Sandip Somalkar

BY JITU JANGIR

While AEW's partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has been a cornerstone of their success, the future of their media rights deal remains shrouded in mystery.## During a recent media call for Ring of Honor's Supercard of Honor event (acquired by AEW), Tony Khan, president of AEW, was tight-lipped when questioned about the exclusive negotiation window with WBD.## When pressed by reporter Josh Nason of Wrestling Observer on the specific date, Khan offered a cryptic response: "I'm not sure that I am able to answer that question... It's coming up soon. I probably shouldn't say the exact date."## This secrecy highlights the importance of these upcoming negotiations for AEW. Their current deal, which includes airing shows like Dynamite on WBD networks, is reportedly set to expire by the end of 2024.## With several successful programs under their belt and a growing fanbase, AEW is likely seeking a favorable outcome in these negotiations. However, Khan's reluctance to discuss the timeline suggests a desire to keep their hand close and avoid jeopardizing their position.## While the exact date remains under wraps, Khan's comments confirm that these crucial talks are approaching. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

John Cena's wrestling fans might be waiting a while longer to see him back in the ring. According to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, Cena is locked into filming the second season of "Peacemaker" from June to November in Atlanta.## This filming commitment throws a wrench into Cena's potential WrestleMania 40 appearance. While he hasn't been officially advertised for the event, speculation swirled about his return.## "While some in WWE expect John Cena to be in town for #WrestleMania XL this weekend, Cena will be off the board for anything major physical wise in the WWE realm for most of the remainder of 2024 as he’ll be filming the 2nd season of Peacemaker from June to November."Via PWInsider ## Cena's last WWE match was at Crown Jewel 2022 in a losing effort against Solo Sikoa.## Those eager to see Cena can catch him on WWE's new show, "WWE Next Gen," streaming on The Roku Channel.## We'll keep you updated on any developments regarding Cena's WrestleMania status. ##

BY JITU JANGIR

Two members of the AEW roster, The Boys (Brent and Brandon Tate), were recently released from their contracts due to repeated absences according to AEW President Tony Khan.## This news comes as a surprise as The Boys were involved in a prominent storyline with Dalton Castle and Johnny TV within the Ring of Honor promotion, acquired by AEW. Castle and TV are still scheduled to face off at Supercard of Honor this weekend.## Speaking at a Supercard of Honor media call, Khan addressed the releases. He confirmed that The Boys' no-showing of multiple events led to the difficult decision of letting them go.## Khan also mentioned that these talent cuts are part of a larger strategy. AEW is "keeping their eye" on the budget to ensure they have the financial resources to compete for top talent when opportunities arise. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

AEW wrestler Dax Harwood has cleared the air regarding comments made on Dynamite that some fans interpreted as a dig at CM Punk.## During the recent episode, both Adam Copeland (aka Edge) and Harwood delivered passionate promos about AEW. Harwood's speech, which included a line about not letting people "steal your joy," sparked speculation of a veiled reference to CM Punk's controversial interview.## Taking to social media, Harwood refuted these claims. He emphasized his respect for Fightful's reporting but clarified that his comments weren't directed at anyone, especially "one of my best friends," presumably referring to Punk.## Harwood explained the emotional context of his promo: "Try to stay off social media but I read this this morning and I have to respond... I was in the ring with 3 great friends, in front of a great crowd, realizing what we had all overcame, and felt emotional."## Sean Ross Sapp, journalist at Fightful, apologized for the misinterpreted article. Harwood responded with understanding, acknowledging that "rah rah speeches" are a regular part of his closing segments, even with Punk in the past. ## "It's ok dude. I don't blame you. That's why I said I respect your reporting. I just wanted to clear up anything... If I'm the last guy in the ring at the end of the night, I ALWAYS cut a passionate rah rah speech and talk about loving my wife daughter and wrestling in front of the crowd. Done it multiple times with Adam, a TON of times with Punk, and I've even done it after ROH tapings. It's never been a headline before. I guess the timing made it newsworthy." ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia might have a surprise guest from the world of sports! Recently retired Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce has been spotted in the city ahead of the event, fueling speculation about a potential WWE appearance.## This news comes after reports surfaced of WWE trying to secure Kelce for WrestleMania 40. Kelce's entire career was spent playing for the beloved Eagles, making a hometown appearance at Lincoln Financial Field highly anticipated by fans.## While Kelce's presence in Philly could simply be unrelated to WrestleMania, a WWE source offered a cryptic response when questioned about his potential involvement: "I can't tell you that, but if he was, you'd think we'd book him to do something physical in the stadium he called home, right?"## This statement hints at the possibility of Kelce engaging in some physical action within the very stadium where he achieved football glory.## With Kelce's brother, Travis Kelce, being a Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, and his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift, his appearance at WrestleMania would undoubtedly generate significant buzz. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

Legendary wrestler Ric Flair has nothing but respect for current WWE champion Roman Reigns. In a recent interview on Daily Ticket, Flair showered Reigns with praise, even calling him the "flagship" of the company's men's division.## "Roman is great," Flair said. "He's done a phenomenal job. He's been the flagship since John [Cena] left."## Flair, a 16-time world champion himself, understands the pressure of carrying a company. He acknowledges the importance of the role Reigns has taken on, especially after John Cena's reduced appearances.## The Nature Boy also complimented Reigns' work alongside his daughter, Charlotte Flair. While Charlotte is currently recovering from a knee injury, Flair believes she'll be back stronger than ever and remains the "flagship" of the women's division.## This isn't the first time Flair has spoken highly of Reigns. He previously expressed his desire to have shared the ring with The Tribal Chief, though their careers didn't overlap.## With WrestleMania 40 just around the corner, where Reigns is scheduled to headline both nights, it's clear The Rock isn't the only legend recognizing Roman Reigns' dominance in WWE. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

There's a change of tune coming from WWE's Seth Rollins regarding AEW's Will Ospreay. After a social media spat in 2019, Rollins is now singing Ospreay's praises.## In a recent interview with The Ringer, Rollins acknowledged Ospreay's talent, stating: "[He] is absolutely one of the best performers in the world, and I'm happy that he is finally, you know, getting to the very top level in our industry."## This comes after a period of tension between the two wrestlers. In 2019, they exchanged barbs on social media, with Rollins taking a jab at Ospreay's finances. Rollins later apologized for the comment.## Rollins also addressed his past, WWE-centric stance. He explained his fierce loyalty to the company, calling it his home and praising the entire team, from talent to production. He believes WWE is the best and takes pride in the work they do for the industry.## This newfound respect for Ospreay suggests a softening of Rollins' stance and a recognition of exceptional talent across wrestling companies. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's WWE future is looking electrifying! Despite his upcoming return to the ring at WrestleMania 40, fans can rest assured that this isn't a one-off. ## The Rock is scheduled for his first official match in 11 years at WrestleMania, teaming up with Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. While his movie commitments will limit his appearances after WrestleMania, The Rock himself has made it clear his ties to WWE run deep.## In an interview with ESPN, both The Rock and his business partner Brian Gewirtz addressed his future. The Rock emphasized his enduring connection to the company: "I'm not off the board after WrestleMania. I'm still on the board, and I will always be a part of this. And we are in it now. This is our thing and will forever be our thing."## Gewirtz clarified that this doesn't necessarily mean frequent appearances on Raw, but a Rock presence will undoubtedly remain. "There's gonna be a Rock presence in WWE going forward until whenever he doesn't want to," he said. "This isn't [over a] day after WrestleMania and I'm gonna go off into the sunset now."## So, WWE fans, rejoice! While The Rock's in-ring appearances might be limited, his legacy and electrifying presence are confirmed to stay a part of the WWE experience.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

The Rock's highly anticipated WWE return at WrestleMania 40 is inching closer, and new details about his training regimen have surfaced. According to a recent ESPN report, NXT provided some unexpected muscle to help The Great One prepare for his in-ring comeback.## The report reveals that Gallus, a prominent NXT faction consisting of the Scottish trio Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey (Joe's real-life brother), and Wolfgang, played a pivotal role in training The Rock. All three wrestlers were previously mainstays in NXT UK before making the jump to NXT proper. Mark Coffey boasts an impressive achievement as a former NXT Heritage Cup Champion, while he and Wolfgang have held both the NXT UK and NXT Tag Team Titles.## The Rock's training sessions took place in Los Angeles, California, and were supervised by veteran producers Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode. Ensuring a smooth flow, referee Chad Patton was present to officiate the drills, with WWE medical personnel on standby for any necessary support. This meticulous approach highlights the importance WWE places on The Rock's return and his big match at WrestleMania.## At WrestleMania 40, The Rock is set to team up with his cousin Roman Reigns on night one. Together, they'll face a formidable duo of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a highly anticipated tag team showdown. With NXT providing valuable training assistance, The Rock seems well-prepared to deliver a memorable performance at The Grandest Stage of Them All. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

WrestleMania week is upon us, culminating in a two-night event at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th. ## WWE President Nick Khan recently revealed on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast that the deal to bring WrestleMania to Philadelphia has been in the works for over four years. Khan emphasizes that this pre-dates his tenure and expresses excitement for the event.## Night one's main event promises fireworks as Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins team up to challenge the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.## Khan acknowledges The Rock's role on the TKO Board of Directors, a position Khan says was a factor in his return. Negotiations with The Rock regarding a comeback have been ongoing for years, with Khan stating The Rock was focused on finding the right motivation.## Khan highlights the long-standing relationship between The Rock and his representatives at WME, suggesting their influence played a part. He emphasizes the value of The Rock's input on TKO, which is affiliated with WWE. Finally, after years of discussions, the timing aligned for The Rock's return, motivated by his involvement with a successful publicly traded company and the chance to return to the ring. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

Two-time SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi made her voice heard on the need for more opportunities in the women's division of WWE. ## Appearing on "Going Ringside With The Local Station," Naomi expressed her strong support for adding a midcard title to the division. "I'm always pushing for more," Naomi said. "More TV time, more talent for us... more titles, absolutely." ## Naomi's comments come as WWE prepares for a major women's tag team match at WrestleMania 40. She will be teaming with Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair to take on Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka & Kairi Sane). ## This isn't the first time Naomi has advocated for the advancement of the women's division. After returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble following a two-year hiatus, it's clear she remains passionate about creating a more robust platform for female wrestlers. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY JITU JANGIR

The legal battle between former WWE employee Janel Grant and Vince McMahon continues to heat up, with both sides offering conflicting interpretations of a recently leaked "love letter." ## Grant sued McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis in January, alleging sexual assault and sex trafficking. The New York Post published a letter Grant allegedly wrote to McMahon on Christmas Eve 2021, which has become a key piece of evidence.## Vince McMahon's lawyer, Jessica Rosenberg, argues the multi-page letter with 24 drafts proves a consensual relationship. She calls Grant's claims of coercion "nonsense."## Rosenberg suggests the letter is one of many pieces of evidence demonstrating the legitimacy of the relationship and the falsity of Grant's lawsuit.## Grant's lawyer, Ann Callis, offers a starkly different perspective. She views the letter as evidence of misconduct by McMahon, suggesting the revisions were due to fear of repercussions, not love.## Callis compares the situation to emotional imprisonment and sex trafficking tactics. She believes the leak is an attempt to intimidate and shame her client.## An excerpt from the letter mentions "Mickey, Paul, and the Chef" as people who witnessed Grant and McMahon acting like a couple. Callis identifies Paul as Paul Mangieri, a WWE executive assistant. Sources familiar with WWE claim Mickey Mangieri is another assistant to Vince McMahon.## John Laurinaitis, also named in the lawsuit, is claiming to be a victim of McMahon as well. His lawyer is confident the lawsuit against Laurinaitis will be dismissed.## Representatives for WWE and McMahon's holding company, TKO, have not commented on the latest developments. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...