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AEW Referee Responds To Ladder Match Criticism

Bishal Roy
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AEW referee has backed fellow officials amid heavy criticism following the latest edition of Dynamite.

Ladder matches are risky gimmick matches in which stars often attempt dangerous spots. Sometimes, the referees could assist the stars in balancing on the ladders. A similar incident happened on AEW Dynamite.

Recently, AEW fans witnessed a jam-packed Face of the Revolution Ladder Match on Dynamite. Powerhouse Hobbs, Eddie Kingston, Ortiz, AR Fox, Sammy Guevara, Action Andretti, Konosuke Takeshita, and Komander competed in the high-stakes match. Eddie Kingston also quit AEW following the match.

It was Powerhouse Hobbs who ultimately won the spectacular contest by retrieving the golden ring. However, various referees held the ladder steady for Hobbs to climb. This incident met with criticism from the fans on social media.

AEW referee Bryce Remsburg responds to Ladder Match Backlash

A user on Twitter called out the spot but, referee Bryce Remsburg came to the defense of his fellow officials.

Check out the conversation below:

Powerhouse Hobbs has earned a shot at the TNT Championship. Samoa Joe will defend his title against Wardlow at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday. As it seems, Hobbs will face the winner between Wardlow and the champion Samoa Joe on next week’s episode of Dynamite. 

Wardlow and Joe started fighting soon after Wednesday night’s ladder match. After Hobbs’ victory, both Wardlow and Joe destroyed the stage, while Hobbs watched, laughing. Joe, already out to do commentary, was attacked by Wardlow, leading to a massive brawl. It ended with Wardlow hitting a powerbomb on a member of the security team off the stage, sending him crashing into the rest of the security team.

We will now have to wait and see who Hobbs faces in the coming weeks.

Ricky Starks Reacts To The Rock Comparison

J. Cunningham
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Popular AEW babyface Ricky Starks recently weighed in on the recurring comparisons he gets to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

A lifelong wrestling fan, Starks grew up on Attitude Era WWF. As a child, his wrestling heroes were The Undertaker, Mankind, and none other than The Rock himself.

This Sunday, the former FTW Champion will collide with Chris Jericho. The pair have been feuding for months, involving both jobber-turned-underdog babyface Action Andretti and the rest of ‘Y2J’s Jericho Appreciation Society crew in the process.

For Starks, the Jericho angle has served as character building after his acclaimed feud with MJF.

Ricky Starks MJF

Turning face last year, the rising star entered a feud with longtime tag partner Powerhouse Hobbs. Along the way, Starks’ impassioned promos and theatrical mannerisms won over the AEW faithful. Revolution will likely serve as another key test in the former Team Taz standout’s gradual rise up the card.

Ricky Starks Talks “Flattering” Comparisons To The Rock

During a recent AMA for Bleacher Report, Starks was asked about the comparisons he’s often received to Dwayne Johnson. One of the most iconic stars in WWE history, The Rock’s charisma and monumental popularity propelled him into a highly lucrative film career.

For Starks, comparisons have often been made thanks to his promo delivery and passing similarities to The Rock’s late ’90s fashion sense. A question on the AMA asked for Starks’ thoughts on the comparisons, as well as if he’d like to move into Hollywood the way Johnson did.

Starks explained that he’d be very interested in a Hollywood move eventually. However, he was quick to point out that while comparisons to Johnson are flattering, he was quick to make clear he’s not trying to emulate the WWE legend.

“I definitely would [go into Hollywood]. I don’t think just because you’re transitioning to Hollywood doesn’t mean you’re trying to be like someone. The comparisons are quite flattering. I excuse the ignorance of people who insult me when comparing me to The Rock. What I don’t like is when I do something creative for my own inspo and someone just says I’m trying to steal it or be like another person. I really don’t care anymore but it is a cool comparison because it’s the highest compliment you can get. At this point, I’m cool with it and I look good.”

Ricky Starks’ rise in AEW has been gradual. His initial promise as a future star was worryingly scuppered for a spell when he broke his neck in a match with Hangman Page. In the years since, his evolving character and high-impact ring work have made him a dependable fan favorite as 2023 rolls on.

Are you looking forward to Ricky Starks’ showdown with Chris Jericho at Revolution?

Ahmed Johnson Set For Rare Pro Wrestling Appearance

Bishal Roy
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Former WWF/E Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson is set to make a return to a pro wrestling for a special appearance this month.

Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling(ISPW) has announced Ahmed Johnson will make an appearance at its March 11 event in Washington, New Jersey. The ISPW event will feature Tommy Dreamer, Nyla Rose, Ernest ‘The Cat’ Miller, Maven, Crowbar and more.

Johnson will be on hand to sign autographs and take photos; his appearance is in conjunction with Damage365 Promotions.

Ahmed Johnson, who was accused of hurting talents, had been one of the powerful stars in the Stamford-based company. He had one reign as WWF Intercontinental Champion and he was also the first African American Intercontinental Champion. Johnson also had a brief stint with WCW from 1999-2000 using the name Big T.

ISPW has also announced several matches on the card:

The show will be headlined by the hard-hitting battle between two veterans, Crowbar will go one on one with “The Samoan Storm” Afa Jr. The veteran stars with 60 years of experience combined, they are expected to deliver an unforgettable bout.

Meanwhile, ECW icon Tommy Dreamer will lock horns with “The King of Rock” Rick Recon (with Dave LaGreca) with “The Superstar” Danny Morrison as the special guest referee. Lagreca and Dreamer are very close friends and host Busted Open Radio together. A special battle is on the cards.

Former WWE Tough Enough Champion Maven is the “Manager of Champions” in ISPW as he manages both ISPW Heavyweight Champion Bull James and ISPW Women’s Champion Tina San Antonio. Maven promises that San Antonio will retain the title against Layla Luciano next Saturday night.

Other matches: HC Loc defends the ISPW Tri-State Title against “Main Event” Michael Mars (w/ “The Agent to The Stars” Nicky Benz), Justin Corino vs. Vik Dalishus, LSG collides with TJ Epixx, GKM takes on Dominick Denaro, and Vicious Vicki in action!”

TICKETS for the ISPW event are available for purchase by contacting [email protected]. More event information can be found at ISPWWrestling.com.

Reason AEW Wrestler Has Been Pulled from TV

Thomas Lowson
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All Elite Wrestling fans may not be seeing Rebel for the foreseeable future following the decision for her to be pulled from programming.

Rebel, real name Tanea Brooks, originally joined AEW in August 2019 as a hair & makeup stylist for its women wrestlers.

In 2020, Rebel was introduced as a character on programming and served as the exclusive makeup artist of Dr. Britt Baker.

Removed from TV

While Rebel has remained an ally of Baker, and by proxy AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter, for some time, fans haven’t seen much of her as of late.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer clarified that Rebel is “no longer being used.”

Sources informed Meltzer that with Baker and Hayter now in a babyface role, it was felt that Rebel no longer worked as part of the act.

Baker and Hayter have become babyfaces due to their feud with Saraya and Toni Storm, both of whom have turned heel in recent months.

On June 30, 2021, Rebel suffered a dislocated knee cap injury in a match facing Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero which kept her out of action until September.

Rebel Outside of AEW

Despite being hired as a hair and makeup stylist, Rebel joined AEW with an established history in the ring.

Rebel debuted in Impact Wrestling in 2013 as part of The Menagerie, and would later begin training at Ohio Valley Wrestling.

In 2016, Rebel would capture the OVW Women’s Championship, and would wrestle for Stardom the following year.

In 2019, Rebel made an appearance on the January 23, episode of NXT, and teamed with Amber Nova in a losing effort to KAIRI and IYO SKY.

Britt Baker “Hoping and Praying” Mercedes Moné Joins AEW

Update On Goldberg’s Contract After Remarks On Retirement Match

J. Cunningham
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More info on WCW icon Bill Goldberg’s current deal with the WWE has come to light.

A powerhouse star during the late ’90s wrestling boom, Goldberg wowed audiences with his explosive strength in the ring as well as his general intensity. The big man is renowned for his lengthy undefeated streak and feuds with the likes of Diamond Dallas Page, Triple H, and Brock Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar Vs. Goldberg WrestleMania 20

The former NFL player’s popularity during his peak years has long been a thorn in the side of similar characters over the years. The likes of Ryback would often get pilloried with Goldberg chants during undefeated streak runs on TV.

More recently, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has become a polarizing figure in the WWE. His star power has arguably become outweighed by his odd booking and often subpar match quality. Perhaps most infamous of all was his bizarre two-minute squash of The Fiend back in early 2020 for the WWE Universal Championship.

More recently, the 56-year-old has made his interest in a proper retirement match known.

“He Can’t Work Anywhere Else” – Dave Meltzer On Goldberg’s Contract Status

On a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed Goldberg’s current contract has run out of confirmed matches. However, the contract itself has not expired yet, despite Goldberg’s claims it was almost up back in October 2022. Until the deal expires, the WWE Hall-of-Famer cannot work anywhere else.

“The WWE doesn’t owe Goldberg anymore matches on the very lucrative deal he signed, but the time frame for the contract hasn’t expired, so he can’t work anywhere else.”

Dave Meltzer

Goldberg’s final stretch in WWE for now saw him trade wins with Bobby Lashley before falling to Roman Reigns in Saudi Arabia. Arguably his most acclaimed work since returning to wrestling was his feud with Brock Lesnar in 2016 and 2017. The pair’s sub-five minute WrestleMania 33 bout is often considered one of the greatest ever sprint matches.

Despite his interest in another match, Goldberg is yet to reveal an ideal retirement opponent.

If Goldberg were to have a retirement match, who would you like to see him wrestle?

Seth Rollins Didn’t Realize When He Became A Locker Room Leader In WWE

Anutosh Bajpai
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Having a locker room leader is a long-standing tradition of WWE. The title is usually attributed to the guys who have went through the rookie phase themselves and have been on the top of the card for a significant amount of time. Seth Rollins is one such star who has become one of the leaders of the current locker room, without even realizing when the transition happened.

The Visionary talked about the change in his behind the scene role on After The Bell. Rollins detailed a conversation he recently had with William Regal:

“I was having this conversation with William Regal at catering yesterday or a couple days ago, I’m sitting there and I was asking him. I’m just kind of like, ‘Hey, I don’t know when this happened for you. I don’t know if you remember but it just kind of like humor me a little bit,’ I don’t know, when really I became the guy who was sitting on the other side of the curtain, giving advice. I don’t know when that happened. I just remember being the guy coming back, being like, ‘Mr. Cena, excuse me. Do you have anything for me?’ I don’t know.

I feel like it’s happened very recently. I just started to notice, caught on these shows that there was nobody sitting in that spot. I was like, ‘Man, I can just hear the crowd so much better if I’m right behind the curtain instead of far away in the talent viewing room.’ So I just sat behind the curtain, and I’m just watching the monitor, watching the matches, listening to the live crowd. All of a sudden people start coming back and [asking] ‘What did you think? Any thoughts here and there? I’m kind of like ‘Oh, you’re talking to me? Oh, yeah okay. All right. I do have some thoughts. Bear with me.'”

‘I’m Not That Old Guy’: Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins backstage

Seth Rollins mentioned that he doesn’t know when this change happened. The 36-year-old remembered being the young guy who learned from people such as John Cena, Kane and Randy Orton. Now he is older than these legends were when he first made his debut in November, 2012:

“But yeah, I don’t know when that happened. I don’t know how it happened. I’m talking to someone. I don’t remember who it was, Somebody the other day who is on the roster substantially older than me. I am like ‘Ah,’ My brain was melting at how I’m older now with some of these other guys than when John Cena was on top. When I came in. When I started working with John. I’m older than John was then. So my brain, I can’t even really process that. I’m like, ‘Oh, wait a minute. No, no, I’m not like that.’

John was the old guy. John was like the seasoned vet at that point. John, Randy, Kane, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan. These guys, they were in a different stratosphere than where I was when I came in. I’m like, ‘No, I’m not. I’m not that old guy.’ That crotchety old guy saying ‘Hey, come here kid,’ But I am. I don’t know when the hell that happened. At some point along the way. I’m that person that sits there now and wags my finger at everybody when they come through. God bless me.”

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

Komander Lands on WWE’s Radar, Update on His AEW Status

Rayan Sayyed
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Mexican luchador Komander made his All Elite Wrestling debut on the March 3 episode of Dynamite in the ‘Face of the Revolution’ ladder match.

Even though he didn’t win the match, his high-flying moves and acrobatics caught the attention of fans. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Komander’s impressive debut may have put him on the WWE’s radar.

The report states that Komander is not actually under contract with AEW, but is in contract with a promotion called KAOZ Lucha Libre in Mexico. It is not clear how this would impact his ability to sign with WWE or AEW.

Komander in High Demand

However, Dave Meltzer noted that Komander is “very much on WWE radar.” This could potentially lead to a bidding war between the two wrestling giants for the talented luchador.

It’s also worth noting that Komander wasn’t Tony Khan’s first choice for the ‘Face of the Revolution’ ladder match. According to Meltzer, Khan initially wanted El Hijo Del Vikingo, but he wasn’t available. It’s unclear why Khan opted for the 24-year-old Komander instead of another wrestler, but his decision may have turned out to be a wise one.

The wrestler formerly worked for AAA, EMLL, Lucha Memes, MDA, Pro Wrestling Mexico, and WAR City. In the match on Dynamite, he went against Eddie Kingston, Konsuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Sammy Guevara, AR Fox, Ortiz, and Action Andretti.

Komander’s debut was highly impressive, and he was able to showcase his impressive acrobatics and high-flying moves throughout the match. His moveset left the audience in awe, and resulted in the crowd erupting in excitement and chanting “holy sh*t,” a clear indication of his ability to captivate and entertain fans.

Related: AEW Dynamite Results (3/1): Powerhouse Hobbs Becomes Face of The Revolution, Orange Cassidy and Danhausen Win Casino Battle Royale, More

Latest on MLW’s Relationship With Reelz

Bishal Roy
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We’ve got an update on Major League Wrestling’s future with the REELZ cable network.

Earlier this week, a report from Variety suggested that MLW Underground will end its tenure on REELZ after the ten-week period. The most recent episode, which aired on February 28, was the fourth episode of Underground thus far.

The distribution deal provides the company the exposure it’s received since MLW relaunched back in 2017. New episodes of MLW Underground air on REELZ Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. EST. Viewership has been quite strong, averaging 83,000 viewers per episode.

REELZ has now released a statement on the future of its relationship with MLW.

REELZ issues statement on MLW

On Thursday, REELZ issued an official statement to PWInsider regarding the future of the New York-based company on their channel. It reads:

“No decisions have been made by MLW or REELZ and we are both committed to a good outcome for MLW, its fans and REELZ.”

The surprising news that MLW’s relationship with Reelz may be limited to only 10 weeks came when Variety reported Peacock is adding the live REELZ feed to their streaming service. The time slot that Underground currently runs will be ‘blacked out’ due to WWE having an exclusive deal with the streaming platform.

MLW has pending litigation against WWE with claims that WWE stopped them from reaching a deal with Tubi and interfered with their relationship with Vice TV. On February 13, the judge on the MLW v. WWE antitrust lawsuit case dismissed MLW’s complaint against WWE. This allowed them to amend their complaint. The ruling came about as the judge believed the company lacked sufficient facts to prove its case.

WWE Files Trademark For Former Star

Bishal Roy
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WWE has filed to trademark the name of another former star, Ezekiel Jackson, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office database.

WWE filed to trademark the name Zack Ryder following the previous lapse in trademark. Matt Cardona(formerly Zack Ryder in WWE) had previously attempted to secure the trademark to his former WWE name but “let it go” when WWE fought his attempt.

WWE files trademark for Ezekiel Jackson

In a trademark application filing dated February 23, the Goods and Services usage description for the “Ezekiel Jackson” trademark includes:

“intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.”

For those who are unaware, Ezekiel Jackson was signed to WWE under a developmental contract in 2007. He went on to make his main roster debut in 2008. During his run in the company, he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and was the final winner of the ECW Championship. He would part ways with the Stamford-based company in 2014 and announced his retirement in 2015.

Meanwhile, new listings for current WWE stars Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler both for February 23, 2023, are on USPTO.report

NXT Star Wrestles for First Time in 2023

Bishal Roy
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WWE developmental talent Quincy Elliott has finally made his return to the squared circle during NXT tapings this week. This marks their first match in several months. They had been nursing an injury that kept them on the shelf for a considerable period of time.

Quincy Elliott returns to the WWE ring

Fans had been wondering about the status of ‘The Super Diva.’ Elliott made an in-ring comeback at the February 28 NXT Level Up taping, PWInsider. Elliott faced off against SCRYPTS in singles action.

The rising talent’s most recent TV match took place on the October 18 edition of NXT, with Elliott defeating Xyon Quinn via pinfall.

Elliott had also wrestled at the December 17 NXT house show in Tampa, Florida which was also against SCRYPTS, a character which is reportedly inspired from stalker.

It is not known on which episode of NXT Level Up Elliott’s match will air. It is because WWE apparently taped two weeks’ worth of matches during Tuesday’s taping.

Quincy Elliott received allegations of being transphobic

Quincy Elliott had found himself amid controversial matters. They have been a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community. However, they allegedly used burner accounts to make transphobic comments to a fan.

He previously responded to the accusations. Quincy Elliott had shared a statement on Twitter which read: ‘‘I know some are enjoying the circus, but I want to clarify the topic at question.”

‘’I am being exploited for clout and attention. I am being extorted [for] money by a group of fans hellbent [on] defaming me. I have been harassed for too long and I’m done.’’

Quincy Elliott denied the claims and revealed they are non-binary using They/Them pronouns.

They continued: ‘’I am in no way transphobic. Those who /actually/ know me, know that I am non-binary, and go by They/Them. I have used my platform in hopes to ignite change and inspire, and will continue to be brave for my Besties.’’

Wrestlers ‘Frustrated’ After Going Unused At Ring of Honor TV Tapings

Thomas Lowson
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Ring of Honor is back and filming weekly content once more, but the promotion has left several wrestlers ‘frustrated.’

This past weekend saw ROH create content for their weekly programming with the first episode airing last night.

ROH was purchased by Tony Khan a year ago this month and hosted a handful of Pay-Per-View events ahead of this week’s relaunch.

Frustrated

Several people were flown in for last weekend’s Ring of Honor tapings, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports.

It is noted that a lot of wrestlers canceled their weekend bookings on the indies to work the ROH tapings, but did not go used.

While the unused talent was paid (reportedly more than what they would have earned at the indie events) it is reported that there was “frustration” among the talent who weren’t used.

One independent promoter told WON that he lost four of his top guys and none of them got used on the ROH tapings.

While the promoter said he did not have an issue with the wrestlers taking the ROH booking, he added that they really should have been used.

Dak Draper was one name who was backstage and not used.

Title Feud

Not everyone made it onto the first Ring of Honor show of this new era, but Eddie Kingston did make his presence felt.

After ‘quitting’ AEW following this week’s episode of Dynamite, Kingston appeared after the main event match between ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli and AR Fox.

Kingston made it clear to Castagnoli (who he has spoken negatively about prior to the Swissman’s AEW arrival) that he plans on taking the ROH World Championship.

Dax Harwood Reflects On 2022 Rivalry With The Briscoes

AEW Working On Video Game Projects Other than Fight Forever

Thomas Lowson
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Gamers may still be waiting with bated breath for the release of AEW Fight Forever, but Tony Khan’s promotion is already working on what’s next.

AEW’s first console video game project, Fight Forever was announced in late 2020 but has faced multiple delays.

Fight Forever will be the third overall game for AEW, with Elite: General Manager and AEW Casino: Double or Nothing both releasing for mobile devices.

Other Projects

Given the two-and-a-half years since Fight Forever was announced, it’s hardly a surprise that expectations are high.

AEW Fight Forever isn’t the only game in the works, however, as Aubrey Edwards explained on The Sessions.

“I’m working in AEW Games, which is our games sort of umbrella. I’m working on a number of games for them which I can’t talk about yet.”

Aubrey Edwards

The AEW referee added that despite being a key part of the AEW Games department, she is not personally overseeing the development of Fight Forever.

AEW Fight Forever – What We Know

For many AEW stars, Fight Forever will mark their debut as playable at-launch characters.

The game will include AEW staple stipulations, including the Casino Battle Royal and the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match.

The game has already picked up awards, and a playable demo has been shown at gaming events in Tokyo, Japan, and Cologne, Germany.

While a release date for later this month was spotted on the Best Buy website, it is believed this is a placeholder date and not accurate.

WWE 2K23 Director: AEW Fight Forever Will Drive Us to be Better

Update on Several AEW Missing Talent – Miro, Hikaru Shida, & Others

Thomas Lowson
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A mixture of injuries and a lack of creative direction is keeping some stars of All Elite Wrestling away, it has been claimed.

AEW is home to a wide array of talent under a large roster, one that some fans believe is too large.

With limited weekly programming and no on-demand service (such as the WWE Network,) many wrestlers appear solely on AEW Dark or Dark: Elevation, or are seldom used.

Injuries

For many AEW stars, injuries are to blame for them missing weekly programming on TBS and TNT.

Fightful Select reports that Hikaru Shida is in her native Japan at this time and is dealing with a finger injury, but worked the recent Jericho Cruise, performing in a couple of matches.

Kris Statlander’s ACL injury continues to keep her away from the ring, though she has been backstage at several AEW shows in recent months, including the Lexington and Toronto shows.

After having knee surgery last May, Fightful were told that Leyla Hirsch is “slowly getting there,” and it has been said that she recently resumed in-ring training.

Missing

Not everyone who has been absent from AEW programming as of late is down with an injury.

In their report, Fightful notes that Scorpio Sky has been cleared to wrestle for months, after dealing with an injury last Summer.

While Sky was at the recent Impact Wrestling No Surrender event, the former TNT Champion hasn’t attended many AEW shows as of late.

Sky has several years left on his AEW deal, as he said in late 2021 that he signed a five-year extension.

Fightful was told that Miro is healthy and ready to go, but haven’t heard an update on creative discussions between he and All Elite Wrestling.

Miro has several years left on his contract after signing a four-year extension a year or so ago.

The former TNT Champion and three-time WWE United States Champion has had one match for AEW over the past eight months.

CJ Perry Predicts Miro Will Return to WWE in the Future

Charlotte Flair Gets Emotional Talking About Her Brother’s Passing

Anutosh Bajpai
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Despite being the daughter of Ric Flair, Charlotte Flair had no interest in a wrestling career during her childhood. Even when she started in the business, it wasn’t because of her father. The SmackDown Women’s Champion actually got into the wrestling business because of her late brother Reid Flair.

The WWE star told the story of her start in wrestling during an appearance on LeBatardShow. She mentioned that her brother was in talks with WWE back in 2012. It was at this time that someone presented the idea for Charlotte to join the business as well. The wrestling star said yes to the idea, thinking she may be able to motivate and help her brother. She got emotional recalling how her brother passed away the same night he was supposed to see her wrestle for the first time:

“Well, he had a really bad drug addiction and I thought that if I somewhat started what he wanted to that it would get him motivated, almost like jealous in a way. Like ‘My sister’s doing this, I’ve got to do it too. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to stay on the right course.’ So when I started, he still didn’t pass the test [with WWE].

Then he went off to Japan [and] started wrestling in Japan. They brought him home from Japan to see me for the first time at WrestleMania Axxess almost a year after I signed. He passed away that night when they brought him home to see me wrestle for the first time. So, like, ever since then I just think it’s gonna be that first time he sees me.”

‘It Just Keeps Me Ticking’: Charlotte Flair

charlotte sad

Charlotte Flair has since become one of the most successful pro wrestlers of all time. According to her, she was just trying to continue her brother’s dream and she never thought that she would achieve so much. Though despite all her accolades, Flair still feels she has something to prove:

“Yeah, I think I kind of deal with that now because I’m like, ‘Wait, I’ve done all this. What’s next?’ I wasn’t really sure what I was working towards. It was all just continuing my brother’s dream, right? I spent so much time trying to protect him and help him and get him on the right path when really, he set me on this course that I could have never imagined. So sometimes when it’s all like over at the end of the night, I’m like, ‘Well, what am I fighting for now? What’s next?’ I still feel like I have something to prove. I don’t really know what that next big thing is because I never thought I would have accomplished all this. It’s just cause I worked hard and I happened to be good at it.

[I] wasn’t 16 and was like, ‘I’m going to be the last Divas Champion or I’m gonna be the first woman to main event WrestleMania. I’m gonna be the first woman to main event Raw, Smackdown, Pay Per Views, and WrestleMania.’ All these things just keep happening. I’m just like, ‘Why did I get to be so fortunate and he never got to see me do any of it. I don’t know. It’s one of the things I guess, it just keeps me ticking.”

You can check out Charlotte Flair’s full interview in the video below:

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“It’s Not Dead” – Latest on Bray Wyatt’s Horror Film Following WWE Return

Thomas Lowson
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The feature-film debut of Bray Wyatt, announced after his 2021 WWE release, is “not dead” according to horror movie effects veteran Jason Baker.

Following his controversial exit from WWE in July 2021, it was announced in November that Wyatt was working on a horror movie, with Baker and Rob Fee.

In addition to effects, Baker is the owner of Callosum Studios, which includes horror effects legend Tom Savini as a consultant.

Callosum’s work will be recognizable for WWE fans, as they are the team behind masks for Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Retribution, the Bludgeon Brothers, Carmella, Nikki A.S.H, and the Fiend, and also designed Alexa Bliss’ Lilly doll.

WWE Return

In October 2022, Wyatt made his return to WWE in the climax of the highly-acclaimed ‘White Rabbit’ series of vignettes.

Since then, news of the movie project has been incredibly scarce, and when speaking to Metro, Baker explained how things have played out.

“We were getting close, and then he started talking with Hunter, and then Hunter hired Rob. It was like, s**t, you guys aren’t gonna have any time to shoot a movie because we’re all gonna busy.

“Then Bray came back, he’s like, ‘Well I need you to make a bunch of stuff.’ I’m like, ‘Well, when are we gonna shoot a movie if we’re all busy with WWE?’”

Jason Baker.

Despite the impact that WWE has had on the film’s production, Baker said this isn’t a bad thing, and called WWE the place that Wyatt “should be.”

Not Dead

Production on the film, which has been described as Ichi the Killer meets Xanadu, may have stalled, but things are still in the works.

In the interview, Baker explained that the film remains in development, but there is no expected date for a release.

“It’s not dead, it’s just we’re all working over at WWE now. I’m sure we’ll eventually get around to it, but – alright, let’s just go and do this for now!” 

Jason Baker.

Whatever Baker, Fee, and Wyatt have planned will have to wait until WrestleMania 39, where Wyatt is expected to face Bobby Lashley.

Speculation over released star joining Bray Wyatt’s faction

Major Update on Eddie Kingston After ‘Qutting’ All Elite Wrestling

Thomas Lowson
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Eddie Kingston’s time with All Elite Wrestling has seemingly come to an end, and it hasn’t taken the Mad King long to find work elsewhere.

During this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Kingston brawled with Ortiz, and announced after the show that he was quitting the promotion.

This shock announcement garned a ton of reactions online, including one from Ortiz, who mocked the Mad King for taking an easy way out.

Kingston in Ring of Honor

While Eddie Kingston’s time in AEW is up, he has now found work in Tony Khan’s other promotion: Ring of Honor.

After winning his match against AR Fox to retain the ROH World Championship, Claudio was met by Kingston on the first episode of the new ROH.

Kingston didn’t mince his words when speaking to the two-time ROH World Champion:

“Guess what? I’m an Independent Contractor, dawg. I’m 1099. Know how I promised Mox I wouldn’t beat your ass at AEW? This ain’t AEW, I’m coming for your Championship.”

Eddie Kingston.

ROH Honor Club

The closing moments of the first Ring of Honor show of the new era was a fitting way to end an explosive night of entertainment.

In the first match, Mark Briscoe, who remains a Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champion, defeated Slim J.

The Kingdom made quick work of The Infantry, while NJPW World Television Chamber Zack Sabre Jr. stepped through the Forbidden Door to defend against Blake Christian.

Christopher Daniels defeated Rohit Raju and Konosuke Takeshita bested Josh Woods.

The Embassy picked up a six-man-tag win over Joe Keys, Rex Lawless and LSG, while Ari Daivari defeated fellow WWE alum Metalik.

In Women’s action, Madison Rayne and Skye Blue defeated The Renegades and Willow Nightingale defeated Lady Frost.

Eddie Kingston Names Several AEW Stars He Doesn’t Like

What Would Tony Khan Need To Do To Make WWE Purchase Happen?

Thomas Lowson
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Tony Khan has multiple wrestling promotions to his name, and is the owner of All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor next in line to run WWE?

Since Vince McMahon’s return to WWE in January 2023, the billionaire has been focused on finding a new owner for the promotion and is reportedly hoping to sell for around $9 billion.

Though several names were reported as potential buyers, many have dropped out of the race, including UFC parent company Endeavor, and Comcast.

Tony Khan

At this time, AEW President Tony Khan remains a possible buyer of WWE and has expressed interest in the company.

While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted Khan buying WWE is possible under the correct circumstances.

Meltzer said that Khan would need “a lot of partners” which is not out of the realm of possibility.

It was reiterated that Khan has expressed interest, saying that he is watching the WWE situation very closely, but no deal has been offered at this time.

Saudi Arabia

With Comcast, considered by many to be the favorite, seemingly out of the running, many believe it is just a matter of time before the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund buys WWE.

It has been reported that the Saudi PIF had already purchased WWE, though those reports were quickly debunked.

On his show, Meltzer said that other than the Saudis and the Khan family, nobody else has publicly expressed interest in buying WWE.

Speaking about the $9 billion asking price, Meltzer said that if the Saudis have agreed to this “highly inflated figure” then it’s unlikely anyone will match them.

Backstage Morale Said to be Waning Ahead of Potential WWE Sale (Report)

Finn Balor Explains Why He Has Started Wearing Masks To The Ring

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Judgement Day faction has given a new life to the careers of all its members. The group has allowed the likes of Dominik Mysterio to loosen up and have fun with their characters. It has also allowed people to experiment with their looks. The group’s leader Finn Balor has especially taken up this opportunity to shake things up.

The Demon Prince has not only made a big change to his ring gear going from trunks to full pants, he has also been experimenting with other things as well. This includes wearing faceless masks during his entrance which has intrigued a lot of people.

Balor was asked about the reasoning behind the masks during his appearance on The Bump. He explained that it’s something he has always wanted to experiment with:

Representation Can Change Demeanor

“Yes, it’s just something that I wanted to try out and experiment with. I always feel like that if you have an idea you should dive into it headfirst.” said Finn Balor, “I’ve had plenty of ideas before. Bullet Club – That was pretty successful. The Demon character – that was pretty successful.

He continued: “So this idea of covering my face, [it’s] what people associate with you. That image, that visual representation can perhaps change the demeanor of the silhouette that they’re seeing. That was kind of the idea behind it and that’s why I’ve been experimenting with it.”

Finn Balor then explained the psychological effect of the mask on his opponents. He claimed that it takes the facial image away, depriving them the knowledge of how he may be feeling before the bout:

“It’s just basically taking the facial image away. So you can’t really see any emotion, can’t see any reaction or excitement that’s on there. It’s basically like playing poker with your opponent before the match, keeping a poker face.”

Balor appeared on Raw this week to challenge Edge for a match at WrestleMania 39. It’s rumored that this match could be contested inside Hell In a Cell but the stipulation has not been confirmed yet.

You can check out Finn Balor’s full interview below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

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

Details on The Names Behind The Bloodline Storyline

Andrew Ravens
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Many people consider The Bloodline storyline to be one of the best that WWE has told in years, perhaps even decades. Roman Reigns leading the charge, a change from what Vince McMahon had him portray since breaking away from Dean Ambrose after they were done feuding with Seth Rollins when he broke up The Shield. 

Reigns had been pushed for years as the typical babyface character that McMahon knew and replicated with Hulk Hogan and John Cena, but Reigns never broke through the glass ceiling in the eyes of the fans as a top draw for the promotion. 

That all changed in the summer of 2020 when he came back from hiatus as a heel, aligned himself with Paul Heymand and slowly recruited The Usos to form the faction. They later added Solo Sikoa and, for a few months, had Sami Zayn as the Honorary Uce. 

There’s been a curiosity among fans regarding who is behind the storyline and whether it’s run by Heyman and Reigns or if whoever is in charge of creative whether that be Vince McMahon or Triple H, has the only say in it. 

The Faces

Mike Johnson of Pwinsider.com was recently asked in a Q&A who is behind the storyline. 

Johnson wrote, “Paul Levesque oversees it with Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns having strong, perhaps the strongest voices, involved in the direction, language and scripting.  Michael Hayes regularly produces the segments and I am sure if a good idea is suggested by those on the Raw team, it would be considered or assimilated into the process.”

Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Title against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39. 

Impact Wrestling Results (3/2/23): Trey Miguel vs. PCO, King vs. Knight

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

This week’s episode was promoted as the fallout from their No Surrender event. X Division Champion Trey Miguel faced PCO on the March 2 episode. Another match on the card was Kenny King taking on Kevin Knight.

Impact Wrestling also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. The company offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49. Unfortunately, it aired at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.

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

Impact Wrestling Results (3/2)

The show started with The Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) opening the show with a promo in the ring. They boasted about their win at No Surrender when they teamed with Kenta to defeat The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) and Kushida. The Motor City Machine Guns interrupt their promo and challenged The Bullet Club to take them on for their Impact Tag Team Championships tonight. Both Bey and Austin agree and we get a title match tonight.

We got a backstage interview with Rich Swann. He reflected on his loss against Josh Alexander at No Surrender. Raj Singh and Shera interrupted the interview, which upsets Swann. Swann challenges them to a fight, but Singh leaves with Shera and says another time.

“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Shane Haste

The match started with Mike Bailey and Shane Haste exchanging holds, with neither wrestler getting the better of the exchange. They locked up again; this time, Haste got the better of Bailey and did a Snapmare into a Dropkick to the back of Bailey’s head. Haste tried to continue his offense, but Bailey returned with multiple kicks to send Haste to the outside.

Bailey tried to do a Suicide Dive to the outside but got caught with a European Uppercut. Haste followed the move by landing a Back Suplex on Bailey into the ring apron. He rolled his opponent back into the ring and controlled the match for several minutes.

The match turned when Haste puts Bailey on the top turnbuckle to set up a Superplex, but Bailey knocks Haste down and lands a Missile Dropkick. Bailey tries to maintained control but gets caught with a Back Suplex into a Cutter for a two-count. Bailey countered the Dynamic Bomb into a Backslide but does get the win. He did a Schoolboy to send Haste to the outside and then lands a Moonsault to the outside on Haste. The action gets back to the ring, Bailey tries to land double knee from the middle rope on his opponent, but missed. Haste lands the Dynamic Bomb for a near fall. The finish comes when Bailey lands the Ultimate Weapon on Haste for the win.

We got a backstage segment with The Design. Alan Angels tried to convince Deaner that Sami Callihan was not a good fit for the faction. Rhino interrupts to tell them to leave Callihan alone. Callihan interrupted and said The Design was not manipulating him and that he wanted to be a member of the faction. Rhino said he is going to have to beat some sense into him. Deaner says that the next stage of Callihan’s training is to beat Rhino.

Kenny King vs. Kevin Knight

The match started with Kevin Knight trying to shake Kenny King’s hand but got caught with a jab to the face. King tried to Irish Whip Knight and go for a Hip Toss, but Knight countered and started to take control. The action went to the outside, where Knight and King tried to take action, but both would counter. King threw Knight back into the ring, and when he was not looking, Knight landed a Senton to the outside on King.

Knight threw King back into the ring and tried to pin for a two count. Knight tried to go for a Springboard, but King kicked the rope to make him fall. After he fell, King landed a big Clothesline to ground Knight. King began to take control of the match until Knight caught King with a Spinning Backbreaker. As Knight tried to gain the advantage, King lands a Spinebuster for a two count. The finish comes when King landed the Royal Flush for the win.

We get a backstage interview with Alexander. He said he must beat Kushida at Multiverse of Matches to face Steve Maclin at Rebellion. He challenges Kushida to team with the Motor City Machine Guns in a six-man tag match against two partners he will figure out. Maclin interrupted the interview and told Alexander not to lose the title before facing him at Rebellion.

We got another backstage segment where we have a doctor providing an update on Tommy Dreamer. Bully Ray interrupted and told the doctor that he would finish the job. Bhupinder Gujjar confronts Ray for what he did to Dreamer at No Surrender. Ray Slapped Gujjar as backstage officials held Gujjar back.

Mickie James Speaks to The Crowd

Knockout World Champion Mickie James addressed the crowd after her win at No Surrender. She said that she had unfinished business with Jordynne Grace. However, Gisele Shaw with Jai Vidal and Savannah Evans interrupted her. Shaw noted that James was running from her and that this version of her could beat James. The champion responded that Shaw doesn’t have to wait for Grace to get her opportunity first. Gail Kim came out to announce that James will defend the title against Shaw in the near future.

Moose and Brian Myers have a backstage segment. Moose said he would help him beat Joe Hendry for the Digital Media Championship.

We got another backstage segment with Santino Marella and Grace. She said she thought she was the next challenger for the Knockouts Championship, but Kim made the announcement. Marella said that she was guaranteed to face the winner.

Trey Miguel vs. PCO

The match started with Miguel trying to avoid being cornered up by PCO. Miguel avoided strikes from PCO and landed kicks to his opponent’s leg. He went for a Headlock, but PCO overpowered him. He landed a Clothesline into the corner and followed it up with a Running Clothesline. The action went to the outside. PCO controlled the match until he missed Senton landing on his back outside the ring. We went for a commercial break.

After the break, PCO caught Miguel with a Pop Up Powerbomb. PCO dominated the match until Eddie Edwards attacked PCO, leading to a DQ win for PCO. PCO turned his attention to Edwards, who got the better of him before security guards came out to stop him. The security guards tried to get Edwards away on the outside, but PCO landed a Moonsault from the top rope on all the security. Edwards managed to escape as PCO stood tall in the ring.

We got the announcement for next week’s matches. Shaw will challenge James for the Impact Knockouts Championship, Rhino will face Callihan, and Jonathan Gresham will take on Kushida.

(C) Motor City Machine Guns(Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs. The Bullet Club(Chris Bey & Ace Austin) for Impact World Tag Team Championships

The match started with Austin and Sabin exchanging wrist holds, which no one got the better of. They attempted to lock up, but Austin landed a kick to the gut of Sabin. Austin used his speed to get the better of Sabin. Shelley blind tagged into the match, and he and his partner got Austin into the ground to land double kicks.

Austin drove Shelley to his corner for Bey to tag in. Bey puts Shelley in a Headlock, but Shelley shoves him into the ropes to catch him with a Shoulder Block. Shelley tried to capitalize, but Bey used his speed to get the momentum back on his side. Shelley exchanged strikes with Bey before Sabin blind tagged in the match to land a Clothesline on Bey. The Motor City Machine Gun started to control Bey. Sabin tagged Shelley back into the match to do a tag team move, but Bey countered to tag Austin as the The Bullet Club landed Dropkicks on their opponents. The Bullet Club than did a Suicide Dive on the Motor City Machine Guns. Bey and Austin took the action back into the ring as they double team Shelley.

Austin started to work on his arm of Shelley. Taking a card from his sleeve, he racked Shelley’s hand with it. Austin tagged Bey into the match, dominating Shelley until the champion landed a diving knee drop to Bey’s arm. Sabin tagged in, holding Bey for Shelley to kick his opponent’s arm. Shelley tagged back into the match as they focused on Bey’s arm for several minutes.

Still legal in the ring, Bey landed a kick to the head of Shelley as they both tagged out. Austin got the better of Sabin by using his speed. The Bullet Club started taking control of the match, using their teamwork and speed against the Motor City Machine Guns. Austin tagged in Bey as they tried for a tag team move, but Shelley took out Austin. They started to work on Bey’s arm again, but Bey landed a Cutter on both of them. Austin comes into to do a tag team move, but he got taken out again. Shelley was the legal man and put Bey in the Border City Stretch. Austin tried to make the save, but Sabin landed the Cradle Shock to take him out. Bey reverse the hold into a pin, but Shelley kicked out. The finish comes when Bey landed the Art of Finesse on Shelley. Austin followed the move with The Fold for Bey to get the pin.

Bella Twins Starring in New “Social Dating Experiment Series” on Amazon Prime

Andrew Ravens
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The Bella Twins have another project in the works, as they will host a new social experiment dating show for Amazon Studios. 

It was announced on Thursday that Nikki & Brie Bella would be co-hosting “Twin Love,” which is slated to air in the US and UK through Amazon Prime, although a premiere date was not given. The show will focus on the love lives of identical twins and will have ten sets of twins. 

The Synopsis

The synopsis for the project reads as “Twin Love is a social dating experiment that explores the love lives of identical twins. Ten sets of twins will be split up and placed into two houses of “identical” casts, where they’ll begin a unique and compelling search for love. With double the fun and drama, the series will discover if their inherent similarities extend to their romantic desires. When separated from their twin brothers and sisters—some for the first time ever—will they pursue the same identical partners? Or will their choices be dramatically different??

The series will be produced by Amazon Studios and ITV America’s ITV Entertainment, while Simon Thomas, Bernie Schaeffer, Kenny Rosen, and Jessica Nahmias will serve as executive producers. 

The Bella Twins continue to find success outside of the WWE banner as they have their own podcast, brand of wine, and more. 

Nikki co-hosted “Barmageddon” on USA Network, a series already renewed for a second season. The twins have also starred on “Total Divas,” “Total Bellas,” and other reality shows. 

Finn Balor Comments on Dominik Mysterio’s Transformation

Tyriece Simon
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WWE superstar Finn Balor shared some encouraging words for Dominik Mysterio’s development in the company.

Mysterio has risen as one of the biggest heels in the WWE. He made the change at Clash at the Castle on Sep. 3, 2022, when he betrayed his father, Rey, and Edge. Two days later, he would align himself with The Judgement Day(Balor, Rhea Ripley, and Damien Priest) to become a faction member. After several months of working with The Judgement Day, Dominik has started to get out of the shadow of his father.

In an interview with The Bump’s Kayla Braxton and Matt Camp, Balor spoke highly about Dominik’s transformation as a heel talent. While expressing his thoughts, Balor stayed in character during the interview.

“You know, it kind of makes me sad a little bit that Dominik hasn’t received the support from his family. The fact that he’s growing and achieving so much in a short time, but without that backbone or family support, it’s quite incredible, said Balor.

He continued, “…At the same time, you know my family has always supported me, so I take that kind of for granted that people should be supported by their family and the fact that Rey has continuously not shown support, not shown interest in his sons development and career, it’s quite saddening. So myself, Damian(Priest) and Rhea(Ripley) all been a shoulder for Dom to lean on and I think he’s stepped out of his father shadow in such a short time and I think he’s going to make his father pay.”

Will Dominik Challenge His Father At WrestleMania 39?

Dominik Mysterio Rey Mysterio
Photo Credit: WWE

It seems the WWE is looking to have Dominik face his father at WrestleMania 39, but it’s unclear in what way. Dominik and The Judgement Day have antagonized his father since he joined them. On the Feb. 24 episode of Friday Night Smackdown, Rey came close to attacking his son but chose to walk away. It’s possible WWE could be setting up a father vs. son match at WrestleMania 39. However, the company has also teased that Santos Escobar may assist Rey in dealing with his son.

During a backstage segment on the Feb. 24 episode, Escobar and Dominik had a brief confrontation about respecting Rey. Before Escobar could do anything to Dominik, Rhea stepped in the way, and the “couple” walked away. It’s possible the WWE can have a tag team match with Escobar and Rey against Dominik and Priest, as Priest is not involved in a match for WrestleMania 39.

Wrestling fans will have to wait and see how the ongoing story of Rey and Dominik will develop on the road to WrestleMania.

Potential Spoiler on WrestleMania 39 Celebrity Appearance

Tyriece Simon
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WWE may have revealed a surprise celebrity appearance for WrestleMania 39.

We’re just one month out from WWE’s biggest show of the year, WrestleMania. It’s all scheduled to go down Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

On Wednesday, WWE revealed a new promotional poster for the event. Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes are featured most prominently, with over a dozen Superstars featured below.

You’ve got Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Charlotte Flair, Seth Rollins, Logan Paul and wait, is that Snoop Dogg? Why yes, it is, that’s WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg. WWE has yet to announce Snoop’s involvement, but something is brewing.

Celebrity Involvement For WrestleMania 39

It seems WWE will be looking to have celebrities involved in this year’s WrestleMania. Last year, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE wanted to get several celebrity involvements for the event. However, the report didn’t share who the WWE wanted.

A celebrity that could appear on the show is Latin superstar Bad Bunny, who has competed in WWE. On the Masked Man Show on Dec. 1, 2022, Kazeem Famuyide shared that he heard that WWE wanted to have Bad Bunny challenge Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 39. However, it seems the company is leaning towards a father vs. son match at the event. It’s still possible for Bad Bunny to appear, but he may not wrestle.

Snoop Dogg WWE Championship

Regarding Snoop Dogg, fans may remember that he was involved in the WrestleMania 39 Launch Party on Aug. 11, 2022. At the event, WWE gave him a gold WWE Championship, which other celebrities have been seen with the title after he “lost” it. Its possible fans will Snoop Dogg and his title involved at WrestleMania 39.

What celebrity would you want to appear at this year’s WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments.

Jay White’s NJPW Contract Expires As Fans Anticipate His Next Move

J. Cunningham
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Longtime Bullet Club head honcho Jay White is officially a free agent.

January and February were not kind to ‘Switchblade’ in kayfabe. He kicked the year off by losing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship back to long-running nemesis Kazuchika Okada. Then, at The New Beginning in Osaka, White was defeated by Hikuleo in a loser leaves Japan bout.

As if all that wasn’t enough, White’s loss to Eddie Kingston at Battle in the Valley had a loser leaves NJPW stipulation attached. To add both insult and injury to the matter, White’s post-match moment with the crowd was scuppered when David Finlay bludgeoned him with a shillelagh.

Jay White Loses

Now, the downfall of White story arc appears to be the conclusion for ‘Switchblade’s long run in NJPW. A recent tweet from Super-J Cast confirmed that his New Japan contract has expired and he is officially done with the company.

Could Jay White Be WWE Bound?

Despite appearing on AEW multiple times last year, rumors are pointing towards ‘Switchblade’ heading over to WWE.

A natural villain, White’s smarmy promos, over-the-top character work, and heel psychology would likely fit well in WWE. While he’s drawn some comparisons to Seth Rollins in recent years, White is a grittier, more grounded character, portraying a sociopathic ringmaster out to win by hook or by crook.

Interestingly, the official WWE on BT Sport Twitter account teased a Jay White appearance in the Royal Rumble. While that never materialized, the fact he’s getting name-dropped by official company pages has set the rumor mills ablaze this year.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer has also pointed out that if White were going to AEW, he wouldn’t need to be completely written out of New Japan. The two promotions have a working agreement and White likely could have split his time between the two.

Should ‘Switchblade’ pop up in WWE this year, he’d likely be a perfect heel foil for popular babyface acts such as Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens.

Would you like to see Jay White in WWE?

MLW’s Deal With Reelz May Be Up After Just 10 Weeks

Bishal Roy
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Major League Wrestling’s partnership with REELZ appears to be a short-term deal, limited to just 10 weeks.

The distribution deal provides the company the most exposure its received since MLW relaunched back in 2017. New episodes of MLW Underground air on REELZ Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. EST. Viewership has been healthy so far, averaging 83,000 viewers per episode.

A new report from Variety suggests that MLW Underground is set to end its tenure on REELZ after the ten-week period. The most recent episode, which aired on February 28, was the fourth episode of Underground thus far.

Earlier this week, news broke that Peacock was adding the live REELZ feed to their streaming service. The time slot that MLW Underground currently runs will be ‘blacked out’ due to WWE having an exclusive deal with the streaming platform.

Court Bauer’s fight league has carved out a niche for itself in an industry dominated by the likes of WWE and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). 

MLW has pending litigation against WWE with claims that WWE stopped them from reaching a deal with Tubi and interfered with their relationship with Vice TV. On February 13, the judge on the MLW v. WWE antitrust lawsuit case dismissed MLW’s complaint against WWE. This allowed them to amend their complaint. The ruling came about as the judge believed MLW lacked sufficient facts to prove its case.

It is uncertain whether MLW Underground will air on a different network following the end of the ten-week run.

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