New Japan Pro Wrestling is currently undergoing massive changes to start the year. The company has seen featured stars on their roster leave for All Elite Wrestling in the past year. Recently, NJPW could not re-sign fan favorites Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Monè. In the wake of talent leaving, fans have questioned who can fill the void left.
NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi knows the company’s condition and aims to create new stars. In an interview with Inside The Ropes’ Liam Wyatt, Tanahashi spoke openly about NJPW needing star power and its importance in the wrestling business.
New Japan Pro Wrestling President Hiroshi Tanahashi at a press conference
“This is a star-driven business, and we need to make new stars. That goes beyond success in the ring as well- mainstream awareness and name value is the key to success. I want more of our wrestlers becoming household names,” said Tanahashi
In the past year, NJPW has tried to feature some of the talent the company views highly. Shota Umino, Ren Narita, and Yota Tsuji were named the Reiwa Three Musketeers. This is an honor to recognize talent they believe will lead the company for this generation. However, NJPW has made questionable decisions, like not having Okada or Ospreay take a loss against any of the younger talent.
Although the company has a star power issue, talent leaving puts NJPW in a position to be motivated to focus on its future.
What’s The Next Big Events In NJPW?
NJPW has a chance to showcase their roster on the next big event, NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo, on February 23 and 24. The two-day show will have Okada compete in his final matches in NJPW and represent a new start for the company.
One of NJPW’s younger stars, Umino, will be in a featured match against NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL for the title. The ‘Roughneck’ will attempt to win his first championship with the company and potentially end his rivalry with the NJPW veteran.
The upcoming two-day event presents Tanahashi with an opportunity to start creating new stars that can lead the way in a new era for NJPW.
Dwayne Johnson has become a huge megastar in the world of entertainment, but that wouldn’t have happened if not for the influence of a very special person.
The Rock had a great time at the Daytona 500, which was covered on Twitter by the FOX: NASCAR account. During the video shared online, The Rock can be seen being interviewed by somebody, and looking up to the sky saying “Rest in peace, I love you brother.” In a tweet of his own, The Rock gave context, revealing that he was speaking about somebody who changed his life.
“Crazy moment here. You’ll see at the end, I’m shooting a cellphone vid for a guy – he gets my attention, by yelling my old high school in Pennsylvania (Freedom) and mentioning my high school football coach, Jody Cwik.
“The last time I got arrested at 15, Jody said “hey stop getting arrested and come play football for me”.
“I did.
“And it changed my life.
“He changed my life. You’ll see me look up and point, and and say “rest in peace, I love you brother”
“Amidst the adrenaline and beautiful chaos of #DAYTONA500 this moment was the last thing I expected.
“I’m grateful it did.
Crazy moment here. You’ll see at the end, I’m shooting a cellphone vid for a guy – he gets my attention, by yelling my old high school in Pennsylvania (Freedom) and mentioning my high school football coach, Jody Cwick. The last time I got arrested at 15, Jody said “hey stop… https://t.co/cvnI589kWm
Cwik passed away in 2006 at the age of 51. A graduate of Philipsburg High School, he would later study at Kutztown University, earning a BS in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. Later, he received his Master’s Degree in Education also from Kutztown University. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife and their one daughter Lauren.
Dwayne Johnson has often spoken highly of Cwick and the profound effect he had on his life. In 2016, the former WWE Champion recalled shaking hands with Cwik and how his grades and attitude improved at school when he began playing football. Johnson said in an interview with Oprah’s Master Class that to this day, he tries to see the best in kids who have been written off by others.
The newly formed tag team of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate is on the rise in WWE. Dunne and Bate joined forces on the main roster last month and quickly became tag team title contenders. Ahead of their championship opportunity at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24, WWE has filed a trademark for their official tag team name.
Dunne and Bate will go by the tag team name New Catch Republic moving forward. The trademark for the same was registered on February 18,
Bate initially revealed the name on the February 16 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. In a backstage interview with Kayla Braxton, Dunne and Bate spoke about their match against The Judgement Day (Finn Balor & Damian Priest) for the WWE Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber. After the ‘Bruiserweight’ shared the team’s goal of winning the titles, Bate introduced the New Catch Republic, to which Dunne nodded his approval.
Afterward, Dominick Mysterio interrupted their interview to set up a tag team match alongside JD McDonagh against the New Catch Republic. The match will occur on a taped WWE Friday Night Smackdown episode on February 23. WWE’s decision to have the match is a way to build momentum for the newly formed tag team ahead of their bout against Balor and Priest.
More On The Judgement Day vs. New Catch Republic At WWE Elimination Chamber
The upcoming premium live event presents an excellent opportunity for the New Catch Republic to showcase their skills against the tag team champions. Since becoming a team, Dunne and Bate have impressed WWE fans and added a new level of interest in the tag division.
That said, Balor and Priest are seemingly the favorites to retain their titles at WWE Elimination Chamber. Although the tag titles are set to be defended this Saturday, the company seems to already be teasing R-Truth and The Miz as possible future challengers for Balor and Priest.
The Judgement Day has held the tag championship since the October 16 WWE Monday Night Raw episode last year. Since then, they have only defended their belts four times but have looked dominant everytime they have put the titles on the line.
The new Catch Republic vs. The Judgement Day still has the potential to be one of the best matches at the upcoming premium live event. While they may not win, an excellent showing for Dunne and Bate could garner more fan attention and make WWE consider featuring them more on TV.
GUNTHER will go down in history as the WWE Superstar who has held the Intercontinental Champion more than any other.
The Austrian captured the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown in June 2022 with a victory over Ricochet. Since then, GUNTHER has retained against a litany of different opponents. At WWE Clash at the Castle 2022, GUNTHER would retain in a five-star classic against Sheamus, who only needs the IC title to complete the Grand Slam.
Now, GUNTHER has another accolade to his name. As of today, the Imperium leader has surpassed Pedro Morales’ collective 619 days across two reigns to now hold the record for the most collective days with the gold. Morales held the title from December 1980 to June 1981 and later from November 1981 to January 1983.
What’s Next?
On last night’s Raw, GUNTHER put his title on the line against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. The Austrian retained thanks to a distraction by Jimmy Uso, who would lay out his brother after the match. The match marked Jey’s first shot at the workhorse title. The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia.
One thing fans shouldn’t expect to see next from GUNTHER is a pursuit of a WWE World Championship. Last August, GUNTHER expressed his hesitation at being a double champion and said it was not the time for him to pursue a World Championship.
Consumers of The Rock’s new energy drink will experience ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ according to a new ad campaign from the Bloodline member.
BDE is the newest beverage from ZOA Energy, which is the sports drink company owned by the Brahma Bull. In a statement, Chief Visionary Officer Dany Garcia had this to say about BDE:
“At ZOA Energy, we are illustrating that everyone has access to “Big Dwayne Energy” – this intangible concept of fearlessly owning who you are and unapologetically sharing your one-of-a-kind self with the world. By embracing this mindset and fueling the body with ZOA, people not only feel energized but confident, bold, and determined to reach their full potential.”
The Rock, who is the company’s ‘Chief Energy Officer,’ also weighed in on the impact of ZOA Energy:
“When someone with a great, radiating energy enters the room, people feel it. ZOA Energy helps you be that best version of yourself and positively influence those around you – confidently owning your authentic self, having fun and doing your best to live life to the fullest. Before you know it, everyone is hooked on ZOA.”
ZOA Energy has also released a new video promoting BDE which shows consumers (literally) experiencing Big Dwayne Energy. The humorous commercial ends with modern-day Dwayne Johnson sharing the screen with his 90s counterpart.
Tonight’s Elimination Chamber go-home episode of Raw was filled with many notable moments and this trend continued even after the show from Honda Center in Anaheim, California went off air.
The show opened with a PPV quality match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. The two competed in a hard-fought bout for nearly 20 minutes.
McIntyre interestingly came out with a victory in this match after Solo Sikoa interfered. This was Rhodes’ first Televised singles loss since May 2023, when Brock Lesnar beat Cody at Night of Champions.
Apart from this the show also featured Chad Gable picking up an impressive submission victory over Ivar and a returning Raquel Rodriguez earning her spot in the Women’s Chamber match for the upcoming show.
What Happened After Raw
The main event of this week’s Raw saw Gunther defending his IC Title against Jey Uso, as the Ring General overtook Pedro Morales to become the longest-reigning IC Champion for combined days.
Just like the opening match, this bout also ended with an interference from a Bloodline member. This time, Jimmy Uso helped Gunther pick up the victory over his twin brother.
Jimmy attacked his brother after this match and the show went off air with The Bloodline member standing tall. Though he didn’t leave the ring even after the broadcast ended and Uso only retreated when Cody Rhodes made the save.
After coming out to help Jey, Rhodes introduced another big name. He asked CM Punk who had been backstage for the show to come out. The Straight Edge star finally cut a short promo for the crowd before ending the night.
WWE is on the road to WrestleMania, and you never know what will happen during their weekly Monday night flagship show. This week’s episode of RAW included a call-out that no pro wrestling fan saw coming.
Conor McGregor Called Out During WWE RAW
During WWE RAW this week, Samantha Irvin introduced Michael Chandler, and the UFC fighter had a lot to say. Chandler grabbed the microphone, and he called out Conor McGregor in epic fashion.
He told Notorious to get his ass back in the cage, after all Conor last fought in July 2021 losing to Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout at UFC 264. In the loss, McGregor suffered a broken leg.
Chandler was pumped. He then ripped off his shirt and threw it in the crowd. The whole time, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee used this chance to hype how great a fight between Chandler and McGregor might be.
McGregor and Chandler served as coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter last year, leading many fans to anticipate McGregor’s return to the octagon by now. The former two-division champion announced on social media on Dec. 31 that he would be facing ‘Iron’ at International Fight Week this year. However, White refuted the accuracy of McGregor’s announcement, stating that his return date is still undetermined.
What’s Next for WWE and UFC
TKO Group Holdings comprises WWE and UFC under Endeavor’s umbrella. This might be the first UFC story and call-out during WWE programming, but it very well might not be the last. Needless to say, this is also a sure-fire way to make sure WWE fans are aware of what is going on in the UFC.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more updates are available.
The Elimination Chamber is set to go down in Perth, Australia this Saturday. The show will begin at 5:00 AM, which could be a great way to start the day. Logan Paul already clinched the final spot in the men’s Chamber match, and now it’s time for the women.
Final Women’s Elimination Chamber Spot
Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Raquel Rodriguez, and more were in the big last chance battle royal match. It is interesting to note that Jade Cargill was originally set to win this match, but the company pivoted.
Rodriguez made her return from injury during this match. She’s been out of action for a number of months. They gave her a surprise entrance, and it was nice to see her return.
Who will secure the final spot in the Women's Elimination Chamber at #WWEChamber this Saturday?
It all came down to Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, who dominated a majority of the match, along with Michin and Raquel Rodrigues. Then Michin was taken out of the match.
In the end, Raquel laid out Baszler and Stark before she was able to eliminate both of them. Then Chelsea Green snuck back in, but she was quickly taken out too.
2024 WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event Card:
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. British Strong Style (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 and 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
SEScoops will have more on this story as more information is available.
The Rock was psyched about taking on Grand Marshal duties at the Daytona 500. Sadly, the race went on a rain delay, but it kicked off on Monday, and The Great One was around to shout those four famous words: drivers start your engines!
The Rock Showed Up For Day Two
While appearing during what should have been the Daytona 500 yesterday, Dwayne Johnson promised to stick around for the actual race after the rain delay. The People’s Champion showed up, as promised, and he put on quite a show.
The Rock assumed the role of official Grand Marshal at the iconic Daytona Beach race recently, bringing his signature People’s Champion flair to the NASCAR event.
In a video shared on NASCAR’s official Instagram account, The Great One was warmly welcomed by racing enthusiasts attending the Daytona 500. Taking the microphone, he ignited the race with his trademark WWE catchphrases, infusing the event with his characteristic energy and charisma.
The Rock will be a part of the road to WrestleMania as a heel. He delivered a scathing heel promo on SmackDown last week, one where he joined The Bloodline. Now, it appears that the stage if being set for a tag team match instead of the one vs one match that Johnson wanted with Roman Reigns.
SE Scoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available. The Road to WrestleMania is still heating up, and that will certainly include The Rock this time around.
Last Thursday, Steve “Mongo” McMichael was admitted to the emergency room with a urinary tract infection. Two days later, it was confirmed that the former NFL and pro wrestling star had also contracted MRSA — an antibiotic-resistant staph infection — which resulted in him getting a blood transfusion.
On Monday, Jarrett Payton, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton and former football player himself, supplied a positive update on McMichael’s condition on X (formerly Twitter). According to Payton, McMichael is responding well to the antibiotics that doctors provided him and is now hoping to be back home tomorrow.
Update on Steve McMichael:
Great news – Mongo is feeling better and he's responding well to the antibiotics. The hope is to have him back at home on Tuesday. Please keep sending up your thoughts and prayers for Steve and his family. ?? #Bears
“He’s one tough guy,” Misty McMichael, Steve’s wife, also told ESPN. “He’s Mongo and his DNA is different! Keep those prayers coming! Thank you!”
We at SEScoops would like to extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Steve “Mongo” McMichael and all the best to the McMichael family.
Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael
Following a 15-season career in the NFL, Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael joined the professional wrestling industry, making an appearance at WWE WrestleMania XI. There, McMichael stood in support of his fellow NFL retiree Lawrence Taylor, who squared off against Bam Bam Bigelow in the show’s main event.
After a brief stint with WWE, McMichael signed a contract with WCW in the fall of 1995. Initially serving as a color commentator for WCW Nitro, McMichael eventually transitioned into an in-ring performer for the company. During his four-year WCW run, McMichaels wrestled over 150 matches, including one that saw him dethrone WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
A former World Champion’s contract might soon reach its end. Steve Maclin, who performed under the name Steve Cutler in WWE, could be on his way out.
According to reports from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, Steve Maclin, a former IMPACT World Champion, is nearing the expiration of his contract with TNA, set for May.
Details regarding discussions between Maclin and TNA regarding a possible contract extension are currently not available. It will be interesting to see if he joins his wife, Deonna Purrazzo, in AEW.
Fightful Select has learned that former IMPACT World Champion Steve Maclin’s contract with TNA is currently set to expire in May. Maclin joined the company in 2020 after being released by WWE, and quickly established himself as a top star in the company.
Steve Maclin in WWE
Steve Maclin joined Impact Wrestling in 2020 following his release from WWE, and swiftly rose to prominence within the organization.
Having spent nearly seven years under the WWE banner, primarily in NXT, Maclin and Wesley Blake were promoted to the main roster but were subsequently sidelined from television due to Jaxson Ryker’s controversies. While Ryker remained with WWE before eventually being released, Maclin and Blake found themselves released.
Although things didn’t work out for him in WWE, due to many reasons, things went well for him in TNA Wrestling. In 2023, Maclin enjoyed a notable period of success in the ring, delivering what many considered to be some of the year’s finest matches in IMPACT.
Josh Alexander May Be Out
Josh Alexander also heavily implied that he may be out of TNA Wrestling soon as well. He posted an hourglass emoji to Twitter/X. That garnered some serious attention.
Will Ospreay then replied to the Walking Weapon, as he suggested that he go to NJPW. Only time will tell if he does depart from TNA as well.
Alexander’s TNA Wrestling contract status is not known at this time. The rumor mill is certainly churning that a couple members of the locker room may decide to make their exit in light of circumstances within the company.
Earlier today, Major League Wrestling announced that they will be coming back to the city of Atlanta for its sixth annual Battle Riot event.
The company will host MLW: Battle RIOT VI from Center Stage on Saturday, June 1, marking the first MLW event in the Georgia area since the Super Series in September 2022.
MLW Battle Riot VI ticekts will be available for purchase this Thursday, February 22, at 10 a.m. EST at Ticketmaster and MLWLIVE.com.
While fans wait for more information on this year’s match card, MLW has confirmed the return of its yearly Battle Riot match, in which 40 wrestlers vie for a future shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship — a title that is currently held by Satoshi Kojima.
Per match rules, two participants will begin the Battle Riot match in the ring as their fellow competitors enter the field every minute until all 40 have officially joined the match. Along the way, wrestlers can be eliminated by way of pin, submission, or by being tossed over the top rope and having both of their feet touch the floor outside.
Battle Riot Excitement
MLW CEO Court Bauer shared his excitement for the event, stating, “We’re thrilled to bring our biggest event of the year to the iconic Center Stage, the Mecca of southern wrestling.”
MLW Battle Riot VI, which has been labeled as a premium live event, will air globally on Triller TV+ (formerly known as FITE TV). Attendees and viewers will also be treated to a beIN SPORTS taping that is set to feature a series of bonus matches. The live audience will also receive the opportunity to meet their favorite MLW wrestlers and legends through exclusive meet-and-greets. They will also have the option to buy rare items used in MLW matches and MLW programming.
WWE has different uses for Superstars on their roster. Although Omos hasn’t been seen a lot, he is still around, and he understands his status as a special attraction. With WrestleMania 40 coming up, he also knows that this is a season where magic things can happen.
WrestleMania is Special for Omos
Omos appeared during Royal Rumble press events with a Rumble jersey from the Tampa Bay Rays. Although he didn’t appear in the Rumble match, he was happy to be around the atmosphere.
While speaking to SEScoops‘ Scott Fishman, Omos mentioned the show of shows, and how much it means to him.
“To be honest, WrestleMania literally changed my life. I made my debut at WrestleMania. You know, with AJ Styles and the tag team titles, I will never forget it for the rest of my life, like that is in my brain. Although I didn’t know I would be booked, the next year against Bobby Lashley in Dallas was tremendous, just me on my own, which I think was my 3rd year in the business to then do it with Brock, that was just every year it just keeps going higher and higher. To me, WrestleMania holds a special place in my heart.”
Omos Addresses WWE Absence
Omos was also asked about his absence from WWE television. He did not provide any clue that he is coming back soon, but the Nigerian did admit that he is a special attraction that requires a payday.
“You know, I’m an attraction, they call me when they need to make the big bucks, that’s when they call me when they need me.”
Omos went on to say, “When they wanna see me on TV, man, cash those checks when you see me on TV.”
WWE hasn’t made a lot of use of Omos in recent memory, but he has been paired up with MVP at recent live events. As of this writing, that pairing has yet to make their real debut on WWE television, but you never know what can happen on the road to WrestleMania 40.
WWE has a few stars on their roster who love to ruffle the feathers of fans all across the world. Few have received the overall disdain from fans that Dominik Mysterio gets on a daily basis. According to the former NXT North American Champion, those boos are 100% authentic.
Dominik Mysterio’s Heel Reaction
WWE has piped in crowd responses in the past, especially when they want to prime the pump or get a chant started. Apparently, those tricks are not needed to assist fans in feeling comfortable about expressing how much they hate Dirty Dom.
Dominik recently appeared on K100 with Konnan, where he addressed the boos that he receives from the WWE Universe. The 2nd generation Superstar confirmed that those boos are organic, and they don’t need to pipe them in.
“They like it when I do that, when I go out and try to cut a promo, especially if they need to cut time out of something or they need to save time, I can go out there with a mic for two to three minutes, pretend to cut a promo. I’m still blessed to get booed. I can’t tell you, every city I go out to, it gets louder and louder.”
There is an idea out there that WWE lowers Dom’s microphone when fans are booing to make them appear that they are louder. It appears that may not be the case, at least Dominik isn’t admitting to any of those tactics.
What’s Next For Dominik Mysterio
Dominik will join forces with The Judgment Day comprising Damian Priest, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh to take on DIY, consisting of Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, as well as The Miz and R-Truth on Monday’s WWE RAW.
He was supposed to face Brock Lesnar at the Elimination Chamber event in Perth, Australia. Sadly for Dom, that match is not happening now, because Lesnar was removed from WWE’s landscape and all creative was nixed after his name was associated with the groundbreaking allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit.
Roman Reigns has surpassed almost every other WWE Superstar when it comes to his dominant title run, and the Tribal Chief has even surpassed an entire era.
Reigns’ historic tenure as champion began on August 30, 2020, at that year’s Payback event. Reigns, who had returned to WWE TV the week prior at SummerSlam, defeated ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a triple-threat match to capture the gold. Reigns entered the match near the closing moments of the bout, signing a contract to make his participation in the bout official mere moments before his title victory.
Surpassing An Era
Roman Reigns has dominated WWE for years, and now has surpassed the much-beloved Attitude Era. In WWE, the famed era is considered as lasting from Survivor Series 1997 (the Montreal Screwjob) to WrestleMania X-Seven in April 2021. This period of time spanned over 1,239 days. Recently, the Tribal Chief’s Universal title reign surpassed this figure. Roman Reigns is currently enjoying day 1268 of his historic tenure as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
WWE is gearing up for the launch of a new video game, and 2K24 is already getting a lot of attention. The roster reveal is ongoing, and fans can’t wait to dive into the Showcase of the Immortals mode. When everything is unpacked, there are a lot of people who are excited for a variety of reasons.
The cover for WWE 2K24 was revealed with a lot of excitement. Cody Rhodes is the cover star for the standard edition of this year’s game on Monday. Additionally, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley grace the cover of the Deluxe Edition. The 40 Years of WrestleMania edition features a collage of wrestling legends, making it a standout among wrestling video game covers.
Ripley and Belair are making history as they are the first women to share a cover of the WWE video game. This is a big deal for them, but they are representing the entire roster, and everyone who came before them.
While speaking to SEScoops‘ Scott Fishman, Bianca Belair was asked about support in the locker room over this new video game cover. She said that everyone is excited, and they plan to buy hard copies of the game so they can keep it.
“They’re so excited. They’re all saying they’re getting a hard copy, they’re keeping it, they’re super excited. Because, I think that having an all-female cover, it just shows how amazing our roster is. It is showing how much the women’s division has evolved, and it shows how stacked it is.”
“We’re the first, but we’re not going to be the last. They’re super supportive of it, it’s representation for women, and no one does it like WWE for the women. We have representation for all cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, like we define what it means to be a woman. So, when you see myself and Rhea Ripley on that cover, it represents every single woman who came before us, every single woman on the roster right now”
WWE 2K24 Release Information
Three editions of WWE 2K24 will be available, including the Deluxe Edition, Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition, and Standard Edition, with release dates staggered worldwide in March 2024. Stay tuned for additional information on the game’s soundtrack, roster, Superstar ratings, and more.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE 2K24’s launch. Keep checking back for more updates.
WWE 2K24 is coming soon, and fans are getting a lot more information. Now, it is confirmed that full-time megastar and part-time WWE Superstar Bad Bunny will make the game.
New Confirmed Characters In WWE 2K24
Several new additions have been revealed for WWE 2K24. These names are only a fraction of the playable characters that will be in the new game.
On February 19, WWE Games’ Twitter/X page unveiled Alba Fyre, Thea Hail, Bad Bunny, Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, Maxxine Dupri, Isla Dawn, and Tegan Nox as confirmed members of the WWE 2K24 roster. The announcement included a snapshot of Fyre’s character model.
In addition to these new characters, it was previously announced that Post Malone would also be featured as a playable character in WWE 2K24. Malone was heavily involved in the soundtrack, and he also has two songs in the game.
This means that fans will be able to book Bad Bunny vs Post Malone matches, and we can’t wait for those viral videos. On a semi-related note, Logan Paul has a 90 rating, so this game could be interesting.
2k is making efforts to remove as much of certain people as they possibly can from the upcoming game. Vince McMahon’s resignation, which was caused by a string of allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against himself, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, has caused many alterations to WWE’s product in recent memory.
PW Insider reported that Brock Lesnar will not be totally removed from the game, but the 2k team has obviously made efforts to remove him from advertising. The Beast Incarnate was also removed from the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover after his name was connected to heinous allegations in Janel Grant’s blockbuster lawsuit.
WWE 2K24 Release Date
The Deluxe Edition of WWE 2K24 will be digitally released worldwide, with physical availability in the US and select territories, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The Standard Edition and Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition of WWE 2K24 will be accessible globally on Friday, March 8, 2024.
The Rock is a full-fledged heel once again and “The People’s Champion” is clearly not a champion of Salt Lake City, UT.
Dwayne Johnson returned to his 1998 form once more on WWE Friday Night SmackDown and laid the verbal smackdown on the fans in attendance. The Rock was well aware of the strong Mormon contigency in the state of Utah taking the opportunity to lean into that aspect, but not before calling them trailer park trash.
“Finally you and your 50 wives will have a story to tell and you know what I’m talking about. You’ll have a story to tell your 600 inbred grandchildren one day and that is what it’s like to look at greatness in the flesh because finally The Rock has come back to Salt Lake City!”
The Rock then disparaged the crowd further, re-opening an always lingering wound when the Utah Jazz lost to the Chicago Bulls back in the late 1990s. He then took shots at the “Cody Crybabies,” stating that they blew their opportunity to have the biggest WrestleMania main event in history.
The Rock Sticks It To Salt Lake City One More Time
Even though The Rock left Salt Lake City, he made clear they didn’t forget him on Monday. Still in heel mode, Rocky made the following post on Instagram to add further salt to the wound.
The Rock did officially align himself alongside The Bloodline on Friday, but it was ECW original Blue Meanie who presented a theory that The Rock may pulling a fast one on Roman Reigns.
It may be some time yet before fans see Netflix’s docuseries on the life of Vince McMahon, due to the allegations against him.
McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Netflix Docuseries Delayed?
In 2020, a docuseries focusing on McMahon was announced, though a lot has changed since this project was first revealed. While it was reported in 2022 that the project was scrapped, it was later confirmed that this was not the case.
On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the future of the Netflix project. Meltzer said that while the project was set to be released soon, the resignation of McMahon may have resulted in the project being delayed.
“I haven’t heard anything about [the release of] the doc. This changes the whole doc 100%… They were done. It was going to be out very, very soon. I don’t know how it can possibly be out very, very soon now.”
WWE And Netflix
It’s unclear when this project will be released, but WWE is set to have close ties with Netflix in due time. In January of next year, WWE Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix as part of a five billion dollar deal with the streaming service. Fans outside the U.S. will also receive SmackDown, and WWE NXT, as well as Premium Live Events.
Tonight’s episode of WWE RAW will emanate from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and serves as one of the go-home shows to Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth premium live event.
Here are the 5 matches announced for Raw, followed by our detailed preview into each one:
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
Jey Uso challenges GUNTHER for the IC title
Battle Royal to determine Women’s Chamber Final Participant
R-Truth, Miz & DIY vs. Judgment Day
Chad Gable vs. Ivar
Raw Preview (2/19/24)
“Next Week” is TONIGHT!
Here’s what you need to know headed into this week’s WWE Raw:
Cody Rhodes v Drew McIntyre
Two weeks ago, Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match. Unfortunately, his post-match celebration was short-lived, as he was blindsided by an attack from “The Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre. Now, the once WWE Tag Team Champions will go one-on-one for the first time ever on WWE television.
With the Elimination Chamber just five days away, WWE is also tasked with determining the final participant in the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match. As of this writing, five of the six entrants have been confirmed — Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi.
Later tonight, five women (who previously lost their respective qualifying matchups) will collide in a “Last Chance” Battle Royal, in which the winner will be granted the final spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. The Battle Royal competitors will include Shanya Baszler, Michin, Alba Fyre, Zelina Vega, and Zoey Stark.
A week after losing his Men’s Elimination Chamber qualifier to LA Knight, Ivar looks to bounce back with a win as he takes on a tag team division rival, Chad Gable. Ivar and Gable most recently wrestled each other last month, with Ivar taking home the victory.
The Judgement Day
Elsewhere on the card, The Judgment Day (JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest) will face off with The Miz, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and R-Truth in an eight-man tag team competition. This tag bout comes on the heels of Judgment Day attacking R-Truth in the ring last week, after which Gargano and Ciampa made the save for Truth.
GUNTHER’s Latest Challenge
Finally, WWE RAW is also set to feature an Intercontinental Championship match between Jey Uso and the reigning titleholder, GUNTHER. Should Uso dethrone “The Ring General,” it will mark the first singles championship win of his WWE career.
WWE has fans all over the whole, but some markets don’t get as much attention from their schedule. Now, fans in Austria have some big news, because WWE is returning to their country.
WWE’s Return to Austria
WWE announced their next live event in Austria on February 19th. The next show is set to take place at the Wiener Stadthalle Halle D in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. This event marks WWE’s return to Vienna since its last appearance in 2019.
Fans in attendance can anticipate a showcase featuring top WWE Superstars. Among the stars scheduled to appear are “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso. More Superstars are expected as well, and the card is always subject to change..
Tickets and VIP packages, which offer exclusive Meet & Greet opportunities with WWE Superstars, will go on sale starting at 10 AM CET on Thursday, February 22, through Ticketmaster.at.
What’s Next
This Austrian WWE Live show serves as a precursor to the upcoming WWE Backlash France event, scheduled to take place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines, France, on Saturday, May 4, 2024. WWE is certainly making waves outside North America, as Endeavor’s vision for the company continues in the TKO era.
SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of WWE’s activities and will keep track of all updates.
Paul Heyman has a long history of managing clients in the pro wrestling world. The Bloodline might not last forever, especially as the road to WrestleMania 40 becomes even more tumultuous. There are many more Superstars in WWE who may benefit from Heyman’s guidance, and we collected a list to explore a few options.
Throughout his career, Heyman has managed many top names including Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Rob Van Dam, The Dudley Boyz, Steve Austin, Rick Rude, and Matt Hardy. Additionally, Heyman has had stints managing factions such as The Dangerous Alliance in WCW and The Dangerous Alliance and The Alliance in WWE. That doesn’t even count his position as The Bloodline’s Wise Man.
Brock Lesnar is no longer in any WWE creative plans due to his name being connected to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. I asked just last week and was able to confirm that is still the case, and Lesnar’s name is not coming up in any creative fashion. Since the Beast Incarnate’s return to WWE might take a long while, let’s see who might be next for Heyman if the Bloodline implodes.
Bron Breakker
It seems that Breakker is the #1 candidate to become the next Paul Heyman Guy after The Wise Man’s Bloodline tenure is over. Heyman paid special attention to Breakker during SmackDown, as he made extra effort to introduce himself. Heyman and Breakker also had a segment on NXT months ago. The former NXT Champion also has all the tools needed to become a breakout star for the main roster once he can get things moving for himself after his NXT obligations are over.
GUNTHER
GUNTHER’s imposing presence and hard-hitting style would make him a perfect candidate for Paul Heyman’s stable. Heyman could amplify the IC Champion’s intimidating persona and help him become a dominant force in WWE, both in the ring and on the microphone. The Ring General has a pretty great thing going with Imperium right now, but that stable has showed signs of cracks in the past, and GUNTHER’s domination in WWE will not end with the stable’s eventual demise.
Pete Dunne
The former Butch is known for his intense in-ring style and captivating presence. Triple H gave Pete Dunne is name back, and the Brawling Brutes is now over. He teamed up with Tyler Bate, and they are getting a chance as a tandem. Some would say that Dunne may thrive under Paul Heyman’s guidance. Heyman could help Dunne further develop his character and storytelling abilities, solidifying his status as a top star in WWE.
Dexter Lumis
With his unique character and silent intensity, Dexter Lumis would be an intriguing addition to Paul Heyman’s stable. Heyman could help Lumis further develop his character and storytelling abilities, positioning him as a standout star in WWE. If anything, it would give Lumis something to do. I’ve asked around about his status many times, and I’ve been told that he’s not injured. Hopefully, WWE will figure out a way to use the serial killer with a heart of gold soon.
Raquel Rodriguez
As the current NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Rodriguez has already proven herself as a dominant force in WWE. With Paul Heyman’s guidance, she could further elevate her character and mic skills, establishing herself as a top star on the main roster. She hasn’t been able to find her footing on the main roster since her call-up, although she has seen glimpses of good booking. Perhaps, Heyman advocating for her may do the trick.
Shotzi Blackheart
With her unique look, high-flying style, and charismatic personality, Shotzi Blackheart would be an excellent addition to Paul Heyman’s stable of clients. Heyman could help Blackheart refine her character and mic skills, positioning her as a standout star in WWE’s women’s division. Sadly, Shotzi is out of action with a knee injury which will keep her on the shelf for a majority of 2024, but her return as a Paul Heyman Girl may be just what she needs.
Rhea Ripley
The Nightmare could be a good fit as a Paul Heyman Girl due to her distinct appearance, impressive in-ring skills, and ability on the microphone. Ripley’s unique look and imposing presence make her stand out performer. With Heyman’s guidance, Ripley could further develop her in-ring storytelling and refine her microphone skills, enhancing her ability to connect with the audience and establish herself as a dominant force in the women’s division. She is currently in the Judgment Day, but that stable may open the door to Heyman swooping in eventually.
There are many options for WWE Superstars that would make fine Paul Heyman clients. SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE, just in case any of these prospective pairings becomes a reality.
Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker just became your new NXT Tag Team Champions this past Tuesday, but now Breakker is SmackDown bound. Fear not, fans of “Wolf Dogs.”
Although Bron Breakker may be headed for bluer horizons on Friday night, Fightful Select is reporting that officials have been very impressed with the pairing of Breakker and Corbin. They’ve appeared to leave enough of a mark together as a tag team that there’s been consideration to bring Baron up along with Bron on SmackDown.
This all happened despite Breakker making his main roster debut at the WWE Royal Rumble and then making an appearance on main roster programming as he considered his “free agent” options.
The latest episode of SmackDown featured GM Nick Aldis making it official that Breakker has been signed to his brand and that he will be exclusive to Fridays.
A Possible New Name For Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker?
Even if the future of the “Wolf Dogs” is up in the air, there is an interesting tidbit to add from the Fightful report. If the pairing between Corbin and Breakker continues to cultivate, a new name is being considered for the team.
Instead of “Wolf Dogs” WWE officials are considering “Spear Of Days” for the dynamic duo.
While they are the new champs, Corbin and Breakker have been teasing uncertainty considering Breakker’s future in WWE, but the Capitol Wrestling Center was fully behind their victory on Tuesday night.
WWE saw a huge shift in their creative direction when Then Rock returned to television. He found himself in the ring with Cody Rhodes, as they hugged before The Great One had a showdown with Roman Reigns. Everything happened very quickly after that, and we all know how everything escalated after that. Anthony Ogogo saw that footage, and it rocked his world as well.
Anthony Ogogo Reacts To Cody Rhodes & The Rock’s Segment
Anthony Ogogo recently spoke with Boxing Scene, where Cody’s segment with The Rock came up. That was a bit of a mind-blowing experience for him to see, because he knows The American Nightmare and has shared the ring with him.
“I saw Cody in the ring with The Rock the other day, I saw it on YouTube, over a 100m views or whatever and I thought…”
After he took a moment to pause, Ogogo continued to say, “I took a screenshot. And I just thought, ‘F*ck. I was in the ring with him a couple of years ago, now he’s in with the biggest star in the world.’”
Anthony Ogogo then revealed what he texted Cody Rhodes after that momentous segment on WWE television.
Everyone knows The Rock. “I’m happy for Cody. He’s a very good professional wrestler. He’s worked hard. He’s bet on himself. I’m happy for him.” “And I text Cody and said, ‘Mate, this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time. Buzzing for you. Go get it’. That’s what I text him. And I mean that, it’s a big thing for him.”
Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story after all, because fans spoke out and cause The Rock to pivot from his original plan.
WWE Changed WrestleMania Plans
I exclusively reported on SEScoops that a source within WWE confirmed that The Rock initially intended to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current scenario regarding the show was not The Rock’s original preference, indicating that it was not part of a preconceived plan from the outset. He then conceded that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns should be the main event match.
I was later told that“The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” It was Dwayne Johnson’s call to switch things up, and now Cody vs Roman is the main event of WrestleMania. At this point, a tag team match with The Rock joining the Bloodline seems to be the direction against Cody and Seth Rollins.
