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Magazine Archive: Sgt. Slaughter's elusive LJN

By Jimmy Van

In the summer of 1984, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) signed its first-ever toy licensing agreement with LJN Toys Ltd. for the production of a line of action figures. It became arguably the most recognizable series of wrestling figures ever, the 8-inch rubber wrestlers most of us still fondly remember...

Another AEW Full-Time Signing, Another Free Agent, And Another Contract Update

Ari Daivari already factors big into AEW.

Daivari has been heavily featured on AEW programming over the last couple of months, but first appeared last November following his WWE release. Since then, he'd worked the independent circuit, NJPW and AEW, while still getting a WWE producer trial run. Unfortunately, WWE experi...

Billy Corgan on Tyrus, Zicky Dice, Matt Cardona, Pope

Fightful spoke to Billy Corgan about a number of talent on the NWA roster, and some that had left.

We asked him about the heavy criticism in booking Tyrus to an undefeated streak at nearly 50 years old after he'd barely wrestled in four years. Corgan said that he and Tyrus go back to TNA, and Corgan was assigned him by ...

One wrestler under agreement to AEW, another that isn't

AEW has many wrestlers under agreements that most fans don't know about.

In previous weeks, Fightful has reported that Josh Woods, Blake Christian and others have signed agreements with All Elite Wrestling and are also appearing on the Ring of Honor brand. They aren't alone, as Fightful has confirmed that the former Ash...

Top WWE star working through injury

Unfortunate news for a top WWE star.

Drew McIntyre was pulled from the road for this weekend's shows, Fightful Select can confirm. McIntyre has been dealing with a rough back injury and has needed additional time to rest. We're told that surgery isn't expected, and he simply needs to rest it up, which is easier said tha...

Details on MLW's next tapings

MLW has canceled the TV taping of their upcoming show on August 27 in El Paso, Texas.

Fightful confirmed the PWInsider report, and also learned that MLW's September 18 date in Atlanta will be the company's first television tapings of their new season.

Jared St. Laurent sent an email to some talent that will now no...

Alex's SOUR GRAPS: SmackDown 8/12 -- "Hits" and Misses

Well, it didn't take too long for The HHH to start falling back on the worst tropes of the latter Vince McMahon era.

But hey, all is not lost (yet)--Hit Row is back! (And they look fantastic.)

And Shayna has an honest to god STORYLINE.

Also the main event was pretty good.

But everything surroun...

Smackdown plans for tonight

Fightful has learned Smackdown plans for tonight

- Tag Title Tourney: Raquel & Aliyah vs. Shotzi & Xia Li

- Drew McIntyre promo with the Usos

- Kofi Kingston vs. Ivar

- Hit Row's return. This is listed ominously backstage as to protect the info

- Liv Morgan and Shayna Baszler contract sig...

WWE talent believe Draft is imminent

The WWE Draft could be upon us.

With WWE's new regime, a lot of roster movement has already been made, and talent believe there could be more on the way. There are several Raw stars scheduled for the first Smackdown following Clash at the Castle on September 9. On the other side of things, Smackdown talent are scheduled...

Coexisting After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie | Special Guest: @TomTalksRubbish

Coexisting After Dark w/ Rob & Maggie | Special Guest: @TomTalksRubbish  

We talk to Tom of TomTalksRubbish and BodySlam.net about his channel and learn about the man when he is not behind the camera.  

Youtube Link for Coexisting After Dark
2022-08-12 19:29:59 +0000 UTC View Post

Update on Tony Khan/Biilly Corgan AEW/NWA

NWA and AEW haven't done business since last year, but we're told the relationship is fine.

Last year, Tony Khan made it known he paid for the All Elite Wrestling talent that ended up working the NWA Empowerrr event, after the National Wrestling Alliance didn't. Corgan noted when he spoke to Fightful that the event didn...

Early Smackdown notes (UPDATED)

Fightful has learned some very early Smackdown plans for August 12:

- Shayna Baszler and Liv Morgan are set for a contract signing. Liv Morgan is supposed to still be selling her injuries, which are kayfabed.

- Ronda Rousey was slated to be involved in the signing, as well. 

- There's supposed to be a t...

WWE bringing in former talents to tapings

WWE isn't done bringing back released talent.

PWInsider reported today that Top Dolla and Ashante Thee Adonis were actively planned to be at this week's Smackdown tapings to some degree. Fightful Select has confirmed those are the working plans, though we don't know in what context they're being brought in.

We did...

More details behind CM Punk return

CM Punk has returned after a two month absence.

If you couldn't tell, the working plan is for a title unification match at AEW All Out between interim champion Jon Moxley and AEW Champ CM Punk. Though it was hopeful from the start, Fightful had noted early on that the internal hope from those we heard from is that CM Pu...

Cody Rhodes numbers doing well during absence

Cody Rhodes is still sidelined for the foreseeable future, but he's still getting things done for WWE.

Rhodes appeared at the ESPYs last month, which telegraphed his win in the Best WWE Moment category. The results were determined by a vote, which Cody was said to have won in a very one sided result. He also did a torti...

Several In WWE Believe Bray Wyatt Could Be Re-Signed Since Vince McMahon Is Gone

WWE has been bringing back talent on a weekly basis under Triple H, prompting many to believe that Bray Wyatt could find his way back to the company.

Fightful Select has spent the past couple of weeks gauging interest from WWE higher ups, staff, and talent internally. If you thought Vince McMahon no longer being in con...

SRS Live Q&A!

Hey guys! Q&A time, I'll be LIVE at 2 pm est

Guidelines

- I will try to answer the questions I know. Your question isn't wasted if I don't. It shows me what I need to ask around about.

- 1 question per subscriber

- No "are you a fan of?" "fantasy book this" "top 5" or "favorite" questions please! W...

Some backstage news on AEW Quake By The Lake: Jericho, Statlander, More

Some details behind this week's AEW Dynamite:

- Chris Jericho is fine, but received 7 stitches to close the hardway wound that he sustained 

- Though Kris Statlander has been announced as injured, we're told this happened very recently, and isn't particularly the reason she hasn't wrestled on Dynamite most of...

Name backstage at AEW Quake by the Lake

Quake By The Lake is tonight, and a familiar face is backstage at AEW.

Bodyslam.net's Cassidy Haynes learned, and Fightful confirmed that the former Erick Rowan, Erick Redbeard is backstage at tonight's AEW show. We haven't heard if there are plans for him to appear on the show or if he's just visiting backstage. Howeve...

Warner supposedly has over 100 WCW songs in their library

Fightful spoke to Jimmy Hart, who dropped some interesting news.

Jimmy claims that there's an entire catalog of WCW themes that is still owned by Warner, that WWE never ended up taking ownership of as a part of the sale. According to Jimmy, not only does this include many WCW themes that made it on TV, but a lot of unre...

THE POST SHOW: SRS shooting the shiznit

Sean is here to talk trash after the main show!

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/BzJldOif2nE

Why NWA isn't planning more Empowerrr PPVs

Billy Corgan speaks about working with other companies on the EmPowerrr event.

NWA EmPowerrr was a groundbreaking event for wrestling in general as it was one of the few all-women's pay-per-view events to ever be hosted. The event featured talent from AEW, IMPACT, Ring Of Honor, and more.

In a new interview with F...

Former WWE Wrestler Helping Produce AEW Matches

Not only is a talent working in the ring for All Elite Wrestling, he's helping produce matches as well.

Fightful Select has learned that Ariya Daivari is working for All Elite Wrestling in a producer capacity. Specifically, we learned that Da...

"Trump 2020" Flag Was Posted On WWE Production Truck After 2020 Election

WWE doesn't get political, unless it's backstage on a production truck.

The pandemic was certainly a weird time, and left WWE in an unusual situation where they were forced into studio wrestling. First it was at the WWE Performance Center, then at Amway Arena, and finally Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.

It was at ...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 8/8 -- Return of The Rebel Heart?

A Women's Tag Title Tournament where the matches get actual time?  Apparently so!

The return of Murder Meister Kevin Owens?  Hell yes!

A new US Champion? (Sadly, no.)

The Return of the Rebel Heart? (Probably not.)

Things are looking up for Triple H after that debacle that ended the...

WWE Raw Plans for tonight

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for WWE Raw.

- Bayley, IYO Sky, Dakota Kai promo

- Angelo Dawkins vs. Seth Rollins

- Ezekiel vs. Kevin Owens 

- Judgment Day promo

- Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor

- Tag Title Tourney: Dana Brooke & Tamina vs. Dakota Kai & IYO SKY 2022-08-08 23:41:58 +0000 UTC View Post

WWE Discussed Bringing Back Another Talent, Johnny Gargano Update

WWE is staying aggressive, and has a list of talent they hope to reach out to.

Fightful Select has learned that Dexter Lumis is among the talent that has been internally discussed to be brought back to the company. Fightful has even heard tha...

SRS Backstage Report Podcast: Johnny Ace, MJF, Triple H, AEW Game

- Johnny Ace fired

- Triple H

- Karrion Kross & Scarlett

- Vince is OUT out

- MJF

- Jamie Hayter

- Mance Warner

- AEW/ROH signings

- Backstage news

John Laurinaitis gone from WWE, still on email lists

Fightful has confirmed PWInsider's report that John Laurinaitis has been fired by WWE. However, was still looped in to company emails, Fightful Select is told.

That stopped briefly after Triple H was appointed the EVP of Talent relations, but he has re-emerged on internal mailing lists.

John Laurinaitis was placed...

More on Kross & Scarlett to WWE

Karrion Kross & Scarlett are back in WWE.

Fightful learned last week that talks with the two had picked up, though they'd claimed as of Monday when we reached out for a separate story that they'd not yet been contacted. For those asking about their MLW status, the two were never signed to MLW contracts, and despite ...