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Ricky Starks contract update

Ricky Starks hasn’t been used on AEW TV, but is still under contract.

Ricky Starks recently appeared a Glory Pro Wrestling, ending a wrestling absence of over six months, as well as GCW where he said he was being frozen. It’s led to questions regarding his status in AEW, as well as his wrestling future.

Starks hasn’t been injured, has been cleared to compete, but hasn’t been at recent AEW shows outside of AEW Full Gear since the absence started. Those that we spoke to say ...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 11/25 Review & AEW C2 Bracketology | A New Low

So far, this has been one of the worst episodes of WWE Raw in the 30+ year history of the show.

Gunther made to look like a coward and a loser.
Shenanigans and more shenanigans.
The most obvious result to a match in wrestling history.
The War Raiders lost their title shot, in only the second title defense in the Judgment Day's 150 day reign.
The New Day got squashed by the Alpha Academy and then had a soap opera argument backstage.
The Final Testicle is about to do s...

New WWE title announced | FREE POST

The WWE Women's Intercontinental Title was announced before WWE Raw by Adam Pearce. We'll have more on tonight's posts show

WWE Raw SCOOPS THREAD

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

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers. Screenshotting and reposting the entirety of the rundown or post is grounds for terminating your account.

NOTE: CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH ACCURATE MAIN EVENT

Rundown

• Gunther interview
  
• Tornado Tag: American Made vs. LWO
  
• Bron Breakker vs. Ludwig Kaiser
  
• SPOILER TITLE...
  2024-11-26 00:39:17 +0000 UTC View Post

Update on Penta-AEW deal

Penta's present isn't with AEW for much longer.

Earlier this Summer, Fightful revealed that Penta's and Fenix's AEW deals would be up in the fall, barring injury time being added. As we've learned, injury time was added, perhaps in part to AEW learning that there was communication between WWE and the Lucha Bros. However, Penta's deal is coming up soon.

Fightful Select has learned that word within All Elite Wrestling is that Penta's deal will be up next week, and he'll effectively ...

Big Boom AJ suffered broken foot before Full Gear match

Big Boom AJ is sidelined with an injury.

Fightful reported yesterday that AEW talent managed to escape without serious injury on Full Gear. However, not everyone was so lucky. It was confirmed that Big Boom AJ sustained a broken foot and was on crutches after the show. However, the story is even wilder.

Fightful confirmed that Big Boom AJ actually broke his foot earlier in the day, and largely kept it to himself. We're told that he didn't want to disappoint fans who had bought a t...

FREE POST: Progress x Defy Matches, Upcoming Fightful news, AEW Australia

• Fightful can confirm that Luke Jacobs is slated to defend the Progress World Championship at the DEFY x PROGRESS Onslaught weekend, a 2 night doubleheader. His opponent for November 29 is Kevin Knight, and then Sunday December 1 against Man Like Dereiss

• For those asking about the situation around the AEW Australia show, we're told a move to another venue is likely, and it should be announced sooner than later.

• The Collision team will be joined by Phil Lin...

  2024-11-25 18:43:37 +0000 UTC View Post

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. This edition is purely SRS' opinions and should not be aggregated.

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Who do you see cashing in their contract first between Stratton, Christian, and Kaz?

I feel like Kazarian could any time. I don't think...

Fightful Report Pod: Q&A, Costco Guys, Ricky Starks, WWE News, More!

0:00 AEW Full Gear, Ricky Starks, Costco Guys

4:45 AEW live event strategy

8:00 Speedball Bailey

9:20 MLW Signing

10:30 B-Fab

12:10 Lyra Valkyria

13:15 UK talent at NXT

14:15 WWE comp situation

16:05 Michael Hayes

17:15 Q&A Questions

Keith Lee, WWE Survivor Series, Sable, CM Punk-AEW, Bloodline, Carmella, Logan Paul, Danhausen, Juice Robinson, much more!

Fightful Weekender (11/24): GCW, TWE, MLW, FREELANCE, DPW, ARRIVAL, NWA, NXT LEVEL UP

STEPHEN JENSEN is back with a new edition of the WEEKENDER!
- GCW: "Dream On" + "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport XII" results
- TWE: "The First Shall Be The Last" results
- MLW: "Slaughterhouse" results
- FREELANCE: "Thursday Night SlamMasters" results
- DPW: "World's Strongest 2024" results
- ARRIVAL Wrestling 3 results
- NWA: "Powerrr" (11/19) results
- NXT Level Up (11/22) results

Some WWE talent frustrated with new comp ticket policy

WWE’s success comes with some issues.

WWE has been a hot ticket, and a very expensive one, as ticket prices has reached an all-time high. For the last number of years, internal comp tickets have been limited, which we’re told hit a new high in recent weeks.

Numerous WWE talent have expressed frustration that comps are no longer available in many cases, and instead talent are getting a pre-sale link that their friends and family can utilize and get tickets before general on-sal...

AEW Full Gear Backstage News

Some more details from AEW Full Gear

• It was claimed internally that Darby Allin was actually driving in the backstage segment that closed the show.
  
• We haven't heard of any serious injuries coming out of the show

for active talent.

• 
  
• Ricky Starks was backstage at AEW Full Gear, and was getting along well with everyone as best we heard. His GCW appearance would have needed to be cleared by the company.
  
• Danny Cage of th...
  2024-11-24 20:45:05 +0000 UTC View Post

Select Answers: TNA, Non Competes, What Companies Pay For

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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Hey Sean, why do they have 90 day no compete clauses?

For a number of reasons. WWE doesn't want people immediately popping up on other programs. It also serves as a severance or employment cushion and ...

SRS Q&A Questions!

Hey guys, get those questions in!

Alex & SP3's SOUR GRAPS: AEW Full Gear 2024 | The Defiant One

Kate ditched Alex so she could go attend the show in person, and then represent Fightful at the media scrum afterward. What, like she's a person with a social life and a rewarding profession or something?

Anyway, Alex got SP3 to sub in for her, but they've never done a show together, so there's a chance this all crashes and burns, but at least it should be entertaining.

They'll go over 9 main card matches (and one Champagne Celebration) and dissect all the in-ring action, not to m...

AEW Full Gear SCOOPS THREAD

Sean Ross Sapp has learned the following for and around tonight's AEW Full Gear.

PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS. Screenshotting and sharing this post on social media is subjects to account termination.

• Note that these are rumors unless indicated that they've been confirmed

• Daniel Garcia had been slated for a big push and most in the company expect him to win the TNT Title.  

• QT Marshall had pushed for the Cos...

  2024-11-23 23:51:21 +0000 UTC View Post

WWE Smackdown Bakcstage News, Producers, Writers, Jade Cargill, Owens, More

• As Fightful Select reported Friday, Michael Hayes was back on the job on Friday's Smackdown. He had a heavy assignment list, producing Bloodline segments on the double taping.

• There are additional segments that were filmed that wouldn't air in front of the crowd.

• It was intimated to Fightful that the Jade Cargill angle was to cover for a legitimate injury. We're working to confirm that and we haven't as of yet.

• Kevin Owens' performance in h...

  2024-11-23 23:12:10 +0000 UTC View Post

AEW Full Gear Pre-Show | Fightful Select Exclusive |

Join Fightful's Rob Wilkins and Maggie, Mark Order's Podcast Ryan Sullivan and Bleacher Reports Chris "Doc" Mueller. They will preview and predict tonight's AEW PPV! Join us at 2 PM EST.

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zpkqMk0ecU

Select Answers: Hardys, Speedball, Hammerstein

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 any news on The Hardys contract status? Are they signed with TNA or is it more of a short term situation? Thanks!

They're technically free agents working without a contract. TNA is just very co...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown Review & Rampage WatchAlong 11/22 | Blaming The Victim

Cody is a jerk, but what else is new.

The Bloodline vs Bloodline saga continues ceaselessly over the horizon, doomed to march on forever.

Jade Cargill got taken out by Bayley.
Well, we don't KNOW it was Bayley yet, but it was definitely Bayley.

Rampage has Mariah & Mina vs Harley & Nyla, which should be an absolute HOOT.

Punk is riding in to save the day for Roman Reigns.

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

Watch the show on Youtube: 2024-11-23 02:59:34 +0000 UTC View Post

NEXT WEEK'S WWE Smackdown Scoops Thread

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following plans for next week's WWE Smackdown tapings, as tonight is a double taping

PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS. Screenshotting and reposting on social media is grounds for your Select account being terminated.

Rundown:

• Women's Wargames in-ring rpomo

• Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

• DIY promo

• Kevin Owens video package

• Cody Rhodes vs....

  2024-11-22 23:20:25 +0000 UTC View Post

WWE Smackdown SCOOPS THREAD #1

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following plans for tonight's WWE Smackdown tapings. Note that there will be a second edition dropping shortly for next week.

PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS. Screenshotting and reposting on social media is grounds for your Select account being terminated.

Rundown

• Solo Siko promo
  
• US Title Tournament: Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Blair Davenport
  
• US Title Cha...
  2024-11-22 23:10:36 +0000 UTC View Post

Backstage name back at Smackdown

Michael Hayes is back in the fold for WWE.

Fightful Select has learned that Michael Hayes is listed for a heavy number of producer assignments for tonight's WWE Smackdown double taping. Hayes had been on leave for personal reasons, but was expected to return.

Hayes immediately has resumed work on the Bloodline angles.

More On Lyra Valkyria’s OTT Homecoming, Reactions

On November 22nd, Over The Top Wrestling announced that on December 21st, Lyra Valkyria will return to the promotion along with her former Woke Queen partner Debbie Keitel.

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan asked around in OTT and was met with surprise regarding the announcement, with several people we spoke to finding out about Lyra’s return to the promotion through social media, with some also expressing their surprise to see Debbie Keitel returning to OTT along with her former Woke...

Select Answers: Scott D'Amore, Danhausen, MLPW

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 see Scott D'Amore going to WWE? What do you think he would do there if he went? Asking because a lot of people I talk wrestling with want him in NXT badly, and I mean really badly.

D'Amore is li...

AEW Fight Size: Full Gear, Costco Guys, Women's Match

• We're told to expect another women's match announcement for AEW Full Gear, likely featuring Deonna Purrazzo as she's local to the area. She's expected to face Anna Jay. Purrazzo hasn't wrestled since September 6, but has not been injured.

• The plan is to have the Costco Guys in the middle of Zero Hour to hopefully retain fans with a good follow up match on AEW Full Gear.

• We had several inquiries regarding Richard Holliday after his AEW appearance, he’s f...

  2024-11-22 04:47:53 +0000 UTC View Post

MLW Signs Top Name To Multi-Year Deal

MLW is retaining an important part of their roster

After a year away from the company, Mads Krugger returned to Major League Wrestling at the start of 2024, joining Contra Unit. It seems to be going well for him there, as Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp can confirm that he’s signed a multi-year contract with the company.

We’re told that Mads Krugger is viewed within MLW as one of the faces of the company and the top heel. He’s also considered a locker room leader and has ...

Select Answers: Double Taping, Heyman, Vince Changes

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.

***

Hello SRS. Was wondering if its possible if you could at least perhaps rule out if the thing Vince McMahon changed at WM 39 had anything to do with the Cody/Roman main event?

I haven't got clearance to...

Ask Grapsody! with Phil Lindsey & Righteous Reg | 11/21/24 Edition

It's time for another edition of Ask Grapsody!

12 ROUNDS 3: LOCKDOWN Starring Jon Moxley | THIS. IS. CINEMA???

Back when the current AEW Champion Jon Moxley was going by Dean Ambrose, he starred in his one and only WWE Films production:

12 ROUNDS 3: LOCKDOWN

Don't worry, you don't have to have seen 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded, starring Randy Orton, or even 12 Rounds 1: The First One, starring John Cena, in order to understand the plot, because the third movie has nothing to do with the first two.

Moxley/Ambrose plays a cop who is in position of evidence that severely incriminates a fellow ...