Wrestling Past And Present: 01/08/19

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

WWE showed that they're scared of the new competition they now have by their actions. Showing what little bitches they really are, and yes. You can tell WWE I personally said that.

The location of the AEW Double Or Nothing rally was less than one mile away from Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena which was hosting SmackDown on Tuesday night. Many fans attended the AEW rally and then made the five minute walk to the arena to attend SmackDown. However, there were reports that many fans with AEW gear or posters were turned away from SmackDown. Cody and Brandi Rhodes responded.

"I mean, we like blew up the whole sky right across the street from their building," Cody said about the fireworks that went off after the AEW rally… "But you can't throw people [out]. If people part with their money to get tickets, you can't turn them away."

"I'm happy if they got back in," stated Brandi. "I know a procedure a lot of times is if there's something that you can't show [on your shirt], they turn it inside out or you put it down. As long as they comply, I hope they stay in and enjoy the show."

Cody then said that WWE has never had a stranglehold on the Jacksonville market so it would be a mistake for them to turn away fans who wanted to attend SmackDown.

"I bet it's isolated," said Cody. "I can't see them going full-court press: no AEW merch inside and if they did that's a mistake because Jacksonville, for WWE and the shows I've been, it's been a soft market. It's not a market that they've regularly sold out, so if you've got fans parting with their money, you're an idiot to turn them away."

WWE apparently reversed their decision on not allowing anyone with AEW merchandise into the building as some fans reported on social media. But before that, some fans posted that they were either kicked out of the show or turned away at the door because of their AEW merch.

The fact that WWE did initially turn away fans may have backfired for them as that simply generated more discussion and more headlines about AEW. WWE has always made it a point to avoid even mentioning their competitors, so turning away AEW fans shows that they see the fledgling promotion as exactly that: a competitor.

In other AEW news...

The sequel to All In officially has its date and location.

At Tuesday's All Elite Wrestling rally in Jacksonville, Florida, it was confirmed that AEW Double or Nothing will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 25, 2019. That's the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

This will be the first show produced by AEW. All In was held in the Chicago area over Labor Day weekend in 2018.

Chris Jericho made an appearance at the AEW rally, announcing that he'll be at Double or Nothing. Jericho said he's "all in with All Elite Wrestling" and that AEW is going to change the whole universe. Jericho announced that he's "all in with All Elite Wrestling." He said he wasn't there for the money -- he's there because he believes in doing something different and new. He hyped up the promotion, saying that they're going to change the whole universe.

Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks noted that AEW's second show will be taking place in Jacksonville. Further details weren't provided, but it was noted that "a large portion of the gate" will go towards benefiting victims of gun violence.

Joey Janela, Penelope Ford and MJF all appeared today during the AEW rally in Jacksonville, Florida. MJF has signed with the promotion. Billy Gunn will be working with the promotion as a producer.

Indy Dates, Indy Dates And Even More, Indy Dates

Shotzi Blackheart speech after winning the Sabotage Wrestling War of the Genders championship

At Sabotage Wrestling and Dallas Championship Wrestling's co-branded event War of the Genders III, a new title was introduced. The War of the Genders title promotes equality for any and all genders and can be defended in any type of match. Shotzi Blackheart was the inaugural winner and gave a passionate speech after the big win. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Th4I5jxlB0

Mat Memory- Lioness Asuka (c) vs. Madusa Miceli (3WA World Title Match)

AJW Wrestlemarinepiad I - The Day the Music Died : WWWA World Title Match : Lioness Asuka (c) vs. Madusa Miceli Special Guest Referee : Nick Bockwinkel / 06.05.1989 / Japan / Yokohama, Yokohama Arena ( 12.500 ). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plmPCAyaxvU

Mat Memory- Madusa vs. Aja Kong (Japan)

AJW 05.13.90 Korakuen Hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn6bFaCj3kY

Mat Memory- Medusa Miceli vs Candi Devine (AWA - 09/18/1987)

September 18, 1987. Las Vegas, Nevada. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQZO8oqNGl8

Mat Memory- AWA Ladies Title Match: Madusa Miceli (ch) vs. Wendi Richter 1988-09-17

AWA World Ladies Champion Madusa Miceli vs. Wendi Richter. From September 17th, 1988 at the Fairgrounds Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUvm0NXgQTQ

Mat Memory- Medusa Miceli vs Sherri Martel (AWA)

May 16, 1987, Las Vegas, Nevada. For the AWA World Women's Championship. ESPN TV taping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHZe3z7GHg4

Bruce Prichard shoots on Paul Heyman being fired as head writer of Smackdown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Vb71rJDlk

How All Elite Wrestling Has The Opportunity To Really Change The Game

A very interesting read over at.. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2019/01/how-all-elite-wrestling-has-the-opportunity-to-really-649610/

ED NORDHOLM ADDRESSES THE ROSTER BEFORE LAST NIGHT'S IMPACT WRESTLING TAPING

Ed Nordholm, the President of Impact Wrestling parent company Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC gave a speech to the Impact Wrestling roster backstage before last night's Impact Wrestling taping in Nashville, TN.

According to several sources we spoke to, it was very much a positive speech with Nordholm noting the company accomplished what they wanted to set out to do in 2018. Nordholm told the roster 2017 was a "learning year" after Anthem took over the company and that 2018 was about getting them in position for the future. He said that everyone is optimistic and enthusiastic for what is to come in 2019.

During his address to the roster, Nordholm put over there has been growth of the Fight Network (which Anthem owns) internationally and that Impact has and will continue to be a big part of that.

Nordholm also addressed the company’s move to The Pursuit Channel, noting that one of the reasons Anthem took over the company was so that they could have it for their own assets and Pursuit is one of those assets. With the deal at Pop ending, Impact now has the digital rights to the Impact Wrestling series again, which is why they can also simulcast it on Twitch on Fridays.

During the meeting, Nordholm took questions from the roster and specifically addressed that there were some rumblings last year that Anthem was looking to sell the company, assuring everyone that is not the case and that they shouldn’t be worried about anything along those lines.

Scott Steiner's appearance last night was done to give something extra for the Pursuit Channel debut. The door is open for more down the line, but it was something done specifically just for the Nashville taping and not meant to be the start of a storyline for Steiner.

The next planned Impact PPV will be in April, although the exact date has not been locked in. Traditionally, that has been Lockdown, but we are told that is not 100% set in stone.

Jordan Devlin Vs Scotty Davis, OTT Wrestling Belfast

Free Match- Jordan Devlin Vs Scotty Davis, Over The Top Wrestling LIVE in Belfast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZvFkHmXsqI

RECAP AND REVIEW: 83 Weeks on Starrcade ’95 – how Eric’s major meeting with Ted Turner came about, what he would have changed about the show, what the first shot of the Monday Night Wars was, why Hulk Hogan wasn’t on the card

https://www.pwpodcasts.com/2019/01/08/recap-and-review-83-weeks-on-starrcade-95-how-erics-major-meeting-with-ted-turner-came-about-what-he-would-have-changed-about-the-show-what-the-first-shot-of-the-monday-night-wars-was-why-hu/

NJPW's 2/2 Show In America Will Be At....

NJPW revealed the location of their 2/2 Nashville, TN debut. It will be at the War Memorial Auditorium, a venue WWE NXT has run in recent years.

Impact Wrestling Notes/News

Scott Steiner, Bram, Crazzy Steve, Crimson and Jax Dane all worked last night's Impact Wrestling taping. Steiner will return to Impact Wrestling TV this week.

Steve worked what was going to be an Xplosion match but instead ended up as a dark match that was sent to the ring when there were power issues at the taping to kill time while Impact was getting back-up generators going. No word what caused the power issue but the emergency lights in the Nashville Fairgrounds Arena came up during the problem. The general consensus was that the company was lucky that didn't happen during the Homecoming PPV the night before.

Bram, Crimson and Dane worked a match taped for a future episode of Xplosion with Bram teaming with Caleb Konley against the War Kings.

For those of you who have Verizon Fios, their cable guide listing does not list Impact Wrestling as airing on The Pursuit Channel this Friday. Until that is resolved, you'll have to manually record the series yourself by recording that block of time. The series is not listed for next week, either, as of this writing.

Tommy Dreamer was working backstage as a producer last night and at the PPV.

Andy Douglas, who wrestled for the company as one half of the Naturals, was backstage. He's now retired as a pro wrestler and is working full-time as a chiropractor and was working on some of the talents.

Chris Harris was backstage again.

THE KHANS RELEASE STATEMENT ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM ALL ELITE WRESTLING

SHAD KHAN STATEMENT ON AEW, Tuesday, January 8, 2019

I am the lead investor, a supporter and a backer of All Elite Wrestling, and I anticipate great things today and into the future for AEW and everyone who has worked passionately on this week’s launch. I know AEW will be welcomed by wrestling fans here in the U.S. and throughout the world who are ready for something new and authentic. AEW will work hard to deliver on that promise.

As important, I am the father – the proud father – of Tony Khan, who will serve in a leadership role at AEW during the 2019 launch and in the years ahead. Tony will assemble a great team to take AEW over the top, for the benefit of everyone who loves the wrestling industry, while continuing to serve in his current capacities with the Jaguars and Fulham.

AEW will operate as an organization completely independently from my other interests. It will not deter attention or divert resources from any of my businesses, teams, projects or investments. At the same time, AEW will enjoy the same full commitment I given to everything and everyone in my life – my family and friends, my business and, in recent years, to sports, hospitality and now entertainment.

TONY KHAN STATEMENT ON AEW, Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Wrestling fans are a community unlike most others. I’ve been a part of this community since I was 7 years old, and I can tell you that wresting fans see the world every day through a special lens. We see wrestling in Hollywood films and tv shows, we see elements of wrestling in the presentation of sports and in the marketing of grandiose star athletes, and we certainly see wrestling in politics.

The wrestling community is a constant; its members are diverse, we are physically located on all corners of the planet, yet we are constantly connected. Recently, a new family has formed, bonded by love and respect for wresting but armed with a vision and resources that have never before been available to the wrestling community. Our objective is to connect our community closer than ever before through All Elite Wrestling, or AEW.

AEW does not mean any less of a continued commitment to existing obligations and duties that I have, or my family has, to our business and sports interests. That will never be the case. What’s important is that every individual decision we make as family, whether it’s ownership or investment in a team or property, is 100 percent beneficial to those specific interests. I will always welcome that accountability and responsibility, as nothing is more important than serving our supporters and friends.

AEW will launch with a roster of the top wrestlers in the world. While they’ll clash in what will be some of the most intense and fast-paced contests ever sanctioned in the squared circle, they’ll also share a common goal: to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a wrestling fan. Likewise, as a business, by treating our wrestlers with respect and warmth, we also seek to make this the golden age for the performers themselves.

I urge everyone who believes in what we’re doing, or wants to believe in dreams coming true, to support AEW by spreading the word and passing the wrestling bug onto someone else. My message: Get in on the ground floor with AEW today and help lead our movement to grow the wrestling community and ensure that the voices of the wrestling fans, their creative minds and their remarkable ideas, will always be heard.