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  • WWE Battleground 2015 live results & coverage: Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar, John Cena vs Kevin Owens, a big return

    By Dave Meltzer, WrestlingObserver.com

    Welcome to our live coverage of WWE Battleground from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. We’re looking for your thoughts on this show, as well as tonight’s New Japan G-1 opening night and Dragon Gate Kobe World show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

    KING BARRETT VS. R-TRUTH 

    Barrett won and maintained his “Kingdom” in a decent match with not a lot of heat. The finish saw R-Truth go for the Lie Detector, but Barrett held onto the ropes and then hit the Bull Hammer on R-Truth for the pin.

    SHEAMUS VS. RANDY ORTON

    Orton won using the RKO in a strong opener after getting to the ropes while in the Clover Leaf submission. Orton rolled away after a Brogue kick earlier in the match. Slow starting match but they built it well: a real professional slower style deliberate match with everyone doing all of their moves in a long match.

    Stephanie McMahon did an interview, putting over St. Louis and Sam Muchnick’s Wrestling at the Chase.  She said all three Divas teams are picking a rep for a three way (Brie vs. Charlotte vs Sasha Banks most likely) and she wants them to tear the house down.

    WWE Tag Team Champions PRIME TIME PLAYERS VS. NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Big E)

    The Prime Time Players retained when Titus pinned Big E with the Clash of the Titus.  It was Big E & Kingston with Woods on the floor.  Match was pretty well paced with a few missed spots, most notable O’Neil having to actually change direction so he could be in position for Woods to intefere. They did heat spots on Young most of the way, O’Neil made a brief hot tag. After a few quick tags, Young escaped from an attempt at the Big Ending and ducked when Kingston tried Trouble in Paradise.

    Becky Lynch, Paige, and Charlotte were talking about burning the house down tonight.  They are trying to really push the women tonight.

    ROMAN REIGNS VS. BRAY WYATT

    Wyatt won when Luke Harper interfered and threw Reigns into the post and into the ring, leading to Wyatt hitting Sister Abigal in just over 21:00.  Very good match with some cool spots including Reigns going for his dropkick on the floor and Wyatt clotheslining him.  They were blocking each others’ finishers. Wyatt also did a DDT on the apron and Wyatt kicked out of a Superman punch.

    Interview with NaomiTamina and Sasha Banks. 

    NXT Women’s Champion SASHA BANKS VS. CHARLOTTE VS. BRIE BELLA

    Charlotte used the Figure Eight on Brie to win via submission after Brie broke up Banks’ with the Bank Statement on Charlotte and Brie went for the X Factor on Charlotte, but it was blocked.  They didn’t tear the house down by any means but this was a better match than the vast majority of women’s matches in WWE. However, it was not close to the level of the NXT women as Brie seemed to hurt the match. The announcers were trying to push this like it was a revolution.  It seemed like part of the crowd was more receptive than for a usual women’s match on WWE PPV, but a lot of the crowd didn’t see it as anything different.

    U.S. Champion JOHN CENA VS. KEVIN OWENS

    Excellent match that Cena won clean in the middle with the STF after Owens had kicked out of 2 Attitude Adjustments during the match as well as a third time off the middle rope. The match was mostly about them doing their moves and kicking out. Cena kicked out of the pop up power bomb. Owens used the AA as well as the STF on Cena. The crowd was totally pro-Owens.  I’d say this wasn’t as good as the first two matches but still the best thing on the show so far.

    The Miz is coming out now, but I don’t know that we need this so late in the show. He talked about how the triple threat isn’t happening and his branding team had plans for him when he won the IC title. He already had talked show appearances but said Ryback got hurt and the match is postponed. He said he’s known Ryback since Tough Enough, saying the big guy is really the big pansy. “When the going gets tough, Ryback gets injured.” Miz said Ryback knows he’s the toughest man in WWE and he’s the toughest man in the building right now.

    He said Big Show has been missing since the Attitude Era and should retire. He said they should declare him the champion the way a real city like Los Angeles is going to claim the Rams. Show is out, and Miz switched his tune. He asked Show to be a tag team.  Show just knocked him out and walked off.  That was the end of the segment.  Is Show a face or a heel?  Was that turn No. 41?

    WWE Champion SETH ROLLINS VS. BROCK LESNAR

    Well, this was a weird one.

    Obviously it’s about drawing a rating Monday with Undertaker. Lesnar gave Rollins 13 suplexes in nine minutes and hit the F-5.  At that point, the Undertaker’s gong hit. The referee and Rollins both disappeared into thin air when the lights came back on. Undertaker was in and laid Lesnar to waste with a high choke slam and two tombstone piledrivers and the show went off the air.  The crowd loved the idea of Undertaker being there so it worked live, but as far as a main event went, it was pretty bad as far as going anywhere. The action was fine but it was way too short, there was no finish announced, and the show ended almost 15 minutes early. 

  • MON UPDATE: Major interest in last night’s show, Cena movie, Diaz to jail, Lawlor fights Saturday

    By Dave Meltzer

    We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s WWE Battleground, today’s New Japan G-1 opening night and today’s Dragon Gate Kobe World Festival with a thumbs up, thumbs down and thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>

    We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw in Kansas City.  Brock Lesnar is advertised on the show.  We’re looking for Superstars matches, dark matches and anything else not evident on the live show at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    We’re also looking for reports on last night’s WWE show in Danville, IL and NXT show in Venice, FL.

    Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Lincoln, NE.

    The Conor McGregor phenomenon and the new direction of women in WWE and a history of women in WWE are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  

    The issue is on the site right now at July 20, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC 189 report, WWE calls up NXT women

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site are at  Sign up here for as low as $9.99 per month!

    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 at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    Rates are:

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    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.

    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.

    Our lead story talks about the Conor McGregor phenomenon, how it ushered in the new era of UFC, the business notes on the show, McGregor’s popularity in Ireland, why iPPV numbers probably set records, U.K. reaction, what to learn from McGregor vs. Mendes, how risky a gamble this fight was, similar gambles from the past, the story of the fight, McGregor vs. Aldo next, Ultimate Fighter and a full rundown of UFC 189.

    We also look at WWE’s bringing up Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks this past week, and a look back at the history of women performers in WWE dating back to the Wendi Richter vs. Fabulous Moolah match in 1984.  We look at the forgotten best women’s matches in main roster history and best workers, and failed attempt to market athletic women, what really happened with Aja Kong, We also look at the different ways this can go, how the angles changed, how the angle was done, as well as how UFC made it work and what was the same and different.

    We also look at what may be UFC’s biggest event of 2016, the UFC 200 show.

    We also look at the NXT show in Brooklyn and the busy weekend in the New York area, notes on when the next WWE network number will be released and what it would be up to, as well as break-even, and the peak number.  We look at advance sales for Battleground and the card, Lennox Lewis admits to almost doing a mixed match with Brock Lesnar in 2003, the story behind that fight and why it never happened, William Regal explains what WWE is looking for in new talent in a fascinating interview, notes on the future of Smackdown, who are planned to be focal point of NXT, Ziggler, Cody Runnels, update on Tyson Kidd, key WWE exec gets fired and new major WWE stock purchase by one of the richest men in Holland.

    We also look at an update on several legal proceedings involving WWE suits, notes on Tough Enough, as well as a rundown of the weekend NXT and WWE house shows with business notes on the shows.

    We also look at this year’s UFC induction ceremony, how it has changed, its future goals, and the speeches by Bas Rutten, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes Frank Trigg, Lori Blatnick and many others.  We look at the histories of all the inductees as well.

    We also have more on Fedor Emelianenko being shopped around for a comeback at the age of 38.  We look at who he is, what he said just a few months ago about a comeback, if it is realistic to expect a match with Brock Lesnar, what Fedor said directly a few months ago about a match with Lesnar, as well as how UFC or Bellator can use him.

    We also look at UFC’s Sunday show in Las Vegas and business notes on the show.

    The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.

    We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.

    Also in this week’s issue:

    –A look at the big weekly event at Arena Mexico

    –Build to CMLL’s big summer show

    –A major big show controversy and a lot of buck passing involved

    –Top matches for this year’s TripleMania

    –A look at this past week’s AAA TV taping

    –Wrestling returns to Royal Albert Hall in London

    –A major star celebrates 30th anniversary of his pro debut

    –Third generation legend makes debut

    –Wrestle-1 announces its own tournament

    –Coverage of Wrestle-1 show from the past week

    –Notes on the G-1 debut card

    –Shinya Hashimoto death anniversary show

    –More on Dusty Rhodes and one of his most famous angles

    –A look at the build of Starrcade 85

    –GFW’s road shows and TV tapings

    –A look at the Waterloo wrestling Hall of Fame and this year’s inductions

    –A match of the year candidate

    –Former WWE star falls into more problems

    –One match which features champions from New Japan, a top star of Evolve, the TNA world champion, a Lucha Underground champion, anther TNA wrestler as well as a WWE wrestler and an ROH wrestler all in the same match

    –A look at Tommy Dreamer’s next show

    –Update on Alberto Del Rio

    –Update on Lucha Underground

    –Movie being made about a Lucha Underground star

    –More on ROH over WrestleMania weekend

    –This week’s upcoming ROH show in Las Vegas

    –A look this past week’s ROH show

    –More on the future of TNA

    –Update on Davey Richards

    –Something to watch for when it comes to UFC fans

    –Update on Travis Browne situation

    –This week’s UFC show on FS 1 and Fight Pass Titan show

    –More on C.M. Punk and his debut

    –More on fighters and prospective TV show ideas

    –Cris Cyborg, UFC and Invicta

    –New UFC fights

    –Lawsuit filed regarding Bellator

    –This week’s Bellator show

    –Notes on how new Bellator announcer used to write for a wrestling newsletter

    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.

    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

    MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

    • Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, G-1 and the rest of the pro wrestling and MMA news, as well as taking your questions that can be sent to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
    • “Trainwreck,” the Amy Schumer movie that has gotten real strong word-of-mouth, greatly exceeded industry expectations by taking in  $30.2 million over the weekend.  John Cena is in the movie as a one-time boyfriend of Schumer.  It was No. 3 behind Ant-Man and Minions.
    • I haven’t seen it yet, but people are raving about the Dragon Gate show that took place earlier today on iPPV.  G-1 was nothing close to the level of opening night last year, and not even as good as Battleground, even though Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi was a classic with Tanahashi turning back the clock a few years to where he was the best overall guy in the business. 
    • No serious injuries coming out of last night’s show.  There were 500,000 searches for the show, way above usual for a “B” show, which is about 200,000.  That was likely due to Undertaker, who was the most searched name yesterday.  It was No. 2 for the day behind Mick Fanning.
    • The belief is the ratings tonight will be well up from recent weeks due to bringing back Undertaker.
    • On Twitter, there were 397,000 tweets regarding the show, and there have been 10,100 on Raw tonight.  Last night when they said it was No. 1 on twitter, at that moment it was No. 3 even among the subjects that I had numbers on, although there Twitter algorithms are unique in that you don’t trend based on being the top thing talked about, but on a percentage over usual.  Many subjects trend with 100 tweets.
    • TMZ is reporting that Nick Diaz was sentenced to two days in jail, with credit already for one day served, on DUI charges from September.  He will also get three years informal probation and must complete a DUI education course. 
    • Smart money didn’t come in last night on Battleground for whatever reason.  There were no super long odds, and the longest odds of 15-to-1 and 17-to-1 were for The New Day and Roman Reigns, who both lost. (thanks to David Taylor) 
    • The next G-1 show is from Shizuoka on Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.  There will be shows Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
    • Tom Lawlor from the site will be fighting Saturday night on FOX against No. 15 ranked Gian Villante in his first fight in two years.  The fight will air at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, on the show headlined by T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao for the bantamweight title.
    • Figures Toy Company has reached an action figure deal with Tama Tonga of New Japan Pro Wrestling.  The list of those they have deals with in their new set are A.J. Styles, The Young Bucks, Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins), Cliff Compton, Doc Gallows, Amber Gallows, Joey Ryan and Kenny Omega.
    • ROH has started on TV in South Bend, IN on WSJV, the Fox station, Ch. 28, at Noon on Saturdays (thanks to Brian Schoonaert)
    • EWF from Saturday night in San Bernardino:  Tarasso b Sergio Santana, Brute Baretto b Tyler Ray, Uptown Andy Brown b J Jaeger, Arian Quest b Fidel Bravo, Friar Roman & Archimedes b V Garayt & Viking Warrior, Iron Man Mike Maze b Billy Blade (thanks to Frank Mott)
    • Premier Wrestling on 9/19 in San Jose at Del Mar High School with JR Kratos (8-2) defending the Premier title against Jeff Cobb (6-2-1), plus Timothy Thatcher, Gabriel Gallo, Brian Tannen, Joe Graves, Marcus Leis, Alexander Hammerstone, Nicole Savoy, Kahmora, Raze and Kikyo Nakamura.  Tickets go on sale on 8/1 at www.premierwrestle.com
    • The Premier Boxing Championships has a show on 8/2 on Bounce TV headlined by Juan Carlos Payano vs. Rau’shee Warren that will be live from Full Sail University, the home of NXT. 
    • Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 8/16 in Oshawa, ONT at the Legion with Johnny Devine, Roderick Strong and Jennifer Blake.
    • Funkdafied Wrestling Federation from Saturday night in Warsaw, IN:  Chase Matthews b Danny Shay, Jack Thriller b Roger Lanier, Scotty Young b Anthony Toatele, Police Department b Rougues, Joey Janela b Beast, Russ Jones b Tank, Honky Tonk Man & Lightning Bolt Johnson b JD Smooth & KC Huber (thanks to Leonard Brand)
    • Absolute Intense Wrestling on 8/14 in Strongsville, OH at the Holiday Inn.
    • Legacy Fighting Championships airs on AXS TV on Friday night   
    • ACW from yesterday in New Port Richey, FL:  Wayne Van Dyke won five-way over Bucky Wells, Aaron Epic, Josh Hess and Riptide, Nathan Vain b Beastly Brody, Kennedy Kendrick b Martin Stone, Maxwell b Earl Cooter, Rhett Giddins & Francisco Ciatso b C.J. O’Doyle & Diemos, Santana Garrett b Su Yung-DQ, Jason Cade & Aaron Solo b First Degree, Sideshow b Sean Swag in a cage match (thanks to Al Haft)
    • There is a Lucha Libre show on Friday night in Pharr, TX at the Los Portales Flea Market with Alebrije & Blue Demon Jr vs. Silver King & Spawn.  There is also a show Sunday in Houston at Club LaBoom with Demon Jr. & Alebrije vs. Pentagon Black & Pierroth.
    • On Friday in Tijuana at Auditorio Municipal there is a hair vs. hair ladder match with Nicho vs. Pagano.
    • Evolucion Lucha Libre on 8/8 at Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana has Rush & La Sombra vs. L.A. Park & El Hijo de L.A. Park (thanks to Kris Zellner)   

    ON THIS DATE IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

    1985 – Chamaco Valaquez beat La Fiera in Mexico City to win the NWA middleweight title

    1989 – Lola Gonzalez beat Zuleyma in Tijuana to win the WWA women’s title

    1994 – Dick Slater beat Nobutaka Araya to win the IWA title

    1996 – Jushin Liger & El Samurai beat Lance Storm & Yuji Yasuraoka in Tokyo to win the WAR Int. jr. tag title and Rey Misterio Jr. beat Psicosis on the same show to win the WWA welterweight title

    2000 – Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi in Sapporo to win the IWGP tag title and Tatsuhito Takaiwa beat Liger to win the IWGP jr. title

    2001 – Masayuki Naruse beat Minoru Tanaka in Sapporo to win the IWGP jr. title and Gedo & Jado beat Liger & Samurai to win the IWGP jr. tag title

    2002 – Koji Kanemoto beat Minoru Tanaka in Sapporo to win the IWGP jr. title

    2007 – Negro Casas & Mistico beat Dr Wagner Jr. & Ultimo Guerrero in Mexico City to win the CMLL tag titles

    2013 – Shinsuke Nakamura beat La Sombra in Akita to win the IC title

    2014 – BxB Hulk beat Yamato in Nagoya to win the Open the Dream Gate title and T-Hawk & Eita beat Akira Tozawa & Shingo Takagi to win the Open the Twin Gate tag title

    TODAY’S PRO WRESTLING VIDEOS
    WWE/NXT

    WWE Fury:  16 Of Brock Lesnas’s Most Furious F-5s

    7/19/15 WWEcom Exclusive:  Team Paige Celebrates With The Nature Boy

    7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive:  Lesnar Leaves WWE Battleground

    7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive:  The Prime Time Players Beat The Odds

    7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive:  Kevin Owens Is Not In The Mood To Be Interviewed

    7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive:  Kevin Owens Gets In Touch With His Artistic Side 

    WWE Battleground Kickoff

    GLOBAL FORCE NETWORK

    #GFWAmped:  Chris Mordetzky-Why Did You Leave WWE?

    #GFWAmped:  PJ Black-It’s All About The Adrenaline Rush

    #GFWAmped:  Brian Myers-What Would It Mean To Be The First Ever GFW Global Champion?

    INDY TV SHOWS

    Premiere Wrestling Xperience HD TV (Episode 4)

    Premiere Wrestling Xperience HD TV (Episode 5)

    Premiere Wrestling Xperience HD TV (Episode 6)

    West Virginia Championship Wrestling TV (Episode 237)

    Victory Championship Wrestling “Victory Wrestling Shocase” TV (Episode 112)

    7/19/15 NWA Southern All-Star Wrestling

    Anarchy Wrestling TV (Episode 493)

    Action Coast Empire Wrestling TV (Episode 8)

  • Vadim talks whether Fedor will end up in UFC

    Fedor Emelianenko’s manager Vadim Finkelchtein had an hour long interview with Submission Radio getting down to every detail of a possible return for “The Last Emperor”

    When it comes to where Fedor is going Vadim believes UFC has the highest chance as long as Dana White actually provides a substantial offer “If Dana would not only talk, but do some things [and] will make a good offer to Fedor, they have a big chance then.” While many are speculating the Rebook deal may be an issue for Fedor Vadim assured Submission Radio that it’s no problem at all “It’s going to be a big problem because I think Rebook is interested in Fedor as well as the UFC, and I think if they really want this they will find some ways.” 


    While on the subject of Dana White Vadim assured Submission Radio that the shaky negotions that Emelianenko had on a secret island along with the negative comments in the media won’t hurt a possible deal in the future “Dana talked a lot. [He] talked a lot about Fedor, about Vadim, and he talked bad. But Fedor understands that it all was just PR. He’s not in a bad relations with Dana and he doesn’t feel anything bad about him.”


    With WSOF bidding for a co-promoted card between them and M1 Vadim shot down the idea “Well, when it comes to M-1 we are not really interested in any kind of co-promotion. M-1 is a self-contained, European promotion which has no less than 12 shows a year, and this number is about to grow every year.” As well as WSOF Vadim wouldn’t consider co-promotion between M1 and Scott Coker’s Bellator similar to their deal with Stirkeforce “I don’t think that a co-promotion with Bellator is possible. The other time when we co-promoted with Strikeforce [it was] because Fedor had a contract with M-1. Now it’s a different story. And, well to repeat what I said before, I want to say that M-1 don’t really need any co-promotion.”

    According to Vadim a fight with Randy Couture isn’t out of the question if the former UFC champion looks to make a return to the ring “From my point of view this fight would be interesting. They are both legends and great fighters, but I can’t talk about Fedor. I think that can be interesting for him because years ago it was interesting for him.”

    Finally when it comes to Joe Rogan and some of his comments earlier in the year suggesting Fedor’s use of PED’s Vadim just puts it down to PR tricks “Well, actually we never put a big attention on that PR tricks, and Joe Rogan’s words were those kind of PR things. I am a friend of Fedor, I was his manager, and I know he never used any doping. People even asked him “why don’t you use this? Why don’t you take this medicine?” and so on, but he never did this. He just ate healthy food, trained a lot, and stayed healthy. He never used any doping.”

    Full link: http://bit.ly/1Gvjdv2


    Transcript

    On if Vadim is interested in a co-promotion deal with WSOF for a potential Fedor fight

    “Well, when it comes to M-1 we are not really interested in any kind of co-promotion. M-1 is a self-contained, European promotion which has no less than 12 shows a year, and this number is about to grow every year.”

    “Well, actually we can talk about this. It depends on many things. It’s complicated to make a co-promotion. It’s a hard thing. It’s about money, and when it comes to Fedor, it’s only his choice. He has a very wide choice of MMA organizations in the world, and who will make a better offer to him will get Fedor.”


    Seeing as M-1 co-promoted with Strikeforce in the past, if he would consider co-promoting with Scott Coker and Bellator on a card with Fedor?

    “I don’t think that a co-promotion with Bellator is possible. The other time when we co-promoted with Strikeforce [it was] because Fedor had a contract with M-1. Now it’s a different story. And, well to repeat what I said before, I want to say that M-1 don’t really need any co-promotion.”


    On if the negative experience and failed negations with Dana White (from the meeting on the island) in the past will have an impact on Fedor coming to the UFC

    “Well I don’t think that story can influence somehow Fedor’s decision to choose UFC or any other MMA promotion. If they will make a good offer to him that will be good for himself, then he can accept this. Also Bellator can make a better offer. So I don’t think that situation can influence it somehow.”


    On if Fedor has any negative feelings towards Dana White

    “Dana talked a lot. [He] talked a lot about Fedor, about Vadim, and he talked bad. But Fedor understands that it all was just PR. He’s not in a bad relations with Dana and he doesn’t feel anything bad about him.”


    On if Vadim would be open to selling M-1 Global to Dana White as he expressed in a previous interview he was open to the idea a number of years back when Dana offered to buy it but had no power to sell it

    “It was a completely different situation then. We had some financial problems then. And now I’m not going to sell M-1 to anywhere because we are growing and developing. We have no less than 12 events a year, and the next year we are going to have 14 or 16 events. We have a lot of sponsors, we have support, and we started to make the “M-1 arena” for 3000 people in St Petersburg. So it’s no more financial problems and no matter for me to sell to M-1.”


    On if the new Rebook deal will be a problem when the UFC will sign Fedor due to loss of sponsorship money

    “I’m not sure, but I don’t think it’s going to be a big problem because I think Rebook is interested in Fedor as well as the UFC, and I think if they really want this they will find some ways.”


    On if UFC is the most likely company to sign Fedor

     “Well I think UFC have a big chance to sign Fedor. It depends on what offer they will make. If Dana would not only talk, but do some things [and] will make a good offer to Fedor, they have a big chance then.”


    On if Fedor is still open to fighting Randy Couture

    “From my point of view this fight would be interesting. They are both legends and great fighters, but I can’t talk about Fedor. I think that can be interesting for him because years ago it was interesting for him.”


    The level of competition that Fedor would fight upon his return and if he would pursue a title belt of have showcase fights

    “Before he decided to retire, Fedor was working hard, training and fighting a lot during his whole career, and he was tired, both physically and mentally. So he decided himself [that] it was time to stop. And that was a common decision, and I was doing my best to make him come back. Now he decided to come back, but he never stopped training. He always gave master-classes, always had sparring, and so on. So his physical form is very good now. He didn’t lose anything. All he needs now is some time to get ready to get prepared, because I see fire in his eyes. He is ready mentally to fight. All he needs is to take some training and he will be able to beat any fighters and the strongest fighters in the world.”

    Thoughts on Khabib Nurmagomedov saying “I hope Fedor understands that MMA has changed a lot”
     “Fedor never actually never left MMA, he just didn’t fight. He was always involved. He saw the level of the fighters, he saw the level of the champions, and well he was involved. He didn’t miss anything. He has trained constantly and been self-active. Furthermore, he had never used any kind of doping. All of his power and all of his strength was gained by the hard work only. So this vacation only even benefited him because he didn’t have all that condition downfall that it’s users typically experience when they stop using it.”

    If Vadim was upset with Joe Rogan’s comments about Fedor and PED’s

    “Well, actually we never put a big attention on that PR tricks, and Joe Rogan’s words were those kind of PR things. I am a friend of Fedor, I was his manager, and I know he never used any doping. People even asked him “why don’t you use this? Why don’t you take this medicine?” and so on, but he never did this. He just ate healthy food, trained a lot, and stayed healthy. He never used any doping.”

  • Tito Ortiz talks fighting Fedor, who he turned down to get McGeary and Cyborg

    Tito Ortiz returned to Submission Radio to discuss his big title fight at Bellator 142. 

    Before discussing the fight Tito opened up about Fedor and his belief that he’s going to Bellator creating an opportunity for a possible match up “I think Fedor is signing with Bellator, and if he can get down to 205 I would love to fight him. I’ve always fought at 205, I will always fight at 205 because I know I’m in great shape when I fight at 205, but if Bellator could put that together; wow, can you imagine after I beat McGeary, me and Fedor for the light heavyweight title? That’d be amazing.” When asked about why Tito thinks Fedor is going to Bellator especially after claims from his manager that a UFC signing looked likely Tito explained “Well, you know Scott Coker is a straightshooter, and I know he’s an awesome guy, and I know Fedor has had that great time with Bellator at the signings, and I know Scott Coker and Fedor are good friends, his managers are good friends with him. And you know it just seems like when you’re in a good business relationship, things just make sense, and I don’t know. We’ll see. I can’t let the cat out of the bag too soon can I?” Although Fedor vs. Tito would be a great fight the biggest barrier in the way could be Ortiz wanting to do the fight at 205. However when asked if he’d be doing a catch weight fight Tito admitted “Yes I would.”

    Tito like many had some opinions on the UFC uniforms, he explained “The uniforms are horrible. Thank god I don’t have to fight for that company. Gosh I feel bad for those guys. Man they look silly, and I’m not a big fan of it.” “It just looks like a conveyer belt of fighters that are going out and are fighting, you know? Thank god for McGregor who talks very well and he’s outspoken and he’s able to find a character and run with it”


    Ortiz’s compliments for McGregor didn’t stop there. When asked if he believes the champion is a bigger draw than Brock Lesnar Tito said “McGregor is a bigger draw in MMA than Brock Lesnar as of now” “I hope he’s getting paid what he deserves and I gotta say, I respect the guy. He dresses nice, he talks great, and he fights great; kind of like myself when I was the world champion. So it’s nice to see a guy do it nowadays and not afraid to do it, and have no backlash for doing it.”


    Before Tito took his title fight with Liam McGeary he process of fighting the Bellator champion wasn’t easy as Scott Coker didn’t see the fight as a good option Tito explained what he went through “Right off the bat I told Scott [Coker] “I want to fight Liam”. He’s like “well why don’t we do you and Kimbo”. I was like “no I want to fight Liam”. And he’s goes like “why don’t we do you and Ken Shamrock”. I’m like “no I want to fight Liam”. He goes “well how about you and Frank Shamrock”. I go “Scott please, who do I need to talk to? I want to fight Liam McGeary”. And he goes “alright, well I really don’t think people like this”. And I said “okay, we’ll see”. And I posted it on Twitter and people went nuts. Legend vs. Champion, they want to see it. And all of a sudden Viacom’s talking, Spike TV’s talking. And then all of sudden Scott called me back. He’s like “oh this will be great, champion vs. legend.”


    As for Frank Shamrock don’t expect Tito to fight him any time soon as Ortiz explained his decision making process when he was offered the fight initially “It took about maybe two seconds to figure that one out and say no. Let’s think about this. Tito Ortiz 2015, fights Frank Shamrock who’s retired. Tito Ortiz who’s on a two-fight win streak and has an opportunity to fight for a world title. Why would I want to give my fans an easy win when I could go out saying I fought the champion and beat the champion and challenged myself like no other?”


    While on the subject of potential fights Tito still belives that Ronda Rousey is ducking his former client and close friend Cris Cyborg “Yeah, if she wasn’t [ducking] she would already fight her. The fight would already be done, you know? They’d fight at catchweight at 140 and they would already make it happen. One of the reasons why Ronda ran into 135 pounds – she used to be a 145 pounder when she fought in Strikeforce, but she cut down to get away from Cris. If the fight would have happened it would happen already, but Ronda wants to ride her glory trailer. I’m proud of her though. I’m proud of Ronda. She’s doing an amazing job. She’s putting MMA on the map for women like no other, and she’s a superstar in the sport, in films, and around the world. So you know, I’m proud of the girl.”


    Submission Radio clarified if Tito believes Cris can cut down to 135 pounds “As a friend, as a training partner, I really see it hard for Cris to make 135. You know, we talk about it, about making it. Making 145 is not super difficult, but it is hard for her to do. She’s coming down from 170, you know I mean? When she’s not in great shape she’s 175, almost 180. She’s a big girl. I mean, she’s fought her whole career – we’re talking about Cris Cyborg – at 145 pounds, I mean her whole career. And it’s just, her trying to cut down even more, I just think it just….it would really make her not as great a fighter as she is if she fights at 145 pounds; or even at 140″


    With IV ban’s in the UFC many fighters will find it difficult to cut weight Tito belives it could be an issue for big weight cutters in the UFC “A lot of these other guys do the IVs and they go from, you know, 170. They weigh in and all of a sudden they’re 185, almost 190 when it’s fight time. And that’s a big difference too for the size of a man that’s putting that much weight on.”


    Finally don’t expect Tito to retire after his contract with Bellator runs out according to Ortiz a record breaking run as champion may be in the cards “Well you know I have two fights [left on the current contract]. So I win this world title, I defend the world title, and I come back to the negotiation table, and I come back and run it for 6-7 fights and be the longest raining Bellator world champion, and be the longest raining MMA world champion in history. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”


    Read full transcript for comments on recent Jenna Jameson lawsuit, fighting Liam McGeary, thoughts on Alexander Shlemenko and much more.


    Full interview: http://bit.ly/1Ohplwt


    Transcript

    If he believes Ronda Rousey is ducking Cris Cyborg

    “Yeah, if she wasn’t [ducking] she would already fight her. The fight would already be done, you know? They’d fight at catchweight at 140 and they would already make it happen. One of the reasons why Ronda ran into 135 pounds – she used to be a 145 pounder when she fought in Strikeforce, but she cut down to get away from Cris. If the fight would have happened it would happen already, but Ronda wants to ride her glory trailer. I’m proud of her though. I’m proud of Ronda. She’s doing an amazing job. She’s putting MMA on the map for women like no other, and she’s a superstar in the sport, in films, and around the world. So you know, I’m proud of the girl.”


    If there’s any chance Cyborg could fight Rousey at 135 or if the fight would have to be at catchweight?

    “As a friend, as a training partner, I really see it hard for Cris to make 135. You know, we talk about it, about making it. Making 145 is not super difficult, but it is hard for her to do. She’s coming down from 170, you know I mean? When she’s not in great shape she’s 175, almost 180. She’s a big girl. I mean, she’s fought her whole career – we’re talking about Cris Cyborg – at 145 pounds, I mean her whole career. And it’s just, her trying to cut down even more, I just think it just….it would really make her not as great a fighter as she is if she fights at 145 pounds; or even at 140, I think she would even do better. But it’s just, we’re going try to get down before the year is over. Try at least have one fight at 140. And it’s just a matter of time I think. Miesha Tate has said she’d fight Cris at 140. So that might be the first right step towards getting a fight with Ronda Rousey.”


    On if Rousey’s with Cyborg is important for the growth of WMMA

    “I think it’d do a lot for the sport in general and in woman’s MMA. It’s just one of those things like a Manny Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, but I think this would be a real fight. I think you’d have a more exciting fight, where she would want to exchange with each other, not play the pitter-patter of dancing and how boxing does, as the Mayweather fight did give you. I mean I was bummed about it. I was a huge Mayweather and Pacquiao fan. I was excited to see who would be the better boxer.”


    Tito’s thoughts on the IV ban

    “Well, you know I really didn’t start using IVs until like 2009, 2008. Randy Couture is the one who told me about it. I’ve always just done pedialytes. I mean and I’ve always cut anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds for a fight and the IVs helped out a whole bunch more. It makes it easier. But for other people who cut the 20 pounds, they’re usually a smaller man. I’m a big guy so I can cut a lot of weight, it’s not a problem, I’ve mastered this. I’ve never missed a weight in my whole career, and I just think for a whole lot of other people it’s hard for them to accept the fact that in the UFC they’re going to have to cut IVs. I mean I really don’t see the negative benefits that the athletic commission get for not doing IVs, you know? If it makes it kinda harder for guys to use any kind of dope or any type of steroids and anything like that – but if the guys are using them, they’re going to catch him anyways. So I don’t understand what’s the difference. In Bellator we don’t have to worry about it – thank god – but if it does happen during my career, I have no problem rehydrating with pedialytes and water and food, and just get back up to normal walk-around weight, pre-fight, around 220, 223, to 224. That’s not a problem. A lot of these other guys do the IVs and they go from, you know, 170. They weigh in and all of a sudden they’re 185, almost 190 when it’s fight time. And that’s a big difference too for the size of a man that’s putting that much weight on.”


    On Tito’s opinion if the Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice fight was a work

    “Well for one, you’ve got two guys – you know Kimbo is a street fighter and Ken Shamrock is 51 years old. I’m not talking anything bad about Ken Shamrock – you know or Kimbo either – but to be a main event, the name speaks for itself. The names sold it. They got over 2.2 million viewers, which was great. People still want to see those two guys fight, they want to see Kimbo fight and I think the hatred they had towards each other it’s what fuelled the fire. People don’t understand – you know for people to view something to be a spectacle, that’s why they watch it. No matter what. They watch it. You look at Conor McGregor. I mean they guy has only fought four times in the UFC, and he got probably one of the biggest pay per view buys in his last fight he had ’cause he talks. He talks well. People like excitement, people like people who are fighters, who put their heart and soul out there and say what they mean, and say what they feel. And Kimbo and Shamrock did the same thing. As far as Rogan saying that it was a fixed fight; I was sitting right there, I mean literally right in front of it, and the punch that Shamrock got hit with, I felt it. I was like “ow”. And it was far from fixed at all. I mean I don’t know how they could cut the camera away and put blood on Ken Shamrock’s face, put a gash on his face. It was far from fixed.”

    “You know, Ken Shamrock just wasn’t in shape. He was in good enough shape for a 50 year old man, but wasn’t in shape enough to finish, you know, a non-professional mixed martial artist. At the same time, I just….I don’t know, I thought it was a spectacle fight that got viewership into it. At the end of the day, the fights prior to that were exciting. The whole card in general was a really exciting card, and I was happy to be in the audience.”


    On if Scott Coker really offered for him to fight Frank Shamrock next, and if Tito considered it

    “It took about maybe two seconds to figure that one out and say no. Let’s think about this. Tito Ortiz 2015, fights Frank Shamrock who’s retired. Tito Ortiz who’s on a two-fight win streak and has an opportunity to fight for a world title. Why would I want to give my fans an easy win when I could go out saying I fought the champion and beat the champion and challenged myself like no other? I could take the easy road, I could make the payday, I could get paid. This is not paydays for me. I have money, that’s fine. It’s not about that. This is about me leaving the sport as being a world champion. How I started this sport is being a world champion, and I challenge myself. I mean that’s why the fans love me, I challenge myself. I could have taken a fight with Kimbo Slice, I could have taken a fight with Ken Shamrock, but no, I didn’t want to. I want to challenge myself as a human being, as an athlete, as a legend in the sport. I have really done so much for the sport. This sport has given me so much. I just really chose this, and right off the bat I told Scott [Coker] “I want to fight Liam”. He’s like “well why don’t we do you and Kimbo”. I was like “no I want to fight Liam”. And he’s goes like “why don’t we do you and Ken Shamrock”. I’m like “no I want to fight Liam”. He goes “well how about you and Frank Shamrock”. I go “Scott please, who do I need to talk to? I want to fight Liam McGeary”. And he goes “alright, well I really don’t think people like this”. And I said “okay, we’ll see”. And I posted it on Twitter and people went nuts. Legend vs. Champion, they want to see it. And all of a sudden Viacom’s talking, Spike TV’s talking. And then all of sudden Scott called me back. He’s like “oh this will be great, champion vs. legend. Let’s do this”. And bada bing, bada bang, we’re in the ropes, on the road of being the world champion again. I’m very, very excited.”


    On his feelings towards Liam McGeary and if it’s difficult not having an issue with Liam like he did with Bonnar going into the fight

    “I think Liam is a great guy. I really like the guy. He has something that I want, and that’s a world title. You know, face to face I have respect for the guy. When it’s fight time, everything is going to be thrown out the window, and it’s going to be two dogs trying to get their first meal. But I think it will help me more that I fight with my heart and mind, and not with my mind and heart as I did with Stephan Bonnar. I just fought with pure heart and anger that fight. I hated him. I mean I just…every punch had bad intentions on it. I was swinging for the fences. There was no technique to it, you know? I was just….I was trying to maul Bonnar. I was just trying to kill him. I still wanted to punch him after the fight was over. I still want to punch him even now. I don’t like the guy. I really don’t like the guy. He’s just a scumbag. I don’t like the guy. And I mean, in my whole career there aren’t many people I can say that after I fought them that I still don’t like them, and Bonnar is one of those guys I still don’t like. He’s just….he’s a dirt bag. But McGeary I have complete respect for, and I think it just makes the match that much more exciting to watch because we’re going to see who’s the best technician, who has the better skills. And yes, Liam is 10-0 and he’s submitted a lot of guys, he’s knocked out a few guys, but has he ever fought anybody like Tito Ortiz? I really don’t think he has. I watched what Emanuel did to him and to take him down at will like that. I know what I have to do to win the match and I know what it’s going to take for me to be the world champion. But like I said, Liam is the best right now. In 205 pounds in Bellator, Liam is the best fighter in the world, and I gotta prepare for that. I gotta prepare for the worst and best will happen.”


    On if Liam brings something different that Tito hasn’t seen before

    “Will he bring anything different that I haven’t seen before? No. Because I’m training with the best of the best right now. I’m training at Kings, I’m training with Fabricio Werdum, I got a lot of guys that I’m working with, you know, Rafael Cordeiro, Jason Parillo, a lot of Jiu Jitsu guys that are helping, some wrestler guys that are helping. I’m just putting in the work. My mind is able to do it, my body’s been able to react to everything I’m doing, I’m doing my road work, I’m doing my lifts, and I’m doing the things that I need to do to prepare myself for war. I’m going out there, I’m gonna give it everything I possibly can to get my hand raised, and that’s what I’m gonna do on September 19th, is getting my hand raised and be a champion in two major organizations for the first time. No other fighter has done that.”


    On how long Tito Ortiz plans to stick around in Bellator if he wins the title

    “Well you know I have two fights [left on the current contract]. So I win this world title, I defend the world title, and I come back to the negotiation table, and I come back and run it for 6-7 fights and be the longest raining Bellator world champion, and be the longest raining MMA world champion in history. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”


    If his ex-girlfriend Jenna Jameson’s lawsuit, and if it will take any of his attention away from his upcoming fight

    “The plain answer to that one, is I’m fighting. And that’s why this is all happening, because I’m fighting. And you know once again [she’s] trying to get back in my head again, and I ain’t letting it. I’ve gotten away from that woman two years ago and I’m happy. It’s all a façade that she built up in her own mind and I can step away and not have to worry about it because I know the truth, and I know what she’s trying to do to me, and it’s sad. The person needs help. And that’s pretty much all I can say about that.”


    Thoughts on the UFC uniforms

    “The uniforms are horrible. Thank god I don’t have to fight for that company. Gosh I feel bad for those guys. Man they look silly, and I’m not a big fan of it. I don’t know, that’s just me. I think each person has their own unique personality that shows through their clothing. That’s the way I did. I mean back in the day, can you imagine Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz having to wear Rebook and they couldn’t wear ice and flames? It just wouldn’t make any sense. So you lose the fighters. It’s just….you’re controlling the fighters. The fighters don’t get an opportunity to make a name for themselves ever because they all look the same. It just looks like a conveyer belt of fighters that are going out and are fighting, you know? Thank god for McGregor who talks very well and he’s outspoken and he’s able to find a character and run with it. I mean the guy is a great talker and he can back it up in his fights. I actually – he has just changed my mind of what type of fighter he really is, and I think he’s going to be great, and I think he’s going to be one of the greatest.”


    Thoughts on former Bellator opponent Alexander Shlemenko being suspended for 3 years

    “I guess he should have never called me out. Once I choked him unconscious, his career really just took a crap, you know? I stole his soul and I guess I’m sorry Alex Shlemenko – or Alexander Shlemenko – I apologize to you for doing that, but you called me out. And a lot of these guys get popped for this stuff and it’s stupid. Why do they do it? They think they’re going to get away it. It’s just….it’s sad for the sport, it’s sad for each one of the individuals that do get caught with it. You get high names who are doing it, I mean big named guys who are doing it and getting caught with it, and you would never believe it. But I think it’s bad for the sport. They’re sending a bad example for the sport and for themselves, and they gotta pay the price. And Alexander Shlemenko paying three years for it…that’s a big price to pay.”


    On if Tito believes McGregor is a bigger draw than Brock Lesnar

    “McGregor is a bigger draw in MMA than Brock Lesnar as of now. Before, Brock Lesnar was, just because he came over with all the WWF fans and they’re huge, crazy, maniac fans. But now Conor McGregor has a whole country on his side and actually he’s got two countries now with the United States and he has Brazil hating him. So when you have them love them and hate you, you fall in my shoes where they love to hate you and hate to love you, which is great. And I think McGregor is – before, I thought he wasn’t as great as he is after the fight, because he was taking an ass whipping for a round and he came back and he showed poise, and he showed technique, and he showed talent, and he’s great on the mic, and he ended up knocking out Chad Mendes. And Chad’s never been knocked out ever, and he knocked him out within three [rounds] and he called it. He said he’s going to knock him out in three, and I wonder if Dana made that three million dollar bet with him saying he was gonna knock him out. So I think McGregor’s good for the sport. I think he deserves everything he gets. I hope he’s getting paid what he deserves and I gotta say, I respect the guy. He dresses nice, he talks great, and he fights great; kind of like myself when I was the world champion. So it’s nice to see a guy do it nowadays and not afraid to do it, and have no backlash for doing it.”


    On people suggesting Conor McGregor’s fight at UFC 189 against Chad Mendes was fixed

     “It’s ridiculous [to say] that it was fixed. It was not fixed. I mean they did pick Chad Mendes two weeks prior to the fight. They probably ran him through the PR tour, and I mean, well Chad wasn’t ready. I would have loved to see Frankie Edgar with that fight. I think Frankie Edgar would do a better job, but of course the UFC there’s a little weight on McGregor that the UFC wants him to win. The guy talks great, and if he fights good and he puts peoples butts in chairs, and people watch it on pay per view, and that’s what they care about, you know? They protect their commodity, and their commodity is Conor McGregor.”


    On if Tito has any indications that Fedor is singing with Bellator and if he’d fight him

    “I think Fedor is signing with Bellator, and if he can get down to 205 I would love to fight him. I’ve always fought at 205, I will always fight at 205 because I know I’m in great shape when I fight at 205, but if Bellator could put that together; wow, can you imagine after I beat McGeary, me and Fedor for the light heavyweight title? That’d be amazing.”


    On what makes Tito think Fedor is signing with Bellator

    “Well, you know Scott Coker is a straightshooter, and I know he’s an awesome guy, and I know Fedor has had that great time with Bellator at the signings, and I know Scott Coker and Fedor are good friends, his managers are good friends with him. And you know it just seems like when you’re in a good business relationship, things just make sense, and I don’t know. We’ll see. I can’t let the cat out of the bag too soon can I?”


    On if Scott Coker does a catch weight between Fedor and Tito would he agree?

    “Yes I would.”

  • Global Force Wrestling announces UK tour

    Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling  has announced a late October tour of the U.K.

    The date annnounced are 10/28 at the Grimsby Auditorium in Grimbsy, Lincolnshire; and 10/30 at the Lynnsport and Leisure Park in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

    Names announced for the tour are Jeff & Karen Jarrett, Doug Williams, Nick Aldis, Mickie James and Marty Scrull.

  • Sonjay Dutt talks Global Force Wrestling

    The Rack Radio Show
    Hosted by Lindsey Ward & Sir Rockin
    Heard Live Thursday Nights at 10pm ET on www.rackradioshow.com

    Listen to the interview: http://wildtalkradio.com/rocknsock/therack/therack071615.mp3

    Former TNA and current Global Force Wrestling Superstar Sonjay Dutt joined “Multi-time Award Winning” the Rack Thursday Night. In a nearly 15 minute interview, he discussed his involvement with Global Force Wrestling and what it’s like to get in on the ground floor, how the Grand Slam events recently held are different than traditional arena style events, what it would be like to become the first ever GFW NEX*GEN Champion, his reaction to seeing Jeff and Karen Jarrett back on TNA television publicizing GFW, whom he’d like to see added to the GFW roster and who he’d like to face, his thoughts on best friend Jay Lethal winning the ROH Heavyweight Title, his favorite moment of his career so far, who he possibly sees becoming the first ever GFW Global Heavyweight Champion and and much more.

    If he’s excited to take part in the launch of Global Force Wrestling and being a part of the NEX*GEN Championship Tournament: “Yeah, absolutely. I’m just really excited to be a part of something new, on the ground floor and in the first stages of this brand new company. It’s very similar to back in 2003 when I started with TNA and it was about a year old, or barely a year old and Jeff Jarrett had just started a new company and I climbed on board and here we are in 2015 and we’re doing it all over again.”

    If GFW Grand Slam events are different than traditional indoors events and how so: “You know, being outside and outdoors is a completely different monster; you’ve got a lot of the elements to deal with and you’re just not sure of the weather and constraints so it’s just hard being outside. Noise travels all over the place but it’s a really cool atmosphere and a really fun time. We’re trying to be the most fan interactive group that you can possible go to a show for; we’ve got the fan meet-and-greets at 5:30, before bell time for about an hour, talent is very easily accessible; no one is hiding out and everyone is mingling with the fans. It’s just very cool to get up with the fans that I might not normally be able to at other shows.”

    If he took anything from his early days with TNA to use as examples here or is he just taking it as it comes: “I think the presentation of the product is a little different, I guess very different, so you can’t really predict how things are going to go but I do know that we’ve got an awesome roster and I think the one thing that separates us for every other wrestling promotion is talent and we’ve got a loaded line-up next Friday at our first TV tapings; our Grand Slam events had loaded line-ups as well. We’re not just looking for the world-wide international stars but we’re looking for the regional stars and the diamonds in the rough, the ones the fans might not know about that need that stage to shine.”

    What would it be like to be the first NEX*GEN Championship for GFW: “It would be amazing. It would be awesome; being a part of something brand new and being crowned the first ever. The first ever anything is kinda cool but especially in this environment where it’s the kind of wrestling I excel at and honed over the years and perfected, that kind of adds to it.

    I think all that stuff is going to come to life not just next Friday, but as the days and weeks go by. The NEX*GEN division is going to be very similar to the X-Division but we’re going to be focusing on the next generation of high-flyers, the next generation of hybrid wrestlers out there, basically taking every style here is out there in pro wrestling and meshing it together and there’s a lot of guys out there that have traveled the world, much like I have, and perfected your Lucha style, your Japanese style, your American style and bring them all together and get this one big, hybrid style of wrestling and we truly think that is the next generation of wrestling. Gone are the days of the slow, and I don’t want to say boring, but action-based pro wrestling is the future and action-based pro wrestling is the next generation.”

    His reaction on seeing Jeff and Karen Jarrett appear on TNA TV to publicize GFW: “I think it was crazy and was about the same reaction everyone else had in ‘What is going on here?!’ I’m sure that’s what was going on Jeff’s mind as he was walking to the ring and as he was ring the ring speaking his mind. But, it’s a crazy business; the wrestling business is a crazy business. You cannot predict anything and you cannot rule anything out. Time will only tell what this brings not only to TNA but to GFW as well.”

    Does he have a favorite moment: “Oh man, I’m always so bad at answering the ‘favorite’ questions. Well, I think as a whole, my whole career has been one big moment. I was just a little kid who loved to watch wrestling and never in a million years, even when I started going to wrestling school and training to be a wrestler the first year or two, I never aspired to make a living off of it or become a star or any of that; I just loved pro wrestling and wanted to wrestle and that’s all I ever wanted. It just kind of snowballed into this career, this big life I just kind of got sucked into and it’s just been a crazy cool ride. 15 countries and 15 years of wrestling later, this whole ride has just been amazing. I don’t know if there’s one specific moment but just the whole of my story of being a young kid and literally as far back as I can remember, I was watching wrestling on television and the next thing I’m on television working with the guys I saw on television growing up, and also some of the relationships I’ve made in wrestling, like my best friend Jay Lethal; we wouldn’t have been best friends if it hadn’t been for pro wrestling. It’s definitely a wild ride.”

    Who would he like to see in GFW and who would he like to compete against: “Let’s so, oh many this is a tough on; there’s so much good talent out there. Right now, I think the connection Jeff (Jarrett) has and GFW has with New Japan Pro Wrestling in producing the Tokyo Dome pay-per-view this past January, I think North American fans were exposed to so much talent and they just didn’t know it. Being an aficionado of the Japanese wrestling scene and having spent a year to year and a half of my life out there wrestling and was up close and personal with it; some of those guys I would love to see over here. (Kazuchika) Okada, (Shinsuke) Nakamura, (Tomohiro) Ishii, (Hirooki) Goto, (Katsuyori) Shibata and we’ve gotten a taste of the Bullet Club and the Young Bucks during the Grand Slam tour. So, I think those guys coming in here creates so many fresh new match-ups. We’ve got IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kushida, he’s going to be in Las Vegas next Friday and getting that type of flavor in GFW is priceless. There’s a lot of guys out in Mexico as well and they’re getting exposure out in California and in AAA. So there’s a lot of high-flyers out there that I would love to get in the ring with.

    Who does he see walking out as the first ever GFW Global Heavyweight Champion: “That’s a tough one. I really like Nick Aldis, formerly known as Magnus, I’ve always enjoyed everything about his work and the way he carries himself as a professional wrestler both inside and outside of the ring; I think he’s a real special performer. He’s got a real shot, starting fresh and showing the world what he can do and showing that maybe he didn’t get that opportunity previously and this is it. Also, a guy like Brian Myers (formerly Curt Hawkins in the WWE) maybe he wasn’t given that ball that he deserved over the years and maybe this is the time for him to grab that ball and show wheat he can do.”

    You can follow Sonjay through his Twitter (@sonjaydutterson) or visit his website (http://prowrestlingtees.com/sonjaydutt) for his latest news and notes. You can follow Sonjay and the other stars of Global Force Wrestling through the company Twitter account (@GFWWrestling) and website (http://globalforcewrestling.com) for the latest news and updates on the promotion including their upcoming television tapings starting this Friday, July 24th in Las Vegas, NV. at the Orleans Arena, as well as information on tickets and the latest card information.

    Follow us Twitter at http://twitter.com/wildtalkradio, http://twitter.com/rackradioshow & http://twitter.com/linsward and Like Us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/wildtalkradionetwork & http://facebook.com/rackradioshow.

    Wild Talk Radio Network was founded in 2008 by Tim Stein and is the home of such programs as Wrestle Talk Radio (Sundays 10 pm ET/7 pm PT), RAW Post Show (Monday 11:10 ET/8:10 pm PT), The Rack (Thursdays 10 pm ET/7 pm PT) and CB Radio (Saturdays 12 am ET/9 pm PT). The Wild Talk Radio Network offers a wide range of programming that covers Professional Wrestling, Video Games, Movies, Sports & Entertainment. Log on daily for new content at www.wildtalkradio.com

  • Feedback from Battleground and G-1 opening day

    Hi Dave

    Thumbs down

    best match – Cena vs Owens

    worst match – Tag match

    Typical WWE, just when they are about to create something new and big with Kevin Owens, they have to make sure Cena gets his win back, and make Owens just another guy. They just can’t pull the trigger. They were so close this time…

    Death, taxes, and WWE screwing up pushes…

    Dan Cerquitella
    Oklahoma City

    WWE Battleground

    Thumbs Up

    Best Match: Kevin Owens v John Cena

    Worst Match: New Day v Prime Time Players

    Can a couple of AARP members save SummerSlam? That’s the question WWE is going to ask itself in the next month. The influx of young talent seems to be intriguing the passionate, smaller, vocal fan base. But the larger, more casual wrestling audience does not seem to be buying into the youth movement. Rather than chance a bad entry into the fall season, WWE is going back to the well with the Undertaker AND Sting (although not together in the same match). Will it work? Probably for a one-time pop, although fans are going to be conflicted on how to feel about Lesnar as a tweener.

    Does Cena topping Owens once more mean they’ve temporarily put on hold the “Cena works hard to get over the young guys” movement? Is it moving back into the main event mix? Or is this a sign they’ve slowed their interest in Owens? Or is Sting going to face Cena? Or does the booking even make sense these days?

    So the divas all put over how excited that Stephanie is giving them a chance. So Stephanie is the new Dusty, as far as promos putting over the boss.

    Jeffrey Cohen
    Flushing, NY

    Thumbs down.

    Best match:  Toss-up: Cena-Owens
    Worst match: Lesnar-Rollins

    Lesnar-Rollins was decent until Undertaker interference that essentially negated the match.
    I understand the set-up (Lesnar-Undertaker rematch), but don’t think this was right the way
    this was handled.  This was a TV ending, not a pay-per-view or special-event ending.
    Unacceptable.

    Wyatt-Reigns was very well done, and with the right finish this time out.  Cena-Owens always
    delivers — the question is what’s next for Owens after Cena’s clean win.

     –Mike Omansky

    Thumbs down
    Best match: Cena vs Owens

    This show was basically to set up an angle at the end. Stephanie just comes off as tone deaf to this whole women’s thing and her promo was so well rehearsed it was unbearable.

    Cena vs. Owens was good again but they blasted through a two year program in seven weeks.

    Mike Hiscoe

    Thumbs up to Battleground, booking aside.

    Best match:  Cena vs Owens III
    Worst match:  King Wade vs Truth

    Was not excited for PPV aside from top 2 matches.  Better than expected in ring.  Opener was strong enough to start the show.  Orton winning got the crowd going.  Bray vs Roman was a match that I could’ve cared less for.  However, the match more than over achieved and  I’m happy both guys delivered that performance.  Only thing I would change was how much Reigns took before losing in the end.  Can’t believe Cena won…over it.  Match and finish killed main event till #GONG.  Don’t understand people calling Taker’s return, a heel turn.  Flair hit low blows on guys and last 10 years and got cheered.  But I do understand the criticism in  the logic of Taker waiting 16 months to avenge The Streak being broken.  Or am I really supposed to believe that Brock’s destruction of Kane was the catalyst?  

    I’ve watched the first four, G1 matches.  Will have to watch Tanahashi vs Ibushi after work.  Tenzan should not be here.  Him tapping out Doc was ridiculous.  Fale’s shoulder was up after 1 and is regressing to Nelson Frazier like levels.  I liked Naito’s new look and attitude.  And I really enjoyed Styles vs Shibata.  Four stars.

    James Brown

    Thumbs Down
    Best Match : Cena v Owens
    Worst Match : Lesnar v Rollins

    I’m 18 months behind on audio from the website and it’s amazing how
    many of the issues raised from that period are still relevant today.

    I do so love Stephanie’s champion of feminism act. ‘Give diva’s a
    chance’ this from a company that has mocked and ridiculed women for
    supposedly being ugly and fat nonetheless Sasha grasped this
    opportunity with both hands. She’s heads and shoulders above everyone
    but Becky in ring and the swagger she carries herself with will get
    her over with the crowd. Charlotte needed the win more than Sasha,
    it’s what happens next that is the key to whether this is a lame
    attempt to placate fans or a genuine effort to change the perceptions
    of Women’s wrestling.

    Cena v Owens was devoid of psychology. It was a series of moves
    interspaced with the burial of finishers. This was ROH or TNA 10 years
    ago. We’ve moved on.

    The phycology of the main event on the other hand was perfect. Brock
    throws Rollins around, Rollins starts targeting the leg to slow the
    big man down. The finish diminished Brock’s position as the companies
    biggest star, it took away his heat and once the Undertaker jobs at
    Summerslam, what exactly will be achieved? And where does this leave
    Rollins? In a title v title match against Cena?

    M B Mehdi, England

    Hey Dave,

    Thumbs down, like Tna PPV bad

    Best Match: Divas Match

    Worst Match: Owens/Cena (will explain why)

    Barrett/R Truth- The less said the better.

    Orton/Sheamus- Solid opener. No surprise the hometown crowd was behind Orton, and the boo/yea sequences were pretty entertaining.

    New Day/PTP- Another solid match. Xavier Woods is very entertaining outside of the ring. I have to give props to the New Day for going from a defunct gimmick to being one of the most over acts on the roster.

    Wyatt/Reigns- No complaints here either. Physical bout, and for right now the right guy went over. I enjoyed when Wyatt pandered to the crowd, it blows my mind how they’ve completely misused him.

    Divas match- Best divas match on a WWE main card event in a long, long time. Although Charlotte won, this really was a showcase for Sasha Banks. My GOD did Brie look out of place in this match. She got a lot of heat, but not good heat. More you’re annoying, stay out of the way heat.

    Let the ranting begin.

    Owens/Cena III- As far as the match went, it was the worst of the three with easily the worst finish. Can someone explain to me how Owens TAPPING OUT in the middle ring does him ANY GOOD??!!

    This is not a knock on Cena, cause quite frankly he’s done his best work this year. This had Vince all over it. Who gives a rat’s ass what Owens looks like, he’s one of the IF NOT THE BEST HEEL ON THE ROSTER. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they protected Rusev better than this. The only way they rehab Owens after this is if they do a submission match at Summerslam (Austin/Bret style not cartoonish I quit with mic style) and Owens does to Cena what no one in the WWe has been able to do since Kurt Angle back in Feb 2004…make Cena actually give up.

    Now they wonder why when the big events come they constantly go to the well for the over the hill part-timers…BECAUSE THEY KEEP JOBBING OUT THE UP AND COMERS.

    Main Event- Speaking of over the hill…I mean the match was fine. But who in their right mind wants to see Lesnar/Taker? They in the span of one night killed the heat of two of their biggest stars.

    Where does Rollins go from here?

    Shame, Summerslam is in my hometown (Barclays is a 10 minute train ride) and I’m looking forward to takeover a lot more than summerslam right now. Oh well, let’s see in 5 weeks. Will send notes next month from attending.

    Alexander Cerrano

    Thumbs Up
    Best Match: Cena/Owens
    Worst Match: Prime Time Players/New Day

    Orton/Sheamus: Really good match here. The hometown Orton crowd certainly helped and the wrestlers responded. Both of these guys generally give you a good effort, but they usually only reach a certain level. This went above that usual level. Good drama towards the end and the right guy won.

    Prime Time Players/New Day: Fun match but definitely well below what we’ve seen from the tag division over the last couple of years from teams like the Usos, Harper & Rowan, and Kidd & Cesaro. Xavier’s commnetary on the outside of the ring was hilarious and my favorite part of the match. Still think the belts go back on New Day sooner than later. Well, just as long as Titus doesn’t win any more awards.

    Wyatt/Reigns: This feud lost me early on, but the wrestlers got me into the match. A little slow at times, but hard-hitting and very entertaining overall. Reigns continues to string together good match after good match. The character and promo questions are still there, but the guy can work. Definitely the best Bray in a while. It felt like he mattered again. Good use of Harper. A waste to have him on the sidelines.

    Charlotte/Sasha/Brie: Good effort overall and fun throughout. The Sasha/Charlotte dynamic from NXT to the main roster can give you headache, but that didn’t take away from the match too much. And unfortunately that’s been the norm for the Divas from a character standpoint for a while. Whether the NXT women are having the impact they could have is still a question, but it’s still much better than anything the Divas have done in a long time. Man, I hate that name “Divas.” 

    Cena/Owens: What can you say? Another great match. Even the Canadian Destroyer didn’t look awkward this time. I wish the matches had been spread out some more, and I wish the other guy would have won, but I still go home happy. It probably isn’t over, anyway. Perhaps Cena/Owens/Cesaro/Rusev at Summerslam, and Owens leaves with the belt then?

    Rollins/Lesnar: Good while it lasted. This answered the “why does the guy wait so long to interfere?” question we usually have. And with Brock being so dominant, Taker coming in early made sense. I’m fine with this. Brock couldn’t get the belt back already. And it’s Undertaker, a legend, and still the most over guy in the company (which isn’t necessarily a good thing). Plus I didn’t want to see Taker’s career end with another year off and one more match. This should be the sendoff he deserves and that will draw money. I would have liked Brock to put up more of a fight, and an actual finish to the match (or announcement, at least), but a hot ending nevertheless. Very excited for tonight’s Raw, so it worked for me.

    Jeffrey Kleinberg
    Massachusetts  

    Hi Dave,

    Thumbs up.
    Best match: Rollins vs Lesnar
    Worst match: Brie vs Charlotte vs Sasha

    Thought every match was good to great, but the Divas match felt a bit clumsy. A lot of people will look to Brie’s involvement as the reason, but I don’t think the booking helped, as she was always the ‘odd one out’. Had she had more time one-on-one with either Charlotte or Sasha, she would have been fine. Sasha was undoubtedly the star of the match, though.

    The finish obviously hurts the Lesnar/Rollins match, but they told a story and executed everything perfectly.

    Big irritation for me is these Cena/Owens matches, which I feel are greatly overrated. Spot, near fall, rest, spot, near fall, rest, repeat … it becomes very dull watching they don’t actually build any heat for the finish. We’re just waiting for the one move that will finally end the match. The crowd heat was generated by who the fans wanted to win, which they had decided before the bell. During the match, they did nothing to generate any interest, other than, as I say, performing a big spot (some looking very contrived) leading to a near fall.

    In terms of storytelling, I thought Sheamus/Orton and the tag title match put the Cena/Owens match to shame.

    Thanks,

    Nick Draper
    Wimbledon, England

    Slight thumbs down
    Best match: Tanahashi/Ibushi
    Worst match: Naito/Fale

    Well, this was the opposite of what I expected to send in, in terms of the thumbs down. I expected that I’d at least give this show a slight thumbs up. When the 19 shows were announced, and then they announced that they were splitting the blocks up and giving each their own shows, this is what I was afraid of. Splitting the shows creating a lack of depth on the card that leads to ultimately disappointing shows. There’s really nothing remarkable about this show other than the main event being a very good match and Shibata vs. AJ being a complete disappointment. The six man with Elgin was good, I enjoyed seeing Elgin break out the old Rick Steiner powerslam and German suplex in this match. Whether or not he did that as a tribute to the Dogfaced Gremlin, who really knows but it was cool to see. 

    Tanahashi/Ibushi had a really hot finishing stretch, Ibushi’s second rope German looked incredible here. Not really sure what happened with Shibata and AJ. It wasn’t the injury, or even that Shibata lost the match (I expected him to). The way the whole match played out was very flat and just didn’t click with me which is sad because that was the match I was most looking forward to from this show.
    Ricky Schmidt

    Thumbs up, as they are for pretty much every New Japan show.
    Best Match: Tanahashi vs Ibushi
    Worst Match: Goto & CNJ vs Takahashi & Hall

    1) 10-Man Opener: Exactly what you’d expect, was a notch above most opening tags but went too long. (**3/4)
    2) Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan vs Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall: Hall is so green. He starts beating on Captain but runs out of moves and tags out. Goto was the highlight despite not doing much. Not worth my time. (**)
    3) Shinsuke Nakamura & ‘Loose Explosion’ YOSHI-HASHI vs Karl Anderson & ‘Bad Boy’ Tama Tonga: Decent action, but these tags to start G1 shows are going to be so draining by the end of it. (**3/4)
    4) Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo vs Michael Elgin, Satoshi Kojima & Ryusuke Taguchi: Ishii and Kojima are so awesome, and Elgin looked good here. Builds next day of matches nicely. (***)

    5) A Block: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Doc Gallows: Who thought this was a good way to open G1?!? Slow Tenzan, bad Gallows (name ONE good Gallows match in New Japan) and just an uninspiring way to start the tournament. (**1/4)
    6) A Block: Togi Makabe vs Toru Yano: I actually enjoyed this for what it was. Believable near-falls, which is all you can ask for from Yano. (**3/4)
    7) A Block: Tetsuya Naito vs Bad Luck Fale: The match of mixed opinions – I was in the middle. Naito was good but Fale wasn’t the best opponent for him to introduce his new persona. If the goal was to get Naito over as slow and lazy, they failed because Fale was slower and lazier. (**1/2)
    8) A Block: AJ Styles vs Katsuyori Shibata: Beautiful, beautiful match that was too short to be on the level of some of last year’s matches. Great action from start to finish. (****)
    9) A Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi: This was the match the show needed at this point. This could have headlined the finals, or any show in the world. It seems the debate with these New Japan main events is whether they are match of the year level, and in my opinion this absolutely is on that level. Ibushi is electric and there is nobody better in big matches than Tanahashi. Amazing to see after months with Yano how much the fans ADORE him. They really have something special. (****3/4)

    Overall a great show, but some guys seemed tired and unmotivated. The tags have potential to be a positive impact on the show, but they failed to deliver tonight as there was too much generic stuff and Cody Hall. The first three G1 matches were disappointing to some extent, but you can’t give a show with a final two matches like that anything lower than a thumbs up. Looking forward to the next 18 shows.
    Brian Jackson

    Thumbs in the middle
    Best Match : Tanahashi/Ibushi
    Worst Match : Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan / Cody Hall & Yujiro Takahashi

    Last two matches saved the show. Tanahashi/Ibushi was a legit MOTYC and could have been even better had Ibushi remembered to sell the leg Tanahashi was working on since the start of the match. Really super performance from Tanahashi with him pulling all the stops including the best sling blade i’ve ever seen spiking Ibushi right on his head. Styles/Shibata was excellent but was way too short. It looks like Shibata isn’t 100% and they had to scale down the moves, but still it was great with counters and stiff looking kicks/forearms/suplexes. Other block matches were ok. Tenzan/Gallows was ok for what it was. Naito/Fale was very sloppy but Naito did try his best to try drag Fale through. Yano/Makabe was fun for a short match with few roll-ups which i could have bought as match enders. Tag matches were ok, nothing great. Usual run of mill stuff

    Siva Punisamy

  • On this day in pro wrestling history: Brisco beats Race for NWA title, Gagne beats Crusher for AWA title, Robinson vs. Gagen

    by Brian Hoops

    1939 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City; Orville Brown and Wladek Zbyszko wrestled to a draw, Steve Brody and Mike Kilonis drew, Bob Castle beat Abe Freeman and Don George defeated Bob Castle.

    1962 – In Winnipeg; Bill Miller & Bob Geigel beat Ilio DiPaolo & Joe Scarpello to win the AWA Canadian Open tag team titles, Doug Gilbert beat Tiny Mills and Moose Evans beat Larry Hennig  
    1963 – Verne Gagne defeated The Crusher in Minneapolis, Minnesota to win
    the AWA World Heavyweight Title. Also on the card, Jack Pesek & Roy McClarty beat Stan Kowalski & Tiny Mills, 
    Iron Mike DiBiase beat Billy Goelz and Larry Hennig beat Paul Christy. Attendance was 7,040. 

    1967 – In Kansas City; Ron Reed fought Earl Maynard to a draw, Sonny Myers defeated Bob Geigel, The Hangman defeated Steve Bolus
    and The Mongolian Stomper defeated Bob Brown in three falls. 

    1971 – In Bismarck, North Dakota; In a Non Title match, Larry Hennig & Lars Anderson beat AWA Tag Team Champions Red Bastien & Hercules Cortez and Billy Robinson beat Big K. 

    1972 – In Kansas City, Kansas; Rufus R. Jones & Omar Atlas & Les Thornton defeated Roy Bass & Billy Howard & Juan Sebastian, Roger Kirby & Black Angus (w/ Percival A. Friend) defeated Chati Yokouchi & Yasu Fuji in three falls and  Harley Race defeated Bob Ellis via countout in three falls

    1973 – Jack Brisco defeated Harley Race in Houston, Texas to win the NWA
    World Heavyweight Title.

    1974 – In Chicago, Illinois at the International Amphitheatre; Billy Robinson beat AWA Champion Verne Gagne in 2 out of 3 falls. (no title change as it was ruled Gagne’s foot ruled to be on rope). AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat The Crusher & Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls, Ivan Putski beat Baron Von Raschke via dq, Mitsu Arakawa beat Moose Cholak via dq and
    Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Larry Heiniemi & Buddy Wolff in 2 out of 3 falls. 

    1977 – In Honolulu, Hawaii; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Billy White Wolf in 2 out of 3 falls; Bill Francis went to a double count out with North American Champion John Tolos and Ricky Hunter beat Tony Borne. 

    1979 – In Rockford, Illinois; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Greg Gagne by dq, in a Taped Fist Match, Mad Dog Vachon beat Ray Stevens, Bobby Duncum & Super Destroyer Mark II beat Dick Reynolds & Billy Robinson and Jesse Ventura beat Paul Ellering.

    1985 – In Chicago, Illinois; AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Michael Hayes, Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Sgt. Slaughter & Greg Gagne by dq, Fabulous Freebirds Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts beat The Crusher & Buck Zumhofe, Billy Robinson beat Baron Von Raschke and Boris Zhukov beat Steve O

    1990 – In East Moline, Illinois; The Trooper beat AWA Champion Larry Zbyszko by dq, AWA Tag Team Champions Destruction Crew Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos beat Buck Zumhofe & Tommy Jammer, Baron Von Raschke beat Jonnie Stewart and Curtis Hughes beat Hangman Killer

    1992 – Eddie Gilbert defeated Ricky Morton in Memphis, Tennessee to win
    the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title. On the same card, Brian Christopher
    defeated Tom Prichard for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

    1992 – The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon) defeated Money Inc.
    (Ted DiBiase & IRS) to win the WWF World Tag Team Title in Worcester,
    Massachusetts.

    1998 – D’Lo Brown defeated Triple H for the WWF European Title on Monday
    Night Raw while Bret Hart defeated Dallas Page for the vacant WCW US
    Title on WCW Monday Nitro.

    1999 – The Suicide Blondes (Rip Rogers & Jason Lee) defeated Flash
    Flannagan & Trailer Park Trash to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Title in
    Louisville, Kentucky.

    2000 – Tatsuhito Takaiwa defeated Jushin Liger in Sapporo, Japan to win
    the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

    2008 – Shelton Benjamin won the WWF US Title at the Great American Bash
    PPV from Matt Hardy. Also, Chris Jericho defeated Shawn Michaels by referee stoppage. 

    2014 – At the Battleground PPV, the Miz won the Intercontinental Title in a Battle Royal, John Cena retained the WWE World Title over Roman Reigns, Kane and Randy Orton and Chris Jericho defeated Bray Wyatt. 

  • Observer Q & A: Nick “Magnus” Aldis on TNA departure, WWE, and his new book

    By Gary Mehaffy for WrestlingObserver.com

    Friday, July 24, marks the first set of TV tapings for GFW Amped for Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling promotion. I had the opportunity to talk to Nick “Magnus” Aldis about why he joined the company, the reasons he left TNA, whether he has been in contact with WWE, he and MIckie juggling their careers now that they are parents, the UK influence in the wrestling industry, his new book (The Superstar Body) and much, much more. The full transcript is below. I hope you enjoy it!

    Before we get into the wrestling side of things, Mickie and you have been parents now for 10 months. How’s it going? How are you finding parenthood?

    It’s fantastic! It’s such a blessing. We do our best to work around it. He comes with us if he needs to come with us. It’s rewarding overall – it’s just really great!

    How are you both finding juggling your wrestling and singing careers around it? How are you finding working that out?

    Well, obviously we’re easing into it gently because he’s a baby and it’s not like he has to be anywhere – obviously, when he gets older, he’ll need to be in kindergarten and then school, and I’m sure things will be more challenging – but we both hope to be in a more stable and secure situation by that time.

    We’re starting to explore more things outside of wrestling on an entrepreneurial sort of level. Certainly, for me, that has always been a passion of mine, and that’s one of the reasons why I was excited to start working with Jeff at Global. Jeff is allowing me some opportunities to allow me to explore more things as a businessman, not just as a wrestler. That’s a rewarding part of it for me. It’s that old saying: “When you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.” Everything we do we really like doing.

    It is a lot of work. I mean, writing the book was a struggle, because finding time and making it good….You can’t just sit there and type whatever! There has to be content. So, it was challenging, but at the same time if you have a passion for it then you make it work. 

    You talked about Jeff – he has been a big supporter of your across the years. Did it take much convincing from him to get you to throw your hat into the ring with him, so to speak?

    No, not really. But also, it’s not really like it was a huge decision to make, because at this point I had already made the decision that whatever happened I was done with TNA. I had done everything I could do, there was nothing left for me to accomplish there.  I had worked with everybody I wanted to work with. There was nothing left I wanted to do there and I didn’t want to work for the current guys who were in control. So it was an easy decision on that front, although I felt a certain degree of loyalty to the promotion (TNA). But to me, the TNA I was loyal to didn’t exist anymore. To me, a lot of that disappeared with Jeff.

    Jeff has always been an advocate for me and he has gone to bat for me before anybody else was and before I was being touted as the next guy – blah, blah, blah. Jeff was the guy who saw it before almost anyone, so I’ve always felt a degree of loyalty to Jeff and wanted to repay him – and I’ve always wanted to work with him again! I like working with Jeff because he’s a wrestling guy.

    Was that the issue (with TNA) – was it more with “creative”? When we spoke in December 2014, you couldn’t talk about the contract situation, but now, as of the middle/end of June, you have left. Where those pure and simply the reasons that you left – issues with creative and with having done all that you wanted to do?

    Well, it was kind of both.  If I was honest with myself, there were a few different instances over the last couple of years – and some of which occurred when I was World Champion – but there were a few different instances that just made me promise to myself that when you see this contract through that you don’t sign another one. I felt sometimes that the loyalty was kind of a one-way street – as it often can be in wrestling!

    There were a few different instances where I felt like I was disrespected or thrown under the bus a little bit – there were things that weren’t really my fault that they were more than happy to let look like was my fault. Then I just looked at who they were grooming to put into these positions, and these are guys being rewarded for being suck ups basically. Even though they were talented, they were rewarded for taking low paid contracts and for sucking up. This was the wrong message and I didn’t want to be part of it!

    At the time – or since you have finished (with TNA) – had there been overtures from WWE or have they been sounding you out?

    Obviously there were no communications while I was under contract! There has been some brief contact – that’s about as much as I really want to say about it. They are a huge company and they have a hell of a lot of things going on – you can’t sit around waiting for them to decide. All I can do is keep working away.

    On that front, part of me was looking forward to being a free agent, which I’m enjoying now. While working with Jeff, I’m doing everything I can to help him build Global into a company that can sign contracts and all that kind of stuff. I’m really enjoying being in on the ground floor (with GFW). It’s very embryonic, but it’s exciting too. Jeff is so busy, but between he, I and Sonjay and Kevin and all those guys, everyone is dialed in to make this work and offer all these things to help build a brand and find all these opportunities, which is exciting for me. 

    They have had a few baseball shows, but next week begins the TV tapings schedule for the summer. Two parts to that: firstly, how excited are you to be getting in at the start for the beginning of the TV tapings and secondly, is there any more word of a TV outlet?

    Jeff is only going to share a certain amount with me – and most of that is pretty privileged. I know it’s started to get tiresome with a lot of people when they say “Oh, there’s stuff in the works, there’s stuff in the works” but what I can say is that I think that within a there’s going to be television – and not just within the United States!

    You have to remember that Jeff has always had a very good idea of how to make this business sustainable as far as television. The way you do that is by going after all of the international markets, and I know that I’m playing a little bit of a role in that as far as the UK is concerned, and I’m excited about that. On that front, there is very, very exciting prospects, but I don’t want to risk anything by saying more than that! 

    Over this last year there has been a big UK and Irish influence on the US scene, between Finn and Becky in NXT, and Paige – who you would know from Ricky (Knight) – in WWE, and then there is yourself, Bram and Drew in TNA, and also the stuff that Drew was doing in Evolve and Dragon Gate USA. Do you hope to be another flag bearer for the UK in GFW?

    Absolutely! And I know that that’s a big check mark with me as a talent and as an investment. I’m excited about that. You talk about the guys who are doing really well over here – and not forgetting….

    Harry (Smith) in Japan?

    Yea….And Wade (Barrett) is still doing so great and Neville is finally showing the world what a ridiculously talented guy he is. But not only that, it’s how thriving the scene is in the UK. You have these companies like PCW and ICW, Progress, Southside and Rev-Pro – they are all great promotions, doing great houses, bringing in great talent and showcasing the best of British talent. Now it’s not “Oh, well he’s good for a Brit!”, now the Brits are the best in the world! People are starting to understand that.

    I’m not lying when I say that most of the Americans I hang out with here are going on about how much they wish they could go back to the UK or go and live there. It’s ironic that I spent my whole life trying to get here (America) and now they’re all trying to go there (UK)!

    Again another two part question. You are starting with GFW and also have a book which has come out. What do you think you future holds within Global and also with the other opportunities that you are pursuing outside it?

    I’ve already started with Global, really. I did my first live events last week. I got to work with Tomasso Ciampa – we know each other but I’ve never got to work with him before, so that was fun and interesting – and I got to work with Kongo Kong, who is a great up-and-coming superheavyweight guy who I think has a tonne of potential. 

    The book is called “The Superstar Body”. The hard copy version is available for pre-order through everything – Amazon, Barnes and Noble, bookdepository.com – and it’s available for download on Kindle and all those e-readers. It’s written by me and it has contributions from Kurt Angle, Rob Terry, Brooke Adams, Robbie E, Mickie has contributed to the book. There are top quality trainers who have trained NBA and NFL guys. There’s a guy called Nick Ehrlich who has contributed to the book, Ben Hebert from Natural Stacks has contributed to the book, David McIntosh who used to be on Gladiators with me, who a lot of guys in the UK will be familiar with – there’s a tonne of great quality people who have contributed to the book. 

    You can read these books that are all science or you can read these magazines that are half – or basically all – adverts, but the reality is that guys that are in shape are constantly exchanging ideas and knowledge with each other, and this is hopefully what this book will give you – that trial and error straight from the horse’s mouth from guys who really get it.

    Kurt was so generous with his contributions to the book. He is (in the book) all about focus and motivation and mental visualisation and intensity in the gym and all that kind of stuff. Imagine if you had to try and pay Kurt Angle to be your personal trainer, you know what I mean? So to be able to buy this book that has that and then has contributions from guys like Rob Terry and all these other great athletes. That’s what I wanted to put out.

    Do you think people will be surprised with the book? Obviously, with wrestling books when they come out you have guys like Mick Foley or Chris Jericho who bring out the comedy books, but everybody else brings out a “Here are our stories from the road and funny things that happened” type of book – but all of a sudden this is a proper book about proper stuff to help people with their training. Do you think people will be…..surprised may be the wrong way to put it…..

    I hope wrestling fans buy the book – that is the majority of my audience, wrestling fans – but for me part of it came organically, because I would get so many emails through and things like that at the website, asking for tips and stuff. I know that my column in FSM is well received, so it was the basis of both of those.

    I want to try and shake some of that stigma that guys who are in shape are all meatheads – that it’s a culture of “I want to be jacked!” Anybody can benefit from being in better shape. Your ideal physique might be different to what my idea of an ideal physique is, so that’s why the book is called “The Superstar Body”. I want you to have whatever kind of body you want that makes you feel like a star, so that you have that confidence. Life is so much better when you’re in shape, I can promise you that!

    I was a skinny, lacking in confidence kid, and I’ve achieved so many things that I’ve been able to achieve just through being in shape. That’s why I want to share it with people. But honestly, I’m trying to aim it at a mainstream audience too, so when it comes to wrestling…..it’s not a biography, not at all! There are a couple of accounts of different things that link in. I talk about what it was like going through the Gladiators audition and that sort of thing, but, ultimately, who wants to hear the story of a guy who’s not even 30? That’d be very pretentious! (laughs)

    Bringing us back to GFW, with the TV tapings coming next week, what do think the fans can expect to see? 

    From what I understand – and the conversations I’ve had with Jeff, Sonjay, Karen and others – I think there’ll be very good production values. The Orleans Arena has been a huge partner for Jeff. He’s got this lighting company on board who do really incredible lighting for concerts and events and stuff.  He understands that first and foremost it’s got to look the part. 

    One of the criticisms that have been levied against Global a little bit is the roster. It’s like “Is it really your roster or is it just guys who are available now?” That’s the truth – he’s developing a roster based on who he has available to him, but I think some of it is that he’s seen guys who perhaps he saw more potential in and wants to bring out the rest of it. I think that you’ll see some talent who are showcased and you’ll see them in a while new light.

    I think honestly the thing that’s going to differentiate it more than anything is the way that we present the product. It’s going to be much closer to what you might see from a New Japan or someone like that. It’s more about the competitiveness and the rivalries and the sort of sporting element that exists – with the production value – which, for me, was always what was best about pro wrestling, rather than so, so heavily story orientated.

    When you mention the roster, it was something that people had said to me. But to me when I looked at it, yes, you had the name guys, but from speaking to Jeff in the early days when Global as a concept had just come out, he was always “Yes, we need name guys – but I want to bring in people from all across the world that people haven’t seen and showcase them.” There were guys even on the initial shows that I hadn’t heard of, or know much about. I think there’s going to be that good mix and combination.

    You’re right…….Look here’s the thing. Jeff could have put together a roster of guys who already have a name from somewhere, and he would have been bashed for not giving any new talent a chance. He could have put a roster together of all new guys and been bashed for having a roster of nobodies. At the end of the day, those critics, that voice is small but it’s always going to be there. You don’t ignore it, but you have to understand what its value is in the big picture, which is perhaps as significant sometimes as we, in wrestling, make it out to be. By that I mean social media, the immediate online community and that feedback. I’m certainly not going to bash it and say it’s insignificant, because it’s not, but I don’t think it’s as significant as sometimes we make it out to be.

    I think one of the reasons TNA went wrong was that they started treating that minority as the voice of everybody.  They forgot the fact that there was this casual audience, and what happened is that TNA had the biggest remaining slice of market share after WWE – which obviously has the huge majority – and then they ended up dividing it up between Ring of Honor and Lucha Underground, because they focussed too much on this minority that weren’t necessarily theirs. They started to go after what I think was Ring of Honor’s audience and in the process they lost the ones that they were retaining – who then decided to look for alternatives in Lucha Underground, which I think is a magnificent product, and in Ring of Honor.

    Jeff is one of those guys who has enough of an idea of that audience but doesn’t get too wrapped up in their opinion that he forgets about going after the big fish. 

    Good luck may be the wrong way to put it, but good luck with the tapings and I hope they go well for all involved. Any other plugs?

    Right now I’m just focused on the book and getting as much awareness as possible. But I would say this as far as Global is concerned; there are some pretty cool announcements and news coming up in the next week or two, which I’m privy to. Obviously I can’t share it – and I’m not trying to be a worker and be all “Hey” There’s a big, huge announcement!” – but it is a pretty cool one. There is some pretty cool stuff coming up that people will be interested to hear from Global. 

    I would urge wrestling fans to keep an open mind and remember how long it takes to forge a process like this. It’s been around for a year. We live in a world where people expect things to materialise on cue, but it doesn’t work like that. Stick with it and watch it, because there’s some pretty cool stuff coming up. I think it’s going to be a new player in the business, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone forward with it.

  • WWE Battleground feedback

    Hi Dave,
      Just wanted to give some feedback on Battleground. I gave the show a thumbs up, with the best match in my opinion being the Divas triple threat match just because it was finally something that showcased the changing divas division in such a positive and awesome way, and the worst match probably being the tag title match between the Prime Time Players and New Day, only because I really don’t have much interest in either team at the moment. But overall, a very entertaining show, and cool return during the main event of the Undertaker.

    1. Sheamus VS Orton – Good match, monster pops for hometown boy Randy Orton. I was good with either guy winning since I really didn’t think it mattered who won.

    2. Roman VS Bray – I thought Bray winning was a good idea since it can continue this feud and they can build on that. Good to see Luke Harper get involved, hopefully this marks a return of the Wyatt family since all three members of the Wyatt’s have pretty much been floundering since they disbanded the group.

    3. Charlotte VS Banks VS Brie – I thought this was an awesome divas match and got my vote for best match of the night. They are finally showcasing the divas division in a strong light and I’m sure they can continue heating up the division in this manner to be on par with the men and main event matches. All of the women involved really put themselves on the line and held nothing back, awesome match, good to see the divas finally getting the time to showcase what they can do and what NXT has been doing with the women.

    4. Cena VS Owens – Great rubber match between the two, however not as good as their first two matches in my opinion. Was hoping Owens was going to win the title, but no such luck. Hopefully they have a rematch at SummerSlam in some sort of stipulation match or maybe even a cage match to make things fresh and Owens takes the title.

    5. Brock VS Seth – This was both a good and bad match for the same reason. Good match until the Undertaker got involved and was just weird how Rollins and the ref were both MIA and it was not announced if there was a winner by DQ or not as they simply were gone. But also a good moment and probably best moment of the night when Taker appeared and attacked Lesnar and gave him two tombstones. Although a little late, as this would have been more effective about a year ago, but better late then never and Taker clearly needed the time off after his Mania match last year with Lesnar so I can see why they waited. Not sure what the plan is from here, are they going to have a match at SummerSlam or what all the way until next year’s Mania? My hope is Summerslam where maybe Taker can get his win back, and then in a perfect world, to see Taker and Sting face each other at next year’s Mania in a retirement celebration match for both against each other, and both going
     into the Hall of Fame at the same time as well? (Hint to the WWE booking team!) lol.  But otherwise a good PPV for a “B” show, a little short which was surprising, and the main event return of the Taker was a little sloppy but very effective.

    Thanks,
    Jon Southerland
    Clovis, Ca.

    Hi Dave, 


    Thumbs up.
    Best Match: Cena vs.Owens 
    Worst Match: Lesnar vs Rollins

    Good show with fairly good wrestling. Opener was fine, crowd loved it. I really enjoy PTP so I’m glad to see them win. Curious to see where the New Day go from here. I didn’t care for Wyatt vs. Reigns at all. Went way too long and I was finding it hard to pay attention at some points. The Divas match was OK, but not what you want to start off the “Divas Revolution”. Questionable to book the first match, which they wanted to showcase how great women’s wrestling is, as a triple threat with Brie Bella. Owens vs. Cena was a good match with a bad finish, the “worst” of their three matches. Everyone bought the top rope AA as the finish, and in hindsight it probably should’ve been. For them to book Owens so weakly on Raw lately and then have him lose, I don’t get it. Rollins vs Lesnar could’ve been far better. Brock vaulting over the barricade and catching Rollins was the highlight. The Undertaker came off very heelish to me, I may be the only one. Brock beat Taker cleanly at WM30, Taker costs Brock a match against the top heel, hits him with a low blow, and beats him down. But hey, it’s The Undertaker.

    Casey Goss
    Virginia

    Battleground

    Thumbs in the Middle: Most of the matches were good but I don’t get this product anymore. There are two way to present pro-wrestling: as a sport or as a drama. WWE has always been a drama and that’s fine, but drama needs 3 basics elements: Protagonists and Antagonists; Character development; and Continuity. Right now their product doesn’t have any of those. Triple H is a heel on Raw but a face on NXT. Same with Stephanie, last year she helped Nikki to the title, but now helps Paige against the Bellas, who are face or heel depending on the day of the week. Paige, Becky and Charlotte are faces but they just follow Steph orders anyway. Sasha is a heel that only cares about herself, but then joins Naomi and Tamina because Stephanie told her so. They are all suppose to be strong independent women, yet the first thing they do is act like geeks that just follow their boss orders. Lesnar is the only hot face they got, what they do they do? Book him against Undertaker who is a legend that nobody would boo. I guess that’s a good way to make sure that people react to Reigns as a face, mostly because they don’t have any other choice. If Undertaker was so mad about losing to Lesnar, why he didn’t went after him before? They were both at Mania this year, right? And Taker didn’t had much of a challenge in beating Wyatt while Lesnar had a hard time taking on Roman; in fact, Brock was so beat up that Seth took advantage of that; either Taker is an idiot or he secretly works for The Authority. Funny, after all these years of WWE making fun of WCW they just turn into them. A great talented roster but with no clear direction, no clear Heel vs Face dynamic, no upward movement, and storylines and matches that don’t make sense. 
    Best Match: Cena vs. Owens. 
    Worst Match: Barrett vs. Truth

    1. Barrett vs R-Truth. Actually not that bad, but the whole reason for this match was beyond boring. Hopefully this was the end of their “feud” *1/2

    2. Orton vs Sheamus. Good opener, but this match was out of place. Why put the hometown hero on the opener? He is going to get a reaction anyway. ***1/2

    3. PTP vs New Day. Crowd was so-so for this one, probably because they had to follow Orton in St Louis. **3/4

    4. Wyatt vs Reigns. Good but it never clicked to anything more. If this was angle to set up a Shield reunion then Ambrose and Reigns should be executed for sheer stupidity. ***

    5. Charlotte vs Sasha vs Brie. Another good one. Sadly the whole Divas division is just a backdrop excuse to showcase Stephanie, who is being prepared to be feed to Ronda Rousey who is not part of the company. Strange business model. ***

    6. Cena vs Owens. God forbid that Cena ever lost a feud. They can do whatever they want with Owens but it’s just too late for him. He is now officially another guy in the roster. So far he has lost a match, lost a feud, lost by pin, lost by submission, is no longer a champion, and his opponents had kicked out of his finisher multiple times; all in the span of 3 matches. What’s special about him anymore? What’s is left for other faces like Sami Zayn? Same happened with Rusev. But the match was great, so I guess everything is fine. ****1/4

    7. Rollins vs Lesnar. What little they did was fine but the finish, or lack of, was terrible. As far I’m concern that match still going on. So far Rollins title reign has been as dominant as Rey Mysterio’s. N/R

    Leonard Mendez
    San Sebastian, Puerto Rico

    Thumbs down

      Best Match: Prime Time Players (c) v. The New Day.  Titus and Big E
    are a joy to watch.  The action moved quickly in and out of the ring and
    the result was a match with excellent pacing and combat that looks as
    natural as it gets in WWE.  By the end of this match, I want to see more
    of all five participants.

    Worst Match: Seth Rollins (c) v. Brock Lesnar.  Maybe this sparks a
    great angle, which leads to a great feud, which leads to a great match. 
    Even if that is the case, this match had heat and hype only to be thrown
    away.  Rollins and Lesnar put on a non-WWE match for a few minutes,
    which is phenomenal to see in the main event, before the Undertaker
    pulled the plug.  Is the match still going on? What happened to Seth
    Rollins?  What happened to the referee?  I care way more about the
    answers to those questions than, “Why is the Undertaker back?”
    Casey Goldman

    Thumbs in the middle show.
    Best Match: Cena vs Owens
    Worst Match: Reigns vs Wyatt

    Why would anyone bother watching the pre-show.
    1) Randy Orton vs Sheamus: Decent opener, but nothing I haven’t seen dozens of times already. (**1/2)
    2) Prime Time Players vs New Day: Decent tag title match, but nothing I haven’t seen dozens of times already. (**1/2)
    3) Roman Reigns vs Bray Wyatt: I call this type of match the WWE 2-Star Special. There’s some cool moves, a couple nice spots but no thought whatsoever put into any moves other than all the signature spots. Flat finish. (**)
    4) Brie Bella vs Sasha Banks vs Charlotte: I don’t know who decided to hype a match with Brie Bella as the match that would burn the house down. Then again, she is the grizzled veteran who fought tooth and nail to get here and with Nikki, turned the Divas division into “must-see TV”. (**1/4)
    5) John Cena vs Kevin Owens: A good match, best on the show by far. Owens actually came across really well in defeat, but the submission was unnecessary in my opinion. (***3/4)
    6) Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins: Hmm. It’s 2015. (*1/2)
    Brian Jackson

    ———- Forwarded message ———-

    Thumbs Up
    Best Match: Owens v Cena III
    Worst Match: Barret v Truth

    Evert match, including what I voted for the worst, was very entertaining. I wasnt looking forward to Sheamus Orton but it drew me in. New Day was a blast on the pregame show if anyone missed that and the tag maych was solid. The womens match finally brought some of the NXT feel to the show in addition to the performers call up. I really like Reigns-Wyatt especially where Wyatt caught him perfectly on the apron dropkick. Great timing and a nice spot. Cena Owens was the best match, still not as good as the first one to me and parts felt like repeats but really picked up at the end. Owens has now lost 3 big event matches in a row. Youre not getting over that way no matter how much they push that you hung in there for another match and thats a little frustrating. As good as they work together lets get each into another program because you dont want to keep running it into the ground. Imagine the anticipation if they are kept apart for a bit and then have another big encounter.

    What almost took the show from a thumbs up for me, and I only didnt because I thought everything else delivered too well, was that ended to the main event and show. Look I dont care how cool folks thought ti was that Undertaker was back and the chanting. You have this match folks have been waiting for – for Brock to get his hands back on Rollins and the usual Lesnar beatdown and then that. Many folks predicted some type of screwjob and even this particular scenario but man just came off terrible for the show to just end especially with rollins teleporting into a black hole or something. We dont need PPVs ending like 00s era WCW and even some WWF times in 2015. As dave mentioned “it wont make sense” it doesnt! Hes back for revenge on the streak over a year and half later? Hes avenging Kane who has been a total heel for a long time corporately protecting Rollins and the Authority? Lesnar being a face. Just a terrible dynaminc all around. Again many points have already been made by others but they bear repeating. Didnt need such a sour taste after an awesome event otherwise.

    Michael O’Brien

    Thumbs in the Middle

    Good wrestling overall on the show but more questions (including where does Owens go from here?) than answers: 

    Why would Brock turn his attention to a guy he beat instead of Rollins?  

    Is the Wyatt match going to be forgotten so it is Taker returning 16 months later to avenge his loss?  

    Will Undertaker be able to recover from Suplex City in 8 months to wrestle at Mania?

    How do you avoid Taker losing (why bring him back to lose?  Brock doesn’t need another win over him to be more over) AND pinning Brock (which should be saved and at least wasn’t wasted here with Taker laying out Brock and placing a comatose Rollins on top) without adding a third person to the match (defeating the vengeance angle) or giving a flat DQ/no contest?

    Is the plan to give Rollins some credibility by beating a 50-year-old guy that his boss already beat at Mania?

    And where exactly did Rollins and the ref go?

    It got a good live reaction and made (marginally) more sense than a Shield reunion, but I’m more concerned than intrigued.

    ~Jim Rogers
    Phoenix

    Battleground: Thumbs Up
    Best Match: John Cena vs. Kevin Owens
    Worst Match: King Barrett vs. R Truth

    Show started off with the kick off match Barrett vs. Truth.  Hope this feud is done.  It was pointless and once again a terrible waste of Wade Barrett.  At least he picked up the win.  Just thinking about that it is weird that Ambrose, Rusev, and Cesaro are not on this show in any form.  Randy Orton vs. Sheamus turned out better than I thought. Sometimes these guys seem to go the boring route, but this was good. 

    Tag Titles are next.  PTP retains over New Day.  Thought there would be a title change, but an entertaining match with some good action.  Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt again started off not that great, but picked up and delivered.  Wyatt winning with help from Harper was fine.  Hope Rowan gets back with them as well.  This was a much better act with the three guys.  All of them alone went nowhere fast.  Wyatt should put him in a good spot for Summer Slam I would imagine.  Sting maybe?  Not sure where that leaves Roman though.

    Triple threat women’s match is up with Sasha vs. Charlotte vs. Brie.  I wouldn’t have chosen Brie for this spot or maybe just done a singles to showcase the NXT ladies.  Instead it wasn’t up to NXT standards, but still pretty good.  Charlotte winning was nice.  Have to see where they go with this.  How about the three teams of three in a triple threat tag at Summer Slam or Banks vs. Nikki Champions match?  Why hasn’t Sasha come out with the NXT Title?  Did she leave it in Florida? 

    John Cena vs. Kevin Owens delivers yet again.  These guys have good chemistry.  Wanted Owens to win, but still a great performance.  Again not sure what happens next here for Owens.  No interference by Rusev or Cesaro.  I guess it depends on the open challenge for tomorrow.  Main Event time.  Started off good with Lesnar taking Rollins to suplex city.  Finish was bad even though it was Undertaker returning.  I mean the ref and Rollins disappear.  Why do this now?  Lesnar is super over as a face and no one wants to route against Taker.  Plus what makes Taker so mad now?  He was at Mania this year and didn’t even bring up Lesnar from the year before.  Kind of makes no sense really.  So Lesnar goes heel again or face vs. face or a triple threat with Rollins for the title?  I guess we will find out tomorrow.  Overall it was a good show, but don’t like not having at least an attempt at a finish in the main event at least call for a DQ.

    Robb Block

    Thumbs in the middle
    Best: Cena vs Owens
    Worst: Truth vs Barrett

    The quality of the wrestling kept this from being a thumbs down, because the booking was once again strange and the main event didn’t deliver at all.

    It makes no sense for a babyface Undertaker to cost babyface Lesnar the title.  Lesnar beat him clean as a sheet at Mania 30, so there’s no reason for Taker to screw him outside of sour grapes.  It sounded like there was some booing for Undertaker after the low blow and chokeslam, but that was it.  I guess we’ll find out if the two would’ve had a good match 18 months ago had Undertaker not been concussed early in the match, because being there live, it was the worst match on the show by far until the historic finish.

    It also makes no sense, in a world title match that has been hyped up for 5 weeks, for there to be A) no bell, B) no official announcement and C) no acknowledgement of anything by the announcers.  Even a cursory “How lucky was Rollins?” would’ve been fine, unless that’s point 462 on the things announcers cannot say.  Way too many logic holes here.

    And the company trying to find a new John Cena had the guy they want to be the new top guy lose, while Cena wins clean again at the expense of another rising star.  The only good part about that is the Cena open challenges are the best part of Raw, and it should pay off with someone beating him there.  Cena is also seriously a Wrestler of the Year contender, whether anyone likes it or not.

    Finally, kudos to the women, as there was max effort and they had a great match by WWE divas match standards.  It wasn’t at the level of NXT takeover women’s matches, but it’s a start.

    – Chris H
    Lakeland, FL

    WWE Battleground
    Thumbs Up
    Best Match:Cena vs Owens III
    Worst Match:New Day vs PTP

    Barrett vs R-Truth-OK match for the pre-show. Barrett going over is obviously the better play ** 3/4

    Sheamus vs Orton-Great opening match. Really good physical match. Reminded me of a New Japan mid-card match. Which is a compliment. Orton gets the win in his hometown.  ****

    PTP vs New Day-This was mostly atrocious. I think they got cut due to time constraints. Just didn’t have time to get going. * 1/2

    Wyatt vs Reigns-Another highly physical & entertaining match. Wyatt gets the win and looks to have reformed the Wyatt Family which could make him more relevant after stagnating the last couple months. Reigns continues to show that improved consistency. Another great match  ****

    Charlotte vs. Brie Bella vs. Sasha Banks-What a great match to kick of the newly revolutionized Divas division. The crowd was super-hot for this match, so that should relieve any doubts Vince may have had. What performances from Charlotte and Sasha particularly, but Brie Bella held own. Another piece of good booking by protecting Sasha, but letting Charlotte pick up a pinfall in her debut.
    ****
    Cena vs Owens III-The all-important rubber match all thought was every bit as good as the previous two matches. Maybe even a tad better. Owens looked strong in defeat taking multiple AA’s, including one off the tope rope. but kicking out of all of them. Finally, Owens succumbed to the STF after the two stole the show again  **** 1/2

    Lesnar vs Rollins-As expected Rollins took a lot of suplexes (13 I believe). He had little offense to make it interesting, but it looked like Lesnar may roll. That is until Thje Undertaker showed up. The rumors were true and The Deadman showed up just as Lesnar was about to win the title. He cost Lesnar the title and proceeded to tombstone him 3 times. So-so match never got going but served it’s purpose in furthering storylines.  ***

    We still didn’t see Sting, so it looks like Taker will be facing Lesnar, or possibly Lesnar and Rollins in a Triple Threat for the title at Summerslam. I like the idea of a triple threat as it would give Taker a bit of protection his first match back. Should be interesting where they go from here. Overall, there were four matches that were 4 stars or better. Even though the main event wasn’t very good, the strong undercard and Taker appearance make this one of the best shows of the year.
    J.C. Gethicker

    OVERALL: Thumbs up! Way up!
    BEST MATCH: John Cena vs. Kevin Owens
    WORST MATCH: Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt

    Hi Dave! Hope all is well with you and your family. Just got finished watching Battleground and I have to say I thought this show was fantastic. Two big thumbs up from me. None of the matches were bad and the Cena and Owens match, while not the best of their encounters, was still a great match.

    SHEAMUS VS. RANDY ORTON — (***1/2) These guys tore the house down. The crowd absolutely loved Orton.

    KOFI KINGSTON AND BIG E VS. PRIME TIME PLAYERS — (**1/2) — Nothing wrong with this at all. They had a solid tag team match and the right guys went over.

    ROMAN REIGNS VS. BRAY WYATT — (**1/2) This went way too long and the action sometimes felt slow. I guess since Luke Harper interfered and cost Reigns the win the feud will continue and it looks like the Wyatt Family will be fully functional again once Rowan is off the shelf.

    SASHA BANKS VS. CHARLOTTE VS. BRIE BELLA — (**3/4) The crowd was more into this than most Divas matches. Charlotte and Sasha were fine here and Brie Bella was better than she normally was. They got quite a bit of time and had a really solid match. 

    KEVIN OWENS VS. JOHN CENA — (****) So this was basically what we’ve come to know from these two: Hot crowd, Kevin Owens blessing us with his awesomeness and Cena trying to keep up. Seriously, Cena noticeably botched quite a few things in this match but he did some great big moves. The ending was perfect in my opinion.

    BROCK LESNAR VS. SETH ROLLINS — (***3/4) So Lesnar does all his usual stuff with the suplexes. Rollins does his usual stuff with playing the chickin heel as well as being crafty. Crazy heat for this.  Then suddenly, the Undertaker appears in the ring after the bell tolls to an unbelievable pop and just destroys Lesnar. The end. The action for the 12 minutes the match lasted was actually great but the ending was just unbelievable!
    Craig Reeves

    WWE Battleground Feedback
    Thumbs Up
    Best Match: John Cena vs Kevin Owens
    Worst Match: King Barrett vs R-Truth

    I thought this was a good but not great show. It had good in-ring action with some less-than-great finishes. Sheamus and Orton had a good match but if they have anything planned for Sheamus the Orton win didn’t help matters.  I liked the tag title match and although I like The New Day as champs I probably like the Prime Time Players more at this point. Reigns and Wyatt also had a good match and the Wyatt family reunion is way overdue. If they don’t put Rowan back in I hope they put in someone like Solomon Crowe or even a revamped Bo Dallas.

    The divas match was good but disappointing and Brie Bella appeared to be the reason.

    Cena vs Owens was tremendous. I would have preferred a title win by Owens and really hope they continue his momentum, hopefully with a three-way with Cena and Cesaro at Summerslam.

    Rollins vs Lesnar is a good example of booking a match where they wanted the draw without delivering. I did like the surprise of UNdertaker and think that is a good draw for Summerslam. The match itself was better than I expected, with the suplex city spots and Rollins getting more in than I expected. 

    Dave Musgrave
    Oshawa, Ontario

    THUMBS DOWN, as much as I hate to say it.

    BEST MATCH was Cena-Owens, though I was disappointed by the result — KO is losing too much.  Cena also seemed to make more of an effort to conceal his calling of the match while it was going on.

    WORST MATCH was Rollins-Lesnar.  I bet Rollins coud have a good athletic match with this guy, but I guess nothing mattered anyway.  Undertaker should have done something with his hair to make himself look less old.  I was relieved to see the kneepads under his pants when he was getting up from the Tombstones.  I don’t see where this really goes, and I would have preferred the fantasy-booking answer of the Reuniting of the Shield.

    Oh well, Summer Slam could still be good.
    Richard Orloski

    Thumbs up!
    Best match: Roman Reigns VS Bray Wyatt followed by Orton VS Sheamus
    Worst match: Lesnar VS Rollins

    This could have been a “thumbs way up” show, but the Miz/Big Show segment and the main event brought it down. The time given to this match and the non-finish of the Lesnar VS Rollins match brought my enjoyment down a notch. And how are we suppose to react when Rollins gets up fresh after receiving 7 german suplexes? Yes, it was nice to see the Undertaker back, but still, we need a finish for the WWE title match. I guess the WWE will use cheap tricks like this going foreward since it’s on the WWE network and it cost less than PPVs. Last year, they promoted a Ambrose VS Rollins match that never happened. Instead we got a huge brawl between the two. I feel that down the line these specials events might become watered down.

    Reigns VS Wyatt: Awesome clothesline spot by Wyatt when Reigns went for his dropkick on the apron. Great pace and great storytelling, and a couple of stiffs shots! Props to Wyatt for kicking out at 1 during the match (we never see those anymore, it’s either 2 or almost 3!).
    Orton VS Sheamus: Same thing here, slow but interesting build-up. Orton is really under-rated and deserves more recognition for having great matches day in, day out. Both of their styles goes well together since they are rugged and what they do looks legit.
    Prime Time Players VS New Day: Fun little match!
    Cena VS Owens: I am not a Cena hater. He works really hard and delivers mostly great promos but his wrestling is getting really stale. It’s the SAME LAYOUT with every match looking and feeling the same! Just change the opponent, and voilà! I did not see any difference between the 3 matches he had with Owens! It was a fun match, but mostly just an exhibition of moves without any real storytelling. People kicking out of finishers left and right! And please, that springboard stunner looks awful.
    Divas match: Fantastic match! I am very pleased to see not just an NXT women invasion, but an invasion of TALENT! Sasha Banks and Charlotte are naturals! Just add Natalya to the mix and we are set to have many months of classic matches! By the way, Brie using her husband’s kicking spot on Charlotte and Banks was lame.

    Overall are very good show even without Cesaro, Rusev, Ziggler and Ambrose.

    Manuel A.R.

    Hey Dave,

    Overall: Thumbs up show. Every match on the show met or exceeded my expectations. WWE is known for placing a comedown match between the feud filled battles. With the exception of the short Miz segment, this show travelled from battle to battle without losing steam. Lastly, the show ended on a high note with a cliff hanger that did not need description from the announce team.

    Best Match: Owens and Cena wrestled their best match yet. I compare their trilogy to the progression between Windows Vista, Windows 8, and Windows 10. The matches are basically all the same, but each built on the successes of the prior match to enhance execution and increase functionality.

    Worst Match: Nothing was bad enough to get the worst match label.

    a.       Bad News Barrett vs. R Truth. This match was about exactly what I expected it to be. Hopefully, Barrett is on to bigger and better things. Honestly, I am doubtful that he will ascend up the ranks. He has been discredited to the point of being another face in the crowd.

    1.       Sheamus vs. Randy Orton. It is not on the level of CM Punk in Chicago, but Orton has developed a growing connection with his hometown of St. Louis. Orton wrestled his standard economical match which was enhanced with crowd participation and some extra effort and physicality. Strong opener to the show with a satisfying finish. ***1/4

    2.       WWE Tag Title Match: The New Day vs. Prime Time Players. I loved the New Day’s pre match promo. They each have improved on the mic, and have all found individual voices within a collective message. The match itself was better than expected. This was the perhaps the best Prime Time Player’s tag team showing I have seen. The match was physical, the wrestlers moved with purpose, and the crowd reacted to the ebbs and flows. **3/4

    3.       Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt. Slow build into a solid heavyweight style match. The story told was smart and logical. Wyatt used Reign’s aggression to lure him into the steel steps and gain the advantage. Each transition had purpose, and by the end, the crowd sounded fully engaged. It may have been a little long and drawn out, but I was entertained. Moreover, they did not resort to the big move, counter, bigger move, counter, biggest move formula. This template was saved for Cena and Owens. I do not see any drawbacks in having the Wyatt family back together. Moreover, this gives a new duo for Reigns and Ambrose to square off against. ***1/4

    4.       Sasha Banks vs. Brie Bella vs. Charlotte. I am glad they decided to have a triple threat match instead of the predicted three team, nine person tag match. The ladies were given the time and platform to put on a memorable match. It was memorable, but not great. There was a notable amount of good moves and spots, but the momentum was often slowed and stopped by an awkward exchange or a mistimed move. Poor Brie looked outclassed. This is telling giving the fact she is the veteran of the trio. This was better than the normal WWE Divas PPV offering, but it was not the game changer it was designed to be. **1/2

    5.       US Title Match: Kevin Owens vs. John Cena. When comparing this to the prior two encounters, it was the best of the three. The execution was better and the counters were more creative. My only complaint is the sameness of the matches in the trilogy. The same moves were hit, the same moves were missed, and most importantly, the story told was identical. The match was great, but I wanted to see a different theme explored and a unique plot developed. The tap out finish was surprising for its decisiveness. ****

    6.       WWE World Title Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins.   Before the lights went out, we were in the midst of a compelling WWE title match. The match story was unique to the show. Rollins attempting to work the knee was smart. His short bursts of offense provided some additional meat and potatoes to the match. Brock was Brock. I am not sure how I feel about the Undertaker’s appearance. It may not fit into the traditional heel/face dynamic, but the story of Taker wanting retribution for losing to Brock and having Paul Heymen emphasize the defeat for the last 18 months is logical. Lastly, the show ended on a high note with a cliff hanger that did not need description from the announce team. If there is one notable pitfall to the show it is the fact that this did little to build credibility for Rollins. ***

    Thanks, Derrick Hubard

    Thumbs down.  A laughably bad event, really.  

    Best Match: Reigns vs.  Wyatt
    Worst Match: Lesnar vs. Rollins.

    Another event where the heels never cheat.  Orton/Sheamus was paint-by-numbers, really so was Owens/Cena.  Big move after big move with nothing in between and no chance of an unexpected finish.  Reigns and Wyatt had some clever spots, at least, although too many of them made Wyatt look smarter and more athletic than Reigns.  Tough to cheer a chump who keeps walking into big moves.

    The women’s three way was decent, although Charlotte and Sasha felt way too choreographed and fed each other a little too blatantly.  The tag match was completely unremarkable.  

    But, really, the main event was a disaster.  It was far too short, Rollins didn’t do anything, none of the storyline build was really in play, and then Taker shows up to avenge … losing cleanly?  I realize I’m old and no one cares anymore but what’s the motivation here?  So is Taker a heel or is everyone too cool for that still?  Was the goal to make Lesnar an even bigger babyface?  Or are we just supposed to not care and be excited that Taker came back?  

    The really sad part is I don’t think any of these questions are really going to be answered. Brock will lose next month and everyone will cheer and it won’t matter that none of it makes any sense, even as wrestling logic goes.  

    Pretty sad when ten bucks a month is starting to feel like a waste.

    Best

    John Popa

    Thumbs down
    Best match John Cena vs Kevin Owens
    Worst match Bad News Barrett vs R Truth

    This PPV fell off a cliff for me. Enjoyed the first  2 hours especially the divas match. Loved Owens and Cena till that finish that just killed the rest of the night for me. Welcome to the midcard Owens. Has anybody not already a rock solid main eventer ever benefited from a John Cena feud? The main event what can I say I was enjoying Brock beating the crap out of Rollins….and than the nonsensical return of Undertaker, who was clearly the heel in all of this but the fans dont care they are just happy to see him. Frak this what a garbage finish.

    Wade Haugen

    Thumbs up!
    Best match: Cena v. Owens III.  Poetic finish that Owens loses since he doesn’t ascribe to the “Never give up” code?  I’m still not bored with them. Great program.
    Worst match: Sheamus v. Orton.  Orton was great.  I just wasn’t invested in a Sheamus match.

    Worth noting:  
    The 5:29 Miz/Show spot is where a Divas segment would probably be placed.  They did a much better job with the women at this PPV.  
    Lots of annoyances at the production end.  Cameras missing spots and cutting to commercials. 
    Great hearing Steph recognize Muchnik and Wrestling at the Chase!
    Undertaker finish got a reaction, but was a bad finish.  Sets up a Brock v. Taker rematch and we never have the Brock v. Rollins revenge settled?  Not good.

    Honorable mention:
    Miz was exceptional on the mic tonight.  He was great.  I thought for a split second that he might have a program in him before I saw Show arrive and realized that they have no plans.  Too bad.  I can’t remember the last time I was happy to see the Miz.

    —

    Nick Garcia @foothands
    Columbus, Ohio