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  • Lucha Underground results: Rey Mysterio and Prince Puma confrontation

    The episode begins with a recap of the importance of the Gift of the Gods Title, Cage’s win and then cash-in against Matanza that led to Matanza retaining. We see the history of Famous B and Mascarita Sagrada and the Black Lotus-Dragon Azteca Jr. feud. Dario meets with a new luchador – Night Claw, who will compete in a medallion match to determine who gets a Gift of the Gods match at Ultima Lucha Dos.

    Dario gives Night Claw a history lesson about his jaguar tribe being destroyed, and Night Claw cuts a promo with a wacky voice filter about being on top of LU and Dario tells him to not be overconfident.

    The Voodoo Glow Skulls sing ‘Revenge of the Nerds” while fans dance back and forth. Striker says that the “new luchador” debuts at Ultima Lucha Dos, and will compete for one medallion while the others will be on the line tonight. Daga is mid-ring and gets a “Daga” chant while Famous B interrupts Melissa and gets a “423-GET-FAME!” chant. Brenda brings Sagrada down while his epic theme plays.

    Daga vs. Mascarita Sagrada – Medallion Match

    Daga tosses him across the ring while Vamp talks about how Kobra Moon is stalking Daga from atop Dario’s office. DON’T STAND THERE – BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. Brenda cheers on Mascerita while Vamp buries her for having an annoying voice. A one-footed dropkick gets 2 for Daga. Sagrada gets a rana cradle for 2. We get a shot of Kobra and Daga tosses Sagrada high in the air. A Russian Legsweep into a crossface gets a tap – but Daga keeps moving and the ref can’t see it.

    Finally, the ref sees it and stops things long after they should’ve been stopped. Maybe it was just an homage to PRIDE. Brenda gives Sagrada a big kiss resulting in comedic lips appearing on his mask, and Famous B kicks his ass with his shoe before telling Brenda to go get it. It’s amazing how he went from the biggest babyface to a huge heel in no time. Striker says that the next match will be for three medallions. 

    Dario talks to Dragon Azteca Jr. about how his brother didn’t kill El Dragon Azteca. Azteca calls him a liar, and Dario says that Black Lotus will destroy the Azteca mask by beating him. “When you look into her eyes, you will see the eyes of your mentor’s killer”. The Crew and Joey Ryan walk down the aisle and Striker talks about how he shoves himself down everyone’s chest and Vamp says he doesn’t want to wrestle someone with a very oily chest. Marty tells Killshot to hang on and not kill him and offers him his dogtags back as a show of unity for tonight.

    The Crew & Joey Ryan vs. Killshot, Sinestro & Marty the Moth

    Marty kicks Castro and Striker rattles off movie characters that Marty reminds him of. Flying neckbreaker gets 2 for Castro. Marty and Joey go at it and Marty steals the lollipop and puts it in his mouth, before Joey recovers his stolen property and chomps on it. God, just imagine how great a Kings of Sleaze team would be with Joey and Marty.

    Sinestro goes at it against Mr. Cisco and Cisco chops away and lands a fancy armdrag to a huge pop. Sinestro goes for a blindside lariat, but eats a snap powerslam for 2. Striker calls Cisco a hispanic Buzz Sawyer, which Vamp doesn’t sell. Striker talks about the Canadian trip and then calls it a Mexican trip before talking about how it originated from Lance Storm and Vamp says he’s not Canadian – he’s from Alberta.

    Marty and Castro go at it and a DDT gives Castro a chance to recover and he tags in Cisco who lands a series of lariats. Cisco hits a sloppy and kinda scary rana off the second rope for 2. 

    Sinestro comes in for a low blow on Joey, but it has no effect. Marty teases a dive, but flaps instead and gets sent to the floor so folks can do dives. Killshot hops off the top onto Castro’s chest and onto the pile! Marty tags in Killshot and they double team Cisco before a Marty spinebuster leads to a Killshot dropkick for 2. Cisco comes in and hits a rewind rana before The Crew goes for the 3D Codebreaker, but Joey superkicks Sinestro and nixes that.

    Marty curbstomps Cisco and a Killshot double stomp ends it! This was a blast! Marty steals Killshot’s dogtags again – absolutely perfect. Sexy Star teams with Mariposa against Ivelisse and Taya next.

    The Voodoo Glow Skulls play more music so the fans can dance more. Sexy Star comes down and they talk about her character’s backstory being a victim of domestic abuse. Vamp calls her “the face of Lucha Underground”, which is some grade A BS even by pro wrestling standards.

    Taya and Ivelisse vs. Sexy Star and Mariposa

    Taya starts off against Sexy after arguing with Ivie. Taya armdrags her down and wants more. A wacky cradle leads to a wacky submission by Sexy. They go back and forth on the mat in an expressive exchange before they tag their partners in. They exchange a variety of headlocks and Ivie gets 2 off a sunset flip before eating a lariat. Mariposa locks on a modified Sharpshooter, but gets pushed into the buckle and schoolgirled for 2. Taya and Mariposa tag in, argue and Sexy tags in.

    Sexy eats a superkick to the gut, but lands a flying armdrag off the top. Running rana sends Taya to the floor and they talk about how we could see a female Gift of the Gods or LU Champion. Mariposa tosses Taya into a set of wooden steps on the floor. Sexy lets about another F bomb and Mariposa dives onto Taya on the chairs, before Ivie dives onto Mariposa on the floor.

    Taya hits a corner choke with he foot and hits a back elbow. Double knees hit Sexy and only get 2. Sexy hits a yakuza kick and a lariat before a spinkick and DDT give her a brief edge.

    A victory roll gets 2 for Sexy. Taya tags in Ivie before a chop exchange breaks out between Ivie and Sexy. A series of cradles get 2 for each. A standing backslide gets 2 for Sexy before a jackknife cradle gets 2 for Ivie. Taya runs in for a spear, but “misses” Sexy and hits Ivie before Mariposa hits the Celtic Cross and tosses Sexy on top to score the win.

    This was far better than it seemed like it could be going in. Prince Puma talks to the crowd next.

    Prince Puma comes down and Striker talks about him being the face of the company – like Tanahashi, Cena, and Bockwinkel. Puma debuts a new mask and says that he wants only one match at Ultima Lucha Dos. When Konnan was training him, he was told he could be the best – he could be the next Rey Mysterio.

    He says Rey is the best and he wonders what he has to offer, and is he really the next Rey or is he even better? Rey comes down and Vamp says this is a meeting of a legend and icon against a future legend. Rey says he was one of the people who paved the road for a talent like Prince Puma, and he has a lot of respect for him.

    Rey says that Puma is still a prince, while he is El Rey. Rey says that Puma needs to know if he’s better, while Rey needs to know if he’s still the best. This was built up very little in-storyline, but done so in a way that makes perfect sense now and it should lead to a classic.

    To see every screenshot for the show, just click here.

  • Conor McGregor, Robbie Lawler, and Holly Holm up for 2016 ESPYs

    On Wednesday night, ESPN announced its nominees for this year’s ESPY awards, the winners of which will be announced on the live  July 13 show from Los Angeles where John Cena will be the host.

    UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor is nominated along with Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta, U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim, and Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns in the category of Best Breakthrough Athlete.

    Holly Holm’s win over Ronda Rousey was nominated for Biggest Upset, along with Middle Tennessee over Michigan State in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and Roberta Vinci over Serena Williams in the U.S. Open. Because fans vote for the awards, Holm could have a good shot at winning. 

    Holm was also nominated for Best Play Of The Year for her November 2015 knockout of Rousey in Australia.

    McGregor and Robbie Lawler were nominated for Fighter of the Year which is weird since McGregor last lost in a fight against Nate Diaz, while many thought Lawler lost in his last outing against Carlos Condit, a fight he won via a razor-thin split decision.

  • WWE NXT results: Nakamura; Bayley returns; Austin Aries & No Way Jose dance

    • The Big News: Finn Balor will wrestle Shinsuke Nakamura on July 13!
    • The Medium News: Bayley returned to the ring after 5 weeks, picking up a big win
    • The Little Beaver Sized News: Chris Girard changed his name but shockingly won a match

    Oney Lorcan pinned Tye Dillinger

    We start things off with the Perfect 10. Dillinger had won a match 3 weeks ago, but since that, he has straight losses to Andrade Cien Almas. Lorcan is the new dumb name for Chris Girard. This is the first time Dillinger has wrestled where his opponent was already in the ring, which gave him a really good chance of winning as per the rules of wrestling.

    Lorcan got more offense than you would think, including nearly taking Dillinger’s head off with an uppercut. Lorcan hit a series of elbows in the corner until he got smacked right in the jaw with a superkick, which popped the crowd. Dillinger went for the 10 Punches of Doom, but Lorcan pushed him off…and pinned him with a neck breaker?

    So much for the rules of wrestling.

    *******

    Austin Aries cut a promo backstage with Cathy. He said he will prove his greatness and one day become NXT Champion. You don’t become the greatest in one match and you don’t lose it in one match. He is now more focused and has a bigger chip on his shoulder.

    Up walked No Way Jose, who told him to stay positive.

    *******

    Bayley was standing outside in her wrestling gear and announced that she just found out she has been cleared to return to action.

    *******

    No Way Jose pinned Josh Woods

    Woods looks like an indy MMA fighter, but we proved that the real tough men are in WWE. This match was 95% Jose and he won with the Full Nelson Slam.

    Jose danced after the match when he was interrupted by Aries. I guess that’s only apropos since Jose interrupted his promo time. Aries told him that in this industry, you are not defined by your victories, but by your victories. He was not 100% at Takeover, but will not make excuses.

    Aries then realized what Jose taught him. Aries forgot that NXT is about having fun and thanked Jose for reminding him of that and reminding him what he needs to be. Aries shook his hand and went to leave, but Jose dragged him back into the the ring to dance.

    This actually happened.

    Jose and Aries danced all the way up the ramp and over to the announce position…and then Aries finally turned on Jose. Aries beat Jose back to ringside and eventually slapped the Last Chancery on on the ramp.

    *******

    William Regal met with Shinsuke Nakamura and informed him that in 3 weeks it will be Balor vs Nakamura.

    In walked Buddy Murphy who was mad that Mr. Regal wasn’t treating him like a top star. Nakamura basically informed her that they would be wrestling.

    *******

    Bayley defeated Deonna Purrazzo

    This is Bayley’s first tv match in 5 weeks since a worked injury angle in a match with Nia Jax. The fans exploded for her. This match was all about Bayley, which is exactly what the fans wanted. Bayley won with the Bayley to Belly Suplex.

    *******

    Carmella wants to be the face of the women’s division and wants to be the next champion. Up walked Alexa Bliss who said no one knows who she is. They argued over who was more important to their respective team.

    They challenged each other and will wrestle next week.

    *******

    We got a video package for Samoa Joe and then a video package of the Asuka-Nia Jax match from Takeover. If that wasn’t enough for you, we also got a video package for The Authors Of Pain.

    *******

    Nia Jax destroyed Liv Morgan

    Morgan went for a headlock in the first ten seconds, which caused Nia to squash her like a bug. Morgan did her best to run from Nia, but Nia ran at her, smashing Liv with her entire body and winning with a power bomb.

    *******

    Shinsuke Nakamura pinned Buddy Murphy

    Blake and Murphy seem to have finally thrown the towel in on the team. However, I do remember saying that about Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger, but they kept breaking up for months until they finally did.

    The match didn’t even start until 8:55 and the first thing that happened was Nakamura kicking poor Murphy. Murphy got to use both an armbar and a headlock before resuming his position as Nakamura’s kicking bag. Nakamura eventually got tired of kicking Murphy and won with the Kinshasa.

    So, that does it for this week. It’s almost a skippable episode, but we are just three weeks away from Nakamura-Balor! Until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!

  • ROH announces departure of Roderick Strong

    Ahead of this Friday’s ROH Best in the World ppv, Ring of Honor announced Wednesday that “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong would be leaving the promotion following Saturday’s TV tapings.

    Strong has been a part of ROH off and on since 2003, and has been one of their longest-tenured performers outside of a brief TNA run. He and Austin Aries held the ROH Tag Team Titles, and he won both the TV and World titles in the company as well. In the ROH announcement, he didn’t list any reasons for leaving the promotion.

    Over the past few years, he has had some outstanding matches with New Japan stars including classics with Okada, Nakamura, and Tanahashi. With WWE hiring like crazy for the roster split, one has to wonder if WWE is in his future or if he will return to TNA, where his ROH Generation Next team briefly reformed. New Japan would also be a fantastic match for his style, although one would think that if that was his goal, he would just continue with ROH. 

    Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez will have more on this news on the Wednesday night edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.

  • Daily Pro Wrestling History (06/22): Pro Wrestling USA card; Elgin wins ROH Championship

    1947 

    Waterloo, Iowa:
    – Orville Brown beat Ras (Seelie) Samara to retain the World Title

    1968

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
    – Bill Watts beat Harley Race
    – Dutch Savage beat Dr X on a 3rd fall dq 
    – Luke Brown beat Larry Hennig

    1972 

    Peoria, Illinois:
    – Wahoo McDaniel beat Larry Hennig 
    – Don Muraco beat Nick Bockwinkel

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Rufus R. Jones defeated Chati Yokouchi
    – Chati Yokouchi & Yasu Fuji & Juan Sebastian defeated Rufus R. Jones & The Viking & Ronnie Etchison
    – Black Angus & Roger Kirby defeated Omar Atlas & Danny Little Bear 
    – The Stomper fought Harley Race to a 60 minute draw

    1974

    Duluth, Minnesota:
    – Ivan Putski beat Superstar Billy Graham dq 
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Billy Robinson & Geoff Portz
    – Greg Gagne beat Larry Hennig 
    – Jim Brunzell drew Buddy Wolff

    1979 

    Rockford, Illinois:
    – Mad Dog Vachon & Greg Gagne beat Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens
    – Bobby Duncum beat Billy Robinson
    – in a Pose Down; Paul Ellering beat Jesse Ventura

    1980 

    Greensboro, North Carolina:
    – Ray Stevens & Jimmy Snuka defeated Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood for the NWA World Tag Team Titles

    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
    – Jumbo Tsuruta beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel dq
    – Giant Baba beat Super Destroyer Mark II
    – Greg Gagne no contest Jesse Ventura
    – Dino Bravo beat Adrian Adonis
    – John Studd beat Steve Olsonoski 
    – Tito Santana beat Chris Markoff

    1984 

    St. Louis, Missouri:
    – NWA Champion Ric Flair beat Wahoo McDaniel
    – Crusher Blackwell & Buddy Roberts & Michael Hayes beat Blackjack Lanza & Billy Robinson & Iceman Parsons
    – Missouri State Champion Harley Race beat Curt Hennig
    – Nick Bockwinkel beat Steve Olsonoski
    – Ted Oates (sub Jim Duggan) beat Luke Graham 
    – Marty Jannetty & Tommy Rogers beat The Grapplers

    1985

    Pro Wrestling USA: East Rutherford, New Jersey:
    – In a Boot Camp Cage match; Sgt. Slaughter beat Kamala
    – AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Nick Bockwinkel
    – Wahoo McDaniel beat Larry Zbyszko dq
    – Fabulous Freebirds, Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts beat Curt Hennig & Greg Gagne & Jim Duggan
    – Butch Reed beat Baron Von Raschke 
    – Bobby Duncum beat Steve O

    1986 

    Green Bay, Wisconsin:
    – In a Cage Match; AWA Champion Stan Hansen beat Nick Bockwinkel
    – Ray Stevens & Greg Gagne & Verne Gagne beat Boris Zukhov & Nord The Barbarian & Sheik Adnan
    – Jerry Blackwell beat Boris Zukhov (sub King Kong Brody) by countout
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers beat Midnight Rockers
    – Curt Hennig drew Larry Zbyszko 
    – Colonel DeBeers beat Scott Hall dq

    1990

    Dallas, Texas:
    – Bill Dundee defeated John Tatum for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title 

    1992

    WCW Clash of the Champions | Charleston, South Carolina:
    – Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff defeated Joe & Dean Malenko
    – Rick Rude & Steve Austin defeated Marcus Bagwell & Tom Zenk
    – Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Larry & Jeff O’Day
    – Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Miguel Perez, Jr. & Ricky Santana
    – Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton
    – The Freebirds (Michael Hayse & Jimmy Garvin) defeated El Texano & Silver King
    – Jushin Liger & Brian Pillman defeated Chris Benoit & Beef Wellington
    – Akira Nogami & Hiro Hase defeated The Headhunters (Arn Anderson & Bob Cook under masks)
    – Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Rick & Scott Steiner

    1996

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – Chris Jericho defeated Pitbull #2 for the ECW World Television Title

    2014

    ROH Best in the World | Nashville, Tennessee:
    – ACH defeated TaDarius Thomas, Caprice Coleman, B.J. Whitmer, Takaaki Watanabe and Tommaso Ciampa    
    – Jay Lethal (with Truth Martini and Seleziya Sparx) defeated Matt Taven to retain the ROH World Television Championship
    – Cedric Alexander defeated Roderick Strong (with Adam Page and TaDarius Thomas)    
    – The Briscoes (Jay and Mark Briscoe) defeated Matt Hardy and Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis and Nick Searcy)    in a no DQ match
    – Kevin Steen defeated Silas Young    
    – reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) defeated Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian    to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship
    – Michael Elgin defeated Adam Cole to win the ROH World Championship

  • Daily Update: WWE Cruiserweight Classic, UFC 203 main event, Bellator

    WWE Cruiserweight Classic Debut

    Starting Wednesday July 13, the WWE will debut its newest creation, the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. It will be only availalble on the WWE Network and will air every Wednesday at 9 P.M. Eastern. The show will last for 10 weeks, and will basically be a 32 man tournament, culminating on September 14. Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo will be the announcers, so that’s already a plus. Add to it some of the world’s best high flyers in the business, and it’s sure to be excellent. Whether or not it will end up being a “classic” is yet to be determined, especially following one of the most amazing NJPW Super Junior tournaments of all time. However, I’m sure this will be must see programming on the WWE Network, especially compared to Season 2 of Swerved. 

    [Dan Velten]

    THE ROUNDUP

    ​The 10th annual Wrestling Observer/F4W convention in Las Vegas takes place during UFC’s International Fight Week from July 7 – 11.Ed in San Antonio has information up on Facebook, or you can email him at F4Wfan@hotmail.com. It’s always a fun time, so hurry up and make your plans to join Dave Meltzer, Bryan Alvarez (yes he’ll be there), Vinny, Granny, and the rest of the group in beautiful Las Vegas this July.

    Our “lunch with Granny” is good-to-go at Johnny Rockets (in Excalibur), just like last year, on Saturday July 9th, at 11:30 a.m. local time. We have the “patio area” reserved for us. We’ve also been granted 10% discounts. Just tell the cashier that you’re a part of “Granny’s Gang!” And of course… the star of this event, Ms. Gladys Gibson, just has to show up and be her charming self, and she eats for FREE! See ya soon!

    ​If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our 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!

    Figure Four Weekly 6/20/2016: Never trust Nigerian investors– Growing up as a way-too-hardcore-for-my-age wrestling fan, I looked forward to watching whatever flavor of wrestling from the Dallas Sportatorium was on ESPN and in syndication at the time. The ESPN show was perfect for kids who loved pro wrestling: It aired at 4 p.m. eastern time, so it was perfect for after-school viewing… Subscribers click here to continue reading.

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    READ IT HERE: June 20, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC 199/NXT Takeover reviews, UFC ownership bidding ending soon, more

    This week’s Observer has a major story on the gamble of Brock Lesnar in UFC 200, the most in-depth look at the Ariel Helwani situation that you’ll find anywhere, full coverage of NXT Takeover, UFC 199, WWE Money in the Bank, and the details of TNA’s struggle to stay alive, its PPV and its future. There’s also a breakdown on the WWE cruiserweight classic, and monthly WWE and TNA business figures.

    Take a look at Michael Bisping’s unlikely title win, all the ramifications of the Lesnar deal, what it shows about WWE, a look back at the last time WWE risked one of their stars against an outsider without scripting, how Ariel Helwani got to be a star reporter and how that played into what happened last week, and what aspects of the story that are really more important that haven’t been covered or have been overlooked, all covered in this week’s issue.

    WWE looks at the possibility of adding PPV shows and the good and bad of that decision-making, and some economics of that decision. 

    A key WWE musician passes away, more on what Ali learned from pro wrestling, Bryan Danielson attends WWE event, Bobby Roode’s debut, notes on SummerSlam, new WWE executive hire, new WWE announcer, WWE looking for new members of creative, who is expected to return shortly, another animated WWE movie, update on Paul Heyman plus a full rundown on all the WWE & NXT live events this past week and business notes on the shows, in this edition.

    Take a look at the background of the NXT Takeover show, the debut of Andrade Cien Almas and what did and didn’t work, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

    For UFC 199, we look at the state of the middleweight title, how everything lines up, whom Michael Bisping wants next, as well as match-by-match coverage along with pay records for those on the show.

    Finally, read how TNA saved its recent TV tapings and PPV, why they were close to not happening, where money came from, and what to look out for in the future. Plus, check out Slammiversary with match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

    Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

    CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW.

    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.

    You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

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    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. 

    Check out the latest online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: May 10, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Fans celebrate life of Giant Baba at Tokyo Dome, PRIDE 5 recap, more. The final chapter in the career and life of Shohei Baba took place on the biggest show he ever main evented and the biggest show he ever promoted–some three months after his death.

    WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

    Yesterday, a Pennsylvania jury acquitted a 21-year-old man charged with aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, and related counts stemming from a May 2015 incident where he performed Undertaker’s Last Ride on an 18-month old, inadvertently causing fatal head injuries.

    Friend of the site Mookie Harrington wrote about president Gerrit Meier leaving WWE International.

    Also a friend of the site, Brandon Thurston passed along that on Tuesday, WWE CFO George Barrios revealed the status of his TV contracts during a presentation:

    “So first on the renewal cycle: We have the dollars there through ’18. Our three largest deals, which are the U.S., U.K. and India — actually go through ’19. So the U.S. deal is — all three of them are five-year deals. The U.S. deal will go through third quarter of 2019, and then U.K. and India through the fourth quarter.”

    WWE & Professional Wrestling

    • Here’s a Fox Sports story on Jake Roberts and the audio from the interview.
    • Here’s a video of an angle between NWA Vendetta and Cen-Cal Pro Wrestling.
    • Ken Anderson talks WWE politics and history with the company on this podcast.
    • The Sydney Morning Herald compared AFL and WWE responses to violence against women.
    • The Fight Network announced they will start airing Halifax, Canada, based WrestleCentre on Wednesdays at 2 AM EST starting July 19th. It joins TNA and ROH as part of a growing wrestling block on the station. We were also told the AXS TV version of NJPW will begin there on July 7th.
    • Jake “the Snake” Roberts was on the latest episode of the Pancakes and Powerslams Show. Roberts discussed Dean Ambrose being compared to him, difficulty working with Sting, hating the overuse of finishers in today’s product, and much more.
    • Evolve has announced a huge summer line up of shows:

    Tickets are now on sale in the DGUSA.tv Store or by calling 267-638-6583 for EVOLVE on July 16th in Queens, NY, July 17th in Melrose, MA, August 19th in Joppa, MD and August 20th in Brooklyn, NY. Go to the DGUSA.tv Events section for more building and info. 

    • The newest Creative Control podcast talks today’s wrestling scene, and although this was recorded before the big Roman Reigns suspension news dropped, they cover the Dean Ambrose title win, and what the future may hold for each of the former Shield members. 
    • This podcast interviews an indy wrestler from Santa Cruz, and he tells a funny story about doing stand up comedy and being kicked out of the club. 

    UFC/MMA

    • Tickets for September’s UFC 203 in Cleveland featuring heavyweight champion and hometown boy Stipe Miocic vs. Alistair Overeem go on sale this Friday to the general public.
    • As a reminder, Spike TV airs the Kimbo Slice documentary this Friday at 7 PM prior to the next Bellator show featuring Rampage Jackson.
    • Bellator fighter Michael Chandler will fight for a title in his home town of St. Louis this Friday. 

    SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR

    • June 24 – ROH Best in the World from Concord, NC with Jay Lethal vs. Jay Briscoe for the ROH title
    • June 24 – Isao Kobayashi vs. Justin Lawrence will appear on Spike.com at the Bellator Dynamite show in St. Louis. This is a combo MMA & kickboxing show.
    • June 24 – Thrash Wrestling “Passion for Smashin” – Schubert Centre 3505 30th Avenue, Vernon, British Columbia V1T 2E6
    • June 25 – MCW Power Struggle in Brantford, ONT, with Cody Deaner, Rip Impact, Tyler Tirva, and more.
    • June 25 – PWA Night of Champions – Century Casino Showroom – 1010 42 Ave SE Calgary, Alberta
    • June 25 – Pure Wrestling Association, Wakas Community Hall, 180 Tsulquate Rd, Port Hardy, BC
    • June 25 – Great North Wrestling returns to the Pembroke Memorial Centre, featuring Nicolai Volkoff. Tickets available here.
    • June 25 – The UWC returns to Kelly’s Bar/Banquet Hall, 14 Railroad Avenue, Wrightstown, NJ 08562. More information here.
    • June 25 – Ultima Lucha tapings in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles at The Temple 
    • June 25 – Capital City Championship Combat this Saturday in Ottawa with “Speedball” Mike Bailey, 2 Cold Scorpio, Space Monkey, “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams, and more.
    • July 1 – Pure Wrestling Association is proud to announce our 7th year as part of the Canada Day Celebration. Riverside Park Cambridge, Cambridge, Ontario N3H.
    • July 2 – Stars of Wrestling from Alameda, CA at the Alameda Point Gym has Bobby Lashley, Carlito and The Boogeyman appearing.
    • July 2 – NWA Cajun Heat in Morgan City, LA at the Municipal Auditorium with Jax Dane vs. Mustang Mike for the NWA title, and an appearance by Kevin Nash
    • July 7 – Rock Solid Wrestling runs in Sudbury, ON.
    • July 7-11 The 10th annual Wrestling Observer/F4W convention in Las Vegas, EdinSanAntonio has information up on Facebook, or email him F4Wfan@hotmail.com
    • July 9 – Upstate Pro Wrestling in Rochester, NY, features Ethan Pate, HC Loc, a triple threat match main event, and more.
    • July 9 – Acclaim Pro Wrestling presents: Star-Mageddon 6!
    • July 9 – Smash Wrestling in Fort Erie, ONT at the Native Friendship Center. Chris Hero will headline this fundraising event.
    • July 17 – Lucha by the Water ft Blue Demon Jr! – Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2G8, 3-6 pm. Tickets here.
    • July 17 – Premier Wrestling at the IFDES Lodge and Portuguese Hall in Gilroy, CA with Joe Graves vs. Gabriel Gallo for the Premier. Tickets at www.premierwrestle.com.
    • July 22 – Ignite Wrestling in Fort Pierce, FL at the National Guard Armory on a show with Lince Dorado, Mr. 450 Hammet, Lio Rush, Martin Stone, Los Ben Dejos, and more
    • July 22 – AIW runs on 7/22 in Cleveland, OH, with Ethan Page vs. Josh Prohibition vs. Josh Alexander, and Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae vs. Ethan Carter III & Karlee Perez
    • July 22 – The Lou Thesz Hall of Fame weekend show in Waterloo, IA, featuring Ricochet vs. Sami Callihan, Wes Brisco, B. Brian Blair, Jessika Havok, Tessa Blanchard, a steel cage match and more – This is the weekend Dave Meltzer will be honored.
    • July 23 – Chikara Pro announced a doubleheader event at Toronto’s Franklin Horner Community Center.
    • July 23 – AAW  in Merrionnette Park, IL, with Sami Callihan vs. Pentagon Jr., Zack Sabre Jr., Marty Scurll; Tommaso Ciampa; Fenix; Johnny Gargano, and plenty more. Here’s what you missed on their last show.  
    • July 23 – Masters of Ring Entertainment in Wilmington, NC, as part of Pro Wrestling Fan Expo 3 will feature Jeff Jarret vs. ECIII vs. James Storm, announced by Jarrett in this video.
    • July 24 – Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. headlines for Lucha Libre New York at Club LaBoom in Queens, NY

  • EVOLVE’s 2016 summer schedule: Lots of Timothy Thatcher, Cody Rhodes & Summer of Scurll

    On Wednesday, EVOLVE announced their talent lineups for their summer shows. While all of the matches aren’t officially set, there are a few put in place.

    EVOLVE 64
    Saturday, July 16th | Queens, NY | 4 PM EST (show will be over by time WWE at MSG begins)

    – EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher vs. Marty Scurll

    – EVOLVE Tag Team Champions Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams

    – Johnny Gargano

    – Drew Galloway

    – Zack Sabre Jr.

    – TJP with Stokely Hathaway

    – Matt Riddle

    – Ethan Page

    – Fred Yehi

    – Cedric Alexander

    – Tony Nese…and more.

    EVOLVE 65
    Sunday, July 17th | Melrose, MA | 7 PM EST

    – EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher vs. TJP with Stokely Hathaway

    – EVOLVE Tag Team Champions Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams

    – Johnny Gargano

    – Drew Galloway

    – Zack Sabre Jr.

    – Marty Scurll

    – Matt Riddle

    – Ethan Page

    – Fred Yehi

    – Cedric Alexander

    – Tony Nese…and more.

    EVOLVE 66
    Saturday, August 19th | Joppa, MD | 8 PM EST

    – EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle — no holds barred

    – Cody Rhodes vs. Johnny Gargano

    – EVOLVE Tag Team Champions Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams

    – Zack Sabre Jr.

    – Marty Scurll

    – TJP with Stokely Hathaway

    – Tony Nese

    – Cedric Alexander

    – Ethan Page

    – Fred Yehi

    – Peter Kaasa…and more.

    EVOLVE 67
    Saturday, August 20th | Brooklyn, NY | 3pm EDT     (show will be over by the time NXT starts)

    – EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher vs. Drew Gulak

    – Tommy End vs. Matt Riddle

    – Cody Rhodes

    – Drew Galloway

    – Chris Hero

    – Tracy Williams

    – Zack Sabre Jr.

    – Marty Scurll

    – TJP with Stokely Hathaway

    – Cedric Alexander

    – Ethan Page

    – Fred Yehi

    – Peter Kaasa…and more.

    Here’s a video recap of their last two events if you’re not familiar with the product:

  • Examining Dean Ambrose’s roller coaster ride to the top of WWE

    Editor’s Note: Most of this was written before the news of Roman Reigns’ wellness policy violation and suspension.

    Since WrestleMania, I’ve been thinking about Dean Ambrose’s WWE career, about how the company missed their chance with him, about how he could’ve been a big star, and about how he may never reach his potential. Then, Ambrose won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Sunday night at Money In The Bank.

    Here’s a look at his wild ride to the top.

    Leader of The Shield

    During The Shield’s run, Ambrose was the de facto leader of the group, mostly because he could cut a promo significantly better than the other two. He was frequently positioned front and centre, and held a singles title (the U.S. Championship) while Rollins and Reigns were tag team champs. (Trivia note: the Undertaker’s last ever TV match not on PPV was against Ambrose.)

    It seemed like when The Shield would finally break up, Ambrose would be a top heel coming out of it because he was a natural. Reigns would be a babyface and pushed as a top star and Rollins, a fantastic wrestler but mediocre on the mic at the time, would end up a babyface as well, but one who would probably get lost in the shuffle. Of course, that’s not what happened.

    WWE teased the breakup of The Shield several months before it happened, and it looked like Ambrose would be the catalyst. They decided not to pull the trigger, because The Shield still had life. After feuds with the Wyatt Family and Evolution, Rollins surprised everyone when he pulled the trigger that ended the partnership. Rollins–not Ambrose–was the heel.

    Missed Opportunities

    As it turned out, Ambrose made for a great babyface. Ambrose, not Reigns, started a summer-long blood feud with Rollins that resulted in plenty of highlights, including Ambrose busting out of a giant birthday gift to wildly attack his foe. He desperately wanted Rollins to pay for what he did, and the fans were into it. Ambrose was red hot, and the fans wanted to see him get revenge.

    Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The Ambrose-Rollins feud culminated in a Hell in a Cell match (which notably headlined that show over a John Cena vs. Randy Orton HIAC match). On Chris Jericho’s podcast, Ambrose once said he likes doing things differently, things that may not make sense to everyone. Hell in a Cell was evidence of that. Ambrose started the match not in the ring, but on top of the cell.

    Ambrose should have won this match and his feud with Rollins. Rollins was being protected anyway as Mr. Money in the Bank, a member of the Authority, and destined to win the WWE Title regardless of what happened in this feud. But a win for Ambrose would have put him on another level. The fans deserved to have their faith rewarded.

    Instead, he lost after some bizarre interference by Bray Wyatt. Not only did Ambrose lose the feud to Rollins, he lost the following feud with Bray. This was the first big example of the company dropping the ball with him.

    Up and Down the Card

    After losing feuds to Rollins and Wyatt, Ambrose found himself fighting for the Intercontinental title. In the 2015 Royal Rumble, after Daniel Bryan was unceremoniously eliminated, Ambrose was someone the fans fell back on, hoping he would win instead of Reigns. Of course, he was dumped out of the ring like nothing by Big Show and Kane.

    Ambrose continued on in the mid-card, fighting for the IC title in a ladder match at WrestleMania won by Daniel Bryan. Then, somewhat out of nowhere, Ambrose finally beat Rollins in a match on Raw. The win earned himself a title shot in a Fatal 4-Way that included Reigns and Randy Orton, but, of course, Ambrose didn’t win.

    He did find himself in another singles feud with Rollins with the title on the line. After getting screwed at Elimination Chamber, Rollins barely defeated Ambrose at MITB to retain his title. Ambrose came close, but again, came up short. After this, he found himself feuding with the Wyatts again, and again, came up on the losing end.

    Anyone But Roman

    After Rollins got hurt and had to surrender the WWE title, Ambrose was put in a tournament to crown a new champion. This led to a match they’ve never done, a match they perhaps should have never done — Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns. Reigns won the title by defeating Ambrose, but it was somewhat forgettable considering what happened next — Sheamus cashing in his MITB briefcase to win the title.

    While Reigns feuded with Sheamus over the strap, Ambrose returned to the IC title mix. It was around this time Ambrose started to gain momentum again. When his popularity was rising, he was getting comparisons to Steve Austin. Maybe that’s absurd, but fans were desperate for a new star.

    With Reigns still not clicking with the audience, there was the thought, or hope, that maybe Ambrose should take his spot at WrestleMania. When Reigns lost the WWE title in the Royal Rumble, it was Ambrose–not Reigns–who was last eliminated by Triple H.

    At the next PPV, Ambrose was again pinned by Reigns, this time for the number one contender spot. A few weeks later, Ambrose fought Triple H for the title at Roadblock in Toronto and came up short…again. To be fair, he got screwed, but there was basically no follow up, and in the end, the story was that Ambrose failed to win the big one.

    Losing Steam

    I was at that Roadblock show and there really was a feeling among fans that Ambrose could win and change the WrestleMania plans the way Daniel Bryan did two years earlier. Instead, Ambrose was roundly beaten by Brock Lesnar, both throughout the feud and in the actual Mania match.

    To this point, Ambrose had lost almost every big match he has been in with Rollins, Wyatt, Reigns, Triple H and Lesnar all getting their hands raised at the end. Yes, he’s been U.S. and IC champion, and yes, he beat Jericho, but a lot of guys can say both of those things.

    After WrestleMania season, Ambrose lost a lot of steam. Instead of being the unhinged lunatic who would wildly attack Rollins at any opportunity, he became a caricature. He was acting crazy, but it was just that: an act.

    There were complaints about Ambrose feuding with Jericho over a fake talk show and plant, but this is the same guy who once used ketchup and mustard as weapons, and at the time, that worked. But Ambrose was losing the authenticity and credibility he once held with the audience, and feuding over plants and jackets was sad more than it was fun.

    A Second (or Third) Chance

    I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising that WWE put the title on Ambrose when he is at his least interesting point. He’s not red hot anymore. The comparisons to Austin have stopped. But, the opportunity still exists to make Ambrose a top guy. All of the losses and times he got screwed over can add to his story, and WWE would be smart to take advantage and tell that story. Cashing in on Rollins was the perfect start.

    Ambrose went from being the de facto leader of The Shield to the odd man out. But now, it seems as though all three Shield members are back on the same level. I certainly don’t think Money in the Bank was a sign that they’ve given up on Reigns. If anything, Ambrose winning was just a way to set up an angle through SummerSlam and nothing more.

    It’s possible Ambrose will go back to where he was before this all happened, but that would be a mistake. This company seems filled with top heels who get cheered and top faces who get booed, but Ambrose is a face who gets cheered and seems genuinely well-liked. Hopefully he’s trending upward again.

    Learning from The Shield

    You could argue that all three members of The Shield should be bigger stars than they are — If only they had turned Reigns heel, if only they brought back Rollins as a babyface, if only they didn’t do all that stuff I just mentioned with Ambrose. Still, all three guys have done pretty well for themselves.

    It’s important to note how protecting The Shield for as long as they did really make all three guys. Smackdown is frequently advertised and centred around these three men, while guys like John Cena are given the night off. Headlining shows with any combination of The Shield members would have been impossible if they hadn’t been booked so strongly (or if they had debuted on their own as individuals).

    That’s why it’s totally fine getting upset when AJ Styles or Kevin Owens or Bray Wyatt or whoever loses a big match. Ambrose’s struggle to make it through poor booking isn’t a new story. WWE has a long history of ignoring a guy when their popularity peaks. Whether it’s because that guy wasn’t in the plans or because they like to prove the fans wrong, it’s self-destructive.

    But as we’ve seen, plans can change. If the plan is to keep the title on Ambrose for any length of time, which I know is unlikely, I hope the shows feel different with him on top. During his initial rise, Ambrose’s segments were often a breath of fresh air on dreary Raw shows that are always too long.

    We already knew that Dean Ambrose had the ability to be a biggest star of The Shield. Maybe now, especially in light of recent news, he will be.

  • TNA Impact Wrestling results: Hardy vs. Hardy in a Six Sides of Steel cage match

    Previously on Impact:

    Last week on Impact, TNA President Dixie Carter and Maria Kanellis & Mike Bennett had a face-to-face confrontation, which resulted in Dixie slapping Maria across the face. Also, Bobby Lashley retained the World title by defeating Drew Galloway after Ethan Carter III accidentally hit Galloway with a chair. The other big news was the announcement that Gail Kim is the newest inductee into the TNA Hall Of Fame.

    Tonight on Impact:

    On tonight’s show, broken Matt Hardy goes one-on-one with Jeff Hardy in a six side of steel cage match in “Hardy’s Revenge”. Additionally, the show will likely address the fallout from Dixie’s confrontation with Maria & The Miracle.

    Show Recap:

    -We kick the night off with former TNA World Champ Drew Galloway. Drew says that EC3 is the reason he’s not world champion and calls him out. EC3 apologizes for costing Drew the title and says he accepts the blame. Drew doesn’t blame him, he wants to fight him. They argue about everything they’ve both done for TNA. EC3 rescinds his apology and Drew tells him he’s not an ass-kicker but an ass-kisser. They are about the fight each other when TNA champion Lashley comes out.

    Both EC3 and Drew want to fight each other with the winner facing Lashley but he refuses it. Lashley informs them that he spoke with TNA management and Drew and EC3 will face Lashley and a partner. If Drew and EC3 win they get a title shot but if they lose, his partner will get the title shot. They agree and Lashley brings out his partner…King of the Mountain Champion Eli Drake.

    TNA World Champion “The Destroyer” Bobby Lashley and King of The Mountain Champion Eli Drake vs. Drew Galloway and Ethan Carter III

    Pretty good tag match. Josh and The Pope tried to explain how the stipulations for the match benefit Lashley. They said that it would be easier to face one guy instead of two on possibly consecutive nights.

    The heels isolated EC3 in their corner and worked him over. Drew gets the hot tag and runs wild. Drew set up for the Claymore but Lashley cut him off. All four guys brawl in the ring. EC3 hits the One Percenter on Eli. Drew pushed EC3 out of the way and Lashley speared him. Drew took out Lashley and covered Eli to win the match. Both EC3 and Drew will receive title matches.

    -In the back, Abyss and Crazy Steve ask Rosemary who she has been talking to. Apparently, she went to a mysterious person to help Decay. We’ll find out who it is next.

    -Back from commercial, Lashley and Drew talk in the back. Lashley points out that he in control of Drew’s destiny because he can give the title shot to EC3 first.

    -In the arena, Decay makes their way to the ring. Rosemary asks Crazy Steve and Abyss what they were before Decay. Crazy Steve used to be a voiceless clown and Abyss is now beautiful. Rosemary calls out Bram to the ring. Abyss and Steve don’t like that its Bram. Apparently, Decay wants Bram to join them. Bram says that Rosemary is kind of sexy but he’s no freak. He doesn’t do face paint. Steve spit the mist into Bram’s eyes and Decay jumps him. Rosemary told Bram that they’re not done with him.

    -It’s now time for EC3 and Lashley to have their backstage confrontation. It’s similar to the one with Drew earlier. Lashley will let them know by the end of the night who he’ll defend the title against next week.

    Jade vs. Marti Bell

    Marti brings the weapon she used at Slammiversary to cost Jade the title. Jade teased using the same weapon but Earl stopped her. Jade had the advantage for the majority of the match until Marti blocked a package pile driver attempt. Jade went for a dive but Marti nailed her with the weapon to win the match.

    -In the back, Maria and The Miracle are irate over what happen last week with Dixie. They’re going to deal with this in the ring.

    -Back from commercial, Dixie approaches Lashley. Lashley flinched and mockingly asked Dixie if she was going to slap him. Dixie said, “don’t go there.” Dixie announced that Lashley will defend the title against both EC3 and Drew in next weeks main event.

    -The Miracle and Maria are in the ring. The Miracle is upset because Dixie slapped Maria last week. Maria says she hasn’t slept and that it was an unprovoked attack. She called out Dixie to explain herself.

    Dixie comes out with Billy Corgan. Dixie apologizes for letting Maria get to her and slapping Maria. Maria demands that Dixie step down as TNA President. The Miracle says his dad is a lawyer and he’s going to sue Dixie. Billy Corgan played a subtle heel and took Maria and The Miracles side although he denied that. Billy thinks that the heels are making good points and that Dixie has put the company in a tough position. Billy tells Dixie that she should take a leave of absence. Dixie walked away incredibly upset. Maria thanked Billy.

    After Dixie leaves, The Miracle demands a world title shot from Billy. Bennett wants a title shot at Destination X. Billy noted that he and Miracle text each other sometimes. Billy tells Miracle he can have his title shot but he needs to be X Division champ. Billy makes Miracle challenging for the X Division title against Eddie Edwards next.

    X Division Champion Eddie Edwards vs. “The Miracle” Mike Bennett w/ “The First Lady of Professional Wrestling” Maria Kanellis

    As the match starts, Josh and The Pope remind us about Option C and that whomever is X Division champion by Destination X can trade the title in for a world title shot. Really good, fast paced match. The story of the match is that Miracle is trying to prove he can work the X Division style. Bennett attempted a springboard high-risk move but slipped and fell. Josh said he didn’t execute the move because he’s not a regular X Division guy. Miracle went for the M.I.P but Eddie slipped out. Miracle held onto the ropes and pinned Eddie. Miracle is the new X Division champion.

    -In the back, The Miracle and Maria are in the middle of a photo shoot. Miracle promises to cash the title in and win the world title.

    -In the locker room, Robbie E. is in the back waiting for Jesse Godderz. Robbie goes on Jesse’s Ipad. Robbie E. sees Jesse and Raquel having a secret meeting and Raquel tells Jesse not to tell Robbie.

    -Braxton Sutter comes out for his match when Rockstar Spud interrupts.

    Rockstar Spud vs. Braxton Sutter

    Spud and Sutter have an impromptu match. Sutter misses a charge in the corner and Spud gets the brief advantage. Sutter makes his comeback and hits the flat liner to win the match.

    Post match, Spud teases a babyface turn but low blows Sutter instead. Spud whips Sutter with his belt and leaves.

    -Next we get a video package on the new TNA Knockout Champion Sienna. Her next goal is to eliminate future hall of famer Gail Kim

    Six Sides Of Steel Cage – Broken Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy

    Jeff came out first but before getting in the cage he went under the ring and filled the cage with a ladder, tables and chairs. The match can only end by pin or submission. Reby came out with Maxell on her back and introduced Broken Matt. She said not to call him crazy. Matt has new entrance music, which is a simple piano theme. Jeff jumps Matt to start the match. Matt gets the advantage with a running power bomb into the cage.

    After commercial, Matt is still in control of the match. Matt used a ladder on Jeff and set up a table. Matt bit Jeff’s knee and hit the side effect on a chair. Jeff hit a twist of fate but Matt got right back to his feet. Jeff hit a second Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Jeff beat Matt with a chair but he kept getting back to his feet.

    Jeff placed Matt on a table with chairs on top of Matt. Then he placed another table on top of Matt. Jeff climbed up the top tope and placed a ladder at the top. The ladder is wedged between the ring post and cage. Jeff climbed up the ladder and hit a Swanton on to the tables below. Jeff pinned Matt to win the match.

    Next Time on Impact:

    In Next week’s main event, Bobby Lashley will defend the World title against Drew Galloway and EC3 in a triple threat. Also, Sienna will defend the Knockout title against future Hall of Famer Gail Kim.

  • WWE Cruiserweight Classic gets debut date, announcing team

    The Wednesday night wrestling block will get a bit more crowded this summer as WWE announced that the much-anticipated WWE Cruiserweight Classic will debut on the Network starting Wednesday, July 13th at 9 PM EST, airing for 10 weeks through a live two-hour finale on Wednesday, September 15th.

    Current Smackdown lead man Mauro Ranallo and former WWE Champion Daniel Bryan were announced as “hosts” for the Classic, but we confirmed they are indeed calling the action.

    Also announced was a preview special — CWC Bracketology — for Wednesday, July 6th at 9 PM EST where we should get the actual tournament brackets and all 16 first round match matchups.

    The Classic will feature 32 talents (some under WWE contract & some not) from around the world in a single-elimination tournament including Zack Sabre Jr., Gran Metalik, Noam Dar, Kota Ibushi, Rich Swann, Akira Tozawa, Johnny Gargano, Cedric Alexander, Tommaso Ciampa, and more. Here’s the full list of participants.