fightful

WWE Raw Backstage News, Producers, More

• As one would expect, we were told that WWE officials were very happy with WWE Raw this past week.

• We're told Rhea Ripley had started to wear the wrist brace in matches over the last week, and wasn't wearing it during her recent Smackdown dark match.

• The Ivy Nile & Candice LeRae match was originally listed for one segment, and ended up going less than two and a half minutes.

• Ivar is not expected to miss any extended time in the ring. The...

  2024-03-27 16:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post

Ridge Holland update

Ridge Holland Update

On the March 26th edition of NXT, Ridge Holland announced that he would be stepping away from in ring competition indefinitely. Shortly after, he was moved to the alumni section of WWE's website.

NXT sources have confirmed to Corey Brennan of Fightful Select that this is part of Holland's current storyline and is not an official retirement. The story has been one that Holland has been motivated to do, with the former Brawling Brute being receptive to sugge...

NXT Scoops Thread

Fightful Select's Corey Brennan has learned the following plans for tonight's NXT, subject to change.

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers

Matches are not in order unless otherwise noted

NXT Scoops Thread

Previously Announced

-Shawn Spears vs. Dijak
-Thea Hail vs. Jazmyn Nyx
-Duke Hudson vs. Josh Briggs
-Alpha Academy (Otis & Akira Tozawa) vs. Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker
-Ilja Dragunov vs. Channing "Stacks" Lo...

Spoiler on an NXT appearance

Please do not continue if you wish to avoid spoilers
------

News On A Surprise Appearance For Tonight's NXT

With Stand And Deliver fast approaching, NXT is kicking into another gear on the road to their WrestleMania weekend Premium Live Event. That will continue on tonight's show, as a main roster name is set for a surprise appearance.

Sources confirmed to Fightful Select's Corey Brennan that Natalya is scheduled to make an appearance on tonight's NXT. NXT's Lola Vic...

More Details On CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins Promo

CM Punk, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins' promo on WWE Raw restored the feeling, as the kids say.

The buzzworthy promo saw each man taking shots at one another repeatedly during the show. It had a much more loose feeling, and if those in WWE are to be believed, it was as scripted as many other we've seen. This would seem obvious in the past, but even some of the most emotional promos that many thought weren't scripted, ended up being scripted word for word. Instead, the claim internally ...

News on AEW's new COO

Kosha Irby’s presence is starting to be felt within All Elite Wrestling.

The company officially announced on March 26 that Irby had joined the company as COO, even though he's been with the company for the last couple of months. Even though the announcement was just made, he's been on the job and making changes since January.

The highly touted Irby took over many of the duties left behind by Rafael Morffi, who ended up taking a job at the Barclays Center. AEW had many cities al...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 3/25 | I'm Already Gone

I'm getting on a plane tomorrow, and if it lands in one piece (which is somehow NOT a given in this day and age), I will be taking a one week vacation visiting my family in Oregon.

So I was packing through most of Raw.

Some stuff happened, I gather?

CM Punk said some things, apparently? Drew & Seth were there?
The Rock interrupted a Cody promo and whispered something to him?
Sami was booked to lose a match 2 weeks before his IC Title shot at Mania?
There was oth...

WWE Raw Plans

Fightful has learned the following plans for tonight's WWE Raw from Chicago, subject to change.

Please be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers

• Cody Rhodes promo

• Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh

• CM Punk promo

• Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae

• New Day vs. DIY

• Andrade vs. Giovanni Vinci

• Rhea Ripley Promo

• Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed

• Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

  ...
  2024-03-25 23:59:40 +0000 UTC View Post

Ivar Update

Ivar was scheduled to face Andrade on tonight's WWE Raw, but that isn't happening.

WWE Raw GM Adam Pearce announced that Ivar was medically unable to compete tonight, and was out of his match against Andrade. In his place, is Giovanni Vinci filling in.

We've asked about Ivar's status and we're told that he's fine, and is expecting to be back in the ring in quick fashion. We weren't told specifically what is keeping him out of the ring right now.

Details on main roster future of big NXT talent

WWE have big plans for two NXT superstars.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams have been paired together for the majority of their runs in NXT, with Hayes recently turning on Trick after previously attacking him backstage. Now, the pair are to face off at NXT Stand And Deliver on WrestleMania weekend.

Multiple sources in NXT have told Corey Brennan of Fightful Select that the current plan is for the Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes match at Stand And Deliver to main event the show. ...

Backstage Report Podcast 3/25: Mania 41, MCMG, Kelly, MLW, More

• WrestleMania 41

• Lots of MLW news!

• Matt Cardona

• Pete Dunne producing

• Killer Kelly

• Motor City Machine Guns

• Chris Danger

• Chad Gable, Shayna Baszler

• Tom Lawlor

• Matt Hardy/AEW

• Oba Femi

• Jon Moxley

• Raw and Smackdown

EARLY: Chad Gable Interview With SRS

Gable speaks with SRS!

Fightful Weekender (3/24): GCW, NEW SOUTH, AIW, ACTION, NXT LEVEL UP, GLORY PRO, NWA, WWE SPEED & TNA IMPACT SPOILERS

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

- GCW: "Role Model" + "The Block Is Hot" results

- NEW SOUTH: "HOSS Tournament 2024" results

- AIW: "Tougher Than Leather" results

- ACTION: "Madras Mayhem" results

- NXT Level Up (3/22) results

- WWE Speed SPOILERS (54 min-56 min)

- GLORY PRO: "Ascend" (Ep. 29) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (3/19) results

- TNA IMPCT SPOILERS (63 min...

Update on WrestleMania in Minnesota

WWE WrestleMania 41 still appears to be poised to land in Minnesota, and it will if they have their way.

Back in July of last year, Fightful Select had learned that Minneapolis was a front runner to land WWE WrestleMania 41 in 2025. Based on sources we’ve spoken to, Minneapolis is working on the assumption that they’re landing the show, and have been hoping that an announcement could be made in the coming weeks.

There are several government officials who have hinted heavily at...

Chad Gable talks NXT, WWE vs. UFC possibilities

Fightful Select caught up with former Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Tag Team Champion Chad Gable.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp mentioned to Gable that he always sees him at the community events organized by the WWE. Chad would tell Sean, “It’s the best part of what we do.” Gable would also mention that the Special Olympic Games 2026 will be in Minneapolis, where he lives. 

Gable said he specifically requested and had been informed that he would be a huge part of it and th...

THIS. IS. CINEMA? (A Sour Graps Podcast) | THE RUNDOWN, starring The Rock

In 2002, The Rock had reached his apex. He was the unquestioned Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment, a Triple Crown winner in WWE, and he was about to walk away from full time wrestling forever. He was just 30 years old.

But the siren song of Hollywood was calling to him, and he was about to embark on an acting career that would see him attain dizzying heights and sink to positively submersible lows.

His first big starring role was actually a bit of both, with positive r...

WWE Smackdown News, Producers, WWE Speed, More

• When asked why the OC match was much different than usual, it was pointed out that Luke Gallows took the heat during the match, which is much more different than the formula they've usually worked with.

• Rezar and Akam are officially "Authors of Pain" internally, not "AOP" as they were during their last run.

• When we asked internally about the rumors of 4-5 more matches being added to Wrestlemania, most sources we spoke to say that they just figured...

  2024-03-24 16:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post

Killer Kelly still with TNA

Killer Kelly isn't going anywhere quite yet.

Fightful spoke to TNA sources this weekend who cleared up miscommunication within the company, and said that Killer Kelly has not left. In fact, as of now, she's under contract until August of 2025. She was at the tapings this weekend.

The term "finished up" after TNA Sacrifice that was used was due to her taking some time off. She isn't factored in to creative plans as of now.

MCMG news

The TNA tapings tonight may have seen the end of an era.

Fightful Select was able to confirm PWInsider's report that there was a sendoff and some farewells at tonight's TNA tapings in Philadelphia. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley's TNA deals are set to expire in about a week, with them slated to be free agents on April 1.

They're expected to have multiple suitors in free agency and as of now aren't expected back in TNA. However, we're told the door has been kept open.

Shelle...

Filthy Tom Lawlor speaks with Fightful

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor joined Fightful Select for an exclusive interview ahead of his upcoming match at MLW War Chamber on March 29th in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The former UFC fighter spoke to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp. The interview began with Sean mentioning the members of WTF (World Titan Federation). Sean shared a story about himself and Joshua Bishop regarding smelling salts. Sean asked Lawlor if he’d had the same experience with Bishop. Lawlor said there have been...

Interesting producer listed for WWE Speed

WWE Speed is still putting matches in the can for their eventual debut, and there's an interesting note on the March 22 tapings.

Ahead of WWE Smackdown, the company filmed two matches for the upcoming social media show, being Cedric Alexander vs. Odyssey Jones, and then Tyler Bate vs. Angel Garza. Perhaps the most interesting note, however, is who was listed as the producer for both matches internally.

Longtime WWE talent Pete Dunne was listed internally as the producer for both ...

Matt Cardona update after TNA return

Matt Cardona is apparently Alwayz Ready, and is still a free agent.

Steph De Lander, one half of the Fightful Award winning Indie Act of the year, made her TNA return at Friday's tapings in Philadelphia. During the match, the other half of that award winning duo Matt Cardona ran in to help her, landing a Radio Silence.

There has been much made about TNA offering per date deals or contracts to talent of late, which actually works to Cardona's favor. He and the company parted ways o...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 3/22 | Could Be Worse

SmackDown ... wasn't bad tonight?

Couple of decent tag qualifier matches, Naomi vs Iyo actually got some time (and they used it to give some depth to several characters), there was a decently produced little home-invasion angle, and a truly great backstage comedy moment. Plus, we're finally "acknowledging" that Cody is facing Roman at Mania and not The Rock. So that's good.

Can't think of anything bad that happ-- oh no wait, Dominik cost Rey the match vs Santos and so now...

WWE Smackdown Plans

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.

• Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar

• Mania Qualifier: OC vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory

• Naomi vs. IYO SKY

• Mania Qualifier: Street Profits vs. AOP

• Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes face-to-face

Backstage News

• Cedric Alexander vs O...

  2024-03-22 23:57:49 +0000 UTC View Post

Chris Danger talks DPW debut, training, more

Fightful Select caught up with Chris Danger recently.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp spoke with the recently debuted wrestler and Youtuber. The two discussed numerous topics. Danger told Sean he began training to become a wrestler about a prior to his November 11th, 2023 debut at DPW World's Strongest 2023 in Durham, NC against Shawn Spears.

Chris showed a wound he recently got from a table match. He said, “I was telling somebody this the other day; I get to the back...

SRS Q&A Podcast for March 22!

SRS Q&A show!

• WrestleMania 41

• Injury updates

• MJF

• Tag Titles

• Kenny Omega

• Double Or Nothing

• TKO

• Vince McMahon Lawsuit

Select Portions: AEW, NXT, WWE news

• A lot of the footage for the A&E WWE series was filmed way back in 2022, from interviews, to on-site things as well.

• AEW will be in Jacksonville next month, because Tony Khan needs to be in Jacksonville to prepare for the NFL draft.

• Sammy Guevara has been backstage at AEW numerous times since his suspension started.

• John Cena, Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley all participated in a Fanatics-WWE signing recently. 

• As noted o...

  2024-03-22 18:01:31 +0000 UTC View Post

SRS Q&A Questions

Ask away. One per subscriber please.

Select Interview: Squared Circle Expo Promoter Talks The Event

Squared Circle Expo's Ed speaks with SRS!

More on Jon Moxley's absence from AEW.

Jon Moxley has been uncharacteristically absent from AEW TV of late, but nothing of concern is afoot.

Many readers have been asking why Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli haven't been included in the AEW Tag Team Title tournament after beating FTR. We can't speak to the booking decisions in particular, but we did learn that this time off was planned ahead of time, and the duo were not going to be available during the tournament.

Jon Moxley has upcoming bookings in Mexico next week...