Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Mat Memory- Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs JT Dunn & Joey Janela
From VxS Wrestling: Blood & Bone”
The New Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) take on JT Dunn & "The Bad Boy" Joey Janela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SazeKj65VEg
The New Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) take on JT Dunn & "The Bad Boy" Joey Janela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SazeKj65VEg
Bobby Lashley Makes Reality of Wrestling Debut Against Jared Steele (2006)
Throwback to 2006 when the former ECW Champion Bobby Lashley made his debut at Booker T's Reality of Wrestling against former contender Jared Steele.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzABtcDgtcU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzABtcDgtcU
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Time To Put Taz In His Place (Since No Other Wrestling Writer Will Have The Balls To Do It)
Taz took to Twitter this week and fired back at a fan who criticized the new FTW Title belt, which Taz recently brought to AEW after using it in ECW years ago.
Here's his tweet right here.
But yet, when I, wrote this story https://billsbrandnewblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/this-revealing-old-ecw-ftw-title-is.html and I know people in AEW saw it? Not one peep out of Taz.. HHMMMMM, I guess it's selective bashing on Taz's part, eh?
He also added this as well.
If he loves wrestling fans then why'd he get so over sensitive at a fan who told the truth? You just contracted your words with the actions you did.
But along with that? let me go ahead and further put Taz in check, since he does, obviously.. Need to be checked.
I love how you make this baseless claim to the fan that in person he or anyone else wouldn't say shit to anyone from AEW/Impact/WWE/ROH/MLW, etc. Well I can easily call bullshit on that one and now? I call bullshit, to you Taz, er 'Peter'.
You see, unlike most of the fans and marks on social media I, actually worked in wrestling. 1997-99 in the New England area for guys like Sylvano Sousa, the late Walter 'Killer' Kowalski, WWA New England and EWA when they were based in Maine. I then, as I would now right to YOUR FACE, TTTAAZZZZ, speak the truth.. I have no qualms about looking someone in the face and telling them like it is because it's always been in my DNA to be that way. So what I said in my story above? I'd absolutely, with out any doubt, say the same thing to your face, and you'? Would stand there and take it.
Maybe that fan you bashed does have the balls to say it in person, how do you know he doesn't? You don't, so you basically ASSumed, and made an ass out of yourself with that ASSumption.
The nice thing about social media is that fans CAN call your ass out on shit like this. If you don't like seeing what's being posted then don't read it.. OOOOOO there's a concept for you. The only reason that FTW title has, any meaning is because Paul Heyman GAVE YOU the platform to make it have some meaning. If it wasn't for Heyman that title wouldn't mean shit, and in the bigger scheme of tings, it still doesn't mean much and the fan is right. AEW claimed they wanted to be an 'alternative' to WWE but the best they can scrape up is to have you, resurrect a title known in ECW. Steal an ECW idea.. GGEE How WWE and WCW is that? Yeah, great way to be an 'alternative' (rolls eyes).
People on social will continue to 'chirp' and wrestlers like you can no longer hide out in the locker rooms to avoid it. That's the way the business has evolved and it's those same fans you want and hope, watch your product every week, buy and watch the pay per views along with buying the merchandise you want to sell. So you want them to do all that? Then you have to deal with them same fans 'chirping' and calling your ass out on the obvious, like the FTW title. If you can't handle that then maybe you should stop being on social media, or just keep your mouth shut.. Cause someone like me, who does have the balls to say all this in person, would be more than happy to do just that.. Just to see the look on your face when you realize fans do, have the balls to say it to your face.
And speaking of saying it in person, why does it have to be 'a writing room'? Why not say it as you leave an arena? Believe me 'Tazzeepoo'.. I've said shit to Sousa, Kowalski, Bruce Prichard when he came (in 1998) with the WWE Training Dojo that headlined WWA New England shows, Jim Cornette, Dory Funk jr. and others, said it right at the shows, to their faces. If in your opinion I come off as a disrespectful jerk? (shrugs) okay then, I've been called much worse so i can live and actually embrace being called a disrespectful jerk. Coming from you I'd consider it a compliment.
So if I've said stuff which was the truth and didn't make an angle, company, etc look good to the faces of all I just mentioned.. What makes you think I wouldn't come and say something to your face? See that's where you kicked yourself in the ass. Wrestlers love to claim that fans wouldn't say shit to their face but here I am, a guy who has done it and would be happy to keep on doing it. So that just makes you look like a dumb ass for even thinking you could stand behind that claim.
You don't like fans 'chirping' and calling you out on what is so blatantly obvious? Don't read it, or maybe just stick to commentating for now on since you're such an oversensitive baby when you get on the internet. And yeah Tazz er, 'Peter". I would say that, to your face.
Maybe you should think your replies thru really well before you make them. because someone like me can come along and own you and check you with ease like I have here? it makes you look like a moron.. You like looking like a moron?
You need those 'chirping' fans because they're the ones you want watching your product. So you have to take them saying what they want, how they want.. You can't have it where they watch but yet won't state what they feel.. You can't, have it both ways.. Let that sink in.
Here's his tweet right here.
But yet, when I, wrote this story https://billsbrandnewblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/this-revealing-old-ecw-ftw-title-is.html and I know people in AEW saw it? Not one peep out of Taz.. HHMMMMM, I guess it's selective bashing on Taz's part, eh?
He also added this as well.
If he loves wrestling fans then why'd he get so over sensitive at a fan who told the truth? You just contracted your words with the actions you did.
But along with that? let me go ahead and further put Taz in check, since he does, obviously.. Need to be checked.
I love how you make this baseless claim to the fan that in person he or anyone else wouldn't say shit to anyone from AEW/Impact/WWE/ROH/MLW, etc. Well I can easily call bullshit on that one and now? I call bullshit, to you Taz, er 'Peter'.
You see, unlike most of the fans and marks on social media I, actually worked in wrestling. 1997-99 in the New England area for guys like Sylvano Sousa, the late Walter 'Killer' Kowalski, WWA New England and EWA when they were based in Maine. I then, as I would now right to YOUR FACE, TTTAAZZZZ, speak the truth.. I have no qualms about looking someone in the face and telling them like it is because it's always been in my DNA to be that way. So what I said in my story above? I'd absolutely, with out any doubt, say the same thing to your face, and you'? Would stand there and take it.
Maybe that fan you bashed does have the balls to say it in person, how do you know he doesn't? You don't, so you basically ASSumed, and made an ass out of yourself with that ASSumption.
The nice thing about social media is that fans CAN call your ass out on shit like this. If you don't like seeing what's being posted then don't read it.. OOOOOO there's a concept for you. The only reason that FTW title has, any meaning is because Paul Heyman GAVE YOU the platform to make it have some meaning. If it wasn't for Heyman that title wouldn't mean shit, and in the bigger scheme of tings, it still doesn't mean much and the fan is right. AEW claimed they wanted to be an 'alternative' to WWE but the best they can scrape up is to have you, resurrect a title known in ECW. Steal an ECW idea.. GGEE How WWE and WCW is that? Yeah, great way to be an 'alternative' (rolls eyes).
People on social will continue to 'chirp' and wrestlers like you can no longer hide out in the locker rooms to avoid it. That's the way the business has evolved and it's those same fans you want and hope, watch your product every week, buy and watch the pay per views along with buying the merchandise you want to sell. So you want them to do all that? Then you have to deal with them same fans 'chirping' and calling your ass out on the obvious, like the FTW title. If you can't handle that then maybe you should stop being on social media, or just keep your mouth shut.. Cause someone like me, who does have the balls to say all this in person, would be more than happy to do just that.. Just to see the look on your face when you realize fans do, have the balls to say it to your face.
And speaking of saying it in person, why does it have to be 'a writing room'? Why not say it as you leave an arena? Believe me 'Tazzeepoo'.. I've said shit to Sousa, Kowalski, Bruce Prichard when he came (in 1998) with the WWE Training Dojo that headlined WWA New England shows, Jim Cornette, Dory Funk jr. and others, said it right at the shows, to their faces. If in your opinion I come off as a disrespectful jerk? (shrugs) okay then, I've been called much worse so i can live and actually embrace being called a disrespectful jerk. Coming from you I'd consider it a compliment.
So if I've said stuff which was the truth and didn't make an angle, company, etc look good to the faces of all I just mentioned.. What makes you think I wouldn't come and say something to your face? See that's where you kicked yourself in the ass. Wrestlers love to claim that fans wouldn't say shit to their face but here I am, a guy who has done it and would be happy to keep on doing it. So that just makes you look like a dumb ass for even thinking you could stand behind that claim.
You don't like fans 'chirping' and calling you out on what is so blatantly obvious? Don't read it, or maybe just stick to commentating for now on since you're such an oversensitive baby when you get on the internet. And yeah Tazz er, 'Peter". I would say that, to your face.
Maybe you should think your replies thru really well before you make them. because someone like me can come along and own you and check you with ease like I have here? it makes you look like a moron.. You like looking like a moron?
You need those 'chirping' fans because they're the ones you want watching your product. So you have to take them saying what they want, how they want.. You can't have it where they watch but yet won't state what they feel.. You can't, have it both ways.. Let that sink in.
Want To See Live Pro Wrestling In Philadelphia? Well... Not This Year.
Philadelphia has always been one of the central hubs for die-hard professional wrestling fans, dating back to the days where the WWF and WCW would sell out opposite each other in the 1980s, the days of the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance, the genesis and explosion in popularity of ECW and the Philadelphia indy wars of the early 2000s with Ring of Honor, XPW,. CZW and other promotions battling it out, but COVID-19 has shuttered that long standing tradition of pro wrestling in Philadelphia, just as the pandemic has shuttered lots of other social and entertainment events.
If you were hoping to return to the City of Brotherly Love and perhaps step into the 2300 Arena this year, well, it won't be happening.
The City of Philadelphia just announced that large gatherings over 50 people and public events that would feature crowds have been banned through February 2021. That obviously will include professional wrestling on all levels.
If you were hoping to return to the City of Brotherly Love and perhaps step into the 2300 Arena this year, well, it won't be happening.
The City of Philadelphia just announced that large gatherings over 50 people and public events that would feature crowds have been banned through February 2021. That obviously will include professional wrestling on all levels.
Championship Wrestling From Florida (Featuring Dusty Rhodes & Wahoo McDaniel) (1978)
Killer Karl Kox vs Steve Brody
Interview with Killer Karl Kox
Interview with The Spoiler and Bobby Duncum
Highlights of Graham & Keirn vs The Spoilers
The Spoilers vs El Rio (Raul Mata) & Tiger Conway Jr.
Interview with Wahoo McDaniel
Highlights of Dusty Rhodes vs The Spoiler
Interview with Mike Graham & Steve Keirn
Highlights of Graham & Keirn vs The Spoilers
Tiger Conway Jr. Mr. Sato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVIwvfm2J04
Interview with Killer Karl Kox
Interview with The Spoiler and Bobby Duncum
Highlights of Graham & Keirn vs The Spoilers
The Spoilers vs El Rio (Raul Mata) & Tiger Conway Jr.
Interview with Wahoo McDaniel
Highlights of Dusty Rhodes vs The Spoiler
Interview with Mike Graham & Steve Keirn
Highlights of Graham & Keirn vs The Spoilers
Tiger Conway Jr. Mr. Sato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVIwvfm2J04
Bert Prentice's USACW Episode 99 07/11/20
Nathan Starr in action, Herb Simmons is named new commissioner is named, Appearance by Miranda Gordy, and much more on this edition of USA Championship Wrestling!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAYtTK0lwug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAYtTK0lwug
Monday, July 13, 2020
She Must Like Jail-- Tammy Sytch Is Arrested, Yet Again
WWE Hall of Famer Tammy Sytch, 47, is currently incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, PWInsider.com has confirmed.
Jail records list Sytch as being processed into Monmouth County Correctional as of 4:42 PM EST today.
Sytch was arrested early this morning and charged with with the following:
*Operating a Motor Vehicle during a second license suspension.
*Eluding a Police Officer.
*Contempt/Violation of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order.
We are waiting for confirmation as to the circumstances.
Sytch is currently on parole after being released from Carbon County Prison earlier this year. Whether this arrest could result in her parole being in jeopardy remains to be seen.
Jail records list Sytch as being processed into Monmouth County Correctional as of 4:42 PM EST today.
Sytch was arrested early this morning and charged with with the following:
*Operating a Motor Vehicle during a second license suspension.
*Eluding a Police Officer.
*Contempt/Violation of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order.
We are waiting for confirmation as to the circumstances.
Sytch is currently on parole after being released from Carbon County Prison earlier this year. Whether this arrest could result in her parole being in jeopardy remains to be seen.
Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling- Best of PPW (Episode 3)
Tonight's matches:
Sammi Pandora vs. Nyla Rose (PPW Tangled -Oct. 2016)
Richard Holliday vs. Mystery Opponent
Jack Swagger vs. Mike Orlando (PPW We the People -Jan. 2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ9-EQFASiI
Sammi Pandora vs. Nyla Rose (PPW Tangled -Oct. 2016)
Richard Holliday vs. Mystery Opponent
Jack Swagger vs. Mike Orlando (PPW We the People -Jan. 2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ9-EQFASiI
Mat Memory- JIM THE ANVIL NEIDHART VS TITO SANTANA
WWE legends Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and Tito Santana clash in the Great North Wrestling bout from the Bad News Allen Tribute Supershow in a match that was building all the way back from the Hart Foundation vs. Strike Force WWE feud in the 1980's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuA-tifeitA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuA-tifeitA
Tito Santana Full Shoot Interview 2020
Tito Santana Full Shoot Interview 2020
WWE Hall of Famer "El Matador" Tito Santana does a career interview with The Hannibal TV covering such topics as his college and pro football careers, wrestling in the Amarillo Territory, for the American Wrestling Association, his friendships with the Junk Yard Dog, Bill Watts and other stars before joining WWE, talk of all his major feuds there working with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Greg Valentine, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Ted Dibiase, why he never went full time in WCW, memories of Jim Neidhart, the rumor he could have been WWE champion instead of Bret Hart, defeating the Undertaker in Spain, working in Strike Force with Rick Martel and much more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnw1_YzyS8k
WWE Hall of Famer "El Matador" Tito Santana does a career interview with The Hannibal TV covering such topics as his college and pro football careers, wrestling in the Amarillo Territory, for the American Wrestling Association, his friendships with the Junk Yard Dog, Bill Watts and other stars before joining WWE, talk of all his major feuds there working with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Greg Valentine, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Ted Dibiase, why he never went full time in WCW, memories of Jim Neidhart, the rumor he could have been WWE champion instead of Bret Hart, defeating the Undertaker in Spain, working in Strike Force with Rick Martel and much more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnw1_YzyS8k
CRIMINAL TRIAL IN DEATH OF INDEPENDENT WRESTLER MATT TRAVIS PUSHED BACK TO OCTOBER
The trial of Luc C. Vu, the man arrested following the death New York City independent wrestler Matt "Travis" Palacios, before New York Criminal Court has been pushed back to Monday 10/19. It was slated to begin Monday 7/20, but the NY court system has been closed due to COVID-19, leading to the delay.
Vu has been charged with reckless driving, failure to yield to a bicyclist, failure to obey a traffic device, driving left of pavement marking and failure to exercise due care in December 2019, leading to Palacios' death.
Palacios was struck while traveling on a bike path in East Harlem about 2:30 AM on Saturday 11/9/19 when a dump truck driver made an illegal left u-turn to get onto the Willis Avenue Bridge. Travis was struck and although rushed to the hospital, suffered serious trauma and was pronounced dead when he arrived. It is not clear whether Vu was aware he struck Travis. Vu was driving for Parsipanny, New Jersey-based D&A Contracting LLC, which fired him upon learning of his arrest.
“I’m shocked, happy and depressed at the same time,” said Palacios' mother, Yolanda Nieves to StreetblogNYC several months back. “I was so depressed without my son. [Vu] should pay for what he did to my child — if it was a mistake he could have said he was sorry, but I haven’t heard any apologies.” Nieves told Streetblog she felt she had been kept in the dark during the investigation.
Palacios, who was returning home from professional wrestling training when he was struck, was only 25 years old.
Vu has been charged with reckless driving, failure to yield to a bicyclist, failure to obey a traffic device, driving left of pavement marking and failure to exercise due care in December 2019, leading to Palacios' death.
Palacios was struck while traveling on a bike path in East Harlem about 2:30 AM on Saturday 11/9/19 when a dump truck driver made an illegal left u-turn to get onto the Willis Avenue Bridge. Travis was struck and although rushed to the hospital, suffered serious trauma and was pronounced dead when he arrived. It is not clear whether Vu was aware he struck Travis. Vu was driving for Parsipanny, New Jersey-based D&A Contracting LLC, which fired him upon learning of his arrest.
“I’m shocked, happy and depressed at the same time,” said Palacios' mother, Yolanda Nieves to StreetblogNYC several months back. “I was so depressed without my son. [Vu] should pay for what he did to my child — if it was a mistake he could have said he was sorry, but I haven’t heard any apologies.” Nieves told Streetblog she felt she had been kept in the dark during the investigation.
Palacios, who was returning home from professional wrestling training when he was struck, was only 25 years old.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
ECPW Adrenaline: Legends Edition (June 2020, Part 3)
On This Episode of ECPW Adrenaline,
- Greg "the Hammer" Valentine & Rocky Jones vs Kodiak Bear & Executioner #1
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Kraig Stagg
- Nunzio vs Julio Dinero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZNDTEVuBk
- Greg "the Hammer" Valentine & Rocky Jones vs Kodiak Bear & Executioner #1
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Kraig Stagg
- Nunzio vs Julio Dinero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZNDTEVuBk
ECPW Adrenaline: Legends Edition (July 2020, Part 2)
- Big Van Vader vs Andrew Anderson
- Gangrel vs Frankie Flow
- Shane Douglas vs Dan De Man vs Crazy Ivan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGUQVfka8eo
- Gangrel vs Frankie Flow
- Shane Douglas vs Dan De Man vs Crazy Ivan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGUQVfka8eo
ECPW Adrenaline: Legends Edition (July 2020, Part 1)
- Salvatore Sincere vs Tommy Dreamer
- X-Pac & Monsta Mack vs Crazy Ivan & Sam Shields
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Tony Myers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJqCRfe2u7o&t=7s
- X-Pac & Monsta Mack vs Crazy Ivan & Sam Shields
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Tony Myers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJqCRfe2u7o&t=7s
ARW - "Extreme Takeover Thursday - Episode" #1
ARW - Atomic Revolutionary Wrestling is very excited to World Premiere Episode #1 of our new weekly series "Extreme Takeover Thursday". this will be a weekly TV show featuring multiple matches, promos, interviews & more with the stars of ARW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BZkx0wCOJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BZkx0wCOJw
Mat Memory- PWM Women's Championship | Sonya Strong (c) vs. Rachael Ellering | 2017
We rewind to 2017 for this classic PWM Women's Championship match from our vault. Sonya Strong defends the title against Rachael Ellering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG89Jxnbsyk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG89Jxnbsyk
World League Wrestling Thursday Night Showdown - Episode #93
This week on WLW Showdown, World League Wrestling will start airing more current WLW content. Stephan Newton will take on Rahim De La Suede in singles action to kick off the program. In the main event, Moses “The Deliverer” takes on Heart Throb Jaden!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-t0KCdQYs8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-t0KCdQYs8
THIS? (revealing the old ECW FTW title) Is The Best, AEW Can Scrape Up In Order To Be An "WWE Alternative"? (YAWNS)
THIS, is the best AEW can do to try and be an alternative to WWE? Dig out an old title from ECW that didn't mean anything? (Yawns). If this is the best AEW can scrape up, then I'm glad i just catch clips here on YouTube. because every week they come with something that further validates why, they're not worth investing much time in. They make Impact look really good right now, and Impact sucks out loud, so that's saying something.
Here's the clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_mhoIbUxHk
Taz claims that 'no promotion' recognized the FTW title.. UUUMM, wrong dumb ass, ECW did which is why Paul Heyman allowed it as part of ECW programming, stupid.
Nice try though, but some fans, know better, moron.
Here's the clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_mhoIbUxHk
Taz claims that 'no promotion' recognized the FTW title.. UUUMM, wrong dumb ass, ECW did which is why Paul Heyman allowed it as part of ECW programming, stupid.
Nice try though, but some fans, know better, moron.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Billy Gunn's Such A Wuss Now That He Has To Have His WIFE.. Do The Talking For Him? WWOOWW.
Billy Gunn Allegedly sent a cease and desist order to OVW Wrestler Tommy Gunn telling him he can no longer use the name 'Gunn".. My story on that is here.. https://billsbrandnewblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/only-wuss-would-do-this-as-billy-gunn.html
But now it appears that Billy is such a wuss and a wimp that he has no balls to talk for himself, he has to have his wife, do the talking for him. What's the matter BillyBoy, the wife won't allow you to speak for yourself? She has you that trained like a dog? "Sit Billyboy, don't speak until I say you can Billyboy". LMAO!
I guess she's the one, who has more balls, than he does, LOL!
Former OVW wrestler Ted McNaler was recently on The Monday Locker Room show with Bin Hamin. During the episode, McNaler claimed that OVW wrestler Tony Gunn received a cease and desist letter from AEW producer Billy Gunn over the term "The Gunn Show". Tony Gunn is his real name, and he has been using the term "Gunn Show" for the past several years.
Tony Gunn issued the video response above at the 2:33 mark regarding not being able to use the term. It should be noted that Gunn never said that he received a cease and desist, but rather was told that he can't use "The Gunn Show."
"I was recently told that 'Tony Gunn, you can no longer use the gimmick 'The Gunn Show'', that's it's been trademarked by someone on a bigger stage, a bigger platform," Gunn said. "And that means that what I've been building over these past three or four years, building my brand, building who I am, is gone. Down to the music that I've had made, I cannot use. Down to my wrestling gear, my catchphrases that I say on the mic, what I'm referred to in the wrestling business 'The Gunn Show'. To my merchandise that I have I cannot sell anymore. I can't do any of it. I've been stripped away of it all. And I've never felt this way before. I've never had my wrestling identity stolen from me. I never thought that could happen to me.
"It hurts. It hurts a lot. And I'm pissed off. Really pissed off. I've been wrestling for 15 years and I've had a lot of gimmicks, a lot of characters along the way and I finally found something that works for me, something that translated to the people and on TV and now I've had it ripped out from under my feet. It's bulls--t. At the end of the day, it's truly my fault. As an independent wrestler, you're supposed to protect your business, you're supposed to protect your brand. My brand was 'The Gunn Show' and now I lost that brand because of me."
Billy Gunn's wife, Paula Sopp, denied that Billy had sent Tony a cease and desist letter. Paula issued a statement to WrestleZone stating that while they never sent a cease and desist, they did send a text message to let OVW know that they had trademarked the term.
"We reached via text message to OVW, to let them know that we aren't trying to be a$$holes but we trademarked 'Gunn Show' and please let Tony know he can't use it," Paula stated. "He's upset that he can't use it anymore, which is understandable. We have been going thru leaps and bounds to trademark The Gunn name and everything related to it, including Gunn Show. We've hired an attorney last year for our trademarks. We've spent thousands of dollars for our trademarks."
"Billy has worked over 25 years using the Gunn name, professionally and on the Indy scene. Tony should have reached out to us and talked to us as a PROFESSIONAL, and we could have worked something out. Instead, he went to podcasts, social media and wrestling dirt sheets. As a professional, whether it's owning a business or a wrestling name, you have to protect yourself and your identity. If you've been around longer than 5 years in the wrestling business, you should know this!
"If Tony doesn't want an ACTUAL letter from our attorney, he will cease and desist the defamation of Billy! We wish Tony all the best with his wrestling career!"
But now it appears that Billy is such a wuss and a wimp that he has no balls to talk for himself, he has to have his wife, do the talking for him. What's the matter BillyBoy, the wife won't allow you to speak for yourself? She has you that trained like a dog? "Sit Billyboy, don't speak until I say you can Billyboy". LMAO!
I guess she's the one, who has more balls, than he does, LOL!
Former OVW wrestler Ted McNaler was recently on The Monday Locker Room show with Bin Hamin. During the episode, McNaler claimed that OVW wrestler Tony Gunn received a cease and desist letter from AEW producer Billy Gunn over the term "The Gunn Show". Tony Gunn is his real name, and he has been using the term "Gunn Show" for the past several years.
Tony Gunn issued the video response above at the 2:33 mark regarding not being able to use the term. It should be noted that Gunn never said that he received a cease and desist, but rather was told that he can't use "The Gunn Show."
"I was recently told that 'Tony Gunn, you can no longer use the gimmick 'The Gunn Show'', that's it's been trademarked by someone on a bigger stage, a bigger platform," Gunn said. "And that means that what I've been building over these past three or four years, building my brand, building who I am, is gone. Down to the music that I've had made, I cannot use. Down to my wrestling gear, my catchphrases that I say on the mic, what I'm referred to in the wrestling business 'The Gunn Show'. To my merchandise that I have I cannot sell anymore. I can't do any of it. I've been stripped away of it all. And I've never felt this way before. I've never had my wrestling identity stolen from me. I never thought that could happen to me.
"It hurts. It hurts a lot. And I'm pissed off. Really pissed off. I've been wrestling for 15 years and I've had a lot of gimmicks, a lot of characters along the way and I finally found something that works for me, something that translated to the people and on TV and now I've had it ripped out from under my feet. It's bulls--t. At the end of the day, it's truly my fault. As an independent wrestler, you're supposed to protect your business, you're supposed to protect your brand. My brand was 'The Gunn Show' and now I lost that brand because of me."
Billy Gunn's wife, Paula Sopp, denied that Billy had sent Tony a cease and desist letter. Paula issued a statement to WrestleZone stating that while they never sent a cease and desist, they did send a text message to let OVW know that they had trademarked the term.
"We reached via text message to OVW, to let them know that we aren't trying to be a$$holes but we trademarked 'Gunn Show' and please let Tony know he can't use it," Paula stated. "He's upset that he can't use it anymore, which is understandable. We have been going thru leaps and bounds to trademark The Gunn name and everything related to it, including Gunn Show. We've hired an attorney last year for our trademarks. We've spent thousands of dollars for our trademarks."
"Billy has worked over 25 years using the Gunn name, professionally and on the Indy scene. Tony should have reached out to us and talked to us as a PROFESSIONAL, and we could have worked something out. Instead, he went to podcasts, social media and wrestling dirt sheets. As a professional, whether it's owning a business or a wrestling name, you have to protect yourself and your identity. If you've been around longer than 5 years in the wrestling business, you should know this!
"If Tony doesn't want an ACTUAL letter from our attorney, he will cease and desist the defamation of Billy! We wish Tony all the best with his wrestling career!"
Why'd It Take Matt Riddle THIS LONG To Finally Say Something About The Sexual Allegations Against Him?
He finally, after weeks of the allegations being out there, he FINALLY decided to get off his ass and post a video about it.
Unfortunately, or maybe.. He should've had someone help him with to say and what NOT, to say. Because after watching this video, he comes off looking worse. In the video he states that Candy got his new number and kept harassing him. I say, let's see the proof of that. If you can claim it, you can prove it. But I bet, when he's called out to do that? The excuses will start flying. Or he might say something like the WWE 'won't let him'..
Here it all is for you below concerning this story.
WWE Smackdown star Matt Riddle posted a video on his social media, responding to allegations of sexual abuse brought against him by independent wrestler Candy Cartright. Cartwright claims that in May 2018, Riddle allegedly attempted to force her to sleep with him, choking her, which lead to her performing oral sex instead. She alleges this took place in a van with several others sleeping in the van at the time.
In the video, Riddle admits that he and Cartwright had an affair and he's not proud of that but says it is true. Riddle also claimed that he has never sexually abused or assaulted anyone in his life and that he was depressed over having to lie to his wife and friends constantly about the affair with Cartwright, so he ended the relationship and cut her off on social media. He then alleged that Cartwright continued to try to reach out to him, forcing him to block her and change his phone number but she would continue to reach out via messaging apps and by getting his new numbers. Riddle alleged that Cartwright would not let the end of the relationship go and claims that she is now trying to ruin his career because of it.
Here's the video. https://twitter.com/i/status/1280894471257890817
Unfortunately, or maybe.. He should've had someone help him with to say and what NOT, to say. Because after watching this video, he comes off looking worse. In the video he states that Candy got his new number and kept harassing him. I say, let's see the proof of that. If you can claim it, you can prove it. But I bet, when he's called out to do that? The excuses will start flying. Or he might say something like the WWE 'won't let him'..
Here it all is for you below concerning this story.
WWE Smackdown star Matt Riddle posted a video on his social media, responding to allegations of sexual abuse brought against him by independent wrestler Candy Cartright. Cartwright claims that in May 2018, Riddle allegedly attempted to force her to sleep with him, choking her, which lead to her performing oral sex instead. She alleges this took place in a van with several others sleeping in the van at the time.
In the video, Riddle admits that he and Cartwright had an affair and he's not proud of that but says it is true. Riddle also claimed that he has never sexually abused or assaulted anyone in his life and that he was depressed over having to lie to his wife and friends constantly about the affair with Cartwright, so he ended the relationship and cut her off on social media. He then alleged that Cartwright continued to try to reach out to him, forcing him to block her and change his phone number but she would continue to reach out via messaging apps and by getting his new numbers. Riddle alleged that Cartwright would not let the end of the relationship go and claims that she is now trying to ruin his career because of it.
Here's the video. https://twitter.com/i/status/1280894471257890817
ALBERTO DEL RIO LEGAL UPDATE
Questions have been asked about whether there's been any follow-up to former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio's May arrest in San Antonio, Texas for sexual assault, a second degree felony.
There has not been additional movement in the case as of this writing, as the charges have not yet been brought before a grand jury. Once that happens, if the Grand Jury rules there should be an official indictment, prosecution would commence and move towards a criminal trial. Del Rio remains free on $50,000 bond and we are told that he has hired several defense attorneys to represent him.
Del Rio, real name Jose Alberto Rodriguez Chucuan, 43, was arrested on 5/4 after the victim went to local authorities, stating that on Sunday 5/3 at 10 PM Chucuan allegedly became angry with her and physically assaulted her after accusing her of infidelity. When the victim would not admit to the infidelity, Chucuan allegedly slapped her "across the head" several times. The victim also alleged that Chucuan "forced her to wear a dress and dance for him" and that when she refused and he told her not to start crying because if she did, "he would take her son and drop him in the middle of the road somewhere."
The arrest affidavit stated that the woman alleged Chucuan had sexually assaulted her and that she had her injuries documented via photographs.
At the time, The FOX affiliate in San Antonio reported, "Police said Rodriguez Chucuan then tied the woman's hands with boxing straps, put a sock in her mouth and sexually assaulted her for several hours, using various objects. According to investigators, he also punched her in the back during the assault, causing visible injuries. The victim told detectives she does not remember much after he placed his hand around her throat."
TMZ later reported additional details that brought the accusations into a much more disturbing light, stating that the victim reported the attack started at around 10 PM on 5/3 and that it lasted over 16 hours, ending on 5/4 on 2:30 PM. The victim went to the police the same day with TMZ's report noting that the responding officer saw bruises on her face, arms, legs and neck. The victim alleged that Chucuan attempted to burn her passport and smashed her laptop computer and cell phone. TMZ reported that the victim, "..also claims Del Rio attacked her, causing multiple injuries and left her, 'feeling woozy and dizzy from the hits to her head.' " The victim told police she was afraid and intended to leave San Antonio as soon as possible.
If Chucuan is found guilty, the minimum prison sentence for sexual assault under Texas law would be 2 years. As a second degree felony under Texas law, sexual assault can also lead to a fine of up to $10,000, in addition to incarceration. .
Chucuan is best known publicly as former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio in WWE, formerly Dos Caras in Mexico and who has wrestled as Alberto el Patron in Impact Wrestling and fought under that name last year for MMA group Combate Americas, where he also holds a figurehead executive position. A representative for MMA promotion Combate Americas declined to give a statement at the time of Chucuan's arrest.
There has not been additional movement in the case as of this writing, as the charges have not yet been brought before a grand jury. Once that happens, if the Grand Jury rules there should be an official indictment, prosecution would commence and move towards a criminal trial. Del Rio remains free on $50,000 bond and we are told that he has hired several defense attorneys to represent him.
Del Rio, real name Jose Alberto Rodriguez Chucuan, 43, was arrested on 5/4 after the victim went to local authorities, stating that on Sunday 5/3 at 10 PM Chucuan allegedly became angry with her and physically assaulted her after accusing her of infidelity. When the victim would not admit to the infidelity, Chucuan allegedly slapped her "across the head" several times. The victim also alleged that Chucuan "forced her to wear a dress and dance for him" and that when she refused and he told her not to start crying because if she did, "he would take her son and drop him in the middle of the road somewhere."
The arrest affidavit stated that the woman alleged Chucuan had sexually assaulted her and that she had her injuries documented via photographs.
At the time, The FOX affiliate in San Antonio reported, "Police said Rodriguez Chucuan then tied the woman's hands with boxing straps, put a sock in her mouth and sexually assaulted her for several hours, using various objects. According to investigators, he also punched her in the back during the assault, causing visible injuries. The victim told detectives she does not remember much after he placed his hand around her throat."
TMZ later reported additional details that brought the accusations into a much more disturbing light, stating that the victim reported the attack started at around 10 PM on 5/3 and that it lasted over 16 hours, ending on 5/4 on 2:30 PM. The victim went to the police the same day with TMZ's report noting that the responding officer saw bruises on her face, arms, legs and neck. The victim alleged that Chucuan attempted to burn her passport and smashed her laptop computer and cell phone. TMZ reported that the victim, "..also claims Del Rio attacked her, causing multiple injuries and left her, 'feeling woozy and dizzy from the hits to her head.' " The victim told police she was afraid and intended to leave San Antonio as soon as possible.
If Chucuan is found guilty, the minimum prison sentence for sexual assault under Texas law would be 2 years. As a second degree felony under Texas law, sexual assault can also lead to a fine of up to $10,000, in addition to incarceration. .
Chucuan is best known publicly as former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio in WWE, formerly Dos Caras in Mexico and who has wrestled as Alberto el Patron in Impact Wrestling and fought under that name last year for MMA group Combate Americas, where he also holds a figurehead executive position. A representative for MMA promotion Combate Americas declined to give a statement at the time of Chucuan's arrest.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Mat Memory- NWA CWF Battle Of The Belts 3 1/9/86
NWA CWF Battle Of The Belts 3
1/9/86
Bob Cook vs. Jim Backlund
The Cuban Assassin vs. Tyree Pride
NWA Florida United States Tag Team Title Match
The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn) (c) vs. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams)
NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Tim Horner (c) vs. The White Ninja
AWA World Heavyweight Title Match
Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Kendo Nagasaki
Tag Team Match
The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Hawk) vs. The Shock Troops (Ed Gantner & Kareem Muhammad)
NWA Florida Bahamian Title Match
Chris Champion (c) vs. Kendall Windham
NWA World Heavyweight Title Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match
Ric Flair (c) vs. Lex Luger
NWA Florida Heavyweight Title Match
Ron Bass (c) vs. Barry Windham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuiIUCHQ0Hw
1/9/86
Bob Cook vs. Jim Backlund
The Cuban Assassin vs. Tyree Pride
NWA Florida United States Tag Team Title Match
The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn) (c) vs. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams)
NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Tim Horner (c) vs. The White Ninja
AWA World Heavyweight Title Match
Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Kendo Nagasaki
Tag Team Match
The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Hawk) vs. The Shock Troops (Ed Gantner & Kareem Muhammad)
NWA Florida Bahamian Title Match
Chris Champion (c) vs. Kendall Windham
NWA World Heavyweight Title Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match
Ric Flair (c) vs. Lex Luger
NWA Florida Heavyweight Title Match
Ron Bass (c) vs. Barry Windham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuiIUCHQ0Hw
Only A Wuss Would Do This As Billy Gunn Sends Cease And Desist Letter To Indie Wrestler
Poor Billyboy can't use it because the WWE won't let him so I guess the logic and dipshit mentality is.. "If I can't use it, nobody else is gonna use it".. Even though, it IS the guy's legal name. DUH!!!
Guess Billy Gunn has a weak complex and has to pull this kind of lame shit because someone else can get over using a name (that's his real name mind you) than Billy, who can't use a name that was 'created' for him, in a company he no longer works for.
Now if that, isn't some stupid ass shit, right there.
Here's the story on all this.
On "The Monday Locker Room Show", former OVW wrestler Ted McNaler revealed that OVW wrestler Tony Gunn received a Cease and Desist letter from AEW producer Billy Gunn over the term "The Gunn Show". Billy Gunn himself has been unable to use his last name on AEW due to WWE lawyers getting involved. McNaler detailed the situation on "The Monday Locker Room Show" (h/t to Himanshu D for the quote transcription).
"Tony Gunn got a cease and desist from Billy Gunn over the usage of the term 'Gunn Show' which as far as I know, Billy hasn't even used that term in AEW yet," McNaler noted. "Apparently he got the rights to use it back in February. But Tony Gunn has been using that literally for the last few years on OVW and on YouTube and on YouToo America, but he has it on his tights, he has it on his T-shirts, he has it in his music and now it's all being taken away. Now I did talk to a lawyer friend of mine and he did say Tony has a leg to stand on."
McNaler continued saying that Tony Gunn may not want to fight for the name in court due to a fear of losing future bookings or opportunities. McNaler pointed out that Tony's real last name is Gunn and relayed information he received from friend that is a lawyer.
"But talking with Tony, I don't know if he just doesn't want to have any heat with possible future opportunities," McNaler stated. "But unfortunately, I don't think he is going to legally fight it which is a shame. And the crazy part is Gunn is his shoot real name, but now it's being taken away.
"Yeah, his shoot name is Tony Gunn and based off what my lawyer friend tells me because Tony has documented, prior use, and not only that we have done two documented shows with Billy Gunn on the show in which he said, I guess from a lawyer standpoint, that Billy had the opportunity to approach Tony Gunn about the legal rights to that name and did not approach Tony about that prior. And to me like he had two prior opportunities to address it and didn't."
As you can view in the video above, Tony Gunn was given an opportunity to address the situation. He talked about the amount of work that he has put to build his brand in the wrestling business.
"I was recently told that 'Tony Gunn, you can no longer use the gimmick The Gunn Show', that's it's been trademarked by someone on a bigger stage, a bigger platform," Tony Gunn said. "And that means that what I've been building over these past three or four years, building my brand, building who I am, is gone.
"Down to the music that I've had made, I cannot use. Down to my wrestling gear, my catchphrases that I say on the mic, what I'm referred to in the wrestling business 'The Gunn Show'. To my merchandise that I have I cannot sell anymore. I can't do any of it. I've been stripped away of it all. And I've never felt this way before. I've never had my wrestling identity stolen from me. I never thought that could happen to me."
Tony Gunn continued by voicing his frustrations over the situation. He talked about how he's been in the wrestling business for over 15 years, and after finding something that works for him, it is being taken away from him.
"It hurts. It hurts a lot," Tony Gunn lamented. "And I'm pissed off. Really pissed off. I've been wrestling for 15 years and I've had a lot of gimmicks, a lot of characters along the way and I finally found something that works for me, something that translated to the people and on TV and now I've had it ripped out from under my feet. It's bulls--t.
"At the end of the day, it's truly my fault. As an independent wrestler, you're supposed to protect your business, you're supposed to protect your brand. My brand was 'The Gunn Show' and now I lost that brand because of me."
Tony Gunn ended by giving advice to his fellow indie wrestlers saying that they should work on getting their gimmick trademarked. He also called out Billy Gunn by saying that "karma's a bi--h."
"I'm gonna say this," Tony Gunn prefaced. "Any independent wrestler out there that's really making a name for themselves, that's really found their niche and something that's working for them, take it upon yourself because nobody else is and get that trademarked because you don't know who's watching, you don't know who's gonna come along and steal your wrestling identity and steal your gimmick.
"For the person or the people that did this, karma's a bi--h and you'll get exactly what you deserve. For me? I'm gonna grow from this. And I'm truly the only real and honest Gunn in professional wrestling. And the one that stole this from me? All you are is you're nothing but an ass, man."
Boom.. Dissed, and owned. How's that feel Billyboy? LOL.
Guess Billy Gunn has a weak complex and has to pull this kind of lame shit because someone else can get over using a name (that's his real name mind you) than Billy, who can't use a name that was 'created' for him, in a company he no longer works for.
Now if that, isn't some stupid ass shit, right there.
Here's the story on all this.
On "The Monday Locker Room Show", former OVW wrestler Ted McNaler revealed that OVW wrestler Tony Gunn received a Cease and Desist letter from AEW producer Billy Gunn over the term "The Gunn Show". Billy Gunn himself has been unable to use his last name on AEW due to WWE lawyers getting involved. McNaler detailed the situation on "The Monday Locker Room Show" (h/t to Himanshu D for the quote transcription).
"Tony Gunn got a cease and desist from Billy Gunn over the usage of the term 'Gunn Show' which as far as I know, Billy hasn't even used that term in AEW yet," McNaler noted. "Apparently he got the rights to use it back in February. But Tony Gunn has been using that literally for the last few years on OVW and on YouTube and on YouToo America, but he has it on his tights, he has it on his T-shirts, he has it in his music and now it's all being taken away. Now I did talk to a lawyer friend of mine and he did say Tony has a leg to stand on."
McNaler continued saying that Tony Gunn may not want to fight for the name in court due to a fear of losing future bookings or opportunities. McNaler pointed out that Tony's real last name is Gunn and relayed information he received from friend that is a lawyer.
"But talking with Tony, I don't know if he just doesn't want to have any heat with possible future opportunities," McNaler stated. "But unfortunately, I don't think he is going to legally fight it which is a shame. And the crazy part is Gunn is his shoot real name, but now it's being taken away.
"Yeah, his shoot name is Tony Gunn and based off what my lawyer friend tells me because Tony has documented, prior use, and not only that we have done two documented shows with Billy Gunn on the show in which he said, I guess from a lawyer standpoint, that Billy had the opportunity to approach Tony Gunn about the legal rights to that name and did not approach Tony about that prior. And to me like he had two prior opportunities to address it and didn't."
As you can view in the video above, Tony Gunn was given an opportunity to address the situation. He talked about the amount of work that he has put to build his brand in the wrestling business.
"I was recently told that 'Tony Gunn, you can no longer use the gimmick The Gunn Show', that's it's been trademarked by someone on a bigger stage, a bigger platform," Tony Gunn said. "And that means that what I've been building over these past three or four years, building my brand, building who I am, is gone.
"Down to the music that I've had made, I cannot use. Down to my wrestling gear, my catchphrases that I say on the mic, what I'm referred to in the wrestling business 'The Gunn Show'. To my merchandise that I have I cannot sell anymore. I can't do any of it. I've been stripped away of it all. And I've never felt this way before. I've never had my wrestling identity stolen from me. I never thought that could happen to me."
Tony Gunn continued by voicing his frustrations over the situation. He talked about how he's been in the wrestling business for over 15 years, and after finding something that works for him, it is being taken away from him.
"It hurts. It hurts a lot," Tony Gunn lamented. "And I'm pissed off. Really pissed off. I've been wrestling for 15 years and I've had a lot of gimmicks, a lot of characters along the way and I finally found something that works for me, something that translated to the people and on TV and now I've had it ripped out from under my feet. It's bulls--t.
"At the end of the day, it's truly my fault. As an independent wrestler, you're supposed to protect your business, you're supposed to protect your brand. My brand was 'The Gunn Show' and now I lost that brand because of me."
Tony Gunn ended by giving advice to his fellow indie wrestlers saying that they should work on getting their gimmick trademarked. He also called out Billy Gunn by saying that "karma's a bi--h."
"I'm gonna say this," Tony Gunn prefaced. "Any independent wrestler out there that's really making a name for themselves, that's really found their niche and something that's working for them, take it upon yourself because nobody else is and get that trademarked because you don't know who's watching, you don't know who's gonna come along and steal your wrestling identity and steal your gimmick.
"For the person or the people that did this, karma's a bi--h and you'll get exactly what you deserve. For me? I'm gonna grow from this. And I'm truly the only real and honest Gunn in professional wrestling. And the one that stole this from me? All you are is you're nothing but an ass, man."
Boom.. Dissed, and owned. How's that feel Billyboy? LOL.
FORMER ROH CHAMPION JAY LETHAL RESPONDS TO MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
Former Ring of Honor Champion Jay Lethal publicly responded to allegations of abuse and harassment brought against him by former ROH star Kelly Klein, who claimed, "MULTIPLE women brought complaints & evidence of sexual misconduct/harassment by Jay Lethal. ROH ignored/covered it up."
Lethal, in response, took to Twitter with the following:
Here's the stuff from Kelly Klein.
Lethal, in response, took to Twitter with the following:
Here's the stuff from Kelly Klein.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Mat Memory- Will Ospreay Vs Walter from Over The Top Wrestling
Over The Top Wrestling Presents, Will Ospreay Vs Walter
For Over The Top Wrestling's Fourth Year Anniversary
Oct 13th, 2018 Dublin's National Stadium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTemrD73-w
For Over The Top Wrestling's Fourth Year Anniversary
Oct 13th, 2018 Dublin's National Stadium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTemrD73-w
Mat Memory- 2018 - LuFisto Vs Savannah Stone
GLORY PRO WRESTLING
Sunday, February 18th 2018
Edwardsville, IL, USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nstknkM2dH4
Sunday, February 18th 2018
Edwardsville, IL, USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nstknkM2dH4
Mat Memory- LuFisto Vs Britt Baker - IWC Women's Championship
INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING CARTEL
Saturday, July 22nd 2017
Elizabeth, PA, USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk7kI2AYgEI
Saturday, July 22nd 2017
Elizabeth, PA, USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk7kI2AYgEI
The Soap Opera That Never Ends Of Jarrett Vs Impact? Isn't Ending Any Time Soon (rolls eyes)
It's the story that never ends, it seems.. Like a bad wrestling angle that keeps going on and on, and on.. It's also a story that other than Jarrett.. Nobody really gives two shits about either.
I mean let's be honest. IF Jarrett wins this (and so far he's been on the losing end of motions he wanted so that tells you something), what really is he gonna 'win'?
Impact allegedly deleted all the master tapes of GFW, including the AMPED TV show that nobody liked and many many people thought sucked (except Jarrett, of course). So what's left? Merchandise nobody wants? T-shirts you can't even give away at this point? Other than Jeff Jarrett's ego being ultimately stroked, even though he WAS fired from Impact, not once but TWICE.. There's nothing left that's worthwhile here and it seems to be a lot of money and effort wasted... On something nobody and I mean NOBODY (Can't find one person, anywhere) who gives a rat's ass about GFW.
But here's the the reason why, this never ending sap story, is going to continue... To be never ending.
The ongoing trial brought against Impact Wrestling parent company Anthem Wrestling LLC by Jeff Jarrett and his company, Global Force Entertainment has been put on pause and delayed until the morning of 7/21, Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. informed all parties.
The belief among sources we have spoken to is that a concern about rising COVID-19 cases locally led to the court pushing back the trial several weeks.
The two sides will have a telephone conference on 7/10 discussing the case as well.
I mean let's be honest. IF Jarrett wins this (and so far he's been on the losing end of motions he wanted so that tells you something), what really is he gonna 'win'?
Impact allegedly deleted all the master tapes of GFW, including the AMPED TV show that nobody liked and many many people thought sucked (except Jarrett, of course). So what's left? Merchandise nobody wants? T-shirts you can't even give away at this point? Other than Jeff Jarrett's ego being ultimately stroked, even though he WAS fired from Impact, not once but TWICE.. There's nothing left that's worthwhile here and it seems to be a lot of money and effort wasted... On something nobody and I mean NOBODY (Can't find one person, anywhere) who gives a rat's ass about GFW.
But here's the the reason why, this never ending sap story, is going to continue... To be never ending.
The ongoing trial brought against Impact Wrestling parent company Anthem Wrestling LLC by Jeff Jarrett and his company, Global Force Entertainment has been put on pause and delayed until the morning of 7/21, Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. informed all parties.
The belief among sources we have spoken to is that a concern about rising COVID-19 cases locally led to the court pushing back the trial several weeks.
The two sides will have a telephone conference on 7/10 discussing the case as well.
One Year Ago I wrote This Article.
This came up in my FB memories so it's worth sharing again. An article I wrote about a good friend who was a member of this group Dale Pierce. This was for a fanzine based in Australia that he and I both contributed to.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
OVW TV 1090 - "Firecracker 4th of July"
Hosts Gilbert Corsey, Steven Johnson & Bryan Kennison celebrate the 4th of July spotlighting our historic event at Fort Knox and other patriotic encounters from OVW's storied past. Happy Birthday, America! Presented by Gladiator Sports Network.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcUz50px6_c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcUz50px6_c
BETTER WAKE SOMEBODY IN WWE UP SINCE REY MYSTERIO IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITHOUT WWE CONTRACT
Are they really that lazy there that nobody realizes these things? They micromanage every other fucking thing, how the hell do they miss this?
Rey Mysterio is currently working for WWE without a contract.
Mysterio's latest WWE deal, signed in September 2018, has expired but that he is still working for WWE. Mysterio and his son, Dominik, have been heavily featured on Raw in a key storyline with Seth Rollins.
Mysterio and Dominik were scheduled to appear in person on the June 29th Raw, but their segment was changed to a taped appearance from their home instead.
There was a plan to make a Mysterio vs. Rollins "eye for an eye" match for July 19th's Extreme Rules where the only way to win would be to take out your opponent's eye. As of now, that match has yet to be announced.
Mysterio, 45, worked high profile dates for NJPW and AAA between 2015 and his WWE return in 2018. He also worked the first All In for what is now known as AEW.
Rey Mysterio is currently working for WWE without a contract.
Mysterio's latest WWE deal, signed in September 2018, has expired but that he is still working for WWE. Mysterio and his son, Dominik, have been heavily featured on Raw in a key storyline with Seth Rollins.
Mysterio and Dominik were scheduled to appear in person on the June 29th Raw, but their segment was changed to a taped appearance from their home instead.
There was a plan to make a Mysterio vs. Rollins "eye for an eye" match for July 19th's Extreme Rules where the only way to win would be to take out your opponent's eye. As of now, that match has yet to be announced.
Mysterio, 45, worked high profile dates for NJPW and AAA between 2015 and his WWE return in 2018. He also worked the first All In for what is now known as AEW.
Mat Memory- World Class Championship Wrestling - 04-05-86
Lance Von Erich & Brickhouse Brown vs Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts, Terry Gordy vs Bruiser Brody, and more..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43V8i33-Rsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43V8i33-Rsg
Mat Memory- World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) - 04-12-86
Bruiser Brody & Kerry Von Erich vs Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy, Rick Rude and more...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwIV9xd18Ak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwIV9xd18Ak
MLW Anthology | Von Erichs
Matches:
•WAR CHAMBER: The Von Erichs, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor & Low Ki vs. CONTRA Unit
•The Von Erichs vs. The Dynasty - MLW World Tag Team Championship Bout
For years everyone thought the last Von Erich was Kevin… until his sons Ross and Marshall rode into Major League Wrestling to save Major League Wrestling from the sinister clutches of CONTRA UNIT.
This week MLW Anthology see the rise of the Von Erichs in Major League Wrestling.
From their debut standing beside former friend and World Heavyweight Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor to their quest to win their first World Tag Team Championship, Marshall and Ross Von Erich fight for their family and the future of MLW.
Watch as they claw the competition inside the War Chamber with their father ringside, and give two elitists a Texas thumping with the gold on the line!
•WAR CHAMBER: The Von Erichs, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor & Low Ki vs. CONTRA Unit
•The Von Erichs vs. The Dynasty - MLW World Tag Team Championship Bout
For years everyone thought the last Von Erich was Kevin… until his sons Ross and Marshall rode into Major League Wrestling to save Major League Wrestling from the sinister clutches of CONTRA UNIT.
This week MLW Anthology see the rise of the Von Erichs in Major League Wrestling.
From their debut standing beside former friend and World Heavyweight Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor to their quest to win their first World Tag Team Championship, Marshall and Ross Von Erich fight for their family and the future of MLW.
Watch as they claw the competition inside the War Chamber with their father ringside, and give two elitists a Texas thumping with the gold on the line!
Supreme Wrestling Last Word 7/3/2020
Your fast paced look at the action from Supreme Wrestling's show on 6/27/2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNkCmwWErOc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNkCmwWErOc
Supreme Wrestling Final Friday June 2020
Highlights from Supreme Wrestling's Final Friday show from June 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=douEZWjGaBQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=douEZWjGaBQ
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Vince McMahon Reportedly Left WWE TV Taping Early While Others Were Forced To Stay (Must be Nice)
Over the last week, WWE has taped two episodes of Monday Night Raw and two episodes of Friday Night SmackDown at the Performance Center.
The tapings have reportedly been chaotic, with one report stating that things were “not running smoothly” backstage at these tapings. The report went on to allege that the Raw script was only finalised by Vince McMahon at 1pm EST, which left the company under pressure to wrap up the taping in time.
Vince McMahon didn’t stick around for the end of the second Raw taping, leaving the Performance Center before it had finished, one source says he wished he could have left early like Vince did. Everyone else was expected to stay for the duration of the taping:
“It is unknown where he went, or what he had to do. They carried on without him and finished the tapings as planned.
“One source in the company stated to Ringside News, “I wish I could have left early,” The Superstars and staff had to stay for the duration of the tapings, but Vince McMahon got to leave.”
The tapings have reportedly been chaotic, with one report stating that things were “not running smoothly” backstage at these tapings. The report went on to allege that the Raw script was only finalised by Vince McMahon at 1pm EST, which left the company under pressure to wrap up the taping in time.
Vince McMahon didn’t stick around for the end of the second Raw taping, leaving the Performance Center before it had finished, one source says he wished he could have left early like Vince did. Everyone else was expected to stay for the duration of the taping:
“It is unknown where he went, or what he had to do. They carried on without him and finished the tapings as planned.
“One source in the company stated to Ringside News, “I wish I could have left early,” The Superstars and staff had to stay for the duration of the tapings, but Vince McMahon got to leave.”
Bully Ray Done With Ring Of Honor
The WWE Hall of Famer is done with the promotion as his contract expired on 4/1. His exit had been agreed upon and planned by both sides with the original plan being Ray staying until the now-canceled Supercard of Honor event over Wrestlemania 36 weekend in Florida to finish out a storyline with Maria Manic.
The end of Rays run had been a mutually agreed upon decision prior to the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold and the series of events that world has been plunged into since March had no bearing on the situation. There was no heat between Ray and the company, just a realization that he had done all he could do there currently.
So, Ray is 100% a free agent and could work or sign elsewhere if the right deal comes along.
The end of Rays run had been a mutually agreed upon decision prior to the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold and the series of events that world has been plunged into since March had no bearing on the situation. There was no heat between Ray and the company, just a realization that he had done all he could do there currently.
So, Ray is 100% a free agent and could work or sign elsewhere if the right deal comes along.
Friday, July 3, 2020
WLW Thursday Night Showdown - Episode 92
This week on WLW Showdown, you're going to see former WLW Heavyweight Champion Derek McQuinn takes on WLW Newcomer Brian Breaker in singles competition.
In the main event, Brandon Tatum looks to get revenge on Dinn-T Moore. Who will walk away with the win?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8oYAEBzZSU
In the main event, Brandon Tatum looks to get revenge on Dinn-T Moore. Who will walk away with the win?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8oYAEBzZSU
WWE NOW OWNS EVOLVE WRESTLING
World Wrestling Entertainment has officially acquired ownership of the Gabe Sapolsky-Sal Hamaoui EVOLVE promotion. EVOLVE has long been the flagship promotion of Hamaoui’s company, World Wrestling Network (WWN). The deal was closed after several months of negotiations. While there were rumors making the rounds that EVOLVE had been sold to WWE, nothing had been finalized until just recently.
WWE broadcast EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary event live on the WWE Network (the first and to date, only non-WWE promotion to stream on that platform) in July of last year. They will have the complete rights to use the EVOLVE brand name and produce EVOLVE events going forward, whether as live events or WWE Network programming. There is no word whether we’ll ever see an EVOLVE event again, but certainly there will be EVOLVE/WWN content added to the WWE Network in some form down the line.
EVOLVE was created as Dragon Gate USA off-shoot in January 2010 as a way to run without the DG talents coming in from Japan. While DGUSA was a satellite promotion for CIMA and other Japanese stars here in the States, EVOLVE was based on different fighting styles and win/loss records. That was a concept Sapolsky and WWE star Daniel Bryan had come up with leading into the first event under the EVOLVE banner in Rahway, NJ, but as it turned out, Bryan ended up signing with WWE and he was gone by the time the EVOLVE debuted.
EVOLVE ran 146 events over its lifetime, with its final event taking place on 3/1 in Melrose, MA, headlined by AR Fox defeating Josh Briggs. It is believed that nearly half the talents that were signed by WWN/EVOLVE over the life of the comoany ended up signing deals with World Wrestling Entertainment. The list of former contracted EVOLVE who used the promotion as their conduit into WWE is a literal who’s who: Tony Nese, Apollo Crews, Austin Theory, Brodie Lee, Jon Moxley, Drew Gulak, Keith Lee, Biff Busick (Oney Lordan), Johnny Gargano, Malcolm Bivens (Stokely Hathaway), Matt Riddle, Ricochet, Rich Swann, Kalisto, Shotzi Blackheart, Sami Callihan, Timothy Thatcher and TJ Perkins. Darby Allin was signed by All Elite Wrestling after his run with EVOLVE, but that was a different situation that saw Allin buy himself out of his EVOLVE contract in order to be free and clear to sign with AEW.
Beyond the aforementioned, the EVOLVE video library acquisition gives WWE fresh content featuring Daniel Bryan, Sabu, The Young Bucks, Mia Yim, AR Fox, Eddie Kingston, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, Austin Aries, WALTER, Zack Sabre Jr., Cedric Alexander, Ethan Page, Trent Baretta and countless matches that have never been seen on the WWE Network and can be utilized for future documentaries and other original programming.
The demise of EVOLVE was brought about by the reality of a world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shut down live entertainment events on all levels. In recent years, EVOLVE had slid into a role where it existed mostly to help groom WWE talents, brought about by the promotion’s track record at developing future WWE talents. Eventually, the working relationship grew into a signed, contractual agreement between the two sides. That agreement included a clause that would allow WWE to purchase the promotion if it so desired. WWE similar agreements with other promotions in Europe.
Over the last several years, EVOLVE’s business plan had been centered around running a weekend of events in major markets, utilizing NXT talents provided by WWE in order to give those talents additional seasoning and exposure as part of EVOLVE’s contracted relationship with WWE. The shows were streamed online as iPPVs, but a major portion of live revenue from the events in recent years were coming from meet and greet sessions featuring WWE talents signing and taking photos with fans before and after the shows.
The reality was that EVOLVE, even with the WWE relationship and plugs for their events on WWE’s website, was rarely drawing at the level that it truly needed to be in the black and likely would have shut down several years ago had WWE not gotten more involved.
Like every other independent promotion, EVOLVE was chasing a Holy Grail, seeking the next big thing that would finally make it solvent and successful. Until that was found, they, like every promotion, were fighting for the next dollar to keep them moving.
At first it was DVD sales, until that dried up thanks to shifts in technology. Then it was live streaming, which also allowed for almost immediate piracy and while no one ever wants to admit this, streaming in many cases also cannibalizes live ticket sales, which when you are drawing a few hundred to begin with, is a significant number.
The Holy Grail then morphed into what every content provider seeks today, a streaming or broadcast outlet willing to pay to license their content. It appeared EVOLVE had indeed discovered that source of income when Flosports launched their pro wrestling platform. They immediately signed WWN as their first brand for that project and threw a ton of money at the promotion. The money was ridiculously great for WWN, but ended within a year when Flo, unable to land New Japan and ROH (who they expected to be the other cornerstones of their platform) instead came to the realization that they had locked themselves into paying out far more than they were bringing in via subscriptions. Flosports broke with EVOLVE before shutting down their pro wrestling platform.
It was a bad break, right down to Flo making all the WWN content free to stream. Lawsuits were filed and blame was placed back and forth when the reality was Flo had made a deal that was ridiculously beneficial for WWN but not for themselves, so they tried to get out of it. In the end, there was a confidential settlement that came out of the lawsuit, but even then, a large amount of money had been spent by WWN, somewhere in the six figure range and at the end of all that fighting, EVOLVE and WWN weren’t exactly left with a huge financial warchest.
In the wake of the Flosports lawsuit being settled, WWE and EVOLVE built a relationship championed by Paul "Triple H" Levesque and Gabe Sapolsky. There had been discussions going back years about working together (even before Flosports came into the picture) but in the world of WWE, things move at a slow, glacial pace until suddenly they are at breakneck speed and there is a massive rush to get things done. The initial working relationship started, a handshake deal that eventually morphed into an official, contracted relationship that saw WWE send talent and assist EVOLVE in many other ways. In return, EVOLVE prepared current and future NXT talents for their future and at times, sent WWN talent to WWE TV tapings and even had EVOLVE matches featured on Wrestlemania AXXESS events.
Had it not been for the WWE relationship, EVOLVE likely would have ceased to exist in 2016 coming out of the Flosports debacle. WWE tossed the company a lifeline when they were certain to drown. While WWE helped support the bottom line of the promotion, the reality is that like Ring of Honor before Sinclair purchased ROH, EVOLVE was now stuck in a position where it ran in circles, creating content for a slowly dwindling group of fans with a small staff that was killing itself to travel, produce, promote their events before moving on to the next event, next week or next month. That was fine when there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and traditionally that light was Wrestlemania week, where a big payday for the promotion was all but guaranteed to be the cash cow that would empower EVOLVE going forward for the next year.
Wrestlemania weekend, for WWN, always meant their most attended events of their year as well as their highest grossing events. This year was going to be even more important as there were plans locked in but not announced for the WWE Network to air 5-7 WWNLive events on the WWE Network as part of WWE’s slate of Wrestlemania weekend programming. It would have certainly been the most profitable and most high profile weekend in EVOLVE history.
Except, Wrestlemania week never happened.
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE made the decision to pull up stakes from Tampa and hold Wrestlemania 36 on a closed set from their Performance Center. That meant Wrestlemania week and all the money that usually flowed to independent promotions and companies, including WWN/EVOLVE, had now disappeared.
The pandemic made it impossible to run Wrestlemania week and once March 2020 came, instead of gearing up for the biggest week of the promotion’s existence, everything shut down and it wasn’t wasn’t safe to run, period, as public gatherings weren’t allowed. Every single promotion, many now accustomed to running Wrestlemania week in order to refuel financially for the next year, instead now found themselves in a scenario worse than they could have ever envisioned.
None had shows, none had money coming in, non had anything to provide a foundation for the future and even worse, many were now left holding the bag after untold thousands of dollars in expenditures on promotion, venue rents (that for many, if not all of these promotions, have still yet to be refunded as of this writing in July, months later), tickets, lighting, etc. For the fly by night, cash in hand style business that most independent promotions are, it was and remains a near-impossible task to navigate an escape from.
EVOLVE was not immune and was hit even harder. As the pandemic raged on, the reality set in that there was no way to move forward with the promotion’s business plan of running 1-2 major events a month to generate revenue, much less provide WWE with a destination for their NXT talents to continue being prepared for the future. Financially, EVOLVE was trapped having to refund ticket sales for their biggest weekend of the year while also stuck with expenditures they could never, ever recoup....and with contracted talents they were obligated to pay going forward.
In just a few months’ time, EVOLVE went from being prepared for its most high-profile events of the year to standing in a massive financial hole with no way out. They had literally built a foundation for a house that could no longer be built. Even worse, they were trapped waist-deep in the cement they had laid for that foundation. Much like Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1980s, the world had turned sideways financially for EVOLVE and like Crockett Promotions before them, there was no way to survive.
This led to discussions with WWE that resulted in WWE acquiring the promotion and the EVOLVE tape library. We are told there was at least one other party interested in buying EVOLVE outright but they could not do so because EVOLVE’s contractual agreement with WWE gave WWE the rights to execute their purchase clause or provide EVOLVE with WWE's blessing to sell elsewhere. After going back and forth, WWE chose to make the purchase.
When WWE and EVOLVE officially signed a deal together, EVOLVE created a new LLC, which is the company WWE has acquired. They are not acquiring WWNLive, which will live on. The sale of EVOLVE does, however, mean the end (at least for now) of the professional relationship between Sal Hamaoui and Gabe Sapolsky, which we are told is an amicable parting.
This sale also quietly officially marks the end of Sapolsky working in independent wrestling, something that dates back to the early 1990s with the original ECW as the publisher of their official program and running the Sabu Fan Club before going on to book Ring of Honor, FIP, Dragon Gate USA and EVOLVE. Sapolsky ended up booking his last independent show without even knowing it.
WWN is not getting out of the pro wrestling business, however. Going forward, Hamaoui will be focusing on the remaining promotions under the WWN banner, streaming several weekly live events at www.ClubWWN.com from Florida as soon as legally allowed, including Full Impact Pro, SHINE and ACW. There are also plans to do live, interactive interviews with talents and new brands that will fall under the WWNLive banner. Sapolsky will not be involved in those promotions, PWInsider.com has been told. The door also remains theoretically open for WWE to work with Hamaoui and WWN down the line, obviously, as well, if the two sides wish to do something.
We are told that Hamaoui's priority following the sale of EVOLVE is for WWN to immediately make good on any remaining fans who still have yet to receive refunds on Wrestlemania weekend (something that has weighed heavily upon all involved) and to make sure that all business relationships the promotion has built over the last decade are taken care of ASAP. The sale of EVOLVE is not a case of taking the money and running as much as using the money to extricate themselves out of the vortex the pandemic trapped the company trapped in.
The belief among those we have spoken to is that several contracted EVOLVE talents will be signed and enter the WWE NXT system as well. How many signings there will be has not been confirmed, but the expectation is that it will be at least four talents, possibly more.
The sale is believed to give WWE the entire EVOLVE and Dragon Gate USA video library. It is also believed some other content would have been sold to WWE as well, including the earliest era of Full Impact Pro, but how much of other material has not yet been confirmed as of this writing. We are told that material will be removed from WWNLive.com in about a month, so any material that disappears would likely have been sold to WWE. So, if you are a WWNLive subscriber, you have a chance to watch the material one last time before it goes into the WWE vault.
The legacy of EVOLVE will be that it was the bridge that saw many find their way in professional wrestling as talents, the nexus that provided the experience needed to be ready for larger-scale, higher paying runs elsewhere. There were 100 talents signed to EVOLVE/WWN deals over the last decade and just about half of them ended up being signed by WWE. That’s a pretty good average. Without EVOLVE, some but certainly not all would have had that chance.
Matt Riddle, who just moved over to the Smackdown brand a few weeks ago, may never have landed with WWE had it not been for EVOLVE. In 2015, Gabe Sapolsky was tasked by Paul Levesque to help Riddle continue to develop as a performer as there was interest after Riddle had a tryout but the timing just wasn’t there yet for numerous reasons to sign Riddle. In EVOLVE, Riddle continued to develop before everyone’s eyes with WWE keeping tabs on him. It finally got to a point where New Japan Pro Wrestling showed interest and offered Riddle a nice deal. EVOLVE, having Riddle under contract, contacted WWE to give them the heads up. Riddle was quickly signed and locked into a WWE deal, heading off to NXT until finishing up in the recent NXT Fight Pit bout against Timothy Thatcher. Had it not been for EVOLVE, would Riddle, at least his incarnation of Riddle, even be on Smackdown?
One can also make a hell of an argument that the current WWE Champion Drew “McIntyre” Galloway greatly utilized his EVOLVE run to help rehabilitate and energize his career after his June 2014 WWE release. The promotion was McIntyre’s first destination after that release, immediately defeating Chris Hero for the EVOLVE title in his debut. At that point, McIntyre took the belt and defended it all around the world, his take-off of the old traveling NWA World Champion, starting to build the foundation that led McIntyre back to WWE and a far greater role. While he worked for lots of other promotions, EVOLVE was the nucleus of the run that helped him get back to catching the attention of WWE officials. Without EVOLVE as the center of Galloway’s efforts, would Drew McIntyre be the WWE Champion right now?
The sad reality is this. EVOLVE’s accomplishments remain something to be proud of, even in the face of the final chapter (at least for now) being written in the experiment that was EVOLVE, but none of them were enough - not even with the WWE connection - to make and keep EVOLVE financially solvent.
That of course, begs the following question to be asked: if EVOLVE, an independent promotion that had all the connections and support of WWE wasn’t able to safely find their way out of the post-pandemic world, what does that mean for the future of other independent promotions also still trying to bail themselves out of their own catastrophes that came out of the canceled Wrestlemania 36 week in Tampa?
How can promotions on a miniscule budget attempt to strategize moving forward in a world that has completely changed over the last several months?
If EVOLVE couldn’t evolve, how does anyone...and does that mean they are just the first to fall in the wake of the disastrous turn of events everyone in pro wrestling has dealt with over the last several months...especially as COVID-19 numbers are once again spiking across the United States?
EVOLVE: 2010 - 2020.
WWE broadcast EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary event live on the WWE Network (the first and to date, only non-WWE promotion to stream on that platform) in July of last year. They will have the complete rights to use the EVOLVE brand name and produce EVOLVE events going forward, whether as live events or WWE Network programming. There is no word whether we’ll ever see an EVOLVE event again, but certainly there will be EVOLVE/WWN content added to the WWE Network in some form down the line.
EVOLVE was created as Dragon Gate USA off-shoot in January 2010 as a way to run without the DG talents coming in from Japan. While DGUSA was a satellite promotion for CIMA and other Japanese stars here in the States, EVOLVE was based on different fighting styles and win/loss records. That was a concept Sapolsky and WWE star Daniel Bryan had come up with leading into the first event under the EVOLVE banner in Rahway, NJ, but as it turned out, Bryan ended up signing with WWE and he was gone by the time the EVOLVE debuted.
EVOLVE ran 146 events over its lifetime, with its final event taking place on 3/1 in Melrose, MA, headlined by AR Fox defeating Josh Briggs. It is believed that nearly half the talents that were signed by WWN/EVOLVE over the life of the comoany ended up signing deals with World Wrestling Entertainment. The list of former contracted EVOLVE who used the promotion as their conduit into WWE is a literal who’s who: Tony Nese, Apollo Crews, Austin Theory, Brodie Lee, Jon Moxley, Drew Gulak, Keith Lee, Biff Busick (Oney Lordan), Johnny Gargano, Malcolm Bivens (Stokely Hathaway), Matt Riddle, Ricochet, Rich Swann, Kalisto, Shotzi Blackheart, Sami Callihan, Timothy Thatcher and TJ Perkins. Darby Allin was signed by All Elite Wrestling after his run with EVOLVE, but that was a different situation that saw Allin buy himself out of his EVOLVE contract in order to be free and clear to sign with AEW.
Beyond the aforementioned, the EVOLVE video library acquisition gives WWE fresh content featuring Daniel Bryan, Sabu, The Young Bucks, Mia Yim, AR Fox, Eddie Kingston, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, Austin Aries, WALTER, Zack Sabre Jr., Cedric Alexander, Ethan Page, Trent Baretta and countless matches that have never been seen on the WWE Network and can be utilized for future documentaries and other original programming.
The demise of EVOLVE was brought about by the reality of a world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shut down live entertainment events on all levels. In recent years, EVOLVE had slid into a role where it existed mostly to help groom WWE talents, brought about by the promotion’s track record at developing future WWE talents. Eventually, the working relationship grew into a signed, contractual agreement between the two sides. That agreement included a clause that would allow WWE to purchase the promotion if it so desired. WWE similar agreements with other promotions in Europe.
Over the last several years, EVOLVE’s business plan had been centered around running a weekend of events in major markets, utilizing NXT talents provided by WWE in order to give those talents additional seasoning and exposure as part of EVOLVE’s contracted relationship with WWE. The shows were streamed online as iPPVs, but a major portion of live revenue from the events in recent years were coming from meet and greet sessions featuring WWE talents signing and taking photos with fans before and after the shows.
The reality was that EVOLVE, even with the WWE relationship and plugs for their events on WWE’s website, was rarely drawing at the level that it truly needed to be in the black and likely would have shut down several years ago had WWE not gotten more involved.
Like every other independent promotion, EVOLVE was chasing a Holy Grail, seeking the next big thing that would finally make it solvent and successful. Until that was found, they, like every promotion, were fighting for the next dollar to keep them moving.
At first it was DVD sales, until that dried up thanks to shifts in technology. Then it was live streaming, which also allowed for almost immediate piracy and while no one ever wants to admit this, streaming in many cases also cannibalizes live ticket sales, which when you are drawing a few hundred to begin with, is a significant number.
The Holy Grail then morphed into what every content provider seeks today, a streaming or broadcast outlet willing to pay to license their content. It appeared EVOLVE had indeed discovered that source of income when Flosports launched their pro wrestling platform. They immediately signed WWN as their first brand for that project and threw a ton of money at the promotion. The money was ridiculously great for WWN, but ended within a year when Flo, unable to land New Japan and ROH (who they expected to be the other cornerstones of their platform) instead came to the realization that they had locked themselves into paying out far more than they were bringing in via subscriptions. Flosports broke with EVOLVE before shutting down their pro wrestling platform.
It was a bad break, right down to Flo making all the WWN content free to stream. Lawsuits were filed and blame was placed back and forth when the reality was Flo had made a deal that was ridiculously beneficial for WWN but not for themselves, so they tried to get out of it. In the end, there was a confidential settlement that came out of the lawsuit, but even then, a large amount of money had been spent by WWN, somewhere in the six figure range and at the end of all that fighting, EVOLVE and WWN weren’t exactly left with a huge financial warchest.
In the wake of the Flosports lawsuit being settled, WWE and EVOLVE built a relationship championed by Paul "Triple H" Levesque and Gabe Sapolsky. There had been discussions going back years about working together (even before Flosports came into the picture) but in the world of WWE, things move at a slow, glacial pace until suddenly they are at breakneck speed and there is a massive rush to get things done. The initial working relationship started, a handshake deal that eventually morphed into an official, contracted relationship that saw WWE send talent and assist EVOLVE in many other ways. In return, EVOLVE prepared current and future NXT talents for their future and at times, sent WWN talent to WWE TV tapings and even had EVOLVE matches featured on Wrestlemania AXXESS events.
Had it not been for the WWE relationship, EVOLVE likely would have ceased to exist in 2016 coming out of the Flosports debacle. WWE tossed the company a lifeline when they were certain to drown. While WWE helped support the bottom line of the promotion, the reality is that like Ring of Honor before Sinclair purchased ROH, EVOLVE was now stuck in a position where it ran in circles, creating content for a slowly dwindling group of fans with a small staff that was killing itself to travel, produce, promote their events before moving on to the next event, next week or next month. That was fine when there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and traditionally that light was Wrestlemania week, where a big payday for the promotion was all but guaranteed to be the cash cow that would empower EVOLVE going forward for the next year.
Wrestlemania weekend, for WWN, always meant their most attended events of their year as well as their highest grossing events. This year was going to be even more important as there were plans locked in but not announced for the WWE Network to air 5-7 WWNLive events on the WWE Network as part of WWE’s slate of Wrestlemania weekend programming. It would have certainly been the most profitable and most high profile weekend in EVOLVE history.
Except, Wrestlemania week never happened.
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE made the decision to pull up stakes from Tampa and hold Wrestlemania 36 on a closed set from their Performance Center. That meant Wrestlemania week and all the money that usually flowed to independent promotions and companies, including WWN/EVOLVE, had now disappeared.
The pandemic made it impossible to run Wrestlemania week and once March 2020 came, instead of gearing up for the biggest week of the promotion’s existence, everything shut down and it wasn’t wasn’t safe to run, period, as public gatherings weren’t allowed. Every single promotion, many now accustomed to running Wrestlemania week in order to refuel financially for the next year, instead now found themselves in a scenario worse than they could have ever envisioned.
None had shows, none had money coming in, non had anything to provide a foundation for the future and even worse, many were now left holding the bag after untold thousands of dollars in expenditures on promotion, venue rents (that for many, if not all of these promotions, have still yet to be refunded as of this writing in July, months later), tickets, lighting, etc. For the fly by night, cash in hand style business that most independent promotions are, it was and remains a near-impossible task to navigate an escape from.
EVOLVE was not immune and was hit even harder. As the pandemic raged on, the reality set in that there was no way to move forward with the promotion’s business plan of running 1-2 major events a month to generate revenue, much less provide WWE with a destination for their NXT talents to continue being prepared for the future. Financially, EVOLVE was trapped having to refund ticket sales for their biggest weekend of the year while also stuck with expenditures they could never, ever recoup....and with contracted talents they were obligated to pay going forward.
In just a few months’ time, EVOLVE went from being prepared for its most high-profile events of the year to standing in a massive financial hole with no way out. They had literally built a foundation for a house that could no longer be built. Even worse, they were trapped waist-deep in the cement they had laid for that foundation. Much like Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1980s, the world had turned sideways financially for EVOLVE and like Crockett Promotions before them, there was no way to survive.
This led to discussions with WWE that resulted in WWE acquiring the promotion and the EVOLVE tape library. We are told there was at least one other party interested in buying EVOLVE outright but they could not do so because EVOLVE’s contractual agreement with WWE gave WWE the rights to execute their purchase clause or provide EVOLVE with WWE's blessing to sell elsewhere. After going back and forth, WWE chose to make the purchase.
When WWE and EVOLVE officially signed a deal together, EVOLVE created a new LLC, which is the company WWE has acquired. They are not acquiring WWNLive, which will live on. The sale of EVOLVE does, however, mean the end (at least for now) of the professional relationship between Sal Hamaoui and Gabe Sapolsky, which we are told is an amicable parting.
This sale also quietly officially marks the end of Sapolsky working in independent wrestling, something that dates back to the early 1990s with the original ECW as the publisher of their official program and running the Sabu Fan Club before going on to book Ring of Honor, FIP, Dragon Gate USA and EVOLVE. Sapolsky ended up booking his last independent show without even knowing it.
WWN is not getting out of the pro wrestling business, however. Going forward, Hamaoui will be focusing on the remaining promotions under the WWN banner, streaming several weekly live events at www.ClubWWN.com from Florida as soon as legally allowed, including Full Impact Pro, SHINE and ACW. There are also plans to do live, interactive interviews with talents and new brands that will fall under the WWNLive banner. Sapolsky will not be involved in those promotions, PWInsider.com has been told. The door also remains theoretically open for WWE to work with Hamaoui and WWN down the line, obviously, as well, if the two sides wish to do something.
We are told that Hamaoui's priority following the sale of EVOLVE is for WWN to immediately make good on any remaining fans who still have yet to receive refunds on Wrestlemania weekend (something that has weighed heavily upon all involved) and to make sure that all business relationships the promotion has built over the last decade are taken care of ASAP. The sale of EVOLVE is not a case of taking the money and running as much as using the money to extricate themselves out of the vortex the pandemic trapped the company trapped in.
The belief among those we have spoken to is that several contracted EVOLVE talents will be signed and enter the WWE NXT system as well. How many signings there will be has not been confirmed, but the expectation is that it will be at least four talents, possibly more.
The sale is believed to give WWE the entire EVOLVE and Dragon Gate USA video library. It is also believed some other content would have been sold to WWE as well, including the earliest era of Full Impact Pro, but how much of other material has not yet been confirmed as of this writing. We are told that material will be removed from WWNLive.com in about a month, so any material that disappears would likely have been sold to WWE. So, if you are a WWNLive subscriber, you have a chance to watch the material one last time before it goes into the WWE vault.
The legacy of EVOLVE will be that it was the bridge that saw many find their way in professional wrestling as talents, the nexus that provided the experience needed to be ready for larger-scale, higher paying runs elsewhere. There were 100 talents signed to EVOLVE/WWN deals over the last decade and just about half of them ended up being signed by WWE. That’s a pretty good average. Without EVOLVE, some but certainly not all would have had that chance.
Matt Riddle, who just moved over to the Smackdown brand a few weeks ago, may never have landed with WWE had it not been for EVOLVE. In 2015, Gabe Sapolsky was tasked by Paul Levesque to help Riddle continue to develop as a performer as there was interest after Riddle had a tryout but the timing just wasn’t there yet for numerous reasons to sign Riddle. In EVOLVE, Riddle continued to develop before everyone’s eyes with WWE keeping tabs on him. It finally got to a point where New Japan Pro Wrestling showed interest and offered Riddle a nice deal. EVOLVE, having Riddle under contract, contacted WWE to give them the heads up. Riddle was quickly signed and locked into a WWE deal, heading off to NXT until finishing up in the recent NXT Fight Pit bout against Timothy Thatcher. Had it not been for EVOLVE, would Riddle, at least his incarnation of Riddle, even be on Smackdown?
One can also make a hell of an argument that the current WWE Champion Drew “McIntyre” Galloway greatly utilized his EVOLVE run to help rehabilitate and energize his career after his June 2014 WWE release. The promotion was McIntyre’s first destination after that release, immediately defeating Chris Hero for the EVOLVE title in his debut. At that point, McIntyre took the belt and defended it all around the world, his take-off of the old traveling NWA World Champion, starting to build the foundation that led McIntyre back to WWE and a far greater role. While he worked for lots of other promotions, EVOLVE was the nucleus of the run that helped him get back to catching the attention of WWE officials. Without EVOLVE as the center of Galloway’s efforts, would Drew McIntyre be the WWE Champion right now?
The sad reality is this. EVOLVE’s accomplishments remain something to be proud of, even in the face of the final chapter (at least for now) being written in the experiment that was EVOLVE, but none of them were enough - not even with the WWE connection - to make and keep EVOLVE financially solvent.
That of course, begs the following question to be asked: if EVOLVE, an independent promotion that had all the connections and support of WWE wasn’t able to safely find their way out of the post-pandemic world, what does that mean for the future of other independent promotions also still trying to bail themselves out of their own catastrophes that came out of the canceled Wrestlemania 36 week in Tampa?
How can promotions on a miniscule budget attempt to strategize moving forward in a world that has completely changed over the last several months?
If EVOLVE couldn’t evolve, how does anyone...and does that mean they are just the first to fall in the wake of the disastrous turn of events everyone in pro wrestling has dealt with over the last several months...especially as COVID-19 numbers are once again spiking across the United States?
EVOLVE: 2010 - 2020.
Thursday, July 2, 2020
AAHH YEP, AEW's Attempt To Be WWE's Alternative Is To Present, A "Puppy Battle Royal", LMAO!
The fact they're actually SERIOUS and really think that THIS.. Is a fucking 'brilliant' idea is truly mind boggling.. Boy if there ever was a reason for me to watch AEW, This would be it, NNOOTT!! (Rolls eyes).
BUT.. Here's the story on it anyway for the three people who may think, this is a great idea.
While the term "puppies" in pro wrestling is commonly associated with Attitude Era Jerry Lawler commentary, AEW is looking to bring it back but in a totally different context.
During night one of Fyter Fest, AEW announced that next week will see the debut of the Puppy Battle Royale:
How about a casual puppy break after that first match #FyterFest #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/pyGBdAOnS6
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) July 2, 2020
No details, or even the context of why they are doing this, was announced (Other than it's obvious their 'creative' is seriously creatively challenged if this is the best they could scrape up, when it comes to ideas).. It's also unclear if this is airing during Fyter Fest or afterward as the clip that ran during the show said 'Next week after Fyter Fest' while the video above that was tweeted didn't.
Yeah, if you wanna be an alternative to WWE this sure is the ticket (falls over laughing). The sad thing is? You can't make this kind of stupid shit up.
BUT.. Here's the story on it anyway for the three people who may think, this is a great idea.
While the term "puppies" in pro wrestling is commonly associated with Attitude Era Jerry Lawler commentary, AEW is looking to bring it back but in a totally different context.
During night one of Fyter Fest, AEW announced that next week will see the debut of the Puppy Battle Royale:
How about a casual puppy break after that first match #FyterFest #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/pyGBdAOnS6
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) July 2, 2020
No details, or even the context of why they are doing this, was announced (Other than it's obvious their 'creative' is seriously creatively challenged if this is the best they could scrape up, when it comes to ideas).. It's also unclear if this is airing during Fyter Fest or afterward as the clip that ran during the show said 'Next week after Fyter Fest' while the video above that was tweeted didn't.
Yeah, if you wanna be an alternative to WWE this sure is the ticket (falls over laughing). The sad thing is? You can't make this kind of stupid shit up.
Michael Elgin Releases Statement (Which Has Some Holes In It) About Recent Allegations
I watched this and there's some holes in this story, which you'll see, I pointed out in a reply.
If he replies to what I brought up I'll update this. But here's where his video statement is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz37qRsH6KQ&feature=youtu.be
If he replies to what I brought up I'll update this. But here's where his video statement is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz37qRsH6KQ&feature=youtu.be
Jarrett's Soap Opera Of A Lawsuit Against Anthem Has These Results So Far.
The trial regarding the lawsuit brought against Impact Wrestling parent company Anthem Wrestling by Jeff Jarrett and his company Global Force Entertainment (parent company of GFW) is still ongoing in Nashville, TN.
Thus far, the only confirmed note coming out of the proceedings thus far is that GFW (AKA Jeff Jarrett since he is the ONLY owner and employee of GFW) has dropped their claims of Federal Trademark Infringement and Counterfeiting of the GFW brand as well as the allegation that Anthem created Unfair Competition under Tennessee common law by their usage of the GFW brand.
They entered day four of the trial this morning. And if this is an example of what's gonna hapen, then what i said when this all started, in what seems like a lifetime ago.. Will be correct..
And what i said then was? He was wasting his fucking time.. So far, it looks like I was right (smiles).
Thus far, the only confirmed note coming out of the proceedings thus far is that GFW (AKA Jeff Jarrett since he is the ONLY owner and employee of GFW) has dropped their claims of Federal Trademark Infringement and Counterfeiting of the GFW brand as well as the allegation that Anthem created Unfair Competition under Tennessee common law by their usage of the GFW brand.
They entered day four of the trial this morning. And if this is an example of what's gonna hapen, then what i said when this all started, in what seems like a lifetime ago.. Will be correct..
And what i said then was? He was wasting his fucking time.. So far, it looks like I was right (smiles).
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Championship Wrestling From Arizona - Airdate June 29, 2020
On this episode of Championship Wrestling From Arizona, new Arizona State Champion Ray Rosas takes on Evan Daniels in our main event! Plus, Crazy Hot Morgan gets a chance to make up for her first loss in more than a year in a rematch with Ruby Raze, the Baines Coalition of Volunteers meets Tough & Cool, and Manny Lemons faces LJ Ramos.
Mat Memory- The Von Erichs vs Killer Brooks, Dutch Mantell & Gary Hart (Houston 1978/01/06)
Fritz and his sons David & Kevin Von Erich vs Killer Tim Brooks, Dutch Mantell & Gary Hart in a 6-man, 2-ring tag match !
From Sam Houston Coliseum
Houston, TX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_dUqfeCmRc
From Sam Houston Coliseum
Houston, TX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_dUqfeCmRc
Mat Memory- Buddy Rose v Tim Brooks - Dog Collar Match (Don Owens PNW)
NWA Pacific Northwest's Portland Wrestling territory on June 2nd, 1979!!
Mat Memory- Gary Hart and Killer Brooks (WCCW)
Gary Hart does an on-location promo telling us that he's brought Killer Brooks to WCCW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcEMaYt7R_s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcEMaYt7R_s
"#SpeakingOut" Movement Reportedly Leading To UK Law Change
The recent "#SpeakingOut" movement on social media has led to a change in UK laws, according to Gary Cassidy of Sportskeeda.
A change will reportedly be made soon to the UK's Sexual Offences Act of 2003. The change in the law will close a loophole regarding relationships between people in positions of trust and minors.
It was noted that the loophole now means that it's legal for pro wrestling trainers to enter into sexual relationships with trainees that are just 16 or 17 years old. That will change next year.
"Discussions that I've been having with the Ministry of Justice on this in recent weeks indicate that there is going to be a change in the law," said Justin Humphreys, who is a member of the Expert Advisory Group on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment at the Department for International Development.
Several pro wrestlers in the United States and the United Kingdom have lost their jobs due to allegations from the "#SpeakingOut" movement. Ligero was one of the WWE NXT UK talents released after UK indie wrestler Natalie Sykes accused him of sexual harassment that began when she started training with him at age 17. Ligero denied the accusations and said he was speaking with his lawyer about the situation, but WWE released him in late June.
Humphreys and Pro Wrestling EVE star Rhia O'Reilly recently discussed the law and the "#SpeakingOut" movement on the 4 Way Dance podcast, which you can hear below.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7620864-speakingout-rhia-o-reilly-and-justin-humphreys
A change will reportedly be made soon to the UK's Sexual Offences Act of 2003. The change in the law will close a loophole regarding relationships between people in positions of trust and minors.
It was noted that the loophole now means that it's legal for pro wrestling trainers to enter into sexual relationships with trainees that are just 16 or 17 years old. That will change next year.
"Discussions that I've been having with the Ministry of Justice on this in recent weeks indicate that there is going to be a change in the law," said Justin Humphreys, who is a member of the Expert Advisory Group on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment at the Department for International Development.
Several pro wrestlers in the United States and the United Kingdom have lost their jobs due to allegations from the "#SpeakingOut" movement. Ligero was one of the WWE NXT UK talents released after UK indie wrestler Natalie Sykes accused him of sexual harassment that began when she started training with him at age 17. Ligero denied the accusations and said he was speaking with his lawyer about the situation, but WWE released him in late June.
Humphreys and Pro Wrestling EVE star Rhia O'Reilly recently discussed the law and the "#SpeakingOut" movement on the 4 Way Dance podcast, which you can hear below.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7620864-speakingout-rhia-o-reilly-and-justin-humphreys
Maria Kanellis Calls Out WWE For Releasing Her Two Months After Childbirth
Maria and Mike Kanellis were part of the large number of releases back in April. They have since started their own podcast called "Non-Essential Wrestlers."
On Twitter, Maria called out WWE for releasing her two months after she and Mike welcomed their second child, and she teased that she will elaborate on that some time soon. She added that they were released during the COVID-19 pandemic after she was apparently told that having another child would not be an issue.
She tweeted, "Did you ever hear the one about the woman that was released from WWE during a pandemic 2 months postpartum after being told having another baby wasn't an issue...? #milkmoney #moreonthatlater #onlywrestlingcompanythatreleasedpeople #NonEssentialFamily"
A Twitter user replied saying that their release was part of cost-cutting measures. Maria owns him by pointed out that WWE still made a profit despite the cuts and that no other wrestling promotion has cut anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Twitter, Maria called out WWE for releasing her two months after she and Mike welcomed their second child, and she teased that she will elaborate on that some time soon. She added that they were released during the COVID-19 pandemic after she was apparently told that having another child would not be an issue.
She tweeted, "Did you ever hear the one about the woman that was released from WWE during a pandemic 2 months postpartum after being told having another baby wasn't an issue...? #milkmoney #moreonthatlater #onlywrestlingcompanythatreleasedpeople #NonEssentialFamily"
A Twitter user replied saying that their release was part of cost-cutting measures. Maria owns him by pointed out that WWE still made a profit despite the cuts and that no other wrestling promotion has cut anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
One NXT UK STAR SUSPENDED AND ANOTHER ONE FIRED
NXT UK star Joe Coffey has been suspended by World Wrestling Entertainment, PWInsider.com has confirmed.
Coffey was the subject of online allegations of improprieties against a woman, who made the claims anonymously over the last week as part of the #speakingout movement.
WWE sources declined to comment further beyond acknowledging the suspension.
Multiple sources have confirmed that NXT UK referee Joel Allen was released over the weekend by WWE. Allen was seen in a video leaked by an ex-girlfriend of independent talent David Starr after Starr was accused of some serious allegations, which is believed to have led to Allen's release.
Allen follows the releases of NXT UK stars El Ligero, Travis Banks and former 205 Live star Jack Gallagher in the wake of the #speakingout movement online.
Talents were also made clear that any future allegations against talent will be taken seriously by the company and that WWE would be taking an extremely hard-line stance against them. That falls in line with what many news outlets have heard over the last week, which is that the company won't tolerate any future issues and will be very quick to release and suspend talents and even revoke potential new deals from talents should anything come up.
Coffey was the subject of online allegations of improprieties against a woman, who made the claims anonymously over the last week as part of the #speakingout movement.
WWE sources declined to comment further beyond acknowledging the suspension.
Multiple sources have confirmed that NXT UK referee Joel Allen was released over the weekend by WWE. Allen was seen in a video leaked by an ex-girlfriend of independent talent David Starr after Starr was accused of some serious allegations, which is believed to have led to Allen's release.
Allen follows the releases of NXT UK stars El Ligero, Travis Banks and former 205 Live star Jack Gallagher in the wake of the #speakingout movement online.
Talents were also made clear that any future allegations against talent will be taken seriously by the company and that WWE would be taking an extremely hard-line stance against them. That falls in line with what many news outlets have heard over the last week, which is that the company won't tolerate any future issues and will be very quick to release and suspend talents and even revoke potential new deals from talents should anything come up.
Cody discusses NXT’s Great American Bash
While appearing on Busted Open Radio, Cody discussed NXT’s Great American Bash: “So there are two events. People, I think sometimes mistakenly think Dusty just named Starrcade and Great American Bash, and it’s well beyond naming them. It’s a matter of booking them, of marketing them, of the creation of what the event stands for, especially at the advents of pay-per-views. My dad always told me that Starrcade was for my sister and that Great American Bash was for me and obviously at the time he came up with these events, I’m not sure if that was actually the case but that’s what he told me and that’s why it’s very special, both events to me and my sister. I’m not going to get angry, because it still brings up his name in a positive way".
The marketing of the event reminds me a lot of what Disney currently does. If you go to Disney World, they still sell Haunted Mansion shirts and they are all done retro-style. That’s something that’s been marketed really well. They market nostalgia. If you run a sizzle with Sting and Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan, none of those guys are gonna be there. So it’s a unique marketing thing. I’m not really upset about it. I know my sister was kind of -- really thought it was so strange it was announced willy nilly, last minute.
" In the strangest of ways, I would hope that they do something special with it. I think our show is better. I think it will be better in execution but I hope they do something special with it because I hated what Michael Hayes did with Starrcade. He took a creation of my dad’s and he made it a live event because they weren’t selling any tickets in North Carolina and he wanted to save his job, and that was disappointing to me in terms of that was the premier event in World Championship Wrestling and the NWA and you did what you did with it and the same I hope is not what happens with Great American Bash. "
"I’m not upset at anything that brings my dad’s name in a positive light. Is it a weird feeling? For sure, but I’ve also been in a tag match with my brother competing ratings-wise against the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. One guy who I’ll never mind competing with is my own dad. I’ll never mind that and The Great American Bash… it is what it is and I hope that they do something positive with it. That’s really the only outlet I have on it unless I had like three or four Bourbons and then I would have an absolutely different outlook on it. But I like that they bring his name up in a charming and loving way. I just hope it’s not another Starrcade situation.”
The marketing of the event reminds me a lot of what Disney currently does. If you go to Disney World, they still sell Haunted Mansion shirts and they are all done retro-style. That’s something that’s been marketed really well. They market nostalgia. If you run a sizzle with Sting and Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan, none of those guys are gonna be there. So it’s a unique marketing thing. I’m not really upset about it. I know my sister was kind of -- really thought it was so strange it was announced willy nilly, last minute.
" In the strangest of ways, I would hope that they do something special with it. I think our show is better. I think it will be better in execution but I hope they do something special with it because I hated what Michael Hayes did with Starrcade. He took a creation of my dad’s and he made it a live event because they weren’t selling any tickets in North Carolina and he wanted to save his job, and that was disappointing to me in terms of that was the premier event in World Championship Wrestling and the NWA and you did what you did with it and the same I hope is not what happens with Great American Bash. "
"I’m not upset at anything that brings my dad’s name in a positive light. Is it a weird feeling? For sure, but I’ve also been in a tag match with my brother competing ratings-wise against the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. One guy who I’ll never mind competing with is my own dad. I’ll never mind that and The Great American Bash… it is what it is and I hope that they do something positive with it. That’s really the only outlet I have on it unless I had like three or four Bourbons and then I would have an absolutely different outlook on it. But I like that they bring his name up in a charming and loving way. I just hope it’s not another Starrcade situation.”
'KILLER' TIM BROOKS PASSES AWAY AT 72 AFTER BATTLE WITH CANCER
Tim Brooks, best known as "Killer" Tim Brooks, who wrestled full time around the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan from 1970 through 1989, passed away today at the age of 72.
Brooks had been battling cancer for several years that was known to be terminal.
He was from Waxahachie, TX, and spent most of his career wrestling out of the Dallas office. His original stardom came while working for The Sheik in Michigan where he held the NWA World tag team titles twice with Ben Justice and once with Abdullah The Butcher. He was also a regular mid-level heel during the heyday of World Class Championship Wrestling when it was syndicated nationally.
As Bad News Brooks, he was the regular tag team partner of Roddy Piper in Oregon. It was Buddy Rose & Ed Wiskoski's (aka Col. DeBeers) attack on Brooks when he was scheduled to leave the territory that led to Piper's babyface turn that was one of the hottest business periods in the history of the Pacific Northwest.
Brooks was also a good friend of Bruiser Brody. In 1985, Brody had his last match in All Japan before he was to leave for New Japan. He turned a match against Olympic wrestlers Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu into a fight, noting that he would not have done so if he didn't have confidence in Brooks as his partner and backup.
In 1986, he got a major push in Montreal as Brody's brother (Big Buster Brody) with the idea he was insane.
He was also part of a key angle in Georgia when he defeated Paul Orndorff to win the National heavyweight title in 1983, "selling" the belt to Larry Zbyszko. NWA President Bob Geigel was part of the angle when he stripped Zbyszko of the title who ruled that you can't sell a championship.
Brooks continued to wrestle on independent shows through 1997 in Texas and opened the North American Wrestling Alliance training school, promoting shows in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
He trained a number of wrestlers with the biggest names being the original Awesome Kong (a male wrestler who was a Texas star) and current WWE star Keith Lee who honored him on Twitter.
Brooks had been battling cancer for several years that was known to be terminal.
He was from Waxahachie, TX, and spent most of his career wrestling out of the Dallas office. His original stardom came while working for The Sheik in Michigan where he held the NWA World tag team titles twice with Ben Justice and once with Abdullah The Butcher. He was also a regular mid-level heel during the heyday of World Class Championship Wrestling when it was syndicated nationally.
As Bad News Brooks, he was the regular tag team partner of Roddy Piper in Oregon. It was Buddy Rose & Ed Wiskoski's (aka Col. DeBeers) attack on Brooks when he was scheduled to leave the territory that led to Piper's babyface turn that was one of the hottest business periods in the history of the Pacific Northwest.
Brooks was also a good friend of Bruiser Brody. In 1985, Brody had his last match in All Japan before he was to leave for New Japan. He turned a match against Olympic wrestlers Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu into a fight, noting that he would not have done so if he didn't have confidence in Brooks as his partner and backup.
In 1986, he got a major push in Montreal as Brody's brother (Big Buster Brody) with the idea he was insane.
He was also part of a key angle in Georgia when he defeated Paul Orndorff to win the National heavyweight title in 1983, "selling" the belt to Larry Zbyszko. NWA President Bob Geigel was part of the angle when he stripped Zbyszko of the title who ruled that you can't sell a championship.
Brooks continued to wrestle on independent shows through 1997 in Texas and opened the North American Wrestling Alliance training school, promoting shows in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
He trained a number of wrestlers with the biggest names being the original Awesome Kong (a male wrestler who was a Texas star) and current WWE star Keith Lee who honored him on Twitter.
Monday, June 29, 2020
Mat Memory- Mid-South Wrestling - 02-18-84
JYD vs Nicoli Volkoff, Magnum T. A. & Mr. Wrestling 2, Midnight Express try and take Mr. Wrestling 2's mask off and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne2JuYcSPuo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne2JuYcSPuo
Mat Memory- Mid-South Wrestling - 02-04-84
Clip of Krusher Darsow vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan (Coal Miner's Glove match), Nidnight Express vs Mr. Wrestling 2 & Magnum T.A., Nicolai Volkoff and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly-0iTGzXhE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly-0iTGzXhE
OVW TV 1089 - "A Golden History"
From the historic OVW Heavyweight Championship to the lightning-fast RUSH Division, Gilbert Corsey, Steve Johnson, Bryan Kennison and Shannon The Dude take a look at OVW's championships and their lineage. PLUS: How YOU, the fans, can play a role in the future of the Television Championship! Presented by Gladiator Sports Network
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG_CCgKrD_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG_CCgKrD_Y
EP167 (Ice Train) | Dave Dynasty Show podcast
This episode we're joined by former WCW wrestler Ice Train!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNelW3julu8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNelW3julu8
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