BY JEFF KNAPP
Jim Ross went back into the hospital this week to get three ports in his chest removed. Good luck to Mr. Ross and a speedy recovery.
This week on NXT, Ridge Holland announced that not being able to be the father and husband he needs to be as of late and announced that he has made a decision. One that is best for him and his own mental health, as well as the best future for his family. He then officially announced he is “stepping away from in-ring competition, indefinitely.”
Reports suggest that one of the great tag teams in TNA/Impact history are about to hit the free agent market on April 1, 2024. That being the Motor City Machine Guns – Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. No matter where they go, they will be a huge asset to whatever promotion signs them.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts announced on his podcast this week that he signed on for another year with AEW. That is amazing news and I hope every wrestler in that company takes the time to pick his brain.
Killer Kelly is apparently taking some time off from TNA and will be back at some point. Reports are that she is signed to the company into 2025. As a fan of her, this is great news to know she will be back at some point.
There are reports that NWA 76 will be held in Philly at the 2300 arena.
This week, Corey Graves announced that debuting April 3rd on X will be the new show called “Speed” with there being a Speed Championship. Via the press release: “EVERY SECOND COUNTS, Corey Graves is here to introduce WWE Speed!”
The announcement continued, “Your favorite Superstars will go head-to-head in 3-minute matches, where the WWE Speed Championship is the ultimate prize. WWESpeed premieres April 3rd, exclusively on X!”
GCW announced on March 27 that Steve Corino will be inducted into the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024 during WrestleMania weekend. Along with Steve Corino, Trent Acid, The Briscoes, and Kevin Hogan will also be inducted.
The induction ceremony will take place in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 7, at noon and will stream live for free on YouTube.
It’s been announced that Ace Austin, a 3-time X Division Champion and 2-time World Tag Team Champion(with Chris Bey – ABC) has resigned with TNA Wrestling. At 27, he is a piece that TNA can and should use to build around for the next decade.
After the initial allegations were levied against Vince McMahon back in 2023, WWE established a “consensual relationship” policy – a three page document that was circulated to all staff and talent in June of that year. It details WWE’s stance on relationships in the workplace as well as responsibilities of those involved.
To promote a productive environment, free from conflicts, as well as favoritism and unfair advantage, whether perceived or real, WWE has implemented the following policy and guidelines related to consensual relationships in the workplace. This policy applies to all employees, regardless of rank or title.
All employees should recognize the possible negative consequences of romantic, intimate, or sexual relationships in the workplace. Consensual relationships can compromise the integrity of supervisory responsibility, create the potential for abuse of authority or cause problems due to perceptions of favoritism by others. This policy prescribes actions required to address conflicts, and further specifies the situations where consensual relationships are prohibited.
A consensual relationship refers to any relationship that is romantic, intimate, or sexual in nature and to which the parties consent. Consensual relationships that might be acceptable in other circumstances may not be appropriate if one of the parties has institutional responsibility, authority or influence over the other or is involved in evaluation of the other.
Situations covered by this Policy are distinguishable from sexual harassment, which is covered in WWE’s policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Harassment which can be found on The Ring.
Requirements for Employees in a Consensual Relationship.
If an employee is entering, or in, a consensual relationship with another employee, both employees must:
Report the relationship to Human Resources; and
Cooperate in actions taken to address any conflict of interest.
It may be necessary for the executive or manager to assist Human Resources in assessing and addressing any conflict. Addressing conflicts may include:
Transferring one of the individuals to another position; or
Transferring supervisory, decision-making, evaluative, or advisory responsibilities; or
Providing an additional layer of oversight to the supervisory role.
After any conflict is addressed, the employee(s) who have entered a consensual relationship will certify that they have reviewed and understand the Consensual Relationship Policy and agree to the requirements and expectations of WWE as it pertains to professionalism. (See below.)
Affiliated Individuals
WWE has relationships with “affiliated individuals” meaning independent contractors (including but not limited to WWE Talent, Vendor Contractors and Freelancers), interns, temporary workers, vendors, and others with whom it contracts. Any employee who has a consensual relationship with an affiliated individual must abide by the Consensual Relationship Policy with respect to the affiliated individual.
Prohibitions Regarding Consensual Relationships
Consensual relationships are prohibited when effective arrangements to address the conflict cannot be made.
An employee shall not conduct performance evaluations, or make decisions regarding salary, promotion, tenure, or continuation of employment for a person with whom he or she has or had a consensual relationship.
An employee shall not exercise responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) for any affiliated individual with whom the employee has or had a consensual relationship.
WWE strongly discourages consensual relationships involving any WWE Board Member, or executive team member such as the CEO, President, CFO, Chief Content Officer, Chief Legal Officer, or Chief Human Resources Officer.
These relationships in particular can compromise the integrity of supervisory responsibility and create the potential for abuse of authority or perceptions of favoritism. In the event an executive team member is involved in such a consensual relationship, it must be disclosed in writing to the Lead Independent Director of the Board, in addition to the Chief Human Resources Officer. In the event a WWE Board member is involved in such a consensual relationship, it must be disclosed in writing to the CEO and Chief Legal Officer, in addition to the Chief Human Resources Officer.
Employees are encouraged to report any concerns about anything contained in this policy, any violation of law or WWE policies, or any ethical concerns. You can reach our hotline via a secure website anytime at I or through a dedicated telephone number available 24/7/365, I
Retaliation against employees who report concerns about consensual relationships is prohibited and constitutes a violation of this policy.
Failure to Comply
Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Rollcall of current Champions across the wrestling world
WWE
WWE Universal Championship – Roman Reigns
World Heavyweight Champion – Seth Rollins
WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions – Judgement Day
WWE Women’s Champion – Iyo Sky
Women’s World Champion – Rhea Ripley
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions – The Kabuki Warriors
WWE US Champion – Logan Paul
WWE Intercontinental Champion – Gunther
NXT
NXT Championship- Ilja Dragunov
NXT Women’s Champion – Lyra Valkyria
North American Champion – Oba Femi
Tag Team Champions – The Wolf Dogs (Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin)
Heritage Cup – Charlie Dempsey
AEW
AEW World Champion – Samoa Joe
TNT Champion – Adam Copeland
Women’s Champion – Toni Storm
TBS Champion – Julia Hart
Tag Team Champions – VACANT
Trios Champions – The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn
AEW International Champion – Roderick Strong
AEW Continental Champion – Okada
TNA Wrestling
World Champion – Moose
X Division – Mustafa Ali
Tag Team Champions – The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers)
Digital Media Champion – Crazzy Steve
Knockouts Champion – Jordynne Grace
Knockouts Tag Champions – Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat)
ROH
ROH World Champion – Eddie Kingston
ROH TV Champion – Kyle Fletcher
ROH Pure Champion – Wheeler Yuta
ROH Tag Champions – The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
ROH Women’s Champion – Athena
ROH Six Man Tag Champions – Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Austin & Colton Gunn)
NJPW
IWGP World Champion – Tetsuya Naito
IWGP Global Heavyweight – Nick Nemeth
IWGP Junior Heavyweight – Sho
Strong Openweight Champion – Eddie Kingston
IWGP Television Champion – Matt Riddle
IWGP Tag Team Champions – Bullet Club (Kenta & Chase Owens)
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions – Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney and Clark Connors)
Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions – Guerrillas of Destiny (Hikuleo and El Phantasmo)
NEVER Openweight Champion – Evil
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Champions – Vacant
KOPW 2023 – Great O Khan
IWGP Women’s Champion – Maya Iwatani (Shared with Stardom)
Strong Women’s Champion – Stephanie Vaquer (Shared with Stardom)
NWA
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion – EC3
NWA World TV Champion – Max The Impaler (unified men’s and women’s)
NWA World Jr Heavyweight Champion – Colby Corino
NWA National Champion – “Thrillbilly Silas Mason
NWA World Tag Team Champions – Blunt Force Trauma – (Carnage & Damage)
NWA US Tag Team Champions – The Immortals (Kratos & Odinson)
NWA World Women’s Champion – Kenzie Paige
NWA World Women’s TV Champion – Max The Impaler
NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champions – The King Bees (Charity King & Danni Bee)
AAA – Triple A Worldwide
AAA Mega Champion – El Hijo Del Vikingo
AAA Latin American Champion – Octagon Jr
AAA World Cruiserweight Champion – Komander
AAA World Tag Team Champions – Nueva Generacion Dinamita (Sanson & Forastero)
AAA World Trios Champions – Los Vipers (Abismo Negro Jr, Psicosis & Toxin)
AAA Reina de Reinas Champion – Flammer
CMLL – Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
CMLL World Heavyweight Champion – Gran Guerrero
CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion – Niebla Roja
CMLL World Middleweight Champion – Templario
CMLL World Welterweight Champion – Titan
CMLL World Lightweight Champion – Stigma
CMLL World Tag Team Champions – Los Nuevos Ingobernables (Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja)
CMLL World Trios Champions – Los Bárbaros (Dragon Rojo Jr., Bárbaro Cavernario & El Terrible)
CMLL World Women’s Champion – Stephanie Vaquer
CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Champions – Stephanie Vaquer and Zeuxis
Stardom
World of Stardom Champion (main title) – Maika
Wonder of Stardom Champion (secondary title ie IC title) – Saori Anou
Goddess of Stardom Champions (tag) – AphroditE – (Saya Kamitani & Utami Hayashishita)
Artist of Stardom Champions (trios) – Abarenbo GE (Syuri, Mirai and Ami Sohrei)
High Speed Champion (lightweight or x type of title) Mei Seira
The Sports Insanity Network 