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How WWE Feels About Liv Morgan’s Recent Marijuana Possession Arrest

Aaron Varble
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Liv Morgan was arrested for charges related to marijuana possession. That sparked a huge discussion within the confines of the Internet Wrestling Community, and many have wondered if this will change WWE’s plan for her.

As outlined in Liv Morgan’s arrest report, on December 14th, a Sumter County Deputy approached Morgan’s vehicle, and “the odor of marijuana was detected.” Upon searching Morgan’s vehicle, law enforcement discovered a “small plastic bag containing marijuana” and a vape pen containing “an oil-like substance.” Subsequently, the substance was subjected to testing, confirming it to be marijuana, as detailed in the arrest report.

Is There Heat On Liv Morgan In WWE After Her Arrest?

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there is “absolutely no heat” on Liv Morgan in the aftermath of her arrest. Some fans were naturally worried that there would be trouble for Morgan within the company.

According to one WWE staff member, Liv Morgan’s absence from television did not disrupt creative plans, and her transparency about the situation has caused no issues for her.

“Everybody liked Liv before, everybody still likes Liv. We’ll get our jokes off, and she’ll get hers off, and nobody will be thinking about it soon enough.”

Another WWE source informed Sean Ross Sapp that Liv Morgan posted bail on Thursday and was back on Twitter promoting Smackdown by Friday. Her bail was $3,000, which was paid at the time of her release.

Liv Morgan’s WWE Creative Plans After Her Arrest

PW Insider also noted that WWE is not shifting their creative plans for Liv Morgan. She was always “pencilled in” for a 2024 return, and that hasn’t changed.

“In speaking to WWE sources this morning, while Morgan’s arrest was not widely known within WWE before it became public, but we are told several top executives were aware and had spoken with Morgan the day after the arrest, but had kept the information within a small circle.”

“We are told that Morgan had already been penciled in as to when she would be returning to company storylines in 2024 and currently, this is not believed to change those plans. The belief was she would be back in by the build to WrestleMania and was very much in the mix for what we are told is a “a high profile program.”

Liv Morgan’s Court Date

Liv Morgan is scheduled for arraignment on Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Sumter County Courthouse in Florida at 9 AM. During this hearing, she is required to declare whether she pleads guilty or not guilty to charges of possession of marijuana.

How WWE Feels About Marijuana

It is important to note that, although marijuana is included in the Wellness Policy, WWE has not conducted tests for it for several years. Previously, a positive result led to a $2500 fine.

Liv Morgan’s arrest for marijuana certainly came out of left field for many fans. Hopefully, she can put this messy legal situation behind her in February, but she does face a felony for that possession of marijuana (not more than 20 grams), possession of drug equipment and possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoid charge.

We will have more updates at SE Scoops as more news is made available about this case. Right now, Liv Morgan is free, and her spot in WWE seems solid.

Tony Khan Says Relationship With Warner Bros Discovery Is ‘Very Strong’

Aaron Varble
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Tony Khan’s pro wrestling companies are nearing a contract renewal period for both AEW and ROH. Naturally, there are a lot of rumors about the subject, especially since WWE is reportedly walking to Warner Brothers Discovery as well.

CM Punk reportedly helped to facilitate discussions between WWE and Warner Bros Discovery for a potential deal involving Monday Night RAW. Speculation arose about the possibility of WWE RAW moving to TNT or TBS, while AEW might find a place on the Discovery Channel, or another platform entirely.

During a post-ROH Final Battle Media scrum, AEW President Tony Khan was questioned about the relationship between AEW and Warner Bros Discovery. Khan emphasized that AEW and Warner Bros Discovery maintain a strong and positive association.

”Ring of Honor, we haven’t had recently as many, but we’ve had really good conversations about AEW, even in recent days, I’ve had really good talks with Warner Brothers Discovery. We’ve been with them for several years, it’s a really exciting time for AEW.

We’re performing incredibly well for Warners Brothers Discovery and we’re a very strong relationship. With media rights and all the things coming up, everyone has to do their due diligence. It’s just part of the TV business. Where we stand, we stand in a position for AEW to have a huge growth year in 2024. There are a lot of really exciting things happening that I know Warner Brothers is excited about, that we’ve talked about.

It’s a great relationship and it’s going very very well for us and part of the TV business, for both sides, is doing their due diligence and that’s just a part of sports and television, really. Being part of the NFL and Premier League, I’ve seen that process play out with certainly different TV networks looking at different sports and the sports looking at different TV networks. I’ve been part of this multiple times in the NFL.”

What’s In The Future For Tony Khan’s Television Shows?

We will have to see what the future holds for Tony Khan’s companies. Nick Hausman previously reported that Tony Khan turned down talks for ROH to end up on The CW, because he wants to bring both AEW and ROH to the table as a package deal when the time comes to talk about new television contracts.

This is certainly an interesting situation, especially if WWE is in play right now. Tony Khan is not going to sell things, even if there are issues. At this time, it appears that things are going very well between WBD and Tony Khan, according to him.

2024 will be a very interesting year, especially with so much at stake when big television deals are on the table. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more updates.

CM Punk Continues Doing MMA Commentary Following Return to WWE

Bishal Roy
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WWE superstar CM Punk once again made his comeback to Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) and carried out his duties as a commentator.

CM Punk recently returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames PLE last month and it is one of the most shocking returns of the company. The pro wrestling fraternity was stunned by his comeback as many had ruled out his return to the company.  

Punk had been making appearances for CFFC during his first suspension from AEW in late 2022, Ahead of his return to WWE, Punk had also returned to Cage Fury Fighting Championships as a commentator during which he teased the fans about his pro wrestling future which ultimately led to him signing with WWE.

CM Punk appears in CFFC 

This weekend during SmackDown, Punk was part of the CFFC commentary booth yet again. WWE usually doesn’t allow any superstar to appear in other promotions but in the case of Punk, it seems that the company has allowed him to continue giving voice to the MMA action.

His commentary partner John Morgan also mentioned Seth Rollins during the action.

“This Seth Rollins guy, I don’t know about him,” John Morgan said.

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During the commentary, Punk  also spoke about his upcoming WWE live event match against The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio. He said:

“Come out to the LA Kia Forum. Watch me beat up Dirty Dominik. I’ve been wanting to punch this kid in the face since he was 8 years old. Now he’s legal and I’m gonna destroy him.”

It’s worth noting that Punk and Rollins have ignited a feud since the former’s massive return. Fans were delighted to witness ‘The Best In The World’ return to Chicago except for Seth Rollins. ‘The Visionary’ was furious to see Punk and in a video footage, Rollins was even spotted flipping off Punk and had to be held back. 

Rollins and Punk recently came face to face and had an in-ring promo segment. ‘The Best In The World’ also announced that he’s entering the Royal Rumble match next year and might come after Seth’s World Heavyweight title. 

Liv Morgan To Be Arraigned For Marijuana Possession Soon

Bishal Roy
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WWE star Liv Morgan could be facing some legal consequences after she grabbed the headlines for possession of marijuana. 

On Thursday, the popular WWE star was arrested for possession of marijuana.
Morgan, has been on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury and she has found herself in hot waters.   

Morgan was arrested on December 14th in Sumter County, Florida, following a traffic stop. Morgan, who is a former SmackDown Women’s Champion was picked up for a marijuana possession charge, not exceeding 20 grams.

Morgan also faced charges for possession of drug equipment and potential possession of synthetic cannabinoids.

It has come to light that a sheriff’s deputy spotted the yellow jeep she was driving while crossing over the delineation lines of a County Road. Per the arrest report, when approached by a Sumter County Deputy, Morgan’s vehicle emitted “the odor of marijuana.”

Legal ramifications for Liv Morgan

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PWInsider has now reported that Liv Morgan is slated to be arraigned on charges of possession of marijuana (not more than 20 grams) and possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoids on Monday 2/12/14 at the Sumter County Courthouse in Florida at 9 AM. She will need to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty at that hearing.

It’s to be noted that in Florida, possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoids is considered a felony and can be punishable by up to a maximum of one year in jail, up to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.

Conviction of possession can also lead to a six-month driving license suspension, random drug testing, and all the reimbursement of all fees related to the sentence.

We will now have to wait and see how WWE deals with this situation when she returns to on-screen programming. 

Dominik Mysterio Is Prepared For Elimination Chamber: I Already Bailed Out of Prison

Anutosh Bajpai
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Dominik Mysterio is ready to do anything it takes to earn the respect he deserves.

The 26-year-old has completely turned his image around in one year. After betraying his father at Clash At The Castle last year, he has become one of the hottest stars in all of pro wrestling. Though despite being one of the hardest-working talents of WWE, Mysterio does not get the respect he deserves from fans.

Dirty Dom recently had an interview with The Amin Show to promote the upcoming Elimination Chamber PPV in Perth. Dominik Mysterio was asked if he thinks people don’t respect him because they still see him as the kid from the storyline with Eddie Guerrero in 2005. 

The WWE star mentioned how he has wrestled the second most matches for WWE this year. He proclaimed that he will do whatever it takes to get the respect of people:

“No I don’t really know if it like…because when you put it that way, I’ve never really even thought about it that way. I think it’s more of like, they see me as a kid. So it’s kinda like they know me already. They expect a certain thing out of me. It’s like they only see me as this blond-haired, horribly dressed Dominik. Young Dominik that was always so sad.

But no at the end of the day, one way or another, I’m going to make them respect me. Whether it’s in the ring, or what I have to do. Whether it’s getting more titles or more matches. Hell, I’m the second most person that has had matches in WWE this year, with 102 matches. So like I said, if I don’t get my respect, I’ll go out there and get it.”

Dominik Mysterio Is already prepared

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Dominik Mysterio was also asked how he can prepare for the Elimination Chamber match which is going to be even more brutal than WarGames. The Judgement Day member mentioned that he’s already been behind bars once, so he is already prepared:

“Yeah, most definitely. I remember growing up watching the Elimination Chamber matches and just thinking just how brutal they were and how, intense. The first thing that comes to mind is Shawn Michaels just bleeding coming down his face just insane, but I don’t know if you can prepare for something like that.

I think the best way I can prepare is I’ve already done it, and I escaped and [I] was bailed out of prison. So the last thing I want to do is go back behind cages. So we’ll see what I can do, man, but I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully I can make my way and sneak into that Chamber match.””

You can check out Dominik Mysterio’s full interview below:

More originals from SEScoops:

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

Full Spoilers for WWE SmackDown Set to Air on December 22

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Universe at this week’s SmackDown got a special treat, as they watched two episode of the blue brand on one night.

With the Holidays coming up, WWE decided to film next week’s episode of SmackDown this week, to give the Superstars some time off during the festive period. Here are the spoilers for the episode of SmackDown that will air on December 22:

  • Santos Escobar defeated Bobby Lashley to advance to the finals of the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. Escobar won with the help of Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo. 
  • Dragon Lee (c) defeated Butch to retain the NXT North American Championship
  • AJ Styles appeared dressed all in black and said he doesn’t care about Randy Orton and LA Knight. Styles said he should be the one facing Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. Knight and Orton interrupted the segment. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis announced a triple threat match for the “New Year’s Revolution” edition of Smackdown. The winner will face Reigns at the Rumble.

  • Bianca Belair Shotzi, Zelina Vega and Michin defeated Damage CTRL. The babyfaces entered on a Christmas-themed tank and there was a Merry Christmas chant during the match. Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre attacked Kairi Sane at one point. 

  • Kevin Owens defeated Carmelo Hayes to advance to the finals of the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. Owens will face Santos Escobar in the finals. 
  • AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa ended in a DQ when Reigns attacked Styles. A brawl involving Styles, Knight, Orton, and the Bloodline ensued with Knight standing tall in the end. 

To find out what happened on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, click here. 

WWE Wanted New Orton Theme, New Titles for The Usos, Lexis King Names Fans & More

Thomas Lowson
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Randy Orton’s New Theme Song

Randy Orton is back on WWE programming, and fans are loving here Rev Theory’s ‘Voices’ once again. Fightful Select reports however that WWE considered ditching the theme and going with a new song for the Viper’s return. While a revamped version of Voices was recently recorded, Orton’s new theme wasn’t going to be that. The former WWE Champion has used Voices since 2008. 

New Titles for the Usos

The Usos may no longer be a tag team, but fans will soon have the chance to celebrate the highly-successful duo. This week, WWE shared new custom celebration titles celebrating the record-long title reign of Jimmy and Jey. The pair held the SmackDown Tag Team Championships from Money in the Bank 2021 to WrestleMania 39 in April 2023.

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Lexis King Names His Fans

Lexis King is making a name for himself in WWE NXT, but has been in need of a name for his fans. During a Runescape Twitch stream, King recently encouraged his fans not call themselves ‘Registered Lex Offenders.’ On Twitter this week, King promoted his Cameo video to his fans, now dubbed ‘IntelLexuals.’

Tiffany Stratton & Paris Hilton

Tiffany Stratton is quite the blonde bombshell in NXT, and has spoken in the past about being inspired by the liked of Sharpay Evans and Paris Hilton. This week, Hilton performed a Hilton-inspired TikTok which caught the attention of the reality star/heiress. In the comments, Hilton responded saying “Loves it!”

AJ Styles returns on Smackdown looking jacked – and he’s back as a heel

Bishal Roy
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AJ Styles has returned to WWE SmackDown but has embraced his darker side. 

‘The Phenomenal One’ has been sidelined since the September 22, 2023, episode of SmackDown. During that show it was announced that Styles would be John Cena’s tag-team partner for the Fastlane tag-team match against Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa. However, later on that night, Styles was brutally attacked by Uso and Sikoa. It was LA Knight who went on to replace the former WWE Champion and teamed up with Cena to defeat The Bloodline at Fastlane.  

Reports recently suggested that Styles was supposed to return a few weeks ago but that didn’t happen. It was on last night’s edition of SmackDown that ‘The Phenomenal One’ returned.

On Friday, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made his first WWE appearance since Crown Jewel on SmackDown. He said that it’s ‘promotion season’ and announced that Solo Sikoa is the deserving heir to his title of Tribal Chief of The Bloodline. 

Randy Orton then interrupted him and challenged Reigns to a title match at next month’s Royal Rumble. However, ‘The Tribal Chief’ refused to accept the challenge. It was then announced that ‘The Viper’ will battle Jimmy Uso in the main event of SmackDown.  

Orton defeated Uso with the help of LA Knight, who evened the odds when Solo Sikoa came down to the ring. Reigns ultimately took a cheap shot at LA Knight from behind and The Bloodline continued the attack on them.

AJ Styles returns

‘The Phenomenal One’ made a huge comeback and he was already in the ring waiting to hit Reigns with a Phenomenal Forearm. He executed it and took down ‘The Head of The Table.’ However, the returning superstar shocked the fans with his actions when he assaulted LA Knight from behind. He had a staredown with Orton before leaving the ring. 

As it seems, LA Knight and AJ Styles are likely to have a feud soon.

WWE Speed: New Match Type Tested At SmackDown

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Universe was introduced to a brand-new match type last night before SmackDown went on the air. 

The December 15, episode of SmackDown saw the return of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, who was immediately confronted by Randy Orton. While the Viper demanded a match against Reigns for the Royal Rumble PLE, the Tribal Chief was in no hurry to grant the match. The show also saw the return of AJ Styles, who turned heel with an attack on LA Knight. 

What is WWE Speed?

Before SmackDown began broadcasting, the fans in attendance were treated to the introduction of the WWE Speed Match. The match sees a five-minute time limit, meaning Superstars must work quickly to secure the win. SmackDown saw two ‘Speed Matches’ with ‘Big’ Bronson Reed facing NXT Superstar Nathan Frazer in the first. Later on, Cedric Alexander faced NXT’s Axiom. 

Per Fightful, Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick were on commentary, and the matches were filmed as if they’d be broadcasted. There’s no word yet if these matches, or the WWE Speed concept, will make its way onto WWE programming in the months ahead.

Another Potential Change

WWE is introducing the Speed Match, but may have made a massive change to wrestling staple the ‘Steel Cage Match’. At WWE NXT Deadline, Roxanne Perez faced Kiana James in a cage match. 

It was mentioned during the show that the match could be won only via pinfall or submission, removing the traditional rule of escaping the structure for victory. It’s currently unclear if this was a one-off change for this match or if this is how Steel Cage matches will go moving forward.

Liv Morgan Arrested For Marijuana Possession

Aaron Varble
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Liv Morgan’s name has come up in fan discussions about a possible Royal Rumble return. January 27th will be here before we know it, but Morgan is likely not thinking about the Royal Rumble today. The WWE Superstar was recently arrested for possession of marijuana.

According to PW Insider, Liv Morgan was arrested on December 14th in Sumter County, Florida, following a traffic stop. The 29-year-old former SmackDown Women’s Champion was picked up for a marijuana possession charge, not exceeding 20 grams.

In the end, Liv Morgan faced charges for possession of marijuana, not exceeding 20 grams, possession of drug equipment, and potential possession of synthetic cannabinoids. This went down at around 6:30 PM.

This unfolded when a sheriff’s deputy noticed the yellow jeep she was operating crossing over the delineation lines of a County Road. According to the arrest report, when approached by a Sumter County Deputy, Morgan’s vehicle emitted “the odor of marijuana.”

Subsequently, authorities found a “small plastic bag containing marijuana” and a vape pen holding “an oil-like substance” inside the vehicle. The substance was tested and verified to be marijuana.Liv Morgan soon posted bail for $3,000 and was released last night at 10:04 PM. No court date was noted for Morgan as of this writing.

It’s worth noting that Liv Morgan, who has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury, has been engaged in promotional activities for WWE recently. She was notably present at the premiere of “The Iron Claw” in Hollywood earlier this week, where she was spotted with MJF, John Cena, and others.

We will have to see how WWE handles this situation, but they have historically allowed talent to handle their own legal problems. If anything, she was busted with something that is considered medicine by a majority of the United States, so she will hopefully be alright. 

Liv Morgan’s Court Date

It was later noted that Liv Morgan is slated to be arraigned on charges of possession on Monday February 12, 2024, at the Sumter County Courthouse in Florida at 9 AM. She will enter a plea at that time.

In Florida, the possession of drugs, potentially synthetic cannabinoids, is classified as a felony. The associated penalties can include a maximum jail term of one year, up to one year of probation, and a fine of $1,000.

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Kenny Omega Reveals He Is Out Of Action

Aaron Varble
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Kenny Omega and the rest of The Elite inked new deals with AEW just a few months ago. It appeared that Omega would be someone that Tony Khan could rely on, and he was getting consistent spotlights. Now, The Cleaner has pulled the plug on his own AEW run.

Kenny Omega’s Injury Announcement 

Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega revealed on X that he is now out of action indefinitely. He revealed a photo of himself in a hospital bed as well, so it appears that he is being tended to.

Although Kenny Omega did not reveal the nature of his injury, it seems serious enough to pull him from action now. In his message, which he didn’t sugar coat in the slightest, Omega encouraged fans to watch wrestling until he returns.

I can’t really sugar coat this. I’m out indefinitely. I tried to keep pushing past the pain for as long as I could until it became too much. Luckily doctors caught me when they did. I’ll be here so in the mean time, please enjoy wrestling!

Kenny Omega’s absence from AEW will be a huge blow for them to take. At this point, The Cleaner was involved in a tag team program with Chris Jericho. Now, the Golden Jets will have to wait. 

What’s Next For AEW Without Kenny Omega

This announcement comes days after AEW added Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho vs Ricky Starks and Big Bill to the Worlds End card, where the AEW World Tag Team Titles will be on the line. This match will need to be changed now.

AEW has suffered many injuries, and big blows, to their roster over the last year. It appears that Tony Khan will have to figure out an alternate booking situation for one of the two matches he’s booked for Worlds End on December 30th so far. 

UPDATE: Reason For Kenny Omega’s AEW Absence

Sean Ross Sapp reported on X to say that Kenny Omega was suffering from an illness last week. It was not disclosed what he was dealing with, but he still pressed on and wrestled against Ethan Page. He was later diagnosed with diverticulitis. 

We’re told Kenny had been ill throughout the last week, even ahead of his match with Ethan Page. He still did the match and the promos, and sought medical attention after, where he was hospitalized and diagnosed with diverticulitis.

Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more updates on Kenny Omega’s situation. 

ROH Drops New-Look Marketing On Social Media

Dominic DeAngelo
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Whether it’s good or bad, Ring Of Honor has gone through some changes since being acquired by Tony Khan and the latest is just ahead of their PLE this weekend, Final Battle.

While hyping some stars for the brand, ROH changed up the color scheme to its logo, using white fill in their lettering instead of the conventional black that they’ve been utilizing. However, the match graphics for Final Battle stick with the black logo. In addition for that, the ROH acount still has the black logo for their profile picture. 

Below are some examples of the new look in comparision to was fans have been accustomed to.

The Full Card For ROH Final Battle

Even if they haven’t fully adopted the new look for the brand, ROH has put in an effort to make Final Battle feel newsworthy.

Athena is set to defend her ROH Women’s Championship against Billie Starkz as the two have been involved in a long-term story that is set to culminate in the two’s clash.

There will also be a Survival Of The Fittest Match featuring Dalton Castle, Komander, Lee Johnson, Kyle Fletcher, Lee Moriarity and a mystery opponent.

Wheeler Yuta will put his ROH Pure Championship on the line against MLW’s Filthy Tom Lawlor. Yuta will be pulling double duty as he’ll team with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley to face FTR and Mark Briscoe in six-man tag action. 

Tony Nese will take on Ethan Page in an I Quit match, El Hijo del Vikingo will defend his AAA Mega Championship against Black Taurus, Keith Lee will fight Shane Taylor. ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships are on the line as Mogul Embassy faces TMDK and The Von Erichs will make a special appearance on Zero Hour to face The Outrunners.

Watch MJF Make Surprise Appearance At Create-A-Pro Frostbite 2 Event

Thomas Lowson
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MJF may be the top name in All Elite Wrestling, but the resident Scumbag of wrestling hasn’t forgotten where he came from. 

The reigning AEW World Champion began training to be a wrestler in 2014 as part of the Create A Pro Wrestling Academy run by Brian Myers and Pat Buck. This week, Create a Pro’s Wrestling promotion held its Frostbite 2 event. MJF decided to make a surprise appearance at the show and earned a thunderous response from the fans. MJF even got a cheer after simply saying “hello” to the crowd as seen in the clip below. 

After his time training with Create a Pro, MJF would compete for CZW and later make his name in MLW. He signed with AEW in 2019 and captured the AEW World Championship at Full Gear 2022. 

What’s Next for MJF? 

MJF will defend the AEW World Championship later this month at the first AEW Worlds End event. MJF will defend against Samoa Joe at the event, but will not be entering the match at 100%. Whether MJF retains the title at Worlds End or not, his tenure as an ROH World Tag Team Champion could come to an end soon. Tony Khan recently shared that he’s considered stripping MJF & Adam Cole of the titles. Due to Cole’s injury, Better Than You Bay Bay has only defended once as a team since winning the gold at AEW All In. 

Could MJF one day be known as a WWE Superstar? Cody Rhodes thinks it is certainly possible. Click here to find out more. 

Eric Bischoff Believes A Deal Between WWE & WBD Is Imminent, Hopes The Best For AEW

Dominic DeAngelo
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Eric Bischoff has experience dealing with TV deals, both in wrestling and outside of it, and based on what he’s hearing, he feels WWE is on the verge of cinching a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for the rights to Raw.

Speaking on “Strictly Business” with co-host Jon Alba, Bischoff addressed the reported meeting that went down between WWE and WBD and he feels that a deal between the two parties is basically done, especially due to the fact that Triple H was one of those names to be apart of the conversation. That report indicated to him that the process is pretty far along and could mean some big news to come to pro wrestling.

“The difference me and everybody else is I’ve been there and I’ve done it and I see a picture a little differently than others, but I don’t know either. I just have feelings that are different from most people based on what I’ve experienced.”

Bischoff has remained unabashed in his thoughts when it comes to Tony Khan’s handling of AEW and although the former WCW President has been critical of Khan’s practices, he does hope for a good outcome in regards to All Elite Wrestling.

“In many respects I hope I’m wrong. I don’t want to see AEW end up in a drain. I really don’t. Again, there’s people there that I really respect and like and some of them I’m friends with, some of them I just admire. Do I want to see MJF continue to grow? Absolutely. Are there people there that I’m friends with and friendly with? Absolutely, but if it happens, I don’t think anybody should be surprised, not anybody listening to this show.”

Please credit “Strictly Business” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Roman Reigns Celebrates Historic Anniversary Today

Dominic DeAngelo
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Roman Reigns is an unprecedented talent in the modern era of professional wrestling and although outcomes are predetermined, what he has achieved is impressive for the current day.

With his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship reign, Roman has rivaled historical names such as Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan for the length of time he’s held the gold. And with such a reign comes plenty of wins and a mere handful of losses.

As of December 15, it marks four years since Reigns has been pinned in a singles match and the person to do such is a surprising one. One on one, Baron Corbin is the last person to keep Roman down for the three count.

While Reigns may unofficially be the current “king” of WWE, Corbin was King Corbin back in December 2019 and he took on Reigns in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match at TLC 2019. The two battled for over 20 minutes, but Corbin had some help from wrestlers who are actually no longer with the company.

Dolph Ziggler and The Revival, now better known as FTR in AEW, stacked the deck against a babyface Roman in the battle. Chairs were used in thwarting Reigns’ progress and  Corbin ultimately hit his End Of Days finisher on a chair for the 1-2-3.

Reigns did find himself getting pinned this past July at Money In The Bank, but that was in tag team action as he and his cousin Solo Sikoa lost to The Usos. It was Jey who secured the only other pinfall on “The Tribal Chief.”

Spoiler On Long-Awaited Return Expected For 12/15 WWE SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WWE is set for SmackDown in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and that episode could include a big return. This is your official spoiler warning, because this article is full of them.

Spoiler for 12/15 WWE SmackDown

PW Insider reports that, “AJ Styles is expected to return tonight at Friday Night Smackdown,” This return has been a long time coming.

AJ Styles has been out of action as he sold a beatdown from Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso. At the time, Styles was set to be John Cena’s tag team partner at Fastlane against the Bloodline, but then LA Knight took Styles’ spot.

It was further noted that, “AJ Styles had initially been planned for a return several weeks back, but WWE decided to hold off on the return.” It is reported that this week is more of a sure thing, as Styles will return to the road for WWE.

Status Of The OC In WWE

AJ Styles’ OC stablemates, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, returned to the ring several weeks ago, but they have only worked live events. Their television hiatus may end with Styles’ return

Fans can probably expect AJ Styles’ return to WWE SmackDown during the December 15th episode. With the Royal Rumble coming up on January 27th, that event will mark 8 years since he shocked the word by finally landing in WWE after a career outside the company.

Exclusive Insight into AJ Styles’ WWE Return

I was told on several occasions over the past 30 days that AJ Styles is set to return “imminently.” This is something that they have held back on for some reason, but it appears the Phenomenal One will be joining the company to close out 2023.

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will also be a double taping. So, AJ Styles can get two weeks’ worth of tapings out of the way on one night to really jumpstart his comeback.

RVD Questions AEW Talent’s Respect Level For Veterans

Aaron Varble
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AEW promised a new era of professional wrestling when they opened their doors. Their rebellious branding may have also filtered into their backstage environment as well, because the company has a reputation of having younger talent who aren’t interested in taking veteran advice.

CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage scuffle at All In London was caused by Perry’s defiant nature. Punk advised against Perry using real glass several weeks prior, but he didn’t have a say in his match at Wembley Stadium. After Perry dropped Hook on the windshield of a car, he made a point to tell the camera that it was real glass so, “cry me a river.”

The Backstage Rumor About AEW

It appears that RVD can back up that attitude that is currently in the AEW locker room. The Whole F’n Show has made a few AEW appearances so far, but never inked an official contract.

During an interview with Party with Marty, RVD stated that he’s head the same thing from Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. AEW has those veteran minds around, but nobody is sitting under their learning tree.

“I heard Tully Blanchard say it, and I’m told Arn Anderson said it too, although that is hearsay, that the young guys don’t want their input ever. [They] never ask them ever for any help or anything on their matches and stuff … I mean, that’s important to me. It makes me think, do they think they know it all? Do they not respect them enough? But also, it’s awkward for them because they’re not taught like us to go around and shake everyone’s hand and stuff.“

AEW May Have A Problem

CM Punk had a great time at the WWE Performance Center. He reported while he was there as well. It appears that he found himself in a setting where younger talent were more than happy to listen. Life Goes On For CM Punk

CM Punk had a great time at the WWE Performance Center. He reported “held court” while he was there as well. It appears that he found himself in a setting where younger talent were more than happy to listen.

CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation wasn’t the only one in AEW history. Other skirmishes and backstage drama have also dotted the company’s history, such as Sammy Guevara and Andrade El Idolo’s public tiff, one that involved a backstage altercation.

AEW has a lot of veteran talent around, and we haven’t heard from all of them on this subject. Jake “The Snake” Roberts is backstage, and he has also spoken in the past that he is willing to do anything Tony Khan asks of him. We have to wonder if Tony Khan is supporting the practice of listening to the veterans he has on his payroll.

It seems that the rumor and innuendo would say that AEW talent aren’t too interested in hearing what the former generation has to say about what they’re doing for Tony Khan’s company. 

Zac Efron Says Prep For Iron Claw Role Became An Obsession

Tyriece Simon
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Wrestling fans are looking forward to seeing The Iron Claw on December 22, which is a biographical film based on the lives of The Von Erich family. Early reviews of the film have praised it, and it currently has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes with 52 reviews. One of the notable things that critics have praised about the movie has been Zac Efron’s performance as Kevin Von Erich.

In the film’s early stages, it became evident how much Efron took it seriously. He shocked fans when photos were taken of him on the set in incredible shape to play his role. Efron has looked in shape for past roles, but he noticeably put on more muscle than he ever had for a movie. This sparked more intrigue in the film, as it showed how dedicated Efron and other actors like Jeremy Allen White were to play members of the Von Erich family. 

Zac Efron’s scene in The Iron Claw

In an interview with The Variety, Efron shared how he got physically prepared for the role and is a perfectionist. This made him obsessed with getting in shape for the movie. 

The Variety’s Daniel D’Addario transcribed the following quotes. 

“That necessity to be perfect — it became an obsession,” said Efron. He added, “It was a singular focus for months. And your life goes out the window during prep.” 

It’s noted that Efron worked out for portions of a day and gained 15 pounds of muscle in the early stages of preparing for his role. 

More on Zac Efron Getting In Shape For Kevin Von Erich

While fans were surprised by Efron’s transformation for the film, co-stars also were impressed with his commitment. White joked during his appearance on The Jimmy Kimmel Show on November 28 that he didn’t want to stand near Efron to avoid comparison on their conditioning for The Iron Claw. 

When speaking on his training style, Efron shared that after he gained 15 pounds of muscle, he focused on bodybuilding.

 “…I was able to incorporate old-school body-building and Olympic lifting and really achieved that specific look of pro wrestlers, which was really hard,” said Efron. 

The work seemed to have paid off as his incredible condition added to his acting for most critics. His performance in the film has also created chatter from people who saw the film that he could be up for an Oscar next year. 

SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo will have a review of the film coming soon!

WWE’s Current Mindset About Possibility Of Signing MJF (Exclusive)

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes transitioning from AEW to WWE in 2022 sparked speculation among fans that anyone, including a company co-founder, could depart AEW for WWE. It seems that nobody is off the table, either.

Jade Cargill also made a similar move in 2023, and fans are still waiting for her official in-ring debut. Considering MJF’s willingness to discuss WWE, and the great Bidding War of 2024, fans have pondered whether he might eventually follow his friend and mentor Cody Rhodes to WWE as well.

Cody Rhodes Thinks MJF Will End Up In WWE

Cody Rhodes said to Peter Rosenberg on the Michael Kay Show that he believes that MJF will end up in WWE. He is also proud of what Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been able to do in AEW so far as well. 

“I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I’m really proud of him. For those that don’t know, MJF was one of my recruits and probably the one I’m most excited about because of potential and personality and overall professionalism. One thing I’m proud of him for 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. When he does make that jump, I don’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. If he comes to WWE, you have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, like Omos, Brock Lesnar. I’m not shaming anyone who is not hitting the gym and clanging and banging with the weights, like The Rock would say, but it is part of what we do now. You have to be able to swing a bat with the big boys. Watching him grow physically, it seems like maybe he knows where his future lies. Really, your guess is as good as mine. I never bother him about it because I want to remain the friends we’ve become today.”

Recent speculation has stated that MJF may have already inked a new deal with AEW. He hasn’t brought up the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and that caused some to wonder what his next move is.

Exclusive Insight on WWE and MJF’s Current Standing

I have asked around on several occasions about WWE’s interest in MJF, and whether there is any talk about bringing him in. There have never been any talks within the creative team about MJF, because a deal hasn’t been signed.

As I have previously stated, WWE creative team members are usually only approached once someone is actually signed. On a very rare occasion, they will be asked if they have any ideas for someone that the company is considering, but it doesn’t seem that there are any discussions with MJF.

I was also told that the general thought within WWE is that MJF already inked a new deal with Tony Khan. AEW just hasn’t publicly announced that yet for some reason. 

MJF may stay with AEW for another contract cycle, and that could work out just fine for him. At 27-years-old, MJF still has plenty of time with WWE if he waited another three or four years. 

It’s anyone’s guess how different the pro wrestling world would be today if WWE scooped up MJF after his Tough Enough audition tape. On that note, you may check out that amazing piece of pro wrestling history below.

R-Truth ‘Hangs Out’ With Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley In Hilarious Video

Bishal Roy
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R-Truth recently decided to have some fun with The Judgment Day members, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. But, Truth has his own way of spending time with the ‘family.’

As the Holidays have come around, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio decided to make a trip to Perth, Australia, the host of next year’s Elimination Chamber. ‘Dirty Dom’ and ‘Mami’ are having quite a vacation in the latter’s homeland. But as it seems, R Truth wanted to be a part of the trip.

WWE recently released a video clip of Ripley and Dominik enjoying their time in Perth. R Truth noted the video clip and took to his TikTok channel. He dropped a hilariously edited video clip in which he added himself to the video to indicate that he was hanging out with the couple.

R-Truth wants to be in The Judgment Day

The Judgment Day is currently one of the most dominant factions in WWE. It includes Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Several superstars have fallen prey to the ruthless attack of the group. The sinister group had been trying to recruit a member over the last few months. In the past, they went after Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre to be a part of the faction. Though ‘The Scottish Warrior’ joined forces, he never became an official member of the group.

JD McDonagh ended up becoming the newest member and ever since, the faction has become formidable. However, it seems R-Truth want to be a part of the group as well.

Over the last few weeks, R-Truth has been invading their clubhouse and claimed to be a member of the faction. Though he received warnings, Truth is having none of it. 

On the latest edition of Monday Night Raw, R-Truth interrupted The Judgment Day and suggested JD McDonagh to be kicked out. He further opined that Damian Priest shouldn’t try to be the boss around as Rhea Ripley would be angry. This led to R-Truth getting attacked but The Creed Brothers saved him. 

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.

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