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Update on AEW signing

AEW has landed a free agent name, Fightful is told.

In February, Fightful reported that AEW was looking to sign Ashley D’Amboise, an emerging name that already had several television appearances. At the time, Fightful was told that a contract was offered, and AEW sources believed D’Amboise would be signing. Those same sources told us that she’s under a deal now, but didn’t specify if it was full-time or a tiered deal.

Since mid-march, D’Amboise has competed exclusively f...

Lots of news on Raw changes, Vince McMahon, Producers, More

WWE Raw

- Cody Rhodes promo: Shane Helms

- LWO vs. Bloodline: Michael Hayes

- Damage CTRL vs. Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez: Petey Williams

- Austin Theory promo: Adam Pearce

- Chad Gable vs. Mustafa Ali: Jason Jordan

- Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor: Shane Helms

- Seth Rollins promo: Jason Jordan

- Rey Mysterio vs. Damian Priest: Jamie Noble

Backstage News

- Candice LeRae vs. Piper Niven was slated to be produced by M...

Select Style: STARDOM All Star Grand Queendom Review

Scott Edwards changes it up this week with the Select Style podcast as he does a full review for STARDOM's biggest show ever, All Star Grand Queendom. He gives his thoughts on every match including the dream match between Mercedes Moné and Mayu Iwatani as well as the main event for the World of Stardom Championship as Giulia defended against Tam Nakano!

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 4/24 | Consolation Prize

Trips and his buddies are too scared to beat Roman, or they have no good ideas for how to re-split the titles that are currently spot-welded onto the Tribal Chief's shoulder, so they just decided to do a re-design of the old Big Gold Belt and they're gonna crown a new, very-secondary champion in Saudi Arabia.

WWE chickened out, or they're too stupid, and either way, Everything Sucks.

Let's talk about it.
(And about the rest of Raw, I guess, but honestly, who freaking cares?) 2023-04-25 02:54:54 +0000 UTC View Post

WWE Raw Plans, Backstage News

Fightful has learned the following WWE Raw plans, which are heavily subject to change....and likely will.

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers.

- Cody Rhodes promo

- LWO vs. Bloodline

- Trish Stratus video

- Piper Niven vs. Candice LeRae was originally on the rundown

- SPOILER SEGMENT

- Triple H segment

- Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan & Bianca Belair vs. Damage CTRL

- Austin Theory promo

- Chad Gable vs. Mustafa...

UPDATED: CM Punk was backstage at WWE Raw, per talent

CM Punk was backstage at WWE Raw in Chicago.

PWinsider reported that CM Punk was briefly backstage at April 24's WWE Raw. Those that we spoke to said that they got eyes on Punk speaking to talent, including chatting with Miz, who he's had cross words with on Twitter in the past. Those that we spoke to said it appeared that the two were getting along. Punk was also seen speaking with Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley and Tamina.

Punk was looking to have a short talk with Triple H, who wa...

Talent speculation on Triple H's announcement

The backstage is buzzing today about a Triple H announcement on WWE Raw.

One widely speculated element is that a new title belt is fully prepared and could be introduced as soon as tonight's WWE Raw. It hasn't been specified if it's a new design, or a completely new title. 

Fightful reached out to WWE in an official capacity, but didn't hear back.

SRS Backstage Report (4/24): HHH announcement, Mercedes,

- Mercedes Mone

- Hangman Page

- WWE and Twitch

- WWE hiring freeze

- Dustin Rhodes, Roxanne Perez, Janela

- Hammerstone Injury

- Triple H announcement

Mercedes Mone set to be a free agent soon

Mercedes Mone is about to be a free agent.

Mercedes Mone has no more dates left with Stardom as of this moment, according to members of her team. The two sides are open to doing more business in the future, and Stardom was said to have been happy with the deal, and the business she conjured up. We’re told that both sides have been open to doing business again in the future, but that it would likely require a bigger renegotiation after the business she drew there.

It was reported...

Select Portions: Raw, Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn, Betting odds

- Some Raw notes and spoilers: There are extras being brought in with some heavy duty security gear for a segment in the ring, then a bunch more for another segment. 

- The Bloodline and Adam Pearce have office areas set up for tonight.

- WWE had kendo sticks, 2x4s, axe handles and lead pipes gimmicked for tonight's show

-Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn spoke with Fightful for a recent interview.

Shawn Michaels approached them about the possibility of being put together i...

Fightful Weekender (4/24): GCW, BATTLESLAM, ROH SPOILERS, AIW, NXT LEVEL UP, MLW, NWA

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

Topics:

- GCW: "Into The Light" + "Scene Of The Crime" results

- BATTLESLAM: "Excellence" results

- ROH *TV TAPING SPOILERS*

- AIW: "Damn!" results

- NXT Level Up (4/21) results

- MLW: "Underground" (4/18) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (4/18) results

More on WWE's hiring pause

We’ve learned more on the WWE hiring freeze.

It was reiterated to Fightful from WWE higher ups that there has been an effective hiring freeze in place since the beginning of the year, whether or not that official term has been used. . In fact, we’ve learned that Nick Aldis was told that WWE had maintained interest in him, but with the corporate moves, there weren’t main roster hires being made.

However, we have been told that A WWE higher up told some within the industry tha...

Select Portions: Thunder Rosa, Nova, IMPACT, WWE records

- Thunder Rosa is still not cleared and there is concern that she may require surgery to repair her back.

- Nova/Mike Bucci/Simon Dean is working on a new movie "Fighting the Fire."

- Our interview with MJF crushed traffic records in only four days, becoming our most viewed Youtube interview, most downloaded interview, and most watched TikTok clip

- Gail Kim and Gisele Shaw are currently filming the Amazing Race Canada.

- Cody Rhodes noted that Chicago, Belfast and Par...

Select Exclusive: Terry Yaki Interview

Weekender's Stephen Jensen Interviews Terry Yaki!

Dustin Rhodes Talks Face Paint, Goldust, AEW, WWE

AEW's Dustin Rhodes joined The Wrestling Perspective this week! The former WWE Intercontinental Champion spoke to Fightful's Lars Frederiksen and Dennis Farrell on various topics.

When asked about still using face paint at AEW, he said to us that being in the WWE for 24 years using face paint was all he knew. So he brought it over to AEW because it was important to him. During the early WCW tenure, he did not wear face paint and was a guy trying to find his way, so his character is half...

Big name backstage at GCW

A big name was backstage at Game Changer Wrestling.

Trinity Fatu, formerly known as Naomi, was at the April 22 GCW show in Orlando.

We've reached out to GCW to see if she was visiting or if there would be more to her presence moving forward but weren't given any clarification.

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: AEW Rampage 4/22 WatchAlong & Alternate Commentary

Let's watch a Saturday Night Rampage together!  And why not, let's do some alternate commentary on all the matches!

Ever want to hear Linda call an El Hijo Del Vikingo match? Well, too bad, because you're gonna hear it anyway!

FTR has to team with Jarrett & Lethal, so I think that qualifies as a prompt for this show's catchphrase.

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8hJ...

Update on WWE-WDB rumors

Jim Miller caused a bit of a stir in noting that he wouldn’t be surprised if WBD was interested in WWE content if they lose the NBA.

Based on information Fightful has received, that hasn’t been the case. Several WWE higher ups had inquired as to whether or not that’s something people within the industry have heard, and noted that they’d not heard about that whatsoever. We’re told there haven’t been conversations regarding WWE with Warner Bros. Discovery. There have been conv...

Backstage News, Producers For WWE Smackdown

WWE Smackdown Producers

- Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar vs. Damian Priest & Finn Balor: Michael Hayes

- Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Viking Raiders: Adam Pearce

- Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green: TJ Wilson

- Xavier Woods vs. GUNTHER: Shawn Daivari

- Matt Riddle vs. Solo Sikoa: Jason Jordan.

Backstage news

- It goes without saying, but the spot ...

Select Portions: Jeff Hardy, Interviews, Janela, More

- Jeff Hardy wasn't expected to have an in-ring match before the Compound Match, at least as of his return. There were some outside of AEW who had learned he was returning a couple of days prior. 

- Fightful has an interview with Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn going up this week.

- Fightful's Wrestling Perspective Podcast with Dennis Farrell and Lars Fredireksen is interviewing AEW's Dustin Rhodes this week. 

- Fightful's Stephen Jensen was on the scene at GCW in Atlanta ...

Select Exclusive: Cole Radrick, Jaden Newman, Bryan Keith, Carmen Michael, Scott Hensley Interview

The Weekender's Stephen Jensen does a group interview

SRS Q&A: WWE Deals, TV rights, HBO, CM Punk/Elite

- AEW TV Deal

- WWE UK TV deal

- CM Punk/Elite

- HBO max

- Naomi/Trinity

- WBD

- Sting 

Smackdown plans for tonight.

Fightful has learned the following plans for Smackdown, subject to change.

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers

- LWO (Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar) vs. Judgment Day

- The next segment is just listed as "SHORT"

- Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Viking Raiders

- Women's Tag Titles: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville

- IC Title Match: Gunther vs. Xavier Woods

- Usos promo

- ...

SPECIAL GUEST: Phil Lindsey | Coexisting After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie

Coexisting After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie is back with a new episode, and our special guest this week is Grapsody's & Bleacher Report's Phil Lindsey.

We talk lots of wrestling! CM Punk, Grapsody, Boston Baked Beans, and more.

Youtube Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9tZ7fx1QeM

Select Portions: AEW/Indies, Smackdown Notes, More

- We’ve had questions regarding AEW and indie dates. We haven’t heard of AEW reducing indie dates, but with the expanded schedule on the horizon, many AEW talent could be more active within the company on weekends, leading to less indie dates.

- Malakai Black had a travel issue that contributed to not making the Water City Wrestling Con and ACW show in Wisconsin. Swoggle, who runs the company, told the crowd Black wouldn't take a later flight after his initial one was delayed

...

Ask Grapsody 4/20/23 | Fightful Select

Get your questions in! Ask Grapsody  Join Will, Righteous Reg, and Phil as they answer your questions! The show begins at 5 PM EST.

Youtube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb6Pp8dOQoo

Major MLW Injury

MLW's top star is injured.

Fightful Select has learned that Alex Hammerstone was injured during the War Chamber match that aired on REELZ Tuesday night. The injury caused him to leave the match early, which led to a lot of the planned match to be cut out, including the finish and aftermath.

We're told Rickey Shane Page got a lot of credit backstage and with MLW for adjusting on the fly and making things work. He was brought in to work as an agent as well as a wrestler.

MLW e...

Roxanne Perez on Shawn Michaels, Rumble, WWE signing

Roxanne Perez spoke with Fightful Select during WrestleMania week. When speaking with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, Perez was asked if she had specific ideas for where she wanted her career to be. She said that right now, she is trying to take in every moment she can, especially as NXT Women’s Champion.

Perez was asked about her reaction when discovering she would be in the Royal Rumble. She said it was so much to process. Perez mentioned that Money in the Bank, Royal Rumble, and Wrest...

Select Portions: AEW, Twitch, Roode, More

- We've been told to expect more announcement of plans for AEW around the time of Warner Upfronts on May 17. 

- Fightful has interviews with Roxanne Perez and Joey Janela going up this week. 

- For those asking about Bobby Roode, he's been sidelined for a year, but didn't get his fusion until late last year. He's still expected to be out quite some time.

- We're told the WWE split of the new Twitch deal is very low, in the single figures.

- We're looking to e...

Hangman Page And AEW In Talks For Contract Extension

All Elite Wrestling is looking to lock up Adam “Hangman” Page.

Fightful Select has learned that Adam “Hangman” Page and AEW are in the process of working towards a potential new contract. Hangman Page was not only one of the original signings, but one of the people involved with announcing the formation of the company on January 1, 2019, though he wasn’t given Executive Vice President status.

Those we spoke to said that negotiations started fairly recently, and there doe...