Weekend Roundup: Kalisto WWE Release Update, Undertaker, Snoop Dogg, Debut Set for Impact’s Rebellion, Terry Funk COVID, Indies

WWE

• WWE reportedly recently signed Indian MMA fighter Sanjana George to an official contract with the company, according to LockerRoom.in.
• Fightful Select reported that the locker room reaction to Mark Carrano’s recent firing was “unanimously in favor” of his firing. It was reported that the general reaction to Carrano’s tenure in the company from talent ranged from “disliking Carrano to loathing him.” It was also reported that one source stated that there is a possibility WWE might eventually hire him back in the future due to him knowing too many dirty secrets that the company would not want to be made public.
• Besides Michael Hayes, Paul Heyman reportedly had a major role in the production of the Universal Championship Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 37 earlier this month, according to Fightful. It was reported that much of the creative plans for the match filtered through him with Daniel Bryan and Edge also playing a role in putting together the match.
• Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the reason why Kalisto was released from WWE earlier this month was due to lingering backstage issues over his vocal displeasure with the direction of his career in the company. Meltzer reported that Kalisto had been vocal about his displeasure over not being involved in WrestleMania 37 and had also been vocal multiple times at wanting to be removed from the Lucha House Party group. Meltzer reported that WWE officials never had any real plans for Kalisto after his split from the group and only removed him as a way to pacify his complaints. Meltzer also reported that Lince Dorado came up with the idea for the Lucha House Party group since he felt it would be an easy way for them to make some merchandise money and figured it would be appealing to Vince McMahon’s idea of Mexican stereotypes.
• Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the hiring of Adnan Virk to be the newest lead announcer for WWE’s RAW brand was a decision made by WWE President Nick Khan. Meltzer reported that Khan was Virk’s agent prior to him accepting a high level job within WWE.
• Dave Meltzer also reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the reason why new episodes of 205 Live have a lengthy wait time to be uploaded to the WWE Network after their intital airings is due to WWE’s current contract with Hulu. Meltzer reported that Hulu has the exclusive streaming rights to 205 Live episodes for 15 days after its live airing.
• During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, The Undertaker clarified his recent comments and criticisms towards WWE’s current product and talent being “soft.” Undertaker stated “I wasn’t bashing our talent. Our talent is extraordinary. What they’re physically able to do, I couldn’t imagine doing that back in the day. I have a lot of respect for our roster, but I came from a different time period. My point was it was tough back then. I remember when Triple H first came in, and he was shocked that I had black electrical tape on my boots. It was just a different time. We didn’t even have trainers on the road. If you had torn gear, you either wore it torn or you tried to fix it yourself. I’m so proud to be part of the evolution of our business. The industry has come so far. It’s a sign of the success and how far we’ve come.”
• WWE filed a trademark for “In-Dex” for wrestling and merchandise-related purposes on April 21st. HeelByNature.com reported that this term likely will be used for the recent on-screen pairing of Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis in NXT.

AEW

• A recent episode of the Ebro In The Morning show on radio station HOT 97 had Snoop Dogg as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Dogg revealing that WWE were not happy over his appearance for All Elite Wrestling this past December. Dogg stated “They felt some kind of way too. Let me tell you this though. Snoop Dogg ain’t no wrestler. He’s bigger than that. You have to understand that. This is the dynamics of what happened. I had a show on TBS called Go-Big Show, during COVID where people can really watch, to be entertained on some circus type of sht. Cody Rhodes is one of the judges on the show, he’s actually one of the top dogs at the AEW wrestling network. As a promotional vehicle for the show they had me go on there so I could co-promote the show. Then I get word from them [WWE], saying ‘Ay, you fukin’ with them? We’re going to have to push pause on your ass for a minute.’ I said cool, they pushed pause for about two weeks, then said ‘Hey man, we got this video game, and we need you’. Once ya’ll told me to push pause, that will be double. I’ll be on the new wrestling game.” (Transcript h/t: HeelByNature.com)
• As noted before, Jim Ross stated in a recent episode of the Grillin JR podcast that AEW is currently planning to leave Daily’s Place and resume touring starting this July. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that those plans are still tentative and entirely dependent on the situation with the coronavirus pandemic in the United States by that time.
• AEW reportedly drew an attendance of around 800 for their April 21st episode of AEW Dynamite at Daily’s Place, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that the breakdown was 650 paid and the remainder as comp tickets.

Other Wrestling

• Fightful Select reported that Impact Wrestling will be holding their next set of television tapings in Nashville, Tennessee from today until Tuesday. It was also reported that the company currently has plans to holding another set of tapings from May 15 to May 18th in Nashville.
• A recent episode of The Angle podcast had D’Lo Brown as the guest and one of the topics discussed included who he feels is the next future star for Impact Wrestling. Brown stated “Easily Deonna Purrazzo is going to be the face of the Knockout’s Division for a long time to come. That woman has got ‘star’ written all over her and she carries herself in and out of the ring like a star. Always, Eddie Edwards is a guy you look at and you go, ‘Man, Eddie is the flag bearer of this company and there’s still great things waiting down the road for Eddie Edwards.’ Then you look at a young guy like Ace Austin. I think he’s got the potential to be special in this business and be a multiple-time world champion here in IMPACT Wrestling. The future is bright for our company. We’ve got people lined up everywhere and can handle different roles, and I think there’s so much on the horizon for this company. I’m just excited.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
• During a recent interview with the Wrestling Perspective podcast, Impact Wrestling Co-Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore revealed that the company might consider launching a TNA or Knockouts themed series after the coronavirus pandemic ends. D’Amore stated “There have been conversations (about a TNA show). I still get hit up on Twitter from fans saying, ‘are we ever going to get the TNA reunion show?’ Even with the one-hour special, we saw the buzz created. It was three or four days later when someone from AXS called and said, ‘How hard would it be, would it be possible for you to do this weekly?’ ‘It is…what are we talking about with the timeline?’ ‘Would you be able to do it next month?’ ‘No! We need to find a place to run shows in the next two weeks.’ As we come out of this pandemic, certainly it’s a possibility that the TNA brand could return. It’s one of the things that maybe the pandemic has robbed us of. We have so many unbelievable Knockouts, maybe we’ll end up continuing to grow the Knockouts division and give them their own separate platform.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
• Terry Funk reportedly recently contracted COVID-19, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that Funk believes that he contracted the virus after attending church a few weeks ago but is currently feeling fine and is in isolation.
• FITE TV reportedly recently dropped Impact+ from their service, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• This past Friday’s episode of NJPW Strong featured the Finals of the New Japan Cup USA 2021 tournament between Brody King and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor. Lawlor emerged victorious and was also crowned as the inaugural NJPW Strong Openweight Champion.
• The Japanese government recently issued a new State of Emergency for the Tokyo and several other Prefectures due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. All Japan Pro Wrestling announced that their April 25th, April 28th, and May 3rd Champion Carnival 2021 shows will now be held as empty arena shows. Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that they have cancelled their May 2nd and May 3rd The Ovation shows. Big Japan Pro Wrestling announced that they have cancelled their April 26th show. DDT Pro-Wrestling announced that their May 4th and May 9th shows will now be held as empty arena shows. Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS announced that they have cancelled their May 2nd show.
• The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that their next pay-per-view event will be called When Our Shadows Fall and will be taking place on June 6th.
• Former WWE talent Peyton Royce filed a trademark for “Cassie Lee” for wrestling and merchandise-related purposes on April 19th to the USPTO.
• This past Thursday’s episode of Wipeout with co-host John Cena drew 817,000 viewers on TBS.
• This past Thursday’s episode of Dark Side of the Ring Confidential drew 95,000 viewers on VICE TV.
• Konnan reportedly is currently feeling better following his recent bout with COVID-19, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that Konnan currently is in need of a second kidney transplant and is considering having the operation done in Mexico due to the potential shorter waiting list time period for an organ transplant.
• Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that RUSH’s new promotion in Mexico is called Federacion Wrestling. The new promotion is currently planning to hold their debut pay-per-view event this June.
• Inside The Ropes’ Gary Cassidy reported that CaZXL, former Big Cass in WWE, is currently planned to be making his official debut for Impact Wrestling at their Rebellion event tonight.