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Daily Drop (2/24): John Cena Has Eye On WWE WrestleMania, MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrate Anniversary

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 24. The Elimination Chamber started off the day with a very early, and exciting, event. Now, we have a lot to unpack.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 42

WWE

– I was able to exclusively report that John Cena is trying to do something for WrestleMania 40. At this time, nothing is confirmed.

– Also, Sylvester Stallone and WWE couldn’t work things out. I was told this is “old news,” because they nixed those plans last month due to a scheduling conflict.

– On another note, I was also told that Jade Cargill was never booked for the Elimination Chamber match in the first place. No plans changed for her, and there is nothing wrong with her in the company. Booking her in the Chamber match would have done her no favors, because she wasn’t booked to win. WWE is taking their time and taking care of Cargill.

– Tammy Lynn Sytch has a brand-new mugshot, and you can check that out here.

– Bruce Prichard was back working at Raw on 2/19. He is a Vince McMahon ally, and he received some flack from Ronda Rousey for being McMahon’s “avatar” in the past.

– Rhea Ripley was very impressed by WWE 2K24 throwing in a throwback version of herself in the new game. WWE 2K24 drops on March 7th, and the hype is real.

– Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to a one-on-one match during an explosive Grayson Waller Effect segment at Elimination Chamber.

– Seth Rollins also announced that he will be medically cleared from his MCL injury in just a few days. So, he may wrestle on the road to WrestleMania.

– Becky Lynch and Drew McIntyre won the 2024 Elimination Chamber matches in Perth, Australia. They will now go onto WrestleMania 40 to battle for the WWE Women’s World Title and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, respectively. 

AEW

– Saraya announced during AEW Rampage that her brother, Zak Knight, is now All Elite.

– Malakai Black is set to compete in his initial AEW singles match since June 2022 on February 24th at AEW Collision.

– Sting is scheduled to make his last appearance on AEW Dynamite on February 28th.

– MJF and Alicia Atout celebrated their one-year anniversary as a couple. He famously called her “T*ts McGee from Whore Island” in the past, so they’ve known each other for a very long time. SEScoops is wishing them both the best.

– Tony Khan explained why AEW keeps running larger venues with smaller crowds showing up. He kind of skirted the question by replying, “A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages. They have a lot of sale contacts and really good marketing resources.”

AEW Collision Card for Saturday, February 24

  • Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
  • No DQ: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Sammy Guevara (Don Callis Family & Chris Jericho banned from the building)
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty
  • Malakai Black vs. Bryan Keith
  • Serena Deeb in action
  • Thunder Rosa in action
  • The Bang Bang Scissor Gang’s Jay White, Billy Gunn & Austin Gunn in trios action

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Rhea Ripley: I’m glad I can be the Chyna of this generation

Bishal Roy
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WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley is glad that she is part of the WWE Women’s division that WWE legend Chyna helped in building.

Late WWE Hall of Famer Chyna was one of the most dominant female superstars of WWE. She had carved the pathway for female wrestlers to compete against men, and surely, Rhea Ripley is carrying on that legacy. ‘The Eradicator’ has been on an unstoppable run as the Women’s World Champion and looks far from stopping anytime soon. It seems that her next aim would be to step into the men’s division. She has been vocal about having more intergender matches in WWE. She has even named her male dream opponents.

In the late 90s, Chyna was part of the iconic faction Degeneration X, alongside Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Similarities can be drawn as Ripley is currently part of The Judgment Day.

Chyna was the first woman to ever participate in the Men’s Royal Rumble and also competed in the men’s King of the Ring tournament. Interestingly, she is the only woman to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship, a title currently held by Gunther. Will Rhea Ripley achieve a similar feat in the future? 

Rhea Ripley comments on leading the women’s division

“To win a men’s title would be absolutely incredible,” Ripley said via ESPN. “Because of my position in The Judgment Day, I get to mingle with the guys a lot more. Obviously, there are so many females in our division that are capable of doing what I’m doing. They just don’t have the opportunities to do it where I get to be the only female in a group of men, which is so wild.

“And to be the muscle for that group as well, it’s absolutely insane. It’s cool to be a part of what Chyna was doing for the women’s division as well. So, I’m glad I can be the Chyna of this generation while still being Rhea Ripley.”

Rhea Ripley is set to defend her title against Nia Jax in the headlining clash at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth on February 24.

New Mugshot of Tammy Sytch As Disgraced Wrestling Valet Is Moved to Florida Prison

Thomas Lowson
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A new mugshot of disgraced former WWF valet Tammy Sytch has emerged online following her transferral to a Florida State Prison. 

Sytch, known during her WWF career as Sunny,  was sentenced to 17 years in prison in November 2023, as well as eight years probation once she is released. This sentencing comes after Sytch pleaded no contest to the DUI Manslaughter charge against her, stemming from the death of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter in March of 2022. The no-contest plea means that Sytch accepts the conviction but avoids a factual admission of guilt.

In court, Sytch was emotional and both sobbed and laughed during her sentencing. Sytch also mentioned Chris Candido and said her boyfriend’s death was a key part of her downfall. This comment drew backlash from those in the industry, who believe Sytch’s destructive behavior had been established long before Candido’s passing in 2005. 

Tammy Sytch’s Home and Mugshot

Sytch had been at the Florida Women’s Reception Center in Ocala but has now been moved to Lowell Correctional Institution just a mile away. A new mugshot of Sytch was taken at the center which was obtained by TMZ. 

Sytch’s mugshot from Lowell Correctional Institution.

More on Lowell Correctional Institution. 

Lowell is the oldest all-women’s facility in the state and holds around 1,000 inmates. LCI features several different programs for inmates, including cosmetology, cooking classes, and operating heavy machinery. The prison also offers aid to inmates battling alcohol addiction, something Sytch has struggled with over the years. 

Sytch may also have the opportunity to hold down a job in LCI, though a rep for Lowell told TMZ that she does not yet have a work assignment. Sytch’s release date is listed as January 3, 2040.

Mustafa Ali Delivers Emotional Promo After Winning Gold At TNA No Surrender

Bishal Roy
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What a way to kick off his run in TNA Wrestling! Mustafa Ali made his in-ring debut for the promotion and immediately made a major impact. Mustafa Ali has bagged the X-Division title at TNA No Surrender in New Orleans.

Ali was released from WWE in September 2023 after the launch of TKO Group Holdings. After the 90-day non-compete clause expireed, Ali announced that he had a stacked lineup of bookings in the indies and turned his sights on the rebranded TNA Wrestling.

Ali has been busy competing both domestically and abroad, making appearances for GCW, Defy, RevPro, PROGRESS and others. He is also set to make his NJPW debut in April in a match against Hiroshi Takahashi.

Mustafa Ali defeats Chris Sabin

In a highly-anticipated match, Ali prevailed over Chris Sabin in the main event of No Surrender and it marked the first time an X-Division match headlining one of their specials since 2005’s Unbreakable.

In the final moments of the highly competitive match, Ali evaded an avalanche Cradle Shock attempt and counted by hitting a sunset bomb followed by his finisher 450 splash to pick up the win.

It’s worth noting that this title win marks Ali’s first singles title in a major promotion. With the win, Ali put an end to Sabin’s 10th run with the championship that started at last September’s Impact 1000. During his title reign, he successfully defended his title three times. 

Following the show, TNA posted a clip on social media in which Mustafa Ali addressed the crowd. Here is what he said:

“This is my first major championship in 20 years. I mean this, whether you love me or hate me, whether you support the campaign or wish for my demise, it has been a pleasure and an honor to compete inside a TNA ring. I have been all over the world. I have wrestled the very best, the very best wrestlers in the world, and by far, that locker room right there, that show tonight in front of all of you, is by far the best locker room I have ever seen. Thank you, good night, and remember, that in Ali, we trust,” Ali said.

Well, it seems that Mustafa Ali is scheduled with TNA through late-March as part of five additional dates that include March’s Sacrifice streaming special and several TV tapings. It has come to light that he will take on Kevin Knight during Saturday’s TV taping in New Orleans.

We will have to wait and see how his title run pans out.

Saraya Announces New AEW Signing During Rampage

Bishal Roy
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AEW star Saraya recently made an important announcement during this week’s AEW Rampage. She revealed that her brother Zak Knight has signed with AEW.

Saraya had been endorsing her brother to wrestle in AEW last year. Ahead of the December 20 episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan gave Knight his opportunity. He went on to make his in-ring debut for ROH in a match that aired on the December 28 Ring of Honor TV episode last year. He also wrestled for the company twice in January, with matches airing on the January 11 show, and the January 25 episode.

Now, he is officially a part of the AEW roster as per Saraya.

Saraya announces signing of Zak Knight

During Friday’s AEW Rampage, the former AEW Women’s World Champion introduced her brother, who is an independent wrestling veteran Zak Knight and stated that he has inked a deal with Tony Khan’s company.

In a backstage promo with Harley Cameron & Renee Paquette, Saraya presented Knight and said that they come from wrestling royalty in the United Kingdom. She stated that she had planned to set Ruby Soho up with her brother before Soho paired up with Angelo Parker. However, Knight did not speak in the promo segment.

On a related note, the movie “Fighting with My Family,” was based on Saraya’s life in pro wrestling. The movie was released in 2019. Also, the 2012 documentary “The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family,” followed Saraya’s career and journey to WWE while also showing her brother Zak failed to make it to the same level. 

We will have to wait and see what’s in store for Zak Knight, now that he has joined AEW.

Watch: Action Figure Cody Rhodes Is A Playable Character In WWE 2K24

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes will be a playable character in the WWE 2K24 video game, as both himself and an action figure recreation of the American Nightmare. 

On social media, a clip was uploaded featuring the action-figure version of Rhodes making his entrance in the upcoming video game. This figure of Rhodes depicts his WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 attire, complete with torn pectoral injury. Rhodes would compete despite the injury and defeat Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell. This figure comes from the WWE Mattel Elite: Defining Moments range of action figures. 

Cody Rhodes & WWE 2K24

In addition to being a playable character, in both flesh and plastic form, Cody Rhodes is one of the cover stars for WWE 2K24. That’s despite Cody being unable to finish the story at WrestleMania 39, a loss that hit the popular Raw Superstar hard. Rhodes has even said that he doesn’t want to be part of the next WWE 2K video game if he is unable to become a WWE World Champion.

Unusual WWE Video Game Characters

Ribbie, a delicious BBQ rib, was a playable character in WWE 2K20. 

The action-figure version of Cody Rhodes is hardly the first bizarre entry into a WWE video game. For WrestleMania 2000, fans could play as a Crash Test Dummy, not to be confused with then-Hardcore Champion Crash Holly. Al Snow was a part of WWF Attitude, as was ‘Head’ which for the game had grown hands and feet and hovered at head height above the canvas. 

Colonel Sanders would bring his finger-lickin’ fury to WWEK 2K18 while WWE 2K20 saw the inclusion of ‘Ribbie’ a BBQ rib brought to life who serves as the mascot for a minor league baseball team referenced in the game’s story mode. 

Minoru Suzuki Is Giving ‘Strong Style’ Back To NJPW

Ella Jay
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While much of his bookings have been committed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in recent years, Minoru Suzuki, who remains a freelancer, has exercised his option to extend his reach elsewhere as well. Within the last two months, Suzuki has found himself competing for the likes of AJPW, RevPro, and All Elite Wrestling. 

Earlier today, the veteran performer issued a statement about his future in professional wrestling, noting his desire to expand his travels even further. As such, Suzuki said he is giving back the “Strong Style” name back to NJPW, as he and his fellow stablemate El Desperado are no longer in need of it.

“I’m giving back to New Japan the name Strong Style that I borrowed a year ago,” Suzuki wrote (translated).

“Me and Despe don’t need it anymore. I’ve made new friends, had a lot of fun, and a lot of things happened… I’ve been to New Japan Pro Wrestling for quite some time, but my professional wrestling life is still in the middle of a journey. In order to become even stronger… on a journey of freedom… let’s set sail.”

Strong Style, of course, served as the faction name for the trio of Suzuki, El Desperado, and Ren Narita in NJPW.

Suzuki To Take On The ‘Fired Idol’

Earlier this week, Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling revealed that Minoru Suzuki will be making his promotional debut at their upcoming Grand Princess event on March 31. There, Suzuki will take on the “Fired Idol” Maki Itoh in a first-time singles matchup.

Last month, Suzuki made a notable appearance in AEW as he wrestled fellow veteran Adam Copeland in the main event of AEW Dynamite.

R-Truth Arrives In Austria For WWE Elimination Chamber 2024

Dominic DeAngelo
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R-Truth planned to be at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, but there was just a bit of a misunderstanding that at least Gunther would appreciate.

Truth was gung ho about being apart of the Australian experience for Saturday’s big PLE in Perth and shared his enthusiam and eventual despondency that he couldn’t find any of his fellow WWE Superstars – in Austria.

“Welp, I’m here in Austria. Where’s everybody at? I don’t see nobody. Been to the hotel, the arena’s empty. Should I just go back home? Hey good mate, back to the area port!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3sewANrKvZ

Truth may not make it in time for Elimination Chamber, but he was a primary player this past week on WWE Raw, particularly when it comes to Judgment Day.

R-Truth took part in a multi-man tag to take on Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonafh on Monday, teaming with Team DIY (who he believes to be DX) and The Miz. R-Truth’s team came up short, with Truth evening taking the definitive pinfall against Damian.

However, Priest is likely more than pleased that Truth is not in Perth as he and Balor will have to set their focus on the New Catch Republic on Saturday. The Judgment Day duo will have to defend their WWE Tag Team Title gold against Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne.

R-Truth has had his share of troubles with Judgment Day. Not only did he have a match, but he also had a strong interview segment where he discussed his heartbreak over his issues with the group.

AJ Francis Opens Up About His Friendship With Pat McAfee (Exclusive)

Dominic DeAngelo
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AJ Francis is making the most of his free agency, but he did happen to reconnect with former WWE co-worker Pat McAfee. After being released from WWE the former Hit Row member made mention on the “Oh … You Didn’t Know” podcast that he was going to be everywhere and Francis wasn’t lying.

Speaking with SEScoops, AJ Francis talked about his busy week at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Francis was all over Sin City and was doing what he could to promote TNA, including Sacrfice that takes place Friday evening. It so happened that Francis was at Media Row and unexpectedly got invited by Pat McAfee onto the Pat McAfee Show.

“I didn’t go there to get on the show. Like I went there to say ‘what’s up’ to Pat cause Pat’s my homie. I’ve known Pat since we were in the NFL. We were in the NFL at the same time so I’ve known Pat for years. I went there to just say, ‘What’s up?’ And they were like, ‘Nah, nah, nah. We gonna get you on.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, alright, cool.'”

“And then for him to be like, ‘Yo, I see you putting people through tables.’ It’s like, ‘Oh, like he’s putting me over,’ you know what I’m saying? Like, he don’t got to do that. He doesn’t have to do that, but he does cause he’s a real one. And that’s why, like, I use that opportunity to talk about No Surrender, to talk about our shows coming up in Canada and talk about Philly and talk about going back to the Palms for Rebellion on 4/20 So it’s like, these are the things that I’m setting up for people. You know what I’m saying?”

Francis will be apart of the No Surrender meet-and-greet, but has recently been feuding with Joe Hendry in TNA. He also just showed up this past weekend in MLW, appearing to start a feud with former MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Kane.

Please credit and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Dark Side of the Ring Unveils Season 5 Premiere Episode Focus

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestling fans fell in love with Dark Side of the Ring’s bold storytelling, as they uncovered many forgotten stories from pro wrestling history. The show has seen tremendous success, and now it’s coming back for its 5th season, and they are kicking things off in a big way.

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 will begin with the story of Earthquake. The show premieres on Tuesday, March 5, at 10pm ET on Vice TV. The announcement was made official on social media, as the Dark Side of the Ring account posted to hype the news.

Season 5 will kick-off with John “Earthquake” Tenta’s story. A larger-than-life heel in the ring and a die hard family man at home, Tenta’s passing at just 42 years old was an especially cruel ending for a man so universally beloved.

Season five of Dark Side of the Ring will feature episodes centered around Chris Adams, Sensational Sherri, Terry Gordy, Black Saturday (Vince McMahon acquiring Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1984 for its TBS time slot), Chris Colt, The Sandman, Harley Race, Buff Bagwell, and Brutus Beefcake.

Dark Side of the Ring Season 4

The average viewership rating for Season 4 of Dark Side of the Ring was approximately 0.181 million viewers per episode. For Season 1 in 2019, the average viewership rating was approximately 0.201 million viewers per episode. For Season 2 in 2020, the average viewership rating was approximately 0.273 million viewers each week. Then, Season 3 in 2021 saw an average viewership rating of approximately 0.195 million viewers.

Season 4 of Dark Side of the Ring aired in 2023, covering a variety of wrestling stories. From the lives of Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch to the backstage dispute at Bash at the Beach in 2000, each episode delved into different aspects of wrestling history. 

Also, “The World According to Marty Jannetty” provided insight into Marty Jannetty’s experiences in the wrestling world. That was a wild ride as well.

The Rock Is Returning To WWE TV Next Week

Michael Shalik
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WWE has announced ‘greatness returns’ next Friday when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns to SmackDown next Friday, March 1.

The People’s Champion will have Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso at his side when Friday Night Smackdown heads to Glendale, Arizona at the Desert Diamond Arena.

The Rock’s most recent WWE TV appearance took place last Friday on SmackDown. After cutting a scathing heel promo on the live crowed, he officially joined The Bloodline and made the group stronger than ever.

By next Friday, WrestleMania season will be in full swing and we’ll be just 5 weeks out from WWE’s biggest event of the year.

The Rock is not currently scheduled to compete at WrestleMania 40, but that could all change very quickly. The 51-year-old WWE icon turned Hollywood heavyweight has not competed in a full match since 2013.

He’s not scheduled to be at Elimination Chamber this weekend, but Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be. They’re scheduled for a special appearance on the Grayson Waller Show during the Chamber PLE. The Rock has warned them to keep his name out of their mouths, but good luck with that. 

In addition to a rare appearance by The Rock, next week’s SmackDown will feature fallout from Elimination Chamber 2024 and continued hype for WrestleMania 40.

WWE 2K24 Blows Rhea Ripley Away With Throwback Version Of Her Character

Aaron Varble
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WWE 2K24 is set to drop on March 8th, and we just got the whole roster. There are over 200 playable characters, and some of them have variations. Rhea Ripley is very happy about one pre-Nightmare of herself that made it in the game.

Rhea Ripley Reacts To WWE 2K24 Character

2K dropped a screenshot of Rhea Ripley from WWE 2K24, one where she doesn’t look like herself today. They added the WWE NXT UK version of Ripley, a younger version of herself with long blonde hair and far fewer tattoos.

Mami before she was Mami! Exclusive #FirstLook from the Deluxe Edition! #WWE2K24

Rhea Ripley saw this, and she couldn’t contain her excitement. The Judgment Day member re-posted that screenshot and included a caption saying, “Oh. Oh My God…”

WWE Games’ official Twitter/X account also re-posted Ripley’s response. They are obviously very proud of the work they did on that character design.

Brock Lesnar’s WWE 2K24 Status

Although there are going to be multiple playable versions of Rhea Ripley in the new WWE 2K24 game, Brock Lesnar is absent. He was pulled, along with Vince McMahon, after Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

2k couldn’t totally remove Lesnar from the game, so he will still be in the game files. We will have to see how long it takes for a fan to crack that code to get Lesnar in their gameplay.

From Getting Bullied to Becoming A Powerhouse: John Cena On How Workout Helped Him Find “new pathways in life”

Bishal Roy
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WWE legend John Cena has become one of the most prominent figures in the world mostly due to his storied career in WWE. His incredible physique and strength have been on display and his accolades make him one of the greatest to ever grace the ring.

Cena, a 16-time World Champion is certainly a powerhouse but he has had the figure while growing up. He has revealed that he was bullied as a child and picked up training to become a muscle man which he is today.

John Cena talks about his weight training journey

Cena had found his passion in workout and it helped him to seek and gain a degree in exercise science and kinesiology from Springfield College in Western Massachusetts. But growing up in his hometown, ‘The Leader of Cenation’ was bullied a lot. 

Speaking with Howard Stern, John Cena revealed that he picked up the weights at the age of 13 and never looked back. Over the years he focused on training and during his high school days, he realized that the hard work paid off for him. He said:

“I was getting beat up every day. I didn’t always look like this. I was a small, scrawny kid. I had my dad buy me a weight set to be at home and I just started on my weights at home every day without fail,” Cena recalled. “Because I was getting beat up, I didn’t exactly have a huge social circle, so I had a lot of time to myself.”

He added that the coaches took notice and even wanted him to join the football team. Cena added: 

“Three-and-a-half years of working out in the prime of adolescence, and eating well, started to show its yield. It kind of helped me get new pathways in life.”

Though he was all buffed up, Cena never beat up his old bullies and he never will.

“That would be very costly today — that’s a poor management decision,” he said with a laugh.

As Cena became more muscular, many questions surrounded him of using potentially using steroids. He recently cleared the air regarding the matter. Read about it below:

Randy Orton Takes a Dig at Logan Paul, Calling Him as ‘Jake’ Ahead of WWE Elimination Chamber

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s 2024 Elimination Chamber is going down in Perth, Australia on February 24th, and fans will have to wake up early if they want to catch the show. The Chamber event is set to start at 5:00 AM for fans in the East Coast, and we have so much more information about the event in our official rundown. Logan Paul and Randy Orton are set to take part in the Men’s Chamber match, and they’re already having words.

Randy Orton and Logan Paul’s Twitter Battle

Randy Orton feels the best he has after his back fusion surgery. He is booked for the Elimination Chamber, and it seems that Logan Paul may have an RKO in store for him.

During the company’s Elimination Chamber conference in Perth prior to the big event, Paul and Orton had a little interaction. The Maverick then jumped on Twitter/X to share that video, along with a little comment to poke The Viper.

“What’s Wrong, Randy Orton?”

The Apex Predator saw this, and he responded to say, “You’ll find out tomorrow, Jake.” One would argue that calling Logan his brother’s name wins this little social media battle for Orton.

What’s Next On The Road To WrestleMania

The Elimination Chamber will set the stage for Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania. The Messiah is currently nursing an injury, so he’s likely going to stay out of the ring in any singles action until the show of shows.

I previously reported that there was serious talk of LA Knight challenging Logan Paul for the United States Title at WrestleMania, but you also never know if the company will book another multi-challenger match for that secondary title, and Randy Orton would be a prime contender to find a place in that contest.

AEW’s MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrating Milestone In Their Relationship

Thomas Lowson
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Former AEW World Champion MJF and Alicia Atout are celebrating after hitting the one-year mark in their relationship. 

Taking to Twitter, Atout made it clear that there is nobody else she’d rather have by her side. Atout also made it clear that she loves MJF, even if her descriptors for the AEW wrestler were hardly complimentary. 

MJF & Alicia Atout

Atout and MJF met during their respective runs in Major League Wrestling, where Atout worked as a backstage interviewer. The pair would also interact on Atout’s A Music Block Yeah (AMBY) vlog when MJF was active on the independent circuit.

While the pair are celebrating one year of their relationship, much of that time has been kept out of the public eye. It was only when the pair were spotted at a baseball game together in late 2023 that rumors circulated of a relationship. In November 2023, the couple went public with their relationship. 

Past Relationships

MJF had previously been engaged to artist Naomi Rosenblum. During a fiery promo segment in early 2023 with Bryan Danielson, MJF said that his fiancé dumped him since he wanted to have kids with her. It was later confirmed that the breakup was legitimate and not an angle for the feud with Danielson. 

Atout was previously in a relationship with Richard Holliday. She managed Holliday during their time in MLW. It would appear that Atout and Holliday ended their relationship at some point in 2023. 

How Much Did Scott D’Amore Offer Anthem to Purchase TNA Wrestling?

Thomas Lowson
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Scott D’Amore was willing to pay big money to purchase TNA Wrestling and save his role with the promotion in the process. 

D’Amore was fired as TNA President by Anthem Entertainment, TNA’s parent company, earlier this month. The Team Canada alum has been replaced by Anthony Cicione, Anthem’s President, in an effort to strengthen ties between the two parties. The decision to cut D’Amore has been met with backlash. TNA’s roster has issued a letter to Anthem, expressing their views on the matter. 

Purchasing TNA Wrestling

Shortly before his exit from TNA Wrestling, D’Amore attempted to purchase the company from Anthem. While the figure was not disclosed at the time of his departure, it was said to be a serious offer with the backing of a major financial institution. 

D’Amore offered $10 million to acquire TNA Wrestling, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported this week. In addition to this, Scott offered to take on all existing debts. Anthem turned down the offer out-right without a counter offer being made. The D’Amore group believed the company value was between $7 million and $12 million.

What’s Next?

A meeting will take place at this week’s tapings of TNA Wrestling and it is believed the D’Amore situation will be addressed. Some in TNA believe that Len Asper, the head of Anthem, will be at the meeting. 

With or without D’Amore, TNA will move on ahead with its weekly entertainment. On March 8, the promotion will host its Sacrifice pay-per-view from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The show will be TNA’s second PPV since relaunching at last month’s Hard to Kill show.

WWE Planned Injury Angle To Take Cody Rhodes Out Of WrestleMania 40 Main Event

Aaron Varble
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WWE has seen quite a ride on the road to WrestleMania 40 so far. This included The Rock re-entering the fold, and plans changing multiple times. CM Punk’s injury also threw a wrench in WWE’s plans, so there were several things that they needed to address. Their plan to take Cody Rhodes out of the picture was also nixed in the process. 

WWE Planned Injury Angle For Cody

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cody Rhodes was informed in the fall that he would face Reigns. However, he was not informed about Rock’s involvement in the match until January 3rd. Therefore, any interviews he gave about concluding the story before the Rumble assumed he was part of the match, despite rumors about The Rock.

The report also went on to say that WWE planned an injury angle for Cody to write him out of the WrestleMania 40 main event match once The Rock showed up. Of course, they pivoted from those plans in a big way.

[Cody] was told the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to swerve people as much a build a later match. But the fact it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was keep secret from almost everyone (obviously a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday a surprise. Even fewer knew the injury angle planned for Rhodes because even people who knew this complete story were not aware of the original idea of how to get Rhodes out of the match and Rock in.

WWE Changed More WrestleMania 40 Plans

The report also noted that Punk’s injury changed plans, but there was still no use for a men’s Elimination Chamber match because Rhodes was going to choose Rollins as his opponent. The Rock was also not wrestling in Australia, at an event that takes place at 5:00 AM on the East Coast. 

The angle with Rhodes endorsing Rock, which was reportedly suggested by Triple H, was well-received by the crowd and WWE thought it went well at first. Then social media backlash changed things. Johnson reportedly already considered turning heel if fans booed him, which led the company to push in that direction.

I reported the entire time that The Rock was the only one who could change those plans. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that it should be Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns. 

If the Rhodes injury angle was followed through with, they would have likely faced an even greater negative social media reaction. Now, fans have a chance to see Cody finish his story.

Elimination Chamber 2024: WWE Stars Entertain At Rowdy Perth Press Conference

Thomas Lowson
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The Superstars of WWE certainly put on a show at this week’s press conference ahead of the Elimination Chamber: Perth event. 

The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. Understandably, the excitement in Perth is at a fever pitch ahead of tomorrow’s show. The show will feature two Elimination Chamber matches, with the Men’s and Women’s winners challenging for the World Heavyweight and Women’s World Championships at WrestleMania 40. 

Elimination Chamber Press Conference

Some of WWE’s top Superstars made their presence felt at the press conference. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins led the Aussie crowd in trashing The Rock. Rollins & Cody Rhodes will be guests on the Grayson Waller Effect tomorrow. 

Things got heated between Men’s Chamber participants Kevin Owens and U.S. Champion Logan Paul which resulted in Triple H having to step in. 

Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair, both of whom will compete in the Women’s Chamber Match, also came face-to-face in a tense stare down.

WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley certainly had the crowd on her side when she came face-to-face with her upcoming opponent Nia Jax.

And finally, Australia’s own Rhea Ripley and Grayson Waller celebrated WWE coming to Perth with the Australian good-luck tradition of doing a ‘Shoey.’ 

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

  • Kick-off Show: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
  • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

Drew McIntyre’s Current WWE Contract Situation Amid Ongoing Stories

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s roster has some notable contracts that are set to expire this year, and one of them has not inked a new deal. Drew McIntyre’s contract situation is a very interesting one, especially considering everything they’re booking for the Scottish Warrior.

Drew McIntyre’s Contract Situation 

Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract has a big question mark over it right now. At this point, he has not inked a new deal, but all signs point to the idea that he will be sticking around.

Not only is McIntyre throwing jabs at CM Punk with his latest merchandise, but he is also booked for shows past his contract expiration date. Although it appears that WWE has plans for him, Drew has not agreed to terms on a new deal.

McIntyre’s current contract is supposedly up after WrestleMania. WWE was able to extend it a bit due to time he missed.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, although Drew McIntyre has not signed on the dotted line just yet, all signs point to him agreeing to another contract with WWE.

While one would think McIntyre has signed his new deal, and I’d at this point be shocked if he goes anywhere given they’ve set up a major Rhodes vs. McIntyre program, seemingly for after Mania, and he’s got an already-written program with Punk that he’s been pushing hard for around November. But there is no new deal signed yet but clearly the expectation is that he’s staying and he’s in the best position he’s ever been given between his work and how hot the company is.

Drew McIntyre’s Future in WWE

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk seem destined for battle, but the Second City Savior will be out of action for a while with his triceps injury. Only time will tell if McIntyre is able to stay around WWE long enough to see Punk return to action.

In the meantime, McIntyre is in the 2024 Elimination Chamber match, where he is battling for a chance to take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. 

SEScoops will have more updates on this story as additional information is available. 

WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Preview: Final Match Card, Special Start Time

Michael Shalik
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Elimination Chamber 2024 goes down this Saturday, from Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. Wrestling fans can stream the show live on Peacock. The special start time is 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.

This is the final WWE PLE on the road to WrestleMania, just 42 days later. When all is said and done in Perth, we’ll have a much better idea of where things stand as the Road to WrestleMania kicks into high gear.

After Elimination Chamber, the #1 contenders and WrestleMania challengers will be determined for Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship and Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Championship.

Seth Rollins and Rhea Ripley will be watching this year’s Chamber matches closely

That’s what’s assured going into the event, but we will probably learn more than that. Cody Rhodes and Rollins will guest on the Grayson Waller Effect. Rollins has been directly involved in Rhodes’ ongoing feud with the new and improved Bloodline. The four men are also the focal point of the big-budget WrestleMania 40 trailer. 

Rhodes will attempt to finish his story against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, while Rollins is expected to face the winner of the men’s Chamber match. If WWE is planning to somehow incorporate Rollins into a match with Cody and the Bloodline, Waller’s show would be an ideal venue to set it up.

Match Card

There are four matches on the main card, plus one match on the kickoff show.

Kickoff Show (4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT.)

  • Candice LaRae and Indi Hartwell vs The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Main Show (5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.)

  • The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
  • Rhea Ripley defends the Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul
  • Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins

Enjoy the event and stick with SE Scoops for 24/7 WWE news coverage. 

Becky Lynch On Singles Ronda Rousey Match That Never Happened: “Fans Wanted It”

Thomas Lowson
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WWE fans were eager to see Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch go one-on-one, according to Lynch, but the match never happened. 

Lynch and Rousey were scheduled to face off at Survivor Series 2019 before The Man was infamously concussed by an errant punch by Nia Jax. Instead, Rousey faced Lynch’s friend and rival Charlotte Flair at the Premium Live Event. 

Becky Lynch On Ronda Rousey

After Lynch won the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble match, it seemed destined that she and Rousey would have their one-on-one encounter. After several booking changes however, Lynch’s WrestleMania 35 match would end up as a triple threat match including Flair. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lynch reflected on the one-on-one match with Rousey never happening. 

“Do I think that was the match that everyone was clamouring for? Yes it was. Everyone wanted that singles match. And I think, people thought that moment in time would be evergreen and it wasn’t. That’s OK.”

While Rousey left WWE last year following her SummerSlam 2023 loss to Shayna Baszler, Lynch remained open to the possibility that the match could still take place.

“If she ever comes back again, maybe that season will be right there. Maybe it will be spring time on that story again, but it never got back to that.”

What’s Next?

Lynch will compete at tomorrow’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event. The Man will step into the Women’s Chamber match for the first time in her career and is a heavy favourite to win. The victor will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Billy Jack Haynes To Face Arraignment After Being Released From Hospital

Bishal Roy
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We have an update on former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes following a fatal shooting that took place earlier this month.

Haynes was arrested after cops were called to his home in the Lents neighborhood of Portland. After the gunfire, authorities were called. Haynes “eventually came out” of the house and was taken into custody following a lengthy confrontation with the offices. 

Haynes was brought into prison two hours later. During the standoff, everyone in his neighborhood was told to stay inside their homes. Although the identity of those involved were not disclosed in the initial reports, it was later claimed that Billy Jack Haynes was the one arrested and that Janette Becraft, his wife, was the one discovered dead, purportedly as a result of a shooting.

Haynes is still in the hospital and he hasn’t been formally detained or prosecuted in connection with his wife’s death.

Billy Jack Haynes yet to be charged

Reports have emerged that Haynes will be charged with the murder, but they are going to be filed the moment he is discharged from the hospital. He is currently in at a local hospital where he is receiving medical attention.

PW Insider reported: 

“Charges are forthcoming once Haynes is released and can be booked into jail and face arraignment.”

Haynes had been a massive popular star in the Portland territory and worked with the WWF/E in the late 1980s, in WCW (under as mask as Black Blood) as well as in Florida, World Class Championship Wrestling. Other promotions include Jim Crockett Promotions, New Japan, and other territories.

Haynes departed WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. It is claimed that Haynes quit the WWF after declining to do a job in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Another version of his exit states that he wrestled the match and agreed to the finish but he was fired afterward.

We will keep you updated when more details of the situation emerge.

Nic Nemeth Signifies Start of New Era With Championship Win At The NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo, Full Results

Anutosh Bajpai
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The NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo event signified the start of a new era for NJPW as a new crop of foreign talent took center stage in the wake of some older names leaving.

The show built around Nic Nemeth’s debut for the promotion saw the officials putting their trust into the wrestling veteran in his very first outing for the company. The star formerly known as Dolph Ziggler not only main-evented the show but also picked up the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship in his debut match for the promotion.

Nemeth made it very clear in his first promo as the new champion that he will be taking this responsibility very seriously. The Global Champion declared passionately that the title means everything to him and he won’t be just sitting on his ass around after this big victory:

“This might be 20 more years of me holding this title and defend it in every goddamn night. If that’s what it means, that’s how I will go into my grave holding this, holding this championship that says, I am better than the best and I don’t just sit on my ass now and go home and wait for a call in three months to say it’s time to defend it.

You want a shot, you earn it, you step up to me, man to man, face to face, look me in the fucking eye and say, I think, I think. I think I can go with you. I think I can hang and you better believe that I’m gonna knock your head off your fucking body.”

https://twitter.com/prowresclips/status/1760996719083368734

Nic Nemeth wasn’t the only name who was trusted by the company to lead it forward. In an event that also featured one of Kazuchika Okada’s final matches for the promotion before his departure, Matt Riddle made headlines by picking up the NJPW World TV Championship from the new company president Hiroshi Tanahashi.

NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo Full Results: Nic Nemeth, Matt Riddle And More

Apart from this the show also showcased names such as Shota Umino who now have the responsibility to step up as the next generation of pillars for the legendary promotion. You can check out the full results from the event below:

  • Toru Yano & Tomoya def. Shoma Kato & Tomoaki Honma
  • Zack Sabre Jr. def. Yuji Nagata
  • HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita) def. Boltin Oleg, Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Kazuchika Okada, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI def. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Francesco Akira & Callum Newman
  • Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji & BUSHI) def. Just Five Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku)
  • IWGP Women’s Championship Match: Mayu Iwatani (c) def. Mina Shirakawa
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: SHO def. El Desperado (c)
  • NEVER Openweight Championship Match: EVIL (c) def. Shota Umino
  • NJPW World TV Championship Match: Matt Riddle def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c)
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match: Nic Nemeth def. David Finlay (c)

With the recent backstage changes and the confirmed departure of top names such as Will Ospreay and Okada, NJPW has a lot of challenges ahead. The latest event, however, was a declaration from the company that they are ready to face the music and there is a new set of faces that are going to help them rebuild the company in wake of older talents leaving. 

Related: Hiroshi Tanahashi Acknowledges NJPW’s Need For New Stars After Recent Departures

WWE’s WrestleMania 40 Stallone Deal Fizzles Out Due to Scheduling Conflict

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event is preparing to take over Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th, and the company usually prepares memorable cards for the showcase of the immortals. Sadly, Sylvester Stallone won’t be able to make it.

Stallone and WrestleMania

There are a lot of rumors going around about WrestleMania this year, but one rumored megastar will not be on the show of shows. Sylvester Stallone has appeared for WWE before, but it’s not going to work out for Mania 40.

WrestleVotes reported that WWE has strong interest in Sylvester Stallone appearing at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. The extent of discussions or Stallone’s potential role remains uncertain at this point.

Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there’s hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined.Stallone, born in NYC, gained fame through the iconic Rocky films, deeply associated with Philadelphia.

Additionally, Stallone is no stranger to the WWE world, having inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

I asked around about this, and I was told that, “They are months behind on the Stallone ‘scoop.’ Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn’t match up.”

Dave Meltzer also reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to say that, “Those at WWE have confirmed the talk but said that as of earlier in the week Stallone had said there was a schedule conflict, so the deal hasn’t been done unless you can or wants to remove the conflict.”

We will have to see if WWE can get Sylvester Stallone to make an appearance at a future event. WrestleMania 40 in Philly seemed like the perfect location, but it just didn’t work out.

What’s Next

WWE has a lot of things planned for WrestleMania, and John Cena may just be in the mix. I exclusively reported that Cena is trying to do something for Mania this year.

As of this writing, Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns and Bayley vs IYO Sky are the only two confirmed matches. We will have even more after the Elimination Chamber event as well, because both Chamber matches will determine Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins’ opponents on the grandest stage of them all.

WWE Elimination Chamber Stage Set-Up Is All Ready In Perth

Aaron Varble
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The Elimination Chamber event is set for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. With less than a day until the big event, the stage is already set.

The Elimination Chamber Stage

We previously reported the progress of the Elimination Chamber set, and now they are totally ready for the show. Optus Stadium will be packed full of fans the next time we see it.

A video of the completed set-up is now making the rounds, as it shows off all the work WWE’s crew has done in the stadium over the past week.

What’s Next

WWE’s Elimination Chamber event will start at 5:00 AM EST on February 24th. The card is stacked with matches that will directly impact the road to WrestleMania, with both Chamber matches set to determine who will face Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins at the show of shows.

2024 Elimination Chamber Card: 

  • The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) (with Iyo Sky) vs. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell: Tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate): Tag team match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez: Elimination Chamber match for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul: Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XL
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