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Damian Priest Refutes Reports About Edge’s Judgement Day Departure

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Damian Priest has refuted a longstanding report about Edge’s departure from The Judgement Day.

Shortly after WWE Hall Of Famer Edge was kicked out of The Judgement Day when he was attacked by Finn Balor and Priest, reports began to circulate regarding the situation. Given that Edge had formed the faction only a few weeks before, many found it strange he was kicked out so soon.

Initial reports suggest that there were creative differences between Edge and Vince McMahon over the direction of the faction. Edge apparently didn’t want the stable to go the supernatural route.

In an interview with Stephanie Chase of Digital Spy, Priest addressed these rumors, shooting them down as inaccurate.

“I guess I understand why people thought that,” Priest said. “I don’t know where the actual rumor came from that that’s what was planned, because it never was.

“If anything, we had conversations of how we didn’t want that and that included Vince [McMahon] himself, who did not want the group to be supernatural-based. We were all in agreement.

“We did some things that seemed that way, I know I did a thing with lightning one night, and the idea wasn’t about supernatural, but it came off that way and then we immediately went, ‘OK, let’s not revisit that because it came off that way’.”

Damien Priest Judgement Day

Currently, Priest and Balor seem to be leading The Judgement Day together. On this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, Priest actually challenged Edge to a singles bout in two weeks.

This is because RAW will be in Edge’s hometown of Toronto, and Priest said he wants to beat the Hall Of Famer in front of his friends and family. Edge has seemingly aligned himself with The Mysterios against The Judgement Day.

It will be interesting to see what creative direction The Judgment Day goes in now that Triple H has assumed creative control within WWE.

Update on the Future of the WWE 2K Video Game Franchise

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Fans of the WWE 2K video game series have reason to be optimistic about the franchise’s future.

WWE 2K22, released back in March, promised to “hit different” after WWE 2K20 was so buggy that the following year’s installment was scrapped entirely. Thankfully, it lived up to the hype and was well-received by critics and gamers alike.

WWE 2K20 on PS4 had an aggregate critic score of 43/100 (via Metacritic), while the PS5 edition of WWE 2K22 earned a 77/100.

The fate of the WWE 2K franchise hinged on the success of this year’s game. According to Take-Two Interactive, WWE 2K23 is already in the works.

WWE 2K23 Release Date

WCCFwwe2k223
Roman Reigns, WWE 2K22

Take-Two Interactive released its fiscal 2023 first quarter earnings report earlier this week. It cited WWE 2K22 as one of its best-selling games for the quarter, contributing to the company’s healthy sales figures and net revenue:

The largest contributors to GAAP net revenue were NBA® 2K22; Grand Theft Auto® Online and Grand Theft Auto V; Red Dead Redemption® 2 and Red Dead Online; Empires & Puzzles™; Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands®; WWE® 2K22; Rollic’s hyper-casual portfolio; Toon Blast™; The Quarry®;and Top Eleven®.

More importantly, Take-Two Interactive lists WWE 2K23 as one of the games scheduled to be released by the end of its fiscal 2023 calendar.

Take-Two’s fiscal year ends March 31, 2023, so it looks like WWE will be sticking with the format of releasing the new video game at the height of WrestleMania season.

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We’ll keep you posted as more details become available regarding WWE 2K23.

WWE 2K23 is not not the only wrestling video game in development. As we’ve been covering, All Elite Wrestling is also working on its first console video game, titled AEW Fight Forever.

AEW has yet to confirm the release date, but Fight Forever is due out some time before the end of this year. Instead of directly competing with WWE’s simulation-style offering, Fight Forever looks to be more of an arcade-style game that fans can pick up and play.

Jay White Pulled From NJPW Events for ‘Abundance Of Caution’

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Jay White has been pulled from upcoming New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) events.

NJPW made an official announcement, revealing that White has been removed from the promotion’s upcoming shows on August 9 and 10. White is apparently suffering from “heat stroke like symptoms” and his removal is a precautionary matter.

It was also noted that White tested negative for COVID-19. Check out the official announcement below.

“Jay White, who was scheduled to wrestle in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall this evening, has been affected by heat stroke like symptoms and as a result will be removed from August 9 and 10 cards due to an abundance of caution.

“As an additional precautionary measure, White has undertaken COVID antigen testing, which has returned negative.

“We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing White wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.”

White has been competing for NJPW for the past several years, making a name for himself as the head of The Bullet Club. He currently reigns as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Jay White
(WWE)

He’s also won several other titles during his time with NJPW; including the IWGP Heavyweight Title, IWGP United States Heavyweight Title, and many more. White recently began making appearances for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) back in February.

He was able to retain his IWGP World Heavyweight Title at the AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view (PPV) in June.

Miro Details His Struggles In America Before Wrestling Success

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Miro is one of the most successful non-American wrestlers of the current generation. He took a huge gamble when he moved to America from Bulgaria and has built himself from ground up. Though this journey was not easy by any means, and the former TNT champion had to struggle from his very first month in America.

The AEW star was recently interview by Renee Paquette for The Sessions podcast. Opening up about his struggles before making a name in wrestling, he recalled how he got fired from his job and was on the street within a month of moving countries:

“Well it started with a hurdle because I came as an exchange student. I was supposed to work for three months and go back. I had a contract. But after the first month, I got kicked out. I got fired. They told me I’m not good at my job. I was a painter of houses. I had to paint outside houses. I have never done this in my life.

I’m not saying I was good at my job but to fire me, to kick me on the street, kick me out of the house [wasn’t fair]. Because they provided the housing which we paid for. I’m in America for one month, and I got kicked out with 150 dollars on the street. I’m a month in.”

‘Two Bedroom Apartment And Seven Of Us’: Miro

Miro
Miro

Detailing how he got out of that situation, Miro revealed that some guys from work took him in. So he went and lived with six other guys in a small apartment:

“Well, there was a couple of guys that I knew from work. They were like, ‘Okay, come live with us.’ I was 20 years old. And took a huge debt to come to America. About five grand. And this is Bulgaria. You know in Bulgaria five grand is [huge], Especially [in] 2005. So they took me in. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment about seven of us.”

Though despite all the troubles, Miro kept a positive outlook. He mentioned that he expected these things and said that it’s what life teaches you.”

“It’s okay. It’s America. You expect these things. You know, you watch so many movies. You’re like ‘Shit happens, you gotta persevere’. I think that’s what life teaches you.”

Miro continued working hard and took on many odd jobs. He finally got signed to a development contract by WWE in 2010, and the rest is history.

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This article has been edited for clarity

MLW Announces Inter-Promotional Main Event for Super Series ’22

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Major League Wrestling has announced the main event for the upcoming MLW Super Series event from the greater Atlanta, GA area.

MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone will put his gold on the line against high-flying luchador, Bandido.

The following is from MLW’s official match preview and provides backstory on this championship showdown:

“With no man having pinned or submitting Bandido since debuting in MLW in January, this luchador has put himself in contention for a championship bout, a bout that was originally set for the Battle Riot IV.”

“Collecting championships from Mexico to the United Kingdom, Bandido now has MLW’s most cherished gold on his mind. Grabbing this prize wouldn’t just bring him bragging rights for AAA and his homeland but make him the World Champion.”

MLW Super Series ’22

MLW Super Series Hammerstone Bandido

MLW Super Series goes down Sunday, September 18th at the Space Event Center at in Norcross, GA. The card is a FUSION TV taping, airing on beIN SPORTS nationwide.

Super Series has been dubbed a “cross-promotional summit” and will feature talent from Mexico’s Lucha Libre AAA promotion.

For more details on this event, visit MLW.com.

Hammerstone has been the reigning MLW World Champion since battling Jacob Fatu in a title vs. title clash last October. Watch the full match here:

WWE Hall of Famer Tasked With Bringing Back Johnny Gargano (Report)

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WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels has apparently been tasked with bringing the former NXT champion Johnny Gargano back in the company.

The former DIY member has been in news lately with speculations about his next move. He teased a return to the industry just recently.

Fightful Select provided some update on his potential return to WWE. They noted that shortly after the change in WWE management, Michaels was tasked with reaching out to Johnny Gargano.

There is no word on how the conversation between the wrestling veteran and the former NXT star went, but it’s clear HBK was the one who was to be in contact with him.

Johnny Gargano In NXT

Johnny Gargano
(via WWE)

Johnny Gargano was one of the top stars of NXT during its rise to popularity. He first made his name as part of the DIY tag team with Tommaso Ciampa and later went on to become a successful singles star.

During his 6 year long run with the development brand, the former WWE star became a one time tag team champion, a three-time North American champion and one time NXT champion. These accolades are proof of how highly Triple H thinks of him.

Gargano took a break from wrestling last December after the birth of his son. With recent returns such as Dexter Lumis and Karrion Kross, it seems to be the perfect time for the former champion to make his comeback as well.

List Of Upcoming WWE, AEW, ROH, & IMPACT Events

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SEScoops will keep a running list of upcoming WWE, AEW, ROH, IMPACT Wrestling, and NWA events. This list will include live events that have been announced and scheduled. We plan to update this with new events accordingly.

August 2022

NWA 74 – Night One

  • August 27, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • Chase’s Khorassan Ballroom in St. Louis, Missouri
  • FITE TV

NWA 74 – Night Two

  • August 28, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • Chase’s Khorassan Ballroom in St. Louis, Missouri
  • FITE TV

September 2022

WWE Clash At The Castle 2022

  • September 3, 2022 at 3PM EST
  • Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales
  • Peacock (US)/WWE Network (Internationally)

AEW All Out 2022

  • September 4, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
  • PPV / B/R Live (US) /Fite TV (Internationally)

IMPACT Victory Road 2022

  • September 23, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
  • IMPACT+

October 2022

WWE Extreme Rules 2022

  • October 8, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Peacock (US)/WWE Network (Internationally)

IMPACT Wrestling Bound For Glory 2022

  • October 8, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • FITE/Pay-Per-View

November 2022

WWE Survivor Series 2022

  • November 26, 2022 at 8PM EST
  • TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Peacock (US)/WWE Network (Internationally)

April 2022

WWE WrestleMania 39 – Night One

  • April 2, 2023 at 8PM EST
  • SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California
  • Peacock (US)/WWE Network (Internationally)

WWE WrestleMania 39 – Night Two

  • April 3, 2023 at 8PM EST
  • SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California
  • Peacock (US)/WWE Network (Internationally)

Full List Of Pro Wrestling Free Agents

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SEScoops will keep a running list of active free agents with national exposure, primarily from the likes of WWE, AEW, IMPACT, ROH, and others. This list will include people who previously were signed to contracts. We plan to update this with new list members accordingly.

Male Free Agents

  • 2 Cold Scorpio (aka Flash Funk)
  • Acey Romero
  • Adam Scherr (aka Braun Strowman)
  • Aiden English (aka Matt Rehwoldt) 
    • Working IMPACT dates as wrestler & commentator
  • Aiden O’Shea (aka Jay Bradley)
  • Afa Jr. (aka Manu)
  • Alan Angels
  • Alberto Del Rio (aka Alberto El Patron)
  • Alexander Wolfe
  • Alex Zayne (aka Ari Sterling)
    • Working NJPW dates
  • Andrew Everett
  • Anthony Greene (aka August Grey)
  • Arturo Ruas
  • Bandido
  • Big DAMO
  • Biff Busick/ Oney Lorcan
  • Blake Christian
  • Brad Attitude
  • Bray Wyatt (The Fiend)
  • Brian Kendrick
  • Bull Dempsey
  • Carlito
  • Charlie Haas
  • Chris Masters
  • Chris Michaels
  • Colby Corino
    • Working NWA dates
  • Colin Delaney
  • Crimson (of The War Kings)
  • Curt Stallion
  • Dirty Dango
  • Daga
  • Dalton Castle
  • Danny Burch
  • Desmond Troy (aka Denzel DeJournette)
  • “The Pope” Elijah Burke (aka D’Angelo Dinero)
  • EC3 (aka Derrick Bateman)
  • Eric Watts
  • NZO (aka Real1 or Enzo Amore)
  • Epico Colon (of the Colons)
  • Eric Watts
  • Erick Redbeard
  • Flash Flanagan
  • Flip Gordon
  • Gangrel
  • Garett Bischoff (of Aces And Eights)
  • Harland
  • Harry Smith
  • Hideki Suzuki
  • Homicide
  • Hornswoggle
  • Jack Evans
  • Jake Crist
  • James Ellsworth
  • James Storm
  • Jason Kincaid
  • Jax Dane (of The War Kings)
  • Jaxson Ryker
  • Jessie Godderz
  • Joey Janela
  • Johnny Gargano
  • John Morrison
  • JONAH
    • Working NJPW dates
  • Jordan Oliver
  • Josh Barnett
  • JTG
    • Working NWA dates
  • Kal Jak (aka Cal Bishop)
  • Kaleb Konley
  • Kalisto/ Samuray Del Sol
  • Killian Dain
  • Kizarny (aka Sinn Bohdi)
  • Kona Reeves
  • Kongo Kong
  • Konnor (of The Ascension)
  • Leon Ruff
  • Lince Dorado
  • Lio Rush
  • Little Guido/Nunzio
  • Lodi
  • LSG
  • Marko Stunt
  • Mance Warner
  • Marty The Moth
  • Marty Scurll
  • Matt Cardona (aka Zack Ryder) 
    • Working IMPACT & NWA dates
  • Matt Cross (aka Son Of Havoc)
  • Michael Tarver
  • Mike Knox (of Aces And Eights)
  • Mojo Rawley (aka Dean Muhtadi)
  • Nick Miller
  • No Way Jose
  • Percy Watson
  • PJ Black
  • Primo Colon (of the Colons)
  • Rhett Titus
  • Rockstar Spud/ Drake Maverick
  • Rodney Mack
  • Royce Isaacs
  • Samir Singh (Of The Blondes of Bollywood)
  • Scotty 2 Hotty
  • Sin Cara (aka Hunico)
  • Shaheem Ali
  • Shane Douglas
  • Shane Taylor
  • Shannon Moore
  • Silas Young
  • Stu Grayson
  • Suge D
  • Sunil Singh (Of The Blondes of Bollywood)
  • Sylvester Lefort
  • Tate Twins (The Boys)
  • Trevor Murdoch
  • Troy Donovan
  • Tucker
  • Tyler Rust
  • Viktor (of The Ascension)
  • Vinnie Massaro
  • Wesley Blake
  • Wes Brisco (of Aces And Eights)
  • Willie Mack
  • World Famous CB (aka Cheeseburger)
  • Zachary Green (aka Nash Carter)

Female Free Agents

  • Alicia Fox
  • Allysin Kay (aka Sienna)
    • Working NWA dates
    • Worked ROH Death Before Dishonor
  • Amy Rose
  • Angelina Love
  • Cameron
  • Candice LeRae
  • Chelsea Green (aka Laurel Van Ness)
    • Working IMPACT & NWA dates
  • Eva Marie
  • Ivelisse
  • Jazz
  • Jillian Hall
  • Jenny Rose
  • Jessi Kamea
  • Katie Burchill (aka Winter)
  • Katie Forbes
  • Katrina Cortez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Kelly Kelly
  • CJ Perry (aka Lana) 
  • Mandy Leon
  • Marti Belle
    • Working NWA dates
  • Melanie Cruise
  • Mickie James
    • Working IMPACT & NWA dates
  • Neveah
  • Lina Fanene (aka Nia Jax)
  • ODB
  • Steph De Lander (aka Persia Pirotta)
  • Santana Garrett
  • Session Moth Martina
  • Shanna
  • Skyler Story
  • Summer Rae
  • Sumie Sakai
  • Taya Valkyrie (aka Franky Monet)
    • Working IMPACT, MLW & AAA dates
  • Nixon Newell (aka Tegan Nox)
  • Trish Adora
  • Vanessa Borne
  • Veda Scott

Semi-Active Free Agents

  • Akam (of AOP)
  • Air Paris
  • Austin Aries
  • The Barbarian
  • Barry Horowitz
  • The Blue Meanie
  • Booker T
  • Buff Bagwell
  • Bully Ray (aka Bubba Ray Dudley)
  • Cain Velasquez
  • Chavo Guerrero
  • Curtis Hughes/Mr. Hughes
  • CW Anderson
  • Danny Doring
  • Henry O. Godwinn
  • John E. Bravo
  • Johnny Devine
  • Justin Credible (aka Aldo Montoya)
  • KM
  • Maven
  • Michael Elgin
  • Mordecai/Kevin Thorn
  • Mosh (of The Headbangers) (aka Chaz, Beaver Cleavage)
  • Mustafa Saed
  • Rezar (of AOP)
  • Ricky Morton (of Rock N’ Roll Express)
  • Robert Gibson (of Rock N’ Roll Express)
  • Rob Van Dam
  • Ruckus
  • Sam Houston
  • Sarah Logan
  • The Sandman (aka Hak)
  • Scott Steiner
  • Shark Boy
  • Sick Boy
  • Thrasher (of The Headbangers)
  • Tyler Breeze (of Breezango)
  • Warlord

Inactive Free Agents

  • Gary Wolfe (aka Pitbull #1)
  • Glacier
  • Haku/Meng
  • Hardcore Holly
  • Jessamyn Duke
  • Lars Sullivan
  • Maria Manic
  • NWO Sting (aka Cobra, Jeff Farmer)
  • Shaul Guerrero
  • Velveteen Dream

Former AEW Star Cites Lack Of TV Time As Reason For Departure

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Former AEW star Stu Grayson has cited the lack of TV time as the reason behind his departure from Tony Khan’s promotion. The former Dark Order member recently had an interview with Slam Wrestling. He discussed his post-AEW appearances and more during the talk.

Speaking about his departure from the company, Grayson mentioned how Kenny Omega has been trying to work with him for a long time. Stu spent most of his AEW career wrestling matches on Dark and only got to wrestle on TV in multi-men matches. He noted how it’s hard to show how good you are in limited TV time:

“It’s very hard to show the world how good you are in such a limited amount of time, I would trade in a hundred dark matches for 15 minutes on television,”

Stu Grayson then explained that his intention wasn’t to make more money but to be given more opportunities and be challenged:

“I never wanted to get paid to do nothing. I’d rather make less money and be useful than being useless and make a ton of money.

That’s not how I am. I need to be challenged. I would go to the gym and hit a massive leg day so that way I’d feel challenged,”

Stu Grayson left AEW in May this year. His contract with the company had expired and both sides were unable to reach a new agreement.

WWF Ring Boy – Inspiration for Eugene Passes Away

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In 2004, WWE debuted Nick Dinsmore on the main roster as the envelope-pushing character Eugene.

The on-screen nephew of then-Monday Night Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff, Eugene had learning difficulties, which was referred to on WWE TV as being ‘special.’

The character would often imitate wrestling moves from legends such as ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan, with the reasoning being that Eugene learned the moves watching TV.

Eugene Palermo

The Eugene character was brought to life by Dinsmore but was partly based on the real-life Eugene Palermo.

Sadly, Palermo died this week aged 57, and his cause of death is not public knowledge at this time.

Palermo lived with Down’s Syndrome his entire life and worked as a WWF Ring Boy, helping to construct and deconstruct the ring during his life.

Eugene’s father Bucky worked as a wrestling referee in the in the Pittsburgh area for 30 years, and officiated at several WWE events.

It was through his father that Palermo would get involved in the business of professional wrestling.

On Twitter, Nick Dinsmore said he was thinking about the Palermo family, and shared a picture of himself with the real Eugene.

https://twitter.com/UGeneDinsmore/status/1556368042468294670

The Palermo family respectfully suggests donations be made to the Down’s Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh, www.dsapgh.org.

We at SEScoops would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the Palermo family at this sad time.

Lex Luger Was a “Jack*ss” to Work With Claims WWE Hall of Famer

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In 1995, after three years with the WWF, Lex Luger returned to WCW, appearing on the debut episode of WCW Monday Nitro.

On the show’s 100th episode, Luger would capture the WCW World Championship, dethroning ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan.

As a huge star, Luger worked with several people in WCW but did not impress Eric Bischoff.

Bischoff Comments

When Luger returned to WCW, Bischoff was running the show and continues to have a negative opinion about the former World Champion.

During the Busted Open podcast, Bischoff said that Luger didn’t treat those around him with respect and focused solely on himself (via Sportskeeda):

“I watched how he carried himself, number one, and how he treated other people, and that’s what turned me off because he was just so focused on himself. That was my perception because I didn’t know Lex.

“I just thought, man, this cat’s a jack*ss!”

Eric Bischoff on working with Lex Luger in WCW

“So you only know what you see, which is, you know, something I’m working on every single day, not to judge people by my first impressions. But I didn’t have that frame of mind at the time, so I just thought, man, this cat’s a jack*ss!”

Bischoff added that he doesn’t ever want to do anything again with Luger, but admitted that ‘The Narcissist’ was “never unprofessional.

Luger stayed with WCW until the company folded in 2001 and the WWF chose not to sign him.

John Cena Reveals The Advice He Got From The Rock

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John Cena has followed in the footsteps of The Rock and built a successful career for himself in Hollywood. The Cenation Leader credits The Great One for not only giving him inspiration but one of the best pieces of advice he has ever received as well.

The 16-time world champion recently took part in a Q&A at Comic-Con Wales. He was asked if he has ever received any advice from The People’s champion. Replying to it, Cena revealed a very simple piece of advice that did wonders for him.

“He is one of the reasons I have life outside the WWE. He gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever been given. I remember I got an audition for a small part in a movie called Train Wreck.” recalled John Cena, “There was a pretty thorough audition process, and I was very nervous. Because I’ve never been through that before.”

The Rock’s Advice

John Cena Panel

John Cena was looking to follow in The Rock’s footsteps by crossing over from WWE to Hollywood. The Rock, who is currently one of the biggest movie stars in the world, told Cena to look within himself for the key to success.

“I was able to ask him, ‘Hey man, do you have any advice?’ He said, ‘They asked you there for a reason dude, just be yourself.’ He, in that one sentence, allowed me to calm down. Allowed me to be myself, which I’m really a goofball. And they allowed me to do that on screen. Naked. He’s the reason I’m here.”

Apart from this, John Cena also talked about things such as his Mt Rushmore of wrestling and more. You can check out his full Q&A below:

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Update on John Laurinaitis’ Termination from WWE

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This week, news broke that John Laurinaitis has been terminated from his role with WWE, ending a 21-year tenure with the company.

Laurinaitis had worked as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations and was an on-screen character from 2011 to 2012 where he appeared as a heel authority figure.

PW Insider was the first to break the news of Laurinaitis’ termination, which comes weeks after Vince McMahon’s retirement.

Laurinaitis is accused of participating and aiding Vince McMahon’s alleged affairs with several female employees in WWE, resulting in over $12 million being paid out in Non-Disclosure Agreements.

The Update

In an update from Fightful Select, it is reported that Laurinaitis was still being sent company e-mails, even after being placed on administrative leave.

The former General Manager of Raw and SmackDown was removed from this mailing list when Triple H was appointed the new Head of Talent Relations.

The e-mails Laurinatitis received are said to have contained sensitive information related to creative and personnel matters, and he was briefly removed during the July 22, episode of SmackDown.

He was later re-added to the mailing list, before being pulled once again after Triple H’s announcement.

Laurinaitis’ name was also added to an internal termination list, which supposedly also included Vince McMahon’s name.

Several WWE Superstars are said to be extremely happy about Laurinaitis being fired, with one branding the former employee as a “snake” in the company.

Fightful Select also corroborated PW Insider’s report that Laurinaitis was let go by the company within the last week or so.

What John Cena Thinks About A 17th World Title Victory

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John Cena is one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the history of the business. His 16 world title victories, tied with Ric Flair is a testament to this fact. With Cena not looking to retire anytime soon, the big question in people’s mind is if we can see him breaking this record as well.

The Cenation Leader recently took part in a Comic Con Wales Q&A. He was asked what he thinks about a potential 17th world title victory. Replying to it, Cena mentioned how wrestling is a young man’s game. Though he also noted that there is a chance as long as he hasn’t called it a career:

“That’s a very difficult question. Like I said, I know I’m not done in the ring.” said John Cena, “But I am realistic with where I’m at in my life. I’m 45 and I can tell you from being a 16-time champion, it is very tough to win.

He continued: “The top of that mountain is a young man’s game. So I’m not done in the ring. but I’m not certain that that’s in the cards. We’ll see. [There are] stories yet to be told, because if I’m in the ring, I got a chance. I am just saying I’ve been there, so kudos to the young guys doing it.”

Apart from this, John Cena also talked about his favorite match, the Peacemaker series and more. You can check out his full interview below:

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Edge Accepts Challenge For Big Match In His Hometown

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WWE Hall of Famer Edge has been challenged for a big match on the upcoming WWE Raw episode from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada on August 22.

This week’s episode of Raw saw Judgement Day member Damian Priest issuing a challenge to the Rated R Superstar. He mentioned how it’s been a while since the wrestling veteran competed on Raw:

“Edge hasn’t wrestled on Monday Night Raw in Toronto in what 12 years? Well, here it is – I’m officially challenging you to a match. One-on-one, you and me. The Rated-R Superstar vs. The Punishment of the Judgment Day. If you still have a set, let’s end this!”

The Canadian star went on to accept the challenge from his former protege on Raw Talk. He mentioned how Priest would call him for advice when he first started in WWE:

The Attitude Era star introduced Finn Balor as the newest member of Judgement Day during the June 6 episode of Raw earlier this year. However, he was kicked out of the group he created not long after this.

Edge stayed off TV for a few weeks to sell the attack. He made his return during the SummerSlam PPV and he has been feuding with the Raw faction ever since.

Watch: Dexter Lumis Escorted Away After Crashing WWE Raw

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Former NXT star Dexter Lumis made a surprise WWE return at this week’s episode of Raw in the most unexpected way possible.

The episode featured several segments on the show in which a crashed car was visible in the background. The purposeful framing of these segments intrigued fans throughout the night.

People’s curiosity was finally resolved after the main event. The final match of the show saw AJ Styles defeating The Miz in a No DQ match.

However, as Styles was celebrating his victory in the main event, the cameras cut to the crowd. We saw Dexter Lumis being taken away by the police.

We only saw a glimpse of the former NXT star during the broadcast of the show. The following fan video provides a detailed look at his brief Raw appearance:

Dexter Lumis was a featured NXT star during the Wednesday Night Wars. His character is known to be a Triple H creation.

Like many others, Lumis was also released from his WWE contract in April this year. There had been reports of Triple H bringing back more released stars after Karrion Kross and Scarlett. It’s no surprise that Lumis is one of them.

There is no word on what the plans are for Dexter Lumis moving forward but we can expect to see a lot more of him in the coming times.

Strange Occurrences On Raw Lead To Unexpected Return

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This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw was plagued with some strange backstage occurrences, which ultimately led to a big return on the show.

The episode from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH, featured the return of Kevin Owens. The former Universal champion viciously attacked Ezekiel before their scheduled match, sending him out on a stretcher.

Owens was later interviewed backstage, where he discussed his attack, but all fans can talk about was the background of this segment.

Nikki A.S.H and Doudrop were seen in the background standing by a crashed car, and the purposeful framing instantly caught fans’ attention.

This wasn’t the last of the crashed car we saw during the night. There were times when we saw it being loaded on the tow truck and several people running from the car, but it all happened in the background of various segments.

There was also a segment where police ran by two people talking. They finally managed to capture the perpetrator just after the main event, and it turned out to be none other than Dexter Lumis.

Lumis tried to crash the show after AJ Styles defeated The Miz in a No DQ main event, but he was taken away by the police.

The Dexter Lumis character is a Triple H creation. The former NXT star was released in April this year, so it’s no surprise that he is back after The Game took over the creative control. While he didn’t get a lot of TV time on Raw this week, we can safely assume that we haven’t seen the last of Lumis.

Dexter Lumis Returns – WWE Raw Reactions

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Join us as we run down The Good, The Bad and What The Heck?! moments from this week’s Monday Night Raw.

Plus, we’ll name the show’s MVE (Most Valuable Entertainer).

Subscribe to the SEScoops YouTube Channel and comment below to let us know what you think!

Top AEW Superstar Dealing With Back Injury That Almost Forced Him To Retire

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Malakai Black released a pair of videos on his personal TikTok account disclosing some very telling information about his health.

The AEW star revealed in the post that he’s been battling a pretty severe back injury for quite some time, and that he was quite sure he was going to have to retire from the sport of pro-wrestling. Fortunately the former NXT champion finally hit a breakthrough while getting dry needling treatment.

“Till about 3 months ago I was dealing with a back injury I was convinced was going to force me into retirement, but after a literal year of treatment that went from working to complete failure on several occasions we all of a sudden hit the correct vertebrae during a dry needling session and everything released. From there we were able to rehab and strengthen.”

One of the videos shows Black’s intense reaction to the dry needling, but the second shows him deadlifting a pretty heavy weight amount in the gym, an indication that he is feeling much healthier than originally described.

“You can check video 2 for this horrendous view and my personal reaction to it. However, allowing me now a few months later to slowly move back into deadlifting and a few more compound moves.”

The House of Black have been one of the more dominant trios in AEW since they formed. Black has not missed any time since he debuted with the company back in July of 2021, but his in-ring time has been noticeably less than one would expect. However, this confession explains why. One of his faction mates, Buddy Matthews, is also dealing with his own injury that has kept him on the shelf. See Black’s post below.

https://www.tiktok.com/@malakaiblxck/video/7129584037621959978?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Women’s Match Announced for WWE Clash at the Castle

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WWE officially announced a new match during Monday’s episode of Raw for the upcoming Clash at the Castle event. 

In the show’s opening segment, Bayley, Dakota Kai & IO SKY vs. Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss & Asuka in a six-woman tag team match was confirmed. 

Bayley, Sky, and Kai returned at SummerSlam following Belair successfully retaining the Raw Women’s Title against Becky Lynch. Last week on Raw, the heel faction took out Lynch to write her off television as she is injured. Belair vs. SKY ended in a no contest on this same show when Bayley tripped Belair as Sky distracted the referee. Sky tried a cover with her feet on the rope, but Bliss knocked her off. This led to a brawl. 

On Monday’s Raw, the six stars had a confrontation that led to the match being set up, and another brawl broke out. 

Updated WWE Clash at the Castle Card

Clash at the Castle Women's title match

Here is the current card for WWE Clash at the Castle:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
  • WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler 
  • Bayley, Dakota Kai and IO SKY vs. Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss and Asuka

A match with two top stars is internally listed for this show that has yet to be announced.

WWE presents the Clash at the Castle event on Saturday, September 3, 2022 from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales that will air on Peacock. Here is the updated card:

CM Punk Walking Without Assistance (Photo)

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CM Punk looks to be recovering well from his foot injury.

A fan recently snapped a picture of Punk in a Chicago airport, in which he’s seen walking on his own power without any sort of assistance. Punk was accompanied by Danhausen. Check out the photo below.

Punk was also spotted at C2E2, where he also did not need crutches or a walking boot. The All Elite Wrestling (AEW) World Champion is just two months removed from surgery, and seems to be recovering well.

AEW president Tony Khan recently noted that he’d like to have Punk back for All Out next month, however, he was unsure if that was realistic.

CM Punk

CM Punk won the AEW World Title at AEW Double Or Nothing earlier this year against Hangman Page. However, he later announced on the June 3 edition of AEW Rampage that he will need surgery to repair the injury, seeing him sidelined for several months. 

In his absence, Jon Moxley has been crowned the interim AEW World Champion, which will set up a unification bout with Punk once he’s healthy enough to return. Of course, that’s if Moxley is able to retain the title until Punk finally is healthy enough to compete.

Johnny Gargano Teases Wrestling Return Soon: ‘Keep Watching’

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Johnny Gargano teases that he could be returning to professional wrestling soon.

Gargano recently took part in the Asylum Virtual signing, where he discussed several professional wrestling topics.

One such question was regarding Triple H taking over WWE creative, and former NXT talents returning to WWE as a result.

The former NXT star admitted he has been watching and keeping up with what’s going on in the professional wrestling world. He then concluded by saying he and his wife, Candice LeRae, will be showing up at someplace somewhere.

When is Johnny Gargano Returning?

“I’ve seen. I’ve noticed. It’s exciting times all around. You never know what could happen. Keep watching, we’re [him and wife Candice LeRae] going to show up at some point, wherever that may be.

“We’re living in a crazy world where anything can go down. You never know what can happen on Mondays or Fridays anymore. We’ll be making some magic at some point in the future, I promise.” 

Johnny Gargano

Gargano was previously with WWE from 2015 to 2021. He became a key piece of the NXT brand throughout his entire run, not moving up to the main roster during that time.

His run resulted in an NXT Title win, three NXT North American Title wins, and an NXT Tag Team Title win. His contract with WWE expired this past December and he decided not to re-sign.

Currently, Gargano is a free agent and has not signed with any major professional wrestling promotion as of this writing.

However, due to his good relationship Triple H in WWE, and the fact that “The Game” is now head of creative, many expect Gargano to return soon.

Quotes via Fightful

WWE RAW Results (8/8/22): US Title Match, Kevin Owens Returns, Women’s Tournament, Dexter Lumis?

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WWE RAW aired lived this week from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The tournament for the vacant Women’s Tag Team Championship began tonight. Kevin Owens returned and The Miz battled AJ Styles in a No DQ match in the main event.

WWE RAW Quick Results (8/8/22)

  • Seth Rollins def. Angelo Dawkins
  • Kevin Owens vs. Ezekiel ended in a no contest
  • Finn Balor def. Rey Mysterio
  • Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai def. Dana Brooke & Tamina to advance in the Women’s Tag Team Tournament
  • Bobby Lashley def. Ciampa via submission to retain the United States Championship
  • Omos def. enhancement talent in a Handicap match
  • Dolph Ziggler def. Chad Gable
  • AJ Styles def. The Miz in a No DQ match

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

6-Woman Tag Team Match Set For Clash at the Castle

Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky kicked off the show and made their way to the ring. Bayley said “ding dong” and wondered why the fans weren’t happy to see her. She claimed that they are here to shake up the women’s division and poked fun at Becky Lynch. Bayley claimed that fans were tired of seeing Bianca Belair as the RAW Women’s Champion and that she is the only one who saw the potential in Kai and SKY.

Alexa Bliss and Asuka interrupted and were then followed by RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. Alexa told Sky and Kai that they aren’t winning the women’s tag title tournament because they have to face them. Belair wanted a fight and Bayley agreed, before saying not tonight in Cleveland. Bayley, Kai, and SKY versus Belair, Bliss, and Asuka was then set for Clash at the Castle.

Tamina & Dana Brooke versus Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky in the tag team tournament for the vacant Women’s Tag Team Championships was announced for later tonight

Seth Rollins def. Angelo Dawkins With The Pedigree

Seth Rollins battled Angelo Dawkins in the first match of the night. Montez Ford was ringside for the match and provided a distraction early. Dawkins capitalized and launched Seth into the barricade as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, Rollins got under Montez’s skin and he tried to bring a chair into the ring. The referee stopped him and kicked Montez out from ringside. Seth laughed in the ring for a bit and allowed Dawkins to get up. Angelo Clotheslined Seth out of the ring and flipped onto him.

Back in the ring, Dawkins hit a slam and followed it up with a Corkscrew Splash in the corner. Angelo hit the Silencer and went for the cover but Rollins kicked out at two. Seth went for The Stomp but Dawkins countered into a Spinebuster for a near fall. Angelo avoided The Stomp again but Rollins caught him with The Pedigree for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Seth delivered The Stomp to Dawkins and retreated as Ford rushed the ring. Rollins cackled on the entrance ramp to end the segment.

Dominik Didn’t Accept Edge’s Apology, Ciampa Vows To Win US Title In Honor Of Harley Race

Edge approached The Mysterios backstage and apologized to Dominik for accidentally hitting him with a Spear. Dominik didn’t accept the apology and shoved The Rated-R Superstar. Rey told Edge he will go talk to his son after the altercation. Edge added that he has Rey’s back if anything goes down with The Judgement Day during Rey’s match against Finn Balor later on RAW.

Kevin Patrick then interviewed The Miz and Ciampa backstage. Ciampa said he was going to devote his United States Championship win over Bobby Lashley tonight to Harley Race.

Kevin Owens Returned

Kevin Owens returned to battle Ezekiel tonight on WWE RAW. KO went right after Ezekiel and slammed him into the ring post. Owens hit Ezekiel with a Pop-Up Powerbomb on the ring apron and then laughed as Ezekiel was stretchered out.

KO was later interviewed in a Dusty Rhodes shirt in the parking lot. Owens said tonight was a perfect opportunity to remind everyone that this is still the Kevin Owens show.

Finn Balor def. Rey Mysterio

Finn Balor and Damian Priest came down to the ring. They cut a promo as the crowd relentlessly chanted “what?!”. Damian Priest then said Judgement Day will end Edge, not the other way around and challenged him to a match in two weeks on RAW. The red brand will be in Edge’s hometown of Toronto for the show. Rey had another conversation with Edge backstage. He offered to be ringside but Rey declined and said he knows Dominik will be out there tonight.

Balor sent Rey to the corner and unloaded some strikes to start off the action. Rey battled back and bounced Balor’s face off the turnbuckle a few times. Mysterio connected with a Senton off the top rope and then a Dropkick to the face for a two count. Rey connected with a Bulldog for a near fall and then set up for the 619. Damian Priest got in the way and Balor capitalized by sending Rey into the ring post as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Rey knocked Balor out of the ring and hit him with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb into the barricade. Damian tripped up Rey on the ring apron and Edge’s theme hit. Edge rushed the ring and attacked Damian. Edge and Damian battled through the crowd as Balor had a shocked look on his face in the ring.

Rey hit another Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a two count. Mysterio set up for the 619 but Finn countered with a Clothesline. Finn followed it up with a Dropkick and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Rey dodged the Coup de Grace and hit a Hurricanrana. Rey was about to hit the 619 when Rhea Ripley appeared on the entrance ramp carrying Dominik over her shoulder. Rey shoved Dominik down to the ramp and Balor capitalized with the 1916 on Mysterio. Balor followed it up with the Coup de Grace for the pinfall victory.

Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai Advanced To The 2nd Round Of The Women’s Tag Team Tournament

Dana Brook & Tamina battled IYO SKY & Dakota Kai to begin the tournament for the vacant Women’s Tag Team Championships. Bayley accompanied Kai & Sky to the ring. Dana slammed Dakota down to the mat to start off the action and went for the cover but Kai kicked out at two.

When RAW returned from a commercial break, Sky and Kai had Dana Brooke isolated in the corner of the ring. Dakota applied a headlock but Dana battled to her feet and broke the hold. Dana rolled Dakota up but she was able to kick out at the last moment.

Iyo and Tamina tagged in and Tamina slammed Sky to the canvas. Tamina followed it up with a Clothesline before knocking Dakota off the ring apron. Tamina hit Iyo with a flurry of elbow strikes in the corner before the two superstars traded punches in the middle of the ring. Tamina connected with a Samoan Drop and went for the cover but Kai broke it up at two. Dana Brooke dragged Dakota out of the ring and sent her into the barricade.

Dana went for a Splash but Bayley got Dakota out of the way. Tamina headbutted Iyo off the turnbuckle and to the mat before climbing to the top rope. She went for a Splash but Iyo got her knees up. Kai hit the running kick in the corner and Iyo followed it up with a Moonsault for the pinfall victory. Iyo and Dakota advanced to the 2nd round of the Women’s Tag Team Tournament.

Bobby Lashley Retained The US Title Via Submission

Bobby Lashley defended the United States Championship against Ciampa tonight on RAW. The Miz accompanied Ciampa and was ringside for the match. Bobby controlled the action early and planted Ciampa with a Suplex. The champion beat the challenger down in the corner of the ring and unloaded some punches to the face.

Ciampa rolled out of the ring and regrouped with The Miz. Lashley followed Ciampa out of the ring and went to bash him into the ring post but The Miz got into the way. Bobby launched Ciampa onto The Miz and posed for the crowd as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Lashley hit another Suplex for a two count. Ciampa attempted to battle back but the champion caught him with a Spear. Lashley went for the cover but The Miz put Ciampa’s boot on the rope. AJ Styles showed up and attacked The Miz. Styles and The Miz battled through the crowd as the match continued. Ciampa went for a roll-up but Lashley kicked out. Ciampa took off the turnbuckle pad to expose the metal below but Bobby caught him with a slam.

Styles and The Miz then ran back into the ring and caused a distraction. Ciampa bashed Bobby’s face into the exposed turnbuckle and followed it up with a Dropkick but Lashley somehow kicked out at two. Ciampa went for the Fairy Tale Ending but Lashley escaped.

Bobby went for the Hurt Lock but Ciampa countered into a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Lashley escaped but Ciampa planted him with a DDT for another two count. Bobby then got Ciampa in the Hurt Lock for the submission victory and retained the United States Championship. Styles and The Miz continued to brawl backstage until they were separated. AJ Styles versus The Miz in a No Disqualification match was announced for the main event tonight.

Omos Dominated

Omos returned to WWE TV and battled enhancement talent in a Handicap match. Omos dominated and threw the jobbers around with ease. Omos hit a big Splash in the corner and then a big boot. He pounded his chest, yelled, and hit a Choke Bomb for the pinfall victory.

Dolph Ziggler def. Chad Gable

Dolph Ziggler squared off against Chad Gable tonight on RAW. The action started back and forth as Otis watched on from ringside. Gable planted Dolph with a Northern Lights Suplex and shooshed the crowd. Chad followed it up with an awesome-looking Dragon Screw for a two count.

Gable applied an Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring but Ziggler was able to escape. Dolph went for the Zig Zag but Gable countered into the Ankle Lock once again. Dolph escaped and went for a Superkick but Gable blocked it.

Chad hit a Powerbomb for a two count before applying the Ankle Lock for a third time. Dolph hit a Superkick and fell on top of Gable for the pinfall victory. Otis tried to attack after the match but Dolph got out of the ring in time.

AJ Styles def. The Miz, Dexter Lumis Return?

AJ Styles battled The Miz in a No Disqualifications match. Before the match, Asuka and Alexa were interviewed backstage. Bayley, Kai, and Sky confronted them as something was going on in the parking lot behind them.

The action spilled out of the ring right away and Styles cleared off the announce table. Miz battled back and rolled into the ring. Styles grabbed a kendo stick, a steel chair, and a table from under the ring. The camera cut away just as Miz hit Styles with a Dropkick through the ropes. Miz rolled Styles into the ring and brought the chair and kendo stick with him.

The Miz bashed Styles across the back with the kendo stick and threw him to the outside. Miz launched Styles off of the announce table and over the barricade as RAW went to the final commercial break of the night.

When RAW returned, AJ was in control and set up a table outside the ring. The Miz hit Styles with the kendo stick over and over again as the crowd booed. Miz choked AJ with the kendo stick in the middle of the ring before AJ ripped it away. Styles hit Miz with a low blow with the kendo stick and followed it up with a Russin Leg Sweep.

AJ hit the Phenomenal Forearm and went for the cover but Ciampa pulled the referee out of the ring. Ciampa tried to Suplex AJ through the table but Styles held onto the ropes. Styles hit Ciampa with a forearm to the face and he crashed through the table. Styles set up for another Phenomenal Forearm but Miz launched a chair at him.

The Miz quickly hit the Skull Crushing Finale and went for the cover but AJ kicked out at two. The Miz grabbed the kendo stick and hit Styles several more times. AJ sent Miz into a steel chair in the corner and then planted him with the Skull Crushing Finale for the pinfall victory. In the background, Dexter Lumis appeared to be escorted out of the arena.

WWE Has Discussed Bringing Back Former Star (Report)

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Samuel Shaw, formerly known as Dexter Lumis, might be returning to the WWE soon.

Fightful Select reported today that Lumis is among the talent internally discussed to be brought back to the company. Company higher-ups are said to be planning to reach out to Lumis himself last week.

Dexter Lunims Back in WWE?

Dexter Lumis NXT
(WWE)

Shaw made a name for himself in Impact Wrestling before signing with WWE, where he was used in NXT. He had a memorable run with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell. In the storyline, he married Hartwell. He was in a feud with Duke Hudson when WWE released him in April.

While on the free agent market, he has sparingly worked dates since then. Lumis did work the NWA World Heavyweight Title match at the Alwayz Ready pay-per-view event and a match at the TV tapings following that. 

It was said WWE is staying aggressive and has a list of talent they hope to reach out to.

Fightful was the first to report that Killer Kross (Karrion Kross) had been discussed to make a return within WWE then hours after publishing that report, he made a shocking return in the closing moments of last Friday’s SmackDown.

Tatum Paxley Says She Will Be Okay Following Injury At NXT House Show

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Over the weekend NXT star Tatum Paxley suffered an injury at the promotion’s house show in Gainesville Florida, where she got busted open badly and potentially even broke her nose. The referee at ringside quickly called the match off. You can read the full original report here.

Paxley provided an update on Twitter last night letting the WWE Universe know that she will be okay. Her message reads, “Thank you everyone for reaching out and checking in! I’ll be ok! Accidents like these happen all the time in what we do. Plus getting blood everywhere is super heavy metal.”

Paxley made her debut for NXT on the February 18th episode of Level Up after signing with WWE back in 2021.

WWE had a bad weekend of scares as former SmackDown women’s champion Carmella sustained a head injury at the the company’s house show on Saturday night.