fightful

Lots of MLW Notes: Fightland, Backstage names, more

Fightful has learned several news and notes from MLW after Fightland

- The company is planning for more crossover with Dragon Gate on the horizon.

- Philadelphia Eagles player Jordan Mailata was backstage at Fightland.

- Headshrinker Samu was also backstage at Fightland. 

- MLW has secured a sponsorship with BetOnline, which will be announced imminently. 

- Cesar Duran, the former Dario Cueto, will soon have a new on screen role in MLW. 

WWE Raw nixed plans, producers, other notes

Producers for WWE Raw!

- Bianca Belair vs. Nikki Cross: Molly Holly & Petey Williams

- Lesnar and Lashley face to face: Jason Jordan & Michael Hayes

- Austin Theory vs. Seth Rollins: Adam Pearce

- Roman Reigns promo: Michael Hayes

- Karl Anderson vs. Damian Priest: Jamie Noble

- JBL and Corbin promo: Jason Jordan

- Trick or Street Fight: Matt Riddle vs. Otis: Shawn Daviari

- Mustafa Ali vs. The Miz: Michael Hayes

- Asuka...

GCW added to Fite+ service, Brett Lauderdale on AEW rumors

Fite+ has added another company to their service.

Fightful Select just spoke with GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale, who has been teasing streaming news for the company for several weeks. Lauderdale told Fightful that GCW will now broadcast on Fite+, which has a $4.99/month price point. In addition, their back catalog will be available on the service. Black Label Pro was also announced for the service the day prior.

In addition, we asked about WWE and AEW rumors. We'd confirmed that ther...

Fightful Weekender (10/31): GCW, MLW FIGHTLAND, ICW NHB, BATTLE SLAM SPOILERS, BLP, MOUSE, NXT LEVEL UP, IMPACT SPOILERS

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

Topics:

- GCW: "Hit Em Up" results

- MLW: "Fightland" *SPOILERS*

- ICW NHB: "Deathmatch Horror Story" results

- BATTLE SLAM: "Thriller" *SPOILERS*

- BLP: "Grapplers From The Black Lagoon" results

- MOUSE'S WRESTLING ADVENTURES: "Fright Night IV" results

- NXT Level Up (10/28) results

- IMPACT (10/22) *TV TAPING SPOILERS*

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 10/31 | Spooktacular Suckitude

Raw was on Halloween tonight. And as is tradition, there was a Trick or Street Fight. 

Brock and Bobby tried to kill each other, and Triple H tried to kill the potential of Nikki Cross's new repackage.  

Apparently Johnny Gargano is supposed to give us the tea on the whole Dexter LuMiz situation.  So maybe that will be good.  

Just kidding. Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: 2022-11-01 01:24:40 +0000 UTC View Post

Spooky WWE Raw Plans for tonight

Fightful has learned the following plans for tonight's Raw

We ask that you be mindful of those who wish to avoid spoilers, and please do not screenshot this and repost it on social media. If you do, you have to post a picture of your mother dressed as a lemon Starburst for Halloween.

- Bianca Belair vs. Nikki Cross

- Lesnar and Lashley face to face

- Austin Theory vs. Seth Rollins

- Roman Reigns promo

- Karl Anderson vs. Damian Priest

- JBL...

Early creative notes for WWE Raw

It's Halloween Raw tonight, and we have learned some of the creative plans for tonight, as of this weekend.

- There's a Halloween party planned for tonight's show, complete with costumes.

- Early pitches we heard involved Matt Riddle dressed as Ezekiel. 

- Elias, Bobby Lashley, Austin Theory, Alexa Bliss, R-Tuth

Also announced.

- Brock Lesnar is set for the show

- Non title: Nikki Cross vs. Bianca Belair

- Trick or Street Fight: Matt Riddle vs. O...

Note on AEW taping segments ahead

AEW has been getting creative with travel and their segments.

While it's nothing new, All Elite Wrestling has regularly practiced filming segments for talent the week ahead when they won't be wrestling the at the next week's tapings. We're told this is done to save on travel, and to ease the schedule for talent so they're not flying in for two days only to do one minute backstage segments.

Fightful Select had reported that the Hardy Boyz and Young Bucks did that earlier this year,...

Fite+ adds company for live streaming

The Fite+ service is coming more into focus.

Figthful Select reported last week that several indie companies were set to move to Fite+. One of the first moves we've learned about is Black Label Pro, which will start with their November 12 show, Slamilton, which will serve as a doubleheader. There are more announcements coming imminently. 

BLP had been streaming on IWTV, and tweeted a thank you to the company this past weekend. 

Wardlow interview notes

Fightful's Joel Pearl spoke to AEW TNT Champion Wardlow for a new interview.

He admitted that he wasn't exactly going into the MJF whipping segment positively, but the crowd was something that helped get him through it. He said the smile on his face was genuine because the adrenaline got him through it, too.

Wardlow encouraged wrestlers to dress nice as they're getting into the business. If they can't afford expensive clothes, to make do with what they have, and try to make a posi...

Magazine Archives: The Greatest Story Never Told: The Fake AWA

As first seen in issue 2 of FightfulMag.com!

By Mike Straw

***

As he looks down towards the floor, Jonnie Stewartlets out a sigh.

Just by the sound and tone, he was clearly upset by what he was just asked: Was AWA Superstars LIVE!, later known as Dale Gagne presents Wrestling Superstars Live!, nothing more than a traveling circus run by a con man?

“It hurts my feelings because they weren’t there on the phone, you know, wi...

Some details on ROH/AEW talent deals

Fightful has learned more about the ROH/AEW agreement, and some of the talent that is working within it.

It was established to Fightful that not everyone who was on ROH Death Before Dishonor, and has competed in ROH related angles is signed, either to a tiered or a full-time deal. There were several former ROH talent who appeared on the show and are still completely free agents.

There were talent from ROH that were originally brought in on tiered deals, such as Josh Woods, who lat...

Smackdown producers, backstage notes

Producers for last night's Smackdown!

- Brawling Brutes vs. Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa

- Bloodline in-ring promo: Michael Hayes

- New Day vs. Maximum Male Models: Adam Pearce

- Ronda Rousey vs. Emma: TJ Wilson

- Hit Row & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Legado Del Fantasma: Kenny Dykstra

- Madcap Moss vs. Karrion Kross: Abyss

- Bray Wyatt in ring promo: Jason Jordan

Backstage news:

- The dark match featured Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi vs. Xia ...

WWE has interest in another women's talent

WWE is interested in bringing more women into the company.

In light of Emma making her WWE return, Fightful has learned that WWE in interested in bringing back "several" women who formerly worked for the company. Among them is one who didn't get an extended main roster run before being released in Tegan Nox.

The 27 year old Nox was released roughty a year ago and hasn't wrestled since. When Fightful reached out earlier this year, she told us she was experiencing visa issues that...

Plans For Tonight's Smackdown (show one!)

Fightful Select has learned plans for tonight's Smackdown

Please do not screenshot and repost this in its entirety, and be cognizant of those who wish to avoid spoilers. We also have a rundown of the second show being filmed tonight.

- The dark match features Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi vs. Xia Li and Lacey Evans

- Brawling Brutes vs. Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa

- Bloodline in-ring promo

- New Day vs. Maximum Male Models

- Ronda Rousey open chal...

Fightful Select Exclusive COEXISTING After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie - Special Guest Jussie

Fightful Select Exclusive COEXISTING After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie - Special Guest Jussie  Jussie joins Rob & Maggie for a new After Dark!

Jussie talks to us about her life, how she got into Yoga, Modeling, Traveling to WrestleMania 34, and attending WWE Super ShowDown. 

Youtube Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhSr4henNw8

Spoiler Confirmation On WWE Return

A familiar face could be headed back to Smackdown tonight.

If you wish to avoid spoilers, please navigate away.

On Fightful Select's Q&A show, we'd indicated that there could be a returning name as soon as tonight's Smackdown. PWInsider then reported that the former Emma, Tenille Dashwood was backstage at WWE Smackdown today, and is expected to answer Ronda Rousey's open challenge on tonight's show. Fightful Select has confirmed that there were plans to bring Tenille back in.<...

Possible Spoilers On Bray Wyatt Creative

Smackdown has a double taping tonight, and Bray Wyatt is set to be integrated into both of the shows. 

We're told that several pieces of Bray Wyatt's past were to be included in some of his segments, at least as of the creative on Thursday. Specifically we've heard that the rocking chair that he used during his initial WWE run was to be brought in. In addition, The Fiend mask is set to be used, but plans called for it to be ripped up by someone -- either Bray or another talent....

LIVE SRS Q&A 2 PM EST

LOTS of news!!

Video: https://youtu.be/fKhIRb24wOE

AEW wrestler told CM Punk he was a cancer to AEW after Brawl Out

With The Elite set to return, we've learned more about the situation surrounding Brawl Out.

We've heard about some of the names that were around during the brawl who were suspended as they were physically involved, but there were also several that approached shortly thereafter. One of those was Chris Jericho, who was heavily lauded by those we spoke to for his resolve and demeanor stepping up during the scrum right after the incident took place.

2022-10-28 05:33:01 +0000 UTC View Post

When Forbidden Door replacement wrestler was determined, more

Clark Connors is back from injury.

Fightful spoke with the NJPW star, who was open about sustaining a back injury this summer while he was lifting. He said that he wanted to jump back into the fire, which is why he's facing Minoru Suzuki at NJPW's New York City show on October 28.

Connors was a late addition to Forbidden Door when Tomohiro Ishii was injured. He'd lost to Ishii in a tourney match, however NJPW found out the Thursday prior that Ishii was out. They told him on Friday...

Tiered wrestler signed to full-time AEW deal

Another tiered deal in All Elite Wrestling is now full-time.

This past week, Josh Woods was added to the official All Elite Wrestling roster page after working in the company for several months without being listed. After asking around with AEW sources, it was confirmed to Fightful that Woods recently signed a multi-year, full-time contract, which effectively removes him from the free agent market.

Woods had previously worked in NXT, before being released and spending years in Rin...

5 PM EST! Ask Grapsody 10/27

It's Q&A time for Grapsody! Ask your questions below or in the Youtube chat!

Youtube Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW1BApFjOEs

Major Development on the Elite

Things are looking up for The Elite.

After being suspended after the Brawl Out situation, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega haven't been seen on AEW TV or in an official capacity since then, to the level in which Omega was even pulled from AEW Tokyo Game Show promotional appearances. We've learned that for the first time since AEW All Out, there is talk backstage of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks coming back to work, at the very least in a backstage capacity. One source said they heard ...

Big update on Karl Anderson, NJPW, WWE

Karl Anderson is a hot topic in wrestling, and for good reason.

The active NEVER Openweight Champion was scheduled to defend the championship against Hikuleo in November, the same date as WWE's Crown Jewel show. However, since he's been announced for WWE's Crown Jewel show, things have seemingly went awry. Anderson posted a video saying the NJPW booking wasn't cleared with his tag team partner Gallows, and NJPW says they'll strip him of the title if he doesn't appear.

Despite this...

LIVE: 2:40 PM EST! SRS PRE-SHOW!

Jimmy Van is a part-timer now, so SRS is here to pick up the slack before the show!

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/gsPKYwtQ6tw

Several new AEW full-time signings

The Kingdom debuted in All Elite Wrestling, but they weren't officially signed to AEW deals at the time, we're told. That has changed.

The trio of Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett and Matt Taven finished up with IMPACT Wrestling at the Bound For Glory tapings and dropped the IMPACT Tag Team Championships, but it hadn't aired yet. As a result, they appeared on AEW television while in canon being IMPACT champions.

The three debuted on AEW Rampage from Toronto, and made a challenge to FT...

WWE Raw Producers, Backstage notes

Fightful hast learned the following producers for WWE Raw. 

- Karl Anderson vs. Finn Balor: Jamie Noble

- Miz vs. R-Truth: Adam Pearce

- Mustafa Ali vs. Austin Theory: Jason Jordan

- Omos squash: Adam Pearce

- Elias vs. Chad Gable (w/ Otis): Shawn Daivari

- Johnny Gargano vs. Baron Corbin: Michael Hayes

- Bianca Belair vs. Bayley: Petey Williams

Backstage News

- Candice LeRae's segment wasn't listed on internal runsheets, n...

Details on how far ahead talent is told NJPW had creative set

New Japan Pro Wrestling has their creative slotted for quite some time, according to some talent.

NJPW has long been known for long-term booking, and we were able to gain some more detail about the process recently. Fightful Select has learned that the vast majority of New Japan Pro Wrestling creative was set through Wrestle Kingdom already as far back as August, four months before the event takes place. We'v...

Alex's Sour Graps | Raw 10-24 | Sausage Fest

The only good thing that has happened on Raw at the time of this posting is that Rhea Ripley body-slammed Luke Gallows.  

Everything else sucks. Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/vQfUMAK5fJQ