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Karrion Kross & Scarlett Return To WWE On SmackDown

Andrew Ravens
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Karrion Kross and Scarlett have returned to WWE. 

At the end of Friday’s episode of SmackDown, they returned as Drew McIntyre was cutting a promo on Roman Reigns ahead of their match at Clash at the Castle in September. The screen went grey with music playing as an hourglass appeared on the entrance ramp.

Kross appeared and attacked McIntyre from behind before having a staredown with Reigns. Scarlett was carrying the hourglass and turned it upside down before pointing at Reigns. 

Kross’ first run in WWE saw him be pushed as a top star in NXT, and became a two-time NXT Champion. Alongside his wife and on-screen partner Scarlett Bordeaux, they immediately got over with their entrance. 

However, when he was sent to the main roster, WWE stripped him of what made him stand out, such as his entrance, look, and Scarlett. He was also the NXT Champion, but was booked to do jobs for various stars.

WWE had planned to repackage him again before he was let go last November. When he was released, he reportedly had interest from several promotions, but he never signed a full-time deal.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett Return – Smackdown Reactions with Steve Fall

Steve Fall
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Join us as we run down The Good, The Bad and What The Heck?! moments from this week’s SmackDown.

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!

WWE SmackDown Results (8/5/22): Karrion Kross Returns, Roman Reigns & Drew McIntyre

Robert Lentini
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WWE SmackDown aired live from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to the takeaways below, the tournament for the vacant Women’s Tag Team Championships will finally begin on RAW.

WWE SmackDown Results (8/5)

  • Ricochet def. Happy Corbin
  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. Ludwig Kaiser
  • Shayna Baszler won the Gauntlet Match to earn a SmackDown Women’s Title match at Clash at the Castle
  • Viking Raiders def. enhancement talent
  • Kofi Kingston def. Erik

Here are the takeaways from this week’s SmackDown:

Ricochet def. Happy Corbin, Sami Zayn Tried To Talk To Roman Reigns

The Bloodline arrived at the arena to begin the show. Pat McAfee rolled highlights of his low blow and victory over Happy Corbin at SummerSlam. Pat played the clip of him booting Corbin in the nuts several times. Happy Corbin was mocked backstage by Ricochet and he challenged him to a match.

Happy launched Ricochet to the corner to start off the action. Ricochet responded with a Dropkick that knocked Corbin out of the ring. Ricochet flipped onto Corbin on the entrance ramp and fired up the crowd. Corbin rolled back into the ring and Ricochet went for a Crossbody.

Corbin dodged it and leveled Ricochet with a massive Clothesline. The action spilled out of the ring and Happy launched Ricochet into the ring post as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Corbin connected with a Back Body Drop and went for the cover but Ricochet kicked out at two. Ricochet battled back with a standing Shooting Star Press for a near fall. Happy connected with a slam for a two count and pounded the canvas in frustration.

Corbin grabbed Ricochet by throat but he escaped into a Hurricanrana for a near fall. Ricochet booted Corbin in the face before running into a Deep Six for a two count. Corbin and Ricochet then battled on the turnbuckle. Corbin threw Ricochet down but got distracted by Pat McAfee. Ricochet capitalized by crotching Corbin on the top turnbuckle and hitting him with the Recoil. Ricochet followed it up with a Shooting Star Press off the top rope for the pinfall victory as Pat McAfee celebrated. They played catch with a football before Pat punted it into the crowd.

Sami Zayn knocked on Roman Reigns’ door and wanted to talk to him. The Usos stopped Sami and told him that they will shoot him a text when he can talk to The Tribal Chief. This went on for the entire night with The Usos making excuses as to why Roman cant talk to him. Finally, Jey Uso shouted at Sami that everyone in The Bloodline has titles besides him and it’s time for Sami to start pulling his weight.

Shinsuke Nakamura def. Ludwig Kaiser To Become #1 Contender For The IC Title

Shinsuke Nakamura battled Ludwig Kaiser tonight. Nakamura would earn a match against Gunther for the IC Title if he won. Nakamura controlled the action early but Ludwig responded with a slam as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Nakamura was in control and set up for the Kinshasa.

Ludwig was ready and leveled Shinsuke with an uppercut and followed it up with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. Shinsuke responded with the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory. Nakamura is now the #1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship and will battle Gunther next week.

Liv Morgan Booed, Shayna Baszler Won The Gauntlet Match

Liv Morgan came to the ring with her arm in a brace and the crowd surprisingly booed the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Sonya Deville interrupted and the two trash-talked until the Gauntlet Match started. Deville and Aliyah started off the action. Sonya picked up the quick pin and battled Raquel Rodriguez next.

Deville connected with a Facebuster for a two count. Rodriguez defeated Sonya Deville and faced Shotzi next in the Gauntlet Match. Shotzi got in some offense early as SmackDown went to a break. When SmackDown returned, Raquel defeated Shotzi and battled Xia Li next.

Xia hit Raquel with some kicks and then a Dropkick to the face. Rodriguez responded with a big Fallaway Slam that sent Li across the ring. Raquel followed it up with a Splash and the Texana Bomb for the pinfall victory.

Natalya and Raquel squared off next in the Gauntlet Match. Natalya tackled Raquel to the mat and went for the Sharpshooter but Rodriguez blocked it. Rodriguez connected with a Suplex for a two count before Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Rodriguez showed off her strength with a massive Powerbomb to eliminate Natalya.

Shayna Baszler and Raquel Rodriguez then battled in the Gauntlet Match. Shayna had Raquel in a Heel Hook in the middle of the ring as Liv Morgan watched on from ringside. Baszler applied the Kirifuda Clutch and then got Raquel in a cover when she tried to escape. Liv will defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Shayna Baszler at Clash at the Castle.

Viking Raiders Dominated, Kofi def. Erik

Viking Raiders won a squash match against two enhancement talents tonight on SmackDown. Ivar unloaded a ton of elbows to the face and tagged in Erik. He hit a Splash in the corner before hitting a slam. Ivar tagged back in and climbed to the middle turnbuckle for a massive Powerslam. Viking Raiders followed it up with a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. Kofi Kingston then rushed the ring with a kendo stick and attacked the Viking Raiders. Kofi got in a bunch of shots and knocked Erik out of the ring. Kofi then battled Erik in a quick singles match and won via a roll-up.

Karrion Kross Returned

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made his way to the ring with Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos to close the show. Roman asked the crowd to acknowledge him before addressing Brock Lesnar. Reigns said he respects him but hates him for what he did to Paul Heyman at SummerSlam.

Drew McIntyre interrupted and looked like he wanted a fight. The lights went out and a crow appeared on the screen. Scarlett arrived and Karrion Kross attacked Drew McIntyre from behind. Scarlett put the hourglass in front of Reigns to close the show.

Details on Impact Changing Locations for Two Upcoming PPV Events

Joey Galizia
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Impact Wrestling recently announced the locations for two of their biggest shows of the year, Bound For Glory and Victory Road.

Bound For Glory will be taking place in Albany New York on Friday October 7th, the very first time the promotion has run a major pay-per-view on a Friday in their long history. However, this was not the show’s original setting. Originally Bound For Glory was set for the next night, October 8th, in Danbury Connecticut.

According to Fightful, the change occurred due to WWE holding their Extreme Rules premium live event on Saturday the 8th, and Impact didn’t want to run against them on the same night so they changed dates. The venue in Danbury was not available on Friday though, so Albany became the show’s location.

Meanwhile…Victory Road will be taking place on September 23rd from Skyway Studios in Nashville Tennessee, which was Impact’s home-base during the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak. Fightful also has a report regarding this show, as Nashville was not the original host city.

According to this second report Victory Road was originally going to take place in Philadelphia. At this time…it is unknown why Impact decided to change this show’s location and venue.

You can find full ticket details for both shows here.

WWE Has Discussed Bringing Back Former Champion (Report)

Andrew Ravens
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Killer Kross (Karrion Kross) might be returning to the WWE soon. 

According to Fightful Select, Kross has been someone discussed as a name that WWE is interested in bringing back. Many people believe that he will return, including one source who indicated they believed it was already in the company’s plans.

Kross had been rumored to make an appearance for ROH this past April at Supercard of Honor before the company was sold to AEW President Tony Khan. He was also contacted for an AEW booking that he passed on against Wardlow on an episode of Dynamite, which led to WH. Morrissey appeared and lost to the popular AEW star. 

Triple H had booked Kross to be a top star in NXT as he won the NXT Title twice and got over with the fans for his presentation alongside Scarlett. Many fans thought he would be a top star on the main roster. 

Kross was brought up to WWE Raw last year without any major creative plans for him, and without his wife. After being repackaged, he was released. Kross has worked Major League Wrestling and NJPW dates since his 2021 WWE release.

WWE Hall Of Famer Teases They Have One Match Left In Them

Jon Fuentes
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One WWE Hall Of Famer has teased that they have one last match left in them.

Stevie Ray, one-half of the WWE Hall Of Fame tag team Harlem Heat, took to Twitter recently to share a video of himself working out at the gym. He captioned the video by suggesting he may have one last match left in him.

“I think I have one last match in me”

Ray is a longtime veteran of the professional wrestling industry. After getting his start in the business back in 1989, Ray and his brother, Booker T, joined WCW as Harlem heat in 1993.

Together, he and his brother racked up 10 WCW World Tag Team Championship runs. As a singles competitor, Ray captured the WCW World TV Championship. Ray then became a color commentator for WCW Thunder before the promotion went under in 2001.

harlem heat

WCW was bought by WWE, but Ray was not one of the talents who joined WWE. He worked sporadically over the next several years, with his last match taking place in 2017 for Booker T’s Reality Of Wrestling.

Ray and Booker T were inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2019. Should Ray return to the ring, it will be his first match in over five years.

Lana Reacts to Vince McMahon Allegations, Retirement

Jon Fuentes
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Former WWE star Lana (real name CJ Perry) has offered her thoughts on the current situation surrounding Vince McMahon and his retirement.

During a recent interview with Liam Alexander-Stewart of ITRWrestling.com, Perry was asked for her thoughts on the situation with McMahon. While Perry said she had a great relationship with McMahon, that doesn’t mean everyone else has.

“Oh, gosh, it’s I feel like such a controversial issue right now and it’s really unfortunate everything, to be honest.

“I’m a big believer that we should bring things into the light and even though I had amazing relationship with Vince, and he was very kind to me and taught me so many things that I’m going to take with me for the rest of my life, It doesn’t mean that other people didn’t have a very different experience.”

“I… in general, not with people in WWE, but in general, but being a victim of sexual harassment and being a victim of people trying to pull favors from you that I really just don’t ever really talk about, and maybe one day will be more comfortable with talking about at a bigger on a bigger level.

“But, you know, I have compassion and empathy for those women, and I think it does need to be handled properly, however it is.”

Lana
Lana

McMahon was forced to step down as WWE CEO after several allegations of sexual misconduct came against him. This left his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, and Nick Khan to step up as co-CEOs.

Shortly thereafter, McMahon decided to retire as head of WWE creative. This was shortly after reports surfaced that several investigations into McMahon’s misconduct were now underway.

His son-in-law, Triple H, has now been named the new head of WWE creative. There have already been several changes made to how WWE operates under the new regime change – positively received for the most part.

Thunder Rosa on Sandbagging T-Shirt: “Keep Bullying Me, I’m Gonna Make Money Out Of It”

Joey Galizia
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Thunder Rosa isn’t afraid to have a sense of humor regarding past criticisms.

The AEW women’s champion wore a “sandbagging” t-shirt on this past Wednesday’s edition of Dynamite, a behind-the-scenes term that means a wrestler makes themselves heavier during a lifting spot so their opponent looks weaker or inept. Rosa got accused of “sandbagging” Marina Shafir in a TV matchup earlier this year.

Rosa talked in-depth about the decision to make a shirt on the latest edition of Busted Open Radio.

“So using the sandbagging t-shirt is a way for me to say keep bullying me because I’m gonna make money out of it. All right, straight up. You’re gonna call me fat. Well, guess what? I’ll be the biggest fat bitch in the world. Boom.”

La Mera Mera adds that people will have their opinions, especially critics, but there is no denying that when the women’s division is given a chance in AEW they can truly shine, much like they did on Wednesday. On that night Rosa teamed up with Toni Storm (ThunderStorm) to battle Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker, a bout that got over huge with the crowd in Columbus.

“I’m gonna do it because I’m gonna own it. I’m not a sandbagger. Let’s be honest; people are gonna have their opinions, fine. Have your opinions. Right there on Wednesday, the four of us, we showed up, showed off, and we have the people chanting; this is awesome. Why? Because they don’t get to see this all the time.”

Rosa and Storm were on the losing end of the match, with Hayter picking up the deciding pinfall for her team. Tony Khan has since booked Hayter to challenge Rosa for the women’s title at tomorrow’s Battle of the Belts III television special.

(Quotes via WrestleZone)

WWE Easing Policy on Restricting Certain Words (Report)

Jon Fuentes
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WWE appears to be easing up their policy on restricting certain words for talent that can and can’t be said on television.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the promotion is easing up on certain terms that have been restricted in the past. Specifically, the words “wrestler” and “wrestling” are not considered to be “dirty words.”

In the former regime, talent weren’t allowed to use those words without prior authorization. Talent backstage consider it to be a positive change. In fact, since Triple H has taken over as head of creative, morale backstage amongst talent has been positive and fresh.

However, some people are still taking a “wait and see” approach. Women, in particular, are said to feel like there will be more focus on them. Other talents are said to be worried about their spots now that Vince McMahon is gone.

Triple H
(via WWE)

With that being said, Triple H is said to be someone who comes across as though he cares about the talent. He assumed the role of head of creative after Vince McMahon decided to retire.

McMahon made the announcement on his retirement shortly after investigations begin into his sexual misconduct allegations as WWE CEO – a position he has also since stepped down from.

Backstage Note on Changes Made to WWE RAW MSG Last Week

Jon Fuentes
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We have some notes to pass along regarding the changes that were made to WWE Monday Night RAW from Madison Square Garden last week.

As noted, last week’s episode of Monday Night RAW from Madison Square Garden was the first episode of RAW without Vince McMahon. McMahon retired shortly after investigations began into his sexual misconduct allegations.

It was noted that the show had already been written and approved days before McMahon retired.

However, there were some slight tweaks made to the show. Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that an in-ring promo between Drew McIntyre and Theory was scheduled before their match.

However, it was cut after Roman Reigns’ opening segment ran long. Also, because of the change due to time, the match was called in the ring instead of being planned out completely.

WWE Raw Arena

WWE has decided to now let their talents improvise more in their matches. The only exception being certain key spots with particular top stars.

For example, the Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus match on the following SmackDown was called in the ring, with the exception of the key spots and run-ins that were laid out beforehand.

Thus far, the changes implemented under Triple H as the new head of creative have been welcome ones.

Bayley Wants WWE To Bring Back Women’s Tag Team Titles

Andrew Ravens
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Now that Bayley is back on WWE television, she is looking to help behind the scenes and lead the locker room. 

Bayley returned from a torn ACL at SummerSlam, bringing along Dakota Kai and IYO SKY as a new faction. 

While speaking on WWE After The Bell, Bayley discussed how it will be a long road to get certain people and the locker room on the same page. She believes if they worked a little less selfishly, everyone would see the bigger picture as she thinks it feels like they’re in this tunnel of showing the bosses what they have and what it takes. That makes them turn against each other. 

“No, let’s show them all what we can do. If we all show them that we can get along and do a show and we’re not going to complain about every little thing, then it will make them want to give us more because we’re easier to work with. There is a fine line between fighting for what you believe in and then trying to make the best out of every situation. I think I can help the girls that I bring in navigate these things to further the division. I want the tag titles to come back and play a very important role on the show.”

The Women’s Tag Team Titles haven’t been used since WWE stripped Sasha Banks and Naomi of the titles after they walked out in May. WWE had plans to do a tournament to crown new champions, but since that announcement, no further details have been given.

Bayley continued by stating that she gets along with almost everybody and thinks she can have everyone realize she’s not doing this to be selfish but rather because she wants things to be better for everyone. 

H/T to Fightful for the transcription

Sasha Banks Making High-Profile Appearance Amid WWE Return Rumors

Thomas Lowson
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During the May 16, 2022 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of the show, over a creative difference with the planned main event.

Shortly after, WWE suspended the duo, branded them “unprofessional” on TV, and stripped the pair of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.

There was a time when it appeared that Banks and Naomi would be gone from WWE for good, but the recent change of leadership could bring them back.

Banks’ Appearance

Since her suspension, Sasha Banks has been silent on Twitter, up until this week.

In her first tweet since the May 16 walkout, Banks promoted her upcoming appearance at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Convention (C2E2.)

Banks told her followers that she is excited to see them this weekend when quoting a tweet from C2E2 which has since been deleted.

In addition to Banks, Naomi is also scheduled to appear at the convention, with tickets available for photos with the pair of WWE Superstars.

 WWE Hall of Famers Mick Foley, Lita, Trish Stratus, and The Undertaker are also scheduled to be at the convention.

AEW star Danhausen has also been announced for C2E2.

Renewed Hope

While the idea of Banks and Naomi seemed farfetched just a few weeks ago, there is renewed hope that they will return.

It has been reported that Banks and Naomi’s main issues backstage were with Vince McMahon, and that both have had good relationships in the past with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Banks has been pulled from a celebrity flag football match which is scheduled for today, fueling speculation of a return on tonight’s WWE SmackDown.

Saraya (Paige) Believes Sasha Banks & Naomi Will Return To WWE

Unannounced Match Listed Internally For WWE Clash At The Castle

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has officially announced one match for the upcoming Clash at the Castle premium live event, but there’s a second match internally listed for the show. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Riddle vs. Seth Rollins is “confirmed internally” for this event. 

Riddle vs. Rollins was originally scheduled for SummerSlam this past Saturday night but the company did an injury angle where Riddle suffered a stinger due to an attack from Rollins on the SummerSlam go-home episode of Raw.

At the time, it was reported that WWE had tentative plans to do the match down the line with the working plan for it to be held at Clash at the Castle. 

At SummerSlam, Rollins attacked Riddle, who wanted to go through with the match. On Monday’s Raw, Rollins teased, eventually going after Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. 

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

Drew McIntyre will challenge Reigns for the title at the main event at this show. WWE will be announcing more matches for this event in the coming weeks.

Former WWE Star Recalls Vince McMahon Nearly Making Out With John Laurinaitis

Thomas Lowson
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When Rusev lost the WWE United States Championship (and his undefeated streak) to John Cena at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, the Bulgarian didn’t take it well.

After failing to regain the title, Rusev would blame his manager Lana, played by his then-girlfriend and future-wife CJ Perry.

What followed was a love triangle over the Summer, in which Rusev aligned with Summer Rae, while Lana had an on-screen romantic relationship with Dolph Ziggler.

The Kiss

On the May 18, 2015 Monday Night Raw, Lana confirmed her relationship with Ziggler, kissing the two-time former World Heavyweight Champion.

Speaking to Renee Paquette on ‘The Sessions,’ Perry recalled rehearsal for the angle, and having to practice kissing in front of the then-WWE CEO (via Wrestling News.)

“It’s Ace [John Laurinaitis] Vince [McMahon, Dolph, and Miro. We had to practice the kiss and Miro is turning red in the corner. Vince is like, ‘What? We’re all adults. What’s the problem? We’re all adults. It’s professionalism. Don’t be weird.’ So we do it, and Vince goes, ‘No, no, no, no, way slower.’ He doesn’t fully kiss Johnny Ace, but he gets like this close. I mean, it was hilarious. Dolph is dying.”

“He doesn’t fully kiss Johnny Ace, but he gets like this close.”

CJ Perry on Vince McMahon’s attempts to teach her how to kiss Dolph Ziggler

Perry added that when she recently rewatched the kiss with a friend, it was noticed how slow she and Ziggler kiss.

She adds that McMahon “wanted it to be innocent,” as if she had never kissed a man before.

Lana Says She Was “Brainwashed” By Toxic WWE

Logan Paul Won’t Be Wrestling Again Anytime Soon

Andrew Ravens
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Logan Paul picked up a win over The Miz in his singles debut at last Saturday’s WWE SummerSlam event. This was just one match as part of his multi-year contract with WWE. 

Unfortunately, Logan Paul won’t be wrestling for WWE anytime soon, as he’s focusing on a proposed boxing match in December. Paul confirmed this during the latest episode of the Pat McAfee Show as he revealed he hopes to get the fight booked.

Logan Paul’s Next Boxing Fight

image 14

Although he teased having a few people in mind for the fight, Logan Paul didn’t reveal who he would be fighting next. 

In the past, Paul has been linked to several different fighters, including a boxing match against former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, but the fight has yet to be made. He has also expressed interest in fighting former two-division UFC Champion Conor McGregor. 

Paul’s last fight came against fellow YouTuber KSI back in 2019, losing via a split decision. It’s possible a third fight with KSI could be an option for his return to the ring.

Paul’s first wrestling match was when he teamed with The Miz against The Mysterios at WrestleMania 38 in April.

Visit MMANews.com for more on Logan (and Jake) Paul’s fighting careers, as well as general news about UFC and the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Potential Reason Why Vince McMahon Changed His Mind About Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
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Vince McMahon’s abrupt WWE departure is still a puzzling development. Famous for his work ethic, people thought that McMahon will work till his wheels fell off. Even when the allegations against him first came to light, the boss had been promising talent that he was going to stick around. Many still wonder what made him change his mind.

Dave Meltzer believes the prospect of hurting the legacy of the company could have been the reason behind this change. The wrestling journalist opened up about McMahon’s departure on Talk Is Jericho. He explained what could have forced the former WWE chairman to change his mind:

“Obviously there was something huge. I’m sure it was not a voluntary decision, but it was one of those things where you are now in a position where you’re going to hurt the company. I do believe that if Vince McMahon thought that he was going to hurt the company by staying that he would leave.

I think that’s the one thing he would do. He’s not gonna take his legacy down. The WWE is his life legacy. He’s gonna be there long after he’s gone. I don’t think he wants to be the one to take it down, I think he wants it to live forever.”

Meltzer also talked about the allegations against Mr. McMahon. He explained how the the board of directors first became aware of the accusations despite an NDA being signed. You can check out his comments here.

More Originals From SEScoops:

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

Backstage News On How Vince McMahon Allegations Came To Light

Anutosh Bajpai
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The wrestling world has been shaken with the retirement of Vince McMahon. The majority of the wresting fans didn’t expect to see this day anytime soon. However, in only a few short weeks, the boss has not only been forced to relinquish all his positions in the company but his name has essentially been erased from the promotion.

It all started with the first allegation that was made against the boss back in March. It was revealed that McMahon had signed an NDA worth $3 million with a released WWE employee. Dave Meltzer discussed it during his appearance on Talk Is Jericho. He explained how the allegations became public despite an NDA:

“She had an NDA, somehow one of her friends found out. Her friend sent a message to every member of the board [of directors]. So this would have been in late March saying, ‘This is what happened.’ [She was] very negative about [WWE attorny] Jerry McDevitt , like pressuring her and things like that.

She [the ex-employee] couldn’t come out but somebody did, and they investigated and found out that it was real. In the investigation they found out it was not the first NDA. That there had been several others over the years.”

The discovery of the first NDA led to further investigation. It unearthed more nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct claims against Vince McMahon totalling $12 Million. These NDAs had not been disclosed in WWE’s SEC filing which is believed to be a big reason why the WWE owner had to leave the promotion.

More Originals From SEScoops:

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

Update on Riddle’s WWE Return After Storyline Injury

Thomas Lowson
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At Summerslam 2022, Riddle was scheduled to face Seth Rollins, the culmination of a lengthy feud between the two.

Before the show began, it was announced that Riddle had been pulled from the show, as he had been “medically disqualified.”

On The Bump, it was said that Riddle had suffered a brachial plexus injury, better known to fans as a ‘stinger’ while being attacked by Rollins.

Riddle’s Return

Riddle hasn’t wrestled since the July 25, 2022 episode of Raw, where he and the Street Profits lost to The Bloodline.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Riddle will wrestle Seth Rollins at the “Saturday Night’s Main Event” show in North Charleston, South Carolina.

The two will also face off at the “Sunday Stunner” event in Fayetteville, North Carolina the next night.

While these matches had been advertised in the local area, there was uncertainty over Riddle’s availability due to his injury from Rollins.

Rollins Vs. Riddle

When WWE announced that the Riddle Vs. Seth Rollins Summerslam match was off, they confirmed that the bout had been ‘postponed.’

WWE has not given an update as to when the match will happen though many believe it will happen next month.

The belief is that WWE delayed the Summerslam match so that they have a big match to promote for WWE Clash at the Castle.

Clash at the Castle will take place at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, and will mark WWE’s biggest event in the UK since Summerslam 1992.

Riddle Offers Injury Update On Randy Orton

Ric Flair’s Last Match Attendance, Live Gate & PPV Buys

Thomas Lowson
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Last week, Ric Flair competed in his final ever match, teaming with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett.

While the show was named after “The Nature Boy” Flair’s final ever wrestling match wasn’t the only bout on the card.

The total 13-match card also saw the Impact World and Knockouts World Championships be defended, as well as Jonathan Gresham be crowned the number-one contender for the PROGRESS World Championship.

The Event

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the show was a big success as an attraction, with over 6,800 fans in attendance.

The show drew a live gate revenue of $448,502, the second largest for any indie event of this generation. PPV buys are still being tabulated, but early estimates have them at around 20-25,000.

The show is certainly the second-most successful gate in North America, only being beaten by 2018’s ALL IN event.

That show, run by Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks, saw 10,541 in attendance and a live gate revenue of $458,525.

Reviews

The Ric Flair’s Last Match event has received mixed reviews, with the production quality and overall presentation of the show being praised.

Many have called the match of the night the fatal four-way between Bandido, Laredo Kid, Black Taurus and Rey Fenix, which Fenix won.

As for Flair’s match, which was also the main event, the match drew criticism for how poor Ric looked in the match.

The Sportster said how the match showed that “Ric Flair should not have been in the ring whatsoever,” while Bleacher Report called the main event “one of the most unusual, at times uncomfortable, watches in recent memory.”

Backstage Update On Ric Flair’s Health After Bloody Last Match

MJF Has ‘Vanished’ From The Wrestling World (Report)

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Both AEW and Tony Khan have kept quiet about MJF since his Dynamite promo, and the wrestling star himself also seems to be maintaining his silence very well.

According to Fightful Select, the Salt of the Earth has effectively ‘vanished’ from the wrestling world. They have not heard from a single AEW talent who has admitted to hearing from the young star since his explosive promo.

Plenty of people who have worked with him or are close to the wrestling star have also denied having any communication with him. Tony Khan has not talked about him to anyone since his Dynamite appearance either.

The report noted that MJF remained in Los Angeles for a few days after his last AEW appearance. Although he was there conducting non-wrestling meetings.

His latest sighting was in New Jersey last week, where he was filming with crew members of Impractical Jokers. Though it’s not confirmed whether he was shooting something for the show.

There are people within the company that still believe MJF is on his way out. The belief is he wants to join WWE instead.

On the contrary, a lot of fans think that this is all a work and Tony Khan is holding off MJF’s return for a CM Punk confrontation. Whether or not that actually happens will be revealed when Punk comes back.

Bayley Explains Idea Behind Her New Faction

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bayley made her triumphant return at SummerSlam but she wasn’t alone. She shared her moment with Dakota Kai and Io Sky and formed a new faction with both the stars.

The former women’s champion talked about her new group on After The Bell. She explained that it’s something that she had wanted for a while and they had considered different versions of the group. The idea was that it would help evolve her character:

“This is something that I’ve wanted for a while, I would say a couple of years. [It’s] actually something that I’ve talked to Hunter about before. Just wanting something different for the division and using girls that I think were either underutilized or that didn’t get that opportunity or didn’t get that spotlight. Just a way to evolve myself as in like many different variations of this faction or group that I wanted.”

‘Ultimate Goal Of Everybody’: Bayley

Bayley made her return at SummerSlam

Though as she got the time to think more about it during her rehab, Bayley realized that she wanted to help underutilized talents. She wanted to take names that hadn’t been on Raw or SmackDown and get them to WrestleMania level:

“But as I got injured and got to spend more time really thinking about it, I knew that I wanted literally girls who haven’t had the opportunity [to be on] Raw or Smackdown or that haven’t been given an opportunity to feel what WrestleMania is like. Because that’s the ultimate goal of everybody.

I just felt like if I look for girls that haven’t had that yet, just the hunger is gonna be that much stronger. It’s just gonna be fresher for the fans and fresher for the locker room where they’ll get excited to work with different people.” said Bayley, “So once I thought of it like that. [I] thought let me look at NXT. It was so easy. I knew who I wanted and I knew who could benefit from it. I knew who I can benefit from.”

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

Lex Luger: I’d Walk Again for WWE Hall of Fame Induction

Thomas Lowson
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For years, Lex Luger was a wrestler who’s character was based on his incredible physique.

Famously boasting a 4% body fat, Luger was referred to in WWE as ‘The Narcissist’ but a series of medical issues, including a spinal stroke have taken their toll.

In 2014, Luger said he was using a wheelchair on a regular basis, though he was still able to walk short distances, but became completely reliant on a wheelchair for mobility last year.

The Hall of Fame

Luger has said he would work hard to walk again if he could walk onto the stage at the WWE Hall of Fame. 

In an interview with Sports Illustrated released on Thursday, Luger spoke about his health and possible induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

“I might pop out of the chair for that [a WWE Hall of Fame induction.] I would take that chance if that moment comes. That honor would be the cherry on top of my career.”

“I might pop out of the chair for that.”

Lex Luger on a possible WWE Hall of Fame induction.

The 64-year-old will be the focus of Sunday’s episode of Biography: WWE Legends on A&E. 

Is an induction coming?

A former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Luger had a rich career in wrestling that certainly warrants a Hall of Fame induction.

Last year, Jim Ross said that Luger should be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, saying that it would be a “popular decision.”

Mick Foley has also expressed support for a Luger induction.

Latest On Lex Lugar’s Health

Watch: ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan Provides Emotional Update On Cancer Treatment

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE Legend ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan has provided a great news about his health to his fans and confirmed that he is officially cancer free.

The WWE Hall of Famer shared a video on Instagram. It showed him ringing the cancer bell that hospitals have to celebrate the end of treatment for cancer patients.

In an emotional speech, Duggan mentioned how he had been listening to other people ringing the bell for weeks. He had been looking forward to getting the chance himself:

“For 8 weeks I’ve been coming by, looking at this bell, listening to the other folks coming by and ringing the bell,” said Jim Duggan, “I’ve been looking forward to it.”

The wrestling veteran went on to thank his doctors, nurses and technicians as well as his family, friends and all the fans for their support.

Jim Duggan underwent a procedure to remove his prostate in October 2021. He had announced later that year that he was cancer free.

Unfortunately for the former WWE star, the cancer returned in March earlier this year. He described it as a ‘terrifying time’ for his family and confirmed that he would have to undergo treatment.

Why is Batgirl Cancellation Bad News for AEW?

Thomas Lowson
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If you’ve been following entertainment news this week, you’ll know that the DC Comics film ‘Batgirl’ has been canceled.

The film was supposed to see Leslie Grace play the iconic character in the first stand-alone live-action film for Batgirl.

WarnedMedia had reportedly invested over $90 million into the project before canning it, in one of the biggest net losses for any movie project ever.

Bad News

Batgirl isn’t the only big cut from WarnerMedia, as the company has been making sweeping cuts across the board.

In April, it was announced that WarnerMedia was shutting down its CNN-Plus service, one month after its launch.

During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that AEW may not be immune from these budget cuts.

“Your parent company [Warner Bros. Discovery] is slicing budgets everywhere, they are stopping movies and TV shows in production, it’s been a bloodletting there and there’s probably more to come. The timing for AEW, with their deal coming up at the end of next year, last few days haven’t been looking good.”

The Future of AEW

AEW’s current deal with WarnerMedia will reportedly last until the end of 2023 and a lot is riding on a new deal.

Tony Khan has been telling wrestlers who have shown interest in leaving to stay, promising that a new, better deal will be reached, resulting in higher pay for the roster.

Earlier this year, Dave Meltzer was confident in AEW’s chances, saying “it would take someone who just hates wrestling” for AEW to be canceled.

Top WarnerMedia Exec Largely Responsible for AEW Programming Exits

Has The Backstage Environment Changed After Vince McMahon’s Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
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Fans were expecting major changes in WWE after Vince McMahon’s retirement. However, we have only seen small adjustments both on screen and behind the scenes as well.

WWE star Butch, previously known as Pete Dunne had an interview with Digital Spy. When asked about the backstage environment, he reiterated the remarks of Ciampa.

Butch revealed just like fans, people backstage were also shocked upon hearing the news of McMahon’s retirement last month. Though according to him, things have been ‘strangely normal’ since then:

“To be honest, up till now, it all feels strangely normal. Even the day when we were at SmackDown and we got notified that Vince had retired, obviously there’s that second of people looking around like, ‘Did you see that? Can you believe this has happened?’

But then after that,” recalled Butch, “Everyone’s so focused on the job that’s at hand it kind of feels strangely normal but exciting at the same time.”

The former NXT UK champion also discussed Triple H taking over the WWE creative. He claimed that the former world champion is extremely approachable.

He explained that Triple H is someone who is excited to put out the best content he can, and it’s what the Black and Gold NXT was all about.

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