FREE POST! Mania Week News, Retirement, Joe Hendry, MLW, More!

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• We're told that Kasey Catal has announced that she'll no longer be wrestling. She last competed in September, and is a veteran of GCW.

• TNA has Joe Hendry on a media tour in Las Vegas ahead of Unbreakable.

• O'Shea Jackson Jr., Max Adler of Glee., and director of Winning Time Salli Richardson-Whitfield were at MLW Battle Riot.

• We're told to expect more WWE brand deals over the next couple of weeks.

• WWE and Cody Rhodes have already shot some materials for Cody Rhodes' extended Wheatley partnership.

Fightful

• Jeff Hawkins will be joining Sean Ross Sapp for the WrestleMania post-shows

• Fightful will still be on the scene in Las Vegas. If you're a wrestler or a promoter looking to get interviewed by Fightful, contact us or Joel Pearl.

• Fightful has a numerous pieces of content on the early access ($10) tier -- interviews with Izzy Moreno and David Finlay that will release on Youtube this week, as well as the WWF LJN prototype video with SRS & Jimmy.

• Fightful will be agreeing to a content deal with TikTok soon

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

Steph De Lander (Full Interview)

Get her book at this link

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp spoke with Steph De Lander for a nearly 30-minute conversation.  Steph opened up about her journey through wrestling, reinvention, and the release of her upcoming memoir, What’s the Best That Could Happen?. Known from her time in WWE as Persia Pirotta, and for making waves in TNA, GCW, and beyond.

Reflecting on her transition from her WWE persona to reclaiming her real name, Steph De Lander, she shared how that shift was initially difficult. “At first, I was kind of like, ‘Yo, can you stop saying Persia’s dead?’” she admitted, recalling her early days teaming with Matt Cardona, who had a similar issue with his WWE persona, Zack Ryder.

However, she welcomed the change with time and recognized that her accomplishments outside WWE outweighed her past. “Letting go of that was kind of like letting go of my WWE career,” she said, “but now I’m like, yeah, it’s pretty freaking cool what I’ve done now.”

She talked about a jaw-dropping WWE segment involving AJ Francis, formerly Top Dolla, who put her through a table. “I was instantly like, oh my God, that is the best idea ever,” she said, enjoying the absurdity and theatricality of the moment.

De Lander approached the stunt with excitement. “I’m usually the one giving chokeslams,” she joked. “So I’ve maybe taken three in my career.” Yet she delivered a standout performance, getting incredible airtime and sparking concern from colleagues backstage. Watching it back later, even she was surprised by how brutal it looked on screen.

Unfortunately, the momentum from that segment and others was stalled by an injury that sidelined De Lander. But rather than dwell on the setback, she seized the opportunity to write the book she had always joked about finally. “I always do crazy stuff and crazy stuff always just happens to me,” she laughed. “I always would jokingly be like, well, that’s another chapter in the book.”

The injury turned out to be a catalyst. “I just was like, what am I waiting for?” Steph said. “Why do I have to wait on something when I can do it right now?” As an independent wrestler, she realized she now had complete control over her creative output, which wasn’t possible during her time with WWE. “I can control whatever I want. I can say whatever I want. I can do whatever I want.”

As De Lander dove into the writing process, she was mindful of how her words might affect others—and herself. “If I bury someone else, I’m also very quickly burying myself,” she explained, describing her effort to stay balanced and self-reflective. “I put my hand up and say that I did something wrong or I fucked something up.”

To ensure this, she deliberately kept the project under wraps until it was nearly complete. “I didn’t even tell anyone I was writing it,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that it was authentically me and my story.”

Even when it came to passages involving friends or family, she made sure they read their mentions only after the manuscript was finished. “I didn’t want other people’s opinions to change the story,” she said to Sean.

Writing a book is a helpless act, especially while recovering from an injury. For De Lander, it was both a coping mechanism and a creative outlet. “I felt like I was still doing something purposeful,” she said. “Like, if I’m out, how do I make the most of this and do something that can really further my career?”

However, the process wasn’t without its challenges. Steph’s approach was instinctive and personal. Some weeks, she’d write with passion and flow. Other times, she avoided the writing in the first place. “I didn’t want to get in there and force-write stuff,” she said.

One particularly emotional story in the book required extra care. “I purposely left it toward the end,” she revealed. “Because I was like, first of all, I don’t know if I want to touch on this or not.” When she finally did, the experience was both painful and healing. “It was cathartic in a way,” she said.

Steph spoke about the events surrounding the TNA Digital Media Championship, which have already aired, but when they were filmed, the dust hadn’t quite settled. 

Steph De Lander found herself in a particularly unusual position. Tied to PCO on-screen in both TNA and GCW, she had been sidelined due to injury, watching events unfold until she was thrust into the center. When PCO shockingly smashed the Digital Media Championship on GCW TV. She said, PCO’s response was simply: “I thought it would be funny.”

Steph mentioned that she was at the GCW show in Hammerstein Ballroom where it occurred."I was in the crowd,” she revealed. “PCO, that’s my husband on-screen, and when that happened, I was like—what is going on?” Backstage, she confronted Brett Lauderdale in disbelief: “What have you done?” The backstage environment was tense, and the lines between storyline and reality were blurred even for those inside the business.

Uncertain about the implications, she immediately sought out PCO: “I don’t know if I’m going to see him again… but I want this man to know that I really enjoyed working with him.” That moment was a heartfelt conversation of appreciation, as she told PCO she respected him profoundly and harbored no ill will.

Despite the drama, De Lander described PCO as remarkably calm and respectful. “He’s always been cool-headed—even when I didn’t know what I was about to walk into. I turn the corner, and he’s got the biggest smile on his face,” she recounted.

As chaos brewed behind the scenes, the clever storytelling took center stage. TNA devised a way to “move the title without moving the title” by having Steph retain it in the storyline divorce, an inventive and unexpected pivot that brought Mance Warner into the fold.

De Lander reflected on the irony: “My on-screen husband having his moment is what led to my real-life boyfriend coming into the mix in TNA.” That moment of uncertainty turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “I thought this situation was going to be really bad for me, but it actually worked out really good. I got a title, and my boyfriend’s now in TNA.”

She noted with a touch of humor, “I keep joking to everyone—I’m just tagging boyfriends in and out of my whole career.”

Working with Mance Warner has been a dream in more ways than one. “He’s like an enigma… working with him is awesome,” she said. Beyond the ring, their creative process is intense: “It’ll take us four hours to get through a movie because we’re constantly pausing it to brainstorm ideas.”

However, even a wrestling couple has boundaries. “There are times when I wake up and say, ‘Babe, I can’t hear about WCW right now.’” Mance’s all-consuming passion for wrestling is both admirable and occasionally exhausting. “He’s wrestling 24/7—and I am too—but he’s just that little bit more.”

De Lander spoke about Warner’s unique intensity before matches: “He gets in this weird zone. If he’s about to go out for a match, don’t be around that man.”

She also shared a glimpse of her home office wall, a personal museum of her highlights. “There’s my podcast poster, my PWI cover, posters from Halloween Havoc, and a fan-made Deathmatch Queen skull. Just little reminders of everything we’ve done.”

Sean asked Steph, Why are Australian women so funny? Excluding Shazza McKenzie, he said. She told Sean, It's just the Australian humor. We just have it, which is funny that you say that because a lot of Americans don't understand what we're saying or what we're joking about.

Sean asked Steph who had hit her the hardest. Steph said, “Probably some of the athletes at the PC. There are some stiff people in the performance center. I also think that when it's coming at you at about 10 AM on a Wednesday in a training drill, you're least expecting it. You're like, whoa, what are you, what are you doing? We're not even on TV right now. Yeah. So I took some stiff shots at the PC.” She mentioned Jordynne Grace and Masha Slamovich as two people who have hit her the hardest.

They talked more about her new book. She said, “It felt like it took a long time to write it. But as I said, it's because I took plenty of periods of not even touching it for weeks.”

She mentioned that Matt Cardona wrote the foreword for her book. She noted that she got quotes from Drew McIntyre, Tommy Dreamer, Chelsea Green, and Samoa Joe. 

You can preorder her book “What's The Best That Could Happen?: My Love Letter to Pro Wrestling” on April 18th. It's available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble and Amazon for ebook. 

LAS VEGAS!

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority sent the same to Fightful. For reference, Circa Las Vegas is the official WrestleMania hotel of Fightful, and will be hosting Chris Van Vliet and Busted Open events.

LAS VEGAS – Step into the ring of excitement this WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, where the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World will pull out all the stops. WrestleMania 41 makes its highly anticipated return to Las Vegas for the first time in 32 years, taking over Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20. This historic two-night event will feature John Cena’s final WrestleMania moment, along with thrilling action from WWE Superstars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair and more. The WWE Universe can look forward to thrilling watch parties, unforgettable performances and top-tier food and drink experiences.

Las Vegas Celebrates WrestleMania 41

The excitement of WrestleMania 41 begins the moment that visitors step off the plane at Harry Reid International Airport. The WWE Universe can announce they are attending the “Show of Shows” with a photo-op recreating their favorite Superstar moment as they point up to the WrestleMania 41 logo hanging in Terminal 1.

Las Vegas is also paying tribute to John Cena’s legacy ahead of his last WrestleMania. A special “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign located in Terminal 1 will be animated to show his catch phrase “You Can’t See Me”. Adding to the excitement for WrestleMania, Terminal 1 will also feature replica championship title belts located on the top of baggage claim area.

Photo-ready moments will also extend throughout the destination. MGM Grand will feature its famed lion statue sporting a custom WWE Championship title belt to welcome guests to the hotel. The namesake Caesar statues at Caesars Palace - located both off of Las Vegas Boulevard and inside the resort’s main entrance - will be adorned with WWE championship belts. The WWE Universe can also capture photos with a 14-foot-long, 5-foot-high Championship belt at the iconic Fremont Street Experience.

It’s pool season in Las Vegas and some of the city’s hottest dayclubs and pools, including LIV Beach at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World Las Vegas and the Palms Pool at Palms Casino Resort will have free, inflatable championship belts available for guests while supplies last.

WWE Universe-themed signs inspired by the famed “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign will be placed throughout the destination all WrestleMania weekend long, including at Terminal 3 baggage claim at Harry Reid International Airport, T-Mobile Arena, Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Convention Center, home to WWE World.

WWE Events

In addition to “The Showcase of the Immortals” at Allegiant Stadium, WWE will have an extended week of events showcasing the past, present and future WWE Superstars.

WWE World at WrestleMania 41 is a five-day interactive fan experience taking place from Thursday, April 17 through Monday, April 21 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. This will offer a variety of experiences for wrestling fans, including photo and autograph opportunities with superstars, live podcasts, and the largest superstore in WrestleMania history.

Friday Night Smackdown will take place starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 18 at T-Mobile Arena. Don’t miss the last SmackDown before WWE superstars take the stage at WrestleMania 41. See undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, United States Champion LA Knight, Charlotte Flair, and many more as they prepare for the biggest event of the year.

As the official host hotel of WrestleMania 41, Fontainebleau Las Vegas welcomes the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony to the BleauLive Theater at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 18. The ceremony will be headlined by 2025 WWE Hall of Fame inductees, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque; Michelle McCool; Lex Luger; The Natural Disasters; and other inductees to be announced soon.

T-Mobile Arena will host WWE Stand and Deliver at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 19. The event features NXT’s top stars, including champions Oba Femi, Stephanie Vaquer, Shawn Spears and more, in a high-stakes showdown.

UNDERTAKER 1deadMAN SHOW will take place at 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 at the BleauLive Theater in Fontainebleau Las Vegas. In this unique, intimate setting, “The Phenom” will share untold stories from his legendary Hall of Fame career, relive some of his most iconic moments, and engage with the WWE Universe by answering their questions.

At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 21, fans can watch the aftermath of WrestleMania 41 unfold at the “must attend” Monday Night Raw at T-Mobile Arena.

NXT, which highlights the brightest young talent in sports entertainment, will be held at the BleauLive Theater in Fontainebleau Las Vegas at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22.

Entertainment That Packs a Punch

Four-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, Chris Van Vliet, will record a live episode of his No. 1 wrestling podcast, Insight with Chris Van Vliet, at Circa Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 17. Hosted in the Galaxy Ballroom, this special event brings Chris and his star-studded guests to the stage for a memorable evening of exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories and more. The main show kicks off at 8 p.m., but VIP ticket holders can enjoy a private Q&A at 7 p.m., followed by a meet and greet with Chris and his guests after the show.

“The Master’s Class” by Busted Open Radio takes wrestling talk to new heights as Dave LaGreca, Tommy Dreamer, Mark Henry and Bully Ray break down the sport from Legacy Club, Circa Resort & Casino‘s rooftop cocktail lounge, on Thursday, April 17. The venue transforms into a SiriusXM podcast studio from 4-5 p.m., giving fans a chance to watch the free live show, meet the hosts and enjoy cocktails with a stunning 60-floor-high view of the valley.

Fremont Street Experience will welcome the legendary rock band, Living Colour, for a free live performance on the First Street Stage at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 18. Best known for their hit Cult of Personality—the iconic walkout song for WWE superstar CM Punk—Living Colour will bring their electrifying sound to the heart of Downtown Las Vegas for an unforgettable night of music.

The inaugural WrestleMania After Dark at Fontainebleau Las Vegas will deliver four nights of electrifying entertainment at LIV and LIV Beach during WrestleMania weekend. The action kicks off on Thursday, April 17 with the WrestleMania 41 Welcome Dinner and Launch Party at LIV, featuring appearances from WWE Superstars Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Rey Mysterio, alongside performances by Valentino Khan and DJ IRIE. Friday, April 18 brings the WrestleMania After Dark Official Hall of Fame Afterparty at LIV, with WWE Superstars Bron Breakker and Liv Morgan, plus performances by Metro Boomin and DJ IRIE. Saturday, April 19 continues the high-energy celebrations at LIV, featuring WWE Superstars Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso, and performances by Machine Gun Kelly and DJ IRIE. Sunday, April 20 concludes the weekend with Gronk Beach at LIV Beach.

Former WWE 24/7 Champion and four-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski is bringing his ultimate beach party, Gronk Beach, to WrestleMania weekend. Taking over LIV Beach at Fontainebleau Las Vegas at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, Gronk's one-of-a-kind celebration will be part of WrestleMania 41’s After Dark lineup. This event will feature live performances by Flo Rida and Valentino Khan, appearances by WWE Superstars Damian Priest and Tiffany Stratton, along with immersive brand activations. Guests can also enjoy a special night swim partying under the stars and soaking in the legendary Las Vegas ambiance. The Roast of WrestleMania featuring Tony Hinchcliffe & Friends will take place at Fontainebleau Las Vegas’ BleauLive Theater at 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, Hinchcliffe will be joined by surprise comic guests and WWE superstars, including Sami Zayn, The Miz, Braun Strowman and Paul Heyman, for a comedy event like no other.

OYO Hotel & Casino is hosting an exclusive meet and greet with WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella, known as The Bella Twins, at Hooters Saloon from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. Open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, the event includes a complimentary tasting of Bonita Bonita, the Bella Twins’ signature wine. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase signed bottles while supplies last.

Fuel for the Fight Get ready for a knockout weekend at Proper Bar inside Proper Eats Food Hall inside ARIA Resort & Casino on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20, where a lineup of championship cocktails take center stage. The main event features three powerhouse drinks: The Stone Cold Stunner, The Rock Bottom, and the Hogan’s Powerbomb.

Kick off your weekend with WrestleMania Superstar Brunch at BrewDog Las Vegas, an exclusive dining event featuring a premium brunch, craft cocktails, WWE memorabilia and the chance to meet WWE legends and superstars. The brunch will take place on Saturday, April 19 with Mickie James, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory, and on Sunday, April 20 with Rikishi and Chelsea Green.

The Cabinet of Curiosities, located inside Horseshoe Las Vegas, is hosting WrestleMania-themed mixology masterclasses at 1 p.m. from Thursday, April 17 to Sunday, April 20. Hosted by lead mixologist Daniel Ponsky, known from Bar Rescue, the class features hands-on instruction to create two specialty cocktails—the Tribal Chief and the Headlock—before guests craft their own WWE-inspired drink.

A Wedding Fit for a Champion It's the ultimate tag-team match with the "Love Smackdown" wedding package at Viva Las Vegas Weddings. Make a grand entrance with an announcer, smoke and fog before saying “I do” with a surprise WWE luchador officiant. This $900 package includes themed décor, a wrestling ring setup, a six-rose bouquet and boutonniere, ceremony video, livestream, digital photos, music, round-trip limo transportation and more.

Las Vegas Monorail For a convenient transportation option during WrestleMania 41, visitors can hop on the Las Vegas Monorail, which offers seven stations along the Strip, including the Las Vegas Convention Center. Riders can take advantage of eTicket discounts on unlimited-ride passes starting at $13.45 for a 24-hour pass, which can be purchased online.