AEW’s Tony Schiavone Cites NJPW Star As One Of The ‘Toughest Men’ He’s Ever Seen

Tony Schiavone has been around wrestling (on and off) for decades, having spent time in AEW, WCW, and even WWE. That means Schiavone has been around performers with the fiercest reputations in the industry, but one New Japan Pro-Wrestling star stands out to the longtime commentator, as revealed on his podcast, “What Happened When.” With ROH star Dalton Castle as a guest, the topic turned to NJPW star EVIL, and Schiavone asked his guest how EVIL compares to another of the promotion’s wrestlers.

“Is he as tough as Tomohiro Ishii is?” Schiavone asked. “[Ishii], to me, is one of the toughest men I’ve ever seen in my life. The guy can almost blow out a hamstring and still perform, still pick up somebody in the ring. Just unbelievable. Just as tough as they come, just what a pro.”

Ishii has been a frequent guest in AEW over the past several years. He even serves as a member of The Conglomeration alongside Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, and others. Sadly, Ishii has dealt with a string of injuries as of late. In addition to the injury described by Schiavone, it was recently revealed that the man known as the “Stone Pitbull” would have to back out of the New Japan Cup after hurting his neck.

Following his comments on Ishii, Schiavone noted his surprise at the fact that AEW has yet to run a show in Japan, especially considering their working relationship with NJPW. The closest that company has come was last year’s Wrestle Dynasty event in Tokyo, which was co-promoted by NJPW, AEW, CMLL, ROH, and STARDOM.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “What Happened When” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Grayson Waller Says It’s ‘Good And Bad’ That WWE WrestleMania 42 Is Back In Las Vegas

Rather than see Las Vegas as a fear and loathing location, WWE star Grayson Waller refers to “The City of Lights” as a yin and yang blend for WrestleMania 42 and for wrestlers like himself.

“It’s good and bad,” the former one-time WWE Tag Team Champion said in his interview with “NinaDrama.” “We have to focus, you know, we’re getting in the ring. Vegas is very fun, too. There’s a lot of distractions…’Sin City’ is pretty legit. Sometimes I wish it were somewhere, like, you know, Indiana or somewhere a little quieter. But Vegas is where the biggest fights are, and that’s what WrestleMania is.”

News of WWE hosting WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas for its second consecutive year came last May. It took many by surprise, considering the Stamford-based promotion had its sights set on New Orleans originally. Some of the factors that led towards this decision, include the generous amount of revenue obtained at the Allegiant Stadium last year and how WrestleMania 41 alone shattered previous WrestleMania records. That said, the company is optimistic that lightning will strike twice at “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” although general purchases remain stagnant. As for the “Aussie Icon,” he hasn’t been announced to take part in “The Super Bowl of Professional Wrestling,” as of yet.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “NinaDrama” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Bruce Prichard Has No Regrets Over Infamous WWE Angle

While most agree that WWE did a really good job honoring Eddie Guerrero immediately after his passing, the promotion continues to receive criticism for its treatment of Guerrero in the months following his death. Perhaps no moment highlights this more than a promo segment between Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio from February 2006, where Orton told Mysterio that Guerrero wasn’t in heaven, but was in hell. It’s a line that has continued to draw ire over the years and is seen as a low point in WWE history.

Despite it’s reputation, long-time WWE executive Bruce Prichard is one of the few who has no regrets over how WWE handled the infamous angle. When asked about it by co-host Conrad Thompson on “Something to Wrestle,” Prichard remained guilt free about the promo, a stark contrast from Orton, who has admitted he was uncomfortable with the line. The difference for Prichard was that Guerrero’s family had cleared the line beforehand, and his belief that Guerrero himself would not only have approved of it, but would’ve loved it.

“I think everyone knew that we had the blessing of the family,” Prichard said. “They had blessed it, they were good with it. I compare it to what was later done with CM Punk and Paul Bearer after Paul’s untimely passing, was that Paul would’ve loved it. 

“I think Eddie would’ve loved it to still be in storyline, to still be talked about, to still be the focal point. So there was some…look, Randy wasn’t crazy about doing the ‘Eddie’s in hell.’ But he got it. He knew Eddie. And [he] succumbed to the ‘Alright, Eddie probably would love this.’ I don’t think Eddie would’ve hesitated.”

If you use any quotes in this article, please credit “Something To Wrestle” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

WWE Ring Canvas Slipperiness Raises Safety Concerns

WWE Ring Canvas Slipperiness Raises Safety Concerns

Jim Ross believes Logan Paul has raised a real safety concern about WWE ring canvas slipperiness, especially when sponsor logos are painted on the mat.

Ross discussed the issue on Grilling JR, stressing that the safety of performers must always come first. “I understand the problem. I can see that being an issue – slipperiness and so forth,” he said. He added that WWE must protect its talent at all times. “If you’re going to do that, you got to make sure that you keep it safe for your talent, because the number one goal is always going to be the talent.”

Logan Paul recently explained on his podcast that the painted logos become more dangerous as the show goes on. “By the end of the night, the middle of that ring gets really slippery,” Paul said. “I noticed I can’t get running full speed. I got to be really careful with my feet and my placement.”

His comments came after he defended LA Knight, who slipped from the top rope during the Elimination Chamber event. Paul linked the slip to ropes that become sweaty and oily and connected it to the broader issue of painted logos on the canvas.

For many years under Vince McMahon, WWE avoided sponsor logos on the ring canvas. While WCW, Mexican promotions, and combat sports used them, WWE kept its mat clean. That changed when TKO began pushing sponsorship revenue more aggressively. Now, WWE RAW and other shows often feature several brand logos during broadcasts.

Paul also revealed that his own brand, Prime, was part of early talks with WWE about whether painted logos could be used safely. “Before Prime was on the mat, we were going back and forth with WWE about whether or not it was even possible because of the way they paint it,” he said. “They wanted to actually stress test the mats and have people wrestle and see if it got oily.”

Ross warned that the consequences of ignoring the problem could be serious. “Somebody slips and falls and tears the knee out, or an ankle, or any other joint in the lower body – it could be very scary and very costly,” he said. He also pointed out the conflict between presentation and safety. “If you’re going to have a logo and you want to look very upscale, very slick – then you’ve got one, literally, that’s very slick.”

Although Ross did not call the issue a dealbreaker, he said WWE must address it. “Not a deal breaker or anything like that, but I’m glad that they’re reviewing it for the safety of the athletes,” he said.

Jeff Jarrett added his own experience to the discussion on his podcast. “That can be like glass,” Jarrett said, recalling his time in Mexico where promotions used sand and grit over the paint to improve grip. His comments show that WWE ring canvas slipperiness is not a new concern, but one that becomes more important as sponsorships increase.

WWE Ring Canvas Slipperiness Raises Safety Concerns

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Matt Hardy Warns WWE About Overexposing Danhausen

Matt Hardy Warns WWE About Overexposing Danhausen

Matt Hardy believes WWE has handled Danhausen’s debut the right way but cautions the company not to overuse him as his run continues. Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy said WWE made a strong first impression by presenting Danhausen as a star from the moment he appeared on television.

Hardy highlighted the theatrical nature of the debut, which featured Danhausen emerging from a box containing a casket, accompanied by dancers and a full performance. He acknowledged that the introduction divided fans, but emphasized that the follow‑up segments would ultimately determine how the character connects with the WWE audience.

Hardy pointed to Danhausen’s proven track record in AEW, where he consistently ranked among the company’s top merchandise sellers. He expects that success to carry over to WWE, noting that Danhausen’s appeal lies in his personality and comedic presence rather than his in‑ring work.

According to Hardy, WWE should treat Danhausen as a special attraction rather than a weekly in‑ring performer. He described him as a “utility player” who thrives on character work and fan engagement, not someone meant to be positioned as the face of the company or a top champion. Hardy argued that keeping Danhausen’s matches rare would help preserve the uniqueness of the act.

Hardy also warned that WWE must avoid running the character into the ground. He suggested that the company may initially feature Danhausen heavily due to strong merchandise sales, but predicted they would eventually settle into a more controlled schedule to prevent oversaturation.

He added that appearances in other WWE‑affiliated promotions, such as AAA, could help keep the character fresh. Hardy said Danhausen’s persona is perfectly suited for those environments, and that spreading out his appearances would maintain fan interest while maximizing his strengths.

Hardy concluded that as long as WWE protects the character and avoids overexposure, Danhausen is positioned to succeed and continue moving significant merchandise.

Matt Hardy Warns WWE About Overexposing Danhausen

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