Various: Brandi Rhodes on Leaving Wrestling, Callihan on The Design Storyline in Impact, Indies

AEW

Feb 3, 2023

Brandi Rhodes Comments on Her Decision to Leave Wrestling

Brandi Rhodes has been away from wrestling following the expiration of her contract with AEW this past February.

The Bare Magazine held a recent interview with Rhodes. One of the topics discussed included Rhodes’ revealing that she has stepped away from her career in wrestling and her reasons for her decision.

“There was a lot about my position in the industry that took a lot of the joy out of it for me. Life is too short to be fighting so hard and still left feeling unfulfilled. Especially with everything that I have to offer still mentally and physically. I’d like to experience joy in my contributions at this point.”

Sami Callihan on His Current Storyline with The Design in Impact

A recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast featured Sami Callihan, now known as just Callihan, as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Callihan’s thoughts on his current storyline with The Design in Impact Wrestling. Callihan also praised all three members of the group and feels that Angels will become a X-Division Champion in the future in Impact.

“I think it’s (storyline with The Design) one of those things, people want long-term storytelling and I think right now, IMPACT does that better than anyone. As much as we wanna say, aw, in 2023, people’s attention spans are smaller. Good storytelling on a long-term basis in my opinion, I think is the best way to go with professional wrestling and I think that’s what we’re doing right now and I think people need to continue to tune in because it’s gonna be one of those things that you never know what’s gonna happen. I think that’s what’s gonna make this special and it’s one of those things, I think Cody Deaner — and this maybe a controversial opinion, I think Cody Deaner is one of the best, unknown, amazing professional wrestlers on the planet. He’s known, but I don’t think he’s known for being how good he is. He did a comedy character for years and now he’s doing what he is but it shows his range, it shows his body of work. I think he is an underrated cat in professional wrestling.
And not just him, that whole group. Alan Angels, young dude, has un-limitless potential and is just now really getting the chance to experiment and come into his own. He’s a guy, I think is gonna be X Division Champion in the next year or two and Kon is a guy I’ve known since being in NXT together. People seem to forget that The Ascension, at one point, was the hottest thing in professional wrestling and then they got ruined when they went up to the main roster. So now he’s getting a chance to wipe that all clean and be who he is. He’s another guy I think is extremely underrated and that’s not me just kissing ass because that’s where I work at, IMPACT Wrestling. I don’t say something unless I believe it. I think people (are) gonna be pleasantly surprised with what Kon can do in the ring as well. He’s a huge, gigantic, scary human being that can go when all the chips are down.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

WrestleCon recently announced that Will Ospreay will be making an appearance for the company at their Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow 2023 event on March 30th in Los Angeles, California.

WrestleCon also announced that Hijo del Vikingo will be making an appearance for the company at their Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow 2023 event on March 30th in Los Angeles, California.

Indie film distribution company Gravitas Ventures recently announced that a new upcoming film titled STALKER featuring WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart is currently scheduled to be released next month in both theaters and On Demand services.

A new wrestling-based book based on the late Adrian Adonis reportedly is currently scheduled to be released on March 23rd, according to PWInsider.

Impact Wrestling announced that they have recently partnered together with Busted Open Radio for a No Surrender 2023 post-show party on February 24th at The Nerd in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Thursday’s Impact show featured the announcement of Steph De Lander, former Persia Pirotta in WWE, will be making her official debut in the company at next week’s show. Later in the show, Jordynne Grace stated in a backstage interview that she wanted to face off against De Lander as her debut opponent.

The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that they will be part of the Smashing Pumpkins’ upcoming The World Is A Vampire festival this April in Australia. It was also announced that their involvement will be in the form of a co-promoted NWA vs. WAOA event with Wrestling Alliance of Australia.

The NWA reportedly dealt with several backstage issues regarding this past Tuesday’s live NWA Powerrr show, according to PWInsider. Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that NWA was working with a skeleton crew backstage due to several notable abscesses including NWA owner Billy Corgan and NWA producer Pat Kennedy.

The NWA reportedly generated an attendance of around 500 for this past Tuesday’s live NWA Powerr show in Knoxville, Tennessee, according to PWInsider.

Pro Wrestling NOAH talent and wrestling legend Keiji Muto reportedly recently suffered hamstring tears in both of his legs, according to Tokyo Sports. It was reported that Muto suffered the injuries during his Six-Man Tag Team match at NOAH’s Great Muta Final Bye-Bye event this past January in Yokohama, Japan. (English translation via F4WOnline.com)

Post Wrestling’s John Pollock reported that FITE TV confirmed that they will be airing all of Game Changer Wrestling’s upcoming The Collective 2023 set of events on their new FITE+ subscription service.

Prestige Wrestling recently announced three new matches for the card of their Hybrid Moments event on March 26th in Asbury Park, New Jersey: