fightful

WWE Raw News, Backstage Info, Writers, Producers

• Fightful will have be covering the WWE MSG show, as well as WWE Royal Rumble live.

• Sean Ross Sapp and Andrew Baydala will be hosting the WWE SNME post-show this week.

• SRS will give a brief Raw review on the delayed Fightful Report Podcast, which is likely to drop tonight. We'll have notes from the AEW media event on Wednesday.

• Ben Saccoccio wrote the New Day promo

• Alexandra Williams wrote the Seth Rollins promo

• ...
  2024-12-10 23:44:43 +0000 UTC View Post

WWE Possibly Filming For New Show Tonight

WWE will see elements of a new show taping tonight.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has learned that plans as of early December 10 was for WWE to tape for an upcoming A&E show. Early word was that it would be a match being filmed, with one source claiming it would involve Elijah Holyfield.

This would be notable for a few reasons. The former NFL player (and Cincinnati Bengal) was only announced as being signed less than a month ago. However, WWE did recently announce a new To...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 12/9 | Selective Memories

I sure hope they're intentionally turning CM Punk heel, because if they're not, the interview segment tonight did them no favors.

Up for discussion:

Rhea Ripley & Raquel Rodriguez beat the crap out of each other.
Seth Rollins skinned Sulley from Monster's Inc to make his sleeves tonight.
The New Day seems to think they did nothing wrong.
The Gunther vs Finn match at SNME just became a Triple Threat.
Drew has his reasons for moving on from Punk to Sami.
The W...

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. Screenshotting and reposting the entirety of sections is subject to terminating your Fightful account.

• Spoiler Promo

• Final Testament & The Miz vs. The Wyatt Sicks [Eight-Man Tag Team Match]

• Spoiler Match

• Seth "Freakin" Rollins Promo

• Intercontin...

  2024-12-10 00:40:56 +0000 UTC View Post

Another AEW wrestler pulled from GCW

Another AEW talent has been removed from upcoming GCW shows.

GCW claimed to Fightful today that Willie Mack has been removed from next weekend's GCW shows. The company is under the impression this still stems from Effy's comments as AEW has no shows scheduled next week.

Willie Mack is under AEW contract.

GCW were also told that AR Fox was told not to appear on camera while visiting GCW this weekend as we.

Update: Numerous in AEW claim Mack wasn't pulled by them, an...

Latest on Fenix-AEW

The Rey Fenix and AEW saga continues.

Fenix posted a number of tweets seemingly aimed at AEW without naming them directly, claiming that he was treated inhumanely and denied a doctor when he needed one. Fightful asked for comment or statement from AEW both via message and in person at Monday's on-sale ticketing event. We were told that they weren't going to comment on the matter, with an additional source indicating that they couldn't comment on medical claims regardless.

Fightful...

Fightful Weekender (12/8): GCW, MLW, H2O, JCW, NWA, NXT LEVEL UP

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

- GCW: "Ransom" + "Mastermind" results

- MLW: "Eric Bischoff's One-Shot" results

- MLW: "Holiday Rush" SPOILERS (40 min-42 min)

- H2O: "Stand Back" results

- JCW: "Lunacy Little Rock" + "Lunacy St. Louis" results

- NWA: "Samhain 2: Part 1" results

- NXT Level Up (12/6) results

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: AEW Collision 12/8 & C2 Recap | Fun While It Lasted

Last year's AEW Continental Classic reviews were so much fun we decided to bring them back!

We are effectively halfway through the new C2 and thing are quickly shaping up. It's anybody's ballgame over in the Gold League, but in the Blue League, Kyle Fletcher is absolutely running away with it.

We will break down everything that has happened so far, detail what will be necessary for each competitor to win the field, and make our predictions for how this whole thing will shake out.<...

Select Answers: Fightful Content

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.

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Hi Sean. Whatever happened to the Fightful Roundtable?

We've shuttered that show for now. Shakiel Mahjouri did incredible work on that show even after going to CBS Sports. If he ever wants to bring it b...

Talent Getting Positive Reviews, Contract Updates, Smackdown Producers and Writers

• AEW Collision at Galaxycon was said to be a major adjustment and change for people backstage. We're told it ended up going well.

• Fightful will be at tomorrow morning's AEW ticket on-sale event at Globe Life Field where there will be several talent. Fans are welcome to attend. SRS and Ibou will have fill ins for the post-Raw show and are looking to do a bonus show this week.

• Trevor Lee told us during our interview that he'd help the likes of Logan Paul ge...

  2024-12-08 22:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post

Fightful Wrestling Weekly 12/8: Recapping the week of news

Big E

This continues to a be a big year for contracts in wrestling, and we’ve got clarification on one deal, or at least how it stood in the Summer. 

In 2019, New Day and WWE announced the trio had all signed five-year contracts, with Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E signed until the end of 2024. We’ve not learned about the status of Woods or Kofi, and any possible injury time or re-signings or extensions, but we did learn a little more about Big E a...

SRS Q&A Questions

Hey guys! SRS is traveling this week so the show may be delayed, but get those questions in!!

NXT Deadline SCOOPS THREAD: Order, Times, More

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

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers. Screenshotting and reposting the entirety or sections of the rundown are subject to your account being terminated.

Match Order:

• Men's Iron Survivor Challenge

• Underground Match: Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker

• Tag Titles: Fraxiom vs. Myles Borne & Tavion Height

2024-12-07 22:20:07 +0000 UTC View Post

First look: AEW Galaxycon setup

Fightful was able to obtain an early look at AEW's Galaxycon setup. WWE previously ran their NXT Experience here.

The setup is all floor seating with no bleachers

Photos are not for reuse.

Oba Femi update

Oba Femi has not been backstage at recent NXT tapings but there is no need to worry.

In our November 26th NXT Scoops Thread, Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan reported that Femi has not been present at NXT shows since the Halloween Havoc Premium Live Event, where he lost to Tony D’Angelo. Following the loss, rumors circulated that Oba had said his goodbyes after the show, which we previously debunked. 

Following our report on November 26th, many questioned if this meant tha...

FREE POST: Further Details On Brit Wrestling On UK TV

In recent months, the Extreme Channel in the UK has began airing events from notable wrestling promotions, including a monthly special from NJPW, NORTH events, and will air a Burning Heart show on December 7th.

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan enquired with sources at The Extreme Channel about the shows airing on the channel, and learned that there are plans to expand it’s wrestling coverage in 2025, as the channel will become available in more regions, along with it’s own app. Whi...

Select Answers: Asheville AEW, Alicia Taylor, AEW arenas

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.

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Are there any special plans for the January 1 AEW show from Asheville? I’ll be there and they’re advertising “The Mother of all Simulcasts”

It's just a hunch or assumption, but I'd be surprised ...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown Review & Rampage WatchAlong 12/6 | Transfer Portal

The Brand Split is dead. LONG LIVE THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

Up For Discussion:

DIY are champs now, because they are also heels now.
Bianca vs Piper again, was pretty damn good, again, with the same exact ending, again.
Is it a good idea for Miss Money in the Bank to also be the US Women's Champion, because that is very much now on the table.
Michael Cole chats with Kevin Owens in a parked car. Kevin Owens is always right, as per usual.

Was this a great episode of...

WWE Smackdown Scoops Thread With A LOT of spoilers

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following plans for WWE Smackdown, subject to change

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers. Screenshotting and reposting the entirety or full sections of the post makes your account subject to termination.

RUNDOWN:

• Cody Rhodes promo

• US Title Tournament: Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Elektra Lopez

• SPOILER MATCH

• SPOILER PROMOS

• Tag Titles: MCM...

  2024-12-06 23:44:35 +0000 UTC View Post

MLW Galoob News, Eric Bischoff, Bronson Reed, Juice Robinson, The Rock, Netflix

• We're told that MLW is planning to use Eric Bischoff more after the One Shot show on Thursday. They were very happy with him. We're told he arrived early in the morning and worked a full day of production.

• Alex Kane being "fired" by Eric Bischoff was a storyline and he's not leaving.
  
• Babathunder, aka Commander Azeez/Dabba Kato made a positive impression at MLW One Shot.
  
• MLW touted a sellout internally, claiming they've sold out all thei...
  2024-12-06 19:51:43 +0000 UTC View Post

Select Answers: Producers, Big Spots, Mania 41

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.

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Are big spots like Bronson Reed's approved by like HHH before hand?

They're pitched, usually go through a producer, and Triple H would likely have the final say. Production is clued in on them too, so t...

Jade Cargill update

Jade Cargill’s status gains a little more clarity.

Cargill was written off WWE TV recently with a mystery attacker angle. Fightful was immediately told by WWE sources they were informed that it was due to a legitimate injury. Since then, conflicting info has emerged from various outlets, ranging from her not being injured at all, or being out several months.

We don’t have information on a timetable regarding Jade Cargill’s return, but internally, she was listed on the injure...

Update on absent AEW star

Hologram has been out of action, and we’ve learned why. 

The 25-year old Hologram made an incredible impression with AEW fans, and won a two out of three falls match against The Beast Mortos at the AEW WrestleDream PPV. We’re told that he was to be a big factor in AEW’s new Mexican TV deal, but that will have to wait.

Hologram hasn’t been seen on AEW programming in nearly two months since the match, with AEW sources telling Fightful Select he’s been out of action wi...

FREE POST: GCW/AEW, Cameron Grimes, Euro News, Upcoming Interviews

• We've posted this update free for all subscribers, if you like what we do here, you can subscribe for $5 a month or $54 a year.

• Fightful Select released a new, exclusive interview with Steve Maclin as he'll be the Special Ambassador for TNA's Toy and Food Drive for their Atlanta shows next week.
  

• Bobby Lashley will be doing local media in Dallas next week to promote AEW All In 2025.
  

• Fightful did an interview with GCW World Champion M...

  2024-12-05 18:40:09 +0000 UTC View Post

Ask Grapsody! w/ Phil and Righteous Reg | 12/5/24

Phil and Reg are back with another edition of Ask Grapsody!

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSCO8UISKUU

Select Exclusive: Steve Maclin Speaks With Fightful

Steve Maclin speaks with SRS about TNA's upcoming toy drive, LA and NY shows.

Ryan Nemeth submitted timeline to AEW alleging he was "silently fired" over CM Punk confrontation.

Some of the aftershock of CM Punk’s issues within AEW are still being felt. The newest, in the form of a complaint regarding Ryan Nemeth and his exit from AEW earlier this year.

Fightful has obtained a complaint sent to numerous executives within All Elite Wrestling back in September, in which Ryan Nemeth outlined a timeline of events that he says highlight abuse, harassment, and threats he faced while working in AEW. Note that these are the individual claims of Nemeth himself, primar...

Select Answers: SNME, Mone, Triple Crown

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.

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Do you see major things (ie; storylines, title changes) happening at SNME or is there one you want to see? Personally, I want KO to beat Cody for the title

Personally, I think they should do something m...

Latest on The Rock-WWE-WrestleMania

WWE is preparing for a WrestleMania without the Rock.

On Monday's WWE Post-Raw show on Fightful with Sean Ross Sapp and Ibou, Sapp noted that he doesn't believe The Rock will be working WrestleMania, based on things he'd heard. Dr. Chris Featherstone also noted that creative was operating as if he wouldn't be working the event, which Fightful has also heard is true.

Dave Meltzer had stated a while back that the Rock had informed WWE he wouldn't be available, to which the Rock post...

MLW makes signing

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned that MLW has signed another young star to a multi-year agreement.

Brett Ryan Gosselin is signing with Major League Wrestling after receiving a multi-year contract. BRG is currently a member of the Rogue Horsemen alongside Bobby Fish, CW Anderson, and Brock Anderson. The group, a spiritual successor to the Extreme Horsemen stable from MLW's early years, is poised for a major 2025. The original group featured CW Anderson, Steve Corino, and B...