Fans hoping to see a WWE star face off against an AEW star at a future Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event will be disappointed.
One of the most anticipated independent events set to take place over WrestleMania weekend, Bloodsport will see stars from multiple companies fight it out in unique matches that can only end via knockout, submission or referee stoppage. With no ropes and no turnbuckles, the unique pro wrestling and MMA hybrid show has continually grown in popularity over the past few years and will present its 13th event in Las Vegas on April 17th.
With a record 7 WWE stars set to be at the event along with names from NJPW and STARDOM, the card is arguably the most stacked it has ever been. However, for the 2025 event, there is a notable absence of AEW stars. Previously, the likes of MVP, Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir have all been in action at the event but could appear at future shows.
With Bloodsport being one of the few places where WWE and AEW stars could appear on the same card, some fans have fantasy booked potential interpromotional matches on neutral ground. However, while speaking with Shakiel Mahjouri of SHAK Wrestling, The Warmaster said the following when asked about a possible WWE vs. AEW match:
“I don’t think at the moment that is something that will work for either company. They’re very much in a heated rivalry and I mean, to me, regardless of being an AEW or WWE person, I could put together a match that will serve everybody. But, I do also respect that these two companies have their own stances towards each other, towards the market itself and their talent and their concerns. That’s fine by me. These are not my companies and technically, these are not my wrestlers. So I cannot see anyway at which I can approach this and be like, ‘Oh well, you owe me for this’ or ‘You should do it because…’ No, if they were ever interested to have my opinion on this and how this could be done and whether or not that they would agree with it, awesome. But at this moment, I don’t see that being something that either would be comfortable with. It wouldn’t be something in regards to the wrestlers specifically themselves, but it’s just the politics I suppose you could say of competition. That won’t stop a DDT wrestler from wrestling a WWE wrestler, or a New Japan wrestler from wrestling an AEW or a WWE wrestler or a STARDOM wrestler wrestling an AEW wrestler or NWA or MLW or whoever. We put the matches together and we always try to make sure that everybody represented comes out looking better than when they stepped in that ring.”
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport Card Finalised
With matches announced over the past few weeks, the card has been finalised for the show along with combat spots icons Dan Severn, Don Frye, Mark Kerr, Butterbean, and Tank Abbott appearing as guests of honour.
The final card for the show is as follows:
- Josh Barnett vs. Gabe Kidd
- Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jonathan Gresham
- Karrion Kross vs. JR Kratos
- Shayna Baszler vs. Konami
- Natalya vs. Miyu Yamashita
- Pete Dunne vs. Timothy Thatcher
- Leyla Hirsch vs. Jordan Blade
- Charlie Dempsey vs. Shinya Aoki
- Karmen Petrovic vs. Maika
- Tavion Heights vs. Royce Issacs
Featured image: WWE/AEW
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