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May NJPW Schedule On AXS TV Revealed, Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley Airing This Week

Joey Galizia
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AXS TV sent out the following press release announcing the NJPW programming schedule for the month of May.

The biggest detail is that this week’s episode (Thursday May 12th) will feature two matchups from the recent Windy City Riot event held in Chicago. This includes a classic encounter between Tomohiro Ishii and Minoru Suzuki, and the critically acclaimed first-time meeting between Will Ospreay and top AEW superstar, Jon Moxley.

Other programming includes the Wrestling Dontaku pay-per-view from the end of April, an event that saw Jay White and the Good Brothers return to Japan, and Juice Robinson joining the Bullet Club. Full details are below.

Full details can be read below.

LOS ANGELES (May 10, 2022) – AXS TV, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., closes out May with a fresh crop of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) episodes—showcasing unforgettable moments from the trailblazing promotion’s landmark Windy City Riot event, followed by three weeks of coverage from NJPW’s iconic Wrestling Dontaku event, airing every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The series puts the spotlight on world-class New Japan Pro-Wrestling action every week, delivering one hour of exclusive content compiling the absolute best moments from the promotion’s most recent broadcasts.

The upcoming roster is as follows:

May 12—Windy City Riot, filmed live from Chicago, Illinois on 4/16/22

-NJPW makes its long-awaited Chicago debut with an epic evening, headlined by a dream match main event as the Death Rider and the Commonwealth Kingpin take their feud to the next level when wrestling legend Jon Moxley goes toe-to-toe with Will Ospreay for the first time ever.

-The night also includes a bitter grudge match between two of wrestling’s hardest hitters, as longtime rivals Tomohiro Ishii and Minoru Suzuki seek to settle their differences in the squared circle.

May 19—Wrestling Dontaku, filmed live from Fukuoka, Japan on 4/28/22

-AXS TV kicks off three weeks of exciting Wrestling Dontaku, which returned to its birthplace—the PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan—for the first time since 2001 with a massive fight card that captivated the wrestling world. In this episode, Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens hope to ring-in the ninth anniversary of the Bullet Club, which was formed at Wrestling Dontaku in 2013, by seizing the Tag Team belts from newly-crowned champions Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan in a three-way showdown that also includes Bishamon duo Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI.

-Then, the United States Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs, when Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii vie for the title SANADA was forced to vacate due to injury earlier this year.

May 26—Wrestling Dontaku, filmed live from Fukuoka, Japan on 4/28/22

-AXS TV’s Wrestling Dontaku coverage continues with the last stop on the road to the Best Of The Super Jr. tournament, as reigning Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defends his belt against Bullet Club assassin Taiji Ishimori.

-And former friends meet as foes, when Tama Tonga seeks to become an NJPW singles champion for the first time in his career—and get revenge for the Bullet Club’s shocking betrayal, in the process—by taking on Bullet Club brawler EVIL for the NEVER Openweight Championship.

June 2—Wrestling Dontaku, filmed live from Fukuoka, Japan on 4/28/22

-Wrestling Dontaku closes out with a rivalry renewed, as World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada puts NJPW’s most coveted prize on the line against Tetsuya Naito for the second time this year, following The Rainmaker’s defeat at the hands of the Los Ingobernables de Japón boss in the New Japan Cup.

John Cena Wishes He Could Remake This Movie He’s Not Proud Of

Thomas Lowson
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John Cena would welcome the chance to reprise his role as John Triton in ‘The Marine’ movie franchise. The 16-time World Champion admits he regrets not giving his all for his starring role in the 2006 film.

The Marine, one of the few WWE Studios films to make it to the silver screen, told the (fictional) story of a discharged marine who goes on a one-man mission to rescue his wife from kidnappers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6eMP_4LP3g

To have time off for the project, Cena was written off WWE TV in late 2004 by being ‘stabbed’ in the kidney by Carlito’s then-bodyguard, Jesús.

Cena appeared on In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast and shared his regrets about his time on The Marine.

“I’ve always wanted to do another Marine because so many folks talk to me about The Marine,” said Cena. “I can’t believe it. And it was actually something I wasn’t really proud of because that’s a situation where I look back and say I didn’t give my all.

“As a young man, I wanted to be in the middle of the rock star life. I wanted to be in front of those sold-out crowds. And then I get to a quiet movie set where everything takes forever, and I just didn’t have the wisdom or the knowledge or the perception to realize how big of an opportunity it was.”

“It was actually something I wasn’t really proud of because that’s a situation where I look back and say I didn’t give my all.”

John Cena

Cena’s transition to Hollywood

What Are The Suicide Squad's Powers? | POPSUGAR Entertainment
From left to right: Polka Dot Man (David Dastmalchian,) Peacemaker (Cena,) Bloodsport (Idris Elba,) and Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) from 2021’s The Suicide Squad.

While Cena isn’t proud of his work in ‘The Marine,’ the former WWE World Champion is becoming a hot commodity in Hollywood.

In 2019, Cena played ‘Jakob Toretto,’ the vengeful brother of Fast and Furious lead Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) in the ninth installment in the franchise.

Last year, Cena won over crowds as Christopher ‘Peacemaker’ Smith in DC Comics production ‘The Suicide Squad,’ a role which was reportedly meant for fellow wrestler Dave Batista.

Peacemaker has since gone on to have his own series for HBO Max.

Returning to the ring

Cena’s busy acting schedule has made him appear less for WWE, even missing the past two WrestleManias, but the former World Champion could be coming back very soon.

In April 2022, it was reported that WWE has plans for Cena to return in the build-up to this year’s Summerslam.

While no match has been confirmed, fans have speculated that a possible United States title match with Theory may happen after the pair’s recent back-and-forth on social media.

Vince McMahon Prank Once Went Horribly Wrong

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Vince McMahon is known for egging others on to do ribs but this one, in particular, was quite scary.

Ribbing was quite common behind the scenes in the wrestling business. To this day, wrestlers still get ribbed although it doesn’t appear to be as intense as it used to be.

This one rib that was backed by McMahon ended up going south when the person getting pranked suffered an injury.

Vince McMahon
(via WWE)

Vince McMahon Rib Causes Concussion

During an edition of AdFreeShows.com’s Monday Mailbag, former WWE referee Mike Chioda reflected on the time he was egged on by Vince McMahon to prank a cameraman.

Things went awry in a hurry (h/t WrestlingInc.com).

“Vince used to hate to see people sleep. This one camera guy, I love him, he was a great guy and I remember he said, ‘hey, cut him down.’

“I remember I climbed all the way up this thing cause he had his hammock on something, and I cut it by his head and he went straight down into the steel. He had a concussion.

“I felt so bad, it backfired on me so much. We stopped in Ramstine Germany because we always did, and I remember, he had to go to the hospital there and he went back home.

“I remember apologizing and calling him and everything. I couldn’t say ‘Vince and them made me do it.’ I didn’t want to say that, I had to do it.

“I shouldn’t have listened to [Vince] but it was Vince and them guys, but the f***ing rib backfired.”

Surely, current WWE talent will settle for the more harmless ribs today. For example, back in 2009, Drew McIntyre captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

He went out to eat at Applebee’s with some of his fellow performers when Randy Orton told Drew it was tradition for a first-time champion to actually wear the title when eating out. McIntyre did so, which got a big laugh out of the boys.

Drew revealed that story in his book, A Chosen Destiny.

Mark Henry & Bill DeMott Want Sunny Removed from WWE HOF

Jon Fuentes
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WWE Hall Of Famer Mark Henry agrees with Bill DeMott, that Tammy Sytch (aka Sunny) should be removed from the WWE Hall Of Fame.

Recently, The Keri Anne DeMott Foundation sent out a press released and called for Sytch to be removed from the WWE Hall Of Fame. The release called for WWE to remove “repeat DUI offender and now killer of an innocent man, Tamara Sunny Sytch from it’s Hall of Fame.”

Bill DeMott Tweeted out the release along with the following message.

“When do we start holding people #accountable BEFORE they kill themselves or someone else? When do we decide as law makers and judges that we DO NOT get to decide who should and shouldn’t be punished? When do organizations speak up for EVERYONE not just influential cases? #WHEN”

All Elite Wrestling’s Mark Henry followed up with a response, agreeing with DeMott.

The DeMott family notably lost their daughter, Keri Anne Demott, to a drunk driver in 2016.

Sytch was arrested last week and charged with nine felonies. One of those included DUI manslaughter which left a 75-year-old Julian Lasseter dead. A toxicology report found that Sytch’s blood-alcohol level was 0.280 (g/100mL,) three-and-a-half times the legal limit while behind the wheel.

As of this writing, Sytch is scheduled to be arraigned in Volusia County Court on May 31. She posted bail this past Saturday and is not allowed to leave Volusia County, Florida.

Sytch was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2011. WWE has yet to comment on the situation.

New Trademark Filed By AEW Superstar Chris Jericho

Joey Galizia
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Top AEW superstar Chris Jericho has filed another trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The former world champion and current leader of the Jericho Appreciation Society faction is attempting to trademark the term “The Wizard,” which he hopes to use for “Entertainment Services,” specifically wrestling exhibits. He filed for the trademark with the USPTO on May 5th under his real name, Chris Irvine.

Details on the trademark usage can be found below:

“Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality.”

Jericho first referred to himself as “The Wizard” after his most recent attack on Eddie Kingston, where he threw a fireball into the Mad King’s face. Aside from this Jericho has also trademarked a number of his nicknames and catchphrases, including “The Demo God,” ” Le Champion,” “A little bit of the bubbly,” “The Influencer” and more.

Since his attack Kingston called Jericho during AEW Rampage promised on his wife that he was going to hurt Jericho badly for nearly blinding him. Jericho responded to the threat on Twitter by filing a restraining order against Kingston.

Stay tuned.

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

CM Punk Fed Up With ‘Bad-Take Carnies’ Critical of Today’s Wrestling

Michael Reichlin
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CM Punk is fed up with “old-head, bad-faith, bad-take, carny dipshits” who bury modern pro wrestling on their “ego podcasts.”

There are countless wrestling legends with podcasts and radio shows, including Eric Bischoff, Jim Cornette, Bully Ray, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Vince Russo, and Booker T, to name a few.

Punk was specifically replying to Eric Bischoff, who has been a vocal critic of AEW. On a recent episode of his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff ranted about AEW’s storytelling. He feels that AEW caters to a small segment of the wrestling audience, which is hindering their growth.

Bischoff wrote on Twitter, “Better storytelling = Growth If AEW ever wants to get the other 900 fans in the room, they’ll need to stop booking for one small segment of the audience.”

CM Punk Fed up

CM Punk is encouraging ‘wrestling Twitter’ to stop amplifying these legends.

“They had their moment in the sun. Let them die in the dark with their ego podcasts. Quote me.”

– CM Punk

You can watch a 2-minute clip of Bischof’s critique of AEW in the tweet embedded below, along with Punk’s full tweet.

Eric Bischoff has since replied to CM Punk’s tweet about him.

Bischoff quoted CM Punk talking about AEW signing him, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole last year. Punk said:

“So, I’m not Hogan or Savage. Daniel Bryan and Adam Cole, they’re not The Outsiders, I see the parallels, but this is totally different. I’ll go ahead and say it and people can quote me and they’ll be p*ssed off about it, but to me, this is bigger.”

Bischoff now asks, “How’s that working out?”

Lacey Evans Reportedly Going Heel Despite Babyface Promos

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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If you thought Lacey Evans was being set up for a massive babyface run, think again.

WWE has been rolling out videos of Lacey telling her life story. Lacey is a former military police officer in the Marines. She served from 2009 through 2014.

Many thought that WWE had a layup on their hands with Evans as a top female babyface star. As it turns out, the company is going in a different direction.

Lacey Evans Not A Babyface (Report)

PWInsider is reporting that while the promos have garnered a positive reaction from many, they are not setting up for a face run. The report claims that WWE plans on keeping Lacey Evans a heel.

Furthermore, Evans has been moved from SmackDown to Raw. She cut one of her promos during the May 9 episode of Raw.

Fans who watched the May 6 episode of SmackDown may have suspected that Lacey wasn’t going face after all. After that promo, the ring announcer said that Evans requested that all fans stand and show her the proper respect.

It left fans confused as Lacey has been talking about abuse, drug use, overdoses, and suicide for weeks.

As it turns out, we may be in the midst of a troll job from WWE creative.

Battle Slam: Vendetta Streams Free Tonight on Fite

Michael Reichlin
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Wrestling fans across the world will soon have a chance to witness the premiere live event from the upstart Battle Slam promotion.

Battle Slam: Vendetta premieres tonight, Tuesday May 10th, at 10pm EST. The show will stream for free at FITE.tv.

The worlds of pro wrestling & hip-hop collide at Battle Slam: Vendetta. Witness world-class in-ring action featuring top Wrestlers from national TV and the independent circuit.

There will also be live performances by Pastor Troy, Josiah Williams and more.

Battle Slam: Vendetta Preview

Battle Slam Vendetta

The following matches are set for the first Battle Slam event:

Prestige Wrestling Tag Team Championship:
C4 (Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas) (c) vs The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo)

Free Four All Eliminator:
Angelica Risk vs Janai Kai vs Queen Aminata vs Robyn Renegade

Open Challenge:
Austin Green vs TBA

Baron Black vs Lee Moriarty

Leon Ruff vs Darius Martin

Max Caster vs Myron Reed

Fuego del Sol vs Alex Kane

Shazza McKenzie vs Ashley D’Amboise

KC Navarro vs Shoot Taylor

Plus, Lee Moriarty, Adam Priest, JDX, Zenshi, Chad Skywalker, and Baron Black are also set to appear.

Update on Plans for The Usos vs. RK-Bro, Will There Be A WWE Tag Team Title Unification?

Thomas Lowson
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WWE is reportedly still planning on having a title unification match for the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships but does not plan on unifying the titles.

At WrestleMania Backlash, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos and Roman Reigns defeated Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre in what was originally announced to be a tag title unification match.

It was later reported that WWE had always planned for a six-man tag at the Premium Live Event.

On this week’s Raw, Randy Orton and Riddle said they will still unify the titles and will appear on this Friday’s SmackDown.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said WWE is building to a title unification match, but this will not actually see one team hold both titles (via WrestleTalk).

“They are going to do the match, but as of right now, and I was also told this can change, but, they are not planning on actually unifying the titles.”

Dave Meltzer

Meltzer speculated that WWE could use a DQ finish to avoid unifying the titles in a title unification match.

WWE’s Empty Promises

WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022: Full match-card predictions
Brock Lesnar had been advertised for WrestleMania Backlash but never booked for the show, in one of the growing number of broken promises by the company.

Should WWE go through with this plan, not unifying the titles would be the latest in a string of empty promises by the promotion.

Before WrestleMania Backlash, it had been announced that the titles would be unified despite WWE never having any plans to do that at the time.

WrestleMania Backlash had featured promotional material of Brock Lesnar, who not only did not appear at last Sunday’s event but had never been booked for the show.

Lesnar had been featured prominently in posters for the show before WrestleMania 38, to not give away that he was going to lose to Roman Reigns at the two-night April event.

During this same edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer stated that while Roman Reigns has been confirmed for upcoming Premium Live Events including Money in the Bank, Summerslam, and Clash in the Castle, there’s no guarantee he’ll appear.

WWE Raw Reactions (5/9/22): Getting Red Ep. 4

Michael Reichlin
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Steve Fall is here for Episode 4 of Getting Red, featuring a recap of the May 9, 2022 edition of WWE Raw in a strange and unique way.

Steve runs down the Good, the Bad and the What The Heck?! moments from this week’s Raw. Plus, we name the MVE: Most Valuable Entertainer.

Check out the show below, Subscribe to the SEScoops YouTube Channel and be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you think.

WWE Legend Praises The Judgment Day: “This Could Be A Faction For The Ages”

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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One WWE legend sees big things ahead for The Judgment Day.

Since turning over to a more sinister side, Edge has formed his own faction. Joining him are Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley, who recently joined the stable. Since the early stage of putting the group together, Edge has looked unstoppable on WWE TV.

The faction seems to have already won over Mick Foley.

Mick Foley Is A Fan Of The Judgment Day

Taking to his Twitter account, Mick Foley expressed his excitement over the future of Edge’s new stable.

https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/1523736735296811014

“This @RheaRipley_WWE and @EdgeRatedR thing is EXACTLY what this long-time wrestling fan was hoping for. Along with @ArcherOfInfamy this could be a faction for the ages!”

Edge recently teased that there’s room for more members of The Judgment Day. This has led to rampant speculation among fans.

Some believe that Finn Balor will eventually turn on AJ Styles and join the group. Others feel Ciampa would be the right fit.

The reception to Edge’s faction varies depending on who you ask. Some people are excited to see the direction the group is headed towards, while others feel promos from Edge, Priest, and Rhea have fallen flat.

Obviously, the faction is still developing so it may be a while before we know whether or not it’s a success.

MVP Plans To Drop Diss Track On Bobby Lashley

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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MVP is looking to get back to the studio to drop some heat at the expense of Bobby Lashley.

On WWE TV, things have gotten ugly between the two. MVP turned on Lashley and aligned himself with Omos.

Lashley defeated Omos at WrestleMania 38 but the disgruntled manager got fed up since he felt “The Almighty” brushed off his assistance for far too long.

MVP Prepping Diss Track

MVP has taken to social media to reveal that he’s cooking up a diss track aimed at Bobby Lashley called, “Fall Mighty.”

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

Omos and MVP got some revenge on Lashley at WrestleMania Backlash. Omos ended up getting the pinfall thanks to interference from the former two-time WWE United States Champion.

Bobby Lashley has had enough of the shenanigans and has called for a Steel Cage match with Omos on the May 16 episode of Monday Night Raw. The idea is that MVP won’t be able to interfere but many are skeptical.

Lashley and MVP were a heavily praised duo, forming The Hurt Business with Shelton Benjamin and eventually Cedric Alexander. WWE broke up the faction but kept Lashley and MVP together.

MVP even stuck around for a little bit after Lashley turned face.

Jim Cornette Thinks AEW Had “Worst Segment” Ever On Wrestling TV

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Jim Cornette isn’t one to mince words and he isn’t about to start now.

The legendary manager has become a controversial figure over the years. Some believe that Cornette’s rants have blackballed him from the industry. There are still a group of fans who support him through his podcast, The Jim Cornette Experience.

Oftentimes, Jim reminisces about the old days and slams people he doesn’t like. His weekly shots towards AEW have also become a big part of his podcast.

Jim Cornette Rips AEW Segment Apart

Jim Cornette has made it clear that he isn’t a fan of what AEW is doing with Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews. Cornette believes the House of Black faction “sucks” due to bad creative direction.

He certainly didn’t change his mind during the May 4 episode of Dynamite. On the show, Julia Hart, who had been teasing a heel turn ever since being sprayed with mist by Malakai back in late 2021, looked ready to attack Brian Pillman Jr. with a chair but ultimately didn’t.

Cornette went off on the segment during his podcast (h/t ewrestlingnews.com):

“This was the worst segment I have ever seen on wrestling television because there was no redeeming value to this. This material was so horrible that nobody cared.

“Anybody who came up with this story should be sent away to prison. There’s no punishment too heinous. Nobody should have been forced to watch this.

“You send the kid [Brian Pillman Jr] to tell this story, which is hokey b****t. He tried so hard that he ended up screaming and squeaking, trying to put his soul into it for the rotten creative.”

In fairness to Jim, this segment has actually been widely panned online. A big criticism has to do with teasing the Hart turn for far too long.

Another problem many had with the segment is that it made the babyfaces, Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison, look weak. The two called out House of Black and when the group showed up, the faces just froze and got stomped out.

Roman Reigns Taking Time Off From WWE Next Month

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is not being advertised for any appearances on TV or at live events past June.

PW Insider reports that the latest event Reigns is being advertised for is the June 24, 2022 edition of WWE SmackDown, which will take place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

After June, Reigns is being advertised for Premium Live Events including Money in the Bank on July 2, Summerslam on July 30, and Clash in the Castle on September 3.

The “Tribal Chief” will return for two WWE Live events October 1-2, in Saskatchewan, and Survivor Series on November 26.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alverez asked, “so basically he’ll be gone for 10 weeks?” Dave Meltzer responded, “yes.”

Meltzer added that while Reigns is advertised for the Premium Live Events, there is no guarantee he will appear.

Roman Reigns’ New Contract

Roman Reigns Speech
Reigns tells fans that he’s entering a “new phase” of his career and life at a WWE Live event in Trenton, New Jersey.

This news comes after the announcement that Reigns has signed a new deal with WWE, one that will see him wrestle far fewer dates.

At a WWE Live event last week in Trenton, New Jersey, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion said he is entering a “new phase” of his career and life.

Reigns has wrestled four times on TV in 2022 (Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania 38, and WrestleMania Backlash) and has a 3-1 record this year.

His only loss came via disqualification at the Royal Rumble when Reigns got himself DQ’d to retain his Universal Championship against Seth Rollins.

DiBiase Family Sued by Mississippi Dept. of Human Services Over Misspent Funds

Thomas Lowson
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The DiBiase wrestling family is among those being sued by Mississippi’s Department of Human Services over the alleged misspending of funds.

The Mississippi DHS issued a press release on Monday announcing that a civil complaint has been filed against the 38 people, who are alleged to have been responsible for or recipients of the funds.

The suit names both Ted DiBiase Sr. who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010 as well as his sons Ted Jr. and Brett.

Brett DiBiase pleaded guilty to charges related to the scandal in December 2020, after being arrested in February that year.

Brett was paid $48,000 by the DHS as a representative of the business “Restore2” and used false and fraudulent statements to receive payment.

Ted DiBiase Jr. was paid by the Mississippi Community Education Center to provide training to human services employees in 2018 and 2019.

The lawsuit alleges that the former WWE World Tag Champion made “no substantial effort” to provide any training as part of contractual service.

As for Ted DiBiase Sr., it is alleged that his Heart of David Ministries religious non-profit fraudulently received over $2.1 million in welfare from the state.

The suit claims that DiBiase Jr. urged then Mississippi DHS director John Davis to divert $1.7 million in funds to Heart of David Ministries.

The state of Mississippi is $1,971,223 in damages from Ted DiBiase Sr. and $1,721,223 from Heart of David Ministries.

The state is seeking $2,897,487 from Ted DiBiase Jr., $48,000 from “Restore2” and $824,258 from Brett DiBiase.

What Happened With Bianca Belair After WWE Raw Went Off The Air

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair was very much active when the cameras stopped rolling for the May 9 episode of Raw.

During Raw, Asuka was granted a non-title opportunity against Belair by Adam Pearce and Becky Lynch was furious that “The Empress” was being handed a match.

Asuka said that Lynch left in April 2020 to become a mother, but is acting like a baby.

In the main event, Belair faced Asuka in a Championship Contender’s Match, which “The EST” won via disqualification when Lynch interfered.

In the post-show dark match for the Hartford, Connecticut crowd, Belair faced Becky with the championship on the line. Belair retained her title against “Big Time Becks” after hitting her with the KOD.

What’s next for Becky and Belair? What about Asuka?

News coming out of WWE Raw: Becky Lynch, Asuka, Mustafa Ali all return - WWE News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW Results
A returning Asuka confronts Becky Lynch on the April 25, 2022, edition of Monday Night Raw.

With Becky attacking Belair, it appears that their feud isn’t over just yet, and fans can expect a rematch between the current and former Raw Women’s Champion.

This is an interesting move considering that Asuka, upon her return to WWE TV two weeks ago, seemingly began a feud with Lynch, confronting her during a promo about regaining the Raw Women’s Title. Perhaps we’re in store for a triple threat?

If a rematch is in the works between “The Man” and “The EST,” it will likely be at Hell in a Cell 2022 which will take place on June 5.

So far, no matches have been confirmed for WWE’s next Premium Live Event.

Alexa Bliss Returns On WWE Raw With Her Old Gimmick

Andrew Ravens
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Alexa Bliss has returned once again after being on hiatus as she appeared on Monday’s episode of WWE Raw to take on Sonya Deville.

Adam Pearce announced that Deville’s “WWE Official” contract has been terminated and now she is just a competitor. Bliss is back to her old gimmick and theme music.

Bliss hadn’t been seen on WWE television since the Elimination Chamber event in Saudi Arabia earlier this year where she worked the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.

This was her second hiatus from WWE TV as last year, she disappeared from WWE television after losing to Charlotte Flair at Extreme Rules to undergo sinus surgery, but was brought back in January where she did several vignettes. The Chamber bout was the only match she had worked since her return. 

As previously reported, Bliss voiced her displeasure following the Elimination Chamber about the lack of creative plans for her.  Fightful added Bliss had communicated her frustration surrounding the lack of creative for her character to Vince McMahon himself.

Bliss recently got married to singer Ryan Cabrera. 

Edge Sports New Look On Monday Night Raw

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Edge is in full swing with his Judgement Day faction and he has a new look to boot.

On the May 9 episode of WWE Raw, Edge made his way to the ring with fellow group members Damian Priest and the recently added Rhea Ripley. Fans quickly noticed Edge’s new look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdW9n4NO-ML/

Edge’s new look makes sense given his character change. He’s taken on a more sinister role, going as far as to order Rhea Ripley to unleash a post-match attack on Liv Morgan.

We’ve also seen the former “Rated-R Superstar” change his iconic theme song. WWE is leaving no doubt that Edge has gone in a new direction and is all business.

On the May 9 episode of Raw, Edge speared Finn Balor during his match with Priest. The referee saw it and Balor was awarded the DQ win. Ultimately, Judgement Day delivered a beatdown to Balor and AJ Styles after the match.

During the same episode of Raw, the multiple-time world champion hinted at adding even more members to The Judgement Day. The faction has already been dominant on WWE TV, so it’ll be interesting to see how the faction can gain even more steam.

Nash Carter Takes First Booking Since WWE Release

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Former NXT star Nash Carter has found his first wrestling gig since being released by WWE.

Going back to the “Zachary Wentz” name, Carter has been booked for the Circle 6 and No Peace Underground joint show. The event is scheduled for May 21 in Orlando, Florida.

Nash Carter’s WWE Release

Nash Carter was released by WWE back in April. The move came off the heels of allegations of physical and emotional abuse towards his wife, Kimber Lee.

Kimber alleges that Nash got drunk and punched in her the face, splitting her lip in the process. She went on Twitter and tagged the official account of NXT:

“Hey @WWENXT this is my face after your tag champ @NashCarterWWE got wasted and hit me so hard he split my lip open. He told me I’m a wrestler so I’m always marked up. I’ve hid this for a year and even forgave him. But I can’t hide it anymore.”

What ended up being the final straw for WWE was a photo Lee uploaded of Carter doing the Nazi salute and having a mustache resembling that of dictator Adolf Hitler.

A female friend of Nash took to Twitter to accuse Kimber of making false accusations and simply being bitter that Carter has moved on from her.

“Y’all… @Kimber_Lee90 got served divorce papers by Nash on Monday. He’s been done with her. She’s mad that this is all happening so she’s turning to Twitter because she’s outraged that he doesn’t want to be with her anymore. It really is that simple…”

Carter had been one-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions along with Wes Lee. The titles had to be vacated after Carter was given his release.

Former ROH TV Champion Rhett Titus Involved In Car Crash Over The Weekend

Joey Galizia
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Pro-wrestling star Rhett Titus recently took to Twitter and announced that he was involved in a car accident over the weekend.

The former ROH television champion says he was driving home from his appearance at the Independent Superstars Of Pro Wrestling event in New Jersey when a car drove head first into him. Fortunately for Titus, he came out of the collision completely unscathed. In his tweet he shares a photo of what the damage was to his vehicle, as well as an update on his condition.

“I AM OK AND NOT INJURED. Driving home from the @ispwwrestling show last night a car drove head on into mine on the Garden State Parkway (which is a one way highway). I am extremely lucky to have been able to walk away from it unscathed.”

Titus has been staying busy working the independent circuit, but it is not known if he will be involved in ROH now that it is owned by Tony Khan. His last appearance for the promotion was at Supercard of Honor, where he dropped the ROH TV title to Minor Suzuki.

Thunder Rosa Compares Rivalry With Britt Baker To The Rock vs. Steve Austin

Andrew Ravens
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Thunder Rosa and Britt Baker are the top two stars in AEW’s women’s division and with such fanfare behind their feud, it’s one that Tony Khan can go back to when needed. 

They had their first match against each other at AEW Beach Break 2021 before their memorable Lights Out match that ended the rivalry for the time being at St. Patrick’s Day Slam 2021. 

AEW ran back the feud a year later with Baker beating Rosa at AEW Revolution 2022 before Rosa dethroned Baker in a cage match at St. Patrick’s Day Slam.

Speaking on Under The Ring, Rosa discussed the evolution of her rivalry with Baker. She compared it to The Rock vs. Steve Austin and Trish Stratus vs. Lita. 

“The rivalry that we had, it’s real. Now that I took the title from her, it’s not something that is going to end. It’s like The Rock and Stone Cold (Steve Austin), something similar, or Trish (Stratus) and Lita. Something of that sort. Something that is never going to end. Our matches were definitely more physical in terms of female wrestling. We pushed a lot of boundaries that I don’t think people were used to seeing women in the mainstream media, doing something of that sort, especially on the last one.” 

Rosa stated they had an opportunity to elevate women’s wrestling to another level with it.

Baker is slated to defend the title against Serena Deeb at AEW Double or Nothing while  Baker is competing in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament.

H/T to Fightful for the transcription

WWE RAW Results (5/9/22): Alexa Bliss Returns, Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes, Judgement Day

Robert Lentini
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This week’s episode of WWE RAW aired live from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the first episode of RAW following WWE WrestleMania Backlash. The RAW Tag Team Championships and the United States Championship were defended tonight. Asuka battled RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair in a Championship Contenders match in the main event.

RAW Results (5/9/22)

  • RK-Bro def. Street Profits to retain the RAW Tag Team Championships
  • Rhea Ripley def. Liv Morgan via submission
  • Finn Balor def. Damian Priest via DQ
  • Alexa Bliss def. Sonya Deville
  • Veer Mahaan def. Frank Loman
  • Cody Rhodes def. Theory via DQ (Theory retained the US Title)
  • Naomi & Sasha Banks def. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H.
  • Ciampa def. Mustafa Ali (The Miz special guest referee)
  • Bianca Belair def. Asuka via DQ in a Championship Contenders match

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

RK-Bro Retained The RAW Tag Titles, Will Appear On SmackDown

RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro kicked off the show and made their way to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Orton welcomed the crowd to the show and noted that they lost to The Bloodline last night at WrestleMania Backlash. Randy added that before this is all said and done, we will win the war.

Orton said that nothing was on the line last night because Roman Reigns tore up the contract for the Unification Tag Title match. Orton challenged The Usos again to a unification match and handed the microphone. Riddle said that they are going to SmackDown this week to demand the match from the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.

Street Profits (Monez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) interrupted and said that RK-Bro needs to be worrying about them and not The Bloodline. Montez Ford claimed that the Street Profits will be the ones to unify the tag titles. Street Profits then challenged RK-Bro to a title shot right now.

Ford and Riddle started off the action. Montez slammed Riddle to the mat and mocked Orton’s pose as Randy looked on from the apron. Riddle took Ford down and went for an armbar but could not lock it in. Dawkins tagged in and RK-Bro took control the match.

Orton hit Angelo with some uppercuts before bouncing his head off the top turnbuckle. Randy followed it up with some punches as the crowd cheered him on. Riddle tagged back in and hit a Senton for a two count. Ford tagged in and hit a ridiculous flip onto Riddle outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Riddle knocked Dawkins to the outside and connected with a running kick to the face. Riddle went for a Floating Bro but Montez pulled Orton in the way. Dawkins hit Riddle with a Spinebuster and Ford followed it up with a Frog Splash. Ford went for the cover but Riddle somehow kicked out. Montez leveled Riddle with an Enziguri and went for another Frog Splash but Riddle countered into an RKO for the pinfall victory. RK-Bro are still the RAW Tag Team Champions.

Theory Isn’t Worried About Cody Rhodes

United States Champion Theory was interviewed before his title defense tonight against Cody Rhodes. Theory claimed he didn’t need to prepare and can do this all day. He added that is he already great while barely scratching the surface of his potential. Theory joked that he was in diapers last time Cody was in WWE and he’s all about the future. Theory closed the promo by saying the future is the United States Champion and took a selfie.

Rhea Ripley Tapped Out Liv Morgan

The Judgement Day (Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley) made their way to the ring as RAW went to a break.

Edge scolded the crowd for not caring about him fighting his way back to wrestle after 9 years. He mocked them for leaving asinine comments and also called everyone in the arena ugly. Edge added that anyone who chooses to live in Hartford are morons and nobody in WWE can touch The Judgement Day.

Damian Priest claimed that individually they were capable of destroying each of your favorites, but together they are something more. They’ve added an “instrument of brutality” and demanded that the crowd all rise for the newest member of The Judgement Day, Rhea Ripley.

Rhea said that joining Judgement Day was the easiest decision of her life. Ripley shouted that she was done signing autographs for kids that just wind up on the internet. She vowed to destroy Liv Morgan later tonight. Edge referred to Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley as his “Saints of Fate”.

Edge said he suggested that Rhea leave Liv behind because she is a human LOL doll holding her down. Edge claimed that his movement isn’t done and they are looking for more. Liv Morgan interrupted and came to the ring for her match against Ripley.

Rhea beat Liv Morgan down in the corner of the ring as Edge & Damian Priest were ringside. Ripley went for a Superplex but Liv blocked it and connected with a Hurricanrana. Morgan followed it up with a Dropkick but Ripley shrugged it off with a big boot to the face for a near fall.

Ripley followed it up with a Clothesline and stomped on Liv’s back. Rhea went for Riptide but Liv escaped. Morgan hit a flurry of punches and an Enziguri. Ripley went for a Clothesline but Liv ducked and countered into a Tornado DDT. Liv hit a Codebreaker and went for the cover but Rhea kicked out at two.

Rhea hopped up and caught Liv with a kick to the face. Ripley dodged a Dropkick and applied a Cloverleaf submission in the middle of the ring. Liv tried to get to the ropes but ultimately had no choice but to tap out. Rhea applied the submission hold again as Edge & Damian Priest mocked Liv Morgan. The Judgement Day then posed in the ring but were interrupted by Finn Balor and AJ Styles. Balor will battle Damian Priest next.

The Judgement Day Sent A Message To AJ Styles & Finn Balor

Damian Priest started off the match in control and stomped Balor down in the corner. Finn connected with a Jawbreaker but Priest shrugged it off and connected with a slam for a two count. Damian then got Balor in a headlock in the middle of the ring. Balor broke free and hit a Russian Leg Sweep.

Balor hit Damian with a Dropkick and a Double Stomp to the midsection. Finn unloaded some chops and rolled Damian up for a near fall. Balor connected with the Slingblade and Clothesline Priest out of the ring. Finn went for a flip but Rhea Ripley stood in the way. Edge then leveled Styles with a Spear to end the match in a DQ. AJ Styles attacked Edge before Rhea Ripley pulled him away.

Edge capitalized on the distraction and bashed Styles into the turnbuckle. Priest hit AJ with a leg sweep as Edge leveled him with a Spear at the same time. The Judgement Day posed once again in the middle of the ring to end the segment.

Lashley Interrupted The VIP Lounge

MVP had Omos as his guest on an episode of the VIP Lounge. Cedric Alexander interrupted and wanted to be a part of their team. Bobby Lashley then interrupted and marched down to the ring. Omos defeated Lashley at WrestleMania Backlash after MVP hit him with his cane.

Lashley took out the security surrounding the ring and launched Cedric into the barricade. Lashley got in a shoving match with Omos and Clotheslined him out of the ring. Bobby was about to attack MVP but Cedric broke it up. Lashley got Cedric in the Hurt Lock as Omos & MVP retreated. Lashley versus Omos in a Steel Cage match was announced for next week’s RAW.

Alexa Bliss Returned, Sonya Deville No Longer A WWE Official

Adam Pearce informed Sonya Deville that she has a match up next against a mystery opponent. Deville came to the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Pearce announced that Sonya Deville is no longer in authority and will battle Alexa Bliss tonight on RAW.

Bliss came to the ring with Lilly as Deville was in shock in the ring. The crowd chanted “welcome back!” as Alexa connected with a DDT. Alexa climbed to the top rope and hit Twisted Bliss for the quick pinfall victory.

Kevin Owens & Alpha Academy Attacked Ezekiel

Kevin Owens came to the ring as “Ken Owens” with an absurd wig and grey beard to confront Ezekiel. Owens introduced himself and Ezekiel said “hello Ken”. Kevin told Ezekiel that nobody is actually buying that he is Elias’ younger brother. Owens asked for a raise of hands for who actually believes that this is Ezekiel. The crowd raised their hands and Owens threw another tantrum.

Owens ripped off the wig and demanded that Ezekiel admit that he is Elias. Ezekiel stated that right now would be the perfect time for Elias to come to the ring and sing Owens a lullaby to calm him down. The two superstars started brawling before Alpha Academy rushed the ring. Otis and Gable beat Ezekiel down in the middle of the ring. Otis hit Ezekiel with a Splash and then Owens followed it up with a Stunner.

Veer Mahaan Dominated

Veer Mahaan faced an enhancement talent (Frank Loman) tonight on RAW. Frank was interviewed before the match and dedicated the match to his three children. Mahaan brutally slammed Loman to the mat a couple of times before leveling him with a Crossbody. Mahaan followed it up with a Side Slam and then a Splash in the corner. Veer hit a Clothesline and locked in the Cervical Clutch for the submission victory.

Seth Rollins Attacked Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes was interviewed backstage ahead of his United States Championship match. Rhodes claimed that the chapter with Seth Rollins is closed and nothing sounds better than “the American Nightmare is the new United States Champion”.

Theory and Cody started off back and forth as the crowd got behind Rhodes. Theory took control for a few minutes and got the challenger in a headlock. Cody escaped but walked into a Clothesline from the champion. Theory hit a Suplex for a near fall and went for another one but Rhodes countered into one of his own. Cody then hit a Dropkick and an Enziguri to sent Theory out of the ring.

Rhodes went for a kick but Theory tripped him up on the apron. Theory cleared off the announce table but Cody caught him with a flurry of strikes. Cody went for Cross Rhodes on the table but Theory escaped back into the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, both superstars went for a Crossbody and collided in the middle of the ring. Cody hit a forearm to the face and followed it up with a Powerslam for a near fall. Cody climbed to the top rope and hit a Moonsault for a near fall. Theory hit an Ushigoroshi and went for the cover but Rhodes kicked out at two.

Cody connected with the Disaster Kick and then the Cody Cutter. Rhodes fired up the crowd but Seth Rollins attacked Cody from behind. Seth tacked Cody out of the ring and unloaded a bunch of punches as the crowd booed. Rollins smashed Cody’s head off the announce table as the crowd chanted “you suck!”. Seth then hit Cody Rhodes with the Stomp on top of the announce table.

Naomi & Sasha Banks Picked Up A Win

Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. battled the Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Naomi in a non-title match. Naomi and Doudrop started off the match and Doudrop sent Naomi tumbling across the ring. Naomi taunted Doudrop by twerking and wound up getting a Senton for her troubles. Doudrop went for the cover but the tag champ kicked out at two.

Naomi battled back and sent Doudrop to the corner. Sasha Banks tagged in and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Banks went for a Crossbody but Doudrop caught her and connected with a slam. Nikki tagged in and went for the cover but Sasha kicked out.

Nikki hit Banks with some punches before applying a submission hold. Nikki hit a Neckbreaker for a two count and set up for her finisher. Doudrop wanted to be tagged in but Nikki waved her off. Banks knocked Doudrop off the apron and hit Nikki with Double Knees. Naomi covered Nikki for the pinfall victory.

The Miz Helped Ciampa def. Mustafa Ali

Mustafa Ali battled Ciampa this week on RAW. The Miz was the special guest referee for the match. Miz claimed that he was going to call the match right down the middle and that Theory asked Vince McMahon to set this up. Ciampa and Ali locked up to start off the match. Ali hit Ciampa with a chop to the chest and Miz got in between them. Ali rolled up Ciampa but Miz took forever to make the cover.

Ciampa leveled Ali from behind and stomped him down in the corner of the ring. Ali battled back but Ciampa caught him with a boot to the face and turned him inside out with a Clothesline outside the ring. Ciampa hopped on the announce table and gave himself a pat on the back before the action returned to the ring. Ali rolled up Ciamp but Miz was slow with the count. Ciampa got Ali in a choke hold before whipping Mustafa into the turnbuckle.

Ciampa went back to the choke hold but Ali broke free. Mustafa hit a Clothesline of his own and then a Crossbody. Mustafa connected with a Dropkick and then a Neckbreaker. Ali climbed to the top rope but Ciampa got out of the way. Ali hit a Superkick and then a Tornado DDT but Ciampa kicked out after another slow count from Miz. Ali argued with Miz and Ciampa capitalized with a reverse DDT. Miz gave a quick count and scampered away.

Becky Lynch Cost Asuka Her Championship Contenders Match

Becky Lynch came down to the ring to join commentary for the main event. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair battled Asuka in a Championship Contender’s match. The match started with just a few minutes left in the show. Bianca brought Asuka down the canvas as Becky watched on with a heck of a pair of shades on.

Bianca taunted Asuka and the Empress of Tomorrow rolled the champ up for a two count. Asuka hit a Dropkick and went for the cover but Bianca kicked out at two. Belair connected with a Suplex and went for another but Asuka escaped. Asuka rolled Bianca up for a near fall and then transitioned into an Armbar. Belair broke the hold with a massive Powerbomb in the middle of the ring.

Becky Lynch then attacked Bianca Belair and sent her into the steel steps. Bianca Belair won the match via DQ and Asuka lost her title opportunity. This was the third DQ finish of the show. Becky attacked Asuka some more after the match and planted her with the Man-Handle Slam to close the show.

Cody Rhodes Challenges Theory For WWE United States Title On 5/9 Raw

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Cody Rhodes will be getting his first championship opportunity since returning to WWE.

While Cody’s ultimate goal is capturing the WWE Championship, going after the U.S. gold along the way doesn’t sound so bad.

That’s exactly what’s happening as WWE has announced “The American Nightmare” will challenge Theory for the title on tonight’s (May 9) episode of Raw.

U.S. Title Also Has Meaning To Cody Rhodes

While Cody’s first title shot in his return to WWE isn’t for the world championship, it still holds significance to his family.

Dusty Rhodes is a former NWA United States Champion, which falls under the same lineage as the WWE United States Championship. Cody’s older brother, Dustin, is a two-time WCW United States Champion.

Cody Rhodes has never held the U.S. hardware in WWE. He’ll have a chance to add it to his mantle tonight and add another piece to the puzzle on the road to the WWE Championship.

Taking to his Twitter account, Cody reacted to the news:

“Time to win the #USTitle – in Hartford – on @USA_Network. TONIGHT! #DoTheWork #DidTheWork @WWE.”

Rhodes is fresh off a pinfall victory over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania Backlash. He grabbed a handful of tights to get the win only after Seth attempted the nefarious tactic himself.

WWE 2K19 and WWE 2K20 Servers to be Shut Down

Thomas Lowson
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The servers for WWE 2K19 and WWE 2K20 are to be shut down next month.

In a statement on the official WWE Games Twitter account, it was noted that the servers will be taken offline on June 30 with all online functions being terminated.

This includes online matches and Community Creations, where fans are able to upload their own custom Superstars, titles, and arenas for others to use.

The decision to take these servers offline was so that those involved can turn their “full focus toward supporting WWE 2K22.”

The long road to WWE 2K22

After the dismal launch of WWE 2K20 in late 2019, WWE and 2K Games took a year longer with their next installment, effectively canceling the WWE 2K21 game.

WWE 2K22 was meant to launch in late 2021 but was delayed by the developers who had to update the game to reflect WWE’s roster cuts.

It was reported that the relationship between WWE and 2K had grown strained with WWE 2K22 being seen as a ‘make or break’ game for both parties.

It was reported in March that WWE had been speaking to EA Games about a possible new partner if WWE 2K22 was poorly received.

WWE 2K22 has been met with positive reviews from both fans and critics and earned a 7/10 by SEScoops‘ own Tyriece Simon.

Kenny Omega Thinks Dream Showdown With Roman Reigns Would Surprise a Lot of People

Joey Galizia
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AEW superstar Kenny Omega has been out of action since his world championship loss to Adam Page at Full Gear 2021, taking some much needed time off to rehab numerous injuries and undergo several surgeries.

However, this didn’t stop the Cleaner from once again trending on Twitter following last night’s WWE WrestleMania Backlash event from Rhode Island, as many WWE and AEW fans went back on forth on comparing Omega to WWE’s top act, Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief led The Bloodline to victory over Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro at Backlash, continuing his dominant run that began back at SummerSlam 2020.

Omega noticed his name floating around the internet ether and decided to chime in, writing that he doesn’t understand why he was trending considering he’s been on the shelf for the entirety of 2022. He also makes it known that does not enjoy the comparison discourse as it tends to happen between the two every so often.

“Umm, why am I trending? I’ve done nothing but get sliced up and struggle through rehab all this year,” says Omega. “Oh, I see. We’re still doing that comparing thing every show…”

Fortunately things took a positive turn after this initial tweet. When one fan speculated that Reigns couldn’t last five minutes in the ring with Omega the former Belt Collector fired back by praising Reigns for being a hard worker, even hyping up the dream showdown as a match that could surprise a lot of people.

“I’m sure he could (whether Reigns could last five minutes with him). He’s their top guy for a reason and works hard to be that guy. I think the match would surprise a lot of people.”

You can see Omega’s tweets below.

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