2023, which is a total surprise. She held the microphone down on a weekly basis for promos during the pandemic era. Now, things are much different in AEW.

Britt Baker Speaks On Lack Of Television Time In AEW

Britt Baker spoke with DS Shin on Ring The Belle, where she opened up about her lack of exposure on AEW television in recent memory. She also gave credit to the AEW fan base for their passion.

“I think with our very passionate fans, they’re very vocal with what they want, what they don’t want, what they like, what they don’t like. We listen, I listen. If they are telling me they want [more] or less of something, okay, I hear you loud and clear. A lot of them said, ‘We want less Britt Baker.’ So, if that’s what they want, that’s what they’ll get. Let me take a step back. Here are the rest of the women. Someone else take the ball and run with it, make the women’s division about you, and you be the face of the women’s division. When no one else can do that, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces and do it all over again.”

Britt Baker On Being A Real-Life Wrestling Dentist

Britt Baker is a real-life dentist, which she still keeps a practice. She also went into detail about how weird it was at times as AEW’s resident dentist when she was out in the real world. 

“It’s a weird territory with fans coming into the dental office, something you can’t prepare [for]. They don’t teach me that in dental school how to deal with fans coming into my office. So we’ve had some weird situations. My staff, they’re great with handling it. They really are. But you have to pick and choose those battles. So, I actually don’t take any new patients. It’s all my old patients that I know are tried and true dental patients and not crazy fans in disguise.”

Britt Baker has been backstage in recent memory for AEW’s television tapings. That did not see her get any screen time. Perhaps, Tony Khan is waiting for that right moment. With Deonna Purrazzo’s recent debut for AEW, it seems that there is no shortage of fresh names for Britt Baker to wrestle.

2024 WWE Money In The Bank Date & Location Revealed

Aaron Varble
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Money in the Bank holds a significant place in WWE’s annual calendar, as the event alone has the power to change the creative direction for the entire company with one quick cash-in. As 2024 continues, WWE has revealed which city will host this year’s MITB event.

2024 WWE Money in the Bank Location

WWE COO Triple H took to X to reveal that Toronto has been chosen to host the Money in the Bank event in 2024. That will be a first-ever for Toronto as they get to host the yearly ladder match themed show.

This announcement extends beyond just the Money in the Bank event, as SmackDown and NXT Heatwave are also set to make their mark in the city.

This summer, for the first time ever, Money in the Bank heads to Toronto and headlines a massive weekend at @ScotiabankArena .

7/5 #SmackDown

7/6 #MITB

7/7 #NXTHeatwave

Thrilled to bring one of the most exciting events of the year to Canada… this is going to be epic.

WWE’s Plan For 2024

The action-packed schedule kicks off on July 5th with a SmackDown event, followed by the highly anticipated Money in the Bank event on July 6th. The wrestling extravaganza continues on July 7th with NXT Heatwave, promising a trifecta of thrilling events for fans in Toronto.

WWE previously revealed plans for four Premium Live Events set to captivate international audiences in the initial eight months of 2024. These events include Elimination Chamber: Perth in Australia on February 24th, WrestleMania Backlash in Lyon, France on May 4th, and Bash in Berlin, Germany on August 31st.

Triple H’s announcement has undoubtedly sparked a wave of exciement among Toronto fans. As WWE continues to roll out its plans for 2024, the anticipation for unforgettable moments and what might go down in Toronto in July is only growing stronger.

“He asked me if we were going to die” – Ex-WWE Star Eve Torres recalls harrowing near-death experience

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE Divas Champion Eve Torres Gracie recently revealed that she went through a terrifying, potentially fatal incident. 

Torres made it to WWE after she won the 2007 Diva Search competition. Eve had been arguably the greatest Diva Search wrestler ever due to her charm and strong in-ring abilities. It helped her rise to prominence in the Divas division rapidly. Furthermore, she consistently delivered excellent character work irrespective of being a babyface or a heel. Torres won the Divas Championship three times in her career. 

Taking to social media, Eve Torres revealed a horrendous accident that could have taken her and her family members’ lives. 

Eve Torres talks about the incident

She stated that she had gone to the beach with her father and kids, Renson and Raeven. The former WWE Diva said she defied her better judgment while on the beach, only to have her and her son Raeven unexpectedly carried away by the tide. Even worse, her father was struggling for his life and they ended up being apart.

Holding hands and swimming together with her son, Eve Torres was part of what was a terrifying experience for her and her family. She made it to a rock for help, but to her dismay, she was unable to see her father. She further revealed that she cried out for help and declared that her father had been saved by a brave man.

She and her son were left crying throughout the incident, but fortunately, nothing worse happened in the end, and her father was brought to the rocks.

Eve Torres’ post-WWE career

Eve Torres parted ways with WWE in 2013 but she has been making sporadic appearances. She went to focus on marriage preparations with her husband, Rener Gracie, who belongs to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu royalty.

Torres has taken up the role of an instructor, becoming a prominent figure in the Gracie Women Empowered Self-Defense program. 

We will have to wait and see if she ever decides to make a comeback to WWE.

Dolph Ziggler introduces the wrestling world to ‘Wanted Man’ Nic Nemeth

Bishal Roy
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0

Nick Nemeth (WWE legend Dolph Ziggler) has started the new year in a big way with a surprise appearance at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom and a slick-looking trailer introducing a new persona, the ‘Wanted Man’ Nic Nemeth.

Nemeth, one of the top free agents in all of pro wrestling, introduces his persona in creative fashion. He’s depicted in the back of a police car before a zombies attack occurs.

The former World Champions fights them off and blows up the building as ‘Wanted’ posters with his face on it adorn the walls. Nemeth shows off his acting chops in the trailer, which featured an appearance from a rubber chicken (a nod to his stand-up comedy work) and a zombie getting his head kicked off at one of the worst ‘Superkick Parties’ ever.

The song featured in the video clip is the self-titled ‘Wanted Man’ by the band Downstait. The short was executively produced by Nic Nemeth, Ryan Nemeth & Jake Hartmann, and written by Ryan Nemeth & Maggie Levin.

Nic Nemeth keeps his options open 

Nemeth has had a successful WWE career which spanned 19 years and he has had multiple accolades. Unfortunately, Nemeth’s time in WWE came to an end when he was part of the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings. 

Back in November, Nic Nemeth decided to get back to comedy and share the stage with his brother Ryan, something that they have done on multiple occasions in front of sold-out venues. They went on to host a special two-show Hunkamania tour. Now, months after his shocking release from WWE, Nemeth has arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

With his decorated WWE career in the rearview mirror, Nemeth, a future Hall of Famer has doors of opportunities wide open with top promotions such as NJPW, AEW, TNA as well as the indies chasing his signature. This is something the ‘Wanted Man’ video implies. 

We will have to wait and see which company lands the signing of Nic Nemeth.

Matt Riddle Speaks On Switching Up His In-Ring Style After WWE Release

Aaron Varble
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WWE released Matt Riddle from his contract in September, and now the King of Bros is ready to reinvent himself. 

Matt Riddle After His WWE Release

Matt Riddle’s departure from WWE last year stirred some talk, thanks to his off-ring behavior causing controversy. Now, he’s making a comeback, but not where fans might have expected. Instead of joining AEW, Riddle is heading to Major League Wrestling (MLW), surprising many in the process. His return to the ring is scheduled for January 6th at MLW Kings of Colosseum, where he’ll face off against Jacob Fatu.

In a recent interview with Ryan Gaydos of Fox News, Matt Riddle opened up about his time in WWE, expressing a desire to move away from the more entertaining side of wrestling. This may also call for a change to his established persona.

Matt Riddle plans to focus on showcasing his actual wrestling skills, steering clear of the ‘goofball’ persona he had in WWE. With 2024 priving a fresh start, Riddle is excited about refocusing on his wrestling career and presenting a more serious and authentic side of himself in the ring.

”The last couple months, they’ve been good. I feel like the last probably 10 years, I’ve been wrestling pretty hard in the sense, like on the indies before I went to the ‘E’ (WWE), I was pretty busy traveling to Europe and wrestling everywhere. And then, of course, with the ‘E,’ I was traveling everywhere. So, the last three months, I kinda just had my first vacation in a really long time. I had a kid. A little son, Matthew. So, it was really getting ready and kinda like a reset button. The last couple of months, I totally just didn’t want to do anything other than work out, relax and take care of my family.”

“And now that (it’s) the New Year and I got that time and everything else like that, I think it’s just time to cook again and just really been focusing on that and what I want to do in the ring. I feel like before was more of a … it’s always entertainment, but it was a lot of entertainment before. And now, I think, the direction I’m going in, I’m going to be able to show the world what I can do in the ring and just present that version of myself rather than kind of a goofball on TV.”

Why WWE Released Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle was released from WWE after a string of internal issues. He was also involved in an inebriated ordeal at JFK Airport as he was on his way home from WWE’s last live event in India. 

Matt Riddle simply burned all of his chances with management, who did stand behind him, as they couldn’t back him up any longer. The Orirginal Bro had also returned to the company just a few months prior to that after a length hiatus so he could attend rehab.

The indies will be good to Matt Riddle, and he’s already raking up dates. He will wrestle RVD in a first-time ever match in March, and his MLW return is also likely a solid endeavor for him. So, Riddle won’t be hard to find if fans want to look for him after his time in WWE ended.

TKO Group merges WWE and UFC’s Global Partnership Teams

Michael Shalik
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TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC and WWE, has announced it is combining the global partnership teams of the two companies. 

The new team is led by TKO EVPs Grant Norris-Jones and Lou Koskovolis. Described as an ‘unprecedented integration’ that will leverage the strengths of the two, the new ‘sports marketing powerhouse’ will be better-positioned to serve WWE/UFC’s audience of one billion young and diverse fans across 170 countries.

Here is the official press release from TKO Group:

TKO Merges UFC® and WWE® Global Partnerships Teams to Create Sports Marketing Powerhouse

Combined Unit to Offer Blue-Chip Brands Unprecedented Integration within Two of the World’s Most Iconic Sports and Entertainment Properties

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company, today announced that it has combined the UFC and WWE global partnerships teams into one unit, providing brands with access to one of the most formidable sports marketing portfolios in the world.

UFC and WWE, which collectively serve more than one billion young and diverse fans in 170 countries, provide brand partners unparalleled scale and reach across multiple platforms, including premium live events, original content, and digital media. Further powered and enhanced by the Endeavor flywheel, the company’s global infrastructure that also includes IMG’s dynamic sales teams around the world, UFC and WWE together can offer marketers significantly expanded inventory, vastly increased brand visibility, extensive international reach, and unique integration opportunities across UFC and WWE premier content.

Grant Norris-Jones, who has played a key role in driving UFC’s global partnerships to six consecutive years of record revenue, has been elevated to lead the integrated unit as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships for TKO, which includes the entirety of UFC and WWE properties. Norris-Jones will work alongside Lou Koskovolis, who is also taking on an expanded role as TKO’s Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships. Together, they will focus on delivering unique, authentic integrations for TKO’s corporate partners. This new joint effort will further benefit from additional support and collaboration with the Endeavor Partnerships team to maximize value for brands across the entire Endeavor portfolio of assets.

With partnership sales, activations, and operations teams in New York, Las Vegas, Stamford, Conn., London, Sao Paulo, Sydney, Shanghai, and Toronto, the newly combined unit will focus on creating new revenue opportunities and brand integrations across UFC’s and WWE’s must-watch live and original content.

“Since Endeavor acquired UFC in 2016, UFC’s global partnerships business has become a significant growth area,” said Andrew Schleimer, Chief Financial Officer, TKO, “and we believe WWE’s partnerships business has similar potential. Together, UFC and WWE create a sports marketing powerhouse, with hundreds of live events per year and a reach that’s equal to, or better than, the world’s biggest sports properties. The newly integrated global partnerships team will offer premium brands the opportunity to integrate and activate within UFC’s and WWE’s extraordinarily popular content to engage their massive fan bases around the world.

”In recent years, UFC has partnered with brands that are consumer product and category leaders, including Anheuser-Busch, Crypto.com, DraftKings, Jose Cuervo, Monster Energy, PRIME Hydration, Timex, and VeChain.In addition, WWE has worked with dozens of blue-chip brands across its roster of promotional assets. Over the last year, WWE has activated with Applebee’s, General Mills, Mattel, Netflix, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut, Slim Jim, and Snickers.

About TKO

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company that comprises UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. Together, our organizations reach more than 1 billion TV households in approximately 170 countries, and we organize more than 350 live events year-round, attracting over one million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.

About UFC

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About WWE

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

Internal Reaction To Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler’s) NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 Debut

Aaron Varble
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WWE released a lot of Superstars in September 2023, and Doph Ziggler’s name was arguably the most shocking to make the list. Although Ziggler stayed silent about his next move in pro wrestling, fans found out what he had in store at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 event.

Dolph Ziggler’s NJPW Debut

Nic Nemeth, also known as Dolph Ziggler from his long WWE run, made a significant impression with his brother Ryan Nemeth during their debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

Their entrance before the Winner Take All IWGP & NJPW Strong Tag Team Title Match caught everyone by surprise, not only astonishing the audience but also creating a buzz of excitement backstage among fellow wrestlers.

As the Nemeth brothers took front-row seats to witness the highly anticipated showdown, their unannounced presence backstage brought shock from both fans and the pro wrestling world.

Internal Reaction Nic Nemeth’s NJPW Debut

Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net provided an interesting note about Nic Nemeth’s appearance at Wrestle Kingdom. It was said that this was a surprise backstage at the Tokyo Dome as well.

Sources backstage at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 relayed to me that Nic Nemeth’s appearance was just as much a surprise backstage as it was for everyone else. One source stated, “Where the f*ck was he hiding?” Another source added, “Never saw him or anything until he went out.”

The Wrestle Kingdom 18 event marked a new chapter for the Nemeths, leaving an indelible impression with their unexpected and strategic debut in the world of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Ryan Nemeth in AEW

Ryan Nemeth has appeared for AEW over the past few years, with infrequent appearences in recent months. His most recent match took place on the November 4th episode of ROH on HonorClub, where he, along with Peter Avalon, lost an eight-man tag team match. 

Ryan Nemeth was also a regular participant on Being the Elite, a show that concluded late last year. At this time, it appears that his name has a lot more hype in NJPW after Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

Wrestle Kingdom 18 Takeaways: Okada Avenges Danielson Loss, New Champions, Nic Nemeth Debuts

Tyriece Simon
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New Japan Pro Wrestling has wrapped up one of their biggest annual event, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 (#WK18) from the historic Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. 

The show featured a stacked card, including the long-awaited rematch between Kazuchika Okada and Bryan Danielson. 

Here are the four takeaways and highlights from NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18.

Kazuchika Okada Avenged His Forbidden Door Loss To Bryan Danielson

Fans have been looking forward to Okada and Danielson’s rematch since their legendary first encounter at AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door on June 25, 2023. “The American Dragon” won a hard-fought contest against Okada by submission. Looking to avenge his loss, the NJPW superstar was motivated to get a big victory over Danielson at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

In the match, both talented wrestlers tried to outmaneuver the other in the co-main event. Danielson had control of the match early by working over Okada’s right arm. Although “The American Dragon” gave his opponent problems throughout the match, Okada was able to land the Rainmaker to avenge his loss. 

After the match, both superstars respected each other by bowing their heads in the ring. The win for Okada may set up another match to end their rivalry once and for all. 

David Finlay beat Moxley and Ospreay to become the first IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, then got into it with Dolph Ziggler

David Finlay defeated Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley in a tense three-way match to become the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. The matchup saw all three competitors were able to have their moments, but the Finlay did just enough to get the victory. 

The action took both in the ring and the crowd, as each wrestler did whatever it took to win. Weapons also got involved in the hard-hitting title match, including steel chairs and a table. One notable highlight in the match was Jon Moxley spiking Finlay on his head on Ospreay’s chest with a Pile Driver. 

The turning point in the match was when BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd) attacked Ospreay and Moxley to help Finlay. The two AEW superstars overcame the assault, which eventually led to Finlay winning. The BULLET CLUB leader landed a Suplex into a knee to the face of Ospreay to become the champion. 

While celebrating his victory, Finlay got into an altercation with former WWE superstar Nic Nemeth at ringside. This was seemingly done to set up a match between the two for the title. 

Tetsuya Naito defeated his former ally to become the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion

The NJPW legend has concluded his journey to become an IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in the main event. Tetsuya Naito earned his opportunity to challenge SANADA for the title by winning last year’s G1 Climax. In a match months in the making, Naito earned a tough win over his former Los Ingobernables de Japon ally.  

SANADA gave Naito everything he could handle as he tried to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion for the fifth time successfully. However, Naito was able to end SANADA’s reign after landing Destino. 

Before Naito could celebrate his win, he was attacked by EVIL and Dick Togo. SANADA would make the save and take out the “heels.” After taking out the House of Torture members, SANADA left the ring to give Naito his moment to celebrate with the NJPW fans. 

Guerrillas Of Destiny won both IWGP/ NJPW Strong Tag Team titles

The tag title match was set after Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) won the 2023 World Tag League. In the finals, they defeated Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo). After the win, Goto and HASHI gave G.O.D. a rematch at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 in a winner-takes-all match for the IWGP & NJPW Strong Tag Team Championships. 

This proved to be a mistake, as G.O.D. won both tag titles. Both teams went back and forth, as neither wanted to take the loss. Towards the end of the match, Phantasmo took out HASHI outside the ring with a Moonsault from the top rope. The match finished when Hikuleo landed Super Thunder Kiss 86 from the top rope on Goto for the pin.  

After the match, both teams showed respect for each other, and G.O.D. celebrated with the crowd before returning backstage. 

Conclusion

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 was a great card with plenty of incredible matches. Each match delivered exciting action and great moments, including seven title changes. 

One of the matches that fans will discuss is the three-way match for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. The match was fast-paced and delivered memorable moments, but it teased what could happen next with Nemeth. 

The next notable event for the company will be the NJPW Battle In The Valley on January 13 at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. Currently, NJPW has announced who will compete on the card. Fans should expect match announcements to come soon. 

Tama Tonga Wins NEVER Openweight Title, Plans to Finish With NJPW This Month

Thomas Lowson
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Tama Tonga is once again the NJPW NEVER Openweight Champion, but it appears that his reign will be a very short one. 

At Wrestle Kingdom 18, Tonga dethroned Shingo Takagi to regain the gold. Takagi, a three-time NJPW NEVER Openweight Champion, had held the title since October’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed event, where he beat Tonga. Tama’s victory this week makes him a four-time champion. This also makes Tonga the wrestler to have held the title for the third most amount of reigns, behind Hirooki Goto (five reigns) and Tomohiro Ishii (six reigns. 

You can check out some of the highlights from Tonga’s title win below. 

Finishing with New Japan Pro Wrestling

While Tonga is once again the champion, it appears that a lengthy title run isn’t in the cards. In a post-match press conference, Tonga announced that January will be his final month with the promotion. In his comments (courtesy of PWI Contributor Issa) Tonga said he wants to find work closer to home. He added that he misses his family and doesn’t want to keep leaving them behind, as this was the case in his childhood. 

Tonga made it clear that he loves Japan, NJPW, and every wrestler who works for the promotion. He is also elated at the current state of his career but realizes it is now time for him to go home to his family. Tonga is the nephew and adoptive son of legendary tough-man wrestler Haku. 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 saw the arrival of a former WWE World Champion. Click here to find out more. 

Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler) Brawls With Second Generation Champion at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth caused quite a stir when he made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

Nemeth, best known to wrestling fans as Dolph Ziggler, was dressed to impress as he appeared in front of the crowd in the Tokyo Dome. The former Superstar was accompanied by his brother and AEW star Ryan Nemeth. 

Nemeth’s Appearance Kept A Surprise

According to Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net, Nemeth’s presence was kept a secret from virtually everybody. Two sources who were backstage at the Tokyo Dome relayed that Nemeth was not in public view before he appeared on the broadcast and most of the wrestlers on the card found out along with the fans watching at home around the world.

Nemeth and Finlay brawled backstage, all but guaranteeing that this was more than just a cameo:

Nemeth’s arrival in New Japan comes months after his surprising release from WWE in September of 2023. The first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings, Nemeth was cut alongside Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Riddle, Emma, Riddick Moss, Aliyah, and other Superstars. 

What’s Next? 

Nemeth watched on as David Finlay faced Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to crown the first IWGP Global Champion. After the match, Finlay got in the face of Nemeth, who had some choice words for the new champion. The two would brawl at ringside. 

This post-match incident is seemingly setting Nemeth up as a future challenger for the IWGP Global Championship. It’s possible that the match could come as soon as NJPW Battle in the Valley which will take place on January 13. 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 also saw the crowning of the second-ever NJPW World TV Champion. Click here to find out more. 

NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi Wins World TV Title at Wrestle Kingdom 18

Thomas Lowson
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Hiroshi Tanahashi has ended the historic reign of Zack Sabre Jr. to become the second-ever NJPW World Television Champion. 

Tanahashi and Sabre met on the second match of the main card of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18. The two held nothing back in their efforts to leave the Tokyo Dome with the gold. 

Tanahashi won the gold following a series of pinfalls that were countered by both men. The Ace earned a huge response from the crowd in Tokyo. 

After the match, Tanahashi shared his delight about the win and wished those watching a Happy New Year. 

This win makes Tanahashi the second-ever NJPW World Television Champion. Sabre held the gold for exactly one year after becoming the first champion at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January 2023. Sabre defeated Ren Narita in the finals of a tournament to capture the gold. 

President Champion

This win comes mere weeks after it was announced that Tanahashi is NJPW’s new President. The wrestler will also serve as the company’s Representative Director. This appointment came following a meeting of NJPW’s board of directors and shareholders.

Hitoshi Matsumoto (Chief of Business Production for TV Asahi) and Taro Okada (President & CEO of Bushiroad Fight) have been named Directors of the company. Tanahashi has been with New Japan for years and is an eight-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a record number.  

What does Hiroshi Tanahashi have planned now that he is New Japan’s new President? Click here to find out. 

Alex Hammerstone to debut at TNA Hard to Kill on January 13

Thomas Lowson
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Former IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander is looking for a fight at TNA Hard to Kill and Alex Hammerstone will give him exactly that. 

Hammerstone, a former MLW World Champion, is currently a free agent after finishing his time with the promotion. Earlier this week, Hammerstone issued an open challenge to anybody in wrestling to come and face him. 

Impact/TNA has since confirmed the match has been signed for this historic event.

Josh Alexander Wants Alex Hammerstone

Taking to Twitter, Josh Alexander spoke about his difficult 2023, and what’s to come in 2024. 

“Today is a good day. And it feels good to say that because 2023 was not kind to me. I suffered injury after injury. I lost that thing that I fought so hard to earn and keep in that IMPACT World Championship. More than all that, I lost a piece of myself somewhere along the way. That thing that makes me special.

“But it’s a good day. It’s 2024, it’s a new year. People are settling resolutions and goals and me? I’m no different. See, I intend on getting that piece back in 2024. And I’m going to do that on January 14th at TNA Snake Eyes when I right a wrong and face, once again, Will Ospreay one-on-one.

The Walking Weapon was happy to accept Hammerstone’s open challenge and wants the match to take place at TNA Hard to Kill later this month. 

“TNA is returning on January 13th, one day before that. Live on pay-per-view for the world to see. From the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. TNA presents Hard to Kill. I picked up my phone this morning, scrolling through social media and I stumble upon one of these free agents in the pro-wrestling world. This one’s different from the rest. Rather than asking or demanding an opportunity, this one’s offering one in the form of an open challenge.

“Let me get it out of the way. Alex Hammerstone, I would like to accept your open challenge. I spoke to TNA management already so this match is made, if you choose to accept. And I will give you the opportunity by opening the door here at TNA Wrestling. I will roll the welcome mat all the way down to the ring. You say you’re a shark in open waters? Well come face the standard, the Iron Man, the Walking Weapon and let’s find out. Because 2024, I’m going to get that piece back that I lost along the way and I am going to be the best pro-wrestler on Earth once again and it starts at Hard to Kill and it starts with you Hammerstone.”

TNA Hard to Kill will take place on January 13. The show will mark the official relaunch of TNA after years of being IMPACT Wrestling. Morale within IMPACT/TNA is said to be very high ahead of this monumental relaunch. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Cody Rhodes Makes Dreams Come True, Buys WrestleMania 40 Tickets for School Fan Club

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes has ensured that a club of young wrestling fans will be at WrestleMania 40 when the Showcase of the Immortals comes to Philadelphia this August. 

The Wrestling Club is a group organized by Victor Taylor Perry at KIPP AMP Middle School In Brooklyn, New York. The kids gather to watch wrestling from various promotions, discuss the matches they’ve seen and share their collective love for the industry. The Wrestling Club has proven to be quite popular online and has been visited by the likes of Kenny Omega, FTR, Big E, Shelton Benjamin, Titus O’Neil, and AJ Styles.  

Going to WrestleMania 40

Like any WWE fan, the Wrestling Club dreams of one day attending a WrestleMania. In November, Perry set up a fund that people could donate to that would go towards making this dream a reality. This week, Cody Rhodes decided to make those dreams come true and revealed that he has paid for the tickets and hotels for the club. 

Responding, Perry was overwhelmed by the immensely generous offer by WWE’s popular Superstar. 

WrestleMania 40

WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fifth two-night WrestleMania; a format that debuted during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be the second WrestleMania to be hosted in the city of Brotherly Love, following on from WrestleMania 15 in 1999. 

No matches have been confirmed for the show, and questions remain as to Cody Rhodes’ involvement with the event. While many predicted that Cody would challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns once more, that may no longer be the case. On this week’s Raw, The Rock teased coming for Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table. 

 WWE has reportedly been considering Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso for WrestleMania 40 though that match has yet to be announced. 

Deonna Purrazzo is All-Elite: Ex-Knockouts Champ Makes AEW Debut on Dynamite

Thomas Lowson
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Deonna Purrazzo has become the newest member of the AEW roster and has wasted no time in making her championship aspirations very clear. 

On this week’s Dynamite, Mariah May made her in-ring debut for AEW with a victory over Queen Aminata. After her win, May was disappointed that her debut match had to take place in New Jersey. This jibe brought out the debuting Purrazzo, a New Jersey native who took issue with this insult. 

Purrazzo confronted May and made it clear she is coming for her and May’s idol, AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm. 

In a tweet, AEW President Toni Khan confirmed the arrival of Purrazzo to the roster. 

Support from the Crowd

Purrazzo had a ton of support from her fellow New Jersey residents in the crowd, and one person of note was there as well. IMPACT Wrestling’s Steve Maclin was spotted at the show watching Purrazzo’s debut. Maclin and Purrazzo began dating in 2020 and married in November 2022. 

WWE Talks

Purrazzo is a huge get for AEW as there had been speculation that the Virtuosa would end up returning to WWE. Fightful Select reports that Purrazzo and WWE had had talks but obviously did not come to terms. WWE sources indicated that not, if not all of their free-agent discussions had been tabled until the new year started. While Purrazzo won’t be a WWE Superstar, her best friend Chelsea Green was very happy to see her AEW debut. 

Deonna Purrazzo reached a huge personal milestone in August of last year. Click here to find out more. 

Logan Paul Trades WWE US Title For Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl Ring

Aaron Varble
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Logan Paul is used to capturing attention, and he is apparently not bad at making a deal, either. The Maverick recently had a run-in with Patrick Mahomes, and it resulted in an interesting interaction.  

Logan Paul Makes A Trade For WWE US Title

Logan Paul defied many expectations with his athletic ability in WWE. The United States Championship holds his title proudly, but he’s not 100% attached to it.

Logan Paul and Patrick Mahomes recently made a deal. Paul wanted to trade his title for the NFL player’s Super Bowl ring. Mahomes wasn’t down, until Paul included a Lemonade Prime as a kicker. 

Logan Paul Outside WWE

Logan Paul is creating ripples, both inside and outside the ring. His controversial antics, like showering with the championship belt, brought mixed reactions. Regardless of the controversy, he seems to really enjoy his time as the reigning champion.

Beyond wrestling, Logan Paul is a business partner with KSI, co-founding the popular Prime energy drink brand. Thankfully, he had some Lemonade Prime handy to help close that trade with Patrick Mahomes. 

Patrick Mahomes has two Super Bowl rings, as he won with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 and 2023, so he could apparently part with one of them. Logan Paul is set to battle Kevin Owens with the United States Title on the line at the Royal Rumble on January 27th. Hopefully, Mahomes will let Paul have his US Title back for the Tropicana Field event. 

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