Independent wrestling promotion Dreamwave Wrestling held their Good As Gold event on December 9, featuring four title matches. One of the matches had El Hijo Del Vikingo put the Dreamwave Alternative Championship on the line in a 4 Man Scramble Match.
After a few months of no defense, Vikingo was motivated to retain his championship for the final Dreamwave card of the year. His last successful defense was in a Four Way Match against Alex Shelley, Flamita, and Gringo Loco at Dreamwave Those Summer Nights on August 5. On the card, Vikingo found himself facing three opponents again with Jack Cartwheel, Stephen Wolf, and Gringo Loco for the title.
In what could be the best match of the night, Vikingo was able to successfully defend his title. The finish came when the champion landed a 630 Senton to pin Wolf.
Dreamwave Wrestling Good As Gold Brittnie Brooks vs. Zamaya
Another exciting match on the card had Dreamwave Women’s Champion Brittnie Brooks defending her title against Zamaya. Brooks was coming off a tough matchup against Masha Slamovich at Dreamwave Uprising on December 8. After retaining her title, Brooks was attacked by Zayda Steel and Maggie Lee. As the “heels” stood over the champion with her title, Zamaya also appeared to pose with the Dreamwave Women’s Championship.
Looking to make a statement, Brooks had a decisive win over Zamaya. After the match, Lee came out to confront the champion, which could set up a match at the next Dreamwave event.
Sreamwave Good As Gold occurred at Knights Of Columbus Hall in LaSalle, Illinois. It went live on Independent Wrestling TV. To watch the event, you must pay $10 for a subscription.
Dreamwave Wrestling Good As Gold 4 Man Scramble
Dreamwave Good As Gold Match Card Results
(Match Card Is Subject To Change)
Connor Hopkins wins Good As Gold Rumble Match
J-Rod def. Hyan
(C) Wasted Youth (Dyln McKay & Marcus Mathers) def. Zeke Zshe Enterprises LLC (J Fowler & Victor Iniestra) to retain the Interim Dreamwave Tag Team Championship
Could CM Punk make an appearance at tonight’s WWE NXT Deadline event? It’s possible according to the Best in the World.
WWE NXT Deadline will take place at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, CT, and will be NXT’s final major event of the year. This will be the second-annual NXT Deadline event and like last year’s show, will feature the Iron Survivor Challenge.
CM Punk at WWE NXT Deadline?
WWE NXT Deadline is set to feature some of the very top talent from the gold brand, and could also feature CM Punk. On Instagram, Punk said that a missed flight meant he’s currently in Bridgeport and asked if fans have any idea what he should do. To hammer the point home, WWE’s free agent posed in front of a giant Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Punk’s last appearance at an NXT event came following an episode of the gold brand in August 2012. In a dark match, Punk (the WWE Champion at the time) teamed with then-NXT Champion Seth Rollins to defeat Antonio Cesaro and Kassius Ohno, who teamed for years prior to WWE as the Kings of Wrestling. You can check out Punk’s most recent NXT appearance below.
WWE NXT Deadline
Here is the card for WWE NXT Deadline as it currently stands:
Axiom vs. Nathan Frazer (Kick-Off Show)
Dijak vs. Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs vs. Bron Breakker vs. Tyler Bate (Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge)
Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend vs. Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Fallon Henley (Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge)
“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio (c) (with Rhea Ripley) vs. Dragon Lee (with Rey Mysterio) (WWE NXT North American Championship)
Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James
Carmelo Hayes vs. Lexis King
Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Baron Corbin (WWE NXT Championship)
Wes Lee was supposed to compete at NXT Deadline, but that is no longer the case. Click here to find out why.
Charlotte Flair faced Asuka during the December 8th edition of WWE SmackDown. After contending with Damage CTRL’s presence, The lost her singles match, but she may have paid an even bigger price.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Charlotte Flair’s injury on SmackDown was legit. She needed to be helped to the back after her match, but no injury prognosis was given.
Unfortunately, we’ve confirmed that Charlotte Flair’s injury is legit. She had to be helped to the back and appeared to be in pain.
It looked like Charlotte Flair hurt her knee during that match with Asuka. There were a couple of spots that could have done the damage. In the end, The Queen needed to be escorted to the back after the match.
We’re hoping that Charlotte Flair was not seriously injured during that match, but many fans are concerned. Keep checking back with us at SE Scoops for updates on this story.
What’s your take on Charlotte Flair suffering an injury during the December 8th episode of WWE SmackDown? Let us know what you think by engaging on social media!
WWE paired up Grayson Waller and Austin Theory to form A-Town Down Under, and that heel team is making a lot of noise. They are also responsible for Kevin Owens’ recent injury, and they are not afraid to rub salt in the wound.
Kevin Owens will take on Austin Theory on the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown in the current United States Title #1 contender tournament. That match could be a rough one for Theory, but he’s not making it any better for himself.
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory appeared in a backstage promo that was released online after the December 9th episode of SmackDown.
During the video, Austin Theory broke out his uncanny “Stone Cold” Steve Austin impression, as he cut a promo on Kevin Owens while showing off a t-shirt that said “Grayson 3:16” on the front and “I Just Broke Your Hand” on the back.
“Grayson 3:16 son, why don’t you turn around and show ’em! Look at that, ‘I just broke your hand,’ son! Kevin Owens, we broke ya hand, ya ain’t got one no more! WHAT?! Grayson Waller’s gonna beat ya? WHAT?! Austin Theory’s gonna beat ya? WHAT?! We broke ya hand! WHAT?!”
Austin Theory walked off as he busted out in a Steve Austin laugh, which caused Grayson Waller to shout, “What?!” as his partner exited the frame. The two are certainly taking digs at Kevin Owens, but they might need to be careful about invoking Steve Austin’s name like that.
What’s next for Steve Austin in WWE
WWE is not currently talking about bringing Steve Austin in for a CM Punk dream match at this time. Although that rumor hit the Internet Wrestling Community in a big way, it’s not being discussed. Although fans may not see Steve Austin actually return at this time, it’s still good to hear his voice via Austin Theory’s spot-on impression.
You can watch Austin Theory and Grayson Waller’s little backstage promo in the video below.
Kevin Owens might not be able to utilize his KO punch right now due to his affliction, but there are still other ways that he is a very dangerous opponent. It will be interesting to see how Owens does in the United States Title tournament, as he has already teased having beef with Logan Paul.
You may check out the card for the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown below. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more!
December 15th, 2023 WWE SmackDown Card
Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown
Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory – 1st Round United States Title #1 Contender Tournament Match
Grayson Waller vs NXT Superstar – 1st Round United States Title #1 Contender Tournament Match
Will Kevin Owens beat Logan Paul for the United States Title after winning this tournament? Are you impressed by Austin Theory’s Steve Austin impression? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
Fans were overjoyed this week to learn that WWE Superstar LA Knight recently tied the knot. In a tweet, Knight made it clear that he didn’t get married this week despite what’s being shared online.
If anybody finds pictures from the wedding I’m hearing I was part of this week, I’m excited to see them! I must have blacked out, because i don’t remember any of it. Please send.
Knight is married to fitness instructor Michelle Yavulla and has been since 2018.
JBL Reacts to SmackDown
This week’s episode of SmackDown was the annual Tribute to the Troops show, so it was fitting that JBL was present at the show. It was the former WWE Champion who came up with the idea in 2003. In a tweet, JBL shared his appreciation for being back on SmackDown for one night. W
Seth Rollins has faced plenty of WWE Superstars as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion but hasn’t shown interest in Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Speaking on the SI Media podcast, Rollins explained why he hasn’t had the Tribal Chief in his sights.
“He’s been so absent, I don’t think it’s been a topic of conversation amongst fans, let alone the locker room. I think it’s one of those things where it’s an opportunity, but it’s such a glass-ceiling opportunity. It feels like one of those things where it may never happen.”
Reigns’ next match is expected to happen at the WWE Royal Rumble PLE on January 27.
WWE fans are very interested in CM Punk’s next move, as he carves out a new place for himself in the company’s storylines. The WWE Universe wants to see what CM Punk is going to do next in WWE, and they won’t have to wait long until his next big move. Tickets are also moving fast, because fans want to see him make that decision live.
CM Punk’s WWE comeback has made a notable impact on ticket sales. Punk’s surprise return at Survivor Series set the stage for an anticipated feud with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. This was a feud that Punk strongly hinted at during the November 8th episode of WWE SmackDown.
Despite criticism that WWE cut CM Punk’s promo time during his last RAW appearance, fans are still very excited to see what he has to say next week. He will be on RAW next week to declare his new brand home, signing with either RAW or SmackDown. Punk also made a quip about how he is going to speak with Shawn Michaels about NXT.
For the upcoming December 11th episode of RAW, WWE has already advertised matches like Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso, with more expected. Of course, CM Punk’s big decision will highlight the night.
WrestleTix reports that the December 11th episode of WWE RAW has already sold 8,283 tickets, with 916 still available for a setup of 9,199. Notably, in the last six days since WWE announced Punk’s appearance, 1,511 tickets were sold.
WWE Monday Night Raw, Mon Dec 11 at 7:30pm, Rocket Mortgage Field House, Cleveland, OH
Available Tickets => 916
Current Setup => 9,199
Tickets Distributed => 8,283
+1,511 since the last update (6 days ago). Big movement here. The upper decks have been opened up.
It was also noted that the last time WWE played the Rocket Mortgage Field House, on June 19th, 2023, they drew 10,495 fans. We will have to see if they are able to beat that number. That being said, their current setup for this time around doesn’t seem to be higher than their previous number.
CM Punk’s return has reignited fan interest and boosted ticket sales, confirming his influence in professional wrestling. Unlike in Albany for the December 4th RAW, where they moved a ton of tickets after Punk’s return, and he didn’t appear, the Second City Savior has been announced for the December 11th show.
Which WWE brand do you think CM Punk will sign with? Let us know what his decision should be by engaging with us on social media!
WWE Superstars give their all in the ring, but they all have a personal life at home. Sadly, Baron Corbin didn’t have a great update to share recently, as he just suffered a great personal loss.
Baron Corbin is known for sharing glimpses of his personal life, whether it be his grilling exploits, or sharing a good cigar. He lives quite a good life after years of work in WWE, but the Lone Wolf’d most recent post was not a happy one.
Baron Corbin recently shared sad news on his Instagram. He posted about the passing of his cherished dog, Xander. He also included a caption that explained how Xander was not just a pet but a best friend, companion, and protector to Corbin and his family.
”Big man Xander left us yesterday and it has crushed our world. He was a best friend, companion, protector, pain in the butt, supportive, bed hog,funny, and so many more things but most of all he gave you unconditional love 24/7. Him and my children shared a bond like no other. We will all miss everything about him even his horrible breath when he liked your face. Hopefully where ever his spirit has gone they serve a5 steak bc he can be a little bougie. I could write and write and turn this into a novel about him, but I will just say thank you for being the best dog to us for nearly 10 yrs!!!! There will never be Another Xander!!”
The WWE free agent also included photos of Xander, resting, and getting lots of love as well. This was certainly an emotional post for Baron Corbin to share, especially on the eve of such an important match in his career.
Baron Corbin will face Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship at the NXT Deadline Premium Live Event on December 9th. Corbin plans to dedicate the match to his dog, Xander. We will have to see if he pulls down the big win for his old friend.
We’re sending out our best to Baron Corbin, and his entire family. This must be a difficult time for Corbin, but he has a ton of memories of Xander to cherish for the rest of his life.
What’s your take on this sad update from Baron Corbin? Can you relate to his loss? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
AEW star Andrade El Idolo heading back to CMLL for the first time in years.
Idolo is currently signed to AEW but as it seems, he’s decided to head back to CMLL. The Mexican superstar has not made an appearance in CMLL since 2015. Back in the day, he performed under the name La Sombra.
Ahead of signing with WWE, he endured a defeat in a Mask vs. Mask match against Atlantis at CMLL’s 82nd Anniversary show. He is a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion which he won during his run with the company as part of an agreement between CMLL and New Japan Pro Wrestling back in the day.
Andrade is returning to CMLL
On CMLL’s show at Arena Mexico on Friday, a vignette aired that featured Andrade El Idolo. He announced that he is coming home to CMLL, and will make his comeback next Friday night, December 15.
Notably, it was only last week that CMLL teased a star would be returning soon and this led to tons of speculation that Idolo might be making a return. Now we know he is indeed returning.
? ¡Andrade El Ídolo “La Sombra” regresa a la Arena México!
Andrade himself sent out a Tweet and confirmed his appearance. Check it out below:
I almost returned to the place where I started “ANRADE EL IDOLO "Lasombra" @CMLL_OFICIAL 12/15/23
Casi regreso a el lugar donde inicie y siempre fue una casa por muchos años.Donde nació LA SOMBRA Y SE CONVIRTIÓ EN “ANDRADE EL ÍDOLO” 15 de diciembre Arena mexico @CMLL_OFICIALhttps://t.co/Lu22J3FFRW
Andrade El Idolo is currently embroiled in a storyline with CJ Perry and Miro on AEW Collision. The development in the relationship of Perry and Miro has grabbed the attention of the fans. It would be quite interesting to see how it pans out with Andrade being in the mix.
Andrade is also participating in the Continental Classic tournament, where he has acquired 3 points. As the speculation of his departure from AEW fuels, Andrade is set to face Bryan Danielson on AEW Collision this Saturday.
Seth Rollins has not watched Becky Lynch’s Celebrity Jeopardy appearance because he’s a loyal husband, and also because she wouldn’t let him.
The Man is no stranger to making headlines and being in the center of social media trends. She recently found herself going viral for an unlikely reason, however, as she became the worst contender to ever compete in Celebrity Jeopardy. The former Women’s Champion became the first contestant to not give a single correct answer through 60 clues.
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, Seth Rollins was asked about his wife’s Jeopardy appearance. Rollins defended Becky mentioning that she never watched the show growing up. He also touted the huge rating Becky Lynch pulled for the show after the WWE superstar went viral:
“She never watched it. She’s from Ireland. She didn’t have Jeopardy growing up. I don’t think she fully grasps it. When we were younger especially, it’s just massive. Our parents, grandparents everybody watched it. The buzzer’s tricky, the way you have to answer the questions is tricky,
But hey! top rated episode of season. The repeat actually did more viewers, we found out yesterday, than the original airing of the episode. So the buzz that she got, Celebrity Jeopardy people gotta be thrilled.”
Seth Rollins Is A Loyal Husband
Seth Rollins was then asked what he was feeling while going through the appearance. The World Champion revealed that he never actually watched the episode featuring Lynch because she wouldn’t allow it:
“I didn’t watch the episode. She wouldn’t allow me to watch the episode. She said ‘You can’t watch the episode. No way. Can’t do it. Don’t watch it.’ [So] I didn’t do it. I’m a loyal man. I wouldn’t do that to her. If she didn’t want me to watch something. I wouldn’t watch it.”
Though when prompted about potentially making an appearance on the show himself, Seth Rollins claimed that he would make an excellent contestant:
“Absolutely. I would crush some bodies on Celebrity Jeopardy. I am the king of, not useless information, but I do a lot of crossword puzzles. So I know lots of weird stuff. I know lots of stuff that I got no business knowing. I think that would come quite in handy on Jeopardy. I’m pretty decent at trivia.”
The Judgment Day member JD McDonagh recently recalled being on the wrong end of things as Randy Orton RKO’d off the top of the cage at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023.
RKO remains to be one of the most effective and ever-popular finishers in WWE. Orton refers to it as the three most destructive letters and indeed it has won him several titles during his illustrious career.
Over the years he has hit some picture-perfect RKOs on his opponents. Recently, JD McDonagh got the taste of it when Orton hit the RKO ‘outta nowhere.’
Randy Orton was recently involved in the Men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. ‘The Apex Predator’ returned from injury at the event and guided his team comprising Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn to a win over The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre.
‘The Viper’ showed up when it was nearing the end of the epic clash. However, he made a huge impact and soon changed the complexion of the match. During the match, Rollins and Zayn launched McDonagh off the top of the steel cage. In a breathtaking moment, Randy Orton hit The Judgment Day member with a spectacular RKO.
While speaking with Alex McCarthy of Daily Mail, McDonagh shared his thoughts on the high-risk spot during the WarGames Match. He said that he had other ideas in mind instead of the RKO spot. However, he did want to create the ‘moment of the match.’
“I knew I was going to be involved in the moment of the match, I was going to make something happen. I am that kind of person. So I came out on the wrong side of it, you know, ideally, I think I would have liked to moon sault off the top and wipe out everybody and stand in the middle, triumphant, but the Viper got me. He’s quick, you know, he is quick, he is quick.”
On this week’s edition of Monday Night Raw, JD McDonagh teamed up with Judgment Day stablemate Dominik Mysterio and faced The Creed Brothers in a losing effort.
AEW World Champion MJF has continued to make his name outside of the ring by providing the intro for Smoke DZA’s ‘Beyond Spiritual’.
In the intro, MJF puts over Smoke for having better flows, rhymes, clothes, and weed than you. MJF also makes it clear that Smoke’s joints are better than a certain part of your mother’s body.
MJF’s role with this track isn’t the first time that the AEW World Champion has stretched his entertainment muscles outside of the ring. MJF is set to appear as Lance Von Erich in the upcoming The Iron Claw biopic, detailing the lives, careers, and tragedies of the famed family of wrestlers. While MJF is in the new film, fans may struggle to see him, as Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer explained this week.
“From what we understand, the way the “Iron Claw” movie was edited, the MJF role of playing Lance Von Erich based on people who have seen the latest version was pretty much dropped. The latest version has maybe 10 seconds and they never go into the Lance story and he has no speaking lines and unless you were looking for him, you’d never know he was in it.”
Jamie Hawn, the woman allegedly attacked by former AEW producer BJ Whitmer, has spoken about the challenges she and other victims have faced.
In June, Whitmer was arrested over a reported case of domestic violence. He was charged with one count of strangulation in the first degree and one count of burglary in the second degree. AEW quickly terminated its contract with Whitmer and offered support to those impacted by this situation.
Jamie Hawn Speaks
Sitting down with FOX 19, Hawn spoke about the alleged incident with Whitmer, who was her boyfriend at the time.
“He approached me and began strangling me and threatened my life.”
Hawn also understands why so many survivors stay silent.
“It’s physically altering when you’re having to make sure that your voice is being heard and if you don’t attend (court) and you put yourself in this vulnerable environment, it’s very possible that things won’t get mentioned to get that justice.”
She added that while she is cooperating fully, it has been challenging to have her character questioned in legal proceedings.
“Whether I feel safe or not – the ability to move forward from this? I can’t move forward because now I’m going backward about things that have nothing to do with what happened that day.”
Whitmer appeared in Boone County Court this week, where his pre-trial date was scheduled for January 3. There are multiple resources available for survivors of domestic violence. They include:
Ion Center for Violence Prevention, 859-491-3335, ioncenter.org
While Jey and Solo Sikoa are no longer allies, Uso has been impressed by his younger brother. Speaking with Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy, Jey mentioned Sikoa when asked who could bring an end to Roman Reigns.
“I’d like to keep it in the family. I think Solo could be the next tribal chief but he’s got a little growing to do.”
Later in the interview, Uso shared some words of wisdom for Sikoa and once again praised the former NXT North American Champion.
“I say it to Solo sometimes, when you go out there just embrace what’s going on. I mean, being in Maddison Square Garden with everyone throwing the one’s up – I appreciate it, man.
“Solo is a top performer. He’s like a sponge, he gets it. All you got to do is tell him one time, it clicks with him. He’s going to go real far in the business, like I said he’s got a little growing to do though.”
Sikoa have faced off against each other on three separate occasions in WWE with their first encounter being as part of the Bloodline Civil War at Money in the Bank 2023. At this time, Main Event Jey is 3-0 against his younger brother.
Jey Uso isn’t the only one who sees big things in Sikoa’s future. In August, it was reported that WWE sees Solo and WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER as potential main event heels for the next decade.
When the decision was made to cancel the film, there was considerable backlash online. It was later reported that Warner Bros. was willing to shop the project around to another distributor. Deadline reports that Coyote Vs. Acme is having no problem finding a new distributor with several major parties interested in the film.
Netflix has already made a bid for the film, while representatives from Paramount, Apple, and Amazon have also seen the movie. Of those, Paramount has made a bid and despite already having a streaming service, a theatrical release remains a possibility.
Amazon is yet to make a formal bid but is said to be “mulling” the idea over. Deadline’s report noted that it takes longer for Amazon to conduct business and get decisions made through the proper channels. Marketing execs are trying to decide whether the film can be profitable for Amazon.
Warner Bos. wants the buyer to cover the $70 million production and then some. Coyote Vs. Acme is the latest major project canceled by Warner Bros. late in the game. In August 2022, Warner Bros. announced that despite entering post-production, they had canceled the Batgirl movie The move was widely described as “unprecedented” in Hollywood history for a big-budget film production.
The ongoing AEW Continental Classic will allow Bryan Danielson the chance to face some of the promotion’s top stars, but not Kenny Omega.
Danielson is part of the Blue League in the round-robin tournament, meaning everyone from each league faces everyone in their league. Danielson has already faced Eddie Kingston, Andrade El Idolo, and Daniel Garcia and has accumulated six points so far. He has yet to face Brody King and his Blackpool Combat Club ally Claudio Castagnoli.
Danielson Wanted Omega in the Continental Classic
A dozen of AEW’s most exciting Superstars are part of the AEW Continental Classic, but Kenny Omega isn’t among them. Speaking with Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy, Danielson spoke about wanting to face the Cleaner.
‘I really wanted Kenya Omega in it and I don’t know. People think I do a lot more than I do. I don’t know what happened or why he’s not in the tournament.”
Danielson added that the idea of being in the tournament was presented to Omega, and gave a reason for why the former AEW World Champion isn’t competing.
“I know it was at least brought up to him and I don’t know if he didn’t want to do it or I know that he and Chris Jericho are the number one contenders for the Tag team championship. So maybe that’s why, you know.”
Danielson is one of three wrestlers in the Blue League to be on six points, with Brody King and Andrade El Idolo sharing the same score. Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston have three points, while Daniel Garcia has been eliminated without scoring a single point.
Bryan Danielson had an injury scare during his match with Andrade which will air tonight. Click here to find out the latest update.
More has come to light about Charlotte Flair’s situation and potential injury during this week’s episode on SmackDown.
This week’s show was WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops show and saw some of WWE’s top Superstar appear on the broadcast. Raw’s Cody Rhodes thanked the troops in attendance and around the world while CM Punk made reference to his AEW firing in an explosive promo. In the main event of the show, Randy Orton teamed with LA Knight to defeat The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa.
Update on Charlotte Flair
During the latter part of her match with Asuka, Flair was obviously hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. PW Insider reports that Flair was setting up for a move but slipped and got caught on the ropes, wrenching her knee and striking her head. The move was not shown on TV as it took place during a commercial break. When WWE returned to the live broadcast, the commentary team said that Asuka had taken Flair out.
While the incident was not broadcast, fans at the show in Providence, RI caught the incident, which you can see above.
Flair was walked out by officials after the match and was seen telling senior WWE referee Charles Robinson about her knee. It’s been reported that “there was absolutely some concern among others talents about her knee specifically.” At this time, WWE has not given an update on Flair’s situation and it is unclear if she will miss any time.
The tournament brackets have been revealed to determine the next challenger for United States Champion Logan Paul.
On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, Paul announced the tournament to determine his first challenger. The Maverick said that while he would love to give Rey Mysterio a rematch but is unable to due to Mysterio’s injury. Paul captured the title from the WWE Hall of Famer at Crown Jewel 2023, giving the YouTuber his first taste of championship gold in WWE.
The U.S. Championship Tournament Brackets
On this week’s SmackDown, WWE gave the first-round tournament brackets for the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. The brackets are as follows:
Santos Escobar Vs. Dragon Lee
Bobby Lashley Vs. Karrion Kross
Austin Theory Vs. Kevin Owens
Grayson Waller Vs. An NXT Superstar to be announced
Two of the first-round matches took place on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Bobby Lashley defeated Karrion Kross to advance to the semi-finals, while Santos Escobar defeated Dragon Lee. Lashley and Escobar will face off in the next round.
This week’s SmackDown was an episode to send the Ruthless Aggression era fans a trip down memory lane, as it featured names such as Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton and CM Punk.
WWE also confirmed the brackets for the announced US Championship #1 contender tournament during the night as the competition kicked off.
The show opened with a first-round match that saw Santos Escobar defeating Dragon Lee. The second tournament match of the night then featured Bobby Lashley who beat Karrion Kross.
CM Punk’s announced appearance on the show gave fans a lot to talk about. The Straight Edge Star cut a promo, making references to Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes and the Brawl Out incident that eventually led to his AEW departure.
What Happened After SmackDown
In the main event of the show, Randy Orton teamed up with LA Knight against the common adversary in The Bloodline. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa represented The Bloodline in the match but they couldn’t get the win.
Orton picked up the victory by delivering an RKO to Jimmy Uso. The broadcast ended with Randy Orton holding up the hand of LA Knight as the pair stood tall.
This wasn’t the end of action however, as fans got to see a rematch between Gunther and Chad Gable after SmackDown went off air. The two arch-rivals put on another great match reminding people of their previous encounters. The bout, however, ended in a disqualification with Gable picking up the victory.
The second dark match of the night saw Cody Rhodes once again taking on Dominik Mysterio. Cody cut a promo after winning the match and he then gave away another table to end the show.
Before the show closed this week, they confirmed a few things for the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX. Roman Reigns will be back on the blue brand next week, so that will be a big draw. Only time will tell if he answers CM Punk’s call-out from this week.
Fans will also see Grayson Waller face off against an unnamed NXT Superstar in the 1st round of the United States Championship tournament. It was said that Shawn Michaels will hand-pick that Superstar. Also, Kevin Owens will battle Austin Theory in another 1st round match.
Kevin Owens has a broken hand, which they mentioned on commentary. That should add another layer to his match, because it nixes his infamous KO punch.
We will have to see who comes out on top when SmackDown goes live on FOX next week. For more updates, keep checking back with SE Scoops.
December 15th, 2023 WWE SmackDown Card
Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown
Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory – 1st Round United States Title Tournament Match
Grayson Waller vs NXT Superstar – 1st Round United States Title Tournament Match
What are you looking forward to most on SmackDown next week? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
WWE brought a loaded show for the December 8th episode of SmackDown. CM Punk shocked the world with a pipe bomb of a promo. Sadly, it appears that Charlotte Flair didn’t have quite as good of a night.
Charlotte Flair went after Asuka this week on SmackDown, but she had quite an uphill climb with Damage CTRL around. The two had a singles match, and that did not end well for Flair.
Flair needed to be helped out of the ring during WWE SmackDown according to multiple fans who were in attendance.
Real ugly spot toward the end, rushed to the finish. Charlotte Flair says “My knee” as she’s helped out of the ring. Seemed to hurt her neck, too. Just awful, wishing her the best. #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/kjMFIyOQix
The end of the match went down as Charlotte Flair looked for the Figure-8, but then Bayley emerged through the crowd. Flair ran over and knocked her off the apron. Bayley’s distraction allowed Asuka to secure the win. With a happy expression, Bayley exclaimed, “YES! I did that!” as Asuka celebrated her victory.
It appears this is the spot where the injury occured:
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) December 9, 2023
Of course, injuring Charlotte Flair was not the intended outcome of this match. We’re hoping that Charlotte Flair is okay. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more updates.
What’s your take on Charlotte Flair and Asuka’s match during the 12/8 WWE SmackDown? You can also check out a video of Charlotte Flair being helped off this week. Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media.
CM Punk wasn’t expected to make a return to WWE at Survivor Series, but it happened anyway. He made his big return to the SmackDown brand for their December 8th episode, and it was quite an appearance for the Tribute to the Troops.
CM Punk opened up his promo by proclaiming that, since his promo was at the 9:00 PM EST hour, then he wouldn’t get his time cut. Then Punk brought up how Adam Pearce wants him to be exclusive to the RAW brand.
After saying that he will leave his brand future to the fans, CM Punk asked if they want him to be a RAW Superstar, and they booed that idea. The fans cheered when Punk asked if he should join SmackDown instead.
CM Punk then said that it’s not about “what do you want to talk about,” it’s about “who do you want me to talk about?” Punk said he could tell some stories about Cody Rhodes, but then he directed his focus to “someone who’s never here, Roman Reigns.”
"…I begin MY journey of finishing MY story and that means one thing…
Mentioning Roman Reigns’ name brought a huge pop from the WWE Universe, as he said that he was the OG Paul Heyman Guy. Punk gave a shout-out to Jey Uso, but then he suggested that he stick around SmackDown to scrap with Jimmy Uso, “but Jimmy Uso has endless cousins.”
Best In the World!: CM Punk Makes WWE Return At Survivor Series 2023
This is when CM Punk made a crack about his All In confrontation with Jack Perry. He made his way there by saying that he and Kevin Owens are too much alike, after suggesting that he may have a match with him.
“I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel about working with someone who randomly punches people backstage … I mean it’s 2023, you just can’t be doing that, that’s insane.”
This was followed by some massive CM Punk chants from the crowd. Then CM Punk drew attention to Seth Rollins, by calling him out as he somewhat encouraged the crowd to sing his theme song.
CM Punk will make a decision about his brand future on the 12/11 episode of WWE RAW. Punk said it’s not about finishing his story, it’s about finishing what he started.
After hyping up the crowd with his promo, CM Punk made it clear that his goal is to main event WrestleMania 40. He dropped the mic after that, as the fans cheered on the Second City Savior.
What’s your take on CM Punk’s latest promo? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
NXT is back with a PLE and it comes in the form of last year’s surprise success story — NXT Deadline. NXT Deadline will air live on Peacock from the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut Saturday night and features year two of the Iron Survivor Challenge matches that debuted as last year’s show.
The Iron Survivor Challenge bouts are the hook for this show. The concept is a good one, but this year’s lineup in the specialty match leaves a lot to be desired and doesn’t hide the outcome very well. WWE wants these matches to matter a lot because the winner of them earns an NXT title shot, but the field simply isn’t full with talent that audiences can actually buy as a title contender.
The matches surrounding the Iron Survivor Challenge’s are MID at best. There likely will be some strong in-ring work throughout, but the title defenses lack drama and would fit perfectly on a hyped New Year’s Evil level NXT television show.
Call this a preview, a calm look into the distant future, or a gaze into a wondrous crystal ball; just don’t hold me to anything, ok?
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge 2023
Tiffany Stratton vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lash Legend vs. Blair Davenport vs. Fallon Henley – Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge
It’s pretty much Tiffany Stratton against a bunch of up and coming talent in this one. Stratton will carry the load of the action here, but in order for this to be a success someone else will have to step up. I’ll say it’s Davenport. She’s a skilled wrestler that could thrive in an environment like this one. She won’t win, but she could turn a lot of heads due to her performance if it goes well. As for Jordan, Legend, and Henley — they kinda are just there. All three could elevate their stock with a strong match, but I haven’t seen enough to believe it will actually happen.
Prediction: Tiffany Stratton
Carmelo Hayes vs. Lexis King
Carmelo Hayes vs. Lexis King
NXT took a big swing and whiffed badly with Lexis King. King was a highly touted signee and got the full production run around for his debut, but then has stunk the joint out upon premiering. King seems extremely disconnected from his gimmick and has not found a way to organically resonate with the audience. The in-ring work with him hasn’t been anything of note either.
So, what do you do? If Hayes beats him, King pretty much is done. He’s that cold and this loss would be that definitive. If he wins, he beats one of the biggest stars NXT has to offer. Not a great choice either given he hasn’t clicked to this point.
Shawn Michaels has to give him the win and he will. If you saddle King with a loss he has no chance of recovering. Hayes is slated for the main roster anyway and can hold the L — especially if he’s protected a little with the Trick Williams storyline in the end.
Prediction: Lexis King
Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee
Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee – NXT North American Championship
Lee has joined the match due to Wes Lee’s back injury and is going to be rewarded with winning the North American Championship. It’s time. Mysterio did a nice job of making this title and the title helped make him, but it’s time. They don’t need each other anymore. Plus, Rey Mysterio has publicly advocated for Dragon Lee. You just don’t do that if Lee is going to take a loss. Mysterio’s guy goes over his son here and makes for a fun moment on the show.
Prediction: Dragon Lee
Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James
Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James – Steel Cage Match
This has been one of the best built matches on the show and I’ll go out on a limb and say it’ll be the match of the night too. Perez and James have a multi-month feud going here that has culminated with this stipulation match. The two women have cost the other opportunities, so this makes sense and is coming at the right time. James could use a big win, but unless Perez is going up to the main roster this week, she ultimately will get the W because it’s the kind of feud that the babyface should win.
Prediction: Roxanne Perez
Ilja Dragunov vs. Baron Corbin
Ilja Dragunov vs. Baron Corbin – NXT Championship
Ehhhhh. What is there really to say about this one? Nobody believes Baron Corbin is winning this one. Corbin has actually done a nice job carrying his end of the program and building up some heat in the rivalry, but the payoff just isn’t intriguing. Corbin is around for Dragunov to beat an everyone knows it.
Prediction: Ilja Dragunov
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge
Bron Breakker vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs vs. Tyler Bate vs. Trick Williams – Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge
So, the men’s match has a little more fire power than the women’s match does — no question there. The winner might be even more obvious. Look, Breakker is someone you’d have to look at, but he’s on the main roster trajectory at this point. Plus, he’s faced Dragunov already. Been there, done that. He isn’t winning. Tyler Bate? I mean, no. Right? Babyface vs. babyface coming out of this for the title doesn’t work. Josh Briggs? Nothing against, the guy, but no. He’s a tag wrestler right now and hasn’t shown enough to be considered for a top of the card singles run. Trick Williams is a possibility, but again, do you want babyface Williams against babyface Dragunov? It’s not ideal. Plus, Williams has a stronger story going on with Carmelo Hayes and for as big as a title match would be for him, Williams vs. Hayes is bigger.
So, that leaves Dijak and he’s your winner. Raise your hand if you’re underwhelmed! All the hands went up right? It is underwhelming, but it makes sense too. NXT clearly isn’t trying to make a star with this match this year. They want to run with the concept, but then walk out of the show with limited responsibility to payoff the winner with a title win. In that world, Dijak is the guy. He’s a strong heel for Dragunov, but is also a heel that Dragunov can dust. Boom.
Alex Hammerstone will be a free agent to start the new year.
Similar tp his longtime “Dynasty bro” MJF, Hammerstone announced that his current contract will officially expire on January 1, 2024. The former MLW World Heavyweight Champion made the announcement via social media, noting that MLW One Shot was his last event under his current contract. Hammerstone also included ways to contact him for business opportunities.
Just last month, Hammerstone made his return to MLW after dropping the World Title to current champion Alex Kane earlier this year, ending his reign of over 600 days.
Last night during One-Shot, Hammerstone heeled it up in a bodybuilding competition, before brawling with longtime rival, Jacob Fatu. In tapings for MLW Fusion on Thursday, Hammerstone fought Fatu in what could be their third and final battle under the MLW banner.
The History Behind Alex Hammerstone
When first starting with MLW, Hammerstone started off as an arrogant heel before aligning himself with MJF and Richard Holliday, forming one of the promotion’s greatest factions, The Dynasty. The group dispersed when MJF moved full-time to AEW. During that run, Hammerstone became the inaugural National Openweight Champion, a title he never lost and eventually defeated Jacob Fatu to become the World Champion.
Hammerstone clearly became the face of MLW and defended his gold against countless competitors, including fellow Dynasty member Richard Holliday, who ironically enough, made his return to the company at One Shot Thursday evening.
As a free agent, Hammerstone will be a hot commoditiy in wrestling. With MJF in AEW, speculation could occur that he could sign there, but his physical presence, ring ability and charisma would make him an excellent fit in WWE. Along with Kenny Omega, Hammerstone is one of the few talents remaining to be protective of his finishing move, The Nightmare Pendulum. Only Jacob Fatu has ever kicked out of the manuever.
