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Eight months after being released by WWE NXT, Steve Maclin finds himself at the doorstop of winning his first-ever major singles title as he challenges Trey Miguel and El Phantasmo for the vacant Impact X-Division championship at Saturday’s Bound for Glory.
On this new episode of Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, “Mr. Mayhem” himself and the former Steve Cutler in WWE talks to yours truly for 30 minutes about that opportunity and a whole lot more, like:
The development of this new character that he has called a fusion of The Punisher and Captain America that actually has roots in NXT and a conversation with Dusty Rhodes
How his first night back in a non-WWE ring for the first time in eight years for Beyond Wrestling came about
Why he feels the X-Division is the perfect fit for him and his big opportunity this Saturday
The influence of Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo in his life, an inevitable reunion with Wesley Blake, and more.
The post-WWE run of Steve Maclin will officially begin this Thursday on Impact Wrestling against an opponent to be named.
Maclin is the former Steve Cutler in WWE and was released in February. Vignettes featuring his new character debuted two weeks ago on Impact.
In his first action since being released, Maclin wrestled twice for Massachussetts-based Beyond Wrestling on June 3rd, losing to Tony Deppen while defeating Teddy Goodz. He is also working on a Monster Factory show in late-June.
After going pro in 2013, Maclin spent nearly the entirety of his career in the WWE system, signing in 2014. The 34-year-old was best known for being part of the Forgotten Sons with Wesley Blake and Jaxson Ryker.
After spending nearly all their time in NXT, they were called up to the main roster for a short run in 2020.
The New Jersey native is the boyfriend of current Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo.
The first of what could be more names coming to Impact Wrestling made their presence felt on Thursday as Steve Maclin debuted on the show via a vignette.
Maclin is the former Steve Cutler in WWE and the boyfriend of Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo.
The 47-second clip done in old-time film reel style shows Maclin with feet up on a desk with some documents, drinking Jameson whiskey with Frank Sinatra-style music playing. He then stares at the camera and the film changes quickly with a yell heard. The title screen then showed ‘Maclin’ and a skull.
His debut date is unknown.
After signing with the company in 2014, the 34-year-old was released by WWE in February. He was best known for being part of the Forgotten Sons with Wesley Blake and Jaxson Ryker. After spending nearly all their time in NXT, they were called up to the main roster for a short run in 2020.
Impact has also been teasing several other returns or new signings for July’s Slammiversary.
In the aftermath of Steve Cutler’s WWE release, it was learned that both he and his girlfriend, Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo, had COVID-19 in January.
Shortly after his Thursday release after seven years in the organization, Purrazzo tweeted she and Cutler (Steve Kupryk) tested positive at the beginning of the month and took precautions. She said neither had any symptoms.
He and Wesley Blake were aligned with Baron Corbin as the Knights of the Lone Wolf on the December 4th SmackDown, but neither he nor Blake have been seen on TV since the January 1st edition of the show. Following his positive test and missing time, the idea was dropped.
Fightful first reported that Vince McMahon was upset with the 33-year-old after contracting the virus with Dave Meltzer reporting in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there was a disciplinary reason that got McMahon “livid” when he heard about it, associated with a New Year’s Eve party. Meltzer said McMahon was upset as he had promised talents like Roman Reigns a safe environment upon returning and felt whatever Cutler did was a violation of that.
After Cutler’s release, Purrazzo tweeted, “COVID strikes again….LOL”. Cutler later tweeted that his release was shocking to him, but that he is excited about future possibilities. He has a 90-day non-compete.
Fightful reported Cutler was working with the “big man” class at the Performance Center when he learned of his release. They added he was well liked by those at the PC with the door open to a return down the road.
WWE announced on Thursday that former Forgotten Sons member Steve Cutler (real name Steve Kupryk) has been released by the company.
“WWE has come to terms on the release of Steve Cutler,” WWE announced. “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
“Unfortunately, today I was released,” Cutler tweeted. “It was shocking, to say the least. But, I am excited about the future and all the possibilities in front of me. Thanks for your continued support. 90 days… the countdown begins”
Cutler had been part of The Forgotten Sons with Jaxson Ryker and Wesley Blake in WWE. The group debuted on SmackDown last April but were taken off television after Ryker received significant criticism from members of the WWE roster for a tweet he posted in June. Cutler responded to the situation at the time: “Although I am part of a tag team while I wrestle, I am my own person with my own thoughts and beliefs. It pains me to see what’s going on in the world. I fought for the freedom of our country and ALL of the people who live here.”
Cutler and Blake returned to SmackDown in December as Baron Corbin’s Knights of The Lone Wolf, but Cutler and Blake’s most recent appearance on TV was in early January.
Ryker is now on Raw and is aligned with Elias.
Cutler had signed with WWE and joined NXT in 2014.
Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler have re-emerged, aiding King Corbin in his win tonight on SmackDown against Murphy.
Both men were identified when they came out to help Corbin, who lost last week against Murphy on SmackDown following interference from the Mysterio family. Corbin challenged Murphy to another match, saying that next time he would be prepared.
During tonight’s match, the two sides mostly stayed apart until the finish. Murphy had Corbin in the corner when Corbin signaled to Cutler and Blake. They promptly attacked both Dominik and Rey Mysterio. Murphy exited the ring to help, but when he came back to the ring walked into the End of Days for the win.
Cutler and Blake had originally been called up from NXT along with Jaxson Ryker back in April. However, all three men were pulled from television in May after Ryker voiced support for President Donald Trump during the George Floyd protests, which led to backlash backstage from several WWE stars.
The Forgotten Sons have been called up to the main roster.
They made their first appearance on SmackDown tonight, facing Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado of The Lucha House Party. After a back and forth match, Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler picked up the win for the trio, with Cutler pinning Gran Metalik.
Blake and Cutler, along with Jaxson Ryker, were put together as a trio and made their NXT debut as The Forgotten Sons back in August 2018. They made it to the finals of the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but lost to Aleister Black and Ricochet in the finals. At this year’s tournament, they lost to Imperium in the first round.
Ryker, who signed with the WWE in 2017, is most famous for his run in Impact Wrestling as Gunner. Blake, who joined WWE in 2014, is a former NXT Tag Team champion with Buddy Murphy. Cutler also signed with the WWE in 2014.
Tonight’s attendance at the Ocala wedding tent was approximately 250 people.
– The Street Prophets defeated The Ealy Brothers
Angelo Dawkins hit a big spear and Montez Ford followed with a frog splash to win a hot opener.
– Sawyer Fulton defeated Babatunde Aiyegbusi
Fulton won it with a suplex.
– Mary Kate defeated Sarah Logan
A Black Hole Slam by Mary Kate ended this one.
– Dory Funk Jr. made his usual appearance in Ocala. He came out for an interview but was immediately interrupted by Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler. Roderick Strong evened things up and we’ll have Strong and a partner vs. Blake and Cutler as our main event.
– Oney Lorcan defeated Jeet Rama
Lorcan hit a running blockbuster to get the win.
– Buddy Murphy defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas
This match had great action from two of the best in NXT. Murphy won with flying double knees off the top.
– Lars Sullivan defeated Kona Reeves
Lars hit a big slam for the victory. His power is impressive.
– Ruby Riot defeated Sonya Deville
This was a battle. Riot hit an up-kick to pick up the win.
– Roderick Strong & No Way Jose (w/ Dory Funk Jr.) defeated Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler
The crowd was all over the self-proclaimed “products of the system” Cutler and Blake. The babyfaces won and then celebrated with Funk to send everyone home happy. They were dancing and wearing cowboy hats.
The post-Takeover champions intro airs to start things off while Tom Phillips hypes up the Era of Strong Style. Nakamura faces Steve Cutler tonight, but TM61 start the show against Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari.
TM61 defeated Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari
The crowd goes crazy for the Cruiserweight Classic team, while TM61 still come off like two generic dudes. Nese shines more than TM61 has in mere seconds with flips and superkicks. His Fosbury flop takes out both guys on the floor.
Nese and Miller have an impressive slap and kick exchange leading to a Nese and Daivari hitting a powerslam, superkick, and frog splash for two. But Thunder Valley wins the match for TM61.
Asuka says she respects Bayley, and that while Bayley fought hard, she fought harder. Asuka says she’s cleaned out of the division, and no one is ready for her.
We get a bit of hype for Austin Aries vs. Andrade Almas, and Ember Moon stands around in the grass at Full Sail University to prepare for her match tonight.
Cutler says that tonight, he will show what sacrifice means. He gave up four years of his life to get this chance, and he doesn’t care if anyone likes him or hates him –everyone will respect him.
Ember Moon defeated Leah Von
Leah Von comes out to face Ember Moon. Moon’s body movements are amazing — like Nakamura, she has complete control over every part of her body and it makes her intro stand out.
Moon outwrestles Von with a series of armbars and a headlock before getting two off of a springboard crossbody. Moon gets another near fall off a schoolgirl before hitting a hammerlock suplex and winning with the diving corkscrew stunner, which is as beautiful as Cena’s springboard stunner was ugly.
No Way Jose goes off on Bobby Roode disrespecting him and cuts a pretty intense promo tying “No Way” into how he feels about backing down. This character needed a serious edge, and they’ve given him a bit of one here.
A Revival hype video airs before Tommaso Ciampa meets with a trainer. Johnny Gargano says that his knee will be okay, and that if they get cleared, they can be in a tag match at the CWC live finale next week. The trainer clears him — so they’re a go for the CWC show.
Austin Aries defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas
Almas comes out to face Aries. Aries outwrestles him to start, but Almas comes back with a running rana that sends Aries to the floor. Aries tries to toss him out, but Almas does his waiting pose and sends Aries out of the ring before hitting a corkscrew plancha.
Almas goes up top, but Aries tosses him to the floor. A dueling chant breaks out before Aries rakes his boots on Almas’ face and an elbow gets a near fall. Almas hits a springboard dropkick, but he takes too long for the shotgun knees and eats a corner dropkick.
Almas’ double-backflip moonsault hits for two. Aries gets hip tossed into the buckle, but he avoids the shotgun knees, powerbombs out of a springboard rana, and wins with the Last Chancery.
A video for Sanity airs and Roode vs. No Way Jose is announced for next week.
NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Steve Cutler in a non-title match
Samoa Joe joins Phillips and Corey Graves on commentary, with Joe continuing Raw’s gag of getting Phillips’ name wrong. Cutler comes out to a generic song while Nakamura’s usual intro gets the crowd alive.
Nakamura and Cutler have a fairly short five-minute match that shows off Nakamura’s key spots, while Cutler gets a few shots in and shows a lot of aggression. The inverted exploder, corner knee, and Kinshasa win it for Nakamura. Nakamura poses and Joe fumes at the table as the show goes off the air.
