DEBUNKATHON and loaded news update! (Patreon)

Welcome to the Fightful Friday DEBUNKATHON. In addition to debunking slop internet rumors, we have a huge update.

Today's WWE Smackdown

TNA on AMC notes

Ash By Elegance

Myron Reed, Steve Maclin, Others

Who wasn't backstage at TNA

Dixie Carter

Colby Corino speaks to Fightful

Matt Rehwoldt speaks to Fightful

MUCH MORE!

Steve Maclin was not backstage at last night's TNA on AMC premiere. Lance Storm and Home Town Man were not either, despite all still being with the company.

Not all four of the Rascalz were backstage at AEW Dynamite, but all are signed.

To be clear, Myron Reed and Dezmond Xavier were not under TNA contracts. Myron Reed was open to remaining with TNA, but AEW's offer came along and we're told they specifically wanted Reed with the Rascalz

Dani Luna, Lance Storm, Home Town Man were among the names that were not backstage at TNA on AMC. This is also affecting the plans for TNA Genesis.

Ash By Elegance has been working in a variety of additional roles for TNA, including doing additional media.

There were a lot of people claiming or acting like there was a ref botch in the Santana/Kazarian match. There wasn't. Kazarian kicked out, which was the plan.

As numerous outlets reported last week, Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre were both in favor of the title change, and it was locked in last week, which will change a lot of upcoming creative.

The content creators shown on the TNA broadcast specified that they were invited to the show, but paid their own flights and lodging.

There are a number of aggregators claiming that we just reported this week that Lena Kross signed with AEW. They're using the graphic we made six weeks ago when we actually reported it.

Dixie Carter's appearance on TNA was just a cameo. We're told she's had a positive relationship with TNA for some time.

Lince Dorado made Bayley’s new gear that she debuted on Monday.

Chris Jericho is still actively taking convention dates, and was just announced for one in March.

Expect more movement between the rosters of top wrestling companies in the coming weeks.

Some of the WWE live event match orders adjusted this week, but nothing significant.

Powerhouse Hobbs is not scheduled to be in London today for WWE Smackdown, for those wondering.

Regarding Braun Strowman still being able to use his name for his USA Network show, production on season one happened when he was still with the company. WWE had no problem allowing the name to be used considering USA Network is a broadcast partner.

Notorious Mimi and Airica Demia were training with Nattie Neidhart at the Dungeon 2.0, they weren't in town for the WWE tryouts. We apologize for the confusion!

Matt Rehwoldt

Sean Ross Sapp spoke to Matt Rehwoldt ahead of the TNA on AMC premiere.

He said that he's still wrestling, and isn't hurt, but he's definitely picking his spots as it relates to wrestling, and is happy he's in a place to do that. He was approached about commentary while still wrestling, and said that he wanted to extend his career after wrestling, and ended up taking to it well.

He's very proud of TNA being on AMC, and we discussed the quality of programs on AMC, and said that while heard rumblings, he was still surprised by the official announcement.

We also spoke about his times wrestling at the Arnold Sports Festival for NXT, and his days in FCW. He noted that a lot of times they'd take a new guy and put him in a house show main event with a bunch of top talent to see if they would sink or swim.

You can see the interview at this link

You can check out his Rebooked Wrestling Podcast at this link.

Colby Corino

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful spoke to Colby Corino for a new interview.

Colby Corino's NWA contract expired at the start of January, and he admitted he was terrified of the free agency process after being there for years. He said that NWA came back to him and they were able to work out a deal. He has some pretty distinct goals, which first include getting healthy from his neck injury. But he wants to capture the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship. He said he remembers seeing the ten pounds of gold replica that his dad had and always wanted to reach those heights.

He said he's very proud of his match with his father, and says Steve Corino can still go. He only wishes it would have been in front of more fans. He told us a story about how his dad hated Brutus Beefcake so much

DEBUNKATHON

One Stop Wrestling finally got tired of us debunking their news and blocked us. There have not been "numerous online rumors that Killer Kross will be in the Royal Rumble."

To debunk ourselves, we were told LA Knight was not brought to Germany. He was on some internal travel plans, but wasn't brought over. He's still listed internally for Royal Rumble week.

Jeff Hardy did not die.

WWE Studios did not "silently rebrand" as TKO Studios

There have been fake rumors that the Royal Rumble will be delayed. This is from an AmbrLeila account which is absolutely it not a woman named "Amber Leila" and absolutely has no sources.

Wrestlevotes Radio never reported that Powerhouse Hobbs was slated for Smackdown, as a now-deleted tweet claimed

Wrestling Island has taken over the mantle of furthering Sportskeeda slop. Keep that in mind when sharing their page.

We never reported that AJ Lee was returning at the Royal Rumble, leading to a one on one match with Becky Lynch at Mania. It was an opinion on an SRS Q&A show.