Select Portions: Producer With Heat, G1 Odds, Keith Lee, Ridge Holland, More (Patreon)

- Ahead of his arrest, we're told that BJ Whitmer had some heat with how he'd produced a recent match.

- Keith Lee was actually supposed to be on the June 7 AEW Dynamite, but there were travel and logistical issues that ended up preventing it from happening. 

- Bobby Lashley hasn't wrestled since the World Heavyweight Title tournament, but is advertised locally for Friday's WWE Smackdown. 

- Christopher Daniels produced the main event segment for AEW Dynamite that featured Eddie Kingston and Will Ospreay's returns.

Ridge Holland

Ridge Holland of the WWE’s Brawling Brutes joined Fightful for an exclusive interview. Sean kicked things off by mentioning Ridge’s Rugby background. Sean asked Ridge if there had been other sports that piqued his interest. Ridge says people have been telling him to check out the NFL, but he has been pretty busy. However, he said it would be something he’s sure he will check out sometime.

Ridge talked about his reaction to getting drafted to SmackDown. Ridge said he was eating dinner and watching SmackDown. It nearly made him spit his food out when it appeared on TV. Ridge said there was no heads-up about getting drafted.

Ridge said it was bittersweet because he never really got to show people what he was capable of [in NXT]. Ridge said going to the main roster and being paired has been fantastic. He still says there is some adversity because of injuries and the unfortunate incident with Big E. Ridge says he believes he is still trying to prove himself and looking for opportunities to show the fans and his peers what he can do.

Sean pointed out to Ridge that we have seen Angel Garza, Humberto Carillo, Mustafa Ali, and Baron Corbin back on NXT. Sean asked Ridge if that was something that he would be interested in. Ridge said he was open to anything, but for now, being on the main roster and getting the experience of what goes on is where he wants to be.

Ridge said you couldn’t prepare for a War Games match when asked about War Games and how one prepares for it. Ridge said the experience of the people in the ring with him, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Kevin Owens, and Butch. Ridge mentioned that Butch and Dakota are the OG’s of the War Games match because they’ve been in the most.

Ridge believes the Brawling Brutes have yet to scratch the surface with the Brawling Brutes. Ridge talked about how their matches with Imperium have been well received. Ridge said that Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni can bring it.

Another subject was Sheamus; Ridge talked about how Sheamus leads by example. He still goes out trying to surpass everything he’s done. Ridge said Sheamus is having a great run because of the fans. Ridge believes it’s a sign of respect because the fans have seen what he has done in the company he has been in for so long.

They talked about the WrestleMania and 40-Year-Old Virgin commercial spoof. Ridge spoke about the behind-the-scenes. Ridge says the call time for him was at 7:30 AM, and Sheamus, Butch, and Drew McIntyre’s were at 12:30, and that was because of the hair they applied.

Ridge said he has turned down requests to move to Nashville, where Drew and Sheamus live. He said getting his family from the United Kingdom to Florida was good, and there was no chance of moving elsewhere.

NJPW G1 Betting odds (BETONLINEAG)

NJPW - G1 Climax

Block A Winner

SANADA

-500

(-500)

Kaito Kiyomiya

200

(+200)

Shota Umino

300

(+300)

Yota Tsuji

300

(+300)

Hikuleo

600

(+600)

Gabriel Kidd

1000

(+1000)

Ren Narita

1000

(+1000)

Chase Owens

5000

(+5000)

Block B Winner

Kazuchika Okada

-200

(-200)

Will Ospreay

100

(+100)

KENTA

350

(+350)

Taichi

500

(+500)

Tanga Loa

700

(+700)

El Phantasmo

900

(+900)

Great-O-Khan

900

(+900)

YOSHI-HASHI

900

(+900)

Block C Winner

David Finlay

-300

(-300)

Shingo Takagi

250

(+250)

Tama Tonga

350

(+350)

Aaron Henare

400

(+400)

EVIL

400

(+400)

Tomohiro Ishii

500

(+500)

Eddie Kingston

800

(+800)

Mikey Nicholls

2000

(+2000)

Block D Winner

Zack Sabre Jr.

-130

(-130)

Tetsuya Naito

100

(+100)

Hiroshi Tanahashi

300

(+300)

Jeff Cobb

350

(+350)

Hirooki Goto

450

(+450)

Alex Coughlin

800

(+800)

Shane Haste

800

(+800)

Toru Yano

3000

(+3000)