WWE made some difficult decisions this week.
On Wednesday, a video was distributed to WWE employees and talent informing them that widespread cuts would be incoming. Fightful has obtained video of the call, which lasted just under two minutes. McMahon blamed the economic instability
McMahon stated the following:
"Thank you all for joining me today. First and foremost, I hope that you and your families are safe. What we're going through today is...
2020-04-16 16:00:04 +0000 UTC
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- Individual calls are being made to talent. We're told the text messaging primarily is for furloughed talent
- We did get eyes on the internal WWE video where Vince McMahon made the announcement. We'll provide additional details on that this week.
- Based on what we've heard, the WWE main roster got 90-day non-compete clauses, NXT got 30-day non competes
- We've asked WWE if they'll be publishing the name of NXT releases or producers, but haven't heard back
- Th...
2020-04-16 00:22:17 +0000 UTC
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- What will happen with WWE releases? Each one covered
- Where promotions stand on Florida's ruling
- AEW Double or Nothing
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/7iZPTLOf-BE
2020-04-15 20:44:24 +0000 UTC
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Fightful has learned Deonna Purrazzo has been released by WWE
2020-04-15 20:39:44 +0000 UTC
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Fightful has already heard from several talent on the WWE roster, asking what we know about the impending cuts. Many within NXT specifically are nervous about their name being called for release or furlough. There was a number being tossed around about a target number of cuts, but we've not confirmed that as of yet.
2020-04-15 17:13:56 +0000 UTC
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In response to inquiries about the Orange County Sheriff requesting WWE shut down before the executive order, Fightful was told the following by their media relations department.
" There are no reports written from that address by OCSO deputies in March or April, but we know that our deputies responded to that location several times in the last few weeks. Each time, they advised the business that they were not in compliance with the Executive Order and advised them they would have...
2020-04-15 15:24:31 +0000 UTC
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In this episode of SOUR GRAPS, we discuss a pretty good episode of Raw, with a bunch of decent in-ring work, marred by the casual racism of Jerry Lawler's Racist Recipe Book, as well as the McMahons colluding with a certain WWE Hall of Famer to bribe the Governor of Florida to declare their carny bullshit an "essential business".
ALLEGEDLY.
Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.
VIDEO: h...
2020-04-15 04:41:05 +0000 UTC
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Ask away! Show films Thursday!
RULES
- No favorites or & "top 5" questions
2020-04-14 22:00:06 +0000 UTC
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A little something extra for you early birds!
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/d78IillnE_Y
2020-04-14 16:00:00 +0000 UTC
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We're trying something new this week, Fightful Faithful. Sean Ross Sapp apparently hates me, so he's forcing me to review The Big Show Show, the new Netflix sitcom starring The Big Show. Because if it was The Big Show Show starring Kevin Nash, that would be weird. But anyway, I'll be reviewing the premiere episode and then doing a watch-along of Episode Two, so you can see my sourness IN REAL TIME! If you guys like this, I suppose I'll be forced to watch the whole season in this manner....
2020-04-14 15:00:03 +0000 UTC
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- How Fightful learned of COVID-19 Story
- Backstage reaction, WWE's reaction
- Vince McMahon's decision to go live
- ROH talent meeting
- PJ Black on AEW, ROH, Vince McMahon
- Gregory Iron
- Rhea Ripley plans
- Injuries, Contracts, Stats
2020-04-13 18:56:37 +0000 UTC
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STEPHEN JENSEN is back with another episode of the WEEKENDER!
Topics:
- Show to watch on IWTV - GAME CHANGER WRESTLING: "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport"
- Free YouTube match - ROH: Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black (Bound By Hate 2008)
- 205 LIVE (4/10) results
- IMPACT (4/7) results
- MLW: "Fusion" (Episode 104) results
- NWA - Tim Storm meets Joe Exotic in 2016
2020-04-12 19:31:35 +0000 UTC
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Ring of Honor is still chugging along, and they're constantly looking to improve.
A year removed from selling out Madison Square Garden with New Japan Pro Wrestling, ROH is well aware they have to make adjustments in an evolving wrestling landscape with more competition. When speaking with ROH star PJ Black, Fightful learned that they've went above and beyond to make that happen.
So much so, Black even chose to sign with ROH over NXT and other companies. He elab...
2020-04-12 17:00:03 +0000 UTC
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It's a very brief edition of SOUR GRAPS, talking about SmackDown, the Wrestlemania 36 fallout episode. We're getting another Triple Threat Singles Match For The Tag Team TItles, because having one of those just wasn't crazy enough. Bray Wyatt sent John Cena to the Phantom Zone, and now creative wants him back in the title picture, which means all that good will from Mania is going to disappear too. Plus, Bayley and Sasha continue to be afraid of Tamina, who always loses. And Tucker's lo...
2020-04-12 04:28:30 +0000 UTC
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Early before it drops tomorrow on Fightful, Alex's look at Firefly Funhouse!
2020-04-11 23:03:38 +0000 UTC
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- Vince McMahon knew about the positive test almost a week before his decision to go live for upcoming shows.
- WWE brought people to Smackdown who weren't used during the show.
- NXT and WWE talent all got the memo last weekend.
2020-04-11 20:55:52 +0000 UTC
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SRS and Jimmy Van's breaking news Podcast
- WWE memo about COVID-19
- Resuming live
- Contract breaches, acts of god?
- Why didn't WWE tape?
Video version coming soon: https://youtu.be/9jVztdok5sQ
2020-04-11 20:08:51 +0000 UTC
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WWE experienced a positive COVID-19 test, if several members of the roster are to be believed.
Throughout the week, Fightful has been approached by nearly a dozen members of the WWE roster, and within the industry about an alleged COVID-19 positive test in WWE. Days later, Fightful was able to obtain a WWE memo that was sent out via the company's internal app on April 5. We are not including the name of the person noted to have been infected.
It read as follows:
2020-04-11 19:41:40 +0000 UTC
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When speaking to PJ Black, he admitted that there were several people in the company unhappy when Marty Scurll was given his new role within ROH. However, Black said that's going to happen no matter where you go in the industry, and he's confident in Scurll's abilities to fill the role
2020-04-11 18:00:02 +0000 UTC
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In regards to Pro Wrestling Sheet's report of WWE going live regularly again next week, we heard the same thing during WWE Smackdown. Fightful was told that a "very aggressive" Vince McMahon made the decision that their broadcasters pay for live content, and many on the talent roster are unhappy about it. He was at the Friday Smackdown. Some at the WWE tapings were given a letter in case they were questioned by law enforcement, stating that they are "essential media."
2020-04-11 02:02:04 +0000 UTC
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-The Comeback: Tegan Nox
- Being The Elite
- Chronicle: Drew McIntyre
- Untold: Rodzilla Runs Wild
- Undertaker: The Last Ride
- WWE 24: Edge
- Untold: Angle vs. HBK
- Ethan Page Body Guy Extravaganza
- Dark Side Of The Ring: Benoit, New Jack, Brawl For All
2020-04-10 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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- PJ Black is involved in a lawsuit against the producer of a wrestling ring that broke last year.
- Speaking of PJ Black, he noted when he spoke to us that he had some early talks about coming in to AEW to work with Jack Evans, but heat with someone high up in AEW didn't allow those talks to go very far.
- As you could see on AEW this week, Britt Baker was busted up. We're told that she's battling a deviated septum. It hasn't been fixed as of yet
- There has been at l...
2020-04-09 22:01:44 +0000 UTC
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- Why Piledrivers aren't allowed, but other moves are
- Edge's future
- WrestleMania questions
- Matches that didn't need a crowd
- What's next for Mandy and Otis
- AEW's hot run
- AEW TNT Champion
- Riddle vs. Goldberg
- Who will turn on who?
- Dynamite announcing cards ahead
- Liv Morgan, Sammy Guevara, Charlotte, Tessa
- Money in the Bank
- Content ideas pitched to WWE
- Interim titles
- Who WWE would want ...
2020-04-09 18:37:53 +0000 UTC
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- Edge & Randy Orton
- Rhea Ripley
- Roman Reigns/Braun Strowman/Goldberg
- Otis and Mandy
- The Big Show
- Interim Titles
- Fite+
Video: https://youtu.be/0zGEeCT2UYE
2020-04-08 20:32:00 +0000 UTC
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Fightful followed up on the Rhea Ripley situation, as it was originally reported she was back in Australia after visa issues. However, according to sources within WWE, Ripley was set for the upcoming NXT tapings and a match with Chelsea Green.
2020-04-08 16:44:46 +0000 UTC
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- We haven't heard of any concerns raised backstage about eliminating certain parts of the Randy Orton/Edge last man standing match for concerns of comparisons to the Chris Benoit tragedy. It should be noted that significantly less people saw, knew, or were around to raise those concerns as most of the matches were tight lipped as is.
- We've heard that John Cena was very receptive to the ideas in the Firefly Funhouse, and went as far as to help set the stage for the match in medi...
2020-04-08 15:00:05 +0000 UTC
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It's the Raw After Wrestlemania! Where the fans are crazy! They cheer who they normally boo and boo who they normally cheer!
Or they would, if they were in attendance, but they're not, because, you know.
Everything sucks. Let's talk about it.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZTq7XxWCTQ&feature=emb_title
2020-04-08 05:36:50 +0000 UTC
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Ask your post- WrestleMania questions!
Rules
- No "favorites" or "top 5"
2020-04-07 16:02:01 +0000 UTC
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Fightful has learned WWE is planning to tape more content at the end of this week. As of Monday night, WWE had informed many talent that they plan to mass tape several upcoming shows.
As far as we've heard the tentative plan is to film three episodes of Smackdown, three episodes of WWE Raw, and multiple episodes of NXT starting this Friday, and going through the following Thursday. We've heard the idea of some episodes being live has been tossed around but isn't a certainty.
It sh...
2020-04-07 01:42:23 +0000 UTC
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STEPHEN JENSEN is back with a Monday edition of the WEEKENDER!
Topics:
- Show to watch on IWTV - ABSOLUTE INTENSE WRESTLING: "Baby It's 2 Cold Outside"
- Free YouTube match - ROH: Tyler Black vs. Kevin Steen (Salvation 2010)
- IMPACT (3/31) & "TNA" results
- MLW: "Fusion" (Episode 103) results
- NXT UK (4/2) results
- 205 LIVE (4/3) results
2020-04-06 19:26:34 +0000 UTC
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