Select Answers: Mariah May, Contracts, Evolution, TNA

Welcome to Select Answers, a short feature that provides some of the answers to questions that were posed to Sean Ross Sapp in the most recent Fightful Weekly Q&A Podcast. The show drops every week on Fightful Select for subscribers.

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Hey SRS, regarding stories like the recent Mariah May contract situation - do you find that these leaks often serve strategic purposes? In your experience, are wrestlers or their representatives sometimes deliberately floating information to signal availability to other promotions or to gain leverage in contract negotiations? And if so, do you ever reflect on your role as potentially becoming an unintentional conduit for these negotiation tactics?

That is always something I consider, not just with this, or contract stories, but every story. You have to weigh why whatever someone is telling you is making its way to you. We really started covering contracts, terminations, departures and signings on our own about six or seven years ago, and I think in that time we've already broken more in wrestling than anyone else has ever, and there is always a reason for it. The tide is shifting and talent aren't as secretive about their contracts because they understand there is leverage in negotiation.

Any news on the possible location for Evolution this summer. WrestleVotes were saying Mohegan Sun in Connecticut

They have been right on the money with what they've reported about the event to this point. I would say that Connecticut is where it would be.

Regarding the TNA firings this past week, do you know the specific reason for them? Were they due to budget cuts, or was it because new president Carlos Silva wanted to bring his guys in, or a little bit of both? Also, did WWE have any involvement in the firings?

There were no reasons given. When people that were fired asked, they were just told "changes." There was an incorrect rumor that Gail Kim and Ariel Shnerner gave Carlos Silva an ultimatum and he fired both, but that didn't happen.