fightful

SRS Q&A Questions

Hey guys! I'm snowed in! Get your questions in! One per subscriber!!

Select Answers: Creative Control, Tribute To The Troops, OVW

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.

Do you ever seen OVW becoming the exclusive developmental territory for a promotion again? Obviously not WWE since they already have their own.

They've approached AEW in the past about doing things. The area isn't quite the wrestl...

Hulk Hogan-WWE update

A WWE legend could be making some appearances soon.

Fightful Select has learned that Hulk Hogan has been discussed for some upcoming appearances with the company. We've not learned of specific dates.

Hogan's Real American Beer was spotted on a new canvas for WWE that featured a number of sponsors. It's expected that will be used in the coming weeks.

Hogan was also on a new Saturday Night's Main Event commercial for later this month in San Antonio. We weren't told if Hogan w...

FREE POST: UK News, Fightful News, More

• Fightful is collecting acceptance speeches and the Awards show date will be announced soon, hopefully.

• A reminder, you can lock in you $54/year price point ahead of the basic tier of select increasing to $6 a month. The change goes into effect at the end of this month.

• A reminder, we have Wrestle Kingdom and Wrestle Dynasty post-shows and WK was reviewed by grapsody.

• For those asking about Jimmy Van's book from the 2000s, which was an orig...

  2025-01-04 22:18:40 +0000 UTC View Post

Former NXT team could be headed to the United States

A former NXT team is looking to work in the United States more.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews, the team of Subculture, are in the process of getting their United States visas. This would be the first time they’ve had US visas since they worked in WWE.

They hope to have their visa situation sorted out by the end of January. At that point, the two are looking to work for American companies and on the United States indepen...

Select Answers: AEW, Rush, Kiera, Dralistico, Nick Gage

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.

Hey Sean! Happy early New Year! Just wondering: Is Kiera Hogan still with AEW/ROH?

Contractually, she is still with AEW as best I know. She hasn't wrestled anywhere in over eight months. She'd been dealing with a shoulder injury.<...

Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is currently slated for Saudi Arabia.

PWInsider reported this evening that next year's Royal Rumble event was planned for Saudi Arabia. Fightful Select has learned that is the working plan. Those that we've spoken to claim that Riyadh is slated to be the host. The venue is to be determined.

We're told that there have been site layouts being worked on for the possibility in recent months.

Fightful Select reported earlier that WWE had new ring mats produc...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 1/3 | Three's A Crowd

Every SmackDown is 3 hours now.

After one episode, they definitely haven't skimped on ring time, but that's not a phenomenon that's likely to continue.

Here's what we got tonight:

Andrade vs Nakamura.
Michin vs Piper Niven
DIY vs MCMG
Naomi vs Nia
3 Usos (inluding Sami Uso) vs New Bloodline

5 matches in three hours, plus a Cody & Drew promo, leading to a Cody & KO brawl. And in those 5 matches, one ended in a telegraphed no-contest and one ended in ...

Sponsored WWE ring mats coming soon?

WWE Smackdown isn't the only show getting a new ring mat.

The January 3 episode of Smackdown saw the show get a new blue ring mat, a stark change from the one that has existed prior. There was another on the ring earlier in the day, Fightful Select can confirm.

This afternoon ahead of WWE Smackdown, there was a black ring mat out in the ring. It also featured various logos, including a Fortnite logo where Prime's used to reside.

In two corners, Riyadh Season, with the other...

Top WWE talent expected back "sooner than later"

WWE talent are expecting a familiar face back in the fold soon.

WWE talent that Fightful Select have spoken to say that they expect Charlotte Flair is returning sooner than later, although they wouldn't put a timetable on it. Most expected her to be factored into the Royal Rumble, but we haven't heard solid plans.

Charlotte Flair missed all of 2024 after sustaining a severe knee injury that required surgery.

Last year there were reports of creative plans for Charlotte, but ...

Details on Smackdown tapings, a name backstage.

Some WWE Raw names are backstage at Smackdown.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has confirmed PWInsider's report that Drew McIntyre is at Smackdown. We're told there are other WWE Raw talent at the show, and there are expected to be current WWE Raw talent at the show moving forward.

We're told that both brands will see talent from the other's for a while, with some more making a more permanent switch between brands.

We're told there will be less dark matches filmed at Smac...

Another NJPW contract coming up

Another NJPW contract is set to expire soon.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that Drilla Moloney’s New Japan Pro Wrestling contract is coming up. A member of the War Dogs, Drilla is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.

The 27-year old Moloney has been heavily featured on NJPW programming. We're told there's been outside interest in him, but not sure from there.

For those claiming that "every contract" or "every foreign contract" is up at the s...

Select Answers: Raw, Smackdown, Cody, Jordynne Grace

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.

Hey SRS, just wanted to ask you if there’s any news on Cody’s move to Raw or is he staying on Smackdown for the foreseeable future? (Pls let it be Raw)

I would be shocked to not see him featured on WWE Raw pretty regularly. Ne...

More details on Cena/Cody plans

John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes is the working plan for WrestleMania.

Fightful had noted for the last number of weeks that John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes was the plan for WrestleMania 2025, but it picked up more traction today. We have some more details behind the situation.

Fightful Select was told as far back as mid-November that Cody Rhodes and Cena was the plan, after it was indicated that the Rock's schedule was unclear for Mania. As has been widely reported, The Rock isn't currently fa...

Another top NJPW contract expiring

Another top NJPW name has his contract coming up soon.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay is among the huge number of contracts in New Japan Pro Wrestling that are set to be up soon. Finlay has worked as a top talent in the company. 

NJPW sources say that they expect Finlay to remain with the company and that New Japan has expressed interest in retaining him. Finlay has been the leader of the War Dogs for ...

AEW Scoops Thread: AEW on Max, More!

• The Pointer Sisters theme is slated to be a regular theme moving forward.

• Samantha Irvin and Beth Phoenix were both backstage at the show. Beth Phoenix lives in Asheville. PWInsider reported the news

• Indie wrestlers Emily Jaye and Brittany Jade were at the show working as extras.

• Those we spoke to were very happy with the production of the show.

• As we'd mentioned in the past, WBD communicated to AEW that the Cincinnati Dynami...

  2025-01-02 18:55:23 +0000 UTC View Post

Ask Grapsody | January 2nd, 2025 Edition

Phil & Righteous Reg are back for a new edition of Ask Grapsody!

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/KNApjbnDnQ8

Select Answers: Bronson Reed, John Cena, Hurt Syndicate

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.

If/when the Hurt Syndicate expand, which wrestlers do you feel would be the best fit/benefit the most from being with them? Thanks.

We'd just reported that Kevin Knight's deal with NJPW is up soon. I think that he could replicate ...

AEW SCOOPS THREAD

• There's a new AEW Dynamite theme planned soon.

• Young Bucks' original AEW theme, as well as those of Santana & Ortiz, Awesome Kong and early Lucha Bros theme have been adjusted in the AEW library.

• Those that we spoke to weren't sure what is being filmed after Dynamite tonight since Rampage has now concluded.

• The "we're going to picture in picture" transitions have been removed from the Dynamite archives, and now feature what was on the F...

  2025-01-01 23:22:24 +0000 UTC View Post

Former WWE Talent contract is up

A former WWE talent's contract is officially up.

Fightful Select has learned that Tom Pestock, formerly known as Baron Corbin, is officially a free agent. Pestock was informed two months ago that WWE would not be renewing his contract. That period has expired and Pestock is no longer under WWE contract.

Pestock was backstage at AEW Worlds End this past weekend.

Select Answers: AEW, Death Riders, Omega

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.

How would you fix the Death Riders storyline? It’s gone downhill very quickly.

I would end it. It's not working, in my opinion. I don't think you should stretch this out another five months to coronate Darby. If something HAD to...

A number of wrestling contracts expire

A number of contracts officially expire now that it’s the new year.

A ton of free agents hit the wrestling market today. Perhaps most notably, “Speedball” Mike Bailey. Bailey has actually been done with TNA since October, but his deal ran through 2024. He’ll be heading to AEW imminently. 

Though she is sidelined with an injury, Steph De Lander is a free agent. Along with Matt Cardona, she was 2023 Indie Act of the Year winner in the Fightful Awards. 

Kus...

Top NJPW name has contract expiring

A top name in New Japan Pro Wrestling sees his contract expire soon.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that NJPW Strong Openweight Gabe Kidd has his New Japan Pro Wrestling contract coming up soon. Kidd has worked ROH tapings in addition to working as a prominent talent in NJPW over the last couple of years.

Kidd is expected to be a talent that NJPW hopes to retain, but we haven’t heard if the process of negotiations are ongoing or not. Kidd has a huge match this we...

WWE News: Writers, Producers, Holiday Tour Notes

• WWE's holiday tour concluded last night with their house show in Detroit.

• Ben Saccocio was the writer on Jey Uso's Raw promo

• Alexandra Williams continues serving as the writer on CM Punk's segments

• Lead writer Jon Baeckstrom is listed as the writer on Ludwig Kaiser's segment

• Ioannis Filippides was listed as the writer on the Chelsea Green segment.

• Cristian Scovell was listed as the writer on the Kevin Owens, Co...

  2024-12-31 22:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post

Select Portions: TNA Contract, Kyle Fletcher, NJPW, More

• AJ Francis' new TNA deal is through 2025, Fightful Select has confirmed.

• WWE has no scheduled house shows until the European tour in mid-March. Talent we've spoken to are very happy about it.

• We're told the Cincinnati AEW shows had an additional emphasis put on them at the request of WBD.

• Kenny Omega had been planned to head to Japan on January 1 for this weekend's show.

• NJPW has started negotiating with a number of talent ...

  2024-12-31 20:09:21 +0000 UTC View Post

Fightful Select pricing update

Hey friends, SRS here. At the end of January, Fightful Select will raise $1 for the basic news tier to a total of $6. It's the first price increase we've made in the seven year history of Select, and hopefully the only one. As of now, we're not planning on increasing the higher tiers that include early access content.

It isn't a decision we take lightly, and it was important for us to remain the most inexpensive exclusive wrestling news service. We've had over 7,000 of exclusive ne...

Select Answers: SRS Opinion Edition

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.

Who is your pick to win the Rumble?

On the men's side, John Cena. I think the story of him pursuing a record breaking title is too good to ignore.

A heel Bianca Belair, or an NXT talent on the women's side is ideal. I think ...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 12/30 | Farewell, USA

It's the last ever episode of Raw on the USA Network, and WWE celebrated by giving us an episode of the show.

Otis finally got his hands on Gable. It.... did not go well for him.
The Judgment Day have new music ... and the same old feuds.
The Women's Intercontinental Finals are set, and it's not what we thought it would be.
Seth. Punk. UNDER THE SAME ROOF.

(They were under the same roof a couple weeks ago.)

Kate barely watched the show. Let's see if I can slip a lie...

WWE Raw Scoops Thread

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following plans for tonight's WWE Raw, subject to change.

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers.

• SPOILER PROMO

• Otis vs. Chad Gable

• Pete Dunne vs. R-Truth

• IC Title Tourney: Dakota Kai vs. Zoey Stark

• Damian Priest & War Raiders vs. Judgment Day

• SPOILER PROMO 2

• IC Title Tourney: IYO SKY vs. Lyra Valkyria

2024-12-31 00:21:54 +0000 UTC View Post

TNA contract expiring

Another TNA contract is coming up.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has learned that Bhupinder Gujjar's TNA contract is set to expire on December 31, making him a free agent.

The 30 year old Gujjar has been with TNA for the last three years.