Fightful has been nominated for "Best Wrestling Podcast" in the Sports Podcast Group Awards. Please vote for us at this link: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-wrestling-podcast/Fightful Awards voting kicks off this Saturday night for paid Fightful Select subscribers! Free subscribers can see the nominations at this link. You can cast a ballot, but before Saturday, all are unofficial: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12WHDM4Z88DKoc7uCrGIzF10RI-bf76X2YaT_XBIObyAA reminder, you now have the ability to gift subscriptions on Fightful Select!Fightful will have an interview with Shane Taylor dropping next week ahead of Final Battle. Fightful is opening up sponsor slots on our Fightful Podcasts, including the Fightful awards. Reach out to us here, or to Kate for more info. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event is currently slated for a two hour broadcast. Gabe KiddFightful’s Sean Ross Sapp spoke with NJPW’s Gabe Kidd for a short interview that went about 20 minutes. Here are the notes from their conversation.Sean asked Gabe how he felt going into his upcoming match against Ryohei Oiwa at NJPW Strong Style Evolved. Gabe says he is feeling great, and this match prepares him against Kenny Omega at Wrestle Dynasty.Sean asked the Bullet Club War Dogs member if he had seen the interview that he did with Kenny Omega. Gabe said he had seen some clips and added that Omega could say what he wanted. Gabe says he had been wrestling the entire year, unlike Omega. He says he is ready to go into the fight. Kidd said, “He can do whatever he wants to prepare for the match, [like] hang out with his little friend Ibushi. He can do whatever he wants. It won’t compare to anything I’m going to bring to that fight.” Gabe was adamant when telling Sean that this would not be a match. It would be a fight. Gabe would add that Omega is a weak man. Sean mentioned Omega’s “Gloryhole in the Wall” quote from Sean’s interview with Kenny last month. Gabe said it was entertaining to him because Omega’s such a nerd. Well, it's not going to be bliss when you're getting slapped up by me, and you realize that you shouldn't have been talking shit.”When asked about his thoughts concerning Kenny Omega, calling him a “giant poop stain on NJPW.” Gabe told Sean that he found that to be funny because ignorance is bliss, but Sean asked Gabe’s thoughts on Omega caring about the NJPW and AEW’s working relationship. Gabe told Sean that he didn’t have a single care in the world about the relationship between the two. Gabe said they [AEW] are nerds over there.Kidd would aim to compare the work ethic of some of the people in AEW to NJPW’s grueling demands. Kidd said, “I was on a coach traveling for three, four hours before beating people up and then doing it again the next day,” he explained. Kidd would mention AEW stars like Daniel Garcia and Konosuke Takeshita, challenging them to matches he believes they couldn’t endure.Sean mentioned Will Ospreay signed with AEW, and Triple H made news by suggesting Ospreay was "running from the grind." Kidd took exception to the comment and said, “Your wrestlers are D4 volleyball players, man. Division four, you know, NCAA division four volleyball players like. Shut your mouth, man, about running from the grind.”You can follow Gabe Kidd on X or Instagram at @GabeKidd0115.Steve MaclinFightful’s Sean Ross Sapp begins the interview by mentioning that Steve and his wife, Deonna Purrazzo of AEW, are the two people who have likely been interviewed the most at Fightful.Steve told Sean that he’s been staying busy and had some travel-filled days leading up to the holiday. He was at AEW’s Full Gear PPV in Newark, New Jersey, to support his wife, who wrestled Anna Jay. Steve noted that Deonna performed in front of her hometown crowd.Steve mentioned that he loves going backstage and seeing people he hasn't seen in a while. He says whether it's AEW, TNA, or WWE, the goal is to create the best product for the fans.Sean mentioned that fans are often curious about the dynamics of a “two-promotion household.” Steve addressed this with humor and clarity, explaining that while he and Deonna have worked together in the past, their careers often require balancing separate paths. He mentions how their shared understanding of the wrestling business helps them both.Sean mentions one of Steve’s qualities is his ability to translate his real-life experiences into compelling wrestling storylines. A recent example is the six-and-a-half-minute vignette aired on TNA Impact, which Steve described as his most extensive non-wrestling TV appearance. Steve told Sean that it was inspired by Martin Sheen’s character in Apocalypse Now. Steve said he worked closely with a creative team to bring a gritty, emotionally deep character to life.Steve said the concept was initially pitched two years ago. He said working with Eric Young on the storyline allowed him to explore the complexities of his character, blending personal experiences with dramatic storytelling. Steve said, “To have six and a half minutes of television time, just speaking through mannerisms and expressions, is rare in wrestling.”The former member of the NXT stable, “The Forgotten Sons,” would speak highly of Eric Young by saying he’s been both a mentor and a creative partner. When asked how he balances the demands of a high-profile wrestling career with personal well-being, Steve told Sean the significance of passion and support. Reflecting on advice from his father, he said his Dad told him, “If you find a job that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”While wrestling involves grueling travel and physical demands, he credits his support system to his family, friends, and colleagues. He says it helps him stay grounded.Steve discusses how performing at live events provides unique freedom compared to televised matches. Wrestlers can experiment, improvise, and prioritize fan enjoyment. Yet, televised wrestling demands precision and an acute focus on advancing storylines and characters.The former TNA World Champion discussed Chris Bey's recent injury. He noted that wrestling comes with risks, which served as a reminder of the physical toll the sport takes. Wrestlers risk their bodies every time they step into the ring; even basic moves can result in injuries. Steve says he approaches every match as if it could be the last.Steve says this is a sport that demands commitment. While the risks are real, so are the rewards for those who dedicate themselves. Reflecting on his recent partnership with Mike Santana, Maclin admired Santana's grit and commitment. Maclin would say, “Mike and I are very similar in how we approach wrestling; gritty but fully committed. Working with him was great, even though we were both trying to step away from tag team wrestling for a while.”The former REVOLVER Champion would talk about his time in REVOLVER, the Independent owned and operated by TNA’s Sami Callihan. Steve says REVOLVER feels like anything but an indie. Maclin praised Callahan’s vision and ability to work with talent.As they wrapped up the interview, Sean asked Steve what’s something fans might not know about him; he revealed his culinary skills. “I’m pretty good at cooking. Chili’s my specialty.”He also shared a story about pitching a storyline involving pancakes versus waffles with Big E during his time in WWE. The match would have involved pancakes and waffles, and the characters would have been between a Waffle House and an IHOP. Steve also mentioned that he is interested in the storyline between Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston. He noted that he tries to keep up with everything in wrestling.You can follow Steve Maclin on X or Instagram at @SteveMaclin.Watch the interview in full: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk-b5JDhtM0.
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