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Fightful Wrestling Weekly 8/16

Becky at Black/Brave

Many WWE fans and WWE itself have hoped for a Becky Lynch return, and Fightful has learned a little more ...

NXT returning to taped format after Takeover

Mass 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 ...

More Backstage Chatter On Andrade vs. Kenny Omega AAA Match

Fightful 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, ...

Fightful Weekender (8/15): NJPW RESURGENCE, TRIPLEMANIA, SCI, IMPACT, 205 LIVE, NXT UK, ROH, NWA, BTE

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) resu...

Details on some of the visa issues released WWE stars face

One 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 ...

Recent WWE Release In Talks To Appear For Yet Another Company

We'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...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 8/13--Vince Helps Those Who Help Themselves

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...

Update on Britt Baker's injury

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...

Who produced Reigns vs. Cena segment?

Fightful 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 ...

SRS Smackdown/Rampage Live Discussion

OPEN TO ALLLLL

Notes from Fred Rosser Enhancement Stories

I 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 Simm...

Producers for some Smackdown matches last week

Fightful 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 Myste...

More on Becky Lynch training in-ring

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...

Figure Haul: ECW, Post-2000 Bone Crunchers!

SRS loves his Bone Crunchers, and loves ECW. Here are some figaroonies!

Notes on recent releases' non compete, being backstage at IMPACT.

Ariya 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.

SRS Q&A Podcast: Over 125 questions answered!

- All Out

- Jay White

- NXT releases

- Where are free agents going

- Hangman Page

- Christian/Omega

- NXT future

- CM Punk/Daniel Bryan

Hangman Page was planned for PBR commercial, why it didn't happen.

There 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 ...

4 PM EST: The List Goes On 8/11

- Tito vs. Anderson Silva

- CM Punk

- Elias

video: https://youtu.be/Wu7I_iDB6-I

More news on WWE hiring changes, Wheeler Yuta and more

Fightful 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 Wheel...

Reason for change to tonight's NXT match

Tonight'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 wa...

Update on Max Caster-AEW

Fightful 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 pa...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 8/9--How A Snake Says 'I Love You'

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.

Literall...

Update on CM Punk's training, more

CM 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...

Duke The Dumpster Interview Notes

The 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...

Fightful Backstage Report Pocdcast (8/9): Cole, Ruby, Dunne, Releases

- 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

Fightful Weekender (8/8): SCI, IWTV 100, ACTION, IMPACT, 205 LIVE, NXT UK, ROH, NWA, WWE/NXT RELEASES

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) ...

WWE releasing trademark

Sunday 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 2021-08-09 00:53:01 +0000 UTC View Post

More concerns regarding WWE hiring/firing practices

Fightful 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...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 8/6--Bit of a Downer

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.

Vi...

News on Adam Cole's meeting with Vince McMahon, backstage pitches

Fightful 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 meeti...