At Sunday’s Progress Wrestling show in London, England, promoter Jim Smallman strongly hinted Tommaso Ciampa was WWE-bound.
Smallman said that he had talked with a friend from Blackpool, clearly meaning William Regal, and said that Ciampa’s last match would be on the company’s 11/23 show against Marty Scurll.
The 30-year-old Boston native, who had lost to Mark Haskins and was still in the ring at the time of the announcement, thanked the fans for their support and told them that he’d see them on television very soon.
Ciampa and Johnny Gargano have been working on NXT television, which tapes again this coming Thursday. Ciampa did well in the battle royal on this past week’s NXT, outlasting most of the contracted talent in it, which seemed to be a sign he was strong on the radar.
According to those close to the situation, Ciampa has not signed a WWE deal at this time.
WWE Main Event from Cincinnati featured Team Bella against Team BAD in a tag team match. Also, Adam Rose sang acapella while introducing himself on the way to being mauled. Likewise, the Cosmic Connection continue to drift in the universe as they collide with the remnants of a once popular dance craze.
Stardust (with The Ascension) beat Fandango
Before the wrestling began, a brief dance-off broke out for a few moments. No decisive winner in that contest but they started the match nonetheless. Stardust kept resorting to devious methods. Nevertheless, Fandango kept gaining the momentum throughout the match until Stardust sent Fandango sailing through the ropes and out to the floor. The Ascension at ringside started to close in on Fandango and Stardust went jumping over the ropes to the outside. Fandango somehow managed to escape and roll back in the ring where he started Fandangoing to taunt the villains before a commercial.
After the break, Fandango and Stardust slugged it out for several moments then quickened the pace. Ascension caused a distraction at ringside, allowing Stardust to gain an underhanded advantage. The dastardly Stardust began to pummel and work over a downed Fandango. After snapping Stardust on the top rope, Fandango started a comeback and fired up. Fandango jumped off the top for an attempted legdrop but missed. Stardust executed a disaster kick followed by the Queen’s Crossbow for the pinfall.
Backstage, Renee Young interviewed Team Bella. Brie basically said despite all the new divas trying to take the Bellas’ spot, the Team Bella is stronger than ever. Her and Alicia Fox mocked Team PCB. Fozzy called them “Team PMS” and a “hot mess.” Brie agreed but added all the divas were a hot mess as she brought up Team BAD. Nikki chimed in to say the new divas were spoiled brats. She also warned Charlotte about reclaiming her title at Hell in a Cell. Nikki concluded by saying it wasn’t a divas revolution, it was the Bellas evolution.
Ryback beat Adam Rose
Since the split from the Rosebuds, Rose sported trunks, a vest and eyeglasses as sang his name acapella repeatedly while doing his own introduction. It was as if he was attempting to sing his name in scales. The “Feed Me More” theme song and the Ryback entrance interrupted Rose’s singing act. In the match, Ryback basically mauled him. Rose cut him off briefly only to get mauled some more.
At one point, Rose attempted to sneak up on Ryback then begged off when his plot was foiled. Rose bailed out and starting running around the ring. Ryback gave chase and was cut off trying to get back in the ring. That delayed the mauling briefly yet Ryback hoisted Rose up for a delayed vertical suplex. Jimmy Uso on commentary said Rose should “just run,” which was probably solid advice judging by the story of the match up to that point. However, the tide changed after Ryback crashed into a ring post.
Rose began to kick and stomp at Ryback then delivered a missile dropkick off the middle rope. Rose dove off the top rope with an elbow smash for a two count. When Rose was applying a sleeper hold, Ryback led the crowd in chants of “feed me more” as he jacked Rose’s jaw. Ryback pounded his chest and signaled for his finisher. Following a meathook clothesline, Ryback used the Shell Shock for the pin.
Team Bella (Brie and Nikki Bella with Alicia Fox) beat Team BAD (Naomi & Tamina with Sasha Banks)
With Jimmy Uso on commentary with Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips, Uso openly cheered for his wife. They also put over Sasha Banks and her iron man match from Takeover. The crowd chanted “we want Sasha.” Brie and Tamina started the match but Brie quickly tagged out after being overpowered. Nikki was also overpowered by Tamina. Naomi tagged in and moments later did a tilt-a-whirl headscissors that sent Nikki to the outside. Nikki was crawling back to the ring before a commercial.
Following the break, Naomi was on offense until Nikki cut her off and snapped her arm on the top rope. Nikki distracted the referee as Brie stomped Naomi’s hand on the apron. Brie tagged in and began to work the arm of Naomi. The Bellas got heat on Naomi. She got a hope spot when she knocked Nikki down with a kick. Brie ran across the ring to knock Tamina off the apron and break up the attempted tag. Jimmy Uso referred to the Bellas as veterans. A handheld camera picked up Brie calling a spot with a running knee strike.
Eventually, Naomi made a hot tag to Tamina and she ran wild. Nikki jumped in to break up a pin attempt and she also elbowed Naomi, who rolled to the outside. Nikki walked into a superkick from Tamina. Uso called it a “superkick party.” Nevertheless, Brie gave Tamina the X-factor a moment later for the pinfall.
The champ is here to start the show. Well a different champ. The winner of the first women’s Iron Man Match in WWE history. The winner of the first time a women’s match main evented a WWE special. Bayley is here, much to the delight of all 300 people. The fans gave her a standing ovation and chanted both her name and “Match of the Year” before she had a chance to talk.
She thanked Dusty Rhodes for being a big part in her career, also stating that being in the main event is something she dreamed about since she was a little girl. She did say “we have started a whole new level in the Diva’s Revolution”, which was the only time she said something that sounded forced. The fans chanted “women’s wrestling”, which she encouraged.
This brought out Alexa Bliss, Blake & Murphy. Alexa said what happened last week was incredible and she was in awe watching the match, stating that no one deserved to be champion more than her. Alexa said she truly was an incredible champion and that the future for the women in NXT has no limit. She almost broke down into fake tears as she raised Bayley’s hand and stole her championship.
Blake and Murphy stood in Bayley’s way as Alexa cut a promo saying she is going to take her championship. Alexa did throw the belt back at Bayley before leaving.
*****
Last week, The Camera Man caught up with Finn Balor and Samoa Joe, but before they could say anything, William Regal ran up to congratulate them. Joe said it’s been a pleasure and an honor to be Finn’s partner. Joe said he has been undefeated since he got to NXT and wants a shot at the championship. Finn agreed to it, but Mr. Regal said no. Instead last week he announced that next week (tonight) there would be a battle royal for the #1 Contender status.
Joe was mad, but respectful, in saying he should be getting a title shot. Mr. Regal cut him off and said there will be a battle royal. Tye Dillinger, Apollo Crews and Rhyno all said they would win the battle royal in separate promos. Rhyno mentioned he was the last ECW Champion and Tye said he was the only Perfect 10.
*****
NXT Tag Team Champions The Vaudevillians defeated Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins
17 minutes (and 5 promos) into the show and we finally got our first match. The reigning tag team champions are here and they didn’t even get out of the second round of the Dusty Rhodes Classic. Tonight their foes are Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins. Sawyer has that cross Sheamus wears tattooed into his chest and Dawkins is dressed in similar gear to Jordan & Gable.
Fulton and Dawkins got more offense than they ever have on tv, but that really isn’t saying much. They got the heat on English and Gotch knocked one of Dawkins headbands off with a side suplex. The champs won in 3 minutes with the Whirling Dervish.
Dash and Dawson cut a promo backstage about how they defeated The Vaudevillians in the Dusty Rhodes Classic, so that makes them the #1 Contender’s. Hooray logic! Actually it turns out they have to face Enzo and Cass for some reason, so boo lack of logic! Devin Taylor was the interviewer and I guess this was her last taping. I’ll miss her and it’s too bad we never got the battle with her and Dana Brooke.
Speaking of Dana, last week she was being worked over after Asuka whooped her when Asuka came up and patted her on the head mockingly. Dana thought she had won the match and was bragging to that effect while Emma patted her on the arm.
*****
Nia Jax defeated Evie
It took her 8 weeks, but Nia Jax has finally arrived. Evie looks a lot like Tough Enough winner Sara Lee, but thankfully it wasn’t her. I did do a smidge of research on Evie and she actually wrestles under the name Evie in New Zealand and recently got a WWE tryout.
The fans began counting like they used to do for Baron Corbin, but they quit quickly. Nia’s first move was this bear hug where she jumped up and down while squeezing her foe. That should have been her finish. In case you have never seen her, Nia is a very large, very thick woman and could be WWE’s Awesome Kong if she stays healthy.
Evie got more offense than Nia, although that was mostly so Nia could no sell it. Nia won with a Spinebuster Slam. She really should have used that bear hug.
One guy in the crowd (and a few people on Twitter) shouted “Rock Bottom”, but it really wasn’t the same.
*****
A video package for the Sasha-Bayley match aired. They interviewed Becky, Charlotte, Stephanie and Hunter, who all put the match over big.
Tyler Breeze and Baron Corbin both said they would win the battle royal.
Eva Marie is in Paris, taking a personal vacation after her grueling (to watch) matches.
*****
Apollo Crews won a 21-man #1 Contender’s Battle Royal, last eliminating Baron Corbin
It is the third battle royal in NXT history! Bo Dallas won the first one in May 2013 and then in May 2014 they had this ridiculous finish where Tyler Breeze, Sami Zayn and Tyson Kidd all went over at the same time, which was mistimed and Breeze legit won, but was called a draw.
Rhyno, Baron Corbin and Samoa Joe were the only ones to get a televised entrance.
Order of elimination was Steve Cutler, Danny Birch, Elias Sampson, Johnny Gargano, Riddick Moss, Colin Cassady, Dash Wilder, Scott Dawson, Enzo Amore, Tye Dillinger, Bull Dempsey, Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder, Rhyno, Tommaso Ciampa, Blake, Murphy, Tyler Breeze, Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin
I am so used to WWE battle royals which everyone unimportant is eliminated in 3 minutes that it was weird to see them go several minutes before anyone got eliminated. Apollo Crews eliminated the first four men, including heaving Gargano onto Cutler, Birch and Sampson. For what it’s worth the last time they did an NXT battle royal the first 5 guys eliminated were cut from their developmental deals. The fans popped when Enzo tossed Dash & Dawson by himself and quickly died when Tye immediately threw Enzo out. Baron and Rhyno continued their partnership for about 10 minutes…until Baron tossed Rhyno with 9 men left. Dummy. Why didn’t he wait until it came down to two? Maybe he realized that almost never works.
The final four were Crews, Corbin, Joe and Breeze. Ever notice in almost every Royal Rumble there is that one guy in the final four that appears to be horribly out of place? Like Billy Gunn in 2001 and Mr Perfect in 2002? I think Tyler Breeze won the “Billy Gunn Award” in this battle royal. Joe actually got booed for eliminating Breeze and Tyler didn’t want to leave.
Joe almost gave Corbin the Muscle Buster, but got thrown over the top onto the apron. Joe kicked Corbin’s head out of his head but Tyler Breeze tripped Joe up, yanking him off the apron and eliminating him! The fans actually cheered Breeze for doing that.
Corbin and Crews worked really good together and I can’t wait to see them have an actual match together. Corbin kept throwing Crews over the top, but Apollo would land on the apron. The fans chanted “Corbin sucks” to the tune of New Day Sucks. That gave Crews his second wind. He made his comeback, but Baron got the knees up on the standing moonsault. Crews came back with several kicks to the head and shockingly won by clotheslining Corbin out!
That does it for this week. Finn Balor, your future is here and his name is Apollo Crews. Until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: – United States Champion, Verne Gagne beat Hans Schmidt 2 falls to 1 to retain the title
1960
St. Joseph, Missouri: – NWA World Heavyweight Champion Pat O’Connor beat Sonny Myers in 2 out of 3 falls to retain the title
1966
Los Angeles, California: – Lou Thesz defeated Buddy Austin to win the WWA World Heavyweight Title
Mexicali, Mexico – El Santo defeated Espanto I for the Mexican Light Heavyweight Title
1972
Minneapolis, Minnesota: – AWA Champion Verne Gagne wrestled to a no contest with Nick Bockwinkel – Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes beat Dr X & Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls – Lani Kealoha beat Larry Hennig via dq – Superstar Billy Graham beat Bull Bullinski
1978
Shreveport, Louisiana: – The Assassin defeated Jose Lothario to win the Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Title
1979
Charlotte, North Carolina: – Blackjack Mulligan & Ric Flair beat NWA Tag Team Champions Paul Jones & Baron Von Raschke by count out – Jim Brunzell beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel dq – Jimmy Snuka & John Studd & Buddy Rogers beat SD Jones & Rufus R Jones & Jay Youngblood – Dewey Robertson beat Rick McGraw
Green Bay, Wisconsin: – Super Destroyer Mark II & Super Destroyer Mark III beat Billy Robinson & Mad Dog Vachon – Jesse Ventura beat Steve Olsonoski – Mad Dog Vachon beat Lord Alfred Hayes – Adrian Adonis beat Peter Sandor Szabo (sub Kenny Jay) – Paul Ellering beat Ron Ritchie
1985
New Orleans, Louisiana: – Butch Reed defeated Dick Murdoch to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title
1989
Providence, Rhode Island: – Tito Santana defeated Rick Martel to win the WWF King Of The Ring tournament
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada: – Bruce Hart defeated Gama Singh to win the Stampede Wrestling British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title
1997
Sapporo, Japan: – Atshushi Onita, Tetsuhiro Kuroda & Hido defeated Hayabusa, Masato Tanaka & Koji Nakagawa for the FMW World Streetfight 6-Man Tag Team Title
2002
Montreal, Quebec, Canada: – Chris Jericho & Christian defeated The Hurricane & Kane for the WWE World Tag Team Championship
2007
Atlanta, Georgia: – Gail Kim became the first TNA Knockouts Champion by winning a gauntlet match – Sting defeated Kurt Angle to win the TNA World Championship
2012 – Rob Van Dam defeated Zema Ion to win the TNA X Division Title – Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez won the TNA World Tag Team Titles from Kurt Angle & AJ Styles and Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels – Tara won the TNA Knockout Title from Brooke Tessmacher – Jeff Hardy defeated Austin Aries for the TNA World Title
On Tuesday, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the lineup for its next major show, Power Struggle, which takes place on 11/7 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, formerly the Bodymaker Colosseum.
The show will be headlined by Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karl Anderson for the Intercontinental title, which had already been announced in commentary during Monday’s King of Pro Wrestling show.
Power Struggle will also feature the finals of a junior heavyweight tag team tournament that runs throughout the next tour and begins on 10/23 with a show in Tokorozawa. The tournament will be a single elimination eight-team tournament with Tiger Mask & Jushin Liger, Mascara Dorada & Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero & Baretta, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish, The Young Bucks, Alex Shelley & Kushida, Kenny Omega & Chase Owens and Matt Sydal & Ricochet.
The junior heavyweight tag team tournament first round will be on 10/24 at Korakuen Hall with Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Fish & O’Reilly, Romero & Baretta vs. Omega & Owens, Dorada & Taguchi vs. Young Bucks and Shelley & Kushida vs. Sydal & Ricochet.
The winners advance to an 11/1 show at Korakuen Hall, where the semifinals take place.
The lineup for the PPV thus far:
Hirooki Goto vs. Evil (Takaaki Watanabe)
A.J. Styles & Bad Luck Fale vs. Toru Yano & Yoshi-Hashi
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tomoaki Honma for the Never Open weight title
Junior heavyweight tag team tournament finals
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Kazuchika Okada
The Tuesday WWE announcement on ESPN will be in regards to WrestleMania in Dallas, TX — likely that ESPN will be heavily covering the event.
Jonathan Coachman, the former WWE announcer turned ESPN anchor, will be appearing with WWE Champion Seth Rollins at 9 p.m. Eastern time tonight during SportsCenter for the announcement. That would mean Rollins will not be appearing in Cincinnati, OH, Tuesday for the Smackdown tapings.
WWE sent out information today that travel packages for WrestleMania week, which includes the Hall of Fame on 4/2 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, WrestleMania on 4/3 at AT&T Stadium and Raw the next night at the American Airlines Center, are now available. Tickets go on sale on 11/6.
WWE’s ad listed John Cena front and center as the star of the show in addition to Kofi Kingston, Undertaker, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Rollins, and Paige.
According to one of the promotions that booked him, former WWE Champion and current AAA Mega Champion Alberto El Patron has backed out of two European bookings this weekend due to a disagreement about the type of flight he was booked on.
El Patron and brother El Hijo de Dos Caras were scheduled to appear on Friday for Swiss Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) in Bern, Germany, and on Saturday for Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) in Mannheim, Germany. According to a post on wXW’s website (translated by reader Markus Gronemann), El Patron backed out with six days notice because the promotion had him booked in the Economy Plus class when he wanted to fly Business Class instead. wXw’s and SWE’s promoters said the cost would be $7000 USD to make the change on short notice and refused. This is the second time El Patron has backed out of an wXw booking on short notice, the last time in December 2014.
wXW stated in their post that they will no longer book El Patron.
Waterloo, Iowa: – Earl Wampler wrestled Louis Thesz to a 20 minute time limit draw
1956
Des Moines, Iowa (Frank Gotch Memorial Arena) – Verne Gagne wrestled Roy McClarity to a 60 minute draw
Kansas City, Kansas: – In a match for the Central States title; Bobby Bruns beat Tom Zaharias in 2 straight falls to retain the title – Gene Stanlee beat Tex McKenzie 2 falls to 1 – Richard Brown beat Rock Monroe
1961
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: – Texas Death match; Mr. M beat Hard Boiled Haggerty – Karl Krauser & Dale Lewis beat Otto Von Krupp & Bob Geigel
1970
Dallas, Texas: – George Scott beat Johnny Valentine to win Texas Heavyweight title – Boris Malenko & Lord Charles Montague beat Mr. Wrestling & Jack Pesek – Toru Tanaka beat Tiger Conway – Killer Kowalski beat Mil Mascaras
1971
Miami, Florida: – Florida Champion, Jack Brisco defeated Bobby Duncum by DQ to retain the title – Dick Murdoch defeated Robert Fuller in a Texas Death Match – The Australians (Ron Miller & Larry O’Day) defeated Bull Marcus & Ronnie Garvin – Johnny Walker (aka Mr. Wrestling) defeated Jim Dalton – Hiro Matsuda defeated Black Bart
1978
Houston, Texas: – Andre The Giant and NWA Champion Harley Race went to a double countout – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Dusty Rhodes – Brass Knuckles Match; Bruiser Brody beat Rocky Johnson – Gino Hernandez beat David Von Erich – Al Madril beat Bill White dq – Suzette Ferriara beat Joyce Grable for Texas Women’s Title
1981
Allentown, Pennsylvania: – Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea & Rick Martel to win the WWWF World Tag Team Titles
1984
Janesville, Wisconsin: – The Crusher & Tony Atlas beat AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors dq – Mr. Saito beat Baron Von Raschke – Curt Hennig beat Larry Zbyszko – Brad Rheingans drew Billy Robinson – Jim Brunzell beat Steve Regal
1985
Charlotte, North Carolina: – Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeated The Rock N’ Roll Express (Rick Morton & Robert Gibson) to win the NWA World Tag Team Title
1992
Regina, Saskatchewan: – Money, Inc. (Ted DiBiase & IRS) defeated The Natural Disasters (Typhoon & Earthquake) to win the WWF Tag Team Titles
1997
Tampa, Florida: – Rick & Scott Steiner won the WCW World Tag Team titles by defeating Scott Hall & Syxx
Topeka, Kansas: – The Legion Of Doom (Road Warriors) defeated The Godwinns to win WWF World Tag Team Titles
2006
Jacksonville, Florida: – Chris Benoit defeated Ken Kennedy to win the WWE United States Title – Batista defeated Fit Finlay and Bobby Lashley
2011
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: – AJ Styles & Rob Van Dam defeated Jerry Lynn & Christopher Daniels – Matt Morgan defeated Samoa Joe
2012
Ontario, Canada: – World’s Greatest Tag Team, Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin, defeated Rhett Titus & BJ Whitmer – Jay Lethal defeated Davey Richards – ROH TV Champion Adam Cole defeated Eddie Edwards – ROH Tag Team Champions Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs defeated Jay & Mark Briscoe – ROH World Champion Kevin Steen defeated Michael Elgin
The Big Takeaway: Cesaro was extremely entertaining in a 3-minute squash against Adam Rose. The Prime Time players beat The Ascension in a decidedly average main event.
Cesaro beat Adam Rose (3:30)
I mean it really shouldn’t be baffling in this company, but it really is – why is Cesaro on this show working with Adam Rose? The klaxon sound that they use at the Royal Rumble goes off, Cesaro’s music stops and Adam Rose appears on the ramp with a mic. He claims that Cesaro can’t “string a sentence together” and completely buried them both by asking “how does it feel to be here competing against Adam Rose” while the likes of Rollins, Kevin Owens are “megastars”?
Cesaro’s response to all this is to wait for the bell and then absolutely annihilate Rose with a running European uppercut to the corner. He follows this up with a press slam a la the Ultimate Warrior, where Rose just lands on his face, and then another uppercut. Rose dodges a third and then comes off the second rope with a missile drop kick into a cover for two. He begins to work over Cesaro’s neck and back with clubs and blows and then locks on a rear chin lock. Cesaro throws him off but charges into an elbow.
Rose is now doing the stomps that Shawn Michaels used to do before a super kick. He hits Cesaro with one and then goes for an airplane spin to mock Cesaro’s giant swing. Cesaro scoffs at it, no selling it and does a 36 rep giant swing which he slows down as if he’s going to stop at about 30 reps and then just picks him up and carries on. Cesaro is such a great entertainer; the crowd is just eating out of the palm of his hand. He then puts on the Sharpshooter for the win. To his credit, Adam Rose was good here too.
The Prime Time Players beat The Ascension (8:47)
Viktor and Darren Young lock up and test each other’s strength back and forth until a headlock takedown by Viktor breaks things up. Young slaps a headlock on and an arm ring by Viktor is reversed into a hammerlock by Young. Viktor runs into an elbow and tags in Konnor, who comes in to no sell everything and then shoulders Young to the mat. A blind tag from O’Neil brings him in to match up to Konnor’s brawn – he shoulder barges Konnor and scoop slams him and then hits him with a leg drop. Konnor rolls outside and Viktor comes in to start on O’Neil. He gets belly-to-back suplexed on the ring apron by Young, which looks like it really sucked, and we head to a break.
Viktor and Young are in together as we return. Young gets whipped into the corner and does a flip bump over the top rope. Outside, Konnor launches Young into the barricade and the ring apron. They come back in and he covers him for two. Young plays the babyface in peril as they double team him. Young is bleeding from his right shoulder. He goes for a victory roll up, but as he is doing it Konnor blind tags in on the way through. Konnor comes back in and leg drops Young and stomps on his face. Konnor puts on a chin lock and Viktor comes in. They use the ropes to slingshot Young and then go back to the chin lock.
O’Neil eventually gets the heat on Konnor. He steams in and shoulders barges Konnor to the mat and then clotheslines him, following it up with a big boot. He does his triple backbreakers on Viktor and then slings him aside. He charges at Konnor in the corner with a splash and then powerslams him. The pin broken up by Viktor, who is sent outside. As Titus turns round, he eats a big boot from Konnor and then his pin attempt is broken up by Young. Young and Viktor send each other over the top and when Konnor misses a charge to the corner, O’Neil capitalizes with the Clash of the Titus. A nothing match, it was what it was.
