Various: Backstage Update on Gisele Shaw Signing with NWA & Her MLP Departure, Matt Hardy on “Some People May Be Nostalgic For Us, But There’s Even More That Are Rabid To See Us & Meet Us. Numbers Don’t Lie”, Indies/Misc.

Sep 19, 2026

Backstage Update on Gisele Shaw Signing with NWA & Her MLP Departure

As noted before, former TNA and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling talent Gisele Shaw recently signed a contract with the National Wrestling Alliance that was stated to be “exclusive.” This past Wednesday’s MLP Mayhem show featured Priscilla Kelly defeating Shaw to become the new MLP Canadian Women’s Champion.

Shaw recently confirmed on Twitter her departure from MLP and thanked the company and MLP owner Scott D’Amore for her time there and opportunities given.

Thank you @MapleLeafPW for all the opportunities and amazing memories that allowed me to not only grow into a better person but a better performer as well.
Forever grateful to each and every single person from front end, production, crew, talent, hair and makeup, creative, coaches, and management that had been subjected and put up with all my crazy diva antics and made me look like a million bucks. I’ll never forget you all and what you’ve done for me.
Last but not the least, Thank you @ScottDAmore for always listening and believing in my wild hopes and dreams since 2017. For taking a chance on me to help build a company and a women’s division that rivals any wrestling company. MLP is quite special and I cannot wait to watch while cheering you all on.
It’s never a goodbye but always until next time. Stay Quintessential
Xoxo, First and longest reigning ANY MLP champion, Head of the Commonwealth Realm and America. GS
P.S. 9 years going strong and aging like fine wine”

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that the timing of Shaw’s departure from MLP was not due to anything related to her breakup from D’Amore as a couple. Meltzer reported that Shaw and D’Amore had split up this past Spring and Sahw had only recently posted photos of her new life partner.

Meltzer reported that MLP officials’ original plans were for Shaw to hold the MLP Canadian Women’s title through at least this October. Those plans reportedly were changed after Shaw signed her new deal with NWA due to it contains terms that does not allow Shaw to be on any other wrestling television show.

Meltzer also reported that Shaw’s deal with the NWA had been in the works for some time before NWA’s official announcement.

Matt Hardy Comments on “Some People May Be Nostalgic For Us, But There’s Even More That Are Rabid To See Us & Meet Us. Numbers Don’t Lie”

In a recent response to fans on Twitter about TNA Wrestling’s sluggish ticket sales for this October’s Bound For Glory 2026 event, Matt Hardy responded stating that any blame on The Hardys being a reason is not true.

This online debate originated after a person brought up how the “downfall” of TNA in 2026 needs to be studied and why WWE is not to be blamed and instead it was all TNA’s fault for it happening. This led to another fan responding bringing up how last year’s Bound For Glory event had The Hardys vs. Team 3D as its main draw for why the ticket sales had set a new all-time attendance record in North America. Hardy joined in on the debate and brought up how event had sold almost 4,000 tickets just on The Hardys vs. Team 3D match announcement alone.

Yes. Hardys vs Team 3D was the first & only match announced & it legit sold almost 4000 tix before a second match was announced. https://t.co/Ir0pXEJarF https://t.co/dgsRVRoZ2k pic.twitter.com/tekCQ1lwpN
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) September 18, 2026

In response to Hardy’s comments, another fan responded stating “U can’t live in nostalgia forever due.” Hardy responded back stating:

“The highest rated episode of #TNAiMPACT on AMC was built around The Hardys vs The Righteous – Only ep to break 309,000 viewers live.. Was that nostalgia? Some people may be nostalgic for us, but there’s even more that are rabid to see us & meet us. Numbers don’t lie, dude.”

The highest rated episode of #TNAiMPACT on AMC was built around The Hardys vs The Righteous – Only ep to break 309,000 viewers live.. Was that nostalgia? Some people may be nostalgic for us, but there’s even more that are rabid to see us & meet us. Numbers don’t lie, dude. https://t.co/s4prQjLydP
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) September 19, 2026

TNA President Carlos Silva responded praising The Hardys’ impact on TNA and his goal of reaching 400,000 for viewership of Impact! shows on AMC in the future.

True story from the Hardy’s and the Righteous. Records are records. Now we gotta get to 400k on AMC. Positive work and attitude will get us there along with all the talented teammates. The Hardy’s rock. https://t.co/nWF0KFOLIq
— Carlos Silva (@carlossilva) September 19, 2026

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Indies talent Ganon Jones Jr. recently announced on Instagram that he will be stepping away from his wrestling career due to him no longer “having fun” with his career following the passing of “The Butcher” Andy Williams earlier this month. Jones Jr. was one of the wrestlers involved in Williams’ final match at Big Time Wrestling’s event that ended with Williams suffering a medical emergency and passing away afterwards.

1 Fall Wrestling recently announced that Josh Alexander will be making an appearance for the company at their Rome Rampage event on November 20 in Rome, Georgia.

As noted before, indies talent Brooke Havok. Havok is currently out of action from wrestling due to her recently suffering a torn ACL and meniscus injuries. Jonathan Gresham recently launched a GoFundMe fundraiser in support of Havok to help financially assist her medical bills and recovery from her injuries.

Lucha Libre AAA reportedly drew an attendance of 6,604 for their Sept. 11th Triplemania 34 Night 1 event in Las Vegas, NV and 18,204 for their Sept. 13th Triplemania 34 Night 2 event in Mexico City, Mexico, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

CMLL reportedly drew an attendance of 13,200 for their Sept. 11th Viernes Espectacular show at the Arena Mexico in Mexico City and 8,233 for their Sept. 13th Domingo Familiar Internacional show at the Arena Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

NJPW reportedly drew a paid attendance of 1,250 for their Sept. 13th Road To Destruction 2026 event in Sendai and 615 for their Sept. 15th Road To Destruction 2026 event in Hokuto, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Stardom reportedly drew a paid attendance of 2,009 for their Sept. 12th To The World 2026 event in Yokohama, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This event featured Triangle of Madness (Julia Hart, Skye Blue, & Thekla) successfully defending their Artists of Stardom Championship against Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura, Natsupoi, & Yuna Mizumori).

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that the reason why all CMLL talent except for Templario had been removed from the roster page on Major League Wrestling’s website on Friday was due to a simple glitch affecting their site. Those spoken to reportedly stated that this was not any indication of the status of MLW’s current working partnership with CMLL following the recent Tessa Blanchard pulled booking and contract situation. Meltzer reported that MLW had fixed the problem on their website later that day.

House of Glory recently announced one new match for the card of their Windy City Warfare event on September 25 in Chicago, Illinois:

HOG Cruiserweight Championship – Gringo Loco vs. “Blackheart” Lio Rush (c)
Killer Kross vs. Charles Mason

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Fight Club: The Art Of War Games Night Two event on October 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey:

Pitbull Gary Wolf vs. Jimmy Lloyd

GCW also recently announced one new match for the card of their The Crossroads event on November 7 in Indianapolis, Indiana:

Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw (former Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis in WWE) vs. VNDL48 (Atticus & Otis Cogar)

Boca Raton Championship Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Cruisin’ For A Bruisin 4 event on November 6 in Miami, Florida:

BRCW 6-Man Tag Team Championship – Joseph Sawyer, Samuel Shaw, & Erick Redbeard (former Erick Rowan in WWE) vs. Gangrel & The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) (c)