Various: Josh Alexander Wins MLP Canadian Title & Gisele Shaw Wins MLP Women’s Canadian Title at MLP Northern Rising, TNA Reportedly Looking for New TV Network for Reason for New “Excess Blood” Ban, Indies/Misc.

Josh Alexander Wins MLP Canadian Title & Gisele Shaw Wins MLP Women’s Canadian Title at MLP Northern Rising

Saturday’s Northern Rising event for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada featured two new champions being crowned.

The first was Gisele Shaw defeating Kylie Rae in the Finals of the MLP Women’s Canadian Championship tournament to become the inaugural champion.

AND NEW MLP WOMENS CANADIAN CHAMPION: @GiseleShaw08 !!!#MLPNorthernRising

Watch LIVE on @Triller_TV:https://t.co/LWaTtvfbhs… pic.twitter.com/fFCW9GX18n

— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) May 11, 2025

The second was Josh Alexander being the winner of the 20-Man Gauntlet match for the MLP Canadian Heavyweight Championship to become the inaugural champion. Alexander won the match after last eliminating Matt Cardona.

JOSH ALEXANDER IS THE NEW MLP CANADIAN CHAMP #MLPNorthernRising #MLP pic.twitter.com/8b2D9O0BxZ

— TalonWulf • タロン • ウルフ (@TalonWulfIII) May 11, 2025

AND NEW MLP CANADIAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION – @Walking_Weapon #MLPNorthernRising

Watch LIVE on @Triller_TV:https://t.co/LWaTtvfbhs… pic.twitter.com/VMB3ugasHk

— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) May 11, 2025

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TNA Reportedly Looking for New TV Network for Reason for New Ban on “Excess Blood” & Blading for Matches

As noted before, TNA recently issued a new edict banning “excessive blood” and blading from matches going forward in the company.

Sports Illustrated’s Jon Alba recently reported that his sources stated that the reason for TNA officials’ new ban on “excessive blood” and blading is due to the company has been actively shopping their Impact! series around for a potential new media rights deal with a new television network.

Fightful Select reported that their sources confirmed Alba’s report and and stated that TNA shopping Impact! around to potentially interested networks has been going on for some time.

Those spoken to reportedly stated that TNA’s decision to ban blood is believed to be part of an effort by the company to make their product more appealing to potential new broadcasters.

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Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Saturday’s Azteca Lucha 2025 event for Major League Wrestling in Cicero, Illinois featured Myron Reed making his surprise return to MLW. This was Reed’s first appearance in MLW since January of 2023.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that MLW had taped a War Chamber match prior to the start of Saturday’s Azteca Lucha 2025 event in Cicero for this year’s War Chamber event. Johnson reported that this match featured Alex Kane, Matthew Justice, Paul London, & Mr. Thomas facing off against The Rogue Horsemen (CW Anderson, Brock Anderson, Bobby Fish, & Brett Ryan Gosselin).

The International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame recently announced that Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson will be getting inducted into their Hall of Fame as part of this year’s class of inductees. This year’s class currently features Atlas, Johnson, and Trish Stratus.

Deadline reported that their sources stated that WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash recently joined the cast of an upcoming new dramedy film called Caroline. This upcoming film was stated to be “The film follows 11-year-old Caroline, a clever, sharp-eyed girl navigating a life of excitement and peril as a shoplifter with her mom Jocelyn. When Caroline’s estranged father Corey — a charming, small-town con artist — gets out of prison and re-enters their lives, things briefly seem to settle. But when the family is threatened over a debt they can’t repay, their fragile peace falters. Desperation drives Caroline and her mom into one last, ill-fated heist.”

Saturday’s PAX East 2025 event in Boston, Massachusetts featured Kenny Omega defeating Xavier Woods in a Capcom Fighting Collection 2 match at the PAX Arena.

PROGRESS Wrestling reportedly drew an attendance of 600 for their May 4th Super Strong Style 16 2025 event in London and 600 for their May 5th Super Strong Style 16 2025 event in London, England, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

New Japan Pro Wrestling reportedly drew a paid attendance of 2,903 for their May 3rd Wrestling Dontaku 2025 Night 1 event in Fukuoka and 5,407 for their May 4th Wrestling Dontaku 2025 Night 2 event in Fukuoka, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Wrestling Dontaku 2025 Night 2 show was notable for being Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI’s final matches and event of their NJPW careers.

Pro Wrestling NOAH reportedly drew a paid attendance of 4,571 for their May 3rd 25th Anniversary Memorial Voyage 2025 event in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

All Japan Pro Wrestling reportedly drew a paid attendance of 1,187 for their May 8th Champion Carnival 2025 event in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Marigold reportedly drew a paid attendance of 1,210 for their May 4th Rising Spirit event in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This event was notable for featuring former Stardom talent Mayu Iwatani’s official in-ring debut for Marigold.