John Cena and CM Punk will battle for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions, a match Mr Money in the Bank Seth Rollins will no doubt be watching closely. While Rollins could come to blows with Punk in mere days in Riyadh, the pair aren’t waiting for the upcoming Premium Live Event.
Punk appeared at WWE Fanatics Fest this week, giving fan an exciting up-close and personal look at his personality. As Punk excited the crowd, Rollins emerged and got in the face of his nemesis. The two traded barbs and shoves before being separated.
Rollins and Punk have been at odds long before the latter’s return to WWE in November 2023. Since then, the pair have traded wins with Rollins emerging on top at WrestleMania 41: Saturday. While Punk’s focus right now is on John Cena, a showdown with Rollins appears to be inevitable.
Whenever Randy Orton steps foot inside a WWE arena, fans can be heard singing along to his theme song ‘Voices.’ This is an idea that began during WWE’s events in Europe but has since crossed the pond to the United States.
Orton appeared at the WWE SummerSlam kick-off event, where fans once again sang his song. Though the fans struggled at times to remember some of the words, Orton made clear that having fans sing for him means a lot.
“I waited for a very long time for it to happen and it finally happened and you guys, when I come out and I hear, however many thousand people, trying to sing along to my song, when it gets to that chorus, oh my God! It makes my heart pick up, skips a beat, I love you guys for it. Thank you. Thank you!
“I’m not just bulls****ing! Really, truly from the bottom of my heart, I mean that. I love you guys.”
Orton would spend 18 months out with an injury, and for a time, it sounded like he’d never make a return to the ring. Now, the Viper relishes ever note and chord he hears from the WWE Universe.
WWE NXT just lost one of its top stars as Noam Dar is out with an injury. On June?21, NXT General Manager Ava took to X with the dissapointing news. As a result of the injury, Dar will be vacating the NXT Heritage?Cup Championship, though the cup will find a new owner soon.
Due to injury, Noam Dar will not be able to compete this Tuesday and will have to relinquish the NXT Heritage Cup Championship.
This Tuesday, Stacks with compete in a match to crown a new Heritage Cup Champion against an opponent to be named. @WWENXT
Dar had won the Cup on April?22, 2025, marking a record-setting fourth reign with the cup. His most recent match was against Stacks in a live event on June?13, though it is unclear if this match caused the injury. Dar had also been part of Meta-Four though the group disbanded earlier this year.
Time will tell who holds the NXT Heritage Cup next. We at SEScoops would like to wish Dar a full and speedy recovery.
Booker T is both a wrestling trainer and a family man, and is preparing for the day these two parts of his life overlap. Speaking to Metro UK, Booker shared that his children are already showing interest in getting in the ring.
“My son, he loves professional wrestling. My daughter, she’s very, very athletic. I never knew what I was going to do until I got into it, you know?“
While both of Booker’s children could possibly step into the ring as talent, the two-time Hall of Famer sees them possibly working behind the scenes. In fact, Booker is already setting up his children to one day run his promotion Reality of Wrestling.
“I’m grooming them to be able to take over the business one day,’ he said. ‘From a behind the scenes perspective. That’s where the money is! Less bumps as well [laughs]. No man, never say never!“
Booker has spent years raising the next generation of Superstars. In addition to his role with ROW, Booker has served as a judge on WWE Tough Enough. In 2025, he began his role with WWE LFG, acting as a coach for the next generation of WWE Superstars.
Time will tell what the next generation of ‘T’s’ will do in wrestling. With both their mother and father being WWE Hall of Famers, they’ll have the chance to learn from the best, whatever their plan is.
Kayla Becker left WWE in June 2024 and has kept herself busy in non-wrestling projects ever since. Now, the former Kayla Braxton is set to make her first wrestling-related appearance since leaving the company.
Shane Hartline of Nearly Average Wrestling announced that Becker will appear as a special guest panelist at the upcoming NAW or NEVER event, a comedy-meets-wrestling showcase set for July 11 at 10 PM at The Elysian Theater in Los Angeles. While Becker won’t be conducting backstage interviews or commentating, she will help judge tryouts for real “superstar hopefuls” vying for a spot in the NAW promotion.
BREAKING: Former WWE broadcaster @TheKaylaBecker is making her return to wrestling… sort of.
She’ll be a special guest panelist at NAW or NEVER July 11, 10PM at the @ElysianTheater in LA.
You never know who might show up. ?? in bio. Full episode from the first show drops soon. pic.twitter.com/76TF4qT7Q2
Becker was well-liked in WWE, with the door reportedly open for the former interviewer to return. In the meantime, Becker appears to be thriving outside the company with excitement building for her role with NAW or Never.
Eric Bischoff offered high praise for TNA Wrestling on the latest 83 Weeks podcast, highlighting the promotion’s recent improvements and growing momentum.
He went as far as to call TNA the “sleeper” in the industry and issued a direct warning to AEW to pay attention. TNA and WWE have been in a working relationship where talent from both promotions appear on each other’s programming.
“The show’s really getting good… that show is getting much better. It’s gaining momentum, bigger crowds. It’s the sleeper. I think I said it here a couple of months ago, TNA is the sleeper in the wrestling industry,” Bischoff stated.
“If I was Tony Khan, I’d forget all about WWE and be looking closely at what’s coming up my back, because they’re coming. I’m really impressed… If they keep moving in the right direction, opportunities are going to come their way that’s going to catapult them to a much better position, because they’re doing the basics right. They’re doing the basics right, and the people are responding. So hats off.”
Giulia plans to be the next WWE Women’s United States Champion, but is already looking ahead to what’s next in her career. After the June 20, WWE SmackDown, it was confirmed that Giulia will face Zelina Vega for the gold on the following SmackDown.
In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Giulia didn’t hold back as she discussed how this showdown has been a long time coming.
“Zelina, we’ve been calling each other out as long as you’ve been the champion. Next week, we will finally face off. You talk about how hard you work. I don’t have to do that. My hard work is evident.”
For Vega, the Women’s U.S. Title is the culmination of a long journey, as she finally holds singles gold. For Giulia, already a former NXT Women’s Champion, it’s merely a stepping stone to future greatness.
“This championship means a lot to you. It doesn’t to me. To me, it’s just a stepping stone. You act like this title belongs to you. Next week I will prove it does not.”
Vega also shared her thoughts on the upcoming title match. In the champion’s eyes, there’s a massive difference between herself and her opponent.
“Where I come from, if you’ve got a problem with somebody, you go out in the street and handle it. But streets weren’t made for everybody, that’s why they made sidewalks. For girls like you who like to do sneak attacks.”
Will Vega keep the gold, or is it destiny for the Beautiful Madness to capture the Women’s United States title? Stay tuned to SEScoops to find out.
Zelina Vega had some crazy ideas for her first hardcore match.
The Women’s US Champion defended her title against Piper Niven in a Bakersfield Brawl at the June 6 episode of SmackDown. The bout took place only a day before the Money In The Bank PPV and featured the usual assortment of weapons such as kendo sticks and steel chairs.
During a recent interview with the Lightweights podcast, Vega noted that this was her first hardcore match despite being active in the business for almost 17 years. The US Champ explained that she wanted to go above and beyond for this bout:
“I was like, ‘Oh, can I jump off the tron?’ They’re just like, ‘No, no you can’t. We still need to save some oohs and aahs for Money In The Bank tomorrow and you need to just live, you know?’”
Zelina Vega mentioned that she was a huge fan of Jeff Hardy growing up and revealed that there was also a ladder spot that was not approved. Though the female star vowed to do the spot one day and later revealed another crazy idea she had which was quickly shot down:
“I was like, ‘Can we put barbwire on a chancla?’ They’re like, ‘No.’ They’re like, ‘No blood, no guts, just take it easy.’”
Apart from this, Zelina talked about things such as winning the US title on the same night her husband, Aleister Black, returned to WWE and more. You can check out her full interview below:
“Rumors are rumors whirling around… Yeah, I’ve always kind of had an interest. It’s just a matter of making it work—with my schedule and the other things that I have going on.”
Joining WWE’s creative team would be “really big” but wouldn’t be an easy transition for the Phenom. The Undertaker highlighted that he would need to be “100% committed” but hopes his busy schedule would allow for it to happen.
“If we can figure out a way to make that happen... If there’s something that I can do to make our product better—help talent—then I’m on board for that.”
As arguably the most successful ‘gimmick’ wrestler of all time, The Undertaker would bring decades of experience to WWE’s creative division. Whether it be as a judge on WWE LFG, on-screen, or in a potential creative role, the Deadman remains eager to help shape WWE’s future.
Tom Brady may be the GOAT of the NFL, but he just proved he might have a future in WWE as well. At Fanatics Fest, the seven-time Super Bowl champion stunned fans by channeling WWE star Cody Rhodes for a special entrance to Rhodes’ theme ‘Kingdom.’
Though he was channelling Rhodes, Brady’s attitude was that of a quintessential heel. Brady strutted through the crowd, flipped off a fan, spat on a jersey and tore up a New York Giants Eli Manning jersey.
In a shocking moment, Eli Manning sprinted out from backstage and attacked Brady from behind, jumping onto his back as the crowd roared in disbelief. The former Patriots quarterback carried Manning toward the entrance with a smirk, even lifting the shredded Giants jersey like a trophy.
Whether you’re a football fan, a wrestling fan, or just a fan of chaos, the Brady-Manning clash was a reminder that when legends meet in front of a live crowd—anything can happen.
Tonight’s episode of the Blue Branded show, which came live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan featured Pretty Deadly star Kit Wilson in singles action against Aleister Black.
Before this bout was officially underway, the commentators Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett revealed that Kit’s partner Elton Prince has been sidelined with an injury and wished him well.
Prince has not wrestled since the May 2 episode of SmackDown, where Pretty Deadly squared off against former NXT tag champions Fraxiom. The duo of Axiom & Nathan Frazer picked up the victory in this bout and Elton seemed to have suffered a concussion during the match.
Kit Wilson has continued wrestling as a singles star since then. He wrestled in a WWE Speed match on May 30. Last week’s Main Event taping before SmackDown saw him taking on Hikuleo. This was the former NJPW star’s first match after more than a year of unexplained absence.
Not a lot of details were provided about Elton Prince’s health so it’s hard to say how long he will stay out of action. Though since the company has not taken Wilson off TV, we can assume his partner will be back sooner than later.
Apart from this, tonight’s SmackDown also featured a segment between John Cena and CM Punk where the former cut an unhinged promo. You can check out more about it here.
The WWE King and Queen of the Ring tournaments are nearing their end as half of the finalists were decided on the June 20, episode of WWE SmackDown. In the men’s tournament, Randy Orton advanced with a victory over Sami Zayn. Orton, who was the runner-up in the 2024 tournament, will now face either Jey Uso or his former protege Cody Rhodes at WWE Night of Champions.
In the Queen of the Ring tournament, Asuka secured her place in the finals with a victory over Alexa Bliss. The Empress of Tomorrow returned to action during the June 16, episode of WWE Raw by winning her first-round match. Asuka had been out of action for over a year with an injury but is now one match away from claiming the crown. She will face either Jade Cargill or Roxanne Perez in the finals.
The second half of the finals will be decided on the June 23, episode of WWE Raw with the finals set for WWE Night of Champions at the end of the month. Stay tuned to SEScoops to see who claims the crowns in this year’s tournaments.
The Evolution 2 Premium Live Event is set for July 13, 2025, live from Atlanta, Georgia, the second-ever all-female event in company history. Speaking with WrestleStar, WWE Hall of Famer Michelle McCool was asked if fans can expect the ‘Flawless’ legend next month.
“I always say I’m just a phone call away. I like to—I mean I’ve actually been in the ring a little bit, feeling pretty good. If they ask, I’ll be there.”
McCool isn’t just interested in a return, but a reunion could be in the works. On the podcast, Michelle shared that she’d love to reunite with Layla, resurrecting their iconic LayCool team.
“I would love a cool reunion. I think Layla’s finally kind of getting back on the scene.”
Michelle McCool is “always down to fight,” but shared that as of the interview, “I have not been called.” Despite this, Michelle is confident that a return to the ring would prove to be a triumph.
“I think I got one more. I always say I’ve got one more in me. I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.”
While WWE has yet to confirm the official lineup for Evolution 2, McCool’s openness to return has already sparked excitement among fans. A reunion with Layla—reforming the iconic LayCool tag team—would be a welcome surprise for many.
Mercedes Moné continues to dominate the wrestling world with six championships to her name, and now, she’s teasing a bold pivot outside the ring. On X, Moné shared photos of herself holding all six of her championship belts. In the post, she floated the idea of a future in politics, taking playful shots at fellow wrestlers-turned-politicians.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) June 20, 2025
This post comes after her victory over Zeuxis at AEW Grand Slam Mexico, where she added the CMLL Women’s World Championship to her growing collection. Mone looks to add the AEW Women’s World Championship to her collection whhen she faces ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm at AEW All In: Texas on July 12.
While her comment may have been tongue-in-cheek, the idea of Mercedes Moné entering politics isn’t entirely far-fetched. Wrestlers have crossed over into public office several times, including Jesse Ventura who served as Governor of Minnesota. Today, Kane (Glenn Jacobs) is the Mayor of Knox County, and Linda McMahon holds a cabinet-level role in the Trump administration.
TKO’s WWE doesn’t want you to remember Vince McMahon.
WWE is set to present its latest Saudi Arabia PPV, Night of Champions, next week on June 28. One of the matches announced for the show is John Cena vs. CM Punk for the WWE Championship.
The company promoted this match on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. They aired a video package looking back at the history of these two arch rivals before what is presumably their final encounter.
One of the clips used in the video was from Punk’s infamous pipebomb promo. The company, however, edited the clip to remove the name of Vince McMahon from the footage:
Lo de WWE censurando el nombre de Vince McMahon en la pipebomb de CM Punk que sale en el video package xdddd #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/Wbz6RnWQp9
The former WWE owner recently sold a large quantity of TKO shares. So it appears that he does not see himself returning to the company anytime in the near future.
Tonight’s SmackDown also featured a noteworthy interaction between Cena and Punk before their upcoming match. This came after the Straight Edge Star tried to save R-Truth from a post-match beatdown at the hands of the 17-time world champion during the main event.
John Cena managed to get the upper hand over his arch rival, however, and he recreated the scene of Punk’s famous pipebomb. The Cenation Leader went on to cut an unhinged promo, name-dropping a number of ex-WWE stars. You can check out more about it here.
John Cena did not hold back in his latest promo on CM Punk.
The Cenation Leader was in action in the main event of tonight’s SmackDown from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He squared off against R-Truth in a rematch from last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Truth had control of the bout from early on, and after a while, Cena decided it wasn’t worth it. The WWE Champion started walking to the back with the title belt, and Truth went after him. John then blasted his opponent with the championship, officially causing the disqualification.
CM Punk came out to make the save after the bell, and he even got possession of the title. John Cena, however, reclaimed the belt with a low blow and then sent the Straight Edge Star crashing through a Slim Jim table.
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) June 21, 2025
The scene was the exact opposite of the time when Punk cut his famous pipebomb promo and the 17-time world champion decided to take advantage of it.
He cut a hard-hitting promo on his arch rival, telling Punk he was now ‘Mr. TKO.’ Cena called Punk an opportunist who steps on other hard-working people to get ahead. He then name-dropped a number of former WWE stars, including Claudio Castagnoli, Nic Nemeth, and Matt Cardona.
The anthem-owned-promotion has started giving sneak peak of upcoming Impact Wrestling TV episodes early on their TNA+ streaming service.
The June 26 episode of the show, which streamed on June 20, saw Mustafa Ali taking on Joh Skyler in a singles match. Skyler’s Order 4 partners Tasha Steelz and Jason Hotch, were at the ringside for this bout.
Ali picked up the victory over his opponent but he wasn’t done with just that. He picked up a chair but just as he was looking to use it, an unfamiliar music played.
Fellow 205 Live alumni Cedric Alexander then made his debut for the promotion. He confronted Ali and shared some words before Mustafa left the ring. Alexander then stood tall with the Order 4 members:
The former Hurt Business member was released from his WWE contract in February this year. Many expected him to reunite with the group managed by MVP in AEW.
The faction, also consisting of Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, however, seems to have moved on without him, recently adding MJF as the newest member.
The possibility of Alexander joining the Tony Khan promotion down the line is always there, but right now it looks like the former Cruiserweight Champion is looking to forge a new path for himself.
MJF is set to appear alongside Adam Sandler in the highly anticipated Happy Gilmore 2, but you wouldn’t know it from watching WWE. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Netflix intended to promote Happy Gilmore 2 during the June 16 episode of WWE Raw, though that prove easier said than done.
Just before the Netflix ads aired on Raw, WWE reportedly asked for a version of the trailer that did not include MJF. The trailer that aired on the broadcast excluded any shots of the AEW star, even though he’s prominently featured in other versions of the promo material.
MJF isn’t the only notable name from wrestling in Happy Gilmore 2 as Becky Lynch and Nikki Bella will also appear in the film. While WWE will have no issue featuring either woman, neither has a role in Happy Gilmore 2 as prominent as the former AEW World Champion.
Regardless of the backstage politics, attention now turns to Happy Gilmore 2 itself, which is set to premiere on July 25. With a high-profile cast and significant fan buzz, the film is expected to be a summer highlight.
Ric Flair recently stirred controversy with a series of offensive tweets about Jim Ross, accusing the legendary commentator of being an attention seeker. Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross addressed the situation, sharing that he has not spoken to Flair in some time.
“I heard he is battling skin cancer. I’ve had that, so I know what he’s going through. But I haven’t spoken to Ric.”
Flair’s comments sparked outrage among fans and wrestlers, with many seeing it as awful to mock Ross amid a battle with cancer. While Flair make have branded Ross as an “attention seeker,” Ross took the high road with his view on the Nature Boy.
“I have no agenda, negative or positive, with Ric. He knows I love and respect Ric Flair. He and I are fine as far as I’m concerned.”
Despite their differences, Flair and Ross are two legends in their respective fields battling a terrible disease. Ross finished by saying he wants for Flair what he wants for himself, a full recovery.
“I just hope he gets healthy and feels good, because pro wrestling needs Ric Flair. He’s a big part of the fabric of our business, and I hope his skin cancer is addressed and controlled.”
Ross’ comments reflect a level of maturity often lacking among those in wrestling. We at SEScoops continue to wish Ross and Flair the best in their respective health battles.
It has been almost 30 years since World Championship Wrestling struck gold when Hulk Hogan joined the dark side, becoming “Hollywood” Hogan and aligning with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. The formation of this group of villainous renegades helped put the company on the map. altering the future of the business forever. Its impact inside and outside the ring is explored through Marc Raimondi’s book “Say Hello To The Bad Guys: How Professional Wrestling’s New World Order Changed America.”
The historical deep dive into the nWo sees the ESPN reporter take readers from the nWo’s black and white roots to evolving into a global pop culture phenomenon. One that created a ratings and box office bonanza, causing WWE to change course in order to survive. This trip down memory lane peels back the curtain to provide an inside look at what went on with the major players, ego power trips, creative clashes, courtroom battles between WWE and WCW, and everything in between.
“Wrestling fans I think will dig the book, but I really want non wrestling fans to read this book,” Raimondi said. “I’m excited about the possibility and potential of nonfans or lapsed fans reading this book and having a different view of wrestling. Viewing wrestling in a different perspective instead of just the stigma that it’s fake or just for kids or why are you watching that. It’s art. It’s an artform.
“I’ve always said it is the greatest art America has given to the world, and I do believe that. I feel very grateful to not only write about a group in a time period very near and dear to me. Also, try to indoctrinate into this weird space we’re in. I think wrestling is for everyone, and I would love for people to pick up this book who maybe are not fans and say, ‘Let me figure out this happened. How did wrestling become so important to American culture?’ That’s kind of the hope.”
One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is examining the legal wars between WWE and WCW. Titan Sports Inc. v. Turner Broadcasting, which was spurred by Scott Hall’s arrival from one company to the other. It almost didn’t make the book as Raimondi explained there was talk it deviated from the flowing narrative of the chronology. However, the importance of the story outweighed all that. The questions of what constitutes intellectual property in wrestling? Where does the character begin and the real person end? What made Razor Ramon, Razor Ramon? The lines are blurred on many levels.
“I was able to get around 4,000 pages from the lawsuit that nobody ever has gotten before. I was proud in that sense from a journalistic standpoint that I was able to uncover stuff nobody had seen before,” Raimondi said. “These depositions for Scott Hall and Eric Bischoff. These are statements given in the ‘90s that nobody has ever seen before. I thought that was really cool. Getting to interview the lawyers from both sides Jerry McDevitt from WWE and David Dunn from WCW and to hear their perspective of it.
“Jerry McDevitt has worked with it for a very long time. David Dunn has not. They are not necessarily in the wrestling business per say, but they are in the legal business. The way they were able to explain to me that case was so interesting. The book is about how the nWo and pro wrestling changed America. This is another way I think the nWo affected America because this was a really important legal case as far as trademark law and intellectual property. Even the side case with Mark Madden as someone who is dispensing information. Wrestling in the ‘90s helped shape the precedent of what constitutes a journalist in the eyes of the legal system. That is mindblowing to me.”
At the core for much of the story is the dynamic between Hall, Hogan and Nash. The three Hall of Famers went through it all, for better or worse. Hall, who died at age 63 in 2022, was clearly an important thread. His contributions can’t be denied.
“I love the Hall and Nash friendship and that relationship because it really was a special friendship from everyone that I spoke to,” Raimondi’ said. “Nash really looked out for Hall. Several people told me how Nash was a big brother to Scott Hall. I can definitely see that from all the stories and anecdotes. It was tough on him because Scott was really struggling a lot in the ‘90s. It was such a fast moving time. Scott’s demons were getting the better of him. He was in rehab a few times and struggling and flipping rental cars in 1998 and not getting injured somehow. He was drunk driving and flipping cars. Kevin Nash always stood by his side. When the times called for when Scott was in rehab they were trying to do an angle with Nahs in the storyline and were going to crap on Hall for not being there. He wouldn’t do it because that friendship is there. The same for Sean Waltman when he got fired from WCW. Those guys were really upset. You could almost trace the end of the really good creative of the nWo to that moment because they pretty much stopped contributing from a creative standpoint with their best stuff. Hall is a creative genius.
“They shut down because they were really pissed off. Bischoff fired Waltman. That friendship is very special; they never turned on each other. You never heard one say a bad thing about the other. That was really a tight knit friendship. Best friends. For life is the saying, btu they really were going back to the Kliq and the nWo. As far as Hogan, at one point in the beginning it was rocky, then they got close, and it got rocky again. I think now 30 years or so later, there is that great bond between a Nash and Hogan and a Hogan and Bischolff and Nash and Bischoff because there is an awareness they did something special together. I don’t think they are best friends. I don’t think Nash and Hogan are talking every week. Maybe not every month, but where is that feeling that if I need him as a friend, he’ll be there for me. And vice-versa. I ended the book that way. I find that to be very special. They really ended up something special for them as human beings and not just a wrestling gimmick or business. Those guys were all about business, but it did end up giving them lifelong friends as well.”
“Say Hello To The Bad Guys: How Professional Wrestling’s New World Order Changed America” is out wherever books are sold June 24.
The booking strategy behind Mercedes Moné’s undefeated streak in AEW has been directly influenced by AEW’s plans for the upcoming All In pay-per-view.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Mone was not against taking a loss to build a bigger story. Specifically, a match with ROH Women’s Champion Athena was discussed.
However, once AEW finalized the All In card, the plan for Mone shifted. The company decided on a high-profile match between Mone and AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm. With that match set, having Mone lose in the lead-up, including in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament final against Kris Statlander, was seen as counterproductive.
Meltzer also revealed that Storm was not the first choice for Mone’s opponent at the stadium show. The initial plan involved another top star who is no longer with the company, Mariah May. May has since joined WWE and featured as a top star on WWE NXT.
A top WWE star has been giving impressive performances despite being banged up.
Drew McIntyre has been vocal about his commitment to WWE despite his injuries in recent times, but one of his arch rivals is also apparently working hurt.
According to reports from Fightful Select, The Scottish Warrior’s recent absence from WWE is due to his scheduled time off instead of his injuries, and it’s actually Damian Priest that officials have been worried about.
Per the site, the former Judgment Day member worked most of the feud with McIntyre banged up. The rivalry included a Sin City Street Fight at WrestleMania 41 and a Steel Cage match at last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Though Priest is not looking to take time off. Sources say that working through the upcoming SummerSlam PPV seems to be important for him as he hails from the same area and considers the event to be a ‘home game’ for him.
People within the company have praised Damian for his efforts and he’s expected to be featured at the upcoming show in a significant manner.
Damian Priest most recently competed in a King of The Ring first round match at this past Friday’s SmackDown. Cody Rhodes ended up winning that bout and it’d be interesting to see where the former US Champion goes from here.
Another appearance has been confirmed for John Cena’s 2025 farewell tour. According to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion will appear on the August 1 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
This show will be the official go-home episode of SmackDown before the SummerSlam premium live event, suggesting Cena will have a major role at the summer spectacle. The addition of the Newark date brings the total number of his remaining announced appearances to 18 before his planned retirement at the end of the year.
The updated list of Cena’s confirmed upcoming appearances is as follows:
June 20: WWE SmackDown (Grand Rapids, MI)
June 27: WWE SmackDown (Saudi Arabia)
June 28: WWE Night of Champions (Saudi Arabia)
August 1: WWE SmackDown (Newark, NJ)
August 8: WWE SmackDown (Montreal, QC, Canada)
August 22: WWE SmackDown (Dublin, Ireland)
August 29: WWE SmackDown (Lyon, France)
August 31: WWE Clash in Paris (Paris, France)
October 11: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Perth, Australia)
Throughout his legendary, decades-long WWE career, Rey Mysterio has remained one of the company’s most beloved babyfaces. In a recent interview with WrestleZone, the WWE Hall of Famer explained why he has never had a full-blown heel persona, stating it would be “very hard” for him to get pushed to that edge.
“They (fans) would really have to, like, push me to the edge. I mean, even my wife says, like, ‘I never see you get mad at anyone but me. Like, why do you not fight? You don’t fight with anyone, but when you want to fight, you fight with me.’ So, I mean, it would be very hard for me to get pushed.”
Mysterio reflected on his time in WCW as part of the Filthy Animals faction, noting that was the closest he ever came to being a true heel character.
“I think the only time that I’ve been closest to becoming a heel, or I guess we were just having fun cuz that’s how we were, is Filthy Animals. That has been the closest, but overall, I just, uh, my personality, my demeanor is very laidback. So, I think it would be very hard.”
Mysterio is currently out of action with a torn abductor muscle and is not expected to return until August.
Cora Jade is unsure why people hate her for starting an OnlyFans account.
The former WWE star recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet. She talked about things such as being close to signing with AEW before joining WWE, people on social media attacking talents personally and more.
One of the things the wrestling star has received backlash on since her release has been the launch of her OnlyFans account. When asked about it, Jade claimed that she knew she was going to get the amount of hate that she has received:
“I feel like I’ve gotten as much hate for it as I thought I was going to. I didn’t think I was gonna do it, and people were gonna be like, Oh, f*ck yeah. I knew I was gonna get hate for it. But again, it’s just, I don’t care.”
When asked why she thinks people have a problem with it, Cora Jade said that she doesn’t understand it either. She mentioned that she has never cared about what other people are doing with their lives, and questioned why people are so concerned about what she does with her body:
“That’s what I don’t understand. I’ve said this before. I’ve never once in my life looked at someone else’s life and what they’re doing with their life. If it’s not affecting me, my money, or who I love or anybody in my life, I don’t care. I’ve never thought about that.
So the fact that people are so concerned with what I’m doing with my body, my career and my life, and being that angry about it. Most of them are going to subscribe anyway, it’s ridiculous.”
The 24-year-old now going by the name Elayna Black revealed that fellow WWE alumni Mandy Rose, who has been highly successful in the venture since her own WWE release, has been advising her on the type of content she can put out.
Apart from this, the former NXT star also talked about her first meeting with CM Punk only a month before his infamous WWE exit. You can check out what she said here.
