Select Portions: GCW, TNA, NXT Battleground, Contracts, Luke Jacobs

• Our interview with Mance Warner goes up on Monday. Among the highlights were him saying that most of his work will be seen in GCW going forward, and he isn't expecting to return to MLW. He said that he "don't give a fuck" who challenges for the GCW Title.

• We’d mentioned that TW3 and Luke Kurtis from OVW were featured as extras on WWE Smackdown this past Friday as security guards. They also appeared at the Newport/Cincinnati TNA tapings as Mustafa Ali’s secret service.

• Regarding some of the five year deals that were signed in 2019, it's best to not take them as hard expirations in 2024, considering there's injury time added to many of them.

NXT Battleground 

- As shown on social media and in a digital exclusive, CM Punk was in attendance for the event. Punk once again kept a low profile at the event but was in good spirits.

- Jordynne Grace’s earring being ripped out led to a brief consideration backstage to have a doctor check Grace over, but was left alone when it became clear Jordynne was unfazed by it. Jordynne revealed on social media on Monday morning that she would be retiring wearing earrings during matches due to the mishap.

- We are told all six women came out of the women’s North American Title ladder match banged up but with no notable injuries. Kelani Jordan received an ovation backstage following her title win. 

- We are told there was a brief consideration to have the TNA contingent of Gail Kim, Jonathan Gresham and company shown on the broadcast.

- The UFC names featured on the show were all said to be enthusiastic about the experience, with one fighter openly expressing their desire to work with WWE in the future.

Luke Jacobs Interview Notes
Fightful’s Corey Brennan sat down with Luke Jacobs to talk about winning Super Strong Style 16, going after Kid Lykos and more.

Jacobs said that winning Super Strong Style 16 was the change he wanted and the change he needed to take things to the next level, admitting that last year he came into the tournament hoping to do his best while this year he was laser focused on winning the tournament and he feels he won the tournament convincingly.

On facing Ricky Knight Jr in the finals, Luke admitted he took a beating in the match, calling RKJ “crazy” and feels like he showcased his style of pro wrestling well. On Kid Lykos’ comments about not doing it “the right way” Jacobs dismissed Lykos’ notion, noting that he probably could have won the tournament as a “good guy” but that wasn’t any fun. Jacobs also admitted that his attack on Lykos on night one of the tournament was not spur of the moment and he had been itching to do it for a while beforehand. Luke admitted that he helped Lykos retain his title because he wants to be the one to take the Progress World Title from him.

Luke noted that he believes the Progress World Title is amongst the most prestigious world titles in independent wrestling and admitted it has been something he has been chasing since he was 15 years old. Jacobs noted his hope that he would win the title off his Super Strong Style 16 tournament win, something that Kid Lykos did not manage to do last year.

In talking about what’s changed most for Jacobs in the last year, he noted that losing some weight has helped him a lot, but feels he has not lost any of his viciousness in the ring and is happy to be known as one of the most brutal wrestlers in the world today.

While Jacobs walked away with the victory in the tournament, missed out on some big dream matches in the tournament, expressing his desire to work with Shelton Benjamin and Leon Slater, but noted they should be the ones wanting to wrestle him. Luke also noted that he would like to get the win back over Mark Haskins after losing in last years Super Strong Style 16 semi finals. Jacobs also noted that once he wins the world title, he will hold it for a long time.

Jacobs would then go on a rant about Kid Lykos and Lykos II, calling Lykos a “bitch” for hiding behind Lykos II, who he feels actually got Lykos is title match to win the Progress World Title in the first place.

In talking about Mad Kurt, Luke shared stories of even after long and brutal matches how Kurt would still be laughing and joking, despite visibly being in pain. However, Jacobs also shared the flip side of one day passing Kurt after a match and warning Kurt not to make a joke, to which Jacobs says Kurt looked very frightened and thought better of it. Jacobs also noted that even though he is a serious guy when the bell rings, he agrees with Kid Lykos that Kurt’s vision of wrestling being a variety show being valid and one that should continue in the British Wrestling Scene.