Josh Barnett says he is shopping the Bloodsport brand around and has received serious interest from potential partners, raising the possibility that the acclaimed shoot-style wrestling show could return after being put on hiatus earlier in 2026.
Speaking about the current state of the promotion, Barnett said, “We’ve had some good bites from people with a lot of interest,” according to Fightful. The comment marks the first concrete sign of forward motion since Barnett announced at the conclusion of Bloodsport XV in April that the event series was going on an indefinite hiatus.
At the time of that announcement, Barnett was direct about the reasoning behind the pause, explaining that he needed to find additional capital to properly fund and sustain the show going forward, according to Fightful. That explanation suggested the hiatus was a financial and structural issue rather than any falling out over the Bloodsport concept itself, and Barnett’s latest comments indicate he has spent the months since actively pursuing new investment or partnership opportunities to get the brand back on track.
Bloodsport has built a reputation as one of the most distinctive products on the independent wrestling scene, built around hard-hitting, shoot-style matches that draw on legitimate combat sports presentation. The concept did not originate with Barnett. As F4W Online noted, Matt Riddle was the face behind the very first Bloodsport event before Barnett eventually took over stewardship of the brand, which he and Game Changer Wrestling had co-produced together since 2019.
That partnership with Game Changer Wrestling helped turn Bloodsport into a recurring attraction that drew respected names from across the industry, trading on its reputation for stiff, credible in-ring work rather than typical sports-entertainment presentation. The April hiatus therefore represented a notable pause for a brand that had carved out a specific niche over several years of events.
Neither Fightful nor F4W Online reported a timeline for when a revived Bloodsport might return, nor did either outlet name the parties behind the “good bites” Barnett referenced. What is established is that Barnett remains open to relaunching the concept if the right financial backing materializes, and that discussions with interested parties are currently underway. Further details on potential partners, a venue, or a date would mark the next concrete step toward Bloodsport’s return.
