'I don't keep track of any of that': WWE's Triple H shuts down reporter's race-baiting question about 'representation'



WWE executive Paul "Triple H" Levesque dispelled claims that the company has not been giving enough opportunities to employees of a particular race.

Levesque, who is widely considered to be one of the most popular wrestlers of all time, is now an executive in charge of talent relations and storytelling at the WWE.

During a press conference to promote the upcoming pay-per-view event "Bad Blood," Levesque was asked about a lack of racial "representation" in recent WWE events.

"There's been some reports leading up to 'Bad Blood' regarding the representation of black male wrestlers within WWE," the reporter, who goes by the name T.J. Legacy, began.

"They haven't been on a [premium live event] in the last three cards. There was no black women wrestlers on the 'Bad Blood' card. ... How do you gauge between making sure that there is representation and making sure that there are wrestlers that get opportunities that are deserved?" he added.

Triple H immediately shut down the leading question.

"I see [that] everybody gets the opportunity. I don't see the difference in anybody," Levesque replied. "I don't see the color, I don't see the nationality, I don't see any of it. I just see talent. I don't see the difference between men and women. I see talent.

"I don't keep track of any of that," he added.

Levesque then referred back to the company, saying the WWE simply attempts to tell the best stories and allow the best talents to flourish.

"I do what's relevant and what’s best in storytelling and what’s being delivered the best, and that's what goes. No difference in the men or the women, whatever the best story is," the executive concluded.

Video courtesy WWE/YouTube

The race-specific question seemingly ignored the bulk of WWE's roster, which is incredibly ethnically diverse without ever making mention of it.

The WWE's main roster currently has four champions who are of Samoan descent — one of whom is a woman — two black female champions, and one Mexican champion.

The company's developmental promotion, NXT, showcases a Puerto Rican female champion, a Nigerian male champion, and another tag-team champion from Spain.

The ongoing claim from activist media members has remained for decades, however, that there has always been discrimination in the WWE that prevents black athletes from becoming top-billing stars and champions.

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Woke activists attempt to take trademark of former WWE star for criticizing transgender ideology



Former WWE wrestler Val Venis has been targeted by pro-transgender activists for making remarks that men should not wrestle against women.

Venis, whose birth name is Sean Morley, has criticized popular wrestling organization All Elite Wrestling for its promotion of transgender activism. Morley has also spoken out against the organization over one of its employees, Nyla Rose, a man who believes he is a woman.

Rose was born Brandon Degroat and, according to multiple sources, later changed his name to Brandi once he started identifying as a woman. Degroat wrestles against other women in AEW as if he were a biological woman himself.

Among many comments, Venis has said "trans 'women' are not women. They are factually men who, for one reason or another, like to dress up like women."

'It goes further than that for liberals. They hate the person, not just the political positions the person holds.'

His commentary angered some wrestling fans who quickly went to work conducting pro-transgender activism in the name of the former pro wrestler.

According to RingsideNews, a musician named Matt Koon bought the domain ValVenis.com and directed the URL to pro-transgender activist websites.

Venis told Blaze News that he initially thought nothing of the domain purchase but took notice when it began pushing a particular ideology under his name.

"When he started to use that domain and publish it online as if it was something that I stand behind that's when it became an issue," the wrestler said.

— (@)

At the same tine, a man named Thevy Dianingana — who uses the moniker HaangEmHiigh on X — even filed a pending trademark under the name Val Venis.

According to website Fightful, the trademark was filed under providing information about rights, events, and commentary about gay activism.

However, Venis explained that he has battled over his likeness and trademark before with the WWE (formerly WWF), which typically keeps hold of the image and likeness of its characters.

"[The activist] noticed that in 2007 the WWE attempted to trademark the name Val Venis," the 53-year-old stated. "At that point in time I had already been using it for eight years in commerce. Common law establishes that in order ... for them to get the trademark in their name, the WWE name, they would need my permission."

"The examining attorney at the trademark office wrote back and forth with the attorney at the WWE," the wrestler continued. "The examining attorney said 'you've got to get this guy's signature, he's been using [the name] for eight years.'"

Venis then said the WWE exhausted all its appeals and eventually abandoned its attempts to gain ownership of the name without his signature.

The activists are going to "run into the same issue," Venis said with confidence.

The wrestler posted a formal warning on X, asking Koon to cease the use of the domain and hand it over.

"Disagreeing with my political positions is one thing; deliberately attempting to damage my reputation and usurp 𝐌𝐘 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 is a grave matter and will be met with the full extent of legal action," Venis wrote.

— (@)

Venis seemed perplexed at the activists' inability to debate issues without turning to alleged attacks on his likeness and said their beliefs go much further than a political disagreement.

"It goes further than that for liberals. They hate the person, not just the political positions the person holds, but the person themselves. They hated me so much," Venis said.

For AEW, Venis has called for the wrestling organization to stop promoting gender ideology on young fans. Specifically, he has called out star wrestler Cody Rhodes, who has been instrumental in the organization's success.

Rhodes has promoted transgender activism and even posed with a young fan holding a transgender flag.

'Anything they argue is based on feeling and emotion.'

Venis went on to say that he would be willing to take a look at any evidence that the activists were presenting on the issue of transgender women (men) participating in women's sports. However, they seem unwilling to do so.

"I'm willing to change my position if the facts dictate that ... but these people don't come with any facts whatsoever. Anything they argue is based on feeling and emotion, [when] you ask any rational questions, instead of engaging and answering questions ... they don't want anything to do that."

"They immediately call you a transphobe," he concluded.

Blaze News asked Koon about the Val Venis domain and which views of Venis he specifically disagreed with. He did not directly address those topics:

"There is no conflict with Val Venis," Koon said. "There also is no conflict with Mickey Mouse, or any other fictional character."

Blaze News has reached out to Dianingana for comment, and this article will be updated with any applicable responses.

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Crowd Erupts Into ‘USA’ Chant As Hulk Hogan Rips Shirt In Half On RNC Stage

'Let Trumpomania run wild brother!'
Dana White 'absolutely' open to WWE/UFC crossover with one fighter already planning on making the jump

Dana White 'absolutely' open to WWE/UFC crossover with one fighter already planning on making the jump



UFC President Dana White said that he is certainly open to UFC stars making appearances in the WWE wrestling ring since the two companies merged under TKO Group Holdings, Inc. in 2023.

White spoke at a press conference following a UFC fight night in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was asked whether he was okay with his fighters competing or appearing in WWE pay-per-views.

'You remember Gold Dust? Probably something like that. As long as I get to paint my face.'

"Some of the fighters who fight here, you know, have always dreamed about doing a WWE match or whatever it is, and yeah, I don't have a problem with that," he revealed.

"I mean I didn't have a problem with that when Vince [McMahon] was consistently f***ing me for no reason, and you know now that's not the case anymore. Obviously, I would absolutely do it," White said, speaking of the former WWE chairman.

A reporter pointed out that there have been several MMA and WWE crossovers, namely wrestlers named Bobby Lashley and Jake Hager. Lashley, who was a professional wrestler first, went 15-2 in MMA fighting from 2006-2018 but never in the UFC.

The same goes for Hager, who fought four times between 2019-2020, going 3-0 with a no-contest. His last fight was at 38 years old.

As for former UFC fighters, both Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey enjoyed time in both sports. While Rousey fully joined the WWE after retiring, Lesnar is the only fighter to compete at the highest level possible while being fully immersed in both sports.

Lesnar won at least 10 world championships in the WWE and also won the UFC heavyweight championship in 2008 and defended it twice.

Reporters brought to White's attention however, that a current heavyweight fighter was expressing interest in the WWE.

"We were talking to Derrick Lewis this week and he had mentioned that he might have been in talks with WWE," a reporter told the UFC president.

"I didn't know that, but I would do anything for Derrick Lewis. I really like Derrick Lewis," White replied.

Lewis said later at the same press conference that he had plans to visit WWE facilities in Orlando, Florida, in the coming weeks.

"I wouldn't stop here at UFC, but I would like to dibble dabble in WWE," Lewis told reporters.

When asked what his wrestling attire might be, he likened himself to Dustin Rhodes' character Goldust.

"It's probably going to be — you remember Goldust? Probably something like that. As long as I get to paint my face so people don't really know it's me ... I'm going to be a whole freak out there and be a little sassy with it," the heavyweight added.

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'We need to make a big deal about what went down on the cross': Former WWE superstar Elijah turns to promoting the gospel

'We need to make a big deal about what went down on the cross': Former WWE superstar Elijah turns to promoting the gospel



A professional wrestler who worked for the WWE as Elias rebranded himself as Elijah in the ring but is now promoting the gospel and Christianity on his personal channels.

The wrestler, real name Jeffrey Sciullo, worked for the WWE starting in 2014 through its development promotion until becoming a full-time member of the main roster from 2017 to 2023.

As Elias, Sciullo carried an acoustic guitar and performed musical ballads that always had vague religious, life-and-death undertones. This became more apparent when Sciullo released his second studio album in 2020 called "Universal Truth," from which he performed songs with titles like "Amen" on WWE broadcasts.

Interestingly, just two weeks before Sciullo was released from the WWE in September 2023 during a round of roster cuts, he announced that he had been baptized.

"Just got baptized in same spot John the Baptist baptized Jesus," he wrote on Instagram.

After his release, the wrestler was reportedly under a 90-day no-compete clause (per Bounding into Comics), which seemingly limited where he could perform and what he could post given that his online handles featured his WWE name.

In the days since, the wrestler has taken to using his large following to promote the Bible and Christianity.

"The Good News of the Gospel is Jesus. We need to make a big deal about what went down on the cross," Sciullo told his nearly 180,000 TikTok followers. "We need to see everything through the lens of the finished work on the cross. You know, that event that split human history in half. So we know that God entered into fallen humanity. The Word becomes Flesh.” he added.

Some of the wrestling singer's posts regarding his faith have been his most viewed, including nearly 630,000 views on a video of Sciullo in the gym with messaging on-screen.

"When you realize JESUS has not come to make BAD people GOOD people... but DEAD People ALIVE," the captions read.

@iameliaswwe John 1:4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind… John 10:10 .. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.. It’s HIS resurrection LIFE
♬ Inspiring Emotional Piano - Metrow Ar

Since leaving the WWE, the wrestler has rebranded as Elijah, a clear biblical reference, relaunching his professional career with a promotional video that featured a priest burying his old persona to introduce him anew.

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Only Dwayne Johnson can say 'Candy-a** jabroni' after wrestler acquires 25 names and catchphrases from WWE parent company



Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has acquired over two dozen names and phrases associated with his character as part of a deal with TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of World Wrestling Entertainment.

After Johnson became a member of TKO's board of directors, a deal was worked out between the two entities allowing him to take a firm grasp on many of his most popular phrases but not content that he was a part of in the WWE ring.

In addition to owning "The Rock," which was announced in January 2024 according to Variety, an SEC filing in late February 2024 from TKO revealed that taglines and names formerly owned by the WWE had moved to the "Rock IP."

Names now controlled by Johnson include: "The Rock," "Team Corporate," "Rock Nation," "The Nation," "The Samoan Sensation," "The Blue Chipper," "The Brahma Bull," "The People’s Champion," "The Great One," "Team Bring It," "The Rock Just Bring It," "Rockpocalypse," and "Project Rock"

The list also included "Rocky Maivia," the name Johnson first wrestled under that borrows his mother's maiden name.

The actor also took control of some of his most famous in-ring techniques, including "The People’s Elbow," a show-boating elbow drop, as well as the "Rock Bottom," a maneuver he's even performed in movies.

It is Johnson's catchphrases that are perhaps most iconic; some are preamble for his famous rants that are used before he makes his eventual point, like "Roody Poo" and "Candy-Ass," which may be used to describe a "Jabroni," a word he now owns.

The full phrases, however, now officially in Johnson's domain, can almost be heard in the mind as they are read: "If you smell what The Rock is cooking," "Know your role and shut your mouth,' "Finally, The Rock has come back to …" "It doesn’t matter what …" "Blue Hell," "The millions… (and millions)," and "The most electrifying man in sports and entertainment."

Johnson will also maintain "all other nicknames, caricatures, voice, signature, gestures, routines, costumes or parts of costumes, accessories [and] crowns" related to his time in the WWE.

As mentioned, while the entrepreneur came away with a lot in the deal, the agreement stated that he does not own any "photographic, audio and/or audiovisual footage" from the copyrighted works of the WWE.

The SEC filing also revealed that Johnson received $30 million in TKO stock and nearly $500,000 in WWE royalties (2023), will continue to receive annual royalties from the WWE, and will be entitled to receive royalties in connection with the sale of licensed products that use his name and likeness.

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Former Wrestlemania star named as suspect in hours-long standoff with police after fatally shooting his wife



A former pro wrestler allegedly engaged police in an hours-long standoff and fatally shot his wife in Washington, according to multiple reports.

Tactical teams responded to a shooting around 9:52 a.m. on Thursday in the Lents neighborhood of Portland, Washington.

Officers determined the gunman was inside the residence and requested assistance from the Special Emergency Reaction Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team. The suspect was reportedly uncooperative with law enforcement officers and police advised nearby residents to shelter in place, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau.

It took officers approximately two hours to detain the suspect – 70-year-old William Albert Haynes Jr.

Inside the home, officers found the dead body of an elderly woman.

Authorities identified the shooting victim as 85-year-old Janette Becraft – the second wife of Haynes.

The medical examiner determined Becraft died of homicide by gunshot wound.

Haynes was taken into custody by police and then transported to a local hospital for treatment of a "medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement." Portland police said his release from the hospital "may be days from now," but he would then be booked into jail and formally charged.

KATU reported that Haynes was a former pro wrestler.

Haynes started his professional wrestling career in 1982 and performed under the name Billy Jack Haynes.

Haynes joined the WWF in 1986, and competed against wrestling stars such as Ric Flair and Randy “Macho Man” Savage during the 1980s.

According to Slam Wrestling, Haynes had a "long feud with Hercules Hernandez, including the Battle of the Full-Nelsons at WrestleMania III and a series of bloody chain matches that stood out in the fairly family-friendly promotion."

Haynes departed from the WWF in 1988 after he allegedly refused to lose in a match hosted in his hometown of Portland.

The Portland Police Bureau is urging anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Ryan Foote at ryan.foote@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0781 or Detective Travis Law at Travis.Law@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0395 and reference case number 24-31552.

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WWE legend Killer Khan - who wrestled Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant - dies suddenly



Wrestling legend Killer Khan – who battled some of the most respected WWE greats – died suddenly. Killer Khan – whose real name was Masashi Ozawa – died on Saturday in Japan. The wrestling star was 76 years old at the time of his sudden death.

According to a report, Killer Khan collapsed around 10 p.m. on Saturday at his Tokyo-based restaurant – Jinjo Sakaba. Ozawa died suddenly from a ruptured artery, according to reports from Japan.

Ozawa started his prolific wrestling career in 1971 in Japan. He adopted a Mongolian character for his wrestling persona.

Ozawa began wrestling in the United States in 1979.

Killer Khan skyrocketed in popularity by wrestling against Andre the Giant in 1980 in a tag team match for Georgia Championship Wrestling.

Later the same year, the World Wrestling Federation hired Ozawa.

During his wrestling career, Killer Khan took on some of the biggest stars of the WWF.

Killer Khan is probably best known for being credited with "breaking the ankle" of 7-foot-4-inch Andre the Giant during a WWF match in 1981. However, Andre the Giant actually broke his own ankle earlier when getting out of bed. The storyline of crediting Killer Khan with the devastating injury to the wrestling giant launched the notoriety of the Japanese wrestler.

Andre the Giant would defeat Killer Khan in the rematch held in November 1981.

Killer Khan also had a much-ballyhooed feud with WWF champion Hulk Hogan.

Killer Khan was managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie and Mr. Fugi.

Killer Khan retired from wrestling in 1987.

Ozawa also had a brief music career starting in 2005, according to Ringside News.

Ozawa also was a restaurant entrepreneur later in his life.

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NBA smackdown! Draymond Green CHOKES out Rudy Gobert



Draymond Green just pulled a “Daniel Penny,” according to Jason Whitlock.

The NBA star was suspended for five games after putting the Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert in a choke hold in an attempt to defend Klay Thompson.

“Does that make Gobert the guy that was doing the Michael Jackson impersonation from eight years ago?” Steve Kim jokes to Whitlock.

The brawl was so unnecessary that Kim suspects Green wanted to be suspended.

“We’ve all kind of done things to get out of work, you know, the conference call that you don’t want to go to,” Kim says.

This isn’t the first time Green’s violence has gotten him into trouble.

“He popped a kid on Michigan State’s campus,” Whitlock says. “He got in trouble for punching a college kid. Draymond is a punk.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke out in defense of Green, telling reporters that “if you watch the replay, Rudy had his hands on Klay’s neck, and that’s why Draymond went after Rudy.”

Gobert, however, called Green’s choke hold “clown behavior” and said that as soon as he heard Steph was out, he knew Draymond was going to try to get ejected.

“He doesn’t want to play without his guy Steph, so he does anything he can to get ejected,” Gobert added.

“This was a little stage thing,” Whitlock agrees. “Draymond doesn’t care about this end-season tournament; he doesn’t care about playing when Steph’s not there.”


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Pro wrestling legend apprehends home invader, holds him at gunpoint until police arrive: 'We are safe with no damage'



A Hall of Fame wrestler had to take down an opponent once again, nearly a decade after he last appeared in the ring.

On the evening of December 8, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan was at his South Carolina home with his wife Debra when an unfamiliar man suddenly "fell" inside, Duggan recently told Wrestling Inc.

"A man who we had never seen before climbed our fence, ran through our yard to our front door, and was pounding on our glass doors" at about 6:45 p.m., Duggan said in a Twitter post.

"Before we could get to the door, he opened it and fell into our house," Duggan added.

Duggan, 68, spent more than three decades as a professional wrestler and had several memorable bouts with WWF in the late 1980s and early '90s, so his career trained him well for this moment. Duggan claimed he apprehended the man and forced the man's hands behind his back. Then, the man who famously used a 2x4 in the ring instead opted to grab another weapon — a .44 caliber pistol — to keep the suspect honest while they waited for police to arrive.

"I held him at gunpoint while Debra called 911," Duggan continued.

Though Duggan had contained the threat, he is now grateful that he did not actually use force against the man. It turned out that the man may have been attempting to escape other suspects. The man, described as "hysterically frightened," explained that people in the neighborhood had been chasing him and trying to kill him and that he had banged on several doors to try and flee to safety.

"Thank God we didn't shoot him," Duggan said.

Instead of shooting the man, Duggan turned off his outdoor Christmas lights and told the unnamed intruder to keep quiet. When deputies eventually arrived, Duggan gladly let them take over.

"We would like to thank the Kershaw County Sheriff's Department for their prompt and professional response," Duggan added. He and his wife elected not to press charges.

"We are safe with no damage," Duggan's post concluded.

\u201cThank you to the @KershawCountySC Sheriff's Office and thank you to my fans and friends for the well wishes!\n\nhttps://t.co/DtR7TcnI9V\u201d
— "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan (@"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan) 1671309725

In 1988, Duggan won the first Royal Rumble, and in 1994, he became the first U.S. heavyweight champion of World Championship Wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. WWF was rebranded WWE in 2002.

Last year, Duggan announced that he had prostate cancer, which he continued battling earlier this year. He has recently completed radiation and seems to be in remission. On December 12, he advocated for frequent physicals. "Early detection saves lives," he insisted.

\u201cPSA:\nGet your check ups, TOUGH GUY!\n\n#Health #prostatecancer #WWE #Wrestling\u201d
— "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan (@"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan) 1670871079