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Alicia Atout Re-Signs With MLW, Update On Richard Holliday's Status

Alicia Atout will remain with MLW.

In an update on several Major League Wrestling deals, we've gained an update on their long-time interviewer turned manager Alicia Atout.

In 2019, Atout was announced as signing a "multi-year deal" with the company, which we confirmed was a three year deal. We've confirmed that deal has been extended, and Alicia Atout with remain with MLW for years to come.

After working as an interviewer, Atout recently aligned with Richard Holliday as The ...

Naomi interview notes

Fightful spoke with Naomi just before WrestleMania, who said she was happy to be working with Sasha Banks. Naomi mentioned that Sasha Banks was a huge star and one of the best of all time and could very well be doing her own thing at Wrestlemania. She also joked about fellow team BAD member Tamina's "wedding" to Akira Tozawa, and spoke about how important Tamina is to the locker room.

The S...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 4/25 -- Return of the Prince

Bianca defended the title in her hometown, and she actually won!

Asuka is back, and she's coming for Becky Lynch. That should be a good time.

They made a meaningless 8 man tag main event, which is somehow the best way to celebrate 20 years of Randy Orton.

But the biggest deal, for Sour Graps fans, is that Mustafa Ali has returned, and he's a babyface again, and he's immediately in the US Title picture, while also being in the crosshairs of Tommaso Ciampa.

There...

WWE Raw plans, including returns

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

- Randy Orton's 20th Anniversary Celebration kicks off

- Raw Women's Title: Bianca Belair vs. Sonya Deville

- "Mayor Glenn Jacobs is set for a backstage segment," as Fightful Select reported as are Street Profits

- Veer squash match

- Arm Wrestling: Bobby Lashley vs. Omos

- Reggie & Dana vs. Akira Tozawa & Tamina. R-Truth is listed as the ref

- Becky Lynch is...

SRS Backstage Report Podcast (4/25): Asuka, Ali, Way More

- Asuka

- Mustafa Ali

- Raw tonight

- FTR-WWE-AEW

- Dr. Britt Baker DMD

- Natalya

- WWE backstage notes

- IMPACT news

- Alexa Bliss-WWE

- AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

- WWE weed policy

- Cody Rhodes

- Good Brothers

Update on the status of two reutrns

Fightful Select has some good news on a couple of returning names.

Fightful Select can confirm that as of this morning, Mustafa Ali and Asuka were both still factored into the script for the April 25 WWE Raw from Knoxville. As with anything in pro wrestling -- specifically WWE Raw -- anything can change, as we've seen rundowns over the last couple of months that were issued at 7 and changed by showtime.

The plans originally called for Mustafa Ali to be involved in a segment with T...

Another surprise name planned for WWE Raw

Becky Lynch and others are poised to pop back up on WWE Raw, but so is The Mayor, Kane.

Fightful learned that as of this afternoon, there was a plan for Kane to appear in some capacity on WWE Raw. The early pitch we'd heard was for him to be involved in a segment with Ezekiel and Kevin Owens that was figured into the script this weekend.

Kane is local to Knoxville, and has made several appearances over the last several years, but hasn't wrestled even semi-regularly since 2018.&nbs...

WWE planning Asuka's return

At long last, WWE has been planning for a big return to WWE TV in the form of Asuka.

Fightful has been made aware of imminent plans for Asuka to return to WWE Raw, as of this weekend. We've learned that as of this weekend, the plan was for her to enter at least a short-term program with Becky Lynch as soon as Monday's Raw, though as is always the case, nothing for WWE TV (or pro wrestling TV) until it actually happens.

We're told there have been numerous pitches from talent and cr...

Surprising return to WWE TV discussed internally in WWE

A surprising return to WWE TV has been discussed internally.

Fightful Select has learned that as of this weekend a possible return to WWE television for Mustafa Ali was discussed. There was a pitch made for him to actually appear on WWE Raw Monday, though we can never be sure that something like that will actually happen until he appears on the air, due to the constant changes of the program.

Ali has not appeared on WWE programming since October, and had been booked to lose 11 con...

Fightful Weekender (4/24): GCW, NXT UK SPOILERS, NXT LEVEL UP, NWA, AIW, BTE, SUP

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

Topics:

- Show to watch on IWTV - SUP: "New Direction"

- GCW: "Find You Again" + "The Old Me" results

- NXT UK *SPOILERS*

- NXT Level Up (4/22) results

- NWA: "PowerrrSurge" (4/19) results

- AIW: "Eyes Of The Beast" results

- BTE: "Being Brandon Cutler" recap

Raw & Smackdown Producers, Main Event Notes, Backstage News

Fightful has learned the following producers for the April 18 WWE Raw:

- Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins opening segment: Michael Hayes & Petey Williams

- Women's Tag Title Match: Tyson Kidd

- Bianca Belair-Sonya Deville segment: Molly Holly

- Veer match: Shane Helms & Curtis Axel

- KO Show with Ezekiel: Shawn Daivari

- Ezekiel vs. Chad Gable: Shawn Daivari

- RKBro vs. Street Profits: Abyss

- Finn Balor vs. Theory: Jamie Noble ...

Tons of IMPACT Rebellion news: Contracts, Tapings, More

Fightful Select has learned several notes coming out of IMPACT Rebellion

- Deonna Purrazzo was still tentatively scheduled for appearances in Mexico as of this weekend, despite losing the AAA Title. 

- The last we heard, JONAH is working in IMPACT on a per-appearance deal, with NJPW being his priority. 

- As mentioned, Tomohiro Ishii is expected to stay through tomorrow's tapings. IMPACT had planned to have him face Steve Maclin, who got a big win tonight.

- ...

IMPACT Wrestling Notes Ahead Of Rebellion PPV

IMPACT Wrestling returns to tapings this weekend, and we have some notes emerging from the show.

- We're told Tomohiro Ishii is expected to stick around through Sunday to appear on more IMPACT Wrestling TV.

- Talent is expecting the Slammiversary date and location to be revealed this weekend at Rebellion, which we're told there may be a festival connected to it of some sort.

- IMPACT has Deonna Purrazzo and Moose set for a Cincinnati-area media tour next week to promote thei...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 4/22--YOU HAD ONE JOB

Hey so Roman Reigns has both the top titles and WWE seems to have no urgency about getting him a challenger. That, my friends, is a CHOICE.  

There was a Lumberjack match that didn't do THE ONE THING that Lumberjack matches are good for, just so they can build to ANOTHER REMATCH NEXT WEEK.

No women's matches, a contract signing that buried Drew Gulak at the center of the earth, more Lacey Evans storytime, Madcap Moss's babyface push continues unabated, a Xia Li heel t...

Plans for next week's WWE Smackdown

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for WWE Smackdown next week, which is to be taped tonight.  These are subject to change. 

- Steel Cage Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn

- Happy Talk with Madcap Moss

- IC Title: Ricochet vs. Shanky

- Raquel Rodriguez in a squash

- Tag Team Unification contract signign

- Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler

- There's a series of confusingly listed New Day/Ridge Holland and Sheamus matches

- Beat the...

Plans for tonight's Smackdown

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for tonight's episode of Smackdown, which are subject to change. 

- Ronda Rousey & Charlotte Flair's contract signing -- Adam Pearce and Drew Gulak to be involved

- Xavier Woods vs. Butch

- Gunther is set for a squash match

- Riddle vs. Jey Uso

- Sasha Banks & Naomi interview, to also involve Natalya & Shayna Baszler

- Madcap Moss vs. Angel Garza

- Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn are set for ...

Coexisting After Dark with Rob & Maggie

The show continues with Rob and Maggie!

VIdeo: https://youtu.be/jlsUmy4HzZE

Card Haul: WWE Panini Prizm Pack open

SRS opens up a $125 pack of cards. WILL HE MAKE HIS MONEY BACK!? I DOUBT IT!

Anything in this video is for sale

Darius Martin injured

Unfortunately, Darius Martin is injured again.

Fightful Select has learned that Top Flight member Darius Martin sustained a leg injury fairly recently and is sidelined from action. We've reached out to Darius and AEW for more, but can confirm that he will be replaced on this weekend's Warrior Wrestling show.

Those that we've spoken to expect Martin to miss a lengthy period in the ring again. The situation is a heartbreaker, as Darius only recently returned from a torn ACL that lef...

Good Brothers on contracts, Bullet Club, teases....Jeff Gordon?

Fightful spoke to the Good Brothers ahead of IMPACT Rebellion, and confirmed that their IMPACT contracts are up on July 17.

The duo were happy for AJ Styles agreeing to a new deal, and said he deserves it, they joked that they deserve one too, and that he knew their release was coming because he cleaned out their bunks on the tour bus immediately.

They'd love to see a Bullet Club Civil War come to a head, but aren't sure where exactly it takes place. They teased that more reunions...

SRS Q&A Podcast 4/21: Nearly 40 Minutes

- Unifying WWE titles

- AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

- Growing audience

- Xia Li, Satnam Singh, Drew McIntyre

- IMPACT re-signing big talent

- Maria, Tony Khan

IMPACT Slammiversary date and location

Impact is scheduled to head home for a huge milestone.

Fightful Select has learned that according to internal schedules, IMPACT Slammiversary and a set of tapings are scheduled to take place June 19 and 20 in Nashville. We've mentioned this a couple of times across our Q&A shows in recent weeks, and had several confirmations that those are the plans as of this weekend, which is to be announced imminently....

Baron Black on Satnam Singh, BATTLE SLAM, AEW Absence

Fightful spoke with Baron Black ahead of his Battle Slam Vendetta shows.

He reiterated that Terminus is still continuing, and they'll hopefully announce things for it soon, but was presented a unique opportunity to run the Battle Slam Vendetta show, and a mixture of hip hop and wrestling that he's wanted to do for a long time. He was able to get Pastor Troy on the event through some mutual friends.

When booking matches, he says that his personal taste plays a little bit of a facto...

News on this week's Smackdown, Europe tour

As of now, there's no plan to tape Smackdown in Europe.

Fightful has learned this week that Smackdown will tape two episodes before WWE embarks on their newest European tour. The second episode will air next Friday while the brand is overseas. WWE formerly regularly taped when on European tours, and we haven't been given and indication as of why that isn't the case this go around.

Fightful Select will have a ton of news on Smackdown Friday, and rundowns for the next two weeks....

RECKLESS SPECULATION Podcast: Tony Khan's big announcement

SRS spills what he's heard about Tony Khan's announcement, and addresses other rumors and reports regarding it. 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VGfUmoWoPJc

GCW and IWTV reach lawsuit settlement.

Fightful has been informed that the GCW-IWTV lawsuit has ended.

According to GCW, there's a settlement in place that will not pay IWTV anything, and GCW will get ownership of all of their footage. IWTV had previously contested that they owned the footage that appeared on their streaming service, and had claimed in excess of $500,000 in damages. 

We're told as a part of the settlement, Game Changer Wrestling will provide IWTV 8 shows over the next year. However, there are no r...

Happy 4/20! WWE talent tells us there haven't been marijuana fines in "years"

Happy 4/20 day, which can be celebrated by WWE talent without fear of repercussion, it would appear. 

WWE talent have told Fightful that they've not been fined for marijuana use in "years," a progressive change from the policy that existed previously. In the past, WWE wouldn't suspend for marijuana use, but a huge fine would be levied against talent for testing positive. At least one wrestler we spoke to said that they still get tested for "everything," but they just don't get fine...

Britt Baker Interview Notes: Christian, Deonna, Jade, Shotzi

Fightful spoke with Dr. Britt Baker DMD for her first interview after losing the AEW Women's Championship.

Baker told Fightful that she pushed to AEW to wrestle Deonna Purrazzo, and hasn't since they were both very new to wrestling. She knows that many of her fans want to see it, and she thinks that it can happen, but noted even with the Forbidden Door, there are hurdles.

We asked her to say nice thing about some of her contemporaries, and she said that Jade Cargill has the most c...

WWE Has Interest In FTR, Update On Their Contracts With AEW

It might be contract season for FTR, but regardless, there's already some outside interest.

FTR are having the hottest years of their career, and their contracts are coming up soon...well sort of. Fightful has learned that Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler's deals are technically available to expire this Summer, but that All Elite Wrestling retains an option year on the duo. We're told that word should be coming on that being exercised or a contract extension coming soon.

Outside of ...

Britt Baker Talks Cody Rhodes' AEW Departure

Fightful spoke to Dr. Britt Baker about a fellow AEW original in Cody Rhodes who has left the company.

Baker said that Cody Rhodes took her under his wing and helped her learn to map out a promo and come up with bullet points. She also said Tony Khan and Chris Jericho helped her out a lot. Ho...