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3 PM EST LIVE: SRS Q&A ! PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION

SRS answers your questions!

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/-pCcAyHljO0

Another match discussed for AEW Double or Nothing

We're told AEW might not be done adding matches to Double or Nothing.

It was announced this week that Sting will not be traveling to Double or Nothing weekend after sustaining an injury, but his tag team partner Darby Allin will. Sources Fightful has spoken to also indicated that a match was discussed for the Double or Nothing that would see Allin take on Kyle O'Reilly. O'Reilly was responsible for "Pillmanizing" Sting's leg inside a chair on last week's episode of AEW Dynamite.

T...

RJ City Notes

Fightful interviewed RJ City, and while we'd like to give you some early notes, we don't usually speak about anything of note.

RJ stated that he did not know Tony Khan was going to mention his name on the AEW Revolution pre-show media call. He said that "death marches onward no matter how hard you escape it" and he was just trying to have fun with it. He was surprised that Tony Khan enjoyed them and reached out, and he ended up filming all of the Road to Revolution videos in one day at ...

The List AND YA GIRL Goes On 5/25

SRS & Denise keep the party rolling!!

Video: https://youtu.be/84xIGt7zQDQ

Killer Kross had talks with AEW, was planned for singles match

W. Morrissey wasn't the only person who was pitched to be a part of the Wardlow/MJF storyline.

Morrisey had an impressive showing on the May 4 episode of AEW Dynamite that saw him lose to Wardlow. However, Fightful Select has learned that another name was pitched and even approached about being in the role.

Killer Kross, formerly Karrion Kross, was approached for the match against Wardlow. However, we'r...

Segment cut from WWE Raw

The May 23 edition of WWE Raw was slated to have a little bit more on the show.

We're told that WWE United States Champion Theory and Mustafa Ali were set for a segment on WWE Raw, but it ended up getting nixed before the show. The reason that we were given was due to time constraints, and there were no alternative plans made for Ali for the program. There was a mention of Theory possibly helping the beatdown on Cody, but that didn't end up happening.

We were told that there ...

SRS Backstage Report Podcast (5/24): Sasha & Naomi, Stephanie McMahon, more

Topics

- TONS of Sasha Banks & Naomi news

- Stephanie McMahon leave of absence from WWE

- A bunch of Tessa Blanchard- WOW Updates

- Segment cut from Raw

- OVW/Netflix

- NJPW logjam of talent

- Reelz wrestling content

- Jon Gresham

- WWE backstage news

MLW News: Samoan Swat Team, Merch Sellers, Enzo, SAT, More!

Major League Wrestling had a successful run in Philadelphia, with the show selling out after the walk-up. Fightful Select has learned a lot more news emerging from the events.

The new Samoan SWAT Team, led by Jacob Fatu, is headed for a big push, with Juicy Finau and Lance Anoa'i joining him. Samu was also present at the show and gave his blessing for the group to use the name. He and Rikishi comprised the original Samoan SWAT Team. Enzo Amore started a feud with Fatu at the tapings, so...

Alex's Sour Graps: Raw 5/23--Dis-Appointment Television

RKBro might be done, Bobby got outsmarted by Omos, Veer is a foreign heel without a foreign accent, Alexa seems pretty sane now, Seth ruined a perfectly mid Cody vs Miz match, and somehow Becky and Asuka are BOTH Number 1 Contender because they beat *each other* in successive weeks.

Oh, and also, just in case you missed it, Sasha & Naomi disappointed literally millions of fans with their super duper unprofessional behavior. Corey Graves said so, because Vince told him to,...

WWE Raw plans tonight

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for WWE Raw, subject to change

- Riddle in ring promo

- Riddle & Street Profits vs. Usos & Sami Zayn

- Lashley's All Mighty Challenge

- Judgment Day in ring promo

- AJ Styles & Liv Morgan vs. Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley

- King's Court with Veer

- Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki ASH. Sonya Deville and Doudrop are supposed to be involved

- Cody Rhodes vs. Miz

- Ezekiel vs. Chad Gable

Update On Sasha Banks and Naomi, Their Suspension, Misconceptions

Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of WWE Raw last week, and were indefinitely suspended by the company.

To clarify a rumor that emerged today, it was reiterated to us by numerous talent and staff that Sasha Banks and Naomi left during WWE Raw, at the start of the show. Many people we spoke to theorized that once the show started, they wouldn't discuss the issue further with Vince McMahon because he'd be busy. 

As of 7:15 PM EST, the originally planned six-way match was still l...

Fightful Weekender (5/22): IWTV, GCW, LA FIGHTS, NXT UK, NXT LEVEL UP, MLW, NWA, BTE

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

Topics:

- Show to watch on IWTV - AIW: "Gauntlet For The Gold 15"

- SOUTHEAST FIRST: "Uncharted Territory S4 E2" results

- GCW: "Maniac" results

- LA FIGHTS: "Volume 4" results

- NXT UK (5/19) results

- NXT Level Up (5/20) results

- MLW: "Fusion" (5/19) results

- NWA: "Powerrr" (5/17) results

- BTE: "Three Simple Words" recap

News on upcoming Reelz wrestling content

Reelz is producing even more wrestling content.

Reelz has been in the wrestling business of late, producing "Autopsy" documentaries for air on their networks. We're told that's far from the only one, as they have several pro wrestling documentaries scheduled for the Summer. The network has been interviewing wrestling media members for the series. Unlike the massive A&E-WWE deal, these do not have WWE participation, and aren't related to that deal.

We were able to confirm that ...

Backstage News, WWE Raw & Smackdown Producers

Fightful has learned the following producers for WWE Raw from May 16:

- Bobby Lashley vs. Omos: Adam Pearce

- Mustafa Ali vs. Veer: Abyss

- Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso: Michael Hayes & Curtis Axel

- AJ Styles & Finn Balor: Jamie Noble & Ariya Daivari

- Alexa Bliss vs. Sonya Deville: Molly Holly

- Ezekiel vs. Chad Gable: Shawn Daivari

- Becky Lynch vs. Asuka: Petey Williams & Kenny Dykstra

Fightful has learned the following producers for...

Logjam of talent hoping to work NJPW

New Japan Pro Wrestling is still a heavily sought out destination, as indicated by wrestlers aching to do work with them. Finally, we got word that New Japan is starting to see American talent travel over there, and vice versa. 

Fightful has been told that although that's the case, there's a "logjam" of wrestlers based in the United States that had been trying to go over there, including several AEW wrestlers who have actually never performed in New Japan Pro Wrestling before. Over...

Figure Haul: MINT ON CARD ECW + and embarrassing story

SRS is a bad judge of big head little head, but he's got some cool figures

Sean Ross Sapp AMA

Hey guys, SRS here. Not a lot of wrestling this weekend, so I'm gonna do a text AMA here for subscribers.

Ask away. I won't have answer to everything but I'll try!

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 5/20-- Suspension & Disbelief

SmackDown finally did this damn Tag Unification Match, and of course there was a dodgy finish that sets up a rematch.  

Nothing else of note happened on SmackDown, except LA Knight has a new stupid name that you have to say weird.  

Oh, and Michael Cole was instructed by Vince McMahon to absolutely BURY Sasha & Naomi, live on air, and they stripped them of the Tag Titles so they could run a tournament of two-minute matches between thrown-together tag teams that don't...

Update on Sasha Banks and Naomi coming

It looks as if Sasha Banks and Naomi's situations will be addressed.

After walking out during WWE Raw Monday, we've heard little about Sasha Banks and Naomi's status with the company.

Shortly before Smackdown, Fightful was told by a source that the company would likely address the status of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. That same source indicated that the two had been "suspended indefinitely." We can't confirm that to be the case as of yet, and when we asked directly we were...

Smackdown Plans For Tonight

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for tonight's Smackdown, subject to change

- Roman Reigns, The Usos, Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn are planned for a promo

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn

- Happy Talk

- Gunther vs. Drew Gulak. Ricohet was scheduled to be involved

- RKBro promo

- Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shotzi

- Xavier Woods vs. Butch

- Usos vs. RKBro winner take all

Other notes

- Viking Raiders vs. Jinder and Sha...

More On Stephanie McMahon's Leave From WWE

Stephanie McMahon revealed that she was taking time off from WWE Thursday, noting that she was focusing on her family. 

Around the office, there were plenty of people who were caught off guard by the announcement. Members of WWE's PR team were made aware, as were several members of the media that held off on revealing the personal announcement until Stephanie McMahon made it official.

Those that we spoke to said that while the news was a surprised to many, it "didn't come ove...

Coexisting After Dark with Rob and Maggie - Special Guest Lillie Alexandra

Rob and Maggie are back with another new Fightful Select Exclusive Coexisting After Dark!   They have a plan in place that we think everyone will enjoy! They will have a new guest every Friday, and it's not all wrestling.   We think it will be fantastic for people to know more about the different personalities that you see around Fightful, Twitter, and other places.   So sit back and hang out with Rob, Maggie, and our first guest Lillie Alexandra.

VIDEO: 2022-05-20 19:42:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Lots more on Tessa Blanchard-WOW issues

Tessa Blanchard is not figured into WOW's plans, although we haven't been told officially she's been fired. Fightful first learned about issues between Tessa Blanchard and WOW in mid-April, but those we've spoken to indicated that they'd witnessed friction as far back as January.

Specifically we were told that Tessa Blanchard was "livid" that a planned January tryout was canceled by CBS due to COVID, with David McClane getting the finger pointed at him. The tryout had been advertised, a...

SRS Q&A Podcast (5/19): Danielson, Johnny, AEW Backstage, Etc

- Bryan Danielson update

- Rumors of AEW CHAOS~!

- ROH

- Johnny Elite

- Sasha Banks & Naomi

- Tyler Breeze

- Konosuke Takeshita

- MJF

- OVW

Stephanie McMahon taking leave of absence from WWE

Stephanie McMahon will be taking a leave of absence from WWE

Fightful had heard rumblings that Stephanie had been less involved in WWE of late. Those that we spoke to around the situation quickly shut down any potential rumors that she was pushed out of the position. 

"As of tomorrow, I am taking a leave of absence from the majority of my responsibilities at WWE. WWE is a lifelong legacy for me and I look forward to returning to the company that I love after taking this time ...

Jonathan Gresham done with IMPACT Wrestling for now, more notes

Fightful spoke with ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham ahead of Modern Age Grappling on May 22.

He specified that Terminus shows will continue, but that's a collaborative effort between he and Baron Black, and Modern Age Grappling is more his personal view. Though he's signed with AEW/ROH, he said that each company he's worked for has been fine with him running shows. He had to put Terminus on the back burner so he could keep his normal life afloat.

He reiterated that ROH is comi...

SRS Q&A Time

Hey guys! Q&A time

Guidelines

- I will try to answer the questions I know. Your question isn't wasted if I don't. It shows me what I need to ask around about.

- 1 question per subscriber

- No "are you a fan of?" "fantasy book this" "top 5" or "favorite" questions please! We try to keep these as newsworthy as possible

If you're a new subscriber, comment your question below. I'll delete the field after I'm done recording.

For aggrega...

OVW Lands Reality Series On Major Streaming Platform

Ohio Valley Wrestling is nearing what would be their biggest deal since their WWE departure in 2008.

Fightful Select has learned that the promotion is nearing the announcement of a program deal with a major streaming service for an upcoming series that chronicles the life behind the scenes in the wrestling company.

The deal is particularly interesting, because it was confirmed via Fightful sources that the deal would be through one of the big three streaming ...

RECKLESS SPECULATION PODCAST For List Goes On 5/18

SRS and Jimmy Van keep things rolling by talking about the Jokers!

- The Jokers

- AEW and upfronts

- Mustafa Ali

- Ric Flair's return

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rNarqoy8WFE

Backstage Reactions To Sasha Banks & Naomi Walking Out

There are numerous staff and talent that we've heard from about the situation, ranging across the board. 

One talent indicated that they often see criticism of WWE's handling of champions, the tag team division, the number of women's tag teams, and the booking of women in general, but see even more criticism when talent stand up against it.

However, one consensus among those we've talked to is that leaving during a show you were scheduled for, before that segment is something...