XaiJu
fightful

fightful

patreon


fightful posts

SRS Q&A Questions

Get your questions in! One per subscriber, please

View Post

FREE POST: UK Scene Updates

Progress History Is Written By The Victors Backstage Notes

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has learned the following backstage notes from Progress History Is Written By The Victors.

- DEFY Owner Matt Farmer was in attendance as DEFY Women’s Champion Marina Shafir featured on the show.

- Multiple sources in Progress tell us that for Cara Noir’s return match, the entire locker room watched from Gorilla position.

- 1 Called Manders’ absence on the...

View Post

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: WWE Bad Blood 10/5 | Fool's Gold

It's the first Bad Blood in 27 years.

Did Punk make Drew eat his words? Or eat his beads?
Did Tiffany cash in on Nia?
Did Priest get his revenge on Finn?
Did Triple H announce the dumbest thing ever?
Did Gunther start a feud with Goldberg for some reason?
Did Liv retain her title vs Rhea in a match that's more about Dominick than anything else?
Did the Dynamic Duo of Cody & Roman successfully thwart the Bloodline with absolutely nothing at stake?

Alex and Kat...

View Post

WWE Bad Blood Pre-Show Podcast | Fightful Select Exclusive

Rob Wilkins of Fightful Overbooked's Coexisting with Rob & Maggie hosts a solo Fightful Select Exclusive Podcast!

  • Network: Peacock & WWE Network

  • Venue: State Farm Arena

  • Location: Atlanta, Georgia

  • Event Date: October 5, 2024

  • Time:  6:00 PM EST/5:00 PM CST

WWE Bad Blood Card View Post

WWE Bad Blood SCOOPS THREAD (Updated!)

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following. This will be updated throughout the night as we plan to get match order, producers, ref assignments any more.

RUNDOWN

  • Hell in a Cell: Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk

  • Nia Jax vs. Bayley

  • Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor

  • SPOILER SEGMENT (see below)

  • Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley

  • Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. Bloodline

View Post

Details on WWE Bad Blood main event, more.

WWE Bad Blood takes place tonight, and the show openers and show closers are set.

Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk in Hell in a Cell is currently slated to open the PLE, although that wasn't always the case. A month prior, the talent involved were told they were likely main eventing the show, but as of the Monday before the PLE, Punk and McIntyre were told they'd likely be opening the show, which is the plan.

Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. Bloodline was set as the main event internal...

View Post

Smackdown Backstage News: MCMG, AJ Styles

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following from WWE Smackdown

  • The vignette that aired is in fact for the Motor City Machine Guns. Someone in the know in the company reached out last night to clarify that they've never heard of Shelley and Sabin being discussed for the NXT brand, and they've been planned for Smackdown for quite some time.

  • An updated WWE Raw logo is expected for Netflix's debut

  • As one would expect, Chelsea Green got...

    View Post

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown Review & Rampage WatchAlong 10/4 | Rough Landings

AJ Styles is back. And just like that, he's gone.
Big triple threat tag team title ladder match in the main event.
There's a dumpster match going on right now, and a dumpster FIRE about to take place at the end of Bad Blood tomorrow.

Rampage has some fun stuff on tap, with the Elite vs Private Party & Shibata leading the way.

But the Rock is coming back tomorrow, and we're all going to suffer for it.

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

Youtube Lin...

View Post

WWE SmackDown Plans

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

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers.


  • AJ Styles Promo

  • SPOILER MATCH

  • Dumpster Match: Michin vs. Chelsea Green

  • SPOILER PROMO

  • Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

  • WWE Tag Team Championship: Triple Threat Ladder Match The Bloodline vs. The Street Profits vs. #DI...

    View Post

POSSIBLE SPOILERS: AEW Talent undergoing change.

An AEW talent is undergoing a change.

Caution -- spoilers are ahead.

Kris Statlander appeared on the AEW Collision tapings where she appeared to be in line to face TBS Champion Mercedes Mone. This signifies a big shift in her character, as she's been a heel for a number of months.

When Fightful inquired about the change, we're told that Statlander's alliance with Stokely Hathaway appears to be finished on screen, at least as of this week. Stokely Hathaway was seen on screen...

View Post

AEW News Extravaganza: 5th Anniversary, WBD Deal, Adam Cole

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has learned the following details from AEW Dynamite's 5th Anniversary show.

  • "The Final Countdown" is expected to be used for Bryan Danielson again.

  • Adam Cole was backstage at the AEW Dynamite show in Pittsburgh. He's expected to return soon. Cole is from the area.

  • Daniel Garcia has not been backstage at recent events. AEW has been hopeful that he'll re-sign with the company. We can confirm Ibou of WrestlePurists rep...

    View Post

TNA Hall of Fame news

TNA is planning on continuing their Hall of Fame.

TNA has had their Hall of Fame see members added every year since 2020, and we’re told that the brand is planning to move forward with that again this year. Though we haven’t learned who is being inducted, numerous sources in the company confirmed it is in the plans, and that there were multiple options that were discussed.

When Fightful spoke to the Hardy Boyz recently, they noted that they’d both be honored to be inducted, ...

View Post

Ask Grapsody! 5 PM EST, Get your questions in!

Ask Grapsody! at 5 PM EST; get your questions in!

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xstiypg4QOA

View Post

Shelton Benjamin officially signed with AEW

Another member of the Hurt Syndicate is officially All Elite.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported in September that MVP, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley were all in talks with AEW, but the deals had not been finalized. However, following MVP’s debut on AEW TV at Grand Slam, it was confirmed by Fightful that he’s signed a contract.

Now, the same goes for Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley, the latter of which has an impending debut. We’re told that the three all na...

View Post

AEW wrestler slated for a push.

A promising name in All Elite Wrestling has some big plans on the horizon.

Konosuke Takeshita first appeared in AEW over three years ago, before becoming a regular in the spring of 2022. Since then, he’s competed in Blood And Guts, and a number of AEW and IWGP Title eliminators, and has been viewed as a future top star for the company. We’re told that ascent could start sooner than later.

Of late, Takeshita has been appearing in main events, and facing off with numerous top st...

View Post

UPDATED: AEW-WBD deal is official, loads more details!

AEW's deal with WBD is official. Dynamite and Collision will continue on TBS and TNT, and will stream live on MAX starting in January 2025. AEW PPVs will be on MAX at a discounted rate later in 2025. More details coming to Fightful Select in this article as we gain more info.

In the hours following the official announcement of the WBD and AEW deal, Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp learned a lot more details.

As of now, Dynamite and Collision will remain on Wednesday and Saturday r...

View Post

Select Answers: AEW-Fox, Miro, Shane McMahon

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.

What's up with Miro's release?

I've not heard anything about it being granted so far. The two sides are rarely on the same side creatively. His deal runs until the spring of 2026, and if there is an injury time clause in ...

View Post

EDITED: AEW and WBD announcement news and details

The AEW and WBD announcement is imminent.

Fightful Select has learned that promotional materials are prepared the AEW and WBD deal announcement is happening as soon as this afternoon unless things change.

Beyond the Bell's Andrew Zarian has reported extensively on the deal as well. SRS & Jimmy will be breaking down the deal on The Hump at 2 PM ET provided it is announced.

Please remember we can not control who has reported that the AEW-WBD is "coming imminently" prior...

View Post

NXT ON CW DEBUT SCOOPS THREAD!!

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

PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS

Order

  • Shawn Michaels promo

  • NXT Title: Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia

  • "short" segment

  • Street Fight: Wes Lee vs. Zach Wentz

  • Miz TV with Oba Femi and Tony D'Angelo

  • Lola Vice & Jaida Parker vs. Fatal Influence

  • ...

    View Post

Update On NXT’s New Presentation

In the run up to NXT’s debut on The CW tonight, Shawn Michaels noted in an interview that there would be updates to the brand’s presentation. As we previously reported, the Performance Center set in Orlando is undergoing updates while the brand is on the road.

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has now learned that a new logo is set to make its debut with tonight’s show in Chicago. The logo is silver and black and more rectangular in shape then the previous logo.

The curren...

View Post

NXT On The CW Tv-14 Listing Update

Over the weekend, it was noted that on The CW’s listings for NXT, they have listed the program as a TV-14 show, while previously being listed as PG on the USA Network. Fans have been wondering if this is an error or a sign of a big change coming to the NXT product.

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan spoke with several NXT sources, ranging from production to talent, with no sources being told of an impending shift in presentation related to the age rating change, nor has anyone been tol...

View Post

Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. on Promos with Mercedes Moné, Injuries, Criticism, and more

Fightful Select made it to their appointment on time with "The Doctor" AEW's Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., for an exclusive interview. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp spoke with the former AEW Women's World Champion, and the two discussed multiple topics.

Sean started the interview by asking Britt how she felt about Justin Fields leading her Pittsburgh Steelers [NFL]. She says she likes Fields and is happy they are 3-1 to begin the season.

Sean mentioned how she has worked through inj...

View Post

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 9/30 | Monster's Ball

Look, a bunch of stuff happened on Raw. Mostly bad. Some of it silly.

Jey yeeted. Bron was humble.
Drew wore black. Punk wore white.
Miz turned on R-Truth.
There was a bunch of Terror Twins & House of Purple nonsense.
The women's midcard is in shambles.
Gunther is canonically a coward now.

But none of that matters, because we're getting a Meat Mania Match.

However, if the ring doesn't implode....

Then everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

Watc...

View Post

FREE POST: Killswitch/Luchasaurus hospitalized

An AEW star is in rough shape after a scary medical situation.

Former AEW Trios, Tag Team and TNT champion Luchasaurus, aka Killswitch is recovering after his fiance found him collapsed on Friday, September 27. He was rushed to the hospital where they found his blood oxygen below 80 percent and determined he had pneumonia in both lungs. It was discovered that he was days away from permanent lung damage.

Killswitch has been on oxygen in the days that have followed, and was told to ...

View Post

AEW hopeful that Adam Cole returns soon

Adam Cole has been sidelined for over a year, but that could be changing very soon.

Cole sustained an ankle injury last September, and was forced to undergo two surgeries that heavily derailed AEW creative plans. Fightful Select has learned that word backstage within All Elite Wrestling is that they’re hopeful and even expecting to get Adam Cole back sooner than later, and that wheels have already been put in motion to prepare for that on-screen. 

Adam Cole was backstage at...

View Post

Select Answers: NXT, Sheamus, Rhea Ripley

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.

What is the status of Sheamus’ WWE contract?

He re-signed on a multi-year contract a few weeks ago. WWE is hopeful they'll have him there through the end of his career. His deal was originally up earlier this year, but ...

View Post

Fightful Weekly Pod (9/28): Q&A, Lucha Bros, MVP, More

0:00 TNA

1:30 Hobbs

2:30 Saraya

3:40 MVP, Hurt Syndicate

4:40 Lucha Bros

9:00 Matt Justice

10:10 AJ Styles

11:00 NXT

12:25 Bad Blood, Cardi B, Smackdown, AEW Notes

15:20 Hardy Boyz, CW Anderson

18:00 Mark Davis

19:00 Q&A Portion

Q&A Topics: Vince documentary, TNA news, Shane McMahon, AEW-Fox, Hurt Syndicate, Lucha Bros, Cincinnati Reds

View Post

Mark Davis update

Over the last number of weeks on the Fightul Select Q&A, we've received over a dozen inquiries about the status of Mark Davis of Aussie Open.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp was provided a small update in that he is still recovering from what sidelined him, but is progressing well. What specifically put him out of action has remained quiet and those close to the situation tell us that they'd prefer it if it was his story to tell, which we will respect.

Davis has been out of ...

View Post

WWE Smackdown News, Producers, AEW News, More

NXT Notes

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has learned the following details about Tuesday’s edition of NXT.

- The internal name for this episode of NXT was “Goodbye USA”.

- The show’s long overrun almost caused the show to be pulled from the air by USA, with the show finishing seconds before.

- As previously reported, following the show the NXT set was taken down.

- Potential tryout talent were in the crowd on Tuesday.

- CM Punk was not at this we...

View Post

Select Answers: NXT Tickets, TV, House Shows, NWA

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.

I live in Florida and noticed that NXT has significantly cut back on their Coconut Loop/house shows, with only a couple of shows scheduled the rest of the year. Have you heard anything about these being axed by TKO (since it’s doubtful they m...

View Post