Select Answers: Kota Ibushi, Steve Maclin, Saudi Deals In Talent Contracts (Patreon)

Welcome to Select Answers, a feature that provides some of the answers to questions that were posed to Sean Ross Sapp in the most recent Fightful Weekly Q&A Podcast. The show drops every week on Fightful Select for subscribers.

When aggregating these posts please refer to it as "Fightful Select Answers Q&A" and tag Fightful, noting that it was in the Q&A format to avoid confusion.

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Do you see Kota Ibushi actually being able to wrestle again? I kinda worry he'll get injured again not long after returning if he does return.

I think it is a TBD situation. In addition to this injury, he's overcome a lot over the years. Injuries, illnesses, a lot of stuff that would keep a lot of people out permanently. It's a shame because he was really returning to the Ibushi of old. I think he will have at least one match.

Is Steve Maclin getting the fired briefcase a shoot or a work?

I am of the belief it's a work. I know TNA wanted to do some sort of angle, and they at least offered him a contract extension. He's been tight lipped about it. If it is a work, it's worked on a lot of people, because I have some sources that believed he was going to leave. I think it's a part of an angle, that hopefully results in a better story for him.

Hey Sean, can you clarify something for me? I’ve heard that the Saudi shows are now a part of WWE contracts. Does that mean that talent are paid their contracted amount regardless or is there a bonus in there if they are booked on a Saudi shows as opposed to if they aren’t? Does that also mean they are now required to go if they are booked?

Talent used to be bonused heavily for doing the Saudi shows, and it was a great individual payday for them. That actually was common for most PPV events for ages, but in the "PLE" era isn't. Now, the events are worked in as a part of the standard contracts now. I haven't heard of anyone bonused for them in a while.