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Don Callis Expresses Morbid Wish Of Uncertain Execution For Chris Jericho

Aaron Varble
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Chris Jericho recently stirred up a bit of controversy online with his tirade against Stephen P. New and non-disclosure agreements. It appears that Don Callis is aware of this, and he has something to say.

The Story Behind Don Callis’ Disturbing Post

Don Callis joined AEW when Kenny Omega won the AEW World Title in December 2020. As a top heel on the AEW payroll, drawing more boos than most of the roster combined, Callis has maintained a feud with Chris Jericho that continues to this day. They have a lot of history with each other, which Callis has helped draw from in their rivalry.

The recent online dispute involving Chris Jericho, CM Punk and Ace Steel’s lawyer Stephen P. New, and the NDA claim has escalated tensions. Chris Jericho had a few unfiltered posts about the subject.

Jericho publicly denied signing a non-disclosure agreement related to the Brawl Out incident, prompting a swift response from Stephen P New. He has since trended as fans discuss this topic with their own agendas attached.

The famous attorney asserted that everyone who was involved in the backstage brawl signed lifelong NDAs. The dispute then took a turn against Jericho when New stated that an NDA in written into the AEW Employee Handbook.

Don Callis’ Morbid Wish For Chris Jericho

Amidst this ongoing drama, Don Callis took to X and expressed his desire for Chris Jericho to face an uncertain execution date. He likened this to death row inmates who are unaware of their execution date.

In certain countries it is reported that death row inmates are not told their execution date. They wake up everyday wondering if that day is their last day on earth. I wish this for Chris Jericho

Don Callis then found another post he wanted to share. That particular post shows a man getting stepped on by an elephant. The caption for that post was quite explicit.

Execution by elephant was an old method of capital punishment in South and Southeast Asia, particularly in India, where Asian elephants were used to crush, dismember or torture captives in public executions.

The animals were trained to kill victims immediately or to torture them slowly over a prolonged period.

Most commonly employed by royalty, the elephants were used to signify both the ruler’s power of life and death over his subjects and his ability to control wild animals.

https://twitter.com/Morbidful/status/1739334539472720261

Don Callis re-posted that image and caption, along with his own thoughts: “On second thought. I would like to introduce Jericho to an elephant,”

Don Callis is playing up quite a heel on AEW television. He may have some honest feelings of resentment that he is also able to let slip out there with posts like this.

What’s Next For Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho said that he will pick a new tag team partner to take on Ricky Starks and Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Titles. The Wizard said that he still has a contract for a match, and he will replace Omega after The Cleaner was taken out due to diverticulitis.

AEW fans may find out who Chris Jericho is replacing Kenny Omega with very soon. AEW Worlds End is going down on December 30th, so he only has a few days to make that call. 

NFL Legend Calvin Johnson Hails Roman Reigns As ‘Badass’

Bishal Roy
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NFL legend Calvin Johnson recently spoke highly of his former Georgia Tech football teammate and current WWE superstar Roman Reigns.

Roman Reigns might be a household name in the world of pro wrestling but he had a run with Georgia Tech football team. Johnson shared the locker room with Reigns back in the day during their time in the football team. 

Roman Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa?i. played on the defensive line and Johnson has lauded his toughness and leadership skills. The WWE Universal Champion made a reputation for his ferocious tackling on the field and as a locker room leader. 

Calvin Johnson sheds praise on Roman Reigns

Reigns’ leadership was recognized by his teammates and he was eventually voted the team’s co-captain. Speaking with TMZ Sports, Johnson said:

“He was just always like a badass, He didn’t say much, but when he did say something, you listened.”

In his collegiate career for the Yellow Jackets, Roman Reigns has played 25 games and racked 65 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He penned a deal with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. In addition to this, he had an offseason stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He decided to end his professional football career by 2008 and eventually joined WWE.

Roman Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble 2024

Roman Reigns is not only leading The Bloodline but also has been on an unstoppable run. His ongoing historic title reign has crossed 1,213 days. He has destroyed whichever superstar has tried to dethrone him in the past three years. Recently, he had a successful title defense against LA Knight at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

Roman Reigns will now put his title on line at the Royal Rumble next year. The winner of the triple threat match featuring Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles will be the new #1 contender at New Year’s Revolution edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

Dominik Mysterio Sits Down For Another Tattoo Session

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars are known to rock tattoos, and Dominik Mysterio has quite a collection going. Now, he has added even more ink to his canvas.

Dominik Mysterio’s character evolution has been noteworthy, transitioning from being underestimated as a babyface to a top heel in WWE. Alongside Finn Balor, Damian Priest, JD McDonagh and Rhea Ripley, Dominik has a great family in The Judgment Day. That faction is known for causing chaos in WWE, and most of them are covered in tattoos.

Much like his Judgment Day family, and his actual father, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio is known for expressing himself through tattoos. Dirty Dominik was recently seen getting a new lip tattoo on his hand at Chrome Lady Tattoos. 

”The hometown favorite @wwe , @dominik_35 had sit down with me here @thechromeladytattoo #pureclass #dirtydom #sandiego #sd #ink #tattoo !!! : @wolfeden.media … I do not own the rights to this music”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1SKZ_iRS8A

Dominik Mysterio Had A Great 2023

Dominik Mysterio has been a part of WWE’s stories since he was a child, far before he got his first tattoo. Now, at 26-years-old, Dominik Mysterio is a full-fledged WWE Superstar, covered in tattoos, and enjoying a brand-new WWE contract.

2023 was a good year for Dominik Mysterio, with 66 days as NXT North American Champion. Odds are, he will keep up that workhorse mentality to make 2024 even better. He will also do so with a bit more body art.

WWE Superstar Tattoos

WWE Superstars used to have to ask the office for permission before they got new tattoos, or changed up their look in any way. 

Permission was needed because WWE wanted to keep consistent marketing with renders, toys, video games, and everything else you can imagine in the WWE machine. With the number of current WWE Superstars who get new ink on a regular basis, we have to wonder if WWE has relaxed on that tattoo policy.

CM Punk Reveals His Favorite Holiday Tradition

Bishal Roy
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WWE star CM Punk recently talked about his favorite Holiday tradition amid Christmas celebrations.

WWE has been adding to the holiday spirit as they have delayed their live events until the final five days of the year. CM Punk, who recently made his return to WWE spoke with his biggest fan and NXT star Cora Jade. In a TikTok video, they reminisced about their ways of celebrating the holidays.

It is needless to mention that Cora Jade is a massive fan of CM Punk, and a video of her meeting the star while she was a child went viral in the past. Years before she joined WWE, Jade was spotted being emotional while meeting Punk. They finally had a reunion at NXT Deadline during a backstage interview with Jade. Punk told her that he is proud of how far she has come.

CM Punk loves putting up the Christmas tree with AJ Lee 

Cora Jade recently posted a new video with CM Punk on her Instagram which saw her being asked to name her favorite WWE holiday traditions. The former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion said that she loved meeting superstars during the holiday tour and showed an image of her meeting Punk back in the day. 

Punk then revealed that his favorite Christmas tradition is putting up the tree with his wife, former superstar AJ Lee. 

Cora Jade is aiming to capture the NXT Women’s Championship currently held by Lyra Valkyria. Meanwhile, CM Punk will make his in-ring return to WWE in the upcoming WWE live event match against The Judgm
ent Day’s Dominik Mysterio.

The Undertaker Says The Locker Room Was ‘Pissed’ When The Streak Ended

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker says that people backstage were ‘pissed’ when The Streak came to an end at WrestleMania XXX.

The Dead Man’s 21-match undefeated WrestleMania streak is one of the most incredible achievements in all of pro wrestling. So much so that the former World Champion even holds a Guinness World Record for this accomplishment. Not only do the fans consider it to be one of the greatest things ever done in wrestling but even talents behind the scenes saw it as a grand achievement.

The Last Outlaw opened up about the importance of the Streak during the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast. He mentioned how people first started taking a note of it after his 10th victory over Ric Flair at WrestleMania 17:

“Shortly after the Flair match, that’s when the streak really came alive. It really became special. There were guys that will tell you, and there’s still guys that would tell you like, ‘I don’t care if I’m the main event or not. I want the streak.’

It was such a huge attraction ‘Who is going to be?’ It gets up there 13-0, 14-0. It’s like, ‘oh, is this the guy that is going to beat the streak?’ I’m not the one to tout my own horn but on many occasions, it was as important as whatever the main event was. Is this guy the guy that’s gonna bust the streak? It was just a really special time.”

‘They Were Pissed’: The Undertaker

undertaker streak 2 1

Unfortunately like all good things, this record was also broken at WrestleMania XXX when Brock Lesnar finally conquered The Streak. According to The Undertaker, people behind the scenes were as emotional in the moment as the fans in the arena and around the world:

“Among fans, even amongst the talent because most of the guys were, they were pissed. They were like, ‘Man, The Streak shouldn’t have been broke.’

That’s the business.I don’t have any decision in that but a lot of the boys that were part of making that streak something, making it mean what it meant. They were like ‘Damn man, why are you taking away? Why are you taking away such a vital part of WrestleMania?’ It was like ‘This is as important as a title match.’

More originals from SEScoops:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit Six Feet Under With Mark Calaway with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

McKenzie Mitchell Still Supports WWE & NXT After “Blessing” Of Being Released

Thomas Lowson
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McKenzie Mitchell may no longer be employed with WWE, but the former interviewer is excited to see what’s next in her life. 

Mitchell was released from WWE last month, with her release coming as something of a surprise to fans. Rather than being among a crop of on-screen talent cuts, Mitchell was cut alongside several employees from WWE’s corporate offices to be cut. 

Why Mitchell’s Release Was a Blessing

McKenzie Mitchell joined WWE in 2019 and had worked for IMPACT Wrestling before joining. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Mitchell shared her take that her exit from WWE isn’t an end, but rather the beginning of something new. 

“I think that once the dust has settled, it’s been really, it’s a blessing. I think that there’s so many new beginnings and I’m excited to see what’s to come in the future. The outreach and the support that I’ve gotten from friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, production staff, executives in WWE, and the fans most importantly, has just been insane. 

“That’s what made me emotional when I got released. Being able to hear from everyone how much I impacted their opinion when watching WWE and when watching NXT. That’s what made me emotional was hearing from all of the people. Their favorite moments from my career. Their favorite interviews that I’ve done and the magic that was made on screen. That made such a big impact on me, to see what I made on them.”

When asked about how she’s processing her release, Mitchell spoke about how she’s been working hard on her non-WWE ventures and spoke about her husband Vic Joseph. 

“I think this is a way to say there’s a new beginning in everything and just [be like] okay, what’s next? I have my jewelry business so I’ve been putting all my effort into that and my creativity there. It’s almost my full-time. My husband [Vic Joseph] still works with the company obviously. So that’s really interesting that he’s still there and I’m not. I don’t know if people know that we were the first couple on the announce team. Genuinely, an announcer and an announcer that are married. So we really figured it out there.”

Mitchell also made it clear that despite her abrupt release, she still supports WWE and is always pleased to see her husband succeed in the promotion.

“I’m still so supportive of WWE and NXT and I still watch him and I still text him good luck before every show. I’ve still, obviously, all my friends are still there. So I’m still supportive regardless [of my release from the company.]

Mitchell was recently announced for WrestleCon weekend in early April. The convention will take in Philadelphia during WrestleMania 40 weekend. 

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

Watch: The Rock Recreates Iconic 90s Look & Sings in Christmas Video

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been celebrating this festive season by delivering a throwback to his iconic fanny-pack look from the 90s. 

The image of a young Johnson, wearing the fanny pack, turtle neck, and gold chain, has been a meme for some time now, with fans loving how quintessentially 90s the ensemble is. 

This week, Johnson recreated his 90s look to celebrate Christmas. In a video shared to Instagram, the Brahma Bull shared his rendition of ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.’ Johnson’s version refers to his 90s look and encourages fans to “take a look at my amazing clothes.” Johnson ends his performance with a pat of his fanny pack. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1TT5lSLvkv

Reactions to The Rock’s Video

The Rock’s Instagram video scored close to 2 million likes in the first four hours after it was published. In the comments, WWE Superstar and fellow third-generation Superstar Natalya described the video as “Epic!” Kevin Hart, who Johnson often collaborates with, shared a wall of crying with laughter emojis. 

Is a Return in the Works? 

Following The Rock’s surprise return in September, rumors once again circulated that a return to the ring could be happening. During a recent appearance for Make-A-Wish, the Brahma Bull told a young fan “a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE.” It was reported recently that WWE is eager to get The Rock to appear at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The promotion’s first event in Australia since 2018 will take place in February of next year and will be WWE’s final main roster PLE before WrestleMania 40 in April. 

Cody Rhodes Went the Extra Mile to Make a Young Fan’s Christmas Even Better

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes was in an especially generous mood as one very lucky young fan found out on Christmas Day. 

On Twitter, a fan named Kenny shared that they had sold a figure of the American Nightmare to another fan, who was buying the toy as a gift for their seven-year-old child. Kenny asked if Rhodes could send a signed photo to make the child’s Christmas extra special. 

In an update, Kenny shared that Cody went the extra mile to make the seven-year-olds Christmas extra special. We don’t know if Cody sent a signed photo, but he sent the kid named Carson a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. The father would tell Kenny that he had made Carson’s day. 

Cody’s Generosity Knows No Bounds

This is hardly the first time that the American Nightmare has shown his generous side. At WWE live events, Cody has been competing in Extreme Rules matches and has been gifting pieces of a broken table to those in the crowd. After last week’s Raw, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan. 

What’s Next for Cody Rhodes? 

Cody will compete in next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, the same bout he won in January of this year. If he wins, Rhodes will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Rumbles (the others being Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Win or lose, many have predicted that Rhodes will face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. 

ICW Founder Mark Dallas Confirms He Has Left Promotion

Thomas Lowson
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Mark Dallas, the founder of Insane Championship Wrestling, has confirmed that he’s not only left the company but has left wrestling altogether. 

ICW was founded by Dallas in Scotland in 2006 but has since reached international appeal. With its mixture of sports entertainment and hardcore wrestling, only those 18 and older are allowed to attend shows. In 2020, WWE announced that ICW content would be available on the WWE Network. 

Mark Dallas Leaves Wrestling

Dallas has overseen ICW’s operations through highs and lows, but he is no longer working with the company. On Instagram, Dallas explained why he stepped away from wrestling recently. 

6 months ago I decided to leave pro wrestling to look after a family member who had a major operation and to pursue other avenues of entertainment that I never had time to explore whilst involved in wrestling full time.

When ICWs 6 year long WWE deal ran out I endeavoured to make sure the company found a new streaming deal and sponsor before calling it a day to ensure it would continue on.

I then left Scott Reid in charge knowing he was the right man to lead the charge for ICWs future.

I started the company to be an artistic release from my lifeguard job, wanting to run four shows a year in the Maryhill Community Central Halls back in 2006. What followed was a snowball effect that led to me and a group of friends achieving our wildest dreams and then some.

The memories will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to what ICW does next, rejuvenated with Scott at the helm.

I still own the ICW brand so I will always in some way be attached to the company but I also look forward to what’s next in my life.

I’m closing I want to say LONG LIVE IC FUCKIN’ W!

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1S4xsiNp5h

Insane Championship Wrestling has a long list of notable alumni. In 2006, Drew Galloway, today known as Drew McIntyre, became the first ICW World Heavyweight Champion, a title he would hold on two occasions for a total of 658 days. Other names who have worked with ICW include Grado, Joe Coffey, Trent Seven, Noam Dar, Alba Fyre, Kurt Angle, Ricochet, Finn Balor, Pete Dunne, Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam, and James Storm. 

Zilla Fatu Set to Make GCW Debut at 1/26 ‘Look at Me’ Event

Thomas Lowson
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Zilla Fatu is ready to take Game Changer Wrestling by storm when he makes his debut for the promotion at their upcoming January event. 

Fatu is the son of the late Umaga, who is best remembered for his WWE run from 2006 to 2009 that saw him become a two-time Intercontinental Champion. Zilla began training to be a wrestler in late 2022 and had been training at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling training school. In September, Fatu shared that he’d left the ROW promotion, and later explained that there were ‘irreconcilable’ differences that meant he had to leave. 

Zilla Fatu in GCW

With a handful of matches to his name, Zilla Fatu is now ready to make his presence felt in Game Changer Wrestling. On Twitter this week, GCW announced that Fatu will be a part of the Look at Me event in Tampa on January 26. Other names promoted for the show include Andrade El Idolo, Nick Gage, Blake Christian, and Maki Itoh. AJ Francis and Mansoor, who were both released from WWE in September of this year, will also work the event.

A Potential WWE Run? 

With Zilla being part of the famed Anoa’i Family of wrestlers, there has been speculation as to whether he could one day join his relations in WWE. After a successful in-ring debut in July of this year, Zilla was asked about possibly joining The Bloodline. Fatu had a different idea in mind for his WWE arrival and said he plans to ‘own’ WWE and the Superstars currently there. 

The Iron Claw’s Ric Flair Actor Panned In Ruthless Fashion

Aaron Varble
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The Iron Claw was released to theaters on December 22nd, and reviews are coming in. While some have taken digs at historical inaccuracies in the film, condensing events, and not focusing on certain elements of the story, the internet has zeroed in on their own target: Aaron Dean Eisenberg.

Ric Flair Actor In The Iron Claw Panned

Aaron Dean Eisenberg plays Ric Flair in The Iron Claw film, and the reviews for his performance were not kind at all. Even Don Callis saw this performance, and he couldn’t find anything good to say at all.

Don Callis ripped on Aaron Dean Eisenberg’s Ric Flair walk, his cadence, and said that Will Ferrell would have done a better job portraying The Nature Boy.

Wow. Brutal. He couldn’t even get the walk right. Literally Will Ferrell doing Ashley Schaefer is far superiort

The Internet Wrestling Community had a field day with this. Many were mocking Aaron Dean Eisenberg’s performance, and they were expectedly savage about it. After all, pro wrestling fans aren’t known to be gentle critics.

The Iron Claw’s Box Office Performance

The Iron Claw didn’t do tremendously in the box office, pulling in around $5 million, which put them under much larger films like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ($28,100,000), Wonka ($17,700,000), and Migration ($12,310,000).

The Iron Claw may not have performed in an outstanding way, but it did well for an R-Rated film. In fact, it achieved a notable box office milestone, aligning with its estimated $20 million budget, meaning that the film will hopefully be profitable in time. 

Programming Note About Special Best-Of SmackDown On December 29th

Aaron Varble
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WWE is closing out 2023 with a special episode of SmackDown. The December 29th episode will be a recap of the greatest moments of the year, and now we have more details.

WWE SmackDown December 29th Plans

WWE SmackDown won’t air live on December 29th, opting for a special show instead. Despite the non-live format, FOX will deliver a two-hour broadcast filled with highlights. This week’s episode is dedicated to the Best of 2023, providing fans with a retrospective look.

TV Guide shared a preview of the episode, promising a special night revisiting the standout moments of 2023. No live matches will be featured on the show, but the two-hour show will be full of big moments.

Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves relive the absolute best matches and moments from 2023, featuring John Cena, Logan Paul, and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves will guide viewers through the year’s best matches and highlights, featuring notable figures like John Cena, Logan Paul, and the reigning WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

WWE Best of 2023

WWE SmackDown in 2023 saw big stories on the blue brand, including the dominance of the Bloodline. It will be interesting to see what they include in the upcoming best-of episode, because you could fill a full show with just highlights of Roman Reigns and his stable.

WWE SmackDown in 2024

Looking ahead, SmackDown’s New Year’s Revolution special will mark its return to live television on January 5th, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. That episode is already loaded with matches, and you may find that card below.

WWE SmackDown January 5th New Year’s Revolution Card:

  • Santos Escobar vs. Kevin Owens – Tournament final to determine the #1 contender for the WWE United States Championship at Royal Rumble
  • Butch and TBA vs. Pretty Deadly
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. “Michin” Mia Yim – WWE Women’s Championship
  • Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs LA Knight – Triple threat match to determine the #1 contender to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble

McKenzie Mitchell’s First Post-WWE Release Appearance Booked For WrestleMania Weekend

Aaron Varble
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WWE had a great 2023, but they also fired a boatload of people this year. Apart from the 100 plus people they fired from their corporate headquarters after the TKO Group Holdings merger went through, they also laid down some big roster cuts. A few of those main roster Superstars are now free agents, and they’re taking dates. McKenzie Mitchell also lost her job with WWE recently, but she’s ready to get back out there.

McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE Release

McKenzie Mitchell served as a host for WWE across various media platforms and NXT. She shared the news of her departure from the company on X, as she was fired along with several others at WWE headquarters.

McKenzie Mitchell’s Big News

On Christmas day, McKenzie Mitchell had an announcement. It was officially revealed that she will be at WrestleCon in April, marking her first wrestling engagement post-WWE.

Scheduled for April 4th to 7th, McKenzie Mitchell’s appearance aligns with WrestleMania weekend. She would probably have been around the area for the big weekend, since she is married to Vic Joseph. Now fans have a chance to meet McKenzie in person.

Many were shocked by McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE release. She called on fans to rally behind WWE re-hiring her, but so far she’s still a free agent.

JoJo Offerman Posts Heartfelt Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas

Aaron Varble
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Christmas is a time to think of those we hold dear, even if they are not with us anymore. Bray Wyatt’s name is certainly being spoken today, as so many reflect, and those who knew him well are remembering the great man that the world lost.

Bray Wyatt made a much-hyped return to WWE television during Extreme Rules last year. That marked his triumphant comeback after being released in 2021.

Sadly, the program with LA Knight that transpired after that was his last match, as he was taken from us on August 24th, 2023.

Despite having so many possibilities upon Bray Wyatt’s return, those creative ideas will remain unfulfilled after his untimely passing.

JoJo Offerman’s Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas

Bray Wyatt’s fiancée, JoJo Offerman, recently shared an emotional post reflecting on the challenges of spending the first Christmas after his demise. She penned a caption that shared her thoughts about losing the man she loved, and their Christmas traditions that she misses during this time.

JoJo Offerman also included a photo of herself, sitting with a glass of wine, while looking at a Christmas tree that was decorated with care. It was also impossible to miss the Bray Wyatt painting that was also placed over their fireplace, right above the family’s stockings.

”Merry Christmas Eve my love. It’s been 4 months without you and it still gets harder. Especially now, because Christmas was your thing. You LOVED going all out for the kids. You did the shopping and I did the wrapping. That was our routine. And you got the coolest shit I swear lol trying to do Christmas the way you would have has been so hard. And I’ve broken down every single day. I miss you so much. The kids miss you so much. We wish you were here. But I know you’re here in spirit and I hope I made you proud baby. I love you more than words Windham, forever.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1Qo3mNtDO1

WWE is Taking Care of Bray Wyatt’s Family

Bray Wyatt’s sudden passing at the age of 36 deeply affected fans and the wrestling community. Four months later, and those wounds are far from healed after losing an absolute genius like Bray Wyatt.

JoJo Offerman has been transparent about her journey in coping with the profound loss, providing updates on her experiences. WWE has also taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family, by giving him a Legends Deal, releasing a Legacy Collection of merchandise, and making sure that all proceeds go to JoJo Offerman.

Bray Wyatt is gone, but he is far from forgotten. We will have him in our hearts, as the whole world is still in his hands.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1QpHcmtdrF

Will Ospreay Challenges Kazuchika Okada for a Match at Battle In The Valley

Rayan Saayed
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Will Ospreay has issued a challenge to Kazuchika Okada for a rematch at Battle At The Valley in a new video promoting NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18.

Ospreay has a long history with The Rainmaker. He was defeated by the Japanese star at last year’s G1 Climax finals in August. Will turned things around this year and managed to pick up the victory against Okada when the two faced off again in a B block match of the tournament in July.

NJPW has been running an interview series on their YouTube channel to promote the upcoming Tokyo Dome show. The AEW star who will be challenging for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at the event was the subject to the latest one of these interviews.

Will Ospreay’s Challenge

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion was asked if the meaning of his upcoming match has changed since he signed with Tony Khan’s promotion.

The leader of the United Empire said that nothing has changed, because he is allowed to do what he was doing with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Ospreay then talked about him and Okada’s “unfinished business” and issued a challenge:

“I am confident going into this match [at Wrestle Kingdom] that I’ll be walking away with this championship,” Ospreay said. “I am that confident in doing it that I am prepared to make a challenge right here for San Jose, I know Okada is on that poster.

And we have so much unfinished business, granted I was able to get that win in G1 and I can finally prove to everybody that I can beat Okada but I’m happy to put this challenge out right here, right now in front of you all. That I wanna face Okada in San Jose.”

Ospreay made it clear that he is still as committed to New Japan Pro Wrestling as ever, and Okada will be the “first perfect defense” after he wins the championship.

“If I’m gonna be moving on to doing some other stuff, I’m still keeping my hands in New Japan. I wanna show everybody that I’m committed, that I’m staying around and that I have aspirations and plans on defending this championship all around the world, and Okada will be the first perfect defense for that.”

Wrestle Kingdom 18 is set for January 4, 2024, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. You can watch it live on NJPW World.

The main event of the show will see SANADA defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito. Bryan Danielson will face Kazuchika Okada, and David Finlay, Jon Moxley, and Ospreay will fight in a triple threat match to crown the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. 

Chelsea Green Wanted To Wrestle Cardi B In ‘Chelsea’s Got Talent’ Pay-Off

Aaron Varble
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Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville were going strong as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Then a devastating knee injury took Deville out for the count. Piper Niven replaced Deville, but a Chelsea’s Got Talent idea was in the air prior to that decision. Although it was ended prematurely, Chelsea Green had big goals for that angle.

Chelsea Green Unveils Original Plan For Chelsea’s Got Talent Angle

While speaking to Spencer Loves Interviews, Chelsea Green opened up about her original plan for that Chelsea’s Got Talent angle. They didn’t see it to the end, but she had a big goal in mind.

Cardi B is on the bucket list for a few WWE Superstars, and it seems that Chelsea Green also wanted to take on the WAP rapper.

“If I’m being honest. I wanted Cardi B. If I couldn’t get Cardi B, I wanted to wrestle Cardi B. There was just so many good options in Chelsea’s Got Talent. What I really liked is that we saw people from all over. We did see main roster talent and announcers. We saw Cathy Kelly. We saw R Truth, but we also saw really amazing NXT talent that people hadn’t really seen yet. Karmen from NXT auditioned. We saw reality stars, like Heidi Montag from The Hills. So it could have been anyone and I hadn’t decided yet. It was only just the preliminary rounds. Nobody made it to the semifinals and the finals.”

Cardi B & WWE

Carbi B was rumored to be a part of SummerSlam a couple of years ago, because they used “Up” as the official song. Those plans were nixed when she revealed during the 2021 BET Awards that she was pregnant. That took her out of the running to make the trip for WWE.

Although Cardi B hasn’t taken part in any WWE events yet, that idea is not dead. Her recent social media activity against her soon-to-be ex-husband Offset has rivaled the most heated WWE promos we can think of.

What’s Next For Chelsea Green In WWE

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles to Katana Chance and Kayden Carter during the December 18th episode of WWE RAW. Odds are, Green will try to get those titles back, because she has already initiated a social media campaign to get justice for that loss. 

Eric Bischoff Breaks Down Situation If AEW Loses Warner Bros Discovery Deal

Aaron Varble
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AEW’s television deal with Warner Brothers Discovery is set to expire at the end of 2024. The next year will be a very important one for Tony Khan, as he looks forward to what is next for his television shows. Tony Khan is committed, but that brings a very important question about WBD’s interest. 

AEW Possible Television Problem

Tony Khan has commented in the past about how strong AEW’s deal is with Warner Brothers Discovery. Still, the possibility is out there that AEW may not retain that platform for their next set of television deals.

During 83 Weeks, Eric Bischoff discussed how Tony Khan is committed to the product and ‘in it for the long haul, but he also questioned what that means if they don’t get renewed by Warner Bros Discovery.

“Let me make it simple. If in fact, they lose WBD, Warner Brothers Discovery, if they’re no longer part of that platform. I’m not sure where they’re going to go. It’s going to be a smaller cable outlet. I don’t see a big cable outlet [picking them]. And this whole thing with Paramount and WBD, that’s such a wildcard. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of variables that’s gonna throw into the equation. It could be really good for AEW. Whenever that is, the Paramount WBD thing if it actually becomes a reality. Because it’s too soon to know if it’s real or not. But if it becomes a reality, and there’s a merger there, it can either be the absolute stake through the heart of AEW or it can be the golden ticket. We don’t know. But in a case where it’s not the golden ticket and AEW finds itself on the outside looking in and WWE is now the television partner for Paramount WBD or whatever that ends up looking like.” 

“I don’t know where Tony’s gonna go. Because the world is getting so small. Vertical integration, you’re looking at probably two or three companies that own everything. Where are you going to go? What cable outlet are you going to go to that isn’t owned by NBC Universal, Paramount. Where are you going and what do you have to sell? Not much. Here’s what you get to sell, ‘Hey, we were on Turner for five years and prime time. Over the last five years, our audience has deteriorated. But we want to be on your network.’ I don’t want to sell that. I wouldn’t want to be the person assigned to try to sell that story.” 

Nothing is set in stone yet, and this is all hypothetical at this point. Still, it is enough to get people talking, because there are some big rumors about the upcoming television landscape, and where AEW falls into that.

Warner Brothers Discovery Interested In WWE RAW

There is reported interest in WWE from Warner Bros Discovery. WWE has not found a new home for RAW yet, and that new deal will go into effect in October 2024.

The recent rumor is that CM Punk’s WWE return brought WBD interest. That could present another obstacle for Tony Khan if WWE is able to secure Warner Brothers Discovery as the new home of RAW.

Bret Hart Looks Back At Famous WrestleMania 13 Double Turn With Steve Austin

Aaron Varble
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Bret Hart was a part of many famous moments in WWE history. The Hitman is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, and he fought hard to keep his spot in the company. Many fans see WrestleMania 13 as a massive turning point in Hart’s career, but it was also the start of an even bigger change for the pro wrestling business.

Setting Up WrestleMania 13

While speaking to Inside the Ropes, Bret Hart remembered his big feud against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. The Texas Rattlesnake was just getting momentum, and that was reflected by the changing audience at the time.

Bret Hart mentioned that he had a match with Steve Austin at the previous Survivor Series, and they wanted to take time building a rematch. Bret was originally scheduled to face HBK at WrestleMania, but Shawn Michaels went home to “find his smile,” and the match between Hart and Austin was put together at the last minute.

“The audiences were changing in that time period. Especially I remember particularly on the East Coast. I think that was probably due to ECW but the fans started to kind of find it was more fun to cheer the bad guys and piss the good guys off. So they were there to kind of make trouble at the shows lot of the times and they’d start chanting for all the bad guys. During that time period, I noticed that it really changed the atmosphere of the matches.”

“I remember a lot of the good guys having a lot of trouble getting reactions and the bad guys were getting, like Steve Austin was getting all the reaction in the world. You could sort of sense that he was gonna become a babyface, and guys like me would move over to the side. I just saw it as a chance ‘So I should just change styles. I’ll just wrestle like Bret the Hitman, the old Hart Foundation days.’ It wasn’t such a hard transfer for me. I could work heel or babyface pretty easy.”

The WrestleMania 13 Match

When it comes to building the match, Bret Hart stated that it was “pretty nice” how they went about it. Then, when they showed up for the match, there wasn’t much of a plan in place.

“So it was just building up pretty nice. I think my momentum was going pretty well. But when I showed up to wrestle Steve at WrestleMania 13. I don’t think either one of us had much of a plan for the match. I remember we started talking about it in the dressing room. I was like ‘So what are we doing?’ And he was like, ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do?’

“Me and Steve, we were just kind of trying to figure it out. We sat on the ring apron and we just started talking about it and I said ‘The way I see this fight or this match is like a school fight’ I was sort of the guy that was the cool guy in school. [I was] popular with everybody and I was maybe the quarterback on the football team kind of thing. Steve Austin was the new guy that came to school, [who] had a shaved head, was kind of a badass. The way I remember talking to Steve about it is like ‘So this should be like a school fight and all the fans are basically all the kids at the school watching this flight.’ That’s where we started kind of the psychology of the match and how we should build it.”

Steve Austin & Bret Hart’s Future In Pro Wrestling

Bret Hart hasn’t wrestled a match since he teamed with John Cena to beat Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez on September 12th, 2011 during an episode of WWE RAW. Hart didn’t do much in that match, but it still wrapped up his career in WWE.

Steve Austin, on the other hand, is not 100% retired from in-ring competition. You can never say never with him, although there are no reported plans for him to lace up his boots again any time soon. His match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 was proof that the Texas Rattlesnake can still go in the ring.

John Cena Set To Receive Huge Honor From NCAA

Aaron Varble
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John Cena has received a ton of honors from WWE fans, and Hollywood jumped on board as well. While he waits for his eventual WWE Hall of Fame induction, the Greatest of all Time is being honored by the NCAA.

John Cena’s Big NCAA Honor

John Cena, along with five others, is set to be honored at the NCAA convention in January with the 2024 Silver Anniversary Award.

The Silver Anniversary Award recognizes individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college sports careers. Nominations for this prestigious award are submitted by administrators at the awardees’ undergraduate institutions. The selection process is conducted by a panel consisting of former student-athletes and representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences.

Among the 2024 recipients are Nicole Aunapu Mann, Jerry Azumah, Shannon Boxx, John Cena, Misty May-Treanor, and Cindy Parlow Cone. These individuals will be presented with the 2024 Silver Anniversary Award during the NCAA Convention Welcome and Awards Presentation on January 10th in Phoenix.

John Cena’s NCAA Career

John Cena is already in Springfield’s Hall of Fame. This induction was given to him 8 years ago.

The press release from the NCAA listed out John Cena’s accomplishments in College Football, which saw him serve as a team caption for the 1998 Springfield football team.

As a student-athlete: John Cena served as one of three captains on the 1998 Springfield football team that went 9-2 and advanced to the Division III tournament. At season’s end, the accolades rolled in for the senior, as he was named a Hewlett-Packard Division III first-team All-American, a Football Gazette All-American, an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England/Northeast Division III All-Star and a New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star. A three-time Freedom Football Conference All-Academic honoree, Cena was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was honored at Springfield College’s 40 Under 40 Awards Celebration in 2017.

As a professional: While football ended for Cena after his time at Springfield, he put his athleticism to use as a professional wrestler. Now, he’s one of the most recognizable sports and entertainment faces in the world as a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar and 16-time world champion. He is also well known as an actor and former rapper. His philanthropic work is just as notable. Cena has been especially involved with Make-A-Wish, granting more than 650 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, which is more than anyone else involved with the organization. He’s also been an advocate in anti-bullying efforts and promoting the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, he’s been heavily involved with the Susan G. Komen organization, which strives to eradicate breast cancer, and has worked with WWE to raise more than $1.5 million to support that mission. The collection of these efforts led to him receiving the 2018 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award in recognition of his leadership as a philanthropist.

John Cena has a huge Hollywood career ahead of him, so he will remain in the public eye for years to come. This achievement from the NCAA is still one that he is very honored to receive.

The ceremony on January 10th will be a special one for John Cena. We have not heard whether he will make the trip to receive that honor personally.

The Iron Claw Opening Box Office Number Did Not Reach Expectations

Aaron Varble
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The Iron Claw finally arrived after decades of pro wrestling fans proclaiming that the Von Erich Family’s incredible story deserves their own feature film. Now, we are getting the numbers after the film’s first few days in the theaters.

The Iron Claw Opening Weekend Box Office

The Iron Claw dropped on December 22nd, but their opening weekend box office did not deliver as many expected. The R-Rated film also received a ton of promotion, with trailers playing during commercial breaks for weeks.

According to Dave Meltzer’s update on FW Daily Update, The Iron Claw is estimated to bring in $5.06 million in 2,774 theaters in week one. That number equals out to around $1,824 per screen.

About The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw tells the story of the Von Erich brothers in the fiercely competitive world of professional wrestling during the early 1980s. Amidst moments of tragedy and triumph, the brothers strive for larger-than-life recognition on the grand stage of pro wrestling. All the while, they must navigate the influence of their authoritative father and coach.

MJF was an executive producer on The Iron Claw, and he also played Lance Von Erich in the film. He didn’t have a ton of screen time, which some fans commented on as well.

The Iron Claw’s Competition

According to The Numbers, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom brought in $28,100,000 and Wonka earned $17,700,000. Also, Migration brought in younger fans as well, with $12,310,000.

The Iron Claw isn’t finished making money yet. There is still streaming and DVD release market after its theatrical run. Still, it didn’t pull in a ton of money in its opening weekend. 

Ricochet Reacts After WWE Higher Up Nixes Special Entrance from Samantha Irvin

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Ricochet believes that people should stop and think before leaping to assumptions after Samantha Irvin changed one of her entrance announcements. 

Irvin, who is Ricochet’s fiancee, joined WWE a few years ago and has impressed as an announcer. At this year’s WrestleMania 39, Irvin announced Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes for their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship main event on Night Two. After previously announcing for WWE NXT, 205 Live, and SmackDown, Irvin was moved to Raw during this year’s WWE Draft. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RqArr-9Y0

Ricochet Reacts to Reports

Part of what has made Irvin a favorite among fans is her unique approach to announcing certain Superstars. On the latest episode of Raw, however, Irvin gave a much more tamed-down announcement of Chelsea Green compared to what fans have heard from her. A WWE higher-up made the call for Irvin’s bubbly announcement of Green to be nixed and while some have pushed for its return, that hasn’t happened yet. 

Taking to Twitter, Ricochet said that fans should “let things play out” and added that people should “stop making assumptions.” The former Intercontinental Champion added that “we all just want the best for everyone.”

If Samantha Irvin is allowed to bring her inflection for Green’s entrance back, it won’t be on tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Instead, tonight’s show will be a best-of-2023 compilation featuring some of the most exciting matches from Raw over the past 12 months. 

Samantha Irvin dreamed of being compared to Lillian Garcia, now it happens every day. Click here to find out more. 

Seth Rollins Sets Unique 2023 Record No Other WWE Superstar Can Match

Thomas Lowson
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2023 has been an incredible year for Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, who will end this year with a record no other Superstar can match. 

Rollins is the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, a title he won at WWE Night of Champions in May. The title was introduced due to Roman Reigns’s lax schedule and stranglehold over the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Rollins defeated AJ Styles in the finals of a 12-man tournament to win the gold. 

Seth Rollins’ Unique Record

This year will go down as one of the best in Rollins’ wrestling career and he is ending 2023 with a very unique record. The reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion is the only WWE Superstar to have competed at every WWE Premium Live Event this year. Rollins’ impressive 12 months is as follows:

  • WWE Royal Rumble: Competed in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match
  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Competed in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match. 
  • WrestleMania 39: Defeated Logan Paul
  • WWE Backlash: Defeated Omos
  • WWE Night of Champions: Defeated AJ Styles to win the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Money in the Bank: Defeated Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE SummerSlam: Defeated Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Payback: Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Fastlane: Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (Last Man Standing Match)
  • WWE Crown Jewel: Defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Survivor Series: WarGames: Competed in the Men’s WarGames Match and won

Rollins’ next match will see him defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre on the ‘Day 1’ edition of Raw. Should he retain against the Scottish Warrior, Rollins will likely defend at the 2024 Royal Rumble on January 27. 

Bret Hart Names Unlikely Match As His Best WrestleMania Payday

Thomas Lowson
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Bret Hart may have had some iconic matches at WrestleMania, but it is an unlikely bout from the Showcase of the Immortals that scored him his best paycheck.

The Hitman’s name is synonymous with WWE’s biggest event of the year. Notable matches for Hart include his WrestleMania 12 Iron Man match against Shawn Michaels which saw the Showstopper capture his first WWF Championship. 

The following year, Hart would win the critically acclaimed I-Quit match with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin that would help propel the Rattlesnake to superstardom. In 2010, Hart would compete at WrestleMania for the final time, defeating Mr. McMahon in a No Holds Barred match in Bret’s first WWE match in over a decade.  

Bret’s Best WrestleMania Payday

Bret Hart may have had some all-time classics at WrestleMania, but none of the matches listed above earned him the best pay. Sitting down with Inside the Ropes, Hart revealed that it was his WrestleMania 11 I-Quit match with Bob Backlund that earned him the most bank. 

“For all my WrestleMania matches, I think WrestleMania 13 was one of my worst payoffs. They paid me not very well, nothing special. Funny enough the Ironman match where I wrestled Shawn, the hour match was also one of my worst payoffs I ever got in wrestling, compared to my biggest payoff which was Bob Backlund at WrestleMania 11. Go figure that.”

The match saw Bret defeat Backlund who rather than screaming I-Quit, instead screamed into the mic held by guest referee Roddy Piper, which was taken as his quitting. The match was the arguable highlight of WrestleMania 11, which is often heralded as one of the worst WrestleManias of all time. 

CM Punk made a subtle Bret Hart reference during his first Raw promo following his return to WWE. Click here to find out more. 

Chris Jericho: I’m Not Bound by AEW Brawl NDA, Punk’s Lawyer is A Mark Who Should Shut Up

Thomas Lowson
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Chris Jericho could be prepared to spill the beans regarding what happened backstage at AEW All Out 2022, provided he is allowed. 

At the September 2022 pay-per-view, CM Punk captured his second AEW World Championship, besting Jon Moxley in the show’s main event. After the show, Punk would shoot on several members of the AEW roster. Backstage, Punk, Ace Steel, The Elite, and others would participate in a backstage fight that resulted in all parties being suspended.

Chris Jericho and the NDA

This week, it was reported that all those involved in the backstage fight at All Out 2022 were dealing with a non-disclosure agreement. The only exception, according to these reports, is Lucy Guy, the wife of Ace Steel, who was present at the backstage altercation. On Twitter, Chris Jericho claimed that he is not bound by an NDA, implying that he could soon speak about the backstage fight. 

This comment caught the attention of Steve New, the legal representative of both Ace Steel and CM Punk. New claimed that Jericho will have some sort of NDA in his employee handbook unless he has a very special agreement with AEW. New also offered to comb over Jericho’s contract. 

Jericho didn’t take too kindly to New’s comments. In a fiery response, Jericho claimed New was trying to be a bully and added that New “should shut your mark ass up.”

Chris Jericho & the Brawl

Chris Jericho was one of the most vocal critics of CM Punk following what transpired last year in Chicago. Jericho called CM Punk a “cancer” following All Out, a comment that would be echoed by WWE’s Seth Rollins months later. Jericho would reportedly be part of a team that tried to prevent Punk’s return but the Chicago-Made wrestler was brought back in June of this year. After Punk’s firing from AEW in September, Jericho called Punk’s departure regrettable. 

Officials Aiming To ‘Lure’ The Rock For Elimination Chamber 2024

Bishal Roy
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Officials in Australia are seemingly interested in bringing The Rock to next year’s Elimination Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia.  

WWE will host the 2024 Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia on February 24, 2024 and some of the biggest stars will perform at the event. 

The Rock’s last appearance took place on the September 15, 2023 edition of SmackDown where he had a promo exchange with Austin Theory. Alongside Pat McAfee, ‘The Great One’ laid Theory out with back-to-back People’s Elbows.

Officials are trying to ‘lure’ The Rock 

It has come to light that tourism officials in Australia have launched an early bid to ‘lure’ the Hollywood megastar to Perth as part of negotiations with WWE.

In emails obtained by The Sunday Times, under freedom of information laws, tourism officials raised a string of questions about the deal with the WWE. It included whether they could lure stars down under for the Elimination Chamber at Optus Stadium on February 24.

“What ability does the host have to dictate key talent to participate in a standalone premium live event? For example, could we aim to secure WWE alumni such as Dwayne Johnson?” Tourism WA staff asked. However, WWE’s response was redacted.

This fuels speculation The Rock will join the Elimination Chamber event at Optus. The West Australian had previously revealed in September the growing speculation that ‘The Great One’ could make his return.

Some top stars are set to be a part of Elimination Chamber 2024

Wrestling stars Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, and Australian-born Rhea Ripley are already lined up for the event and Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti dropped teased future announcements on more WWE stars coming to Perth. 

“It’d be huge having someone like the Rock here in Western Australia. I saw he made a surprise appearance recently at a SmackDown! event, so of course, we’d love to see him in the ring as part of this exclusive event,” Ms Saffioti said.

“This is such a huge opportunity for Western Australia — WWE has millions and millions of loyal followers right around the globe, and we are so excited that we get to showcase what we have to offer as part of this exclusive event, right here in Perth.

“There’ll be more announcements made soon about other WWE stars making the trip to Perth, so stay tuned.”

We will now have to wait and see if The Rock makes his return at the Elimination Chamber 2024.

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