Great news, dear listeners! The DKP returns to F4W shores with a bumper episode blending two of the loveliest things in the world: lovely wrestling and lovely songs!
First up. Mark Robinson joins Alan to preview New Japan’s upcoming Best Of The Super Juniors tournament which kicks off this weekend at Korakuen Hall. Mark and Alan run down all of the participants, the key matchups and the most tantalising prospects brought about by this stacked field. It’s looking like being the summer of the junior heavyweights in Pro Wrestling this year and it kicks off in a big way with the BOSJ!
Then we move to something…a little bit different! Alan calls up his buddy THE LORCSTER to discuss this past weekend’s EUROVISION SONG CONTEST!!! Yes the event that brings Europe together in one campy, harmonious party – this year featuring the world’s most splendid man Justin Timberlake!!! A fun show so CHECK IT!!!
There are a number of major dates in pro wrestling for the month of June, one of the biggest for significant shows of the year:
June 4 – UFC 199 from the Forum in Los Angeles with Michael Bisping getting his first title opportunity of his career battling Luke Rockhold for the middleweight belt
June 5 – AAA’s Victoria World Cup men and women’s trio tournament finals at Los Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City which will be a live iPPV show
June 7 – New Japan Best of the Super Juniors finals from Sendai live on New Japan World
June 8 – NXT Takeover from Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL featuring Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor in a cage match plus a loaded lineup that includes American Alpha vs. The Revival and probably Shinsuke Nakamura vs Austin Aries, which could be WWE’s match of the month.
June 12 – TNA Slammiversary headlined by Drew Galloway vs. Bobby Lashley for the TNA title from Orlando
June 12 – Revolution Pro Wrestling in London, England headlined by Kurt Angle vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
June 19 – New Japan Dominion, one of the company’s biggest events of the year, featuring Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada in an IWGP title match and Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi in a ladder match for the IC title
June 19 – WWE Money in the Bank from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
June 24 – ROH Best in the World from Concord, NC with Jay Lethal vs. Jay Briscoe for the ROH title
June 25 – Ultima Lucha tapings in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles at The Temple
June 26 – Ultima Lucha tapings in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles at The Temple
SMACKDOWN TONIGHT ON USA AT 8 P.M.
Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens
Paige vs. Dana Brooke
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
New Day & Big Cass vs. Dudleys & Vaudevillains
Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows non-title
This is the final TV before Sunday’s Extreme Rules show.
NXT will be taped tonight at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today!
A look at what’s next for WWE after Extreme Rules, the UFC sale with lots of exclusive info, Vince & Linda McMahon selling their stock, Chris Weidman’s injury and how that changes plans, the staggering drop in kids viewing for WWE and exactly who watches the TV today, plus UFC 198 coverage and Best of The Super Juniors tournament news are among the stories covered in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
More on the injury returns and summer ideas and why WWE could have its deepest talent roster in a long time in very short order. Plus, talk about the NXT/WWE balance and why talent is actually more important for arena business if in NXT.
There is also an extenisve look at the Extreme Rules show.
In addition, updates on the UFC sale, including news about who is in, who is not in, what it all means, what is being sold, where Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta fit in and UFC fixture who indicates he’s likely gone if the sale goes through, all in covered in this issue.
A glimpse into Vince McMahon’s stock sale, what it means, how much money did he get, and how his stock sale only increased the difference in the value of UFC vs. WWE, and for how much Vince McMahon bought the company.
More on the injury to Chris Weidman, how it happened, his future, Michael Bisping’s title shot and more on UFC 1999.
Also in this issue, find out who watches WWE on television and how many in each different age group.
Find out how WWE has changed the schedule of the Cruiserweight tournament and why, more on the arrest of Adam Rose, more on Stephanie McMahon’s book, how Stephanie will be pushed on television going forward, how Stephanie will be marketed as the face of the company, and another WWE firing.
Finally, there’s full coverage of UFC 198, including business notes including early estimates on success, ramifications of the show, match-by-match coverage, looking at the judging of close fights and poll results.
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer.
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40-issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues.
Today would have been the 70th birthday of Andre The Giant. That has led to a lot of Andre talk today. There is a story in the New York Daily News. There is a photo in that story of Andre with Chuck Wepner, who is 6-foot-5, which pretty much gives away he wasn’t 7-feet tall. When that match took place in 1976, it was reported that Andre was 6-foot-9 and 370 pounds.
In a TV ratings note, on Saturday night during the King Mo vs. Phil Davis fight, over an eight minute period the audience grew from 887,000 to 1.3 million live.
It is official that Chase Owens and David Finlay will be the replacements for Nick & Matt Jackson in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament which starts on Saturday morning live on New Japan World from Korakuen Hall. Finlay is in the A block with Kushida, Ryusuke Taguchi, Kyle O’Reilly, Matt Sydal, Rocky Romero, Gedo and Bushi. Owens is in the B block with Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask, Bobby Fish, Trent Baretta, Ricochet, Volador Jr. and Will Ospreay.
Zack Sabre Jr., who was scheduled to defend the PWG title tomorrow night against Michael Elgin, but is out of action, suffered a lesion to his right forearm in a 5/13 match in Magdeburg, Germany in a match with Big Daddy Walter. The match was immediately stopped and he was rushed to the hospital. The rupture to the forearm was caused by a collision into the post that left a 4 centimeter cut that needed five stitches. He’ll be out of action for a few weeks, returning on 6/12 for a match with Revolution Pro Wrestling, where he faces Kurt Angle.
Shawn Michaels has been in the news in Pittsburgh because the line of Nick Bonino, Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin of the Penguins is called the HBK Line. Michaels found out about it and has become a Penguins fan. There is a campaign to bring Michaels to game five of the current series in Pittsburgh. There are two articles, the first can be read here, and the second can be read here.
Tenille Dashwood’s (Emma) spinal surgery went well yesterday.
CNN, Dwayne Johnson and former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz have put together a new TV show called “Soundtracks: Songs that Made History, “an eight-episode series combining the music of the times with major historical moments.
Lilian Garcia on Facebook wrote that the FDA had approved of the drug Atezolizumab to battle her father’s cancer. Originally he was going to try it as an experimental drug. Her father has been battling cancer, but due to a bad reaction which led to two kidney surgeries, he had to stop his chemotherapy treatments.
The company has announced these men and women at the current three-day tryout camp at the Performance Center:
Bliaze Cabell – Three-time NCAA wrestling tournament qualifier as a heavyweight from Northern Iowa University
Junior Aumavae – a 311 pound former nose tackle who had time with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys
Paul Cheng – Former CFL player who did some MMA fighting
Nathan Redwing – A 290 pound indie wrestler who played football at Peru State College
Arkady Unterleidner – A former bikini contest competitor who trained with Brian Kendrick
Brian Waymire – A 6-foot-9 former swimmer
Yaseen Mudassar – A two-time All-American wrestler who is 300 pounds and wrestled as Yaseen the Persian Machine on indies
Ashley Urbanski – A finalist who didn’t make the cut for the last season of Tough Enough.
Dustin Runnels wrote that today he is eight years sober. Congrats to him for turning his life around.
WWE stock was down 21 cents per share to $16.96 today.
UFC
A story on the Ali Act that is likely to be introduced shortly into legislation regarding MMA is here.
The odds for Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping are considerably longer than what originally came out and were talked about on last night’s show. Nick Kalikas came out with odds that have Rockhold a -1050 favorite and Bisping at +600. Rockhold was a -500 favorite in their first fight, which he won via second round submission.
Ali Bagautinov vs. Geane Herrera has been added to the 6/18 UFC show in Ottawa as a flyweight fight. That’s the show headlined by Stephen Thompson vs. Rory MacDonald.
MISCELLANEOUS
Curtis “Mr.” Hughes is now taking bookings for matches, appearances and seminars through Bill Behrens at www.sbibookings.com. He is based in Atlanta. For promoters outside the U.S. and Ontario, Behrens is also a booking agent for Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and The Young Bucks. For Lethal, Daniels and Kazarian, promoters can book them to defend their ROH titles outside the U.S. ROH wrestlers Matt Sydal and Moose are available for indie bookings both in the U.S. and outside the U.S. Also available is Drew Galloway and he can defend his TNA title on independent shows and wants to defend the title around the world. Other names available are Sean Waltman, Tommy Dreamer, Al Snow, Blue Meanie, Jimmy Rave, Stevie Richards, Scott Half, Rick Steiner, Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke and Shane Helms.
Venator Fighting Championships on Saturday in Milan, Italy features Matt Hamill, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and ultra controversial fighters Rousimar Palhares and Jason “Mayhem” Miller. Palhares (18-6) faces Emil Weber Meek (7-2-1) for the welterweight title. Miller (23-9, 1 no contest) faces former UFC fighter Luke Barnatt (10-3) for the middleweight title. Hamill vs. Sokoudjou is also on the show, is are former UFC and Strikeforce fighters like Igor Araujo, Karl Amoussou, Che Mills and Cody McKenzie. The show will stream live at www.MMTTV.co.uk starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time. It also airs on Fox Sports Italy.
Evolve has announced a WWE Cruiserweight Classic flashpoint match on 6/11 in Orlando with Johnny Gargano vs Drew Gulak vs. Lince Dorado vs. TJP (and more may be added), all of which are in the WWE cruiserweight classic. Here are the current lineups.
6/10 in Ybor City, FL:
Timothy Thatcher vs. Chris Hero for Evolve title
Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams vs. Bravado Brothers for Evolve tag title
Johnny Gargano & TJP vs. Drew Galloway & Ethan Cater III
Matt Riddle vs. Cedric Alexander
6/11 in Orlando:
WWE Cruiserweight Classic flashpoint multiple person elimination match
Drew Galloway vs. Ethan Page anything goes
Ethan Carter III vs. ?
Matt Riddle vs. Trevor Lee
TNA Victory Road PPV debuts on The Fite App as well as regular PPV tomorrow with a taped show:
Ethan Carter III vs. Eli Drake
James Storm vs. Bram
Velvet Sky vs. Marti Bell
DJ Zema Ion vs. Andrew Everett
Eddie Edwards vs. Trevor Lee
Bro Mans vs. Tom LaRuffa & Pierre Marceau (Sylvester Lefort & Marcus Louis in NXT)
Chris Melendez vs. Beauregarde
Bobby Roode vs. Pepper Parks
All winners in a Royal rumble match where the winner gets a future TNA title match
Les Thatcher is doing one day seminars as well as weekend training camps, as well as available to do announcing. For more info you can contact him at lesthatcher@zoomtown.com
CZW’s Tournament of Death takes place on 6/11 at 179 Ebenezer Church Rd in Townsend, DE at 2 p.m. Matt Tremont vs. Jeff Cannonball in a Home Run Derby match was announced, as well as Masada vs. Conor Claxton and Devon Moore vs. Dale Patricks in a scaffold death match.
As part of this weekend’s Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremony (notes in the new Observer), there will be a show tomorrownight in Wichita Falls at the Downtown Falls Farmers Market with Greg Anthony vs. Matt Riviera plus Tim Storm, Americos, Moonshine Mantel and more at 7:30 p.m.
Alpha One Wrestling results from Sunday in Hamilton, ONT: Alessandro del Bruno won over Kobe Durst and Alex Daniels to win the Zero Gravity title, Danny Orlando & Gregory Iron & Hellcat b Dick Justice & Young Myles & Holde Albright-DQ, Michael Elgin b Shane Sabre, Ricky Shane Page b Donovan Dijak, Jim Nye & Space Monkey b Justin Sane & Lionel Knight, Cheech won over Cloudy, John Greed and Brent Banks Ethan Page b Carlito Colon, Heidi Lovelace b Josh Alexander to win the Alpha Male trite (thanks to Steven Ashe)
Kevin Nash and Scott Hall appear 6/24 for NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling in Elizabethton, TN at the Evolution Sports Gym for a show headlined by Chase Owens & Buff Bagwell vs. Jordan Kage & Chris Richards.
Old Time Wrestling has the Sole Survivor tournament on Friday and Saturday night in Williamstown, NJ at the Monroe Business Center.
NWA presents Cajun Heat on 7/2 in Morgan City, LA at the Municipal Auditorium featuring an appearance by Kevin Nash. Main event is Jax Dane defending the NWA title against Mustang Mike and Rob Conway vs. Rodney Mack.
PW Eclipse on 5/22 at the Oshawa Legion.
Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 6/4 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds has Rob Conway vs. Shawn Cook as the main event.
Absolute Intense Wrestling on 6/17 in Mentor on the Lake, OH at Tequila Jaxx with Ethan Carter III, Facade, Veda Scott, B.J. Whitmer, Shayna Baszler, Sonjay Dutt, Brian Myers and Josh Prohibition.
New England Championship Wrestling on 5/21 in Abington, MA at the Abington High School with Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Brad Hollister in a lumberjack match.
Great North Wrestling on 6/4 in Smiths Falls, ONT at the Memorial Centre headlined by Al Snow vs. Hannibal and 6/25 in Pembroke, ONT at the Memorial Center headlined by Nikolai Volkoff vs. Paul Rosenberg.
CWE tonight in Yorkton, Saskatchewan at the Yorkdale Center School with Frankie Kazarian vs. Travis Cole and Lio Rush vs. Silas Young.
World Series of Fighting on 6/17 in Mashantucket, CT on NBC Sports Network features former NFL player Lorenzo Hood vs. Tyler King. The main event has Blagoi Ivanov defending his WSOF title against Josh Copeland.
A look at what’s next for WWE after Extreme Rules, the UFC sale with lots of exclusive info, Vince & Linda McMahon selling their stock, Chris Weidman’s injury and how that changes plans, the staggering drop in kids viewing for WWE and exactly who watches the TV today, plus UFC 198 coverage and Best of The Super Juniors tournament news are among the stories covered in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
More on the injury returns and summer ideas and why WWE could have its deepest talent roster in a long time in very short order. Plus, talk about the NXT/WWE balance and why talent is actually more important for arena business if in NXT.
There is also an extenisve look at the Extreme Rules show.
In addition, updates on the UFC sale, including news about who is in, who is not in, what it all means, what is being sold, where Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta fit in and UFC fixture who indicates he’s likely gone if the sale goes through, all in covered in this issue.
A glimpse into Vince McMahon’s stock sale, what it means, how much money did he get, and how his stock sale only increased the difference in the value of UFC vs. WWE, and for how much Vince McMahon bought the company.
More on the injury to Chris Weidman, how it happened, his future, Michael Bisping’s title shot and more on UFC 1999.
Also in this issue, find out who watches WWE on television and how many in each different age group.
Find out how WWE has changed the schedule of the Cruiserweight tournament and why, more on the arrest of Adam Rose, more on Stephanie McMahon’s book, how Stephanie will be pushed on television going forward, how Stephanie will be marketed as the face of the company, and another WWE firing.
Finally, there’s full coverage of UFC 198, including business notes including early estimates on success, ramifications of the show, match-by-match coverage, looking at the judging of close fights and poll results.
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
Also in this issue:
Elite Lucha Libre changes its date once again
New booking plans for the promotion at its Night of Champions show to crown two new champions
What this teams for the tournament
Who are in the two title tournaments
An arena that has housed more wrestling than all but a few in the world will no longer have regular shows after 73 straight years
The breakup of Mexico’s Los Ingobernables
Dorian Roldan talks AAA departures including Konnan, Alberto Del Rio and others
More notes on the upcoming World Cup
Update on the annual King of Gate tournament
Joe Doering sends message to All Japan fans
Two of Japan’s biggest legends wrestle for the first time this past week
Next Suzuki-gun show
New Japan key performers injured
New Naito feud starting
Sad story involving husband and wife pro wrestling Hall of Famers
Another pro wrestling Hall of Famer in the middle of an Olympic scandal
Chael Sonnen debuts a new form of pro wrestling with backing by major streaming company with many UFC elements including real matches
Notes on a number of different Hall of Famer ceremonies
Notes on Ultima Lucha tapings
Notes on all the Lucha Underground tapes for 2017 done this past week
A look at new characters and storylines and the built to Ultima Lucha
ROH Best in the World lineup
A look at the next four weeks of ROH television
A look at the ROH show in New York
TNA business update
Notes on revenue sharing and TV ad rates
Notes on why the change in TV schedule isn’t a good sign
Another bad sign from TV station
Notes on the next TNA PPV
Notes on the next TNA TV tapings and what they say
Real story behind who is owed money and why it’s not a direct TNA issue
Lots of new UFC fights
UFC PPV number updates
UFC Hall of Fame news and career of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Floyd Mayweather continues to push for a Conor McGregor fight
Next UFC show
Details on the next season of Ultimate Fighter
Exactly what UFC fighters are banned from doing under their contract
Update on UFC drug test results
Update on Paige VanZant
Lots of new UFC fights
Bellator strips two champions and why
Why Bellator cut Will Brooks
Notes on the last Bellator show in San Jose with pay records
The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.
Also in this issue:
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to talk all the news in wrestling and MMA including our weekly chat with Dave Meltzer about the top stories in the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE injuries and returns, John Cena with a big hosting gig, TNA running a PPV that nobody bothered to talk about but Bryan ironically, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~! Wrestling Observer Live airs FREE every day 12 PT/3 ET on Sports Byline USA Radio Networks, which you can listen to FREE with the TuneIn Radio app or on iHeart Radio’s app searching Sports Byline USA!
Madison Square Garden: – Tom Jenkins defeated Frank Gotch to retain the American Heavyweight Championship
1961
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: – AWA Tag Team Champions Hard Boiled Haggerty & Gene Kiniski beat Whipper Billy Watson & Wilbur Snyder – AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Stan Kowalski
1963
Osaka, Japan: – The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) defeated Rikidozan
1966
Kansas City, Kansas: – Pat O’Connor defeated The Butcher via DQ – Bob Ellis & The Mongolian Stomper defeated Bob Geigel & Bob Brown in three falls
1973
Peoria, Illinois: – Dusty Rhodes won a 10 man battle royal by eliminating The Crusher – The Crusher beat Dusty Rhodes – Reggie Parks beat Dick Murdoch via DQ – Ken Patera beat Vic Rossitani – Ric Flair went to a time limit draw with Greg Gagne – Jim Brunzell beat Khosrow Vaziri
1977
Worcester, Massachusetts: – Bruno Sammartino defeated Larry Zbyszko
1980
Madison Square Garden: – Larry Zbyszko won a 16-man $15,000 battle royal – WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned WWF IC Champion Ken Patera in a Texas Death Match – Tony Atlas, Ivan Putski, & Pat Patterson defeated Peter Maivia & WWF Tag Team Champions the Wild Samoans in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match
1981
Omaha, Nebraska: – AWA Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura beat Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell – Baron Von Raschke beat John Studd
– It was officially announced by the American Wrestling Association that, due to Verne Gagne retiring and vacating the AWA World Heavyweight Title, Nick Bockwinkel, the former champion and current number one contender, was being awarded the belt
1986
Fayetteville, North Carolina: – NWA World Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey defeated Dusty Rhodes & NWA U.S. Champion Magnum TA
1990
WCW Capitol Combat: Washington, DC: – The Road Warriors & Norman The Lunatic defeated Kevin Sullivan, Bam Bam Bigelow & Cactus Jack – Mark Callous (later to become the Undertaker) defeated Johnny Ace – The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samoan Savage) defeated Mike Rotundo & Tommy Rich – Paul Ellering defeated Teddy Long in a hair vs. hair match – The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) defeated Brian Pillman & Tom Zenk to win the U.S. Tag Team Title – The Rock N’ Roll Express defeated The Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) in a Corporal Punishment (strap) match – Doom (Ron Simmons & Butch Reed) defeated Rick & Scott Steiner to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship – Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification in a steel cage match
1991
WCW SuperBrawl: St. Petersburg, Florida: – The Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) defeated Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong to win the vacant United States Tag Team Title – Danny Spivey defeated Ricky Morton – Nikita Koloff defeated Tommy Rich – Dustin Rhodes defeated Terrance Taylor – Big Josh defeated Black Bart – Oz defeated Tim Parker – Barry Windham defeated Brian Pillman in a taped fist match – El Gigante defeated Sid Vicious in a Stretcher match – Ron Simmons defeated Butch Reed in a steel cage match – WCW World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Sting & Lex Luger – Bobby Eaton defeated Arn Anderson to win the WCW Television Title – WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated Tatsumi Fujinami to regain the NWA World Title
1995
Montreal, Quebec, Canada: – Razor Ramon defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder match
1996
Madison Square Garden: – Henry & Phinneas Godwinn defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Skip & Zip to win the titles
WCW Slamboree: Baton Rogue, Louisiana: – The American Males (Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs) defeated The Shark and Maxx – Road Warrior Animal and Booker T fought Road Warrior Hawk and Lex Luger to a double countout – The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Chris Benoit and The Taskmaster – Rick Steiner and The Booty Man (with the Booty Babe) defeated Sgt. Craig Pittman and Scott Steiner – VK Wallstreet and Jim Duggan defeated The Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal and Squire David Taylor) – Dick Slater and Earl Robert Eaton defeated Disco Inferno and Alex Wright – Diamond Dallas Page and The Barbarian defeated Meng and Hugh Morrus – Fire and Ice (Scott Norton and Ice Train) defeated Big Bubba Rogers and Stevie Ray – Ric Flair and Randy Savage (with Woman and Miss Elizabeth) defeated Arn Anderson and Eddie Guerrero – Dean Malenko defeated Brad Armstrong to retain the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship – Dick Slater and Earl Robert Eaton defeated VK Wallstreet and Jim Duggan – The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Ric Flair and Randy Savage by forfeit – Diamond Dallas Page and the Barbarian defeated Rick Steiner and the Booty Man (with the Booty Babe) – Konnan defeated Jushin Thunder Liger to retain the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship – Diamond Dallas Page defeated the Barbarian, Earl Robert Eaton, Ice Train, Scott Norton, Rocco Rock, Johnny Grunge and Dick Slater in Battlebowl – The Giant (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Sting (with Lex Luger) to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
2002
WWF Judgement Day: Nashville, Tennessee: – William Regal defeated D’Lo Brown to retain the WWE European Championship – Eddie Guerrero defeated Rob Van Dam to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship – Trish Stratus (with Bubba Ray Dudley) defeated Stacy Keibler (with Reverend D-Von and Deacon Batista) to retain the WWE Women’s Championship – Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman defeated The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) – Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Big Show and Ric Flair in a Handicap match – Edge defeated Kurt Angle in a Hair vs. Hair match – Triple H defeated Chris Jericho in a Hell in a Cell match – Rikishi and Rico defeated Billy and Chuck Tag team match to win the WWE Tag Team Championship – The Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan to capture the WWE Undisputed World Title
2011
– Abyss defeated Frankie Kazarian to win the TNA X Division Title
2013
WWE Extreme Rules: St. Louis, Missouri: – The Shield defeated Bryan Danielson & Kane to win the WWE Tag Team Titles – The Miz defeated Cody Rhodes by submission – Chris Jericho defeated Fandango (with Summer Rae) – Dean Ambrose defeated Kofi Kingston to win the United States Title – Sheamus defeated Mark Henry in a Strap Match – Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) defeated Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter) in an I Quit match – The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) defeated Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan) in a Tornado tag team match to win the WWE Tag Team Championship – Randy Orton defeated Big Show in an Extreme Rules Match – John Cena vs. Ryback ended in a draw in a Last Man Standing match, Cena retained the WWE Championship – Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H in a steel cage match
Former WWE Champion John Cena announced today that he would be the host of this year’s ESPY awards on July 13. Additionally, his first match back from injury is now being advertised.
The ESPY spot is his biggest breakthrough when it comes to exposure within mainstream sports, and is a significant coup for WWE to get one of its performers so prominently placed before that audience.
The ESPYs are ESPN’s fan voting awards for a number of different sports categories, aired on their main network and treated like other major award shows with a red carpet, celebrities from all walks of entertainment, pre-show, etc.
On the in-ring front, Cena returns to WWE on the May 30 Raw in Green Bay, Wisconsin, teaming with WWE Champion Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose against A.J. Styles & Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows.
That would indicate his first major show appearance would be June 19 at the Money in the Bank PPV from the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
This season both the women’s strawweight division and the men’s light heavyweight division will be competing. At the end of the season Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha fight on the TUF 23 Finale with Joanna Champion defending her strawweight title. Last week, Gadelha’s team won again and took a 3-0 lead. She picked Lanchana Green (Gadelha) vs. Helen Harper (Jedrzejczyk) for this week’s bout.
**********
Green opens up the show talking about her roots in England, how getting beat up as a girl inspired her to be a fighter, and how nobody’s beaten her up ever since. “We’ve been working on takedown defense. I’m not giving Helen a chance to even get close to me.” Dana White says she’s the single best striker on Claudia’s team.
Jedrzejczyk brings in Carla Esparza to talk to her fighters and hopefully give the team some inspiration. She takes Helen Harper and the rest of the fighters through catching kicks and throwing opponents to the mat. Jedrzejczyk says Harper is a “little tornado” and will show everybody how tough she is. Harper: “I’m kind of a rhino. I have the refuse to lose attitude. I want it more.”
Harper talks about how being in an abusive relationship made her want to learn self-defense even though she was in denial and still tried to stay with her tormentor. “It was just a bully, a nasty person, trying to get into my life and ruin it day by day.”
Abdel Medjedoub called the house and even though fighters are supposed to be isolated and not take outside calls, she tells the producers it was an emergency and gets them to take it. They try to tell her if they take the call it’s being recorded and she starts cussing them out. Then she threatens to divorce Medjedoub if he doesn’t leave the show and come back to Montreal immediately. It sounds like he’s going to quit.
* Lanchana Green (Team Gadelha) vs. Helen Harper (Team Jedrzejczyk)
Green is in the black trunks, Harper is in the red. You can hear Jedrzejczyk barking out to Harper not to wait and to be aggressive. The ref warns them to watch their fingers. Harper closes the distance but eats some hooks and knees in the process. Harper nearly has a takedown at 1:30 but Green keeps her balance. They break at 1:59. Harper charges at her and gets her on the fence again at 2:15. Green’s height and strength are making the takedowns difficult and she’s punishing Harper with big knees to the body. Harper tries so hard to get a takedown she actually lets Green on top pounding her in the face. She’s only had one strategy all round and it doesn’t work.
Green is winning the striking war for the first minute of R2, but Harper gets her on the fence again and digs hard for a single leg. She can’t get it. Green is teeing off with the right hook repeatedly. Harper finally body locks Green and drags her to the ground at 2:01. She’s quickly warned to stay busy on top. She slowly inches her way to a full mount but gets another warning with 90 seconds left. Once she clears her foot from between Green’s hips she really starts to hammer on Green’s face, who tries and fails repeatedly to buck her off. This one’s going to a third round.
As you’d expect Harper is looking for a takedown in the opening minute of R3 but can’t get it. She closes the distance again at 1:30 and manages to get Green’s back and throw her to the ground at 2:05 but can’t keep her down. Green bloodies up her face once she gets loose. Harper finally drags her to the ground at3:53 but that may be too little too late – and Green gets back up at 4:08 anyway. Harper goes for one last leg trip late to no avail. I’ve got Green two rounds to one.
Green gets a unanimous decision and Team Gadelha goes up 4-0. Jedrzejczyk is insulted that Gadelha didn’t shake her hand after the fight. Harper is emotionally broken but she should be happy she had her team’s best fight this season.
Next week’s fight chosen by coach Claudia Gadelha is Eric Spicely (Team Gadelha) vs. Elias Urbina IV (Team Jedrzejczyk). We will see you then!
This is a battle between New Japan (Kuwato) and NOAH (Kiyomiya) rookies. NOAH young lions wear green instead of black like in New Japan, but both are required to have boston crab as finishers, as was the case here. A lot of the match was Kuwato being worked on. Kiyomiya got the win with a Boston Crab. Kuwato wasn’t pleased after the match and the two brawled for a bit, slapping and kicking each other.
Shiro Tomoyose vs. Teruaki Kanemitsu
Apparently my theory about all NOAH rookies wearing green was wrong. Tomoyose is a NOAH rookie as well, but is wearing black. Apparently all NOAH rookies choose a color to wear, and Tomoyose’s color is black. Kanemitsu is taller than Tomoyose, but Tomoyose is more stout and looks a bit more physically imposing. He controlled a lot of the match, but Kanemitsu made a comeback and had him in a Boston crab for a long time. He eventually escaped, but Kanemitsu had his arm and was going for a submission when the bell rang, a time limit draw. Good, basic match.
Kanemitsu went for a handshake after the match but Tomoyose would have none of it. Tomoyose eventually was convinced to shake hands, but then Kanemitsu tricked him by slapping the taste out of his mouth and bailing. These New Japan kids are pretty rude this morning.
Hitoshi Kumano vs. Ayato Yoshida
Kumano is another NOAH rookie; he wears red. Yoshida represents Michinoku Pro. The latter had a lot of good looking strikes. This was solid, if not unspectacular. Kuwano got the win with a chokeslam/spinebuster combination.
Yoshinari Ogawa vs. David Finlay
Finlay showed a lot of great fire early. In terms of presence and look he really outshines White, who is a bit better in the ring. Ogawa controlled a lot of the match and kept it on the ground, working on Finlay’s left arm. Finlay made a good comeback and kicked out of a back suplex. Finlay looked like he was going to capture Ogawa’s arm in an armbar, but in transition Ogawa held him down and pinned him. Cool finish to a pretty solid match.
Captain NOAH & Genba Hirayanagi vs. Muhammed Yone & Ryusuke Taguchi
This was a total comedy match, at least the first half of it. Genba’s gimmick apparently is that he likes to use the testicular claw on everyone, as he did during the early parts of the match. Taguchi wore an afro like Yone’s, I guess to match. NOAH and Taguchi had a chop battle and Taguchi teased doing the Flair flop, since that is Jado’s thing (he’s Captain NOAH, spoilers) but NOAH fell anyway. This was VERY LONG. Not terrible or anything but felt way longer than it needed to be. This was at least a twenty minute segment or longer when it needed to be half that.
Taguchi finally got the win for his team after two sliding hip attacks on Genba. Captain NOAH cut a promo after the match. No idea what he said.
Naomichi Marufuji vs. Jay White
This was pretty good. White does the little things Finlay doesn’t that really add to the match, though Finlay is a bit more dynamic in what he does. Marufuji gained control early but White made a comeback and hit some very nice spots. This was one of the first times where he did more than just the basic stuff he does in his prelim matches and didn’t look totally out of place, though there were a few moments that looked a bit off. Shiozaki eventually cut him off and won with the sliced bread. This was given some decent time and was a very good match while it lasted.
Go Shiozaki vs. Juice Robinson
Juice has definately improved since working regularly in Japan. I wouldn’t say he’s as good as Finlay or White, but he’s perfectly fine and doesn’t look lost out there – he gets it. Much like the story of other matches on this card, Shiozaki worked on Robinson after dodging some punches and was in control until Robinson made a comeback. He kept kicking out of nearfalls, but eventually he could not kick out of a sick lariat dished out by Shiozaki, and that was the end of Robinson. Pretty solid match.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima, Maybach Taniguchi, Masa Kitamiya & Quiet Storm
New Japan old guard were the faces here. Storm and Nakanishi traded big guy spots, which is funny since Storm is about a head shorter than Nakanishi. I’ve complained on here before that no one should buy Nakanishi and Nagata’s finish because they’ve never submitted anyone with the armbar/torture rack they do. Well this time, it actually did work. While Nagata didn’t have an armbar in, he did pin Quiet Storm with a backdrop suplex while Nakanishi had Taniguchi in the torture rack. Perfectly okay eight man tag, but nothing memorable.
Nagata got a mic and introduced his two guys that are training in the New Japan dojo. One is Ota, who is a high level wrestler, and Kitamura, who is also a wrestler and jacked to the gills. He teased they might wrestle on the next Lion’s Gate show.
For the most part, everything was good. Marufuji/White was probably the best match on the show.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back tonight with tons of news: Raw ratings, Smackdown tapings, TNA, Lucha Underground and NXT reviews, UFC sale notes, Weidman and Bisping and UFC 199, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
We get a rundown of the Aztec Medallion matches so far this season, alongside Chavo stealing Cage’s medallion. Pentagon Jr’s demise is shown and we see Vampiro’s torture of him again. In his office, Dario puts stacks of cash in his bag and Cage runs in. Dario calls him the Medallion Machine and Dario tells him it’s his problem – and that if Chavo puts the medallion in the belt, it’s his. Dario and Cage come out of his office, and we get Striker asking what Cage is doing come out of it.
Dario stands next to the medallion-less Gift of the Gods Title and announces a seven man match to determine the Gift of the Gods. Dario tells everyone who has a medallion to come out – so Chavo will have to go through Cage to actually get into the match. Texano comes out first and puts the medallion in – resulting in an amusing “well done!” by Dario. Joey comes down while Dario says he has a sixth sense for fashion. Sinestro comes down without Catrtina, but with a new cape and hood – “spooky!” according to Dario.
It’s “THE RETURN OF THE MACK! BIG MACK BABY MACK BABY MACK BABY!” and then “Sexy sexy sexy sexy sexy Star!” Dario is amazing, and a “strong star woman” according to him. Chavo comes down to a “chickenshit” chant. Cage kicks his ass, but only grabs a washer – and Chavo hits him with the chair to put the medallion in the belt. Dario puts Chavo in the match, resulting in “a sorry man” and Cage doing his goofy catchphrase and even goofier finisher to Chavo. Dario has to win best non-performer of the year just for this segment.
Mascarita Sagrada vs. Argenis vs. Daga vs. Kobra Moon
Famous B does Sagrada’s intro in his new 423-GET-FAME tie – which needs to be on ProWrestlingTees ASAP, and the phone number alone gets a chant. Striker talks about watching midget porn in high school talking about Brenda and Sagrada. Kobra snaps his neck on the rope and gets 2. Kobra Moon hits a Michonoku Driver, resulting in Vamp marking out since it was his WCW finisher. A tumbling exchange between Daga and Argenis is won by Argenis with a kick. Dada hits a dropkick on the apron, but a baseball slide misses and sends Daga to the floor where he eats an Asai moonsault.
Sagrada gets a victory roll on Kobra for 2. Sagarada goes for an armbar on Argenis, but Argenis Backlund lifts him into a One Winged Angel for 2. Corner running uppercut to Argenis by Daga, and a huge German gets 2. Daga gets a Gory special on Kobra and a Billy Goat’s Curse to Argenis. Argenis tosses Sagrada violently against the ropes. Crazy Fosbury Flop dive by Daga to the floor! Kobra Moon hits a fire thunder driver to Sagrada and lets Daga win. Famous B and Brenda console Sagrada while the fans chant “GET FAME 423!”
Backstage, Killshot suits up before Marty the Moth creeps up behind him and says he’s reporting for duty. He says they have a match and mocks him with gun sounds before a wacky kung fu movie fight breaks out between them. Killshot wins and give him a finger-gun bang while Marty cackles. Robert Rodriguez’s band plays Marty to the ring. Marty and Joey should be a creeper tag team in season three.
Marty the Moth vs. Killshot
Vamp talks about the importance of dogtags in the military, while Striker talks about Col. DeBeers, Private Daniels, and Vamp talks about Major Gunns. Marty bumrushes him with corner strikes and tosses him to the floor – where he lands on the floor. Marty teases a dive and leans over the rope – but then eats a high kick. Marty catches him off a flip dive and eats a powerslam. Vamp talks about being silent now because of his mental suffering and then Striker mocks him a bit. Release German by Marty and then a turnbuckle exploder gets 2.
Vamp says that Marty spends a lot of time in dark corners, while Striker says it was more than likely dark booths. Killshot lands a corner elbow and then lands a basement hook kick. A somersault cutter gets 2 for Killshot. Corner running hook kick lands, but they wind up on the apron. Marty teases an apron German, but avoids that and lands an apron death valley driver. Vamp credits it to his military training, where I guess they had extensive viewing parties of Perry Saturn in WCW. They exchange punches and Marty lands a huge lariat. Back stomp gets 2 for Marty. Marty goes for a corner ass splash, but Killshot catches him for the modified One Winged Angel for the win – this was a lot of fun.
Marty jumps him after the match, while Striker says that wins and losses still matter – but this impresses Dario as well. So it’s kind of like Dana White wanting you to be an exciting fighter more than just being a winning fighter. Marty grabs the dogtags and then lands a top rope curbstomp before giving him a finger-gun bang to the head just like Killshot did to him in their backstage deal. I dug this – they have good chemistry together and they’re doing something new with each guy.
Chavo Guerrero vs. Texano vs. Joey Ryan vs. The Mack (Baby) vs. Sinestro vs. Aerostar vs. Sexy Star
Chavo cheapshots Texano. Joey and Sexy go at it and she gets 2 off a backslide. Joey tries to kiss her, but Chavo stops it so he can get 2 off a schoolboy. Mack sends Joey outside with a dropkick and the faces stand proudly. Mack and Sexy have a tumbling exchange and then Texano and Mack go at it with Mack going for a sunset flip. Texano takes the top off of Aerostar and traps him in the corner with chops.S
Aerostar lands a springboard tornado DDT for 2. Superkick by Texano, but he gets sent to the floor. Sinestro goes after Aerostar, but Aerostar lands a flying sunset flip for 2. A wacky exchange leads to Sinestro crotching himself and eating a kick to the face. Sinestro flip dives onto the pile on the floor. Sexy sells a leg injury, and then goes up top for a crossbody off the top to the floor onto the pile. Joey lands a pumphandle slam for 2. Backstabber to Joey gets 2 for Sinestro.
Sinestro lariats Texano, but Texano lands one on him when he runs into the opposite corner. Pop-up rana gets 2 for Aerostar. Sexy lands a running dropkick to Joey and stomps on the stomach. Mack and Sexy team up to chop the hair off of Joey’s chest. Double team legdrop/kneedrop thing from the combo. Chavo gets another “chickenshit” splash, but 2 off a frog splash to Joey.
Everyone gangs up on Chavo. Stunner. Codebreaker. Texano bomb. Springboard legdrop, and a springboard dive hit him. Then Cage comes in. Hey no fair – you already hit your finish on him earlier. He kicks everyone else’s ass – I guess to ensure that Chavo wins so then he can beat Chavo and get the shot he feels is his. Steiner screwdriver to Joey Ryan gives Chavo the win and the Gift of the Gods. Cage congratulates Chavo on being champion and says that Dario told him that Chavo already agreed to face him for the title next week. I like that – they gave you a reason to explain things without words, and then gave you some as well to fully explain it.
In Vampiro’s temple, we see Pentagon tied up while Vampiro torments him and says he must break him to make him strong. Vamp promises to torment him until he refuses to show signs of suffering. Vamp canes his own head and talks about Ian trying to suppress him with pills and tells Pentagon that the beating he’s getting here is nothing compared to what Matanza did. As he prepares to swing a barb wire bat at his spine, the screen goes black.
This was an outstanding episode of the show – easily one of the best of the season. They built up Killshot’s character well, gave Marty something to do, re-established Cage as a top act, showcased Dario in his best talking segment yet, furthered the Vampiro-Pentagon issue, and made a perfect use of their limited time to get things done.
To see all of the screenshots for it, just click here.
