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Status Of Current WWE Discussions Regarding Mandy Rose’s Return [Exclusive]

Aaron Varble
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Mandy Rose held the NXT Women’s Title for 413 days, but her career in WWE after that reign was short-lived. Circumstances shifted when she lost the title to Roxanne Perez in December 2022. Although Mandy Rose was released, some fans are still holding a candle for her return. 

Mandy Rose Has A Message For Fans

Mandy Rose was released on December 14th, 2022, one year ago this week. Her name trended on social media. She obviously saw that, so the Golden Goddess dropped a message for fans.

During a video that she posted to X, Mandy Rose acknowledged the fan support she received over the past year. Naturally, she expressed gratitude for the love and backing she received from those fans who made her a millionaire thanks to her premium content. 

“I just wanna send my regards to everyone out there that has been showing their support. Still to this day after it’s been exactly a year to date of my WWE release. I just wanna say I’m really blessed to have all of you guys out here supporting me, still talking about me. I really appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart.

I am so grateful and so blessed, and I had some really tragic experiences the last couple of years. Through these highs and lows, you guys have stood by me and supported me. I just want you guys to know I see you. I see your comments. I’m so grateful for every single one of you.”

Mandy Rose discussed the possibility of returning to WWE. While she did not definitively rule it out, she also did not provide a guarantee, emphasizing her internal conflict about rejoining her previous employer.

“I know the big question is, you know, will I make a return? I don’t know. Can’t say I will, can’t say I won’t. I know that’s a terrible answer.”

Exclusive Details On Mandy Rose’s WWE Return Status

Mandy Rose’s WWE release was a big surprise for fans, because she was wrapping up an impressive NXT Women’s Title run. That didn’t change the fact that her NSFW content was too much for Shawn Michaels’ NXT to keep around. She violated a clause in her contract, and she was released. At this point, there is no talk of bringing her back.

SEScoops spoke with a tenured source within WWE about Mandy Rose just this week. I was told that, “She is not off limits. She is not talked about. She was released. She’s done her thing. She’s just not a subject.” 

Mandy Rose hasn’t wrestled an official match since her WWE release, and it’s unknown if she’s still training in the ring. She is obviously still in great shape, but ring rust is real, especially after several months out of action. 

We will have to see if Mandy Rose appears for another pro wrestling company before WWE, but right now she’s just not talked about within WWE. If you ask Mandy Rose, she doesn’t have a definite answer about the subject, either.

Mandy Rose is now going as Mandy Sac, and she’s raking in the cash with her OnlyFans. You can check out that premium paywall site here.

Bronson Reed Seeks Gold, Kelani Jordan Wins Big, Santos Improvises & More

Thomas Lowson
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Bronson Reed Wants the World Heavyweight Championship

Bronson Reed has yet to hold gold on WWE’s main roster but is setting his sights on Raw’s top prize. When a fan said that WWE needs a “Big Boy Belt” for the superheavyweights of the company, Reed made it clear he wants the World Heavyweight Championship. 

The World Heavyweight Championship has been held by Seth Rollins since May of this year. Reed is a former NXT North American Champion. 

NXT Photographer Leaves WWE

WWE NXT is how many Superstars are introduced to fans, but for one member of the crew, the gold brand is where his tenure with WWE will end. On Twitter, Esteban Cardenas said that this week’s NXT taping was his last and was grateful for his time with the brand. 

Kevin Owens Meets Brendan Fraser

Kevin Owens’ career as a WWE Superstar has allowed him the chance to meet many interesting names. This week, the SmackDown Superstar met with Brendan Fraser. Owens bumped into the star of The Mummy and The Whale at Disneyland. 

Kelani Jordan Wins Big at the PC

NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan has been impressing fans and had a very impressive performance in the Iron Survivor Challenge at WWE NXT Deadline. Jordan is also making an impression outside of the ring. On Twitter, the young Superstar shared that she has been awarded the ‘Queen of the Weight Room’ accolade at the Performance Center. 

Jordan made her in-ring debut for WWE in October of last year and had her first TV match in May 2023. She has a 17-21 win/loss record. 

Santos Escobar Improvises

During their match at Survivor Series, Santos Escobar tried to tear the mask off of Dragon Lee. On the Wrestling with Freddie podcast, Santos admitted the spot wasn’t planned. 

 I tore Dragon Lee’s mask. That was 100% non-scripted. That was just the heel in me and I think it’s important that our audiences get that feel.

Escobar won their match and their first-round match in the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament. 

Rhea Ripley Saves Dominik Mysterio From Bad Time At Airport Security Checkpoint

Aaron Varble
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Dominik Mysterio is currently considered one of the top heels in WWE, and some may view him as a potential threat to society. However, he recently encountered an incident at an Australian airport, but Rhea Ripley was able to help out with her mere presence. 

Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio’s dynamic remains a notable point of interest for fans. Some even find themselves speculating about a real-life romantic connection between the two, but no amount of shipping them will change the fact that Rhea Ripley is in a relationship with Buddy Matthews, and Dominik Mysterio is happily engaged to his high school sweetheart.

Dirty Dom and Rhea Ripley went to Australia to promote the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event scheduled for Perth next year. They have been engaging in media activities since yesterday, but Mysterio faced a minor incident.

Dominik Mysterio Dodges Travel Nightmare

During a recent appearance on Australia’s Hit WA’s Allan & Carly radio show, host Allan Aldworth asked Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley if they had any trouble flying into the country. This is when Rhea Ripley admitted that, “We got singled out, well Dom did.”

Dominik Mysterio then admitted that, “The mullet and the tattoos, they looked at me like ‘uhh we’re gonna search your bags.’”

Allan Aldworth, the host of the show, then asked, “And then they ask you what you do for a living, and you tell them, and they don’t believe you I assume?”

“100%,” Dominik Mysterio responded. Then the host asked, ”Until you slam a chair on their head?” That is when Dirty Dom had to let everyone know that Rhea Ripley actually saved him from having a bad time in the airport.

“No, until they see her (Rhea Ripley).”

What’s next for Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley

WWE Superstars are used to traveling all over the world, so getting through customs is no new thing for them. That being said, every time you travel, it can present certain obstacles. Obviously, Dominik Mysterio is ready for anything as long as he has Mami with him.

We will have to see how long WWE keeps Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley together. Obviously, they are a great team, in and out of the ring. It certainly helped Dominik Mysterio out in a big way during that recent trip to Australia. 

Cody Rhodes’ Pick For MVP of 2023 Is Different Than Shawn Michaels

Anutosh Bajpai
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Cody Rhodes believes Seth Rollins is the MVP of wrestling in 2023.

2023 has been a strong year for WWE. The momentum gained after the COVID era has helped the company record some of its best financial numbers since the Attitude Era. A number of breakout performances from rookies and veterans alike have been one of the biggest catalysts of this unprecedented growth. 

With names such as Gunther, LA Knight, Rhea Ripley and more contributing to this success, it’s hard to pick one name as the MVP performer of the year. One guy that seems to be on everyone’s radar more than others however, is Dominik Mysterio. 

The son of wrestling legend Rey Mysterio has been able to carve a unique path for himself and he has received praise from many industry veterans for his growth this year. One such legend that has been impressed by Dirty Dom is Shawn Michaels, who picked the young star as his performer of the year during a recent interview.

The American Nightmare was questioned about this pick while appearing on The Michael Kay Show and asked to name his own choice for the honor. Cody Rhodes said that for him, Seth Rollins is the real MVP of WWE in 2023:

“That’s a loaded [question] because Dom is a prickly individual. If I was looking at it from tickets sold, merch sold, excitement over matches, genuine body of work, I’d say your MVP is…I’m not gonna say myself, somebody else hopefully will say me, but I’d say Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion is probably somebody who’s more of the MVP.”

‘There Is Something Incredibly Special About The Young Man’: Cody Rhodes

cody rhodes dominik 2

The WWE star didn’t take Michaels’ words lightly despite having a different opinion. He explained that there is something special about Dominik and proclaimed that his future is brighter than anybody else in the business:

Who am I to go against what Shawn Michaels said though. If Shawn Michaels sees something in Dominik Mysterio. That’s huge, because he’s not one that often will make that claim. Dom is…as difficult as he is to get along with, he is incredibly linked to the audience.

I have a feeling that if, Dom Mysterio walks out now, for those of you don’t watch WWE. He walks out and you can’t hear a word he’s saying because they boo him out of the building. I have a sense that Dom will be getting that same reaction two or three years from now but they won’t be boos, they’ll be cheers.

There is something incredibly special about the young man and I’m sorry that I’ve had to beat him so many times. But I look forward to what he does. He comes from good stock, obviously. His future is perhaps brighter than anybody’s.”

You can check out Cody Rhodes’ full interview below:

More originals from SEScoops:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit The Michael Kay Show with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

United Japan Pro Wrestling is Coming: 9 Promotions Teaming to Create New Group

Thomas Lowson
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A new Japanese wrestling promotion featuring the very best of various existing promotions will be premiering in May of next year. 

In a statement, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced ‘United Japan Pro Wrestling’ which will feature nine existing promotions working together. It’s stated that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that there was a need for companies to work closely together to relay accurate information and best operating practices between promotions. United Japan Pro Wrestling will work with the following mission statement: 

“To further the presence of pro-wrestling and its cultural merit in Japanese society at large, allow professional wrestling to contribute further to cultural and sporting sectors, and work toward continued health and prosperity of the industry.”

Who’s In?

New Japan Pro Wrestling is just one of the nine promotions coming together for ‘The Group.’ The full listing of promotions is as follows: 

  • New Japan Pro-Wrestling
  • All Japan Pro-Wrestling
  • Pro-Wrestling NOAH
  • DDT Pro-Wrestling
  • Ganbare ? Pro-Wrestling
  • Big Japan Pro-Wrestling
  • DRAGONGATE
  •  STARDOM
  •  Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling

The Group’s founding chair is Seiji Sakaguchi who after retiring from the ring, currently works with New Japan as an advisor. The Group’s executive office will be with New Japan and NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi will serve as Executive Chief. 

First Show

The nine members of The Group will continue to operate as individual businesses and as competition in the market, but will work to ensure that Japanese wrestling continues to thrive. The formation of the Group will be marked by an event on May 6, 2024, in Nippon Budokan under the banner of United Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Santa at AEW Rampage, Bryan Danielson Vs. AI, Fight Forever DLC & More

Thomas Lowson
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Santa Claus Goes Viral at Rampage

Santa Claus can travel across the planet in a single night, and Jolly Ol’ St. Nick recently touched down for the AEW Rampage tapings. In a clip that has gone viral, Santa can be seen in the crowd for the show, and when approached by an elf, greeted his employee with a big hug. 

Bryan Danielson Won’t Be Replaced

A lot has been said about how Artificial Intelligence could affect the world of entertainment, whether it be in artistic design, editing, or creative writing. Taking to Twitter, the American Dragon gave a unique reason as to why a computer will never be able to replace him. 

AEW Fight Forever DLC

After many delays, AEW Fight Forever was released earlier this year, and fans now get to enjoy some downloadable content for the game. The new Beat The Elite DLC sees a chosen wrestler face 10 random AEW wrestlers, wth the final opponent being a member of the Elite. Winners are rewarded with in-game cosmetic items. 

AEW Teaming with Toys for Tots

With the holidays coming up, AEW is doing what it can to help young people who are in unfortunate situations. On Twitter, Tony Khan announced that over $1 million worth of toys will be going to kids this season. The final AEW Continental Classic league bouts will be known as AEW’s Tournament for Tots. 

Adam Copeland Reveals How Wrestling Helped His Role in Percy Jackson Series

Bishal Roy
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AEW star Adam Copeland (formerly Edge in WWE) has credited pro wrestling in shaping up his role as Ares in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

After he was forced to hang up his boots in 2011, Adam Copeland explored different avenues in life and tried his luck pursuing an acting career. The current AEW star has bagged roles in a handful of television shows and films over the years. He played a major part in the popular series Haven. In the new Percy Jackson series, Adam Copeland will portray Ares, the God of War.

The show is based on the the first story, ‘The Lightning Thief’, in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series by Rick Riordan.

The story revolves around the titular demigod, who is trying to recover Zeus’s stolen master bolt. The quest puts Percy Jackson amid the powerful beings, including a couple of Greek gods, Hades and Ares, who have a strong dislike towards him.

Adam Copeland reflects on his role

Ahead of the show’s release, Adam Copeland was at the red carpet. Speaking with The Koalition Entertainment, Adam Copeland outlined how wrestling helped him in portraying the role of Ares in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. He drew similarities between the character of Ares and pro wrestling. Here is what the veteran star said:  

“Aries is a little bit of wrestling and that helped, you know, because you’re playing with God. So you have to be larger than life. You have to be big. And that’s exactly what wrestling is. You have to amplify things to possibly 80,000 people away. So it has to be big. Everything has to be big. And Aries is big. So it came in handy to kind of dip into my wrestling playbook for it.”

At the red carpet, The Rated R Superstar looked stunning as he donned a red suit as well as a red fedora with a feather.

The first episode of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians will also be streaming on Hulu from December 20 till January 31st. 

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Possibility of AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery Parting Ways in 2024 (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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What would it mean for AEW if their relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery was to end next year? 

Since launching, AEW has been allied with Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT and TBS. Tony Khan has shown immense loyalty to WBD and when looking for a TV deal for Ring of Honor, only approached WBD-owned broadcasters. 

AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery

WWE is currently on the hunt for a new broadcast partner for Monday Night Raw, with the red brand’s deal with the USA Network set to expire next year. With the USA Network set to become the home of SmackDown, it is believed that the network will not renew its deal with Raw. Speaking on his Rumor & Innuendo podcast, Nick Hausman addressed what could be next for AEW’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery if talks with WWE prove fruitful. 

“From what I gathered, Tony was getting quite a big part of the ad revenue for Dynamite early on, which when the new people came in [after WBD merger], they were like, ‘Whoa, how did you get this deal? We don’t really want to continue on with this, If this is going to be the ad rev share that we’re going to be doing’ So you’ve got that. You’ve got the NBA stuff.

“I also have been told by a couple people for months, that there is the belief that Warner has some kind of investment in AEW. Tony has 100% control of the company, but at a certain point, Warner made some kind of investment I’m speculating, guessing maybe to recoup a little bit of what they were losing with the ad share.

“So while I don’t, well again….it was told to me that this meeting that appears to be what Dave is referencing [between WWE and WBD], and got everybody all worked up about did not happen. There are other indicators to me that things are not going maybe as Tony is projecting publicly, and I would not be surprised to see AEW and Warner may be part ways next year.”

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

WWE Bringing Back Iconic Stipulation for Cody Rhodes’ MSG Match

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes will face Shinsuke Nakamura at the upcoming WWE live event in Madison Square Garden, in a match we’ve not seen in WWE in over a decade. 

 In recent years, it has become a tradition for WWE to host an event inside the World’s Most Famous Arena on Boxing Day. This year will prove to be no different, with a special match planned for Nakamura and Rhodes. As first reported by Michael Kay of ESPN, the pair will face off in a Bull Rope match at the December 26 show.

Rhodes had previously been scheduled to face ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the end. Instead, Mysterio will face CM Punk in the latter’s first WWE match since January 2014. 

This match will mark Cody’s first bull rope match in WWE, and his second overall. He previously faced Jay Lethal in a bull rope match in ROH in 2017. This will mark Nakamura’s first bull rope match in his career. WWE’s most recent bull rope match took place in 2009 and saw Hornswoggle defeat Chavo Guerrero in under two minutes. A more competitive match took place in 2007 and saw Randy Orton face Cody’s father the ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes. 

WWE in Madison Square Garden

Here is the card for the upcoming event inside Madison Square Garden: 

  • Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • Finn Balor & Damian Priest (c) Vs. Sami Zayn & Jey Uso (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
  • CM Punk Vs. ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio
  • Cody Rhodes Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Texas Bullrope Match)

Other names being advertised include WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, The New Day, Ricochet, Raquel Rodriguez, and Omos. 

A Top Suspect in the AEW Devil Investigation May Have Just Been Ruled Out

Thomas Lowson
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We’re yet to know who is causing havoc in AEW while wearing the mask of the Devil, but it appears that one suspect is in the clear. 

On last week’s Dynamite, MJF accused Page of being the ‘Hangman’ Adam Page of being the Devil, and Page claimed that MJF was behind the mask. In the closing moments of this week’s show, Page was attacked by the Devil’s henchmen and the Devil himself was present in the parking lot. 

Who is the Devil? 

The attack on Page ended with the former AEW World Champion being slammed onto a car windshield, which led some to believe the Devil is Jack Perry. Perry has long been suspected of being behind the mask with his suspension from AEW reportedly ending over a month ago. It was Perry’s use of real glass at All In that would ultimately end CM Punk’s tenure with the company as well. 

While certain signs point to Perry, it appears that the former FTW Champion isn’t behind these attacks. A high-level source who spoke to Fightful Select after the attack on Page clarified that they don’t believe Jack Perry is involved in the angle. Of course, plans could change but it has previously been reported that the Devil’s henchmen are being played on screen by the talent who will ultimately be unmasked. 

Update on ‘Hangman’ Page

It was added that ‘Hangman’ Page will be off TV for the time being to sell the impact of this attack. There is currently no time window as to when fans can expect the Cowboy back on TV. 

Drew McIntyre: “I’ll Drop CM Punk’s A** If He Pushes Me”

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre is pleased to see CM Punk bring big numbers to WWE, but won’t hesitate to ‘drop’ Punk if he’s pushed. 

The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE in the closing moments of last month’s Survivor Series: WarGames event. The event marked Punk’s first WWE appearance since the 2014 Royal Rumble and his first appearance in wrestling since his AEW release in September of this year. 

Drew McIntyre on CM Punk

During this week’s episode of Raw, CM Punk had a backstage confrontation with McIntyre as part of the Scottish Warrior’s ongoing heel run. Appearing on The Bump, McIntyre recalled being around Punk during their respective first runs in WWE, and gave a warning to the Best in the World. 

“I was on television when I was 22 in 2007. I spent years, I was around the person. I know the person. I know what he’s truly like. I’m aware. It’s cool and does numbers. That’s awesome for right now.

“But I’m gonna wait and see right now ‘cause I can’t control who gets signed, who doesn’t get signed. I’ve got stories, I’m gonna keep them to myself. And in the future, if we cross paths, I ain’t the same guy as I was in 2010. I’m a lot bigger, smarter, more experienced, and I’ll drop his ass.”

McIntyre and CM Punk have yet to go one-on-one in WWE but they have shared the ring several times. Their most recent match was as part of a battle royal during the October 11, 2011, edition of SmackDown. The match was won by Randy Orton who unsuccessfully challenged World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry later in the show. 

CJ Perry To Make CMLL Appearance For The First Time Alongside Andrade

Bishal Roy
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AEW star Andrade El Idolo is making his comeback to CMLL for the first time in many years but he’s not coming alone as his manager CJ Perry is also set to make her debut.

The former Lana made her debut for AEW at September’s All Out pay-per-view. She came out to a thunderous reception from the fans following her husband Miro’s match against Powerhouse Hobbs. This marked her first appearance at a pro wrestling event since she was let go by WWE in late 2021. 

On a recent CMLL show at Arena Mexico, a vignette saw Andrade El Idolo in which he announced that he would return home to CMLL. It was only a couple of weeks back that CMLL teased a star would be returning soon and this led to tons of speculation that Idolo might be making a return. Well, he’s not only coming back home but also bringing CJ Perry alongside him.

CJ Perry to make CMLL debut

On CMLL Twitter account, Andrade El Idolo announced that CJ Perry will be making her debut at Arena Mexico on Friday, December 15. Check out the video clip below:

Back in the day, Andrade performed under the name La Sombra and this will mark the Mexican superstar’s first appearance for the promotion in eight years. 

Before joining WWE, he lost in a Mask vs. Mask match against Atlantis at CMLL’s 82nd Anniversary show. Notably, he is a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion which he captured during his run with the company as part of an agreement between CMLL and NJPW. 

Andrade is also participating in the Continental Classic tournament, where he has acquired 9 points. ‘El Idolo’ is set to face Claudio Castagnoli on AEW Collision this Saturday.

Meanwhile, CJ Perry, who previously performed as Lana in WWE, will be gearing up for her debut in Mexico. You can read why CJ Perry decided to take a break after leaving WWE below: 

BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS Series on Micro Wrestling Coming to Discovery

Thomas Lowson
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A new series focusing on the action of micro wrestling is coming to the Discovery Channel next month. 

In a statement, Discovery confirmed plans for the new show ‘BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS’ with the following message: 

(Burbank, CA) Full of heart, drama and high-flying micro wrestling, the six-part series “BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS” premieres Tuesday, January 9 at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel. As they attempt to achieve their piece of the American Dream, a group of remarkable little people athletes with larger-than-life personalities are forced to overcome ego, injury, and the limitations imposed by society.

Set in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, “BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS” follows athletes in the Micro Wrestling Federation, one of the most successful little person wrestling leagues in the world. “Pinky Shortcake” and “Syko,” parents and wrestling partners, must navigate their relationship both in and out of the ring. The voice of micro wresting, “Ivar the Micro,” dreams of going from hype man to wrestler despite significant physical risk. Popular veteran “Lil’ Show” wrestles to support his wife and children but fears his best moments in the ring are behind him. And, the up-and-coming wrestler “Hot Rod” must prove his talent lives up to his ego. Despite internal dramas and frustrations, Micro Wresting Federation CEO Jack Darrell Hillegass encourages the group to work together as a family as they approach “MicroFest,” the biggest micro wresting event of the year.

“Alongside spectacular feats of athleticism, this Discovery series broadens the way we reveal compelling stories of remarkable people overcoming huge odds,” said Howard Lee, President of Discovery Networks and TLC.

Audiences can follow the conversation on social media with #BigLittleBrawlers and follow Discovery on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.

Micro Wrestling

In 1997, WWE introduced its ‘mini’ division, with wrestlers from AAA including Max Mini, El Torito, Mascarita Sagrada, Mini Vader, and La Parkita. Eight years later, WWE SmackDown would briefly host the ‘juniors’ division, though the competitors in this division would often be portrayed as childlike due to their size. While WWE released the vast majority of the division in 2006, WWE kept Dylan Postl, who would become better known to fans as Hornswoggle. 

Outside of WWE, several promotions have had their own divisions of little people. In 2009, Johnny ‘Attitude’ Greene debuted his Micro Championship Wrestling promotion, which featured promotional videos by Hulk Hogan. 

Will MJF Sign With WWE? Cody Rhodes Believes “One Day”

Thomas Lowson
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0

MJF will one day be known as a WWE Superstar, at least according to current WWE top star and AEW alum Cody Rhodes. 

The reigning AEW World Champion has often teased moving to WWE, though these teases have stopped ever since he became an on-screen babyface. MJF did try out for WWE as part of 2011’s Tough Enough, and his video application is suspiciously still online on WWE’s YouTube channel. MJF also appeared as a security guard during a segment with Samoa Joe, which has been referenced as part of their AEW feud. 

Cody Rhodes on MJF

Though they are no longer in the same company, Cody Rhodes is keeping a close eye on the career of the AEW World Champion. During an interview with Peter Rosenburg, the American Nightmare was asked about MJF possibly joining WWE. 

“I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I think, one thing I’m really proud of him for is, for those who don’t know, MJF was one of my recruits. Probably the one I’m the most excited about just because [of] his potential, his personality; his overall professionalism is beaming. One thing I’m proud of him doing is, if you notice he’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s put it on safely over the last year and a half. And when he does make that jump, and I don’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. But if he comes to WWE he’ll have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, you have to stand across from guys like Omos. Or, gosh, Brock Lesnar.”

What’s Next? 

While MJF could one day be a WWE Superstar, it isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. For all his teases of leaving, MJF reportedly signed a new AEW deal that will keep him around for years to come. One WWE source described MJF’s potential bidding war as “a completely in his head storyline.” His next AEW World Championship defense will come on December 30, against Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. 

Cody Rhodes is currently in the midst of a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura. Rhodes has announced himself for the Men’s Royal Rumble match and hopes to become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

TNA Re-Signs Eddie Edwards

Tyriece Simon
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Next year will be a new beginning for Impact Wrestling as they set for another rebrand. The company has decided to revert to TNA Wrestling, with the change being official for their next pay-per-view, TNA Hard To Kill, on January 13, 2024. While preparing for the launch of the new brand, TNA Wrestling has started to re-sign talent on their roster. 

Soon-to-be TNA Wrestling announced on December 13 that they had officially signed Kushida to a deal. The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has made appearances for Impact Wrestling throughout 2023 while also being able to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He’ll still be able to appear for NJPW but will be an official member of the TNA roster. 

After reaching a deal with Kushida, TNA has followed up by announcing on Twitter they have re-signed Eddie Edwards. The former Impact World Champion spoke with PWInsider to confirm he signed an agreement before his contract expires. 

Eddie Edwards Re-signing Announced BY TNA Wrestling

PWInsider Mike Johnson transcribed the following quotes. 

 “…I don’t think my fans and friends are very much surprised that I’m sticking around, because everybody knows, how I feel about this company. I think especially right now with the momentum that we have with TNA coming back and all that excitement. For me, it was a no-brainer, and I’m very happy to be here and continue being here as long as I’m able to,” said Edwards. 

Edwards has been with the company since 2014 and has been in a featured role on TV. The decision to re-sign him ahead of his contract expiration is interesting, as they hope to lure another talent to be a part of their rebrand. 

Notable Impact Wrestling Talent Will Be Testing Free Agency

The company has done a great job of re-signing talent to stay ahead of 2024. Some notable wrestlers they reached a new deal with in 2023 were Moose, Jordynne Grace, and PCO. Ahead of relaunching TNA Wrestling, the company has kept most of its roster the same for next year. However, former Impact Knockouts World Champion Deonna Purrazzo may not re-sign. 

Purrazzo’s contract with the current Impact Wrestling is expected to expire by January 2024. Fightful Select reported on December 7 that she is prepared to test free agency. However, there is also a possibility that she can reach a new agreement with TNA before her contract expires. It’s worth noting PCO was expected to leave, but the company was able to come to terms on a new deal. 

It’s unclear what Purrazzo will decide, but it seems TNA keep its roster intact for the next few years. 

Cody Rhodes Could Be Looking to Revive His Father’s Wrestling Promotion

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes could be prepared to revive Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, the promotion founded by his father ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes. 

Recently, Rhodes and his Nightmare Factory partner QT Marshall filed a trademark for the term ‘Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling’ for entertainment services and merchandising. The filing specifically refers to “wrestling contests” and “exhibits” as applicable to the TCW term. 

Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling

Dusty Rhodes started making plans for TCW in 1999 and would establish offices in East Cobb County, Georgia. At the time, Rhodes described his idea for the new promotion as “old school but with modern ideas.” The first TCW event took place in July 2000 and saw Glacier win a tournament to become the first TCW Heavyweight Champion. 

The following year, TCW would host its first pay-per-view, and would also begin airing on TV. In March of 2001, Scott “The Clap” Anton and “The Extreme Dream” Erik Watts became the first TCW Tag Team Champions defeating Glacier and Jorge Estrada.

With the demise of WCW and ECW, TCW welcomed talent that the WWF did not pick up. In an August 2001 interview with Greg Oliver, Dustin Rhodes had high praise for TCW. 

“TCW is the alternative to the World Wrestling Federation. To me in my mind, my opinion, and my dad’s opinion, we are the World Wrestling Federation’s competition. We are not an independent, we are a company. We want to be treated as one.”

The original TCW saw several notable names compete, including Scott Hall, ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, New Jack, Leilani Kai, Daffney, and Steve Corino. Years before he’d make it big as part of TNA Wrestling, James Storm would compete during the latter stages of the company. 

The Nightmare Factory

The Nightmare Factory is Rhodes and Marshall’s training school based in Norcross, Georgia. Training seminars often feature notable names in professional wrestling, including Rhodes, Marshall, and Jerry Lynn. The Nightmare Factory is currently accepting applicants for their 2024 class. 

Exclusive update on WWE WrestleMania plan for Roman Reigns

Aaron Varble
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Roman Reigns has an ultimate part-time schedule at this point. Any match for the Tribal Chief is a rare occasion, as Undisputed Universal Champion, he doesn’t warm up for a match on a regular basis, and that has caused him to miss some big events. It appears that he won’t be making a very important trip for WWE in May.

Backlash is set to be the inaugural WWE premium live event hosted in France at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines on Saturday, May 4th. The preceding night, WWE will broadcast SmackDown from the LDLC Arena, marking the first airing of SmackDown in France.

Roman Reigns doesn’t appear to be making that trip to France with the rest of the SmackDown roster, because he’s not currently advertised for the show.

Roman Reigns Missing From WWE Backlash Poster

The official poster for WWE Backlash France has been released, featuring a lineup of wrestling talent including World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Cody Rhodes, and other WWE Superstars.

Notably, Roman Reigns is missing from the poster, sparking speculation about his potential absence from the event. It’s unclear how WWE will write things for Backlash without Roman Reigns, but they’ve arranged plenty of premium live events without The Tribal Chief already.

The 2024 Backlash event promises to be a memorable night with a star-studded lineup. That being said, it’s unknown whether Roman Reigns will be a part of the event.

The fact that Roman Reigns is missing from the WWE Backlash poster, which will go down in May, and WrestleMania is in April, must spark attention. It certainly flipped a switch in my brain..

WWE’s current plan for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania (Exclusive)

Roman Reigns is going to wrestle at WrestleMania, and that main event match has not changed since early September, when I was told that they decided on his match. In fact, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match was in place long before that, and The Rock was never a part of the creative conversation this time around.

Roman Reigns adding house shows dates to his schedule was also a bit of a surprise when it was announced. Many within the company thought Roman Reigns wouldn’t wrestle again in 2023 after his Undisputed Universal Title defense against LA Knight in Saudi Arabia at WWE Crown Jewel.

Although WWE has Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match figured out, that doesn’t mean things can’t change. CM Punk’s return to the company will cause a creative shift within the company’s creative direction for, at least one, WrestleMania match. I was told in September that WWE already had their Men’s Royal Rumble match winner figured out as well, and I was able to confirm this week that the winner has not changed. However, at this point, nothing is “locked in.”

I was told by a tenured source within WWE that, “Even Roman’s main event can change if circumstances dictate. Will they dictate? Most likely not. But until it’s locked in, it’s not locked in.”

Roman Reigns will be on the road to WrestleMania, and he will make his return to television this week for SmackDown. What happens next will only add to the tremendous Bloodline saga that has already unfolded.

Macey Estrella Buries Sgt. Slaughter When Speaking About Their WWE Beef

Aaron Varble
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0

Lacey Evans’ WWE contract ran up, and she did not come to terms on a new deal. Since then, she has focused on her personal life, and she made a lot of her personal life very public.

Lacey Evans is one of many pro wrestlers who are cashing in with premium paywall NSFW content. She is quite happy about this decision in her life, but she still has certain feelings about feuds she had while she was in the pro wrestling bubble.

Lacey Evans vs Sgt. Slaughter Feud

Sgt. Slaughter made his disapproval of Lacey Evans using his gimmick very public. She also started latching on the Cobra Clutch, and he was very upset about that. His daughter also got in on the action, creating heated conversations on social media.

While speaking to Insight with Chris Val Vliet, Lacey Evans made it very clear how she feels about Sgt. Slaughter. She believes that they are “weak.” She had quite a way of expressing her feelings, but she means no disrespect to other WWE Hall of Famers who forged the trail that others have walked on.

“I think they’re frickin weak. Remember that weak word we just talked about? Yeah. And no disrespect to like Hall of Famers in WWE that have paved the way, he can kiss my ass and his daughter can too, so record that. Have a good day.”

“I don’t know where the hell that came from. They know the game. You go to work. You get told this is what you’re doing. And what a lot of people don’t know what is was said and what was done, how they discussed it with him and they talked to him, and that is none of my damn concern.”

“What do you call it in the military when you frickin you have seniors above you? You have a rank structure. In WWE when you’re a performer you’re like down here, whatever goes above your head [happens] a lot of times, unless you start crying about it and go banging on doors.”

The former Lacey Evans continued on her rant against Sgt. Slaughter, and his daughter too. She is not going to “bang on doors” to get attention, or cry about things. She made that very clear that she has a family to feed as well. If that meant that she was going to do a Cobra Clutch, because she was told to, then she did just that.

“I don’t like that, I’m not gonna cry about it. You tell me what the f*ck you need, you tell me what time the bell rings and then, and I’ll do whatever it is.”

“Then, because I got a family to feed, a husband I love, and I say that with conviction. Because I made sure I was in shape, I made sure I could do the flippy flops, the drop-downs, I made sure to create the character.”

“They told me you’re gonna go out, you’re gonna do the Cobra Clutch and he’s gonna come in and help, and then whatever happened. Next thing you know he’s not out here, I’m still doing the Cobra Clutch.But don’t get mad at me. Because I’m doing my job, you know what I mean? Or let’s have that conversation. Right?”

“And at no point was that conversation ever had. Whoever his daughter is, from that side, that was wild. It didn’t really ruffle my feathers. I kind of thought it was funny, like you know, bless their f*cking hearts, but I didn’t lose no sleep over it. My family still got fed, I still did what I f*cking needed to do. And I just hope they keep that same energy, that same kayfabe energy when they see me because I don’t do sh*t like that.”

Lacey Evans isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, even as a former WWE Superstar. She also almost got in a few backstage fights while she was with the company. Now, as an ex WWE Superstar, her censor button is completely broken.

What’s Lacey Evans Doing Now?

Lacey Evans is now going as Macey Estrella, her real name, with her public projects. Her FanTime account is sizzling with content, which she was also very proud to speak about. The former Lady of WWE said that her love life with her husband has also never been better since opening that NSFW paywall.

You can find Macey Estrella’s FanTime account here. It doesn’t sound like she is going to slow down with the content at this rate. She also isn’t going to let Sgt. Slaughter, or anyone else, rain on her parade. 

Athena Vows To Teach Billie Starkz A Lesson At ROH Final Battle

Ella Jay
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This Friday, Athena will defend her Ring of Honor Women’s Championship against her former minion, Billie Starkz, in the main event of ROH Final Battle. The title match came forth after Starkz turned on Athena, who had previously served as her mentor throughout her training at MIT (Minion In Training). 

After months of intense training, Starkz and fellow MIT student Lexy Nair recently geared up for their 2023 MIT graduation ceremony, where the valedictorian would receive a graduation certificate and an official “Athena’s Minion” t-shirt. Much to the surprise of the crowd, and Billie Starkz, Lexy Nair was bestowed the title of valedictorian. In response, Starkz sent her long-time ally crashing into the barricade alongside the entrance ramp. Now, Starkz will challenge Athena for the ROH Women’s Championship at Final Battle in Garland, TX.

During an interview with Under The Ring, Athena laid her thoughts on Starkz’ vibrant betrayal, and their upcoming title match. 

“Chaos has ensued,” Athena said. “I feel like I’ve given Billie the world, and she’s just not grateful. She’s that rebellious teenager that doesn’t understand this is how real life works. She’s still in that, ‘Hey, I’m an adult. It’s sunshine, rainbows, happiness,’ that type of thing. And I’m sitting here like, ‘No, this is the real world. This is how this happens.’ 
She has turned on me and going into Final Battle in my hometown, it’s not about me reclaiming my championship, it’s about me teaching Billie a lesson that she rightfully deserves.”

Briefly putting their feud aside, Athena recognizes that Starkz, who is currently 19 years old, is one of the hottest young talents within the entire wrestling landscape right now. However, Athena asserts that she was an even better performer at that age. 

“It’s crazy when you look at everything that she’s done, making list after list after list, not just for the women, but for the men when it comes to PWI. She’s probably one of the hottest young talent around the world right now. Everyone is looking at what Billy Starkz is going to do next, so I can’t discredit any of that. But I actually know exactly who I’m dealing with. As someone that has started when they were 18 years old, fresh out of high school, in college, I have done this entire thing that Billie has done. Billie thinks that she is unique. She thinks she is special. No, plenty of us have done this journey. I just did it better,” Athena said.

Other announced matches for the ROH Final Battle card include Tony Nese vs. Ethan Page in an I Quit Match and The Blackpool Combat Club vs. FTR & Mark Briscoe.

NXT Star Wants To Win The WWE Women Tag Titles With Mickie James

Dominic DeAngelo
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One NXT talent wants to sit under the learning tree of Mickie James even if the legend is not with WWE.

Fallon Henley, who has been building her resume on Shawn Michaels’ version of the black and gold brand, caught a clip of the women’s tag team match on WWE Raw this Monday, and she decided to shoot her shot with James on X. She also pitched an added incentive.

“Mickie James hear me out – what if we saddled up, you taught me to be hardcore country and we went for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. I’ll bring the drinks!”

The notion that James could make a return to WWE isn’t completley out of the realm of possibility. James kicked down the “forbidden door” of promotions, when she was Impact Knockouts Champion and entered the Royal Rumble in 2022. In a pro wrestling first, Impact gold was proudly displayed on WWE television.

Even just on Raw the past Monday, CM Punk name-dropped Mickie before he signed on to be a member of the WWE Raw roster. Punk noted how he made his WWE debut in this very town of Cleveland, OH with Mickie James at his side before he was sent down to OVW. James even took to X to express her friendship with Punk following the moment.

“That’s my Brother. That’s my Friend.”

Not only does James have the CM Punk ties, but indirectly has a presence on WWE SmackDown as well. James’ husband, Nick Aldis, currently serves as the brand’s on-air general manager.

WWE RAW May Still Find Its Way To Warner Brothers Discovery

Aaron Varble
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WWE is still heavy in their television talks for the RAW brand, and a very interesting possible home is still in play. Now, as we close out 2023, it appears that Warner Bros Discovery could be interested in picking up a different pro wrestling show.

What’s Going On For WWE In 2024

SmackDown will return to the USA Network under a recently inked five-year deal, commencing in 2024. The CW will get NXT as well. Fans are curious about the potential impact on the company, and the future home for RAW.

There is an opportunity for Monday Night RAW to continue advanced discussions with Warner Bros. Discovery, facilitated by CM Punk. It was previously reported that CM Punk’s addition to the red brand could greatly drive up interest. 

While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer expressed skepticism about SmackDown remaining on Fridays. He also suggested the possibility of RAW shifting to a different night, with anticipated news on this matter within the next two weeks. The big idea in play is WBD’s interest, which could really shake up the pro wrestling world. 

“I think that there will be stuff in the next couple of weeks most likely. It could be the final deal…it could end up with the status quo. It’s not impossible. It could end up with incredible differences. Just got to wait it out and see. The main thing though is WWE and WBD is not a dead deal and it appeared to be a dead deal before. If they take the deal, it would require WBD to spend well over $350 million per year…WBD may not want to go that high anyway.”

What We Know So Far

WWE’s fees for Friday Night SmackDown have increased by nearly 40% with the new USA Network agreement. The coming year will reveal whether SmackDown thrives on its return to the USA Network, and if both SmackDown and RAW undergo significant schedule changes.

Of course, AEW is on Warner Brothers Discovery, and WWE RAW moving to that platform could really throw a wrench in Tony Khan’s plans. We will have to see what happens, because the pro wrestling world has been incredibly unpredictable so far.

WWE will make a ton of money on RAW’s next television deal, as they are already making a killing on SmackDown’s new contract. At this time, anything seems to be on the table, even moving nights of the week. That would also cause fans to have to reprogram their weekly viewing habits, which is not as big of a task in today’s age where streaming reigns supreme.

Spoiler Results For 12/19 and 12/26 Episodes of WWE NXT

Aaron Varble
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0

WWE wanted to give their NXT brand a break for the rest of the year, and they are doing just that. That meant that Wednesday, December 13th needed to include some extra tapings. Now we have the spoilers.

WWE taped two episodes of NXT from the Performance Center on Wednesday night. The episodes will see a few notable matches in the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament as well. 

The main event match for the first night also includes a very interesting injury angle, but we were told that it is 100% a part of the show. That being said, you may check out the card for the December 19th NXT episode below.

WWE NXT September 19th Non-Spoiler Card:

  • Fallon Henley vs Tiffany Stratton
  • Ilja Dragunov Promo
  • Lexis King vs Dion Lennox – NXT Breakout Tournament
  • Izzi Dame and Kiana James vs Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail
  • Dragon Lee vs Charlie Dempsey and Joe Coffey – NXT North American Title 
  • Tavion Heights vs Luca Crusifino – NXT Breakout Tournament
  • Nikkita Lyons vs Tatum Paxley
  • Gallus (Wolfgang and Mark Coffey) vs Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
  • Ilja Dragunov vs Ridge Holland

The December 19th episode of WWE NXT will include some interesting angles and matches. The full spoilers may be found below, thanks to F4WOnline.

WWE NXT September 19th Spoilers:

  • Fallon Henley defeated Tiffany Stratton. After the match, Stratton attacked Henley as they fought to the back, with Stratton dumping contents of a trash can on Henley.
  • Ilja Dragunov came out for a promo on what he accomplished in 2023 and what he planned to do for 2024. Ridge Holland came out and told Dragunov that he wasn’t looking for a match now, but wants to win some matches in order to get a shot at Dragunov. In response, Dragunov said they didn’t have to wait and can do the match tonight.
  • Trick Williams confronted Dragunov backstage and wanted to know why he’s giving Holland a match. Dragunov told Williams that he is the challenger at New Year’s Evil, and the champion picks his matches.
  • Lexis King defeated Dion Lennox in a Men’s Breakout Tournament first round match. After the match, Trey Bearhill came out but King escaped.
  • Izzi Dame and Kiana James defeated Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail. Hail was pinned by Dame after Hail had James in the kimura, but James wasn’t the legal person in the match. Riley Osborne was in the crowd watching the match.
  • Roxanne Perez was giving her thoughts on the previous tag team match when Arianna Grace responded to Perez’s comments. Perez ended up slapping Grace.
  • Dragon Lee defeated Charlie Dempsey and Joe Coffey in a three-way match to retain the North American Championship. Before the match started, Gallus came out and Coffey added himself to the match. The rest of Gallus were sent to the back during the match. Lee got the pin on Dempsey. After the match, the No Quarter Catch Crew attacked Lee but Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro made the save.
  • There was a Trick Williams/Carmelo Hayes segment in the locker room.
  • Cora Jade in a backstage segment took back her locker, which now belongs to Karmen Petrovic. Jade ended up throwing the contents of Petrovic’s locker out. Petrovic then came into the locker room and asked what happened, with Gigi Dolin telling Petrovic that Jade did it.
  • In a Men’s Breakout Tournament first round match, Tavion Heights defeated Luca Crusifino.
  • Nikkita Lyons defeated Tatum Paxley
  • Hank Walker and Tank Ledger talked about their upcoming match against Gallus.
  • Gallus (Wolfgang and Mark Coffey) defeated Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
  • Ilja Dragunov and Ridge Holland went to a no contest after Dragunov was injured. Holland had Dragunov in a front face lock and lifted him up, then dropped Dragunov on his head. Dragunov was put in a neck brace and was stretchered out, with Holland showing concern.

The NXT brand was very busy on Wednesday night. They taped two episodes, and the second will air on the day after Christmas. You may find the non-spoiler card below for that episode.

WWE NXT September 26th Non-Spoiler Card:

  • Lucien Price and Bronco Nima vs Duke Hudson and Andre Chase
  • Noam Dar vs Josh Briggs – Heritage Cup Match
  • Cora Jade vs Karmen Petrovic
  • Bron Breakker vs Nathan Frazer
  • Joe Gacy vs Joe Coffey
  • Riley Osborne vs Lexis King – NXT Breakout Tournament
  • Oba Femi defeated Tavion Heights – NXT Breakout Tournament
  • Eddy Thorpe vs Dijak – NXT Underground Match

We will have to see how it all pans out when the show airs on the day after Christmas, but you may find the spoilers below.

WWE NXT December 26th Spoilers:

  • Lucien Price and Bronco Nima defeated Duke Hudson and Andre Chase in an All or Nothing match. The end of the match had Hudson be in control of the match. He tagged in Chase, who was quickly pinned. Tony D’Angelo and Stacks were looking on the balcony overlooking the ring.
  • Noam Dar defeated Josh Briggs to keep the Heritage Cup. Briggs was disqualified in the fourth round after attacking Dar with a spit bucket. Lash Legend had hit Briggs with the bucket shortly before he used it.
  • Cora Jade defeated Karmen Petrovic. Jade won the match with a future shock DDT.
  • Bron Breakker defeated Nathan Frazer
  • Joe Gacy defeated Joe Coffey. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger came out to prevent Mark Coffey and Wolfgang from interfering.
  • Riley Osborne defeated Lexis King in a Men’s Breakout Tournament semifinal match. Trey Bearhill distracted King from the aisle. Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne were in the Chase U student section during the match.
  • Oba Femi defeated Tavion Heights in a Men’s Breakout Tournament semifinal match. Femi will face Osborne in the finals.
  • Eddy Thorpe defeated Dijak in a NXT Underground match after the referee counted to ten after Thorpe gave Dijak a DDT through the announce table.

We will have to see how NXT presents the next two weeks of action, but they have already recorded it. Fans also have some notable moments ahead of them on their way to Christmas.

We will keep an eye on this story, and many more at SE Scoops. Keep checking back for further updates. 

The Rock Set to Play Former UFC Fighter In New Film

Bishal Roy
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0

The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) has bagged a role as a former UFC fighter in a new A24 movie, ‘The Smashing Machine,’ based on his nickname due to his extreme fighting style. It will be directed by one-half of the Uncut Gems duo, Benny Safdie.

‘The Great One’ managed to establish himself as one of the highest-paid Hollywood actors and has delivered some incredible performances in blockbuster action movies. His roles in popular franchises like Fast & Furious, GI Joe, and elevated his acting career. 

The Rock will be starring as Mark Kerr

Now, the former WWE superstar will be starring as mixed martial arts fighter and two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion Mark Kerr in the upcoming movie. 

It has come to light that the pro-wrestler-turned-actor The Rock and Safdie, who authored and will film the feature (his first solo directorial endeavor), have been working on the project since 2019. 

A24 will finance the new film, as well as produce alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, Safdie’s Out for the Count banner, Eli Bush and David Koplan.

Here is what A24’s Noah Sacco said:

“Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life.”

There is another documentary on Mark Kerr that was released in 2002. The HBO documentary ‘The Smashing Machine’ depicted Kerr’s professional career and rise in combat sports and documented Kerr’s battle with a painkiller addiction that resulted in an overdose.

The Rock’s upcoming projects include Red Notice 2, the sequel to the highly-budgeted Netflix action comedy of the same name. The Amazon action comedy Red One is also lined up which will see him co-starring alongside Chris Evans. He is represented by WME and Gang Tyre.

On the other hand, Safdie’s recent projects include Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Judy Blume adaptation ‘Are You There God?’ ‘It’s Me, Margarette’, and Showtime series ‘The Curse’, represented by WME and Untitled Entertainment.

Grayson Waller Wants Feud with CM Punk: “I’m Not Here to be Your Fanboy!”

Thomas Lowson
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Grayson Waller is ready to test himself against former World Champion CM Punk, both in the ring and in a battle on the mic. 

Punk appeared on last week’s episode of SmackDown, in his first appearance on the blue brand in close to a decade. The former World Champion held nothing back in his promo and referenced Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and teased a confrontation with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. CM Punk also gave a nod to his firing from AEW All In this past September.

Grayson Waller on CM Punk

CM Punk has had the wrestling world hooked on his every word and move, and Grayson Waller is also taking notice of the Best in the World. Speaking with Justin LaBar of Busted Open Radio, Waller was asked about the arrival of the ex-AEW star. 

“It’s great to have Punk back because obviously he’s a big name, he’s a big star. I got to sit backstage at SmackDown last Friday and sit in the Gorilla position and watch him go out and talk. It’s a different vibe. For me personally, I’m not going to go and ask for advice and kiss his ar*e. That’s not who I am. But I am going to sit back and watch him do it and I’m going to take some notes in my head. That promo he did on Friday, especially hearing the live crowd and everything, was cool.” 

Waller added that he met with Punk at SmackDown and also saw the Best in the World backstage at this week’s WWE NXT. 

“I saw Punk backstage at SmackDown Friday and I’m going to leave it there. I don’t think anyone needs to know what that interaction was. Let’s just say, we talked.

“I was at NXT last night doing some stuff and he was there talking to all the young guys, giving them feedback, giving them advice. So he’s coming back and he’s doing everything he can to help. But Grayson Waller’s not that guy. I don’t wanna sit back and hear his advice. I don’t want to wear his merch shirt. I don’t want to put up a video of me at 12 years old telling Punk he’s the best. That’s not who I am.

Like Punk, Waller has impressed many on the mic, and would love to test his skills against Punk when the time is right. 

“I want to test myself against him. Not just in the ring, but on the mic because that guy’s one of the best of all time… So I appreciate what you’ve done for the business, but I’m not here to be your fanboy, I’m here to be a competitor.”

More Backstage Talk

While we don’t know what Waller and Punk discussed, the Aussie wasn’t the only one Punk chatted with backstage. It has been reported that Punk was approached about appearing at NXT Deadline while attending SmackDown. The former AEW World Champion (donned in a Bret Hart hoodie) shared a segment with Shawn Michaels during the opening moments of the show.

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

Lacey Evans Has No Regrets Having a Baby in WWE Run Shares Original Ric Flair Plans

Thomas Lowson
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0

Macey Estrella does not regret taking time away from WWE to welcome another child into the world, the ex-Lacey Evans has revealed. 

In early 2021, Estrella began an on-screen romance with Ric Flair, who betrayed his daughter Charlotte in the process. A month later however, Estrella would announce on TV that she was pregnant. Despite initial beliefs that this was an angle and Flair would be revealed as the father, Estrella later confirmed she was having an actual baby.

Macey Estrella on Being a Mom

This pregnancy would see Estrella become a mom of a baby girl for the second time in her life. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Estrella made it clear that parenthood has been important to her from a young age. 

“I’ve always wanted to be a mom. Unlike a lot of women, I’ve been with my husband since I was 15. We got married at 19. Since 16 years old, we’ve been picking our our kids’ names. We’ve always wanted to be a mom and a dad.”

While Estrella wanted to have a second child, she realized during her career in WWE that she was spending all her time on her career, rather than her personal goal. 

“When I was in WWE… [I thought] Man, I’m really giving my husband the s****y end of the stick here. He loves me and he supports me to the fullest but where are all of our babies at? Where is the sound of feet on our hardwood floors and the smell of bacon in the morning? Instead, we’re on a plane at 3:30 in the morning heading out to, I just thought, man.”

Speaking with Vince McMahon

With Estrella refusing to freeze her eggs, the ex-Superstar realized that her biological clock was ticking for a second child. Speaking on Insight, Estrella recalled going to see Vince McMahon about taking time off. 

“I went to Vince and I said ‘Hey Sir, I’m not being used and I want to have a baby.’ I won’t if you plan on using me. I’ll stand by and it’s Covid. I’m not being used and it’s Covid. He kind of got quiet and he says ‘Go have a baby.’ And I made sure because that man, that man is f***ing awesome. He has done a lot for me and my family. And I was just very thankful to be in that room having that discussion and having that opportunity.

“That was the game plan, I wasn’t being used and next thing you know, Talent-Creative [say] ‘Oh you’re going to be with Ric Flair and Charlotte’. And I’m like what the f**k?… Well I’ll be damned that the week before I’m supposed to get the title, I have my baby. And it was the best feeling in the world. That my husband now has another child he’s going to hold in his arms in nine months.”

Estrella would not win the Raw Women’s Championship in early 2021 as planned, nor would she compete in a title match at that year’s WrestleMania as initially envisioned. Even though she never got close to holding a title again, Evans is against the notion that her decision was a bad one. 

“A lot of people say I ruined my career and this and that. But this morning I woke up and saw that little s**t looking at me with a big smile on her face and my husband waking up. You can’t tell me I ruined anything. I got exactly what I wanted.”

Estrella on Working with Ric Flair

Estrella’s pregnancy instantly ended her storyline with Ric Flair. On the show, the former Superstar explained what was supposed to come from her on-screen romance with the Nature Boy. 

“It was typical heel, to go after the title and get it. And I was supposed to get it.  But fortunately, Sunny Loretta decided that she was coming.”

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

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