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John Cena & Ronda Rousey’s WrestleMania Opponents ‘Locked In’

Rayan Sayyed
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WrestleMania 39 is coming soon, and it is shaping up to be a massive event this year. There could be several big matches taking place in the event, and a recent report only adds to this excitement.

Several more matches have been decided on for WWE’s biggest event of the year. The following matches are now “locked in” according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the Universal title
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women’s title
  • John Cena vs. Austin Theory
  • Rousey & Shayna Baszler challenging Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai for Women’s Tag Team titles
  • Bianca Belair vs. the Elimination Chamber winner for the Raw Women’s title

Additional matches rumored for the event include Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul.

Cena and Rousey’s Road to WrestleMania

John Cena returned to the ring in 2022 on the final SmackDown episode of the year. He competed in a match with Kevin Owens against The Bloodline’s Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn, and he is rumored to be competing at WrestleMania 39 in April 2023.

Cena fueled these rumors by making a post on Instagram which had Logan Paul holding the WWE Championship, but WWE is going in a different direction for the 16-time World Champion’s big match.

Additionally, Cena is set to start filming for the upcoming R-Rated comedy “Ricky Stanicky” alongside Zac Efron next month. Still, the filming schedule won’t prevent him from working at WrestleMania. Whether Cena will face off against United States Champion Austin Theory remains to be seen, but Theory has been pushing for a match with Cena for years and recently filmed a backstage segment with him in Tampa, FL.

As for Ronda Rousey, recent reports about her suggested that she was supposed to face Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 39, but plans for that were scrapped. Ronda dropped the SmackDown Women’s Championship to a returning Charlotte Flair on the December 30th episode of SmackDown.

WWE Interested in ‘Monetizing Ring Assets’ with Sponsorships

Thomas Lowson
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Who will be walking down the KFC Deluxe Bucket ramp, stepping between the Castrol GTX-endorsed ropes to compete in the Wendy’s new 5-tier Baconator ring at WrestleMania 39?

WWE, like any business, is about making money, and sponsorships have been a huge part of the company’s bottom line for years.

At WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2021, fans saw a lumberjack match sponsored by Netflix’s Army of the Dead, in which ‘zombies’ from the film crashed the event.

Sponsorships

At WWE Royal Rumble 2023, fans saw the first-ever Pitch Black match which was won by Bray Wyatt, and sponsored by Mountain Dew.

Last Saturday’s Rumble didn’t just see that match be sponsored, but the official Royal Rumble clock was sponsored by Applebees.

During WWE’s fourth-quarter earnings call, WWE CEO Nick Khan was asked whether WWE could possibly look at having sponsorships for different parts of the stage and ringside area.

“Yes, to your question about monetizing the ring assets. It’s something we’re taking a deep dive into now and that we want to do. In terms of what’s driven it, I think it all started with Stephanie McMahon and changing the culture of our sales group, from changing from a ‘maybe’ to a ‘yes.’

“It’s something we’re taking a deep dive into.”

WWE CEO Nick Khan on monetizing ring assets.

“When Mountain Dew and Pepsi pitched us the idea of sponsoring a match, I think it was done, was ‘absolutely we’ll do it,’ and then a conversation with Triple H, our head of creative, about ‘hey, we can probably do this, right?’ Which Triple H and our creative team made every accommodation to get it done.”

Earlier this week, WWE Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales and Partnerships Craig Stimmel told the Hollywood Reporter that another sponsored match will take place at WrestleMania 39.

Pitch Black Match Confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble

h/t – Sportskeeda

Vince McMahon has “Declared” he Will Step Down Again If In WWE’s Best Interest

Thomas Lowson
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Vince McMahon’s return to WWE may be a short one, according to the company’s sole CEO Nick Khan.

The billionaire’s return less than a month ago came less than six months after his shocking retirement in July of last year.

McMahon reportedly strong-armed his way back into WWE, threatening to vote down any sales offers of negotiated TV deals if he was not brought back to the company.

Second Retirement

For decades, it was accepted that Vince McMahon would never retire, which made his actions last July all the more shocking.

Many (including those on WWE’s Board of Directors) believe that McMahon’s return is the wrong call, though the rise in stock price following his return says otherwise.

Speaking during the 2022 Q4 earnings call, WWE CEO Nick Khan said that McMahon will ultimately do what is best for WWE.

“Yes [he would step down from his sole role as Executive Chairman.] Without question. He’s declared it to the board. He’s declared it to us in management. It’s all about shareholder value. Obviously, he is a shareholder. So it’s not about what role he’ll have. It’s about maximizing that value opportunity.”

Nick Khan.

The Sale

At the time of his return, it was noted that McMahon is back to facilitate a sale of the promotion.

While some have been dubious that McMahon doesn’t have grander ambitions than merely overseeing the sale, Vince has kept away from WWE’s TV tapings and creative meetings.

Names interested in WWE include Comcast, FOX, Disney, Netflix, Amazon, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, and Shahid & Tony Khan.

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Was Much Easier Without Vince McMahon

The Rock’s Mother Ata Johnson Involved in Serious Car Accident

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne Johnson’s mother is fortunate to be alive after being involved in a serious vehicular accident.

On Instagram, the Hollywood A-Lister shared a photo of his mother’s wrecked Cadillac Escalade that suffered heavy damage to the front passenger side.

“Angels of mercy watched over my mom as she was in a car crash late last night.”

The Rock.

In his post, Johnson said his mom is doing okay, and spoke about his mother’s tenacity, as she has survived lung cancer, a tough marriage, and an attempt to take her own life.

The Brahma Bull also encouraged fans to hug their parents hard “cos you never know when you’ll get that 3am call we never want to get.”

Ata Johnson is Dwayne’s remaining parent, after the death of his father ‘Soulman’ Rocky Johnson in January 2020.

Ata Johnson

The daughter of the ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia, Ata is part of the famed Anoa’I wrestling family, and married her husband Rocky Johnson in 1978, though the couple divorced in 2003.

While not a wrestler like so many members of her family, Ata Johnson has appeared for WWE in the past, including at WrestleMania 38 last April.

More recently, Ata was in the crowd for WWE Royal Rumble 2023, though her son did not appear at the event as many had hoped.

Ata’s granddaughter Simone performs today in WWE NXT under the name Ava Raine.

The Rock Will Be A Presenter at 2023 Grammy Awards

WWE Reports Record Earnings In 2022 Financial Results

Thomas Lowson
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2022 was truly an unprecedented year for WWE, but no amount of returns, releases, or retirements could stop the promotion from making a fortune.

This week, WWE shared its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal reports, and business is certainly booming.

Fourth Quarter

For the final quarter of 2022, (October to December) WWE revenue was $325.3 million, an increase of 5% over Q4 2021.

Operating income was $62.7 million, a decrease of 22% over the previous fourth quarter.

Each WWE premium live event (Extreme Rules and Survivor Series) was the most viewed event in its history with increases of 36% and 46%, respectively, in viewership.

November WWE Crown Jewel event was the most-viewed international event in WWE history, surpassing WWE Clash at the Castle from 2022 Q3.

2022 In Full

WWE’s impressive fourth quarter was just part of an incredible year for the company in 2022.

Year-end revenue increased 18% on 2021 to $1.3 billion, the highest in the company’s history.

In a statement, WWE heralded the record revenue as down to “increased monetization of content, the return to a full year of ticketed live events and the staging of an additional large-scale international event.”

Operating income increased 11% to a recorded $283.3 million.

WWE returned $75.7 million of capital to shareholders, including share repurchases and dividends.

Live events more than doubled in revenue (2021 bringing in $57.8 million to 2022’s $123.1 million) though that will have been affected by WWE going without live crowds for the first half of 2021.

A full report on WWE’s impressive 2022 can be found here.

Top WWE Merchandise Sellers Reportedly Revealed

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Was Much Easier Without Vince McMahon

Thomas Lowson
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WWE’s latest Premium Live Event has received rave reviews from fans, and was said to be much easier without Vince McMahon backstage.

Last Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble 2023 saw Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley punch their tickets to WrestleMania 39, winning the Men’s and Women’s Rumble matches.

In the main event, Roman Reigns retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship over Kevin Owens.

The post-match segment that resulted in Sami Zayn (and Jey Uso) exiting the Bloodline has been praised as one of WWE’s best stories in years.

Without McMahon

Last Saturday’s Premium Live Event was the first PLE since the return of Vince McMahon, who didn’t attend the show himself, Fightful Select reports.

One talent who spoke to Fightful said that this year’s Rumble was the easiest the annual event has been “in a long time” and cited the lack of McMahon as the reason.

That same Superstar said that you can’t really count 2021 towards that because of COVID, but that this year was a dream compared to last year’s nightmare.

Another source added that while people are not ‘afraid’ to bring up Vince’s name, generally most haven’t really asked much since Triple H, Nick Khan and Kevin Dunn held meetings.

Those meetings last month assured talent that despite McMahon’s return as Executive Chairman, he will not have influence over Creative or Talent Relations.

The only complaints that Fightful heard were about the Hardy performance cutting into the time of others, and some minor transitional things that they believe the current regime will get used to.

Looking Ahead

With the WWE Royal Rumble 2023 being a huge success to fans and those in the company, the promotion looks to keep that momentum going.

WWE’s next PLE will be the Elimination Chamber event on Saturday, February 18, which will be WWE’s first major event in Montreal in over 13 years.

A U.S. title Chamber match, as well as a Chamber match to determine Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania opponent have already been announced.

It is reported that the main event will see hometown hero Sami Zayn challenge Roman Reigns for his title.

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Main Event Was A “Curtain Sellout” Backstage

Impact Wrestling Results (2/2/23): Eight-Man Tag Match, Bullet Club vs. Kevin Knight & Kushida

Tyriece Simon
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The Feb. 2 episode of Impact Wrestling aired on AXS TV at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

This episode featured an eight-man tag main event with Sami Callihan and The Design(Cody Deaner, Kon & Alan Angels) against Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, Frankie Kazarian, Rich Swann, and Yuya Uemura. Another match set for the card is Gisele Shaw vs. Savannah Evans in a singles match.

This week’s episode also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. Impact Wrestling offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49. However, it aired at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.

If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.

Impact Wrestling (2/2) Results

The show started with a recap from last week’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) vs. KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight.

The match started with Kevin Knight and Chris Bey in the ring. They locked up and exchanged holds until Bey landed a Shoulder Block. Knight got back up, and they both went back and forth until Knight landed a Springboard Crossbody. He followed it up with a Scoop Slam into a leaping Frog Splash for one count. Knight tagged in Kushida, and his partner began to work on Bey’s arm.

Knight tagged back in and tried to go for a springboard move, but Bey countered with a Dropkick to pin for a two-count. Bey tagged in Austin, and they started to hurt Knight with tag team maneuvers. Bullet Club tagged in and out to control Knight for several minutes.

Austin tried hitting a Back Suplex on Knight, but Knight countered and tagged Kushida. Bey also blind-tagged Austin to be the legal man. Kushida began to go on the offense and caught Bey in an Armbar. However, Bey stacked Kushida up for a two-count. Bey tried to Irish Whip Kushida, but Knight blind tagged in the match and landed a Dropkick on Bey. Both teams start to struggle to take control of the match. Kushida picks up Bey from behind and Knight landed a Dropkick for the pin, but Austin broke it up.

Austin began to go after Knight and Kushida by himself with his unique offense. He gets Kushida out of the ring and lands a kick to the face. Knight tries to go after Austin with a dive outside the ring, but Bey catches him in mid-air with a cutter. Austin throws Knight back in the ring, and Bey hits The Art of Finesse, with Austin following up with The Fold for the win.

We go to a backstage segment with The Design and Callihan. Deaner says he will not punish Callihan for his loss last week but says that he must win tonight’s tag team match.

We get a vignette of Steph De Lander, who will debut next week.

Gisele Shaw with Jai Vidal vs. Savannah Evans

The match starts with both wrestlers having a stare-down. After a few words, Evans pushes Shaw into the corner. Shaw responds by slapping Evans, which upsets her opponent. Evans began to dominate the match. She throws Shaw out of the ring, and we go to a commercial break.

We come back from break, and Shaw is in control of the match. However, it doesn’t last long, and Evans starts to control the match. She lands a Samoan Drop for a two-count. She continues her offense by landing a Spinebuster followed by a Fisherman Suplex with a bridge for a two count. The finish comes when Jai Vidal distracts Evans from the outside and hits a Superkick, followed by a knee strike to win.

After the match, Shaw cuts a promo and calls herself the “Black Widow” of Impact Wrestling. Shaw says that the spotlight belongs solely on her.

We go to a backstage segment with Kenny King, Zicky Dice, and Johnny Swinger. Dice instigates a match between King and Swinger for tonight.

We cut to another backstage segment between Steve Maclin and Santino Marella. Maclin questions why he hasn’t gotten an opportunity for the Impact World Championship. Marella announces that they will be qualifying matches for a Fatal Four-Way match at No Surrender. The winner will be the number one contender for the Impact World Championship. He tells Maclin and Dirty Dango, who interrupts, that they will compete in the qualifying matches.

Crazzy Steve with Black Taurus vs. Sheldon Jean

The match starts with Crazzy Steve and Sheldon Jean trying to exchange holds until Jean hits Steve with a Calf Kick. He talks to the crowd until Steve begins to take offense to him. Steve wins the match quickly with a Top Rope Diving DDT.

X-Division Champion Trey Miguel tries to attack Steve after the match, but Steve gets the advantage after biting him. Before Steve can do anything else to Miguel, the X-Division Champion runs away.

Jordynne Grace does a backstage interview and challenges Steph De Lander to a match next week.

Bully Ray In-Ring Promo

Bully Ray comes out to cut a promo in the ring. He tried to talk several times, but the crowd kept booing him. Ray eventually got to say that no one in Impact Wrestling likes him. He talks about how he wasn’t invited to The Golden 6 Shooter match and gives a passive-aggressive threat to Marella. Ray then focuses his promo on Tommy Dreamer and accuses him of being a fake person. He gets interrupted by Impact Knockout Champion Mickie James, who comes out to defend Dreamer.

She refutes Ray’s claims and tells him to get out of Impact Wrestling. However, he responds by saying he will smack James, who is smiling at him. Ray continues to threaten to harm James and calls her a tramp. James responded by slapping Ray in the face. Ray hits James with a Scoop Slam and tries to follow it up with a Powerbomb. The Good Hands come out to get the table for Ray to slam James through it, but Dreamer makes the save to stop them.

Dreamer says he would team with James to take on The Good Hands tonight. Marella comes out and announces the match for next week. He also added that Ray would be forbidden from interfering in the match.

We get a backstage segment with Taylor Wilde, Killer Kelly, and The Death Dollz. Rosemary wants Kelly and Wilde to team up against The Death Dollz next week.

Kenny King vs. Johnny Swinger

King dominates the short match. He lands the Royal Flush on Swinger for the win.

After the match, King lets everyone know that he is a threat and will take on anyone.

We go to a backstage segment with Ray and Masha Slamovich. Ray tells Slamovich that she shouldn’t let James disrespect her and that she will be the next Impact Knockout Champion. She says some words to him in Russian and walks away.

The Design (Alan Angels, Kon, Deaner) & Sami Callihan vs. Josh Alexander, Rich Swann, Yuya Uemura & Frankie Kazarian.

It starts with Swann and Deaner before Deaner tags in Callihan. Callihan gets some offense in on Swann before Deaner demands that he tags him back in. Deaner tried to go after Swann but got caught with a Hurricanrana. Swann tags in Uemura, who lands a Dropkick on Deaner. Uemura goes for the pin but only gets a two-count. Alexander tags into the match to go after Deaner. The two of them exchange Knife Edge Chops until Deaner rakes his eyes.

Deaner tried to capitalize and tag in Alan Angels. However, when he does, the opposite team stops them from attacking Alexander. After a brief standoff, the action breaks down, and the team of Alexander, Swann, Uemura, and Kazarian takes out the opposing team outside the ring to go on a commercial break.

We return from a commercial break with Kazarian controlling Angels in the ring. Kazarian tags in Swann to do a Double Hip Toss on Angels for a two-count. Swann tried to go for a Rolling Thunder Splash from the corner on his opponent but got caught with a Powerslam. Angels tagged in Deaner, and the team began to tag in and out to control Swann for several minutes.

After getting dominated for several minutes, Swann lands an Enzuigiri on Callihan in the ring. Swann tags in Alexander and Callihan tags in Deaner. Alexander fires up and lands a German Suplex on Deaner, Callihan, and Angels. Kon tags himself in and tries to go after Alexander but fails and gets caught with a Top Rope Diving Knee from Alexander for a two count. The champion follows up with an Ankle Lock on Kon, but he gets countered.

Uemura tags himself in and lands a Top Rope Dropkick on Kon. Before he could capitalize, Kon tagged Callihan back in the match. Callihan gouges the eyes of Uemura and begins to go for Cactus Driver 97 but gets stopped by Deaner. Alexander comes into the ring to save his partner. Everyone in the match hits their signature moves as both teams try to gain control of the match. However, the finish comes when Callihan catches Uemura with the Cactus Driver 97 for the win.

Wrestling Revolver: A Night at the MOXbury Results

Tyriece Simon
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Wrestling Revolver held their live event, A Night at the MOXbury on Feb. 2 at the Calumet Center in Dayton, OH.

The event featured a mix of talent from Impact Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, and other independent promotions. The card had the Revolver World Champion Steve Maclin defend the title against Crash Jaxon. AEW’s Wheeler Yuta also competed at the event against JT Dunn. AEW talent Jon Moxley acted as the host of the show.

A Night at the MOXbury went live on FITE+ at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. Wrestling fans can watch the event live or on Video on Demand by subscribing to FITE+ for $4.99. Wrestling Revolver also allowed the option to buy the pay-per-view without a subscription for $11.99.

If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.

A Night at the MOXbury (2/2) Quick Results

The event opened with Moxley coming out to greet the crowd. He promoted the rest card and gave credit to the wrestlers competing. After he finished talking, it cut to the opening of the first match.

  1. Evil Uno def. “Firestarter” Jake Crist
  2. Marina Shafir def. “Spider”  Blair Onyx
  3. “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. Gringo Loco vs. JesSICKa vs. Fulton vs. Tyler Matrix vs. Jarett Diaz in a Speedball Open Invite Scramble Match
  4. ROH PURE Champion” Wheeler Yuta def. JT Dunn in a Pure Rules Match
  5. (C)Steve Maclin def. Crash Jaxon in a Revolver World Title Match
  6. The Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) w/ Gia Miller def. (C)DadSCOUT in a Revolver World Tag Title Match
  7. Billie Starkz def. Allie Katch w/ The Unit
  8. (C)Alex Shelley def. Rich Swann in a Revolver Remix Title Match
  9. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed) def. The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, 1 Called Manders, & Matthew Justice) in a No DQ Match

Dave Bautista Praises Triple H For Running WWE Creative

Tyriece Simon
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Former WWE superstar Dave Bautista believes the WWE is in good hands with Triple H running creative.

Bautista retired from wrestling after his last match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35 on April 7, 2019. It doesn’t seem that he has any intention of making a comeback in wrestling. Bautista has become a successful movie star, with his featured film A Knock at the Cabin coming out on Feb. 3.

Triple H
via Bleacher Report

Although Bautista is not watching WWE regularly, he knows that his mentor Triple H is running creative as the Chief Content Officer. In promoting his upcoming movie, he spoke with Comicbook’s Brandon Davis. In the interview, he praised Triple H for running WWE creative and said he was the best person for the job.

“I think this is the best thing for the company. It really is,” said Bautista. He continued, “It’s a personal thing with me because I know Triple H. I know how well he knows this business. I know how much he loves this business. As far as this business goes, he’s the smartest guy I’ve ever met in my life. He made me who I was. He was responsible for my career. I’ve never been ashamed to say that.”(h/t Comicbook’s Liam Crowley)

Bautista added, “I think he is so dedicated to this product and wants the best for it. I think he’s absolutely the right person. I’ve never met anyone else who thinks the way he does, as far as wrestling goes.”

wwe hqjpg

WWE’s Recent Success With The 2023 Royal Rumble

WWE is having great success on its road to WrestleMania 39. The company just had its annual Royal Rumble event on Jan. 28, which generated excellent revenue. WWE released a statement on Jan. 30 that this year’s event was the most viewed and highest-grossing Royal Rumble in history.

“The event set a new all-time gate record at more than $7.7 million, far surpassing the previous Royal Rumble high in 2017 by more than 50 percent. Viewership of the event saw a 52 percent increase versus the previous record set in 2022,” said WWE.

It’s hard to deny that since Triple H has taken control as Chief Content Officer, WWE has thrived. WrestleMania 39 will be a two-night event on April 1 and 2 at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. As of now, Ticketmaster has both nights close to selling out. A complete sellout for both nights of WrestleMania 39 would be another significant achievement Triple H and WWE could tout if it happens.

Shawn Michaels Says Vince McMahon Has No Involvement with NXT

Colby Faria
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Since returning to the board, Vince McMahon has not been involved creatively in WWE.

During the NXT Vengeance Day pre-show media call, NXT Head of Creative Shawn Michaels fielded a bevy of questions. Perhaps the most notable comment throughout the call, was Michaels’ words on Vince McMahon’s involvement with the current product.

“He has not, and I don’t think (he will). I’d imagine Vince probably has bigger fish to fry than us down here in NXT. One of the things I enjoy about my job down here is the plausible deniability that I’m allowed to have. I don’t ask a lot of questions because I don’t want to know the answers to some of them. Even back when we were here [with Vince in charge], he was very good with us down here. They helped us in a certain way and guided us in how they wanted it to go, but after that, it was hands-off. Hunter, the same thing. They’re very good with us down here in NXT. They understand it’s a different environment down here, so we’re very fortunate to kind of be independent, no matter who is running the ship up there in Stamford, they allow us a great deal of freedom down here, which we appreciate.”

Vince McMahon Recently Returned to WWE

In April 2022, an investigation was launched by WWE following a WSJ report that Vince McMahon supplied over $3 million in ‘hush money’ settlements due to an alleged affair with a former company employee. Another issue came up for McMahon, as WSJ reported that McMahon, alongside now former company executive John Laurinaitis spent over $12 million in nondisclosure agreements following sexual misconduct allegations.

In July 2022, McMahon resigned from his duties as the company’s Chairman and Head of Creative. However, after just six months, McMahon announced his return to WWE’s board, who unanimously voted him back as Chairman of the company. Fans speculated that Vince McMahon would stake his claim back in creative; however, McMahon announced that he’d have no part in the company’s day-to-day operations and was solely focused on spearheading a potential sale of WWE.

NXT Vengeance Day Updated Card

WWE NXT Vengeance Day
  • Bron Breakker (C) vs. Grayson Waller — NXT Championship
  • Roxanne Perez (C) vs. Jacy Jane vs. Gigi Dolin — NXT Women’s Championship
  • Wes Lee (C) vs. Dijak — NXT North American Championship
  • New Day (C) vs. Pretty Deadly vs. Gallus vs. Chase University — NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Kayden Carter & Katana Chance (C) vs. Kiana James & Fallon Henley — NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • Apollo Crews vs. Carmelo Hayes

SEScoops will provide live coverage of NXT Vengeance Day on Saturday, February 4, beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT/4:00 p.m. PDT.

(H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions)

Lanny Poffo, The “Genius” of WWE, Passes Away at 68

Tyriece Simon
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Wrestling legend Lanny Poffo, best known for his character “The Genius” during WWE’s late 80’s / early 90’s golden era, has passed away. He was 68 years old.

Poffo, the son Angelo Poffo and younger brother of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, competed in the WWE (then WWF) from 1989 to 1992. During his time in the WWE, he feuded with Koko B. Ware, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, and Hulk Hogan.

In an interesting bit of wrestling trivia, The Genius is one of the few WWE stars to score a victory over Hulk Hogan during the late 1980’s. He defeated Hogan by count out on the November 25, 1989 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event.

The Genius also managed several acts, including Mr. Perfect and later the Beverly Brothers. Although he didn’t win any championships during his run with the company, he was one of the WWE’s most most obnoxious villains during the late ’80s and early ’90s. His final appearance for WWE came in 2015, when he inducted his brother into the Hall of Fame.

We at SEScoops extend our condolences to family and friends of the great Lanny Poffo.

Reactions to Lanny Poffo’s Passing

Since the news of his transition, many active wrestlers and legends have sent their condolences to the Poffo family and kind words about him.

Bret Hart Featured in New Trailer for ‘Stalker’ Film

J. Cunningham
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WWE Hall-of-Famer Bret Hart has popped up in a new trailer for the claustrophobic horror movie Stalker.

The film centers on an actress, played by Sophie Skelton, who finds herself stuck on a malfunctioning elevator. Unfortunately, she’s not alone as her stalker, played by Stuart Brennan, just happens to be on it with her. The trailer revolves around the tensions between the two as the unhinged antagonist grows more aggressive and sadistic.

When the trailer reaches the cast announcements, none other than ‘The Hitman’ is revealed. Curiously, what we see of him in the ad is in black-and-white.

Based on its reviews and iMDB score, the actors involved do a respectable job of the material. However, the editing and pacing have been widely criticized.

‘Stalker’ Marks Bret Hart’s Second Horror Movie Performance

Back in 2021, ‘The Hitman’ turned up in another low budget horror flick titled The Demented. The movie focused on a variety of topics including time travel and different dimensions.

Interestingly, Hart was not the only former professional wrestler to make an appearance. Former TNA/Impact star Angelina Love also had a supporting role in the film. The movie was poorly received by critics and audiences alike.

The most famous film to involve Bret Hart belongs to the documentary genre. Wrestling With Shadows chronicled ‘The Hitman’s closing stretch in the WWF, closing out on the Montreal Screwjob and its immediate aftermath.

bret hart shawn michaels montreal screwjob

The film lifted the lid on the behind-the-scenes politics in the promotion at the time. A seminal release in wrestling history, Wrestling With Shadows is usually considered neck-and-neck with the likes of Beyond The Mat when it comes to all-time great wrestling documentaries.

Will you watch the latest movie to star Bret Hart?

WWE SmackDown Star Comments on Lack of TV Time

Andrew Ravens
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Aliyah has been off TV for months, and it looks like that will not be changing any time soon. 

The SmackDown star went down with an elevated first rib and AC sprain in September. She was teaming with Raquel Rodriguez on the blue brand at the time of the injury, which kept her out of in-ring action for a few weeks. However, her absence from television isn’t due to injury any longer. 

Aliyah Update

In a post on Twitter, the WWE star told a fan that she’d been cleared since October 27, 2022. A fan asked her where she has been as of late, and she responded with a Britney Spears meme with the caption, “Umm, i don’t know…”

In a response to a fan that suggested she film backstage content, she responded with, “If only I was backstage,” indicating she hasn’t been brought to events. 

She also indicated that she would not be at the Elimination Chamber show in Montreal on February 18 when she wrote the following in response to a fan who hoped to see her there: “Sorry to let you down,”

She also tweeted, “Sorry to let you down” in response to a fan who hoped that she would be in the upcoming WWE 2K23 video game.

Top WWE Merchandise Sellers Reportedly Revealed

Thomas Lowson
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WWE is doing serious business on the road to WrestleMania 39, but who are the biggest names when it comes to merchandise?

These days, merchandise sellers may not be WWE’s primary source of income (thanks to the promotion’s lucrative TV deals and Saudi contract) but still earn WWE a hefty sum.

More important merchandise sellers are a quantitative way for WWE to see who is the most popular among the fans.

Top Merchandise Sellers

With WrestleMania 39 drawing near, every WWE Superstar will hope to get the attention of the promotion’s higher-ups by moving a serious amount of merchandise.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer named the stars who are shining above the rest of the roster in terms of merch.

“A lot of the big characters are very over when it comes to selling merchandise right now. Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, I’m sure Sami Zayn. They’re hot. That’s the deal. Things look good for them going into WrestleMania season.”

Dave Meltzer.

WrestleMania 39

We already know plans for two of WWE’s top merch sellers for WrestleMania, as Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal title this April.

As for Sami Zayn, it has been rumored that he and Kevin Owens will challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos at WrestleMania 39.

It’s worth bearing in mind that these rumors began before Jey’s exit from the Bloodline at last weekend’s Royal Rumble event.

As for Bray Wyatt, all signs are pointing to an eventual clash with Uncle Howdy (played by his brother Bo Dallas) at WrestleMania.

AEW Theme Song Plays at WWE’s Royal Rumble Super Store
h/t – Sportskeeda

Huge Intercontinental Title Triple-Threat Planned for WrestleMania 39 (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER’s reign may be in serious jeopardy if WWE goes ahead with plans for a blockbuster triple-threat match at WrestleMania 39.

The Austrian powerhouse captured the title on WWE SmackDown in June of last year and is the longest-reigning champion since 2005.

If GUNTHER holds on to the gold for another week, he will surpass Shelton Benjamin’s reign and become the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of this millennium.

WrestleMania 39

GUNTHER’s performance since coming to the main roster has been heralded by fans, as seen with the response to his record-shattering performance at last weekend’s Royal Rumble.

While it was previously reported that WWE was planning on GUNTHER Vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39, that no longer appears to be the case.

Wrestle Votes reports that WWE is considering an epic triple-threat in which the leader of Imperium will defend his title against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.

The Intercontinental Championship

McIntyre is a former IC Champion, winning the title in December 2009 and holding the gold until May 2010.

Though he was suspended (in storyline) and stripped of the title by then SmackDown GM Teddy Long, an edict by Mr. McMahon undid Long’s actions, and WWE counts McIntyre’s run as one, uninterrupted reign.

Sheamus is yet to hold the Intercontinental Championship, which is the only title he needs to complete the Grand Slam.

Both McIntyre and Sheamus have spoken previously about wanting to be the one to dethrone the Austrian, and Sheamus’ pursuit of the title led to the much-acclaimed match at WWE Clash at the Castle last September.

Triple H Praises “Incredible” GUNTHER After Record-Breaking Rumble Performance

Two Former WWE Champions Teasing WrestleMania Match

Colby Faria
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Two former WWE Champions are going at it on social media in a situation that could produce a ‘Match of the Night’ contender for WrestleMania Goes Hollywood.

With the Royal Rumble in the rear-view mirror, WrestleMania season is officially upon us. When it comes to some of the best performers in the event’s illustrious history, Edge is a name that comes to mind. The WWE Hall of Famer, alongside Sheamus was the centerpiece of a Twitter clip released by WWE, highlighting the pair’s first meeting all the way back in 2010.

In the clip, then-WWE Champion Sheamus confronted Edge during a promo from the latter. Sheamus told the then-retired Edge that a lot has changed since ‘The Rated R Superstar’ was last around, who then agreed with Sheamus…however, Edge didn’t hold back, claiming that WWE was now run by an ‘evil Ronald McDonald.’

Sheamus would quote tweet the clip, noting that with a win over Intercontinental Champion, Gunther, he would ‘pass’ Edge after becoming a Grand Slam Champion:

Edge wouldn’t waste anytime in responding, offering up the idea of a potential one-on-one match between the two:

It appears as if Sheamus is more than ready for a WrestleMania showdown with Edge:

WrestleMania 39 Updated Card

WrestleMania 39 is set to take place across two nights on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2. The 39th installment of ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ will go down from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Here are the two confirmed matches, featuring the 2023 Royal Rumble Winnners

  • Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (c) for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair (c) for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

Wheel of Fortune WWE Episode to feature Big E, Bianca Belair & More

Colby Faria
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WWE is taking over the game show world.

Several top WWE stars have filmed for the famous ‘Wheel of Fortune’ game show. Filmed at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair alongside the New Day led a star-studded episode of the popular game show.

Joining the trio of champions was Big E, Bayley, Liv Morgan, Maryse, Natalya, and Carmella. The WWE stars were paired off with select fans over the duration of the taping.

Photos and Videos of WWE Invading Wheel of Fortune

Liv Morgan and Natalya also gave fans a peak behind the curtain of the show’s tapings.

In late 2022, WWE unveiled that fans could apply to be part of the company’s involvement with Wheel of Fortune. WWE announced that fans would compete alongside their favorite stars with a chance to win various prizes.

The company officially stated:

“Winning teams will secure fabulous rewards such as a trip to WrestleMania and other exclusive WWE prize packages.”

Wheel of Fortune History

Wheel of Fortune first aired in January 1975 and has recorded over 7,000 episodes. Spin-offs of the show, including a celebrity edition have been aired due to the show’s massive success. Several WWE stars and personalities have appeared on the show over the years including The Miz, Maria Menounos, Snoop Dogg, and Drew Carey.

While not having an official airdate, it’s been reported that the episode is set to air sometime in March.

SEScoops will provide any updates on a possible airdate as it becomes available.

Bryan Danielson: Vince McMahon Asked What AEW Does Better than WWE

Colby Faria
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Bryan Danielson offered up quite the Vince McMahon story.

All Elite Wrestling star Bryan Danielson was part of a significant Bloomberg story centered around AEW and the company’s President, Tony Khan.

On the topic of AEW’s competition, Danielson claimed that Vince McMahon flat-out asked him what AEW does better than WWE.

An excerpt from the piece offers that Danielson thinks AEW puts more of a premium on the in-ring product.

“Bryan Danielson says that in early 2020 McMahon called him and asked a question that shocked the wrestler. “Do you see anything that AEW’s doing better than us?” Danielson spent the next two weeks watching every morsel of AEW programming and came to a conclusion: AEW committed more time to and placed more value on the craft of fighting in the ring. WWE’s shows were often marked by long segments of characters on the microphone. “It feels like you’re watching a wrestling show without any wrestling,” Danielson told Vince McMahon.”

Bryan Danielson History with WWE

It appears as if Bryan Danielson still has a great relationship with both Vince McMahon and WWE as Danielson appeared on the June 27, 2022, episode of Monday Night RAW via satellite to congratulate John Cena on his 20th anniversary with the company.

Bryan Danielson was a mainstay of WWE programming from 2009 through 2021. ‘The American Dragon’ claimed many accolades during his decade-plus-long tenure with the Connecticut-based company. Among his accomplishments, Danielson secured the WWE (four times), World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, and United States Championships. Danielson was the sixth Grand Slam Champion in WWE history.

Bryan Danielson AEW Debut

Danielson departed WWE in April 2021 following losing a ‘Career vs. Title’ match against Roman Reigns. ‘The American Dragon’ made his All Elite Wrestling debut on September 5, 2021 during the company’s All Out pay-per-view, where he and fellow newcomer Adam Cole, engaged in a closing segment to the show alongside The Elite.

Santino Marella: “There Are No Locker Room Cancers” in Impact Wrestling

Scott Fishman
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There is a new sheriff in town at Impact Wrestling, and his name is Santno Marella. Yes, the son of a gun who once pulled off one of the biggest upsets ever against the late Umaga. The DOA (Director of Authority) has taken over for Scott D’Amore, who is recovering from an onscreen attack from Bully Ray. Marella, real name Anthony Carelli, attributes his run with Impact to timing. 

“It’s a great company. I’ve been around a couple of times as a guest. I knew it would be an awesome place to work,” Marella explained. “The stars lined up. We’re back, and the fact I get to be Santino is amazing.” 

– Santino Marella to SEScoops

The 48-year-old is happy to step in the shoes of one of the most entertaining characters in WWE history. “Instead of being a knock-off, I get to be the genuine article,” he added. “It’s the icing on the cake for sure.” 

Santino Open to Wrestling Again

Impact’s parent company Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions was able to secure the trademark for the ring name in December. One that went dormant in 2021. Marella may be helping maintain order on Impact, but he doesn’t rule out having a match or two. 

“I don’t know when I will be distributing or administering the first cobra, but it’s always with me,” he added. “…I think I can wrestle a little bit. I’ve got some injuries, so it really just depends on how meticulous I am with my rehab. I have a bad back, so I’ll really need to warm it up. I can’t do it consistently but I can do a match here or there if need be.” 

Impact’s Promising Roster

The veteran is impressed with the talent pool in the company with champ Josh Alexander at the top of the list. He also appreciates the backstage atmosphere. 

“A locker room is supposed to be a mix of younger guys and older guys with the older guys helping teach,” Marella said. “If it’s the same education, there is no teaching. It can’t be rookies teaching rookies. In this case, it’s a really nice balance.”

“It’s a fun locker room. There are no locker room cancers. Nobody is complaining. It’s an upbeat locker room, which is what it’s supposed to be because you should be grateful if you’re a wrestler for a living.” 

– Santino on the Impact Locker Room

The Canadian certainly has the credentials to be a coach as the founder of the Battle Arts Academy. Even though it’s not a role he was hired for, he’ll give pearls of wisdom. Like how certain moves and motions can contribute to an overall story. 

“I always wanted to be some form of developmental,” Marella said. “We’ll talk about that more as I get settled in.” 

When asked about his future with Impact, he responds, “I’m here period. As long as they’ll have me.” 

Santino’s Plan for Impact

As far as what we’ll see in this next chapter, Marella looks to bring comic relief. He also wants to bring some structure and consistency to the show. “So many bad guys who think the rules don’t apply to them,” he said. “I’m here to make sure the rules do in fact apply to them.” 

Along with his Impact commitments, he’ll also watch proudly while his daughter Bianca looks to pave her own way in the business. “She is going to surpass anything I’ve ever done in the business within the next two years,” Marella predicts. “It’s so fun to watch.” 

One member of the family he hopes we don’t see is Marella’s “twin sister” Santina. From the sounds of it, we won’t be seeing “Miss WrestleMania” in the Knockouts division any time soon. “She would do well, but she is very irritating backstage,” Marella said. 

By the same token, he feels the future is bright with the company. Marella is happy to be back in the mix. 

“I never really left the business,” he said, about his journey. “I just pivoted from entertainer to coach. I guess I was a promoter a little bit to get my students some shows. I did enjoy that. Back onscreen…I’ll be a coach again in a different capacity or a producer down the road. I realized I’m in this business for life. I’ve got a four-year-old who wants to be a wrestler, so I guess I got to stick around now.” 

Another Law Firm Investigating WWE & Vince McMahon On Behalf of Shareholders

Thomas Lowson
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Vince McMahon is back and in charge of WWE once more, but the Chairman isn’t exactly feeling the love.

McMahon returned to WWE’s Board of Directors less than a month ago and has since been appointed as Executive Chairman.

The 77-year-old’s return has seen several departures, including his daughter Stephanie, and Man Jit Singh, the board member who oversaw last year’s investigation into the billionaire.

Investigation

It is believed by some that McMahon’s strong-arming his way back into WWE was in violation of rules set out by the company.

Bronstein, Gewirtz, & Grossman announced this week that they are investigating WWE for “violations of the securities laws” on behalf of WWE investors.

The investigation will look into “whether WWE and/or the company’s officers and directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the above-alleged misconduct.”

More Investigations

This investigation by Bronstein, Gewirtz, & Grossman is just the latest in a growing list of investigations looking at Mcmahon’s return.

It has previously been reported that Detroit’s Police and Fire Retirement System filed a lawsuit against McMahon after being voted back on to the WWE Board of Directors.

Another lawsuit into McMahon has been filed in Delaware’s Chancery Court, alleging McMahon pushed aside the board to install himself as chairman again illegally. 

A separate lawsuit, suing over McMahon’s alleged history of paying to cover up sexual harassment accusations, also questions the legitimacy of McMahon’s return to WWE.

It was reported that McMahon (WWE’s majority shareholder) was ready to vote against any sales offers or TV rights deals if he was not brought back to the promotion.

Vince McMahon Has Not Attended Any TV Tapings or Creative Meetings Yet (Report)

Brock Lesnar Got Heat Backstage Over Unplanned WWE Royal Rumble Spots

Thomas Lowson
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Brock Lesnar’s time in the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match was short and sweet, but earned the Beast Incarnate some backstage heat.

After returning to WWE programming on the Raw is XXX episode, costing Bobby Lashley his United States Championship match against Austin Theory.

Lashley (who returned to WWE in 2018 in the hopes of facing Lesnar,) got a (controversial) win over Brock at Royal Rumble 2022, with Lesnar getting his win back (also in controversial circumstances) at WWE Crown Jewel. Entering the Royal Rumble last weekend, Lesnar scored three eliminations before his shocking elimination by Lashley.

The former WWE Universal Champion lasted less than three minutes in the Rumble match but earned heat backstage over his actions after his elimination. Fightful Select reports that while a post-elimination freakout by Lesnar was planned, some of what happened caught many by surprise.

Some in the ring were not prepared for Lesnar’s spot with the steel steps, and the spot where Lesnar threw a piece of the announcer’s table in the ring was also unplanned.

The spot that earned Lesnar some heat was an unplanned situation when referee Eddie Orengo was thrown over the barricade.

Sources in WWE told Fightful that it was initially believed that Orengo may have injured his foot, and his status remains unclear at this time.

Orengo was supposed to raise the hand of Cody Rhodes, the winner of the Men’s Rumble match, but that was changed as he needed to sell Lesnar’s attack.

No Punishment?

While Brock’s actions caught many off-guard, the former Universal Champion is unlikely to face any serious consequences.

One source told Fightful “heat is a relative term for Brock Lesnar. He’s not going to get in trouble.”

The source added that WWE is under a new regime, but Lesnar’s standing seemingly stays the same, and said that while not everyone was mad backstage, some were.

Looking Back At Brock Lesnar’s Dominant Run Through The WWE King Of The Ring Tournament

Charlotte Flair Only Learned Of Title Win While at the Final SmackDown of 2022

Thomas Lowson
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WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Charlotte Flair is once again back on top, but her win came out of the blue.

Flair returned to WWE programming on the December 30, episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX, where she dethroned Ronda Rousey.

The match came after Rousey had already retained her title against Raquel Rodriguez, and marked Flair’s first appearance on WWE TV since May 2022.

Out of the Blue

Flair’s win was a shock to fans, as there had been no inclination of her return, but it also came as a shock to Flair.

Speaking to Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast, Flair recalled learning of her latest championship victory.

“I didn’t find out I was winning the title until I got there. I didn’t have gear with me. My amazing cleaning lady brought me my gear. I should have known better. I’m coming to a wrestling show, I just brought my outfit.

“I thought it was just going to be a walkout surprise because I had been gone for so long, I really didn’t need to be any major fireworks, but when I got there they were like, ‘You need your gear.’ I got the call at maybe 5ish that I needed gear, right before I got to the arena. She got to the arena around 7, 7:15.”

The final SmackDown of 2022 took place in Tampa, Florida, not far from Flair’s residence where her gear was in Orlando.

The Future

Flair did not expect to be SmackDown Women’s Champion at this point in time, but the Queen is on the Road to WrestleMania 39.

During this week’s Raw, Rhea Ripley, the winner of the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, selected Flair as her WrestleMania 39 opponent.

The two previously faced off at WrestleMania 36, where Flair dethroned the Australian to capture the NXT Women’s Championship.

Ric Flair Believes Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley Should Be A WrestleMania Main Event

h/t – Fightful

Samoa Joe Wins TNT Championship, Becomes King of TV Again

Samantha Schipman
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Samoa Joe returned to TV via video package last week and told Allin he was coming for his TNT Championship. He kept his promise in the main event of AEW Dynamite.

The reigning champion came to the ring wearing a hoodie covered in thumbtacks. The two battled into the crowd, including Joe throwing Allin down on the steps.


Samoa Joe Two Belts

Samoa Joe

There was also a Coffin Drop in the thumbtack hoodie, chairs and tables in a wild main event. Allin cut the ropes holding the mat in place to expose the ring. This would backfire as the ROH Television Champion would do a Muscle Buster from the second rope onto the exposed ring.



While Samoa Joe Two Belts celebrated, a familiar sound blasted through the speakers. Wardlow has returned and came straight for his enemy. He attempted to put Joe in the Powerbomb Symphony, but the champ rolled out of the ring just in time. An incensed “Mr. Mayhem” attacked several security guards. He yeeted one poor soul into a group of security he had just attacked and Joe and his belts watched safely from the ramp.

Jade Cargill Earns 50th Consecutive Win

Samantha Schipman
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On AEW Dynamite, Jade Cargill looked to continue her winning streak against former Baddie, Red Velvet.

Prior to becoming a Baddie, Cargill and Red Velvet had history. Cargill defeated her in the TBS Championship Title tournament Quarter Final.

Jade Cargill Makes History

Jade Cargill
(AEW)

Red Velvet held her own and nearly became the “one in 49-1.” Keira Hogan attacked Leila Grey and sent her into the steps. While it was happening, Red Velvet was pinning the champion. Aubrey Edwards was distracted by Hogan and Grey and missed what was happening inside the ring. Cargill was able to get her shoulder up.

Cargill hit her Jaded finisher to earn her 50th consecutive win. Afterwards, she celebrated with her daughter on the way to the back.

On January 5th, Cargill marked one year as AEW TBS Champion. As she walked to the ring tonight, the stat shown on screen was that Cargill is the longest reigning champion in AEW history at 392 days. With her 50th win, the champion remains undefeated.

AEW Announces ‘House Rules’ Live Event Series

Colby Faria
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All Elite Wrestling’s has announced the ‘AEW House Rules’ tour, a series of live events that will soon take place across the United States. Ahead of Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, the company sent out a press release announcing the first details.

The first installment of the series will take place on Saturday, March 18 in Troy, Ohio at the Hobart Arena. The show is set to feature several current and former champions including Ohio’s own Jon Moxley.

Tony Khan’s Statement on ‘AEW House Rules’

“As a lifelong fan of professional wrestling who grew up attending house shows, AEW House Rules is an exciting next step in our journey. We’re always looking for meaningful ways to engage with our fans, and AEW House Rules will be a great way for them to connect with our incredible talent.”

AEW Director of Business Development Jeff Jarrett’s Statement on ‘AEW House Rules’

“The extraordinary success of AEW changed the landscape of professional wrestling. Not only as a whole, but by providing a fresh new product in a manner deemed impossible years ago. As expand to house shows, fans can expect an innovative approach along with the best talent in professional wrestling. In addition to satisfying diehard fans, we’re excited about creating new fans of all ages.”

Ticket Information

Tickets for the new live event series will go on-sale on Friday, February 3 at 10:00 a.m. EDT/7:00 a.m. PDT and can be purchased at AEWTix.com.

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