AEW star Konosuke Takeshita is set to face off against TNA Wrestling’s “Speedball” Mike Bailey for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is making its debut with two Forged In Excellence events from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. The promotion has announced that Takeshita vs. Bailey will be part of the card for night one. The two have previously wrestled each other in matches for DDT, PWG, and West Coast Pro Wrestling.
Both nights of Forged In Excellence are airing live as pay-per-views on Triller TV. Takeshita vs. Josh Alexander will take place on night two.
El Phantasmo, Raj Dhesi (Jinder Mahal), Gisele Shaw, KUSHIDA, Alex Zayne, Kevin Knight, Jake Something, Kylie Rae, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena, Trevor Lee, QT Marshall, and Miyu Yamashita are also advertised for Forged In Excellence.
Mauro Ranallo and Don Callis will be the commentary team for the events. The promotion is a new project for Scott D’Amore following his firing from TNA Wrestling this February. It’s a revival of the Maple Leaf Wrestling brand that originally existed from the 1930s to 1980s.
Scott D’Amore says Maple Leaf Pro will have a “dream team” at the commentary table.
AEW’s Don Callis has been announced as joining Mauro Ranallo when the promotion runs its debut shows on October 19 & 20 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Both events will stream as pay-per-views on Triller.
“DON CALLIS to MAPLE LEAF PRO!! The commentary team is among the most important aspects of a pro wrestling broadcast. Callis joining Mauro Ranallo gives MLP a Dream Team calling all the action!”
DON CALLIS to MAPLE LEAF PRO!! The commentary team is among the most important aspects of a pro wrestling broadcast. Callis joining Mauro Ranallo gives MLP a Dream Team calling all the action!
Announced talent for Maple Leaf Pro includes: Konosuke Takeshita, El Phantasmo, Raj Dhesi (FKA Jinder Mahal), Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, KUSHIDA, Alex Zayne, Kevin Knight, Jake Something, Kylie Rae, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena, Mike Bailey, Trevor Lee, QT Marshall and Miyu Yamashita.
Alexander vs. Takeshita is the only match announced for Maple Leaf Pro’s debut shows thus far.
The first match announcement has been made for Scott D’Amore’s revival of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.
AEW’s Konosuke Takeshita will face off against TNA star Josh Alexander at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling Forged In Excellence this October. It’s a two-night event that’s being held at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. The promotion hasn’t announced which night Takeshita vs. Alexander will be taking place on.
Takeshita and Alexander have only faced each other once before, going to a 20-minute time limit draw for indie promotion Garden State Pro Wrestling in 2022.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is a new venture for D’Amore, who was fired as president of TNA Wrestling this February amid a leadership shakeup. D’Amore also has the title of president in this new promotion. It’s a revival of the Maple Leaf Wrestling brand that originally existed from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Both nights of Forged In Excellence are set to air live as pay-per-views on Triller TV. Mauro Ranallo is returning to pro wrestling commentary as the play-by-play voice of the promotion. El Phantasmo, Raj Dhesi (Jinder Mahal), Gisele Shaw, KUSHIDA, Alex Zayne, Kevin Knight, Jake Something, Kylie Rae, and Trevor Lee are among the other talent advertised for Forged In Excellence.
Scott D’Amore’s new pro wrestling venture will have a familiar voice on commentary.
During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, D’Amore announced that Mauro Ranallo has agreed to return to pro wrestling announcing as the voice of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. The promotion launches on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 with events at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
“You need to have a great voice, and I think we have one of the very best,” D’Amore said. “I think indisputably the best combat sports cross-genre announcer — because Mauro Ranallo has agreed to be the voice of Maple Leaf Pro.”
D’Amore said he’s so stoked and honored to have Ranallo with the promotion. They’ve known each other for 25 years dating back to Stampede Wrestling.
Along with his work in boxing and MMA, Ranallo has done pro wrestling commentary for WWE, NXT, and NJPW. He also made a cameo for Impact Wrestling in 2021 when D’Amore brought him in to call a match between Kenny Omega and Rich Swann.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is a revival of the brand that originally existed from the 1930s to the 1980s. The promotion’s October 19 and October 20 events will air live as pay-per-views on Triller TV.
Konosuke Takeshita, El Phantasmo, Raj Dhesi (former WWE wrestler Jinder Mahal), Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, KUSHIDA, Alex Zayne, Kevin Knight, Jake Something, Kylie Rae, and Trevor Lee have been announced for the shows.
This new venture comes after D’Amore was fired from TNA Wrestling in February as part of a leadership shakeup. He was the president of TNA prior to departing the company.
Scott D’Amore revealed when he knew his time with TNA was over.
On Busted Open Radio, the former President of TNA said that he knew of his departure two days before January’s Hard to Kill event, the company’s first show after rebranding itself as TNA once again. Anthem officially announced on February 7 that Anthony Cicione would be replacing D’Amore as TNA President.
“Here’s your scoop for your headline: I found out that what was happening with me two days before Hard to Kill…I was about to get on a plane, I found out kind of what was in the cards. [Anthem CEO] Len Asper and I had a chat about it. Even though I had seen some signs, it still hit me pretty hard, but I did what professionals do. I locked that in that place in my brain and kept it there and flew to Las Vegas with Tommy [Dreamer] and the rest of the team. I hate when people give me all the credit and I hate when people give me all the blame. TNA succeeded because of the team we were able to assemble. I’m proud to have led that team and I’m proud to have assembled that team.”
D’Amore said that the company has sent him home and is being paid to do nothing, which he said was “kind of nice.” He also dismissed rumors that the falling out was over him attempting to purchase the company, saying he did so only after he went home.
“I dutifully finished out the Florida tapings and I left the building that night thinking that’s it, okay, I fulfilled my obligations. I woke up the next morning and did two things. I put Jordynne Grace in the [Royal] Rumble and I started looking about where I could raise funds to acquire TNA. Any of the BS that I tried to buy the company, and that’s what led to me leaving, was not the case. It boiled down to a difference of opinions on how things should be. There was no f you, no, f you. I’ve spoken with Len Asper since then. Like as I said to him the day we talked about it, or it might have been the day the announcement went ahead, he said I hope there is no hard feelings. I said I can’t say there are no hard feelings, but there are no personal feelings.”
Overall, D’Amore said he felt conflicted over his departure, as it came right at the time of a momentum shift within TNA.
“It was very conflicting. I was very proud of what we had done as a group and what we accomplished and where we came, and I was very upset that the reigns got taken away from me at a time that I think we were perched and ready to continue to explode.”
D’Amore announced on Thursday that he was reviving Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, having obtained the rights to the promotion from the Tunney family, who originally held events under the name between 1930 and 1984.
Six months after departing TNA Wrestling, Scott D’Amore has confirmed his next move.
D’Amore announced today that he’s reviving the Maple Leaf Wrestling brand starting with two events this October. Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling will be at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. The shows are set to air as pay-per-views on Triller TV.
“Forged in Excellence” is the name of the events. Raj Dhesi (former WWE wrestler Jinder Mahal), Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, KUSHIDA, Alex Zayne, Kevin Knight, Jake Something, Kylie Rae, and Trevor Lee are advertised to appear.
“For six decades, Maple Leaf Wrestling hosted a who’s who of the world’s greatest wrestlers,” D’Amore said in a press release. “Legends like Lou Thesz, Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair, Andre the Giant and Rowdy Roddy Piper all competed in Maple Leaf. Now, we’re bringing that legacy back with modern-day legends from WWE, New Japan, TNA, AEW and beyond.”
Maple Leaf Wrestling originally existed from the 1930s to the 1980s. Footage from the promotion’s library will be uploaded to YouTube, Facebook, and other digital platforms as part of the revival.
D’Amore has been gearing up for today’s announcement with trademark filings related to Maple Leaf Wrestling in recent months. He was fired from TNA Wrestling this February as part of a leadership shakeup. D’Amore was president of TNA and now has that title with Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.
Alexander is a top TNA star and will also compete for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. He tweeted about the revival: “I’m excited to be a part of what will showcase the absolute best Canadian wrestling has to offer. The resurrection of Maple Leaf Wrestling for future generations. Follow it. It’s going to be big!”
The TNA Wrestling roster is looking to find a path forward following Scott D’Amore’s departure from the company.
Last week, Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced that it had terminated D’Amore’s contract. Anthony Cicione was named the new president of TNA Wrestling following D’Amore’s firing. Cicione is also the president of Anthem’s Entertainment Group.
Members of the TNA roster publicly voiced their support for D’Amore on social media after the announcement. Today, Fightful published a letter that members of the roster sent to Anthem Sports & Entertainment CEO Leonard Asper and D’Amore. In the letter, the TNA wrestlers expressed their belief that D’Amore is still the best possible person to protect TNA’s present and future.
“We feel strongly that a ‘wrestling person’ needs to be intimately involved at a high level to ensure that the amazing company we have all built and product we have provided to our fans continues to grow and flourish,” the letter said. “It is our opinion that the best possible person for that role was, is, and will be Scott.”
The TNA talent stated that Asper and Anthem have been instrumental in building the company back up, and the promotion would not have survived without them. The talent expressed that their goal in writing the letter was to open a line of communication and reunite the TNA family.
“We remain steadfast and hopeful that this letter can be a first step to opening, and keeping open, productive lines of communication to ensure the TNA/Impact family continues to be a wonderful, unique place to work for years to come,” they wrote. “We ask and implore you both to come together and create a resolution that will reunite this family once again.”
The full letter can be read below:
Len and Scott,
TNA/Impact is not just our employer and the company for which we work. It is a family. A family that each of us has grown to love and cherish and trust with our bodies and our careers. A family for which we feel deeply and that desire, above all else, to protect.
We are deeply saddened by the decision to remove Scott D’Amore from the TNA/Impact family. Scott is a brilliant wrestling mind that has guided this company and has it positioned to take the next step upward in our industry. Scott is also so much more than this. He is a trusted friend, confidant, teacher, advisor, brother, and mentor to so many within the TNA/Impact family. Scott has been the heart of the TNA/Impact family for over two decades.
Len and Anthem have been instrumental in supporting and building this company back from the ground up. The contributions of Len and Anthem have never gone unnoticed by anyone in the company, and we want to make sure Len knows this. TNA, simply put, would not have survived without Len and Anthem. Not just financially, but with the undying faith in Scott and us to revive the company that was on the brink of death. Len and Anthem are the foundation that TNA has been able to build upon. We would not have made it back to this point without BOTH of you. The fans know this, and the TNA family knows this.
We come to you to voice our concern for TNA/Impact, our family, and its future and direction. We, like you, wish to safeguard what we have all worked and sweat and bled for to build. We want TNA/Impact to continue grow and to continue to be an enviable place for all professional wrestlers to work.
We understand and appreciate that professional wrestling, at its core, is a business, and that the company must provide a fiscally responsible, financially viable product. At the same time, professional wrestling is uniquely situated. The business of professional wrestling is so much more than balance sheets, downloads, and ratings. The wrestling business is and must be its people, its characters, and its storylines. That is to say, there is no wrestling business without the wrestling creative vision and the right people bringing the creative vision to life.
To thrive, a wrestling company must have both an eye toward business decisions, and its fingers on the pulse of creative decisions and the ever-changing appetite of our fans. It is in light of this concern and our desire to uphold the high standards of TNA/Impact that we offer this letter.
It is our desire to have a dialogue with you and with the company in an effort to protect the present and the future of TNA/Impact for you, for Anthem, for the fans, and for professional wrestlers. We feel strongly that a ‘wrestling person’ needs to be intimately involved at a high level to ensure that the amazing company we have all built and product we have provided to our fans continues to grow and flourish. It is our opinion that the best possible person for that role was, is, and will be Scott.
We recognize that we do not necessarily know all the facts or details around the decision to remove Scott. In life there is always the rumors, the opinions, and, somewhere in between, the truth. We rarely get to know which is which. It remains our hope and desire that everyone can set aside the past few days and any hurt feelings or unkind words that may have been exchanged, and meet to discuss a path forward that preserves the TNA/Impact family we all hold so dearly.
We remain steadfast and hopeful that this letter can be a first step to opening, and keeping open, productive lines of communication to ensure the TNA/Impact family continues to be a wonderful, unique place to work for years to come. We ask and implore you both to come together and create a resolution that will reunite this family once again.
We look forward to hearing from you and continuing this dialogue.
Signed, Your TNA Family
Dave Meltzer reported in last week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that some people in TNA, including D’Amore, had been expecting the management change for a few weeks, but talent were not anticipating the change:
There were those in TNA who had expected changes for a few weeks, including D’Amore, although the talent did not. Some noted that Cicione and Ariel Shnerer, the Vice President of Business Development at TNA had been talking with staff and wrestlers about the business and getting feedback.
Nothing official has come out as the reason. Several different sources had it that with TNA having its most successful period in eight years that he was hoping to expand the business. One person close to D’Amore noted to us that he was very wealthy independent of wrestling with other business interests but loved working in pro wrestling. They said he had pushed for years for a bigger budget and there had been threats to quit with the idea that he was a key person they didn’t want to lose and they were aware he didn’t need the job, but also very much wanted it.
Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio going over all the news in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We opened up the show talking about WWE’s WrestleMania Kickoff press event. We talked about the chaotic feel to the event, the changing of the booking and overall story, and where things may be going.
We also discussed the following:
Dave’s story on Ashley Massaro
The new sports streaming company
Early ticket sales for AEW’s Big Business Boston event
A clash over TNA Wrestling’s budget may have played a role in Anthem Sports & Entertainment firing Scott D’Amore.
TNA’s parent company announced on Wednesday that D’Amore’s contract has been terminated, and Anthony Cicione will be the new president.
Our own Dave Meltzer addressed TNA’s leadership shakeup on today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer said:
I think that (D’Amore) thought that it’s time, you know, (to) spend some more money, try to go after more talent, try to build this thing up, we have a little bit of momentum. And the Anthem people were kind of like, ‘We don’t want to increase the budget’ and maybe even wanted to cut back on the budget but definitely didn’t want to increase the budget. And it was a standoff and that’s kind of what happened.
He’d always been trying to get a bigger budget and he’d always been rebuffed.
Considering the success of TNA’s recent Hard to Kill PPV in Las Vegas, many feel the timing of D’Amore’s dismissal is surprising.
Meltzer continued:
(TNA) was coming back, it was getting more popular, but (Anthem’s) whole thing was to just have a product, tape television, fulfill your pay-per-views, your streaming stuff, and do it essentially as cheaply as possible.
Whether that is the reason of the split, that that was it, or there was some other thing that we don’t know, I’m sure it’ll be out in the next couple of days. But that’s the only thing that I’ve kind of been told by people is that was a dispute that he had had with management.
Several members of the TNA roster have posted to social media regarding D’Amore’s departure, including TNA World Champion Moose.
I’m lost for words…..Shutting down for a few days. ✌🏾
Moose was trained by D’Amore and spoke about how his relationship with the former TNA president is the reason he is with the company during a recent interview with Steve Fall of WrestlingNews in th.
“if Scott D’Amore isn’t here, then Moose isn’t here, so that answers that question. So yeah, me and Scott are always talking. He’s a huge mentor to me,” Moose said in the interview.
Jordynne Grace, Eddie Edwards, Josh Alexander, and Trinity/Naomi have also posted to social media in the wake of D’Amore’s release from TNA Wrestling.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the latest on Vince McMahon and his departure from TKO, the Ashley Massaro story that came out today, WWE’s major press conference and how it will likely change WrestleMania, AEW PPV numbers, Scott D’Amore out of Impact, an incredible Dynamite, NXT, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: More on Vince McMahon’s resignation, Ashley Massaro, The Rock
25:09: Scott D’Amore out of TNA
30:00: Dave’s analysis on people who purchase AEW pay-per-views
Following both the surprising dismissal of longtime employee and executive Scott D’Amore on Wednesday and a reportedly tense Zoom meeting with talent, new TNA Wrestling president Anthony Cicione released a statement to help explain the corporate reasons for the move and their intended path forward.
“I am excited and honored to be the new President of TNA Wrestling, a company rich in tradition and loved by pro wrestling fans worldwide.
This move is intended to further integrate TNA Wrestling into the Entertainment Group of Anthem Sports & Entertainment as we work to leverage the resources of the entire company to add more value in areas such as production, distribution, marketing, viewership, customer acquisition, digital revenue streams, ad sales and sponsorships, and digital tech operations, among others.
Everyone at Anthem Sports & Entertainment is appreciative of and thankful for the years of dedication that Scott D’Amore gave to Anthem, and TNA Wrestling. Scott has been a part of TNA since 2003, holding many key roles. He played a vital role in the growth of the company and the evolution to its strong industry reputation today, including the 2024 return of the TNA Wrestling brand itself. I personally want to thank Scott for the passion he brought to the business and his personal touch with talent.
TNA Wrestling is in a position to take a big leap toward its next stage of growth and expansion. While we can create more operational efficiency the most exciting part is expanding existing revenue streams and developing new ones. Wrestling promotions have evolved from event driven businesses to global media enterprises.
I was in Las Vegas last month for both the Hard To Kill pay-per-view and the next night’s Snake Eyes show. Those were not just the two best pro wrestling shows I have attended, they were record-setting for TNA Wrestling on multiple fronts. That growth, expansion and popularity that thousands witnessed live and in-person in Las Vegas, and live on pay-per-view around the world, will continue in 2024. We have many exciting, groundbreaking announcements coming up over the next few months. Our momentum is continuing.
TNA Wrestling features an incredible roster of in-ring talent who will continue to shine and deliver incredible matches and moments. We have a behind-the-scenes crew and staff who are incredible at their jobs. Our business is being run by experienced professionals, and the fans will notice many improvements in the coming months. TNA’s success is attributable to its teamwork, and that team will continue to grow with more input from Anthem’s top executives, partners and others.
We know departures of well-respected executives can create uncertainty, but we are fully committed to this new business model. We are entering a new stage of growth. These changes bring together more leadership experience to help us elevate our operations.”
Cicione is Anthem’s VP of operations and has been with the company for more than 16 years. After a seven-year run as a TNA talent and then three years with Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling, D’Amore had been in a leadership position with TNA/Impact Wrestling since 2017, working his way up to his role as president starting in March 2023.
The aforementioned statement followed an earlier Zoom meeting with talent that reportedly did not go as well as Cicione and TNA parent company Anthem would have liked.
PWInsider reported that there had been rumbling for weeks about a possible leadership change due to Cicione and Anthem VP of business development Ariel Shnerer talking to TNA talent and staff about how things were run in addition to gathering feedback.
The report stated that Cicione read a prepared statement on the call and that talent weren’t allowed to ask questions which didn’t sit well with some. It was also said at one point that D’Amore stepped down which wasn’t the case and rubbed some D’Amore loyalists the wrong way.
From the report:
“The beginning of the call, when talents were informed about Scott D’Amore’s departure before Anthem execs joined them, was extremely angry for some talents while some of the veterans tried to calm the waters, noting they have to at least give the new exec a chance.”
Fightful also reported that “Those we’ve heard from are not happy with the decision and haven’t been given much of a reason.”
Several TNA wrestlers like Josh Alexander, Moose, Steve Maclin, Frankie Kazarian and others took to X after the news to pay tribute to D’Amore who has yet to comment publicly on his firing.
TNA’s next live event is No Surrender in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, February 23rd followed by a TV taping the next night.
Figure Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including the Ashley Massaro story that came out today, Vince McMahon, Scott D’Amore getting fired, plus your questions on the WrestleMania main event angle, rankings and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including who called for Vince McMahon’s resignation, more on the WWE press event tomorrow, RAW ratings huge, Scott D’Amore out at TNA, NXT from Tuesday, Cash Wheeler facing charges, and TONS more. A packed, packed show, so check it out~!
There has been a major leadership shakeup at TNA Wrestling.
The promotion’s parent company, Anthem Sports and Entertainment, revealed on Wednesday that Scott D’Amore’s contract has been terminated and Anthony Cicione has been named the new president.
From Anthem Sports & Entertainment:
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc., a global multi-platform media company, announced today the appointment of Anthony Cicione as the President of TNA Wrestling.
The move aims to further integrate TNA Wrestling into Anthem’s Entertainment Group, of which Cicione is the President, leveraging the entire Company’s resources to add more value in areas including production, distribution, marketing, viewership, customer acquisition, digital revenue streams, ad sales and sponsorships, digital tech operations, and more.
Cicione replaces Scott D’Amore, whose contract with Anthem has been terminated. D’Amore has been a part of TNA since 2003. He held many key leadership positions and played a vital role in the growth of the company leading to its strong industry reputation today, including the successful return of the TNA Wrestling brand in 2024. Anthem thanks him for the commitment he brought to the business, the talent, and the people who work outside the ring.
PWInsider is reporting that the belief is the decision came directly from Anthem President & CEO, Len Asper.
Fightful is reporting that TNA talent and staff were informed of the move today and were on a Zoom call to discuss it as of about 1:20 p.m. Eastern time.
Several members of the TNA roster have commented on the news.
The incredibly painstaking, tedious and difficult work that @ScottDAmore has put in to bring @ThisIsTNA to this very exciting moment in time, cannot be understated. We all, wrestlers and fans alike, owe him a debt of gratitude. 🥃
D’Amore’s second stint with TNA began in 2017 when he was brought back to the company by Jeff Jarrett to serve as Vice President of International Relations after having been with Global Force Wrestling in the same role since 2014.
In December 2017, D’Amore and Don Callis were named executive vice presidents of the company. D’Amore was later named President of Impact Wrestling in March 2023.
Cicione will now run the day-to-day operations of TNA Wrestling. He has been with Anthem for 16 years. His current job description reads that he “oversees all operations and financial performance of the Entertainment Group, which includes AXS TV, HDNET MOVIES, Game TV, Game+, Fight Network and Anthem Media Services, he is also responsible for broadcast and IT support for all Anthem operations.”
Scott D’Amore was on Busted Open Radio today and said the company is finalizing one of the biggest signings in TNA history.
D’Amore said:
We’re going to have some surprises for you, some unexpected things including, guys, we are right there at the goal line of finalizing one of, I think, the biggest signings in TNA. I think it’s something that’s really going to shake things up here on January 13.
The promotion also posted a graphic for Hard to Kill on Monday with the caption: “Worlds Will Collide on January 13th, You Won’t Believe Who Is Showing Up”
BREAKING: As @ScottDAmore teased on @BustedOpenRadio, worlds will collide on January 13 at #HardToKill LIVE on PPV from the Palms in Las Vegas – you WON'T BELIEVE who is showing up!
