Various: Von Erichs MLW Contracts Expired, Deonna Purrazzo on Trinity Joining Impact, Indies

May 19, 2023

Marshall & Ross Von Erichs Contracts with MLW Expired

The Von Erichs, Marshall and Ross Von Erich, contracts with Major League Wrestling reportedly recently have expired, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that the Von Erichs’ contracts with the company had expired this week and they are currently free agents. Johnson reported that it was initially believed that the Von Erichs’ contracts were set to expire this June but they had finished up all of their remaining contractual obligations with MLW leading to their earlier than expected departure.

The Von Erichs are currently in the process of moving from their current home in Hawaii back to Texas along with their father Kevin Von Erich and the entire Von Erich family.

Deonna Purrazzo Comments on Trinity Joining Impact Wrestling

A recent episode of the Straight Talk Wrestling podcast featured Deonna Purrazzo as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Purrazzo’s thoughts on Trinity, former Naomi in WWE, recently joining Impact Wrestling.

“If you ask me who my ‘fight forever opponent’ is, 100 percent, hands down, it’s Jordynne Grace. But, yeah, I mean Trinity (Fatu) coming in really throws our mix of women and elevates us all completely and I said to Trinity live in the ring, ‘I know exactly how you’re feeling’ and I do. That was genuine, because it’s scary to go out and myself prior to IMPACT didn’t know if I wanted to wrestle anymore or didn’t know if this was for me or if did I have a passion for this and I really feel like she chose the right place in coming to IMPACT Wrestling because there’s no right and wrong here. You’re out here getting opportunities and making history and getting opportunities to be whoever you want to be and I’m so excited for Trinity to see who she chooses to become and how she elevates our division and eventually if we do meet down the road, whether it’s for the Knockouts World Championship or not, how in turn she’s going to elevate me because she will without a doubt.”

Purrazzo also gave her thoughts about her current goal for her Impact career is to elevate the company’s Knockouts Division.

“I’ve not been shy about women main eventing. I said it during the pandemic, I said it last year, I want more women to be main eventing pay-per-views and we saw myself and Mickie James do it for the very first time, Hard To Kill 2022 in the Texas Death Match and then it took a whole other year just to see women main event on a pay-per-view again, Jordynne Grace and Mickie James at Hard To Kill in January. So Jordynne and I getting to do the main event at Rebellion was only the third time that women have main evented a pay-per-view for the Knockouts World Championship and my goal is to have that be a consistent thing. So we’ve seen it three times with only three women. I’m interested to see and I want someone to do it, step up to the plate and say, I’m gonna take that spot from Deonna, I’m gonna take that spot from Jordynne or when Mickie’s healthy, I’m gonna take it from Mickie because we’re the only three women to do it and I think we’ve seen tremendous talents come into our Knockouts division; KiLynn King, Killer Kelly, Masha (Slamovich), Taylor Wilde has reinvented herself again, Trinity just debuted. Who is gonna take that spot from one of the three of us and consistently main event? That’s my goal, it’s always going to be my goal, elevate women’s wrestling and our Knockouts division but, I want someone to dethrone me. I can’t wait to see who that person is gonna be.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

This past Wednesday’s episode of Rich & Shameless drew 854,000 viewers, a 0.30 key demographic rating, and a #6 key demographic ranking, according to ShowBuzz Daily. This episode focused on the famous Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker trial from 2016.

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer Bushwhacker Butch, real name Robert Miller passed away this past April following a medical emergency incident in Los Angles, California. In a recent interview with Iron-On Wrestling with Gregory Iron podcast, Bushwhacker Luke provided an update regarding the cause of death for Butch. Luke stated “My partner just passed away three weeks ago. He flew out from New Zealand, lasted three days in the States and passed away, due to not taking some medication and he was stubborn, he had a little Irish in him. He was from New Zealand, the kiwi. But he was stubborn and he never took his water pills. His lungs filled up and then his heart (unable to make out word) and that was it. Very sad. I’m still mad at him for it.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)

Variety reported that A24 and German independent film distributor Leonine Studios will be forming a partnership for a new film production studio called A24|Leonine Studios. It was reported that one of the first films to be released under this new studio banner will be the upcoming Von Erich Family biopic Iron Claw.

PROGRESS Wrestling recently announced the full bracket for this year’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament, which takes place on May 27-29 in London, England.

Indie wrestler Drake Younger, former Drake Wuertz in WWE, recently announced on Instagram that he has retired from wrestling.

PWInisder’s Mike Johnson reported that former WWE and Impact Wrestling referee Earl Hebner is currently in the process of writing an autobiographical book based on his life and wrestling career.

A recently released new comedy slasher series for Hulu called Wreck features former Impact talent Fallah Bahh among the cast of the series.

Impact announced a new match for the card of their Under Siege 2023 event on May 26th in London, Ontario, Canada:

Gisele Shaw vs. Trinity

F1RST Wrestling recently announced a new match for the card of their Wrestlepalooza event on June 18th in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

Laredo Kid vs. Gravity vs. Aramis vs. Gringo Loco

Ring of Honor announced a new match for the card of their ROH TV tapings on May 24th in Las Vegas, Nevada that will air on the June 1st episode of ROH TV:

ROH Pure Championship – Alex Coughlin vs. Katsuyori Shibata (c)