Category: WWE

Why Cody Rhodes Initially Stepped Aside For The Rock At WWE WrestleMania 40 (Report)

Since the start of 2024, a slew of unexpected factors have seemingly resulted in some major shifts in the plan for WWE WrestleMania XL. Many fans have been captivated, for good or for ill, by the saga of Cody Rhodes in the lead-up to this year’s big event. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer offered some additional details on the journey to Rhodes’ main event rematch against Roman Reigns.

According to Meltzer, following the injury to CM Punk, the decision was made internally to have Rhodes shift to facing Seth Rollins. With that in mind, WWE head of creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque came up with the idea for the segment on the February 2 edition of “WWE SmackDown,” with Rhodes stepping aside and offering his support for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to face Reigns instead.

Levesque reportedly believed that Rhodes’ endorsement of The Rock would tie up the storyline’s loose ends, but the fan reaction was overwhelmingly negative. At that point, an audible was called, with Johnson and his longtime writing and producing partner Bryan Gewirtz (a former WWE head writer) feeling that The Rock should turn heel based on the crowd response. That led to the WWE WrestleMania XL Kickoff press conference, pitting Rhodes and Rollins against Johnson and Reigns.

When the plan was for Rhodes to face Rollins, the idea within the company was that there would be no Men’s Elimination Chamber match at the next premium live event. However, as plans continued to shift around, it was decided to go back to that match to set up Rollins’ WrestleMania opponent. As many may have expected, the original plan was for Punk to win the Men’s Elimination Chamber until he suffered an injury at the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shotzi Appears To Suffer Significant Knee Injury During WWE NXT Women’s Title Match

At last night’s taping for next week’s episode of “WWE NXT,” which is set to run in its usual timeslot (8pm EST/ 7pm CST) on the USA Network on February 20. On next week’s episode of “NXT” will see Lyra Valkyria defend her “NXT” Championship against “WWE SmackDown” star Shotzi, who returned during last night’s broadcast. Unfortunately, that title match was stopped as Shotzi reportedly suffered a significant injury.

According to Fightful Select, Shotzi hit her knee against the side of the ring during a spot that was meant to take the match into the commercial break. Unfortunately, Shotzi was unable to continue, and was immediately helped to the back, where Corey Brennan of Fightful was able to confirm she was unable to put any weight on her leg and was in an immense amount of pain when she arrived backstage. WWE officials were reportedly very concerned as she was taken for medical evaluation, which led to one source claiming Shotzi’s injury was a serious one and not a work, unlike the string of worked injuries that have taken place in “NXT” recently. However, there is reportedly no heat on Shotzi or Valkyria as the incident was described as a “freak accident.”

Following the injury, “NXT” General Manager Ava announced an open challenge for Valkyria’s title as Shotzi was unable to finish the match, with resulted in Lash Legend answering the call. Fightful says people within “NXT” commended Ava, Legend, and Valkyria for their ability to act quickly and professionally in such a difficult situation.

Following her participation in the double “NXT” taping, Shotzi was set to face Tiffany Stratton in a Women’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match on “SmackDown” this Friday. Depending on the severity of her reported injury, WWE may now have to find a replacement for Shotzi.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 2/13/2024

Tonight’s WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network.

  • NXT Tag Team Championship: Tony D’Angelo & Stacks (c) vs. Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin
  • NXT North American Champion Oba Femi speaks for first time after Vengeance Day
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Shotzi
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Joe Gacy
  • Gauntlet match: Ridge Holland vs. Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang)
  • Lola Vice vs. Tatum Paxley
  • Kiana James vs. Brinley Reece
  • Von Wagner & Mr. Stone vs. Noam Dar & Oro Mensah
  • Adriana Rizzo vs. Jaida Parker

Could Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift Now Be Coming To WWE For WrestleMania

In late 2023, WWE star Grayson Waller called Swift a “6″ and challenged Kelce to a fight, Kelce has yet to respond

Waller sparked a considerable amount of online outrage with this quote: “I’m not the kind of guy that would settle for a six, but to each their own. Me personally, I like a nine or a ten,” said Waller. That statement caused considerable backlash. But Waller, in classic pro wrestling fashion laid into the controversy and went on X to insult Swift’s fans and challenge Kelce to a fight. The Going Ringside podcast covered this in depth last year.

“I’ve heard Travis Kelce is a wrestling fan, right? So hey, we’re in Philly. Maybe next year, lad, Why don’t you come and get in the ring and defend her honor? He seems like a good guy. Why don’t you come and say something to me about it, lad?” was Waller’s challenge, implying WWE’s marquis event WrestleMania which is in Philadelphia this year.

Now that the Super Bowl and the NFL season is over, wrestling fans will watch whether Kelce, who’s reportedly a fan of wrestling will take Waller up on the challenge.

But Kelce has said as recently as this week he’s a huge pro wrestling fan. “I go powerbombed through my living room floor as a kid and we broke the living room floor then we just slid the couch over it so that our parents wouldn’t know,” Kelce said at the Super Bowl media availability. Kelce was also recently spotted sporting a replica WWE belt.

In fact, “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson who will also be on the card at WrestleMania also spoke about Kelce in an interview this past week.

Swift has a link to the pro wrestling world. Before her ascent to music superstardom, she used to babysit for wrestling legend Jeff Jarrett in Tennessee.

Scott Johnson posted the following on Tiktok:

@goingringside

Does the #taylorswift #traviskelce @WWE saga start tomorrow with #graysonwaller in the lead up to #wrestlemania ??? #superbowl #kansascitychiefs #wwe #wrestletok #sportsontiktok #goingringside #jeffjarrett #smackdown #therock #codyrhodes

♬ original sound – Going Ringside
@goingringside

Is #traviskelce now heading to @WWE with #taylorswift for #wrestlemania ??? @The Rock #therock #dwaynejohnsonfans #wwe #wrestletok #sportsontiktok #jeffjarrett #graysonwaller #wweraw #smackdownraw

♬ original sound – Going Ringside

Also, WWE star Seth Rollins has invited Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to WrestleMania 40.

Rollins spoke to Sports Illustrated, where he said that he wanted to invite both George Kittle and Travis Kelce to WrestleMania. While Kelce outperformed Kittle on the night, both men can enjoy at The Show of Shows.

Rollins also told Kelce to bring Taylor Swift along with all the Swifties.

“I would extend an invitation to both George and Travis. Look, we’re in Philly; his brother [Jason Kelce] is there. We can have both of the Kelces there, why not? Let’s have a party. Bring your girl. Bring all the Swifties, man. Let’s go. I love everybody. Let’s party. George, he’s coming to WrestleMania anyway. He was at WrestleMania last year. He comes to all the WrestleManias, he’s coming anyway. We know that. Win, lose, or draw, George gonna be at WrestleMania. So, I’d love to have the Kelces there. All of them. Bring the whole crew,” said Rollins. (4:14 – 4:45)

S

Sources: Scott Johnson of News4Jax and Going Ringside Podcast

Source: Sportskeeda

WWE Raw Preview 2/12/2024

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Rupp Arena from Lexington, Kentucky.

  • Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Bronson Reed vs. Bobby Lashley
  • Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: LA Knight vs. Ivar
  • Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Liv Morgan vs. Zoey Stark
  • Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci vs. Jey Uso and the New Day
  • R-Truth vs. JD McDonagh

Kawasaki Super Bowl Ad Features Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mullets

Each year fans eagerly anticipate the Super Bowl ads as much as the game itself, and during this year’s Super Bowl LVIII, WWE legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was featured in one.

Austin appeared in an ad for the Japanese automobile company Kawasaki to promote their Ridge side-by-side truck. “The Texas Rattlesnake” sported a mullet in the ad, which played a central role in the ad’s theme, with the caption “business in the front, party in the back” the main theme of the ad. In a whimsical twist, every animal or person in the truck’s path ended up sporting a mullet as it rolled by.

The WWE Hall of Famer had teased the ad’s airing during the Super Bowl a few days prior to the event. He posted a photo of himself with a mullet, wearing his trademark Austin shirt with the numbers “2:11,” signifying the date of the Super Bowl. 

New WWE star Jade Cargill was another pro wrestler who appeared in a Super Bowl ad this year, as her Mountain Dew ad, featuring actress Aubrey Plaza, also aired during one of the commercial breaks. In the ad, the former AEW star leaped off the top rope to land a frog splash on the actress.

The WWE also decided to capitalize on the Super Bowl’s popularity by dropping a teaser trailer for this year’s WrestleMania, which featured Roman Reigns, The Rock, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes. This Sunday’s Super Bowl was won by the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley Would Like To Do One Final Death Match For 60th Birthday

On June 7, 2025, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley will celebrate his 60th birthday. While some people might ask for new clothes, a games console, or even cash from their family and friends, Foley has one thing on his wishlist for 60; one final match. During the final episode of “Foley Is Pod,” the hardcore legend explained that he wants to drop 100 pounds and needs something to motivate him and work towards in order to make that happen. The solution; get back in the ring.

“60 is right around the corner … thinking of doing one final match,” Foley said. “For my 60th birthday, a death match. I’m not kidding, I think it would be a great incentive to drop those 100 big ones and I think it might be fun.” Foley made it clear he doesn’t think the match would happen in WWE, as it would be a pretty gory spectacle, to the point where his children asked him if there was a chance he could get hurt, he was upfront and told them yes.

When Conrad Thompson asked him if he thought about who he would be open to facing in his final match, Foley immediately put two names out there. “[Jon] Moxley or Matt Cardona,” Foley said. “I think Moxley would be the easiest, but Matt has that heat in the death match world that could really make it something cool.” Cardona has already made it clear on social media he would be happy to face Foley given their volatile history. Cardona has repeatedly called himself the “King of the Death Match,” despite the fact that Foley actually won a tournament of the same name back in 1995, defeating Terry Funk in the finals.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Maryse Reveals Diagnosis Of Very Rare Pre-Cancer Of The Ovaries

Maryse, the wife of WWE Superstar The Miz, took to Instagram to reveal that she was diagnosed with a rare pre-cancer of the ovaries.

She noted that her doctor found found and removed 11 implants around her uterus, ovaries, and all connective tissues around the organs in my abdominal cavity.

Maryse further said that if the tumors were cancerous, the survival rate is less than a year.

You can read Maryse’s full Instagram post below:

“Not all super heroes wear capes

Here’s a superhero I want to take the time to highlight. Her name is Thais Aliabadi, Oby-Gyn, in LA. She saved my life.

I couldn’t be more blessed to have crossed paths in life with this brilliant, uber talented, patient, attentive and genuinely caring woman!

A little background on what happened; I had been suffering from severe abdominal distention and swelling to the point where I would look 6 months pregnant. Lots of GI issues, including sibo, multiple rounds of antibiotics, extreme fatigue and just wasn’t feeling like myself! For the past year, my symptoms would come in flare ups and it progressively got worse – it became chronic.

I saw countless doctors in different fields, but no diagnosis. No one could tell me what’s happening. I went down an incredibly long list of testing, from colonoscopy/endoscopy/pill cam endoscopy, mri’s, ultrasounds, ct scans, blood tests just to name a few and often would be told that its probably hormonal and or just something by body is allergic too. I even had my entire house tested for mold. I was told to let it go – that it would figure itself out with time. That I’m just too impatient and making myself crazy over this! I would just not quit on trying to figure it out!

From the start when I met Thais at her office in LA, she listened to my story, truly listened. She heard me (a doctor’s quality that makes a tremendous difference) and agreed that we have to push to get to the bottom of this. She always said “No one knows your body better than you.” She proposed we go in there and find out. I was ready.

A week ago I went into surgery with Dr. Thais. She performed a Laparoscopy surgery for what we thought at the time was potentially Endometriosis disease!

She found and removed 11 implants around my uterus, ovaries, and all connective tissues around the organs in my abdominal cavity. These were sent to pathology for testing.

So what happens next? I am scheduled for total hysterectomy surgery in 4 weeks. My uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, omentum will be removed and will get abdominal lymph nodes removed for staging.

I’m remaining positive and determined to beat this thing. There is only one option and it’s winning this battle! As a mom of two young daughters, I have too.

Let’s bring light to a huge woman healthcare issue here. Women get so conditioned to believe that is it normal to suffer, most often in silence. Told to stop being a cry baby. That it must be hormonal imbalances, just anxiety or just all in

Told to stop being a cry baby. That it must be hormonal imbalances, just anxiety or just all in your head. This is not normal. This cycle has to be broken! If you get dismissed by a doctor, go see a new one until you get the help you need! Advocacy is the key. Advocate for yourself and keep pushing! Follow your instincts. Never ever underestimate your gut feelings!

Thank you to @drthaisaliabadi and her amazing team of nurses. You guys truly make a difference for so many women!!

I have an angel on my shoulder protecting me, THANK YOU DAD—”

WWE’s Jade Cargill Flies Off The Top Rope In Mtn. Dew Super Bowl 2024 Commercial – Backstage News On WWE Reaction

Fresh off a riveting debut in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble, former AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is now the face of one of WWE’s sponsorships.

Cargill was in the latest Mountain Dew ad, featuring “Emily The Criminal” star Aubrey Plaza. Plaza is shown taking in a multitude of jobs while drinking the beverage, one of which is pro wrestler, which sees Cargill leap off the top rope, attempting a Frog Splash on Plaza, though viewers don’t see her land.

As it stands, Cargill has only wrestled one match for WWE, the Royal Rumble, since signing with the company in September after her AEW contract expired earlier that year. Cargill was paraded around WWE television, especially “WWE NXT,” following her signing but didn’t debut in the ring until the Rumble, and also made appearances on “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown.”

WWE and Mountain Dew have been promotional partners for some time now, with the two companies famously holding a Mountain Dew Pitch Black match between LA Knight and the late Bray Wyatt at last year’s Royal Rumble. 

Knight went on to be the face of WWE’s sponsorship deal with Slim Jim. The Slim Jim sponsorship was nearly in jeopardy after allegations of sex trafficking were leveled at WWE and Vince McMahon by former employee Janel Grant. Slim Jim seemingly returned after Vince McMahon resigned from all of his duties at WWE and TKO Group Holdings, sponsoring the fatal 4-way match between AJ Styles, LA Knight, Randy Orton and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

According to PWInsider, WWE are looking to place Cargill on the “Smackdown” brand in the lead-up to WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. Whether this means she will remain on the brand post-WrestleMania remains to be seen, as the company usually holds its annual draft a few weeks after. However, the recent publicity Cargill has gotten from appearing in the commercial has led WWE to believe she would attract more eyes to the product if she were on “Smackdown.” PWInsider also reported that WWE were very happy with Cargill’s performance in the commercial, claiming it has added prestige to both Cargill and WWE itself.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Unreleased Ashley Massaro Statement Accuses Vince McMahon Of Preying On WWE Wrestlers

Former WWE Superstar Ashley Massaro was one of more than 50 wrestlers to join a 2016 neurological injury lawsuit against WWE, in which Massaro claimed that she had sustained several concussions during her tenure in the company. Massaro also cited allegations of sexual assault stemming from a WWE tour of Kuwait, as well as abuse from former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. WWE has since denied any knowledge of Massaro’s accusations.

Prior to her untimely death in 2019, Massaro provided a series of statements to lawyers that were later translated into a sworn affidavit. On Friday, VICE News released one of Massaro’s previously unpublished statements, with Massaro accusing McMahon of preying on female WWE wrestlers. Massaro also said that she was punished for rejecting McMahon’s advances.

Following the release of her Playboy cover, Massaro claimed that McMahon attempted to “get [her] alone with him in his hotel room,” repeatedly calling her hotel room phone and her cell phone. In response, Massaro contacted former WWE production chief Kevin Dunn, who instructed her to tell McMahon that she was not feeling well. In the days following, Massaro said that McMahon began personally writing promos scripts for her “with the clear intention of ruining [her] career.”

“I brought the first script Vince wrote for me to the WWE employee in charge of Creative at the time, Michael Hayes, and he said, ‘you’re not saying this, who the [expletive] wrote this?’ and I told him that Vince did,” Massaro stated. “He said, ‘Well kid, these are the breaks,’ meaning that Vince wanted to end my career and destroy my reputation on my way out. He is known for this type of behavior and also did this to [REDACTED] upon her departure from WWE. In addition, after that night, each time I walk by him he would make vulgar sexual comments that were clearly designed to make me uncomfortable.”

Massaro isn’t the only former WWE employee to levy sexual allegations against McMahon in recent years. Last month, Janel Grant filed a 67-page lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former WWE executive John Laurinitis outlining sex trafficking, sexual assault, and a myriad of other abuses. McMahon has denied these respective allegations. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.