Bloodsport Pulled Booked Talent To Make Room for WWE Stars

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport might’ve delivered hard-hitting action during WrestleMania weekend, but behind the scenes, it caused real heat with fans and wrestlers alike.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, several talents originally booked for the Las Vegas event were pulled to make room for WWE Superstars—leaving longtime Bloodsport regulars on the outside looking in. “There was certainly people who complained with the idea that so many WWE people were on the show, and people who were Bloodsport regulars who were promised spots on the show were now off the show because of it and all that,” Meltzer explained.

One of those pulled was British wrestler Lou Nixon, who went public with the news that he was cut due to the overloaded match card. He was given a last-minute spot in Joey Janela’s Clusterf**k battle royal instead.

WWE talent dominated this year’s show, appearing in 7 of the 10 matches—the highest number ever at a Bloodsport event. Shayna Baszler, Pete Dunne, Karrion Kross, Natalya, Charlie Dempsey, and Tavion Heights all picked up wins. Karmen Petrovic was the only one who lost. NJPW’s Gabe Kidd closed out the show by beating Josh Barnett himself in the main event.

Bloodsport is known for its no-nonsense style, but this move felt like a slap to indie loyalists who helped build the brand.