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Raquel Rodriguez Reveals Medical Diagnosis That Has Kept Her Out Of Action For The Past Month

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE Superstar Raquel Rodriguez has revealed a medical diagnosis that has kept her away from in ring action for the last few weeks.

The former NXT star posted a video on Instagram earlier today providing an update on her recent absence. She revealed that she has been diagnosed with a disease called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome [MCAS], which has stopped her from doing the things that she loves:

“What’s up guys. Happy New Year. So long story short. Last year I posted a video about being a WWE superstar with eczema. And in the month of December, it got progressively worse and I have been diagnosed with something called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Basically, I was red, swollen, there was a lot happening in this area physically. It kept me from doing the things that I love, like travelling, going to the gym and wrestling.”

Rodriguez’s last match was at a live event back on December 3. She was defeated by Nia Jax in a singles bout during the house show in Portland. The female star revealed that she has since moved back to Texas to be with her family:

“I also didn’t want to be on camera. I didn’t want to look in the mirror. And I understand that all of those things can mess with someone both emotionally and mentally but thank God I moved back to Texas when I did because I had the best support system in the world during this time, which is my family. I’m so grateful to them and for everything they have done for me and you guys as well who have sent me kind messages and reminded me that I didn’t have to go through this alone. 

So to anyone who has been struggling or had to celebrate the holiday season a little bit differently this year. I just wanted to say remember to give yourself a little bit of compassion and grace, for the things that you don’t understand and the things that you can’t control. Life can be really hard sometimes, and it can throw us these crazy curveballs and I know they feel like they’re gonna last forever, but I promise they’re not. This is going to pass. So let’s go into 2024 remembering to give kindness to others and give kindness to ourselves. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen this year.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1lRmQ4OEiL

A patient suffering from MCAS can experience repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis. This can include allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling, low blood pressure and difficulty in breathing.

There is no timetable for Raquel Rodriguez’s recovery or return to action at this point. The WWE star did note in her Instagram post that she will share more on her healing journey as she develops a better understanding of her condition.

SEScoops sends our best regards to the wrestling star as she navigates her treatment.

Dwayne Johnson Gives Major UFL Update: Teams, Coaches, Kick-Off Date & More

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has given fans their first glimpse at the teams that will make up the newly formed United Football League. 

Last week, the Brahma Bull announced that his XFL would be uniting with the USFL to form the UFL, which aspires to cement the future of spring football. It is hoped that the joining of the leagues will improve the quality of football and give a better product to fans and players. Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia  acquired the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the world of professional football was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UFL Teams

This week, the UFL announced the eight teams that will compete in the first season of the new league. The roster will consist of four teams from the XFL and four teams from the USFL. They are as follows. 

USFL Conference

  • Birmingham Stallions
  • Houston Roughnecks
  • Memphis Showboats
  • Michigan Panthers

XFL Conference

  • Arlington Renegades
  • D.C. Defenders
  • San Antonio Brahmas
  • St. Louis Battlehawks

Houston was the one overlapping market for the XFL and USFL and was one of the strongest markets for both leagues. As a result, the USFL’s Houston Gamblers have been rebranded as the Houston Roughnecks.

Coaches

Here are the Head Coaches for the UFL teams, They include returning names from both the XFL and USFL. 

  • Skip Holtz (Stallions)
  • Curtis Johnson (Roughnecks)
  • John DeFilippo (Showboats)
  • Mike Nolan (Panthers)
  • Bob Stoops (Renegades)
  • Reggie Barlow (Defenders)
  • Wade Phillips (Brahmas)
  • Anthony Becht (Battlehawks)

Kicking Off

The UFL’s 10-game regular season will start on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The opening game will see USFL champions Birmingham Stallions take on XFL champions Arlington Renegades. Players will report to training camp on Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Season tickets for all eight markets are available for purchase.

Johnson and Garcia also discussed the launch of the UFL on ESPN. You can check out their comments in the video below. 

Roman Reigns Has the Perfect Reaction to The Rock Seeking His Spot as Tribal Chief

Thomas Lowson
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The Rock may be coming for Roman Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table, but the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion isn’t sweating his cousin. 

The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show, which at first appeared to be Jinder Mahal. The Modern-Day Maharaja ran down the United States before the return of The Rock, who had some choice words for his fellow former WWE Champion. The Rock then laid out Mahal with a Spinebuster and his People’s Elbow. 

Roman Reigns Reacts to The Rock

It wasn’t just Mahal who The Rock had his eyes on during the Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw. During his promo, the Great One also asked the fans if they’d like to see him as Head of the Table, alluding to taking the spot held by Roman Reigns. On Twitter, Reigns had a concise response to the notion. 

This challenge didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the Tribe. In a tweet of his own, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi shared his reaction to The Rock teasing going for the Tribal Chief. 

The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns

Considered a dream match by many, WWE has gotten close in the past to making a showdown between The Rock & Roman Reigns a reality. The pair were set to headline WrestleMania 39 last year but ultimately plans fell apart. Last August, Reigns admitted that he just can’t see his cousin being able to beat him for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. 

CM Punk is PW Tees/ShopAEW’s Best Seller of 2023, Jay Briscoe Takes Second, MJF at #3

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk proved to have quite the 2023, which saw the Best in the World become PW Tees number one best-selling wrestler. 

Punk moved more merchandise on PW Tees and Shop AEW than any other wrestler, according to data from PW Tees themselves. Jay Briscoe, who passed away in January, took second place, with shirts being released in his memory. MJF, who lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at Worlds End, took third place. 

You can check out the top 25 selling wrestlers on PW Tees below. 

CM Punk in 2023

Punk’s accolade is even more impressive when you consider that he spent the vast majority of 2023 not appearing on TV. Punk was suspended going into 2023 due to his role in the AEW All Out 2022 backstage brawl with The Elite. Punk was brought back to TV to be the main star of AEW Collision when the show launched in June. 

Just two months after his return, however, Punk was again suspended from AEW, this time for his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In. A week after this incident, Punk would be released from AEW shortly before the All Out show in Chicago. Tony Khan stated that he was fearing for his life during Punk’s outburst backstage at Wembley Stadium. 

With his ties to AEW well and truly burnt, Punk shockingly returned to WWE in November at Survivor Series. The following month, he would compete in his first WWE match in close to a decade, defeating Dominik Mysterio inside Madison Square Garden. 

The Rock Returns To WWE During Day 1 RAW To Tease Roman Reigns Showdown

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans expected the return of a former WWE Champion during the Day 1 episode of RAW. To their surprise, Jinder Mahal made a comeback with a new anti-American gimmick. Then he was suddenly interrupted.

The Rock Returns during Day 1 WWE RAW

The Rock then entered the scene, generating a massive reaction from the crowd. While there had been speculation about his appearance at the show, it wasn’t definitively confirmed before the broadcast.

The Rock was spotted with WWE CEO Nick Khan previously in the day. Dwayne Johnson was in Pasadena for College Gameday. That is just a couple of hours from WWE RAW’s location of San Diego this week. It was reported by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select that “when we brought that up to a WWE higher up, they said we made a compelling argument, but wouldn’t confirm or deny.”

During that surprise appearance, The Rock addressed Jinder Mahal, contrasting him with the Iron Sheik and even humorously impersonating the legendary WWE Hall of Famer that we lost last year.

In response, Jinder Mahal attempted to talk smack about Americans. The Rock proudly declared himself the People’s Champion and an American, which makes us think about all those rumors about The Rock running for US President down the line.

After The Rock continued to insult Jinder Mahal, and his own Baywatch film as collateral damage, The Great One then said that Jinder Mahal is no longer the Modern Day Mahajara, instead, he is now the “day one douchebag.” Yes, fans chanted “day one douchebag” in loud fashion as The Rock directed them to do so.

In an attempt to ambush The Rock, Jinder Mahal started with an attack. However, Dwayne Johnson swiftly retaliated, responding with a series of punches, his spinebuster, and ultimately delivering his iconic People’s Elbow.

The Rock wasn’t finished there, as he picked up the microphone and asked the San Diego crowd if he should sit at the “head of the table” when he goes out to dinner after the show.

The dig at Roman Reigns was obvious, and now we have to wonder if The Rock vs Reigns is actually going to happen in 2024.

The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania was Cancelled Before

WWE had plans for The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, and it was going to happen, but then things changed for that match. It was never in the cards for WrestleMania 40, but there is always the possibility of a great creative shift if the situation calls for it. The Rock deciding that he can make the time for a return match is definitely a situation that would call for plans changing.

Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci Suffers Possible Injury, Abrupt Match Stoppage On WWE RAW

Aaron Varble
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Injuries are a sad part of pro wrestling, and they can occur when you least expect them. Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser lost this week on RAW, but it was due to referee stoppage after Vinci went down.

Possible Injury During WWE RAW

Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso faced Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser in a match that was progressing smoothly during the RAW 1 episode of WWE RAW. Suddenly, the match came to an unexpected halt. 

Giovanni Vinci went down on the apron, prompting an abrupt stoppage of the match. Ringside doctors attended to Vinci, leading the referee to make the decision to end the match.

In an unexpected turn, Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso were declared the winners via referee stoppage.

Michael Cole kept saying on commentary that they take their talent’s safety very seriously. At this time, we are uncertain what happened with Giovanni Vinci, but it was enough to call off the match.

Following the match, Giovanni Vinci was observed walking out on his own. The sudden conclusion of the match added an element of surprise to its outcome.

Where Was GUNTHER?

GUNTHER is currently taking some time with his wife, Jinny, as they celebrated the birth of their child. Hopefully, he has a full Imperium faction upon his return.

Giovanni Vinci Gives Update After Injury Scare 

Giovanni Vinci later updated his X with a message. When translated to English, he let fans know that he’s doing fine. He also thanked them for their support and concern.

I am fine, a thousand thanks.

Update on Mercedes Mone’s Next Move In Pro Wrestling

Aaron Varble
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Sasha Banks’ WWE walkout in May 2022 still stands as her swansong with the company. Although there was some hope that Mercedes Mone would come back to WWE, it appears that homecoming hit a snag.

Mercedes Mone’s WWE Return is Reportedly Nixed

Mercedes Mone and WWE were talking about a return for The Boss. Then, they hit a financial roadblock, as the two sides couldn’t come together when it came to money.

It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone is no longer expected to make a WWE return. The expectation is that she will go somewhere else, and that will be very soon.

AEW Is Expected to Get Mercedes Mone

Now, a new report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select points to the idea that Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is now the most popular idea for her. 

Those that we’ve spoken to expect her to land in All Elite Wrestling, though nobody could confirm she’s signed on the dotted line. Of late in both WWE and AEW, there have been instances – specifically with Will Ospreay and CM Punk – where the physical contracts were not signed until the day of their appearances with AEW and WWE respectively. One source claimed that they heard AEW and Mercedes were close to agreeing on terms, but said “it’s never official until it’s official.”

Nothing is official until it actually happens, because pro wrestling contracts can come together in a hurry. AEW has lost a few notable names in recent memory, but bring in Mercedes Mone could be a massive boost for their roster.

AEW Exec Rafael Morffi Addresses His Departure, Talent Reactions

Ella Jay
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Recent reports indicated that AEW’s Vice President of Live Events and Touring, Rafael Morffi, was set to leave the promotion after the Worlds End event on December 30. Morffi, one of AEW’s founding executives, was tasked with coordinating AEW live event tours, which included booking venues, local marketing, and other logistics. 

Following his exit from AEW, Morffi is now expected to transition into a senior executive position with the Barclays Center in New York City, where he will be responsible for booking events in entertainment and sports. Morffi will also reportedly be working under the Brooklyn Nets’ owners as well. 

In addition to AEW, Morffi is also known for his previous behind-the-scenes work in TNA Wrestling, WWE, and Tommy’s Dreamer House of Hardcore independent promotion. 

Morffi Confirms His Exit, Sends Departing Message

On December 31, Morffi confirmed his exit on X (formerly Twitter), posting a departing message directed to AEW President Tony Khan, as well AEW talent and staff.

“Thank you @TonyKhan @AEW talent, staff. I’ll forever remember my time at #AEW fondly,” Morffi wrote. “2024 will be the start of a new era in my professional career. Been blessed with a wonderful opportunity. Excited to start this new journey & challenge soon. Happy New Year-stay safe & sound!”

Multiple AEW stars have since responded to Morffi’s post, many of which expressed their congratulations and gratitude toward the former AEW’s Vice President of Live Events and Touring. 

“Raf! Oh my goodness [crying emoji] we’ll miss you so much and all that you did for us all. Best of luck in this new chapter,” wrote Penelope Ford. “Happy New Year”

“There’s some people that just bring comfort and familiarity when you walk into a room full of people and you were always that for me Raf. Love you Raf, and I’ll miss ya. I still owe ya a whiskey,” wrote Rebel.

“Oh man. Had no idea! Thanks for always being such a legend Raf man, stay in touch,” Kib Sabian wrote.

“Thank you for everything Raf! You will definitely be missed. I can’t thank you enough for how kind you were. Best of luck to you in your next chapter,” wrote Leyla Hirsch.

“Omg you will be missed!! [red heart emoji],” Anna Jay wrote.

Former AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa, Daniel Garcia, Diamante, Jon Silver, and many others also sent their positive regards to Morffi. 

Alex Hammerstone Issues Open Challenge After Officially Becoming A Free Agent

Dominic DeAngelo
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Alex Hammerstone is now a free agent and for him, it’s “hunting season.”

The former MLW World Champion revealed weeks ago that MLW One-Shot was his last event for the company under his current contract and the clock ultimately ticked down to his leave. That day so happened to be New Year’s Day and on January 1, Hammerstone shared a video commenting on his new beginning for 2024.

The video starts off with a ticking clock and cut in between his Hammerstone showing his in ring athleticism before he addresses the wrestling world.

“Now I’m allowed to walk through whatever ‘door’ that I want to except the ones that are being boarded shut in a desperate attempt to keep me out cause they’re worried what’ll happen if I get through them.”

Hammerstone continues, stating that he’s not looking for an opportunity, but he is giving one. For years he’s been one of the best in the world for years and so he wants to face the best in the world and therefore he lays out his challenge.

“So this is my open challenge to anyone out there because I was never a big fish in a small pond. I have always been a shark and now I’m in open waters and it’s hunting season.”

Since 2018, Hammerstone has been the face of MLW so his exit signifies a new era for him.

Please h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Top WWE Exec Spotted With The Rock Ahead Of WWE Raw

Dominic DeAngelo
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WWE Raw may be starting 2024 in the most electrifying way possible.

January 1, 2024 is a busy day for sports entertainment and The Rock is in the thick of the action. The People’s Champion is currently in attendance for The Rose Bowl today and a social media catches him conversing with college football broadcast legend Lee Corso. 

However, who happens to be lurking in the background but WWE CEO Nick Khan? Granted, Khan’s initial bread and butter was as a sports agent so him being there isn’t a huge shocker, but the fact that Triple H has teased a former WWE Champion would be in the building for WWE Raw Day 1 tonight. 

img 4501 1

Another fact of the matter is the location for both events. Per usual, the Rose Bowl takes place in Pasadena, CA and Raw so happens to be in San Diego. Pasadena is just over a two-hour drive to San Diego.

Could We See The Rock vs. Roman Reigns At WrestleMania 40?

Just this past September, The Rock made his epic return to SmackDown and before that on the Pat McAfee Show, teased an interest in participating at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

The Rock versus Roman Reigns has been speculated to happen for years, but a potential appearance of The Rock being on Raw could lay the groundwork for The Bloodline battle between the two.

However, The Rock being positioned for a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania would throw a wrench in the works for Cody Rhodes being able to “finish the story” against “The Tribal Chief” at WrestleMania.

Triple H: 2023 Was The Biggest Year in WWE History. Ever.

Thomas Lowson
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2023 proved to be the biggest, most significant year in the history of WWE, according to the promotion’s Head of Talent & Creative Triple H. 

Taking to Twitter, the Game shared his hot take on the year that was, calling it “the biggest year in WWE history. EVER.” Triple H shared a graphic with some notable accomplishments by the company in 2023. The Game added that none of it would be possible without the WWE staff, crew, Superstars and fans, and was excited for what 2024 brings. 

WWE in 2023

2023 was indeed a monumental year for WWE with some groundbreaking changes occurring over the 12 months. Cody Rhodes made his impressive return from injury in January to win the Men’s Royal Rumble match. A year after his WWE return though, Rhodes failed to ‘finish the story’ and was beaten by Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. 

24 hours after this shocking ending, WWE announced that they would be acquired by Endeavor to the sum of $9.3 billion. That deal was finalized in September with the launch of TKO Group Holdings. The launch of TKO saw several prominent names cut from the company’s offices with the production of WWE and UFC being streamlined. In September, WWE experienced its first releases to the roster of the TKO era. 

2023 ended with a huge bang as CM Punk made his return to WWE at Survivor Series. Punk’s return came less than three months after his AEW firing, and close to a decade after he walked out of WWE in 2014. 

For a closer look at some of the epic on-screen moments WWE experienced in 2023, check out the video below. 

REPORT: Michael Cole Off WWE SmackDown Commentary Team With 2024 Shake-Up

Aaron Varble
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WWE is starting out a new year, and that will come with a change to commentary. Some WWE fans don’t remember a day when Michael Cole wasn’t a full-time announcer for the company, but he may be moving out of that role.

WWE Changing Commentary Team

Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Kevin Patrick have made up the SmackDown commentary team for some time. Now, that may change as WWE enters into 2024.

According to a recent report from PW Insider, WWE is making a change to their commentary teams, with two-man teams starting this week. That means that Michael Cole is no longer on SmackDown.

The word making the rounds in WWE is that starting in the new year, the announce teams will all consist of two men booths.

That means that Michael Cole’s time on Smackdown ended last month.

WWE’s Future In 2024 Could See More Changes

With Kevin Dunn’s departure from WWE, some are wondering who will leave next. Vince McMahon’s old guard may be exiting, but this report did not indicate that Michael Cole will be totally leaving WWE with this move.

Michael Cole holds other backstage responsibilities, and he has hinted in the past about leaving the commentary table eventually. This new development could open the door for Michael Cole to pursue other opportunities as SmackDown becomes a two-man team.

Walk With Elijah! Ex-Superstar Elias Rebrands for Post-WWE Career

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Elias will be working as Elijah from here on now that his non-compete clause has officially expired. 

Elias was released from WWE in September 2023, in the first wave of talent releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Elias signed with WWE in 2014 and left the company as a four-time 24/7 Champion. He is also a one-time Slammy Award winner (Best Musical Performance of 2020) and a one-time WWE Year-End Award winner (Breakout Superstar of 2018).

Walk With Elijah

With the Elias name owned by WWE, the former Superstar has now relaunched himself for his career outside of the promotion. On Twitter this week, The ex-Superstar announced that he is now Elijah. The video leaned on biblical themes, which makes sense as both the Elias and Elijah names come from the Old Testament prophet of the same name. 

Elias can be seen waking in a wooded area while snippets of his time in WWE flash on screen. A voice-over also speaks in biblical prose before Elias arrives at a grave site with a priest waiting for him. The former WWE Superstar falls backwards into the grave before re-emerging from the dirt as Elijah. 

This rebrand has had fans talking and also caught the attention of another Elijah. On Twitter, a Welsh wrestler who also competes as Elijah shared his reaction to the ex-Superstar’s rebrand. 

Why was Elias almost fired from WWE multiple times during his tenure with WWE NXT? Click here to find out. 

Ric Flair Pressed On Fox Nation Over Apologizing For AEW Rampage Controversy

Aaron Varble
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Ric Flair created considerable buzz when he made his AEW debut. Despite his widespread respect in the industry, his stint in the company hasn’t been devoid of controversy.

The Ric Flair AEW Rampage Controversy

One incident that sparked controversy was Ric Flair’s appearance on AEW Rampage, where he made some eyebrow-raising remarks.

A fan account from the AEW Rampage event noted “Flair invited all the women in the audience from ages 18-28 to meet him in his hotel room,” Ric Flair said via The Boulder on Twitter. “No boyfriends or husbands.”

Ric Flair’s Apology

The comment triggered a social media uproar, prompting Ric Flair to issue an apology and even express his willingness to step away from AEW.

“I Am So Tired Of Hearing All This Negativity! I Don’t Need To Work, And I Don’t Need The Money. Can’t I Simply Enjoy Being By My Dear Friend Sting’s Side For The Next Few Months,” Ric Flair shared on social media. “Without So Much Hatred? I Know I’m Old, But That Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Enjoy Life! I Have Earned The Right To Do Whatever I Want & I’m Exactly Where I Want To Be! I Appreciate Everything Tony Khan, But I’m More Than Willing To Walk Away If I Am Embarrassing You And Your Company. All I Can Say Is I’m Sorry!”

Backlash Over Ric Flair’s Reaction

However, not everyone shares the sentiment that Flair should have apologized for his remarks. In a recent interview on FOX News, former WWE Superstar Tyrus offered robust opinions on The Nature Boy.

Tyrus reminded Ric Flair of his legendary status in wrestling, emphasizing that Flair has forgotten more about the business than most will ever know. According to Tyrus, Flair stands among the last greats, and his mere presence can captivate wrestling fans across generations.

‘‘I got a little bit of beef with you and I’m just gonna bring it up with you real quick. You put a post out where you had the temerity that maybe you shouldn’t have walked out there in AEW. Let me remind you of who you are. You have forgotten more wrestling than most of us will ever know. You are one of the last greats, when you come out and walk that isle, that a grandfather can look at his grandson, ‘I saw this guy wrestler and that is why you’re here.‘

Tyrus firmly believes that Ric Flair should never have apologized for his AEW debut, highlighting the thunderous pop he received when he walked down the aisle.

Ric Flair has continued to appear on AEW television, whenever Tony Khan can use him. Those dreams of managing Andrade El Idolo in AEW aren’t going to happen though, because Ric Flair’s son-in-law left AEW, with many under the belief that he is WWE bound. 

Read WWE President Nick Khan’s Company-Wide E-Mail on Kevin Dunn’s Exit

Thomas Lowson
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WWE President Nick Khan has praised the efforts of Kevin Dunn in an e-mail while confirming the longtime executive’s departure from the promotion. 

Dunn informed WWE of his decision to leave over Christmas, ending his many decades of servitude to the promotion. Often considered the most influential name in WWE to not be part of the McMahon family, Dunn’s official role was as WWE’s Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution. While WWE pitched for Dunn to stay on until the Royal Rumble or possibly WrestleMania, Dunn chose to make a clean break from the company after announcing his plans to leave. 

Nick Khan’s Company-Wide E-Mail

In a message shared throughout WWE (obtained by PW Insider), Khan said the following: 

After 40+ years of helping to build WWE and, hands down, the best production and media unit in the entire sports and entertainment business, Kevin Dunn, will be leaving our company as of today.

Before WrestleMania 1, Kevin joined Vince at WWF. Many of us remember a pre-WrestleMania WWF – a regional wrestling company that looked like a regional wrestling company. Then we experienced WrestleMania 1, whether live, on closed circuit or years later elsewhere. It was magic. A regional wrestling company had become a global sports entertainment juggernaut. Vince led the way, side by side with Kevin Dunn. When many of us were kids standing in line waiting to play Pac-Man, Kevin was already on the road breaking his back to help build our company.

When you see our product now, there is nothing that comes close to its look or feel – 52 weeks a year, three to four times a week. It is singular and truly special. No other company can or will do that, and that is because of Kevin and our media team’s hard work, smarts and determination.

We are forever grateful to Kevin. He will always be a part of the WWE family.

Some thought that Kevin Dunn would be fired after the retirement of Vince McMahon in July 2022. Click here to check out Triple H’s comments at the time. 

CM Punk’s Lawyer: If Chris Jericho Saw Brawl Out, He Should Be Bound By An NDA

Thomas Lowson
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Steve New, the lawyer of CM Punk and Ace Steel, believes that Chris Jericho should be bound by an NDA relating to All Out 2022 if he isn’t already. 

Jericho has been very vocal about the infamous backstage brawl that saw Punk and Steel fight the Elite and overshadow the September 2022 pay-per-view. Recently, Jericho claimed that he was not bound by an NDA, teasing that he’d speak publicly about the matter. When New refuted the idea, Jericho gave a fiery comeback on Christmas Day and branded New a “mark” who should shut up. 

Chris Jericho’s Potential NDA

On a recent edition of Nick Hausman’s Rumor and Innuendo podcast, New was asked for his reaction to Jericho’s remarks. New admitted to being surprised and still believes that Jericho should be tied to an NDA preventing him from speaking about the matter. 

“Without revealing too much of the confidentiality to which I am bound, is my understanding that anyone who witnessed the incident at All Out 2022 would have been obligated to sign an NDA. Chris indicated he was a witness, which, to me, implies that he would have been examined by the law firm investigating the incident and required to sign an NDA.”

New added that whether Jericho saw the backstage fight or not, AEW’s confidential policies may prevent him from addressing the matter publicly. 

“Furthermore, I believe that AEW talent is obligated to maintain confidentiality, as it is part of the company’s policies, handbooks, and regulations. Therefore, whether Jericho witnessed a part of the incident or not, he is still bound by the company’s confidentiality policies.”

While Jericho has claimed that he doesn’t have an NDA preventing him from talking about the “disgusting” events of the brawl, he has yet to give any new information about what happened. 

Chris Jericho’s Potential Trouble

Chris Jericho is currently facing allegations of misconduct with Kylie Rae which may have been a factor behind her exit from AEW. The inaugural AEW World Champion faced “NDA” and “Kylie Rae” chants at Worlds End, and a hashtag calling for him to be fired trended during the show. On the post-Worlds End media scrum, Tony Khan (donned in Toni Storm’s hat and sunglasses) says AEW takes allegations like this very seriously. 

WWE Made Major Changes to Final 2023 Live Event to Thank the Superstars

Thomas Lowson
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WWE changed things up with their handling of the final live event in 2023, but these changes were welcomed by the Superstars at the show. 

The December 30, WWE live event took place at the KIA Forum in Inglewood, California. The show was the last event on WWE’s record-breaking Holiday Tour. The event marked the second match for CM Punk since returning to WWE at Survivor Series. The Best in the World defeated Dominik Mysterio, whom he also defeated at the December 26 event in MSG. 

WWE Makes Changes to Live Event

With this show being WWE’s last of 2023, the promotion wanted to make things easier for the Superstars traveling for New Year’s. PW Insider reports that the show was structured to get talent done and out so they could head to LAX for red-eye flights home. This is something that likely may not have been done regularly for anyone except the very top Superstars under the previous McMahon-led regime. 

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

This effort to get talent out as early as they could led to a steel cage match and a World Heavyweight Championship match going on early, and the card was “haphazard” compared to the more traditional WWE events. This was all designed to thank talent for their week of hard work over the tour by getting them back home ASAP.  One WWE Superstar even joked that the scene backstage was like Home Alone 2, as everybody was racing for and through the airport to get to their respective flights. 

Happy New Year! Check Out How Wrestlers Are Ringing In 2024

Thomas Lowson
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2023 is officially in the history books, and the wrestling community has been celebrating the arrival of 2024. 

Like countless people around the world, the wrestlers have been celebrating New Year’s in their own unique ways. You can see some of the celebrations down below. 

Gail Kim

IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Famer Gail Kim was able to ring in the new year in Australia. The seven-time Knockouts Champion described celebrating New Year’s in Sydney as a bucket list moment.

Jessica McKay

Due to time zones, those in Australia were among the first to ring in 2024. Jessica McKay, who recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy, was also pleased to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Nikki Cross

Nikki Cross may be a silent, motionless creepy individual on WWE Raw, but she was anything but that on New Year’s Eve. The former Raw Women’s Champion was able to reunite with her friend and fellow wrestler Rhia O’Reilly to see in 2024. 

Zelina Vega

2023 proved to be a huge year for Zelina Vega, who had an emotional outing at Backlash in Puerto Rico. The Queens Crown Tournament winner certainly dressed to impress when celebrating the New Year. 

Shota Umino

New Japan’s Shota Umino is excited for 2024, but is focused on his work in the ring, as his New Year’s post made clear on Twitter. 

Adam Cole

Adam Cole proved his true colors at AEW Worlds End by revealing himself as The Devil. On Twitter, Cole celebrated his betrayal of MJF by saying that the New Year will show the “real me”.

Gia Miller

Gia Miller is excited for what’s to come when IMPACT Wrestling relaunches as TNA this month. The backstage correspondent who occasionally wrestlers was having a blast during her own New Year’s celebration. 

Debra McMichael

Former WWE Women’s Champion Debra had a fun New Year’s celebration which saw her go to a nice restaurant and ring in 2024 with a bonfire with her loved ones. 

Andrade El Idolo Pulled from GCW Event As WWE Return Rumors Circulate

Thomas Lowson
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The rumors of Andrade El Idolo’s imminent return to WWE are only growing now that the former NXT Champion has been pulled from a GCW event. 

At AEW Worlds End, Andrade lost to Miro after his manager CJ Perry betrayed him and aligned with her husband. Shortly before the show, it was noted that this would likely be Andrade’s final AEW match and that he was expected to return to WWE imminently. On the post-Worlds End media scrum, Tony Khan confirmed Andrade’s exit from the All-Elite promotion. 

Andrade’s WWE Return

With Andrade’s time with AEW over, many expect a return to WWE. Andrade’s departure from AEW was said to be not pleasant and he made it clear during last week’s Dynamite that he no longer wanted to be a part of AEW. 

While WWE hasn’t announced Andrade’s return, clues are piling up that he will be back soon. As previously reported, a former champion is expected to return to WWE on tonight’s ‘Day 1’ edition of Monday Night Raw, which could be the former NXT and United States Champion. 

Now, another major clue has indicated that Andrade’s return to WWE is happening, even if not at tonight’s Raw. PW Insider reports that Andrade was advertised for at least one GCW event for 2024, and that is no longer the case. WWE famously prefers to keep their talent away from other promotions, with only a select few exceptions. 

WWE Day 1 Raw

Whether Andrade appears tonight or not, the Day 1 episode of Raw will be quite the show. The following matches have been confirmed. 

  • Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
  • Tegan Nox and Natalya vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark (Number One Contenders match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Ivy Nile (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

WWE Holiday Tour Smashes Records With Eight Historic Gates Across North America

Thomas Lowson
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WWE ended 2023 on a high by hosting a record-breaking Holiday Tour, as touted by Head of Talent & Creative Triple H. 

The eight-night tour kicked off on December 26 with WWE’s annual event from Madison Square Garden in New York City. That same night, WWE would host an event in Baltimore, Maryland. WWE would also host events in Boston, Montreal, State College, Detroit, Houston, Toronto, and Las Vegas before ending the tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. 

WWE’s Record-Breaking Holiday Tour

As previously reported, WWE’s return to Madison Square Garden saw the largest gate for any non-televised event in the history of the promotion. That show saw CM Punk make his return to the ring in his first WWE match since the 2014 Royal Rumble. 

Taking to Twitter, Triple H shared more impressive news about the recent Holiday Tour. The 14-time WWE World Champion revealed that the eight-show tour had four sell-out events. Eight of the total ten events on the tour proved to be record-breaking gates for wrestling shows in their respective arenas. 

What’s Next? 

With this highly successful tour in the history books, WWE’s attention turns to what will be a stacked week of programming. Tonight’s Raw will be a ‘Day 1’ special edition of the red brand, followed by NXT New Year’s Evil the following night. On Friday, WWE will host their ‘New Year’s Revolution’ edition of SmackDown. From there, WWE will host the Royal Rumble on January 27. The promotion will head to Perth, Australia for their Elimination Chamber event in February, before WrestleMania 40 in April. 

What resolutions do the WWE Superstars have for the New Year? Click here to find out. 

Shelton Benjamin Has “A Few Years More” in the Ring After WWE Exit

Thomas Lowson
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Shelton Benjamin’s time with WWE may have ended, but the Gold Standard is by no means done in the ring. 

Benjamin, a former U.S. Intercontinental, Tag Team, and 24/7 Champion, was released from WWE in September of 2023 as part of the first wave of releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Benjamin’s first run with WWE lasted from 2000 to 2010 with his second run going from 2017 to 2023. 

Shelton Benjamin On His Wrestling Future

During a Twitch stream, Benjamin was thanked by a fan for his years of entertainment. The ex-Superstar was grateful for the kind words and shared his timeframe for his future in the ring. 

“Thank you for watching. I hope you enjoyed [it]. I hope to give you [a] few years more, ’cause I’m not done yet. Not quite.”

During the stream, Benjamin was also asked about his move to Raw in 2004. Benjamin was drafted to the red brand in April and debuted by getting a series of upset wins over Triple H. 

“My thoughts on that was it was totally a surprise to me I had no idea what was planned. I didn’t realize how big that moment would be for me. It put me on the map.

“So much respect for Triple H for being willing to do the honors to get my name out there. It was amazing. That whole week, that whole run was one of the best times of my career.”

Could Shelton Benjamin’s future reside in AEW? Some in Tony Khan’s promotion certainly hope so. Click here to find out more. 

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

MJF Disappears From AEW Roster Page To Kick Off 2024

Aaron Varble
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MJF teased an impending bidding war in 2024 for his services. Now, it appears that he is off the AEW roster.

MJF’s AEW World Title Loss & Disappearance

At Worlds End, MJF lost of the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe. MJF was banged up, after suffering several injuries leading to the event, but he persevered and had the match anyway.

AEW made a notable move by removing MJF from their official roster page on January 1st, 2024. The Salt of the Earth is currently absent from the roster listing.

rost 1

MJF After AEW Worlds End

In the aftermath of AEW Worlds End, MJF notably abstained from participating in the media scrum. Tony Khan, when questioned about MJF’s AEW contract, skillfully avoided providing any specific details.

It’s worth mentioning that both within AEW and WWE, there is a belief that MJF may have signed a new contract with AEW upon his return before AEW All Out 2022.

Exclusive Insight On MJF’s AEW Contract Situation 

It was previously reported that MJF is likely to take time off from AEW. A hiatus was expected following Worlds End, because he has several injuries that mounted up on him. Now, it appears he is totally gone from the roster, which is a must different story from a simple hiatus.

I have spoken to people within WWE, who have confirmed with me that there was no talking with MJF about coming in. The lack of discussions led many to believe that he did re-sign with Tony Khan. Now, this recent development of his removal from the official roster page adds a layer of intrigue.

AEW’s Next Battle of the Belts Special Could Be Happening Very Soon

Thomas Lowson
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The next ‘Battle of the Belts’ event from All Elite Wrestling could be a matter of weeks away, despite not being confirmed yet by the promotion. 

Battle of the Belts is a one-hour special presented by AEW in which championship matches are the key. The show has also seen titles defended for AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor Wrestling, which Tony Khan acquired in March of 2022. 

While not advertised, the next Battle of the Belts event could be just 12 days away. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful notes that the next Battle of the Belts event is listed on TNT’s schedule for January 13, at 10 PM EST. This is the same day of TNA Hard to Kill, which will be the promotion’s relaunch after years as IMPACT Wrestling. 

AEW Battle of the Belts

The first Battle of the Belts event took place in January of 2022 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since then, a total of eight Battle of the Belts events have taken place. The most recent was in October of 2023 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Despite the name, title changes have been a rarity at AEW’s Battle of the Belts events. Over the two years of events, only two matches have seen a new champion be crowned. At the first Battle of the Belts event, Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes to win the Interim AEW TNT Championship. The second and most recent title change at Battle of the Belts also involved Guevara and saw the Spanish God win the TNT Championship from Scorpio Sky at Battle of the Belts 2 in April 2022. 

Rhett Titus Selling Wrestling Memorabilia After Disability Insurance Company Doesn’t Pay

Thomas Lowson
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A difficult situation has led to former Ring of Honor Wrestling talent Rhett Titus selling some of his gear to help pay for some necessary costs. 

On Twitter, Titus explained that despite being approved for maternity leave months ago, his insurance company has not paid his wife. This has led to his wife rushing back to work after having a C-section. Titus revealed that he will be selling a lot of his wrestling memorabilia from his time as a fan and as a wrestler. 

In the comments, Titus shared some vintage wrestling shirts, including the first-ever shirt released by Ring of Honor. Titus also shared a crew shirt for last year’s AEW All In event, which was never made available for purchase. Titus also had some other rare shirts as well as pieces of his own merchandise available for purchase. 

Rhett Titus in the Ring

Titus is best known for his tenure in Ring of Honor which began in 2006. Titus is a former ROH World Television Champion and won the title from Dalton Castle at Final Battle 2021. He is also a former two-time ROH World Tag Team Champion and won the now-defunct Top of the Class Trophy once. In 2020 he won a Year-End award for Faction of the Year with The Foundation. 

Titus has also competed for several other promotions, including Jersey Championship Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, Force One Pro Wrestling, and MCW Pro Wrestling, where he is a former MCW Heavyweight Champion. In 2012, he broke the top 100 wrestlers in the world in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s annual PWI 500 ranking, by coming in at #98. 

Rhett Titus appeared on an episode of AEW Collision in an unlikely role. Click here to find out more. 

Latest On Kevin Dunn’s WWE Exit: Pitch to Stay, When He’s Leaving & More

Thomas Lowson
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Longtime WWE Executive Kevin Dunn is leaving of his own accord, despite what some may believe about the situation. 

Last week, it was reported that Dunn would be stepping down from his role as WWE’s Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution. His departure marks the end of three decades of working with the promotion. Dunn was unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives and preferred his previous hands-on approach to production oversight. 

Latest on Kevin Dunn’s Departure

Kevin Dunn wasn’t the most well-liked person in WWE, so much so that when Vince McMahon retired in July of 2022, many predicted that Dunn would be fired. This speculation was quashed by Triple H himself, who named Dunn as a major part in WWE’s plans post-McMahon. Despite what some may believe, Dunn was not fired by WWE, according to a report from PW Insider. Instead, he is choosing to retire, and made it clear to WWE higher-ups he was finishing during the Christmas week. 

There was a push for Dunn to stay on through the Royal Rumble and possibly finish with WrestleMania 40 in April 2024. Instead, Dunn preferred a clean cut and he is done with WWE “effectively immediately.” The report emphasized how massive a deal for Dunn to be leaving, no matter if people liked him or not. 

Why People Dislike Kevin Dunn

Though he always seemed to have Vince McMahon on his side, Dunn was hardly popular within WWE or with the company’s fans. Many take issue with Dunn’s use of quick camera cuts that make the action hard to follow as well as some of his attitudes towards wrestlers. Dunn reportedly was against pushing Becky Lynch because of her Irish accent and believed that she’d never be able to cut a good promo. In his book MOX, Jon Moxley writes about Dunn’s influence. 

“In a place like WWE, that one comment, one little seed planted by a guy in Kevin Dunn’s position can be extremely detrimental to someone’s future there. That’s a lot of power, and power breeds ego. Connecticut … old, rich boys’ club ego. I’ve heard all kinds of stories about that guy messing with people’s careers. Suffice to say that dude is a fu**bag.”

Dunn was also said to be against pushing Billie Kay as he did not find her funny. It is also reported that he was against pushing any women he did not find personally attractive.  

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