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The interview was released on June 2nd, 2025, but recorded in September 2024. From 2020-2023, Deonna Purrazzo was a full-time member of the IMPACT/TNA Wrestling roster. Present day, she's signed to All Elite Wrestling. While guest appearing on the Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis, Purrazzo spoke candidly about the contract negotiations she had with IMPACT/TNA. She stated that while she was under contract, now-former company President Scott D'Amore gave her permission to speak to AEW and WWE. Purrazzo said at that point, IMPACT/TNA had not presented her with a new deal. “It’s funny because I’ve seen a lot of misconception about this (how Purrazzo got AEW offer), and I’ve talked openly about talking to AEW while I was ending my IMPACT contract and I got permission from Scott D’Amore like 90 days out. So the beginning of October, I was like, ‘Hey, you have not spoke to me about renewing my contract. Is it okay?... I don’t know anything about contract tampering. I don’t want to contract tamper. I don’t want to do anything the wrong way. I respect you, I respect this company so much. Tell me the right way to go about this. You have not spoke to me about re-signing. Is it okay for me to go try to talk to AEW? Or WWE?’ And he was like, ‘Absolutely,’ and he was like, ‘I think that you’re not talking about doing things now... You’re talking about starting January 1st when you would technically be free so, go talk to whoever you wanna talk to.’” She would go on to share that she had mixed feelings about D'Amore not trying to retain her during contract season. The final year of her contract was an option clause. She remembers asking them not to pick it up but they did. Purrazzo was not upset about it because she felt everything worked out. By the time she began speaking to different suitors, IMPACT/TNA reached out to retain her. She admitted she was 'bummed' by that. “Yes. Like I -- yes and no (Purrazzo responded when asked if she was hurt by IMPACT/TNA not making the effort to re-sign her). So, earlier, my contract at IMPACT was originally two years and it had a third-year option that was their option. So at the end of that two-year mark, I had said, ‘I don’t know if this place is for me. Maybe I wanna explore other things. I know it’s your choice but respectfully, could you not take that third-year option?’ And at first, they were like, ‘You can go talk and explore and whatever but we’ll let you know’ and then they picked up the third-year option, which honestly, I’m very thankful for. I think it all worked out the way it should have and I wasn’t upset by that. But when it came to renewing my contract and getting a completely new one, yeah, I was bummed because I just felt like I gave so much heart and soul and 100 percent of me to this company to be -- you know, I was Ms. IMPACT Wrestling for three and a half years so, why wouldn’t you wanna keep me? And it wasn’t until last minute… like the end of November that they were like, ‘No! We do wanna keep you’ and I was kind of already like, hmm, but now I don’t think I want to stay. It was just a very weird -- I felt like why wouldn’t you wanna keep me? But also, do you not wanna keep me because you thought I wanted to leave? It was a weird communication, honestly. But yeah, I was upset." Purrazzo's name came up in an interview that Jordynne Grace did, during which she opened up about dropping the Knockouts Title to Purrazzo in 2020. To read more, click here. If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.

An interview with the new Hayabusa. There is a revival of Hayabusa, which was originally portrayed by the late Eiji Ezaki, who passed away in 2016. A new Hayabusa emerged onto the wrestling scene in Japan and was brought into the fold by Pro Wrestling ZERO1. It is unknown who is donning the Hayabusa mask and gear but for the first time, the individual reprising the name did an interview. He sat down with Tokyo Sports and commented on the buzz coming out of his debut bout against Masato Tanaka on April 27th. “I didn't hear anything about it myself, but I am very grateful. The fact that I was able to have a match with Masato Tanaka on the stage of Ryogoku was a big deal for me.” He expressed that Tanaka and General Manager Megumi Kudo were two reasons he wanted to emerge under the ZERO1 banner. “Masato Tanaka is there, and so is G.M. Megumi Kudo. I think it was inevitable that I would come back here. Why did it have to be this timing? I think it was fate that drew me here.” In response to being referred to as the second generation of Hayabusa, the individual stated that he just wants to be recognized as Hayabusa. He does not see himself as a reincarnation, a second or third-generation version. "People say I'm the second or third-generation, or a new reincarnation, but I'm Hayabusa. I'm neither the second nor the third generation. I hope that the viewers will recognize me as such." The family of Eiji Ezaki approved the revival of Hayabusa. AEW's Will Ospreay stated that he wants to wrestle the new Hayabusa.

Santino Marella recalls the process behind getting to use the name in TNA. At TNA Hard To Kill 2023, Santino Marella would make a surprise appearance, debuting as a the new Director of Authority in the promotion, using the name he used previously in WWE. While speaking on Insight With Chris Van Vliet in a new interview, Santino recalled the process of trying to use the Santino name in TNA. "So that was actually almost bigger news than me appearing on TNA, was the fact that I was Santino Marella. So in 2021, I imagine the COVID confusion or whatever, there were people getting fired and hired, and it seemed like it was team Hunter and team Vince, and they were changing regimes or whatever. Somebody didn't renew the trademark. So Scott D’Amore, as a habit, because if he's getting a former WWE guy, he kind of checks the trademark to see if they're available, because he has to get creative and come up with a name. If it's not Fandango, it's Dango or something that's legally not going to be too close to the intellectual property. He checked, and all of a sudden he goes, damn, Santino Marella is available. So he bought it. It's not as simple as you can just buy it and it's yours. There's a case that they created the character, they developed the character. It's still on their library. I mean, there's still tons of Santino stuff in the library. But when it's library use, I think it's not considered like current use, because it's from a library. So they sent an email or a phone call to Scott, and they say, 'Yeah, you're using our intellectual property.' And Scott's like, 'Actually, I own the trademark.' So they're like, 'Let me get back to you.' It's kind of sitting there for a while. Then they filed an extension to the time they can appeal it, and then when Scott was no longer with TNA, Ariel [Shnerer], in hopes of having a good relationship with WWE, kind of just gave it back to them. So they own it, but I'm not sure if a part of the deal was we'll give it back to you but can we use it? And we've been using it." Elsewhere in the same interview, Santino explained that Santina was only supposed to be a one night event. You can read more about that here.

Nick Khan is offloading a number of TKO shares. A new SEC filing shows that Nick Khan is selling 28,557 shares of TKO stock. The shares have an aggregate market value of $4,506,580.17. The filing notes, "The securities to be sold were acquired upon the vesting of restricted stock units during the period of 07/20/2023 through 01/02/2025." Nick Khan is the President of WWE. He has made annual stock transactions to cover tax expenses. TKO stock is currently worth $161.68 per share on the market.

Women Of Wrestling have announced their collectible card game. The card game will feature several stars as WOW superheroes, including Chainsaw, The Beast, Penelope Pink, Kandi Krush, Gloria Glitter, Tormenta, Ariel Sky, Americana, Princess Aussie, Jessie Jones, and Abilene Maverick. Through an announcement with IGN, the promotion announced a collectible card game that will feature 141 cards, and is available for pre-order now. From IGN and WOW: WOW: The Card Game will initially feature over 141 unique cards, which will all be brought to life with custom art and “action-packed scenarios.” Alongside the 11 WOW Superheroes mentioned above, there will also be cards that will serve as Power-Ups, Finishing Moves, and Signature Taunts. As for the game itself, it is designed for 2-4 players and is intended for players over the age of nine. It aims to recreate the feeling of WOW with “dynamic gameplay mechanics that mirror the drama of the ring - from high-flying comebacks to stunning upsets.” “Now, fans can feel the thrill of the ring and build their own rivalries right at home,” said David McLane, co-founder of WOW. “This card game celebrates the strength, spirit, and spectacle that our Superheroes bring to the ring every week.” WOW is currently available to watch weekly on VICE TV.

Sareee chats Giulia. Rossy Ogawa launched his Dream Star Fighting Marigold promotion in 2024. The first main event for the promotion saw Giulia and Utami Hayashishita take on Sareee and Bozilla. That summer, Giulia and Sareee clashed in the main event of the promotion's 'Summer Destiny' show to determine the first-ever Marigold World Champion. Sareee emerged victorious and several months later, Giulia debuted for WWE. Giulia's rise in WWE was discussed by Sareee during a chat with Tokyo Sports. She said Giulia getting to the main roster quickly shows how hard she's working. “She is a great inspiration. Honestly, I thought that's typical of Giulia. I don't think anyone expected her to make the main roster so soon. But I think that's how determined Giulia is and how hard she's working.” Sareee was part of WWE from 2020 to 2023. She stated that she knows how difficult it can be there. “It was a short time, but I know how hard it is in the WWE.” Giulia is going to be in the women's Money in the Bank Ladder match at the upcoming Money in the Bank Premium Live Event. Coming up for Sareee, she'll be challenging for the IWGP Women's Championship. She's also in possession of the Sukeban World and AAAW Tag Team Titles. Sareee's next self-produced Sareee-ISM show is scheduled for July 14th.

Leila Grey wants a bout with the CEO. Since signing with AEW last year, Mercedes Mone has been running through the AEW women's division and is currently both the TBS and Women's Owen Hart Cup champion heading into an AEW Women's World Title match at All In 2025. While speaking on the latest episode of Hey! (EW) Leila Grey was asked about Mercedes Mone, and was told by RJ City to call her out. "Mercedes, I know you're the top of the food chain here, but you know what? There's a new sheriff in town. She goes by the name, the baddie, Leila Grey. I'm looking to see you in the ring. Mercedes has inspired me so much throughout the years, and I just want to get in there and show her what I got. I've been watching you for years. So let's get to it. But Mercedes, you are my dream opponent, and I hope we can make it happen one of these days. Let's do it." Elsewhere in the same interview, Leila recalled being part of a shoot for a Bad Bunny and Drake music video. You can read more about that here. If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a H/T and link back to Fightful for the transcription.

On May 31st, Bear Bronson announced that he was set to become a free agent on June 1st, ending his time with AEW. Bronson hadn't wrestled on AEW/ROH TV since the end of 2024. He was part of The Iron Savages with Jacked Jameson and Beefcake Boulder. Speaking on The Wrestling Junkies podcast, Bronson detailed his AEW departure. "I believe, at this point in my career, I'm not going to say I ever fell out of love with wrestling, but I do believe I hit a point in AEW where I felt complacent. Just with the role we were given and when you're surrounded by a lot of people that pressure you to 'just be grateful. Be grateful you're getting used for that minute and 30 seconds.' You kind of put yourself in this mode of forcing yourself to be happy with what you're doing when I'm looking at my best friends becoming world champions and my peers chasing the things they want, but I have a lot of people looking down on me saying, 'Just be happy you're used at all.' That kind of gets to you, 'I am happy,' even though you're not. The truth is, having a job with AEW, that is something people would kill for. I'm still grateful that over the past four years I've gotten to grow with AEW. Good experiences, bad experiences. I went through a serious growth period," he said. Bronson said that things changed when he met his wife Gabby Forza, who went from being a bodybuilder to diving into the world of wrestling. He said being along the journey with his wife helped him find his passion again. "AEW changed us from Bear Country to Iron Savages. That is something where I felt like I was being a follower and not a leader. I'm the type who, if someone throws out an idea, I'm open-minded, so I never gave push back on that. It's a weird period in my life where I'm making this money, I'm on salary, I have a guaranteed check, but my passion isn't there. Being on this journey with my wife and watching her succeed so early because she's doing it the way she wants to do it with her unique character and ability, the way she attacked it, she made me fall in love with wrestling all over again and made me realize what is important versus what's not as important as I thought. That's a huge part where things started to change [mentally]. I had grown more bitter and I would watch other people succeed and aspire to do things I wanted to do and I thought, 'Why am I not doing this? Why am I following what these people say and not taking a gamble?'" Bronson also credited Mike Santana and his story. Santana left AEW, where he was seldom used at the end of his run, to working various independent promotions and signing with TNA, saying Santana followed his passion. Bronson reiterated that he was grateful for his time in AEW before saying, "I do feel like I was put in a box. Right before I left, I had spoken to an office person where I asked them, 'We're being very good team players. We do everything that is asked of us and we give zero pushback. Tony really likes the Iron Savages characters.' He was kind of the only one that did. He loved the motorboating and all that. I feel like I can take anything and try my best and have fun with it. I do feel that was a little to my detriment because it is something he thought was entertaining. 'Great. I'm making my boss happy.' I asked them, 'Is this something that can grow bigger? Over the next year, can we rise up the card?' They were very honest. Someone got back to me and said, 'No, they just see this as an enhancement thing.' That's when I was like, 'Oh man, I gotta get the fuck out of here.' That answered it. That wasn't the last straw, but it was a big straw where, what I was doing wasn't right. It is now confirmed I'm being complacent with my spot. CM Punk and Steve Austin say it; if you're in this business and your goal isn't to be a top guy, or close to the top guy, you shouldn't be there. I believe that, too. Your dream isn't to be the guy already in the ring and lose in 30 seconds. Your dream is to main event WrestleMania, to be a star, to be the top guy, to be the best performer you can be. When they told me that, sirens went off in my head. 'I have to get the fuck out of here.' That's no knock on them. They have a lot of signed people and a lot of people to cater to. Tony Kahn and AEW are not sitting at home thinking about Bear Bronson. I don't blame them for that. That's not their fault. I need to pull back and when I do leave, I have to recollect." Bronson is set to make his GCW debut at Tournament of Survival. If you use any of the quotes above, please credit and link to the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.

Chris Masters discusses his MLW Battle Riot appearance. In April 2025, MLW hosted their annual Battle Riot match at the Thunder Studios Arena in Los Angeles, California. The match featured some of the promotion's biggest names like Matt Riddle, Donovan Dijak, Paul London, Matt Riddle, and Bobby Fish. The bout also featured a few surprises like Titus Alexander, Rob Van Dam, Anthony Greene, and Chris Adonis (Masters). In a new interview with Italian Wrestling Channel, Masters was asked about making his MLW debut. “It was cool. The Battle Riot, I’ve never been in one of those, but it was really cool, the way it was structured was good. They’ve got a really awesome crew there, man. It really was a nice fit from the get-go, I feel like I fit in good with the locker room, which you don’t always know if that’s going to be the case. But, a lot of good brothers back there and everybody worked hard and I was really happy that they called me to be a part of it.” Masters was then asked possibly working more dates with the promotion. “I mean sure, I’d love to if they’ll have me or when the circumstances are right, if they come back to Los Angeles. I’m open. I’ve been saying this for a while, but this is what I do for a living. At this point, im open to any kind of opportunities because otherwise, it's the independent wrestling circuit. There’s nothing wrong with that, I’ve survived on that a long time, but I think as a performer, as a professional wrestler, you always want to be a part of something. Obviously, you want consistent pay, that’s just life, but you also want to be a part of something. You want to be a part of something that builds from week to week and where you can evolve your persona and your character. You can’t do that as well on the indies because everything’s a standalone show.” Elsewhere in the interview, Masters talked about possibly signing with WWE or AEW. Check out his full comments by clicking here. Fans can check out Fightful Overbooked's recent interview with Paul London by clicking here. If you use any of the quotes above, please credit and link to the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.

Though The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) have said they will never bring back Being The Elite, there are interested parties. During a Q&A stream, fans in the chat asked about BTE: The Movie. "We've actually discussed putting in real money in doing a movie. I don't know. I've actually been contacted recently, I won't say who it was, but someone high up in AEW about bringing it back. I don't know," said Matthew. Being The Elite started as a travel vlog with the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, but turned into a storyline vehicle for the group during their time in NJPW, ROH, and early AEW days. Hangman Page and Cody Rhodes were heavily featured throughout the series. AEW was officially announced at midnight on January 1, 2019 on Being The Elite. The last episode of Being The Elite was posted in October 2023. The series was passed to The Dark Order.