WrestleMania News, Hook, Cobb, Dynamite, Hendry update

• WWE is planning to heavily scout during this week's indie shows in Las Vegas.

• A number of WWE talent are planning on attending Bloodsport today.

• Last week, we reported that WWE would be announcing a number of brand deals this week. We're told that they did that to maximize attention on those deals during this week.

• WWE worked with some Las Vegas entities on different ways to promote WrestleMania locally from a media perspective.

• Topical as he's going into the WWE Hall of Fame this weekend -- at one point John Tenta's daughter was said to be training for a potential wrestling match.

• New Japan Pro Wrestling knew that Jeff Cobb was leaving, as did a number of the roster. There were other reports that NJPW was surprised that WWE "pulled him early," but they knew a month ago.

AEW

• Regarding Hook, details are few and far between, but we were told that the issue is physical. Powerhouse Hobbs was informed of the decision yesterday to have him replace Hook.

• We're told the Trios Title change had been decided well before Hook's injury.

• As one would expect, AEW were very happy with how AEW Dynamite turned out.

• There isn't a timetable on PAC as of yet, outside of that he would miss "some time."

• Josh Alexander had agreed to terms with AEW back in February. They got his visa situation squared away in the mean time.

• Jade Chung, Josh Alexander's wife, was backstage at AEW Dynamite.

Fightful Content:

• We interviewed Izzy ahead of her match on GCW's WWE ID show.

• Circa Las Vegas is the official hotel of Fightful during WrestleMania week. Check out all their incredible CircaMania events, including shows with Busted Open and Chris Van Vliet.

• SRS and Jimmy Van looked at the first ever wrestling figures here.

• SRS and Jimmy Van also looked at rare LJN protoypes!

• Follow Fightful's Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and our clips channel Fightful Scraps. We've signed with TikTok and are doing

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

• Fighful now has an Espanol Twitter account, and will be rolling out an Espanol Select edition soon.

• If you wish to purchase any sponsor slots on Fightful content during WrestleMania week, contact us!

• Sean Ross Sapp is planning on doing additional, live Q&A shows for Select subscribers.

Joe Hendry

Fightful's Joel Pearl spoke to Joe Hendry ahead of TNA Unbreakable.

Hendry spoke about his respect for Masha, who he is teaming with this week. He also elaborated on keeping fan interest when wrestling is off the air, highlighting social media as one of the ways to do that.

He said that he always tried to respond to the opportunities he has, and has tried to contact The Sphere to get on it a number of times.

He elaborated on the time and place for everything in wrestling, including things like concerts. He only wants to do things that have a maximum entertainment value and storyline purpose to them.

Hendry said that NXT and TNA are two different styles of programming, and learning those differences has been great for him. When his first TNA vignettes came about, he wasn't thinking about babyface or heel, he was thinking about what is entertaining.

He believes they left money on the table with Yuya Uemura and didn't know he was going back to NJPW so soon. He feels if they had a couple months more they could have been TNA Tag Team Champs.