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Jake Paul: Logan Has Mastered the ‘New Way’ of the Entertainment Industry

Thomas Lowson
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Jake Paul believes that he and his brother Logan have been able to ‘master’ the newest form of entertainment that sees plenty of crossovers. 

Logan Paul signed with WWE in 2022 and has impressed fans with his skills in the ring. In addition to competing for WWE, Paul has also competed in boxing, and has his own brand of energy drinks ‘PRIME Energy.’ In addition to all of this, Paul continues to vlog and has millions of followers across his social media accounts. 

“That’s the new way of the entertainment industry. It’s doing it all, you have to do it all. You have to be in all the places and all the businesses, marketing yourself, staying busy, creating companies and that’s I think what me and my brother have proven and shown. It’s being multifaceted and being different. People want to see something they’ve never seen before and I think we’ve mastered that.”

Jake Paul in WWE?

Logan Paul may be WWE’s reigning U.S. Champion, but his brother isn’t against challenging the Maverick. During the interview, Jake was asked about possibly facing his brother in the ring and said: 

“Yeah, I’m down. Let’s run it, Logan. Let’s run it.”

Jake hasn’t competed for WWE yet but appeared in support of his brother at WWE Crown Jewel 2022. Logan Paul’s first defense as U.S. Champion will see him face the winner of an ongoing tournament on SmackDown. 

Is Logan Paul the greatest WWE United States Champion that we’ve seen in years? Yes according to one Superstar. Click here to find out more. 

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

WWE Has New Milestone In Their Sights With 2024 Royal Rumble Event

Aaron Varble
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WWE is experiencing a booming period in their company’s history right now. It’s no new occurrence to see that they have broken another record after a big event. They are also setting a very high bar for the 2024 Royal Rumble event in Tropicana Field on January 27th.

In preparation for their next Premium Live Event, WWE is launching a concentrated effort to ignite interest. Fans are anticipating one of the company’s Big Four Premium Live Events, especially after CM Punk announced that he will be in the big over-the-top-rope match.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the Royal Rumble’s ticket sales, noting their impressive performance and projecting a gate of close to $8 million. He added that the company aims to establish a record for the largest paid attendance or the second-largest for the Royal Rumble.

”Royal Rumble is doing great in ticket sales, I don’t know the number but they are projecting a gate of close to $8 million. I think they’re looking for the largest paid attendance or second largest, you know the Alamodome one year ago. They’re looking at 50,000 people for this one. It’s gonna have to be 50,000 sold now, but that’s what they’re hoping for, especially with the announcement of Punk in the match.”

WWE established the largest attendance record for the Royal Rumble last year at the Alamodome, with 51,338 people present. With all of the hype they’re putting toward this show, it stands to reason that they will break a new record in 2024.

The WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event is scheduled for January 27, 2024, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The event is generating significant anticipation, with big ticket sales already recorded more than a month before the show.

We will have to see how many fans WWE can pack into Tropicana Field. The company knows that venue well, as it played host to a ThunderDome setup during the pandemic. Of course, those events had zero live fans in attendance, meaning that this stop by Tropicana Field will mean so much more.

We will have complete coverage of the Royal Rumble, and everything leading up to the big event over the next month, here at SE Scoops. 

WWE May Be Working Toward Gunther vs Brock Lesnar Dream Match

Aaron Varble
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WWE carefully crafts their storylines, often over several months, especially when titles are a part of the situation. That being said, they appear to have dropped a major storyline for some reason, but the company may have a very good reason for doing so.

Chad Gable and Gunther have faced off a few times this year, with Gable handing Gunther his first loss on the main roster via count-out back in August. They followed up with that a couple of times, and Gable made a big promise to beat The Ring General for his child, but now GUNTHER has moved on to The Miz once again.

WWE hasn’t revisited the Gable and Gunther feud. Now, GUNTHER has promised an Intercontinental Title match to The Miz, and if The A-Lister loses, he can’t challenge for GUNTHER’s belt again. The company may have much bigger things in mind for GUNTHER.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed Chad Gable and Gunther’s feud, stating that the company has dropped the angle entirely. Meltzer then suggested that Gunther might eventually lose the Intercontinental Title to someone like Julius Creed. That being said, there is a feeling that a Brock Lesnar dream match may be in the pipeline.

You know Chad Gable did that big promo, guy was going to win it for his daughter. They completely dropped that, they’re not even in that direction anymore. I don’t think it’s him because there’s no follow up. 

They won’t do it, but a guy who could actually, because of the tag team thing because they keep tag team separate. I like Julius Creed beating Gunther in a fluke situation and then Gunther going up and challenging Rollins.

What could happen next year is Gunther vs Brock Lesnar. Because he’s now over enough, to me that’s a WrestleMania match. I suppose he could just be champion till then and Lesnar wins the Intercontinental. But, Lesnar doesn’t work enough to do that and I don’t see Lesnar losing to Gunther. But I could see Gunther being cheated out of the belt and not lose face.”

Gunther defended his title against Chad Gable again in September in a match that many enjoyed in a lot of ways. Although Gable came close, Gunther rallied, utilizing a lethal combination of moves to defeat Gable, shattering his dreams and even making Gable’s daughter cry. Now, we will have to see what’s next for Chad Gable, but it appears that he won’t be thanking WWE for an IC Title shot any time soon.

What’s next for GUNTHER in WWE

The Miz has a big task ahead of him as well, as he faces GUNTHER once again. We will have to see if the A-Lister has what it takes to win that match, because GUNTHER has proven to be a virtually unbeatable opponent.

Chad Gable is still leading the Alpha Academy, and they’re a fan-favorite team. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more of their antics in WWE, and whatever Triple H has booked for everyone involved.

WWE’s Reason For Not Giving CM Punk Closing Segment Of 12/11 RAW

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk has been back in WWE since Survivor Series last month, and it’s been quite a ride since then. He has maintained momentum with frequent appearances across all WWE shows in recent weeks. While a significant part of RAW this week, he did not close out the show, and the reasoning behind this decision makes sense when it is explained.

Monday Night RAW’s latest episode left a lasting impression for several reasons, notably due to CM Punk engaging in a fiery promo segment with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Then he inked an exclusive deal with WWE RAW, solidifying his place in WWE.

Dave Meltzer spoke about this during Wrestling Observer Radio, where he discussed why CM Punk didn’t conclude the show. The decision was ultimately made to ensure the maximum audience saw Punk’s promo segment, leading to its placement at 9 o’clock.

”It’s the main event and they wanted a long main event, and that’s the thing they put on last. They didn’t put Punk’s decision on last which is interesting because Punk’s decision was the #1 thing. I think that the idea was they knew that even if they put Punk’s decision on last, even though that would hold more viewers better than this match, less viewers would see it. So they put the Punk decision on at 9 o’clock when they think they would get the highest, it’s usually the high point of the show. So they everybody to see the Punk decision.”

CM Punk also had his time cut during the main event segment of RAW after Survivor Series. He went on to make a quip about his time getting shortened during his SmackDown appearance later on.

It will be interesting to see what is in the future for CM Punk, but he will be doing it on the red brand. Obviously, he also has Seth Rollins in his sights, but he may have to win the Royal Rumble to get a shot at The Visionary’s World Heavyweight Championship.

CM Punk will be a good fit on RAW, as he continues carving out a new place for him in WWE. For more updates, please keep checking in with SE Scoops.

Iron Claw Coordinator Chavo Guerrero Calls Film A “Service” to Legendary Von Erichs

Thomas Lowson
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Chavo Guerrero has praised the efforts of the upcoming The Iron Claw as a service to the legendary Von Erich family. 

The Iron Claw delves into the lives and numerous tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family. The wrestling lineage began with Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson,) and his sons would also find success in the squared circle. The Von Erichs are still a force in wrestling today with Marshall & Ross Von Erich competing to this day.

Chavo Guerrero on The Iron Claw

Chavo Guerrero is, like so many, excited to see The Iron Claw in cinemas later this month. The ex-Superstar is tied to the film as the official wrestling coordinator and has worked with the cast to create an accurate and compelling performance. Appearing on the Insight podcast, Guerrero spoke about the film and how it effectively represents the Von Erichs. 

“It’s doing one of the most influential families a service. It’s portraying their story and not making it a martyr film… They’re actually making this movie, a really true awesome movie. It’s not a wrestling movie. It’s about a family who happens to be wrestlers.”

Working with the Cast

Guerrero’s role as the film’s wrestling coordinator is the latest big project that the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion has been tied to. On the podcast, Guerrero spoke about the connections he was able to make with the cast of The Iron Claw. 

“I’ve created a bond. Wrestling creates a bond with people. Being on the road and traveling, being in the trenches with other wrestlers of course but also when I’m training actors, there’s this trust we have to build with each other.”

You squish in as much as you can, whatever they can absorb. Every actor is different. Zac [Efron] was able to absorb a lot so we kind of sped him through it but I threw a lot at him. When you’re creating a scene, there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration. We have to take in the script, what the director wants, how the DP [Director of Photography] wants to shoot it. But also what your actors can and can’t perform. So you have to work within the parameters.

“Once I can get them to give me trust and just know that I’m never going to put them in harm’s way. Safety is the number one port of order for me. Of course we’ve got to get the shot I have an actor to protect. So the number one thing is safety and I won’t let them do anything that I’m sure they can’t repeat a hundred times. It’s one of those things. You know there are fluke accidents and freak accidents that happen.”

Guerrero added that in a way, the actors of the film already know some of the fundamentals of wrestling, even if they don’t know that they know. 

“I explain to my actors, the same thing with my GLOW girls, everybody on that awesome Netflix show. I explain to them, ‘Y’all know how to wrestle. You just don’t know you know yet.’ They’re like ‘What do you mean?’ So I portray it to acting a lot. What do you do in acting? You’re convincing the studios that you’re better looking than you are, you’re a better actor than you are, you’re taller than you are. You’re much more handsome or much more beautiful than you are actually are.

“That’s what I’ve been doing in wrestling for the last 25 years. People, every time they see me they go ‘Gosh you’re a lot bigger.’ Yeah, because I portray myself a lot bigger.”

MJF has a role in The Iron Claw but his role was originally much bigger than what made the final cut. Click here to find out more. 

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

Braun Strowman Hungry for A Rematch with “Arch Nemesis” Roman Reigns

Thomas Lowson
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WWE SmackDown Superstar Braun Strowman is ready to step back in the ring with Roman Reigns, deeming the Tribal Chief his arch-nemesis. 

The Monster Among Men returned to WWE last September after being released in late 2021. Strowman has spent much of his time on the shelf though and is currently recovering from neck fusion surgery. Speaking to Wrestle Binge, Strowman was asked about who’s next for him once he is back and made it clear he wants another shot against the Head of the Table. 

“I’m never finished with Roman Reigns. He is my arch nemesis and my greatest rivalry of my career, and hopefully one of these days I’ll get back in there and get these hands on The Tribal Chief.” 

Braun Strowman Vs. Roman Reigns

Strowman and Reigns have shared the ring a total of 21 times (not including performances in Royal Rumble matches.) The pair first collided at WWE Night of Champions 2015 and saw Strowman, Bray Wyatt, and Luke Harper defeat Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Jericho. 

Strowman and Reigns would feud in 2017 and would collide over the Universal Championship in late 2018. Years later, Strowman would take the pinfall loss at Payback 2020, which saw the start of Reigns’ historic tenure as WWE Universal Champion. Strowman and Reigns last competed on the October 16, 2020, episode of SmackDown, which saw the Tribal Chief get the win. 

Braun Strowman won’t rule out a return to WWE programming for a massive upcoming event. Click here to find out more. 

H/T – Wrestling Inc

MJF Meets John Cena & Other WWE Names at The Iron Claw Premiere

Thomas Lowson
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The stars were out for the premiere of The Iron Claw, with AEW World Champion MJF being joined by names from WWE. 

The Iron Claw delves into the lives and numerous tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family. The wrestling lineage began with Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson,) and his sons would also find success in the squared circle. The Von Erichs are still a force in wrestling today with Marshall & Ross Von Erich competing to this day.

WWE & AEW Collide on the Red Carpet

MJF plays Lance Von Erich in the new film, a kayfabe relation of the family who doesn’t mesh well with the actual Von Erich wrestlers. MJF also serves as an executive producer for the film so it was hardly a surprise to see him walk the red carpet for the premiere. What may have surprised fans though is that MJF was joined by some of WWE’s top names, including 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena. 

Cena wasn’t the only notable name to meet up with MJF at the premiere. The reigning AEW World Champion could also be seen with NXT Superstar Baron Corbin. 

Liv Morgan was also at last night’s premiere of The Iron Claw. Morgan is currently out of action with an injury and attended a party with MJF last October. 

MJF in the Iron Claw

John Cena may have made ‘You Can’t See Me’ his catcphrase, but wrestling fans may struggle to see MJF in The Iron Claw. The reigning AEW World Champion appears for a few seconds in one scene and has no lines in the film. MJF originally had a much bigger role in the film before edits were made. 

WWE RAW Set To Include Two Title Matches For December 18th Episode

Aaron Varble
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WWE booked a big show this week in Cleveland. CM Punk declared that RAW is now his brand home. Also, CM Punk followed that up with a big Royal Rumble announcement. Punk hasn’t been confirmed for RAW next week, but they did book two big title matches.

Next week, WWE RAW will be in Des Moines, Iowa. That is, of course, Seth Rollins’ home city, so odds are he will receive a hero’s welcome. The company also has two big tag team matches booked for the show.

They announced during the December 11th episode of WWE RAW that the December 18th episode will see two tag team title matches. The Undisputed and Women’s Tag Team Titles will both be on the line.

The Creed Brothers earned a #1 contender spot a few weeks ago. They will finally get that next week. It will be interesting to see how Julius and Brutus Creed do next week.

Also, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance will get their shot at Chelsea Green and Piper Niven’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. That should be quite a match, as Green and Niven have been able to sit at ringside to watch Chance and Cater for the past few weeks.

You can check out the card for the December 18th episode of WWE RAW below.

WWE RAW December 18th Card

Judgment Day vs Creed Brothers – Undisputed Tag Team Titles

Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs Katana Carter & Kayden Carter – WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles

We will have complete coverage of the December 18th episode of WWE RAW here at SE Scoops. Keep checking back for more updates.

Drew McIntyre Awarded WWE World Heavyweight Title Shot Against Seth Rollins

Aaron Varble
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WWE RAW will air a live episode of their show on January 1st, 2024. Now, fans have an even bigger reason to get excited about starting 2024 with the red brand.

Drew McIntyre has been on a tear since turning heel. He explained his reasoning for that decision, as he fought to earn what he thought was his in the first place. He wants a top title, and now he will get that shot. 

https://twitter.com/DaColdOneIVS/status/1734381462319706419

Drew McIntyre will take on Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title. This match will go down during their January 1st episode of RAW in San Diego, California. That is also a match that McIntyre has worked hard to get.

CM Punk was there as Adam Pearce broke the news backstage. Drew McIntyre, however, was not in any mood to talk. There were some old friends around, like Kofi Kingston, who showed up to say hello to CM Punk.

What’s next for Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract is up just after WrestleMania 40. He hasn’t inked a new deal, but there is also plenty of time to work something out. The most recent report said that he is considering taking some time off with his family.

Drew McIntyre has been trying to earn his slot against Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It appears that he will only have to wait a few more weeks to get that opportunity.

We will have to see who rings in the new year for WWE as World Heavyweight Champion. For more updates, please keep it tuned with us here at SE Scoops.

CM Punk Makes Big Royal Rumble Announcement During 12/11 WWE Raw

Aaron Varble
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The 2014 Royal Rumble was the last WWE match that CM Punk has wrestled in. He was taken out early by Kane, and then he walked out of the company. Things have changed, but the Royal Rumble is still an incredible test for any Superstar.

CM Punk showed up on WWE RAW this week in Cleveland, and he had a big decision to make. He also made a huge announcement in the process directed at Seth Rollins.

CM Punk expressed that walking out of WWE was one of the toughest choices he had ever made. He declared that his future was beginning in Cleveland, aiming to rectify past mistakes.

CM Punk informed Adam Pearce that he is now the newest RAW Superstar, stating, “CM Punk is home.” Following this announcement, Seth Rollins entered the scene to engage in a promo confrontation with Punk.

After Seth Rollins cut a promo in CM Punk’s face, the Second City Savior took a moment to let those words settle. Then, Punk said that Rollins gets one free pass to disrespect him.

CM Punk then told Seth Rollins that he is entering the Royal Rumble, and when he wins, he just may come after Rollins’ WWE World Heavyweight Title.

We will keep our eye on this story here at SE Scoops. So far, the 2024 Royal Rumble has Cody Rhodes and CM Punk in the match, both entrants could have WrestleMania main events ahead of them.

CM Punk Declares WWE Raw His New Home Brand

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk has appeared for every WWE brand since his shocking return at November 25th’s Survivor Series event. The time finally came for him to claim a brand home, and that’s exactly what happened during the December 11th episode of WWE RAW.

CM Punk has been busy in recent memory. He showed up at NXT Deadline, and then he was in Cleveland for RAW. The Second City Savior was all ready to deliver some big news about his brand home as RAW entered its second hour.

Adam Pearce said, “the time for a sales pitch is over.” CM Punk was there to make a big decision, and he did just that.

CM Punk said that he’s been thinking about his decision all week, and it has consumed him. Then he said that Cleveland hasn’t been historically kind to him, because there are some ghosts in that building for Punk. Then he told a story about debuting in that same building years ago.

Punk Signs With Raw

CM Punk said that taking himself “off the hamster wheel” was one of the hardest decisions he ever had to make. He showed up to Cleveland to right some wrongs as he said, “my future starts now.”

That is when CM Punk told Adam Pearce that he is the newest RAW Superstar. Now “CM Punk is home.” Right after that, Seth Rollins came out to get in Punk’s face for a promo.

What’s next for CM Punk on WWE RAW

Seth Rollins threw some big shots at CM Punk, as he reacted to fans chanting Punk’s name at a WWE live event. It appears that Punk and Rollins are destined to collide.

CM Punk is still a free agent internally, but this will keep him on the RAW brand for the time being. I was told that Punk is “assigned” to the RAW brand, despite his free agent status. It appears that he is kicking things off on the red team with a lot of momentum.

Sami Zayn’s Injury Status Confirmed During 12/11 RAW

Aaron Varble
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WWE is going to have to go without Sami Zayn for the time being. The former NXT Champion is out of action after a brutal attack from Drew McIntyre. Now we know what his injury is.

Sami Zayn took a beat down from Drew McIntyre during the December 4th episode of WWE RAW. That resulted in an injury in storyline, and they broke that news during RAW this week.

They revealed on commentary during the December 11th episode of WWE RAW that Sami Zayn suffered a “partially torn meniscus.“

What’s next for Sami Zayn?

As we previously reported, Sami Zayn requested time off from WWE. It isn’t known exactly how long he will be out of action, but they are selling this as a legit injury on RAW.

Sami Zayn will likely be back in due time, and with a fresh outlook after a bit of rest. His injury is not legit as far as we can tell, but he certainly deserves the time off.

We will continue covering this story, right here at SE Scoops. Sami Zayn may be back in time for the Royal Rumble on January 27th, which would be a nice break for the Underdog from the Underground.

Seth Rollins’ WWE Contract Expires In A Matter Of Months

Aaron Varble
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WWE is closing out 2023 with a huge boost in business. Live events are selling well, and CM Punk’s return also provided a huge boost in interest, more than they already had. That being said, 2024 is set to be a very interesting year in terms of contracts, and now we know another Superstar whose deal is set to expire next year.

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select during the Backstage report that Seth Rollins’ WWE deal is currently slated to be up in June, as is Becky Lynch’s. Their contracts are added to a growing list of WWE Superstars whose deals are expiring next year.

There have been rumors about Seth Rollins’ WWE contract situation, but nothing has been confirmed until now. As of this writing, there is no report about inking a new deal. One would expect that WWE will want to do everything they can to keep Seth Rollins and his wife, Becky Lynch, on the roster.

The outlet noted that they reached out to confirm this news with WWE, and the company would not deny the information. It appears that WWE has two big contracts ending in June, but Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch are only two big deals expiring next year.

WWE has a few big contracts expiring in 2024, including Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins’ deals also running up adds even higher stakes. The company is seeing several top stars’ deals tick down because they signed so many to extensions prior to the pandemic.

WWE also just released a lot of talent, including over 100 employees from their corporate offices. Those Superstars that WWE cut in September are set to break the free agent market wide open in a matter of days.

For more on this story, keep checking out SE Scoops. WWE has a lot of things that they need to accomplish in 2024, including keeping the stars that they want under contracts.

WWE & MLW End Antitrust Lawsuit With Undisclosed Settlement

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a lot of legal situations right now, but their long-running legal situation with MLW is now over. This antitrust lawsuit was a huge deal for a time, and now a settlement has been reached.

In January 2022, MLW initiated a lawsuit against WWE, alleging anticompetitive practices and interference in MLW’s business operations. The claim asserted that WWE, under Vince McMahon’s leadership, used its influence to obstruct MLW from securing a television deal with a major network, thus hindering their growth and violating antitrust laws. Recently, it has been revealed that MLW and WWE have reached a settlement, marking the conclusion of their legal dispute.

WWE presented an extensive list of potential defenses against MLW, and according to Brandon Thurston of WrestleNomics, the latest court documents indicate that the two parties are in the process of finalizing a settlement in the suit.

“The Parties are in the process of completing the final settlement documents and expect to file the appropriate dismissal papers within the next thirty (30) days.”

The lawsuit also contended that Triple H contacted Madison Square Garden, urging them to cancel an event hosted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor. This was a thorn in their side for a while, but the terms of the settlement have not been revealed at this time.

WWE attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed by arguing that MLW’s claim lacked validity. However, the court ruled against WWE’s motion, permitting MLW’s lawsuit to proceed. In their pursuit of justice, MLW requested 22 years of data from WWE as part of the legal proceedings.

Many believe that WWE changed up a number of competitive tactics due to this lawsuit. This could also be the reason why WWE is no longer restricting AEW venues. We will keep our eye on this story for more updates at SE Scoops.

WWE has experienced a number of legal hurdles over the years. As they are now owned by TKO Group Holdings, only time will tell how that will dictate the future for the company.

Athena Issues Warning to Two AEW Champions: You Got An X On Your Back

Ella Jay
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Athena has established herself as a dominant force within the Ring of Honor women’s division, recently surpassing one year as ROH Women’s Champion. As she looks to continue her reign, though, Athena has some other goals she’d like to accomplish outside of the ROH brand. 

During an interview with Under The Ring, “The Fallen Goddess” discussed her potential next moves, which includes a possible return to AEW programming. 

While Athena’s initial AEW run did not go entirely as she had hoped, she is confident that this go-around would produce a more successful outcome. 

Athena Puts AEW’s Champions on Notice

Athena ready to take on AEW’s Champions

With an AEW return in her vision, Athena issued a warning to two of the company’s current champions — Julia Hart and Toni Storm.

“I think the next step for me would definitely be to take a crack at AEW TV again,” she began. “My first time around was not great, and I lost to the all-powerful Jade Cargill. I think now with me being the forever ROH Women’s Champion, I want to be a Triple Crown Champion by the end of 2024. I’m going after all of the belts, the TBS Champion Julia Hart, The AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm,”

She continued, “I’m not content with just beating up these fragile broads left and right. This is your warning, I am coming for you guys in 2024. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. You got an X on your back, and it’s only a matter of time before we get there.”

Since the dissolution of AEW Dark and AEW Dark Elevation earlier this year, Athena has been primarily focused on boosting the ROH brand, where she now resides as a regular fixture. Later this week, Athena will defend her ROH Women’s Championship against her former Minion, Billie Starkz, in the main event of ROH Final Battle.

Should Athena retain her title at Final Battle, it appears that Athena will then begin her mission of capturing the TBS Championship and AEW Women’s Championship. 

Internal word on Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks possibly returning to WWE

Aaron Varble
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0

Mercedes Mone has fans eagerly awaiting word on her next move in the world of pro wrestling. 

The WWE Superstars formerly known as Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of the company together in May 2022, relinquishing their WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles in a defiant display aimed at Vince McMahon’s booking. They have both landed in other companies after that, and Trinity is now locked into a TNA Wrestling deal. That being said, Mercedes Mone’s contract status is a much more shrouded situation.

Triple H was asked by Ariel Helwani a few months ago if Sasha Banks’ return to WWE is a possibility. His response was, “Time will tell,” which left a lot to be interpreted, especially through his bearded grin.

Fans are still waiting for an official update about Mercedes Mone’s NJPW contract status. She was once thought to be a slam dunk for Tony Khan, as she showed up at AEW All In London. She remained seated during that brief appearance at Wembley Stadium, because she was still in a walking boot. That ankle injury was real, and she is just now approaching the end of that injury hiatus.

As the 2024 Royal Rumble looms closer on January 27th, some fans are hoping to see Sasha Banks make a return to WWE. With Triple H in control, anything is possible. During a recent episode of Keeping it 100, Konnan shared his view that ‘all roads lead back to WWE’ – especially for someone like ‘Sasha Banks’ – who achieved megastardom in WWE and then branched out in Hollywood.

“She’s a big megastar, looks professional, has worked on ‘The Mandalorian,’ … she’s from their system. I said this a couple of months ago, and I’m going to repeat it again — everybody comes back to WWE.”

Bayley also admitted that she “begs” Mercedes Mone every chance she can to make a WWE return. She also posted a photo of Mercedes alongside some Damage CTRL members recently, just to stir the pot even more.

Mercedes Mone Update (Exclusive)

I have spoken to sources within WWE who have confirmed to me on three separate occasions over the past 30 days that there are no contract talks between Mercedes Mone and WWE. The creative team is also not discussing any ideas for her return to the company. That being said, this is a much different time, especially how information flows within WWE.

I was told by a tenured member of the WWE team on December 12th that, “Sasha Banks’ name will only come up when there’s a deal.” Per one source, “There’s no deal, or no deal yet.”

CM Punk’s return during the closing moments of the 2023 Survivor Series premium live event in Chicago meant a lot more than a massive pop in the Allstate Arena. It also signified that anything is really possible in WWE right now, as Triple H has obviously thrown away the old way doing a lot of things.

CM Punk’s Road Back To WWE

In April 2023, CM Punk showed up to visit with people backstage during a WWE RAW in Chicago, but Vince McMahon had him removed. Punk was also under AEW contract at the time, but no report surfaced saying that had anything to do with the reason why Mr. McMahon didn’t want Punk around. 

Triple H admitted in the press conference after Survivor Series that CM Punk’s deal came together after everyone already thought it was too late to work something out. I spoke to sources in the company during that time, and they confirmed time and time again that there were no talks, and the WWE creative team knew nothing.

CM Punk made his return to WWE, as a huge shock to the creative team as well. It’s anyone’s guess how WWE will play their hand with a possible Sasha Banks return, but it’s possible that we have another situation where only Nick Khan and Triple H are aware of the surprise before the big moment. 

Punk’s return shows the door is wide open for Sasha Banks (or Mercedes Mone) to walk right through. This is also perfect timing for the Royal Rumble, an event that is always sure to include a surprise or two. 

Keep checking back with us here at SE Scoops for more updates.

CM Punk Sells Astronomical Amount Of WWE Merchandise After His Return

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk returned in shocking fashion during the closing moments of the 2023 Survivor Series premium live event. His comeback sparked a huge wave of fan support, and they are opening their wallets in a big way for his merchandise. 

PW Insider noted that CM Punk moved a ton of merchandise on the night of his WWE return. It was stated that his merchandise moved into the six-figure rage on November 25th, the night of Survivor Series.

WWE only had one t-shirt out initially after CM Punk’s return at Survivor Series. It was a Survivor Series t-shirt that noted The Best In The World is back.

WWE Shop quickly filled up CM Punk’s merchandise category with more merchandise. At this time, they are selling plaques for his WWE return, a hoodie, and a few t-shirt options.

CM Punk merchandise is always a best seller at WWE Shop

Odds are, WWE will keep adding CM Punk merchandise to their official shop, because it is selling. CM Punk is proving once again that he is a merchandise mover, and the amount of tickets that move after his appearances are announced proves he also moves the needle.

CM Punk didn’t even have to wear any of his own merchandise at NXT Deadline. As he opted for a Bret “Hitman” Hart hoodie instead, Punk even teased Shawn Michaels about forgetting his HBK merch.

Keep checking back with us here at SE Scoops for more updates on CM Punk. At this point, anything is possible in WWE, and that could also call for some creative shifts as they make room for the Second City Savior on the WrestleMania 40 card.

Surprising WWE NXT Superstar Slated To Be At 12/11 RAW

Aaron Varble
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WWE has a lot of plans in store for the December 11th episode of RAW. CM Punk will be in the house, where he will declare his new brand home. It turns out that WWE will have an NXT Superstar around in case they need him as well.

PW Insider reports that Von Wagner is expected to be at WWE RAW this week. It was not noted that he is slated to appear on the red brand’s show this week, but he is expected to be in Cleveland for the show.

It was noted that Von Wagner is likely there to work tonight’s Main Event. He was drafted as a free agent during the 2023 WWE Draft. So, he could appear on any brand they want to use him on.

What this means for Von Wagner in WWE

Von Wagner hasn’t been seen on WWE NXT television since his program with Bron Breakker concluded. Wagner made a big return after a fractured skull angle, but he lost twice to Breakker. He has worked NXT live events since then, and defeated Luca Crusifino on NXT Level up, as well as beating Joe Coffey on Main Event in late November. 

WWE will often bring in NXT Superstars for Main Event tapings. It’s no big deal for that to happen, as it also gives them a chance to get a good look at talent.

We already reported that CM Punk’s RAW return sparked a huge influx in ticket sales. A lot of fans are going to pack the Rocket Mortgage Field House, Cleveland, Ohio for this week’s show.

Card for December 11th, 2023 WWE RAW

  • Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Maxxine Dupri (Non-Title Bout)
  • Becky Lynch calls out Nia Jax
  • CM Punk returns

We will have to see if WWE has any big surprises for fans this week on RAW. At this rate, you never know what will happen next. Keep checking back with us here at SE Scoops for more!

Attorney Stephen New On Representing Ace Steel Following All Out Brawl

Thomas Lowson
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Stephen P New, the attorney for Ace Steel, has agreed with the ex-AEW producer’s stance that the line a colleague can often become part of a ‘family’. 

Steel was on CM Punk’s side during the infamous All Out 2022 backstage fight, and was fired from AEW following an investigation. Steel was rehired by AEW to work with Punk for AEW Collision but on the proviso that Steel worked remotely and away from AEW events. After Punk’s contract was terminated following the backstage fight at AEW All In 2023, Steel was let go by the promotion. 

Stephen P. New on Ace Steel

In a recent interview, Ace Steel said that Punk is like family to him, and mentioned Stephen P. New as his attorney following the incident in September 2022. Taking to Twitter/X, New confirmed that he did indeed represent Steel following the All Out brawl and vouched for Steel as someone he could believe in. 

In addition to Ace Steel, New is arguably best known for being the legal counsel to wrestling personality Jim Cornette throughout the years. He has also represented the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express and the Midnight Express over trademark issues in the past. 

What’s Next for CM Punk?

CM Punk has since returned to WWE, close to a decade after his exit following the 2014 Royal Rumble. Punk will have to remain on his best behavior with reports that there is a ‘behavioral clause’ as part of his contract. So far, all reports about Punk’s conduct backstage since returning to WWE have been positive. 

Recent WWE Releases About To Explode The Pro Wrestling Free Agent Market

Aaron Varble
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In September, WWE released several talents, and that came as a big surprise. WWE fired over 100 people from their corporate headquarters, right after the TKO Group Holdings deal closed, and then they axed several members of their roster.

The NXT Superstars who were fired during that list of releases has already seen their non-compete clauses run out. NXT Superstars only have a 30-day wait, but main roster talent must wait even longer.

Although WWE released all of those Superstars at once, they saved Matt Riddle on his own the next day. He had a laundry list of infractions, personal drama, and other backstage controversies with WWE; so, he burned his last bridges and nobody could protect him from a release this time around. The Original Bro will be among those names that will enter the free agent market this week.

As of next week, around December 21st, those released WWE Superstars will be officially free agents. Their 90-day non-compete clauses are going to expire, leaving a lot of possibilities in the pro wrestling world. 

Those former WWE Superstars will officially become free agents, granting them the freedom to work with any organization. The list of wrestlers includes Mustafa Ali, Aliyah, Shelton Benjamin, Rick Boogs, Emma, Dana Brooke, Dabbo-Kato, Elias, Quincy Elliot, Mace, Mansoor, Riddick Moss, Matt Riddle, Shanky, Top Dolla, and Dolph Ziggler.

We previously reported that Dolph Ziggler already has a pro wrestling gig announced. Odds are, his schedule will be as busy as he wants it to be. 

AEW is also always a part of the conversation whenever non-compete clauses start to expire. It stands to reason that Bryan Danielson would pull to have Tony Khan sign Mustafa Ali, someone he also pulled to work with during his final run in WWE.

We will have to see where all of those former WWE Superstars appear next. It could result in some big headlines in the not too distant future.

Charlotte Flair’s Knee Injury From 12/8 WWE SmackDown Is A Serious Situation

Aaron Varble
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Charlotte Flair suffered an injury during the December 8th episode of WWE SmackDown, but she still finished out her match with Asuka. Afterward, it was a much different situation as WWE’s medical staff tended to The Queen.

Charlotte Flair raised significant concern when her match with Asuka abruptly concluded last Friday on SmackDown. After Flair’s defeat to Asuka, thanks to interference from Bayley, various live audience members shared photos and footage on social media depicting medical staff huddled around the former Women’s Champion. It was later reported that Charlotte Flair’s injury is indeed legitimate, and serious.

What’s next for Charlotte Flair after her injury?

The exact nature of Charlotte Flair’s injury remains unknown, but she was heard saying “my knee” as WWE officials assisted her backstage, indicating potential damage to the area around her knee. Further updates on Flair’s injury will be provided as more information becomes available.

It was later reported that Charlotte Flair was pulled from WWE live events, ones where she was previously advertised to compete.

According to PW Insider‘s latest report, Charlotte Flair has been removed from WWE’s live events scheduled for this week, events for which she was initially set to appear. As we mentioned, the extent of her knee injury is currently uncertain, causing concern within the wrestling community about the severity of the issue.

We will keep our eye on Charlotte Flair’s status, or if she is spotted taking any trips to Birmingham, Alabama to visit Dr. James Andrews’ world-renowned clinic which has helped many WWE Superstars get fixed up in the past. With no diagnosis report, we do not know the extent of her current knee damage.

Streaming platform FITE becomes ‘TrillerTV’ this week

Michael Reichlin
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The FITE streaming platform, a leading PPV carrier and subscription channel covering wrestling, MMA and boxing events, is rebranding as TrillerTV.

A countdown clock at the soon-to-redirecting-elsewhere FITE.tv shows they’ll flip the switch on the rebrand this Wednesday, December 13 at 7:59am.

Below is the official press release, including quotes from industry veteran Michael Weber and other executives at Triller.

Sports Streaming Leader FITE Renamed TrillerTV

TrillerTV

The best value in live streaming and the most reliable PPV and subscription platform, FITE is growing beyond its combat sports roots to offer fans even more action

New York, NY (December 11, 2023): FITE is proud to announce its rebranding as TrillerTV, signaling the continuing addition of new sports categories and closer alignment with parent company Triller. The PPV platform, subscription channel, and FAST channel will all continue to deliver the same incredible action, with the same reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation. Now, the massive reach and resources of Triller will power FITE’s continued growth through acquisitions and major sports rights licensing deals.

“TrillerTV is everything you know and trust from FITE, but with doors open for even more sports,” said Michael Weber, Co-Founder and COO of TrillerTV. “Our original name served us well, as have our loyal customers, promoters, and athletes to whom we are super grateful. The time has come to give even more to expand the experience we’ve built from the ground up to celebrate the passion and precision that makes us all love sports.”

FITE was founded in 2015 using pioneering and proprietary AI tools to enhance the viewer experience. The platform has since grown, thanks to its hard-driving, sports-fanatic team, to serve 8 million registered users around the world, and to present blockbuster events with the biggest names in their fields.

Subscription services AEW Plus, FITE+, and the FAST channel, FITE 24/7 have all grown at an astounding rate, and now FITE+ becomes TrillerTV+, FITE 24/7 becomes TrillerTV 24/7, and AEW Plus keeps its name. Both TrillerTV+ and AEW Plus have newly enabled geo-tagged pricing, increasing their value proposition for international audiences.

”Now that we’ve proven FITE in 10s of thousands of live events from all over the world, it’s time to expand to more content verticals under our new brand TrillerTV,” Kosta Jordanov, Co-Founder and CEO of TrillerTV, said, “We will be adding new sports categories, more premium brand promotions, and continuing to improve our technology to give the best user experience in streaming sports and entertainment.”

“We are thrilled to realize one of the core objectives of the acquisition of FITE,” added Mahi de Silva, CEO of Triller. “The launch of TrillerTV is the culmination of the strategy of expansion from their combat sports roots to broader sports content and even broader entertainment verticals across the globe. TrillerTV is a great example of Triller’s open-garden approach of delivering high quality entertainment on every platform; mobile phones, PCs, streaming devices, set-top-boxes and gaming consoles.”

WWE Alters SmackDown Schedule With Double Taping For Christmas

Aaron Varble
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WWE is wrapping up 2023 in style, as their business is still booming in a big way. This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown will help them get through a tricky situation with the Holiday Season, but it will require extra work on December 15th.

PW Insider reported to confirm that WWE will be taping two episodes of SmackDown this week on December 15th. The December 22nd episode will also go down in Green Bay, much to the delight of those lucky fans.

This Friday’s Smackdown taping in Green Bay, Wisconsin will feature WWE taping two episodes, PWInsider.com has learned.

WWE will broadcast live this Friday and then tape the 12/22 episode in advance.

We will have complete spoilers for the December 22nd episode of WWE SmackDown when they are made available. Those should go up after the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown concludes this week.

WWE’s Plan for the rest of 2023

Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, raising inquiries about the red brand’s schedule. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, no show is being recorded for the December 25 episode of the red brand. Instead, the intention is to air a ‘Best Of 2023’ show spanning three hours. While WWE has not officially affirmed this plan, an executive mentioned to the Observer that, to the best of his knowledge, the reports about a ‘Best Of’ show are accurate.

WWE is giving their talent a break for the end of the year. NXT is taping multiple episodes to allow for the Christmas Holiday as well. It is a change of pace for WWE, but this is also a different time in the company’s history.

Keep checking back with us, here at SE Scoops, for more on WWE’s plan as they wrap up 2023. 

Monday Primer: CM Punk’s Choice, Winter Is Coming, Okada’s Future

Ryan Droste
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Welcome to Monday Primer, our Monday morning feature that lays out what’s on tap for the week ahead in the world of professional wrestling. Get caught-up on what’s trending and what to expect from the world’s top wrestling promotions.

Here are some of the top stories in wrestling we’re tracking as we start the week:

CM Punk’s Decision

Fresh off an appearance on SmackDown and NXT last week, CM Punk returns to Raw tonight to make a decision on his future brand as a “free agent.”

With Orton having signed with SmackDown recently, it would be stunning for Punk to choose anything other than Raw. Well, and also because he’s going to be on Raw to announce his decision. Plus, there’s the fact that he’s got this storyline with Seth Rollins that seems destined for a title match at either the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania. 

AEW Continental Classic Rolls On

AEW’s Continental Classic continues to be a bright spot for the promotion, with a stellar edition of Collision (and Rampage) closing last week. This week’s edition of Dynamite includes one particularly spicy matchup, as Swerve Strickland takes on Jon Moxley in the Gold League.

Brody King, Bryan Danielson, and Andrade El Idolo are currently tied at the top of the Blue League with 6 points each. Swerve and Moxley are tied at the top of the Gold League with 9 points each, making this Wednesday’s match between them very noteworthy.

Charlotte Flair Injury

Charlotte Flair appeared to tweak her knee during a match on Friday night SmackDown with Asuka.

Since that time, it’s been reported that Flair has been pulled from all live events this week. It’s not known to what extent she is injured, though obviously it is severe enough for her to take some time off. We will keep monitoring the story closely. 

Kazuchika Okada’s Future

One of the biggest wrestling stars of this generation in Japan, Kazuchika Okada, will reportedly become a free agent in early 2024 and will test the waters when it comes to negotiating with both WWE and AEW.

Okada has been announced to appear at TNA Snake Eyes, though we don’t know anything more about his future beyond that. Some have been speculating about a possible Royal Rumble appearance, though there’s nothing more than rumors to report on that front. 

Whatever Okada chooses, whether it is coming to the U.S. or staying put in NJPW, will have ramifications for both AEW and WWE moving forward. 

SEScoops Live Shows This Week

The SEScoops Podcast, hosted by SEScoops Managing Editor Zack Heydorn and Tyler Sage, airs live Tuesday night on YouTube. Join the show live or catch it via your favorite podcasting platform afterward.

Top Rope Nation, hosted by SEScoops Site Manager Ryan Droste, Justin Joynt, and Jesse Velasquez, airs live Thursday night on YouTube. Join the show live or catch it via your favorite podcasting platform afterward.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google News to stay up to date.

Monday Primer for December 11 – December 16

Monday (December 11)

WWE Raw: CM Punk chooses which brand to sign with. Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rhea Ripley vs. Maxxine Dupri (Non-Title Match), Becky Lynch will call out Nia Jax.

Tuesday (December 12)

NXT: Deadline Fallout. Men’s Breakout tournament begins. Eddy Thorpe vs. Dijak and The Meta-Four vs. Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen & Fallon Henley.

The SEScoops Podcast airs live on the SEScoops YouTube channel at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Wednesday (December 13)

AEW Dynamite (Winter Is Coming): The Continental Classic includes Swerve Strickland vs. Jon Moxley, Jay White vs. Mark Briscoe, Rush vs. Jay Lethal, Samoa Joe speaks, Ruby Soho vs. Riho, Hangman Adam Page vs. Roderick Strong, the Golden Jets speak, and the Von Erichs return to Dallas. 

Thursday (December 14)

Impact Wrestling: Final Resolution fallout. 

MLW Fusion: Airs on the MLW YouTube Channel.

Top Rope Nation airs live on the SEScoops YouTube channel at 9:30 p.m. Eastern.

Friday (December 15)

WWE SmackDown: Nothing announced as of press time.

ROH Final Battle: AEW Women’s Title: Athena (c) vs. Billie Starkz, Keith Lee vs. Shane Taylor, Tony Nese vs. Ethan Page, Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson) vs. Mark Briscoe and FTR.

AEW Rampage: Nothing announced as of press time.

Saturday (December 16)

AEW Collision: Nothing announced as of press time. 

Lexis King Pleads With Fans: Please Stop Calling Yourselves ‘Registered Lex Offenders’

Aaron Varble
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Many wrestlers and celebrities have loyal fan bases who proudly assign names to themselves. Fans of The Miz are known as Mizfits. Pop icon Taylor Swift has her legion of Swifties. However, one WWE star is asking his followers to find a new name for their unofficial fan club.

Brian Pillman Jr. made a lot of noise when he finally made his NXT debut. Those vignettes carried on for weeks, and he finally debuted a new name in NXT, as fans now know him as Lexis King. That new-found notoriety also came with an unfortunate nickname that his fans started to call themselves – Registered Lex Offenders.

King has addressed this matter in a recent Twitch stream while playing Runescape. and is (nicely) urging his fans to stop referring themselves by a name that is too closely associated with people who commit horrific sex crimes.

Registered Lex Offenders

In Lexis King’s message to fans, he simply asked them to completely drop the name .

“Registered Lex Offenders.” He clarified that the name is not suitable for television, and although he finds it amusing, it should be discarded.

“Yeah, the Registered Lex Offenders is a little… as much as I think it’s funny, I think that one has to die. Because you know we can’t say that on TV. It’s just a little… you know, I appreciate the creativity, guys.”

Lexis King recently competed against Carmelo Hayes at the NXT Deadline Premium Live Event. The second-generation Superstar fell short in his quest for victory, but he still thanked Hayes for the PLE rub. 

What’s next for Lexis King?

As fans anticipate Lexis King’s next steps in WWE, it’s unclear how the company intends to progress his character and storyline in the upcoming weeks. If anything, it’s doubtful that he will be encouraging and “Registered Lex Offender” nicknames.

Brian Pillman Jr took a big risk when he left AEW, because he really didn’t know 100% what the result would be. Things have worked out for the best so far, if he can just get rid of that pesky nickname that his fans have started calling themselves.

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