Time to do some ... summer cleaning? Doug & Ryan begin the episode by discussing key free agency-related moments from the big weekend including Athena winning a contract (and maybe a clue to her *other* contract), Adam Priest's odds of joining ROH, Goldberg’s retirement (and his reaction to it), Nikki Bella appearing again in WWE, Syuri and Alex Windsor formally debuting in AEW, and AJ Styles seeming to return to TNA.All that plus the latest on a slew of others (Alexander Hammerstone, Gabe Kidd, Leon Slater, Sami Zayn, Saraya, Utami Hayashishita). Welcome to WrestleWatch: Pro Wrestling Free Agency Podcast Episode 60!
This episode was recorded live on 7/17/25. Music Provided by Wendi Freeman [TikTok & Instagram: maritalstreep]
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As always here is the updated Free Agency Tracker:
Athena has got herself a new contract - well, not a performer contract, but the one for a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship. Her being on the Tracker was predicated on her having signed with AEW initially in summer 2022, thus a likely three-year deal would theoretically expire around now. Considering how AEW has dealt with expiring deals of late with regards to on-screen pushes (see: Mariah May’s final chapter), we feel that it’s alright to downgraded Athena’s likelihood of jump from AEW from Remote to Low Confidence and remove her from the Tracker.
We’ve similarly removed for Low Confidence the likes of Alexander Hammerstone and Utami Hayashishita. Both seem fairly set in their present promotions (MLW and Marigold, respectively) and we feel their odds of jump to a new home within the next year to be below the point which we actively track here at WrestleWatch.
Two have dropped a tier due to some time passing without new news are a pair of Brits, Leon Slater and Saraya. Slater might have buzz about him as the wrestling world refocuses on the UK coming up with AEW Forbidden Door and WWE’s tour of the UK prior to Clash in Paris. Saraya had some comments trying to will buzz into existence regarding the WWE Evolution II show this past weekend, yet it appears there was nothing material there. Both are downgraded from Unlikely to Remote chances.
Finally we have a new addition to the Tracker: Adam Priest. He has been featured occasionally on Ring of Honor programming in recent months, including a feature spot at the DEAN co-promotion show in May and appearing on Supercard of Honor this past weekend. Priest has also received praise from Bryan Danielson, who called him the best independent wrestler today. Such a high praise from one of Tony Khan’s inner circle plus his usage in ROH leads one to think perhaps there’s a chance of Priest getting a long-term deal with the promotion, and thus we’re adding him cautiously as Possible.
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