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  • WWE News: WWE files pre-emptory lawsuit against Mulligan, Koloff, Dynamite Kid and Ware

    WWE filed a lawsuit on Monday in U.S. District Court in Connecticut against retired pro wrestlers Robert Windham (Blackjack Mulligan), Thomas Billington (Dynamite Kid), James Ware (Koko B. Ware) and Oreal Perras (Ivan Koloff) and possibly others to attempt to keep them from filing lawsuits against the company.

    The lawsuit was based on 6/2 letters sent by attorney Konstantine Kyros to WWE General Counsel and Secretary Laura Brevetti.  Kyros is representing Billy Jack Haynes, Cassandra Frazier (wife of the late Nelson Frazier), Michelle James (girlfriend of the late Matt Osborne) and several others.

    In the letters, Kyros noted he was now representing the four former wrestlers and claimed they were allegedly injured as a result of WWE’s negligence and fraudulent conduct.

  • GFW announces Bobby Roode “coming to their company”

    Global Force Wrestling released a video Wednesday night announcing Bobby “It Factor” Roode is coming to their organization. As part of the video, Roode announced that he would be appearing on the 7/24 show in Las Vegas and would appear as part of a one-night tournament to crown the first GFW world champion. 

  • WWE Smackdown July 2 TV Report: Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt, where is Roman Reigns?

    By Steve Khan, WrestlingObserver.com

    – Air Date: July 2, 2015 (July 1 [Canada Day] in Canada)

    – Location: GIANT Center in Hershey, PA

    The Big News:

    Roman Reigns was late for work.

    Show Recap:

    Seth Rollins, who received a lot of heat on the way out, entered with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble, and talked about the gifts he gave them on Raw. Rollins said we were part of history, and the grandchildren of Mercury and Noble would ask them about the time they took out Roman Reigns and burned Suplex City to the ground.

    Rollins said he cemented his legacy as the greatest superstar of this generation, if not all-time, by taking out both headliners from WrestleMania. He said they left Reigns and Dean Ambrose laying, and the crowd chanted “Suplex City.”

    He called Triple H a fair man who, despite being on his way to Japan, would give Reigns and Ambrose a chance for revenge tonight, as Ambrose will face Bray Wyatt, and Reigns will face Seth himself.

    Rollins wondered whether Ambrose or Reigns would even show up, and Ambrose came out. Ambrose turned back to grab a Kendo stick and cleared the heels from the ring. I guess Rollins is in charge, because he said Ambrose’s match starts now.

    Bray Wyatt beat Dean Ambrose via pinfall

    On commentary, Jimmy Uso said Reigns was “whacked out” when he asked Reigns about Wyatt. Ambrose hit a rebound clothesline and flying elbow for a near fall. Ambrose followed Wyatt to the outside and jumped off the table, but Wyatt caught him and did a uranage onto the barricade. Are they actively trying to kill Ambrose? Wyatt pushed him back in the ring and hit Sister Abigail for the win. Another loss for Ambrose. The match was fine, just about what you’d expect from these two.

    If you’re wondering where Reigns was, Tom Phillips said that he hadn’t arrived to the arena yet. He didn’t explain why.

    They announced Seth Rollins will be on Tough Enough next week.

    R-Truth beat Adam Rose (w/Rosa Mendes) via pinfall

    Before the match, Rose said us people just don’t get it. Truth interrupted before he could explain. Truth also did a goofy in-set promo about King Barrett. Truth won quickly with a Lie Detector.

    They showed Ryback’s interview from the website. He said he would Shellshock both Miz and Big Show at Battleground, as well as Mark Henry tonight. Backstage, Henry said Ryback has bitten off more than he can chew.

    Non-Title: IC Champion Ryback beat Mark Henry via pinfall

    Uso said his first match was with Mark Henry and he didn’t like it. Jerry Lawler said Henry’s first match was against him and he didn’t like that either. The story of the match was Ryback kept failing to hit his power moves.

    Ryback finally did hit a vertical suplex followed by a meat hook clothesline, spinebuster and Shellshock for the win. The highlight was Jimmy Uso who popped out of his seat in excitement after this finish.

    Backstage, Mercury and Noble received emails on their watches letting them know that Reigns had yet to arrive at the arena.

    Brie Bella (w/Alicia Fox) beat Naomi via pinfall

    They said Nikki and Tamina were on tour in Asia and on their way to Beast in the East. Naomi used a move similar to Eat Defeat, but Fox tripped her from the outside and Brie used an X-Factor for the win.

    In his dark room backstage, Bray Wyatt blamed himself for Reigns not being there tonight and for not being able to save his friend Dean. Wyatt said Reigns has too many people that he cares for, Wyatt is going to burn everything he has to the ground, and end him.

    Non-Title: WWE Tag-Team Champions Prime Time Players beat The Ascension via pinfall

    This actually went through a commercial. Darren Young got beat up forever until Titus O’Neil made the hot tag and won with a spinebuster. The match happened and then it was over.

    Rusev and Summer Rae came out to “U.S.A.” chants. Rusev held the mic for Summer. Despite not being relevant since her time with Fandango, Summer got pretty good heat here. They booed the entire time she spoke.

    Rusev called her a real woman, and a woman who knows her place. The crowd chanted “We want Lana” and Rusev responded, “I have a better Lana now!” Rusev has had enough of Dolph Ziggler and said he would crush Ziggler’s skull, rip out his intestines and hang them out to dry. Rusev is great and this pair just might work.

    Non-Title: Roman Reigns beat WWE Champion Seth Rollins (w/J&J Security) via DQ

    Rollins had Noble and Mercury begin a 10-count using their new watches, but Reigns showed up just in time. Despite being late, Reigns was still in full gear. Reigns tried to hit Mercury with a powerbomb but Rollins kicked him in the gut and took over from there.

    The shrill little voices from the crowd chanted for Reigns who came back with fists and corner clotheslines. Reigns hit a powerbomb and sized up a superman punch instead of going for a cover. Noble grabbed his leg and Mercury jumped him for a DQ.

    The three heels beat down Reigns but Ambrose ran out for the save, nailing them with a Kendo stick (catching Noble just once, in the upper back). Rollins tried a pedigree on Ambrose but Reigns caught him with a superman punch.

    The heels bailed through the crowd but Reigns grabbed Mercury before he could escape. Ambrose whaled on him with the Kendo stick and Reigns finished him with a spear.

    Final Thoughts:

    This show was a waste of time. They spent the entire show building to a main event involving a guy who they weren’t sure was going to show up, and when he did, the match went about 5 minutes and ended in a DQ.

  • Nick “Magnus” Aldis talks leaving TNA and the trainwreck segment on Impact

    The following is an interview with Nick “Magnus” Aldis from the Jobbing Out podcast:

    On leaving TNA:

    “When I gave my notice, by the time we got off the phone, I felt like 100 lb weight has been lifted off my back.”

    On the locker room:

    “To be honest, it’s been very turbulent.”

    “There were certain things I heard in the conference call, where the talent said things like I’m disgusted by this, or we have the right to know…the thing you have to remember is nobody owes you a living. You don’t have a right to be guaranteed anything.”

    Booking issues after Jeff Jarrett left:

    “He had a good idea of some fundamental parts of booking…When Jeff left, there were a lot of things that I felt that there was a struggle, that when Jeff was there, he would have nipped it in the bud.”

    He talks about a problem in the industry, people taking too little money to wrestle, and hurting everyone one else in the process:

    “Guys are undercutting each other…There are too many people willing to come in and take the same spot for less money.”

    “You might look like you have this super-great attitude, but you’re f*cking everyone over, because you’re doing things for way too cheap. So now it’s harder for everyone else to justify our pay.”

    That attitude hurting TNA:

    “You can’t blame the guys paying the money, because their job is to get the best services for the lower prices, but you get what you pay for. And I think that’s something that TNA is experiencing now, and understanding now.”

    The feud with James Storm:

    “At the beginning, we had a great in-ring segment.We put in loads of great little subtle nuances, and I thought this would be really good…Suddenly we get the word that this is what they want to do with this train thing. I think some of it unfortunately tied in to that they knew I wasn’t going to stay. That was an issue. Nonetheless, when the train thing came about…I’m trying to be as positive as I can. This was one situation that when it was described, I couldn’t find a single person that liked it. I couldn’t find a single person, apart from the guy whose idea it was, that didn’t say “what the hell is that?”

  • WWE NXT July 1 TV results: Kevin Owens & Rhyno vs. Finn Balor & Samoa Joe

    By Emerson Witner, WrestlingObserver.com & Wrestling Outsiders Podcast

    The Big News:

    Finn Balor gave Kevin Owens his first loss on NXT, pinning him in the tag team main event. Plus part 3 of THE GREATEST VIDEO PACKAGE EVER aired.

    Show recap: 

    The Vaudevillians defeated Dash & Dawson

    We open the show with in ring action this week as everyone’s favorite silent movie villains, now with peppier music, do battle with Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder. Dash and Dawson now have their own theme music and titan tron. Dawson has had a plethora of tag team partners, including Rusev, Sylvester Lefort and Garrett Dylan. Will things last with Dash?

    The fans weren’t really into this past the entrances. The Vaudevillians got a quick win with a European Uppercut/Neckbreaker combo.

    – Devin Taylor interviewed Becky Lynch, who told the world she sprained her hip flexor at NXT Takeover and now she has to take a few weeks off. She did promise to win the Woman’s Title when she comes back.

    Baron Corbin pinned Tucker Knight

    Tucker Knight looks like Bull Dempsey’s less hair little brother. Corey Graves wondered if Baron has been in the ring with someone so big before. Well, Bull Dempsey. But either way Baron won in 30 seconds with End of Days.

    – William Regal is getting a headache backstage because The Vaudevillians and Enzo & Cass are arguing and yelling in his office over who is the #1 Contender. Mr. Regal booked the tag match for next week with the winners getting the next title shot.

    – Part 3 of THE GREATEST VIDEO PACKAGE EVER aired. Seriously if you have not yet checked out the 3 part series on Finn Balor then you need to now. Stop reading this and go watch the three parts. Then come back and read the rest. 

    This Saturday morning, 5:30AM eastern time, 2:30AM pacific time, Finn Balor wins the NXT Championship.

    – Earlier today, Eva Marie was training as Mr. Regal and Sara Del Ray watched her. We don’t know yet whether that means she is allowed to have a match. 

    Emma (w/Dana Brooke) submitted Carmella

    Emma is so delightfully evil. No more wacky dancing or pull ups into the ring. Carmella is annoying. Someone please stop her from talking. The fans did a dueling chant of “Evil Emma/Emma Sucks”. I wonder if this is the darkest timeline.

    This match was fine. Nothing great, nothing bad, just fine. The fans entertained themselves throughout, randomly booing for no reason other than to do it. Emma won with the Emma Lock.

    – Bull Dempsey was trying to get some candy out of a machine, but it wasn’t accepting his dollar. Before he could grab a chair and break the glass, Mr. Regal stopped him and took note of all the chocolate on his lips and beard. With a look of total disgust, William told him to sort himself out or the next time they talk, he won’t like the outcome.

    No, really. Whose Cheerios did he piss in?

    – Last week, Jason Jordan was mad about losing when Chad Gable plead his case again. Gable said he is hear to show the world Jordan is not a loser. Chad said he is ready, willing and Gable and Jordan got pissy and stormed off in the other direction.

    Tyler Breeze pinned Tye Dillinger

    Breeze lost the cape. #Sadface. Dillinger, who hasn’t won a match in months, has a new gimmick where he judges everyone. Tye got a bit more offense than you would expect him to, but Breeze continued his winning ways. Tyler really has no direction at this point.

    – Devin Taylor and Emma were touching Sasha Banks’ title when Sasha came in angry. Dana and Emma said they are after her title and Sasha said she’ll take them both on. When did she suddenly turn face? This led to a challenge for a tag team match where Sasha vows to find a partner.

    Finn Balor & Samoa Joe defeated NXT Champion Kevin Owens & Rhyno

    Main event time! The NXT Champion has enlisted the Man Beast to assist him in war tonight against his two top NXT challengers. It took 5 minutes for everyone to get to the ring, so we were left with only 10 minutes of internet time remaining for the match.

    The announcers discussed that it is not a foregone conclusion that Balor wins the title and there is a chance Balor ends up like Sami Zayn, Alex Riley, Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn, being taken out on a stretcher. The heels get the heat on Balor when Finn tried to give the champ a suplex, but Owens blocked it.

    Rhyno did a standing suplex where he held Finn up and did squats, which was quite impressive. Kevin Owens did the John Cena comeback, right down to the Spinning Slam and Five Knuckle Shuffle. Balor fought out of the AA and hit a double foot stomp before making the hot tag to Joe. Rhyno and Joe worked good together. Owens tagged in and they went for a wacky double team on him, but Rhyno broke it up.

    Owens gave Joe the Pop Up Power Bomb, Balor gave Owens the Pele Kick, Rhyno accidentally Gore’d  Owens, Balor gave Rhyno the running dropkick and Rhyno squashed Owens in the corner. Finally after that series of moves, Balor won with the Coup De Grace! This was the first time Owens has been pinned on NXT.

    72 hours before the title match in Tokyo, Finn Balor has pinned the NXT Champion! The next time you read this column, we may have a new champion. Until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!

  • TNA Impact July 1 TV Results and Recap – EC3 vs. Kurt Angle World Title Match

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    Last week was an eventful one for TNA Wrestling. Jeff Jarrett returned on the live-to-tape edition of the show, Tigre Uno won the X Title, EC3 beat Lashley, The Dirty Heels tied up the tag title series via cheating, and Vader faced Bram. The company also had what could be its final PPV event ever in Slammiversary, which saw Jarrett win the newly-created King of the Mountain title. It’s the former Legends/Global/World Television Title and Josh wondered just what this meant. If history is any indicator, it will be quickly abandoned and/or won by Devon. The PPV wasn’t all that good, but did feature the final appearances (for now) of James Storm, Magnus, and Austin Aries. Tonight, we get the Angle vs. EC3 match that has been built up for a good portion of the year, and EC3’s campaign trail ends tonight.

    The show begins with a Kurt Angle hype video while we see EC3 beat every TNA hall of famer to this point, including Kurt Angle himself. Josh runs the card down and we’ll get the first part of a Mike Tenay sit-down interview with Jeff Jarrett. Josh announces that the BDC vs. The Rising will force the losing team to disband, which wasn’t announced before. It’s also an elimination match. Hernandez’s return is shown. The Rising comes down with Drew in black while his partners are in yellow and black.

    Match One – BDC vs. The Rising – Losing Team Disbands

    Drew and MVP start things off with punches. Drew wins this war and MVP goes to his corner and tags in Low-Ki. Ki charges away and gets some nasty corner chops before landing some on Ki too. Mica comes in and gets a big legdrop for 2. King comes in and talks smack for a bit. He gets 2 off a snap suplex and tags MVP in. Josh says that if the BDC loses, he’ll just make a new group called something else. Well, that’s certainly a new way to kill a stipulation. King and Ki come in and double-team Mica to take him out. Josh points out that it’s now 2-on-4, so The Rising agreed to this match with high stakes despite having the odds greatly stacked against them. What morons. An EC3 hype video airs made by DA.

    Ki and MVP attack Drew, who eats a back suplex from Ki for 2. Ki locks on an abdominal stretch and we get a Dixie Carter Twitter plug. Drew escapes and gets a backdrop. Eli gets some punches in on MVP, who tags in and also eats a flying lariat. He hits a smooth pop-up superplex while Drew takes out Hernandez. Eli dives out and says he can’t go – he heard a pop. The BDC is overjoyed by this and Drew goes in to the battle and manages to come off like a badass in the process.

    Hernandez and Drew exchange slaps and chops in the corner. Hernandez tags King in, who lands a corner dropkick. Ki misses a kick and hits King, and Drew pins Ki off a schoolboy. King is out from Ki’s kick and gets beaten 2. Ki and Drew brawl on the floor. Hernandez comes back in and eats forearms. Sick kick hits hard, but MVP attacks him. Hernandez gets the Border Toss while MVP comes in to pick the scraps. MVP lands the Play of the Day and tells Drew to stay down. Drew tells him “up yours” and eats a Drive By kick for the loss. Josh says the Rising must disband and then they just “to the back” it for match and interview graphics.

    BDC talks backstage while King says that Ki might’ve separated his shoulder. King and MVP argue for a bit over Hernandez being brought in. Magnus comes out and the show’s video and audio go weird for a few seconds. Magnus tells Storm he’s sorry his parents didn’t love him as a kid, but that the human spirit is the biggest driving force in the world. He introduces Mickie, who looks fantastic after being tossed onto train tracks. Luckily, Magnus got revenge on Storm for this at the PPV. This wasn’t brought up at all. Mickie says that they have real love and then Storm’s theme hits while Mickie is overjoyed and wants him to bring his “coward ass” down there.

    Storm comes down looking like a disco cowboy while Khoya is in a bland white and red shirt that says “I took the pledge”. Storm says if he pushed her harder, she’d be able to hold her son in a wheelchair. Storm says he didn’t want Mickie – he just wanted to manipulate a woman. Mickie mocks him for trying to get followers – maybe he should try paying for some on Twitter. Mickie thanks him for bringing the crazy out of her and promising one more match. She wants him to find “one woman” and she’ll kick her ass. Mickie was awesome here. A graphic for the iron man match is up next. But first, EC3 and Tyrus train a bit backstage with a “Win EC3 Win” shirt on EC3. Josh says that Full Metal Mayhem is still a trending topic on Twitter. Josh says this match came about due to Aries winning at Slammiversary – so nearly 40 minutes into the show, and we know one match result from that show. The Heels sadly don’t attack Davey while he does his goofy pose on the ropes.

    Match Two – The Wolves vs. The Dirty Heels – Iron Man Tag Title Match

    Aries and Davey get a collar and elbow and Davey kicks out quickly from a cradle. Roode tags in for a cheapshot to the ribs. Davey comes back and tags Eddie in. Back and forth babyface tags lead to more arm wringers. Aries comes in for a cradle and gets 2. Roode gets a second rope axehandle to the arm and we get a dueling bearhug/front chancery from Aries and Davey. Davey runs wild with kicks and gets 1. Inverted atomic drop leads to a kick and double stomp to Aries and double leg stretcher to Roode mid-ring. Aries cheapshots Eddie and sets up a brainbuster, but Eddie counters with a suplex. 

    Davey runs wild and gets a dragon screw and a modified Indian deathlock. Wolves attack in the corner. Aries stops a backpack stunner with an eye rake. Heels run wild and get a fake tag to get an edge. Aries destroys the knee with holds and Eddie gets the rope. Eddie gets some chops and eats a boot to the gut from Roode. Roode elbow drops the knee to keep the momentum rolling there. After 10 minutes, we get a clock on-screen with no falls at this point. Josh corrects Christy for saying there were 10 minutes left since only 10 had gone by.

    Eddie gets a double rana to both Heels and tags in Davey. He dropkicks Roode to force a DDT to Aries. Davey t-bones Roode, but Aries comes in for a 2. Roode eats a flying headbutt from Eddie for 2. Everyone’s down at the 14 minute mark, with 16 minutes left in the match. After the break, we have 11:50 left and Aries gets 2 off a cover. Aries gets the axehandle to the floor for 2. Dirty Heels got a powerbomb>missile dropkick combo, but Eddie comes in for a save at 2.9.

    Davey gets a double stomp to Roode as the commentators once again ponder this match either having no falls or it just getting one late in the game. I love this because logically, world-class guys shouldn’t be beaten in an iron man match any faster in this match than any other. Backpack stunner hits for Eddie and only get 2.9 – Roode just barely got his shoulder up in time. Eddie chops away in the corner, so Aries slaps his shoulder. Davey gets a big dropkick for 2.

    Aries prevents the powerbomb>backstabber and they get their own backbreaker>pendulum elbow for 2.  Roode gets a gourbuster setting up an Aries somersault senton and the Last Chancery, but Davey gets a sliding dropkick to break it up. Aries eats a two-man Alarm Clock and a pair of double stomps for a 2.9 thanks to Roode breaking it up. There are five minutes left with a 0-0 fall count. Aries gets a rana and a corner dropkick. Spinebuster hits and sets up a 450 for a 3 count. The Heels get the first win here with 4 minutes remaining. Aries goes for quick pins on the weakened Eddie, but only gets 2. Aries tries to keep them on the floor to run the clock down.

    They tag in and out to keep a fresh man in. This is an excellent strategy and it makes for a compelling match even on a wrestling-heavy night like this where it can be easy to lose focus. This is a far better overall match than Mundo vs. Puma was, and isn’t nearly as gimmick-heavy. Eddie gets some chops and punches while Christy says there are two minutes left, so the Wolves need two wins to get the gold. Aries slugs away in the corner, but he eats a powerbomb>backstabber, so it’s now tied up 1-1.

    Roode hits a belt shot to Eddie, but Eddie kicks out with 30 seconds to go. Roode’s in and goes for the DVD, but Eddie rolls him up and gets the third fall! Roode gets the crossface, but he can’t get the tap – the Wolves regain the titles. This was a stellar match overall, and this was a great tag team title series. While the tag title turmoil has really hurt the tag division in TNA, things like this do remind you of what makes TNA work when it does, which is why it’s sad to see the company in the state it’s in. Josh plugs EC3 vs. Angle tonight. 

    The “athletic, sexy, and powerful” knockouts ad airs, and is completely different than WWE’s old “smart, sexy, and powerful” ads for the divas. Kong comes out to face Brooke and Taryn in a three way for the title. It sure looks odd for the Dollhouse to have this fairly big setup with props and yet no time elapses for the intros. Taryn wrestling in lingerie strangely works for her.

    Match Three – Taryn’s Got a Belt vs. Brooke’s Got a Booty vs. Kong’s Got an Implant Buster

    Josh talks about how the heel is outnumbered here with WWE math. Kong gets tired of missing stomps, so she just grabs Taryn to attack her. Kong charges into Taryn and Brooke X factors Taryn. Brooke and Kong go at it with Taryn on the floor. Kong gets a spinning sleeper to Brooke, but eats a missile dropkick. Taryn gets a clunky shortarm clothesline and rubs Brooke’s face in the mat for 2. Pope says that Josh should have his face rubbed in the mat for basically talking too much smack. Taryn gets a snap suplex. Kong gets punches and a palm strike to Taryn. Chokeslam hits, but the Dolls trip her up to the floor. Brooke elbows away at Taryn mid-ring and spears her down. Dolls prevent a flying elbow from Brooke, who takes a nasty bump on her hip on the apron. Kong goes to splash Taryn, but Jade kicks her back and Taryn cutters her for the win. Taryn has now made history as the longest-reining knockouts champion ever. Does that really mean much with the company going dark for three months? The fire-filled video packages were all for Gail, who has a revamped theme and fire-themed graphics. Jarrett’s interview is next and then it’s title match time.

    Mike meets with Jeff and Karen for their interview. He asks about what this all means for TNA and GFW. Jeff says that coming back was surreal and the win and the buzz says that there’s definitely a future with TNA and GFW. Well, that was it – it took maybe three minutes. EC3 comes out with a big intro, as does Kurt. TNA really does get the big match intro right – this feels like a huge deal with them going backstage for each guy and using expanded themes they never use otherwise.

    Main Event – Kurt Angle vs. EC3 for the TNA World Title

    Mid-ring, we get a tie-up and a dueling EC3/SUCKS chant. EC3 wins out and bows amid a “you can’t wrestle/yes he can” chant. Kurt starts working on the arm, but EC3 gets some punches. Kurt gets an overhead belly to belly and the rolling Germans, but EC3 blocks a third, so Kurt just tosses him to the floor – nice. EC3 elbows out of a German on the floor, but he eats a belly to belly. EC3 gets covered for less than 1. Rolling Germans once again, and EC3 avoids a third and gets a running lariat for less than 1. EC3 gets a chinlock as Josh talks about him having the Carter genes on his side. EC3 lands a belly to back suplex and gets a Stinger splash and a TKO for 2.5. 

    Pope says he can take the moves because he retired Sting. EC3 chops away in the corner, so Kurt just punches him. Kurt misses a shoulder charge and eats a DDT on the apron. That was scary in 2003 and much scarier in 2015. After an ad break, EC3 gets a mid-ring kneeling full nelson. Kurt powers out while Pope talks about the power of Kurt’s neck after working on it to protect it after surgeries. Kurt gets a corner charge boot and a lariat. Kurt goes for the rolling Germans once again and lands them all. Kurt’s readying the Angle slam, but EC3 avoids that and takes more Germans!

    After a trifecta, Kurt gets 2.5. EC3 misses the Stinger splash and eats an Angle slam for 2.5. Kurt gets the ankle lock on, but EC3 rolls Kurt to the floor. Tyrus clotheslines Kurt down on the floor, resulting in a big Pope rant. Josh buries Pope for making a valid point. Kurt ducks out of the headlock driver and gets the ankle lock again. He counters and eats more Germans. Kurt tosses EC3 into Tyrus and gets one more Angle slam for 2.5!

    A “that was 3” chant breaks out. EC3 is in the ankle lock again, but a roll through doesn’t hit the ref. Instead, an overhead belly to belly does with a boot. Tyrus attacks Kurt again. EC3 does the Taker situp and goes for the headlock driver again. It hits and gets 2.9! EC3 is shocked, which puts that move over nicely. Tyrus gets a chair and nudges the ref with it. Brian Hebner kicks Tyrus out, resulting in a yes chant from Pope. EC3 is absolutely terrified now, and Josh is now against Tyrus.

    EC3’s finisher is countered into an ankle lock mid-ring. He grapevines the leg, which has been a deathknell in TNA in 2015. EC3 puts his wristband in his mouth to avoid submitting, but gets near the ropes. Kurt goes for it again, but EC3 kicks away. EC3 gets a cradle out of the Angle slam and wins the title. This was a good finish for doing a rematch – EC3 won reasonably clean by the end there, and EC3’s rise is one thing that TNA has done perfectly since 2013. EC3 closes out the show holding the title above his head. This was a must-watch show with a lot of really fun matches.

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

  • Lucha Underground July 1 TV results and recap: Prince Puma vs. Chavo Guerrero, Alberto El Patron

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    Last week, Sexy Star and Super Fly had a sloppy and sometimes scary match that Fly won. Aerostar won a medallion in a giant multi-man match, and Mil Muertes demolished Drago to become the number one contender to the Lucha Underground Title. As a result, he’ll receive a title shot at UltimaLucha. This week’s show begins with a recap of Chavo turning his back on Black Lotus and siding with Dario Cueto. The Texano vs. Daivari feud is recapped, followed by Catrina threatening Cueto to ensure that Mil got a shot at the LU title.

    Cueto meets with Chavo in his office and Chavo asks for a request – he wants a title shot for giving him Black Lotus. Cueto makes it a no DQ match so the Crew can get involved and he also wants Konnan banned, so Cueto says if Konnan gets involved, Chavo wins the title. Mexican Dubwiser plays us in while Daivari is in the ring with Big Ryck. Striker puts Texano over as a young man who made history by being the youngest AAA champion ever.

    Daivari vs. Texano

    Texano backdrops Daivari, who hides behind Ryck. Daivari hits him with punches in the corner, while Texano counters with giant overhand chops. Ryck trips Texano and Daivari clips the knee. Daivari attacks the knee and gets 2. Vamp ponders why the Globetrotters aren’t in the NBA Title picture and Striker says that they aren’t in the NBA while Daivari gets a figure four. Texano reverses it, but Daivari attacks him in the corner with knee strikes. Daivari X factors his way out of a powerbomb for 2. Texano ducks a bullrope shot from Ryack and hits a seated powerbomb for the win!

    Puma works out and Konnan tells him that having the deck stacked against Puma won’t hurt him. Chavo isn’t a champion, but Puma is. Catrina teleports in and tells Puma that Muertes will destroy Puma and implies that Konnan will be taken out too. We get a cool Muertes vs. Puma staredown and Konnan tells Puma to avoid letting her get into his head.

    Back in the Temple, Konnan talks to someone about how Mexico needs to pay Chavo back for what he did to Blue Demon Jr and okays an attack since he can’t be there. Hernandez comes out to face Drago, who is a huge babyface now thanks to his return from exile.

    Hernandez vs. Drago

    Vamp loves Drago wearing black. Hernandez tries to overpower him, but he eats some kicks and clubbering on the back. Drago gets a springboard dropkick and a senton before kicking his chest in. Striker talks about Hernandez winning 20 major titles and Vamp wants proof, and Striker can’t offer any. Vamp talks about being KOed by a potato shot from Hernandez in Puerto Rico years ago. Hernandez snapmares him down for a neck vice submission. Train Wreck backbreaker hits for 2. Hernandez gets a one-armed powerslam-positioned gutbuster for 2. Drago comes back with kicks, including corner dropkicks. Hernandez goes up top, but gets stopped and eats a rana for 2.

    Drago low-bridges Hernandez and hits a flip dive. Drago gets a springboard flip diving kick to the floor, which Vamp says proves that potatoes make for a great side with salad. Drago eats a Border Toss on the apron. Hernandez intimidates a “fan” and takes his belt off to whip Drago. Drago gets choked and Hernandez loses via DQ after they talk about Cueto wanting things to get a bit crazier before UltimaLucha. Hernandez says the dumbass fans don’t realize that dragons aren’t real and Drago’s just a man whose ass just got whipped. If anyone has a problem with that, he’ll kick their asses too.

    Chavo shadow boxes backstage and Catrina tells him that a victory means his celebration will be short-lived. No matter what, Mil Muertes will destroy the champion. Chavo disrespects him and Muertes screams. Marty the Moth sniffs Melissa Santos and gets a “creeper” chant. Alberto comes down with the AAA Title and a huge “El Patron” chant. Alberto is in new blue and gold gear that looks slick.

    Marty the Moth vs. Alberto El Patron

    Alberto gets a shove into the corner and kicks away at him too. More kicks and punches land in the corner. Armbar codebreaker hits and the armbar is locked on. Alberto in squash match form is awesome, and the new color scheme looks sharp. A massive “El Patron” chant breaks out while Alberto grabs the mic. Alberto calls out Johnny Mundo and thanks for the wake-up call as it woke up something inside of him. He’s got a sadistic side and that’s what he’ll bring at UltimaLucha. Alberto is fantastic in squash matches and in long-form stuff too. Vamp talks about the main event and loves the anti-Konnan stip.

    Melissa Santos brings us in and Chavo comes down with The Crew. Vamp says that Chavo isn’t riding on his family’s coat tails and could be champion. Vamp asks what’s happened to Bael since he’s been missing for weeks. Striker offers no update on him after his meeting with Matanza. Puma comes down with Konnan. Santos recaps the stipulation involving “Conan” while a fan calls Cueto a madman.

    Lucha Underground Champion Prince Puma vs. Chavo Guerrero

    Mid-ring, they flip around a bit off a collar and elbow tie-up. Chavo gets a side headlock mid-ring, but eats an armdrag and an armbar. Puma flips over Chavo, and The Crew attacks with the kendo stick and a cheapshot. Puma sends the goons into each other, but eats a double stomp/DDT combo. Texano comes down as Konnan’s enforcer and runs wild on the goons. 630 hits and Puma wins. Well, this was the most nothing Lucha Underground Title match ever. Texano says that Mexico’s coming to Chavo, while Striker says that Chavo should be commended for doing whatever he could to “Guerrero” the title.

    The show closes with skyline shots taking us to the locker room. Blue Demon Jr. comes in and says he doesn’t fight those who are already hurt. Chavo talks smack and gets slammed into lockers over and over. Chavo smiles because he apparently got what he wanted.

  • Ups and down of Buddy Landel, Aldo injury, Slice vs. Shamrock work or not, heyday of women’s wrestling; How to order print version of Wrestling Observer and specials

    A story about the life and career of Buddy Landel, plus the Jose Aldo injury, Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock and whether it was or wasn’t real and Cora Combs and the last link to the heyday of U.S. women’s wrestling are the main stories in the June 29 issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

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    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 first look at the injury to Jose Aldo Jr. and thoughts on the 7/11 fight with Conor McGregor.  We look at the different options UFC had in this situation.

    We’ve got a major story on the life and career of Buddy Landel.  We look at the circumstances of his death, why Landel never reached the level of success his ability should have gotten him, his life before and after wrestling, and the story that, at the age of 24, changed the direction of his career.

    Landel talked about getting fired from Crockett Promotions at what turned out to be the high point of his career, examine the talk of his being given the world title at the time, as well as his own very candid thoughts about if he had won the title.  We look at what was planned for him, and how his firing changed the entire history of the business because it in a roundabout way led to the creation of the Four Horseman.

    We look at the situation with Crockett Promotions in the middle of a hot period in 1985, the Starrcade 85 show, and the Flair vs. Rhodes program.  We look at the story behind Landel’s statement that he and Flair broke Elvis’ attendance record in Raleigh and the true story of that night.

    We also look at his run in Tennessee including the last sellout at the Mid South Coliseum and the angle leading to that, as well as the famous 27 fall Texas death match that was among the best matches of the 80s. We look at his start in sports, growing up as a fan, and how Landel got into pro wrestling.  We look at his early years, his first push, the creation of the Nature Boy gimmick, working with Junkyard Dog in Mid South, his return to Crockett Promotions and why he never got another chance, what Buddy Rogers told him, and the last stages of his career and life after wrestling.

    We also look in depth at the Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock right.  We look at different kinds of works, and the ones that could not have happened and the ones that could have.  We look at what the person closest to the action said about it, as well as a look at the background of Ken Shamrock.

    We also have a lot more about the records set for the fight, as well as future matches that both or either could do going out of this.  We also look at other business notes for the show, as well as Bellator’s next major event in September, and full coverage of the TV event.

    We also have an update on Daniel Bryan, Bret Hart talks Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns and others, Dolph Ziggler’s future prospects, Talk of another NXT live special this summer, More on the next WWE network special show, notes on a former tag team of the year candidate team that WWE is looking at getting, more on Tough Enough, as well as Dwayne Johnson projects and injuries to Jamie Noble, Erick Rowan and Tyson Kidd.

    We also have notes on why Randy Orton wasn’t at TV this past week, frustration from the inside on WWE creative, Hogan talks WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels in a movie, WWE house shows, the sad plight of Chyna, as well as a look at the weekend NXT and WWE house shows as well as weekend business.

    We also have coverage of the ROH Best in the World PPV show, and where the company is headed.

    We’ve also got a story on the life of Cora Combs, the last link to the Billy Wolfe/Mildred Burke glory days of women’s wrestling.  We look at her career, her decision in the promotional split that ended up taking the women’s side of wrestling down, the Moolah years, being in the first woman’s match ever held in New York and the story behind it.  We also look at the last period of her career, as Lady Satan, working against her daughter, as well as look at some of the oldest wrestlers of all-time and the oldest living wrestles..

    We’ve also got full coverage of the weekly UFC show in Germany and the rise of Joanna Jedrzejczyk.  We look at her unique stardom, as well as other coverage of the show.

    We also have notes on how the WWE’s Payback PPV did and where the PPV business currently stands.

    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:

    –More on AAA’s Verano de Escandalo show

    –Former WWE star signs major deal as a brand ambassador with one of the biggest movie companies in the world and his duties

    –Another former WWE star working big shows in AAA

    –Notes on future AAA shows

    –Ricochet returns to Japan

    –Notes on the next Dragon Gate iPPV show

    –Final event of the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial tour

    –Notes on the upcoming NOAH GHC jr. tournament

    –More G-1 Climax notes as far as TV goes

    –New Japan heads to Singapore

    –Notes on Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rogers

    –More on Global Force Wrestling

    –Lots of PWG notes

    –Notes on Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore show

    –Pro wrestling returns after 20 years to one of its most famous former arenas

    –More on Lucha Underground

    –Notes on upcoming ROH shows

    –A look at the next month of ROH television

    –More on people leaving TNA

    –Story behind Hernandez coming to TNA

    –More on TNA PPV show

    –TNA wrestlers appear on Destination America programming

    –UFC press conference coming

    –Major official leaves UFC

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –More talk about UFC events in the future in Mexico City

    –Why Dana White didn’t go to the UFC show in Germany

    –Dana White talks about a reality show he’s filming

    –Latest on the heavyweight title picture

    –Lots of changed matches on the UFC shows

    –UFC injury updates

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –Stiffest MMA suspension to date to a former champion

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    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.

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  • WWE Tough Enough ratings for week 2

    Tough Enough did 1.05 million viewers Tuesday night, a drop from 1.21 million the previous week. The replay of Raw did not crack the top 100 shows in the 18-49 demo on cable last night.

  • On this day in pro wrestling history (July 1): Ric Flair stripped of WCW title, Von Erichs win WCCW tag titles

    By Brian Hoops, WrestlingObserver.com

    1933 – In Des Moines,Iowa; John Pesek beat Henry Graber in 2 straight falls and Alan Eustace drew Abe Kashey.

    1934 – In Waterloo, Iowa; Bronko Nagurski beat Earl Wampler (Wampler was a late substitute for Ray Steele).

    1940 – At Riverview Park in Des Moines, Iowa; World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Allen Lovelock

    1942 – At Riverview Park in Des Moines, Iowa; World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Ray Steele 2 falls to 0, Tom Zaharias beat Carlos Rodriquez 2 falls to 0 and Jack Kennedy and Cowboy Luttrall went to a 30 minute draw. According to the Des Moines Register, Steele was called a “stablemate of Bill Longson, the National Wrestling Association’s champion” and Brown was “recognized by the Midwest Wrestling Association as its world champion.”

    1949 – Cavernario Galindo defeated Tarzan Lopez for the Mexico National Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico

    1950 – Leo Wallick defeated Bob Cummings to win the Pacific Coast Wrestling Junior Heavyweight Title.

    1958 – Fritz Von Erich and Hans Hermann defeated Doc and Mike Gallagher in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Title

    1961 – Steve Stanlee defeated Frankie Talaber to win the Ohio Heavyweight Title in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

    1962 – Rikidozan and Toyonobori defeated Mike Sharpe and Buddy Austin to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan

    1963 – Arthur Riccaldo defeated Norman Walsh to win the European Heavyweight Title in Beaumont, England.

    1965 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas; Cowboy Bob Ellis and Sonny Myers beat Bob Geigel and Dutch Savage and Johnny Valentine drew Pat O’Connor.

    1966 – Michiaki Yoshimura and Giant Baba defeated Killer Karl Kox and Eddie Graham in Hiroshima, Japan, for the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title; Mark Lewin and Dominic DeNucci defeated Larry Hennig and Harley Race to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia; Rene Guajardo defeated Jerry London to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico

    1967 – Tamaya Soto and Great Yamaha (Kantaro Hoshino) defeated Billy and Jimmy Hines for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Titles in Chattanooga, Tennessee

    1968 – Abdullah the Butcher and Armand Hussein defeated Don Leo Jonathan and Haystacks Calhoun to win the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

    1970 – Billy Robinson and Johnny Barend defeated Pedro Morales and Bing Ki Lee for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii; The Mysterious Medic defeated Bob Kelly to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama; Bull Ramos defeated Terry Funk for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title in Lubbock, Texas.

    1971 – Patty O’Hara and Texas Red defeated Jumbo Miyamoto and Aiko Kyo for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan; Sputnik Monroe defeated Len Rossi to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title; In Kansas City; Bob Ellis & Rufus R. Jones & The Viking defeated Buddy Austin & Bob Orton & Tor Kamata via DQ and Harley Race defeated Baron Von Raschke in three falls; Bobby Duncum defeated Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Jacksonville, Florida.

    1972 – Len Rossi and Bearcat Brown defeated Don and Al Greene for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At that same event, Sputnik Monroe and Tommy Gilbert defeated Ron and Don Wright to win the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title; Sarah Lee defeated Aiko Kyo to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan

    1973 – Before 6,182 fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat The Crusher & Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls, Billy Robinson beat Lars Anderson by dq, Ivan Koloff beat Ken Patera and Geoff Portz beat Rene Goulet.

    1976 – In Dixon, Illinois; Larry Hennig & Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Nick Bockwinkel & Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum, Baron Von Raschke beat Bull Bullinski, Buddy Wolff beat Buck Zumhofe and Peter Maivia beat George Gadaski

    1977 – Texas Red (Red Bastien) defeated Mando Guerrero for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California.

    1978 – Invader I defeated Dick Steinborn to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico; El Nazi defeated Raul Mata for the Mexico National Heavyweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico.

    1979- In Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Tag Team Champions Verne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon beat Nick Bockwinkel & Bobby Duncum, Greg Gagne beat Ray Stevens on a reverse decision dq, Super Destroyer Mark II beat Billy Robinson and Paul Ellering drew Jesse Ventura.

    1980 – Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada defeated Kevin and Kerry Von Erich to win the vacant World Class American Tag Team Title in Amarillo, Texas

    1984 – Ron Garvin defeated Jake Roberts for the NWA World Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia. At the same show, The Spoiler defeated Brad Armstrong to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title; Killer Brooks defeated Bobby Jaggers to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Heavyweight Title in San Antonio, Texas

    1988 – Kevin and Kerry Von Erich defeated Iceman Parsons and Terry Taylor for the World Class Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas

    1989 – Joe Malenko won the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Mitsuo Momota in Omiya, Japan.

    1991 – WCW strips Ric Flair of the WCW World Heavyweight Title. 

    1994 – Chris Adams defeated Rod Price in Dallas, Texas to win the GWF North American Heavyweight Title

    1996 – Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee defeated Flex Kavana (The Rock) and Bart Sawyer to win the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee

    2000 – The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated Rudy Boy Gonzalez and Bonecrusher to win the Texas Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas.

    2003 – At a SmackDown taping in Rochester, New York, Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri to win the WWE Tag Team Title