WWE has hired Petey Williams full-time in a producer role.
Williams signed a contract this week. He had been working in the producer capacity on a trial basis since the October 29, 2021 SmackDown show. Fightful Select was first with the report.
A former Impact Wrestling talent, Williams appeared in the ring for that promotion as recently as their October 14, 2021 episode. Williams popularized the Canadian Destroyer move during his in-ring career, but may be best remembered for his run as Scott Steiner’s sidekick in TNA in 2007 and 2008.
WWE also recently tried out Jimmy Yang in a producer’s capacity, but opted not to move forward with him.
Williams’ hiring comes on the heels of another mass layoff by WWE. They gutted their Performance Center staff on Wednesday, releasing William Regal, Road Dogg, Timothy Thatcher, Danny Burch, Hideki Suzuki, Allison Danger, Dave Kapoor, Scott Armstrong, George Carroll, and Ryan Katz.
Impact Wrestling veteran Petey Williams is getting a WWE producer tryout, according to multiple sources.
Williams is backstage at today’s SmackDown tapings, reports PWInsider. Fightful reports that the tryout for WIlliams has been in the works for several weeks.
Williams, 40, has appeared in Impact Wrestling as in-ring talent as recently as the October 14 episode of Impact TV. Arguably Williams’ most memorable run in Impact/TNA came as a sidekick to Scott Steiner in 2007 and 2008.
In the ring, Williams is generally credited with popularizing the Canadian Destroyer move, if not outright inventing it. He has held the Impact/TNA X Division Championship on two occasions.
Williams joins Jimmy Yang as former wrestlers getting tryouts in the producer role, sometimes referred to as an agent or road agent position. WWE currently employs Michael Hayes, Jason Jordan, Tyson Kidd, Adam Pearce, D-Von Dudley, Pat Buck, Chris Park, Molly Holly and Shane Helms in the same role.
One of Impact Wrestling’s signature match types is making its return at this year’s Slammiversary pay-per-view.
Impact Wrestling has announced that Josh Alexander will defend his X-Division Championship against Trey Miguel, Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Rohit Raju, and Petey Williams in an Ultimate X match at Slammiversary. The PPV is taking place on Saturday, July 17.
A number one contender’s match featuring Miguel, Austin, Bey, Raju, and Williams had taken place at last Saturday’s Against All Odds Impact Plus special, but it ended in a no contest due to interference by Madman Fulton. Fulton is aligned with Austin.
This will be Impact’s first Ultimate X match since 2019.
Slammiversary is being held at Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. There will be a limited number of fans in attendance, making this the first Impact show with a live crowd since March 2020. Sami Callihan has been set to challenge for Kenny Omega’s AEW World Championship at the PPV, but Callihan is currently involved in a storyline where he’s been fired from Impact by Don Callis.
Scott Steiner is returning to Impact Wrestling for their TNA revival show in Tampa, Florida.
It was announced today that Steiner is set for TNA: There’s No Place Like Home: “BREAKING: There’s a 141 2⁄3% that @ScottSteiner will be returning for TNA: There’s No Place Like Home on April 3rd as part of @wrestlecon because he’s a genetic freak and he’s not normal.”
Steiner is the fifth wrestler announced for the event, joining D’Lo Brown, Ken Anderson, Chris Sabin, and “Wildcat” Chris Harris. Brown and Anderson are representing Aces & Eights.
Steiner challenged Aron Stevens for the NWA National Championship at the NWA’s Hard Times pay-per-view last Friday. Steiner won by disqualification, with The Question Mark interfering so that Stevens would keep the title.
TNA: There’s No Place Like Home is taking place at The Ritz Ybor City on Friday, April 3. The show will also be available live via Fite TV.
Impact noted yesterday that they’ll be announcing names for There’s No Place Like Home at noon Eastern time and 6 p.m. Eastern time for the next couple of days.
Previously: Johnny Impact and Alberto El Patron had a wild brawl that went all over the building. Both are banned from the arena for tonight’s show.
Tonight: Global Champion Eli Drake defends against Petey Williams. Plus, Gail Kim officially announces her retirement.
Show Recap —
Sonjay Dutt, Dezmond Xavier & Garza Jr. defeated Taiji Ishimori, Trevor Lee & Caleb Konley
Ishimori and Dutt traded pinfall attempts before Konley tagged himself in, then the heels took over and isolated Dutt in their corner. Garza got the tag and basically fought with one arm due to his shoulder injury. Ishimori appeared to have the match won, but Konley tagged himself in again. Xavier won it for his team after hitting the X19 and Final Flash on Konley.
Impact Grand Champion Ethan Carter III defeated Fallah Bahh to retain his title
Bahh controlled most of the action and won the first round. EC3 took over after Bahh missed a charge in the corner and easily won round two. Bahh scored a near fall after hitting a splash in the corner and a belly-to-belly suplex, but EC3 got the pin with his feet on the ropes with 28 seconds remaining.
LAX (w/ Konnan) defeated OVE
This started with all six guys brawling around ringside and in the ring. Sami Callahan used a low blow on Homicide to give OVE the advantage. The match broke down and all six guys started brawling again. OVE attempted their finisher on Santana, but Ortiz and Homicide made the save. LAX used the Street Sweeper for the win.
GWN Flashback Moment of the Week: Ken Shamrock defeated Malice (w/ Father James Mitchell) to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
This match was from the very first NWA: TNA pay-per-view and Ricky Steamboat served as referee for it. The finish came when Malice attempted a chokeslam and Shamrock countered into a belly-to-belly to win the title.
– Dan Lambert came down to the ring to gloat about his team’s victory at Bound for Glory. Lambert buried the Canadian wrestling fans and brought up the Montreal Screwjob. He said Vince McMahon didn’t screw Bret Hart because he could hear Bret quitting from Florida.
He claimed that Impact reneged on their deal and won’t release Bobby Lashley. He had his attorney draft a release for Lashley and demanded an executive sign it.
This brought out Moose. He told Lambert it was a mistake not to bring American Top Team. Moose went after Lambert, but Lashley, King Mo, and ATT ran out and jumped Moose. James Storm ran out for the save and superkicked Lashley.
Storm broke a bottle over one of the ATT guy’s head. Storm gave a passionate speech defending pro wrestling. He discussed his career and time with Impact.
– As ATT left the building, KM approached the group and asked to join. Lashley said he has to prove himself first.
– Knockouts Champion Gail Kim came out to announce her retirement. Allie joined Kim in the ring for her announcement. She thanked all the women she’s worked with, including Trish Stratus, Lita, Molly Holly, Awesome Kong, and Taryn Terrell.
Kim relinquished the Knockouts title and said she looks forward to seeing the division continue to grow. She thanked Impact and the fans.
– In the back, Grado was at a table with a bunch of guys. Joseph Park arrived and admitted that he is Abyss. Park wanted to make it up to Grado and gave him a visa to stay in the United States. A Mountie approached and deported Grado because his visa is only good for the US.
– Jimmy Jacobs joined in on commentary for the main event.
Impact Global Champion Eli Drake (w/ Chris Adonis) defeated Petey Williams to retain his title
Williams controlled the early part of the match until Drake took over during the commercial break. Williams attempted the Canadian Destroyer later, but Drake rolled through and Williams countered into the Sharpshooter.
Williams took out Adonis with a dive. Drake attempted the Gravy Train, but Williams countered into the Destroyer for a very close near fall. He went for the Destroyer again, but Drake countered into the Gravy Train to retain the championship.
Next Week: It’s a special Thanksgiving edition of Impact.
