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Tammy Sytch (Sunny) Arrested For Weapons Possession & Terroristic Threats

Chris Stephens
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WWE Hall-of-Famer Sunny (aka Tammy Sytch) has been arrested again. This time the charges are weapons possession and issuing terroristic threats.

The arrest occurred Thursday morning in New Jersey. Sytch is once again in Monmouth County Correctional Institution. She has previously been housed in the detention center for 1-year from June of 2020 to June of 2021 on DUI charges.

Sytch has been charged with 2 counts of possessing an illegal weapon. According to a report from TMZ, the weapon does not appear to be a firearm. Sytch was also charged with one count of issuing a terroristic threat.

New Jersey law refers to a third degree terroristic threat as follows:

“A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he threatens to commit any crime of violence with the purpose to terrorize another or to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience.”

It’s not clear at this time what Sytch threatened to do.

For the weapons charge she faces up to 3.5 years in prison. The terroristic threats charge is of a lower degree and therefor only carries a maximum of 1-year in jail.

Other reports on Tammy Sytch being arrested:

Former WWE Announcer Greg Hamilton Survives Car Accident

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Greg Hamilton is expressing gratitude after things nearly turned fatal.

Hamilton took to his Instagram account to reveal that his car was hit by a moving truck. He said the wreckage was so bad that first responders were certain that he didn’t survive but thankfully they were wrong.

Greg Hamilton Speaks Out On Scary Event

Taking a look at the damage to the car, it’s easy to see why the first thought would be that something horrible happened.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrpD1nrXJ3/

“It’s taken me a while to post this….I should be dead according to every first responder. They thought they were removing a ‘body.’

“Weeks ago, I was hit by a moving truck. Tossed 3 times into a ditch on the side of the road, upside down and left for dead. I’m alive. I no longer care about fame, announcing, anything. That person died in that accident. #RIP

“But my life is forever changed. I don’t know what’s next….but if you need help in any way, I’m here. I don’t know what’s next for me; I don’t know what I can even do.
But, I do know that if you need support; I can do that.

“Japanese culture paints gold on broken pieces to signify repair. I refuse to fold. Let’s paint GOLD. I’m rehabilitating…..you can too. Mentally and emotionally. Let’s do it together.”

Back in October, Greg Hamilton confirmed his WWE departure. He said it was a mutual decision and that all the time spent doing shows weighed heavy on his mental health.

We at SEScoops wish Greg Hamilton a full and speedy recovery.

PCO Signs With Impact Wresting

Tyriece Simon
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PCO is no longer a free agent.

TVASports Pat Laprade reports that PCO has signed a deal with Impact Wrestling. The deal will also allow PCO to wrestle for independent promotions. However, Laprade emphasized that the new signee must prioritize the Impact Wrestling dates. It’s unclear how many years his deal is will be with the company.

“As mentioned on “Les Anti-Pods de la Lutte” podcast, following his appearance at Hard to Kill last Saturday, I have learned that PCO has signed a contract with Impact Wrestling. The contract allows him to work on the indies, but he’ll have to prioritize Impact’s dates,” said Laprade.

IMPACT Invasion

ROH Invading Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill event saw the surprise angle of former Ring of Honor wrestlers invade the show. Former ROH talent PCO, Matt Taven, Vincent, Mike Bennett, and his wife Maria attacked Impact Wrestlers during the event. However, PCO is the only wrestler signed to Impact Wrestling, and it’s unclear if the company is interested in signing other ROH talent on their roster.

ROH New Business Model

ROH has released its talent and is planning to change its business model. Instead of signing talent to a roster, the company plans to book talent like other independent promotions. While unfortunate for ROH, it has created opportunities for wrestling promotions like Impact Wrestling to work with former ROH talent like PCO. Impact Wrestling also had ROH World Champion Johnathan Gresham defend the title against Chris Sabin at Hard to Kill.

PCO signing with Impact Wrestling could begin the company plan to look for more former ROH talent. Wrestling fans should also look out if WWE, All Elite Wrestling, and New Japan Pro Wrestling compete with Impact Wrestling to sign ROH free agents.

Elimination Chamber Set to Return in February (Report)

Tyriece Simon
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WWE’s Elimination Chamber match is returning soon. The demonic structure will be the headline attraction of WWE’s next live event from Saudi Arabia on February 19th, according to a report by Fightful.

WWE typically pulls out all the stops on the Saudi Arabia shows. Fans may remember matches like the first-ever match between Goldberg and The Undertaker in Saudi Arabia, along with Shawn Michaels coming out of retirement for a tag match featuring the Brothers of Destruction vs. DX.

“…The working plan is for the Elimination Chamber match and structure to take place at the February Saudi Arabia show. We’re unsure of the Premium Live Event name will follow that, or if they’ll opt for something different,” said the report.

More Information on Elimination Chamber Match

Elimination Chamber

The report also shares that WWE had planned the match since November. “…Tentative preparation for the Elimination Chamber to take place in Saudi Arabia in February has been going on since the last show there in November.” It’s unclear if the report means October, as Crown Jewel took place on October 21, 2021.

The date reported makes sense, as the WWE usually has the Elimination Chamber match happen before Wrestlemania. If the match were to occur, it would also be WWE’s opportunity to have a live audience for the attraction.

Last year’s Elimination Chamber event took place without fan attendance due to Covid-19 precautions. With the Elimination Chamber now headed to Saudi Arabia, fans in the United States will probably have to wait another year to see the attraction live once again.

AEW Wrestlers Worried About Their Spots According To Cary Silkin

Chris Stephens
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Former Ring of Honor owner Cary Silkin recently visited backstage in AEW and spoke about the experience in an interview with Wrestling Inc. During the discussion, Silken said that some AEW roster members are worried about their spots. This is due to the influx of new wrestlers the company has signed recently.

“There are so many guys there, so many guys. I am not going to bring up any names, but there were guys that were flown in to do nothing,” Silkin said. “It was a very good vibe. But since I’ve been around the back for 20 years, wrestlers are always unconfident, worried about their spot. I could feel that going on. Certainly not with a Bryan Danielson or Hangman Page, but there’s just a lot of people there.”

Silken also spoke about the Ring of Honor roster now being free agents. ROH announced late last year that they would not be moving forward with exclusive contracts beginning in 2022. The promotion has announced a return to live events beginning in April, however.

“I don’t know where all those people are going to land,” Silkin said of the ROH roster. “There’s just so much good talent. If we talk ROH for a second; [Matt] Taven, Dalton Castle, obviously The Briscoes, there are just so many names, Vincent, that have been working on their characters, Shane Taylor. These are solid people that if you or I were running a show, I think we’d want to have them.”

So far, former ROH roster members Jay Lethal and Brody King have signed with AEW. The OGK, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, have appeared in both Impact and the NWA. They were amongst a continent of ROH wrestlers who invaded Impact’s Hard to Kill PPV recently. The Briscoes are performing frequently with GCW as well.

The full interview with Cary Silken can be listened to below:

Charlie Haas Posts Update After Injury At Impact Tapings

Chris Stephens
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Charlie Haas performed at the most recent set of tapings for Impact Wrestling. Haas wrestled a match against Josh Alexander but had to be tended to after. He was later taken off on a stretcher. He would later reveal that he suffered a concussion in the match.

Haas posted a statement on his Twitter account regarding the injury.

Charlie Haas Statement

“I’d like to start by thanking all the great wrestling fans for their reaction to my debut at the Impact Wrestling TV Tapings this weekend. It was an outstanding experience with a great company. Unfortunately, during what was an incredible match with Josh Alexander, I suffered a concussion after slipping while heading into the corner. Per the video attached in this thread, my head caught Josh’s knee and the rope almost simultaneously in one of those freak wrestling accidents you can’t explain. I want to thank the GREAT Impact management and roster for the care and attention they showed me after the incident.”

Haas continued to say he plans on working with Impact again shortly.

“I can’t say enough good things and I truly look forward to working with them again in the near future. I just wanted everyone to know I will be just fine, and contrary to some reports, Charlie Haas is Not Dead. (Shirt coming soon)”

“In fact, this appearance with Impact has lit a new fire in me. So for the first time in over 5 years, I will be taking bookings nationally in 2022. There are a ton of crazy and unique matchups happening these days and I want to be a part of it all. We will have more information on this in the coming days, but for the time being you can email [email protected] or reach out to Kurt Zamora on Twitter @KTankZamora for more information. You’re about to see a lot more of Charlie Haas.”

“Thank you again for your support and concern. God Bless!
Sincerely,
Charlie Haas”

Charlie Haas Debuts & Gets Injured at Impact Tapings

AEW Dynamite Results (1/12): CM Punk vs. Wardlow, Brody King Debuts, Lance Archer

Robert Lentini
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AEW Dynamite aired live on TBS from the the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. CM Punk squared off against Wardlow and Sammy Guevara defended the Interim TNT Championship against Daniel Garcia.

Dynamite Results

  1. CM Punk def. Wardlow
  2. Dante Martin def. Powerhouse Hobbs
  3. Serena Deeb def. Hikaru Shida
  4. The Acclaimed def. Bear Country
  5. Sammy Guevara def. Daniel Garcia to retain the interim TNT Title

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Britt Baker Aligns With The Elite

Adam Cole kicked off this week’s Dynamite and made his way to the ring with Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish. Cole stated that 2022 is going to be an even better year for the three of them. Cole said he is undefeated in singles competition and that the boys are back together. Adam added that it is a new era here in AEW and was interrupted by Young Bucks.

Matt boasted about kicking COVID’s ass in a couple days and thanked them for the invite to the ring. Kyle got annoyed and shouted that nobody invited Matt & Nick. to the ring. Matt told Kyle and Bobby that this is their company and they are the longest reigning AEW Tag Team Champions in history. Matt added that their new year’s resolution is to get their belts back. Cole grabbed the microphone away and suggested that they need a little friendly competition. Adam claimed that they were the best faction in AEW and mocked Best Friends.

In some incredible timing, Best Friend’s music immediately hit and they made their way to the ring. Cole asked for their stupid music to be cut off and Cole wondered what Orange Cassidy could possibly have to say. A brawl broke out and Adam Cole hit Orange Cassidy with a low blow. Kris Statlander then rushed into the ring and AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker joined the party. Baker hit Statlander with a Stomp and Cole delivered the Last Shot to Cassidy. Cole asked for a smooch from Young Bucks but kissed Britt Baker instead.

CM Punk Escaped With A Win, Tension Between Wardlow & MJF Continues To Build

Wardlow battled CM Punk in the first match on Dynamite. MJF accompanied Wardlow to the ring for the match. Punk didn’t take his eyes off MJF while he was posing on the ring apron. CM rolled out of the ring right away and tried to go after MJF. Wardlow got in the way and Punk got back in the ring.

Wardlow hopped on the apron and got back into the ring. Wardlow flexed in front of Punk before the two locked up. Punk got Wardlow in a headlock but he escaped and hit a shoulder tackle. The two locked up again and Wardlow drove Punk to the corner of the ring. Punk unloaded some chops but Wardlow put a stop to it with a boot to the midsection. Wardlow then stomped on Punk’s lower back and continued to beat him down as Dynamite went to a commercial break.

When Dynamite returned, Wardlow was still in control and MJF had a big smile on his face. Punk went for a couple Clotheslines but couldn’t knock the big man down. Punk hit a springboard Clothesline and finally knocked Wardlow down. CM hit Wardlow with a knee to the face in the corner and took some time to chat with the crowd. It backfired and Wardlow slammed him to the mat with a Powerbomb. Wardlow hit another Powerbomb and then a third. Wardlow hit two more Powerbombs and went for the cover but MJF hopped on the ring apron.

MJF told Wardlow he wanted more and Wardlow hit a sixth Powerbomb. Wardlow hit a 7th Powerbomb and Punk was laid out on the mat. MJF taunted the crowd as Punk rolled to the ring apron. MJF asked Wardlow to slam Punk through the table. Wardlow obliged and delivered an 8th Powerbomb through a table. Referee Aubrey Edwards began counting as MJF dared him to quit. Punk got in the ring at a generous count of 9 and the match continued. MJF demanded that Wardlow Powerbomb him some more and Punk stumbled around. Punk rolled Wardlow up and escaped with the pinfall victory. Wardlow was pissed and stared at MJF.

Maxwell demanded that Punk’s music be cut and MJF started shouting that Wardlow will never win the big match. Wardlow grabbed MJF’s hand but Shawn Spears broke it up. Wardlow backed away and marched up the entrance ramp to end the segment.

Dante Martin def. Powerhouse Hobbs

Dante Martin battled Powerhouse Hobbs tonight on Dynamite. Ricky Starks was ringside for the match. Dante took Hobbs to the outside and hit him with a dive. Martin hopped off the apron but Hobbs caught him with a big Spinebuster. Hobbs threw Dante into the ring and planted him with a Suplex. Hobbs dominated the next couple minutes and connected with a Crossbody for a near fall. Powerhouse sent Dante to the ropes with such force that he wound up flying out of the ring. Ricky Starks got in some stomps as Dynamite went to a break.

Dante battled back and connected with a big Dropkick off the top rope for a near fall. Hobbs rolled out of the ring and Dante hit a springboard corkscrew Splash. Dante hit Hobbs with a kick to the face while was getting back into the ring. Hobbs leveled Dante with a shoulder tackle and Starks hopped on the apron. Jay Lethal broke it up and Dante hit a springboard flip.

MJF Announced CM Punk vs. Shawn Spears For Next Week

MJF marched to the entrance and shouted that he is the only real star on this program. Maxwell congratulated Punk on his victory as the crowd chanted “asshole!”. MJF shouted that Punk got a fluke victory over an oaf tonight. Friedman shouted that he was going to give everyone the match they have all been waiting for. MJF announced that Punk will wrestle Shawn Spears next week and left to a chorus of boos.

Lance Archer Returned & Attacked Hangman Page

AEW Champion Hangman Adam Page came to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Dan Lambert interrupted and complimented Page on having some of the best matches in AEW history against Danielson. Lambert noted how Page told the fans that he earned it when they chanted “you deserve it!”. He also said that Page accomplished everything on his own and didn’t use backstage politics like Cody Rhodes.

Lambert eventually got around to saying Hangman isn’t a cowboy and Page boasted about turning down six figures to start a new company. Page added that winning the championship in that company is cowboy shit. Lance Archer showed up and beat Hangman down. Archer bashed Page with a chair several times before slamming his back on top of it with the Blackout.

Serena Deeb def. Hikaru Shida

Hikaru Shida faced Serena Deeb this week on Dynamite. Deeb attacked Shida during her entrance and tried to hit her with the kendo stick but Shida booted it away. Deeb slammed Hikaru’s knee into the steel steps and posed in the ring. Serena focused her attack on Hikaru’s knee for the next few minutes. Deeb applied a Half Crab in the middle of the ring and the referee stopped the match. Deeb got into the ring and attacked Shida with a kendo stick. AEW referees finally got to the ring to break it up.

Brody King Debuted

Matt Hardy faced Pentagon Jr. tonight on RAW. Matt’s wife and kids were in the crowd. Matt connected with a Clothesline but Penta shrugged it off. Hardy controlled the beginning of the match and applied a Headlock during the break. When Dynamite returned, Penta escaped and tried to get the crowd to make some noise. Pentagon hit a Slingblade and then a Double Stomp for a near fall. Matt planted Penta with a Uranage on top of the apron.

Back in the ring, Hardy went for a cover but Penta kicked out at two. Penta got out of the way of a Moonsault and hit a Piledriver for the pinfall victory. After the match, the lights went out and Malakai Black got in the ring. Malakai attacked Penta before the Varsity Blonds rushed the ring. Brody King debuted and beat everyone down. Brody and Malakai posed in the ring.

The Acclaimed Picked Up A Win

Bear Country faced The Acclaimed tonight on Dynamite. The Acclaimed dominated the match early as Dynamite went to a break. When Dynamite returned, the bigger Bear Country got in some offense but their momentum was short lived. Caster connected with an Elbow Drop for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Sting appeared on the entrance ramp and started walking towards Max Caster. Darby Allin capitalized on the distraction and leveled Max with a dive. It was announced that Sting & Darby Allin will face The Acclaimed next week.

Sammy Guevara Retained The Interim TNT Title

Sammy Guevara defended the Interim TNT Championship against Daniel Garcia in the main event. TNT Champion Cody Rhodes will be returning next week. Sammy controlled the action early and sent Garcia to the outside. Guevara connected with a dive and posed for the camera. Garcia connected with a Backbreaker and beat Sammy down in the corner as Dynamite went to a commercial break.

Garcia connected with a Suplex for a near fall when Dynamite returned. Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston were ringside for the match and cheering Sammy on. Guevara went for the GTH but Danny countered into a Sharpshooter. Sammy escaped and hit the Cross Rhodes but Garcia wouldn’t stay down. Guevara leaped off the top rope but Garcia caught him. Daniel applied a Triangle and then connected with a Piledriver for a near fall. 2point0 showed up and attacked Jericho & Kingston.

Sammy booted Jeff Parker off the ring apron and then sent Daniel to the ropes. Garcia knocked Matt Lee off the apron by accident and then turned around into a GTH for the pinfall victory. After the match, Eddie Kingston and Jericho argued again after clearing the ring.

Watch: Brody King Debuts on AEW Dynamite, Aligns With Malakai Black

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Brody King is officially in AEW and he’s all in on the House of Black.

For weeks, Malakai Black had been teasing bringing in a partner and many speculated it would be Brody. After all, the two are the current PWG Tag Team Champions. Together, they are known as Kings of the Black Throne.

Brody King appeared and attacked Penta El Zero Miedo and The Varsity Blondes on behalf of Malakai Black on the January 12th episode of AEW Dynamite.

The appearance confirms the report from Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net back in December.

King had been working for ROH before the company announced its hiatus. He had also been appearing on NJPW Strong.

Brody King is officially signed with All Elite Wrestling. He’s declared, “THE WAR HAS BEGUN.”

VIDEO: Lance Archer Returns To AEW TV, Obliterates Hangman Page

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Lance Archer is back and he just showed Hangman Page that “EVERYBODY DIES!”

AEW World Heavyweight Champion Hangman Page made his way out to address fans when heel manager Lambert decided to spoil the party. Dan bashed Hangman and questioned his cowboy gimmick.

Lance Archer Dismantles Hangman Page

Lambert was interrupted by Lance Archer, who hadn’t been seen since October when he landed awkwardly on his head off a moonsault. It was a scary-looking mishap but Archer is healthy and back in the game.

If you’ll recall, Archer had been feuding with Lambert and The Men of The Year before he suffered the injury. On the Jan. 12 episode of Dynamite, Archer sent Hangman Page crashing through a chair instead of Lambert.

Kurt Angle Blames Injuries On Failing To Make 2012 Olympic Run

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Kurt Angle was hoping to make another run at the Olympics but it didn’t pan out.

Angle represented the United States at the 1996 Summer Games in freestyle wrestling. Angle was banged up going into his final match, to say the least. He had a severe neck injury but he ended up defeating Abbas Jadidi of Iran to capture the gold medal.

Kurt Angle Wanted In At 2012 Olympics

When Kurt Angle was wrestling for TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling, he announced in 2011 that he’d be training to make a bid for the 2012 Summer Games.

The amateur wrestling community wasn’t sold on Angle’s aspirations as it had been over 15 years since he last won gold and he was over 40 years old.

During an episode of The Kurt Angle Show, the Olympic gold medalist said he was focused on making a run in 2012 but injuries caught up to him.

“Yes, I was [serious about making a run] and I started training really hard for it. Dixie Carter gave me ample time off where I didn’t have to be at TVs or the house shows for a while.

“I was very serious about this but at 40 years of age I found out very quickly that you’re gonna have injuries. Just like the injuries plagued my pro wrestling career, they continued to plague me. I couldn’t do it.

“I tried, I trained for about five months and I just kept getting reinjured. I knew I couldn’t follow through with it. So, I knew my dream of going to the Olympics again was gone.”

While the 2012 run didn’t come to fruition, the amateur wrestling world certainly didn’t forget about Angle’s accomplishments. He was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

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Quote: The Black & Gold NXT Would Still Be Around If It Beat AEW

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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One tag team legend doesn’t believe that HHH’s vision of NXT would’ve been dismantled if the brand had beaten AEW in the ratings.

There was a time when NXT was the alternative brand of WWE. While Raw and SmackDown generally stuck to the status quo, NXT was filled with established indie and international talent. The brand was also able to garner a passionate fanbase.

Once AEW came to life, the pressure was on HHH and his crew to hold the new kid on the block at bay. That didn’t happen as NXT got smoked in the head-to-head ratings war.

Bully Ray Says NXT Black & Gold Sticks Around With Ratings Wins

  • NXT
    NXT

Ultimately, NXT was moved to Tuesday nights and rebranded. Now, WWE has put emphasis on developing talent to be ready for what the main roster officials want instead of being a competitive third brand.

Taking to Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray shared his theory that the previous NXT regime would’ve stood in place if it had gotten better ratings than AEW Dynamite.

“I believe NXT would have still been around, the black and gold, would’ve still been around if it was to continue to win and that’s it. ‘It stopped winning, now we’re gonna strip it down, and now it’s going to become what I originally wanted it to become.’

“Last night seeing Bron [Breakker] and seeing [Grayson Waller] and the way they’re peppering in guys like AJ Styles to work with these NXT talents so they are accustomed to the Raw and SmackDown work [solidified the new NXT era].

“Not like a Keith Lee who comes in who’s a 300-pounder who wants to work like he’s a buck and a half. Vince will just look at it and go, ‘What the heck is going on?'”

PWInsider recently reported that NXT has fully moved into its next phase. Bruce Prichard and Christine Lubrano have now taken over the creative reigns so that the show runs similar to Raw and SmackDown.

WWE has been releasing many members of HHH’s NXT team. We recently saw the likes of William Regal, Samoa Joe, and Road Dogg being given their walking papers.

Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

Corey Graves Medically Cleared To Wrestle Again (Report)

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Corey Graves can step inside the squared circle once again if he chooses to do so.

There was a time when Graves was a rising prospect in WWE. He showed great promise on the NXT brand, even capturing tag team gold with Neville, who is known as PAC outside of WWE.

Things took a turn for Graves as he was experiencing issues due to concussions. On the pre-show of NXT TakeOver: R Evolution back in Dec. 2014, he announced his in-ring retirement.

Corey Graves Cleared

Corey Graves has been cleared to return to the ring by WWE doctors, according to Fightful. Corey had been on a strict “no contact” list within the company but he is no longer on that list.

Graves has had immense success as a color commentator. He’s become somewhat of a leader in the booth as many have credited him with helping carry the Raw broadcast team consisting of Jimmy Smith and Byron Saxton.

There’s no word on whether or not Graves will ultimately decide to step back in the ring. He has admitted that he’s been getting the itch to do something more than commentary.

Could we hear Corey Graves’ theme during the Royal Rumble match?

AEW Extends Tony Schiavone’s Contract To 2024

Chris Stephens
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AEW has extended Tony Schiavone’s contract. The promotion picked up an option to extend the deal by 2-years after it was originally set to expire this year. He is now under contract with the promotion until mid-2024. Schiavone originally signed with the company in August of 2019. He revealed the news on a recent episode of his “What Happened When” podcast.

In addition to providing commentary on AEW broadcasts, Schiavone also co-hosts the AEW Unrestricted podcast with Aubrey Edwards. Schiavone also frequently hosts “Road to” and “Control Center” videos on AEW’s YouTube channel.

Someone else who is likely happy that Schiavone is committed to AEW for the next 3.5 years is AEW Women’s World Champion, Britt Baker. Baker recently appear on the “In The Kliq” podcast and spoke about how important Schiavone has been to her success.

“I will never be able to thank him for how much he’s helped me in all aspects of my life. He’s one of my best friends,” Baker said of Schiavone. 

“Anytime there’s anything going on, good, bad, you know, he’s one of the first I call, first I talk to when I’m excited or to vent about [something] but just how he helped me, especially early on with those promos.”

Britt Baker On How Important Tony Schiavone Has Been To Her Success

WWE Reportedly Interested In AEW Star Wardlow

Chris Stephens
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Wardlow’s winning streak will be put to the test tonight on AEW Dynamite. The big man will take on CM Punk, as a service to his employer, MJF.

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According to WrestleVotes, Wardlow has caught the attention of WWE officials. The company is interested in signing him away from AEW, if and when he becomes a free agent.

“With his biggest match to date happening later tonight, I can confirm, without hesitation, that WWE will be extremely interested in luring Wardlow away from AEW when his contract is due. There are several people within World Wrestling Entertainment that LOVE his potential,” WrestleVotes Tweeted.

Mr. Mayhem’s storyline employer, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, is also on WWE’s radar. Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast recently said executives at both Fox and USA were interested in WWE signing MJF.

”It almost worked the corporate side of stuff on USA and even Fox,” said Zarian of MJF mentioning a bidding war for him in 2024. “It perked their ears like ‘hey, this guy is really good. Is his contract ending in 2024? Is that true? There have been conversations and I know WWE is very interested in him.”

Wardlow’s Alliance with MJF Won’t Last Forever

Wardlow is the hired gun of MJF, in AEW storylines. Over the past several months, AEW has teased that Wardlow is getting fed up with MJF and may break off on his own at some point.

During a recent appearance on Busted Open, Wardlow said his agreement with MJF won’t last forever.

“MJF and I, we strictly have a business relationship,” said Wardlow. “That’s all it’s ever been, that’s all it ever will be. 

“He pays me to make sure his jaw isn’t wired shut and thus far, his win record and the fact that he’s still talking his sh*t every week I think I’ve done pretty well at my job. However, that contract isn’t forever and the way he treats people, we’ll see what the future holds with that.”

Do you think Wardlow is a better fit for AEW or WWE? Let us know in the comments.

Wardlow: My Contract With MJF Won’t Last Forever

Wendy Choo Makes In-Ring Debut With New “Sleepy” Gimmick

Chris Stephens
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Wendy Choo woke up in time to make her in-ring debut under a new gimmick on NXT 2.0 last night. Her rather unique new persona seems to have captured the interest of many fans.

Wendy Choo is the former Karen Q and the former 1000-year-old woman, Mei Ying. Evidently, performing as her former gimmick really tuckered her out some. In recent weeks, Choo had been shown in backstage segments in pajamas and looking as though she just woke up from a long nap.

Choo made her in-ring debut last night, teaming with Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta. Her team defeated Amari Miller, Kacy Catanzaro, and Kayden Carter.

Early in the match, Choo appeared to curl up in the corner and rest on a pillow while on the ring apron. When she was tagged in, however, Choo perked up a little and hit a series of suplexes. Then later in the match she appeared to lay down and take a little nap in the ring while she was the legal competitor. Vic Joseph noted that she might be playing possum, however, and sure enough when Miller went to attack her, Choo kicked her off. She then tagged out to Pirotta who delivered a facebuster and then Hartwell tagged in and hit her springboard elbow drop for the win.

After the match, Pirotta and Hartwell seemed quite pleased with their rather drowsy-appearing partner.

Fans online have been reacting to this rather unique new gimmick:

Goldberg on Georgia’s National Championship Win: “The Curse Is Freaking Broken”

Chris Stephens
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Bill Goldberg played defensive tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs during his college career. The school just won their first national championship in over 40 years by defeating Alabama on Monday night.

Goldberg recently spoke to TMZ Sports about the victory.

“I would say the entire Bulldog nation is – I don’t want to say stunned by any stretch of imagination – but we’re pinching ourselves coming to the realization that the curse is freaking broken,” Goldberg said.

“I have heard from people that I have not heard from in 30 years in the past 24 hours,” he continued.

“It’s a breathe of fresh air, it truly is, I’m exhausted.”

Goldberg was also asked about his son, who is currently playing high school baseball and football, and if he would like to see him play at Georgia.

“He’s got 2 more years of high school and his complete goal, his #1 goal, is to be a Georgia Bulldog,” Goldberg responded.

He continued to say that his job as a parent is to support his kids pursuing their dreams. Goldberg said that was only the case provided his son doesn’t want to go to Florida. If that happened he’d have to put his son up for adoption, Goldberg said.

Goldberg was also asked about his son going into professional wrestling.

“If that is a path that he would like to follow then we’d be behind him 100%.”

The full interview with Goldberg is below:

John Cena Shares His Perspective On WWE Talent Releases

Anutosh Bajpai
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The recent mass talent releases have put WWE in a bad light and they have been a big topic of discussion among fans. People have been guessing what could be the reason for it, and there are many who believe that Vince McMahon might be gearing up to sell the promotion. Though as often is the case, John Cena has different outlook of the whole situation and the reasoning behind it.

The Cenation Leader gave his thoughts on the mass layoff during an interview with The Rich Eisen Show. Cena first mentioned how regular cuts used to be the norm when he was starting in the company and according to him, it creates stakes for the development talents. He then discussed how the promotion had been on a spree of defensive hiring in recent years:

“I’m not thinking for the WWE, this is just me posing a different perspective, I think a lot of it might have been defensive hiring because there was and still is a giant boom in sports entertainment. People are absorbing this content and people are making a name for themselves outside the WWE, it’s no longer a one stop shop.”

“It Actually Has To Do Very Little With The Profit Or Loss Margin”

John Cena
John Cena

A big point of criticism for WWE has been the massive profits they have been touting while also laying off people due to budget cuts. John Cena explained that it actually has to do very little with the profit or loss margin. It’s just the strategy the company is going with:

“There is only so many spots and only so much program. I understand, from a business standpoint, the amount of releases that had to happen if the company justifies, ‘this is the move we’re making, we want to carry less talent,’ it has very little to do with profit-loss margin. If the company strategy is to run on a lean roster, it doesn’t matter, you run on a lean roster.”

Later the 16-time world champion mentioned how this is a touchy subject. He said that his heart goes out to everybody who has to get the sad news. Cena also recalled how he was in the building when the company fired Stone Cold Steve Austin. According to him, the incident shot through him like a canon. After that, he always ran with the perspective that if they could release Austin, he could get fired anytime too.

You can check out his comments in detail in the video below:

Billy Gun Files To Trademark “The New Age Outlaws”

Michael Reichlin
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Oh, you didn’t know? The New Age Outlaws may be gearing up to ride once again.

The Outlaws are one of the most decorated tag teams in WWE history. “Road Dogg” BG James and “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn were icons of the Attitude Era. They’re both WWE Hall of Famers as part of the legendary DX faction.

Road Dogg James was released from WWE last week, paving the way for a reunion with his old partner. Interestingly, just days after Roadd Dogg’s release, Billy Gunn has taken steps to trademark their team name.

Last Friday, January 7th, Kipp Sopp (Billy Gunn) filed the paperwork to trademark the name, “The New Age Outlaws.”

According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office database, the name would be used for merchandise and wrestling ‘entertainment services.’ The attorney of record is Michael E. Dockins.

This trademark filing does not mean the New Age Outlaws will be tearing up AEW’s tag team division anytime soon. However, the NAO intellectual property is valuable.

The duo could probably make a killing doing autograph signings and selling merchandise using the Outlaws moniker. Now you know!

Road Dogg Looking to Reunite with Billy Gunn In AEW?

The Bella Twins Open Up About Upcoming Royal Rumble Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE recently confirmed a number of big entrances for the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match and among them were none other than The Bella Twins.

The twins had been talking about a potential return for a while. On the latest episode of their The Bellas Podcast, the sisters opened up about WWE finally confirming their comeback for the upcoming battle royal.

The sisters first discussed how their return was announced in advance instead of being kept a secret. Brie mentioned that it makes sense business-wise and then suggested that there could still be some surprise appearances:

“My guess is, there will still be surprises, but I have no idea. Is it a comeback? The greatest thing about WWE and big pay-per-views like the Royal Rumble is you can come back for one great night and have fun.”

When Nikki Bella Got Cleared

Nikki Bella
Nikki Bella

Nikki Bella had been very open about her health issues prior to this announcement. During the episode, she revealed that she was cleared over the holidays:

“I officially got cleared. I think everyone remembers from Total Bellas, when we had the first women’s Royal Rumble, there were a lot of rules on me. Those are the same.

When we were in Phoenix, I went in and saw my surgeon. They scanned me, I did MRI, scans on my brain, my neck, everything you can think of, they did.”

Apart from the Bella Twins, WWE has confirmed entries such as Summer Rae, Kelly Kelly, Lita, Michelle McCool, and the Impact Knockouts champion Mickie James for the upcoming event.

Brie Bella On What She Told Bryan Danielson Before AEW Signing

Thanks to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

What’s Next For Killer Kross After WWE Release

Anutosh Bajpai
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After being bound to a WWE contract for almost 2 years, Killer Kross is on his way to becoming a free agent once again. Once his 90 days non-compete clause expires, he will be able to do whatever he wants. It appears that the former NXT star is not only interested in returning to wrestling but he will be dabbling his feet into other forms of entertainment as well.

The former NXT champion was asked what’s next for him during his recent interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. Replying to it, Kross claimed that being bound to a pre-determined script for so long has made him hungry to create new things:

“I realized that I like to create. I’ve been somewhat aware of this but I like to create things. I like to create music. I like to paint. I love professional wrestling. I love to create stories for people. I love to create stuff like short films.” said Killer Kross, “That’s something I like to do. So, anything within that field is probably gonna be of interest to me.

And how do I say this? Being bound to a script or the ideas of others and then being released from that, has really made me very hungry to create even more.” Kross continued, “So I’m feeling very motivated, very inspired, and very creative to express that. So wherever those opportunities may arise, whether it’s with music or television or movies, definitely going back to wrestling. I’m gonna be there. I’ll be very engaged.”

Killer Kross also talked about his lackluster main roster debut. He explained that the way he was brought up was a big red flag for him and he knew that it was only a matter of time before his release. You can check out his comments here.

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

Killer Kross’ Reason For Signing With WWE Over AEW Revealed

CM Punk Blasts Autograph Hounds

Anutosh Bajpai
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CM Punk has once again blasted the people who chase celebrities for autographs in airports during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The AEW star shared his frustrations with such people in a tweet telling them that they need to stop frequenting airports to get things signed.

This tweet prompted a fan to post a GIF of CM Punk during his AEW debut in Chicago last year where he is seen jumping into the crowd.

The straight edge star responded to this tweet as well. He explained that the audience at the show had to show proof of vaccination to get entry into the arena:

“Sure is me, you c–t. At a show. Post vax, pre omicron, had to show proof of vax to gain entrance. NOT STALKING ANYONE AT AN AIRPORT OR A HOTEL. How stupid are you?”

This isn’t the first time CM Punk has targeted the fans for this type of behaviour in public places. He previously called out the autograph chasers during his infamous 2011 pipebobm promo.

He said “At five in the morning at the airport, you try to shove it in my face so you can get an autograph and try to sell it on eBay because you’re too lazy to go get a real job.”

Punk is scheduled to face Wardlow in a one-on-one match during this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.

Bully Ray Thinks MJF Legitimately Pissed CM Punk Off

Who Will Win the WWE Royal Rumble? Latest Betting Odds Released

Ryan Droste
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We’re just a few weeks away from this year’s edition of the WWE Royal Rumble. Both the men’s and women’s Rumble matches will have large implications on the direction of this year’s two-night edition of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, TX.

The Royal Rumble traditionally marks the beginning of WrestleMania season, and now we have our first clues as to who has the best chance of walking out of Texas with a WrestleMania championship opportunity on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Though the betting odds aren’t infallible, they have historically given us somewhat of an idea of where the company is leaning when it comes to victors.

According to BetOnline, here are the initial odds for the mens’ Rumble:

  • Big E 7/2
  • Brock Lesnar 4/1
  • Drew McIntyre 15/2
  • Roman Reigns 10/1
  • AJ Styles 12/1
  • The Rock 12/1
  • Omos 14/1
  • Bobby Lashley 16/1
  • Seth Rollins 18/1
  • Finn Balor 20/1
  • Damian Priest 22/1
  • Austin Theory 25/1
  • Edge 25/1
  • John Cena 25/1
  • Kevin Owens 25/1
  • Randy Orton 25/1
  • Riddle 25/1
  • Braun Strowman 33/1
  • Bray Wyatt 40/1
  • Sami Zayn 40/1
  • Samoa Joe 40/1
  • Sheamus 40/1
  • Walter 40/1
  • Xavier Woods 40/1
  • Bron Breakker 50/1
  • Cesaro 50/1
  • Gable Steveson 50/1
  • Tommaso Ciampa 50/1
  • Apollo Crews 66/1
  • Happy Corbin 66/1
  • Pete Dunne 66/1
  • Rey Mysterio 66/1
  • Ricochet 66/1
  • Shinsuke Nakamura 66/1
  • Johnny Gargano 80/1
  • Angelo Dawkins 100/1
  • Dominik Mysterio 100/1
  • Johnny Knoxville 100/1
  • Mick Foley 100/1
  • Montez Ford 100/1
  • Shane McMahon 100/1
  • Steve Austin 100/1
  • The Undertaker 100/1
  • Vince McMahon 250/1

The odds are very close for both Lesnar and Big E as the favorites. The BetOnline website gives both men an identical +350 odds at winning.

Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair. Image credit: WWE.com

On the women’s side, here are the Royal Rumble odds. Bianca Belair is currently favored to win the match for the second year in a row.

  • Bianca Belair 4/1
  • Bayley 9/2
  • Rhea Ripley 8/1
  • Sahsa Banks 8/1
  • Alexa Bliss 9/1
  • Raquel Gonzalez 10/1
  • Charlotte Flair 12/1
  • Paige 14/1
  • Asuka 16/1
  • Liv Morgan 16/1
  • Io Shirai 20/1
  • Shayna Baszler 20/1
  • Mandy Rose 33/1
  • Carmella 40/1
  • Shotzi 40/1
  • Sonya Deville 40/1
  • Trish Stratus 50/1
  • Beth Phoenix 66/1
  • Dakota Kai 66/1
  • Kay Lee Ray 66/1
  • Lacey Evans 66/1
  • Lita 66/1
  • Mickie James 66/1
  • Natalya 66/1
  • Nikki A.S.H. 66/1
  • Queen Zelina 66/1
  • Aliyah 80/1
  • Brie Bella 80/1
  • Nikki Bella 80/1
  • Maryse 80/1
  • Candice LeRae 100/1
  • Dana Brooke 100/1
  • Kacy Catanzaro 100/1
  • Kelly Kelly 100/1
  • Michelle McCool 100/1
  • Tamina 100/1
  • Stephanie McMahon 250/1 
  • Summer Rae 250/1

According to reports, Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns is still the working plan as the biggest match of WrestleMania 38, though it’s not clear how we will get there as of yet. Lesnar is slated to defend the WWE Championship against Bobby Lashley at the Royal Rumble, while Reigns will defend the WWE Universal Championship against Seth Rollins.

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

Killer Kross Knew Something Was Not Right From His First Day On The Main Roster

Anutosh Bajpai
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Killer Kross had the most unusual main roster debut for a former NXT champion. Not only did WWE not promote his arrival in advance but he also lost his first match after his official callup. According to the now-former WWE star, this was a big red flag for him and he knew that he was going to be released by the company sooner or later.

The former NXT star recently appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. When asked if he had any idea that he was going to be released, Kross explained that his debut itself was a red flag for him. He knew that it was a sign of bad things to come:

“Yeah, I thought for sure I was getting released. Because I knew that the segments weren’t getting over. It was very obvious to me. A smart enough fan watching, being able to read between the lines, could see what was happening.” said Killer Kross, “I just knew it was gonna be a matter of time.

One of the big things for me and it might not be a big thing in general for other people to see, [was the] snap reaction of being debuted on the main show, without any sort of vignette or any sort of notice.” Kross continued, “It was just sort of out of nowhere. There was no next week he’s gonna be here or nothing. So I thought that was weird. It was intuitively a red flag. I thought that was unusual. And I thought that was a sign of bad things to come.”

In 2020, Killer Kross had the option to sign with either WWE or AEW. During the talk, he also revealed why he preferred to join the Vince McMahon-owned company than the one run by Tony Khan. You can check out his comments on the matter here.

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

Killer Kross & Scarlett Comment On Their WWE Departures

WATCH: Bron Breakker Gets Custom Plates After Winning NXT Championship

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Bron Breakker has captured his first title in WWE and he’s received the custom plate treatment.

Breakker challenged Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT gold back in October. The title match headlined Halloween Havoc. It wasn’t Breakker’s night as he was pinned by Ciampa in his first attempt at the championship.

Things played out quite differently at New Year’s Evil, however. Breakker got his rematch and made the most of it, submitting Ciampa with the Steiner Recliner.

WWE has posted a video of custom plates being applied to Bron Breakker’s NXT Championship. Take a look at the craftsmanship.

WWE seems determined to change everything about the NXT brand. Don’t be surprised to see an entirely new NXT Championship belt introduced in the months ahead.

WWE NXT 2.0 Results (1/11): Styles vs. Waller, Crowbar On A Pole Match

Andrew Ravens
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The January 11, 2021 episode of WWE NXT 2.0 aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

  • Santos Escobar def. Xyon Quinn
  • Cameron Grimes def. Damon Kemp.
  • Malik Blade and Edris Enofe defeated Harland and Joe Gacy
  • Tony D’Angelo def. Pete Dunne.
  • Wendy Choo, Persia Pirotta & Indi Hartwell def. Amari Miller, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro.
  • Solo Sikoa vs. Boa goes to a double countout.
  • AJ Styles def. Grayson Waller

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

AJ Styles vs. Grayson Waller

0NXT

AJ Styles vs. Grayson Waller was the biggest match to be booked on this show. 

These two stars have been feuding with each other for several weeks after Waller called out AJ. They’ve been trading words ever since then. Last week, AJ wanted to fight Waller right then, but Waller said he would have to wait until this show. They did a brawl with AJ standing tall. 

The match was the main event and they worked hard. AJ hit an outside forearm shot. Waller hit a springboard elbow drop for 2. AJ went for the forearm shot finisher and hit it for the win. Post-match, LA Knight made his return after being taken out by Waller in the parking lot a few weeks ago. Knight attacked him and laid out Waller. 

Crowbar On A Pole Match

0NXT2

Tony D’Angelo vs. Pete Dunne in a Crowbar On A Pole Match was booked. 

This feud stems from a match that took place three weeks ago, where Dunne defeated D’Angelo. Post-match, D’Angelo attacked Dunne and, with a crowbar, attacked Dunne’s fingers.

Both guys worked hard and it was the typical, one guy goes up to get the weapon then taken down. Eventually, Tony got it, but Dunne quickly grabbed it from him. A chair was brought into play, but Dunne caught him with a triangle choke. Tony hit him in the face with the crowbar, which broke, for the win. 

Who Gets Lopez?

Santos Escobar vs. Xyon Quinn with the stipulation that Elektra Lopez will leave with the winner went down. 

Ever since Lopez showed up in NXT, she has been aligned with Escobar, but since losing the Cruiserweight Title, Escobar has been bumped down the card. 

This was the first match of the night. At the end, Lopez distracted Xyon and then kicked him in the nuts that led to Escobar hitting his finisher for the win. 

Bron Breakker Talks

pjimage 2022 01 11T200221.942

New NXT Champion Bron Breakker appeared on this show just one week after beating Tommaso Ciampa to win the NXT Title. So what did he say?

Breakker cut a promo where he got mixed reactions. He thanked Ciampa and put him over for being a great wrestler and an outstanding person. He brought up Ciampa showing respect to Bron’s father after the match. He said that there are no days off in NXT and they perform every week for the fans. Bron said that anyone who wants to challenge him, he’s already put in the work and did more than them because he’s the champ. He plans to prove why he earned the title every week. Bron then went to the back. Short and to the point. 

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