- To help reduce the number of posts, I'm going to start adding news throughout the day to one. Enjoy!
- WWE is hoping to keep a tighter leash on Hall of Fame speeches this year, but that seems to be the plan every year and it doesn't end up working. Attendance is mandatory this year, as we'd mentioned before.
- I've been re-cutting several of the Making A Finisher videos to include actual footage. We won't be able to monetize them, but Impact graciously whitelisted us for u...
2019-03-04 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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- 'Card subject to change' was a running joke backstage about the canned Cesaro vs. Gargano match, even before Cesaro tweeted it halfway through the show.
- Since WWE Arrival premiered on the Network, I've had people asking about what "issues" kept Matt Riddle from debuting at the NXT tapings as planned. His theme music wasn't completed, and they claimed they didn't want to de-butt him without it.
- We've been told that WWE attorneys were present at Friday's Bruce Prichard/C...
2019-03-03 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Sean Ross Sapp and John Baez review one of the most iconic WrestleMania shows ever -- WRESTLEMANIA 3!
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxs6wAkwmf4
2019-03-03 17:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Stephen Jensen's Weekender Podcast is back!
Show to watch on IWTV - Glory Pro: “Phoenix Rising”
FREE match on YouTube - Jay White vs. Will Ospreay from ROH: “War of the Worlds: NYC” 2017
PWG: "Two Hundred" results
ROH TV results (2/22)
Impact TV results (3/1)
NWA - New YouTube content
***NXT UK Taping Spoilers (2/23)***
BTE: “Windy City Surprise” recap
2019-03-02 19:49:04 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys, wanted to update you all on a few things.
- March Retro Review is WrestleMania 3!
- April Retro Review is WrestleMania 20!
- Starting in April, quarterly Q&A shows with Jimmy Van!!
2019-03-02 18:30:09 +0000 UTC
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You have to hear it to believe it.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmJvwQi-VfQ
2019-03-02 17:02:01 +0000 UTC
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There's been a lot of back and forth about Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch's Twitter war in recent days. I've reached out to multiple sources within WWE who confirmed that neither were fed lines in the exchange, and WWE wouldn't want much of the subject matter highlighted to begin with. WWE likes the ability to use tweets on the air, and much on Rousey's end in particular isn't in line with that. "Fake" has been -- at least as recently as the last list emerged -- an outright banned term in WWE f...
2019-03-01 22:45:54 +0000 UTC
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Priscilla Kelly announced that she was a free agent, which garnered a lot of questions as to where she was signed to begin with. Fightful contributor and Diva Dirt EIC Kristen Ashly reached out to Kelly, who said "I was signed to a two year deal with WWN that has ended. I have a good relationship with WWN, however I'm open to exploring all of my options at the moment."
2019-03-01 03:38:18 +0000 UTC
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Since our subscriber base has exploded, we're bringing you a BONUS Q&A show!!!
2019-02-28 20:03:43 +0000 UTC
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I just spoke to UFC veteran Phil Baroni, who competes at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport. He called out Cody, New Jack and Killer Kross in the interview, noting that he knocked out Kross' dad in a fight. He said that he wants to settle his issues with Cody "in the ring," and mentioned that New Jack chickened out of a match against him a couple of years back. The full interview will be up for early access members soon.
2019-02-28 18:29:41 +0000 UTC
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Not that it's any surprise, but several names within Impact tell us that Madison Rayne is expected to work with Impact soon after leaving Ring of Honor. Originally, Rayne had signed a deal with ROH through September. I've not been told that she's signing a deal or when a return might happen.
2019-02-28 17:44:41 +0000 UTC
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Mr. Warren Hayes brings you a wrap up podcast for 205 Live and NXT! !
Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iTW6KXlIkY
2019-02-28 04:40:35 +0000 UTC
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Sean Ross Sapp is back for the Fightful Report Podcast covering the followoing
- Roman Reigns
- Saudi Arabia
- PC Challenge
- Lio Rush
- WWE's fear of leaked scripts
- Raw/SD news
- Batista
- Contracts
- Injuries
- WWE Stats
- TK O'Ryan
2019-02-27 19:58:46 +0000 UTC
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An interesting story has emerged from the WWE Performance Center this week. During a promo class, 32-year old Shadia Bseiso cut a promo in which she singled out some of the "shooters" in the NXT class, saying she could tap them out in a grappling match. Former UFC fighter and MMA Horsewomen member Jessamyn Duke took exception to the promo and replied with a dry "no you can't," and a challenge was made from both sides as a result in a rather friendly and healthy manner.
Fightful has lear...
2019-02-27 18:09:11 +0000 UTC
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- While details are very vague, I'm told there's a United States Championship match planned for tonight. Multiple sources have confirmed that WWE isn't letting the name of the challenger out and it's listed at "United States Open Challenge" backstage.
- No reason was given backstage about why Gargano vs. Cesaro didn't happen.
- As mentioned, WWE is concerned that script leaks are happening again and keepting things very quiet.
- The Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. Shinsuke...
2019-02-27 00:14:01 +0000 UTC
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A backstage source told Fightful Select that the Batista/Flair segment was supposed to last longer and be more drawn out, but the show was up against the clock. We're told that Vince McMahon was very happy with how the segment came off.
The story was played very close to the vest. It wasn't a secret that Batista was at the show, but the nature of his involvement was.
2019-02-26 23:37:20 +0000 UTC
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Thanks to a subscriber who passed along some WWE UK taping footage!
2019-02-26 18:15:05 +0000 UTC
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- Drug tests will be administered backstage today.
- WWE is also holding talent meetings this afternoon.
- I've been told WWE is making an effort to "plant varying info." I'm not sure what that means, but I thought I'd pass it along. We'll keep doing our best for you :)
- Odd that I got so many cake questions, but Ric Flair's actual cake was designed to look like a WWE Raw ring.
2019-02-26 16:37:07 +0000 UTC
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I'll keep a running list of notes from backstage at Raw tonight.
- It was Dean Ambrose's call to not go to the ramp at the end of Roman Reigns' segment. He was very emotional backstage.
- No surprise, but the locker room exploded in cheers and didn't stop for several minutes following the announcement.
- As mentioned, WWE had a wrestling ring cake made for Ric Flair's birthday, with "woooooo" across the top of it.
- The birthday segment is set to close the show t...
2019-02-26 01:50:08 +0000 UTC
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In an interesting note, Fightul Select has learned that ahead of vacating the WWE Universal Championship last year, Roman Reigns had informed Vince McMahon and WWE officials that he didn't want to return to Saudi Arabia, joining John Cena, Daniel Bryan and others in rejecting the show. Reigns was originally set to defend the WWE Universal Championship at November's Crown Jewel event against Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman.
2019-02-26 00:31:23 +0000 UTC
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- WWE has a wrestling ring themed birthday cake for Ric Flair
- In an odd note, nobody has seen Corey Graves backstage yet today.
(UPDATE, 7:47 PM EST)- Graves is at the venue
- Several members of the Atlanta Hawks have been seen backstage (EDIT: Falcons, I'm dumb)
- Many expected Randy Orton and the Rock backstage, even though Randy had to be in Savannah for a live event. We're told the Rock was backstage, but did interviews and left.
- There was talk t...
2019-02-26 00:23:36 +0000 UTC
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Fightful has learned there are several celebrities backstage at Raw, or headed there. Evander Holyfield, Charles Barkley, members of the Atlanta Falcons and a member of the rap group Migos are en route, while there are also crews from E!, Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine at the show.
In addition, we can confirm Wrestling Inc's report that Shawn Michaels is at Raw. We're also able to confirm Ricky Steamboat is there.
2019-02-25 21:03:16 +0000 UTC
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If you noticed the sudden influx of agents being signed -- Shane Helms, Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Shawn Daivari, Sonjay Dutt -- there seems to be a good reason for that. With WWE looking to establish WWE Performance Centers globally in the coming years, they want to be able to send producers and agents around to those facilities without having to bring them in on a "guest coach" basis.
One of the primary priorities for the Performance Center initiative is in India, which Triple H had publicl...
2019-02-25 17:17:28 +0000 UTC
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In relation to the Arn Anderson release, Fightful spoke to a source that stated in relation to the final disagreement that led to Anderson's firing, that Vince McMahon spoke to Anderson in a way most have never seen before. The bad blood had already been boiling over, with Triple H long serving as a peacekeeper. While their were several WWE Superstars upset about the situation, some think that Arn will end up back with the company after things calm down. I was told this was expected to be a "...
2019-02-25 17:02:59 +0000 UTC
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It's evident to almost anyone at this point that there is a major WWE roster overturn right now, and it's a hot topic backstage. WWE has been sending out feelers to people across the board, from talent, to producer work, agent work, and even for their digital and marketing ends of things. They've made several new hires that aren't official yet, including bringing back a name in marketing that left last year.
Even though you all won't know the names that are going in and out of the...
2019-02-25 01:52:40 +0000 UTC
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Stephen Jensen's Weekender is back!!
Show to watch on IWTV - Black Label Pro: "Unplugged"
FREE match on YouTube - Briscoes vs. Motor City Machine Guns from ROH: "Good Times, Great Memories" 2007
ROH TV results (2/15)
ROH/NJPW "Honor Rising" results (2/22 & 2/23)
Impact TV results (2/22)
***NXT Taping Spoilers (2/20)***
BTE: "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Elite" recap
2019-02-24 00:02:52 +0000 UTC
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- We were sent word that Noam Dar's knee buckled at the NXT UK tapings. The "X" was thrown up and trainers were sent to check on him.
- WWE employees are also being kept in the dark about the nature of Roman Reigns' announcement on Monday, which is to be expected.
- Despite TJP saying he got permission for his tattoos, several within 205 Live with power had no idea he'd gotten them.
- In an update on the Justin Roberts/Fighting With My Family situation we mentioned thi...
2019-02-23 21:34:43 +0000 UTC
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I've decided to compile the release news into one post
Tye Dillinger's release has indeed been finalized. As of this morning several within the company were told that it hadn't yet been granted. WWE hoped to continue the relationship, but we're told Tye was firm in his stance and was finally granted his release minutes before WWE.com's story. He'll be subject to a 90-Day non-compete clause. Almost everyone we've spoken to within the company expects him to land in AEW. Dillinger was...
2019-02-22 18:57:38 +0000 UTC
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As surprised as I was to hear WWE and Arn Anderson have parted ways, those close to him don't seem to be so surprised. I've heard from sources and confirmed with others that he and Vince McMahon haven't had the most positive relationship recently. Arn's departure comes days before WWE holds a birthday celebration for Ric Flair. They're holding a private one for him this weekend.
2019-02-22 16:43:08 +0000 UTC
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Mr. Warren Hayes brings you a wrap up podcast for 205 Live and NXT! !
Video Version!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL6Q4vGWhvg
2019-02-22 06:58:34 +0000 UTC
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