Eric Bischoff Claims Chad Gable Is “Sniffing” Around for Potential Appearance for RAF Wrestling
A recent episode of the 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff podcast featured co-host and Real American Freestyle Wrestling co-founder Eric Bischoff claiming that Chad Gable has been thinking about potentially competing in RAF.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Chad Gable is a phenomenal, phenomenal amateur wrestler, and he’s kind of ‘sniffing around’ Real American Freestyle. Just throwing it out there. We’re talking about it.”
Bischoff also gave his thoughts about why fans have not seen pro wrestlers in RAF while UFC fighters can compete.
“I think it’s just a matter of time. There are some contractual issues that can kind of make that difficult. We’re having discussions, and relatively serious ones, so I think it’s just a matter of time. I’m not going to mention any names, but I was having a conversation not too long ago with someone we all know and very excited about what we’re doing at Real American Freestyle. Comes from a collegiate amateur wrestling background. I said, ‘Just throwing it out there, what do you think?’ His response was something to the effect of, ‘I can’t kill my gimmick. It’s been eight years since I stepped on the mat.’”
Transcript h/t: Fightful.com
Cedric Alexander Comments on Him Questioning If Tribalist Wrestling Fans “Really Love Wrestling”
Soundsphere Magazine held a recent interview with TNA X-Division Champion Cedric Alexander. One of the topics discussed included Alexander’s thoughts about tribalism in pro wrestling and him questioning if triablist wrestling fans “really love wrestling” like they claim to.
“It makes me question whether you really love wrestling. I love wrestling in all its forms. I watch all the companies and all the talent. I have friends and close acquaintances throughout various promotions, so I keep an eye on everything. I would never say one company shouldn’t exist because of how I feel about it. Everyone deserves to work. Everyone deserves to find a place that makes them feel comfortable and works for them. TNA has been that place for me. I don’t want TNA to go anywhere. I don’t want WWE to go anywhere. I don’t want AEW, AAA, or MLW to go anywhere because people need places to work and somewhere they can spread their wings. I’m just happy wrestling has so many places to do that. When I see tribalism and people saying a company sucks because of this or that, I think: wrestling is thriving as a whole. There was a time, 15 or 20 years ago, when you only had WWE. Then TNA came along, then AEW, and companies like AAA gained more exposure. It’s all working together. If you love wrestling, you’ll watch everything. If you don’t like certain things, that’s fine, but there’s no reason to hate another person because they like what you don’t. I remember when there was WCW, ECW, and WWE all at the same time, and we thought we were eating great then. Now we have those companies and then some. The accessibility of wrestling now means there’s wrestling every single day of the week. You’re always going to find something wrestling-related – something live, something new. To me, that’s a wrestling boom. I don’t think it’s been this good in a long time. It can always be better, but it hasn’t been this good in a long time, and I’m proud to be part of a time when wrestling is booming.”
Misc. Wrestling News & Notes
The Cauliflower Alley Club recently announced that The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai & Judy Martin) will be the recipients of their CAC Tag Team Award at this year’s 60th Annual Reunion event on August 24-26 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Orange Crush’s PRODUCE announced that they have recently signed former TNA talent Steve Maclin to a multi-fight deal with the company. It was also announced that Maclin will be making his official debut appearance for the company at their PRODUCE: Volume 2 – TAIGASTYLE event on July 16th in Jersey City, New Jersey.
WrestleCon recently announced that Will Ospreay will be making an appearance for the company at their WrestleCon Minneapolis convention event on July 31 to August 2nd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Revolution Pro Wrestling recently announced that Kay Lee Ray, former Alba Fyre in WWE, and Bandido will be making an appearance for the company at their Live In London 109 event on July 5th in London, England.
RevPro also recently announced that CMLL talent Zeuxis is the next official competitor for this year’s RevPro Women’s Grand Prix tournament event on July 25th in Wolverhampton, England.
This past Sunday’s Chapter 195: WonderBrawl II event for PROGRESS Wrestling in Manchester, England featured 0121 (Drilla Moloney & Man Like DeReiss) defeating The Young Guns (Ethan Allen & Luke Jacobs) to become the new PROGRESS Tag Team Champions.
This past Saturday’s NWA Powerrr show on Comet TV featured Alex Misery defeating Lockjaw Drake, Daisy Kill, Wrecking Ball Legursky, and JAC in a Scramble match to win the vacant NWA World Television Championship.
Following this past Sunday’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 2026 Finals event in Tokyo, Japan, NJPW released a backstage video featuring Nick Wayne giving his thoughts about competing in this year’s tournament. Wayne stated “Is it really over? I wish I could stay some more. I wish I could restart this tour and do it all again. I’m just gonna take a chance to reflect on what a great experience this has been for me. At my age, twenty years old, coming overseas to Japan to do a long, extended tour like this, especially in the Best of the Super Juniors, not only is it an honor, but it’s a great experience for somebody my age to come and get all this work. Now, all we can do is hope. Hope that, one day, I’ll be back in a New Japan ring, under the New Japan lights, perhaps for another tournament, another tour, perhaps for some championship gold. That would be the goal. Until then, whether I’m seeing you guys through a TV screen, through another camera, or I see you in person and I get to shake your hand personally, I just want to say, thank you so much for the experience, thank you so much for the series. Best of the Super Juniors 33 is now in the books, perhaps the best Super Juniors yet, thanks to you guys. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much.” (Transcript h/t: FWOnline.com)
This past Sunday’s Cage of Survival 5 event for Game Changer Wrestling in Atlantic City, New Jersey featured Otis Cogar defeateding Matt Tremont, Anakin Murphy, Conor Claxton, Dr. Redacted, Gabby Forza, Jamesen Shook, Jeffrey John, Jimmy Lloyd, Lil Sicko, Lucky 13, Masashi Takeda, and Vipress in a Cage of Survival match to become the new GCW Ultraviolent Champion.
GCW also recently announced one new match for the card of their Amerikas Most Wanted event on June 27th in Los Angeles, California:
- “Blackheart” Lio Rush vs. Shotzi Blackheart