fightful

Chelsea Green Was Almost Given New Name By WWE

Fightful has learned the creative plans didn't stop with Vince McMahon's meeting with Chelsea Green. Up until at least the day of the show there were also creative plans for her to either have a name change or nickname. The proposal? "Victorious." There were some concerns raised by some within the company that there could be trademark issues in making that happen. Both Green and "Victorious" appeared on the internal rundowns, though Green was scheduled for a post-match promo where she'd refer...

Vince McMahon Met With WWE Superstar That Paul Heyman Was High On

As mentioned last week, all throughout Friday, the plan was for Chelsea Green to win the Smackdown match in which she debuted. After sitting on the sidelines for months, we're told that Vince McMahon had a meeting with Green about the creative plans for her moving forward, and to inform her that she'd be move up to Smackdown imminently. Most within creative and the WWE staff said that they heard the meeting went positively, and Paul Heyman pushed hard for her and believed in Chelsea Green as ...

SRS Q&A Questions

You know the drill!
-3 questions per
- no "are you a fan of," "top 5," "book this" questions

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 11/16--"The Worst Idea Since Quibi"

Well, that was pointless.

No, not Raw. although, yeah, that too.

No, I'm talking about taking the title off Drew at Hell in a Cell and putting it on Randy Orton for 21 and a half days, then putting it BACK on Drew, just in time for Survivor Series, which, in case you haven't heard, IS THE ONE NIGHT A YEAR WHEN THE SUPERSTARS OF RAW & THE SUPERSTARS OF SMACKDOWN ETC ETC 

This is Sour Graps, and Everything Sucks. 

Let's talk about it.

Video: 2020-11-18 02:53:17 +0000 UTC View Post

IMPACT Tapings, Upcoming Free Agent

IMPACT Wrestling filmed their last set of tapings of the year this week. There are several wrestlers who have not re-signed new deals, and unless terms are reached you won't see them on the next set of tapings. One of those is Ethan Page, who reaches free agency at the end of the year. For those wondering, Josh Alexander does not.

How Killer Kelly Was Able To Keep "Killer" In WWE

In case you missed us mentioning it on the backstage report, we might have an answer on why Killer Kelly was allowed to be "Killer" in WWE. With Karrion Kross changing his name, many wondered how it was Kelly could use the moniker. According to her, they just forgot about it. She was concerned about losing the name, but then her contract had it listed, and she was relieved.

Match Planned For WWE Raw

Fightful has learned that at least as of this afternoon, WWE already had the framework for WWE Raw set. The company is planning a bit of a "Survivor Series preview" that will see the Team Raw members of Sheamus, Keith Lee, Riddle and Braun Strowman taking on Retribution. Again, that was only the plan as of this afternoon

WWE star got Killer Kelly booked for Bloodsport

Kelly confirmed to me that one American company has shown interest in her, but due to visa and travel issues things have been very slow moving for everyone. She isn't sure if she's going to relocate to the United States, but plans on being here until December at least. She did not specify the company but seemed like she was open to a variety of things. She was able to get into the United States by flying to Mexico, quarantining for 14 days, and crossing the border.

Kelly told me that Im...

SRS Backstage Report (11/16): Zelina, Chelsea, AEW, Killer Kelly

- Chelsea Green

- Zelina

- Backstage AEW Notes

- Lots of Killer Kelly news

- Dr. Tom Prichard

- EVOLVE signings

- Contracts, injuries

Fightful Weekender (11/15): IMPACT TURNING POINT, TALKNSHOPAMANIA 2, GCW, 205 LIVE, NXT UK & MORE!

STEPHEN JENSEN is back with another edition of the WEEKENDER!

Topics:

- Show to watch on IWTV - ICW NO HOLDS BARRED: "Pitfighter x4"

- IMPACT: "Turning Point" results

- TalkNShopAMania 2 results

- GCW: "So Much Fun" results

- 205 LIVE (11/13) results

- NXT UK (11/12) results

- ROH (11/6) results

- UWN: "Primetime Live" (11/10) results

- BTE: "Full Gear Fall Out" recap

Tom Prichard On Why WWE Fired Him

Prichard, who has a new podcast, told me that one of the reasons he left WWE is because of their ideologies in training stars then. He felt that the training method of WWE was too cookie cutter, and stressed how that doesn't work for everyone. There are days when certain exercises or drills aren't clicking, and he wanted to switch it up, but WWE wanted to have a set itinerary in order to make things go in a more predictable manner.

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 11/13--A Tough Break

SmackDown wasn't good. It rarely is.  

They finally ended the Seth & Rey storyline, so that's something, but it happened two months too late, so they get no points for it.  

Drew showed up on SmackDown, because the brand split is a lie, also pretty much telegraphing the result of his match with Orton on Monday.  

At least they actually tried to do something new, build a new star, but cosmic forces stepped in the way.  THE UNIVERSE WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. ...

Major Spoiler For IMPACT Turning Point

SPOILERS BELOW:

Fightful has learned that there is to be a major title change on tonight's IMPACT Wrestling Turning Point show that will see Deonna Purrazzo regain the knockouts Championship from Su Yung. Purrazzo dropped the title at IMPACT Bound For Glory in a last minute decision when Kylie Rae did not appear. Kylie was slated to win the match and receive a huge push. 

Killer Kelly Wanted To Keep Her WWE departure private

Killer Kelly spoke with us and told us that she made a concentrated effort to not publicize her departure from NXT UK. She wanted to keep the news quiet and build intrigue and even a little confusion as to what she was doing and how she was able to work certain shows when nobody really knew that she was out of the company.

She thinks that WWE flat out forgot about her Killer Kelly name, and that was the reason that she ended up being able to keep it during her run there. She was fearful...

Tom Prichard-WWE

In mentioning that we were going to talk to Dr. Tom Prichard this week, many asked us if Tom had been contacted by WWE for a return to the developmental system since his brother Bruce returned to power. Dr. Tom quickly and adamantly denied  this and said that he spoke with one of the heads of talent relations in a "less than flattering way" upon his exit in 2012. 

Finish Of Smackdown Match Had To Be Changed, Details

If the ending of the four-way qualifying match for Survivor Series looked weird to you, that's for good reason. The debuting Chelsea Green was taken out of the match early on. Green was originally slated to win the match, but a change had to be called on the fly that saw Liv Morgan get the pin. We're told the situation was "hectic." 

We've confirmed Chelsea Green has broken her wrist.

Fightful wishes the best to Chelsea Green and we hope she heals up soon. 

2020-11-14 02:51:22 +0000 UTC View Post

Backstage Reactions From Zelina/WWE split

We still haven't heard who initiated the WWE/Zelina split, but we've gained reactions from all across the wrestling world, from every major company in America.

Most were looking for information themselves, as details are few and far between. Most everyone is shocked, but one person on Smackdown did tell us that if one person was going to stand their ground on the third party situation, they felt like it would be Zelina. However, we aren't sure that she actually did that. 

WWE Superstar Slated To Debut Imminently

After mentioning several phantom WWE call-ups, Fightful learned some positive news about one this week. Creative was produced for Chelsea Green to debut "imminently," according to numerous sources within WWE. Green was actually called up all the way back in May, but after Paul Heyman fell out of power, she was put on the shelf. The tentative plans call for her to be on the Smackdown brand as of this afternoon. Considering Smackdown wasn't a finished product by then, it's hard to believe thing...

SRS Q&A Podcast (11/13): Over 100 Questions Answere

- Question Mark, Top Flight, Karrion Kross,

- NWA Women's Title

- Has a wrestler ever threatened SRS?

- WWE creative process

- AEW Dark

- Figures

- Working with Vince Russo

- Worst match I've ever seen

Brass Ring: Dexter Lumis Praised By Colleagues

Note: around the time the pandemic started, Fightful reached out to dozens of WWE wrestlers and staffers about who was working hard to improve. We cross referenced the information with more wrestlers.

Dexter Lumis was one of the few NXT names that was mentioned as working hard to improve, based on our Brass Ring series. His name was actually brought up to us before his NXT push, but he was nominated based on his willingness to work to get on the show to begin with.

After he got t...

Details Of Contracts Several Evolve Wrestlers Signed With WWE

We've learned about the deals that several of the incoming or recent WWE signings are on. The initial deals are worth $60,000 downside guarantees, with added $500 bonuses with each episode of television that they end up on. We're told that the original short-term agreements jump up to $80,000 in January, and the bonuses will increase significantly, possibly even tripling for television appearances.

Several within WWE were happy that WWE had moved to shorter-term agreements to help the c...

AEW Taping News: Tony Khan Promises Good Ending

- Rain came down into the ring at the AEW tapings Wednesday

- There are more cameras than usual at ringside and around the venue today.

- The ring crew had to dry off the canvas with leaf blowers

- Tony Khan told the crowd to hang around until the end of the tapings and promised a good ending

- As mentioned, many people have been in Jacksonville since last week's tapings started

Another WWE Call Up

Yet another "phantom call up" has happened in WWE. Fightul has learned that Santana Garrett was "called up" to the WWE main roster this summer, but never debuted. Garrett appeared on Raw, Main Event and NXT throughout the spring, before vanishing in May. She reappeared on the July 1 episode, but hasn't been seen on TV since. We've heard there were several creative pitches including her as a tag team, but they never made it through. Chelsea Green and Vanessa Borne were also called up this year...

SRS Q&A Questions

Limit of 3 questions

No "top 5," ranking, "are you a fan of questions"

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 11/9--One Good Thing

Welp, here we are again. 

Another Monday Night Raw and most of the show was bad, and the stuff that wasn't bad, didn't matter, and the stuff that did matter, probably won't matter two weeks from now, and the stuff that does matter two weeks from now, won't matter two weeks after that.

But there was one good thing. One Good Thing. That potentially does matter very much. And it could matter even more in the future.

But this is WWE, so it won't.

Everything sucks. Let...

WWE Has Interest In Bringing Back Recently Released Superstar, More Details

In asking talent both inside and outside of WWE, we've been told that the company had interest in bringing back No Way Jose. Many on the NXT roster were under the impression that a trademark filing was intended for the former Jose, though we can't confirm that specifically, though the speculation did lead to us learning that WWE was interested in bringing him back. The 32-year old has been wrestling as "Levy Valnez" on the independent circuit since his release, and was well liked within both ...

Backstage Full Gear Notes

Full Gear

- The Elite Deletion match was filmed about a week before Full Gear, and had heavy input from several wrestlers involved. It got positive feedback and reaction backstage.

- Numerous attendees of the close by football game were able to sneak looks at the set before the show.

- There were some associated with AEW requesting that photos of the set that emerged online prior to the show be removed.

- We've had several ask if the ring at Daily's Pl...

Byron Saxton's "WrestleMania Main Event Worthy" Line

In case you were wondering, the Byron Saxton line about Asuka vs. Nia Jax being "WrestleMania Main Event Worthy" was scripted and instructed to him completely. There was no ad libbing on his part for that line, and was a total directive from WWE. 

Shane Taylor Update

It's worth noting that EC3 specifically went out of his way to put over Shane Taylor as being the only person up as early as him to get into the gym in the ROH bubble during their set of tapings.

He spoke highly of the experience in working on ROH Unauthorized, even though he's much more of a serious character. He also put over Todd Sinclair and Ian Riccaboni specifically. He'd told me that so many people are surprised when they see him cut promos because he's soft spoken, but people wh...

Plans For Team Raw at Survivor Series

Fightful has learned that the plan as of Matthew Riddle's name change was for him to be added to the Raw Survivor Series team on Monday Night's episode of Raw. We're not sure if anything has changed as of then, but Riddle's match with Sheamus made a good impression on Vince McMahon