Almost two weeks ago – April 24 – WWE held its latest round of roster cuts. The group was bigger then most, and included names such as Aliester Black, Kairi Sane, Zelina Vega, and the Wyatt 6 group (consisting of Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross, and Bo Dallas) to name a few.
Since their releases, speculation has run rampant about where some of the top names in that group end up, and now there’s a little more clarify for a few of them.
During a recent WrestleVotes Radio show on Fightful Select, some insight was shared on what could possibly be going on regarding Aliester Black:
“WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select report that sources that they spoke to in AEW do not believe that Malakai Black aka Aleister Black will not be back in AEW any time soon.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful was told that the bridge is not considered burned there.“
During a recent episode of Fightful’s “The Hump”, Sean Ross Sapp shared some insight on what he’s been told and where he thinks the Wyatt 6 group ends up after their release is official.
“People I talk to in TNA seem to think that Wyatt Sicks would end up in AEW. They’re not going to AEW. I think they actually end up doing indie stuff together, TNA, MLW, and that,” Sean Ross Sapp said.
Full show here:
Bodyslam will keep you all updated as more information becomes available as far as where talent are speculated to land. None of the main roster debuts can sign or appear anywhere until 7/24.
In modern professional wrestling, dominance has become the standard. For the most part, champions are no longer meant to feel vulnerable. Instead, they are often presented as unstoppable forces who hold titles for months or even years. On paper, that sounds like a return to prestige. In practice, it has created a different kind of problem. Fans seem to think a title reign is a failure if not held for a lengthy amount of time.
Long title reigns used to mean something special. They were rare and signaled that a wrestler had reached a level above everyone else. Today, they are far more common, especially at the top of the card. The question is no longer whether long reigns add value. It is whether they are starting to take something away. In WWE, it seems as if long title reigns are used as a way to re-write history. “A New Era!”
The Case for Dominance
There is a reason promotions lean into long reigns. A dominant champion can elevate a title simply by holding it. When Roman Reigns carried the top championship in WWE for an extended period, it created a sense of importance around every defense. The title felt like the center of the show.
A long reign also helps define an era. Fans can look back and associate a stretch of time with one central figure. That kind of consistency is valuable in a business that often shifts quickly. It gives viewers a clear top star and a clear goal for everyone chasing them.
There is also the argument that modern wrestling needs fewer title changes. Weekly television and constant content can make championships feel less important if they switch hands too often. A long reign can counter that by restoring the idea that winning a title is difficult.
The Predictability Problem
The downside is just as clear. When a champion holds a title for too long, outcomes start to feel obvious. Fans go into matches expecting the champion to win, not wondering if they might lose. It immediately kills curiosity. That predictability can drain tension from even the biggest matches on the card.
It also highlights how different today’s booking philosophy is compared to past eras. Some of the biggest stars in wrestling history did not need lengthy title reigns to feel important. The Rock, arguably one of the greatest to ever do it, had multiple world title runs, but many of them were relatively short. Titles changed hands more frequently, yet the championship still felt meaningful because the outcome was never guaranteed. Call me a boomer, but today’s fans would not survive the wrestling world 20 years ago.
That sense of unpredictability made every defense feel urgent. A challenger was not just filling a spot. They had a real chance. Today, a challenger might be built up for weeks only to fall short in a result that feels inevitable. Over time, that pattern can make it harder for fans to stay invested.
Collateral Damage on the Roster
Another issue is what happens to everyone else. When one wrestler sits firmly at the top for an extended period, it limits opportunities for others to break through. Challengers come and go, but few are allowed to truly rise.
In earlier eras, even short title reigns could create new stars. A wrestler might win the championship briefly and gain credibility that lasted long after the loss. Now, with fewer title changes, those moments are harder to create.
This can leave the upper midcard crowded with talent that feels stuck. They are presented as contenders, but rarely as equals. Over time, that gap becomes harder to close. One thing I would like to mention is the recent Darby Allin title reign. At the time of this editorial, Allin has had the AEW World Title for two weeks. He has already faced two “mid card” wrestlers in Tommaso Ciampa and Brody King, and given them the spot light in the main event scene, making them both feel like legit contender’s.
Finding the Balance
The solution is not to abandon long title reigns altogether. They still have a place in modern wrestling. The key is balance.
Promotions need to be willing to surprise their audience. That does not mean constant title changes, but it does mean recognizing when a moment calls for one. A well-timed switch can create excitement that carries forward.
It is also important to build multiple credible challengers at once. When more than one opponent feels like a real threat, matches become less predictable. Even a long reign can feel fresh if the outcome is not obvious.
The Bigger Picture
Professional wrestling has always been fluid. Trends rise, peak, and eventually shift. Long title reigns are currently in a dominant phase, driven by the desire to create prestige and stability.
But prestige without unpredictability can feel hollow. Dominance without risk can feel repetitive.
The challenge for promotions is not choosing between long reigns and short ones. It is making sure that no matter how long a champion holds a title, fans still believe it could end at any time.
Also, current TNA International champion Mustafa Ali has found a challenger for the 5/15 TNA iMPACT! TV Taping. This person is being deemed a “mystery opponent who holds a major championship outside of TNA.”
Who is it? We’ll have to continue following to find out.
Nostalgia has become pro wrestling’s safest crutch. Every surprise return, every familiar theme song, every legend walking back through the curtain gets a big reaction. It works almost every time. That is exactly why it keeps happening. Promotions like WWE, TNA and AEW know they can rely on the past when they need a quick win. Heck, the independent scene is littered with nostalgia. Some promotions rely on it more than the other, but they all do it.
There is nothing wrong with that on the surface. Wrestling has always been built on moments, and nostalgia creates them instantly. Fans feel something real when they see someone they grew up watching. It brings back memories and makes the show feel important. For one night, it can make everything feel bigger. I recall being a younger kid watching my dad see his childhood favorites show up and the excitement it brought up, and I couldn’t wait until I felt that joy.
The Short-Term Pop
The problem is that those moments do not always lead to anything other than that, a one time moment. A return gets people talking, some internet chatter, maybe boosts ratings for a week or two, and then things go back to normal. Meanwhile, the current roster is still trying to find its footing. The focus shifts away from building something new and goes right back to what already worked before.
It starts to feel predictable. Instead of asking who the next star will be, fans are waiting to see who might come back next. That is not a great place for a company to be, especially when there is so much talent already on the roster.
Lost in the Shuffle
There is no shortage of talent right now. Both major companies are filled with wrestlers who could be main event players if given the chance. The issue is that those chances feel limited. When legends return and take up major storylines, it pushes everyone else down the card. Back of the line for some.
You will see someone start to build momentum, get a few big wins, maybe a decent promo, and then suddenly they are in the background again. Not because they failed, but because something more familiar showed up. It creates a cycle where new stars never fully break through.
Fans Play a Role Too
It is not just on the companies. Fans are part of this as well. People react louder to what they already know. A returning star is always going to get a bigger pop than someone new, at least at first. That reaction matters in wrestling. It drives decisions, whether people want to admit it or not.
But it also creates a problem. If fans only go all-in for the past, companies will keep giving it to them. It becomes a loop that is hard to break.
Finding the Balance
Nostalgia is not the enemy. It can be a really good tool when it is used the right way. A legend coming back to help elevate a younger wrestler can work great. It can add meaning to a match or a storyline. The key is making sure it leads to something bigger than just the moment itself.
Right now, it feels like the balance is off. Nostalgia is not being used to build the future. It is being used to carry the present. It feels like an emergency technique. “Break Glass in Case of Emergency”
Looking Ahead
Wrestling does not need to stop bringing people back. That will always be part of the business. But it does need to trust its current roster more. There are too many talented wrestlers being stuck in the middle while the spotlight goes somewhere else.
If companies want to create new stars, they have to commit to them. That means giving them real stories, real wins, and real time to connect with the audience. It might not get the same instant reaction as a big return, but it is the only way to build something that lasts.
Nostalgia will always get a reaction. That is never going to change. But if it becomes the main focus, it stops being special. At some point, wrestling has to decide if it wants to keep replaying the past or start building something new.
–Jeff Hardy def. Vincent via pinfall after Jeff lands a Swanton Bomb to Vincent off the top rope. Lights go out to reveal the return of Broken Matt Hardy during the match. They ho off and Matt’s gone.
Frankie Kazarian is backstage with Gia Miller to talk about his match later tonight, in the first ever Walk With Elijah Guitar Strap Match. Kazarian says he’s been in and won a lot of “first time ever” matches, and tonight will be no different with they Walk with the King.
We get a video of Eric Young outside the venue talking about Ethan Carter still being the same person he was years ago, and challenges him to another match to get rid of him once and for all – but this time with NO RULES.
Backstage, Mike Santana is sitting with the TNA World Title slung over his shoulder. He says that last week he and Rich Swann showed what it means to represent TNA. Nic Nemeth walks up and tells him that he’s still got the Call Your Shot trophy, and that when he wins it he’ll he the world Champion.
Indi Hartwell comes out after Santino revealed that their suspensions have both been lifted. She cuts a promo about how she has unfinished business with Arianna Grace and is coming for the Knockouts Title.
Backstage, Daria gets a phone call confirming that Indi Hartwell and Santino’s suspensions are over. She tells Indi to tread carefully with the contract coming up.
Somewhere, Gia Miller approaches Lei Ying Lee to get a comment about her announced Knockouts Title match next week. She said she can’t handle it and wants to go back to China – she’s going to talk to Santino to let him know.
Tommy Dreamer walks up and tells Lee that Carlos and Santino aren’t there right now, but assures her that he and everybody else believe in her, and they know she can win the Knockouts title next week. Lee says she’s good and she’ll win next week.
Leon Slater in-ring promo. He says he will become the longest reigning X-Division Champion on May 15. Slater then says he’ll grant Cedric Alexander another title opportunity.
Cedric comes out. He says he deserves another title match, and on May 14 in Sacramento, he’ll get it. The System attacks Slater from behind. Moose comes out and takes out The System. Moose goes to spear Alisha, but Eddie pulls her to safety.
Ryan Nemeth is sitting on a bench backstage talking about how he thinks it should him teaming up with his brother Nic next week – not KC Navarro – in the quest for the TNA Tag Team Title. It turns out he was talking to AJ Francis, who tells him he doesn’t care about their family drama – but he’ll take care of KC Navarro himself.
Walk With Elijah Match (both competitors are bound together by a guitar strap, no DQ and no countouts, actions starts backstage, to win one must touch all 4 turnbuckles in succession)
– Elijah def. Frankie Kazarian after smashing a guitar over him and touching the 4th turnbuckle.
A few weeks ago, news came out that TNA President Carlos Silva had pulled a few of his contracted talent from their originally-planned upcoming matches due to “partner conflicts.”
“It was super tough, and look, all these business decisions are tough. I don’t like being called a little b*tch on social any more than anyone does. But it’s okay, you do take the goods with the bads, and you gotta make some hard decisions. My job sometimes is to make hard decisions. And for the fans and for all of you, our locker room, we’re gonna make decisions that are good for TNA. And we gotta protect TNA. As Kevin Plank and Under Armour used to say, you gotta protect this house, and it’s a real slogan.
We’ve had some other folks come at us and they’ve moved into our nights, they’ve made some decisions, they’ve tried to block us in arenas and venues. That stuff’s real and it’s out there, and it’s okay because everyone’s gotta make the decisions for their business, but we’re also just not gonna lie down and not make decisions that are good for our business. And unfortunately sometimes, those decisions are tough.
We’re very thoughtful about them, and we try to do the best to make good when we have to make those decisions. And in the case of Nic and Leon and a few of the matches that had to get shut down, we tried to make good and make calls and take care of the business as best as we could.
It was my decision. I take full ownership. I’ve got a great team and we talk about these things together, but sometimes, I’m the guy that has to make that decision and then you move on. You go to work the next day and you work hard again and get stuff done.”
H/T @WrestlePurists for transcription.
One of the matches in question would’ve seen current TNA X Division champion Leon Slater defeat former AEW National champion and former WWE star Ricochet as part of the WrestleCon show.
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! On AMC for the April 23rd episode drew a viewership of 175,000, with a 0.03 in the main 18-49 demographic, per Programming Insider.
The NFL held their annual draft on Thursday night, which explains the huge drop in viewership.
The viewership decreased in a major way from previous week, as April 16th number was 212,000, however, the 18-49 demographic was steady at 0.05.
This breaks TNAs record of 12 straight weeks above or at 200,000 viewers on AMC TV.
**These numbers DO NOT include the streaming on TNA + and AMC +.**
The opinions shared in this article belong to its author and do not reflect the consensus of the BodySlam staff.
Try these shoes on: You’re a performer, with a huge stage to apply your craft. People cheer for you. They wear clothes designed in your image. There are signs they hold up and merchandise of you that they carry. You feel good, flattered, if you’re not used to it. Alternatively, you’re almost numb to it by now, but you’re still appreciative, because these people are the reason you get to live this life. And then it happens. They cross a boundary. Swarming their golden gods, they shove photos, merchandise, and toys, demanding talents sign them. Phones are pulled out for selfies and candid photos. For professional wrestling talents, this is an encounter they face all too often across their travels.
Recently, during WrestleMania 42 weekend, that was the case. In Las Vegas, fans overwhelmed the talents. Booker T had fans follow him into the bathroom, according to his Reality of Wrestling podcast. Bayley and AJ Lee tried to share a quiet, emotional moment, likely before parting ways; Lee had an emotional title loss at the Showcase of the Immortals. CM Punk had to step in, confronting the fan and slapping the phone out of his hands.
https://x.com/TMZ/status/2046219652762567025?s=20
It’s a tale as old as time. Wrestlers post about it all the time, asking fans not to cross boundaries so they can simply go about their day. The show is over; there’s no meet-and-greet or convention. All there is is moving from one place to another or ordering something for the road. Sure, they’re happy to see viewers admire their work. A lot goes into it. For every botch, there’s a move that was executed to surgical precision. Promos are delivered in the hopes that their charisma will funnel into the fans’ subconscious, as wrestling psychologically does.
In that is a catharsis. But that line between performer and spectator is sacred, unless otherwise invited in.
Nobody wants to be made anxious about such a predicament. Going outside shouldn’t necessitate a horde of people frothing at the mouth for an interaction. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way. Having a life outside of home and the squared circle is mostly a risk, one that talents might not be fully equipped to handle.
This follows everyone. Most often, though, it happens to women.
I don’t think I need to explain how women are often overcrowded, regardless of their following. Even if they’re not trying to present themselves as someone to gaze at, it still happens, regardless of the gender assigned to the fans that follow them, mostly male. Provided the societal treatment of women since the dawn of time, this doesn’t stop at signing things or taking selfies.
Women wrestlers are often the prime targets. No matter what percentage of skin is showing, they have a line that fans should not cross. It happens anyway. They could dress modestly, outside of their gear, in ways that heavily mute the features that are subject to such ogling. It still happens anyway. Not having the autonomy to dress however one wants without worrying about the intrusive hands of unwanted hands, it’s a scary existence.
CM Punk shouldn’t have had to step in for AJ Lee and Bayley. The man who invaded the house of Daria Rae (formerly WWE’s Sonya DeVille) in Summer 2020 shouldn’t have happened. Rhea Ripley shouldn’t need to take to X and ask fans to breach her orbit to sign their stuff, or for people not to send things to her personal home address. Asuka has also reported that she’s afraid of being around fans because of the same treatment and those trying to romantically engage with her.
I recognize that many of these wrestlers are incredibly successful, and that there is a litany of other bad things happening in the world. Poverty, evil billionaires, bigotry, and global warming. That said, entertainers should not have to beg for people to recognize them as people, not idols to be worshipped.
Women in general should not have to live their lives with their heads on a swivel. Why else do would they hope to have a partner or friend in their life, so that they can turn their brain off in public? What other reason are they afraid to go out alone at night? Only then will they not need to answer “man or bear” with the latter.
And now I move onto the recent topic of Elayna Black (formerly Cora Jade of WWE), that same WrestleMania 42 weekend at WrestleCon. A man groped her without consent and attempted to walk off. She took out her phone, recorded a video of his face as she confronted him. Largely, she received support for standing up for herself.
Yet others were jumping to defend her harasser. Chief among these responses were people decrying her OnlyFans career, as though that justified his actions. She, as a wrestler, is free to handle her own branding just as her male peers are.
Under no circumstances, and I mean in no uncertain terms, is it okay to touch anyone or make any comment that would make them uncomfortable. That includes performers and people in our daily lives. But it also extends to NSFW content creators, adult film stars, and dancers at strip clubs. Everyone should be free from inappropriate handling. Everyone. Yes, even you. Without enthusiastic consent, this is disgusting behavior. People, decent people, should never act like this.
In terms of sex workers or anything adjacent, once they stop performing for the screen or on a stage, that’s where it ends. The nature of their profession is not an invitation to treat them however anyone pleases. What consenting adults do with partners or people they share intimacy or desires with is their business. It’s no different from anyone who doesn’t have that career. I might add that if it weren’t for men lusting after and treating women as sexual objects in the first place, this career might not exist in the first place. Supply and demand.
If it bothers a fan so much, my advice is this: stay away from it. Turn that phone off. Block it from personal social media. But do not condone this. Otherwise, it’s all men until women can feel safe and secure around men.
This also applies to male victims and victims outside of the gender binary. No one should be made to fear their surroundings.
But I expect people to continue vehemently defending harassing and assaulting people. These are the types of people who women will cross the street just to avoid.
Returning to the message at hand, there’s a parasocial nature to interactions that creates, nurtures, and perpetuates the interactions that leave wrestlers exhausted, or worse, afraid.
All of those stories about wrestlers, actors, and musicians acting grumpily, at times angrily, at fans can be attributed to the lack of space and respect. Nobody should have to see John Cena calmly, yet visibly irritatedly ask fans to respect his privacy and boundaries. Chappel Roan’s enforcement of her line between her time away from music to be mired with constant interactions with strangers should not warrant controversy.
Existing abroad in the public eye is not permission. If any celebrity, be they online, in wrestling, or in pop culture, welcomes an interaction, leave it at what they are willing to allow. Then leave it at that. If they don’t offer it, leave them alone. The interaction between performer and fan starts and stops at that moment, unless both parties agree to continue it.
In a perfect world, educating people on etiquette, on treating others respectfully, would alleviate so much of this. Unfortunately, we don’t live in such a world. Empathy is but a foreign concept for people who don’t step out of their own shoes.
Circling back to WrestleMania 42 and the flood of fans that left wrestlers with a negative experience, the last and most crucial aspect to consider is security.
Throughout that weekend, it was noted that the local security at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand wasn’t equipped for the influx of fans. When Fightful Select released their report on WWE and hotel security, they painted a dismal picture that highlights the unsafe environment of simply staying at a place to unwind and rest.
Factoring in that Vegas hotel security already has far more to deal with, it would make sense that a multi-billion-dollar corporation like TKO, and by extension WWE, would heighten security for the people who make their product work in the first place.
There’s a lot to weigh in on how fans treat talent. Many are socially unaware (either by lack of education, social conditioning, or lacking socially cognitive skills), while others are predatory. From the lustful fans to the ones who would exploit their own children to get something signed, it’s disturbing that these people operate in such a way. Additionally, some of these fans are trying to take shortcuts to meet and get things signed due to WWE’s current business model already overprices almost everything from merch to tickets to meet-and-greets.
But the company should be held responsible for the fans’ handling of talents in public. Surely, with WrestleManias and Royal Rumbles being held in Saudi Arabia from the pocket of royalty, WWE could afford this. Surely, with the high costs of being a fan, WWE could afford this. Surely, from cutting talent, WWE could feasibly afford to ensure the safety of its most essential contributors.
With the wealth the company touts, it begs the question: at what length would the company go to ensure the proper satisfaction of fans and talent alike?
Considering how they value their bottom dollar, I think I know the answer.
