fightful

Becky Lynch update

Becky Lynch has everyone up in arms over an Instagram post that many assume is regarding retirement.

On today's Fightful Select Q&A show, Sean Ross Sapp addressed the concerns from fans Monday.

Fightful reached out to sources close to the situation and WWE. WWE sources said that if she was retired in an official capacity, they haven't been informed of it as of yet, and didn't believe if she did retire, that it would be via Instagram. However, it was also noted by one WWE sourc...

SRS Q&A And Backstage Report: Over an hour long!!!

•  0:00- SRS' Summerslam Thoughts & Scoops

• 26:00 MJF/Britt Baker, AEW News, Shane/Tony

• 34:00 WWE Tryouts, Hardy Boyz

• 35:00 TNA news, WWE writer, more

• 37:20 Becky Lynch

• 39:20 Q&A

Why Zilla Fatu missed GCW show

Zilla Fatu isn't signed by WWE...yet!

Zilla was at WWE Summerslam on Saturday, and then absent from GCW's New Jersey show on Sunday. This prompted many to ask why this occurred and speculated he could be signed.

Fightful Select learned from GCW that Zilla Fatu ended up having travel delays and cancelations that would put him at the show on time.

We're told WWE naturally has their eyes on him but is still expected for GCW shows.

Fightful Weekender (8/4): GCW, AIW, JAMESON SHOOK, NXT LEVEL UP, WILDKAT, TNA SPOILERS

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

- GCW: "Now And Forever" + "Can I Trust You?" results

- AIW: "Against The World" + "Slammed On Sixth" results

- JAMESON SHOOK PRESENTS: "Good 4 You" results

- NXT Level Up (8/2) results

- WILDKAT: "X-Rated VIII" results

- TNA iMPACT! SPOILERS (62 min-end)

SRS Q&A Questions

Hey guys! SRS here. Ask away! One per subscriber please! Remember, I'm in the discord daily (when I'm not on the road!)

WWE Summerslam Scoops Thread PART THREE

Another WWE Summerslam SCOOPS THREAD

• The Bron Breakker/Sami Zayn match went shorter than originally expected. It was allotted for ten minutes.

• WWE were very happy with Jelly Roll's performance and appearance at the show.

• As is tradition, Cody Rhodes topped the internal WWE merchandise shirts for the Superstore and the venue.

• We're told Roman Reigns didn't crack the top three, but they're expecting that to change upon his return.

  2024-08-04 22:54:47 +0000 UTC View Post

Summerslam SCOOPS THREAD Part 2!

SummerSlam Backstage Notes

- We are told that Jacob Fatu was planned to sell his leg following his splash in the main event. We aren't told if it was to the extent we saw. He was in a walking boot after the show and the following morning.

- During Drew McIntyre vs CM Punk, the battery pack for Seth Rollins’ ref cam would fall off, with Rollins making the decision to abandon the camera after. We are told there was no heat on Seth as this was deemed a possibility beforehand.
...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: SummerSlam 2024 | Dog Days of SummerSlam

Will Mami regain her title or will the Liv Morgan revenge tour continue?
(Or will something incomprehensibly stupid happen?)

Will Bron Breakker breakk the sound barrier with his title-winning spear?

Will we finally be rid of Logan Paul, and with him, the worst US Title reign of all time?

Who will leave Cleveland with the gold--Bayley, Nia, or Tiffany?

Will Drew McIntyre murder CM Punk or will something bad happen instead?

Will Gunther finally take his place as...

WWE Summerslam Scoops Thread

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has learned the following about tonight's WWE Summerslam, subject to change.

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers

Match Lineup
- Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
- Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker
- Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight
- Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax
- CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
- Damian Priest (c) vs. GUNTHER
- Summerslam attendance announcement
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa

Match Times

-...

Fightful Select Exclusive SummerSlam Pre-Show

Join Fightful Overbooked's Rob Wilkins, Maggie of Coexisting, and a cast of others as they host the exclusive Fightful Select Pre-Show of WWE SummerSlam at 2 PM EST!

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zpLLjRO8PA

#DIY on WWE Tag Team Title Design, RKO Skits

Fightful had the opportunity to catch up with the former WWE Tag Team Champions Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa of #DIY at WWE SummerSlam Media Day.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp kicked things off by talking about Football. Sean showed off his Bengals jersey to known Browns fan Johnny Gargano. Gargano jokingly said the years of being a Browns fan have taken its physical and mental toll on him but noted they are in happier times now. Gargano asked Sean what Joe Burrow’s record was agai...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown Review & Rampage WatchAlong 8/2 | Homecoming Kings?

Hey so Logan Paul is exactly what I've always said he was. Imagine that.

Also, Cody Rhodes is probably going to go 2 for 2 in Bloodline Rules matches, which begs the question: Why aren't they called Cody Rhodes Rules matches?

The Non-Spooky Scottish Muggles somehow retain their titles against Bianca & Jade, possibly setting up a three-way women's trios feud across both brands featuring nine exciting women who are all great workers ... and the Tag Titles will feel like an after...

WWE Smackdown SCOOPS THREAD

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has learned the following regarding tonight's Smackdown. Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers. We'll be updating these throughout the night.

• Cody Rhodes- Solo Sikoa face to face

• Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes

• SPOILER MATCH

• Logan Paul Homecoming Celebration

• Women's Tag Titles: Unholy Union vs. Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair

• Summerslam graphics

• ...
  2024-08-02 23:52:55 +0000 UTC View Post

More on Hardy Boyz-WWE meeting

The Hardy Boyz are working for WWE again! Well, sort of.

On August 2, PWInsider reported that the Hardy Boyz met with WWE. Fightful Select has learned the context behind that after the duo were spotted outside of one of the WWE talent hotels that day.

In reaching out to the Hardys, it was confirmed that they were already in town for WrestleCon and were invited to film interviews and content. Some of this is for active series, as well as the potential of Hardy-specific presentatio...

Gunther on Validation, Winning King of the Ring, and Bloodsport

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp spoke with the former WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther ahead of his upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam Media Day in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sean mentioned that Gunther recently won the King of the Ring and asked if that was a goal when he was younger. Gunther told Fightful that he’s always loved tournaments in pro wrestling with a long history and noted that he is very honored to be the first winner in the new version of The King of the Ring.<...

Britt Baker and MJF argument leads to suspension

Britt Baker's suspension from AEW is legitimate.

Several weeks ago, an argument between Britt Baker and MJF occurred.

The word internally was that Baker exercised frustration about MJF within the women's locker room. Word made it back to MJF, as his girlfriend Alicia Atout was in the room.

The details are "he said she said" at this point, but we're told that there were confrontations with Britt Bakwr approaching Alicia Atout, as well as MJF and Baker. At one point Will O...

News And Notes From Progress, UK Scene, More

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has learned the following notes from Progress Chapter 169: The Devil On My Shoulder.

- UK Comedian Ed Gamble was in attendance for the event.

- Luke Jacobs’ dominant Progress World Title win was an idea that both Jacobs and Kid Lykos collaborated on with the promotion creatively, with all parties involved said to have been happy with the final result. Those we spoke to in Progress noted that talent are set ...

Big Milestone Date In AEW-WBD Relationship

AEW and WBD have hit an important date in their discussions.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned via WBD sources that the exclusive negotiating window with All Elite Wrestling and WBD ended this week. We have not learned if a new deal has been reached between the two sides, but that conversation were ongoing over the past week.

In addition to talks continuing over the last week or so, Fightful Select broke news quite a while back that Tony Khan and David Zaslav were set...

WWE adds former Tough Enough name to writing team

WWE has added a new writer, and he’ll be familiar to many fans.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that Eric Watts has joined the WWE writing team, full-time on the Smackdown side of things. Not to be confused with Erik Watts, the son of Bill Watts, this Watts has competed as a pro wrestler for over a decade.

He may be familiar to some fans as he competed on the 2011 edition of Tough Enough, which also featured Cameron, Marty The Moth, Matt Cross, Ivelisse and others...

How top TNA Title plans changed

Nic Nemeth is TNA World Champion, but that wasn’t always the plan.

At TNA Slammiversary, Nic Nemeth became TNA World Champion by beating out five other talent, including the previous champion, Moose. Some expected Joe Hendry to emerge as world champion considering the buzz he’s received, but that wasn’t planned, either. 

Based on what Fightful Select learned, as of May, the original plan was for Josh Alexander to emerge as world champion upon his heel turn. We haven’t...

FREE POST: Tony Khan Has Private Meeting With Shane McMahon Over ‘Possibilities Moving Forward’

WrestleTalk and Fightful have learned that AEW CEO Tony Khan had a private meeting with Shane McMahon this week.

We can report that the meeting took place in an office at a private Arlington airport on Monday, July 29, 2024 during the afternoon.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has confirmed with sources that the meeting did take place, with Khan and McMahon discussing “possibilities moving forward”.

Sapp noted that Khan had been “open” to talking with McMahon for a while,...

Details On MJF And Ospreay Feud

The MJF and Will Ospreay feud has another wrinkle.

On the July 24 episode of AEW Dynamite, the American Title was debuted by MJF, rechristened from the International Title. The introduction of the title highlighted how far ahead MJF and Ospreay was planned for Wembley, as the challenge was officially made for All In.

Fightful Select reported earlier this month that after winning the International Title, Ospreay suggested putting over Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door, to elimina...

WWE Raw News, Notes, Producers, Summerslam, More

• For those asking, Natalya has not returned to the road

• Though they still had Alpha Academy music and logos, Otis and Tozawa were only referenced by their names internally

• Authors of Pain were referred to as "THE AOP" internally, but we haven't heard if that's a change moving forward.

• There weren't plans to utilize Jesse Ventura on screen, but he was there visiting

• In NXT news, there will be a double taping at some point in Au...

  2024-07-30 18:19:59 +0000 UTC View Post

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 7/29 | Women Be Crazy

So Liv's revenge tour was all about Dominick Mysterio, and if that seems weird to you, you're not alone.

Also, Gunther continues to get the wrong kind of heat, and the Wyatt Sick6 have now fully unmasked, on their way to burying a brand new team that desperately needs to establish themselves as precisely the type of team that doesn't get buried by a team of Spooky Dudes.

Oh, and Karrion Kross might actually break up The New Day.

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

W...

Fightful Weekender (7/29): GCW, BLP, HOG, ETU, TWE, GLORY PRO, NXT LEVEL UP, NWA

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

- GCW: "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport XI" results

- BLP: "Old Habits Die Screaming" results

- HOG: "High Intensity" results

- ETU: "Summer Madness 2" results

- TWE: "Red Bank Roulette" results

- GLORY PRO: "Bleed American" results

- NXT Level Up (7/26) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (7/23) results

WWE Raw Plans

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

LINEUP:

• Seth Rollins' referee instructions

• SPOILER TAG

• SPOILER MATCH

• SPOILER MATCH 2

• Karrion Kross vs. Xavier Woods

• SPOILER MATCH 3

• Lyra Valkyria, Katana Chance & Kayden Carder vs. Sonya DeVille, Shayna Bas...

  2024-07-29 23:51:34 +0000 UTC View Post

AEW contract up this year

The contract year of 2024 continues to be a wild one.

Earlier this year it was reported that Penta’s AEW contract is set to expire this year, and that he has interest from WWE. However, we’re told that he’s not the only one, as his Lucha Bros. teammate Rey Fenix also sees his contract expire this year. We haven’t nailed down when that will be as of yet.

Those we’ve spoken to say that AEW want to retain Fenix and Penta and there were offers extended and contract talks. We...

CORRECTED: SRS Q&A And Backstage Report Podcast For July 28!

• Bryan Danielson

• Meiko

• Punk contract

• House of Black

• WrestleMania London

• Beth Phoenix

• The Q&A!!

Update On Bryan Danielson's Physical Status Ahead Of AEW All In

Bryan Danielson is headed towards the end of his full-time wrestling run, but he might have had to anyway.

During a recent interview that aired on AEW’s Youtube channel, Danielson said that AEW doctor Doc Sampson didn’t want him to wrestle until AEW All In. Fightful Select sources tell Sean Ross Sapp that isn’t a work, as there had been some heavy restrictions put on him by AEW doctors leading into the main event at All In.

AEW sources confirmed to us that Danielson was beat...

SRS Q&A questions

Due to popular response, we're combining the Backstage Report and Q&A show.

Get in your questions! One per subscriber