Tuesday, January 8, 2019
AEW Notes (Including WWE Banning AEW Merchandise At Their show Tonite, etc)
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."
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.
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
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
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.
Dave Dynasty Show Midwest wrestling podcast EP117 (w/h Austin Tyler Morris & George Schire)
George Schire joins us to discuss AWA wrestling and Gene Okerlund
• Interview with Austin Tyler Morris
Monday, January 7, 2019
Acouple Indy Wrestling Things
Mat Memory- Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan First Ever Meetings (Two Different Matches)
Hulk Hogan vs Ric Flair (WWF Oakland, CA 10/25/91) FIRST EVER ADVERTISED MATCH!!
Mat Memory- Ric Flair on WWF TV W/ NWA Title Brawls With Roddy Piper
September 28,1991
Ric Flair fought Mark Thomas to a no contest when Flair stopped at the commentary table on the way to the ring, provoked Roddy Piper and knocked Piper out with the NWA title. Moments later, a groggy Piper accidentally knocked out Vince McMahon with a wooden chair, Flair then hit Piper with a chair and walked away. McMahon was soon taken backstage on a stretcher, fellow commentator, Randy Savage was unable to physically help since he was on probation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhUWfa-l39M
Mat Memory- Bobby Heenan brings Ric Flair to WWE: Prime Time Wrestling, Sept. 9, 1991
Bobby Heenan introduces "the real world champion" Ric Flair to WWE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ggDRV5Rj4
Mat Memory- Bobby Heenan hypes Ric Flair's WWF Debut (Holding NWA/WCW World Title Belt 08-10-1991)
Bobby "the Brain" Heenan appears on WWF TV with the WCW World Heavyweight Title and hypes the imminent debut of Ric Flair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PvY4AVgQfc
Bert Prentice's USA Championship Wrestling Episode 42
The final part of our Homecoming event sees The Starr Twins in tag team action against JYD JR and Matt Boyce and cruiser-weights collide in our main event featuring Blake Christian vs Barrett Brown! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E8HwHwSpoM
Appalachian Mountain Wrestling- AMW-TV Episode 122: January 5, 2019
In this episode we look back at the Rock N Roll Express vs. the Legion of Juice at Thanksgiving Turmoil.
Kyle Maggard And Stan Sierra Sign the contract to meet on January the 11th at the Miller Family Fun center. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHFmAWVUEBw
TRACY WILLIAMS COMMENTS ON ORANGE CASSIDY AS THE NEW INDEPENDENT WRESTLING CHAMPION
The Independent Wrestling Championship reign of “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams has ended. After over 300 days and sixteen successful title defenses, Williams was defeated by perhaps the most unorthodox challenger he had ever competed against, Orange Cassidy at Beyond Wrestling's Heavy Lies The Crown.
Williams won the title from the inaugural champion Jonathan Gresham (in a triple threat match that also featured Martin Stone) on Feburary 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He proved to be an exemplary champion whose time on top served to elevate the prestige and scope of the title.
Over the course of his ten month reign he successfully defended the championship in seven different promotions, in eight states. “Hot Sauce” was able to turn back the challenge of a myriad of stylistically distinct wrestlers, many of whom were among the top names in independent wrestling. Notably, Williams also put the title on the line against rising stars, and while he was seriously tested by several of them, he emerged victorious every time.
Though his time on top has ended for now, it seems certain that we’ve not seen the last of Tracy Williams in the Independent Championship picture. If nothing else he will forever be an essential part of its history.
Kane Reveals Why He Started A Wrestling School, How It Compares To The WWE Performance Center
When Kane isn't chokeslamming opponents or fulfilling his duties as mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, he is usually training wrestlers at his school. Kane co-owns a wrestling school in Tennessee along with Dr. Tom Prichard and The Big Red Machine went on Steve Austin's podcast to tell how the school came to be.
"Tom Prichard is one of the top trainers in the entire world," said Kane. "He is just awesome. It is one of those things where people always come up to me asking how do they get into the wrestling business. Well, eventually you are going to have to go to a wrestling school if you want to be in WWE you have to learn the bumps and go to [the Performance Center in] Orlando, Florida."
Kane then said Booker T in Houston and Lance Storm in Calgary have some of the best wrestling schools around. But Kane then asked himself why is he telling people to travel thousands of miles when he can just open a school in Knoxville, Tennessee? Prichard already lived there and his resume can match up with any other wrestling trainer in the world.
"Tom has trained people like Kurt Angle and The Rock, all these different Superstars," said Kane. "For me, at this point this business has been very good to me. Sometimes I worry about the pipeline of talent, and anything I can do to help people get into it the right way, because a lot of people aren't going to be taking the right path, so anything that I can do to help people do it the right way I think it is beneficial to all of us, which I believe that is the reason why.
"For me, I thought it was just a waste of Tom's talent not to be doing this and that was a big motivator for me, really."
"We were having dinner during the campaign and we were talking about the various wrestling schools that were out there," Prichard stated. "Glen said, 'I wonder what we could do here in Knoxville, Tennessee with a wrestling school.'"
The WWE Performance Center is the final stop for everyone looking to make it to WWE, but JPWA is a place that can help aspiring Superstars reach that destination.
Kane talked about comparisons between his school and the Performance Center.
"It'll probably be some of the same stuff to some extent," stated Kane. "A lot of it is if you are looking at a lot of these different schools you have to consider how these folks can help me. It's not only about what you are going to learn, but how can they help you advance and I think of course Tom Prichard and I can do that as well.
"Eventually, if anybody wants to be in WWE at some point, then getting into the Performance Center is the path to WWE. So, in many ways this is the first step if you even want to get into WWE to do that. Then, you have people who just want to get into the wrestling business, which is great too. One of the nice things about what is going on in the independent scene is that it has really revitalized independent wrestling, which is another path to go to. But either way we are hoping to get folks who are starting out to give them the basics, which is in-ring performance, promos, that sort of stuff. Really, nowadays promoting yourself is just as important as anything and making a name for yourself on social media, and from there if you have people who are a little more advanced you can polish them up and help them take that next step.
So I Went And Watched Impact Wrestling's Homecoming PPV.. And.. WELL? Here's A Review Of It.
Glad I didn't pay to see this because if I spent a dime on it, I would've felt ripped off.
Impact Homecoming PPV.
X-Division (Ultimate X) match- Fast
forwarded thru it, no real storyline build up as usual, just throw
them in ring the bell and say good luck. Ultimate X to me was
becoming an ultimate bore.
Grace/Hogan vs Yung/Allie- The whole
Sue Yung/”Dark Allie” thing is what I've been saying for months,
It's PRECISELY the 'Silliness” that Don Callis swore in many
interviews that he was going to get rid of. But yet, here it is. And
every time I've asked Callis this question “How is it that you're
going to as you say 'get rid of the silliness that has plagued Impact
Wrestling' if you're the one writing and booking it? Funny how he
never seems to have an answer to that. Wrestling was 'aaahh' but then
again I'm used to the superior level of womens wrestling that I watch
in the UK. So that and the 'silliness' that Callis isn't capable of
getting rid of made this almost a cure for insomnia at best. And how
did Rosemary end up in the coffin? Didn't the 'brides maids 'notice'
that the coffin was 'JJUUSST ALITTLE HEAVIER' than usual? Logic
editor is sorely neede din Impact Wrestling because even a blind
person could see thru the lack of logic in just this one match. Oh
yeah, using the mandible claw? YYAAWWN, so Mick Foley and it didn't
go over with me when Foley used it, so how much do you think it got
over with Allie doing it here? (rolls eyes).
Another point of no fucking logic in
Impact Wrestling. Wasn't Raven in an insane asylum? The same one that
Eddie Edwards was in? SSOOO, that being the case, how did Raven
suddenly 'get out' of the asylum and join Tommy Dreamer in jumping
Eli Drake on this past Thursday's show? Funny how there conveniently,
was no explanation for that. Yep The 'silliness that Callis swore
he'd get rid of'' is still alive and well under his booking and
writing. Imagine that.
Moose vs Eddie Edwards- Tommy Dreamer
must've been the producer of this match because it basically was your
usual ECW style brawl in many ways. All we need was for Moose or
Edwards to take something from a fan and use it on their opponent. OH
WAIT! We got that with Edwards using a beer can on moose's face. So
perfect, ECW brawl 101 complete.
Sammy Callihan vs Willie Mack- Two guys
I can't get into wrestling each other.. That actually put me to
sleep, and I had to reboot my computer and come back continue
watching this 90 minutes later. That tells you all you need to know
on how this show has been going, right there.
Tried to rewatch this and again, same
thing. Two guys whose gimmicks I don't like facing each other was
giving me a headache. Another thing I noticed this time before I hit
fast forward, the 'selling' level, which has been an issue with me
not just in Impact but WWE and ROH as well. True 'selling' of moves
seems to have been thrown out the window, or the people being trained
now don't get a course in knowing how to really sell moves.
Eli
Drake defeated Abyss in a Monster's Ball Match-
Ugh..
I know it's a hardcore match but man, Maybe it was because it was
Abyss but had this been against Dreamer this to me would've meant
more for the storyline of Eli becoming 'what he hates'. Also, going
back to what I said earlier about Dreamer and Raven being on the show
Thursday, why weren't they part of this show and match NOW? Where
Dreamer and Raven (even though no explanation of how he got out of
the asylum still hasn't been covered) could've came in after the
match and furthered it or enhanced it, BUT.. No logic in Impact's
booking and writing is reigning supreme here and this was an obvious
hole in their plan.
LAX
vs Luchas Bros.- Road Warriors/ Freebirds or RnR Express vs Midnight
Express this wasn't. The 'let's get in as many fancy moves in as
possible without really telling a story of the match' was in high
gear here, which all the moves in the world without psychology
doesn't mean shit. But this is how wrestling has evolved now. Why
bother telling as story when you can over shadow the fact you're
incapable of that by just throwing a whole bunch of useless moves
that nobody's gonna remember ten minutes from now in, instead. Konnan
came out after the match BUT, wasn't he stabbed by Low Ki in MLW?
Shouldn't he be 'selling' THAT? HHMM funny how that got skipped over
as well.
Taya
Valkyrie defeated Tessa Blanchard to become the NEW Impact
Knockout's Champion. Special Guest Referee: Gail Kim.
Now
this was the only match that kept my attention all the way thru. I'm
a big fan of Tessa Blanchard and having Gail Kim in there was an
added plus. The only fault and this just isn't this match on this
show but a lot of matches on a lot of shows. WWAAYY too many kick
outs at the count of two. I can name many companies, big and indy
that have this problem and when you do this over and over, and....
over again. The importance of it lessens. But of course nobody wants
to see that fact.
The
only other fault was Kim aiding to Blanchard's loss but.. Somewhere
in their lock of logic on most things there was a reason for it. But
if they don't follow up on that on this week's show then that whole
spot would've been like alot of things that Callis and D'Amore do
that don't get over.... Pointless.
Johnny
Impact defeated "The Machine" Brian Cage to retain the
Impact World Championship
MMAANN
has this company gone downhill. When you had guys with some real name
value like Sting, Samoa Joe, Christian, Kurt Angle, Drew Galloway,
Bobby Lashley, etc holding the top title and you've been reduced to,
well... THIS. The constant question that arises is, how the fuck did
they to be this bad?
Lashley
had all the tools and had a 'presence' to him to where you knew, he
was the top guy and why. Just replacing him with another muscle bound
guy doesn't quite fill the hole. Coming out looking like a cyborg of
sorts was like HHH coming for his match against sting in that wannabe
Terminator outfit. Stupid looking and pretty pointless. This to me
didn't have the 'feel' of a world title match. I kept thinking
there's something 'missing' here and I realized it, it's not just the
guys in this position it's a lot of the gimmicks/characters on the
roster. If you have as promotion where alot of the gimmicks or
characters don't resonate with me, then it just becomes hard to watch
and I start asking myself, why the fuck... Am I EVEN WATCHING this
shit for?
I
know for a fact, I can go to YouTube and find say, the Defiant
Wrestling's LOADED show to be way more entertaining than just about
everything this pay per view had to offer. I can find stuff by the
many indy groups I follow that would have my attention more than this
show did. If I never had seen Impact Wrestling before? And someone
wanted to turn me on to them? THIS wouldn't have been the show to try
to do that with.
Kamikaze Pro: Death Match - Clint Margera vs Jimmy Havoc - Sky's The Limit 5!
Footage from Sky's The Limit 5 where Clint Margera took on the debuting Jimmy Havoc in a Death Match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0eO7juOWlk
[HIGHLIGHTS] Ecstasy Of Gold VI- INSPIRE PRO WRESTLING
A new dawn. A new era. A new life for a world so familiar and yet so different from its first beginnings. INSPIRE PRO rises from the fifth cataclysm, entering its sixth life cycle. But birth is only the glorious beginning of death. Last night we once again plunged you into the shank of mortality. The shining pieces of how it will all end again lay before you at ECSTASY OF GOLD 6! WE NOW ENTER PARADISE DARK! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYqbZnyA1oQ
ALEX SLADE WINS THE WRESTLE LEAGUE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!
At Wrestle League's special Christmas edition of Proving Grounds, Alex Slade defeats Warwick Stephans for the Wrestle League World Championship! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1P-lInuoNQ
Ed Nordholm Talks If Impact Wrestling Would Work With All Elite Wrestling
At the Impact Homecoming VIP event where Impact WrestlingPresident Ed Nordholm did a Q&A with those in attendance. He was asked about the likelihood of Impact Wrestling working with other promotions, such as ROH, NWA, New Japan, and the newly announced All Elite Wrestling.
Nordholm responded he would very much like to work with other companies as it would help each other get stronger, rather than just fighting against each other.
"Everything is possible," Nordholm responded. "I think we'd be in the forefront of encouraging collaborations among the bigger and the smaller wrestling promotions. As an organization we're sure that we would all be stronger if we were collaborating, rather than fighting each other. ... It's a world in which we would welcome an opportunity to work with Ring of Honor. It's a world in which we would welcome an opportunity working with New Japan. It's a world in which we welcome working with AEW, if they actually get up and running. We have interest in them, I don't think we have any bias against any of that happening."
The trick is to figure out what will be helpful towards both companies though, Nordholm pointed to their relationship with AAA and how that's worked out well for both promotions. He also noted doing these collaborations only gets the fans more interested, since they will get to see fresh match-ups.
"The challenge always is what is the mutual benefit of doing it," Nordholm continued. "We've established we have a proven, very strong tradition with AAA, doing what's mutually beneficial for both of us, and we're both stronger because of it. It allows us to populate our rosters and be sure they have work. Showing very interesting things that fans haven't seen until we started doing it. So, with those types of models—I'd be thrilled to work with Ring of Honor, New Japan, and AEW, if they actually get going. We might see other guys who are running major shows who want to work with us in the same way in the future."
Four Indie Wrestling Stars Involved In Major Car Accident
Several indie wrestlers were involved in a major car crash after an FLQ promotion in Montreal last night. The wrestlers that were involved were Puf, Kevin Bennett, Kevin Blackwood, and Daniel Garcia, also known as the Buffalo Brothers.
The accident happened when their car slipped on a patch of black ice and hit a guardrail. Daniel Garcia and Kevin Blackwood both suffered serious injuries that required surgery because of broken bones. Kevin Bennett and Puf were both treated for minor injuries.
The Canadian wrestling promotion Smash Wrestling shared on Twitter today about the accident and asked to keep them in your thoughts. Wrestler Pepper Parks also posted on Twitter where he posted photos of them in the hospital.
The group has wrestled for Empire State Wrestling and Limitless, who shared today on Twitter that Daniel Garcia is out of a successful surgery.
NJPW Chooses Between ROH And AEW
The landscape of pro wrestling continues to change as 2019 just gets underway, and one of the biggest questions is who would NJPW decide to align with stateside to help bolster their position internationally. Dating back to 2014, they've had a partnership with Ring of Honor while the newly formed All Elite Wrestling could potentially have a pool of talent that could service NJPW just as well.
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said NJPW has decided to work with ROHgoing forward. As for right now, NJPW won't be working with AEW.
The report continued that even just a few days ago AEW thought Kenny Omega could continue to work for NJPW and would bounce between the two promotions, but that doesn't look to be the case at the moment with Omega announcing his exit from NJPW. Co-promotional events are obviously out the window for the time being.
NJPW is teaming up with ROH for the sold-out G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden on April 6.
For NJPW, they just finished up a big weekend with Wrestle Kingdom 13 (full results here) featuring eight title matches, all of which changed hands. ROH's next PPV is the 17th Anniversary Show on March 13 in Las Vegas, NV. This Tuesday, AEW is holding a Double or Nothing rally in Jacksonville, Florida.
Wrestler leaving New Japan
It was announced this evening that former IWGP Junior Heavyweight and ROH TV Champion KUSHIDA has decided to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of the month. NJPW announcer Chris Charlton posted the following transcript of the announcement:
Sugabayashi has 3 points: 1) Ibushi will be taking the next tour off due to his concussion. 2) Takashi Iizuka is retiring. He will have a retirement ceremony on February 21. 3) KUSHIDA will leave New Japan at the end of his contract on January 31.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: As Sugabayashi said, I will leave NJPW on January 31. This was an extremely tough condition made with Meij, Sugabayashi and Kidani. It was a very big decision in my life and I’m thankful they understood. I will head overseas and to see the world of pro wrestling.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: I have been here in NJPW for 8 years. I was surprised at the scale of the business when I first came in and proud of being able to work here. The warm reception and words from the fans made me who I am and I am so grateful to them.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: When I won the BOSJ a few years ago I said I’d lead the division to a bright future. I was so happy to hear the BOSJ finals will be in Ryogoku. Some may say I put it there, but it’s due to the efforts of everybody in the division to make a change.KUSHIDA: you meet so many people in this business from fans to rivals to allies and staff, and they all helped to grow me.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: I have no doubt- the junior division will be absolutely fine without me.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: I am contracted with this company until the end of January so I won’t be talking much about beyond then. But it has been my dream for a long time to travel the world with professional wrestling. And that’s what I will be doing.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: I increasingly took on the role lately of working with younger talent, and while not teaching, learning together. Along with that, going back and forth between ROH and New Japan I realised I am now 36 and have much less in front of me career wise than behind.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: being with Shibata in the Dojo I learned how difficult it was to teach the next generation. A lot of personal research has to go into that progress. For me, in order to best teach the next generation, what do I need to do?— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
Tanahashi asks KUSHIDA what he loved and what he found tough in New Japan. Kushi breaks down as he said he never had a rough time. ‘I love wrestling and never want to be away from it. I put everything into these 8 years’— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: I loved this journey through life with everyone here. I don’t know why I’m crying. This is my decision and I’m not sad I made it. These are happy tears.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
KUSHIDA: if there was anything left for me to achieve and do, I wouldn’t be leaving. But I’ll put my all in this last month. There’s been a lot of people who have influenced me over these 8 years. Liger, Tana. Shibata, Makabe, Tiger Hattori. They all enjoy wrestling.— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 7, 2019
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Indy Wrestling Things
Canadian Wrestling's Elite proudly hosted ECW Icon & House Of Hardcore founder & owner "The Innovator Of Violence" Tommy Dreamer in front of a sold out crowd in Winnipeg, Manitoba last night and this Saturday afternoon he hosted a seminar and official House Of Hardcore tryout.
This rare opportunity for talent in this region saw a great turnout of wrestlers from across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Minnesota, and Illinois with one being guaranteed a future House Of Hardcore match.
Well, the verdict is in and Tommy Dreamer found out the little secret that talent performing in this area are some of the best of the world, just tucked away geographically.
As a result Tommy Dreamer selected not one but FOUR participants to receive an opportunity on a future House Of Hardcore card!
Congratulations to CWE Star & 2018 Elite 8 Winner Roy "Flash" Gordon, CWE Slam Champion "Canadian Hercules" Tyler Colton, and High Impact Wrestling Stars Michael Allen Richard Clark & Shaun Moore!
Fans in Canada are very well aware of the talent these four men posses and now the world will have the opportunity to find out as well!
ILLINOIS
CROSSVILLE-Strictly Nsane Pro Wrestling at the Old Crossville Gym: Rashad Moxon defeated Smokin' J (w/ Dr. Carver) ... J.P. Lightning, Kyle Pipher, & Mara beat Frank Wyatt, Clay Franklin, & Molly Kraize ... Blue Ranger pinned Chase Nalley ... Drew Dillinger & "J-Mo" Jesse Morris defeated Pizza Guy & Papa J ... Cole James beat The Rich ... The Hooligans (Devin & Mason Cutter) & Garrett Shanks defeated Richard Faith, Barney, & Mynakin (w/ Dr. Carver) ... Tag Team Champions Madman Pondo & Cash Borden (w/ Marli Knox) beat Ricky Morton & Clayton Cosby in a no-disqualification match ... "Magic" Mario Jaxon pinned Xavier Michaels ... Hank Mercy & 2 Tuff Tony defeated Alex Herzog & Smokin' J (w/ Dr. Carver) ... Jake Parnell beat Shank Barzini in a hardcore match.
(01-05-2019)
1/5 F1RST WRESTLING in Minneapolis, Minn.: LAX vs. The Rascalz, Cabana, Sasuke vs. Strickland, plus Air Wolf, MJF, DJZ, Dorado
https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/01/06/1-5-f1rst-wrestling-in-minneapolis-minn-lax-vs-the-rascalz-cabana-sasuke-vs-strickland-plus-air-wolf-mjf-djz-dorado/
Mat Memory- Fabulous Freebirds vs Tenryu and Baba
March 15 1984, Salt Lake City, Utah. The team of Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy take on the team of Genichiro Tenryu and Giant Shohei Baba. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHlgef0FwL4
Mat Memory- Fabulous Freebirds WWF Promo (09-02-1984)
"Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Dave Wolff who introduces the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael P.S. Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhD8gdv-n38
Mat Memory- The Fabulous Freebirds vs Jumbo Tsuruta and The Great Kabuki
January 22 1984. Tokyo, JAPAN, The team of Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy take on the team of Jumbo Tsuruta and The Great Kabuki. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygNkvD0SSaE
Mat Memory- The Fabulous Freebirds vs Pepper and Jewel (AWA)
April 24, 1985. Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA. The Fabulous Freebirds, Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts take on jobbers Brian Jewel and Chris Pepper. Pre-match interviews with Hayes and Roberts included. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWN5R13spjI
AIWF Mid Atlantic Wrestling- Mid Atlantic 345
What happened in Laurel Fork when Commissioner Dave wanted Kevin Phoenix to resign with AIWF Mid Atlantic? you can see it here. Also on this episode we go back to 2008 for a three way dance between Steven Hayes, Justin Flash, and Jimi Love for the AIWF title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGh91E3Hh54
Jason Kincaid vs Chet Rippley Supreme Wrestling (based in Indiana) 1/5/2019
"The Gift" Jason Kincaid takes on "Unbreakable" Chet Rippley at Supreme Wrestling 1/5/2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9noNY2vY2_8
Reality of Wrestling TV: Episode 235
(Reality of Wrestling) is a wrestling promotion owned by Booker T that runs out of Houston, Texas showcasing the top unsigned talent from around the world in a weekly episodic series.
MATCHES:
- 4 Way Tag Match
- Rex Andrews & Booker T confrontation
- JJ Blake vs Gino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaNZACLljF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaNZACLljF0
Sam Adonis Talks How Indie Wrestling Is A Segmented Market, Being A Heel In Today's Pro Wrestling
Sam Adonis did a by Impact Backstage Interview with Alicia Atout from her YouTube channel, AMBY. Adonis talked about being a heel in today's wrestling environment, growing up with wrestling, and how indie wrestling is a very segmented market. Below are some highlights from the interview:
Happy with how his wrestling career has been so far:
"I've been super lucky that I've pretty much done a lot of things I wanted to do in wrestling. As a kid, I didn't care about going to WWE. I was really into Mexico and Japan, and the last two years I've been able to do a lot of both of those. I'm really happy with how things are panning out and we will see what happens in 2019."
Being a heel and honing his character:
"It's kind of weird because I don't think wrestling fans like the term 'heel.' It's almost like they don't understand what a heel is nowadays. In my opinion, it's a morality play, you want to have good vs. evil, so you can provoke genuine emotions from people. A lot of times wrestlers aren't creating an emotion. They just go out there and display what they're capable of doing. In my opinion, that's not what I like to do. I sometimes like to push the envelope, I like to make people angry. [Being believable]. I've been lucky enough in the last ten years to travel the world and really become Sam Adonis.
"I was 300 lbs. when I graduated high school. I was a fat kid and becoming a bad guy when I first began was going through the emotions. Now we live in a society where people don't necessarily admire somebody that betters themselves. A lot of times people they look down at that because they are envious. I'm outspoken, I'm very confident in what I do in professional wrestling and I tell you about it. A lot of times people really buy into what they are seeing because Sam Adonis the character is an extension of Sam Adonis, the person."
Growing up with wrestling along with his dad and his brother, WWE Announcer, Corey Graves:
"My dad was like the biggest wrestling fan in Pittsburgh. We [Adonis and his brother Corey Graves] grew up idolizing Bruno Sammartino. My dad was really into wrestling, my brother was into wrestling. My brother started training when he was 14, when I was 9-years-old, so being around that and knowing the wrestlers and have them corrupt me at such a young age, it kind of turned me into the person I become."
How indie style wrestling may turn off casual fans:
"I've been lucky to be a professional wrestler for seven years where it's been my job. As a professional, you have to appeal to the masses, you have to appeal to many people you can. Moms, dads, grandmas, uncles, nieces, nephews, like many people. A lot of indie style wrestling, in my opinion, is a very segmented market. You're basically saying, 'This is for the pure wrestling fans.' The pure wrestling fans might say, 'Wow, this match was great', but then if somebody that doesn't like wrestling watches that match and sees a Canadian Destroyer they might say, 'Well, that guy jumped.' I think it looks stupid. I think when you slap a leg you insult the intelligence to the consumer. Yes, wrestling fans are consumers, but in my opinion, I feel like we could have a much broader market if we were to hone in a little better and be more professional in a sense."
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