Reports included on this page… 

February 10 • March 7 • March 28 • April 14 • May 19 • June 21 • July 7 • July 28 • August 15

• I've been told to expect the details of the TWF's new television deal during Summer Break week, which leads me to believe that the TWF will continue with the status quo. My source within the marketing department tells me that they have sat in on meetings with Sky and Viacom Europe this week, but there is a meeting scheduled with ITV for this week and I'm told that they will be coming at the TWF hard with a good offer. The news that ITV4 will become available in every UK home at the end of August has interested the TWF, but the feeling is that unless ITV offers the TWF a regular spot on the main channel, the TWF is not interested. If the company moves to Channel 5, I would expect an increased focus on Fury and the xWn, since I'd expect the pay‐per‐views would move to the xWn as "special events". I personally feel that whilst the TWF wants to stay loyal to Sky, Mr. BIG has not forgotten how the company was burned in 2004 regarding the TV deal which saw Grit BasH axed from Sky, and then the requirement for HD that nearly killed the company, so he's more likely to say "no" to any demands than others involved in the negotiation process.
• Don't read into the fact that Mr. BIG and Hawke were pictured together in Bridgend last Friday night. Hawke was back visiting family, whilst BIG was out with friends and the fact the two were in the same place at the same time was a complete coincidence. For what it's worth, there has been a great deal of respect between the two for a long time ‐ BIG considers Hawke one of his greatest rivals and talks fondly of the two's matches together.
• Reaction to Kaitlin Simmons's recent interviews in glossy magazines has not angered the women's locker room as rumoured. The women are indifferent to Kaitlin, who remember her entitled attitude, which only got worse as she began dating a top star (Jack Beam). The allegations from Kaitlin regarding the bitchiness of the locker room are certainly a first, as Simmons spent much of her time away from the rest of the locker room and moved largely in Beam's circle of friends. The only two people who speak warmly of her are Dianna Oliver and Rio, who are regarded as the most pleasant members of the locker room anyway.
• I wouldn't be at all surprised if Cerys's appearance on Road to Glory coincides with a return to the ring. BIG's sister has been increasingly unhappy in her teaching jobs in recent years and after losing an incredible amount of weight and keeping herself in great shape, she approached her brother about a possible role within the company. For what it's worth, BIG was initially apprehensive, but as I understand it, Cerys will take on an ambassadorial role similar to NJS, but for the females, recounting the "glory days" of the highly-acclaimed women's division.

• Although TWF on ITV #4 was expected to win the ratings on Saturday night, the manner and the size of the victory has shocked many within television as the show's rating (gaining upwards of 10 million viewers in the UK) was far beyond anyone's predictions. ITV were ecstatic with the ratings and the plan is to promote the final show of the current deal in November heavily. Timing wise, the show has helped the TWF, which is currently in negotiations with not only ITV about continuing the current "supercard" deal, but the company is also back at the table with Sky regarding the main TV rights deal. Despite the company's long standing relationship with Sky, the discussions are not going as well as initially thought and I'm told that Sky's budget is a major concern ‐ after being told earlier this year that the money spent on the Premier League rights were an indication that Sky would look to keep the TWF at almost all costs, the initial negotiations show that Sky's offer has been unchanged since the negotiations that took place earlier this year. My source has informed me that the Viacom Europe are incredibly interested in the TWF and seeing the ratings that the TWF achieved this week has only solidified this. With the ownership of Channel 5 as well as MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear if a deal with Viacom is struck and that they buy a significant stake in xWn, allowing the TWF to diversify the programming on those two channels.
• The reason for an early start to Summer Break is simply due to the curfew placed by Brent Council on events at Wembley Stadium, with a strict curfew of 22:30. The TWF did consider the possibility of ignoring the curfew, but the plan now is for the show to end at 22:00 and for a post-show of about 45 minutes to an hour to air on the PPV channel and the xWn. I've been told that since the top three matches have been set in stone, the show has become a sell-out, so if you wanted proof who the TWF's biggest draws in 2015 are, it's the full-timers involved (and Mr. BIG).
• I would like to confirm through one of my sources in the TWF's Los Angeles office that Mr. BIG has not placed his newly acquired Malibu mansion up for sale. There was talk that due to his relationship with Shay Mitchell ending, that he would leave LA, but as it transpires, BIG rather likes his new house and is intending on keeping it. Whilst BIG has been linked with a long list of celebrities over the past few weeks (including, but not limited to… Ashley Benson, Emilia Clarke, Lyndsy Fonseca, Rita Ora and Shailene Woodley), I'm told that Shay has distanced herself from the friends that split them up in the first place and the two are on speaking terms again. I've even been told that BIG has left Summer Break tickets with her and can use his private jet to get there, but whether that's true and whether she does is a mystery.
• Although better known to TWF audiences as Atomically Cool Cat, BIG's younger sister Cerys will appear as the female trainer on Road to Glory in what was quite a left-field announcement this week. NJS will be the head trainer, with Cerys, Jean Claude Van Slam and Ottobomb are slated to be the main trainers, although the initial press release has stated that Mr. BIG will be involved this season. I've reached out to a source who told me that Marz was initially asked to host the show, but he turned it down and NJS's new contract was renegotiated for him to be the host in his place. I'm told the format will be slightly different this time around, with the first two episodes focusing on introducing the participants. The only "traditional" reality TV element is that the participants will all be living in a base at The Asylum. There is said to be a real mix of youth and experience on this season's cast and there doesn't look to be a clear winner on paper.
• Relations between Luke Fox and PWC have smoothed so much that I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to the territory in weeks to come. Clear the air talks took place this weekend and it appears that his non-appearance was a misunderstanding. If Fox returns, I would still expect the TWF to try and create a new announcer, as whilst Michael King is very happy in his role, I'm told that there will be business commitments for him later in the year that means he would be unable to announce shows and although many PWC fans would be glad for Jonathan Cullen to return as a conquering hero, the TWF wants to build for the future and a new announcer would probably be trialled in their place.

• No-one is quite sure how Nightshade managed to injure her neck, but the rumours that I was hearing that it was similar to Disturbed's injury two years ago are unfounded. Nightshade is still currently awaiting a diagnosis of how long it will be before she can return to the ring, if ever, but the safety measures put in place after Mr. BIG's injuries at Halloween Hell (all of the referees are trained in first-aid, there is a ringside doctor and a visiting doctor situated backstage) helped Nightshade from gaining further injury. The parallel to Disturbed's injury is that it effects Summer Break plans. My source tells me that Nightshade was expected to defeat Echo for the Women's World Championship at Summer Break, but now it is increasingly likely that Echo will win her last match at the event and the championship will be vacated for the second time this year, as without Tara Wilson, the company doesn't feel there is a strong enough heel to take the title from her. The situation also means I would expect to see the highly touted Delta Groves, Rebekah Khan and Sheryl Gore called up sooner than initially planned.
• Apparently the discussions between CM Punk and Mr. BIG went a lot better than I was led to believe. The deal between the two sides was signed very recently, and the TWF will be filming a lot of pre-tapes with Punk between now and Summer Break from his UFC camp. Punk is only expected to make three appearances prior to Summer Break: TWF on ITV #4, and the August 19 and 26 editions of Grit BasH. Punk has been flown in on the TWF's private jet for his appearances and this arrangement will continue. His wife, AJ Lee, was present with him last week. The only condition to Punk's deal is that he cannot use "Cult of Personality" as it remains associated with Mike Haggar with TWF fans, and I'm told the negotiations to use "This Fire Burns" were unsuccessful, despite the TWF's relationship with Roadrunner Records.
• NJS will officially begin an ambassadorial role with the TWF in mid-August and will be allowed to cultivate his own business interests, whilst appearing on TWF programming. It has been all but confirmed that he will host the third series of Road to Glory, which begins filming at the beginning of August. NJS will not be a regular on TWF programming, but I'm told will be making regular appearances on the new Legends Roundtable series that will start on the xWn in the autumn, as well as travel around the world to promote the TWF on it's networking affiliates. NJS has been increasingly unhappy in his recent jobs and admitted in a recent tweet that returning for the Hall of Fame solidified his belief that he needed to be back "home".
• The TWF has begun reaching out to tag teams for the Lover Boy Memorial Tournament. The final match will be held at PayBack on October 11 at the TWF Arena and unlike two years ago, the Bennetta family will be on hand to present the trophy. The Partners in Crime have been contacted and I'm informed that if Vinnie Maralini passes a drug test, the TWF is looking to recruit them back into the tag team ranks. Part of the plan is apparently adding Rocco Bellandini into the mix and turn them into a trios team, and acting as a backup if Maralini falls back off the wagon. In Maralini's defence, his recent independent appearances have seen him look in great shape. The TWF has reached out to leading independent tag teams, like I stated in April, such as the Young Bucks, but I wouldn't expect details on the participants until after Summer Break. I'm told the TWF wants to record an xWn special in London after Summer Break to announce the participating teams as a way of keeping the eyes of the press on the company after the big show.
• There has not been an update on who will replace Luke Fox as the permanent PWC colour commentator. At the most recent tapings, Mr. BIG filled in again, this time for both shows and whilst his chemistry with lifelong friend Michael King remains excellent, BIG would be unable to continue on a permanent basis and for continuity purposes, the TWF wants a regular announcer. My source tells me that with Chuck Kirby likely to get the nod as the 3D announcer at Summer Break, Bryn Tomos is considering taking up the role and reuniting with his former Welsh announce team colleague as he seems to have fallen to third in the pecking order.

• The TWF will be returning to the negotiating table with Sky within the next fortnight and the initial reading of the tea leaves is that the TWF will likely remain with them, rather than risk bidding from elsewhere. Speaking to people in television over the past few months, there was a lot of talk that BT (for BT Sport), Discovery Communications (for Eurosport), Viacom Europe (for Channel 5) and ITV would at least be interested and when the initial round of negotiating went badly from the TWF's end, there was serious talk that one of the four would be likely to swoop in. However, the return of Mr. BIG has put Sky at ease and he will be leading the negotiating team. Ideally, the TWF would like the status quo to remain: eight to ten pay‐per‐views, Grit BasH in prime-time on Sky One. Grit BasH remaining on Sky's flagship channel is a certainty due to the fact it has been the most consistent ratings draw for the channel in the past eight years. The TWF is likely to ask for a better return on it's advertisement rate, more commitment on a series three and beyond for Road to Glory and for Sky to do a better job promoting the shows. My understanding is that outside of Mount Rushmore (Mr. BIG, Marz, NJS, The Assassin and Mastermind), Sky don't consider any of the current players in the TWF marketable, but that's likely because they have never bothered to advertise them. I'd anticipate news on the contracts prior to Summer Break, as I expect if the TWF stays on Sky for there to be a big deal made of it in the press that particular week.
• As of this weekend, the Summer Break XVI card is still not set in-stone and internally there is much frustration regarding this. There is a strong feeling that rather than confidently building up to the single biggest show in the TWF's history, that the company will stumble into a build for it has many people worried, especially as the days count down. Ticket sales remain strong and there is still a strong feeling that the company will sell out the venue, but there are significant and growing numbers who believe that the event will not get close to a sell-out.
• Road to Glory will be returning for a third season during the autumn. The news was confirmed this week by Sky One. The only confirmed trainer so far is Jean Claude Van Slam, who confirmed his involvement on Facebook this weekend. The rumour is that Marz was the person being asked to host the show, but I'm told that he has put his foot in it again over the past few weeks and that both Sky One and the TWF are looking at alternatives. I'm reliably informed that this could be the year that NJS finally hosts the show, with it looking increasingly likely that he will leave his technology commitments to return to the TWF in a backstage capacity, likely to be in an ambassador role of some description. I'm also told that Mr. BIG will have a larger involvement than in previous seasons, with him being heard but not seen in the previous two seasons. The casting call for the series will be announced within the next couple of weeks, so if you are interested, keep your eyes peeled to the TWF's social media for news.
• Justin Polaris has already told management that he will not be signing a new deal after his current contract ends and will retire from professional wrestling at it's conclusion. Polaris, whose TWF debut was on the Grit BasH following Black Sunday, has had an incredible run in the company and despite only holding the World Championship once, it was one of the longest reigns in the current era and he is a first ballot hall of famer. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that more talent from that particular era decide to leave or retire in the next few months.
• It looks increasingly like the Millennium Stadium will host Summer Break XVII and the Bridgend Dome will host Summer Break XVIII as a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the famous post-hiatus card that remains the biggest selling TWF pay‐per‐view of all-time. There is some criticism within the company that Summer Break will continue to be held in primarily UK venues, but the logic is that the company is wanting to bet on sure things for at least the next two years as a result of the Wembley Stadium card being such a big gamble. I would expect the announcement to confirm the Millennium Stadium as the host will come in November, when the company has pencilled in an ITV special. As far as the Easter HeAT venues of 2016 and 2017, Australia is scheduled to play host in 2016 and details of that particular tour should be forthcoming, but the 2017 event is considered wide open, although it's looking like the football stadiums in Atlanta, Miami and Orlando (one brand new facility and two which will have undergone multi-million dollar renovations by the time) are going to battle for the rights to host the TWF's second biggest show of the year.
• There remains conflicting stories about Luke Fox's departure from PWC. One story states that Fox had already informed those that run the development area that he was taking his wife away for their anniversary, whilst others claim that Fox had booked a last minute flight and risked the wrath of the company in doing so. No-one was more angry than Mr. BIG about this, as he had only just returned from Los Angeles and was hearing how well his friend was doing as an announcer. BIG filling in on the second show of the most recent tapings again went down extremely well and many are of the opinion that BIG could transition to announcing full-time. For what it's worth, BIG has always thought that his post in-ring career would see him have a stint as an announcer, but BIG continues to concentrate on an in-ring return. The decision on who will replace Fox full-time has not been made yet as the PWC staff are considering their options. The preference for a TWF legend means that the only one who would fit the bill is BIG and whilst there is some talk to potentially asking Bryn Tomos to join the team, the rumour is that he will see it as a demotion and is unlikely to pick it up.

• David Tissot's Gold Card tournament victory was a hot discussion backstage on Sunday night, with everyone in the company worried that the highly anticipated main event of Summer Break, Disturbed versus Zero, has been nixed. On the contrary, Tissot's victory was specifically to setup further programs down the line. I understand that Tissot will refuse to exchange the Gold Card whilst a member of JEJ Enterprises is the World Champion, therefore a House of Pain match will headline Against All Odds to determine the number one contender. The overall reaction to Disturbed's chase of Zero has taken several people by surprise backstage, with the reaction of the crowd when the two shared the ring at the close of the main event blowing the roof off the arena.
• Outside of the anticipated main event of Disturbed and Zero, there is currently very little planned for Summer Break. The currently rumoured matches include The Assassin versus Tobias Granville, Justin Polaris versus The Avenger, Nytro versus Titan and the Tag Team Championships being defended in some form. On a related note, there has been no update on whether Mr. BIG will be present and if so, who his match will be against. My last update was that BIG's plans to woo CM Punk with an easy schedule have failed and his original plans B and C have both been taken (rumoured to be The Assassin and Tobi Granville). Further to last month's report that BIG already has his post-Summer Break plans drawn up, those plans apparently involve a feud with JEJ Enterprises and specifically David Tissot, to keep him away from the World Championship picture for a few months and to help elevate him to main event status. However, there was increasing talk this week of capitalising on the post-Election mood in the UK and promoting the face manager from PWC, Nick Sterling, to feud with the conglomerate in a politically-motivated storyline that would have dominated the upper midcard for the rest of 2015 and the early part of 2016.
• Luke Fox is done with PWC. Just prior to filing my report, I was informed that Fox did not turn up to tonight's PWC tapings and as a result he will not be used in the future. Fox returned to the organisation in late December when the presentation team was refreshed. Prior to departing the TWF in late-2007, Fox was one of the few Tremains-era talents who seemed to have a genuine mind for the business and whilst he publicly did not state so, Fox regularly watched the TWF even after leaving the company. When the opportunity to join PWC was made, Fox was excited to work the same schedule that lead announcer Michael King works, allowing him to concentrate on his business interests for most of the week. Fox was popular among talent but was often criticised online for his lack of research, often just turning up for the event and then leaving straight afterwards (dubbed the "Jerry Lawler approach" backstage), whilst King would often spend his free time consulting with talent about their characters and work. It should be noted that King's research was highly praised when he worked on the main TWF roster team and was a significant reason that he is asked to host any further TWF programming, such as the pre-shows. The main bone of contention with Fox's absence was that he did not give any notice, meaning King called the first PWC taping alone, and Mr. BIG (who was backstage running the tapings as his usually does) filled in for the second taping (which is already considered must watch as the banter between King and Biggie was reportedly excellent).
• Mr. BIG is back in Wales as his counselling and therapy sessions in California have been completed. BIG's obligations to the TWF's United States outposts are also over as the offices on both coasts are now up and running. However, a story has begun emerging as I filed this report that I was quickly able to verify: BIG dropped a throwaway line during his PWC commentary during a match between Fulton Wolfe and Shane Bishop regarding the latter's manager, Sheryl Gore and their relationship. I'm told that part of the reason for his return to the UK is that BIG and his girlfriend Shay had a major discussion about their careers in the past couple of days and Shay's unwillingness to move from SoCal, as well as the possibility of starting a family, have led the two to split up. More heartbreakingly, BIG had spoken to several of his closest friends in recent days and has returned the engagement ring that he had bought for Shay. The plan from my previous dispatch of BIG returning to work for two more years as a full-time talent (increasing the Summer Break streak to 15-0) and then perhaps work as a "special attraction" schedule angered Shay, who was insistent that BIG work one final match at this year's Summer Break and then retire immediately. BIG's support of Shay's acting career was well-known as the two's social media was filled with pictures and videos of BIG surprising Shay by showing up on set, making her lunch and dinner as well as supporting Shay as she shoots travel videos for her YouTube channel. His relentless support of her may have proven to be his undoing, with Shay's friends adamant that she was the main breadwinner between the two… 
• In related news, file under "things that just won't go away", PCW held it's 19th Super Clash show on Sunday night and the surprise appearance of Sophie, as well as her scathing promo (stop me if you have heard this one before) on not only the TWF as well as, naturally, Uncle Biggie, has got gums flapping again. PCW's survival is remarkable in that since they lost their TV contract with S4C, the company has been haemorrhaging talent both on-screen and backstage and yet the company continues to exist. Much of the credit, ironically, should go to two men who got their break in the TWF, head booker Ron Lindberg and AJ Jeffers, who has now been positioned as the organisation's top heel. Sophie's promo slated the TWF for the monopoly it has on professional wrestling (despite the fact that although the TWF budgets PWC and AWW, the three organisations couldn't be any more different) and whilst she did not mention BIG by name, it was clear that she was referencing him at several points, especially as she lamented the demise of her fashion business. Sophie immediately joined up with Siân, who remains one of the most over talents in the company, and her increasing stable of talent that would never pass a TWF wellness test. BIG and Sophie have not spoken since October, when Biggie was present (at Sophie's request) at one of her fashion shows and due to his well-reported personal issues, the two have fallen out of touch. Sophie was reportedly angry that BIG invited his girlfriend to the event and according to close friends, Sophie's jealousy was plain for all to see. BIG and Siân, who remained friendly after their infamous 2011 angle, have not spoken in almost two years.
• Keep your eyes and ears peeled for an interesting situation in the near future: the TWF is planning to head to Australia and Japan next year, and prior to the shows in Australia, the timings have worked out that a special event will be held in Dubai. When the TWF initially went to the Emirate in 2005 for the the Bash at the Beach show, it was widely lauded, however, in the time since, the appalling human rights record of the Emirate (and the Middle East in general) has come to the fore and you can be sure that as soon as the show is officially announced, it will be protested and picketed. My understanding is that whilst the TWF has booked it's venues in Australia and Japan and will confirm the exact dates later this year, the dates for the suspected Dubai shows (a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) are being kept vacant. There is a possibility that the TWF tapes those episodes of Grit BasH and Fury and perhaps moves the Sunday special to a week later or a week earlier. It's a situation that will develop over the next few months.

• Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony notes: NJS was not anticipated to be present and was in-fact a very late edition to the guest list. The Irreplaceable Icon negotiated an early release from his work commitments that weekend to be able to be present for the ceremony, a decision that was not confirmed to him until early Monday morning, which is why he was unable to provide a speech at the ceremony… The Bandit and his growing young family were present alongside JT Money and his lovely wife to witness their friend Mastermind's induction. The two men were said to be in great spirits and were present for Easter HeAT on Sunday, where they were said to have really enjoyed themselves… Mr. BIG's surprise appearance was the highlight of the night for many and I can confirm that his superb speech was delivered with only one cue card, like he stated. The story of Karl Davies asking him to give the induction speech at the Super Bowl is also legit.
• Easter HeAT notes: John Harper's story on Twitter about asking Mr. BIG about the Rage in the Double Cage match is also legit ‐ when the two teams were asked to decide upon a blow-off match for their feud, I'm told they both independently asked BIG if they could use the Rage in the Double Cage and he naturally agreed… Mr. BIG was not expected to be at Easter HeAT, but in-fact worked the Gorilla position for the event and gave an incredible, rousing speech to the locker room prior to the event that had everyone in the room pumped up and ready for battle… the attendance was not quite 100,000 but my source inside the marketing department said that the ticket sales increased dramatically when the Tag Team Championship match stipulation was announced and became the main event of the show for that reason…  Ashton Pryor rolled his ankle during the Three Way Tag Team match and it was later discovered to be an ankle break. He's expected to miss around two months, which means that Alan Adams could head back for a singles run sooner than planned.
• There are plans to re-establish the European Championship as a competitive title over the next couple of months. The TWF has felt that with the increasing number of longer title reigns within the company over the past few years, an additional championship to help put a spotlight on another talent could be effective. I'm told that with the European Championship being added to the mix, I wouldn't expect to see every championship defended on the main program of a pay‐per‐view outside of the three World Championships, with the "odd-title-out" likely to be defended on the Overload pre-show prior to a pay‐per‐view.
• Echo's veteran status as the longest-tenured female within the company has begun rubbing some people up the wrong way. There was a report that circulated this week that Echo is looking to retire from in-ring competition before the year's end and the report I saw stated that Echo was hoping to retire at Summer Break as the Women's World Champion. Traditionally, the top females on the roster have tutored the younger girls that have just arrived from PWC on the nuances of working the larger crowds and so on, but Echo's seeming unwillingness to work with Athena since her call-up has reminded some of the arguments that were had when Kaitlin Simmons was called up to the main roster and her refusal to work with Rachael at the time. Apparently, Echo does not see the point of working with the younger talent at this point in their career and she feels that the training and time they get in PWC should help them enough and if it doesn't, they should be cut loose. In the end, it was Rio who has stepped in on both occasions to help train the younger talent. Rio is increasingly being seen as the "Mama Bear" of the female locker room and has earned the respect of each of her peers, whilst Echo is increasingly being portrayed as bitter about her advancing age. Echo's career potentially ending on a sour note is not the way her trainer Mr. BIG would want it to end.
• To give an update on Mr. BIG in general, his final counselling and therapy sessions in Los Angeles are expected to be concluded in the next fortnight or so and judging by his performance at the Hall of Fame, I think he will be just fine. BIG has slowly managed to turn the company back around (sounding like a broken record here, but it's true - every time he has an unenforced absence, it's a mess, he comes back and cleans it up all the time), especially backstage, adding some fresh faces to the creative team and two new road agents which have all been received incredibly positively by the wrestlers (largely because they asked for the extra help and BIG did something no-one else in management would - open up the chequebook and listen to them). Privately, BIG has told people that he wants to come back and work at least another two years as a full-time talent, then perhaps transitioning to a part-time talent, where he would work for 3-4 months and then be off for 3-4 months.
• CM Punk's remarks in a recent Sports Illustrated interview regarding professional wrestling have angered many, but they have angered many more within the TWF locker room. I mentioned in my March 7 report that Mr. BIG had been in discussions with CM Punk with regard to a match at Summer Break this year and a source within the TWF told me this week that the match was getting very close, with BIG seemingly having managed to work out the details with Punk over what TV tapings he would attend, when he would need to be available to shoot interviews that will air in-between, as well as making arrangements for Punk's UFC camp to be flown over to the UK to help him during shows. The timing of the interview is of interest, as I believe that details were ironed out in the last fortnight, but the release of the article has led some to believe that Punk was not taking BIG's incredibly hard work seriously, which will dishearten the People's Choice further.
• I'm told that this week BIG pitched an idea to Marz about Summer Break, suggesting the two reunite as the Militia for a match, but Marz has rejected it, mainly for the reason that I stated in my previous update. Usually at Summer Break time, BIG is given "first choice" of match picks for the roster, with the rest of the card drawn around this. In recent years however, BIG has ceded his first pick to The Assassin, who I have reliably been informed has made his choice and it is not Biggie. Ironically, BIG has apparently drawn-up his plans for post-Summer Break, and whilst there is more chance of hell freezing over than him not being on the card, he is close to running out of ideas.
• On a note related to Punk, with the news that his wife, AJ Lee, has retired, I'm told that this is a contract issue between her and WWE. Lee has retired largely as a result of Punk's lawsuit against the Stamford-based organisation, but due to the terms of her own contract, she is unable to wrestle for the rest of the duration of the contract. The TWF is keeping an eye on the situation as the two longest tenured females in the Women's division, Echo and Rio, are both looking to retire and whilst the TWF is confident that the likes of PWC's Rebekah Khan and the highly touted prospects of Delta Groves and Madison Armstrong will make an impact, the opportunity to sign a talent of AJ's calibre doesn't come along very often and it would be worth the company's while making that move.
• With the recent tragic events, Rey Mysterio Jr. is unlikely to make an appearance at Summer Break. Talks with El Patron apparently did not happen, but, I have been told that the TWF has begun to investigate whether stars of the United States independent scene would perhaps make an appearance at Summer Break. Specifically, there is a discussion that the controversial tandem of the Young Bucks make an appearance at Summer Break. The two's commitments to New Japan are the only thing standing in the way, but I'm told that the two are not committed to any New Japan dates beyond the final date of the G1 Climax on 16 August. With at least three episodes of première television after that, even if the two don't wrestle prior to Summer Break, it is possible. If not, I'd certainly earmark them for the Lover Boy Memorial Tournament later on in the year.
• I'd expect an announcement in the next month or so that Summer Break XVII will be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The incredible atmosphere and the great job done by everyone involved at Easter HeAT last year made this an incredibly easy choice for the TWF. It's uncertain at this time which of the Big Four (No Way BacK, Easter HeAT, Summer Break or Dangerously Serious) events that the Bridgend Dome will host in 2017, my guess is that Dangerously Serious would be next in the rotation meaning it would next host Summer Break in 2019. I'm told that the cities of, but not limited to: Toronto, Vancouver (Canada); Arlington [Dallas], Atlanta, Glendale [Phoenix], New Orleans, Santa Clara (United States); Villeneuve d'Ascq [Lille] (France); Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen (Germany); Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and Stockholm (Sweden) are looking to make bids to land either Summer Break XVIII or XXIX. I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that one of the venues that misses out will get the Easter HeAT in-between, as it seems to have become the company's second stadium show of the year.
• The preliminary talk of the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame is that Rachael will definitely get inducted after passing up this year due to a scheduling conflict. Owen Carl/Sumo Samurai and The Celtic Warrior, two names who made the long-list this time around are likely to make it. Louise is also expected to be inducted, and I'm also expecting Big Sexy Badass and Silver to be inducted as well, if they can be approached. Continuing the theme of NJS's former partners, his ex-wife Lita didn't make the long-list this year, but given her openness to talk about her time in the TWF and how much she still loves the company, Amy Dumas is saying all the right things to make it look like she will get the nod.
‐ The builder that goes in is much harder to predict, even though my understanding is that builders are exempt from the two year rule. Paul Heyman is one name the TWF is definitely keen to induct, but his current commitments prevent it from happening. Although the class is looking like it will be stacked with females, Kaysie Anderson and/or Karli Andrews are not bad bets, as they were both incredibly popular with their peers, popular with fans (Kaysie is still the only non-wrestler to have the cover girl for the annual Women of the TWF calendar) and the longevity in their roles (especially Kaysie, where previous backstage interviewers have not lasted) means it will be tough to go against them.

• The Board of Directors has gone into panic mode over the past couple of weeks regarding Summer Break, with the often quoted statement being "We have a stadium that needs a card, not a card that needs a stadium". However, I'm also told that this is a plot by the Board of Directors for reasons I will now explain. There is talk that the release date for Summer Break tickets will be bumped up a couple of weeks to catch people off guard and therefore the ticket sales will be slower, giving the Board an excuse to go out and get outside stars to be a part of the card. Even if ticket sales are strong, there is talk that the ulterior motives of the board will make this inevitable. In fact, the strong rumour is that if Wembley doesn't sell out, or get near to it, it will be painted as another "Mr. BIG idea gone wrong" and an excuse for the board of directors to vote out Biggie. But that ridiculous proposal comes with the very real risk that if Biggie goes, the entire roster goes with him. If anything, the past couple of months have solidified the roster's love for the CEO and the fact that he has gone to bat for them so many times in the past means that they will definitely come to help him should he ever need it. This is an interesting situation and one to keep an eye on.
‐ I can exclusively reveal that the TWF has entered negotiations to bring in both Alberto El Patron and Rey Mysterio Jr. for Summer Break. Both have terms regarding appearances (specifically, El Patron will not appear unless Ricardo Rodriguez is involved), but the early signs are good. This news will likely upset many of the roster, who wanted to succeed with the Summer Break card under their own merits, as opposed to requiring the help. The two will likely appear even if Mr. BIG is able to make the card, which is looking increasingly unlikely at the moment, which will devastate not only him, but the whole roster, as they are all very aware that this was one of BIG's major goals for his career.
‐ Marz will definitely not be a part of the Summer Break festivities as he has been working on projects based in the Middle East and has begun planning to move to Dubai in the next couple of months. NJS's involvement is expected to be a part of the pre-show and post-show festivities and neither will wrestle on the card. NJS said in an interview recently that he was asked last year to work this year's Summer Break against Biggie without BIG's involvement and he again refused the offer, insisting that the time has passed for the match to take place.
• The identity of the person giving Karl Davies's induction speech is still unknown at this time. Due to her being inducted during the same event, Holly will not be performing the induction and neither will Louise. The discussion is that Mr. Edwards will perform the speech.

• The TWF roster were made aware of the situation regarding Mr. BIG prior to the February 27 edition of Fury, prior to BIG's public announcement on his YouTube page on Saturday afternoon. The mood of the locker room collectively sunk as very few people were aware of the seriousness of the situation (my sources told me that, as you might expect, only The Assassin was aware of what had happened, but he did not realise the seriousness of the situation). The women of the TWF locker room were in tears upon being told the news, as many were completely unaware of BIG's personal struggles. It has emerged that despite being placed on indefinite leave, the TWF women collectively Skyped BIG after the news of Tara Wilson's injury came through and he booked the 10-women tournament, relaying instructions to the girls via text and instant messaging. The much publicised screen shot of Echo's text message after her title victory on Sunday was one of many BIG sent to the girls throughout the tournament, as he has been watching the show. I understand from my sources that BIG did not expect the outpouring of love that he has received since his YouTube address of his personal situation, especially from within the TWF, as this was a large part of the reason why he attempted suicide. BIG remains in California for the time being as he is undergoing counselling and therapy there, and a return date to the UK is not known at this time. I will also note that the rumours that his relationship with Shay Mitchell has suffered have yet to be confirmed ‐ a fan who follows Shay on Snapchat shared a photo (that was quickly deleted from the fan's account, but too slow for it not to spread on the internet… ) that featured the caption #ForeverSingle, and there have been no photos of the two together in recent weeks. One source has told me that the Snapchat photo of Shay's is an older photo and was mocking her current relationship status, whilst Mr. BIG's social media is currently being run by his web hosting team, lead by the famous Brad.
‐ Many within the company have written off BIG's in-ring career as a result, stating that any return to the ring would come with too much emotional baggage. There are also many who feel that BIG would only return for one final match at Summer Break this year and that his Summer Break winning streak should come to a close. This is the first time that I can ever remember the feeling in the company being so overwhelmingly for the winning streak coming to a close. BIG usually pitches his Summer Break program at around this time and I know that prior to Christmas, the two serious plans he was considering was an encounter versus The Assassin, but the more intriguing match-up would be against Tobias Granville. I also know for a fact that BIG was attempting to negotiate with CM Punk for a match at Summer Break, but, the issue over how many television tapings Punk would appear at (and it's considerable financial cost to the TWF) ended that discussion.
• With the current controversy surrounding the training of talent at the WWE Development Center, it is worth noting the great success that the TWF has had with the Asylum and it's two primary development areas in the past 15 years. BCW has produced many World Champions and Hall of Famers, and every talent that has graduated to the main roster from PWC only has positive feedback to give regarding their experience. There was some teething issues last Summer when the long time head of The Asylum, Wayne Morris, announced his retirement, but, his replacement Edward Lyon has got the facility running in great shape again and the TWF is extremely happy with proceedings. I understand that as a result of good reviews for the All Wales Wrestling cards in North Wales and North West England, the TWF will be increasing the number of shows that it is running, as well as the number of venues that it will visit, with some more involvement from PWC. Iago Owen, who was responsible for much of PWC's creative direction between 2011 and 2012, has been getting great reviews for his work as the booker.
‐ On a related note, there was a strong rumour late last year that has resurfaced in the past few days regarding a possible United States branch of developmental. With the TWF's offices in New York and Los Angeles now up and running, there was some talk that the company would establish a United States touring roster as a way of gaining more United States talent into the company. Two geographical areas were mooted for the territory - one based in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the other was in the footprint of the old Mid-Atlantic territory, although it would extend as far as Atlanta. The move was under scrutiny from several vocal board members, who felt that the company was concentrated in an over saturated market. There was also criticism that the plan would mean that any North American talent would spend less time working in front of European crowds, who would form the bulk of the TWF's audience. Contrary to popular belief, due to issues regarding work permits, there has never been a serious suggestion regarding a Pan-European developmental area.
• A preliminary running order for the Hall of Fame ceremony that I have seen is as follows: Sophie Matravers will induct Kevin Poole, the unannounced member of the class will be inducted, followed by Louise inducting Holly, Karl Davies's induction, The Terminator's induction and finally, The Assassin inducting Mastermind. Who is inducting Karl Davies and The Terminator has still not been confirmed as of this morning. Due to the uncertainty surrounding his status, Mr. BIG will not be performing the induction for either man. Regarding The Terminator, I understand that the TWF has reached out to AJ Jeffers, Deadman, Dougie Christian, Marz and NJS regarding performing that honour, as the Terminator has not replied to the TWF's request for a speaker. As far as Karl Davies goes, I'm told that prior to her induction being confirmed, Holly was the favourite to perform the honours. I'm told that Jason Davies has been approached by Karl to perform the induction speech, but there is an apparent scheduling conflict.
‐ The identity of the final inductee will be revealed on Wednesday night in Calgary. My well-placed source within the Hall of Fame organisation has told me who won't be inducted: Rachael has deferred her induction to 2017 due to a scheduling conflict. The AshTaker is continuing to live up to his gimmick and has been unapproachable. Owen Carl/Sumo Samurai and The Celtic Warrior made the long‐list, but did not survive the final round of voting. My source informs me that the final person is likely to be with an XWF connection, leaving three possible names that would be significant enough: Big Sexy Badass, Ottobomb and Silver. The smart money is on Big Sexy Badass and Silver being the second tag team to be inducted, but the duo's whereabouts since leaving the TWF a decade ago are still unknown and many aren't even sure if the duo keep in contact.
• The TWF's drug testing and wellness program is under consultancy at the moment and the initial proposals are being bandied around in upper management. The currently talent are only tested after a match, but the new policy will allow any member of on-screen talent to be tested. The penalties for alcohol and marijuana will now be equalled, whilst the penalties for being caught and deceiving the company will be stiffened immensely. The TWF will continue to monitor talent and schedule regular medicals, as well as continue to pay for any rehab or injury-related treatments. There isn't a drug problem within the TWF at present, so I'm told, but the Mr. Smooth situation has left a lasting impact and steps taken are to hopefully prevent it happening again. Smoothy's reappearance for Glasgow's ICW has been well received, but the TWF has zero interest in rehiring him, especially given the popularity of the current announcing duos.

• TV rights: As no agreement was reached prior to the end of December 2014, the agreement with Sky was extended for a further 18 months, but the TWF can opt out after 12 months. With the price that Sky has paid for the Premier League rights today, it will be interesting to see if Sky decide to cut costs to subsidise the incredible price it is paying for it's crown jewels, or whether the TWF will be part of this bonanza of cash that is floating around. As I understand it, the two sides have agreed not to return to the negotiating table for at least another four months. There is interest from other parties ‐ BT Sport are definitely interested and many within that organisation see the TWF is an important part of gaining subscriptions that will tip the scales in their favour against Sky. The new owners of Channel 5, Discovery Networks, are also said to be interested for the reason that the TWF brings eyeballs and high viewer numbers. If Grit BasH was to move to Channel 5, it would become the highest rated show on the channel immediately - Channel 5's most watched show of all-time remains TWF No Holds Barred in 2009. The potential spanner in the works is the xWn ‐ the TWF is insistent that the channel will remain on air in some form, even if it is renamed. If the new rights holders are not named Sky, one strategy that is being explored is what I explained a year ago - the xWn picks up the old pay‐per‐views, the subscription fee goes up to subsidise this and fans will be paying ‐ overall ‐ less a month for TWF action. I also understand that Fury ‐ which has exclusively aired on the xWn throughout it's existence, may be moved off the network and is open to negotiations.
• Tara Wilson is not expected back until September at the very earliest. Details surrounding how the injury was sustained are still very unclear ‐ the most concrete detail I have is that it was not broken during a match. A well-placed source of mine tells me that Tara was out training on a California beach and broke her leg in a heavy fall. The fear is that Wilson, who was the hottest property in the TWF women's division, will not return from injury and instead concentrate on acting and modelling roles. The success of Kaitlin Simmons since departing the TWF has led Wilson ‐ who her detractors are quick to remind us, was not a wrestling fan growing up ‐ to consider other options that will be less physically exerting.
• The surprise and incredibly well-received appearance of Lisa Marie Varon was a one-off, arranged not through Brandon Villa as many internet sources credited. It was his #2, Tim Kidd, who was able to reach out to Varon regarding the appearance. The buzz regarding the Women's Championship tournament has surprised many, especially with the guesses of who has been placed as the #2 seed. The decision to host most of the tournament on episodes of Fury was a result of the TWF's constant fan studies - the company's research finds that the majority of the audience who appreciate women wrestling watch Fury, so the company wants to appease that section of the audience.
• I have not heard any news regarding the status of Mr. BIG other than he remains in his new home in Malibu, CA (not San Marino, CA, as some media outlets reported last year) with his girlfriend Shay Mitchell, undergoing counselling and therapy. The reasons for Mr. BIG being placed on indefinite leave are unclear at the moment. Various sources have told me that the reasons range from incredibly serious to it just being an advisory measure. I know that BIG is desperate to be a part of Summer Break XVI at any cost, as he is unlikely to be an active roster member if/when the TWF returns to the venue in years to come and I know that missing out on Wembley will easily be the biggest regret of his career. Serious talk was given to the TWF delving into the past and entering talks with Marz about him being a short term replacement for BIG, but this did not come to pass.
• The 2015 Class of the TWF Hall of Fame has been confirmed completely by my sources backstage, but the TWF is working hard to keep leaks of the inductees outside those already announced to an absolute minimum. I understand that each of the inductees has been rumoured in the past and that at least two names were approached but did not return the TWF's calls. The ceremony will be the first to take place at the brand new Derwen Hotel that opens on the Bridgend Dome site in two weeks. The TWF is continuing to look into ways of expanding the area around the Dome to allow it to be an even bigger success (As of right now, the Dome provides more percentage revenue to the TWF than the TWF Arena does, as a result of the conferences and conventions held there).