BY SACNILK

Discontent rumbles on amongst wrestling fans following the news that Cody Rhodes' anticipated "storyline completion" at WrestleMania 40 is being sidelined. The decision to have The Rock challenge Roman Reigns instead, despite Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble, has drawn significant backlash towards both The Rock and WWE. ## As it turns out, the Rock's involvement was a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few including Triple H, Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, and WWE President Nick Khan. This revelation further fueled fan frustration, who feel blindsided by the shift.## Fans have made their voices heard loud and clear: chants of "Rocky Sucks" erupted during Raw, various supportive hashtags have dominated social media for days, and live events continue to erupt in cheers for Rhodes. ## In a novel form of protest, fans are driving up sales of Rhodes' new t-shirt design on WWE Shop, sending a clear message of dissatisfaction with the booking change. ## Cody Rhodes has the top-selling t-shirt on WWE Shop right now. pic.twitter.com/bfaDSWykE0— Andrew Ravens l WrestlingNews.co (@Andrew_Ravens) February 7, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

NXT kicked off 2024 with a bang at their Vengeance Day PLE, electrifying the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, TN. ## The main event saw NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov retain his title against Trick Williams, but the real shocker came after the bell, as Trick's tag team partner Carmelo Hayes betrayed him in a stunning twist. ## The entire card was packed with top-tier matchups. North American Champion Oba Femi faced off against the high-flying Dragon Lee, while the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals pitted the unlikely duo of Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin against Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams. ## Breakker and Corbin emerged victorious, adding another chapter to Corbin's remarkable journey - the WWE Stats Twitter account revealed he's only the 7th star to lose in the finals and then come back to win it all, joining legends like Pete Dunne and Wes Lee. Corbin's last finals appearance dates back to 2015, where he and Rhyno fell short against Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. ## At #WWENXT Vengeance Day, @BaronCorbinWWE became the 7th Superstar to be a runner-up in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic one year, and then a winner of the tournament in a different year. Others on that list include @PeteDunneYxB, @ImKingKota, and @WesLee_WWE.— Wrestling Stats & Info (@WWEStats) February 5, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Wrestling veteran Justin Gabriel recently revealed a past altercation with current star Cody Rhodes. During his stint with WWE (2008-2015), Gabriel squared off against Rhodes multiple times, most notably in early 2012.## On Rene Dupree's podcast, Gabriel recounted a "tiff" with Rhodes that escalated to a physical confrontation. Apparently, Rhodes' creative input led to changes in storylines, which didn't sit well with Gabriel.## "Cody and I had a bit of a disagreement, nothing major," Gabriel clarified. "He changed some storylines with creative, which I wasn't thrilled about. Long story short, we ended up throwing punches. We settled it quickly, though. I doubt he even remembers."## Gabriel described initially mistaking Rhodes' aggression for a joke, leading to a push in self-defense. He then realized the seriousness of the situation, but his laughter further fueled Rhodes' anger. Thankfully, WWE legends Mark Henry and Booker T intervened before things got out of hand.## "I thought he was messing around at first," Gabriel said. "He swung at me, so I instinctively pushed him back. I'm no stranger to a fight, so my reflexes were quick. When I saw he was serious, I panicked a bit. But I just laughed it off, which apparently made him even madder. Luckily, Mark and Booker stepped in before things got ugly." ## This anecdote offers a glimpse into the high-pressure world of professional wrestling, where emotions can sometimes boil over. Fortunately, both individuals moved on without holding grudges. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

WWE just announced some special programming changes for next week's NXT and SmackDown, and it all boils down to one word: Elimination Chamber!## Fans attending tonight's NXT taping learned that next Tuesday's show will be a double tap, meaning they'll film both the February 13th and 20th episodes back-to-back. This suggests the February 20th episode won't be live, but pre-recorded.## SmackDown isn't escaping the double-duty treatment either. They'll also be taping both the February 16th and 23rd episodes next week, making the latter one pre-recorded as well. ## It's all to give WWE some breathing room as they head down under for the Elimination Chamber event on February 24th in Australia. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Liv Morgan's December arrest for possessing marijuana has been officially resolved. Court records confirm the case against her (real name Gionna Daddio) is closed. ## Originally arrested in Florida on charges of possessing a synthetic cannabinoid and marijuana (under 20 grams), the synthetic cannabinoid charge was dropped last month, leaving only the marijuana charge. This charge was transferred to a misdemeanor court due to its lesser severity.## On January 31st, the case concluded with Morgan entering a nolo contendere plea to the marijuana possession charge. This plea means she doesn't formally admit guilt, but accepts punishment. Despite this, she wasn't convicted and only faces a $543 assessment.## The arrest stemmed from a December 14th traffic stop where a sheriff's deputy noticed Morgan's vehicle weaving and detected marijuana upon approaching. A subsequent search discovered a vape pen and a small amount of marijuana.## Notably, WWE didn't take action against Morgan due to the arrest. Currently recovering from a shoulder injury, she made a triumphant return in the Royal Rumble, finishing among the final two competitors before being eliminated by Bayley.## Morgan now faces Zoey Stark in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match on Raw next week. Becky Lynch has already secured a spot in the Elimination Chamber match, where the winner challenges Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The enigmatic atmosphere gripping NXT continues, with cryptic messages and hidden agendas taking center stage. This week's tapings were no exception, as a curious element surfaced during the February 6th episode. ## NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov demanded answers from Carmelo Hayes after his treachery at Vengeance Day, where Hayes betrayed his former ally, Trick Williams, who went on to face Dragunov in the main event. However, instead of finding Hayes, Dragunov encountered his old rival, Dijak, in a tense standoff.## Adding another layer of intrigue, a masked figure materialized on the Titantron above the crowd during the confrontation. The mask bore an uncanny resemblance to those worn by The Schism faction and NXT's enigmatic star, Joe Gacy.## As NXT relentlessly dives deeper into its web of mysteries, speculation runs rampant about the implications leading up to the grand spectacle of WrestleMania 40. ## Mask hidden in plain sight pic.twitter.com/TqMVfigIl1— Robert DeFelice (@dudefelice) February 7, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

There's a spicy twist in the aftermath of Cody Rhodes' recent Royal Rumble victory. ## While most assumed he'd face Roman Reigns for the title at WrestleMania, the WWE Universe erupted when The Rock stepped in, stealing Rhodes' thunder and securing the main event spot. ## This decision has caused a major uproar, with fans fuming over Rhodes getting sidelined despite winning the Rumble. The intrigue thickens as reports suggest only a select few knew about The Rock's involvement, sparking speculation that even Triple H wasn't in the loop. ## However, Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer clears the air, revealing Triple H was fully aware of The Rock's agreement (part of his TKO Board deal) and his upcoming match against Reigns. ## Meltzer states: "My friend Jay, whose tweets are private, mentioned that the idea of Triple H not knowing about The Rock's deal and match when he booked the Rumble is completely false. He knew exactly what he was doing." ## My buddy Jay told me that since his tweets are private I probably should note that the idea that Paul Levesque didn't know about Rock's signing with the company and him wrestling Reigns when he booked the Rumble is clearly not the case. He knew exactly what he was doing.— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) February 6, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

WWE is drawing a clear line between itself and Brock Lesnar, and the latest evidence is his absence from a special edition of the upcoming WWE 2K24 video game.## Lesnar was originally planned for appearances at major events like the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania 40. However, these plans were scrapped following a sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, where a former WWE/UFC Heavyweight Champion was implicated. The Wall Street Journal later identified this champion as Lesnar.## This distancing extends beyond live events. Lesnar has also been removed from the WWE 2K Supercard mobile game, and his merchandise on WWE Shop is heavily discounted. It appears he will be downplayed or even entirely removed from future WWE-licensed content, including television appearances.## Today's reveal of WWE 2K24 gameplay footage further solidifies this move. As you can see, Lesnar is conspicuously absent from the cover of the special "Forty Years of WrestleMania" edition. The game is now available for pre-order on all major platforms: Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X. ## Brock Lesnar was removed from the WrestleMania cover of WWE 2K24. The first photo is the latest version. pic.twitter.com/UPv2JCFsJG— Andrew Ravens l WrestlingNews.co (@Andrew_Ravens) February 6, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Rumors are swirling that WWE will officially announce a legendary showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40's Kickoff event. This follows their electrifying encounter on SmackDown last week. ## This blockbuster match was reportedly concocted in secrecy last month. Dwayne Johnson, upon joining the TKO Board of Directors, secured the "The Rock" trademark rights and a cool $30 million stock package. However, there's more to the story. ## Fueling this dream match for years, both Rock and WWE finally saw an opportunity. And with CM Punk and Brock Lesnar plans thrown off course, Rock stepped up, advocating for this clash to salvage the WrestleMania card. ## Although Cody Rhodes clinched the title shot at Reigns by winning the Royal Rumble, rumors suggest he might now face Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Title, making way for the Rock-Reigns spectacle. ## PwInsider assures fans that The Rock is contractually bound to step into the ring at WrestleMania 40. Negative fan feedback hasn't deterred him, and barring unforeseen circumstances like an injury, this battle is on! ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

WWE's been chasing a major free agent for months, and it seems they've finally snagged her. But there's a catch: the star won't hit the ring right away. ## For months, rumors swirled about Giulia, a STARDOM wrestler, receiving a WWE offer. It was clear she had two paths: join WWE or stick with NJPW. While many assumed WWE was a done deal, a new element emerged: a loyalty test. ## STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa recently jumped ship and started his own promotion. Giulia, grateful for Ogawa's role in her success, pledged her support. Instead of rushing to WWE's greener pastures, she'll help launch Ogawa's new venture. ## Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer sheds light on the situation, praising Giulia's loyalty. He explains:## "Rossy was starting his own promotion, and Giulia, loyal to a fault, jumped on board. She's delaying her WWE debut to kickstart the new promotion. WWE came knocking, but Giulia, true to her word, decided to help Ogawa get things rolling first. So, while a big payday awaits, she's postponing her WWE dream to fulfill a promise."## Meltzer admires Giulia's commitment: "It's rare to see someone prioritize loyalty over a lucrative offer. Giulia could have cashed in, but she chose to honor her word. That's commendable."## So, WWE fans will have to wait a bit longer for their new star. But Giulia's story adds a unique twist to the usual free agent frenzy, highlighting the power of loyalty in the wrestling world.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The Rock's return to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 hasn't been without controversy. Fans on Twitter have expressed disappointment, with several hashtags dedicated to Cody Rhodes, who many expected to challenge Reigns instead. ## The official announcement is expected this Thursday at the WrestleMania Kickoff event. The situation has even escalated to threats directed at The Rock's daughter, Ava, highlighting the heated online discourse.## However, amidst the backlash, there's also undeniable excitement. Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer pointed out the significant jump in ticket sales for Raw between Friday and Monday, from 7,600 to over 10,000.## "It's unclear if there's a large group truly hating this decision," Meltzer said. "But, let's face it, 10,000 people attended Raw, and what's even more striking is the ticket sales increase. Moving that many tickets in just a few days is almost unheard of. So, love it or hate it, people are clearly invested and paying to see it. Expect a packed T-Mobile Arena on Thursday." ## While some fans may be upset, the buzz surrounding the Rock's return is undeniable. Whether driven by excitement or controversy, one thing's certain: WrestleMania 40 is already generating significant interest and ticket sales. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

CM Punk may be enduring a significant amount of pain, predominantly mental, but he firmly believes that his comeback will be the greatest of all time.## Punk made his return to WWE on January 27, 2024, at the Royal Rumble, wrestling his first televised match since 2014. He entered at number 27 during the Royal Rumble match and emerged as the runner-up, eventually being eliminated by Cody Rhodes.## Following the event, it was reported that Punk tore his right triceps, an injury that left him unable to compete at WrestleMania XL.## During this week's edition of Monday Night Raw, a CM Punk vignette aired, showing post-surgery footage of Punk. He promised that his return from the injury setback would be "the greatest of all time."## The triceps tear adds to CM Punk's series of significant injuries, including a torn left triceps sustained at AEW All Out in September 2022 and a foot fracture incurred during an AEW Dynamite episode in June 2022. ## Full video of CM Punk going into surgery that was shown tonight on #WWERaw “My comeback will be the greatest of all time.” YOU DAMN SURE! pic.twitter.com/w70YGBrd4W— Teffo (@Teffo_01) February 6, 2024 ## Below check out the video; ##