Welcome to Select Answers, a short feature that provides some of the answers to questions that were posed to Sean Ross Sapp in the most recent Fightful Weekly Q&A Podcast. The show drops every week on Fightful Select for subscribers.
These answers are from the first week of January on Fightful Select. If you aggregate these stories on websites, link back to us. If you aggregate them on social media, tag our pages, plase.
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Did the WWE and/or The Miz get any flak from the LA Clippers for The Miz’ comments about James Harden?
I didn't hear of anyone bringing it up to him at the Raw debut on Netflix there.
What's the thing you’re most excited about when it comes to wrestling this year?
Less stock being put into Nielsen ratings and viewership. It's been a progressively less relevant metric for years. Raw on Netflix, and AEW simulcasting on Max hopefully gets rid of that.
What was the biggest scoop you had, that was either unconfirmed or off the record that you couldn’t post and had to keep secret
CM Punk having a phone conversation with Triple H the weekend before Survivor Series. I told Denise after our post-Raw show, and I believe a few members on our team.
Hey Sean! Assuming Omega vs Okada isn’t for the world title, what match would you like to see main event All In Texas?
If I were AEW, I'd make it for the Continental Title and either the TNT Title or International Title and consolidate things. I would NOT have them carry around two titles.
Hey SRS! Wondering if there's any update on Hologram? Maybe a tentative timetable or somesuch?
Those that I've spoken to say that he should be back relatively soon. He also had some time off for personal reasons.
Did you hear of any interesting backstage reactions to CM Punks return that weren’t shown on the behind the scenes clip WWE released a little bit ago?
Yes. A lot of them. There were a lot of people very unhappy that he was being brought back, across staff, talent and backstage personnel. That being said, I've not heard negativity surrounding him since he's been back. I'm sure this will get aggregated and people will say "this needs to be said every week?" But the WWE structure is working well for him.
What are the chances Mina Shirakawa pulls a vaquer and signs with wwe in the future?
Possible, but unlikely. It would have been a definite no under the previous regime, since she's 37 years old, and they were telling some 32-year old tryout recruits they were too old.
There's been some discourse ranging from analyst speculation to to friends of those close to the situation that Jon Moxley is booking AEW's main event picture (himself and the Death Riders). Is there any validity to this? If so, do you think Tony exercise his power to pivot if fans continue to reject this
That isn't true whatsoever. AEW has some general input from the talent on creative. RJ City works with Death Riders on their creative, and then everything gets approved by Tony Khan. There is creative input, for sure.
Do people like Danhausen or Ricky Starks believe in some capacity that their relationship with CM punk has affected their standing in AEW? Brody King has been on TV consistently even after being known as a pro-Punk guy.
Danhausen was used after Punk left, and that was never brought up to my knowledge. I'm not sure if Ricky Starks has a relationship with Punk, but I've never heard that mentioned.
2024 was a big year for free agency. Who are some notable names for 2025?
Ricky Starks, Danhausen, Jordynne Grace, Josh Alexander, Gabe Kidd, Kevin Knight, Jim Ross, Jonathan Gresham. Later in the year, Killer Kelly and the Hardy Boyz.
Whats good SRS. About how many Wrestlers have Creative Control in AEW? I'm guessing Mox and MJF for sure
None. It's a complete myth made up by people who want to create a narrative.
Heard of any plans for Sinner and Saint now that Josh Alexander 's run is up?
Josh Alexander's contract isn't up for another six weeks. I wouldn't close the door just yet, but it looks like he's on the way out. They have at least two, maybe another taping before that is up.
AEW gives The Vendetta good promo time and they knock it out of the park, but then they usually still end up losing their matches. Is there an end game/something bigger picture going on for them? Thanks.
I don't know about a bigger picture, but Deonna Purrazzo was very vocal to management that she wanted their act to have something more involved in the bigger picture. She wasn't too thrilled about the finish being changed in her home city for Full Gear and some promos they'd filmed being cut.
Any word on Wardlow?
He's been injured for quite some time.
Does Tony Khan not see something in Kenny Omega like he sees Danielson or Moxley?
I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Kenny Omega was world champion for a year, missed about a year after, and has missed the last year.
Any thoughts on advertising AEW on the Max App itself? Didnt seem like they put any effort into that, hopefully for the PPVs they will. I use the xbox app and wouldnt know if i didnt scroll all the way down to the live section
It will be integrated and featured, and it's a priority for WBD. It'll pop up in the recommended titles of some wrestling related stuff, too.
What are the plans for Hangman Adam Page heading into this year? (i.e. the purpose behind the CD feud [unless it's a lead in to a potential program with Kenny I'm kinda scratching my head rn as to what the purpose of it is])
There are pretty significant purposes for the Hangman Page-Christopher Daniels feud. Hangman Page is always going to be a person they have things factored in for.
What is the contact status of Takeshita? It was reported earlier today, I believe by Chris Carlton, that it seems that Takeshita may have signed a 1-year deal with NJPW and would have limited appearances with AEW.
He's still under contract with AEW. Just a hunch, not a report, but when you take Okada, Ospreay and Switchblade, I think giving back Takeshita, Omega and Young Bucks for multiple appearances helps maintain that relationship.
Hey Sean, something I've always wondered, when it comes to Wyatt Sicks how much creative control do they have and is Final Testament being given the same leeway for this feud?
They have input, but creative control isn't what people think it is today. Creative control is the ability to reject any creative without being in breach of your contract. Nobody in WWE has that.
What exactly did WBD mean when they directed AEW to "ramp up" (or whatever) the Cincinnati shows?
It was an important date from an ad sales standpoint, from what I understand. They wanted AEW to make sure it was a show that they put some power into, and AEW did that .
Hey Sean will the god awful idea of hosting a Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia count as one of their 2 annual PLEs or will those two be additional?
I would not be surprised to see WWE only do one Saudi PLE this year, since they're going back so early next year.
Are there any notable current free agents from Japan or Europe having serious interests in getting signed from WWE and AEW?
Personally, I think Kevin Knight would make the jump if there was WWE and AEW interest. If it was continuing with TNA or doing MLW, he could just keep working NJPW.
Hey Sean! One things I’ve been meaning to ask you is what are your favorite scenes/characters in both Home Alone 1 & 2? I love the movies just as much as you do! Also, we can agree that anything Home Alone 3 and after is unwatchable garbage, right? lol. Thanks as always!
Marv & Harry are my favorites, and are a big reason Home Alone 3 didn't work. Home Alone 3 would not have been as bad with different villains. You went from two bad, but also hilarious and somewhat charming guys that looked like real people, to four villians who weren't funny, and were carbon copies of one another. You had four white people with black hair, and in a couple of cases, didn't look like people who would be doing those things. I don't think the series ever got back that formula until Ellie Kemper in the last one, but that wasn't too great of a movie.
Which women from nxt would you like to see called up?
I've shouted it from the rooftops -- Jacy Jayne. Every time I've seen Jacy Jayne work Smackdown or Main Event, she's fit right in and done a great job.
Hey Sean, not a scoop question but a personal one. What was the match/wrestler that made YOU fall in love with the sport?
Sting. I can't remember when, but I saw him, Muta, Flair and a cage, and I had to get more. I discovered WWF and that was more my speed, but loved everything wrestling.
