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Matt Riddle Reveals Whether He Would Face Jake Paul In A Boxing Bout

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE star Matt Riddle recently spoke about the possibility of facing YouTuber Jake Paul in a boxing bout.

YouTubers such as KSI, Logan Paul and his brother Jake Paul are trained boxers. There has been a buzz that ‘The Original Bro’ and Jake Paul could lock horns and it seems we can’t rule out that match.

Riddle has immense experience in combat sports including Muay Thai and kickboxing. Riddle recently revealed that he would love to face Paul in a boxing bout. 

Matt Riddle comments on Jake Paul

Speaking with MuscleManMalcolm, Matt Riddle was asked if he would like to fight Jake Paul in a boxing match to which he replied that he would grab the opportunity. He made it clear that he would accept any fight for money. He said:

“I mean yeah, I’ll do anything for some money.”

He further added that he would prefer a mixed martial arts fight instead of a conventional boxing match. He said:

“But I prefer doing Mixed Martial Arts. Sp yeah, boxing whatever, kick boxing, whatever. I’ll fight anybody anytime.” 

Before joining WWE, Riddle had a run with UFC when he debuted at UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter 7 in 2008. He remarkably combined Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and kickboxing techniques in his fights. In 12 matches inside the octagon, Riddle won eight times.

Jake Paul is supposed to make his MMA debut in 2024 as a part of the PFL’s newly created Super Fight division. He is set to face former UFC star Nate Diaz. Last weekend, Paul also emerged victorious via TKO over Andre August in a boxing bout.

Meanwhile, Riddle parted ways with WWE back in September after embroiling in controversial matters. He has since teased the fans about a return to MMA. 

Recently, reports emerged that ‘The Problem Child’ rejected an offer to face Riddle after being contacted by the latter’s camp. With Jake Paul making his MMA debut in 2024, the possibility of facing Matt Riddle remains in place.  

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

CM Punk Posts & Deletes Photo Of Possible WWE Return Ring Gear

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk did a lot in AEW during his short time with the company. While many fans remember his backstage fights, others point toward the introduction of the “long bois” wrestling gear as one of the most notable moments of his AEW tenure. That look just might follow Punk to WWE.

CM Punk’s WWE Return

The Second City Saint has made appearances on Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, and NXT Deadline since his recent return to the company last month. It’s evident that Punk is a significant draw for the company, and fans consistently express their joy at seeing him. His merchandise is selling fast, and fans can’t wait to see him mix it up in the ring again.

CM Punk’s First Return Match In WWE

CM Punk is set to step into the ring against Dominik Mysterio as part of WWE’s Live Holiday Tour on Tuesday, December 26th at Madison Square Garden. That will be a big day after Christmas show in MSG.

CM Punk also is scheduled to compete at Los Angeles’ KIA Forum against Dominik Mysterio on December 30th. Punk wanted that match with Dirty Dom, as he teased having a desire to punch Dominik in the face since he was 8-years-old.

CM Punk Reveals WWE Return Ring Gear

In a now-deleted Instagram story post, The Second City Saint hinted at wearing his long pants for his WWE in-ring return. He captioned that post with “LFG.” He also tagged MSG in the process. Then, he deleted the post. Obviously, Punk knew that some fans would see this, and the screenshot got out in a big way.

CM Punk is apparently looking forward to facing Dominik Mysterio in their upcoming matches. He also has the Royal Rumble coming up on January 27th, and it’s anyone’s guess what gear he will rock for that match. 

You can check out CM Punk’s deleted Instagram story. For more of the top headlines in the pro wrestling world, keep checking back with SE Scoops.

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Seth Rollins Pays Tribute To Brodie Lee & Bray Wyatt During WWE Live Event In Rochester

Aaron Varble
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The pro wrestling world has dealt with many tragedies over the years. Few have been as shocking and sudden as Brodie Lee’s passing. Now, as we get closer to another year without the former Exalted One from the Dark Order, tributes are pouring in. Of course, the loss of Bray Wyatt is still fresh on everyone’s minds as well, leaving half of the Wyatt Family gone.

Seth Rollins Pays Tribute To Brodie Lee and Bray Wyatt

Seth Rollins is the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and he is a locker room leader through and through. The Visionary demonstrated his camaraderie with the roster by paying homage to the late Bray Wyatt and Brodie Lee at a recent WWE house show.

During a WWE event in Rochester, a place with special significance to Brodie Lee as his hometown, Seth Rollins engaged with the audience’s passionate side. He asked if there were any fireflies in the crowd, prompting fans to take out their phones and illuminate the arena with their lights as a tribute to Wyatt. Rollins also paid homage to Brodie Lee by incorporating his signature “Yeah yeah yeah!” catchphrase into the tribute.

“The mood is set. Anybody got any fireflies among the audience tonight? I see a couple. I see a few now. This time of year loved ones are always on our minds, man, you know what I’m saying? Yeah yeah yeah!” 

Brodie Lee and Bray Wyatt’s Legacy 

Brodie Lee, who passed away on December 26th, 2020, due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, continues to be fondly remembered by anyone he ever met. Similarly, the sudden and untimely demise of Bray Wyatt at the age of 36 on August 24th, 2023, had a profound impact on fans and the wrestling community. The loss of two out of the four Wyatt Family members left fans in disbelief.

We will have to see how the pro wrestling world continues their tributes for Bray Wyatt and Brodie Lee. Rochester is certainly a special place for Brodie Lee, and Seth Rollins understood that all too well.

You can watch Seth Rollins’ tribute below, and keep coming back to SE Scoops for more of the pro wrestling world’s most important stories. 

Drew McIntyre/ICW, Undertaker Adds Shows, Kurt Reacts to Meme & More

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre’s Shoutout to ICW

Drew McIntyre hasn’t competed for ICW in years but recently gave a message to the promotion. In a video to the Scottish-based promotion, McIntyre reflected on his favorite ICW moments, as the company will no longer be hosting its Fight Club events. 

Randy Orton at Ringside

On last week’s SmackDown, Randy Orton made it clear he’s coming for the Bloodline but was in no hurry to get in the ring. During his entrance, WWE cut to a commercial and in off-air footage, fans can see Orton taking his time at ringside while Roman Reigns stands in the ring. 

Kurt Angle Reacts to His Meme

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle may be a huge name in wrestling, but the Olympian recently went viral as part of a meme. The meme itself shows a frazzled-looking Kurt, which Angle reacted to on his podcast. 

“I know that that video you know, it’s kind of a weird-looking face, but for some strange reason everybody caught on and wanted to throw out some memes and I was the butt of the joke, I guess.”

Kurt later joked that he could just get paid to make that facial expression all day. Merchandise of the meme is already available. 

The Undertaker Adds Shows

As reported earlier this month, The Undertaker will be heading to Australia next February to host his 1deadMan show. WWE has now confirmed that the Deadman will be hitting three more towns. The Phenom will be appearing in Peth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. WWE will be in Australia in February for the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. 

Nyla Rose & Serpentico ‘Accidentally’ Win Tag Titles Despite Hating Each Other

Thomas Lowson
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Nyla Rose & Serpentico may not be champions in AEW, but the pair ‘accidentally’ captured gold at a recent independent event. 

Taking to Twitter, Rose shared that she had been ‘forced’ to team with Serpentico at last weekend’s Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling’s Holiday in LA event. Not only was she forced to team with the masked wrestler, but Rose and Serpentico ‘accidentally’ won the promotion’s Tag Team Championships. 

Serpentico shared a photo of himself and his unlikely tag team partner, questioning if they can coexist as a duo. 

Septentico was hardly thrilled with teaming up with Rose. In a separate tweet, he questioned why Rose was more interested with tweeting on her phone during their match rather than helping him out. 

Nyla Rose & Serpentico

Rose and Serpentico have had a long-running feud that dates back to a segment in which Rose threw some burgers while Serpentico was hungry. Serpentico has even accused Rose of being part of a ‘conspiracy theory’ to keep him off of TV, claiming the former AEW Women’s World Champion is in the ear of Tony Khan. The pair often take shots at each other on Twitter, as seen in the posts below.

Nyla Rose joined AEW in 2019. She is a former AEW Women’s World Champion and the first openly transgender World Champion of a major wrestling promotion. Serpentico debuted for AEW in March 2020. He won his first match for AEW in July of that year and made his AEW Dynamite debut that December in the Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royal. 

CM Punk Says Fan Support Brought Him Back To WWE

Aaron Varble
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CM Punk’s return to WWE was something that many fans thought would never happen. He had plenty of reasons for making that comeback to WWE, and the fans had a lot to do with it as well.

After departing WWE in 2014, CM Punk’s name continued to echo in chants from fans, persisting over the years. The audience’s unbreakable support reached a point where WWE could not avoid hearing CM Punk chants break out during any given event, especially if fans were unhappy with what they were seeing.

CM Punk Explains Why He Returned To WWE

During an Instagram Live session for Elite Comics and Kulture City, CM Punk opened up about his WWE return, emphasizing that it’s not driven by personal motives. Instead, Punk highlighted that the return is a tribute to the fans who passionately chanted his name for an entire decade.

“This isn’t about me, this is about us. This about everybody that is behind me. That for ten years didn’t forget, chanted my name. I’m going to put the boots back on for all of ya’ll. We’re going to go on this journey together.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C08bra-uiUg

What’s Next For CM Punk In WWE?

CM Punk recently made appearances on Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, and NXT Deadline after rejoining WWE last month. It’s evident that Punk’s presence is a significant draw for the company, and he expresses genuine enjoyment in being back.

Although CM Punk is a RAW Superstar now, after signing an exclusive contract with the red brand, he is still listed internally as a free agent. We will have to see if he decides that going to SmackDown is a good option for him, because anything is on the table regarding this run that many thought was impossible.

CM Punk is enjoying himself during this WWE run as well. All signs point to the idea that he is down to do business. While the jury is still out for many fans, there certainly seems to be a lot more reasons to be optimistic about the situation this time around.

Bandido Updates Fans & Thanks AEW Following His Latest Surgery

Tyriece Simon
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Bandido has had a challenging year, as his career is put on hold in All Elite Wrestling. He is currently dealing with a wrist injury. However, he has shared that he recently underwent another surgery. 

The AEW talent started dealing with visa issues this year, making him inactive for the company until the Spring. Bandido returned to the company on the April 26 episode of AEW Dynamite to take on Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship. 

Bandido Makes Entrance For AEW

The return made fans hope he would be a featured talent on the roster. Unfortunately, he broke his wrist on June 16 in a match against Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Rampage. He shared the news of his injury on Facebook and that he would need surgery.

The former Ring of Honor World Champion would have surgery on July 6 and was speculated to make his return to AEW in September. However, the wrist didn’t heal properly, and Bandido was forced to have his second surgery.

On December 16, Bandido shared on social media that the surgery was a success and thanked his supporters, notably AEW President Tony Khan. He didn’t share his timetable for a return to action, but he expressed gratitude for what Khan did for him.

“… A very special mention
@TonyKhan for all the attentions that he’ve had to me and my family THANK YOU VERY MUCH,” wrote Bandido.

How Soon Can Bandido Make A Return To AEW?

It’s unclear when Bandido will start rehab, but he’s likely to want to ensure he can fully recover before wrestling again. 

The expectancy to recover from a broken wrist is estimated to be between 6-8 weeks after surgery, according to Angela M. Bell, MD, who shared her medical advice for Medical News Today. Bandido could start the rehab process soon and look to regain strength in his hand for the next two months. After dealing with two surgeries on his wrist, he may take his time coming back and possibly return by April. 

Regardless, Bandido is on the road to recovery and will likely want to be at 100 percent ready to make an impact in AEW next year. 

Charlotte Flair’s Injury Situation Is Far Worse Than Initially Feared

Aaron Varble
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Charlotte Flair suffered an injury during the December 8th episode of WWE SmackDown. That match with Asuka did not turn out the way she wanted it to at all, and it will be her last contest for over half a year.

Backstory Behind Charlotte Flair’s Injury

Video from Charlotte Flair’s injury is hard to watch. She was pulled from the road, and now we are getting more details about her situation. She hasn’t had surgery yet, but one is reportedly scheduled for a couple of weeks.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Charlotte Flair is out of action with three different injuries, all of them surrounding her knee. This is not a good situation, and 9 months seems like a generous estimation for her return.

“Let me touch on Charlotte Flair really quick. She has not had surgery yet, but she has a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus, so that is her injuries.”

“I just wanted to get that out. Hopefully, she can get that out — I know they said on the SmackDown show, 9 months … it’s a while, and it’s never a good time to have an injury.”

What’s Next For Charlotte Flair After Her Knee Injury

Charlotte Flair was on her way to the Royal Rumble, and WrestleMania after that. Now, she will have to watch all of those events from the sidelines, and it’s anyone’s guess if she will make it back by SummerSlam. 

WWE has lost a few key members of their roster due to injury. Charlotte Flair’s absence will be felt in the locker room. Thankfully, WWE also has a loaded women’s roster to help fill some of those holes while The Queen recovers.

Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more on Charlotte Flair’s injury and other updates.

MJF To Be Inducted Into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling superstar MJF is having the best year of his career. He started the year as the AEW World Champion and may potentially hold the title heading into 2024. MJF has also received acclaim for his matches against Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and Kenny Omega. 

While MJF has achieved accolades in wrestling, he will soon be honored by the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. 

The AEW World Champion shared on social media a poster announcing that he will be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on December 18. MJF is open about his religion and has also been referenced in AEW, notably the MJF Re-Bar Mitzvah segment. 

In the post on Twitter, MJF said that getting inducted was “An incredible honor.” The induction ceremony will occur at Suffolk YJCC in Commack, New York. It’s unclear if the event will be recorded or streamed live. However, the poster shared that fans can attend the ceremony. 

The event is interesting as MJF prepares for his upcoming title defense against Samoa Joe in a rematch at AEW Worlds Collide on December 30. 

When Will MJF’s Next Appearance Be On AEW TV?

MJF is currently dealing with several injuries heading into his match with Joe at AEW Worlds Collide. The champion hurt his hip during his title match against Jay White at AEW Full Gear on November 18. He also shared and deleted a post on Twitter on November 27 that he had a torn labrum in his left shoulder. 

His last appearance for the company was on the December 6 episode of AEW Dynamite. The company did an angle where he was taken out backstage by “The Devil.” Since his attack, he hasn’t been seen on TV. 

He is still slated to defend his title against Joe at the upcoming pay-per-view, but it’s unclear if he will appear ahead of the event. He’s currently not advertised for the December 20 episode of AEW Dynamite, but it’s possible that could change.

Although it’s unclear when he’ll appear for AEW, fans can see MJF get inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall Of Fame next week. 

Mick Foley Dresses As Santa Claus To Crash Indie Wrestling Event

Aaron Varble
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Mick Foley is known for his Hardcore Legend persona and iconic characters like Mankind and Dude Love in WWE. He left a lasting mark on professional wrestling with his dedication in the ring. All the while, Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy never stopped loving Christmas.

While Mick Foley gained fame through death matches as Cactus Jack in Japan, WCW, and ECW, his WWE roles are perhaps the most memorable. He took on a variety of faces for WWE, and continues as a positive light in the pro wrestling business to this day.

Mick Foley Is Coming To Town

Mick Foley is also good at surprising fans, as the WWE Hall of Famer made an unanticipated appearance at the ICW No Holds Barred event. He was dressed as Santa Claus, and attacked fellow wrestler John Wayne Murdoch, delivering a double-arm DDT and a barbed wire back. The match concluded with Tara Zep securing the victory.

Mick Foley’s Current WWE Status

Foley’s occasional appearances and unexpected in-ring moments continue to keep fans intrigued. He remains connected to the wrestling world, so you truly never know when he will show up next.

In 2019, Mick Foley made his latest appearance on WWE television, and he also featured on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions show in 2021 on Peacock. In 2022, Foley ventured into the podcasting world with “Foley is Pod,” a weekly show with Conrad Thompson, reflecting on his extensive wrestling career. Although he hasn’t been actively competing in the ring, he remains vocal about his perspectives on various aspects of the wrestling industry.

We will keep a close eye on Mick Foley’s whereabouts to see if he surprises any more fans at indie shows. He can do as he pleases at this point in his career, as he continues spreading his own brand of holiday cheer wherever he goes.

Mick Foley is beloved by fans all over, and his Foley Is Pod show is still a very popular program. Foley is also making stand-up comedy dates all over the country, and you may check out his latest tour schedule here.

Kenny Omega Thought He Had Hernia Before Diverticulitis Diagnosis

Aaron Varble
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AEW is missing several stars already, and they did not plan to have Kenny Omega out of action at all. The Cleaner’s sudden medical emergency will cost AEW another top star, during a time when they need that star power more than ever.

Kenny Omega received a diverticulitis diagnosis, affecting AEW’s plan for the World End 2023 pay-per-view scheduled on Saturday, December 30th, 2023, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York. At this time, we do not know how Tony Khan will book around Omega’s medical situation. 

The Truth Behind Kenny Omega’s Recent Health Scare

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spoke about Kenny Omega’s situation. Apparently, Omega thought that his diverticulitis was a hernia acting up again on him. Thankfully, he sought out medical assistance, because they discovered the root of his issues.

“I did not hear if he had surgery yet on it. But he was rushed to the hospital on Friday. He had been in a lot of pain, and he thought what happened was, as you probably all remember, that he had the hernia [in 2022] that was really, really bad, which caused him that long period off. And he had been hurting really, really bad. And he had presumed it was a hernia. He had had bloating, which he presumed was [another hernia], and he thought he may have messed up his diet somehow and was eating something wrong. He kept training on it, working on it. Did the match with Ethan Page [on last week’s Collision]. He was hurting really bad on Wednesday when he did the promo with Jericho [on Dynamite].”

“By that point, it was really bad. So he went to the hospital and found out he had diverticulitis. It was in a really bad situation. I mean, in the sense of, if he had not gone in another day or so, it could have been horrendous. He’s I guess he’s fine. I heard from him, and just kind of said that, like, he was in pain, had had trouble sleeping, but he just thought it was the hernia acting up again.”

“And once he found out it was and he said, [it] could have been really, really bad complications. I don’t know how long he’s going to be out, and I don’t think anyone does. It was a very, very serious situation by the time he got to the hospital,” Meltzer stated.

What’s Next For Kenny Omega in AEW?

The AEW World Tag Team Champions, Ricky Starks & Big Bill, were initially set to defend their titles against The Golden Jets at Worlds End. Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega’s team was just heating up, but now they are forced to take a break.

There is no return timetable for Kenny Omega right now. We’re sending out our best, so hopefully he can heal up fast and get back to the ring without any more complications.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of Kenny Omega’s medical situation as more information is made available. 

Top Dolla’s Botch Saved His Life After Learning Of His Type II Diabetes

Thomas Lowson
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AJ ‘Top Dolla’ Francis’ unfortunate botch on SmackDown may have become a meme among wrestling fans, but it also saved the young wrestler’s life. 

During the December 16, 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown, Top Dolla attempted a dive to the outside of the ring that didn’t go as planned. Dolla didn’t reach the necessary elevation and flopped outside of the ring, with his mistake being mocked online. The mistake was also made into an angle, as WWE Superstars would mock Dolla for the botch, bringing out a more aggressive side of the Superstar. 

The Botch That Saved His Life

Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of what happened, Top Dolla said that in the past, he’d performed the dive and his legs had felt “off” but didn’t think about it. After the mistake on SmackDown, he decided to see a doctor and learned he had Type II Diabetes. 

Unused Plans

In the weeks that followed, Michael Cole would routinely mock Top Dolla for the botch and would poke fun at the Superstar . Last month, Top Dolla revealed that Cole’s comments were never malicious and that he was always on board with them. The plan, according to the ex-Superstar, was a PLE match, in which Cole would beat him after Dolla was distracted by a wrestler. 

Top Dolla felt disappointment and shame after his initial release from WWE in late 2021, mere weeks after being called to the main roster. Click here to find out more. 

Director Sean Durkin Made His Most Difficult Decision During The Iron Claw Production

Thomas Lowson
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Sean Durkin made the most difficult decision of his career when working on The Iron Claw, the director/writer/producer has revealed.

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.

Sean Durkin’s Hardest Decision

While The Iron Claw features plenty of members of the legendary wrestling family, Chris Von Erich isn’t featured in the A24 biopic. The smallest of the brothers, Chris faced several health problems that limited his success in the ring. Following the suicide of his brother Mike in 1987, Chris took his own life on September 12, 1991. 

Speaking to Uproxx, Durkin was asked about the decision not to include Chris and admitted it was a tough call for him to make. 

“I’ve never had a more difficult decision to make as a writer. I care so deeply, so it was painful. But you have to make tough decisions and you have to do what’s best to get the film made. I wrote this script for seven years and Chris was in it for a long time.

“So there was a point where it became clear that if you separate yourself from the emotional connection to the family and to real life, you have to separate and say, okay, well, this is a movie, these are characters, and the movie just cannot withstand another death at that point in the movie.”

The Iron Claw will be released in cinemas across the United States next week. For a behind-the-scenes look at the new film, click here.  

Watch: What Happened With Bryan Danielson After AEW Collision Went Off Air?

Thomas Lowson
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Bryan Danielson may no longer be a WWE Superstar, but that didn’t stop him from using an old WWE catchphrase of his after this week’s AEW Collision. 

This week’s Collision saw the roster of AEW continue on the road to Worlds End, which will take place in Uniondale, New York on December 30. In the AEW Continental Classic, Claudio Castagnoli defeated Andrade El Idolo to earn three points. Eddie Kingston defeated Daniel Garcia to earn three points. Garcia is still competing but has already been statistically eliminated as he has yet to score a single point. 

Bryan Danielson After AEW Collision

In the main event of this week’s AEW Collision, Bryan Danielson defeated Brody King to earn three points in the Blue League. After the show, Danielson received a loud YES! chant from the crowd, and Bryan admitted he’s not allowed to do that anymore. Thinking better of it, Danielson decided to join in with the YES! chant and thanked the fans for coming out to the show.

This victory gives Danielson a total of nine points, putting him in joint first place in the Blue League, alongside Andrade El Idolo. In the Gold League, Jon Moxley is in first place with 12 points, while Swerve Strickland and Jay White currently have nine points. 

What’s Next? 

Next week will see the final points-based matches in the AEW Continental Classic. On December 27, AEW will host its Dynamite: New Year’s Smash event, in which the first and second place of each league will face off. The winners of those matches will face off at AEW World End to determine the first AEW Triple Crown Champion. 

Zelina Vega Praised Backstage After Working Double SmackDown Taping Ill

Thomas Lowson
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0

A WWE SmackDown Superstar impressed a lot of people behind the scenes by working the latest episode of the blue brand while ill.  

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

 This week’s show also saw the continuation of the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament. NXT’s Carmelo Hayes defeated Grayson Waller to advance to the next round while Kevin Owens bested Austin Theory. 

Zelina Vega is Ill

Zelina Vega worked through this week’s SmackDown taping in Green Bay, Wisconsin despite an illness, PW Insider reports. It’s unclear what Vega’s illness is, but it was noted during the production meeting before the show that she was sick. This isn’t the first time Vega has earned praise backstage, as she was heralded for her emotional reaction to Santos Escobar’s attack on Rey Mysterio a few weeks ago. 

The night was doubly tough for Vega, as WWE also filmed its December 22 episode last night, giving the roster more time during the Holidays to spend with their families. On this week’s live episode of SmackDown, Vega teamed with ‘Michin’ Mia Yim in a losing effort to Damage CTRL’s Asuka & Kairi Sane. For more information on what Vega will do on next week’s edition of the blue brand, click here. 

WWE introduced a brand new match type before this week’s episode of SmackDown went on the air. Click here to find out more. 

Mark Briscoe On WWE’s “Dem Boyz” Tweet: ‘I Can’t Just Keep Silent, That’s Disrespectful’

Thomas Lowson
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Mark Briscoe has shared why he put WWE on blast following a tweet that he and many found to be highly disrespectful. 

Earlier this week, WWE tweeted an image of The Street Profits and Bobby Lashley, captioned with the phrase ‘Dem Boyz.’ While the term is used by many across sports and entertainment, in wrestling, the term is associated with the Briscoes. 

WWE faced criticism for the tweet, with Mark sharing his own criticism and saying somebody running the account should be fired. In a follow-up tweet, however, Briscoe said that nobody needs to be fired but was still not pleased with the tweet. 

Mark Briscoe on WWE’s Dem Boyz Tweet

Speaking on the post-ROH Final Battle Media Scrum, Briscoe recalled his reaction to the tweet at the time. 

“I thought, ‘Man, on the anniversary of this match that we had, they’re really going to do that? That’s kind of disrespectful. I can’t just keep silent. There’s only one Dem Boyz.’ You can talk about the Dallas Cowboys and multiple songs in the hip hop genre. That’s all good. In professional wrestling, there is only one Dem Boyz. That’s Mark and Jay Briscoe. I had to let them know there only one Dem Boyz.”

Briscoe concluded by reiterating that there is only one pair of ‘Dem Boyz’ in WWE even with Jay’s passing. 

“It’s not easy and we’re adjusting to this new normal. If anybody in the professional wrestling world is going to call themselves Dem Boyz, I’m going to come at you [laughs]. I don’t care who you are. There’s only one Dem Boyz and that’s the Briscoe Brothers, damn it.”

Briscoe also said that after seeing the negativity from some to his tweet, he felt that things had gotten out of hand. He also pointed out that he’s a human being and is still struggling with the death of his brother in January of this year. 

H/T – Fightful

Jake Paul Wants to be Logan’s Tag Team Partner in WWE

Thomas Lowson
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Jake Paul isn’t opposed to stepping in the ring with his brother Logan, but would rather be an ally of the U.S. Champion than an opponent. 

Logan Paul has made quite the impact since arriving in WWE two years ago and currently boasts a 4-4 win/loss record. At WWE Crown Jewel, Paul captured the U.S. Championship from Rey Mysterio, giving the Maverick his first taste of WWE gold. 

Jake Paul Wants a Tag Team

With Logan Paul making waves in WWE, speculation has grown as to whether Jake Paul could one day step into the ring with his brother. Speaking to Muscle Man Malcolm, Jake admitted that rather than facing his brother,  he’d rather team with the Maverick in a WWE ring. 

”Man, I’m trying to be on his team. I don’t want to go up against him. He’s a dog in WWE. I’m trying to be his tag team partner.”

Logan Paul has so far competed in one tag-team match in WWE, which was his debut match. The Maverick teamed with The Miz to defeat Rey & Dominik Mysterio but was betrayed by WWE’s resident A-Lister after the bout. 

Jake Paul in WWE

Unlike his brother, Jake Paul has yet to compete in WWE but has made an appearance in the past. The Problem Child was in Logan’s corner at Crown Jewel 2022 for Logan’s match with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief would win the match, handing Logan Paul his first WWE loss in the process. 

Has Logan Paul mastered a new way of the entertainment industry? Jake Paul believes so. Click here to find out more. 

Tony Khan Will Never Stop Fighting WWE “No Matter What Happens”

Thomas Lowson
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Tony Khan has been at odds with WWE for years, but the AEW/ROH President believes standing against the Stamford promotion is worth the fight. 

It was in 2019 that Khan launched AEW, which has proven to be the most significant competition to WWE since the demise of WCW in 2001. In March of last year, Khan added Ring of Honor to his collection. It was reported at the time that WWE had its sights set on acquiring ROH as well, though reportedly only wanted the promotion for its media library. 

Tony Khan is Ready to Fight

Khan has been competing with WWE for some time now but is hardly the first figure to stand against Vince McMahon’s empire. Speaking on the post-ROH Final Battle media scrum, Khan addressed competing for the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. 

“It’s worth the fight, and I love the fight. I’m never gonna stop fighting. No matter what happens, no matter how things change. It’s the fight Jim Crockett fought, Verne Gagne, Ted Turner and so many other people that tried.”

Khan was happy to look at those who’ve competed against WWE in the past, while also noting how AEW is different. During the media scrum, Khan compared the success of AEW to that of WCW. 

”The numbers we’re doing for our tickets are not only comparable to what WCW was doing in the mid 90s, but in many cases better. So our numbers are better per show than in WCW 94 and right on 96 and 95.”

Khan’s next big show will come later this month with the first AEW Worlds End event. The show will take place on December 30 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. 

Lio Rush Details Comeback From Major Health Scare This Fall

Samantha Schipman
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Back in September, Lio Rush was in Japan competing on NJPW’s “Road to Destruction” shows. It was to culminate at Destruction in Ryogoku on October 9. He was scheduled to face “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Unfortunately for Rush, he got extremely sick a few days prior. He shared on social media that he had been dealing with a high fever for several days. A couple weeks later, he shared that his illness came at a very crucial time in his career and was unsure how to handle it. 

2 weeks ago I got really sick during a crucial time in my career, changing the path that I was on.Im not entirely sure how to handle it other than to be home with family while I process the changes that this event has caused. I don’t know what’s next other than to heal and I’m hoping that this time away will help me do just that. I’ll be releasing an album, titled No time to heal, on my birthday, Nov 11th, that I hope will tell my story.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:CyYz_G1tKdK

Nine weeks later, Rush shared more about his situation. He was planning to move his family to Japan because he couldn’t “fully support my family back at home the way that I needed to.” The plan was for his family to move to Japan on the second half of the tour. 

The “Man of the Hour” was so sick that he felt like he was dying. He detailed his illness by saying “with my temperature continuously boiling over 105 for days, I lost 15 lbs due to constant sweating and throwing up, developing a hernia in the process.” Due to his illness, he could no longer compete. He was sent back to the U.S. before his family could join him, “leaving me without a title opportunity, homeless, and without a deal that would solidify my stay in Japan. This is the month where I lost it all.” 

Several hours later, Rush tweeted out the names of many wrestlers he hopes to face in 2024. Some of those talents are Adam Copeland, Kazuchika Okada, Bobby Lashley, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Jack Cartwheel, and MK Ultra. 

In early 2024, Rush will return to GCW and VxS. He is a free agent and taking bookings. 

What’s Next for Athena After Huge Win at Final Battle?

Samantha Schipman
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At Final Battle on Friday, Athena retained her ROH Women’s Championship. She is 44-0 in ROH-sanctioned singles matches and just surpassed one year as champion a few days earlier. She is the longest reigning women’s champion in ROH history. 

Athena is the anchor and the star of ROH. The women’s division revolves around her and the champ says Honor Club is her show. With no signs of stepping off the gas any time soon, what’s next for “The Fallen Goddess”?

On a recent episode of Under the Ring, Athena answered that very question. She trained all over the US and Mexico, which helped her to be versatile. When talking about the relationship between AEW and Japanese companies, Athena asks, “who wouldn’t want to wrestle more universally known talent?” 

The #ForeverChampion reveals some women she’d like to get in the ring with. “Like Giulia from STARDOM. Mercedes Moné, Trinity. There’s so many beautiful, talented women out there that I’ve been dying to get my hands on. Including women that work in the company now, like Jamie Hayter. It’s really cool what AEW and ROH has done bringing in some of that outside talent.”

“Next on the list is going to Japan to wrestle because I’ve never gotten to do that. But with all of the Japanese superstars, with RIHO coming back and just a plethora of them dying to come over here, the opportunity is always there for those crazy dream matches.” 

During Athena’s current run, she has faced Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita, and Emi Sakura. 

Limitless Wrestling Force Of Nature Live Results: Channing Thomas vs. Ace Romero, MSP vs. Above The Rest

Tyriece Simon
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 Popular independent wrestling promotion Limitless Wrestling returned for their final event of the year on December 16. One of the featured matches had Channing Thomas defending his Limitless World Championship against Ace Romero in the main event.

 The event marked Thomas’s first title defense for the promotion since winning it at Limitless Vacationland Cup on August 26. The match was scheduled to be a typical title match. However, the champion attacked Romero with a steel chair and busted him open before the match could start. Romero recovered, and the title bout was changed to a No Disqualification match. 

Despite being hurt early, Romero rallied and was close to defeating Thomas. Luckily for the champion, Sidney Bakabella was in his corner and aided Thomas in defeating Romero. 

limitless wrestling force of nature msp vs above the rest 1

Another match on the card featured MSP(Aiden Aggro & The DangerKid) taking on  Above The Rest (Gabriel Skye & Tristen Thai) in a two out of three falls match. They were in a feud for a few months as they tried to prove who was the better team. 

MSP was able to get the first pin in the match, but they couldn’t maintain control over Above The Rest. Skye and Thai earned two back-to-back pinfalls to win the match and end the feud. 

Limitless Force Of Nature occurred at the Yarmouth Amvets venue in Yarmouth, Maine. The event went live on Independent Wrestling TV. To watch the event, you must pay $10 for a subscription.

limitless wrestling force of nature 1

Limitless Force Of Nature Match Card Results

  1. Anthony Greene def. TJ Crawford
  2.  JT Dunn def. Ricky Smokes
  3.  LSG & Ava Everett def. Love, Doug & Gabby Forza 
  4. Dezmond Cole def. Ortiz 
  5. Above The Rest (Gabriel Skye & Tristen Thai){2} def. MSP (Aiden Aggro & The DangerKid){1}-Two Out Of Three Falls Tag Team Match
  6. (C) Channing Thomas with Sidney Bakabella def. Ace Romero to retain the Limitless World Championship in a No DQ Match

Charlotte Flair To Have Knee Surgery Over The Holidays, Set To Be Out 9 Months

Bishal Roy
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Don’t expect to see Charlotte Flair back in action until the latter part of 2024. 

‘The Queen’ has been sidelined with an injury that is likely to keep her away from major WWE premium live events next year. The multi-time WWE Women’s Champion recently concerned the fans when her match with Asuka abruptly ended last Friday on SmackDown. Flair endured a defeat to Asuka after Bayley interfered.

Following the match, several photos and video clips capturing the moment spread like a fire on social media. The videos saw medical staff attending the former Women’s Champion.

It was later reported that Flair’s injury was legitimate and quite serious. ‘The Queen’ was also pulled from WWE live events. During last night’s episode of WWE SmackDown, it was announced that Charlotte Flair will be out of action for nine months following the knee injury. PWInsider is reporting that Flair will undergo surgery over the holidays.

Charlotte Flair could miss WrestleMania 40 & SummerSlam next year

There was a talk at Raw on Monday among the talents that Flair might have suffered a torn ACL. However, it wasn’t confirmed at the time. 

Usually, a nine-month absence is seen for ACL tear, which usually requires at least six months’ recovery. It is to be seen if she is out for nine months because that means Flair would return around September next year. This indicates that she would miss both WrestleMania 40 and SummerSlam. 

Charlotte Flair had started 2023 as WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion. She dropped the title to The Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39. ‘The Queen’ went after IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship but that led her to compete in her first-ever  WarGames match last month against Damage CTRL.

We at SEScoops wish Charlotte Flair a swift and speedy recovery.

Championship Match Added To TNA Hard To Kill PPV

Dominic DeAngelo
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New meets the old when the TNA brand returns in 2024, starting with the Hard To Kill PPV as a new championship match is announced that opened up the “forbidden door.”

Back at Slammiversary, IMPACT Wrestling revealed that the promotion would be going back to its roots, by rebranding itself as TNA once more and the motion to do so feels fitting as two of the company’s legacy stars both currently hold championships. Funny enough, they so happen to one of their greatest tag teams too.

Alex Shelley currently is the IMPACT World Champion while his Motor City Machine Guns brother Chris Sabin is the current X-Division Champion. Now the latter has a new match on tap for Hard To Kill.

IMPACT took to social media to announce that Sabin will be defending his goal against another Shelley tag team partner in KUSHIDA, but also in the match is El Hijo Del Vikingo.

It was just this week that KUSHIDA was announced to be officially signed with the company after making several appearances with the promotion. Vikingo has been keeping busy in several wrestling companies. This weekend he’s on tap to defend his AAA Mega Championship against another once notable name in IMPACT, Black Taurus, but it’s not with AAA Lucha Libre. The match will take place at ROH Final Battle.

The Sabin fight is only the third match currently announced on the card as Shelley will have his hands full defending his World Title against former champion, Moose. In addition to that, Trinity is set to defend her Knockout’s Championship against another former champion in Jordynne Grace.

Expect The Unexpected Just Gettin’ Warm Results & Highlights: Marcus Mathers vs. Ken Broadway, Miracle Generation vs. High Flying Star Machines

Tyriece Simon
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Independent wrestling promotion Expect The Unexpected returned after a two-month break with an exciting match card. In the main event, Key To The East Champion Marcus Mathers defended his title against his rival Ken Broadway in a Deathmatch.

ETU had built towards their main event for a few months, dating back to when Mathers won his championship. He won the title by defeating Masha Slamovich and Broadway in a three-way elimination match at ETU Summer Madness on July 30. After the match, Broadway made his intentions clear that he wanted another title opportunity. 

etu just gettin warm 1

The feud continued when Broadway and his faction Killionaires Club (J Boujii & PB Smooth) defeated Mathers, Austin Luke & Dyln McKay at ETU Nostalgia, Ultra on September 23. After the loss, Mathers made the Deathmatch against Broadway official for the Key To The East Championship for ETU Just Gettin’ Warm. 

In the main event of the show, both Mathers and Broadway tested their limits as they tried to do whatever it took to win. The finish came when Mathers landed a Gotch Piledriver on a stack of steel chairs for the win. 

After the match, Broadway shared that Mathers earned his respect, and they shook hands to seemingly end their rivalry. 

Another match on the card had IWTV Independent Tag Team Champions Miracle Generation (Dustin Waller & Kylon King) successfully defending their titles against High Flying Star Machines (Bojack & Diego Hill). 

 High Flying Star Machines hoped to pull off the upset, but Waller and King proved why they are one of the best tag teams in wrestling today. 

ETU Just Gettin’ Warm occurred at The Heart Ballroom in  Newark, New Jersey. The event went live on Independent Wrestling TV. To watch the event, you must pay $10 for a subscription. 

ETU Just Gettin Warm Match Card Results

  1. Brayden Toon def. Steve Peña, Adonis Stone & Yoya- Four Corners Match
  2. Janai Kai def. Christina Marie 
  3. Killionaires Club (J Boujii & PB Smooth) def. The Shook Crew (Bobby Orlando & Bryce Donovan) 
  4. Jimmy Lloyd def. BK Westbrook
  5. (C) Miracle Generation (Dustin Waller & Kylon King) def. The High Flying Star Machines (Bojack & Diego Hill) to retain the IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championship 
  6. Rickey Shane Page def. John Wayne Murdoch-ETU Key To The East Title #1 Contendership Match
  7. Kushida def. Brandon Kirk
  8. (C) Marcus Mathers def. Ken Broadway to retain the ETU Key To The East Championship in a Deathmatch

ETU Just Gettin’ Warm Match Highlights

(C) Marcus Mathers def. Ken Broadway

Rickey Shane Page def. John Wayne Murdoch

(C) Miracle Generation (Dustin Waller & Kylon King) def. The High Flying Star Machines (Bojack & Diego Hill) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Liv Morgan’s WWE Creative Plans After Her Arrest

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

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

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

Liv Morgan’s Court Date

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

How WWE Feels About Marijuana

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

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

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

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