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SRS WWE Day 1 Live Discussion

Hey fellas and ladies, what's up? I'd expect the main event to be rad tonight

Tons of plans for tonight's WWE Day 1 PPV

Fightful has learned several plans for WWE Day 1, as of this evening. Please note, these are constantly and rapidly changing, as we saw with the world title match switch.

The lineup handed out earlier this afternoon (from bottom to top) was listed as the following: 

- New Day vs. Usos was planned to kick off the show, with Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss set to follow up. Happy Corbin will accompany Moss.

- RK-Bro vs. Street profits was slated for third this afternoon, wi...

Major change to WWE Day 1

This news will be posted publicly, but Fightful has learned that WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will not be on tonight's WWE Day 1 show, due to COVID protocol. Brock Lesnar will be added to the Fatal 4 Way WWE Title match, making it a five way.

Fightful learned that a significant change was in order for the show at about 5 PM EST, and had the news confirmed by WWE officials by 6 PM. WWE itself has confirmed it publicly, as well. 

One source that we spoke to indicated tha...

Several ROH names now free agents

With the new year starting, there are several free agent names hitting the market. As mentioned this week, several Ring of Honor names are now free. So far, we've confirmed they include: Jonathan Gresham, Silas Young, Mike Bennett, Danhausen, Josh Woods, Shane Taylor, Rhett Titus, Beer City Bruiser, Brian Milonas. There are numerous more, but Fightful has gained specific first-hand confirmation from all of the aforementioned talent that they are now free agents.

In an update, we've actu...

Another AroLucha update

If you wanted to close the year out with Arolucha, congrats.

Fightful has learned that in addition to Pencilish Animation Studios, Starlight Runner Entertainment have joined AroLucha. We're told specifically Jeff Gomez and Mark Pensavalle have joined the fray. In the past they've worked with Avatar, Transformers, Spiderman and Lucha Underground. 

The group are known as consultants in brand narrative, story world development, creative franchise design, and transmedia storytell...

WWE Raw Producers

Fightful has learned the following producers for the December 27 episode of Raw. In addition, several producers that had previously been shadowing other producers went solo.

- Reggie & Dana Brooke vs. R-Truth & Tamina was produced by Molly Holly.

- Mysterios vs. Street Profits was produced by Petey Williams, as a solo producer.

- Kevin Owens vs. Cedric Alexander was produce...

Figure Haul: AEW Unrivaled Series 3

SRS opens up the AEW series 3 figures!

Miro had been working though injury

Miro is now feuding with God, but he had battles with his own hamstring, as well.

The former TNT Champion has only wrestled two matches since dropping the title on September 29, and wasn't actually planned to wrestle either of them. After being out of in-ring action all of October, Miro served as Jon Moxley's replacement in the World Title Eliminator, taking on Orange Cassidy and Bryan Danielson on November 3 and 13, respectively. Fightful learned that during that period, Miro was worki...

SRS Q&A (12/30): Over 30 minutes of questions!

- Heat on wrestlers

- WWE MSG attendance

- Thatcher, Joe, Danhausen

- Danhausen, Gresham, STP,

- GCW

- Who is coming to AEW?

- Names possibly returning to WWE?

- Bo Dallas, Megan Bayne

- Swerve

Minis are coming to MLW

Minis are coming to MLW.

MLW is rolling out the Azteca Underground show, and we're told minis are a part of the plan for it. Specifically, one character is confirmed. 

Fightful has learned that AAA is introducing a new version of the mini Abismo Negro character in 2022, replacing the person who has been performing under the gimmick (who played Mini Goldust) for years. We've not learned of the performer who will be replacing him, but MLW is slated to be his debut in the role.&...

Chuck Palumbo interview notes: Vince McMahon, O'Haire, Hair Falling Out

Fightful interviewed WCW and WWE veteran Chuck Palumbo, and got a ton of great stories from him.

Palumbo spoke highly of Vince McMahon, stating that he always had an open door policy with Vince, and McMahon was always kind to him. He saw Vince's responsibilities increase as time went on, but said that Vince was always supportive of him. Palumbo said that he picked up a lot of business and life experience by working with and for Vince McMahon

Palumbo spoke about Shawn Stasiak and S...

Free Fightful Select Preview of The Coexisting Podcast

@Robwilkins and @Maggie_IK are Coexisting on a  new weekly exclusive Fightful Select Podcast.  This week is a free preview of The Coexisting Podcast. Rob & Maggie preview WWE Day 1 and NXT New Year’s Evil. They talk about the WWE releasing Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez signing with AEW. They also go over their favorite matches and mome...

SRS Q&A Questions

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...

More on Toni Storm's release -- UPDATED

For those who missed it, Toni Storm was released this afternoon by WWE, which was confirmed to Fightful by the company. 

Those that Fightful spoke to within WWE say that Toni Storm asked for her release from the company. This was later confirmed to me, and we reached out to people close to Toni said that things were fine when we asked about extenuating circumstances, and how she was doing.

Storm worked a triple threat match at last night's WWE live event, and PWInsider noted ...

Details on several ROH contracts

Fightful has learned of several more deals of Ring of Honor's that are up on at the end of 2021.

Fightful reported months ago that upon being notified of ROH's hiatus, most ROH deals were up at the end of the year, but some -- including Ian Riccaboni's -- expire March 31.

We've been able to confirm that Jonathan Gresham, Danhausen, Shane Taylor (originally reported by Bodyslam and confirmed by Fightful), Silas Young are expiring at the end of 2021. However, we've also found a ton ...

BONUS Figure Haul: Backlash Era Brock, Taker, Austin

With Jimmy Van out of the office, SRS brings you a bonus Figure Haul to make up for The List Goes On!

Details on Veer Mahaan coming

Veer has been coming for months.

Since October, WWE has aired vignettes for Veer coming to WWE Raw, where he actually already was. Fightful learned that there was "no real rhyme or reason" behind splitting Veer from Jinder Mahal and Shanky, and for a while, many thought he would just be inexplicably moved back to Smackdown to join them. WWE sources we spoke to said that WWE officials have generally thought he had the most upside of either of his pairings, whether it be with Saurav or Sh...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 12/27--Ignorance is Bliss?

!!!GOING LIVE AT 12:15est TONIGHT!!!

WWE is now a super-spreader event. A bunch of top talents had to miss Live events over the weekend, and they weren't at Raw, because they tested positive, and as a result, Raw sucked even more than usual. And now several matches at Day 1 are in jeopardy.

Well, at least this will never happen again. Because Vince has decided to stop testing his employees--and independent contractors--for COVID.

Because what he doesn't know, won't cost him ...

Tonight's Raw plans

Fightful has leaned of the following plans for WWE Raw as of this afternoon.

- Riddle vs. Chad Gable

- Randy Orton vs. Otis

- Reggie & Dana Brooke vs. R-Truth & Tamina

- AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews

- Street Profits vs. Mysterios RKBRonament finals

- Kevin Owens promo

- Kevin Owens vs. Cedric Alexander

- Miz & Maryse renew their vows

Please note that these are subject to change, especially during the current climate.

2021-12-28 00:27:09 +0000 UTC View Post

SRS Backstage Report Podcast (12/27)

- WWE COVID enforcement

- Hammerstone's new deal

- CVV, RJ City

- Ogogo's heat

- WWE and no cut clauses

- Big names in QPW

- Tommy Dreamer

- Injuries, contracts

WWE informs talent that COVID testing is no longer required

COVID cases have reached their height since January in the United States, and have hit WWE hard.

Several top WWE stars are sidelined from this week's shows with COVID infections, but WWE is taking measures the opposite way within NXT. Performance Center talent was informed this past weekend that they're no longer requiring the twice-weekly COVID testing that had previously been mandatory around television tapings. We've also learned that WWE main roster also got a message being informe...

Fightful Weekender (12/26): 2021 Weekender Awards!

STEPHEN JENSEN is back with the 2021 WEEKENDER AWARDS!

- Show to watch on IWTV - KOBK: "Souled Out"

Weekender Awards Categories:

- Match Of The Year

- Breakout Wrestler Of The Year

- Most Improved Wrestler Of The Year

- New On The Radar Award

- Tag Team Of The Year

- Moment Of The Year

- Show Of The Year

- Blowing Up In 2022 Award

- Wrestler Of The Year

Update On Bryan Danielson, Adam Scherr, EC3, Kross working for QPW

In an update on the former Braun Strowman, aka Adam Scherr and EC3 being promoted for an upcoming Qatar Pro Wrestling show, we've told that isn't a slam dunk as of yet. We are told that as of last week, Adam Scherr and EC3 have not committed and no contracts have been signed for the two to appear at the QPW wrestling show in which they are advertised. In addition, Fightful reached out to Killer Kross, who said he's agreed to it, but nothing is signed and official as of yet.

QPW had also...

Producers for the Christmas Smackdown

Fightful has learned the following producers for the Christmas episode of Smackdown

- Abyss and Kenny Dykstra were listed as producers for the Miracle on 34th Street Fight and the promothat led to it.

- Jamie Noble and Petey Willams were the producers for the huge 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet match

- TJ Wilson/Tyson Kidd and Shawn Daivari were the producers listed for the 2021-12-25 19:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post

Fightful Select Retro Review: WCW Starrcade 1991 Battlebowl

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/263glvXw3vw

Rob Wilkins and Joel Pearl are here for the monthly Fightful Select Review. December's review is for WCW Starrcade 1991 Battlebowl.

How did this event hold up? Was this the event that began Sting's trajectory to becoming a future WWE Hall of Famer? This show had thirteen WWE Hall of Fame Members and other greats like The Steiner Brothers, Vader, and Lex Luger.

We would al...

Update On Tommy Dreamer-IMPACT

Tommy Dreamer is back in the fold at IMPACT Wrestling.

Dreamer, who had been suspended in September due to insensitive comments he made during The Plane Ride From Hell Dark Side of The Ring, returned at a recent set of IMPACT tapings, we're told. Dreamer serves as an agent and producer on the show, and was not used in an on-screen capacity from what we understand. Dreamer was suspended for the duration of one taping, which is a little over a month's worth of tapings for the company.

Figure Haul: Stone Cold Steve Austin!

Glass shatters, and so does the packaging on these figures!

AEW wrestler had heat with talent over social media conduct

Several AEW wrestlers at this week's set of tapings told us that Anthony Ogogo's comments towards Jonathan Gresham weren't looked upon favorably by them, especially considering Jonathan Gresham and Jordynne Grace made it clear they weren't participating in an angle. One wrestler told us that they don't believe Ogogo was genuine in the comments, and believe he was trying to work an angle with a hot soon-to-be-free-agent talent, but by the time Gresham made it clear it wasn't a work, Ogogo was ...

SRS Q&A Podcast! (12/23)

Sean Ross Sapp answers questions about:

- WWE talent leaving

- Who will jump to WWE

- Maki Itoh

- Undisputed Era

- Backstage heat

- More!

The List Goes On 12/22: Bianca Belair, AJ/Omos, Vince, Liv

- Bianca Belair 

- Liv Morgan

- AJ Styles and Omos

- Vince McMahon

- Pro Wrestling Tees

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/RByI4x8unN0