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GRAND SLAM NEWSLETTER #6 (05/09/16)



CONTENTS

All the News Items Of The Week / Custom Artwork of Matt Morgan / The weekly show results feat TNA IMPACT Wrestling, WWE RAW, WWE SmackDown Live, ROH TV and WWE NXT / PPV Results & Other Shows Results feat AAA TripleMania XXIV, NEW's Rumble in Rockland & Wrestling Under The Stars V, PWG Battle of Los Angeles Nights 1 & 2, Chikara's King of Trios 2016, CMLL's 83rd Anniversary Show and Shine 37 / Interviews feat Bret Hart, Kevin Thorne, Sean "X-Pac" Waltman and "Wildcat" Chris Harris!

This Issue is dedicated to the memory of Harry "Mr Fuji" Fujwara

 

NEWS ITEMS OF THE WEEK

 

ALBERTO DEL RIO FINISHED WITH WWE AGAIN

When he made his return alongside Zeb Colter under the Mex-American banner for a match against then United States champion John Cena, And won the match and the title, it appeared as if the past discrepancies between Alberto and management had been settled, but however, that was not the case. Triple H, who has a personal disliking of Del Rio, Is thought to be the main problem for the complete shambles of the former World champions second tenure with the company, With Triple H poisoning Vince McMahon from pushing him, Which Del Rio was reportedly promised when he returned to the company.

Vince was adamant that Del Rio would be pushed, with McMahon behind the idea of the push, but things didn't work out for Del Rio, and now he is leaving the company for a second time, and almost certainly for the last time.Del Rio right now, and for the better part of this year has been really upset with his booking, the empty promises made by the company, and with the recent suspension for violating the wellness policy, This appears to be the final straw for Del Rio in WWE.

Word is that Del Rio informed WWE through his lawyer that he was opting out of his WWE contract 60 days ago from Tuesday 30th August. Del Rio last wrestled for WWE on the 19th August episode of SmackDown Live, where he put over John Cena. He will be free to wrestle anywhere in the United States at the end of September, and is able to wrestle in Mexico and everywhere else even sooner than that.

 

RING OF HONOR TO INTRODUCE NEW CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ring of Honor Wrestling have made the huge announcement that they are introducing the all new Six man tag team Championship titles to the company. Here is the official statement from ROH regarding the announcement;

"ROH TO INTRODUCE WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Six-man tag team matches have been a highlight of Ring of Honor events for years, and now competitors in those bouts will have something to fight for other than pride and the winner's share of the purse.The inaugural ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions will be crowned in an eight-team tournament that begins at the end of September. This will be the first time in six years that ROH has created a new title.Teams expected to compete in the tournament include: Bullet Club, The Cabinet (Rhett Titus, Kenny King and Caprice Coleman) and the current World Tag Team Champions The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) and Kamaitachi.

Six-man matches are a staple of Lucha Libre (where they are referred as trios matches), and with ROH's recent partnership with Mexico's CMLL promotion, the timing couldn't be better for ROH to introduce a six-man tag title.New Japan Pro-Wrestling, also a partner of ROH, introduced the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship this past January with a tournament that was won by The Briscoes and Toru Yano.ROH's new championship will mark the first time a major U.S.-based promotion has had a six-man tag team title in nearly 30 years.Roy McClarity, Pat O'Connor & Yukon Eric were the first NWA 6-Man Champions crowned over 60 years ago. In the '80s, the NWA created a six-man tag title that was held by the likes of Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors, and in World Class Championship Wrestling, the legendary feud between The Freebirds and The Von Erichs often revolved around that promotion's six-man tag title.

The tournament gets underway at All Star Extravaganza weekend in Lowell, MA on Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st, and continues on Oct. 29th in Baltimore.The finals will take place at Final Battle on Dec. 2nd at The Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom.Check back with ROHWrestling.com for updates on this historic tournament."

 

THE NEXT INDUCTEE INTO THE THROUGH THE ROPES HALL OF FAME IS . . .

The first of five names that will be inducted into the Through The Ropes Hall of Fame Class of 2017, Will be none other than the greatest British Wrestler of all time, "The Saint" Johnny Saint. Johnny will be joining Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chyna, Rey Mysterio, Gail Kim, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, Bret Hart, Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels.

 

TOMMY DREAMER SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON TEAM 3D'S WWE FAREWELL

ECW Legend and former TNA road agent, Tommy Dreamer, Has shared his thoughts on WWE's farewell moment for the Iconic Dudley Boyz. On WWE letting the WWE Universe say goodbye to the Dudley Boyz: "For me, letting the WWE Universe say, “Good bye,” to the Dudleyz was a great and classy move by the WWE. It was cool for the Dudleyz to help get some more steam on The Club. I think that was great."

Dreamer on if he thinks that Team 3D are actually retired: "I love the fact that happened for The Dudleyz. Do I think that’s the last time The Dudleyz are going to tag as a team? I will give you $1000 if they never wrestle again. Trust me. They will wrestle again."

 

CODY RHODES TELLS WWE TO "HAVE BALLS"

Now that Cody Rhodes s freed from the shackles of the WWE, He has become more vocal on the company's relationships with the mainstream media, namely ESPN and TMZ. Rhodes has proven that the mainstream media isn't the best partner to work with, he posted the following comments on his Twitter; "WWE, Cut ties w/TMZ - they ran my Mother's 911 call, Cut ties w/ ESPN - they insulted a child. [The reporter having a go at Kevin Owens' son in the video of him celebrating his dad's title win on RAW] Have balls. "'Mainstream" ain't always worth it."

 

TNA WAS INTERESTED IN SIGNING AND TRAINING KIMBO SLICE

Former WWF Tag team legend of the Powers of Pain, The Warlord, has revealed that TNA Wrestling had contacted him to see if the late Kimbo Slice, whom Warlord was the bodyguard for, would come to TNA and train him in Pro Wrestling. Warlord said "TNA had asked me if Kimbo would come and talk to him and train him in pro wrestling," He added "I think Kimbo would have done fine. He had a character already. As far as wrestling, that would fall in to place." "Kimbo was an incredible guy. He was a great family man, very quiet. But let me tell you I heard him punching those bags and heard the pop, to me that impressed me. He was one of the hardest punchers."

 

WWE FORCED PAIGE TO BREAK UP WITH ALBERTO DEL RIO

Once again, WWE is stepping well beyond its bounds with this recent breaking news item of the company forcing a separation of two smitten workmates. WWE has threatened Superstar Paige with losing her job if she didn't leave the relationship with the WWE's current nemesis, Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio has been vocal about his frustration with the WWE's direction with him and this is affecting Paige also.On a recent episode of MSL & Sullivan, the two revealed that WWE has gone full way with splitting the two up. Sullivan said the following; “Mark Carrano, who fans might know from Total Divas, kind of like the office liaison guy, approached Del Rio and Paige individually and harassed each of them about their relationship. It was indicated that the office wanted them to sever their romantic relationship. A lot of people speculated if this was the reason WWE split them up in the draft and that’s definitely what happened. The company did not want them together. They split them up in the draft by design and they threatened to fire Paige if she didn’t break up with Del Rio.”

 

JIM CORNETTE ON KEVIN OWENS WWE TITLE VICTORY

Wrestling legend Jim Cornette was recently asked what he thought of Kevin Owens' WWE Universal title victory, He replied the comments; "Confused why kids who can't spell think I'm mad @FightOwensFight was given a belt by a company I don't care about on a show I don't watch."Its a common misconception that people think Cornette is not a fan of Owens, but that is from his time in ROH where Owens in Cornette's eyes, Was lazy and very hard to deal with.

Here is a interview with Cornette about Owens in ROH. "[Owens] is fulfilling his potential now because he has changed the way he thought about being told to do things by his employer, I always knew he had the talent to [be successful in the WWE]. Christ, we made him the Ring of Honor World Champion for a year. He was undefeated. But the problem is, I didn't think he had the attitude to do it. When we asked him to lose weight, when we asked him to take time off and come back with a different look and a different push, when we asked him to do a match a certain way or anything a certain way, there was so much argument and push back and refusal and not producing any of those things, et cetera, that I thought, basically, when he went to Florida [NXT], either he, the WWE, or both, would need a psychiatrist within 90 days. But, he, apparently, he is never going to be svelte, and we didn't want that, we wanted him to not be obese, to lose a little weight and he [has] done that. His [ring] gear may not look any more professional, but at least it is cleaner. And what's more, he, apparently, is doing what he is asked to do instead of going into business for himself or arguing about anything, whether it be inside of the ring or outside of the ring".

 

VINCE MCMAHON DIDN'T KNOW LUKE GALLOWS WAS FESTUS

One of the most stupid gimmicks of WWE's long and tedious history with mind fuddling creations such as The Gobbeldygooker and Bastion Booger, was Festus, the giant inbred country hick who teamed with his friend Jesse. However after a revamping, He became Luke Gallows of the Straight Edge Society led by friend CM Punk. Then Gallows left WWE and went on to be DOC Gallows in the iconic heel faction the Aces and Eights as the Director of Chaos. After the stint in TNA, Gallows went on to join NJPW's hottest group, The Bullet Club. Now he's back in WWE with Bullet Club partner Karl Anderson, and things couldn't be better as Vince had no clue that Gallows was previously Festus. Anderson and Gallows had the following to say on this funny story, Anderson said; “The best part of the Festus character is that we heard from Talent Relations, or the Head of Talent Relations is that Vince doesn’t even remember that he was Festus.” “We go up to the Gorilla Position, and Mark Carano would say, I’m going to go tell Vince and remind him that you were Festus. I would say, don’t tell Vince, I need this run right now.” Luke then said; “I don’t know if we’re even allowed to say the word, but my wife didn’t even know that I was Festus when I married her, which is real.”

 

CRIMSON'S CHARGES DROPPED

In April of this year, Former TNA star Crimson was arrested after he was seen headbutting his wife Heather outside of a hotel in Clarksville, Tennessee, by a security guard. Police found Crimson's wife bleeding from her nose and lip but she insisted everything was fine. The couple denied anything happened but police described Crimson as being very defensive when it came to them questioning his wife, who claimed she just fell. Crimson was arrested and charged with domestic assault while his wife was arrested and charged with public intoxication. Those charges against Crimson have been dismissed. Here is the official statement from the Law Office of Kimberly Turner & Associates, PLLC;

CHARGES DISMISSED AGAINST CRIMSON

Clarksville, TN, August 24, 2016Charges against Anthony Gregory Mayweather, known in TNA Wrestling circles as "Crimson", have been dismissed by the Montgomery County District Attorneys' Office.Mr. Mayweather was charged with domestic assault by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in April 2016.Mr. Mayweather's attorney, Kimberly Turner, subsequently met with the District Attorney's Office to offer additional information for their consideration and following discussions between Mrs. Turner and the District Attorney's Office, the charge against Mr. Mayweather was dismissed on July 22, 2016.Mrs. Turner reports that "This has been a very difficult time for the Mayweather family and they are grateful to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office for considering all of the information provided and promptly dismissing the charge against Anthony."All records of the charges against Mr. Mayweather have been expunged.

 

BO DALLAS ARRESTED

WWE Superstar, and former member of the Social Outcasts faction, Bo Dallas, was arrested this past week and was forced to be pulled from WWE Live events after an incident at the airport in Dallas, Texas. According to a police report, Bo was arrested for public intoxication/drunkenness at 7:25pm local time after police were notified about someone who had to be removed from a flight to Puebla, Mexico after yelling expletives at flight crew members. Bo left his carry-on luggage behind and started walking towards other departure gates after making a scene. Bo, matching the description of the person police were looking for, wearing a Tapout t-shirt, was found by airport authorities slumped over 6 gates away from the flight he was removed from. He was reportedly looking at his phone with some of his belongings on the floor in front of him. Police described Bo as smelling of alcohol and he admitted to drinking "a little." When asked for more details on what was going on, Bo allegedly stated that he "wasn't really planning on driving today."The police report described Bo as "swaying side to side" and speaking with a "thick tongue" while slurring his speech. Bo was also described as showing "poor dexterity" while retrieving his belongings from the floor. He was questioned by police and it was determined that he was "intoxicated to the point he was a danger to himself and others." He was then placed under arrest.

 

RYBACK SHOOTS ON WWE AND VINCE MCMAHON

On his new Podcast, Ryback has revealed some interesting statements on the pay he walked away from, and comments made by Vince McMahon. Firstly, Ryback, Real name Ryan Reeves, or The Big Guy, as he is now known as, revealed that he turned down a 1.5 million dollar WWE contract. For The Big Guy, it wasn't about the money; "Not about a money issue, just so everybody knows, I walked away from the WWE, the contract offer that I walked away from was a three-year $1.5 million contract."

Secondly, Ryback revealed that he was lied to many times during his tenure with WWE, and said that Vince McMahon told him that he would be the company's top heel, and that he would have a run with the title if he listened to Vince and read his promos as scripted. Ryback also said that he was originally scheduled to face AJ Styles at WrestleMania 32, with McMahon telling him that he would "squash that little twerp."

 

ROB VAN DAM REVEALS HIS WRESTLING CAREER STATUS

The Whole F'n Show, Rob Van Dam, has ruled out a return to the WWE, and even revealed that he has already turned down a WWE offer in October of last year, which would have seen RVD work a program with the Dudley's against The Wyatt Family, however, he refused so WWE went with Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno instead.

He said that they didn't offer the kind of money that it would take to make it worth his while, and that it was the last talk that he had with them. He said that he doesn't have a retirement plan, but he doesn't have a plan to return to WWE either.

On if his in-ring career is over: "It's likely, but I have no plans of that. RVD also said that fans often ask him about when he'll be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He said that it wasn't up to him, He said Triple H is the boss and he's not sure if it's in his vision, and that he wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't. He said that he doesn't think that Triple H ever saw him as someone to be pushed forward, and that he feels that all of his achievements were in spite of Triple H and people that think like him.

 

TEAM 3D HEADED FOR ICW

In what appears to be the first of many Indie appearances for the newest and hottest free agents on the Pro Wrestling scene, Them Damn Dudley's are headed for Scotland for ICW Fear and Loathing IX on 20th November. 3D's Bubba and Devon will be joining an already star studded line up featuring Wrestling Legend Kurt Angle and "The Hardcore Legend" Mick Foley. ICW released the huge news on their Twitter age with the following statement; "BREAKING: #Team3D confirmed for @TheSSEHydro 20 November. TICKETS: http://bit.ly/20iNZUB. #ICWHydro".

 

BROOKE ADAMS GIVES BIRTH TO BABY BOY

The three times Knockout Champion, Brooke Adams, has on the 3rd September gave birth to her baby boy, who will be called Jace Adams.

 

CUSTOM ARTWORK OF THE WEEK

 

"THE BLUEPRINT" MATT MORGAN

Created by Jack Williams

 

WEEKLY SHOW RESULTS

 

TNA IMPACT WRESTLING - 01/09/2016

The show opens with Matt, Jeff and Reby Hardy, and Senor Benjamin singing obsolete. / Mike Bennett promo in the ring with Maria on the world title match tonight. Moose and Lashley appear also with Moose ending the segment saying he will decide the winner of the main event. / BROKEN MATT HARDY (W/BROTHER NERO) DEFEATED CRAZZY STEVE (Match Notes: At ringside when Steve is thrown out of the ring, Jeff Hardy attacks Steve with his shoe.) After the match, Crazzy Steve says that he is alone tonight because Abyss and Rosemary are at Matt estate. Matt and Nero rush off to get home. / Backstage, Matt along with Nero are trying to contact Reby at home, but he gets no answer. Matt has Vanguard one scan the estate, to find Rosemary in Maxell's room. / ULTIMATE X GAUNTLET MATCH FOR THE VACANT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP - DJZ DEFEATED TREVOR LEE, MANDREWS, ROCKSTAR SPUD, ANDREW EVERETT AND BRAXTON SUTTER (NEW CHAMPION) / Ethan Carter III backstage, He says his focus isn't on the Galloway-Rex situation, but is on his world title match at Bound For Glory. As Carter is speaking, He is confronted by Eli Drake. A confrontation between the two hyping their match tonight. / A dark Drew Galloway arrives to the ring. he starts to cut a heel promo, He says the people turned their back on him by supporting Rex. TNA President Billy Corgan says he was going to suspend him but someone talked him out of it. Rex comes out and takes responsibility for that decision. He and Drew end up brawling with security having to separate them. / Matt gets through to Reby to inform her of Decay at their home. Vanguard one confirms Rosemary's still there. / ETHAN CARTER III DEFEATED ELI DRAKE / Senor Benjamin checks up on Reby and Maxell in their safe room at the home. / DJZ cuts a promo on winning back the X title after four years. Eddie Edwards congratulates him. / Allie has her KO title celebration, with streamers and balloons along with champagne. Allie cuts a promo on how happy she is, until a furious Sienna comes to the ring and has a go at her until Maria comes to the ring and tells her to calm down. maria then insults a crying Allie, and tells her to lie down in the ring or shes fired, A referee comes into the ring, then Maria then pins Allie to become new Knockouts champion, She forces Allie to raise her hand. / Mike Bennett gives Moose a lead pipe and tells him to do the right thing for him tonight. / Back at the Hardy compound, Reby tries to find Rosemary with a sword in hand. Rosemary is on the balcony and throws a fake baby dummy at Reby. But Senor Benjamin comforts her and gives her the real Maxell. Reby tells Benjamin that no one comes into her house and threatens her family. She instructs Senor Benjamin to prepare the battlefield for massacre. / NO DQ MATCH FOR THE TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP - LASHLEY (c) DEFEATED "THE MIRACLE" MIKE BENNETT (W/MARIA & MOOSE) - (Match Notes: Maria hits Lashley several times during the match, And even uses her newly won Knockouts title and her brace. Moose came down to ringside for the match carrying a lead pipe, And near the end of the match, Bennett called Moose to hand over the lead pipe, but he refused, which led to Lashley hitting the spear on Bennett for the win.) After the match, Bennett has a temper rage and belittles Moose, Which makes Moose finally snap and hit the GameBreaker on Bennett to end the show.

 

WWE RAW - 29/08/2016

Tonight's WWE RAW opens up with a graphic in memory of Mr. Fuji. / Corey Graves is in the ring with the WWE Universal Title. Big promo segment with Enzo Amore, Big Cass, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins. / CHRIS JERICHO DEFEATED NEVILLE / NIA JAX DEFEATED HYAN / Vignette of Dr. Luke Gallows and Dr. Karl Anderson. They cut promos on The New Day and in comes their nurse, Dana Brooke. / SAMI ZAYN DEFEATED JINDER MAHAL / Earlier footage of Sasha Banks talks about how she's coming back better than ever and will be gunning for Charlotte. / THE NEW DAY AND BAYLEY DEFEATED THE CLUB (GALLOWS AND ANDERSON) AND DANA BROOKE / Cesaro admits he's in a rough spot but still plans on getting the title shot that Mick Foley promised to the winner of the series. Cesaro cuts a promo on Sheamus and threatens to Cesaro Swing him. / BEST OF SEVEN SERIES MATCH #2 - SHEAMUS DEFEATED CESARO / Mr Fuji tribute video package. / BRAUN STROWMAN DEFEATED AMERICO - After the match, Strowman rips Americo's mask off. / Stephanie McMahon is out and looking for an answers and an apology from Brock Lesnar. Heyman heads to the ring to meet with her and Heyman starts counting out the money for Lesnars fine. Steph knocks the money out of his hand and threatens his job. She says she will stop at nothing to avenge her Brother, She says a storm is coming Heyman's way, to which Heyman fires back about Lesnar being the storm. Heyman says the apology he's here to deliver goes right out to Stephanie. He realises the compromising position Brock put her in. They go on and Stephanie ends up accepting his apology. / Highlights of Finn Balor ungoing surgery and his injury. / DARREN YOUNG (W/MR BACKLUND) DEFEATED TITUS O'NEAL / After the match, Titus attacked both Backlund and Young as they were celebrating. / FATAL FOUR WAY ELIMINATION MATCH FOR THE VACANT UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP - KEVIN OWENS DEFEATED SETH ROLLINS, BIG CASS (W/ENZO AMORE) & ROMAN REIGNS (NEW CHAMPION) (Match Notes: Kevin Owens Eliminated Big Cass first, Seth Rollins Eliminated Roman Reigns 2nd, after Triple H returned and hit Reigns with the Pedigree on the outside, then threw him in for Rollins to eliminate him, Then Kevin Owens Eliminated Seth Rollins after Triple H turned on Rollins and hit him with a Pedigree also, This left the win open for Owens.) / After the match, Triple H and Kevin Owens celebrate the win, and as they walk off, Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon look on shocked at ringside. This ends the show.

 

WWE SMACKDOWN LIVE - 30/08/2016

WWE SmackDown Live opens up with a look back at last week's "Talking Smack" confrontation between SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan and WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz. / Backstage tension with Bryan and Shane, With Shane telling Bryan to apologise to the Miz for his actions last week, and that he shouldn't get into confrontations with talents anymore, and Bryan says the same thing about Shane with Lesnar. / Big fired up Miz promo with Maryse by his side. followed by Dolph Ziggler interrupting and running him down. A challenge is issued but Miz walks off annoyed after an insult by Ziggler mocking him with what Bryan said. / SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLE TOURNEY MATCH - THE HYPE BRO'S DEFEATED THE VAUDEVILLAINS / AJ Styles starts mocking Apollo Crews backstage, whilst still wearing Cena's armband around his head. / Hamilton informs us that AJ now wants to be introduced as the face that runs the place. AJ cuts a promo on his WWE title match at Backlash and how he beat Cena. Apollo Crews then interrupts and this infuriates Styles. Crews then says he has a match against Styles tonight, and its happening now. / AJ STYLES DEFEATED APOLLO CREWS / Segment at Heath Slaters trailer, He is visited by Renee Young and Rhyno is with him. Slater talks about how he will upgrade his home when he and Rhyno win the tag team titles. / Bray Wyatt's sermon on the Serpent. Bray, sitting in his rocking chair, cuts a promo on Randy Orton, Followed by an appearence by Orton, who in return cuts a promo on Wyatt. This leads to a challenge being issued and accepted by Orton from Wyatt for a match at Backlash. Bray then disappears. / NATALYA AND ALEXA BLISS DEFEATED NAOMI AND BECKY LYNCH - After the match, Carmella steps on Nikki. / Video package of the Headbangers returning to WWE. / Video Package of Curt Hawkins who is returning to WWE soon. / SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLE TOURNEY MATCH - RHYNO AND HEATH SLATER DEFEATED THE HEADBANGERS (MOSH AND THRASHER) / "The Milkman" Millman is in the ring, and has been granted a license to wrestle tonight but no one in the back wants to get in the ring. The Milkman says he's not leaving the ring until a competitor comes and gets some from him. He strips off to his socks and pants, then Kane heads to the ring and hits the chokeslam and then leaves. / DEAN AMBROSE VERSUS BARON CORBIN ENDS IN A NO CONTEST (Notes: AJ Styles came down to interfere and ends the match in DQ when the referee stops the match.) After the match, Ambrose hits a Dirty Deeds on Corbin, then as AJ goes to springboard in, Ambrose crotches him and leaves him perched on the top rope. Ambrose shakes the top rope and then shakes AJ's hand. He leaves with his title which ends the show.

 

WWE NXT - 31/08/2016

Show starts with Samoa Joe in the in the training room, Joe is with a trainer who says he has found additional injuries on top of his dislocated jaw and will not be clearing Joe for contact tonight or anytime soon. / TYE DILLINGER DEFEATED BUDDY MURPHY / Tommaso Ciampa backstage interview, He shares his thoughts on his partner Gargano being on the shelf for a short time because of an injury to his leg. Ciampa is then attacked from behind by The Revival, Ciampa is told by Dawson that they are reality, and He has just met reality. / STEVE CUTLER DEFEATED KENNETH CRAWFORD / Hideo Itami talks about blindsiding Austin Aries at TakeOver. He says if Aries doesn't want to feel pain, then he needs to get out of his ring. If he doesn't he'll make Aries go to sleep again. / Sanity Vignette and a TM61 video package. / NO WAY JOSE DEFEATED ANGELO DAWKINS / Andrade Almas and Austin Aries segment backstage. Aries is challenged to a match but because of his ear drum injury, he says he couldn't hear him and walks off. / LIV MORGAN DEFEATED ALIYAH / Bobby Roode and No Way Jose backstage segment. / Shinsuke Nakamura in-ring segment, Talks about accomplishing all he could in Japan and wanted to face the best. He beat the best NXT had to offer in Sami Zayn, the Icon Finn Balor, and Samoa Joe to become the new NXT Champion. Nakamura says he has won championships in the past, but this NXT Championship means the most. Shinsuke says the era of Samoa Joe is over, and we are now in the era of Strong Style. The show ends with Nakamura celebrating.

 

RING OF HONOR TV - 30/08/2016

Kevin Kelly welcomes the audience to the show. On the voiceover, He mentions the aftermath of the Death Before Dishonor PPV and says that there will be exclusive comments from new World champion Adam Cole later in the show. At ringside, Kelly also hypes this week's TV lineup. Matt Taven joins Kevin Kelly on commentary duties. SHANE TAYLOR AND KEITH LEE DEFEATED WAR MACHINE / FOUR CORNERS SURVIVAL MATCH - CHEESEBURGER VS TIM HUGHES VS DAVID STARR VS JOEY DADDIEGO is interrupted by BJ Whitmer who then joins the commentary team. He is hyping his new Purple Haze character during the match. He is Speaking in cryptic tones and trying to channel Kevin Sullivan circa 1982. As the match continues, The lights go out in the arena and a video airs of Kevin Sullivan speaking of having two sons and having to sacrifice one. How a new Purple Haze will emerge. In the video package, a hooded Kevin Sullivan is laughing while flashing images of Whitmer and "The Punisher" are shown laughing along with him. As the lights come back on, Whitmer is on the apron and Punisher Martinez enters the ring. Martinez has red blood painted under his eyes like tears. He does a curb stomp on Hughes in the ring. Then power bombs Starr. He then grabs Cheeseburger and hits him with a variation of a chokeslam, He calls "South of Heaven". BJ Whitmer and Punisher stand tall in the ring. / The Young Bucks cut a promo in front of The ROH banner. They mention their catchphrases about being 2 sweet and its 4 Life. Matt invites The Addiction later tonight to a superkick party and win the ROH tag titles. Nick Jackson imitates a super kick to the camera as the segment ends. / THE CABINET DEFEATED DALTON CASTLE AND HIS BOYS / Adam Cole cuts a promo infront of the ROH banner, about how last week was a celebration for him and how he became a 2 time ROH World Champion. Cole says that Kyle O'Reilly ruined his party. Cole thought he was done with O'Reilly, And he states that he is better than O'Reilly because Kyle has never won the world title and now that Cole is champion, He can personally guarantee that Kyle will never be world champion. / Veda Scott joins Kevin Kelly and Adam Taven on commentary for this match. ROH TV MAIN EVENT - ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE ADDICTION (c) DEFEATED THE YOUNG BUCKS (Match Notes: Kamaitachi runs out to interfere but The Motor City Machine Guns run out to stop him. Nick Jackson dives onto Kamaitachi and Alex Shelley outside. Kazarian is in the ring with a steel chair, But Chris Sabin takes the chair away from him. He goes to hit Daniels with it but he ducks and accidentally hits Matt Jackson instead. Kaz pins Matt to retain the titles.) (Commentary Notes: Matt Taven states that The Kingdom will one day rise again and take out The Bullet Club.) / This match ends the show.

 

PPV RESULTS AND OTHER SHOWS RESULTS

 

TRIPLEMANIA XXIV - 28/08/2016

COPA TRIPLEMANIA (aka 12 Man Elimination Gauntlet)

AUSTRALIAN SUICIDE DEFEATED DAGA, LA PARKA, EL ZORRO, EL ELEGIDO, TAURUS, EL HIJO DEL PIRATA MORGAN, PIMPINELA ASCALATA, MAMBA, SUPER FLY, HERNANDEZ AND ARGENIS

INTERGENDER TAG TEAM MATCH (Special Guest Referee: Gran Apache)

FABY AND MARI APACHE VS AVERNO AND CHESSMAN FOUGHT TO A NO CONTEST

(Match Notes: Averno hit Faby with a light tube, Gran Apache then made the save, But Ricky Marvin came out and attacked Apache with a steel chair, resulting in a no finish.)

FOUR WAY TAG TEAM MATCH

AAA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

DRAGO & AERO STAR DEFEATED LOS GUEROS DEL CIELO (ANGELICO & JACK EVANS) (c), PAUL LONDON & MATT CROSS AND HIJO DEL FANTASMA & GARZA JR (NEW CHAMPIONS)

(Match Notes: Fenix didn't show up, so Garza Jr replaced him.)

AAA LATIN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

JOHNNY MUNDO DEFEATED PENTAGON JR (c) (NEW CHAMPION)

(Match Notes: Taya came to the ring and turned on Pentagon, She hit him with a low blow while the referee was down, Allowing Mundo to take the win and the title.)

LUCHA UNDERGROUND SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH

REY MYSTERIO JR, PRINCE PUMA & AZTECA DRAGON JR DEFEATED MARTY "THE MOTH" MARTINEZ, MATANZA & MIL MUETES

TRIPLE THREAT MATCH

AAA MEGA CHAMPIONSHIP

TEXANO JR (c) DEFEATED BRIAN CAGE & JR WAGNER JR

TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS MATCH

LUCHA DE APUESTAS - MASK VS HAIR MATCH

PSYCHO CLOWN DEFEATED PAGANO

(Damien and Nicho came to make the save for Pagano who was about to be pinned, Followed by Dr Wagner making the save for Psycho Clown, however they all united and laid out Pagano.)

"LOVE MACHINE" ART BARR AND DORIAN ROLDAN ARE INDUCTED INTO THE AAA HALL OF FAME

 

SHINE 37 - 02/09/2016

Priscilla Kelly defeated Dominique Fabiano

Luscious Latasha defeated Layne Rosario

Rachael Ellering defeated Randi West

Fatal Four Way Match

Amber Gallows defeated Tracy Taylor, Kennadi Brink and Leva Bates

Thea Trinidad defeated Stormie Lee

Raquel defeated Santana Garrett

Vanessa Kraven defeated Su Yung via DQ

SHINE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

BTY (Marti Belle & Jayme Jameson) (c) defeated Priscilla Kelly & Dominique Fabiano (Still Champions)

Andrea and Mercedes Martinez fought to a double DQ

I Quit Match

Thunderkitty defeated Malia Hosaka

SHINE CHAMPIONSHIP

Ivelisse (c) defeated LuFisto

 

NorthEastWrestling - RUMBLE IN ROCKLAND - 25/08/2016

Triple Threat Match Travis Gordan Defeated Caleb Konley and Kamaitachi

Wrecking Ball Legursky Defeated Jake Manning

Ryback's first post WWE match

The Big Guy "fka Ryback" Defeated Kenny Bengal

Mandy Leon Defeated Sumie Sakai

Matt Hardy Defeated Vinny Marseglia

Three-Way Tag Team Match

NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS So Over (Jimmy Preston & Mark Shurman) (c) Defeated Adrenaline Rush (Daniel Evans & Keith Youngblood) and The Amazing Graysons (J.P & Tommy Grayson) (Still Champions)

NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Hanson (c) Defeated Donovan Dijak (Still Champion)

Special Guest Referee: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat Cody Rhodes Defeated Brian Anthony

Jeff Hardy & Jushin "Thunder" Liger Defeated "The Miracle" Mike Bennett & T.K.O'Ryan

 

NEW - Wrestling Under The Stars - 27/08/2016

Big Ang & Wrecking Ball Legursky Defeated Adrenaline Rush (Daniel Evans & Keith Youngblood)

Four Way Match

T.K.O’Ryan Defeated Caleb Konley, Travis Gordon and Vinny Marseglia

Brian Anthony Defeated Dan De Man

Intergender Six Man Tag Team Match

So Over (J Preston & M Shurman) & Velvet Sky Defeated Jake Manning, Kamaitachi & Sumie Sakai

Jerry "The King" Lawler Defeated The Brooklyn Brawler

"Broken" Matt Hardy Defeated Sami Callihan

The NOW (Hale Collins & Vik Dalishus) Defeated The Battle Brothers (Anthony & Chris Battle)

"The Charasmatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy Defeated Jushin "Thunder" Liger

Cody Rhodes Defeated "The Olympic Gold Medallist" Kurt Angle

 

PWG - BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES 2016

NIGHT ONE - 02/09/16

Round One Matches

Marty Scurll Defeated Pentagon Jr

Ricochet Defeated Jeff Cobb

John Hennigan Defeated Matt Sydal

Will O'spreay Defeated Fenix

Zack Sabre Jr. Defeated Tommy End

Chris Hero Defeated Jushin Liger

Adam Cole & The Young Bucks Defeated Dalton Castle & His Boys (Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish)

NIGHT TWO - 03/09/16

Round One Matches

Dalton Castle Defeated Tommaso Ciampa

Mark Andrews Defeated Pete Dunne

Cody Rhodes Defeated Sami Callihan

Trevor Lee Defeated Kamaitachi

Mark Haskins Defeated Cedric Alexander

Kyle O’Reilly Defeated Matt Riddle in a first round match.8.

Fenix and Pentagon Jr. Defeated Chris Hero and Tommy End

Will O'spreay, Matt Sydal, and Ricochet Defeated Adam Cole and The Young Bucks

 

CMLL 83RD ANNIVERSARY SHOW - 02/09/2016

MASK VS MASK

Two out of Three Falls Match Lucha de Apuestas

Dragon Lee Defeated La Mascara

CMLL WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Two out of Three Falls Six Man Lucha Libre Rules Tag Team Match

The Sky Team (Mistico, Valiente & Volador Jr.) (c) Defeated Los Guerreros Lagunero (Euforia, Gran & Ultimo Guerrero)

Two out of Three Falls Six Man Lucha Libre Rules Tag Team Match

Atlantis, Carístico & Mascara Dorada Defeated La Peste Negra (Barbaro Cavernario, El Felino & Negro Casas)

HAIR VS HAIR

Two out of Three Falls Match Lucha de Apuestas

Rey Bucanero Defeated Super Crazy

Two out of Three Falls Six Man Lucha Libre Rules Tag Team Match

Marco Corleone, Maximo Sexy & Stuka Jr. Defeated Shocker & Los Hijos del Infierno (Ephesto & Mephisto)

Two out of Three Falls Six Woman Lucha Libre Rules Tag Team Match

La Amapola, Dalys la Caribena & Zeuxis defeated Lluvia, Marcela & Princesa Sugehita

 

CHIKARA KING OF TRIOS 2016

NIGHT ONE - 02/09/16

KING OF TRIOS FIRST ROUND MATCHES

Major League Moustache (Dasher Hatfield, Trent Seven & Tyler Bate) Defeated The Batiri (Obariyon, Kodama & Kobald)

The United Nations (Juan Francisco de Coronado, The Proletariat Boar of Moldova & Prakash Sabar) Defeated Team Police Squad (Officer Warren Barksdale, Dick Justice & Bill Carr)

The Colony (Fire Ant, Soldier Ant & Silver Ant) Defeated The Submission Squad (Pierre Abernathy, Davey Vega & Gary The Barn Owl)

Team Original Divas Revolution (Mickie James, Lisa Marie Varon & Jazz) Defeated Team SHIMMER (Candice LeRae, Crazy Mary Dobson & Solo Darling)

Hallowicked, Icarus & Jigsaw Defeated Worker Ant, Missile Assault Man & Bullet Ant

Team JWP (Hanako Nakamori, Manami Katsu & Command Bolshoi) Defeated The Osirian Portal (Amasis & Ophidian) & Argus

Team SENDAI Girls (Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako & Cassandra Miyagi) Defeated Heidi Lovelace & NRG (Race Jaxon & Hype Rockwell)

Warriors Three (The Estonian Thunderfrog, Princess Kimberlee, & Oleg the Usurper) Defeated Team #CWC (Cedric Alexander, Drew Gulak, & Johnny Gargano)

NIGHT TWO - 03/09/16

KING OF TRIOS QUARTER FINAL ROUND MATCHES

Hallowicked, Icarus & Jigsaw Defeated Major League Moustache (Dasher Hatfield, Trent Seven & Tyler Bate)

Warriors Three (The Estonian Thunderfrog, Princess Kimberlee, & Oleg the Usurper) Defeated Team Original Divas Revolution (Mickie James, Lisa Marie Varon & Jazz)

Team JWP (Hanako Nakamori, Manami Katsu & Command Bolshoi) Defeated The United Nations (Juan Francisco de Coronado, The Proletariat Boar of Moldova & Prakash Sabar)

(After the match, Coronado told Sabar and Boar that they were finished.)

Team SENDAI Girls (Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako & Cassandra Miyagi) Defeated The Colony (Fire Ant, Soldier Ant & Silver Ant)

OTHER MATCHES

Deonna Purazzo Defeated Crazy Mary Dobson

Mark Angelosetti Defeated Missile Assault Man

Max Smashmaster came out and threatened to hurt ring announcer Vlad Radinov if he wasn't re-instated into CHIKARA. Princess Kimberlee insisted to Director of Fun Mike Quackenbush that Max be re-instated so that she could take care of him.

Rey de Voladores Semi-Final Round Elimination Match

Frightmare Defeated Space Monkey, Candice LeRae, and Tony Nese to advance to the Finals

Rey de Voladores Semi-Final Round Elimination Match

Aero Star Defeated Amasis, Johnny Gargano, and Wani to advance to the Finals.

NIGHT THREE - 04/09/16

KING OF TRIOS SEMI-FINAL ROUND MATCHES

Team Sendai Girls (Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako, Cassandra Miyagi) Defeated Princess Kimber Lee, Super Thunderfrog and Oleg The Usurper

Team JWP ( Hanako Nakamori, Manami Katsu, and Command Bolshoi) Defeated Hallowicked, Jigsaw and Icarus via DQ

KING OF TRIOS FINAL

Team Sendai Girls (Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako, Cassandra Miyagi) Defeated Team JWP ( Hanako Nakamori, Manami Katsu, and Command Bolshoi)

Team SENDAI Girls are the 2016 Queen of Trios

OTHER MATCHES

Arik Cannon Defeated Mark Angelosetti

Super Tag Team Gauntlet

X-Pac and Billy Gunn Defeated Devastation Corp (Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch, Team NRG (Hype Rockwell and Race Jaxon), Team Big Deal (Sloan Caprice and Rick Roland), Orange Cassidy and Drew Gulak, Team Sea Stars (Ashley Vox and Delmi Exo), Cornelius Crummels and Sonny DeFarge, Los Ice Creams (El Hijo de Ice Cream and Ice Cream Jr.), Dez Poloton, Hermit Crab and Rock Lobster, Prakash Sabar and Boar of Moldova

Lucas Calhoun Defeated Chuck Taylor

Rey De Voladores Final

Aerostar Defeated Tony Nese

(Match Notes: Frightmare was not medically cleared to wrestle, so Tony Nese took his place. Aerostar pinned Nese to win the 2016 Rey de Voladores.)

 

WRESTLER INTERVIEWS

 

BRET "HITMAN" HART

- On Seth Rollins injuring Finn Balor at SummerSlam: "I take no great pleasure in saying “I told you so,” but if you’re a professional wrestler and you keep hurting opponents and or yourself, clearly you’re doing it wrong. I wrestled a very realistic and physical style and not once in 23 yrs did I ever hurt one opponent ever. Seth Rollins needs to improve his technique and become the safest wrestler in the business. I have great respect for Seth. I believe he’ll improve and hopefully stop hurting the talent before someone gets killed. Wrestlers have to trust one another. If a wrestler holds the life of another wrestler in his hands for the sake of his family, wife or children you plain and simply cannot drop it!""I saw this coming, if anything WWE producers are negligent for not speaking up about it to him already, instead they’re probably gushing with joy, slapping him on the back telling him “great job!” Bill Goldberg was similar. When I think of Samoa Joe nearly killing Tyson Kidd, then see him continuing to use that deadly finish of his, I just shake my head. It’s not real, it’s only supposed to look real, wrestlers are not crash test dummies!"

- Earlier comments from Bret on Seth in June: "I am a really big fan of Seth’s. I think he’s one of the best young wrestlers in the world today. That’s why I think I made such a strong criticism. It’s meant to make him think. It’s not a personal attack. It’s a professional criticism of his work a few months ago. I think there’s a little bit of an onus here not to own up to what he did. You can watch it back. I watched it back just a minute ago. He clearly knees John Cena as hard as he can in the face. It’s not John Cena’s fault. If you watch it it’s not John Cena leaning in it’s Seth Rollins’ pulling his head down and kneeing him as hard as he can in the face. It’s bullshit. Everything I said is true. If he’s got hurt feelings, well, it’s better to have hurt feelings than a broken, shattered face. My whole gripe with that kind of stuff is that you can’t get injured. The wrestler can’t afford getting hurt. There’s a huge onus on the two wrestlers to protect each other at all costs. If you can’t protect the guy you are working with, if you can’t be more careful than that, then you need to go back to the drawing board. It’s a good criticism. All of those agents in WWE, I don’t know who they are that are schooling these guys and telling them what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. They should all be chastised for not speaking up too. Including Vince. Including Triple H. What he did was totally wrong. Totally unprofessional. It’s true and it’s not a personal attack. It just means, “Be more careful.” You can’t be hurting guys like that all the time."

 

"WILDCAT" CHRIS HARRIS

- On signing with WWE: "I didn't really know what to expect. Granted it was a time where you kind of had to test the waters and what was worse than that was the people that had made the jump never fared to well. It was a risky thing to do because I didn't know what to expect and the guys that had been there didn't fair well and that was not by any fault of their own it was just the way it worked out."

- First impressions of WWE: "They made a big deal about it when I first came in and now to know that it was all crap. I remember talking to Hunter and I talked to Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker and it seemed like my early days there, it felt like it was going to go somewhere."

- The portrayal of Braden Walker by WWE: "When they debuted me, nobody knew who Braden Walker was and I think some people would know who I was or with a name change, I could deal with that. I knew that there was a good chance that they weren't going to use "Wildcat" but the way they presented me was like a bag of crap. There was nothing for the people to care. Some of these bad one liners they were giving me and vignettes were ridiculous, it was just a bad combination. It is hard to find the words. What I saw there, I wasn't impressed. It was a billion dollar company and they didn't know what the hell they were doing from one minute to the next."

- On America’s Most Wanted separation: “I think it could have gone either way. At that time they could have always found more life with AMW. I never felt like that would go away. But with the idea of splitting us up, again we go back to it is another step in the business where we have to prove ourselves and that is really the natural progression. The team had been together for so long and we had a great run and when that was all going on it was one of those things where we knew we were going to feud so it was like the opportunity that had been offered to us back in the day where we were willing to go to any extreme to prove we could both hang and thank God that we knew each other so well we could get away with doing anything to each other and we knew that whatever it took we were going to take the next steps.”

- On the extreme blood feud with James Storm: “I have to admit to you that I did. We knew and I think everybody knew we could get in there and have some classic matches. When you split a team up and you have to take it to the next level and you have to take it extreme and that is what we did. But the thing is about doing that is we still were focused on adding psychology into the match and make it such a free-for-all with the weapons and whatever else we could do and putting the psychology into those matches and the way people talk about them it kept people glued to it.”

- On his earlier run in TNA’s world title picture: “In my opinion (Kurt Angle) is one of the greatest ever and I mean that and I have always thought that. Once Storm and I was done they immediately put me into a World Title “King of the Mountain” match at Slammiversary and I was in the ring and starting to hang with guys like Kurt, Samoa Joe, AJ (Styles) was always in there, Christian was there at the time and it was a whole different level for me and I needed to step it up and step up my game and hang with those guys and we (again) we had some great matches.”

- On how some former TNA stars are currently succeeding in WWE: “It’s hard to believe a company like them would be like that but that was my experience that I went through. I always told myself that no matter what happened and no matter where I went and still say this today and since I am not full time in the business I would never put myself through that (again). I am so glad that guys like AJ, Ron Killings broke the mold and now guys like Samoa Joe who has a great spot and Eric (Young), Bobby (Roode) are there now and glad that the WWE has completely acknowledged the fact there is life before WWE because these guys were stars at other places in the world and if you acknowledge that it just gets over so much better.”

- On his lack of control over his WWE character: “I would have been so much more comfortable if they just let me do my own thing. They are trying to put a vignette together and they are like here say this or say that. I want to be a team player. This is there company and I have to do what I am told so they were the ones feeding me those lines and I just said it. I knew when I was saying it that it was garbage and they take a look at it and accept it and sure enough it is almost laughable and ridiculous that people put in these positions can’t come up with something better than that. Either come up with something better or leave it to me. I had some experience doing interviews and promos so let me do something like that but I couldn’t go in with that attitude and I didn’t want them thinking I was better than them because that is the wrong way to go about it. So I did what they told me to do and it was a disaster from the start.”

- On if the fans reaction to Braden Walker frustrated him: “I tried to not let it get to me. They did such a great job in, and anybody who knows me knows how passionate I am about the business but at that time with everything that was going on and for what I was dealing with at TV and I was dealing with a lot down in Florida at the training centre down there. They are master manipulators and they made me hate the business that I was passionate about and going about it so bad that I couldn’t even do indies after that and it is just being in that whole bowl. People are going to say what they want to say and that we thought Chris Harris was talented but he proved that he wasn’t and you guys know a little bit more about the business that most of it falls on creative and we are just kind of pawns in the business and that is what I did. I went in with the mindset of doing what I was told and no matter what they give me I will be able to make it work and it proved to me that is not necessarily true. If they are not on board with giving you a little something it is not going to work out. It has been a long time now and enough people have heard me talk and maybe they will understand coming from my view how different it was than just walking in and crapping all over the fans but I’ve rebounded and I feel better about it and it is what it is, I gave it a shot and it didn’t work out and I’ve got to move on to the next part of my career.”

 

KEVIN THORNE

- On why former WWE stars are turning down WWE contracts: "The majority of the guys know they're going to push the guys they're going to push. I mean, you're really going there to be an enhancement talent, within reason. They're going to say they're going to do these big vignettes for you, but all you're really there to do is to get the next guys over."

- On why WWE is not financially feasible for many talents: "They'll blow you up or give you a downside. You'll use that up in three months and then they'll starve you out the rest of the year. I mean, a lot of guys already have had that done. Jimmy Wang Yang, those guys that were prior. I mean, there were guys that were just starting when I was there because they weren't being used, but they were brought to TVs two nights, so they had to pay hotel, rent a car, food while they're there, and everything else and they're only making $500, $600 a week because they've already blown through their downside. So with taxes and everything else, guys are getting $75,000 to $150,000 downsides. By the time you pay taxes, your road expenses, and everything else, really and truly, you're only making $40,000, $35,000. So what's the point? And I mean, the indies is all cash. It's pretty much all cash. You can hide it the way you want to hide it and everything else."

- On if he would return to WWE: "Not really. There was talk, but nothing substantial. And I don't know if I'd want to go back full-time. If TNA called me, yeah. Hell yeah. A couple of days a month doing something, yes. WWE, man, it'd have to be decent. Knowing how it was up there and just like I said before, you blow through your downside and all of a sudden you're just dragged along. You're their monkey." Thorn added, "man, I'd love to go put some guys over in [NXT] and stuff. But I don't want to be there every day. If I could go down to [NXT] for their TV tapings here and there, yes, heck yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat, as long as it was a couple of days and I can come back to the reality that I've set in."

 

SEAN "X-PAC" WALTMAN

- On Bret Hart’s analysis of Seth Rollins: "I hate to be so critical of Seth Rollins when he’s just doing what everybody else is doing, you know.”

- On Shinsuke Nakamura vs Brock Lesnar: “A guy that would match up toe to toe with him as good as probably most people there is Shinsuke Nakamura…he fought pride…it was the greatest entrance I had ever seen in my life…it was un-f**king-believable…he is the the f**king man…he’s brilliant not only is he an amazing fighter legitimately but as an artist he has channelled like Liberace, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury I mean…. when you watch his entrance and the way he moves in there and his mannerisms and his charisma, that transcends language barriers and everything…he’s going to be the man, the man.”

- On Shawn Michaels coming out of retirement: “Nope, no, not in a match. He might come out and super kick some sweet chin music like he’s done already but no, he’s not going to. And I believe that, I don’t think I’m out of bounds by saying this. I’m pretty sure Shawn’s decided that he’s moving to Orlando and head up the performance centre. I was surprised to hear that because I thought he was pretty happy out in the ranch in Texas…Honestly, I mean if you’re familiar with the situation. It’s just Shawn’s going to head up the performance centre, no more or no less. It’s just wishful thinking and speculation on people’s parts. I get it, I understand it.”

- On injuries now vs in the past: “Some of it’s not necessarily more injuries, they’re not allowed to work through the injuries like we used to. We used to just say, “f**k it.” We’re injured, we’d tape this s**t up, we’d go in the f**kin’ ring… I’d like for the people who came after me to still have their marbles left and to be able to walk when they’re 70 or 60.”

- On turning down the Red Hot Chilli Peppers recording his entrance music: “Shane McMahon came up to me and he’s like “yeah um, hey, we’re thinking about having Red Hot Chili Peppers do your new theme music” and my dumbass goes “na, f**k that, I want Uncle Cracker to do it.” Cause he’s a friend of mine. He was Kid Rock’s DJ. And he hadn’t really blown up yet. So that was my big dumbass move…The song was fine, it was, we were heels and I wasn’t one of these heels that was trying to go up there and get cheered.”

- On the fight between JBL and Steve Blackman at the airport: “One time Blackman and JBL got into it… JBL was just on him, f**king with him a little bit. I wouldn’t call it bullying, he was just badgering him. It’s just how John was. And it just, Steve’s a different kind of guy. And it had probably been a few hours since he had eaten. And he gets real kinda cranky when he doesn’t eat, Blackman. And so he was messing with him, we were at the airport at the baggage check, and unfortunately it was the day that Owen passed away but it happened earlier in the day. And so JBL had been f**king with Steve for probably about a week. And they’re in, we’re in baggage claim. And he f**ks with him again. And it’s the last time and I remember saying something to Steve… And Blackman goes to punch JBL and as he’s going to take the step, his foot, his foot gets caught in the strap of a duffle bag. And he doesn’t get the shot in. So JBL got like two shots on him before they broke it up. Nobody got hurt.”

- On Randy Orton’s first major injury in a tag team match: “Randy took this ridiculous crazy bump over the top rope for me and well I didn’t ask him I didn’t want him to he was just really young and brand new then and he tore his shoulder in the match um and that was was his first major injury early on.”

 

Through The Ropes Grand Slam Newsletter / Issue #6 Monday 5th September 2016

Written By the Through The Ropes Team / Next Issue: Monday 12th September 2016

This Issue is dedicated to Harry "Mr Fuji" Fujiwara

1934 - 2016


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