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  • Hall of Fame season: Kris Zellner looks at Johnny “Mr. Wrestling II” Walker’s career

    by Kris Zellner

    Johnny “Rubberman” walker began wrestling in 1956 and was pretty much a journeyman heel wrestler around the Southern territories throughout throughout the late 60’s and would even get NWA World Heavyweight Title shots against the likes of Lou Thesz but when he donned a mask as The Grappler in Florida in 1971 that would begin a new era of his life. The Grappler gimmick in Florida was successful as he feuded with big names like Ole Anderson, Bobby Duncum, Dick Murdoch, along with getting NWA Heavyweight Title shots against Dory Funk Jr. but there were bigger plans for him in the future. Walker had basically semi-retired in 1972 and was running a gas station outside of Atlanta when Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones came to him with a plan that was set in motion by booker Leo Garibaldi about becoming the new version of Mr. Wrestling with the thought that another Mr. Wrestling would be a huge addition to their roster in their war with Ann Gunkel’s All-South Wrestling Alliance since they couldn’t get Tim Woods because he was on top in Florida. Walker agreed and his career was reborn at the Atlanta City Auditorium on 2/2/73 where he teamed up with Pat O’Brien & Bob Orton Jr. to face Bengali, Butcher Brannigan, & Jack Evans in the 2nd match on the card but it was only 11 days before he was in a semi-main event teaming with Bob Armstrong to face Butcher Brannigan & Tank Morgan at the Macon City Auditorium and then exactly one month from his debut he defeated Sputnik Monroe to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta City Auditorium. This would be the first of his 10 reigns as the Georgia Heavyweight champion.

    II’s first mask match came 2 weeks later also in Atlanta where he defended his title and his mask against The Zodiac who unmasked as Bob Orton Sr. giving him some big momentum that carried him through big matches against the likes of Bobby Shane, Bobby Duncum, & Cowboy Bill Watts who would be the one to give II his first big loss as he took the Georgia title from him on 5/11/73 in Atlanta. II would soon turn his focus to the Georgia Tag Titles and formed a team with Bob Orton Jr. who would take the titles from The Super Infernos on 6/9/73 at WTCG Studios on GCW TV but during this reign he continued to feud with Watts and started teaming with the unmasked Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods in tag matches against Watts & Bobby Duncum. II & Orton would lose their belts back to the Super Infernos on 8/4/73 on GCW TV but the month would end on a high note as he regained the Georgia belt from Watts on 8/31/73 in Atlanta which featured Freddie Blassie as the special referee. II would get his first NWA World Heavyweight Title shot in this gimmick against Jack Brisco on 9/14/73 in Atlanta and teamed with Woods against Dory & Terry Funk on 10/5/73 in Atlanta while II was rolling along as Georgia champ before losing the belt to Watts again on 11/2/73 in Atlanta. II ended 1973 still in the main events teaming with all the top babyfaces of the area and along with Bob Armstrong they became the cornerstones of the reborn promotion but that would soon change in the new year.

    II was upset that he wasn’t getting the bulk of the NWA World Heavyweight Title shots because Woods was getting them and he said that he knew he was better than him and would win the title with Woods disagreeing so they had their first match on 1/2/74 at the Atlanta City Auditorium with II coming out on top and the feud was born. II would take the Georgia Heavyweight Title back from Ron Fuller 9 days later in Atlanta then a week after that got his shot with Jack Brisco but would get DQed. II continued feuding with Woods and both Robert & Ron Fuller in some heated matches with II in his biggest match to date taking Tim Woods’ hair at the brand new Omni in Atlanta on 2/10/74 which would set in motion the return of Woods under the hood as Mr. Wrestling giving this feud a new feel. II would be basically a tweener at this time as he wouldn’t really align with heels but had issues with the faces until he had an issue with Jerry Lawler & Art Nelson which saw him align with Robert Fuller & Bob Armstrong even though he was still feuding with Woods along with Jack & Jerry Brisco. II got another shot at Jack Brisco in a No DQ No Time Limit match on 4/26/74 at The Omni which would see him fall to Brisco clean this time. II would get his first shot at the North American Heavyweight Title as his war with Bill Watts reignited in the Spring of 1974 and he would lose his Georgia belt to Watts in a title vs. title match at Atlanta City Auditorium on 5/10/74 but would take it back the next morning on TV at WTCG Studios. After burying the hatchet with Mr. Wrestling on TV and they literally buried a hatchet, II is now back as a full fledged babyface and gets another big main event in the Omni teaming up with a young Andre the Giant who was making his name nationally against Bill Watts & Big Bad John on 5/17/74 then main evented the next week at the Omni against Jack Brisco again for the NWA title that would go to a 60:00 draw. II would continue to feud with Big Bad John and his men throughout the summer and would lose the Georgia strap to Buddy Colt on 7/5/74 at the Atlanta City Auditorium which he would take back on 8/23/74 with his mask on the line at The Omni. II wouldn’t have it for long though as he would drop the strap to former NWA World champ Harley Race on 9/13/74 at the Atlanta City Auditorium. II’s feud with Race was bitter and would see him forming a bond with Gene & Ole Anderson who would help him out in tag matches before ending 1974 by beating Race with his mask on the line on 12/6/74 at Atlanta City Auditorium. II would vanquish the area of Bearcat Wright and his goons like Race & Buddy Colt as the year would come to an end but II would meet a new rival who would become a life long rival.

    The Assassin & Rock Hunter entered the area in December 1974 and wanted to feud with II so they had their first match on 1/3/75 at Atlanta City Auditorium which saw the Assassin win giving him instant credibility. II would find his match in the Assassin and Rock Hunter as their series was pretty even before II broke through which forced Hunter to bring in Professor Toru Tanaka who put II out of action for over a month with them having their first match on 4/3/75 at Atlanta City Auditorium in what was billed as the “Revenge Match of the Century” that saw II get DQed. Abdullah the Butcher was also brought in by Rock Hunter so II had to align himself with the likes of Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, & Rocky Johnson but Hunter would counter bringing in Harley Race & The Sheik in the war. August 1975 saw II take a youngster named Rick Martel under his wing and they formed a team to battle the combination of former II partner Bob Orton Jr. & Dick Slater who were becoming one of the best teams in the country at this time. Gary Hart was now the heel manager of the territory and he had a bounty II’s head which saw guys like The Sheik, Mr. Fuji, & Tanaka try to take it but they were unsuccessful. II would go back to focusing on singles action and would put his mask on the line yet again to take the Georgia strap from Nikolai Volkoff on 10/3/75 at the Atlanta City Auditorium which would set the table for a feud with Hart’s newest charges in Brute Bernard & The Spoiler who would become another one of II’s main rivals. Spoiler would get his first big win in the feud as he put his mask on the line on Thanksgiving night at The Omni to take II’s Georgia Heavyweight Title. II was now involved in many issues as he was battling Hart’s Army, Rock Hunter who was back for a short time, and along with Dick Slater got a shot at the NWA World Tag Titles against former allies Gene & Ole Anderson as 1975 would come to a close.

    1976 would see II’s star start to grow even brighter as not only was he battling all the heels in Georgia which was now featuring Moondog Mayne, Skandor Akbar, & Stan Stasiak but he would start making appearances in Florida where he would get shots at Billy Robinson and his Southern Heavyweight Title. II’s feud with Gary Hart was dominating the year as he would take on guys like Ox Baker, Black Gordman, Goliath, & Greg Valentine along with the usual suspects before Dick Slater would turn heel on him with a feud that heated up the Summer seeing a Taped Fist match on 7/30/76 at Atlanta City Auditorium that II would win but II couldn’t take the Georgia title from him but he would eventually send him packing along with Stan Stasiak in a Loser Leaves Town match teaming with Jos LeDuc on 10/8/76 at Atlanta City Auditorium. II would find himself back in the NWA World Title scene as he would get some shots at Terry Funk at the end of the month but the pesky Slater would return to Georgia after a month and would take back the Georgia strap from II on 11/15/76 in Augusta. II’s year would end again engaging in battles with the Anderson Brothers this time with Thunderbolt Patterson as his partner along with getting more shots at Funk but falling short.

    1977 was status quo to start as II’s feud with Slater dominated the early part of the year along with matches with the Andersons this time with Lars Anderson getting involved with various partners such as Bob Armstrong, Tony Atlas, Paul Jones, & Wahoo McDaniel. This era of II is known as his golden era as the battles with the Andersons & Slater were bringing in huge crowds around the state and solidifying II’s status as a local icon. II and Atlas would take the NWA World Tag Titles from Gene & Ole on 8/1/77 in Augusta but the decision would be overturned and it was during the month of August that a young kid from Hendersonville, Tennessee would enter the area named Tommy Rich and it was his 2nd night in the area on 8/16/77 that he would team with II for the first time against Sgt. Jacques Goulet & Pak Song in Macon seeing the present legend and future legend get the win. On 8/27/77, II was announced on TV that he would be representing the United States on a big tour of Australia & New Zealand which was built up for weeks but on the day before he was supposed to leave he was being congratulated by the babyfaces and after that Pak Song & Rock Hunter came out which ended up with Hunter breaking a II painting an Song chopping him on the back of the neck a couple of times which Gordon Solie sold to the fans like it was a paralyzing blow. Solie said that II was in the hospital and he might never return. Song went on a tear around the territory even getting a 2 minute win over Jack Brisco at The Omni on 9/23/77 but II would send in taped promos vowing he was coming back and they had their big match on 10/14/77 at The Omni in a sold out building that went crazy for the icon II as he got his revenge on Song but he went overboard and got DQed. II would eventually send Song packing and by the end of the year had reunited with Slater again in a common hatred of the Anderson Brothers & Sgt. Jacques Goulet but it was also at this time that II started feuding with current Georgia champ Stan Hansen which would carry over into 1978.

    January & February of 1978 saw II still in battles with the Andersons & Hansen but in March a new foe was coming into the area as AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel was going to make some defenses around the horn. Georgia was starting to become a hotbed of wrestling nationally at this time as WTCG was getting into more households so names from around the world were coming in and out for shots and Bock wanted to make his mark there. On 3/11/78, Bockwinkel & Bobby Heenan were at TV and Bock was going to demonstrate his figure-four leglock on Ricky Hood which of course saw him refuse to break the hold. II would come out to break it and as it happened he would accidentally strike Gordon Solie which was a very hot angle at the time. Solie would be taken out although he would return later and blamed Heenan for what happened before II would come out to apologize to Gordon which was accepted. II would get his first crack at Bock the next Friday night at Atlanta City Auditorium where he would fall to Bock and the result was the same in their next matches on 4/16/78 in Macon in the afternoon and Atlanta at night. Meanwhile the feud with Hansen was blazing on as II would put his mask against Hansen’s title but the matches would go to a draw and his feud with the Andersons over their $1,000 silver dollars main evented around the horn as well. Rock Hunter & Abdullah the Butcher would eventually turn on Hansen and II now had a new ally in his war with Hunter which prompted some wild heated matches across the Spring and then against Ole Anderson and his new partner Ivan Koloff in the Summer but it was also in the Summer that Hunter brought back in his main charge The Assassin along with The Angel (Frank Morrell), Superstar Billy Graham, & Angelo Mosca but II had friends as well like Rich, Slater, Hansen, and even Rick Martel who came back in for some shots. Sure enough though II would get turned on again this time by Hansen who aligned with Ole & Koloff forming a formidable alliance so II called for Dusty Rhodes & Thunderbolt Patterson to help out. II was still going for singles gold though and had a heated feud with Mosca for his Georgia title as well before the title was held up forcing a tournament to be held on 10/16/78 with II getting a big win over Hansen in the finals to take back the title. II would defend his title against all comers even his friend Rick Martel on TV on 10/28/78 in a match that went to a draw but it was also around this time a new force was coming into the area named the Masked Superstar. II had his first match with Superstar on 11/13/78 in Augusta in a match that went to a draw and the feud was born as Superstar would take the title a few weeks later with II ending the year chasing him around the horn trying to get it back.

    1978 was a pivotal year in the career of II as he was solidified as the lynchpin of the area and also had the task of giving a rub to Tommy Rich who they were grooming to be the next major star. II would team with Rich regularly and they had major matches with all the top heels giving Rich the credibility he needed to become a top guy. II also was making some shots for Leroy McGuirk at different times during the year so he was expanding his name across the South even more.

    II continued his blood feud with the likes of Superstar, Hansen, Ole, & Mosca into 1979 before winning the North American Heavyweight Title from Ernie Ladd on 2/16/79 at The Omni in what would become the beginning of his end in Georgia for a while as Bill Watts had decided to break free from Leroy McGuirk and decided to run opposition to him featuring a guy who he had major matches against and knew who could carry the load for the new Mid-South Wrestling. II had the aura about him and was a top star everywhere he went but Watts knew he had an X-factor from working against him in Georgia as II was a crossover hit among the African-American community who loved their “Rasslin II”. Every week on TV you would see the younger fans chant “II upside your head it’s II upside your head” in reverance and in waiting for II’s signature Million-Dollar Kneelift which was one of the most popular finishing moves of the time. II would enter Mid-South in March and now had fresh opponents to work in a new area such as Ron Bass, Ladd, Gino Hernandez, & Killer Karl Krupp but II was still making shots for Georgia on the big shows against his rival Masked Superstar. II would make his first Superdome appearance in New Orleans on 4/21/79 where he defended his North American title against Krupp and he was now becoming a force in the area. II would see some new opponents in the Summer such as Mike George & Tank Patton but still met old foes such as Ladd on the next Superdome show on 7/21/79. II would start back appearing in Georgia more regularly in September and started feuding with Killer Karl Kox for the Georgia title in October but it was also at this time that a fake Mr. Wrestling II started appearing during the times that II was in Mid-South. The real II was incensed at all of this and on Thanksgiving night at The Omni the II’s faced off with the real II coming out on top. The feud would go on for another month until Christmas night at The Omni where in a Steel Cage Match the real II defeated the fake II and he had to unmask revealing Joe Powell. The next Saturday on TV, Powell revealed that it was Masked Superstar that sent him after II and the blood feud reignited even more going into 1980. Also by this time, WTCG had become Superstation WTBS and the GCW TV show was nationwide on cable with stars such II becoming even bigger.

    1980 saw the feud with II & Superstar raging but II started feuding with the brash Austin Idol as well who was feuding with Tommy Rich making for some heated tag matches. II would bring in Andre the Giant to also help him out in his battles against The Great Mephisto and his charges such as Killer Khan & Toru Tanaka and on 2/3/80 at The Omni, II would regain the Georgia title from the Superstar in a No DQ No Time Limit match. II would get involved in a hot angle on 2/23/80 on TV as Harley Race had injured Tommy Rich’s knee along with Austin Idol thus taking Rich out of his upcoming match with Race the next night at The Omni for the NWA title so II cut an impassioned promo vowing to take his place and on that night II would beat Race by DQ. II avenges Rich by defeating Idol on 3/9/80 at The Omni but Idol would have the last laugh as he would defeat II on TV for the Georgia title on 3/29/80. II was a busy man at this time as he was facing off Koloff, Alexis Smirnoff, & Baron Von Raschke in various matches along with Race who came back in on 4/6/80 in what would become one of the most legendary matches of the era in Georgia as the promotion brought in 3 former NWA champs in Lou Thesz, Dusty Rhodes, & Dory Funk Jr. to judge the match. The match would go to a draw with the judges deadlocked in front of 16,000 strong at The Omni starting a huge controversy as the promotion thought that II won the match and they would award him with the Champion of Champions Cup recognizing that. II would defend the Cup against Dory Jr. at the Omni on 5/4/80 in a match that was one match higher on the card than a Race NWA title defense against Tommy Rich but there was a Lights Out match afterwards between II & Race which saw II get a clean win in front of 9,500 fans. II would defend the Cup again a couple of weeks later against longtime rival Abdullah the Butcher in front of 9,500 again at The Omni and the promotion felt it was time to have the big blowoff match so they put II and his Cup against Race and the NWA title on 6/8/80 in front of a sellout crowd at The Omni with Race coming out on top and winning the war. It was also at this time that The Assassin and a new Assassin #2 had returned to the area and started a war with II. II would use various partners like the new babyface Austin Idol & Tommy Rich in his battles with The Assassins along with side battles against Race and even Masked Superstar on 7/5/80 at The Omni before II teamed with Steve Keirn to win the Georgia Tag Titles from The Assassins in a Steel Cage Match on 7/30/80 in Columbus that they would lose back the next week. II would venture back to Mid-South on 8/2/80 where he would face Ted DiBiase for the North American title in a scientific match in front of 26,000 at the Superdome before going back to GCW and feuding with the Assassins and also the Superstar who was coming in and out from Jim Crockett Promotions culiminating in a Loser Leaves Town Steel Cage Match on 9/5 at The Omni in front of 12,500 fans seeing II come out victorious. The next day on TV saw one of the best angles of the era as Gordon Solie had a point/counterpoint with II & Assassin #1 about why they wore their masks which featured two of the best promo men in the business explain their reasons before it would get heated of course and saw II get railroaded by both Assassins with his mask getting ripped off and bloodied. Mr. Wrestling had returned to the area to help his friend out and they both cut a passionate promo vowing revenge on the heels and they would take their Georgia Tag straps on 9/19/80 at The Omni. The end of September saw a new force coming into the area named Mr. Saito along with three cocky guys known as The Fabulous Freebirds who would take the Georgia straps from the Messirs Wrestling and Assassins in a 3-way match on 10/10/80 at The Omni. The next day on TV, II would face Saito and would get beaten clean and their feud was born but it was also at this time that II was really branching out working for Southwest, Leroy McGuirk, & Southeastern as II had supposedly retired from wrestling on Georgia TV. II would come back though to get revenge on Saito and won $5,000 from him on 12/12/80 at The Omni then beat him in a Judo Jacket match on Christmas night at The Omni.

    1981 opened up with II getting his first shot at the National Heavyweight Title and Don Carson’s Mongolian Stomper on 1/1/81 at The Omni where he would win by DQ. By now II had attained Babyface Emeritus status and even though he wasn’t the main babyface he was always in the mix with all the top heels plus he was traveling to Florida more now as The Assassins were down there now running wild. II would rekindle his feud with Gene & Ole Anderson in April 1981 and actually saw II asking his enemy Masked Superstar to team with him and they took on the Andersons on 4/12/81 at The Omni in a match that went to a no contest. II would enter Jim Crockett Promotions regularly in May 1981 and saw II in an interesting spot as he wasn’t a main event guy there but more of a high mid-carder and even worked 2nd matches on the card on occasion. II was able though to start feuds with Koloff, Iron Sheik, & Fuji which moved him higher on the card but still the signs were there that his days as the top guy were coming to an end. II came back to Georgia in August 1981 and teamed up with Kevin Von Erich quite a bit which was to get him over but this was a different II here as he was starting to work guys like Bryan St. John & David Sierra although he was still strong and actually got the first NWA title match against Ric Flair at The Omni on 9/27/81. II would feud with The Great Mephisto’s charges Ray Stevens & Tor Kamata along with the Masked Superstar who was back full-time but II got called back to Florida in late November. This time II got a bigger push in Florida as he was getting NWA title shots against Flair and feuding with The Spoiler over the Florida title.

    1982 saw II split his time between Florida & Georgia where he was still mixing it up with all the major heels as well as holding the Florida Heavyweight Title along with getting shot at Dory Funk Jr.’s International Heavyweight Title and going back to his Rubberman roots and facing Les Thornton for the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title. II would eventually lose his Florida title to J.J. Dillon in a cheap fashion in late March but he would get it back in April and defended against the likes of Derek Draper (Ed Wiskowski) & David Von Erich before losing the title to Jimmy Garvin on 5/3/82 in West Palm Beach. II would return to GCW full-time in June and was reinserted back into the top tier feuding with the likes of the Superstar, Super Destroyer, Buzz Sawyer, The Wild Samoans, & Magnificent Muraco before II would go back to Mid-South in August. II would start feuding with Ted DiBiase for the North American title and aligned with Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia in their battle against The Rat Pack (DiBiase, Matt Borne, & Hacksaw Duggan.) II also started a side feud with The Grappler (Len Denton) as II pretty much had to feud with any masked heel but it was also at this time that II was finding his gear vandalized and there was a mystery on who was doing it before it was revealed that Mr. Olympia was doing it and a new feud was born with their first match taking place at the Superdome on Thanksgiving night in front of 15,000 fans.

    1983 would see II align with a new masked man in Stagger Lee (Junkyard Dog under a mask) in the Rat Pack feud but II would also have the misfortune of being one of Kamala’s main opponents as well. II also formed a team with Tiger Conway Jr. in March and they would become a dominant team as they won the Mid-South Tag Titles from Borne & DiBiase on 3/11/83 in Houston but they would lose the titles back to DiBiase and the returning Mr. Olympia in April. II would continue to work on top throughout May but he wanted to go home and returned to Georgia in June where he would start a feud with Larry Zbyszko for the National Heavyweight Title. This was a weirdly booked feud that saw Killer Brooks involved, II putting up his mask against $25,000 on TV in a tag elimination match with Pistol Pez Whatley against Zbyszko & Tully Blanchard, and II winning the National title on 7/3/83 from Larry in a match with Brooks & Mr. Wrestling as the referees in front of 4,000 fans but the title was held up. II was still doing shots for Mid-South at the time as well so he was traveling quite a bit between the Northern tours for GCW, Georgia, and the Mid-South shows. Later in July there was a new Mr. Wrestling that debuted for GCW which was Jesse Barr under a mask which prompted a natural feud for II which saw II eventually take his mask in October. Also at this time II was one of the many babyfaces that were being sacrificed to the Road Warriors and he looked especially old against guys like this which wasn’t flattering for him. Like I wrote earlier, II was still working Mid-South throughout this time and became a regular again in November where he formed a team with Magnum T.A. as he was playing his mentor. II & Magnum became a force and they would become Mid-South Tag champs on Christmas night as they defeated Jim Neidhart & Butch Reed in a Steel Cage match in one of the better matches of this era of Mid-South. II was flying high at the end of 1983 even getting a shot at his old rival Nick Bockwinkel’s AWA World Heavyweight Title in Houston on 12/30/83 where he would get DQed but II was in a George Blanda circa 1970 mode here which would carry over into 1984.

    Mid-South Wrestling was starting to become a radically different promotion in January 1984 as Bill Dundee had taken over as the booker and new talent such as The Rock n Roll Express, Terry Taylor, & The Midnight Express had entered the area taking it by storm but II & Magnum were still ruling the roost as tag champs. They would start a grueling feud with the Midnights over the titles but it was at this time that Magnum had struck up a friendship with Lanny Poffo which II was very angry about because Poffo was from an evil family in his mind and would corrupt Magnum. The hostilities would rise up during February as Magnum would take 10 lashes after matches for II but II was still angry and on 2/28/84 they would lose the titles to the MX in Alexandria, Louisiana. II would also start having issues with Junkyard Dog and challenged him to a shot at the North American title for 3/12/84 which II would win by taping something to his knee on the Million-Dollar Kneelift which cemented his heel turn. It had been 10 years since II’s last heel turn but this time he was perfectly ready to play the crusty old man who did what it took to win and he would find a new student to train in Ray Hernandez which he would name Mr. Wrestling II as he would now become the new Mr. Wrestling. Magnum & II had their first singles match on 3/23/84 in Houston and a blood feud was born with them selling out around the horn along with the Watts/JYD vs. MX feud as Mid-South was the hottest promotion in the country. Magnum would finally take the North American title from his mentor on 5/13/84 in Tulsa after the interference from the new Wrestling II backfired. II and his student would have a falling out with Hernandez taking off the mask becoming Hercules Hernandez and they feuded for a bit before II left the area in late July.

    II basically disappeared for the next 3 months until he appeared for the World Wrestling Federation of all places taking on old rival Rene Goulet on 10/5/84 at The Omni and spent the rest of 1984 working WWF shows in the areas that he was known in like the South and the old spots GCW used to go on Northern tours. II would start working everywhere for WWF in 1985 and was used in opening matches only. The highlight of this year for II was probably his match against Terry Funk at Madison Square Garden which was his first match in the legendary building on 11/25/85 in a match he lost but he was at MSG.

    II would leave the WWF in February 1986 and came back to the South making his debut for Continental on 2/17/86 in Birmingham where he became a member of Ron Fuller’s Stud Stable and started a feud with The Bullet (his old friend Bob Armstrong under the mask.) II vowed to take off the Bullet’s mask but he would fail and eventually lost a Loser Leaves Town match on 5/5/86 in Birmingham. II spent the rest of the year working Georgia independents before returning to Continental in February 1987 but this time as a babyface where he would feud with the likes of Rip Rogers & Jerry Stubbs before taking the Alabama title from Mike Golden on 4/27/87 in Birmingham in the last major run of his career before losing the title back to Golden on 6/14/87 in Marietta, Georgia at the Cobb County Civic Center. II would bounce around Continental for the rest of 1987 and Georgia independents throughout 1988 and even had a match with Nick Bockwinkel in Chattanooga on 6/14/88 along with even having matches against Tommy Rich in his heel run in late 1988 for Southern Championship Wrestling. 1989 saw II become a mentor yet again this time for Ranger Ross as they formed a solid team for SCW before Ross was ready to join the NWA in the Spring and by the end of the year II was done as an active competitor.

    If you were a fan of Georgia Championship Wrestling in the 70’s and 80’s or were raised by fans of that era, “Rasslin II” was one of those legends that lives on in the folklore as you can bring up wrestling to people who aren’t fans but they know who he was and it’s a testament that 30 years after he was in his prime, he still lives on in the memories of the people that saw him compete. II’s biggest fan status wise was former Georgia governor and President Jimmy Carter’s mother, Miss Lillian Carter who invited II to the White House but he had to decline because the Secret Service would force him to unmask. She understood his decision but that showed the dedication to his gimmick that he would decline such an offer to protect the business. This man was a credit to the business, a true legend, and should be in the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame.

  • On this date in pro wrestling history (9/21): Crusher defeats Hennig,Windam/Rhodes win WCW Tag Title

    By Brian Hoops WrestlingObserver.com

    1965

    Denver, Colorado:

    – AWA Champion The Crusher beat Larry Hennig

    – Verne Gagne beat Harley Race

    1970

    Tulsa, Oklahoma:

    – The Hollywod Blondes, Buddy Roberts & Jerry Brown defeated Klondike Bill & Jean War Eagle

    – Waldo Von Erich beat Cowboy Bill Watts in a Best of Three Falls match

    1979

    Houston, Texas:

    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel dcor Bruiser Brody

    – David Von Erich & Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich beat Mark Lewin & The Spoiler & Gary Hart

    – David Von Erich drew Mark Lewin 1

    Atlanta, Georgia:

    – In a Lights Out Match, Bill Watts beat Ernie Ladd

    – In a Steel Cage match, Tommy Rich & The Crusher beat Ivan Koloff & Ole Anderson to win The Georgia Tag Team Titles

    – Tony Atlas (substituting for Dusty Rhodes) beat Killer Karl Kox

    1986

    San Juan, Puerto Rico:

    – Carlos Colon defeated Terry Funk in a tournament final for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title

    – The Rock N’ Roll RPM’s (Mike Davia & Tommy Lane) defeated The Pastores (Luke Williams & Butch Miller) to win the WWC World Tag Team Title

    Houston, Texas:

    The Fantastics beat Eddie Gilbert & Sting via DQ

    – Ted Dibiase beat Jack Victory

    – Terry Taylor beat John Tatum

    – Dark Journey beat Missy Hyatt

    – UWF Champion Terry Gordy fought The One Man Gang to a draw

    – Steve Williams beat Michael Hayes in a Steel Cage match

    1991

    Raleigh, North Carolina:

    – WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions The Patriots, Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin

    – WCW World TV Champion Steve Austin fought Dustin Rhodes to a draw

    – Bobby Eaton defeated Johnny B. Badd via disqualification

    – WCW World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyzsko fought Rick Steiner & Bill Kazmaier to a double countout

    – WCW World Champion Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham

    1992

    Atlanta, Georgia:

    – Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes defeated Terry Gordy & Steve Williams to win the WCW & NWA World Tag Team Championship

    1992

    Memphis, Tennessee:

    – Brian Christopher defeated Reno Riggins to win the vacant USWA Southern Heavyweight Title

    – Junkyard Dog defeated Eddie Gilbert for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title

    – Moondog Fifi defeated Miss Texas for the USWA Women’s Title

    1999

    Dallas, Texas:

    – Road Dogg & Billy Gunn defeated The Rock & Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Championship at a Smackdown taping

    2002

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

    – Xavier defeated Low Ki to win the Ring Of Honor championship

    – Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan defeated Bryan Danielson and Michael Modest to win the ROH Tag Team Titles

    2003

    Hershey, Pennsylvania:

    – Goldberg defeated Triple H to win the Raw World Title at the Unforgiven PPV

    – Randy Orton defeated Shawn Michaels

    – Christian defeated Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho to retain the Intercontinental Title

    2014

    – Goldust & Stardust defeated the Usos to win the WWE World Tag Team Titles

    – The Miz defeated Dolph Ziggler to win the WWE Intercontinental Title

    – John Cena defeated WWE Champion Brock Lesnar by dq

  • Some news updates from WWE: Sting injured, Cena on Emmys, Houston tickets

    Sting’s injury was legitimate and we’re trying to get more information on it.  The early reports we have is that the injury was significant.

    During the nominees rundown for Best Writing in a Variety show on tonight’s Emmys, they showed the Raw clip of John Cena giving Jon Stewart an Attitude Adjustment on an endless loop as they ran down the names of The Daily Show writers (thanks to Jake Koch)

    There is a presale for the next show in Houston, a house show on 1/8, going on right now through Friday.  The password is Houston.

  • WWE News: Hell in a Cell main event already announced

    WWE has announced the main event for the Hell in a Cell show in Los Angeles will be Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match.  The show will be on Oct. 25 at the Staples Center.

  • SUN UPDATE: Night of Champions, Brother of Kurt Angle charged with homicide

    By Dave Meltzer

    We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s WWE Night of Champions, last night’s Bellator, Friday night’s CMLL and Friday night’s ROH with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each show to Dave Meltzer

    We’re also looking for reports from these shows:

    *WWE last night in Waco, TX

    *WWE last night in Beaumont, TX

    *NXT last night in San Antonio

    *TNA last night in Belle Vernon, PA

    WWE Night of Champions PPV at 7 p.m. Eastern on WWE network

    *Seth Rollins vs. Sting for WWE title – A notable match for a few reasons.  It’s Sting second PPV match in the WWE and at 56, he has to be among the oldest world title challengers in WWE history.  The questions here is, because Rollins vs. Cena can tear the house down, and pretty much did last month, do they put this on in the middle even though it’s the world title.  Given that there are no obvious new challengers for the title if Rollins retains, except Cena or Lesnar, and we haven’t heard anything about a Lesnar return other than the 10/3, you could go multiple shows.  And they are also heavily teasing Sheamus, who isn’t booked on the show elsewhere.

    *Seth Rollins vs. John Cena for U.S. title – It doesn’t make sense for Rollins to hold both titles, and it’s more likely he loses this one.  They’ve got a bunch of Cena U.S. title shirts ready to be out there, and the U.S. title challenge was one of the better segments on Raw, and it’s been gone for a while.  If last month is any indication, this should be an excellent match.  

    *Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose & ? vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper & Braun Strowman – For what it’s worth, Kane is in Houston and scheduled for television tomorrow.  Chris Jericho is also said to be in Houston.  As far as Kane being on TV tomorrow, he was scheduled to return weeks ago but it was held off.  Randy Orton has also been advertised for the show in some circles locally.

    *Nikki Bella vs. Charlotte for Divas title, title can change hands via DQ or count out – This is one of the more important matches.  No matter what the outcome, and the odds shift does seem to indicate a Charlotte win, they need to have some time, and to have a good finish (either Charlotte wins or gets screwed in a way that puts heat on the person screwing her as opposed to heat on the company).  It would also be helpful not to put them in a death spot after one of the two Rollins matches.

    *Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev – These two have been tearing it up at the house shows.  Obviously Summer Rae will get involved, and probably help Ziggler win but the storyline will be that we’re not sure if she screwed up by accident or on purpose.  At least with where the story is, that seems like a finish that makes sense.

    *New Day vs. Dudleys for tag titles – The New Day is hotter than most tag champs in recent years and the Dudleys are new and legends from the past, so they should have more crowd interest than normal.  

    *Neville & The Lucha Dragons vs. Stardust & The Ascension preshow match – This is the preshow match and should be a fun opener.

            It doesn’t look on paper any stronger than usual, but most WWE PPV shows are good.  The key to the show is if Cena vs. Rollins delivers, if the Rollins vs. Sting finishes comes off well, who the mystery partner is and the reaction to him, and if the Divas title match is above the usual level.  If all of those things are affirmatives, this should be a very good show.

    Raw will be Monday night in Laredo, TX.  For what it’s worth, and it wasn’t worth much last week, Randy Orton is scheduled on the show.

    Smackdown will be taped Tuesday in Corpus Christi with Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Sheamus as the top advertised stars.

    New Japan Destruction in Okayama PPV on Tuesday night at 11 p.m. Pacific and 2 a.m. Eastern on New Japan World

    Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu & Yuji Nagata & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Jay White & David Finlay & Manabu Nakanishi & Tetsuya Naito

    Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jushin Liger & Mascara Dorada non-title

    Steve Anthony vs. Tiger Mask for NWA jr. title

    Hiroshi Tanahashi & Matt Sydal vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga

    Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan for IWGP tag titles

    Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma & Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi & Alex Shelley vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi & Rocky Romero & Baretta

    Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. A.J. Styles & Cody Hall

    Kushida vs. Kenny Omega for IWGP jr. title

    Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi for Never Open weight title

    This week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 

    We’ve got a look at WWE right now with the issues that have led to ratings setting record lows as well as an update on TNA, New Japan, GFW, ROH and everyone else in the battle for No. 2, as the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  This issue also has a detailed look at the Nick Diaz situation and why it is far more complicated than most are making it out to be, Atlantis vs. La Sombra in one of the year’s biggest matches, a history of the CMLL anniversary shows, a look at Thomas Hauser’s article on USADA, an update on Dr. Christopher Amann’s lawsuit against C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana, what led to the Mayweather flop on PPV and New Japan builds for two PPVs this month.

    The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer: September 14, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Huge Weekend Preview, WWE/CMLL/ROH/Bellator

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

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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.

    The lead story looks at what is and isn’t misleading about the record low ratings for Raw and Smackdown over the past two weeks, the rate of decline, the future of Smackdown, and why wrestling even with lower ratings may be far more valuable to the USA Network when the current contract is over.  We look at the problems that are inherent, those that can be addressed and those that can’t.  We look at why this past week’s Raw rating was far more sobering than the week before as well as how wrestling and every combat sport is changing from an economic situation worldwide.  We look at interviews, finishes, making stars and dropping the ball on stars.  We also look at Night of Champions.

    We update the TNA television situation, what promotion had a strong growth year, and the future of No. 2, as well as an update on all of TNA’s TV deals.

    We go in depth on Nick Diaz, and what are the key elements of the story, why he got a five year suspension, how Diaz has blown his prime years in fighting, the commissioners discuss the suspension and the deliberations leading to it.  We talk about why comparisons to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones aren’t valid in this case, detail the controversies over the test results, the legal issues involved, and Diaz talks about what happened in childhood that led him to where he is.

    We also look at the situation with Jake Shields and the commission ruling on his post-match punch to Rousimar Palhares, as well as his comments on what happened.

    We also look at what contracted talent was told about Hulk Hogan, as well as a double standard that is too obvious, the next Takeover special, Update on Lana, Dwayne Johnson makes former WWE writer a major executive in his company, what happened at the recent NXT talent meeting, Daniel Bryan talks about creating new stars, and his health situation as well as PPV matches he wants.

    We look at plans for the November European tour, WWE performers and Twitter, Paige talks in detail about her incident with Alicia Fox that turned into a fight of sorts with two other women and how it all went down.  Jimmy Noonan talks issues with WWE security including a story when a fan kicked the ass of a main event wrestler inside the ring one night and how that fan ended up as a wrestler.

    We look at another sports star that WWE is bringing in for a tryout, four cast members from Tough Enough who have now signed contracts, this week’s NXT shows, and the father of a WWE wrestler who is an all-time legend in slow-pitch softball.

    We’ve got notes on the WWE TV shows as well as the next month of NXT shows, as well as reports on WWE business over the past week, and highlights from all the house shows.

    We look at the Atlantis vs La Sombra match, the build to the match, why the match is so big, the last angle and what happened with Dr. Wagner Jr. an L.A. Park.  We also look at a history of the CMLL Anniversary shows, with the big names that have appeared on them and the most famous matches over the years.

    We look at Thomas Hauser’s article on USADA and how it related to Floyd Mayweather, what about the article had validity and what was a stretch.  We look at USADA’s drug testing in UFC and what the results so far say, the concept of retroactive TUE’s, a scary aspect of a contract Manny Pacquiao was given and wouldn’t sign, rumors of Mayweather positive tests, and the story behind Erik Morales failing four tests before a fight for Clenbuterol and still fighting.

    We update the situation with Dr. Christopher Amann’s lawsuit against C.M. Punk.  We look at the response to the suit filed by Punk and Colt Cabana, WWE’s response and what the key issues in the suit are.

    We’ve got notes on the Floyd Mayweather-Andre Berto PPV number and lessons that it has taught.

    We also run down this past week’s New Japan show at Korakuen Hall and how it builds the next two PPV shows.

    We’ve also got ratings from all the television shows this past week along with results from all the major arena events.

    We also update on the last two AAA TV tapings, Genichiro Tenryu’s last match at Korakuen Hall, the Dragon Gate Summer Adventure tag team tournament, the All Japan Open singles tournament, the NOAH jr. heavyweight tournament, New Japan talks about their relationship with WWE and more.

    We look at the Japanese female wrestler who broke her record for most world championships, and a new Hall of Fame mixed tag team.

    We’ve got notes on Hulk Hogan’s latest media and what he said that simple time lines can disprove, notes on Jimmy Snuka including why there will be a lot more coverage of his story coming up, as well as why his hearing this week was canceled.  We look at the U.S. gold medalists in the world wrestling championships and what wrestler looks like a great UFC or WWE prospect.  We also update GFW and where television stands, look at a star indie wrestler sent to prison, Podcasts involving wrestling personalities, two pro wrestlers at the 1980 Olympic team reunion, an update on House of Hardcore, an update on Kelly Kelly, whatever happened to Chuck Palumbo, former UFC star getting a pro wrestling break, a wrestling show uncovered by a historian that drew 80,000 fans in 1936, the daughter of a WWE Hall of Famer starting wrestling training, and a well known pro wrestler competing under another name in pseudo MMA combat.

    We also look at some significant negotiations going on with ROH and a look at the weekend events.

    We also look at the Jarrett/Dixie Carter deal, Earl Hebner into the TNA Hall of Fame and his background, an update on Bram and Kurt Angle and Angle’s wrestling schedule.

    We look at ticket sales for UFC 194 and how early sales have been, more big fights announced, a UFC signee who will start after competing in the 2016 Olympics, Ronda Rousey in the ESPN poll of the greatest female athlete of all-time, as well as lots of new UFC fights.

    We also look at a new Bellator deal, and Scott Coker’s hopes for this week’s show.

    We also look at a proposed Chael Sonnen vs. Josh Barnett grappling match, and the return of Ben Askren.

    If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.

    New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues

    SUNDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

    • Lots of audio on this gigantic weekend for big shows.  Bryan and I will be doing another show tonight talking Night of Champions.  We have shows on Bellator and ROH/CMLL up as well.  If you’ve got any questions for tonight’s show so you can send them to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.comWrestling Observer Radio 9/20: Bellator Dynamite 1, Fedor returns, Night of Champions preview, more!
      Wrestling Observer Radio 9/19: ROH PPV report, CMLL Anniversary show, Bellator preview, more!
    • This news is shocking.  The web site www.post-gazette.com reported that David Angle is being held in the Allegheny County is awaiting arraignment on a homicide charge.  Police responded this morning on  report of a domestic disturbance and a woman who wasn’t breathing.  Donna Angle, the wife of David, was found unresponsive and she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.  Both are family members of Kurt Angle.  
    • Night of Champions is expected to be sold out tonight at the Toyota Center. 
    • Check out WrestlingObserver.com’s preview of WWE Night of Champions:  WWE Night of Champions 2015 Preview & Prediction
    • Ring of Honor TV 9/19 results and recap: Briscoes/Goto vs CHAOS (Roppongi Vice/Okada)
    • CMLL 82nd anniversary show live report from Arena Mexico 9-18 Atlantis vs. La Sombra
    • Nothing from wrestling, MMA or boxing trended on Google so far this weekend.  WWE will trend today as the PPV usually does 200,000 or more searches.
    • On Twitter at this writing, the only thing trending with any legit numbers were Bellator Dynamite at 24,600 and Fedor Emelianenko at 12,300.
    • Tickets went on sale to the public today for the UFC 193 show at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.   This will be very interesting to see.
    • The odds were really long hours early for today’s Night of Champions. WWE News: Long odds for Night of Champions
    • During a Friday night Toronto Blue Jays game on Rogers Sportsnet, the announcers were plugging an ad for Night of Champions (which is on Rogers PPV in Canada and also is on the WWE Network that they own the Canadian rights to), and mentioned Rollins vs Sting.  Buck Martinez, an announcer listening to that, said “I’m assuming that’s not the same Sting that used to be in the Police.  No, I think he’d be a little old for that sort of thing.”
    • Dolph Ziggler on Twitter said he would be debuting new gear tonight.
    • There is a good Hall of Fame story on the Sharpe Brothers and C.M. Punk on the front page by Ryan Clingman.
    • The IHWE promotion out of Fort Worth run by David Farmer announced this week it has joined the NWA.  
    • John Fennigan, who keeps taps of people’s TV and PPV matches since 11/06, said that since that period, the Jack Swagger match with Bo Dallas on Superstars was his 300th match.  the only wrestlers over the period with more TV matches are Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston and Sheamus.  John Cena has 299 over that period, so he hits No. 300 with his match with Rollins tonight.
    • Premier Wrestling last night in San Jose before 106 fans:  Hawaiian Lion (1-0) b Mike Truex (0-1), Tyler Bateman (1-2) b Dalton Frost (0-1), Alexander Hammerstone (1-0 b Dylan Drake (4-5), Marcus Lewis (5-4) b Julio Pedroza (3-4), Gabriel Gallo (4-0) b Dom Vitalli (1-3), Timothy Thatcher (4-2-1) b Joe Graves (2-1-1), Kahmora & Nicole Savoy b Raze & Kikyo Nakamura, JR Kratos (9-2) b Jeff Cobb (6-3-1) to retain the Premier title.  Apparently Cobb vs. Kratos was really good.  Next show is 11/28 in Gilroy.
    • Real Canadian Wrestling announced these dates in Alberta and Saskatchewan
      9/25 in Maple Creek at the Community Centre
      9/26 in Calgary at Legion #1
      9/27 in Bassano at the Community Centre
    • Pro Wrestling Phoenix results from Wednesday night in Omaha:  Zac James b Paul Daniels in a street fight, Michael Ray b Joey Daniels, Mark Sterling b Hype Gotti, Tony Cortez b Pat Powers, L-Ray b Dalton Lee Roth, Arik Cannon & Darren Russell b Abu Colossus & Brendan Juarez.  Next show is 9/26. 
    • All Star Wrestling on 11/13 in Vancouver at the Scottish Cultural Center.
    • Fringe Pro Wrestling on 10/3 in Hamilton, ONT at the Bay City Music Hall.
    • Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling last night in East Carondelet, IL:  Keith Smith Jr. & Math Magician b Waco & Daniel Gunner, Chris Hargas b Karim Brigante, Malia Hosaka d Lucy Mendez, Ron Powers won handicap match over Ax Allwardt & Bubba Troll, Chaz Wesson b Howard Mortiz, Sean Vincent b Curtis Wylde in a strap match, Gary Jackson b Brandon Espinosa-DQ, Flash Flanagan b Heath Hatton-DQ (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
    • Larry Matysik, who due to health reasons, has been unable to attend these shows for nearly a year, was at last night’s event.
    • A college wrestler, Eric Harris, filed a lawsuit against Bucknell University, claiming it ignored or missed his symptoms from a series of concussions he suffered while competing on the wrestling team, including a brain injury that ended up his career and forced him out of college and led to his disability.  Attorneys representing Harris filed suit on 9/4 asking for in excess of $50,000.  The claim is that he suffers from post-concussion syndrome that the effects on his brain pevent him from pursuing a degree and from getting employment.
    • GOUGE from last night in Raleigh:  Timmy Lou Retton b Otto Schwanz, Juan Jeremi b Priest, Waylon Maze b Ryker the Clown, Victor Andrews b Chance LeBeaux, Encore b Popo the Clown, Waylon Maze & Juan Jeremi b Otto Schwanz & Corzone Caliente, Seymour Snott DDQ Jimmy Jack Funk Jr. 
    • I Believe in Wresting from last night in Orlando:  Slade Porter b Josh Hess and Ace Andrews, Mike Reed b Derick Jordan, Tyrannus b Rex Cacchus, Brandon Scherer b Toby Clements, Mark Silva b Dalton Murphy, Josh Parker b Chico Adams, Dirty Blondes b Rhett Ghiddins & Aaron Epic.  Next show is 10/3 with Santana Garrett defending the NWA women’s title against Saraya Knight. (thanks to Al Haft)
    • Big Time Wrestling from Friday night in Glens Falls, NY before 1,200 fans:  Todo Loco won three-way over Danny Miles and Bobby Ocean, Scotty 2 Hotty b Sean burke, Slyck Wagner Brown b Antonio Thomas, Honky Tonk Man & The Patriot b Earl Cooter & Eric Alden, Mister TA b Foxx Vinyer, Flex Armstrong b Ba Shaw, Kevin Nash & Jeff Starr b Vince Beach & Shane Alden

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

    1930 – Ed Strangler Lewis beat Joe Stecher before 10,000 fans in Sydney, Australia.  No title was at stake, but it was a huge match in that country.  

    1968 – Toru Tanaka beat Mario Milano to win the IWA heavyweight title

    1989 – Masa Saito & Shinya Hashimoto beat Riki Choshu & Takashi Iizuka in Osaka to win the IWGP tag titles  That’s 26 years ago and Iizuka was tag champ.  That’s scary.

    1993 – Shinya Hashimoto beat Great Muta in Nagoya to win the IWGP heavyweight title 

    1996 – Lioness Asuka beat Lola Gonzalez in Mexico City to win the TWWF women’s title.  The WWE wrestler Kana is taking her name fro Asuka.

    1997 – Shawn Michaels beat Davey Boy Smith to win the European title.  This was the match where Davey dedicated the match to his sister who had cancer when he was told he was going to win. Then, on the day of the show, he was told he was losing.  Needless to say, he wasn’t happy about that

    1997 – Devil Masami beat Chigusa Nagayo in Kawasaki to win the Gaea All-Asia title

    2000 – Gedo & Jado beat Hideki Hosaka & Yoshinori Sasaki and Kintaro Kanemura & Ryuji Hijikata in a three-way in Hokkaido to win the WEW tag titles

    2004 – Manami Toyota & Carlos Amano beat Aja Kong & Amazing Kong (TNA’s Awesome Kong) to win the AAAW tag titles

    2011 – Olimpico & Psicosis & Volador Jr. beat Angel de Oro & Diamante & Rush in Mexico City to win the Mexican national trios titles

  • WWE Night of Champions 2015 Preview & Predictions

    By WrestlingObserver.com Staff

    This Sunday will conclude what will be one of the more busy weeks of the year when Night of Champions 2015 takes place in Houston, Texas. Having been held every year since 2007, this event’s stipulation is that every title is required to be defended. So for Seth Rollins, he’s in a bit of a pickle that night as he holds both the United States and WWE World Heavyweight championships. And not only that, he faces two very tough challengers in two separate matches. We have the United States championship match against the man he beat for the title John Cena, and he also faces the Icon (or the Vigilante, depending on what week it is) Sting for the WWE World Heavyweight championship. The odds are stacked against him, but the question remains – will Seth Rollins walk out of Texas with both titles?

    We’ve brought together several WrestlingObserver.com reporters to answer this very question, as well as thoughts on the other matches on the show. Here’s what they had to say:

    WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Sting

    Bryan Rose: This match doesn’t make a lick of sense booking wise. I think the idea is that the Authority want Seth to take out Sting. Well, okay, but didn’t Triple H do that to Sting at WrestleMania? And keep in mind Sting lost that match, which is his only match on WWE to date, not counting this past Monday which, true, he beat Seth in the middle clean, but that was after the match was made. Regardless, this I think will be a better match than people will expect it to be. Seth is one of the best workers on the roster right now and can take someone like Sting and have a great match with him.

    Some people will say Sting has a chance of winning here. I think there’s a slim chance of that happening, but it all depends on how long Sting is staying this time around. I think if Sting wins, it’ll be through a crappy, disputed finish that’ll lead to a Hell in a Cell match next month, which will have Seth win somehow, probably in another disputed finish. That’s a lot of crappy finishes, but then again if you look at many WWE main events, someone’s always screwed out of something anyway. I don’t see either guy losing clean but I think Sting has the best chances of winning this time around. Pick: Sting

    Chris Aiken: The nostalgic fan in me wants to see the Stinger have a great old school match with none of what has become the staple of a WWE main event as Rollins is more than capable of carrying the load in match without gimmicks. Instead, the WWE title match will likely be more similar to Sting’s match with Triple H at WrestleMania, but with a lot of more stunts from Rollins with maybe similar kinds of wild plot twists and chicanery. With the recent news of lower ratings, they could try to hot shot a Sting title run but Rollins retaining seems like a safer bet. That’s not to say Sting won’t win via disqualification or so some similar sort of cheap finish. Maybe Rollins puts the final nail in some convoluted attempt to finally bury WCW and end the wrestling war that already ended a long time ago. Nevertheless, seeing Sting have a main event title match in WWE is still surreal enough to make it all worth it.

    Steve Khan: I’m watching this show with a few friends and I’m pretty sure it’s because of this match, which is weird. I can’t imagine Sting is winning the title, because it’s 2015 and he works for the wrong company. But we’re all watching it anyway. Kane and/or J&J Security could return and help Rollins escape with the title, but Sting getting pinned also seems unlikely, so I see them getting out of this with a DQ or something along those lines. The match itself should be fine. Pick: Sting via DQ

    Jeremy Peeples: Sting won on Raw and Seth not only lost there, but on SmackDown – so it seems safe to assume that Seth is retaining here. However, Sheamus has lost a lot, isn’t booked on this show, and needs a bit win. Seth could lose to Sting here, only to have Sheamus cash in and take the title later in the show. Otherwise, it’s impossible to imagine WWE putting the WWE Title on Sting for any length of time when he couldn’t even beat HHH at WrestleMania or get a clean win on Raw over Big Show.

    James Cox: The match will probably be good, but I don’t see it being much better than just that – good. Arguably, there is no-one better placed than Seth Rollins to make Sting, at 56, look like he still belongs in a WWE ring, but I think the finish will distract from the quality of the wrestling. Does Sting need the title to be a WWE Hall of Famer? In their minds, possibly. But I see Rollins winning – not without hope for Sting along the way. Some outside interference that maybe the likes of Money in Bank holder, Sheamus, could provide, will no doubt colour the finish. This can then lead to them settling the score without disruption inside Hell in a Cell next month at The Staples Centre. Pick: Seth Rollins

    Jeff Hamlin: In theory, Sting in the WWE seemed like a good idea. In practice, he’s fallen into the same trap that hurt Goldberg, Diamond Dallas Page, Scott Steiner and (to an extent) Ric Flair. They were all WCW stars that Vince didn’t know what to do with because he didn’t create them. The aura of Sting in WWE has never been fully captured. I sense the decision makers in WWE feel the same way. Rollins needs to go over strong and stop being portrayed as a whiny champion that constantly relies on the Authority. Pick: Seth Rollins.

    Paul Fontaine: I feel like this will be a one time match, with Sting’s Wrestlemania match being set up, or at least hinted at, here. Look for interference by his potential opponent and I’m going with Bray Wyatt. This could even lead up to Sting teaming up with Reigns and Ambrose down the road to take on the Wyatts, leading to an eventual Mania match. Pick: Seth Rollins by DQ to retain title

    WWE United States Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. John Cena

    Bryan Rose: I think that John Cena wins it back here. Then again, that would mean Seth Rollins loses twice on the same show with my picks. Still, there’s really no reason for Seth to win the title. Cena’s been doing a great job as United States champion and I just kind of like the idea of having him continue with that run as champion. Then again, with Roman Reigns not taking off like he was supposed to this year, Orton in and out with no tangible storylines this year and Daniel Bryan’s career in jeopardy, there’s not many top faces on the roster right now, so he might not work out as US champion like he did this past summer. It’s a tough choice, but I think Cena wins it back clean here, and could even go last if they do a disputed finish for the WWE title match. Pick: John Cena

    Chris Aiken: No matter whether you love or despise him as the face of WWE, John Cena is on a roll of more than delivering great matches on PPV (or special events or whatever). Both Cena and Rollins will pull out all the stops if this match closes the show, and the Spanish announce table will likely not survive if this is in the main event slot. Likewise, the announce table may not survive this match regardless of positioning on the card. If it doesn’t close the show, it could be more subdued. No matter, it still should be good, if not bordering on great if it delivers. Cena regaining the title would give him his win back and they like to do that sort of thing.

    Steve Khan: This or the 6-man tag should end up being the match of the night. However, this is the third singles match these two have had over the last few months, so they’ll need something to separate it from the others. Cena should probably win and get the US Title back. They can do this match (and title change) early on the show, allowing them to tell the story throughout the night leading up the the main event. Pick: John Cena (new U.S. Champion)

    Jeremy Peeples: Seth vs. Cena was the co-main event last month, but is seemingly being positioned as the true main event of the show even with Sting getting the show-closing segment on Raw. These two have fantastic chemistry together as evidenced by the Royal Rumble triple threat, their nose-smashing Raw match, and Summerslam, so this should be at least very good. Seth has done absolutely nothing with the U.S. Title, making it just a prop like the European title was with Shawn Michaels, so Cena should win this and go back to the U.S. Title invitational to at least give Raw something to easily build up each week.

    James Cox: This could be the best match on the card. There are so many ways that they could book this but logic would suggest that Cena regains his lost title after being screwed out of it by John Stewart last month. After all the work that Cena did to re-elevate this title is now lost, to some extent, by having Seth hold it whilst also holding the WWE title. With a resilient veteran performance, Cena will dodge the attempted distraction from The Authority and leave them disappointed in their boy. Pick: John Cena

    Jeff Hamlin: The question is which belt does Rollins lose? The idea of a double champion was a good selling point for SummerSlam, but it’s been pointless. Rollins has barely defended the U.S. Championship on television. He’s been more concerned with a statue. So if Cena wins, do they bring back the U.S. Open Challenge? It was the highlight of Raw during the summer with Cena elevating the title and having several 4-star matches. That’s a formula that makes more sense. There are still some programs for Cena as a U.S. Champion for another reign. On a side note, Jim Ross had a good point on his podcast this week saying this match should start the show. Pick: Seth Rollins

    Paul Fontaine: With Seth retaining the World title I think he loses the US title here. Cena was having great matches almost every week on RAW and it would be nice to see that continue by putting the belt back on him. They could also come back to Cena/Rollins down the line if Cena wins here. Cena should win clean in what I’m gonna predict is a match of the year candidate. Pick: John Cena (new champ)

    WWE Intercontinental Championship: Ryback (c) vs. Kevin Owens

    Bryan Rose: The Ryback thing I just don’t think is working right now. He’s been given horrendous dialogue in the last few weeks and compared to the fluidity Owens has when doing promos, it’s like night and day. I don’t think we need to go into detail on who is a better worker, but Ryback does have his moments and works hard. Either way, I just look at who has the better upside, and it’s Owens. Then again, I really shouldn’t put my money on Owens winning since this belt right now is a career derailer to anyone who holds it. I think Owens will win, but it’ll be by count out or DQ. After all, most WWE midcard feuds these days are required to go two months or more with a bunch of lame finishes. Pick: Kevin Owens

    Chris Aiken: If given even enough time in a title match with Owens, this could be one of the greatest matches in the career of Ryback. If it is kept short, it will probably be good but not so notable. No sense in beating Owens. But what if he wins the IC title? You know, the belt with the stench of midcard fodder. That sounds terrible. Take heart in knowing that no matter what nonsensical creative is thrown their way, the match itself will likely be entertaining.

    Steve Khan: It seemed like Ryback had some momentum not long ago, but he’s completely flat now. Maybe it was the injury. Or maybe it was feuding with Big Show and The Miz. Either way, Owens is the perfect IC champion and he should win. But with potential titles changes elsewhere on the card I don’t see one here. Owens walks out and they do the match again later. Pick: Ryback via countout

    Jeremy Peeples: With its build involving terribly-written dialogue delivered poorly by Ryback and also involving eating, book-reading, and mocking “The Secret”, this hasn’t been one of the finest builds in recent memory. This will be the first match between the two, so their chemistry together is unknown. Given that Owens really needs a big win, and could use a title to in theory gain some credibility, he should win this.

    James Cox: Owens doesn’t need to be losing to Ryback and Ryback feels out of his depth here. Ryback has had a resurgence of late and he’s about as over as he’s ever going to get now. The prospect of Owens as IC champion is a fun one, to say the least. They can, of course, settle this in a Cell next month if they don’t do a rematch on Raw.

    Prediction: Kevin Owens

    Jeff Hamlin: This seems like a two PPV cycle program since they just made the match official six days before NOC. Owens as a champion has all sorts of possibilities that would make the Intercontinental championship a great workrate title again. Think of the potential new programs: Bryan, Ambrose, Ziggler, Reigns (if he isn’t main event ready by WrestleMania), Orton, Rusev. Would the company rather have that or another month of bad Ryback promos? Expect a title change and a rematch at HIAC. Pick: Kevin Owens.

    Paul Fontaine: I think this is going to be a sleeper of good match and it’s probably time for Owens to get a belt at this point. This program is just getting started so they should feud over the belt for a few months before Owens moves on. With Owens being one of HHH’s pet projects, I don’t think he’ll be fodder for Ryback here and I also believe he has more upward potential. Pick: Kevin Owens

    WWE Divas Championship: Nikki Bella vs. Charlotte

    Bryan Rose: I think now that the streak is broken, Nikki should hold on to the title until at least WrestleMania. That’ll be the biggest and best high profile match for one of Team PCB (or even one of Team BAD) to defeat Nikki and take the championship. If they were going to put it on Charlotte, they should have done it on Raw. Since they didn’t, there’s no real intrigue here. I mean they could go with Charlotte regardless but they should have struck while the iron was hot, and given everything else that’s gone on lately in this division the iron is already lukewarm enough as it is. Pick: Nikki Bella

    Chris Aiken: Please God let this be good and please don’t let the crowd crap on it. Please let magic happen in this match, like the kind of magic that creates real change. Please God let there be change. Amen.

    Steve Khan: Charlotte should’ve won the title on Raw and beaten Nikki again at NOC in their rematch. Instead, Nikki won and now has the record (for a title that’s only existed since 2008) and this is now the longest revolution in human history… probably. Nikki might as well keep going, as Charlotte beating her just six days later will seem like a waste. The match itself should be fine, and Paige turning on Charlotte is an easy way out. Pick: Nikki Bella

    Jeremy Peeples: The “divas revolution” has been hot and cold, mostly leaning towards the latter, but Monday’s Raw did feel like they at least built momentum for the division by giving Nikki and Charlotte the biggest hype going into the show. The finish hurt things for a bit, but Charlotte’s reactions really sold it as a big deal and made this already-announced match seem like a bigger deal. Charlotte winning would make sense, but Nikki winning thanks to Paige would be a better long-term move since it holds off Charlotte’s win to a point when the fans should theoretically want it as opposed to the company just giving it to her.

    James Cox: Now that the record has been broken, they can do what they like here. Either Nikki retains because Paige interferes, or Charlotte wins to proclaim a new era for the Divas division. Revolution, or not, I agree with Bryan: Nikki Bella is pretty much completely unlikeable. Pick: Charlotte

    Jeff Hamlin: On the surface, it seems that Charlotte takes the title. Nikki Bella already broke A.J. Lee’s record. Nikki has the stipulations going against her that she can drop the title via DQ or countout. However, there’s been little teases of dissension in Team PCB. Go back to Monday night. After Stephanie McMahon came out and announced Charlotte would have to give back the Divas title, it was Paige who quickly handed the belt back to the referee. Either Charlotte takes the title at NOC and Paige turns on her Monday night to set up her first program, or Paige does the turn here. In fact, I’ll go with the latter. Pick: Nikki Bella.

    Paul Fontaine: With Nikki Bella having broken the record, they might as well keep it on her until at least Survivor Series at this point, which would make it a full year. I think the next champion will be Sasha and it’s possible they could even hold out until ‘Mania for that match. Pick: Nikki Bella

    WWE Tag Team Championship: The New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz

    Bryan Rose: New Day have been really hot as the new heel act right now that everyone likes. Isn’t it amazing how it’s night and day compared to when they first made their debut as a trio? The Dudley Boyz coming in shakes things up because Prime Time Players aren’t that over and they missed the boat on the Lucha Dragons while they had the chance. I think this will be a pretty solid match and probably the most fun of the night, especially with Xavier Woods’ antics. Its way too early for a title switch so I say New Day sneaks a win, setting up a title match for Hell in a Cell. Pick: The New Day

    Chris Aiken: The New Day is fast becoming the most entertaining act in WWE (whenever Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are not there, of course). So, sound the trumpets and start clapping. It is a new day… except the New Day is against a storied team making their triumphant return. That is a scenario ripe for a title switch. Personally, I’m getting my nostalgia pop with Sting. That’s enough for me. I would rather hear the trumpet sound a victorious song about the triumph of the New Day.

    Steve Khan: The Dudleys can make an impact here and win the titles to re-establish themselves as a top team right away. However, New Day just won the titles back, and this company is going to try to stretch out every feud it can this time of year. The match should be fun. I see New Day retaining through nefarious means, leading to a rematch later on. They’ll give the crowd what they want and someone (Xavier Woods) will end up through a table. Pick: The New Day

    Jeremy Peeples: New Day has seen their stock rise a ton over the past few months. They began really gaining momentum as a loveable act by fully turning heel and then just being wacky. As an undercard act, there isn’t one that is more purely entertaining. The Dudley Boyz returned and have looked good, while Torito is seemingly going to be aligned with them soon. Perhaps he joins them for this show en route to a title win for the Dudleyz, although New Day has far more momentum and should win this one.

    James Cox: It has been 10 years since The Duley Boyz were in a tag team bout in WWE, but what a wonderful thing The New Day has become. And who knew? I can’t see them breaking their run just yet, though Woods’ trombone may be about to broken through a table. I think The New Day steals one here, but the Dudleys will put them all through tables after the match. Pick: The New Day

    Jeff Hamlin: The New Day will have its fans regardless of whether they hold the belts. However, they still shouldn’t have lost them to the Prime Time Players in June. It didn’t get the Prime Time Players more over. The New Day is a fun comedy act that’s only grown more entertaining with Xavier Woods trombone antics, which has become this generation’s Edge and Christian kazoo numbers. The Dudleys will get the belts at some point, but the New Day just regained the championships at SummerSlam and should go over here. Make the Dudleys 10th WWE Tag Team title reign somewhat elusive. Pick: The New Day

    Paul Fontaine: The New Day are my, and many others, favorite act in WWE right now. I suspect they lose here and then win it back in a month or two. Xavier will probably get put through a table, maybe while playing his trombone. Hell miscommunication causing the Dudleyz to hit a 3-D on Big E is the likely finish. Pick: The Dudley Boyz

    Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Mystery Partner vs. The Wyatt Family

    Bryan Rose: I don’t think the intrigue here is the match, because while it’ll probably be good, this angle feels like it’s never ending and really wasn’t that interesting to begin with. I think the real interest here is in who the mystery partner is. They kind of clued in that Orton might be the guy, but they took him out on Raw a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the partner anyway, but they’ve kept this a surprise for whatever reason.

    A lot of people have speculated it might be someone from NXT, but when I think about big WWE surprises as of late they haven’t really delivered. There’s one person due to be back at any time now, and it’s everyone’s favorite reliable run in Kane. Though it would make sense for him to feud with Rollins upon returning, they really don’t need to (really don’t), and if they want to put Kane in a program so he can exist on the roster, well, there you go. Not that it’s a fun choice, but it makes the most sense. I say that the Wyatts don’t win this one, and I’ll also say Strowman is pinned so his mystique can vanish…because that’s just what they do. Pick: Team Roman

    Chris Aiken: If the crazy-on-the-surface speculation about The Rock is actually true, I’ll likely shit my britches. If it terms out to be Randy Orton after all, that’ll be an LOL moment because it would make no sense, but it makes sense something would happen that makes no sense. I’d really shit my britches if the mystery partner was the masked, yet somehow recognizable, Mr. America. That would be something worth retweeting, brother.

    Steve Khan: This will be one of the two best matches on the show, but we’ve seen various combinations of this match a lot lately. If he’s healthy, I imagine they would love to have Erick Rowan return here. The idea of Rowan and Strowman having a big staredown must fill this company with glee.

    If it is Rowan, the Wyatts will probably win to even things up after SummerSlam. If the partner is actually someone good, like Chris Jericho or Daniel Bryan, then the Ambrose/Reigns team should win. I’d love to see Bryan return, but not here. Pick: The Wyatts

    Jeremy Peeples: The big hook here is the mystery partner and after taking Orton and Jimmy Uso out, it appears that they can be taken out of the equation. Sting makes no logical sense, but he was going to be the partner last month before plans changed, and they could tell the story of him opening the show, winning the WWE Title, doing this in the middle, and then lose the title to Sheamus via cash-in if they wanted. Rowan would make sense story-wise since he opposed the Wyatts.  If he’s cleared, it makes for an okay story to have the white sheep against the black sheep in Strowman. Pick: The Wyatts

    James Cox: Braun Strowman gives the Wyatts the monster edge, even if he’s green and has the wrong look. I can see Ambrose being pinned by Strowman with some lights-go-out, hokey, Wyatt-confusion thrown in for good measure. My bet is that the Mystery partner is Randy Orton after all, but I’d be delighted if it’s Daniel Bryan or Finn Balor. Balor and Bray is a feud just itching to happen. If Bryan is ready and they want to use him, I’d bet that this is exactly the level that they see him being at. Pick: The Wyatts

    Jeff Hamlin: The mystery partner aspect is genuinely interesting because it could be several different people. Everyone would love to see Daniel Bryan, because it would set up a new set of matches instantly. Erik Rowan would make storyline sense but would be somewhat of a letdown. I’ll be interested to see how strong they try to keep Braun Strowman. The company has an insatiable desire for giants, but Strowman isn’t close to getting over. If the Wyatts go over, then he needs to make Ambrose submit with his head and arm choke. Bray Wyatt also mentioned Sister Abigail in several promos until this week. Does she factor in if Rowan turns out to be the mystery man, leading to some tale from Rowan’s past with the Wyatts? However, that would overshadow the original mystery partner, and it’s Roman’s time to go over. Pick: Reigns, Ambrose and ?

    Paul Fontaine: The intrigue here is on who the mystery partner will be and I’m gonna go out on a limb and go with Solomon Crowe from NXT. He seems like a good fit with Ambrose. I do think that all of this is ending up with a Roman Reigns heel turn and we should see more advancement to that end in this match. Roman pinning Harper would be my thought for the finish. Pick: Team Roman

    Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler

    Bryan Rose: This feud has been a weird one. There were some segments that were funny at times, such as the Dog Ziggler promo, but there’s also been some real cringeworthy stuff as well, like the Ziggler/Summer shower stuff from a few weeks ago that never really went anywhere. Whatever the case may be, it’s a midcard feud that’s pulling two guys that used to be upper midcarders to an even lower level than they were before. That’s WWE booking for you, though, so what can you do.

    I’m not sure where they go with this one. I think the idea for this show was for this to be a mixed tag, but with Lana’s injury they had to make it a singles bout. I’d say Dolph wins, but Rusev lays him out after to continue it. Not that it needs to be continued, but I think they want to for the foreseeable future, or might just put it on ice until Lana returns. Pick: Dolph Ziggler

    Chris Aiken: The match itself will likely be good and the creative will likely be wacky. Hopefully, it is that kind of wacky that makes one love pro wrestling. Judging by the excitement heard in his voice on numerous radio shows, Bryan Alvarez will likely be on the edge of his seat.

    Steve Khan: Ziggler would make a good first opponent for Owens for the IC Title, but that’s probably not happening just yet. Rusev could use a win and I’m not really sure what the point of this match is any more with Lana on the shelf. Rusev should win and maybe they can keep these two apart for a while. Pick: Rusev

    Jeremy Peeples: This poor feud has been cursed by WWE being too cute for its own good with the writing. They have actively hurt every single act in this outside of maybe Hot Summer, who did nothing before it. With that said, Rusev vs. Dolph was fine last month outside of the finish. Since Rusev has been losing a lot, I’ll go with him winning this one – perhaps due to Summer Rae.

    James Cox: Both men deserve better than this. The focus on the women must come into play but I have no idea where they are going with all that. Rusev and Ziggler could have a good match if the focus is on them, however. I hope they blow this feud off on Sunday, but I have a bad feeling that they won’t. Ziggler is surely due a win? Pick: Dolph Ziggler

    Jeff Hamlin: The angle on Monday night threw another wrinkle into this program with Ziggler giving Summer Rae jewelry. They have to keep this program going until Lana gets back, presumably leading to Rusev and Lana reuniting. My guess is Ziggler is playing mind games by trying to sabotage his relationship with Summer the same way Summer tried to sabotage Dolph’s relationship with Lana and that somehow plays into a distraction finish where Dolph wins. Pick: Dolph Ziggler

    Paul Fontaine: We’ve seen this match what seems like dozens of times over the last several months and I’m not sure that it really matters who wins at this point. This is all about the angle and most of the interest is about where they’re going with the drama also involving Summer Rae and Lana. My theory here is that Dolph is hooking up with Summer because Lana doesn’t “put out”, which explain why she was so upset that Summer saw Dolph naked…because she hasn’t yet. I am interested in seeing where they go. Pick: Rusev

  • WWE News: Long odds for Night of Champions

    There are unusually long odds in at two different agencies for Night of Champions.  Usually the long odds, which come when the late “smart money” comes in, isn’t until maybe an hour or so before the start of the show.

    However, whenever the odds are super long, in better than 95 percent of the cases over the past few years, the winners have been correct.  There are occasional misses.

    As of last word, here were odds:

    Stardust & The Ascension were 135-to-1 favorites.

    Dolph  Ziggler was a 135-to-1 favorite.

    The Dudleys were 45-to-1 favorites.

    Kevin Owens was a 45-to-1 favorite.

    Charlotte was a 135-to-1 favorite.

    The Wyatt Family were 135-to-1 favorites.

    John Cena was a 45-to-1 favorite over Seth Rollins

    Seth Rollins was a 60-to-1 favorite over Sting

  • NJPW Road to Destruction results 9-20-15: Eight man tag action

    by Bryan Rose, WrestlingObserver.com

    Here are quick results from this morning’s Road to Destruction show in Toyohashi:

    Roppongi Vice defeated Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu. Beretta scored the pinfall after the Omori Driver/dropkick combo on Tanaka. Solid opener.

    Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger & Yuji Nagata defeated David Finlay, Jay White and Manabu Nakanishi when Tiger Mask pinned Finlay with a butterfly suplex off the top tope. Another solid match. Manabu Nakanishi moved like a somewhat agile 90 year old…in other words, not good. Tiger Mask cut a promo after the match saying that he will make the NWA Jr. title match on 9/23 a can’t miss bout.

    Tomoaki Honma and Mascara Dorada defeated Gedo and Tomohiro Ishii after Honma pinned Gedo with the top rope kokeshi headbutt. A lot of the match was between Ishii and Honma, which the crowd were totally into. The match itself was pretty good.

    Katsuyori Shibata & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Tetsuya Naito and Juice Robinson when Shibata tapped out Robinson in what looked like a variation of an abdominal stretch while Taguchi distracted Naito who was on the top rope. Not particularly interesting but heated up towards the end. People were very much into Shibata and Naito’s interactions. After the match Naito went ahead and dropkicked Shibata and acted like he was going to hit him with a chair but sat down instead. Taguchi warded off Shibata, then came back with a hip attack. Shibata beat up Naito after to send him packing.

    Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano defeated Cody Hall and Doc Gallows. Okada pinned Hall with the rainmaker. Not too much about this match, though it was fine. Yano did his comedy and was over with the crowd.

    Togi Makabe & Hirooki Goto defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & Yoshi-Hashi. Makabe pinned Yoshi-Hashi after the king kong knee drop. Pretty good towards the end. People were very much into Yoshi-Hashi’s comeback before the pin.

    Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tenkoji and Kushida defeated The Bullet Club (Kenny Omega, Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale). Tanahashi pinned Tama Tonga with the high fly flow. Atypical eight man match that they usually do, but it was full of action and the crowd was hot for everything which made it a good match.

    Tanahashi did some air guitar after the match. Really just a house show, nothing more, nothing less.

  • ROH TV tapings report 9-19 San Antonio Next month of TV (updated)

    ROH TV taping spoilers from San Antonio (taped 9-19)

    By Chris Aiken

    There was a dark match beforehand with two local indie teams.

    Show #1

    Matt Sydal beat ACH. This was good of course. It took a little time to warm the crowd but once they did the crowd was popping for the highspots, and there were a lot of them. This was a great way to kick off the tapings.

    The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) came out to cut a promo about being upset they were “robbed” of the tag team titles the previous night. As they ranted and raved, All Night Express (Rhett Titus & Kenny King) came out to a great reaction to confront Addiction. This set up a match for later on in the show, which will be framed as “next week” when it airs.

    Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser beat The Boys. Silas got on the mic beforehand and insulted The Boys manner of dress before saying one of their first lessons would be to get beaten up by real men. Silas and the Bruiser then squashed The Boys. Bruiser may have a regular role in ROH as he appeared on two different episodes teaming with Silas.

    Jay Lethal (with Truth Martini) beat Takaaki Watanabe to retain the TV title. The crowd knew Lethal was the heel as they chanted his name during his entrance but still treated him like the heel in the match. Watanabe was more over than one would think, but judging by all the New Japan shirts in the crowd and the big pop when the lion mark logo popped up on the video screen, they really wanted to see someone from New Japan that wasn’t American.

    Show #2

    All Night Express beat The Addiction. Daniels & Kazarian were the most jeered act of the night as the crowd really took to booing and taunting them. Early on in the match, Chris Sabin was at ringside and caught Kazarian when he was thrown over the top rope to the floor. The referee ejected Sabin. For the finish, someone in a red mask ran in and caused a distraction that allowed the Addiction to lose. Was it Sabin or someone else? Time will tell.

    The Kingdom (Adam Cole, Matt Taven, Michael Bennett & Maria Kanellis) came out to the ring all dressed up. The men wore suits while Maria wore a dress and heels. They all cut a promo bragging about their recent accomplishments like winning the tag team titles and Cole playing a role in the finish of the ROH title match the night before on the PPV. Out comes reDragon to confront them as security holds them back from entering the ring. Michael Elgin also enters the scene to even the odds. A six-man tag match is made for later on in the show.

    Jay Briscoe beat Adam Page (with BJ Whitmer) in a no holds barred match. With his shoulder in a sling the night before on the PPV, Page had his shoulder taped up here. The match was a wild brawl with chair shots and a table was broken amongst all kinds of other crazy spots. BJ Whitmer provided guest commentary and he gave Page his crutch at one point to use on Jay. Mark Briscoe ran in to grab the crutch and take it to the back. Whitmer began arguing with Steve Corino as Page tried to get his attention. Distracted by trying to yell at Whitmer, Page fell prey to a Jay and was pinned.

    Following the match was arguably the best and most notable angle on the show. Whitmer got in the ring afterwards and he started beating Briscoe with his other crutch. Corino jumped in the ring to make the save. He took off his sport jacket and began a staredown with Whitmer. Then, Corino clocked Whitmer with a roll of quarters in his hand. Down goes Whitmer. Coins went flying everywhere and the crowd popped big. Corino got out of the ring and hugged Kevin Kelly. Corino left the scene with the story likely  being he can no longer be an announcer due to becoming physically involved in an angle after knocking out Whitmer. He would not be seen again in front of the live crowd as Nigel McGuinness replaced him on commentary for the rest of the night.

    Show #3

    Moose (with Stokely Hathaway) beat Donovan Dijack (with Truth Martini). Moose looked almost even better in the ring than he did the previous night and this was a straight match without all of the gimmicks used in his PPV match.

    Dalton Castle beat Cedric Alexander (with Veda Scott). Castle was without The Boys of course and he was also without his jumpsuit or winged cape. He loses a lot of his aura without the full gimmick but they may be trying to distance him from the comedy aspect of it in favor of a more serious tone. He strolled to the ring in a t-shirt and showed more fire and aggression than usual playing off the story of being upset about losing The Boys. Alexander had various parts of his body taped up selling the brutality of his PPV match with Moose. After the match, Veda Scott cut a promo threatening ROH with a lawsuit over being subjected to an unsafe work environment. That’ll show ‘em, Veda.

    Jay Lethal and Truth Martini cut a promo in the ring. They were bragging when Roderick Strong interrupts them. He wanted another title shot. Lethal said he already beat him in ROH title matches. Lethal tells Nigel to tell Strong the same thing. Nigel says it’s true. However, instead of a ROH title match, Nigel gives Roderick a match for Lethal’s TV title. No announcement was made as to when or where the match takes place.

    reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) & Michael Elgin beat The Kingdom (Cole & Taven & Bennett with Maria). The match was good and it culminated in an angle where an angry O’Reilly demanded a match with Cole on this very night in San Antonio. Nigel said Cole already had a match booked for later on (“next week”) with AJ Styles and, while he couldn’t cancel that match in favor of another, he could add O’Reilly to it making it a three-way match. Admittedly, I was barely paying attention to the angle itself as I was transfixed on Maria’s assets like I was a New Japan cameraman.

    In a match taped after intermission but before the open of the fourth episode, Chesseburger teamed with a masked man in patriotic red, white and blue gear (which was likely indie wrestler Andrew Lockhart who also worked as a ring attendant at the PPV the night before) calling themselves American Fighters as they beat a local team called The Dirty Outlaws. Mark Briscoe provided guest commentary on this match and the next episode being taped as well.

    Show #4

    The Young Bucks vs. Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser (with The Boys) ended in a no contest. The Bucks were super over. They were probably more over with the crowd than anyone else. After admonishing The Boys earlier in the night about their choice of gear, The Boys came out wearing blue jeans and wifebeaters. The Boys would cower down from Silas and the Bruiser. When Bruiser and Silas weren’t looking they would fan The Bucks. After the Bucks began to run wild, Silas grabbed the house mic and said the match was originally scheduled as The Boys vs. The Bucks so he ordered The Boys to finish the match in the place of himself and the Bruiser.

    The Young Bucks beat The Boys. The crowd as still super hot for this like they were for the previous match. Lots of superkicks as it was a superkick party after all. After The Boys were beaten, Silas and Bruiser went to beat them up some more. The Bucks made the save then helped The Boys to their feet and raised their hands. Despite the show of sportsmanship, the crowd wanted more superkicks and The Bucks obliged by giving The Boys a dual superkicks to leave them laying.

    Roderick Strong beat Will Ferrara. While the crowd was into Strong during his angle with Lethal earlier on, they were mixed on Strong during this match (at least that’s the perspective from my section). He got cheered some, but not as much as in other markets. Nevertheless, it was a strong (pun intended) performance as Roddy showcased his great in-ring skills before making Ferrara tap out to the Stronghold.

    Adam Cole beat Kyle O’Reilly & AJ Styles in a three-way match when Cole pinned O’Reilly. They had a barnburner of a match. Beforehand, Nigel ejected everybody that was in the three corners, which was the other Kingdom members, the Young Bucks, Bobby Fish and Michael Elgin. After the match, they all ran back in for a big brawl that saw the Bullet Club members dispatch the Kingdom. Styles and Lethal had a staredown building to their future title match.

    It should be noted that besides the Young Bucks, the person most over with the crowd at times seemed to be referee Todd Sinclair. Yep, you read that right. On both nights in San Antonio, some fans passed out “Sinclair Section” signs and many people chanted for Sinclair throughout the night. It sounds odd but Todd Sinclair is hugely popular in the market for some reason. It’s like an inside joke though some people seem rather genuinely passionate about their support of ROH’s senior referee.

    By Travis Banks

     Local indie wrestlers working as ROH staff included Thomas Munoz, VG Allin, Bolt Brady, Barrett Brown, and Gregory James. – Dark Match: Keith Lee and Shane Taylor def. The Washington Bullets. Finish was botched as Lee tried to throw one of the bullets up for a powerbomb but couldn’t catch him. Taylor got the pin with a splash. Bobby Cruise comes out with a hot girl, followed by Kevin Kelly, then Steve Corino. Cruise goes through the usual opening spiel and introduces Nigel McGuinness, who recaps All Star Extravaganza and announces the main event of the evening: AJ Styles vs. Adam Cole. Taping 1:- Matt Sydal def. ACH in a Best of 5 Series match to tie the series at 2-2. Sydal won with the Shooting Star Press.- After the match, the KRD attacked both men and complained about being screwed out of the tag titles by some guy stealing their red mask shtick. The All Night Express comes out and says they never lost the tag titles, and declare their intention to get the titles back.- Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser def. The Boys. Before the match, Silas yells at The Boys for still wearing their usual outfits, and has Bruiser squash the two. The Boys actually hold their own until Silas puts them away. A sad Dalton Castle watches from a balcony.- ROH TV Title: Jay Lethal (w/ Truth Martini) def. Watanabe with a low blow and Lethal Injection. Taping 2:- All Night Express def. The Addiction after a distraction from the Mystery Man.- The Kingdom cuts a promo about how they fooled us. reDRagon comes out and wants a 3 on 2 match but Michael Elgin comes out to back them up. A brawl occurs with reDRagon and Elgin getting the upper hand.- No Holds Barred: Jay Briscoe def. Adam Page with a Jay Driller through a table. BJ Whitmer does commentary at ringside. After the match starts, Mark Briscoe comes out and steals one of BJ’s crutches. After the match, BJ beats Jay down with another crutch, but Steve Corino comes in for the save. BJ demands Corino hit him, so Corino knocks BJ out with a roll of quarters. Corino hugs Kevin Kelly and leaves up the ramp. Taping 3:- Nigel McGuinness has replaced Steve Corino on commentary.- Moose (w/ Stokely Hathaway) def. Donovan Dijak (w/ Truth Martini)- Dalton Castle def. Cedric Alexander (w/ Veda Scott). Castle came out in just his gear and a t-shirt. After the match, Veda complains about ROH’s lack of care for their employees, and says she and Cedric are filing a lawsuit.- Jay Lethal and Truth Martini are out for a promo but are interrupted by Roderick Strong, who wants a title shot. Nigel says AJ is the #1 contender for the World title, but there is no #1 contender for the TV title since Lethal beat Watanabe. No date is given for this match.- reDRagon and Michael Elgin def. The Kingdom (w/ Maria) when O’Reily pinned Bennett following Chasing the Dragon. A brawl erupts after the match, and O’Reily demands a match against Cole. Nigel says he has AJ Styles vs. Adam Cole booked for “next week” but adds Kyle, making the main event a triple threat. Intermission – Dark Match: Cheeseburger and Americos def. Andy Dalton and ??? Taping 4:- Mark Briscoe is on commentary.- The Young Bucks def. The Boys. The Boys are now dressed in wifebeater tank tops and baggy jeans. Originally supposed to be the Bucks vs. Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser, but after a few minutes of getting their butts kicked, Silas announces that The Boys will take their place. Chants of “Fan Up” and “Boys to Men” for The Boys, who hold their own against the Bucks in a fine comedy match.-  BJ Whitmer comes out and gets into an argument with Mark Briscoe- Roderick Strong def. Will Ferrara- Adam Cole def. Kyle O’Reily and AJ Styles. Jay Lethal is on commentary. Before the match, Nigel bans The Kingdom, Bobby Fish, Michael Elgin, and The Young Bucks from ringside. After the match, all three stables get into a brawl with The Kingdom being beat down. It eventually leads to Bullet Club hosting a Superkick Party on The Kingdom. As Bullet Club poses, Jay Lethal comes up behind Styles and taunts him with the World title. AJ grabs the mic and thanks San Antonio, and has two words for us if we aren’t down with Bullet Club. Overall a long but fun show. Only negative part was a small group of fans acting like jerks and trying to bring attention to themselves with stupid chants. 

  • On this date in pro wrestling history (9/19): Rude defeats Flair; Grappler defeats DiBiase

    1956

    Mobile, Alabama:

    – The Great Malenko defeated Herb Welch to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title

    1969

    Atlanta, Georgia:

    – Joe Scarpa (aka Chief Jay Strongbow) defeated Paul DeMarco to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title

    1980

    Shreveport, Louisiana:

    – The Grappler defeated Ted DiBiase to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title

    1981

    Landover, Maryland:

    – WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated George Steele in a Texas Death Match at the Capital Center

    1982

    Charlotte, North Carolina:

    – Jos LeDuc defeated Jimmy Valiant to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title

    1985

    Baltimore, Maryland:

    – NWA Champion Ric Flair beat Magnum TA

    – Rock & Roll Express beat Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev dq

    – Dusty Rhodes drew Nikita Koloff

    – Larry Zbyszko & Nick Bockwinkel beat Sgt. Slaughter & Greg Gagne dq

    – Ronnie Garvin no contest Black Bart

    – Brad Rheingans beat Kevin Kelly

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:

    Wally Karbo Tribute Card:

    – AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Boris Zhukov dq

    – Jerry Blackwell beat Michael Hayes

    – Tom Zenk & Curt Hennig beat Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin

    – Jim Garvin beat Buck Zumhofe

    – Baron Von Raschke beat Buddy Roberts

    1986

    Fukuoka, Japan:

    – Shiro Koshinaka defeated Nobuhiko Takada for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title

    1986

    Ponce, Puerto Rico:

    – Ron Starr defeated Invader I to win the WWC Television champion

    1988

    Memphis, Tennessee:

    – AWA Champion Jerry Lawler ddq Kerry Von Erich

    – Samoan Swat Team beat Michael Hayes & Steve Cox to regain Texas Tag title

    – Brickhouse Brown & Jeff Jarrett & Bill Dundee beat Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Phil Hickerson

    – AWA TV Champion Ronnie Garvin drew Robert Gibson

    – AWA Tag Team Champions Badd Company Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond beat RPMs

    – Rock & Roll Express & Sgt. Slaughter beat Soldat Ustinov & Teijo Kahn & Colonel DeBeers

    – Tommy Rich ddq Jimmy Valiant

    – AWA Women’s Champion Madusa Meceli beat Magnificent Mimi dq

    1992

    Yokohama, Japan:

    – Atsushi Onita defeated Tiger Jeet Singh for the WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Title

    1993

    Houston, Texas:

    – At the WCW Fall Brawl PPV; Rick Rude defeated Ric Flair to win the WCW International World Heavyweight Title

    – Steven Regal defeated Ricky Steamboat to win the WCW TV Title

    – Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes & The Shockmaster defeated Sid Vicious, Vader & Harlem Heat in a WarGames match

    1999

    Villa Park, Illinois:

    – ECW held their Anarchy Rulz Pay-per-view; Mike Awesome won the ECW World Title from Taz and Masato Tanaka

    – Lance Storm defeated Jerry Lynn

    2008

    Boston, Massachusetts:

    – Nigel McGuiness defeated Roderick Strong to retain the ROH World Title

    – Kevin Steen & El Generico defeated Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black to win the ROH World Tag Team Title

    2010

    – Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre won the WWE Tag Team Titles

    – Daniel Bryan defeated the Miz to win the US Title.

    – Randy Orton won the WWE World Title in a six pack challenge match