00:00 A senior name leaves WWE, TNA Wrestling in trouble, what's going on with Drew McIntyre
00:07 and more.
00:08 I'm Oli Davis, and this is the WrestleTalk News.
00:18 Listen son, or woman person, you're growing up.
00:22 You're going to experience new feelings.
00:25 You'll start seeing the world from a different perspective.
00:29 So it's time we had the chat.
00:33 When two large corporate entities love each other, they screw.
00:38 They screw for ages.
00:40 And just when you think they're done, they're actually just taking a breather because they
00:43 just start screwing again.
00:45 What I'm trying to say, kid, is WWE and UFC merging was a big deal, and the ramifications
00:51 are still being felt.
00:53 The deal was first announced back in April 2023, and the legal work was finally completed
00:58 six months later in September.
01:00 As expected, amongst the many seismic changes in the company operations and culture, a lot
01:05 of people lost their jobs.
01:07 Over 10 onscreen wrestlers were released, including big and long-term names like Dolph
01:12 Ziggler, Matt Riddle and Mustafa Ali.
01:14 Many executives and office personnel were laid off as their jobs were made redundant
01:18 once departments merged with the UFC.
01:21 And even Vince McMahon wasn't safe, where he was removed entirely from creative, which
01:26 would now be run exclusively by Triple H. Not all releases are immediate, though, as
01:31 handovers have to be completed, or the new TKO corporate overlords want to see who is
01:36 best for their new direction.
01:38 In 2024 already, five months since the merger was officially completed, we've seen Kevin
01:44 Patrick removed from commentary, NXT wrestler Amari Miller didn't have her contract renewed,
01:49 and on February 7th, the longtime host of the Bump, Matt Camp, was released - surprising
01:54 a lot of people behind the scenes.
01:57 Vince McMahon left as well, but that was kind of a different situation.
02:01 Now PWInsider is reporting Jennifer Peppermann has also departed WWE, citing this was her
02:07 decision to leave rather than her being released.
02:11 But who is the Peppermann?
02:14 Peppermann had been with WWE since April 2017 as a senior writer and producer, working primarily
02:20 on the SmackDown women's division in recent years.
02:23 Before joining WWE, she had worked as a producer and director on a number of soap operas.
02:28 Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was the first to acknowledge Peppermann's departure, posting
02:32 on X - "Shout out to Jennifer Peppermann.
02:35 I've always appreciated your creativity, passion, and the countless times you've given
02:39 to help me and others backstage over the years.
02:42 I'll miss your energy, but I know you'll be great wherever you may roam.
02:46 My gratitude forever.
02:48 HARD EMOJI.
02:49 PRAYING HANDS EMOJI."
02:51 Unlike Peppermann, who left on her own accord, Kevin Patrick was released by WWE.
02:56 But thankfully he's landed on his feet to then dribble past three players and score
03:00 a touchdown.
03:01 Sports!
03:02 Apple TV has announced their Major League Soccer 360 show will be led by new host Kevin
03:08 Egan, which is Kevin Patrick's real name, who previously served as a Game Play-by-Play
03:13 announcer.
03:14 But they aren't the only names we might not see in WWE soon, as a major star still
03:19 hasn't reportedly re-signed with the company.
03:23 Before I tell you all about that, though, and the developing situation at TNA, here's
03:27 a teaser for our new video going live tomorrow…
03:30 America's greatest TV show of recent times is one of familial betrayal, corporate treachery,
03:37 sexual scandal and… succession.
03:41 I am of course talking about…
03:43 Monday Night Raw!
04:11 The Fall of the McMahons is our latest essay video here from WrestleTalk.
04:19 Thank you so much to all of you who sent nice messages in about our Bloodline Family Tree
04:23 Explained video.
04:24 We're all really proud of it.
04:26 But a lot of the time in this content business, the stuff you put the most time and effort
04:30 into absolutely fails.
04:32 It gets like 3 views.
04:34 So to see everyone sharing it, and keep sharing it, please do.
04:37 And saying such nice things has been really rewarding for me and the team.
04:41 Because remember, it ain't just me researching and producing those, they're massive.
04:45 It's Pete, it's Kelly, it's Ellis, it's Brandon.
04:48 Let's get a thank you to all those people churned in the comments down below.
04:51 If you want to see us keep making videos like that, please subscribe and enable notifications
04:55 to Always On so you know first when the Fall of the McMahons video goes live!
05:01 And consider supporting us at Patreon.com/wrestletalk, which helps fund those productions.
05:06 Back to the news!
05:08 Drew McIntyre leaving WWE confirmed has been rumoured and speculated on for almost a year,
05:13 when he took time off following WrestleMania 39.
05:15 It was reported that his contract would be expiring in April 2024, but that's ok.
05:21 Everyone's just waiting for the TKO merger to be complete, and they'll sort out all
05:25 of those pesky contracts like they did with Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair, Rey and Dominic
05:30 Mysterio and Bayley at the end of 2023.
05:33 But now it's February, five months after that merger was complete, and McIntyre still
05:39 reportedly hasn't re-signed with WWE.
05:43 Drew was asked about this on the West Australian while promoting Elimination Chamber Perth
05:47 for next Saturday, to which he replied - "Oh no, I can't talk about that.
05:51 Let the Internet talk about it.
05:53 I'll just keep watching every week.
05:55 It's interesting.
05:56 You know, I'm not the only one with a contract in WWE.
05:59 It's just interesting that it seems to be mine that's on there every single week for
06:03 a year straight."
06:04 Yes, because yours is the next one to reportedly expire.
06:10 Or is it?
06:11 Fightful Select is reporting Drew's contract isn't actually expiring in April as was previously
06:17 thought, because WWE have added on several months due to time he missed from injury or
06:22 inactivity.
06:23 But both sides are optimistic they'll reach a deal.
06:25 Unlike last year, where Drew reportedly was frustrated with his creative direction, and
06:29 he allegedly stormed out of the building when CM Punk debuted at Survivor Series - maybe
06:35 it was a work all along, #WeWantCody - McIntyre has been one of the best characters in WWE
06:41 since revamping himself in December.
06:43 PWInsider reports that WWE is so confident he'll re-sign, they're currently factoring
06:48 him in to long-term plans.
06:50 Which is why they're advertising him for the European tour in May and other dates as
06:55 far as August.
06:56 The Wrestling Observer has added Drew "seems very happy so far with his new character,
07:01 and he's really excited about it, and they're working with the idea that he's not going
07:05 anywhere.
07:06 He'll probably sign a new deal, but it's still just a probable until it happens."
07:11 Oh Meltzer, you tease.
07:13 Yes, there's a possibility for Drew Galloway to AEW confirmed, but it's far more likely
07:18 he stays in WWE, where he appears set for a WrestleMania XL World title match against
07:23 Seth Rollins, and a feud later in 2024 against CM Punk, with a storyline he injured him in
07:29 the Royal Rumble.
07:30 Do you want Drew to win the world title from Seth?
07:33 Let me know in the comments.
07:35 Or maybe…
07:36 Drew Galloway to TNA confirmed.
07:38 But not likely, going by the sudden loss of that promotion's momentum.
07:42 Impact Wrestling took Hangman Page's 'new year, new me, dumbass' mantra literally,
07:47 re-rebranding themselves back under the TNA name at January's Hard to Kill pay-per-view,
07:52 or Premium Live event as they actually called it.
07:54 The show and move was positively received by fans and wrestlers alike, and they immediately
07:59 followed up that momentum with several great Will Ospreay matches and their Knockouts champion
08:04 Jordan Grace appearing in WWE's Royal Rumble.
08:08 Obligatory Luke reaction.
08:11 So TNA's parent company saw that momentum, saw that growth, and went… nah.
08:18 On the 7th February, Anthem Sports and Entertainment announced Scott D'Amore's contract had
08:24 been terminated.
08:25 D'Amore had been with TNA for 20 years, and was widely attributed with creating the
08:29 behind-the-scenes, strongly bonded family, and the promotion's 2024 resurgence.
08:34 Additionally, TNA's longtime executive supporter inside Anthem, Ed Nordholm, was reportedly
08:40 moved off the brand to work elsewhere in the company.
08:43 Dave Meltzer has now revealed the baffling timeline that led to D'Amore's departure.
08:49 D'Amore had apparently often asked for more funds to grow TNA.
08:53 They made plays for both Ospreay and Punk in late 2023, and they did get the former
08:58 Dolph Ziggler, but D'Amore felt TNA had more potential.
09:02 Unfortunately Anthem, much like Ring of Honor's previous owner Sinclair, didn't see it that
09:07 way.
09:08 Since buying the promotion from Dixie Carter in 2017, they only really ever saw TNA as
09:13 low-cost, risk-free content for their owned channels, like AXS.
09:19 So they made the decision to cut D'Amore in early January.
09:22 But then the TNA rebrand happened on the 13th's Hard to Kill show, their largest gate in a
09:28 decade.
09:29 Knowing he would be leaving the wrestling company he loved so much, D'Amore made an
09:32 attempt to purchase TNA from Anthem the week after Hard to Kill, but they turned the offer
09:38 down.
09:39 So, despite all that success, and a leader who believed in the promotion, Anthem didn't
09:44 reassess their decision, and still went through with D'Amore's release, finally announcing
09:48 it on the 7th February.
09:50 Meanwhile Tony Khan's probably thinking about his next major announcement next week…
09:56 in the Impact Zone.
09:58 Similar to the Rossi/Agawa situation in Japan, where him leaving Stardom will likely see
10:02 that promotion's decline and an exodus of talent, this could be one of the biggest mistakes
10:07 in Anthem's otherwise steady tenure owning TNA.
10:11 D'Amore wasn't just a fantastic wrestling mind, he was also beloved by his roster, as
10:16 Matt Cardona has posted.
10:18 "Scott D'Amore gave me an opportunity during the pandemic when WWE fired me and
10:22 AEW didn't want me.
10:24 Being in Impact gave me my confidence back and I was able to go on and become the death
10:29 match king and indie god and more successful than I've ever been.
10:34 #WeWantScott"
10:35 Unsurprisingly, Meltzer has reported D'Amore's departure was not well received by a lot of
10:41 talent.
10:42 But, actually surprisingly, that talent has grouped together and sent a letter to Anthem
10:48 expressing their concerns.
10:50 Fightful have published the letter from a group of unnamed TNA wrestlers, signed 'Your
10:55 TNA Family'.
10:56 Oh my god, they're going to eventually turn that into a faction.
10:59 And it reads as a very well crafted, gratitude expressing letter to Anthem for saving TNA
11:05 from "the brink of death".
11:07 "But we come to you to voice our concern for TNA Impact, our family, and its future
11:13 and direction.
11:14 It is our desire to have a dialogue with you and with the company in an effort to protect
11:18 the present and the future of TNA Impact for you, for Anthem, for the fans, and for professional
11:25 wrestlers.
11:26 We feel strongly that a wrestling person needs to be intimately involved at a high level
11:31 to ensure that the amazing company we have all built and product we have provided to
11:36 our fans continues to grow and flourish.
11:39 It is our opinion that the best possible person for that role was, is, and will be, Scott."
11:46 2024 is unparalleled in wrestling history.
11:49 In just a month and a half, we have had the heads of three different major wrestling promotions
11:54 - Vince McMahon for WWE, D'Amour for TNA and Rossi for Stardom - all leave their companies.
12:01 Hopefully with D'Amour, he'll be back before AEW snap him up.
12:05 While you wait for our Fall of the McMahons video tomorrow, check out our Bloodline Dynasty
12:09 explained now!
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