It also creates a two-tier locker room. The names that drive rights fees, stadium shows and corporate strategy stay protected. The next level is reminded that value is conditional, and yesterday’s contribution may not protect tomorrow’s downside.

A release is at least direct. A pay-cut request asks the wrestler to participate in the downgrade. It says: agree that the old valuation of your career no longer applies, or test whether the outside market still sees what we no longer see.

That is why “just say no” argument I am seeing floated around online is too thin. Some people can. Others have to weigh age, family, injury history, visibility, schedule, visa issues, outside offers and whether another company would need more from them than WWE currently asks.

The WWE pay-cut story is not best understood as a morality play about greed, or a simple test of whether talent should walk away. It is a story about bargaining power: who has it, who thinks they have it, and who discovers the contract was not the real protection. 🧵

The best coverage of mania week out there, paywalled or non paywalled.

Finally, we review three more independent shows from Wrestlemania week, including the Mark Hitchcock Memorial Show and Joey Janela's Spring Break X. www.socialsuplex.com/wrestlemania...

We then focus on the business of Wrestlemania. We analyse the attendance numbers across the weekend, domestic and international viewership as well as other claims made within WWE's press release for the event. www.socialsuplex.com/wrestlemania...

Then read some of the most comprehensive reviews of "Wrestlemania 42" as David Hayter takes you through why Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton didn't work, why CM Punk- Roman Reigns did, as well as a full overview of WWE's delivery of their flagship shows. www.socialsuplex.com/wrestlemania...

First up, join Chris Whitehead for a crazy sixty nine hours in Las Vegas, for year two of his Wrestlemania Week Road Diary www.socialsuplex.com/wrestlemania...

Join us for a speedrun through Wrestlemania week in a special issue of the Social Suplex Newsletter! www.socialsuplex.com/wrestlemania...

This is it, this is what we need: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is a deliberate strategy, very much similar to the NXT placement in 2019. They want you to see AEW on the TNA level rather than the WWE one.

I try to exercise my journalistic skills in song form, Sarah begins a new impression and we ask big questions of Cody Rhodes

Ep 61! We start with WrestleMania and Rhodes vs Orton and Reigns vs Punk before getting into "The Business". WWE released two dozen wrestlers last week! Then- Darby Allin's shock title win and Will Ospreay's current booking and trajectory towards All In. redcircle.com/shows/9aad8c...

An interesting theme to reflect upon again this week.

NEW: Mark Shapiro’s testimony contradicts WWE’s SEC account on how Vince McMahon got lifetime role in TKO. “Especially with the baggage,” keeping McMahon “wasn’t a goal of ours,” the TKO President said under oath in a deposition last December. www.postwrestling.com/2026/04/23/m...

More than just a story about Andreas Hale, this sends a message to all aspiring reporters/writers to steer clear of critical coverage because it will harm your standing with access to WWE and therefore diminishes the value you bring to your outlet Outlets need to back their reporters

The amazing team at the SSN let me write a piece about accountability in wrestling. My hope is that this gets others thinking and those with platforms to call out more of the hypocrisy in wrestling (This was written before more WWE Vince McMahon return teases/more Marty Scurll support took place)

And rather than just self plug, for the larger AEW audience on here there is a fantastic breakdown of Revolution in this issue along with so much incredible coverage of wrestling around the globe. Give yourself a treat and give it a read

Wrestle Queendom and Women Behaving Badly was one of the best weekends of wrestling I've ever been too and I talk about how great it was And then Trish writes about the aftermath, that tweet and looks into the machinations of it all

Really enjoyed Seán’s feature, highly recommend giving it a read 🫵🏻🫵🏻🫵🏻

read my Revolution review no i dont care that its been a month

It’s not the ratings piece, although it was probably a factor. He covered Janel Grant’s declaration on why they shouldn’t go to arbitration. www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/...

This is an incredible free offering, with truly global coverage on the world of pro wrestling. So grab a drink of choice and settle down to explore the world of pro wrestling with us!

And finally, Alice V. Bell takes us north for a review of Canadian indepedent C4's all women's show "Bring It On”. www.socialsuplex.com/americas-14/

Over in Mexico, David Hayter covers the ascent of Capitán Suicida and Yutani, as well as Soberano Jr building his case as a draw in CMLL. We also review all three weeks of AAA’s “Rey de Reyes” shows. www.socialsuplex.com/americas-14/

Chris Whitehead has you covered for a full preview of Wrestlemania week in Las Vegas; one of the biggest weeks for independent wrestling all year. We also discuss how TNA made their own "impact" on this week. www.socialsuplex.com/americas-14/

David Hayter then previews this weekend’s “Wrestlemania” shows, including thoughts on the Pat McAfee angle. He also reviews "Elimination Chamber” and the past two NXT PLEs. www.socialsuplex.com/americas-14

Then, on a big week in the Americas, we open with a foreword on Janel Grant’s recently filed affidavit from Newsletter debutant H. Katch. www.socialsuplex.com/americas-14/

Finally, Eric analyses why the loss of Shinjuku FACE is such a blow to many of the smaller promotions who regularly run within the Tokyo market. www.socialsuplex.com/asia-oceania...

Check out who are the new Tag Team Champions in Ice Ribbon, before exploring news and reviews for SEAdLINNNG, Pro Wrestling Evo, Diana, Pro Wrestling Wave, Actwres girl'Z, Choco Pro, Pure-J, BJW, Gleat and Ganbare. www.socialsuplex.com/asia-oceania...

He then covers Sareee’s very well attended 15th Anniversary show, before discussing YUNA’s outstanding performance against Chihiro Hashimoto in Sendai Girls.

And then, we explore the world of the Japanese Independents, where Eric continues the most in-depth coverage of the scene anywhere today. This month, he begins with what is likely to have been Marvelous’ last show at Shinjuku FACE. www.socialsuplex.com/asia-oceania...

Next up, Taylor takes us through a tumultuous month for Dragongate, before we check in on Yuki Ueno and Kento Miyahara’s battles to keep hold of the top titles in DDT and All Japan respectively. www.socialsuplex.com/asia-oceania...

Before we head to TJPW, and “Grand Princess 26”, where the company sets their new attendance record. We also have full coverage of their most recent US tour. www.socialsuplex.com/asia-oceania...

Then it is aboard the Ark with Pro Wrestling NOAH, where Eric discusses the promotion’s biggest ever Yokohama Budokan show, full coverage of Junior Tag League and the developments in the Naito- OZAWA program. www.socialsuplex.com/asia-oceania...

We then head to mainland Europe for one of the biggest weekend’s of the year in wXw, with full reviews of every night of the 16 Carat Gold Tournament, before wrapping up news from across Europe. www.socialsuplex.com/europe-afric...

Peter also reviews Revolution Pro’s 2026 edition of “High Stakes”, before we head across to Progress for “Chapter 192: Cause and Effect”, and cover news from across the rest of the UK and Ireland. www.socialsuplex.com/europe-afric...

Then we begin our global tour, and this time we start in Europe, and with reviews and news from Pro Wrestling EVE’s big weekend, culminating with “Wrestle Queendom 8”. Peter Edge brings us all the details of the promotion’s landmark show. www.socialsuplex.com/europe-afric...

We also have a debut for Grant Baxter in our Retro Section as he explains how the Okada- Shibata match at “Sakura Genesis 2017” was an emotional illustration of “When Fighting Spirit Transcends The Ring”. www.socialsuplex.com/retro-14/

And Micah returns to the Social Suplex Newsletter to discuss how AEW succeeded in the elevation of Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron in “Three Cheers for the Babes of Wrath” www.socialsuplex.com/features-14/

Chris Gannon continues the series with a look at the career of Saki Kashima, who will head into retirement after Stardom’s “All Star Grand Queendom” show later in the month. www.socialsuplex.com/features-14/

We change it up with a profile of Yurika Oka, “A single brain cell queen for the baka-pilled wrestling fan”, in the latest of our “A Wrestler You Should Know About”, this time brought to you by Chris Whitehead. www.socialsuplex.com/features-14/

Heading across to Features; and we open with Seán O’Brien discussing accountability in wrestling, and whether wrestlers need to do more with the platforms they have. www.socialsuplex.com/features-14

We round off our Front Page with all the news coming out of AEW’s "Dynasty” PPV, including a number of news notes which are first in print. www.socialsuplex.com/frontpage-14/

Concluding with an incredible breakdown of the themes and the stories told within the MJF- Adam Page main event. Lock in for some of the most incredible character analysis driven by a single match you can find anywhere. www.socialsuplex.com/frontpage-14

We mark the 1 year anniversary of the Social Suplex Newsletter with a mega issue! Beginning with our lead article, where Emiliana Rico-Toro takes you for an an inside the arena view of AEW’s “Revolution” PPV. www.socialsuplex.com/frontpage-14/

Go out of your way to hear Sarah’s summary of WWE’s Wrestlemania build and try not to go into Afib from laughing so hard.

Its the elephant in the room. youtu.be/CQPcDySZGMo?...

new logo refresh for one of the best podcasts in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also always thrilling when serious smart people have to say the word 'blorb' on air. doing it for the love of the game