Various: Leon Slater TNA Contract Status Update, Paul Walter Hauser Issues Challenge to QT Marshall for Future Match, War Raiders Matches Opponents & More Matches Set for GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV, Indies/Misc.

Aug 1, 2025

Leon Slater TNA Contract Status Update

As noted before, Leon Slater has been signed with TNA Wrestling since October of 2023. Slater’s contract with TNA was stated at the time by former TNA President Scott D’Amore to be a “long-term contract.”

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan reported that his sources stated that Slater’s current contract with TNA is actually for three years in length and is set to expire in the Fall of 2026.

Brennan reported that sources close to Slater stated that he is looking to relocate to the United States full-time. Slater reportedly is still expected to continue fulfilling his indies dates in the United Kingdom

Paul Walter Hauser Issues Challenge to QT Marshall for Future Match

Thursday’s ROH TV show on HonorClub featured actor and MLW talent Paul Walter Hauser issuing a challenge to QT Marshall for a match in the future.

During the show, a video aired featuring Hauser talking about his issues with Marshall revolving around Marshall throwing a drink at him during AEW’s Revolution Zero Hour pre-show. Hauser stated that he believes that the drink was alcoholic and Marshall did it as extra insult due to he has been sober for nearly four years.

CRYSTAL CLEAR!
After the disrespect shown by @QTMarshall during #AEWRevolution Zero Hour earlier this year, Paul Walter Hauser is out for revenge, and he’s issued a challenge!

Watch #ROH TV on #HonorClub at https://t.co/8dcdtxqvDf pic.twitter.com/iNYGl6GCDC
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) July 31, 2025

War Raiders Matches Opponents & More Announced for GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV

Josh Barnett recently announced – new matches for the card of Game Changer Wrestling’s Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV event on August 2nd in Rutherford, New Jersey.

The first new match announced was a singles match of Erik vs. 1 Called Manders.

The second new match announced was a singles match of Ivar vs. Royce Isaacs.

The third new match was a singles match of Timothy Thatcher vs. Slade.

The fourth new match was a singles match of Matt Mako vs. Ray Jaz.

Current card for GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV:

Nattie Neidhart vs. Masha Slamovich
Jordan Blade vs. Janai Kai
Pete Dunne vs. Jonathan Gresham
Charlie Dempsey vs. Dominic Garrini
Nick Comoroto vs. Simon Gotch
Erik vs. 1 Called Manders
Ivar vs. Royce Isaacs
Timothy Thatcher vs. Slade
Matt Mako vs. Ray Jaz

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Thursday’s ROH TV show on HonorClub featured ROH and indies talent and former AEW writer Jimmy Jacobs making an in-ring return appearance to Ring of Honor. Jacobs competed in a singles match against Blake Christian, which was won by Christian. This was Jacobs’ first match in ROH since May of 2024.

As noted before, former WWE wrestler Mike “Duke The Dumpster” Droese was arrested this past May in Warren County, Tennessee on charges of attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of children. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that a court hearing is currently scheduled to take place on August 27th in Warren County, Tennessee based on recent court records. Johnson reported that this upcoming hearing is listed as “plea or trial selection”, which means if Droese and the prosecution haven’t come to terms on a plea, then a trial date will be scheduled at the hearing.

Marvelous announced that Senka Akatsuki has been recently pulled from Marigold’s upcoming Dream Star GP tournament due to her currently suffering from pneumonia. It was also announced that they have also pulled Akatsuki from their upcoming event on August 8th in Tokyo, Japan due to her illness.

Marigold recently announced that Ryoko Sakimura has departed from the company after being granted her release request.

In a recent interview with Tokyo Sports, former NJPW talent Tetsuya Naito gave his thoughts about his upcoming schedule of events and how a return to Japan is not part of his current plans for his wrestling career. Naito stated “I was actually planning to go directly from the UK to the US, but it seems that US visas are extremely strict right now. I wasn’t able to get one this time, so I came back. With the situation in the US being uncertain, I feel like my next fight will probably be in Europe. At this point, Japan is definitely not an option for me. I’m thinking about which country and promotion I should go to next.” Naito also gave his thoughts about the state of NJPW since his departure. Naito stated I’m still a member of the (official) mobile site and NJPW WORLD, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested, and I keep an eye on the results, attendance figures, and future plans. They seem to be struggling to attract attendees to this year’s G1 Climax, but I don’t think it’ll be a problem. It’s true that I’m not competing myself, but the wrestlers I’ve fought with are there. Of course, it’s frustrating when that happens, but I want to see New Japan sell out tickets one after another. It’s inspiring, after all.“

Thursday’s TNA Impact! show featured the announcement of KC Navarro had re-aggregated his knee injury at Slammiversary 2025 and was not medically cleared to compete on the show. It was announced that the previously scheduled Six-Man Tag Team match of The System (Moose, Eddie Edwards, & JDC) vs. Trick Williams & FIR$T CLA$$ (KC Navarro & AJ Francis) had been changed to a tag team match of The System (Moose & Eddie Edwards) vs. Trick Williams & AJ Francis instead as a result.

TNA announced four new matches for the card of next week’s Impact! show on August 7th on AXS TV and Sportsnet 360: