fightful

More on Ric Flair's Last Match, Original Plan, Interpromotional match.

Ric Flair's last match is planned, and as of now, Ricky Steamboat is not involved as originally hoped.

We're told the working plan is a tag team match, and there are names in mind, but we haven't gained word that anything has been finalized. Fightful reported that Ricky Steamboat was being courted for the match, the working plan was for Steamboat and the Rock N' Rock Express to team up to take on FTR and Ric Flair. However, we're told there were several hurdles in the way.

Steambo...

Some wrestlers were surprised they were included in WWE 2K22

The WWE 2K22 roster reveal ahead of its release earlier this year caught some people by surprise -- specifically some people on the roster.

Fightful has spoken to several members of the WWE 2K22 roster that have been released along the way since they were scanned in. None of them that we spoke to were informed explicitly ahead of the announcement that they'd be included in the game, but some caught wind of it in the days prior. We've spoken to numerous wrestlers who weren't told outrigh...

MLW founder recounts MJF asking to restructure his contract.

Much has been made of MJF's contract status, and we got a look at how he's handled this in the past.

When asking those in MLW about the contract he'd signed before coming to Major League Wrestling, it was confirmed he was among the first deals that were signed to the company years ago. As the deal progressed, MJF had felt like he outperformed his Major League Wrestling contract and went directly to Court Bauer to make his case and renegotiate. Court Bauer told Fightful that things went ...

Fightful Select Retro Review ROH and NJPW War of the Worlds (2014) w/ Rob Wilkins

There is no List Goes On today, so in it's place, is a bonus Retro Review!

Rob Wilkins is back with another Fightful Select Retro Review, and today he has Kris Bordine from Music & Moonsaults with him as they review the ROH and NJPW War of the Worlds (2014) event. On May 17th, 2014, this event took place at the infamous Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York.  This show featured some of today's biggest stars! AEW World Champion Adam Page, Adam Cole, AJ Styles, Ke...

Lio Rush early interview notes

Fightful spoke to Lio Rush ahead of the release of his new EP, Not Found 2!

We talked to Lio, who confirmed he's still a free agent despite appearing on New Japan Pro Wrestling recently. Lio said that he likes it that way, and prefers to construct things so that they work around his schedule and how he likes to do things. He spoke about the constant "retirement" digs, and says it doesn't annoy him, it just isn't original at this point and seems like a waste of time. "I'm here and I'm he...

Several AEW injury updates

AEW has been battling the injury bug of late.

In addition to numerous top stars that had already been reported as being sidelined, there are a couple more out of action.

Lee Johnson hasn't wrestled since early May, and likely won't for the remainder of the summer. It was confirmed to Fightful on Monday that Johnson has been battling a knee injury, and will be out of action for the next few months at least.

Matt Hardy also was banged up after his AAA TripleMania match. 2022-06-21 19:41:17 +0000 UTC View Post

Talent reaction to Bruce Prichard in, Johnny Ace out of talent relations role

Bruce Prichard in, Johnny Ace out as Head of Talent Relations in WWE.

Fightful can confirm that WWE talent were notified of the change, with John Laurinaitis on administrative leave from the roles, and Bruce Prichard in the spot on an interim basis. The unanimous belief among those in the company we spoke to was that Johnny was as good as gone, with several going as far as to celebrate his impending departure.

However, the monkey's paw put a finger down for some, as now one of the...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 6/20 -- Watch Out For That Next Step

Vince made a surprise appearance on Raw, to tell us something we already know, and I guess to rub all of our noses in the fact that he thinks he's entirely bulletproof. 

Everything else on Raw, in one way or another, was bad.

The company is in a terrible place.  

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IDnD8UPP3a4

RAW Plans, including major change to title match

Below are the WWE Raw plans, subject to change

- Bianca Belair promo. We've been told that Rhea Ripley is out of Money in the Bank, and will be replaced

- Top Contender match: Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Liv Morgan vs. Carmella vs. Becky Lynch

- Riddle/Reigns video and Riddle promo

- MITB qualifier: Riddle vs. Omos. Riddle will likely be working an injured rib angle

- Theory promo

- Angelo Dawkins vs. Jey Uso

- Elias' concert

- Gauntlet match for ...

SRS Backstage Report Podcast (6/20): Vince McMahon, Orton, Lesnar, Hardy,

- Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, more

- Talent reacts to Vince McMahon investigation

- AEW tag team scene changes

- Jeff Hardy

- Sasha Banks

- Backstage news

- IMPACT Slammiversary

- Randy Orton injury

- Joshi news

- Brock Lesnar return

- Steve Maclin

- Apollo/Azeez

Some tentative WWE Raw plans

Fightful Select have learned some tentative plans for tonight's episode of WWE Raw, which are very clearly subject to change.

Early indicators were that Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Riddle, MVP, Theory, Elias/Ezekiel, Street Profits, Lashley and Miz are booked to appear tonight.

After Riddle lost his title match Friday, the plan was for him to sell his ribs due to the spear that put him away. Theory looks to continue with his "posing" gimmick, complete with baby oil. We're also told tha...

Tons of Raw & Smackdown backstage news and notes!

Fightful learned the following producers for WWE Raw June 13:

- Montez Ford vs. Jimmy Uso: Jamie Noble & Joe Hennig

- Seth Rollins interview: Michael Hayes

- Becky Lynch vs. Dana Brooke: TJ Wilson & Kenny Dykstra

- Alexa Bliss & Liv Morgan vs. Doudrop & Nikki ASH: Molly Holly

- Ezekiel vs. Kevin Owens: Shawn Daivari

- Cedric Alexander vs. MVP: Adam Pearce & Ariya Daivari

- AJ Styles vs. Seth Rollins: Michael Hayes & Petey Willi...

Why Raw wrestlers have to camp out in the ring 15 minutes before the main event, reactions

Long wait times are the norm for WWE superstars if they're in the main event, and they don't seem to like it.

The down time between the start of an entrance to the beginning of the match regularly goes 15 minutes these days for the WWE Raw main event. However, the 20 minute gap for Monday's last match between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan seemed particularly egregious.

Fightful reached out to several wrestlers who had been subjected to the waits over the last year, who expressed anno...

Tsukasa Fujimoto Interview Notes

Fightful's Scott Edwards (@ScottEWrestling) spoke with Tsukasa Fujimoto for a new interview.

Fujimoto has been on a sabbatical the past six weeks and told Edwards that she is getting some rest for her body, but is itching to get back into the ring.

She enjoys Ice Ribbon because she says the company values being courteous to one another, regardless of rank and senority. She's happy that the advanced online presences have cast a bigger light on Joshi wrestling.

Fujimoto spoke ...

Fightful Select Exclusive Impact Wrestling Slammiversary Pre-Show 4:30pm ET

Join Rob Wilkins for the Impact Wrestling Slammiversary Pre-Show! Rob goes over tonight's card and gives his predictions at 4:30 pm ET

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m39VY7MAH5w

Backstage notes from Slammiversary (UPDATED)

Fightful will have several notes from behind the scenes at Slammiversary

- We're told to expect "multiple" surprises tonight.

- Father James Mitchell is backstage, and set for Sunday's tapings

- Heath Miller was also backstage, though he wasn't on Slammiversary

- Slash, formerly Wolfie D, is at the show.

- Chris Harris and James Storm -- AMW-- are both at the show. As seen, so is Shark Boy

- Madison Rayne has been helping produce of late

- Deonna ...

Update on original plans for AEW Triple Threat Ladder match

In the days that followed the ladder match on Dynamite, reports emerged that the Hardy Boyz weren't even planned to actually compete in the match.

Bryan Alvarez reported two days following the ladder match that even prior to Jeff Hardy's DUI arrest, The Hardy Boyz were to be attacked and taken out of the triple threat title ladder match. However, Fightful has learned that isn't accurate.

Prior to the DUI arrest, the Hardy Boyz were still slated for the match on the June 15 AEW Dyn...

More on Vince McMahon's mood, backstage atmosphere at WWE Smackdown

In the day that followed, numerous WWE talent at Smackdown reached out to Fightful to offer detail on Vince McMahon's demeanor at the show.

One Smackdown talent said they were expecting an eventful day, but noted that nobody knew what Vince McMahon was going to say. However, he "wasn't selling" the fact that he was being investigated, and was particularly jovial.

In addition, the person said that the show was a lot more relaxed than usual by the time it kicked off, with another ad...

Card Haul: UFC Panini Prizm

SRS gets into some UFC cards!

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 6/17--In Case Of Emergency, Brock Glass

So. What do you guys wanna talk about?  

Is it MadCap?  

It's MadCap, isn't it?  

Alex & Kate will discuss MadCap, AND OTHER STUFF MAYBE I GUESS.  

Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/gnBukWeLAa4