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Tag: jim ross

  • New Japan on AXS results: Jim Ross debuts, Nakamura defends IC title against Goto

    Tonight’s show features a match from May 3, 2015 in the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, our first look at the NJPW Dominon event. 

    This is Jim Ross’ first show and he obviously has a different style than Mauro Ranallo in that he focuses on the match and does that very well. It also changes Josh Barnett’s role as he goes into more into the history and storylines since he is more well versed in the product, calling these shows from the beginning. It adds a new dynamic to the show and makes it feel fresh, while at the same time they both compliment each other very well in what they do and they excel at it.

    Yoshi-Hashi and Kazuchika Okada vs. IWGP Champion AJ Styles & Yujiro Takahashi

    The match itself was fine. It’s goal is to set up a future match between AJ and Okada for the IWGP title at Dominon on July 5. They have terrific chemistry with one another, and Yoshi-Hashi is still pretty underrated by New Japan standards. Yujiro’s going to be Yujiro no matter what. He’s okay, but a step below a lot of what New Japan has to offer. Okada got the win with the rainmaker over Yujiro.

    Styles calls himself the man in a post match interview and says if you want to beat him, try. He’s better than the rest of the world. You want some, come get some. Okada promises he’ll take his title and become a fantastic champion. Gedo says he has two months to live.

    Goto interview time. He says it’s not really about the belt, but rather the provocation from Nakamura that has him clamoring for a chance to face Nakamura (throughout their feud Nakamura imitated looking through binoculars looking for Goto as he pretended not to see hi). They mentioned that Nakamura had beaten Goto for the title back in 2012. Goto says that he completely redesigned the title and has made it as his own.

    Hirooki Goto vs. Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura

    This is one of those feuds from last year that really dragged on to the point of overkill. I believe they faced off at least four times in 2015, and I’m not sure which one we’re on. Actually this is probably their first or second match, as this is the one where Goto regains the Intercontinental title. Again, this is not to say they had a bad match. They didn’t. They struck hard, had a great back and forth contest, and the last few minutes were pretty exciting.

    Goto was due for a big win for a while and they paid it off here, which is good as Goto is booked as someone who is always near the top, but doesn’t score the big win. He did here, and the crowd was into him regaining the title. Again, both Ross and Barnett were great here in calling the match and you can tell they gel well pretty much instantly.

    Both Nakamura and Goto made comments after the match. Goto drank beers, Nakamura obviously didn’t like the fact that he lost. Goto, in his reflective interview, says that he was always behind Nakamura, but is now glad he has not only caught up to him, but now with the win, surpassed him.

  • Observer Feature: Jim Ross on being the new guy for NJPW on AXS

    Images courtesy of Ian Mosley/AXS TV

    In the world of sports announcing and play-by-play, Jim Ross is as venerated and decorated as they come. After a four decade span calling wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions, WCW, and WWF/E, “good ol’ J.R.” is practically synonymous with the sport of the squared circle. Fans connect with Ross on commentary for one reason; he emotionally invests in every call he makes. Deep down, fans still want to believe wrestling is more “sport” than “entertainment” and Ross doesn’t call matches like he’s reading a script or knows the outcome in advance.

    That’s part of what makes J.R.’s new gig for AXS TV so intriguing. Fans grew to love the emotional “from-the-gut” reactions of Ross during live events, but starting this Friday for New Japan on AXS TV, he’ll have to react to pre-taped matches, calling them in the studio alongside veteran pro wrestler and MMA fighter Josh Barnett. He’s also in the rare position of having to replace one of the few announcers who is as emotionally invested in pro wrestling as he is.

    Mauro Ranallo sounded like he was going to have a heart attack during any big New Japan match, but his ebullient joy and apoplectic rage were so convincing that WWE recruited him to become the voice of SmackDown.

    As we prepare for the debut of “good ol’ J.R.” for New Japan on AXS TV, Ross took a little time out of his busy schedule podcasting, selling sauce, and preparing for his return to boxing commentating for CBS Sports on March 12th to chat with yours truly for Wrestling Observer about the latest chapter in his already historic career.

    You’ve been inducted into both the WWE and Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. You’ve had opportunities to call boxing and MMA since leaving WWE. What led you to come back to announcing pro wrestling after having already done it all in the sport?

    Well, I never stopped loving wrestling. I certainly didn’t stop loving being a broadcaster; it’s that I didn’t have a team to play for. After leaving WWE, there were some opportunities that came about but nothing really fit what I was looking for. I guess I’m an in-ring snob. If I want to invest my time at this stage of my life, I want to really enjoy the product.

    After doing (New Japan’s) Wrestle Kingdom 9 in January of 2015, I knew that I was going to like the product. Going beyond watching the one hour edited show that I was watching every Friday night on AXS with Mauro and Josh, I got to see the product unedited, live in person at their biggest event of the year – and it hooked me.

    You departed from WWE and will now call New Japan on AXS TV, while Mauro Ranallo left AXS TV and New Japan to be the lead announcer on SmackDown. What are your thoughts as your two career paths cross going in different directions?

    It’s coincidental isn’t it? It’s very ironic that’s how its worked out, but I think we’ve both got wins. Mauro’s living a dream of finally working in WWE, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, and so that’s good for him. He’s allowed to continue to do his MMA and boxing, so he came out on the other side really well. I think that I did as well. I think I found my gig, I found my home that I hope is in place for years to come.

    Josh Barnett and I are really hell-bent on helping build a brand. We want to do more with New Japan on AXS. I don’t know what shape that’s going to take right now, I don’t know how all of this is going to evolve, but I know that from the AXS upper management team, they are very interested in joining New Japan in as big of a way as New Japan will allow.

    On this week’s debut, you call a tag team match that features AJ Styles and an Intercontinental title match for Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestling Dontaku 2015. Both men are highly touted WWE signings this year. What do you think of the talent exodus?

    I’m always happy for guys that want to change their scenery, upgrade, just change – whatever their reason is – and live their dream. I got to live mine for 40 years in the business and I’m still living it, so I’m always happy when somebody gets to do the same thing. WWE made some really good hires, not just with those guys – Shinsuke, AJ, Gallows and Anderson – but hiring Mauro! That’s a great hire! So they’ve done a really good job, WWE being they, with those acquisitions.

    I only hope that all four of those guys are allowed to remain essentially intact, and that their characters are not wholeheartedly changed for a whim just to be different.

    How difficult do you find it to call matches that are pre-taped? Can you convey the same level of emotion in a pre-taped match where dedicated wrestling fans have already watched it and know the outcome in advance?

    All those years working with Bill Watts, I called a lot of matches over in post-production at WCW in the Crockett era, and then afterward, I did tons of voiceovers in a studio. Sometimes you’d voiceover the same match three, four, five times in a week, because it went on different shows and to different markets. I became accustomed to it, so it was not an adjustment for me, it was part of what I had done for years.

    Quite frankly when I came to WWE in the early going, I was kind of that third team guy — there was Vince and Gorilla and then me — and so I got a lot of the extra voiceover work. You voice over this for the UK, and voice over this for South Africa, and voice over this for Canada – and it’s the same show. That was no transition for me at all. I still like wrestling, and I still love broadcasting so letting it all come together in an audio booth was not that challenging at all. It was like riding a bike.

    You’ve been part of many great announcing teams, including a legendary friendship and partnership with Jerry Lawler in WWE. How does working with Josh Barnett compare?

    I don’t think I could find a more perfect partner than Josh Barnett. He’s the perfect broadcast partner for me on this project. He has been calling that brand since the start on AXS, he has competed in New Japan, his first pro match was in New Japan in the main event of the Tokyo Dome against Yuji Nagata. He’s had many many fights in Japan so he understands the culture. He has great hold recognition, he understands why holds are being utilized, why they’re effective if applied correctly.

    You notice the New Japan guys apply a hold, they don’t just grab a hold. You hear that slang in wrestling a lot ‘Grab a hold,’ and literally that’s what guys do — they just grab a hold. They don’t apply a hold, they just grab an arm or a leg or whatever. If you use any logic, you can see right through it oftentimes. Guys in New Japan seem to be more fundamentally sound than a lot their peers on a lot of other TV broadcasts around the world, so Josh is perfect to identify these holds in these scenarios.

    We would like to have a more realistic sports like presentation, so at least for that one hour, maybe you can let your guard down and let the story take over.

    Can the sport of professional wrestling still thrive in an era where the curtain may have been pulled back too far on the machinations going on behind it?

    I think it can if the in-ring product is focused on, and if the in-ring product is fundamentally sound and logically booked. Guys with the sensationalistic knee jerk in-ring content has a propensity of forcing people to tune out because what they’re seeing is not believable. You see guys crash and burn and not sell. All of a sudden, you eliminate the most crucial emotional element in a wrestling match, the selling, because it exudes all kinds of emotion. Selling becomes the heartbeat of a match and unfortunately a lot of guys are working so rapidly, no matter if they got a four minute match they’re gonna do eight minutes of material, that they rush things.

    When you rush things in a pro wrestling match, you’re bound to leave some fundamental aspects of it out. When that happens the perception of the match begins to erode.

    *****

    In addition to J.R.’s debut Friday night for New Japan on AXS TV at 9 PM EST, check out a special edition of “The Voice Versus” before that debut where Michael Schiavello interviews him. Here’s a preview.

  • Jim Ross signs on with Flipps’ Fite TV, more commentary to come?

    On Tuesday, Flipps Media of San Mateo, CA, announced the development of an online service called FITE TV, and that Jim Ross has signed on as the public face of the product, strongly suggesting he would be doing more commentary.

    FITE TV will give viewers worldwide access to PPV and iPPV events from pro wrestling, boxing, and MMA. There will be both a free and a PPV component to the service, which in many ways, is reminiscent of Go Fight Live, a similar service.

    The key is this service will also offer streaming PPV events from TNA and ROH for those who either a) don’t have access to them or b) want the convenience of streaming rather than buying on TV.  FITE TV will be available on smart TVs as well as most streaming devices. The app is available free on iTunes and Google Play now.

    Besides TNA and ROH, the entire WWN Live family of Evolve, Shine and FIP, as well as Future Stars of Wrestling have signed on with FITE. If you remember, Jeff Jarrett used Flipps Media for the iPPV broadcast of Wrestle Kingdom 9 when he had the international rights to the show.

    Ross’ involvement was due to a connection with Mike Weber, the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Flipps Media. Weber had a long history in pro wrestling, serving as a marketing head for WCW, WWE and TNA.

    “Getting invovled with FITE is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Ross. “It is the future of televised fighting sports. There is no easier way to stream wrestling, MMA and other fighting sports content including special commentaries on those sports by me.”

    Other organizations involved will include the Las Vegas based Tuff-N-Uff amateur MMA promotion, Legacy Fighting Championships, USA Sumo and the World Arm Wrestling championships.

  • Daily Update: Jim Ross appears on WOR, Rousey SNL promo sketches

    TWO CAN’T MISS F4WONLINE.COM RADIO SHOWS

    In case you missed it Jim Ross is returning to commentating.  This time for NJPW on AXS TV.  Earlier today we posted a FREE WRESTLING OBSERVER RADIO where Jim Ross talks with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez about the new job and more!

    Also, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez talk the Wrestling Observer Awards on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio

    A big weekend coming up with the Royal Rumble on Sunday.  The final TV show leading to the Rumble is Smackdown tonight on USA with:

    Usos & Dolph Ziggler vs. Big E & Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods

    Becky Lynch vs. Alicia Fox

    Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt

    Titus O’Neil vs. Stardust

    Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus & Rusev & King Barrett & Alberto Del Rio in a 1 vs. 4 match

    NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA IS LIVE ON NEW JAPAN WORLD TONIGHT/TOMORROW MORNING AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN AND 2:30 A.M. PACIFIC FROM KORAKUEN HALL IN TOKYO

    Fuego & Stuka Jr. vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu

    David Finlay & Jushin Liger & Kushida & The Panther & Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Gedo & Yoshi-Hashi & Bobby Zavala & Okumura & Hechicero

    Tetsuya Naito & Evil vs. Atlantis & Juice Robinson

    Barbaro Cavernario vs. Titan for Mexican national welterweight title

    Bushi vs. Mascara Dorada for CMLL welterweight title

    Hiroshi Tanahashi & Dragon Lee & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Virus

    Mistico & Volador Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Mephisto

    This is the first of three straight nights of Fantastica Mania shows on New Japan World.

    If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today!  

    Figure Four Weekly

    Figure Four Weekly 1/18/2016: Gawker’s motion to dismiss Hulk Hogan lawsuit denied
    Gawker’s motion to dismiss the Hulk Hogan sex tape lawsuit is denied, plus news and notes

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: January 25, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Observer Awards Issue

    The 2015 Observer awards issue, the traditional biggest issue of the year,is up on the web site now.  The issue not only has the awards winners in more than 40 different categories, but all the top place winners, as well as a history with all the awards winners dating back to 1980, as well as my comments on the placings for many of the awards.

    The categories are:

    Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year), MMA MVP, Most Outstanding Wrestler, Most Outstanding MMA Fighter, Best Box Office Draw, Feud of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Most Improved, Best on Interviews, Most Charismatic, Best Technical Wrestler, Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler), Best Flying Wrestler, Most Overrated, Most Underrated, Promotion of the Year, Best Weekly TV show, Pro Wrestling Match of the Year, MMA Match of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Best Non-Wrestler, Best Television Announcer, Worst Television Announcer, Best Major Wrestling show, Worst Major Wrestling Show, Best Wrestling Maneuver, Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic, Worst Television Show, Worst Match of the Year, Worst Feud of the Year, Worst Promotion of the Year, Best Booker, Promoter of the Year, Best Gimmick, Worst Gimmick, Best Pro Wrestling Book and Best Pro Wrestling DVD

    Update on the Royal Rumble and Rumble weekend, full coverage of Dominick Cruz’s UFC bantamweight title win and the records set on Sunday’s show and details on the New Japan/Jim Ross announcing deal as well as a look at how this came about and Jim Ross’ overall career.

    2017 WrestleMania, how Smackdown has affected overall ratings for the USA Network, update on A.J. Styles with WWE, WWE injury updates, Daniel Bryan update, more on Mauro Ranallo and Smackdown, Chris Jericho talks his return, new season of Total Divas, How talent is broken down in NXT, the heat on Josh from Tough Enough, new dates for Brock Lesnar, plus notes from the big NXT tour and all the shows, the NXT Florida shows, as well as the WWE shows in India and the WWE weekend domestic shows and all the business notes.

    PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

    You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer

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

    Rates are:

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

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

    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. 

    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

    Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: Dec 14, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2 biographies in the works about Jesse Ventura
    NBC and ABC working on biographies on Jesse Ventura, a look at the end of year events for New Japan and All Japan, plus tons of news and notes.

    THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

    Ronda Rousey hosts Saturday Night Live this weekend.  Some sketches previewing the appearance.

    The PBC is working with NextVR to bring Virtual Reality to its live show on FOX on Saturday night at 8 p.m.  The show is headlined by Danny Garcia (31-0, 18 KOs) vs. Robert Guerrero (33-3-1, 18 KOs).

    Owner Andy Quildan hints at Revolution Pro talent going to New Japan in 2016

    WWE

    • In case you missed it in yesterday’s update our own David Bixenspan has a great article on Big Show’s attempt to become a heavyweight boxer.
    • Roman Reigns talks the Royal Rumble
    • Becky Lynch interview for a house show in Fort Myers, FL
    • WWE stock closed down 58 cents per share today, to  $15.95.  Most of the stock market is taking it on the chin these days so it’s more of a sign of the economy at large than anything negative on WWE in particular. 
    • There was a question on the radio show regarding whether talent can leave WWE events after their match but before the show is over.  Unless you are a top guy, the answer is no.
    • WWE announced Premium VIP autograph signing schedules at Fan Axxess for WrestleMania

    4/1 at 7 p.m. – Sting

    4/2 at 10 a.m. – Roman Reigns

    4/2 at 3 p.m. – Undertaker

    4/3 at 8 a.m. – Seth Rollins

    Regular VIP signings

    3/31 at 6 p.m. – Dean Ambrose

    3/31 at 8 p.m. – Ric Flair & Charlotte

    4/1 at 5 p.m. – Chris Jericho

    4/2 at 8 a.m. – Superstar Billy Graham

    4/2 at 1 p.m. – Alberto Del Rio and Dudleys

    4/2 at 6 p.m. – Kevin Owens

    4/2 at 8 p.m. – Bray Wyatt

    4/3 at 10 a.m. – Randy Orton

    UFC

    • C.M. Punk is doing media work for UFC before the 2/5 PPV where Mickey Gall, his expected first opponent (provided he wins) makes his debut on the Fight Pass portion of the show against Mike Jackson.  Punk will be ringside for the fight.
    • Punk talks to Kevin Iole
    • Jim Miller vs. Diego Sanchez will be the Fight Pass main event for the 3/5 PPV show in Las Vegas, another example of UFC adding a name value match to the pre-TV prelims.
    • Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m for the UFC’s 2/21 show in Pittsburgh at the Consol Energy Center on FS 1.  The top three matches are Donald Cerrone vs. Tim Means at welterweight, Derek Brunson vs. Roan Carneiro and John Lineker vs. Cody Garbrandt.  Tickets are priced from $185 down to $50.
    • The UFC, through Senior Vice President and General Manager of Europe, Middle East and Asia James Elliott, announced a partnership with the British Wrestling Association (that’s amateur wrestling). 
    • Ronda Rousey’s coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, had his corner license revoked.  Greg Savage of Sherdog reported that Andy Foster, the CSAC Executive Director, said it was due to falsifying information on his application.  He is appealing the decision at the 2/2 commission meeting in Los Angeles.
    • Marcin Tybura, who is 13-1 and a former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion, has signed with UFC.
    • World Series of Fighting on 2/20 in Garden Grove, CA at the Next Level Sports Complex live on NBC Sports Network at 9 p.m. Eastern headlined by Marlon Moraes defending his bantamweight title against Joseph Barajas.  Tickets are on sale now at www.WSOF.com

    MISCELLANEOUS

    • The New York Times talks Gawker selling off a minority stake in its company prior to the Hulk Hogan lawsuit going to trial
    • Adam Copeland (Edge) will be on the 15th edition of CBC’s Battle of the Books in late March, talking about Minister Without Portfolio by Michael Winter.
    • Superstar Seminars on 3/11 at the GXW wrestling school in Richmond, VA featuring Jake Roberts, talking about pro wrestling performance, psychology, promos and character development.  Roberts will be assisted by Mickie James and Nick Aldis.  Everyone at the seminar will also get free admission to Roberts’ talk show at The Beach House Bar and Grill i  Glen Allen, VA that night.  For more info you can e-mail superstarseminars@gmail.com
    • Northeast Wrestling is doing a seminar with Jim Cornette on 3/6 from Noon to 3 p.m. at the Northeast Wrestling training center located at Platinum Fitness in Danbury, CT.  Experienced wrestlers or current wrestling students only, must be 18 years of age.  It’s limited to 30 students who will work a match, do promos and be evaluated by Cornette and owner Michael Lombardi.  These double as tryouts for the promotion  Spots are $50.  For more info call 914-805-6187 or e-mail NEWWrestling@yahoo.com
    • NEW Wrestlefest takes place on 3/4 in Newburgh, NY at the NFA High School with Rey Mysterio, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Matt Hardy, Mandy Leon, Terry Funk and Jim Cornette appearing.
    • CZW and WSU return for a doubleheader on 2/13 in Voorhees, NJ at Flyers Skate Zone, featuring an iPPV for the 7:30 p.m. show.  The afternoon show will have Leva “Blue Pants”
    • Bates vs. Hania the Huntress and Lufisto vs. Jessicka Havok.  The evening show has Matt Tremont vs. Devon Moore in a ladder match and Lio Rush vs. Joey Janela in 2/3 falls.
    • West Coast Fighting Championships on Saturday night in Sacramento at the McCellan Conference Center headlined by a match for the King of Sacrament with Max Griffin vs. David Mitchell at 175 pounds, in a five round fight. 
    • Battlewar on 2/14 in Montreal at Les Foufounes Electriques with all seats $5.
    • Results from Saturday night in Toronto in the Smash vs. CZW show:  Gulak b Tarik, Overdogs b DUB Boys, Courtney Rush b Kimber Lee, D.J. Hyde b Scotty O’Shea, Lio Rush b Kevin Bennett, Jon Gresham b Tyson Dux, Super Smash Brothers & Brent Banks b TV Ready Machines, Johnny Gargano b Sami Callihan to win the Smash title.
    • House of Hardcore on 4/16 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia has Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Brian Cage, Sami Callihan and Billy Gunn.  There will also be an Icons of Pro Wrestling convention from9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that will have Shawn Michaels, Tommy Dreamer, Ricky Steamboat, Stan Hansen, Outlaw Ron Bass, Abyss, Billy Gunn, Bill Apter, Justin Credible, Brian Cage, Domino, Kevin Thorn, Maven, Jeannie Clarke, Curt Hawkins, Amber Gallows, Danny Cage, Blue Meanie, Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, Sabu, Melissa Coates, Little Guido, Marty Jannetty, Rhino, Sami Callihan and Mil Mascaras.
    • Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 2/6 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds with Flash Flanagan vs. Timmy Danger in a strap match.
    • There will be the annual National Pro Wrestling Day free show on 2/6 in Reading, PA at the Goodwill Beneficial Association, featuring Kimber Lee vs. Mickie James.
    • NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling no 2/13 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium headlined by Jason Kincaid defending his Southeastern title against Vince Brent.
    • Tommy Dreamer vs. Robbie E headlines for Gold Rush on 4/30 in Timmins, ONT.
    • Acclaim Pro Wrestling on 3/5 in Ottawa, ONT at the Dom Polski Polish Combatants Centre featuring new TNA wrestler Courtney Rush.
    • ECWA on Saturday night in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Woodbury Heights Community Center headlined by Sean Carr vs. Breaker Morant.  Deonna Purrazzo is also wrestling on the show.
    • WAR Wrestling on 1/30 in Lima, OH at the UAW Hall with a wrestling show and a Hall of Famer induction ceremony for Great Wojo, Dr. Jerry Graham Jr., Tarek the Great, Brian Beach, Stamp Lickage, Dexter Dementia and Malcom Monroe.
    • IWF on 4/16 in Nutley, NJ at the Rec Center headlined by Tito Santana and Kevin Knight.
    • Busted Knuckle Pro Wrestling on 2/13 in Niagara Falls, ONT at 6101 North St.
    • Marvelous Puroresu is having a tryout on 2/12 for talent to appear on their show the next day.  They are also looking for talent to work in the U.S. and Japan.  The tryout is at 5 p.m. at the House of Glory school at 564 Woodward Ave., in Ridgewood, NY 1385.  For more info you can e-mail MarvelousPuroresuUSA@@gmail.com  The cost will be $40 and bring an 8×10 photo and wrestling gear.  Referees are also welcome.
    • Latin Thunder talks trainer Scandor Akbar

    ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY:  Daily pro wrestling history (1/21): Crusher/Dick the Bruiser win WWA Tag Team Titles

  • Jim Ross confirms return to announcing for NJPW on AXS

    WWE Hall-of-Famer, longtime broadcaster, and podcast host Jim Ross confirmed Tuesday with Fox Sports that he will be returning to the broadcast booth for the newest NJPW on AXS TV season, starting on Friday, March 4th. 

    Ross replaces Mauro Ranallo, who recently started with WWE and is now the lead voice of Smackdown. Color commentator, past NJPW competitor, and UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett will remain on the team.

    Ross told Fox that he will head to Los Angeles between 8-10 times a year to do his play-by-play for two-day sessions where they will record six shows at a time, beginning with action from Wrestling Dontaku 2015. The duo will also call matches from the 2015 New Japan Cup, Invasion Attack, HINOKUNI, Best of the Super Juniors 22, Dominion 7.5, G1 Climax 25 and more.

    This isn’t Ross’ first time calling NJPW action as he and Matt Striker were the American announce team for Wrestle Kingdom 9 in 2015.

    The longtime voice of RAW with Jerry Lawler, Ross returned to WWE several times over the years for Smackdown, NXT, and spot shows through his “retirement” from the company in 2014. He tried his hand at boxing for Fox Sports One, as well as MMA with the Battlegrounds tournament PPV alongside Chael Sonnen.

  • Jim Ross live show schedule for WrestleMania weekend

    Jim Ross has announced doing three separate shows over WrestleMania weekend.

    Ross will be doing his one man show at the House of Blues, which is near the American Airlines Center, both before and after the WWE events in the building.

    Shows are set for 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 2nd.  That would be both before the Hall of Fame show and after.  The Hall of Fame show will likely be scheduled from 7-10 p.m., although it seems to always go long.

    Ross will also be doing a show after Raw on Monday, April 4th, at 11 p.m., which would be about 50 minutes after Raw ends live.

    Tickets for the events will go on sale Friday, which include Meet and Greet tickets for all three shows.