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Nick Aldis-IMPACT update

Nick Aldis is in IMPACT Wrestling for a good time, but maybe not a long time.

Many have been asking about the contract status of Nick Aldis after he returned to the company at Rebellion. While many have speculated that Aldis was on a handshake deal, we’ve learned that isn’t the case. Instead, he’s on a short-term agreement that looks to be a feeling out process for the two sides. We’re told that Aldis is more concerned about seeing how things work and having a positive impact on...

Magazine Archive: Looking At Cena's 2021 Return

Originally from FightfulMag.com issue 4

By Aaron Hyden

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?

I’m talking about REAL absence. Not the “I’ll miss you while you’re at work” absence. The “don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?” type of absence.

Prior to his return at Money In The Bank 2021, it had been 479 days since John Cena appeared in a WWE ring, going all the way back to the tap...

Fightful Weekender (4/30): CM PUNK, IMPACT SPOILERS, MLW, BLP, ACTION, PRESTIGE, ROH SPOILERS, NXT LEVEL UP, NWA

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

Topics:

- CM Punk backstage at IMPACT

- IMPACT *TV TAPING SPOILERS*

- MLW: "Battle Riot 5" results

- BLP: "2 Cold 2 Hold" results

- ACTION: "5th Anniversry Mystery Show" results

- PRESTIGE: "Roseland 5" results

- ROH *TV TAPING SPOILERS*

- NXT Level Up (4/28) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (4/25) results

Big Damo Talks WWE Superstar Shakeups

Note: Fightful originally had scheduled a WWE Draft long-form feature to run around the time of the next draft, whenever that would be. However, due to some other projects, and 2022 being 2022, it ended up getting shelved. However, we’re going to provide some of the quotes for our subscribers to enjoy.

Killian Dain/Big Damo

Call-up

That’s a really good question—I think at that point they were filming the call ups. I remember, I think they used the IIco...

Sami Callihan Interview Notes

Sami Callihan Notes

IMPACT Wrestling’s Sami Callihan joined The Wrestling Perspective this week for an interview! The former IMPACT World Champion spoke to Fightful’s Lars Frederiksen and Dennis Farrell on various topics.

Callihan talked about his match with Kenny Omega at IMPACT Wrestling’s Slammiversary. He said it was cool because how often have you seen major companies work together?

He mentioned how he broke his tibia, fibula, and ankle in six pieces at IMPACT Tap...

CM Punk at IMPACT Tapings

The CM Punk world tour continues.

After showing up at NJPW to watch Mercedes Mone recently, Punk also showed up at WWE Raw backstage this week. Today, he's at IMPACT Wrestling visiting.

We're told Punk was welcomed there and brought through by security, even by numerous fans. Those we spoke to said he's backstage mingling with talent, posing for pictures and in a good mood.

We'll work to find out more.

Select Portion: WWE writer speaks, Mercedes, AEW news

- The Compound Match between the Firm and Hardys was filmed Thursday. We’re told Giancarlo Dittamo helped film it.

- Sources that we spoke to said that most of the jobs that needed to be back in the WWE offices have been for quite some time, well before Nick Khan's email to the staff this week. 

- For those asking, the WWE Rivals episodes were filmed in August 2022. Renee Paquette is still featured on them despite being in AEW for well over six months.

- We're told Me...

Kurt Angle on being drafted to ECW in 2006

Note: Fightful originally had scheduled a WWE Draft long-form feature to run around the time of the next draft, whenever that would be. However, due to some other projects, and 2022 being 2022, it ended up getting shelved. However, we’re going to provide some of the quotes for our subscribers to enjoy.

Kurt Angle on being Drafted to ECW in 2006

"I didn’t know on any of the drafts. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. I wasn’t told anything. It was just a s...

Select Portions: NJPW, Asuka, Fightful stuff, more

- For those asking, A WWE source says that Asuka hasn't asked for her release as rumored online. 

- Fightful has an interview with Alpha Academy going up this week.

- Fightful is set to be at WWE Money in the Bank, AEW All In, and IMPACT Multiverse 2 this year.

- NJPW is expected to do quite a bit of media ahead of Resurgence. Fightful will have a big interview leading into that show.

- We're told to expect Will Ospreay on NJPW Resurgence.

- Mark Long had no...

WWE Smackdown And Draft Backstage News

Producers:

- Usos, KO and Owens promo, round 1 draft: Jason Jordan

- Butch vs. LA Knight: Michael Hayes

- Draft round 2, LWO vs. Street Profits vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet: Adam Pearce

- Draft round 3, Zelina vs. Sonya Deville: TJ Wilson

- Draft round 4, backstage segments: Shawn Daivari

- Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The Usos: Jason Jordan

Backstage News

- Michael Hayes didn't produce Bloodline related segments, which is a rarity on ni...

Brock Lesnar squashing Kofi Kingston was planned almost immediately

One of the most controversial booking decisions over the last few years was set months ahead, per a former WWE writer.

Brock Lesnar crushed Kofi Kingston in October 2019 in the Smackdown debut on Fox, also crushing many fans. The reaction following the move, even to this day, was polarizing. Many who defended the move claimed that it was a result of an "underwhelming title reign," however, one WWE writer spoke out on Fightful Overbooked's In The Weeds, and seemed to nix that possibility...

Alex & Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 4/28 | Do You Feel A Draft?

WITH SPECIAL GUEST ALEXIS CARDOZA!

The draft sucks.

Roman stays on SD, Cody stays on Raw, so there's no chance of Cody getting a rematch, and if he wins the title, it's going to be the new Frankenstein Belt, which, if you're scoring at home, IS NOT THE TITLE THAT ENDS HIS STORY.

Also, Bianca and Rhea are definitely going to do another stupid belt swap, because if there's one thing WWE sucks at the most, it's learning from their mistakes.

Also, The Usos...

Smackdown Plans, Spoilers, More!!

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for tonight's Smackdown, subject to change.

Be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers.

- WWE Draft round one

- Usos and Solo Sikoa promo

- Butch vs. LA Knight

- WWE Draft Round two and "TBD"

- The following segment is listed as "TBD"

- WWE Draft Round 3

- Sonya Deville vs. Zelina

- Zelina backstage segment

- Another "TBD" segment

- WWE Draft round 4 2023-04-28 23:31:06 +0000 UTC View Post

Notable omissions and inclusions in WWE draft pool

The WWE Draft pools have been released, and featured some notable omissions and inclusions. In the event of some wrestlers, they’re sidelined with injuries and WWE likes to leave flexibility to apply returning talent to brands that need them the most.

Alexa Bliss- Alexa Bliss was sidelined due to a skin cancer procedure, and appeared on The Masked Singer. She hasn’t been factored into creative plans of late. Originally she was to be tied in to a Bray Wyatt story.

Aliyah: Had b...

Big Name Set To Be In Town For Smackdown

Fightful has learned that a big name is slated to be at Corpus Christi for Smackdown.

AJ Styles is internally planned to be at tonight's Smackdown. Styles has been sidelined with a broken ankle all year. As a result, much of the OC has been off of WWE television.

AJ Styles is grouped with the OC as a part of the night 1 draft pool. 

Buddy Matthews On His WWE Draft Experience

Note: Fightful originally had scheduled a WWE Draft long-form feature to run around the time of the next draft, whenever that would be. However, due to some other projects, and 2022 being 2022, it ended up getting shelved. However, we’re going to provide some of the quotes for our subscribers to enjoy.

Buddy Mathews on WWE Draft/Shakeup (from 2021):

"Leaving from 205, I was told after Mania that (Cedric and I) would get called up. We kind of heard whispers. The actual Mania pla...

SRS Live Q&A 3:30 PM EST

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/P5n--eH8LhE

More on WrestleMania/Minneapolis rumors

Rumors are flying that Minneapolis is a finalist for WWE WrestleMania in 2025.

Pat Kessler of CBS Minneapolis reported this afternoon that Minneapolis was a finalist to land WrestleMania, but we're told that there's nothing imminent regarding an announcement of where that year's Mania will be.

Instead, we're told that Minneapolis has been interesting in making a bid, and had reps sent to SoFi Stadium to check out how WrestleMania came across and was run. However, this is fairly co...

Select Portions: WWE Draft Cameo, Plans, Smackdown, More

• There are still talent who don’t know where they’re going in the draft.
• WWE reached out to several people for Draft cameos. One of which we’ve heard of being planned for Smackdown was Road Dogg.
• WWE has Raw and Smackdown draft rooms and a draft podium set for tonight.
• WWE is presenting the World Heavyweight Championship similarly tonight as they did on Monday’s Raw
• Sean Ross Sapp will be rejoining tonight’s Smackdown post show to cover the W...
  2023-04-28 16:04:28 +0000 UTC View Post

Joey Janela and Enzo Amore squash their beef

Joey Janela and Enzo Amore have squashed their yearslong beef.

Enzo Amore and Joey Janela got into a physical altercation at a 2019 Blink 182 concert, and hadn't been on good terms ever since. However, Janela posted a picture shaking Enzo's hand on Thursday, indicating their issues were over.

We're told that Janela and Enzo were both attending the official New York Giants draft party at MetLife stadium. Enzo and Janela had mutual friends at the event, and Enzo came to Janela's tab...

News on pitches from the WWE lawsuit

The WWE lawsuit from former writer Britney Abrahams has opened up a lot of news on pitches

You can read all about the lawsuit there: 2023-04-28 01:17:59 +0000 UTC View Post

WWE Draft News, How NXT Is Affected

The WWE Draft is upon us, and Fightful has learned some lines of thinking that WWE has ahead of this year's draft.

It's important to note, that nothing is set in stone, and we've seen changes happen all the way up to one hour before the show. 

Ilja Dragunov is a name that was pitched to potentially join the main roster for the draft. We can confirm PWinsider's report that Pretty Deadly were pitched as well. Tyler Bate has also been pitched, per WRKD Wrestling/

Cameron G...

Select Portions: Brock Lesnar, Mercedes, Griff Garrison

- It was made a point to hammer home that Brock Lesnar was “the most decorated combat sports star of all-time” on WWE Raw

- GrIzzled Young Vets announced their deals would be up in October. We’re told that they plan to continue wrestling in the States after leaving WWE.

- NJPW sources tell us they're hopeful that they can continue working with Mercedes Mone. We're told thus far the relationship has been a positive one, though she's not anchored to anything long term.

-...

More on Roderick Strong signing with AEW, leaving WWE

Roderick Strong has debuted for AEW in a shocker after leaving WWE. 

Strong showed up on the April 26 Dynamite, helping Undisputed Era ally Adam Cole. Strong had been off WWE TV for months, and WWE had been dead silent about his status with the company. The last we'd heard, there was discussion about pitching the idea of having him coach through the remainder of his deal, though we don't know if that pitch ever made it to him.

Strong re-signed with WWE in 2021, and the comp...

Major name headed to IMPACT

PWInsider reported that Trinity Fatu, aka Naomi is slated to join IMPACT Wrestling.

Fightful can confirm the two sides have been in discussions. Trinity has been backstage at NJPW, GCW, and ROH shows in recent months. At one point, WWE felt confident they'd land her again. However, they've made no main roster hires in 2023.

CM Punk and Chris Jericho met

Things are progressing towards a CM Punk return to All Elite Wrestling.

Fightful Select had reported recently that plans were in place for CM Punk to return to AEW in June, with the launch of a new Saturday show (reported to be on TNT at 8 PM by Andrew Zarian, titled Collision). Even more, a man that he’s had issues with in the past in Chris Jericho was pitched as an early program for him, if not set in stone.

We’d reported that Jericho and Punk were set to meet and speak with...

The List Goes On: Draft, Jordynne Grace, More

SRS and Jimmy party on

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SLKOCbGF7us

Select Exclusive: Baron Black interview

Stephen Jensen of the Weekender and The Spotlight interviews Baron Black!

Magazine Archive: Walk And Talk: My Match with Brian Lee

As first seen in FightfulMag.com issue 4

By Germain Wilson

I’m standing behind the black curtain, knowing full well that this is one of those moments where I’m either going to step up or fall flat on my face. Whatever is going to happen, it’s going to happen right now. But, before I get to that, I should tell you a bit more about the lead-up to this moment.

Standing outside his locker room door, I took a deep breath. I was a touch nervous, but not s...

Select Portions: Email to WWE Staff, Steve Maclin, MLW news

- MLW sees their season finale of Underground on Reelz next week. We're told there are active discussions for a season 2. MLW Fusion will premiere on May 25.

- Alex Kane is set to be a big focus of MLW this summer.

- MLW will be sending talent to NOAH soon.

- Wrestlenomics' Brandon Thurston reported that Nick Khan emailed WWE employees to inform them that...