Fightful Wrestling Weekly 5/11: Recapping the week in news

Goldberg/Gunther

Gunther is en route to facing Pat McAfee, but another big name has been discussed for him.

Last year, it was revealed that Bill Goldberg agreed to terms with WWE to have Goldberg’s retirement match. Not long before that, Goldberg was referenced in a Gunther promo, before the two had a face-off a number of weeks later. That was for good reason, Fightful Select has told.

Those familiar with the situation confirmed to Fightful that Goldberg vs. Gunther has absolutely been discussed for this year and is on the table. We haven’t heard specifics on the match, outside of that it has been broached and is considered a possibility.

Wrestlevotes noted today that Goldberg's name had been floated internally in WWE.

UK Tryouts

WWE held UK tryouts during their European tour. We’ve learned more details around the tryouts.

Several UK talent has not heard the results from WWE about how their London tryout went. There was a host of athletes there with no wrestling experience that participated as well

Those at the tryout told Fightful that Triple H spoke to the talent for 15 about. Robbie Brookside, Matt Bloom & Johnny Moss then took the session.

Pro Wrestling Power Slap

Pro Wrestling Power Slap is a real thing.

Fightful were told just over a month ago that there were inquiries made to dozens of independent wrestlers regarding wrestlers for a special season of Power Slap involving wrestling talent. Sinn Bohdi, the former Kizarny, has been recruiting for the show.

Cassanova Valentine, Mechawolf, Juicy Finau, Stunt Marshall, Mazzerti, Facade, HollyHood Haley J, Alice Crowley, Christi Jaynes, Marty the Moth, Bruno El Oso Blanco, The Suavectios, Dani Mo are among the talent participating.

Those we spoke to involved with it say the pay was very good for many of the indie workers, but naturally there is cause for concern with potential concussions and making their bookings around the season's filming

UFC President Dana White was in the building and met with many of the talent this week. We're told some talent were encouraged to help get the word out and kick up buzz.

There are events tied to this that are supposed to carry over into International Fight Week, as well as a future Saudi event, based on what the talent associated were told.

Juice Robinson

An AEW mainstay is healthy.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that former IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson is relatively close to a return. Sources confirmed that Juice Robinson has been pretty well healthy for nearly a month, but still awaits clearance from AEW for his return. 

Juice Robinson has been sidelined since late November when be broke his fibula during a Continental Classic match with Will Ospreay. Robinson got injured on the pin attempt before a Styles Clash, and effectively got removed from the tournament.

We’ve not heard when Juice is expected back. The Bang Bang Gang have been battling injuries for the better part of the last year. 

Thekla

Fightful Select reported it last week, AEW teased it this week, and the deal is done.

Thekla is coming to AEW.

Fightful Select has learned that after planning her move to the United States for quite some time, she agreed to terms with All Elite Wrestling and officially signed. The deal was in the works for quite a while. Thekla hired representation to help her navigate the process of moving to North America and exploring her options.

Fightful Select was told last year that WWE had their eye on Thekla when scouting international talent.

Good Brothers

The Good Brothers spoke to Sean Ross Sapp ahead of NJPW Resurgence and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.

Karl Anderson told SRS he's not that concerned with WWE releasing him while injured and he's just moving forward. He isn't sure why they made that decision specifically, but just wants to move forward.

Moving forward includes two matches with Bullet Club War Dogs this weekend, which they tell Fightful just kind of fell that way. They put over Gabe Kidd for being a talented, unfiltered guy, and said the War Dogs have carried the Bullet Club name on well. Much like Adam Cole, they want a Bullet Club group hug. They joked that a Bullet Club reunion show would sell out MSG, but the show would just be everyone's entrances.

They were never outright told in WWE they couldn't say "Bullet Club," but said one time when mentioning "Bullet Proof" Triple H said "are we actually going there?" They were told to not to the gun hand gesture, though.

TalkNShopaMania has been in the works for years, dating back to 2022, but hasn't been finished yet. They had a lot of fun doing it and they think they will again. Gallows says he has a white hearse that needs to be blown up.

Both men say that they see AEW and TNA appearances in their future, but that it was very important for them to start back with New Japan Pro Wrestling considering the history they have there. They want to go until the wheels fall off.

We also asked about AJ Styles and they said no matter where he is, he'll be a big star, and they joked that he'll get them another payday when they induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame eventually.

Chelsea Green

A prominent WWE star has signed a new contract.

Chelsea Green recently signed a new WWE contract, Fightful Select has learned. Green signed back with WWE in late 2022, before returning several months later at the 2023 Royal Rumble. Since that time, she became WWE Tag Team Champion and the first ever Women’s United States Champion.

Fightful Select is told that her contract would have expired later on in 2025. However, she’s signed a new multi-year deal. The exact length is not yet known. 

Green has primarily worked as a singles performer after holding the tag team titles with both Sonya Deville and Piper Niven.

Liv Morgan

Liv Morgan is off filming a movie, but she might not be gone that long.

Morgan is off to film a starring role in Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo. On a recent episode of Raw, she asked Adam Pearce for time off to film the role. Later that week, it was revealed that she was already headed to Japan to start work on it. 

We’re told this won’t be a situation of Morgan missing months of action as a result. As of now, the wrap date for her is May 16, with her planned to return to the United States on May 17. We’ve not learned when she will return to WWE TV. She will miss at minimum of one more episode of Raw as things stand.

Willow

An integral AEW star is in a big year professionally. 

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that Willow Nightingale is in her contract year with All Elite Wrestling, with the deal set to expire in a few months as things stand, though the exact date is unclear.

Those that we’ve spoken to within AEW claim that Willow is a priority for the company and someone they want to keep around. It’s probably no surprise that Willow Nightingale is well liked within the company. All Elite Wrestling expects to retain Willow from what we understand. 

Everyone that Fightful spoke with believes it’s a “guarantee” that Willow is offered an extension to remain with AEW.

Steve Maclin

Sean Ross Sapp spoke to Steve Maclin following his Dog Collar Match on TNA IMPACT, that saw him retain the TNA International Championship.

Maclin told SRS that he required 7 stitches to heal his bloody wound. He said that Deonna Purrazzo watched it unfazed, and says she's used to it by now. They had a couple of friends who were not wrestling fans in attendance, and they were more shocked.

He said that TNA pretty well trusted him with the situation, and the first thing when he got backstage was them making sure he was okay. He was, and then went and got bandaged and stitched up. He spoke about the recent turnover in TNA and says it always sucks to see people you care about leave, but did say there were some things the new regime is better at and vice versa.

He put over working with Eric Young, Sinner and Saint, and compared the latter two to Motor City Machine Guns. He said the goal with Eric Young was to try to increase TNA+ subscriptions.

He's been presented with some possibilities about appearing in NXT, and said that considering what that venue means to him, it would mean even more to go back representing TNA Wrestling.

Maclin also confirmed Fightful's story that he believes TNA is reducing blood use on TV so it will mean more when they do it again.

We also spoke about Paul Walter Hauser, and how much he loved working with PWH. He said that Paul is full of ideas, and loves working the merch table.

Good Brothers

The Good Brothers spoke to Sean Ross Sapp ahead of NJPW Resurgence and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.

Karl Anderson told SRS he's not that concerned with WWE releasing him while injured and he's just moving forward. He isn't sure why they made that decision specifically, but just wants to move forward.

Moving forward includes two matches with Bullet Club War Dogs this weekend, which they tell Fightful just kind of fell that way. They put over Gabe Kidd for being a talented, unfiltered guy, and said the War Dogs have carried the Bullet Club name on well. Much like Adam Cole, they want a Bullet Club group hug. They joked that a Bullet Club reunion show would sell out MSG, but the show would just be everyone's entrances.

They were never outright told in WWE they couldn't say "Bullet Club," but said one time when mentioning "Bullet Proof" Triple H said "are we actually going there?" They were told to not to the gun hand gesture, though.

TalkNShopaMania has been in the works for years, dating back to 2022, but hasn't been finished yet. They had a lot of fun doing it and they think they will again. Gallows says he has a white hearse that needs to be blown up.

Both men say that they see AEW and TNA appearances in their future, but that it was very important for them to start back with New Japan Pro Wrestling considering the history they have there. They want to go until the wheels fall off.

We also asked about AJ Styles and they said no matter where he is, he'll be a big star, and they joked that he'll get them another payday when they induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame eventually.

Notes

• We're told that Tony Schiavone's son Matt recently left AEW for opportunities outside of wrestling. He had been formatting AEW in recent months.

• AEW refuted rumors that EJ Nduka wasn't used because he would outshine those he was paired with physically.

• Rhino is not signed, and his appearances this week are just for the Detroit shows.

• The Wrestler Power Slap situation this week was a "Power Slap Combine." We'll be getting more information soon.

• Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul has been penciled in for a Saturday Night's Main Event.

• Erick Rowan was working out at the WWE PC this week, per PWInsider.

• AEW nailed down a deal for a new theme song a number of weeks ago before it debuted on May 7. The song is "You Wanted War" by Sum 41.

Fightful News

• Sean Ross Sapp will be featured on next week's Reffin It Up Podcast

• Jimmy Van and SRS' newest video looking at LJN variants is out!

• A reminder, Fightful Podcasts are on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, Podbean, Player FM and all other audio platforms.

• Follow Fightful's Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and our clips channel Fightful Scraps.

• Fighful now has an Espanol Twitter account, please check it out.

• The newest FIGHTFUL PRESENTS video from @MikeStrawMedia takes a look at WCW Backstage Assault -- the wrestling game with no ring.

UK Tours

- PROGRESS Owner Lee McAteer was present at April 29th’s taping of WWE NXT. The visit was said to have gone well.

- We were able to confirm that wXw are indeed now sponsored by PRIME following The Wrestling Observer’s report on the matter. We were told the company sends ‘a lot’ of bottles for talent, with the company doing ‘some’ promoting.

- Several sources in France expect big things from ‘Drag Attack’ this year.

**************

SELECT ANSWERS

I think last night was a bit of a push towards a more liberal/progressive role in aew with toni saying she is here and queer. Has this been what the company has pushed towards since wwe has leaned towards maga? Also is this something that will tilt the balance since many are pouring on wwe viewpoints and associations with maga?

I don't think one has to do with the other. Considering the elements presented with Toni Storm, Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa over the last couple of years, this isn't anything drastic. It's just the way the character has been presented.

Hi Sean, have you ever heard anything around why AEW/ROH utilized EJ Nduka so little during his time with the company? I feel like he showed a ton of potential while in MLW and figured he’d be somewhat of a big deal wherever he landed after that, but unfortunately AEW never really did much with him.

The word was that AEW found it hard to put him next to anyone without him outshining him physically. That's just a rumor, but it's also one that seems to go around about a lot of physically huge talent, which seems like a waste.

We hear a lot of talk online about Triple H being a great booker, whereas I would say he’s more a solid booker that provides opportunities for people to get over within a basic structure. Has the new car smell worn off with talent?

By and large the talent still like Triple H. He's far more accessible, relatable and open to ideas than Vince McMahon was. However, there are plenty that have said that they don't necessarily buy the "be patient" lines they're given by anyone in the creative process anymore, including some that have been released in recent months.

Do you know what the thought process was behind both moving Smackdown to 3 hours and only doing it temporarily?

It was just a part of the broadcast deal they put together, between the media rights, and bringing Raw over for a brief period.

Hi SRS, any news on Kamille?

I saw her at Squared Circle Expo and she appeared in good spirits. I'm constantly asking about why she isn't on TV. The latest I'd heard months ago was that Mercedes was willing to work a match with her, but it just never came about and she hadn't been back to TV since.

Are the Nakamura leaving WWE rumors true

If it is, nobody in WWE has heard it. The outlet that posted that reads like AI writing garbage.

Any word when Cope will return

I can't say specifically when, because I don't know, but he is planned for AEW All In for a significant match, so in plenty of time to help build for that.

Do you have a similar report on Meltzer’s report of the NXT cuts being those who “weren’t working hard enough in training” and used the term “lazy”

I haven't heard that report, and haven't heard that specific reason for anyone. NXT cuts often come down to that, or the company not seeing upward trajectory for the talent. Whether any of these talent fell into that category, I do not know.

Do you expect WWE to bring AAA tv to the states eventually?

I do. They haven't found difficulty landing a TV deal for EVOLVE or LFG, so I definitely think they could find something in the United States that can improve the footprint of AAA. They had Super Astros back in the late 90s, but I think they'd apply English commentary as well.

What ever happened to aew shockwave?

That was always just a theory and possible pitch. There were talks with networks, but I also think AEW has been very happy with the attention, direction, and lead ins for AEW Collision of late. There were no plans for Shockwave that I've heard.

How does injury time usually work. The talent gets paid while injured. Do they still get paid if their injury time is added on to their deal?

Yes, they get paid. It's just an extension of their deal for the period that they were injured. For example, if a wrestler breaks their leg and misses five months, they're still paid during that period injured. Most wrestling companies have the ability to then extend that contract five months, and they're still being paid.

Hi Sean, regards the released talent from WWE how enforceable are these no-compete clauses for example if hypothetically AEW wanted to bring say Dakota Kai in and immediately put her on TV is there anything WWE could do really to stop it?

The ones from this past week are very enforceable, because they're only "non-competes" in name. The reality is, the talent are still under WWE contract and paid for that period. It isn't like the "non-competes" that many fight against, where they're prohibited from working elsewhere, AND aren't getting paid. For example, Brock Lesnar wanted out of his WWE contract early in 2004. They slapped a huge non-compete on him and weren't paying him. He fought it and won.

Do you think Hurt Syndicate with MJF vs. FTR with Stokely could happen at All In Texas? Have you heard of any plans for the Tag Titles at that show?

No, I don't think that's the plan. I'm not sure what Hurt Syndicate and MJF's plans are. The idea I've always heard floated around for AEW All In is FTR vs. Cope and Christian, which would obviously be a huge one.

Considering the fact that he released a mini documentary about Mania week, I assume that Karrion Kross' outburst was a work. My question is, how much do they tell third parties ahead of time if they're going to do something like that on a non WWE show?

A "work" in the sense that WWE saw it, allowed it, and put it on their podcast? Yes. The entire promo was planned, scripted, and done by Karrion Kross.

How much would you say a low to mid card wrestler makes a year? I know it sucks being cut, but maybe it is best off so they can work more elsewhere. I hope for the best for them all

The claim from those that I spoke to was that the minimum WWE main roster salary is $350,000 per year now. We reported that back in February, but I'm sure that will get aggregated again! Elsewhere, it depends. There were top champions in TNA four years ago at $50,000 a year, which went up. Now it's based more on date. AEW is harder to nail down.

Are matches called on the fly at all, or are all or most moves rehearsed/planned ahead of time? Is there a big difference on philosophy in different promotions?

Almost all televised matches in WWE, AEW, ROH, TNA are planned out to some degree. They have agents, producers and coaches who relay some of the more important spots to production. Depending on the talent, there's more wiggle room.

I was listening to Dave last night, and every time he talked about a released talent, he would say TNA. If that’s the case, instead of releasing the talent, why wouldn’t they just send them to TNA?

For a lot of reasons. The main one being that WWE would still be on the hook for salary. Naturally, you're going to make more on a WWE salary than a TNA salary. They're also on the hook for any injuries that would occur in a TNA ring if they're still contracted by WWE as a result of their exclusivity. I could see a situation in the future where WWE asks TNA or AAA if they want to take on the salary and contract, but that would have to be worked into the original independent contractor agreement.

Can you add any more information to Jon Alba saying TNA is talking to 5 media partners.

TNA has been trying to shop IMPACT around for a better TV deal for quite some time. I'm not sure exactly how far those conversations have been, but I've not heard how far those conversations have gone. I was hearing about them looking around for partners since last Summer. Regardless, now is the time to land a better TV deal.

Does Roh commentary get voiced in I was at the collision last night and there was no one at the desk

I can't speak to whether it does all the time, but a lot of times it does. Ian Riccaboni keeps a day job -- something he wants to do to spend time with his family -- and AEW likes him so much that he adds commentary remotely. They've been open to him coming in full time, but he's a very family-first guy.

With the recent unfortunate releases i was wondering why the nxt talent only has to wait 30 days and the main roster talent has to wait 90 days?

That's just the way those contracts are drawn up. When you move to the main roster, you almost always get a new contract, and then they switch it to 90 days. There was an exception, as they forgot to do so with Aleister Black when WWE first released him. They called a number of talent in a panic trying to make sure they were all on 90 days.

How is Kevin Knight viewed backstage at AEW? Like do they see him as a top priority?

Well liked, from what I understand. They expected to have plenty of competition when working to sign him, and were very happy to land him. Tony Khan and Rocky Romero even had a 2-on-1 meeting with him to connect the AEW/NJPW element.

OPINION

If you have to predict in which company Mariah May will be wrestling in the beginning of 2026,what will your answer be?

I'd predict WWE, but I don't think it's a guarantee. This is a hunch, not a report, but I think she's doing what a lot of talent don't do, and many should -- allowing the contract to run out to gauge what the offer elsewhere will be. It's smart businss.

Hey SRS, I asked this last week when you were feeling the weather. What is your favorite piece of wrestling memorabilia that you own?

I don't own a ton of wrestling memorabilia. I have some merch and things like that, but when I jokingly took the two full water bottles after Sting's retirement press conference, it provided enough of a bit that I now seriously love them. I have a thumbtack that flew into my lap from Omega/Callihan in TNA. I also have a $5 bill someone handed me at a GCW show during my entrance.

Of the wrestlers released by WWE on Friday, which ones do you think AEW should consider signing? Would any of them have the risk of having the same WWE trauma that the likes of Punk, Malakai, Andrade, and Miro had?

Dakota Kai, Shotzi, Shayna Baszler are ones I'd be shocked if they didn't make AEW appearances in the next year. I wouldn't rule Gigi Dolin out, but I think she's going to be working a lot of places. I also could see Jakara Jackson down the line whenever they establish a tag team division.

Who would you like to see in the 2026 HOF? Who should headline?

Demolition and Cyndi Lauper. Demolition is so far overdue. I know they have "categories," and I'll never be bothered by Earthquake/John Tenta going in because he's a favorite of mine, and Fred Ottman/Typhoon had some health troubles, so I know they wanted to get them in. But next year, Demolition should be in. Lauper should have been in 2004, 2013 or 2019 because of the New York connection.