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Category: News

  • WWE NXT 6-3 results & TV Report: William Regal’s BIG announcement, Finn Balor vs Rhyno

    Photo: WWE.com

    By Emerson Witner, WrestlingObserver.com & Wrestling Outsiders Podcast

    The Big News: It was announced that July 4, “live” from Tokyo on the WWE Network it would be Kevin Owens vs Finn Balor for the NXT Title.

    Show Recap:

    The show started with a video recapping Kevin Owens clean victory over John Cena at Elimination Chamber.

    Tyler Breeze pinned Adam Rose

    Breeze now has a fur cape that he wears to the ring. It really works for him. The fans with a dueling chant of “We Want Kruger/No We Don’t”, which is the first time the fans ever acknowledged they were the same person. This was a match between two heels, so when they weren’t doing half hearted dueling chants, the fans were mostly quiet.

    The fans opened their mouths for a few seconds when Breeze did a springboard dropkick while Rose was on the apron, so Adam went crashing to the metal ramp, but it was soon back to nothing. Rose did a double thrust that sent Breeze flying halfway across the ring. Rose then did the Hideo Itami running kick that the announcers didn’t pick up on. Rose looked better than he has in over a year. Rose hit the Cactus Jack running elbow off the ring apron, but when they got back in the ring he was immediately clocked with the Beauty Shot and Breeze won.

    – This week, it’s the Kevin Owens NXT Championship Open Challenge on SmackDown.

    – Solomon Crowe told Devin she is not allowed to ask questions. He does not regret anything he did last week and it’s alright with him if Samoa Joe wants to go toe to toe with the champ. Crowe did vow to be in the ring with the NXT Champion.

    – Dana Brooke went to Rio De Janero to take part in an Arnold Classic and will be going to Spain in September to do the same thing.

    – Greg Hamilton introduced my brother’s favorite Diva, Eva Marie, for an interview on the stage. They did find one person clapping for her and found about 499 people booing her. There is always one.

    Eva kissed the asses of everyone booing her, which caused them to boo more and chant “You can’t wrestle” at her. Marie lost her train of thought about a dozen times. She put over the woman’s match at Takeover and is here to help revolutionize the business. Oh God, between her and Dana Brooke I may finally have to quit this job.

    -Go buy the Daniel Bryan DVD. I did.

    – William Regal announced that on July 4 there will be a live special on the WWE Network, from Tokyo, Japan, with Kevin Owens defending the NXT Title against Finn Balor. I call shenanigans since I doubt that will air at 3:30am. Maybe it will, but I doubt it. Either way I smell title change.

    Alexa Bliss (w/Blake & Murphy) defeated Carmella (w/Enzo & Big Cass)

    Alexa has now dyed the tips of her hair red. I liked the blue better. There was nothing wrong with this match, but there was literally nothing to say about it. Alexa won with a roll up and a handful of ropes.

    – Rhyno really enjoyed going to war with Baron Corbin, but he came to NXT to become the top competitor and Finn Balor is that top competitor. Finn’s theatrics won’t phase a psychotic man beast like Rhyno and one day he will become NXT Champion.

    – Sami Zayn did a promo from his hospital bed, vowing to be back.

    The Vaudevillains defeated Jason Jordan & Marcus Louis

    Hey look who’s back. Not seen since shortly after NXT Takeover: R Evolution The Vaudevillains are back in action. Actually their last match was Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy’s first ever win. Jason Jordan could have been partners with Chad Gable, but instead he took Marcus Louis. Louis hasn’t been seen since he refused to wrestle Tyler Breeze in October. I wonder if he is still pissed at Sylvester Lefort.

    Louis just got his butt kicked all over the ring until Jordan blind tagged himself in and dropped English with a Back Suplex. Louis did a weird move where he pulled at Aiden’s jaw. Gotch got the hot tag and went all manly and they very quickly won with the Whirling Dervish on Louis. Jordan was pissed and blamed his partner after the match.

    – A video package on the love of my life, Sasha Banks, aired. It’s the same one that aired last week. At least it wasn’t the Becky Lynch video for the fourth time, right?

    – Finn Balor vows to win the NXT Title in Japan on July 4.

    Finn Balor pinned Rhyno

    This match is kind of in alternate universe NXT. No mention at all of Samoa Joe this week and no mention that just last week Rhyno challenged Baron Corbin to a rematch. In theory Rhyno shouldn’t be in a match with the top contender, Baron Corbin should be, but this stuff can’t be perfect I guess.

    Rhyno looked really good in this match, hovering that line between face and heel that he does. Balor got to look like the toughest guy ever, as he took a beating from the Man Beast still come out on top at the end. Rhyno continued to mock Finn’s entrance and got a Pele Kick for his troubles. Balor went for the Coup De Grace, but Rhyno moved. Rhyno went for a Gore, but Balor sidestepped and rolled the Man Beast up for the win!

    After the match, Balor was celebrating and walking up the ramp when Rhyno appeared from out of nowhere and Gore’d Finn on the ramp.

    That does it for this week. One month away from the probably crowning of a new NXT Champion, but until next week remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!

  • WWE will have a live special on 7/4

    On NXT tonight, it was announced in a taped insertion into the show by William Regal that there will be a live special from Sumo Hall in Tokyo on 7/4 that will feature Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor for the NXT title, which presumably would be a title change.

    The show will start at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time.  That would be 8:30 p.m. in Japan, so it could be only part of the show will air on the WWE Network since the show is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

    That show will also include Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston and also include a John Cena main event and a Chris Jericho match. 

    This will come one day before New Japan has its biggest since the Tokyo Dome on 7/5 in Osaka with A.J. Styles vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP title.

  • UFC News: Dana White announces next opponents for Chris Weidman, Daniel Cormier

    On UFC Tonight, UFC president Dana White announced two new championship fights but no dates for when those fights will take place.

    The first was Daniel Cormier defending his light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson, not Ryan Bader as previously expected. Bader and Cormier had a verbal altercation at the UFC 187 post-fight press conference after Cormier’s win over Anthony Johnson. Gustafsson hasn’t fought since losing to Johnson in Stockholm, Sweden, via first round stoppage.

    White’s second reveal was that Chris Weidman would be defending his middleweight title against Luke Rockhold. That fight makes the most sense given Rockhold’s impressive win over Lyoto Machida on 4/18 in Newark, NJ. The reason that fight’s date wasn’t announced is UFC is still hoping it could be on 12/6 in Madison Square Garden, but time is running out on getting legislation passed in New York to allow that show to take place.

  • TNA Impact Wrestling 6-3-15 TV Report – Wednesday Night Debut

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    The Big Takeaway

    EC3’s barbershop quintet sang him to the ring, Rockstar Spud cashed in his X Division title to face Kurt Angle next week, and James Storm shoved Mickie James onto railroad tracks for rejecting him. In tag team news, the Dirty Heels beat The Wolves via a chairshot to seemingly turn heel (or maybe not) and continue the series. Now, the Wolves are up 2-1. The Pope was on commentary with Josh, who also might be a heel.

    Show Recap

    Last week, TNA delivered an excellent overall show. The Dirty Heels vs. Wolves series continued with an incredible match that saw the Wolves emerge victorious once again. Taryn beat Gail with the Cutter and then stomped on Gail’s ring finger and stole her wedding ring – that was pretty great. Rockstar Spud regained the X Title in a gauntlet for the gold out of nowhere, EC3 beat Ken Anderson in a pretty good match, and Kurt Angle beat Eric Young to retain the TNA World title in an I Quit match.

    An EC3 streak video starts the show and man does he ever come off like a star. A barbershop quintet sings EC3’s theme horribly. He has two blondes with him as Tyrus brings a sign out for EC3’s campaign. EC3 is now the number one ranked contender as Josh congratulates him on being the top guy. Pope is with Josh and is playing a face for at least this segment. EC3 says he’s number one, so it’s time to celebrate. The singers sing “He’s the Number One Contender” to the tune of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”. He thanks Tyrus and says he feels like dancing, before Tyrus gives him a glare. EC3 says it’s serious business – so no dancing. EC3 says it’s now mission accomplished and all he needs to do now is win the title. Kurt comes out and is gobsmacked at the sight before him.

    Pope says it’s time for Kurt to baptize EC3 as Josh plugs Pitch Perfect 2 for some reason. Kurt says that Thesz and Gagne would roll over in their graves if they saw this. Really? This? Not the reverse battle royal. Not Abyss winning the world title by DQ? But this? Kurt says that EC3 isn’t next in line, as EC3 shows the signs as proof. Kurt says that next week is Destination X, and Spud can cash in his title. Why not rundown these very special Impact shows with a little on-screen calendar so they don’t just come out of nowhere? EC3 tells Kurt that he’ll make Spud an offer he can’t refuse. EC3 asks the singers to sing goodbye to Kurt, so they sing ‘Trouble Trouble Trouble Trouble Trouble” and Kurt attacks one of them. We see Josh and Pope, in a blinding black and white shirt.

    They run down tonight’s card with the tag title series and yet another match in The BDC vs. The Rising war. Lashley is also about to face Eric Young for reasons I don’t recall and they don’t bother recapping in any way. After the break, they’ll talk about the issues. Slammiversary is coming to PPV for some reason in a few weeks. EY comes down and we get a recap of EY attacking Lashley’s legs in April.

    Match One – Lashley vs. Eric Young

    Lashley bowls him over and sends him to the floor. EY tries to come back in and Lashley drags him to the floor. EY gets a back elbow, but gets taken down and hit with a delayed vertical suplex. EY gets a mule kick to the gut and Lashley punches away in the corner. EY backdrops him over the top and Lashley lands on the apron, but eats a punch. EY dominates for a bit and gets a snapmare and a neck wrench. EY goes for a double axehandle off the top, but eats a belly to belly throw. Lashley gets a big spinebuster mid-ring, but only gets 2. EY escapes the Dominator and the shoulder-mount powerslam before raking the face and hitting a flying forearm. Chris Melendez comes down and Lashley hits the spear for the win. This was okay, but nowhere near as good as any of the EY vs. Angle or Lashley vs. Angle matches. Now Josh is a face as he wants Melendez to attack EY.

    Spud says he’s been fighting for the X Title for 14 years, and now he can trade it all in for a shot at the World title. Spud isn’t sure what he’ll do, and I love that since it should be a big decision and if you don’t treat it like one, then it devalues the X Title. “Doll Parts” plays as Taryn and the rest of the Dollhouse recap what happened to Gail. The audio mixing here was pretty bad here – the song sounded like it was being played from a walkman and Taryn promises to put the X in Destination X. So this was a thing.

    Chris Melendez is pissed that EY was surprised that he came out. Chris tells EY that he was taken to a place he hasn’t been since he was overseas, and he wants a fight. Aries chats with Spud and talks about how he made Option C to make the X Title more important, but now, since everyone has cashed it in, the title means a bit less. Aries tells him that he isn’t trying to mess with him as he already has his title shot guaranteed. Generic Knockouts video airs, so a KOs match must be next. Jade is out to face Brooke.

    Match Two – Brooke’s Gotta Booty vs. Jade’s Gotta Dollhose

    Brooke gets a schoolgirl for a quick 2. Ditto a jackknife cover. In a slightly surreal move, Ring of Honor is plugged with a mid-screen graphic here. Marti helps on the floor for a 2. Now Josh is a babyface as he’s opposed to the 2-on-1 edge the Dollhouse has here. Flying hair mares by Jade are met with a schoolgirl for 2 again. Helluva kick in the corner from Jade. Diving lariat off the second rope by Brooke. Jade gets a chick kick for 2. Slam and a lionsault miss for Jade and Brooke gets a face jam for 2 thanks to Marti putting the foot on the rope. Accidental Helluva kick to Marti on the apron gives Brooke the opening for her facebuster and the win. Brooke celebrates wins by jumping around – so she needs a new winning streak.

    JB talks about having tasks he doesn’t like, and he talks to EC3. EC3 tells him he’s welcome for his fine haircut. EC3 says Spud is a good hand, but he’s got the shoulders to carry this company. The BDC vs. The Rising match is up next. Rebel yells to Brooke about how happy she is for her. The Dollhouse goons attack Rebel while Brooke is busy showering. Josh is a face here too. The BDC comes down with their flag, banner, and masks. The Rising comes down to no real reaction here. Well, the heels look cooler and they’ve done very little with The Rising over the past couple of months.

    Match Three – The BDC vs. The Rising

    Eli dominates MVP with elbows, including a nice flying one. A King distraction lets MVP boot him in the face. Kenny comes in and gets a floatover snap suplex for 2. They triple team Eli in the corner and King runs wild. Josh buries the referee for believing the heels and Josh points out how illogical wrestling is compared to regular sports. Ugh. Ki and Eli go at it, and Eli escapes Ki to tag in Drew. Drew comes in as Josh talks about Drew legit hates Ki, as opposed to all of those fake real rivalries in TNA. Strong kick by Galloway gets 2 on Ki thanks to King getting involved. Mica dives onto King on the floor and Drew chops Ki in the corner. MVP crotches Drew leading to a Warrior’s Way being countered into a belly to belly as Drake and MVP attack. Mika and Drew hit a Doomsday Device for the win. Well, they’re a better LOD than The Ascension. Spud makes his decision next, and then EC3 and Tyrus talk to a camera man about having a conversation that will change Spud’s life forever.

    We get a recap of last week’s Storm-Mickie deal with him promising some big wig country music meetings. Mickie’s in Nashville in a very loud area near a train station before seeing no one there but James. Spud comes to the ring in one of his sillier-looking suits to date and then magically teleports into the ring with JB as a small clip plays of him winning the X Title last week. JB asks him if he’ll give it all up for a World title shot, which he says is a once a million shot since he’s just like all the fans.

    He needs more time, but he doesn’t get it. JB has a great game show announcer voice, and Spud’s probably wishing he had a dark suit on as Kurt comes out. Josh tells Spud to hang onto his title because he can’t beat Kurt – so now he’s a heel again, I think. Kurt tells Spud that he’s trained harder for this World title than any of the 12 others he’s won and he shouldn’t fight him. EC3 comes down and tells him that he can hang his career on being a two-time X Division champion. He’s also a fish and he’s swimming with sharks. EC3 told him he was a lion, tiger, and gazelle – but Kurt is the best ever…or at least was, until he came along. EC3 says that he and Dixie will give Spud a lifetime contract as Chief of Staff. All he has to do is avoid cashing in Option C and give EC3 his shot. I love this – they’re setting up a future EC3-Spud title match perfectly if/when EC3 wins the title.

    Spud says he loved being the Chief of Staff, he loved Dixie and he loved Ethan too. But then he was fired and humiliated, busted open and shaved bald. Spud calls him someone who never had to work for anything and he worked hard for 14 years, and all EC3 did was laugh at him and he’s nothing but a self-entitled prick! He can take the job and his Aunt and stick them up his ass, but dammit, he’s Rockstar Spud and he’s cashing in the title and he’s facing Kurt Angle! Spud is the best babyface in wrestling right now. EC3 cheapshots Spud and Kurt defends him and orders a tag match pitting he and Spud against EC3 and Tyrus. The Dirty Heels talk backstage about needing a win and playing the Wolves’ game, and now they need to do whatever it takes to win. Aries gives Roode a shirt and their match is next.

    But first, Mickie asks James where the stars are and he says they’re just fashionably late. He can give her so much more, and while the music can be there forever, he wants her to join him on his journey and be by his side. He wants her and her son to join The Revolution. She says that he’s her friend, but she needs to go. He says he’s sorry and he thought he could help her out and it’s his fault – whatever she decides, he stands behind. They hug and he leaves with her to protect here. “Lots of crazies out there.”. This was excellent.

    The Dirty Heels come out with new grey and black Dirty Heels shirts. We see clips of match two with the Heels losing. The Wolves come down in white with the war paint on. Pope puts over TNA as having the best tag teams in the world.

    Match Four – The Wolves vs. The Dirty Heels – Match Three in the Best of Five Series

    Josh plugs the “live” Impact on June 24 before the rest of Impact tapigs through that Saturday. Last Chancery is locked on quickly as Davey gets the ropes, and then Roode tags in for a boot to the gut. Wolves tag in for fast arm wringers and a double stomp to the arm of Roode by Davey. Drop toehold>kneedrop get 2. Roode gets a tag, but Aries eats a backdrop. Face smack into Davey’s boot in the corner. Aries hop to the apron where he eats a double Helluva kick, but Roode prevents a double dive to Aries. Aries gets a chopblock to each man and kicks away at a leg before a break.

    After the break, Roode gets a gordbuster. Davey comes back with an outside-in double stomp. Roode smashes Davey into the buckle and stomps his back. Roode chops away and Davey attacks each man in the corner. Davey escapes a Roode throw and tags in Eddie. Eddie runs wild and gets a superkick to the stomach and a shining wizard before hitting Aries with an inverted Falcon Arrow. An Aries eye rake breaks up Roode eating a billion cops in the corner. Heels go for a double suplex, but Davey saves Eddie and they double-dive the Heels on the floor.

    Roode eats a series of kicks and a German suplex for 2. Josh confirms that the Angle and Spud tag match is confirmed. Well, with 32 minutes of airtime left, that’s a good thing to confirm at this point. Roode and Aries gets the outside-in backbreaker and elbow for 2. Miscue leads to Roode hitting Aries and Aries eating a kick and Michinoku driver for 2. Wolves howl, but an Aries dropkick prevents a backpack stunner. Spinebuster leads to the 450 and a 2! Aries gets a suicide dive on the floor and a chair. Brian Hebner is against the chair, but doesn’t bother to move it. Aries distracts him with a belt and Roode hits Eddie with the chair to win. Well, this made Brian Hebner look like a complete moron. Josh says it’s okay because Bobby didn’t want to use it at first. Wow is that some bizarre logic. Security camera footage shows Storm and Mickie at the train station and Storm knocks her onto the tracks before calling Magnus and then whistling his theme. Well, this storyline sure went down some dark roads tonight.

    Madison has a mic and Josh talks about how angry she’s been on social media. Unless you twerk or are Gail Kim, you get nothing in TNA. They all make her sick and while she, as contacted talent, waits her turn someone like Velvet Sky gets more TV time despite being fired. Someone holds up a tiny orange sign with “Better Than Divas” on it. Velvet comes down and Madison says it’s okay, just let her come through the security barricade because she’s pissed. Madison says that she’s a big fan of what Velvet’s doing and she understands that she’s trying to get her spot back – and slaps her. “A few chains don’t make ya a badass, purple in yer hair doesn’t make you a badass!” Velvet spears her and hits a stunner before Angelina screeches. Angelina says they can do this the easy way or the hard way, so Velvet kicks their asses until the numbers game takes over and she’s arrested. Angelina talks smack while Velvet is held back, insulted, and slapped. Velvet smiles, so Angelina elbows her down. Josh, after burying Pope for wondering if the security guys are hired by Angelina, says that he now believes they’re employed by her. Security comes down to tell Angelina that since she just attacked a fan, she’s being arrested. Well, that’s a great bit of logic. After a break, Taryn is in her Dollhouse and says that next week, she’ll expose a whole new side to the Knockouts division.

    The heels come out first while Spud comes out and Josh says that Spud can’t beat Kurt. Kurt comes out sans any pyro while Josh puts over how Kurt has been in the ring with the best in the sport and now he’s the TNA World Champion.

    Main Event – EC3 and Tyrus vs. Kurt Angle and Rockstar Spud

    Spud runs wild on EC3 with punches and tons of overhand corner chops. Josh says that when TNA sends its champion to a nice dinner or sporting event, the champion should be EC3 and not Spud. Spud gets his chain of elbow shots before Tyrus fishhooks him. Tyrus gets an iffy chokeslam while Josh buries Spud for not accepting EC3’s offer. Tyrus stands on Spud’s back and then EC3 stomps him in the corner. EC3 tags Tyrus in for a corner heart punch.

    http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/41356/ab3344413554656.jpg

    A dueling EC3/SUCKS chant breaks out. Tyrus hits a big elbow to the back and grinds the bone into the spine. Tyrus clubs him while EC3 tells him to break him. Tyrus responds with a chain of backbreakers.  EC3 hits a Stinger splash and lands an Angle-esque overhead belly to belly. Spud tags Kurt in while EC3 quickly tags Tyrus in. Tyrus very slowly goes over the top after a low bridge. Tyrus kidney punches Kurt to allow EC3 to escape the ankle lock. Spud tags in and dropkicks Kurt into Tyrus, sending the big man down. Tyrus is hit with the Angle slam and Spud gets the win! Kurt and Spud stare down with the title between them, but Aries comes down.

    Aries tells Spud that he admires his courage, his heart, and questions his decision-making. He cashed in option C and he’ll face Kurt, but since he’s got the case, he’ll be in the main event. At Destination X, he’ll cash in and will face the winner of Angle-Spud and once again be the World Champion. Josh asks if anyone else will screw with EC3. Destination X is hyped up with two World Title matches and an X Title thing as well.

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

  • Lucha Underground 6-3-15 TV Report – Sexy Star vs. Pentagon Jr. Submission Match

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    The Big Takeaway

    Chavo turned heel on Black Lotus after selling out to Dario Cueto, who threatened Black Lotus with her brother – the monster who killed Bael last week and killed Lotus’s parents. Jack Evans also won an ancient medallion by beating Argenis, while the Trios champions beat Big Ryck, Cage, and Daivari to defend their titles. In the main event, Pentagon Jr. beat Sexy Star with the help of Super Fly, who Sexy Star beat a while back in a mask vs. mask match.

    Show Recap

    Last week, Lucha Underground featured Hernandez’s best singles match to date as he lost to Prince Puma in a Lucha Underground title match. Johnny Mundo also used a more physical and grounded style as a heel to earn a victory over Aerostar. In the main event, Fenix was powerbombed to the depths of Hell by Mil Muertes and Bael had his face eaten by Dario Cueto’s brother.

    We start the show with a rundown of the issues between Sexy Star and Pentagon Jr., including the arm snap of Super Fly. The trios title ladder match is recapped and the super dropkick is shown. Sexy Star beating Pentagon Jr. a month or so ago is shown as well. Last week’s murder wasn’t shown though. Cueto meets with Chavo, who says that he quit, but Black Lotus is here and was trained by Dragon Azteca.

    Cueto apparently hired Chavo to take her out, and Chavo tells Cueto that he’s siding with whoever the highest bidder is. Cueto grabs tons of cash, and Chavo tells him to just get him protection in Mexico. A band sings us in as Vamp welcomes us to the show. Striker hypes up tonight featuring the first submission match in company history, and there will be a trios title match too. Jack Evans comes down to the ring as Vampiro talks about the history of the term “gringo”. Argenis comes down face the brash young rudo. Cueto tells Argenis that he comes from a great family, but no one cares about him. I loved Evans saying that it’s completely true, and Cueto says that Evans lost, so whoever wins the match here gets a medallion.

    Match One – Jack Evans vs. Argenis

    Striker talks about Argenis’s family and Evans cheapshots him. Evans grabs his chin and slams him down hard. Jack hits a round kick to the chest against the ropes, but a springboard rana is countered by Argenis with a powerbomb. Argensis gets a big low blow and a huge pop for it. Evans yells about his testicles, and then kicks Argenis all over. Standing corkscrew moonsault from Evans gets 2. Argenis clips the knee from the front up top, but Evans rolls through with a reverse flying armbar.

    Striker talks about Evans being a blue belt in BJJ while Vamp puts over his Muay Thai background. Back elbow hits from Evans. Mid-ring handspring elbow is met with a German by Argenis. Evans is sent to the floor and hits a flip dive. Evans responds with a flip dive into a rana that is not quite smooth, but works. Argenis bonks him into the “rusty” railing for 2. Argenis gets a Backlund lift into a Michinoku driver for 2. Evans gets a backslide with a bridge for the win! This was short, but pretty fun. They don’t even show him getting the medallion – instead, they just go to a Star-Pentagon showdown video.

    In the locker room, Daiva tells Ryck that they’ve got a trios title match tonight. Ryck says they should pick The Mack, and Cage kicks Mack’s ass to get in the match. He tosses him into the lockers, knocks them down, and then slams him down onto them. Ryck is told to leave his cousin, and does so reluctantly. Chavo tells Lotus that Cueto agreed to let her wrestle, and Chavo told her she can her hands on Motenza and then she kicks Chavo’s ass. She knows something’s up, and avoids a sneak attack by The Crew, but is jumped by Chavo, who grabs cuffs. Well, this was a series of unexpected things that all worked out nicely.

    The band sings us in for the next match – the trios title match. As the heels come down, Striker says that while the challengers may seem thrown together, Cueto must think highly of them. Vampiro chastises them for smoking AND drinking on the way to the ring. The champs come down and Ivie is still on crutches, but in fairly small ring gear. She’s hopping down step by step, which seems like a great way to put too much strain on the other foot.

    Match Two – Daivari, Big Ryck, and Cage vs. Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico

    Angelico kicks away at Cage, who chucks him around. Nice European uppercut by Cage leads to corner shoulder charges, but he rushes in and eats an elbow. He darts off the the ropes and Havoc tags in. They argue and Vamp tells these fools to stop arguing and look at the opponents. Daivari tags in and eats a tilt a whirl headscissors and a Muta-style handspring elbow. Leg trip leads to a standing moonsault for 2.

    Ivie yells to be tagged in as Daivari hits a jawbreaker. Corner strike exchange leads to Angelico and Cage tagging in again. Flying forearm smashes to Cage and Ryck help him out, but Cage hits a press slam and Ryck comes in. Ivie sits in the crowd and Ryck gets 2. Ryck beats him down in the corner and tags in Daivari as Vamp calls him a money stooge. Daivari tosses him down for 2. Ryck gets a delayed suplex and Cage tags in to take over for the suplex – love that. A pumphandle slam is countered with kicks from Angelico. Powerbomb hits for Cage and gets 2. Angelico reverses another powerbomb into a schoolboy for 2. Flying knee takes Cage down. Ryck comes in and bowls Angelico over to prevent a tag.

    Daivari comes in with a backdrop. Daivari talks smack to Ivie and shoves her down while Texano comes down and helps out the faces leading to a Havoc SSP off the top for the win! This was a really fun match, and it furthered Texano’s face turn since he’ll help out others in a situation that doesn’t automatically help him. Pentagon Jr. vs. Sexy Star is up next.

    We return to Cueto’s office as Chavo and The Crew bring Lotus in tied up and Cueto threatens he with his brother so he never gets lonely again. And then we just get the “lu-cha” chants and neither commentator has thoughts on this. Well, that’s a bit odd. Pentagon Jr. comes down and Striker talks about him leaving a lot of broken bodies in his path. Logically, Pentagon Jr. should’ve come down second so Sexy could be there to protect Melissa Santos from him if need be.

    Main Event – Pentagon Jr. vs. Sexy Star – Submission Match

    Pentagon grabs the mic and says he’ll break Sexy Star because HE IS…interrupted rudely by Sexy Star. He chops the hell out of her and sends her down. Wind up chop to the chest. Jesus. Corner clothesline from Pentagon is met with a corner lariat, but Pentagon regains control. Pentagon goes for the arm snapper and she avoids it by smashing his face with her knee. Vamp says his 14 year old daughter looks up to Sexy Star while Striker puts her in the same company as Ronda Rousey and Danica Patrick.

    Running rana by Sexy sends him to the floor where he eats a flip dive. Sexy kicks away against the stage and then tosses him into the post. Sexy tosses him off the ropes and superkicks him down before getting a leglock and grinding on the neck before modifying it a bit with a neck crank. Pentagon gets her into a tombstone position, but turns it into a submission by locking his body and her knees, leading to her turning it into a makeshift La Mistica.

    They trade kicks, but Pentagon wins that war. Pentagon locks on an inverted Edgucator and Sexy gets the ropes. Pentagon responds with a superkick from Hell to the jaw. They go to the floor and she climbs up the barricade for a crossbody block. Sexy gets a spinebuster and a half crab. Super Fly comes in and slaps her and throws her into a package piledriver and locks on the surfboard before adding in a necklock and getting the win. This was pretty good too – another fine night of action here, and Pentagon Jr. gets another dangerous move in his arsenal. Vamp prevents an arm snap as the crowd chants wildly for him. Striker talks about “what Vampiro used to be” setting up him wanting to come back and then Striker says a whole bunch of silly things in a row before we go to the locker room for a monologue with Vampiro running through what he’s said before as he headbutts the mirror and finds the darknesss within.

  • ROH deal with Destination America, Where this leaves TNA, Story on TNA cancellation memo and company reaction, Cormier wins title, Samoa Joe, World Cup, Bischoff sues TNA

    The breakdown of the ROH deal on Destination America, how this affects TNA, the time frame of both company’s deals with the station and why this went down is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We also look at Daniel Cormier winning the world championship and questions arising, full coverage of UFC 187, Full coverage of Samoa Joe to NXT and the last special, the AAA World Cup coverage, Bischoff sues TNA and the UFC hall of Fame.

    The new issue is up on the site at http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/42755-june-1-2015-wrestling-observer-newsletter-roh-to-destination-america-bischoff-sues-tna-ufc-hall-of-fame-and-more

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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.

    We look at TNA’s actions over the past week since the original Observer story broke, the expansion in coverage of ROH, why the ROH deal got done, how Dixie Carter handled the situation, the conference call with TNA talent and how it went, the lineup for the first month of ROH on Destination America and the key show to watch, what to expect from the ratings, the ROH PPV schedule and the Samoa Joe situation with ROH.

    We also look at Daniel Cormier winning the UFC light heavyweight title, the Jon Jones situation, the situation with Ryan Bader, the shadow over the Cormier win, Vitor Belfort physically, the Arlovski vs. Browne fight, all the business notes from the show including a top ten of all time, and match-by-match coverage.

    We also look at the NXT Takeover show.  We look at the situation with Samoa Joe, plus match-by-match coverage.

    We’ve also got full coverage of the World Cup show, including screw-ups, best foreign stars, and the awards from the show.

    We also look at Elimination Chamber, the Rusev injury, Ronda Rousey and next year’s WrestleMania, talk about a gimmick for a future NXT special, notes on the new season of Total Divas, Notes on someone who is a TV star that got a tryout as a WWE star this past week and how it went, A look behind the scenes on the Daniel Bryan/A.J. Lee angle, how WWE is changing its thoughts on talent, another celebrity angle, NXT dates and a look at the upcoming Australia tour.

    Plus we’ve got notes from all the arena events from the past week as well as business notes.

    We look at the Bischoff-Hervey lawsuit against TNA.

    We also have a full breakdown on the UFC Hall of Fame and its new members.  We look at their histories, why they are in and more.

    We’ve got first word on the Extreme Rules PPV business.

    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 CMLL’s new tournament over the next few months and background of the guys

    –What pro wrestling event in Mexico will have a number of U.S. reporters from another sort attending

    –Tetsuya Naito in CMLL

    –Wife of wrestler planning oncoming out of retirement

    –UFC fighter making appearance at international wrestling show

    –King of Gate finals and rundown of semifinals

    –Looking at the booking from there

    –Triple Crown title change

    –MMA fighter coming to All Japan

    –Full coverage of the first week of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament

    –Current standings

    –Why this year doesn’t have as much interest as in the past

    –Why all the booking had to be redone after the first night

    –How business has been

    –Tournament lineup for this week

    –Satoru Sayama health update

    –Terry Funk news

    –World champions from two different promotions team up together in a third promotion

    –Global Force Wrestling update

    –Go fund me campaigns for wrestlers

    –Update on the past week’s PWG show

    –Trish Stratus talks thinking about doing MMA

    –One of the biggest indie show of the summer

    –Tammy Sytch on doing adult videos

    –Latest on Lucha Underground and season two

    –Alberto El Patron talks about doing MMA and Bill Goldberg

    –The back story in one of Lucha Underground’s main angles

    –ROH signs action figure deal

    –Update on the next ROH PPV show

    –TNA changes up television tapings and why

    –Dixie Carter reality show

    –Christy Hemme leaves company

    –History of TNA sale talks

    –Samoa Joe on why he left TNA

    –Dana White talks UFC 189

    –Where ticket sales for the show are coming from

    –Dana White talks the PPV numbers

    –Update on UFC in New York and where it stands

    –Sara McMann thinking of legal action on the Reebok deal

    –This week’s UFC show

    –Tons of new UFC fights

    –Lawsuit settlement results in apologies

    –Suspended fighter thinks about going to Olympics

    –Hector Lombard talks Josh Barnett

    –Ronda Rousey at the  Wall Street Journal cafe brunch

    –Fighter who had announced retirement now coming back

    –Biggest World Series of Fighting show to date

    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.

    Our most requested issues in our history are:

    *November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

    *December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you’ll know exactly what was said–the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

    *August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

    *March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)a

    *October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

    *July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial)

    *February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)

    *May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our history)

    *January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)

    *February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)

    *March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino, Backlund and Backlund era)

    *April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

    *May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

    *June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

    *June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

    *July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

    *August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

    *September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

    *October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

    *January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)

    *February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story, Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)

    *February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy’s win over Brock Lesnar)

    *March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

    *March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

    *July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair’s book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

    *July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair’s book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

    *August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

    *August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez–this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

    *October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

    *November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

    *January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

    *March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

    *May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

    *June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

    *July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

    *August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)

    *September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)

    *October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)

    *November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

    *December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)

    *January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year’s Eve 2005 coverage)

    *January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

    *April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby–many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

    *April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

    *July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling–the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

    *September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

    *October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

    *November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff’s book and how the industry was changed forever)

    *November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro, Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania planned celebrity away)

    *November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn’t click)

    *December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride’s offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

    *January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bigelow)

    *March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)

    *March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)

    *March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)

    *April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage–which many are calling one of the best issues in history)

    *July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

    *October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)

    *November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women’s wrestling) .

    *December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)

    *January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)

    *March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)

    *April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair’s meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

    * September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

    * September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

    * September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

    You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

    We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

    To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

  • WED. UPDATE: Wednesday Night War, UFC drug testing notes & lawsuit update,, and more

    by David Bixenspan | davidbix@wrestlingobserver.com | Follow @davidbix

    TV notes for tonight, the night that takes Wednesday from the most crowded night of the week to even more crowded:

    * ROH debuts on Destination America at 8:00 p.m. ET (and re-airing at 11:00 p.m. ET) with The Briscoes vs. The House of Truth, KUSHIDA vs. Will Ferrara, Watanabe vs. Silas Young, and Moose vs. B.J. Whittier.

    * Lucha Underground on El Rey at 8:00 p.m. ET has Argenis vs. Jack Evans in an Aztec Medallion match, Son of Havoc, Angelicio, & Ivelisse vs. Big Ryck and two mystery partners for the Trios Championship, and Sexy Star vs. Pentagon Jr. in a submission match.

    * NXT on WWE Network at 8:00 p.m. ET features Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss, Finn Balor vs. Rhyno, and a contination of the Kevin Owens-Samoa Joe drama.

    * Impact Wrestling on Destination America at 9:00 p.m. ET (and 12:00 a.m. ET) has Rockstar Spud’s decision about whether or not he’ll vacate the X Division Title to get a World Title shot, The Wolves vs. The Dirty Heels in match 3 of their best of 5 series, Brooke Tessmacher vs. Jade, The Beat Down Clan vs. The Rising, and the return of Pope D’Angelo Dinero (Elijah Burke).

    * UFC on Fox Sports 1 is the usual arrangement we’ve seen the last few weeks: UFC Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET, last week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter at 9:00 p.m. ET, a new episode of The Ultimate Fighter, “Eyes on the Prize,” airs at 10:00 p.m. ET, and then the first 20 minutes or so of Fox Sports Live at 11:00 p.m. ET consists of the “TUF Talk” wrap-up show.

    As always, more after we pay the bills… 

    **** 

    The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is up on the site for subscribers (subscribe here) with a detailed look at the history of popular music being used in pro wrestling, including:

    * Who actually did the first pro wrestling music video?

    * The role of popular songs gtting major acts over.

    * What made the use of music in ECW so special.

    * How “real” songs make wrestlers stand out in a sea of in-house productions.

    And much more. Plus, as always, we have  all of the usual reviews and international news.

    Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and cn Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle. 

    **** 

    The breakdown of the ROH deal on Destination America, how this affects TNA, the time frame of both company’s deals with the station and why this went down is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We also look at Daniel Cormier winning the world championship and questions arising, full coverage of UFC 187, Full coverage of Samoa Joe to NXT and the last special, the AAA World Cup coverage, Bischoff sues TNA and the UFC hall of Fame.

    The new issue is up on the site at June 1, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ROH to Destination America, Bischoff sues TNA, UFC Hall of Fame

    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@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

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

    Rates are:

    For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

    If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

    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.

    We look at TNA’s actions over the past week since the original Observer story broke, the expansion in coverage of ROH, why the ROH deal got done, how Dixie Carter handled the situation, the conference call with TNA talent and how it went, the lineup for the first month of ROH on Destination America and the key show to watch, what to expect from the ratings, the ROH PPV schedule and the Samoa Joe situation with ROH.

    We also look at Daniel Cormier winning the UFC light heavyweight title, the Jon Jones situation, the situation with Ryan Bader, the shadow over the Cormier win, Vitor Belfort physically, the Arlovski vs. Browne fight, all the business notes from the show including a top ten of all time, and match-by-match coverage.

    We also look at the NXT Takeover show.  We look at the situation with Samoa Joe, plus match-by-match coverage.

    We’ve also got full coverage of the World Cup show, including screw-ups, best foreign stars, and the awards from the show.

    We also look at Elimination Chamber, the Rusev injury, Ronda Rousey and next year’s WrestleMania, talk about a gimmick for a future NXT special, notes on the new season of Total Divas, Notes on someone who is a TV star that got a tryout as a WWE star this past week and how it went, A look behind the scenes on the Daniel Bryan/A.J. Lee angle, how WWE is changing its thoughts on talent, another celebrity angle, NXT dates and a look at the upcoming Australia tour.

    Plus we’ve got notes from all the arena events from the past week as well as business notes.

    We look at the Bischoff-Hervey lawsuit against TNA.

    We also have a full breakdown on the UFC Hall of Fame and its new members.  We look at their histories, why they are in and more.

    We’ve got first word on the Extreme Rules PPV business.

    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 CMLL’s new tournament over the next few months and background of the guys

    –What pro wrestling event in Mexico will have a number of U.S. reporters from another sort attending

    –Tetsuya Naito in CMLL

    –Wife of wrestler planning oncoming out of retirement

    –UFC fighter making appearance at international wrestling show

    –King of Gate finals and rundown of semifinals

    –Looking at the booking from there

    –Triple Crown title change

    –MMA fighter coming to All Japan

    –Full coverage of the first week of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament

    –Current standings

    –Why this year doesn’t have as much interest as in the past

    –Why all the booking had to be redone after the first night

    –How business has been

    –Tournament lineup for this week

    –Satoru Sayama health update

    –Terry Funk news

    –World champions from two different promotions team up together in a third promotion

    –Global Force Wrestling update

    –Go fund me campaigns for wrestlers

    –Update on the past week’s PWG show

    –Trish Stratus talks thinking about doing MMA

    –One of the biggest indie show of the summer

    –Tammy Sytch on doing adult videos

    –Latest on Lucha Underground and season two

    –Alberto El Patron talks about doing MMA and Bill Goldberg

    –The back story in one of Lucha Underground’s main angles

    –ROH signs action figure deal

    –Update on the next ROH PPV show

    –TNA changes up television tapings and why

    –Dixie Carter reality show

    –Christy Hemme leaves company

    –History of TNA sale talks

    –Samoa Joe on why he left TNA

    –Dana White talks UFC 189

    –Where ticket sales for the show are coming from

    –Dana White talks the PPV numbers

    –Update on UFC in New York and where it stands

    –Sara McMann thinking of legal action on the Reebok deal

    –This week’s UFC show

    –Tons of new UFC fights

    –Lawsuit settlement results in apologies

    –Suspended fighter thinks about going to Olympics

    –Hector Lombard talks Josh Barnett

    –Ronda Rousey at the  Wall Street Journal cafe brunch

    –Fighter who had announced retirement now coming back

    –Biggest World Series of Fighting show to date

    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.

    Our most requested issues in our history are:

    *November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

    *December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you’ll know exactly what was said–the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

    *August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

    *March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)a

    *October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

    *July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial)

    *February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)

    *May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our history)

    *January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)

    *February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)

    *March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino, Backlund and Backlund era)

    *April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

    *May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

    *June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

    *June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

    *July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

    *August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

    *September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

    *October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

    *January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)

    *February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story, Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)

    *February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy’s win over Brock Lesnar)

    *March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

    *March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

    *July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair’s book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

    *July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair’s book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

    *August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

    *August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez–this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

    *October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

    *November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

    *January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

    *March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

    *May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

    *June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

    *July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

    *August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)

    *September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)

    *October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)

    *November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

    *December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)

    *January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year’s Eve 2005 coverage)

    *January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

    *April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby–many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

    *April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

    *July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling–the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

    *September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

    *October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

    *November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff’s book and how the industry was changed forever)

    *November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro, Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania planned celebrity away)

    *November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn’t click)

    *December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride’s offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

    *January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bigelow)

    *March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)

    *March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)

    *March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)

    *April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage–which many are calling one of the best issues in history)

    *July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

    *October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)

    *November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women’s wrestling) .

    *December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)

    *January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)

    *March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)

    *April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair’s meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

    * September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

    * September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

    * September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

    You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

    We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

    To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

    ****

    Wednesday Daily Update

    — UFC officially announced its plans for enhanced drug testing today. The press release is on the front page and Shaun Al-Shatti has a good breakdown at MMAFighting.com. The keys points are:

    * The entire roster will be subject to year-round, unannounced testing “with the possibility of a collection occurring any place, any time, with no notice.” One key is how true that actually is since human growth hormone is normally taken by athletes at bedtime with the idea that you’ll be clear by morning and testers will only come during somthing approximating the regular nine to five work day.

    * Suspnsions for positive tests for “non-specified substances” (effectively banned performance enhancing drugs from anabolics to growth hormones to peptides to blood doping) will be two years for the first offense (four years for “aggravating circumstances”), followed by double the punishment of the previous suspension for the second and third suspension.

    * Suspensions for “specified substances” (marijuana, stimulants, and glucocorticosteroids, only tested for in-competition) will be will be one year for the first offense (two years for “aggravating circumstances”), followed by double the punishment of the previous suspension for the second and third suspension.

    There’s no indication yet as to whether or not athletic commissions would recognize the suspensions if UFC suspended and cut a fighter.

    — The class action antitrust lawsuit against the UFC has been moved to Nevada, primarily because judge Edward Davila determined that the lawsuit is an action to interpret the fighters’ contracts, which have clauses about the jurisdiction of any related lawsuits. Paul Gift has much more detail on the decision at Bloody Elbow.

    — Eric Fisher at Sports Business Journal is reporting that Major League Baseball is moving quickly at spinning off MLB Advance Media (the subsidiery that handles the technological end of WWE Network as well as other services like HBO Now) into its own company.

    — Sky Italia announced today that they renewed their deal to carry WWE programming in Italy through June 2020.

    — Tyrus tweeted yesterday that he will not be working for Global Force Wrestling as previously announced “due to contractual obligations.”

    — It wasn’t officially confirmed until last night when MMAFighting heard back from the UFC, but the promotion has cut Shayna Baszler, Tim Elliott, Dylan Andrews, Alptekin Ozkilic, Vik Grujic, Shane Howell, Rocky Lee, Tateki Matsuda and Alexander Torres. The releases were initially reported by @UFCFightersInfo, a Twitter bot that tracks changes to the UFC roster and rankings pages. there are exceptions, but a deleted profile does usually mean a fighter has been cut.

    Elliott was considered something of a surprise because while he’s on a three fight losing streak, he only lost to top 10 contenders, is an action fighter, and could have at least gotten one fight against an unranked opponnt to see where he stood. One would think that World Series of Fighting should have some interest in him and the flyweights that were cut now that they’re trying to build that division.

    — Max Landis has a new wrestling-themed video where he explains why John Cena is booed. This one is just him talking to a camera for a few minutes, not a big production like Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling was.

    — On June 27th, Tuff-N-Uff is running “Pack the Mack,” a MMA card at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas  which is serving as a memorial for founder Barry Meyer and a benefit for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. They’re hoping to break the attendance record for amateur MMA, which they set last year. Tickets are available at UNLVTickets.com. 

    — Bill Goldberg talked to AM New York as part of his publicity tour for the Legends of Wrestling event this Saturday at Citi Field.

    — A Vine of a high school graduation featuring a Stone Cold Stunner may or may not be going viral at the moment.

    — ONE Championship announced a card for June 20th at the Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China with featherweights Timofey Nastyukhin and Yusuke Kawanago battle ine th main event.

    — Per John Finnegan of the North American Wrestling Rankings blog, this past Monday, Raw was the host of Sheamus’s 300th televised WWE match. 

    — Arianny Celeste, the UFC’s most famous Octagon Girl, is the host at the Marquee nightclub in Sydney, Australia this Friday night.

    TOMORROW’S WWE NETWORK SCHEDULE (thanks to Bert Duckwall)

    12:00 AM ET
    CULTURE SHOCK WITH COREY GRAVES Corey Graves jumps into horse racing, gambling, the legendary infield, and much more at The Preakness on this episode of Culture Shock!

    12:10 AM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Eva’s sexy bachelorette in Curacao gets heated when TJ destroy’s Nattie’s hopes of rekindling their marriage.

    1:00 AM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Nikki is devastated when she discovers John’s kept a secret from her. Rosa’s unaware she’s competing in her pursuits of an NFL player.

    2:00 AM ET
    WWE BEYOND THE RING A look inside the life and career of CM Punk from his early success in ECW to the top of the WWE.

    4:00 AM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK Following Stone Cold Steve Austin’s controversial Royal Rumble victory, Bret Hart lashes out and bids farewell to WWE.

    5:00 AM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK Before Shawn Michaels can celebrate his reign as the new WWE Champion, he is greeted by the four men who want to take the title from him.

    6:00 AM ET
    PRIME TIME WRESTLING Join Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan for Prime Time Wrestling featuring Harley Race, Junkyard Dog, and many more!

    8:00 AM ET
    WRESTLEMANIA 12 Shawn Michaels and Bret ‘Hit Man’ Hart battle in an Iron Man Match for the WWE Title. Diesel faces The Undertaker. Roddy Piper vs. Goldust.

    11:00 AM ET
    SMACKDOWN FLASHBACK Edge and Christian and the Hardyz battle for Terri’s services. The Rock serves as the People’s Referee. HHH defends his title.

    12:15 PM ET
    CLASH OF THE CHAMPIONS Clash of the Champions XXIV; Davey Boy Smith challenges Vader for the World Heavyweight Title. A ‘shocking’ edition of Flair for the Gold.

    2:00 PM ET
    OLD SCHOOL Old School WWE card from the Maple Leaf Gardens features Hulk Hogan defending the WWE Title against Paul Orndorff. Ricky Steamboat and more.

    3:00 PM ET
    WCW MONDAY NITRO On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan meets Sting in a huge main event match up.

    4:00 PM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK The 1-2-3 Kid’s new alliance pays dividends. Shawn Michaels gives his all in a match that proves there is more than one way to spell heart.

    5:00 PM ET
    WCW STARRCADE 1994 Hulk Hogan defends the WCW World Title against The Butcher. Sting battles Avalanche. The Nasty Boys face Harlem Heat. Jim Duggan vs. Vader.

    8:00 PM ET
    WCW MONDAY NITRO On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan meets Sting in a huge main event match up.

    9:00 PM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK The 1-2-3 Kid’s new alliance pays dividends. Shawn Michaels gives his all in a match that proves there is more than one way to spell heart.

    10:00 PM ET
    STONE COLD PODCAST WWE Hall of Famer and Icon Stone Cold Steve Austin will have a no holds barred LIVE interview with Paul Heyman!

    11:00 PM ET
    WCW MONDAY NITRO On this episode of WCW Monday Nitro Hulk Hogan meets Sting in a huge main event match up.

  • Evolve Wrestling 5-30-15 recap: Galloway vs. Busick, Hero vs. Lee, Richards

    Submitted by Anonymous

    Rey Horus pinned Anthony Nese in 15:38 with a top rope huracarana. 

    It was a good match.  Problem with EVOLVE is every match is nearly the same with a lot of big moves and a lot of kick out of big moves.   Right off the bat again, we have a match like this.  When this happens in every match, it takes away the importance of the near fall from the top matches.  Opening match is the second most important match on the card behind the main event.  Opening match sets the tone, but it should also just warm up the crowd.   This match would have been better at only ten minutes instead of going fifteen.   Anthony Nese is really good and I always enjoy his work.   I wish he would do the cartwheel off the apron reversal he does here and there.  He does it every match I see him in.   It is cool, but how in every match he is on the apron and doing a cartwheel getting away from his opponent trying to kick him?   Rey Horus is good, but still very green as he showed in this match.  His finisher is amazing, but it takes a long time for both men to be balanced on the tope rope that it becomes a total expose.

    Davey Richards pinned Caleb Konely in 20:55 with a running kick. 

    Great match.  Both went out and put on a great performance.  Konely is so underrated and could be the best heel in EVOLVE behind Rodrick Strong.  Richards has looked great since his return to EVOLVE.   At times it got a bit ridiculous as they both kicked out out of so many finishers.  In the case of one move too many,  Richards hit a double stomp off the top rope and the crowd went nuts.  That should have been the finish, but he instead hit the running kick for the pin and pop wasn’t as loud.   Crazy that this was only the second match on the card.

    After the match Caleb Konely and his tag team partner Anthony Nese argued after the match teasing a split.  Splitting up the Premier Athlete Brand tag team would benefit both.  Konely has been real impressive with his single matches against Rey Horus and now Davey Richards.   Konely is a natural heel and he understands how to work as a heel which is truly rare on the indy level.  Nese comes off more as a natural babyface and with all flashy moves, a turn to babyface would be good for him.

    TJ Perkins pinned “Speeball” Mike Bailey in 11:14 with a cradle. 

    Fun match.  Mike Bailey is a joy to watch.  His style is based around his strikes and thus he stands out from the rest of the EVOLVE roster.  Story early was Bailey was trying to KO TJP with his kicks and TJP was working on the legs on Bailey.   Speedball just needs to get a better body, better gear to not look so indy.  As long as he stays injury free, this kid does have a bright future. TJP was solid as always, but still very robotic with his facial expressions.  Actually both men are and that lack of facial expressions brings down the intensity of the match.

    Chris Hero pinned Trevor Lee in 18:02

    Match of the night as this was better then Richards-Konely earlier.  Lee would get a move, but Hero would always counter.  Hero plays his role as the veteran making the young talent coming up to prove themselves.  Loved the pacing of this match, it was slower then the pervious matches, but each thing they did meant something and you remembered it after they did it.  Hero kept trying to finish off Lee, but he would keep kicking out.  Finally, Hero pinned Lee with a Gotch Piledriver and then picked him up for a tombstone piledriver.  Maybe a bit overkill, but it continued the story that Hero felt he needed to go that extra mile to finish off Lee.

    DragonGate Open The United Gate Tag Team Champions Rich Swann & Johnny Gargano defeated Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams when Gargano made Williams submit to the “GargaNoEscape”.

    Very good tag team match. This is another match that probably went a bit too long.  Giving guys long times is a good, but it can also be negative, especially in matches were workers like this do a ton of moves.  You see so much  and nothing registers for long.  With so many moves, the crowd gets exhausted and thus the crowd heats lowers and match starts to drag.  Tracy Williams is a great young prospect.  Really reminds me of a young Timothy Thatcher.  This kid is going to be really good.  Williams and Gulak have the potential to be one of the best tag teams in the US if they continue to team up.   Swann was his great self as usual and Gargano put on a very good performance as well.  This match made me want to see a long program between these two teams.

    After the match Gargano and Swann “vacated” the DragonGate Open The United Gate tag titles.  Basically, DragonGate USA is no more and this is was a nice way of making it official.  Gargano and Swann hoped EVOLVE would create Evolve tag team titles.  I am sure this will happen soon and I hope these two teams are programed together for those newly created titles whenever that is. 

    DragonGate Open The Freedom Gate Champion Drew Galloway pinned Biff Busick with a double arm DDT in 15:35

    There is nobody in the US that can match Drew Galloway’s presence as a World Champion.  It is hard to give off that aura, but Galloway does it.  I bought the IPPV for this match alone and these two did not let me down.  It was hard hitting and dramatic.   They brawled around the building.  Nine times out of ten I do not care for that, but these two are so good with putting a believable and intense brawl that I really enjoyed this.   Busick kept going for his rear naked choke finisher throughout the match and Galloway would keep reversing.

    At one point Busick locked it on and many thought a title change was near.  The finishing sequence was a thing of beauty as Busick kept going for his finisher, but Galloway kept reversing and finally catching Busick with his finish.

    After the match Galloway cut another great promo.  Why did the WWE let this guy go?  Galloway is living up to his  “Chosen One” gimmick now on the indies.  Johnny Gargano came out and talked about Galloway defeating him in San Jose at the WWN Super Show for the DragonGate Open The Freedom Gate title and mentioned how he and his tag team partner Rich Swann are looking towards the future and they vacated the DragonGate United tag belts and Galloway should follow their lead and putting DragonGate USA behind them.

    Galloway disagreed, basically saying he won this belt with hard work and he is going to keep defending it.  He told Gargano they would face again for DragonGate belt and if Gargano beats him then he could do whatever he wants with the title, but “If” that happens he is going keep defending it.  I think they should unify the titles.  Maybe do a gimmick where Galloway will defend both each weekend, but if he is able to retain after a years time (March 2016) then the belts would unified.   Really, after Galloway beat Gargano in at the WWN Super Show the titles should have been unified then.  Positive is they are moving to getting rid of the DragonGate USA brand all together.  Since combining the promotions, it has been more confusing then good.

    Overall Analysis:

    This was one of the best Evolve shows this company has put on.  I highly recommend this IPPV.  Only negative was the lighting in this venue sucked.  The guys all looked light blue from the lights and it was very dark at times in the corners.  If you can get past the poor production, you will love this show.  Hero-Lee is worth going out of your way to see.  I understand this was a rematch from PWG out in LA which was another great match.  I can’t compare the two since I did not see the PWG match, but this Hero-Lee match here in Evolve was one of the best indy matches of the half year.  Still way below Hero vs Timothy Thatcher at the WWN Super Show in San Jose, CA this past March however. 

  • UFC announces new drug testing and injury prevention programs working with USADA for year-around testing

    For Immediate Release:

    UFC® LAUNCHES ATHLETE MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

    Program includes first all-encompassing, independently administered, professional sports organization anti-doping policy, to be administered by USADA

    New partnerships with Fusionetics and EXOS to provide UFC athletes with key tools to improve performance both inside and outside the Octagon®

    Las Vegas – UFC® announced today the unveiling of its new, ground-breaking Athlete Marketing and Development program, introduced to provide athletes with programs and tools to help them maximize their careers and succeed long-term, both inside and outside the Octagon®. In coordination with key organizations such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Fusionetics, and EXOS, UFC continues to be at the forefront of athlete development, making a significant investment into the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) and, most importantly, the athletes who step into the Octagon.

    “Earlier this year, we vowed to take a leadership position on key areas impacting our sport, fighter health and fighter safety,” UFC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Fertitta said. “After months of hard work, and the addition of Jeff Novitzky, we have taken the opportunity to not only launch an elite anti-doping policy, but to invest, develop and deploy a year-round Athlete Marketing and Development program focused on the preparation, performance and education of our athletes.”

    As UFC continues to evolve as one of the world’s leading sports organizations, it has engaged USADA to run the first all-encompassing, independently administered, anti-doping policy for a professional sports organization. The policy is a central part of UFC’s expanded efforts to protect the health and safety of its athletes, and to protect their right to compete with natural ability on an even playing field.

    USADA, universally recognized as a premier anti-doping agency, will act as the independent administrator of the anti-doping policy, beginning July 1, 2015. As the policy ramps up, UFC and USADA will provide athletes with multiple levels of education including: written copies of the policy and accompanying materials, in-person presentations, hands-on demonstration of online and mobile applications, and on-line education courses. Jeff Novitzky, UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, will spearhead the roll out of the anti-doping policy.

    UFC and USADA will release the finalized policy to the athletes, the media and the public by mid-June.

    Fusionetics, developed under the leadership of Dr. Micheal A. Clark and a group of scientists, sports medicine professionals, coaches, athletes and business leaders, is a system that was designed and is utilized in the world of professional sports to help athletes improve their performance, speed up their recovery and avoid future injury. The newly announced partnership will allow UFC athletes to access Fusionetics facilities and interact with their staff, providing individualized digital plans that can be utilized on the athletes’ tablets and phones.

    EXOS, the leaders in training, nutrition and physical therapy for elite athletes, have worked with some of the best professional athletes in sport and will now begin working closely with UFC athletes. The goal is to help UFC athletes maximize performance and minimize injury risk. During the last week of May, middleweight Luke Rockhold, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and newly signed middleweight CM Punk became the first UFC athletes to take part in a full week of training at the EXOS facilities in Phoenix learning innovative ways to train, plan and prepare for competition. Phase two of the program will include sending additional athletes to the EXOS facilities, as well as deploying a mobile EXOS team to some of the top gyms in the sport.

    Lastly, on June 1 and 2, UFC gathered nearly fifty up-an-coming athletes for its Athlete Summit to unveil the new anti-doping policy and deploy its new Athlete Marketing and Development program. The two-day summit offered classes featuring experts in financial planning, nutrition, and health and wellness, press and social media training, and allowed for personal interaction with all three organizations: USADA, Fusionetics and EXOS.

    This new program, and future initiatives to be developed under its umbrella, reflects UFC’s absolute on-going commitment to the health and well-being of its contracted athletes.

     Zuffa, LLC | P.O. Box 26959 | Las Vegas, NV 89126

  • Jeff Jarrett talks GFW future, TV, UK market

    (credit to Adam Davey (twitter – @v2wrestlingshow) on the v2wrestling.com
    podcast)

    The v2wrestling podcast interviewed Jeff Jarrett where he talks
    about the future for GWF, his vision, the roster and the platform he is
    considering.. The audio can be listened to here
    –http://v2wrestling.com/5/post/2015/06/the-big-v2-interview-jeff-jarrett.html

    Highlights are here:

    On booking certain talents from other promotions:

    “It’s going to be very interesting. Scheduling is going to be a unique set
    of circumstances but it’s all part of the business and, quite frankly, it
    does excite me because when you don’t have the same wrestlers show after
    show, it gives it a sense of freshness and a sense of anything can happen.
    It harkens me back to many moons ago and as time rolls on, when you have
    certain members of the roster come and go back in the Attitude Era. It was
    who’s going to show up on Nitro and I want to see who they’re going to
    wrestle. So I believe it brings a real sense of what’s going to happen
    next and who’s going to show up next, and I think that brings excitement
    to the fans.”

    How many shows is GFW going to tape in Las Vegas:

    “It’s a work in progress. Jim Ross wrote online a couple of weeks ago and
    talked about 13 one-hour episodes, and that’s one of probably three to
    four options that we have. I also read another blog that said we’re going
    to do three 3-hour specials on the three Fridays that we’re there in July,
    August and October. Then I heard even crazier that we’re going to do a
    live 3-hour special. So there’s a lot of options on the table. The
    uniqueness of this is that the best decision has to be made not only for
    the United States market but for our international discussions as well. We
    are global; we set out to do that from Day 1 to be a global brand and I’m
    going to stand behind it. I want this content that we’re going to shoot to
    be seen by as many eyeballs as they possibly can, so that factors into the
    decision in multiple ways.”

    His approach to storylines in GFW:

    “A lot of people ask, How are you going to be different? In Global Force
    Wrestling, it goes without saying that there are storylines in
    professional wrestling. We don’t want to write stories, we want to
    document them. Because every professional wrestler truly has a story
    behind their life, has a story behind where they’ve come from. To me, the
    storylines have already started, if you want to call it that. There’s
    talent coming from countries from around the world and the story is
    they’re going to be on the first ever Global Force Wrestling show, and
    there’s a pretty unique set of circumstances in and up to that.”

    His vision compared to other promotions:

    “I am a professional wrestler, but those days are coming to a halt and I’m
    much more of a promoter nowadays. We all have a story on how we got to
    where we’re at and why we want to do what we do. Why do we want to
    professional wrestle? What makes us tick? Do we want to become champion?
    What does our girlfriend, wife or kids think about it and what are the
    hardships we go through in our daily lives? That’s real, and that’s what I
    believe the fanbase wants to dial into because we’re all so much more
    connected than we were years ago. You know what I did yesterday probably
    better than I did because of the world of social media.”

    Did he talk to Samoa Joe about joining GFW:

    “Me and Joe, how long has our relationship been, 10 years? We continue to
    have text exchanges. What a unique talent if you remember when he came in
    to TNA – he had a real streak and success abroad. He knew where he was
    headed, and I couldn’t be happier for the guy because he’s going to show
    the world that he’s going to kill ’em [in WWE]. I think his biggest and
    brightest days are in front of him and it’s going to come a lot quicker
    than the world thought. He was never on the table [for GFW], ever.”

    Who to look out for on the GFW roster:

    “Andrew Everett and Chuck Taylor are phenomenal talents, The New Heavenly
    Bodies are very good. The Tate Twins are young kids out of Knoxville;
    they’ve got a couple of years to go but it’s like every great tag team,
    whether it’s the Midnight Express or the Rockers, they started somewhere.
    Everybody that I’m mentioning has one thing in common and that’s sort of
    the prerequisite to be on a Global Force Wrestling card – and that’s
    passion. They have a real passion for this business. Thea Trinidad is a
    girl who started several years ago, lost her father in the tragic 9/11
    attacks, and that was her inspiration to become a professional wrestler.
    Now here we are several years later and she’s coming into her own. All you
    have to do is go to our website and if you see a name on there that you’re
    not quite familiar with, put their name in YouTube and you’ll see it. The
    independent talent pool – the free agent talent pool – is as wide as it’s
    ever been. I was in the UK several weeks ago and I witnessed it firsthand,
    so professional wrestling around the globe is very healthy.”

    His thoughts on the future of GFW:

    “I believe WWE, and I’ve witnessed this firsthand over the last 10 years,
    they’re the heavyweight. They’re the only heavyweight, quite frankly, in
    that they have 80-90 percent market share. It is a real uphill battle to
    create market share. TNA, Ring of Honor, Lucha Underground, New Japan,
    AAA, House of Hardcore – there’s multiple promotions out there that I
    believe if we all collectively have a loose working relationship, that we
    can begin to break into that market share. The fact of the matter is that
    WWE does sports entertainment and they do it bigger and better than
    anybody has ever done and ever will do it. Global Force Wrestling is going
    to focus on being the very best professional wrestling organization that
    we can possibly become, and be very engaging and interactive on an hourly
    basis. That’s really our mission statement.”

    Would he consider airing GFW on Wednesdays or a different night:

    “We live in a world of DVR, in that on demand viewing takes precedent over
    everything. Ring of Honor is going to be airing a show on Wednesday nights
    that was seen on syndicated markets three or four days before, and you can
    see their show online. TNA is airing their show on Wednesday nights. Yes,
    the live element always trumps all of that but in the world of on demand
    viewing in North America, specifically the United States having the
    Wednesday night battle, it’s a much bigger world than that. Do I have a
    preference for a night? Not really. I don’t think it would make a lot of
    sense to go on Wednesday nights, unless it’s in a block. That’s where I
    think Ring of Honor and TNA are going to help each other, because a rising
    tide raises all the ships. But that’s a three hour block so you add
    another hour and that’s four hours and that may be a little too long. I
    don’t think it really matters but if you’re nailing me down to one night,
    I would say Tuesday.”

    His plans for TV or online distribution:

    “We have had discussions with multiple streaming services with obviously
    many, many networks in trying to fit the very best fit. The world has
    changed. Netflix, specifically House of Cards, is a real game changer in
    how successful it is. There are 62 million people and growing that pay 10
    bucks a month for Netflix, and that’s just one of the streaming services.
    So cable television in the United States is at a real crossroads because
    premium, compelling content with compelling characters has never been more
    prevalent, specifically live event programming. So it’s an exciting time
    to really look at all the different options for distribution.”

    On a potential UK expansion:

    “I had a very exciting call last Thursday morning specifically about the
    UK, that’s all I’m going to tell you. Obviously it’s a massive, very
    educated professional wrestling market. If you’re launching a brand you
    cannot ignore the United Kingdom when it comes to professional wrestling.”