fightful

Trevor Murdoch Notes: NWA, Getting Booted From TNA, WWE

Fightful spoke to NWA Worlds Champion Trevor Murdoch ahead of NWA 74 this weekend.

Murdoch told us he learned shortly before winning the NWA Worlds Title that it was going to happen, but wasn't told from the start of his angle with Nick Aldis. He said that he wasn't going to believe it was happening until it actually happened. He spoke very highly of Nick Aldis, and said that he restored prestige to the NWA Worlds Title.

We also asked Murdoch about his brief TNA run in 2009. He sa...

Select Exclusive: Joe Lando Interview, the SHOOTING STAR ELBOW

Fightful Select's Stephen Jensen speaks to Joe Lando

Early EARLY Raw Plans

WWE Raw takes place from Toronto on August

Fightful learned that as of Sunday evening, several extras had been put in place for an angle on Raw that would feature riot police. Those that we spoke to believed this had something to do with Dexter Lumis "invading" WWE Raw, with the angle being that the police were there to keep him out. 

- Riddle, Lashley, Theory, Miz, Street Profits, MVP, Omos, Alpha Academy are all set for to at least be in town for the show, but haven't been ...

Fightful Weekender (8/21): GCW, AIW, WCP, NXT UK, NXT LEVEL UP, NWA

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

Topics:

- GCW: "Sanctified" & "Hope 2 Die" results

- AIW: "JT Lightning Invitational Tournament 2022" (Night 1 & 2) results

- WEST COAST PRO: "West Coast Cup" (Night 1 & 2) results

- Tyler Bate is NXT UK Champion & rebrand to NXT Europe

- NXT Level Up (8/19) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (8/16) results

Good Brothers Update

The Good Brothers' time with IMPACT Wrestling is reaching its possible conclusion.

The IMPACT Tag Team Champions Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson's original deals were two-year contracts set to expire in late July. However, contrary to previous reports, the two aren't exactly free agents as of yet. We'd reported in the past they'd committed to appearing through August, and we've been told that they actually agreed to extensions.

We've learned some more specifics on their agreements. ...

Select Exclusive: Emil Jay Interview

Fightful Select's Stephen Jensen speaks to Emil Jay

Backstage News on Raw & SD, Producers

Fightful has learned the following producers and news on Raw & Smackdown

WWE Raw August 15

- Judgment Day: Petey Williams

- Alexa Bliss & Asuka vs. Nikki ASH & Doudrop: Shawn Daivari

- Mustafa Ali & Cedric Alexander vs. Miz & Ciampa: Adam Pearce

- Drew McIntyre promo: Michael Hayes

- Riddle Interview/Seth Rollins segment: Jason Jordan

- Veer Squash: Kenny Dykstra

- Bobby Lashley vs. AJ Styles: Petey Williams

- Dana Broo...

NXT UK wrestler had just re-signed before release

NXT UK experienced a ton of releases, for various different reasons.

From those that we've heard from, many in the territory knew that a change was coming, but didn't know how drastic it would be. We've heard that some names didn't want to relocate to the United States, and others didn't believe it made financial sense to continue with WWE.

We've already heard from several UK-based promoters that are hopeful the restocked free agent market will help reinvigorate that UK scene that...

WWE SummerSlam 1998 - Fightful Select Retro Review with Rob Wilkins

Rob Wilkins is back with another Fightful Select Retro Review!   This week's guest is  Kenny From Da Call Up Podcast. Rob and Kenny will discuss the 1998 SummerSlam that occurred at Madison Square Garden on August 30th, 1998.  Hang out for a bit and listen to Rob and Kenny go back to 1998 as they talk about The Rock defending his Intercontinental Championship against Triple H in a Ladder Match and Stone Cold Steve Austin defending his WWF Heavyweight Championship title aga...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 8/19 -- Coincidental Booking

On SmackDown, there was a 5 Way #1 Contender's Match that humped harder than a camel in heat.  

The Viking Raiders burned a bunch of New Day merch. But that wasn't the possible big news coming out of that segment.  

Toxic Attraction made their debut in the Women's Tag Tournament, and might win the whole thing. Which is actually a good thing!

Plus, Shayna is finally SHAYNA again. Because *somebody* was obviously listening to Sour Graps last week.   2022-08-20 04:03:29 +0000 UTC View Post

Smackdown Plans For Tonight

Tonight's Smackdown plans

- Ronda Rousey is getting ARRESTED!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Tag Title Tourney: Toxic Attraction vs. Natalya & Sonya

- Hit Row music performance

- IC Title contender: Ricochet vs. Madcap Moss vs. Happy Corbin vs. Sheamus vs. Sami Zayn

- Viking Funeral for New Day

- Liv Morgan interview, then she faces Shotzi 

- Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns face to face

- Riddle, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Butch and Ridge Holland are...

Coexisting After Dark with Rob & Maggie Special Guest: Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net

Welcome to a new episode of Coexisting After Dark with Rob & Maggie. Our Special Guest this week is Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net. 

Youtube Link
https://youtu.be/TqbgM9_akvA

SRS Q&A 8/19: Over 40 minutes!

- Full Gear

- CM Punk/Hangman

- Rock vs. Roman

- MJF

- Bray Wyatt

- Colt Cabana

- WWE changes

- NXT UK

AEW signs prominent act to extension

Great news for an All Elite Wrestling tag team that has made a big splash.

Fightful Select has learned that the team of 2point0 have signed AEW contract extensions. Angelo Parker and Matt Menard, formerly Chase Parker and Matt Lee, joined AEW on August 4, 2021 before being announced as signing full-time deals on August 19 of that year. Since then, they've been involved in several major stories and joined the ...

Shane Haste/Slapjack: NJPW Contract, Retribution, More

Fightful spoke with Shane Haste, formerly known as Slapjack.

He noted that he's enjoying his time with NJPW Strong, and hopes to return to Japan to do some work, but is actively working without a contract and is technically a free agent.

We spoke about his time in Retribution, and he said that at the time of the creative pitches, the debuts on Raw & Smackdown of the masked individuals, they had never been told as of that point that they would be Retribution. In fact, he said t...

CM Punk "may have almost decided to not come to Dynamite" last night, more on Hangman promo

CM Punk challenged Hangman Page to a rematch on the August 17 episode of AEW Dynamite, but according to Wrestling Observer, it wasn't planned. We were able to confirm this.

Punk defeated Hangman Page at AEW Double or Nothing earlier this year before being forced away from the ring for several months. Before that, however, there was word that Punk and Hangman Page didn't see eye to eye on some promo material that emerged on an episode of Dynamite that built their match. Fightful has bee...

Ask Grapsody Episode 1!

It's the first ever ASK GRAPSODY!!

Now uploaded with audio

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/G1NsHFn8eNk

Impact Wrestler set to enter negotiations

IMPACT Wrestling has a bunch of current champions that aren't under contract or are coming up, and another talent whose contract status is in a bit of a unique situation.

As Fightful had mentioned last month, The Good Brothers committed to work with IMPACT through at least late August, but they're far from the only champions in the company that have interesting contract status. We've confirmed that IMPACT Knockouts Champion Chelsea Green is still a free agent, and hasn't signed a contra...

The List Goes On Is BACK!

SRS and Jimmy are BACK!!!

video: https://youtu.be/F_yzF8yvqjY

News behind Kenny Omega's absence, injuries

It's the worst kept secret in wrestling, but Kenny Omega is nearing his return for AEW Dynamite tonight to team with the Young Bucks.

Fightful Select had reported last month that Omega was heading back to All Elite Wrestling after being sidelined since November via injury. When Fightful spoke with Adam Cole this year, he said it was unbelievable that Omega was able to work at a high level with all the injuries he'd sustained. We'd later learn these involved a shoulder injury that was re...

Names discussed for NXT

NXT could be seeing some shift in the roster as WWE has in recent weeks.

Fightful was told to expect tonight's NXT Heatwave show to be newsworthy, and that "several wheels were in motion," already with changes to NXT. We're told that a lot of things are being settled as far as who will appear on the show or move up.

In addition, we've heard a lot of chatter about NXT UK talent popping up on NXT TV in the near future, with Tyler Bate discussed internally. Bate is one of several n...

Brandi Rhodes works WWE PC match

For those who wanted an update about Brandi Rhodes, Fightful Select has one.

Things have been quiet on the Brandi Rhodes end of things since she and her husband Cody left AEW earlier this year. We'd reported in the past that Brandi has maintained a good relationship with WWE of late, and had pushed for KultureCity and WWE to form a partnership. However, we've learned it's a little deeper than that.

Fightful has confirmed that Brandi Rhodes was at the WWE Performance Center recentl...

AEW Talent Told Company That WWE Reached Out To Them

WWE is heating up their talent acquisition, and reaching out to plenty of talent across the world. One situation may have come as a surprise, however.

A source close to AEW tells Fightful Select that a notable AEW talent -- who is known to be under contract -- has reported to AEW management that WWE had reached out to them about coming to WWE. We're talent made it clear they are happy with AEW, and felt like ...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 8/15 -- This Is Progress?

So one thing we know about the HHH Era of Raw -- THIS IS WRESTLING.

Great matches, every week, which is great.

Some of the creative, meanwhile, leaves a lot to be desired.

Everything sucks. (More or less.) Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5DNCh4NU0oE

WWE Raw Plans for tonight

Fightful has learned the following WWE Raw plans:

- Akira Tozawa, Shelton Benjamin, Alpha Academy and Street Profits are all on Main Event

- Judgment Day Promo

- Tag Title tourney: Alexa & Asuka vs. Nikki & Doudrop

- Mustafa Ali & Cedric Alexander vs. Mix & Ciampa

- Drew McIntyre vs. Kevin Owens

- Riddle Interview

- Veer squash

- US Title: Lashley vs. AJ Styles

- Dakota Kai vs. Dana Brooke

- Dolph Ziggler vs. Theory 2022-08-15 23:37:13 +0000 UTC View Post

SRS Backstage Report 8/15: Tons of wrestling news!@

- Bray Wyatt

- CM Punk

- Kross & Scarlett

- Vince McMahon

- WWE Draft

- MLW

- AEW signings

- The FLAG

- Cody Rhodes

Which Q&A format do you all like most?

Hey guys, looking to get some more information so see how you all want these shows done!

Which format do you all like the most?

WWE had cut a lot of duties, travel for producers

Things were changing significantly for WWE producers prior to Vince McMahon's departure, and seemed to have carried over

In gaining the WWE production notes in recent weeks, it became evident that things were being adjusted for WWE producers. Both Joe Hennig and Ariya Daivari had got deep within their training process and had began producing Main Event taping matches solo, but were both let go. Ariya Daivari was expected to be hired full time prior to that, but has since debuted for the...

Raw, Smackdown Producers, Backstage news

WWE Raw Producers:

- Control, Alexa, Asuka Bianca promo: TJ Wilson

- Angelo Dawkins vs. Seth Rollins: Kenny Dykstra

- Ezekiel vs. Kevin Owens: Shawn Daivari

- Judgment Day promo, Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor: Petey Williams

- Dana & Tamina vs. Control: TJ Wilson

- Lashley vs. Ciampa: Jason Jordan

- Omos squash: Kenny Dykstra

- Ziggler vs. Gable: Shawn Daivari

- AJ Styles vs. The Miz: Michael Hayes.

WWE Smackdown P...

Fightful Weekender (8/14): GCW, JCW, ACTION, BATTLE SLAM, NXT UK, NXT LEVEL UP, NWA, IMPACT *SPOILERS*

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

Topics:

- Show to watch on IWTV - TIMEBOMB PRO: "Damaged Goods"

- GCW: "Homecoming 2022, Part 1" results

- JCW: "After Hours 2" results

- ACTION: "In America" **SPOILERS**

- BATTLE SLAM: "The Takeover" **SPOILERS**

- NXT UK (8/11) results

- NXT Level Up (8/12) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (8/9) results

- IMPACT: "Second City Slamm" **TV TAPING SPOILERS**