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Magazine Archive: Good Riddance, Thunderdome

By Rick Ucchino, originally in FightfulMag.com issue 4

You’ll be hard-pressed to find many people who will look back on the year 2020 with great fondness. Some glittering moments of joy maybe, but for most of us, the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic is something we will strive to forget with very little success. This virus changed our entire way of life. The way we think. The way we act. The way we function on a day-to-day basis.

COVID-19 destroyed livelihoods and sh...

Fightful Weekender (5/7): MLW, BEYOND, AIW, GLORY PRO, TWE, ROH SPOILERS, NXT LEVEL UP, NWA, DEFY

STEPHEN JENSEN is back with a new edition of the WEEKENDER!

Topics:

- MLW: "Underground" (5/2) results

- BEYOND: "Thirty" results

- AIW: "Cibernetico De Mayo 2" results

- GLORY PRO: "Live At The Pageant III: Powerhouse" results

- TWE: "Red Bank Roulette" results

- ROH *TV TAPING SPOILERS*

- NXT Level Up (5/5) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (5/2) results

- DEFY: "The Juice" results

Barry Darsow [Smash of Demolition] Interview Notes

He was part of the legendary tag team/stable Demolition, and this week Barry Darsow joined Lars Frederiksen and Dennis Farrell for the Wrestling Perspective Podcast episode. Barry talks on a wide variety of topics with the guys.

The first question Barry was asked was regarding on how he obtained feedback after his matches because now feedback is almost instantaneous. He said when he was wrestling, everyone watched everyone so that you would hear from some of the guys. He said everyone k...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: WWE Backlash Review | King Conejo

Somehow, Backlash turned out to be one of the best shows of the year, except for some reason they decided that THE BEST SPECTACLE MATCH IN THE HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS should not Main Event this pay-per-view.

Bad Bunny is the best celebrity wrestler ever, and I will hear no arguments to the contrary.

I guess we'll have to wait until the main event to see if Cody finishes the story by beating a guy who he's feuding with for no reason, or if Brock simply wipes the floor with him.

WWE Backlash SCOOPS THREAD: Match Order, Producers, More

Fightful has learned the following match order for WWE Backlash.

Backlash Producers


- Raw Women's Title: Bianca Belair vs. IYO SKY: TJ Wilson

- Seth Rollins vs. Omos: Adam Pearce

- US Title: Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed: Abyss

- Smackdown Women's Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Zelina: Shawn Daivari

- San Juan Street Fight: Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest: Jamie Noble

- Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle vs. Bloodline: Jason J...

Update on Drew McIntyre, WWE Relationship, More

Drew McIntyre has the wrestling world in a stir, and we’ve learned a lot more about his status with WWE.

McIntyre’s WWE deal is up in early 2024, well before WrestleMania, and we’re told that he operated on the possibility that it could end up being his last WrestleMania. While it’s been reported that he’s leaning towards not staying with WWE, we’re told that it’s more accurate to say that he doesn’t know. If things aren’t working for both sides by the time his deal is...

Fightful Select Exclusive | WWE Backlash Pre-Show & Q&A, Rob Wilkins Hosts the Q&A Portion

Today at 2:30 PM, EASTERN! Join Fightful for the WWE Backlash Pre-Show with Rob Wilkins, Maggie, Chris Mueller, Ryan of Mark Order Podcast,  Alexis Cardoza, Jarrett Bailey, and potentially others.

Leave your Questions if you have any! *Note Sean Ross Sapp DOES NOT host this Q&A 

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PxKAH-aPDs

Backstage News on Cameron Grimes, Cody, Bad Bunny, Smackdown Producers

Producers

- Rey Mysterio promo: Michael Hayes

- OC vs. Viking Raiders: Jason Jordan

- Bianca Belair, Damage CTRL, Liv Morgan & Raquel promo: TJ Wilson

- Street Profits vs. Imperium: Shawn Daivari 

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross: Abyss

- Video packages and backstage segments: Michael Hayes

- LWO vs. Judgment Day, Bad Bunny run in: Michael Hayes

Backstage news

- Butch vs. LA Knight was the op...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 5/5 | Everything Is A Lie

Some stuff happened on the Puerto Rico SmackDown, but honestly who gives a crap.

They announced that the Tournament for the New "RAW EXCLUSIVE" World Heavyweight Title would feature a bunch of guys from SmackDown.

I hate everything.

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

(And maybe I'll do some live commentary on the Final Deletion match.)

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/live/W1A-Fi...

WWE Smackdown Plans

Fightful has learned the following plans for WWE Smackdown in Puerto Rico, subject to change

Please do not spoil the show for those who wish to avoid it

- Rey Mysterio Promo

- Viking Raiders vs. Good Brothers

- Bianca Belair promo

- Imperium vs. Street Profits

- Cody Rhodes segment

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross

- There are packages planned for WWE Draft, today's presser and Backlash

- Rey Mysterio & Zelina vs. Domini...

SRS Q&A: Drew, Punk, AEW-WBD, More!

- Drew McIntyre

- Naomi/Trinity

- AEW All In

- AEW and WBD deal

- CM Punk

- Wrestling Contracts

Coexisting After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie: Special Guest Romeo of TruHeelHeat

Romeo is our guest this week! He is the KING of the Watch Along! However, he takes time away from his schedule to join us for a fun interview.

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCXh2VYSEvQ

Big Name Done With IMPACT For Now

Matt Cardona hasn’t been around in IMPACT Wrestling for a while, and there’s a reason for that.

Fightful has learned that Cardona is finished with IMPACT Wrestling for the time being. Cardona had worked with IMPACT for over two years without a contract, and the company was hopeful to ink him to a deal that would guarantee dates. While Cardona was happy with the idea of maintaining the agreed upon dates, but preferred to do it on the same handshake deal they’d had prior. However, t...

SRS Q&A Questions

Hey guys! Q&A time

Guidelines

- I will try to answer the questions I know. Your question isn't wasted if I don't. It shows me what I need to ask around about.

- 1 question per subscriber

- No "are you a fan of?" "fantasy book this" "top 5" or "favorite" questions please! We try to keep these as newsworthy as possible

If you're a new subscriber, comment your question below. I'll delete the field after I'm done recording.

For aggrega...

Select Portions: Royal Rumble Bidders, WWE Draft, Smackdown

- Several of the WWE talent that were drafted on the Monday Raw were made aware the Friday prior and filmed promos accordingly.

- We've learned that Tampa Bay is also very interested in making a bid for the Royal Rumble

- While AEW Rampage started early on with a CM Punk debut, expect it to become more of a hybrid of what AEW Dark, Elevation and Rampage were moving forward.

- Those that we've been talking to do not expect a hard brand split for AEW Dynamite and Collision, we...

Original plans for Bad Bunny at Backlash, why they changed

Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest is set for Backlash, but wasn’t the original plan.

Fightful Select reported around WrestleMania that Bad Bunny was set to return and work towards a tag match with Rey Mysterio, taking on the Judgment Day duo of Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio.Things were moving that directions and plans were headed that way, but the match was changed to a singles match.

Fightful has learned that the original plans would have seen Bad Bunny pinning Dominik Mysterio ...

NJPW name working without contract

Tama Tonga is working without a New Japan Pro Wrestling contract.

A name that WWE had interest in, is technically a free agent.

Fightful Select has learned that former Bullet Club member Tama Tonga has long been working without a NJPW deal. We’d reported back in January that WWE had interest in Tama Tonga, to the point that there were some tentative creative ideas pitched for him. However, since then, we’ve learned that he’d been a victim of the unofficial hiring freeze and ...

Select Portions: Renee's Pod, Will Washington, WWE, More

- For those asking, Will Washington's job is not what Leva Bates' job was before her deal expired. This is a completely new role that was created.

- We’re told Renee Paquette’s “Sessions” podcast is on hiatus for the time being. It is believed the deal expired without them coming to terms.

- Street Profits, Viking Raiders, Matt Riddle are all set for this week's Smackdown.

- Damian Priest has been in Puerto Rico doing media most of this week. 

- On Thursda...

Former Fightful Host Will Washington Joins AEW

Grapsody and Fightful’s Will Washington has signed with All Elite Wrestling and will be joining the company.

Washington has finished up podcasting duties with Fightful, and has started traveling with the AEW brand, and is in town for the May 3 show. Washington will be serving as Director of Wrestling Administration for the company. Some talent were told of the move at the April 26 AEW Dynamite, after a deal was agreed to in the week prior.

Among the duties Washington will be hel...

The List Goes On

SRS AND JIMMY PARTY HARD

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/MiJd5R4YjHg

Details on the future of AEW Dark/Elevation

AEW Dark and Elevation both may be wrapping up soon.

With All Elite Collision starting soon, it looks like AEW’s broadcast plans are changing, per Andrew Zarian. Fite had recently indicated that AEW Dark: Elevation was ending its three year run. However, it doesn’t look to be the only show ending. Broadcast sources indicated to Fightful that AEW Dark would also be wrapping sooner than later. The show has been airing on Youtube since October 2019. Those that we spoke to indicated tha...

Backstage WWE Raw News, Draft Info, More

Raw Producers

- Paul Heyman promo: Jason Jordan

- Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Bayley & Dakota Kai: Petey Williams

- Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Alpha Academy: Kenny Dykstra

- Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes segment: Michael Hayes

- Matt Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso: Michael Hayes

- Miz TV with Shinsuke Nakamura: Kenny Dykstra

- Omos match: Adam Pearce

- LWO vs. Judgment Day: Jamie Noble

- Seth Rollins vs. Solo Sikoa: Jason Jordan<...

Details on World Heavyweight Title, Universal/WWE Title unification

The WWE unified title was a hastily made decision after Roman Reigns couldn’t appear at Day 1.

Fightful Select has looked into the decision to unify the WWE top titles in 2022, and to establish a new title in 2023.

We’ve learned that prior to WWE Day 1 2022, there were no plans to combine the WWE and Universal Championship. However, when Reigns contracted COVID and was pulled from the show, the late decision was made for Brock Lesnar to be added to the WWE Title match, win it,...

SRS Backstage Report (5/2): CM Punk, Roderick Strong, More

- CM Punk WWE/IMPACT

- CM Punk and Jericho meet

- Tons of WWE Draft news

- Roderick Strong 

- Mercedes Mone

- KofiMania

- Nick Aldis-IMPACT

- Janela and Enzo

- AEW signing

- WWE Lawsuit

- Maclin, Pillman, Baszler, Cartwheel

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 5/1 | I Hate The Draft

I really, really, really, really, REALLY hate the draft.

Kate probably does too.

I also hate everything else.

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Iyr067YeE1o

Select Style Podcast (5/1): Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi, Champion Carnival, BOSJ, And More

Scott Edwards is back again on the eve of Golden Week with another packed episode featuring praise for Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi, the continuation of the Champion Carnival, a look at the BOSJ lineups, and so much more.
Here are the promotions covered this week:
- PROMINENCE
- TJPW
- WAVE
- STARDOM
- Gatoh Move
- SEAdLINNNG
- AJPW
- NOAH
- NJPW

WWE Raw And Draft Plans

Fightful has learned the following plans for WWE Raw, very subject to change.

Please be cognizant of people who wish to avoid spoilers

- WWE Draft round one

- Paul Heyman promo

- Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Bayley & Dakota Kai

- WWE Draft round two 

- Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Alpha Academy

- WWE Draft round three

- Brock Lesnar promo

- Matt Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso

- WWE Draft round four

- Miz TV with Sh...

CM Punk played Uno backstage at IMPACT

Huge news. CM Punk played Uno backstage at IMPACT over the weekend.

No, really. CM Punk was backstage at IMPACT Wrestling, and played a round of Uno. While Punk made his latest stop at a company that wasn’t All Elite Wrestling, we learned a little more about his time there, which did in fact involve playing Uno with an IMPACT talent.

While there, we’re told that Punk spoke with over a dozen IMPACT wrestlers, and exchanged pleasantries while there. We’re told in particular he...

Select Portions: WWE Numbers, Raw & Draft News, Scouting, Cody Rhodes

- WWE's show in Paris was a sellout. We heard that those on that show specifically were in high spirits.

- WWE's show in Belfast hit a 15-year high in gross.

- Cody Rhodes merchandise moved well on the tour, sometimes outselling WWE's general brand merchandise

- Not that it's much of a surprise, but Johnny Gargano and Seth Rollins were expected to be drafted to WWE Raw as of this weekend.

- Aliyah and Mustafa Ali were not drafted to NXT, despite the phony graphic going...

Select Exclusive: Larry Lazard Interview

Stephen Jensen of the Weekender interviews Larry Lazard at Battleslam!