Becky at Black/Brave
Many WWE fans and WWE itself have hoped for a Becky Lynch return, and Fightful has learned a little more about her training process. Fightful sources have heard about her being in the ring at Black and Brave Academy as far back as May, and noted that she and S...
2021-08-16 14:32:59 +0000 UTC View PostMass tapings seem like they're going to be more of the norm for NXT, if this month has been any indication.
Fightful has learned that NXT will be taping the Monday and Tuesday following NXT Takeover this month as opposed to going live. Some fans and regulars have already been sent emails to request their spots on the tapings. The most recent set of NXT shows had some live, some taped. We're working to find out any more changes that will be in store.
We have not been told that this...
2021-08-15 23:18:39 +0000 UTC View PostFightful Wrestling has confirmed Wrestling Observer's report in regards to Andrade El Idolo being originally scheduled to win the AAA Mega Championship at TripleMania.
Meltzer reported that AEW has control over Kenny Omega's finishes, which we've also heard. Chatter backstage at AAA TripleMania indicated that Andrade had been aware that he was slated to win the title at one point, but that was changed along the way at the request of AEW. Several within AAA were speculating that th...
2021-08-15 23:14:45 +0000 UTC View Post
STEPHEN JENSEN is back with a new edition of the WEEKENDER!
Topics:
- SCI: "2021 Scenic City Invitational" (Nights 1 & 2) results
- NJPW: "Resurgence" results
- AAA: "TripleMania XXIX" results
- IMPACT (8/12) results
- 205 LIVE (8/13) results
- NXT UK (8/12) results
- ROH (8/9) results
- NWA: "Powerrr" (8/11) results
- BTE: "Riding Solo" recap
2021-08-15 19:49:40 +0000 UTC View PostOne of the major issues facing several recently released WWE talent is their visa issues. Many wrestlers aren't able to monetize their outside interests while in the States until they obtain a visa. Those that we've spoken to say that most of the wrestlers who aren't citizens are given their 90 days with their non-competes, plus 60 days before they have to return to their country, which gives them about five months in total to get things in order. The 90 days are because the performers are te...
2021-08-15 16:16:50 +0000 UTC View PostWe've seen Chelsea Green appear for IMPACT, ROH, NWA since her WWE deal ran out, in addition to a Pabst Blue Ribbon commercial during an AEW show. We're told that's far from it, as she's also spoken with AAA about working there, but the resurgence in the pandemic seems to have slowed things down. To update her situation, she still has not signed a contract with any promotion, and we're told that each company was aware that she'd be pursuing work with the other along the way.
2021-08-15 00:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
The first half hour of the show was devoted to a promo that had like 4 good minutes worth of material. There was no women's match. Sasha hired two goons as backup, but they're both losers. There was an IC Title match, *where the belt changed hands*, and I don't see how anyone could possibly care.
Also, Baron Corbin could stop being poor if he just tried harder. But not by asking for help. It's not okay to ask for help. So sayeth Vince McMahon.
Everything sucks. (EXCEPT RAMPAGE.) 2021-08-14 16:33:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Britt Baker DMD's injury has caused a bit of a hiccup for the AEW Women's Champion, though she's still working through i. Baker did sustain the injury during the match with Nyla Rose, and we're told specifically the spot happened on a Death Valley Driver spot towards the latter part of the match. We're told by AEW sources that despite the broken wrist, Baker didn't shorten or cut the match on the fly and worked over four minutes with the injury.
2021-08-14 15:12:41 +0000 UTC View PostFightful has learned that Jamie Noble produced the opening segment that featured John Cena and Roman Reigns, or at least was listed as such. It's worth noting that Paul Heyman has also had heavy influence over Reigns' stories, and Reigns and Cena have a significant more amount of freedom over their segments than most
2021-08-14 01:33:29 +0000 UTC View PostI spoke with Fred Rosser for the latest edition of Enhancement Stories. He said that he did extra work dozens of times for WWE, and pointed to Shad Gaspard as the person who made him feel most at home. He said that Shad would bring him to Ron Simmons and call Young Simmons' son. Young also remembered Chad Dick (OF THE DICKS) being kind of weird. Rosser called Hardcore Holly "vicious," and said that Charlie Haas gave him the advice to lay his stuff in.
2021-08-14 00:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostFightful has learned a few of the producer assignments for last week's Smackdown.
- Shawn Daivari, who is still working the wrestling scene outside of WWE, produced Street Profts vs. Dirty Dawgs.
- Jamie Noble was tasked with Rey Mysterio vs. Uso.
- Molly Holly and Tyson Kidd were the producers for several women's segments
2021-08-13 19:55:18 +0000 UTC View PostMany WWE fans and WWE itself have hoped for a Becky Lynch return, and Fightful has learned a little more about her training process. Fightful sources have heard about her being in the ring at Black and Brave Academy as far back as May, and noted that she and Seth Rollins are known to train together ...
2021-08-13 17:31:32 +0000 UTC View Post
SRS loves his Bone Crunchers, and loves ECW. Here are some figaroonies!
2021-08-13 16:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostAriya Daivari spoke with our friends at the Wrestling Perspective Podcast, which goes live Friday night.
- Ariya Daivairi said he didn't watch a full episode of Raw or Smackdown in years, but noted that he enjoys the AEW product.
- Daivari confirmed our report that he was backstage at IMPACT Slammiversary.
- Daivari has a 90 day non-compete clause, as opposed to a 30 that some have. He's eligible to wrestle in late September.
You can subscribe to Wrestling ...
2021-08-13 13:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
- All Out
- Jay White
- NXT releases
- Where are free agents going
- Hangman Page
- Christian/Omega
- NXT future
- CM Punk/Daniel Bryan
2021-08-12 18:49:09 +0000 UTC View PostThere was a bit of a miscommunication between Pabst Blue Ribbon and All Elite Wrestling, leading to the advertisement you saw on the AEW Dynamite last week. We're told PBR had hoped to capitalize on the Domino's/Nick Gage controversy of two weeks ago and had rushed production of a commercial that was set to feature Adam "Hangman" Page. We're told that Page flew to St. Louis to film the commercial and was paid a flat fee, but that an All Elite Wrestling rep put a stop the production before fil...
2021-08-12 15:58:07 +0000 UTC View Post
- Tito vs. Anderson Silva
- CM Punk
- Elias
video: https://youtu.be/Wu7I_iDB6-I
2021-08-11 19:46:00 +0000 UTC View PostFightful had noted recently that there was a WWE tryout name that didn't receive an offer that turned several heads within the Performance Center and WWE, and raised some flags that the hiriing process had changed. It actually ended up being Wheeler YUTA, who is now regularly featured on AEW programming after his May 2021 WWE tryout. Fightful spoke with several NXT talent who confirmed having a discussion -- even with those of influence in NXT at the time -- about YUTA, and him being a perfec...
2021-08-11 17:57:47 +0000 UTC View PostTonight's planned match between Sarray and Ember Moon featured an announced change on Tuesday afternoon, when it was revealed that Dakota Kai would instead be taking on Sarray. Fightful inquired within WWE, and sources indicated that Ember Moon was not cleared, though we were not given a reason that was the case. Ember Moon hasn't wrestled since the July 13 episode of WWE NXT.
2021-08-10 22:54:48 +0000 UTC View PostFightful has received numerous inquiries about the status of Max Caster, after his controversial rap was edited out of last week's AEW Dark, and he was edited out of this week's. Caster also removed AEW and Acclaimed references from his Twitter page. We've learned that as of Tuesday afternoon, Caster was still with AEW, but we were told his appearances were "on ice" as of that time, and sensitivity training has been discussed. We weren't told necessarily what that entailed, but have reached o...
2021-08-10 21:38:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Not content to contain his fetish for mocking poor people simply to SmackDown alone, Vince made Corbin come to Raw to get verbally and physically abused as well.
Also.... Randy Orton is back!
Also.... nothing else.
Literally nothing else of consequence happened at all.
WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO THE BIGGEST PARTY OF THE SUMMER!
Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6_G...
2021-08-10 19:53:24 +0000 UTC View PostCM Punk is headed back to pro wrestling, and Fightful has learned a little more behind the scenes notes on Punk's preparation. In addition to doing training on his own, Punk has also done training for the Starz show "Heels." Fightful has been able to speak with some wrestlers and cast members who have worked with him over the past six months, who had very promising things to say about the former WWE World ...
2021-08-10 18:25:49 +0000 UTC View PostThe scoops I know you all want.
I spoke to WWF veteran Duke "The Dumpster" Droese, who spoke about his life and career, and overcoming addiction. He said that his departure in WWF actually came after he passed on putting over Steve Austin in 1996, because he could see himself becoming a jobber to the stars after his feud with Triple H. Droese put over Triple H, and says he was given that feud in order to entice him to sign a new deal, and he wanted to turn heel and buzz his head for the...
2021-08-09 21:08:19 +0000 UTC View Post
- Adam Cole-WWE
- Pete Dunne's contact
- Ruby Soho-AEW
- NXT releases
- Change in WWE hiring
- WWE official's thoughts on the changes
- Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett
2021-08-09 17:17:37 +0000 UTC View Post
STEPHEN JENSEN is back with a new episode of the WEEKENDER!
Topics:
- Shows to watch on IWTV - 2021 SCENIC CITY INVITATIONAL (Nights 1 & 2)
- "IWTV 100" results
- ACTION: "Futures Showcase" results
- IMPACT (8/5) results
- 205 LIVE (8/6) results
- NXT UK (8/5) results
- ROH (7/30) results
- NWA: "Powerrr" (8/6) results
- WWE/NXT releases
2021-08-09 02:12:04 +0000 UTC View PostSunday morning, Chelsea Green posted "I never thought I’d be in a legal battle for my BIRTH GIVEN name… Going to discuss it on tomorrow’s episode of @GreenWEnvyPod."
WWE had previously trademarked "Chelsea Green" -- her given name for wrestling purposes upon her Smackdown debut and signing of a new contract in November 2020, before she was released months later.
Fightful had reached out to ...
2021-08-09 00:53:01 +0000 UTC View PostFightful has learned a little more about the shift in mentality, hiring, and developmental for WWE, and some concerns raised about them.
We can't corroborate everything that has been reported elsewhere, and are still working to find out more, but there has been a noted shift in the development of talent. Hits to morale happened well before this past weekend's releases, with female WWE talent speaking to Fightful about their concerns for the future of their booking, as well as who would ...
2021-08-08 18:50:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Some stuff happened on SmackDown, mostly bad stuff, but whatever good stuff might have taken place, it was hugely overshadowed by a dozen NXT wrestlers being cut while SmackDown was on the air.
Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.
Video: https://youtu.be/9RkHYZWstZwcod
2021-08-08 01:48:11 +0000 UTC View PostFightful learned that a couple of hours before Smackdown, Cole was taken directly to Vince McMahon's office, in something that was said to have appeared a "high priority" to McMahon himself. One source high up in WWE said that they heard the meeting went well, and Vince McMahon seemed to have taken a liking to Adam Cole on a personal level.
People backstage at Smackdown said that Cole was not around during the show. WWE had originally hoped to bring Cole in the Friday before to Smackdow...
2021-08-07 16:02:33 +0000 UTC View Post