Fightful Exclusive News And Notes: Hardy, WWE Libraries, Roman Reigns, WrestleMania, Bellator, Cyborg, EC3, Paige, PPV
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Pro Wrestling
– Fightful.com has learned that Alberto El Patron's deal with Impact Wrestling doesn't involve a contract. Instead they have what he calls a "gentleman's agreement." Fightful will have more on this soon.
– WWE is interested in the OMEGA library, and may have acquired it as part of the Hardy negotiations.
– Speaking of the Hardy's, their new championships were made by Top Rope Belts, which also produced the OMEGA Championships.
– EC3's Impact Wrestling contract extends through Summer 2018.
– As recently revealed and reported by Fightful's Carlos Toro, Sexy Star hasn't retired from wrestling as many have said.
– Fightful reporter Brandon Howard took a look at Roman Reigns, and whether or not he's actually a needle mover within the WWE realm.
– Brandon Howard also took a great look at WrestleMania business stats.
– Contrary to speculation from Alberto El Patron, WWE didn't leak Paige's private videos and photos. Unless they're in the business of also leaking photos from those working for Impact Wrestling.
– We're told Impact Wrestling is still seeking out partnerships to employ.
– Those that we spoke to about the Hardys-Impact situation have Impact and Anthem looking unfavorably. There wasn't a single employee or wrestler we talked to that thought Impact deserved to retain rights to the name or gimmick.
MMA
– Elias Theodorou noted on his Fightful Podcast this week that it would take Brad Tavares' entire purse to get him to put his hair on the line.
– Melvin Manhoef says that he hopes to win the Bellator Middleweight Championship, defend it in his home country, and then evaluate his career.
– Cris Cyborg told Fightful last week that she's looking to participate in more professional wrestling training, but wants to get a solid trainer.
– Joe Schilling tells me that he has two separate contracts with Bellator — one for kickboxing, another for MMA.
– Marcos Galvao told us he's not particularly concerned about a rubber match fight with Eduardo Dantas, and is focused on his new weight division.
– Douglas Lima will receive PPV points for Bellator NYC.