CONTENTS
News Of The Week / Custom Artwork of the Beautiful People / Weekly show results feat TNA IMPACT, ROH TV, Lucha Underground, WWE RAW, SmackDown & NXT / PPV & Indie Results feat NJPW: Destruction in Hiroshima, Progress Wrestling: Chapter 35 'Writing Nirvana on other people's bags, Progress Wrestling Chapter 36: 'We're Gonna need a Bigger Room Again', WWE Clash of Champions, ROH Reloaded Tour & AIW: The Whole Shebang!/ The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Interviews Cody Rhodes & Curtis Hughes! / Analysis & Editorials: British Wrestling - competing with WWE? Written by Toby Hollinshead
NEWS OF THE WEEK
TRUTH REVEALED ON WWE & SINCLAIR'S - TNA BIDS
TNA is up for sale, That is confirmed, But the rumours and reports of Sinclair broadcasting [The owners of Ring of Honor Wrestling] making a bid were false. However, World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE] has made a bid, but not one that stands a chance of winning unless there is no interest in the company from other potential buyers. Billy Corgan [TNA President, Pro Wrestling promoter and Lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins] has already put in more money to acquire 30% ownership of TNA than WWE is willing to pay to buy the entire ownership stake of the company, Which in-turn rules out a possible WWE takeover of the company. (Just to note, WWE are only said to be interested in the video library of TNA to help with the pushing of the likes of Samoa Joe and AJ Styles etcetera. The serious bidders for TNA are Billy Corgan, and an currently unknown party. Aroluxe Media, of whom have been managing the financial side of TNA for the past several year is not the other party, Neither is the Fight Network.
The WWE are using Sasha Banks and Bayley as pawns in an grand scheme to put over Dana Brooke as the SuperBabyface of the RAW Women's Division. In a report by the Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer spoke of WWE using the two most over stars in Sasha and Bayley, to put over Dana Brooke whilst making the story seem all about Charlotte, Banks and Bayley. Meltzer said; “Bayley and Sasha are pretty much considered the minor characters in the Charlotte and Dana storyline, and they saw this as another idea where Dana would go in there, and say that because [Bayley and Sasha] both lost, then [Charlotte] shouldn’t have to defend the championship… and because Dana says that it screws it up, and now [Charlotte] has to defend against both of them instead of one of them, making it worse. So, it’s another layer of the Charlotte-Dana Brooke feud, They think [Dana’s] gonna be this super babyface, and I don’t know where they’re seeing this.”
TNA Wrestling this past introduced the arrival of the hottest free agent in the wrestling world, "The Prince of pro Wrestling" Cody Rhodes to the company with a Aron Rex-esque vignette. The video hype featured Rhodes adjusting his cuffs, which displayed his tattoo underneath his wedding ring, Followed by the words "His Past is Behind, His Future is Now, All roads lead, To Tomorrow Night, He Arrives".
The debut of Cody in TNA was done in the shape of a video package, With Cody announcing that he will be appearing live at TNA's biggest event of the calendar year, Bound for Glory on 2nd October. The video was a full version of the teaser vignette that TNA revealed on the night before his debut. In the video, Cody spoke of putting his past behind him and deciding his own future. Cody was shown walking towards a Corvette in a full suit, saying where he is going he is bound for adventure and there is glory, then he sped off as he said all roads lead to Bound For Glory.. This follows the announcement that Brandi Runnels, [Wife of Cody] has signed with the company and will be joining the Knockouts division. TNA Has made the following statement officially welcoming her to the Impact Roster; "Brandi Rhodes signs with Impact Wrestling. A Dream Come True for the Knockouts. Nashville, TN (September 19, 2016) - Impact Wrestling is proud to announce the signing of Brandi Rhodes to their world-renowned Knockouts. Brandi is the perfect combination of beauty, brains and athleticism. An accomplished model and highly skilled figure skater, she is also a graduate of the University of Michigan as well as the University of Miami's prestigious Broadcast Journalism Masters Program in Miami, FL. While there, Brandi accomplished success in the modelling industry, appearing in print ads and commercials for brands such as Zumba, Budweiser and Maxim Magazine.
While Brandi's resume is decorated with accomplishments in broadcasting, she never forgot her passion for professional wrestling. "When the opportunity present itself for me to join one of the top wrestling companies in the world and become a Knockout, I was thrilled," she said about her newest endeavour. Impact Wrestling certainly agrees. Company President, Billy Corgan provided, "this is a dynamic partnership. The Knockouts have always been on the forefront of Impact; leaders in evolution. We are thrilled to welcome Brandi Rhodes and provide her the worldwide platform she deserves as a Knockout." Don't miss Brandi's debut in the coming weeks on Impact Wrestling, Thursday nights at 8PM ET/7PM CT on Pop." While Brandi will be allowed to use the Rhodes name, Cody will not be able to as of yet. This is because of WWE copyrighting the Cody Rhodes name for merchandising while Brandi used the name Eden in WWE, meaning she will be allowed to use the name legally because of WWE not copyrighting the name Brandi Rhodes.
Here is Cody's signing announcement from TNA IMPACT; "IMPACT WRESTLING Signs Cody! Rumours were buzzing last Friday as TMZ Sports announced that Brandi Rhodes, a former In-Ring Announcer, would be joining the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Roster. On Monday, TNA Management confirmed those rumours to be true.So it was official, Brandi Rhodes would be joining the IMPACT Wrestling team, but there was much speculation about her husband, Cody. On Thursday, we saw a tease of who would be making their way to IMPACT. The world went wild with guesses and possibilities! But during Thursday night's IMPACT on POP, we got confirmation. Cody is coming to IMPACT. And he'll be making his arrival at Bound For Glory on October 2. A game-changer to say the least. But what does this mean? What will happen when Cody makes his presence felt at Bound For Glory? And who does he have his eye on?So many unanswered questions and so much to learn in the future. Being at Bound For Glory 2016, will be one of the best decisions that you will make all year. Purchase your VIP Package Today to be able to witness the Glory up front and honest at Bound For Glory." (Note: In the original, TNA posted this statement with Rhodes attached to Cody's name, But in this edited version, The Rhodes name has been removed.) Also, Here is the tweet made by Cody on Twitter; "When I [was] released [from] WWE I had no idea the opportunities & places I was bound for...#BoundForGlory."
Y2J Chris Jericho has finally spoke out about his altercation with "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar at WWE's big summer PPV spectacular, SummerSlam. At the end of the main event, where Brock Lesnar busted open Randy Orton, Chris Jericho was in belief that Brock had began to legitimately hurt Orton intentionally. Jericho, Who appeared on the Chael Sonnen podcast, Said the following on the match finish and the Lesnar backstage incident; “I just thought the finish of that match was very brutal and very violent, and I just didn’t know if Randy was okay… I said something and he said something, next thing you know we’re nose-to-nose kinda yelling at each other and it diffused fairly quickly… Brock is a trained fighter and he’s a beast, but I’m not the type of person to back down from anybody, to my detriment.” Jericho added that the finish of the match was not his business, but that “when I see a friend of mine lying in a pool of his own blood, whether it’s a work or not, that’s real blood. That’s a real concussion that he suffered. So I wanna go check and see if he’s okay.”
Bret Hart, recently appeared on the Booker T podcast, and spoke once again on Seth Rollins and the several wrestlers he has injured over the course of the past year. On his thoughts of Seth, Bret said "Actually, I'm a big fan of Seth Rollins. I mean, it sounds like I've been a little hard on him the last few months, but I'm trying to make a point to make him a better wrestler, to live up to what I expect out of him. And we're in this business. It's not about hurting people, and, too often, people misunderstand my point, and, maybe, including him. Now, he thinks I've got a hard on for him, or I'm out to get him, or out to make him sound bad. I'm not. I love his wrestling and I like him as a person. He's always a respectful guy and I know he's trying his hardest. I hope Seth Rollins becomes the safest, best wrestler in the world. And I wish him all the luck in the world. And I'm not trying to pick on him. I'm just trying to remind him that it's not about hurting guys. That doesn't make you a good wrestler. It makes you a really lousy wrestler."
Bret then went on to compare his accident with Bill Goldberg to the accident with Sting, Balor and Cena; "Goldberg was the same with me. He was a great guy and I love Bill Goldberg, but he cost me millions of dollars and he hurt me really badly. And there's no room for it, You've got to go back to the dressing room every night and beat that wrestler and look him in the eye, and go, usually, Book, you know, you come back, you meet, you shake hands, you hug each other, because you put your life in this guy's hands. And I know accidents are going to happen. Accidents happen. Bill Goldberg was an accident. He didn't try to kick my head off, but he did." Also, Bret commented on Seth's appearance on the Chris Jericho Podcast, Where both didn't take to kindly to Bret's analysis; "Chris Jericho and Seth did a podcast a few months ago and they were kind of ragging on me for making such a big deal about one little accident in the ring. But I watched, really closely, the match where he kneed John Cena in the face. And do you know what? There's no excuse for those kinds of mistakes. If you're doing CrossFit all day and you're too tired to do your stuff in the ring… there's just no excuse. And you watch a guy grab a guy and jerk his head down and see him full blast knee him in the face as hard as you can, and actually move his nose to the side of his head, there's just no room for those kinds of mistakes. He's lucky, really lucky, that he didn't kill John Cena right in the middle of the ring. That's a potential fatality when you make those kinds of mistakes. And then, I know I kind of made a big thing about it, and, the truth is, there's no room for mistakes in wrestling. When you make a mistake, one time, you could cost somebody's family everything that they've got."
Bret then talked about the buckle bomb move, and the accident with Finn Balor at SummerSlam, He said; "That move that Seth Rollins did where he hurt that Finn Bálor. Well, if you just think about it logically, 'okay, I'm going to pick somebody up, and I'm going to go through their legs under the ropes, and then, I'm going to do like Razor Ramon and I'm going to just grab you and do the [Razor's Edge]'. It's basically the move. And if you just think about it, 'okay, I'm going to pick you up, and then I'm going to run full blast, as hard as I can, just hurl your body against that padded wall'. And if you watch it, it's, like, as soon as I saw it, I thought that if somebody had done that to me, I would have been pretty mad. I go, 'it didn't even mean anything. It didn't help the match any more. It didn't make the match any better. It's not like everybody went home that night and thought, 'what a great move that was.'' It was a wasted effort, I think, to go through all that trouble to do this move, and then, you hurt somebody."
Then Bret went on to discuss why safety n pro wrestling is key; "I wrestled 23 years. I never injured one single wrestler ever. And I have a very, very physical, rough, tough style. I did a lot of great things in the ring, but my priority was always the safety of the guy I worked with. You meet their kid and you meet their wife in the back and there's just no room for mistakes, especially in wrestling today. you can't just think up a move in your head and go, 'okay, I'll just pick somebody up and I'm just going to throw them backwards into the post'. You have to think 'would you want someone to do the same thing to you?' And not every wrestler's a CrossFit guru where they're all super fit and super strong. There are all kinds of different bodies and styles in wrestling and you're working in there with a guy like Sting or you're working with a guy like Bob Backlund or you're in there working with a guy like Jerry Lawler. If you're a young buck and you're full of piss and vinegar like Seth Rollins is, you've got to change your style around. You've got to work a little different. You've got to take care of these guys that are a little older. You've got to protect these guys."
Who is running WWE RAW and SmackDown Live?? Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and the creative team are. Despite Vince McMahon overseeing everything in WWE, The final decisions are being made by Triple H. Court Bauer, of MLW Radio, confirmed that McMahon is not in the "Drivers seat"; “Here’s the thing, yes he’s [Vince McMahon] still reviewing all the scripts, yes he’s overseeing everything from afar at Titan Towers in Stamford, Connecticut, but he’s not in the trenches, he’s not signing off at the moment to moment stuff at TV. Hunter, the rest of creative and Stephanie are assembling the show. Right now, for all intents and purposes, Hunter is in the control seat and calling shots at the Gorilla Position.”
Former WWE Superstar, and Professional Wrestler Rico Constantino, Is sadly in a very bad condition. Rico's friend, and former WWE developmental manager Kenny Bolin, wrote a statement on Rico asking for help for his friend. Here is the statement in its entirety; "It saddens me to inform you that I have just found out that a Former WWE star and very dear friend of mine named Rico Costantino (Rico the Stylist) is very, very sick and has been since at least early January. He has no help financially at all, no disability help and none in sight. He has not spoke a word to hardly any one in like 9 months. he desperately needs our help. he also has severe diagnosed concussions, a collapsed lung and sever heart problems way to detailed to get in to here. I spoke to his ex-wife and length last night and she is trying to take care of him as best she can. i am hoping we can set up a go fund me account to assist him as soon as his ex can get me the banking info to have it sent too. I also hope the WWE and Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon or Hunter will chime in and help this great and very nice man who gave his life to helping others till here recently. Lets get the word out about Rico's illness to those who may be able to help him in this extreme time of need. as i get more info from his ex Linda I will pass it on. i will be contacting a few of my former and current WWE stars to rattle some cages in hope of getting Rico some financial help. his illness was not caused by drug abuse as in the case of many others who got help. and his severe concussions were acquired entertaining all of us over the years. Linda says he can say something in one hour, and totally forgot he said it 2 hours later. i do hope we can all band together and give just a little that may up in the end being a lot and a life saver for Rico. he needs our help. he deserves our help. those of us who loved him and were entertained by him. he is one year younger than me and looked 20 years younger. Linda says we would not recognise him now. please help me help him and rattle a few cages. thank you all very much. KB." A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support Rico and help with his medical treatment bills. The $10,000 goal has already reached the third way mark thanks to Y2J Chris Jericho, Who pledged $3000 towards the help for Rico. The GoFundMe page reads that Rico has visited the doctor five times and was forced to stay twice. It also reads that he has two leaky heart valves, two blood clots, and traumatic brain issues which are down to the bumps taking during his wrestling career. We wish Rico nothing but the very best and all the love in the world at this tragic time.
[Note: Next week, The Lethal LockDown match returns! As Team EC3 will take on Team Lashley in the sadistic Hardcore War inside of the steel.]
Alberto Del Rio will now return to AAA at the Heroes Inmortales event on 2nd October, as Alberto El Patron [The Boss]. El Patron didn't wish to work in Japan, Despite NJPW offering Alberto a deal with an AJ Styles like schedule that AJ worked when touring the Indies after departing TNA. The NJPW deal came with the addition that Alberto would work some CMLL dates as well, who are NJPW's working partner. No other company that El Patron reportedly was in talks with ELITE, But that didn't work out. Other companies weren't willing to pay $4000 per appearance, Which Alberto is charging.
Injuries: NJPW sensation, Katsuyori Shibata, TNA Shining Star Drew Galloway and WWE Superstar Summer Rae, have all suffered injuries. Regarding Shibata, NJPW released a statement saying the IWGP NEVER Openweight Champion’s thoracic spine is deteriorating, so they’ve been forced to pull him from the Destruction tour. As to Summer Rae, She has been dealing with several injuries, In her Back, Elbow and neck. Summer had been in pain for many months, but she didn’t stop competing until her MRI results determined how bad the injury was. And finally regarding Drew Galloway, He said on Twitter; "Apologies to everyone, I hate missing shows but I took a nasty knock last week that will keep me out the ring for the next couple of weeks." We wish all the best to Summer, Drew and Shibata and hope for healthy recovery's.
In Other news. Judges have finally granted Ryan Reeves' claim to change his name legally to Ryback Allen Reeves. Ryback said he following on the decision to change his name; “It’s not uncharted territory, but it kind of is too in a way. I legally went and changed my name to Ryback, for many reasons, one of which it was one thing that I did not own, and I created and I used before my time with WWE, And it is something that is associated with my brand and who I am that I am very proud of. So, I went through the proper steps in Clark County in Las Vegas. And it cost a little bit of money, and I go in front of a judge September 1st. But when this airs, you know, hopefully everything is approved and I would be known as Ryback Allen Reeves moving forward.” Jeff Jones, The Travel manager in Ring of Honor, has left the company. Jones has been with ROH for five years. Jones also worked in ECW as the heel manager Judge Jeff Jones. WWE has signed Lince Dorado to the company. Lince will be working on the RAW brand, and will also be working on NXT shows. It seems that if Paige did actually depart from WWE, She wouldn't have to look very far for her next place of work, as TNA wrestling has interest in signing her. Paige, if all goes well, will remain with WWE until April of 2019.
CUSTOM ARTWORK OF THE WEEK
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (feat LOVE, SKY & RAYNE)
Created by Jack Williams
WEEKLY SHOW RESULTS
IMPACT WRESTLING Episode Aired: 22/09/2016
The show starts with a recap of The Broken Hardy Family Versus Decay "Great War" announcement, Along with the a recap of EC3 and Lashley Bound for Glory press conference that turned into a fight in the Impact Zone. / (Note: Grand Title Matches have three 3 minute rounds, and three judges at ringside who award points for aggressiveness, control and physicality should each round not have a clear winner VIA pinfall, Submission, DQ or Countout. The Points system is a 10 point must system, That see's each judge at the end of each round give a total of up to ten points based on the three key areas IE aggressiveness, control and physicality. Who ever has the most points at the end of each round wins that round.) / In the Impact Zone, IMPACT GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY SEMI-FINAL MATCH - DREW GALLOWAY DEFEATED EDDIE EDWARDS (Match notes: R1 Scorecard: DG - 29pts, EE - 28pts / R2 Scorecard: DG - 28pts, EE - 29pts / R3 Scorecard: Judges 1 & 3 vote for Galloway, Judge 2 votes Edwards), After the match, Drew Galloway is interviewed by Jeremy Borash. Drew is asked for his thoughts and who he'd rather face in the final. Drew says that nothing has changed. He is the same man he has always been. He then calls TNA a rigged system. He was the main soldier for the company before it turned on him. Drew tells TNA management to put The Grand Championship Tourney Final on last at Bound for Glory because EC3 and Lashley will not be able to follow his performance. This brings out EC3. As EC3 enters the ring, Drew is lying down waiting for him. Drew has a go at Ethan for getting special treatment. He says he thinks Lashley will beat him at BFG, And when he wins the Grand title at BFG, EC3 won't need politics, Because Galloway will gladly give him a title shot. He then says that Carter wouldn't be able to last 2 rounds with him in a Impact Grand Championship styled match. As Galloway walks away and leaves the ring. Carter says that the last time they faced, He beat Galloway and will do it again. Then out comes The World Champion Lashley! As he heads to the ring, Mike Bennett from behind attacks Carter. Then Lashley and Bennett double team on Carter until Moose comes out to make the save. However, after a brawl, Lashley spears Moose and he and Bennett win that exchange. The main event for tonight is Lashley and Mike Bennett versus Moose and EC3. / Backstage segment with Allie and Maria. Allie is on the phone booking a walk over for Maria to face tonight in her public workout. As Allie reveals who it is, Maria interrupts and insults Allie. Maria says that she wants to send a message to Gail Kim and prove that she is the greatest Knockouts champion ever. Maria forces Allie to agree with her. / Video package of Aron Rex and Eli Drake. Rex talks about the importance of The Impact Grand Championship tourney. While Drake talks about his greatness. Rex talks about how the 6 sided ring is a new experience for him and then puts over Drake's talking skills but he's not sure of his in ring ability. Drake says that the match will not last long and that he is going to showcase how good he really is. / Backstage, Mike Bennett is delighted with what he and Lashley just did to Moose and Carter. He asks Lashley if they can become friends, But Lashley wants nothing to do with Bennett. He runs down Mike and denies Mike a future title shot. / In the Impact Zone, Before Rex versus Drake begins, They trade off insults. This gets heated. IMPACT GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY SEMI-FINAL MATCH - ARON REX DEFEATED ELI DRAKE (Match notes: R1 Scorecard: ED - 27pts, AR - 30pts / R2 Scorecard: ED - 29pts, AR - 28pts / R3: Aron Rex pins Eli Drake) / Backstage segment with Decay in a dark place in the Impact Zone. They talk about the Great War that will occur with the Hardy's at Bound for Glory. Vanguard One is watching them in stealth mode. When Decay finally see it, Senor Benjamin appears on the holocommunicator and is laughing his head off while holding the shovel with Delete painted on it. V1 flies home. / Backstage, Aron Rex is interviews after his win over Drake in the Tourney semi-final. But Drew Galloway interrupts before he can speak. He tells Rex he will be the one winning the title at Bound for Glory. Rex replies saying Drew will be the one spending the night at the hospital. / A promo for the arrival of Cody Rhodes in TNA. In an open area, a voice says "You don't know a man until you walk a mile in his shoes". The camera pans of Cody in a suit but not showing his face. he continues; " I learn more about me everyday with every mile, my past is just that and my story is being written one step at a time". Cody walks over to his Corvette as he is talking, and he says his future is decided by the "roads" that he takes, He says He is bound for a new adventure and that where he is going, He is bound for gold and glory. The camera pans to Cody's face and he says his roads lead to Bound For Glory. Cody drives away and a graphic reading, CODY ARRIVES.... BOUND FOR GLORY... 10-2-16 ends the segment. / In the Impact Zone, Josh Mathews says this is monumental news that the son of the American Dream will be at Bound for Glory. he also talks about Brandi Rhodes signing with TNA. / In ring segment with Decay. Rosemary who is breathing frantically, along with Abyss and Crazy Steve Talk about and hype the Great War with the Hardy's at Bound For Glory. After they finish their promo, Broken Matt reveals himself to be in the Crowd. He says Decay are now in a world of Magic. He says Vanguard One and Scarsguard is Magic. he hypes the Great War, and says he will delete the Decay's title reign. Brother Nero then appears in the crowd. He also hypes the Great War. He says at the war The Hardy's will decide Decay's fate. Nero laughs and tells each member their fate, Obsolete! Rosemary warns the Brothers that its 3 on 2. Matt laughs and says the seven deities have told him that The Decay are bound for glory. Then the lights go out. When they come back on, Abyss and Steve are tied up to the corners of the ring and Reby is standing behind an untied Rosemary. She attacks Rosemary and she escapes. Reby says Rosemary's mother will be the only mother without a baby, as the Hardy's raise the tag titles and pose with them while Abyss and Steve are tied up looking on. / EC3 and Moose are livid at what happened earlier. / In ring segment. The X Division Champion DJZ says hes so happy to be the X champion. He talks about his maturity since winning the title the first time. He wants to be a fighting champion and throws down the open challenge for his title. Trevor Lee and Andrew Everett come out, and Lee takes on the challenge. / X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP - DJZ (c) DEFEATED TREVOR LEE (STILL CHAMPION) (Match Notes: Andrew Everett got involved in the match by distracting DJZ on numerous occasions.) After the match, The Helms Dynasty team up on DJZ, But Eddie Edwards makes the save and battles off Lee and Everett. Eddie then compliments DJZ then proposes a challenge for DJ's title next week, DJ accepts. / Backstage segment, Maria is preparing for her Public workout. She is insulting Allie at the same time. She hopes Allie wont mess up like everything she does. Allie gets upset at that. / The Fixer! Tyrus promo. / MARIA'S PUBLIC WORKOUT - Maria, in the ring with Allie and Sienna. She again belittles and bullies Allie, and announces that she will give Sienna a title shot. Then Maria makes Allie introduce her opponent. A young girl heads to the ring. Maria goes to shake hands, but cheap shots her. As the referee is distracted, Sienna manhandles the girl, then Maria pins her. Then Maria calls for another opponent, But Allie says she didn't book another easy opponent. Maria is furious and bullies Allie some more. Then a woman dressed out in all black heads to the ring. Maria and this mystery opponent tangle a bit, Then Maria runs to Allie and shouts at her for this. The Mystery woman reveals herself to be Gail Kim and she tries to hit her finisher on Maria but Sienna made the save, But Sienna got hit by the Eat Defeat instead. This ends the segment with Maria running to the back. / IMPACT MAIN EVENT - ETHAN CARTER III & MOOSE DEFEATED "THE MIRACLE" MIKE BENNETT & LASHLEY, After the match, Moose chases after Mike Bennett and they fight on the ramp way. As they fight, Lashley and EC3 fight in the ring, Lashley targets EC3's injured ribs. The fight requires security and the Impact Roster come out to break them up. Then Billy Corgan comes out and announces a special match next week, the Lethal Lockdown match, with EC3 and Lashley being team captains, with the winning team picking the stipulation for the Bound for Glory main event. The show ends with a preview of next weeks Road to Glory show..
RAW Episode Aired: 19/09/2016
The live show starts with Roman Reigns in the ring, who is about to speak Roman Reigns until he is interrupted by Stephanie McMahon. She says she understands why he's out here but she has a job to do. Just as she is about to say the plan that her and Mick Foley had planned, Mick Foley interrupts and heads to the ring to join them. Foley takes all the credit for the plan they have in store, that Seth Rollins will face Rusev tonight, as compensation for what happened last week in the main event where Seth and Rusev cost Reigns his match. Reigns fails to see what this does for him, Foley replies that he will get a US title shot against Rusev at Clash of Champions. Foley makes a speech on how they are all a team when it comes down to the war against SmackDown. Foley then books a Universal Championship title match for tonight's main event, featuring Roman Reigns versus champion Kevin Owens. This leads to Owens coming out and stating that he has beat Roman twice last week, and he must be preparing for his title defence at Clash of Champions. But Foley then books the title match tonight as a Steel cage match. / SETH ROLLINS VERSUS RUSEV GOES TO A DOUBLE COUNTOUT After the match, Rusev keeps attacking Rollins, Rusev takes Rollins to the stage, and tries something but doesn't connect as Rollins escapes. Rollins throws Rusev off of the stage and then jumps off the announce table on the stage and hits Rusev with a crossbody from the top.) / Dana Brooke, Charlotte and Mick Foley backstage segment. They are reviewing footage from last week where there was a double pin in the #1 contenders match. Charlotte says Sasha is not the #1 contender. Dana says that Foley should cancel tonight's tag match and make a new match to decide the #1 contender. Foley then makes the Clash of Champions Women's title match a Triple Threat by adding Bayley to the bout. Charlotte shoves Dana to the floor in anger at her interfering. / Backstage segment with Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho. Owens is moaning about Mick Foley and his booking, And Jericho is planning to make a list of everything that's wrong with Foley and give it to him. / BRAUN STROWMAN DEFEATED SIN CARA / Sasha Banks and Bayley segment backstage. Bayley is looking forward to working with Sasha again, But Sasha isn't as happy as Bayley, As she says that she had the win last week. Bayley disagrees and they agree to co-exist for tonight's tag team match before their triple threat at Clash of Champions. / CHARLOTTE & DANA BROOKE DEFEATED SASHA BANKS & BAYLEY / Seth Rollins segment with Stephanie in her office. He reminisces of times when they were working together, and wonders why she threw it away for Kevin Owens. She says she had nothing to do with what Triple H did. Things are about to get heated until Steph warns Seth not to threaten her. She says Owens is the right person to lead RAW and he's the new face. Rollins says changed since Shane returned. / BO DALLAS DEFEATED GARY GRAHAM / BEST OF SEVEN SERIES MATCH #6 - CESARO DEFEATED SHEAMUS (Note: 3:3 is the score card with one match to play) / Backstage, As Foley books Cesaro versus Sheamus' last match of the Seven series for Clash of Champions, Jericho with a list comes in and has words with Foley. / Back in the ring, Chris Jericho says Mick Foley has been doing a terrible job as General Manager so he's come up with a list of grievances against him. Number one is Foley trying to drive a wedge between he and best friend Kevin Owens. Number two is a terrible fashion sense. As the fans annoy Jericho he adds a fan to his list. As Jericho goes on with his list, he comes accross Sami Zayn, and says he will cross him off for good at COC. Then Enzo and Cass interrupt Y2J. Who then are interrupted by The Shining Stars and then New Day, And then Gallows and Anderson. At this point, Jericho has had enough, and starts a new list of Stupid Idiots and puts everyone around him on it. Sami Zayn then comes out and a fight between him and Y2J breaks out. / SAMI ZAYN, BIG E, KOFI KINGSTON (W/XAVIER), ENZO & CASS DEFEATED Y2J, GALLOWS & ANDERSON, PRIMO & EPICO / In the Ring, Mick Foley talks about the WWE Cruiserweight Classic and puts over the cruiserweight competitors. He says that is the kind of action that will take place here each week, only on RAW. He brings out Gran Metalik, Rich Swann, Cedric Alexander and Brian Kendrick, The four who will compete in the Cruiserweight Match. / #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH FOR CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP - BRIAN KENDRICK DEFEATED RICH SWANN, GRAN METALIK & CEDRIC ALEXANDER (NEW CONTENDER) / Alicia Fox Versus Nia Jax will battle on the Clash of Champions pre-show. / NON TITLE STEEL CAGE MATCH - ROMAN REIGNS DEFEATED KEVIN OWENS After the match, Rusev tried to attack Reigns but failed and got floored by Reigns. Owens then attacked Reigns, then double teams along with Rusev who uses a chain to lock them inside the cage. Rusev, locks in the Accolade on Reigns in the cage as Owens insults the defenceless Reigns. Then Seth Rollins comes out and tries to make the save for Reigns, But is knocked down. Rollins then climbs up and then jumps off the inside of the cage and flattens Rusev and Owens. Raw ends with all men down in the cage.
SMACKDOWN Episode Aired: 20/09/2016
The show starts with Daniel Bryan in the ring for a Contract Signing segment. He hypes the Women's title match for No Mercy, And hypes tonight as the first ever SmackDown women's championship contract signing. Bryan says that this signing will be a civil one, as he introduces the first participant, The current champion Becky Lynch. Bryan reminds her to keep it friendly, then the #1 contender Alexa Bliss heads to the ring. They trade promos about wanting the title, then Becky says she'll rip Alexa's head off at No Mercy. Alexa signs the contract then hits Becky in the face with it, Then as Alexa goes to leave, Becky hits her from behind and attacks her, As Bliss escapes, Becky raises her title boldly. / WWE IC Champion Miz with Maryse walk up to Daniel Bryan. Miz is not happy at having to defend his title against Dolph Ziggler tonight. Bryan says they can cancel the match... Miz agrees and as he turns away, Bryan says they can cancel the match and his contract at the same time. Miz was too busy tweeting to read his new contract that was negotiated this weekend. Bryan says this is going to make it hard for Miz to go out and do what he says Bryan can't do anymore. Bryan asks if they have a problem and Miz says they do not as he storms off. / #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH FOR TAG TEAM TITLES - THE USO'S DEFEATED AMERICAN ALPHA (NEW CONTENDERS) / Heath Slater backstage segment. He has an idea to really get the backing of the fans behind he and Rhyno, but Rhyno doesn't seem bothered. Then The Uso's walk by and mock the unlikely Duo of Slater and Rhyno. They tease to knock the food out of Rhyno's hand and take the titles, but Rhyno backs them off after they bring up Slater's son. / Jack Swagger Joined the commentary team for the next match. BARON CORBIN DEFEATED APOLLO CREWS, After the match, Corbin heads to ringside and stares at Swagger, who then gets up. Corbin runs him down as he then walks on by. / New Curt Hawkins vignette / Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Nikki Bella and Naomi. They cut promos on Carmella and Natalya before tonight's tag team match between the four. / Renee Young talks with Dolph Ziggler about the Miz. Ziggler says he wants to prove he still belongs in WWE, and beating Miz and taking the title is the only way. / WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP - THE MIZ (c) (W/MARYSE) DEFEATED DOLPH ZIGGLER (STILL CHAMPION) (Match Notes: Maryse was sent to the back during the match.) / RANDY ORTON DEFEATED ERICK ROWAN, after the match, the lights go out in vintage Bray Wyatt fashion, and when they return on, a single spotlight lights up Orton on his own in the ring with a sheep mask at his feet. The lights go again, and on the titantron, Wyatt is backstage somewhere, and says Orton's just a man that could die at any minute but Wyatt is a god and gods never die. Wyatt tells Orton to run. / NIKKI BELLA & NAOMI DEFEATED CARMELLA & NAOMI & NATALYA VIA DQ (Match Notes: The Illegal wrestler (Carmella) attacked Nikki when she was in Nattie's sharpshooter hold and threw her out of the ring.) After the match, Natalya isn't happy with Carmella, and is then attacked from behnd by Naomi as Carmella s beatng down Nikki outside of the ring. Both sides retreat to end the segment. / Backstage, AJ Styles is polishing his title when Charly Caruso walks up and asks him about tonight's main event. Styles says he's superior every day, the face that runs the place. He says Cena and Ambrose will destroy one another and do the work for him. AJ says the champ is and always will be... here. / DEAN AMBROSE DEFEATED JOHN CENA, After the match, As Ambrose is celebrating and Cena is sitting down shocked, AJ Styles runs in and attacks Cena, Then attacks Ambrose. The Daniel Bryan comes out and announces that Dean will get a shot at AJ's world title next week on SmackDown. As AJ throws a fit, he turns round to get hit with a Dirty Deeds from Ambrose to end the show.
NXT Episode Aired: 21/09/2016
The show starts with a replay of Samoa Joe attacking Shinsuke Nakamura and the champion Nakamura being stretchered out. / In Full Sail, Samoa Joe heads to the ring with some papers in his hand. Joe reveals that the papers are Shinsuke's medical records. He says Nakamura will be out for 6-12 weeks. Joe orders that William Regal comes out and relinquishes the title from Nakamura. Regal does come out, and says he will take care of the situation that Joe has caused. Joe Leaves Regal in the ring and heads to the back. / Cedric Alexander is interviewed backstage. He says he scratched and clawed for seven years on the Indies. He wants to face the very best, and says he will show his opponent for tonight, Andrade "Cien" Almas, he is as good as he says he is. / Backstage, Liv Morgan says she isn't afraid of Asuka, and says she isn't going to fight to just end up back at the bottom, She intends on getting to the top. Asuka then walks up to her and says she'll find out if she's ready for Asuka. / AUSTIN ARIES DEFEATED ONEY LORCAN, After the match, Austin Aries says Itami may put people to sleep, but he makes people tap out. He says is ready this week, and says he would call Itami out, but knows he won't show. Then Hideo appears but Aries scarpers. / Dan Matha hype video. / Video footage of Ciampa and Gargano's post CWC promo on the Revival. / BILLIE KAY DEFEATED ALIYAH / Mandy Rose is backstage, and cuts a promo on Ember Moon, and runs her down, saying she doesn't fit in in NXT, She will be eclipsed. / CEDRIC ALEXANDER DEFEATED ANDRADE ALMAS, After the match, They shake hands, Then Almas teases a turn behind Cedric's back, but hugs him instead. The show ends with Cedric celebrating.
ROH TV Episode Aired: 19/09/2016
The Show starts with the return of Steve Corino, Who makes his return to the announce table to re-join Kevin Kelly after being suspended for an entire year. Kelly and Corino share a hug to kick off the show. The main event is IWGP Champion Kuzichika Okada teaming with Repongi Vice against The Addiction and Kamaitachi. Corino says he's happy to be back on commentary is looking forward to this week's action. / THE GUERRILLAS OF DESTINY (TAMA TONGA & TONGA ROA) DEFEATED THE CABINET (KENNY KING & RHETT TITUS) (W/CAPRICE COLEMAN) After the match, The Guerrillas of Destiny celebrate as Coleman for a short time joins the commentary team to discuss the loss him team just suffered. / Recap of last week where Naito turned his back on Jay lethal during the match with The Bullet Club. Then, Backstage infront of the ROH banner, Jay Lethal talks about what happened last week. He says this position he is in is the best of both worlds, as its both business and personal. He says on the business side, he must defeat Tetsuya Naito so he can work his way back up to the world championship. And the personal side, he gets to extract revenge on Naito for his betrayal, Two stones if you will. Lethal says the worst day of Naito's life will come at All Star Extravaganza. / A review of the feud between War Machine and Keith Lee & Shane Taylor. The history is that Ray Rowe of War Machine trained Shane Taylor, then "Abandoned" Taylor for stardom, and now Taylor and Lee are after revenge. Taylor says the past will always come back to get you, aimed at War Machine. / SHANE TAYLOR & KEITH LEE DEFEATED KEN PHOENIX & RICARDO ROJAS, After the match, Shane Taylor says they are the baddest tag team in Ring of Honor. He calls out War Machine and says that the war between them does not end until one of them stops breathing. War Machine come out. Ray Rowe says that Lee and Taylor made a mistake by leaving him alive when they had a chance to kill him. He then defends himself by saying that he gave Taylor somewhere to stay when he needed it and he started Taylors career for him by training him and opening the doors for him. Rowe says of all the people he knows, He'd be the last to betray him. He then closes the segment off by saying this isn't about revenge or payback, Its about VIOLENCE!. He threatens Taylor and Lee and then he and Hanson start to head to the ring. / ROH World Champion Adam Cole is infront of the ROH banner, He hypes a tag team match next week where he and Hangman Page will represent the Bullet Club against Hiroshi Tanahashi and Michael Elgin. / WAR MACHINE (HANSON & ROWE) VERSUS SHANE TAYLOR & KEITH LEE FIGHT TO A DOUBLE DQ (Match Notes: The DQ comes when Rowe attempted a suicide dive on Taylor on the outside of the ring, But Taylor whacks Rowe with a steel chair. Then Rowe gets hold of a chair and returns the pain.) After the match, Lee and Taylor set up tow chairs in the ring and powerbomb's Rowe through them. Security end up having to pry Taylor and Lee away from Rowe. / Matt Taven joins Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino on commentary for the main event. (Note: During the time he arrived and the end of the match, Taven revealed that The Kingsom will be in the 6 man Tag Team Title tourney, and He promises to add those titles to his resume, Taven refused to reveal his partners.) ROH TV MAIN EVENT - THE ADDICTION & KAMAITACHI DEFEATED CHAOS (KAZUCHIKA OKADA & ROPONGI VICE) (Match Notes: Daniels won via The Meltzer Driver, a show of mockery to the Young Bucks, who they will defend their tag titles against at ASE.) / The show ends with hype for the big PPV All Star Extravaganza and next weeks ROH TV main event.
LUCHA UNDERGROUND Episode Aired: 21/09/2016
The show starts with Dario introducing the Dial of Doom, And a recap of Rey Mysterio versus Pentagon Dark, and El Dragon Azteca saving Rey from Pentagon. Then a recap of Sexy Star's feud with Worldwide Underground. / In the temple, Rey Mysterio Jr and Azteca are training together. Rey is training him to fight Pentagon as Azteca is looking for payback after having his arm broken by Pentagon. Rey informs Azteca that they have a bigger battle ahead than just Pentagon. Rey and Dragon are duelling it out in the ring, Rey then gets Dragon in a pinning position when Chavo Guerrero enters the ring and to count to three. Both Rey and Dragon Azteca turn their focus to Chavo. Chavo tells Azteca to take it easy. Dragon charges at Chavo and calls him a liar. Chavo counters Dragon and gets him down on the mat in an arm lock. Rey tells Chavo to let Dragon Azteca go. Chavo releases the hold. Chavo tells Rey that he hasn't taught Dragon about Le Famiglia Guerrero and that maybe Chavo will be the one to teach him. / Matt Striker announces that The Lucha Underground title will be on the line tonight. Vampiro says the opponent will be determined by Dario Cueto's dial of doom. Dario Cueto is standing at the side of his Dial of Doom, as his brother Matanza, the Lucha Underground champion waits in the ring. Dario says Havok was unlucky last week and is now at home being treated by his mother. Then Dario spins the dial. It lands on the Mack after a dramatic piece of music accompany's it. / LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPIONSHIP - THE MONSTER MATANZA CUETO (c) (W/DARIO CUETO) DEFEATED THE MACK (STILL CHAMPION) / A Famous B ad airs on Havok's TV. Famous B says by calling 423-GET-FAME. He will turn your life around and he demonstrates that by showing how his magic turned around his assistant Debra. Havoc is nursing his injuries while seated next to Mascarita Sagrada. As Havoc and Sagrada share a laugh. Havoc's mother calls out from the kitchen that his dinner is ready. Havoc's mother appears and presents Sagrada with his favourite meal, Bagel Bites. / In Dario's office, Dario is head down on his desk. He's taking drugs. Johnny Mundo and Taya barge into his office and demands that Dario Cueto go out to the temple and spin the dial of doom again. He says he is sick of waiting for his title shot. Dario tells Johnny to calm down, and he will give Worldwide Underground a shot at the Trios title tonight. Mundo is not satisfied, and wants a shot at The Lucha Underground title. As he walks away, Dario asks Mundo if he still wants the trios title shot. He refuses the title shot and states that he doesn't like the way Dario is treating his biggest star. Taya asks if the Trios title offer is still on the table and she offers to take Mundo's spot in the match. Dario accepts Taya as the replacement. Taya then tells Dario that he has something on his nose, He hen kicks her out of his office. / Dario, before the next match begins, Makes this match an Ultimate Opportunity match, and reveal what the Opportunity later on. CAGE DEFEATED TEXANO (CAGE WINS AN ULTIMATE OPPORTUNITY), After the match, Dario comes out of his office to announce the Opportunity, but then says Cage must defeated Texano two more times to get this surprise opportunity, A best of Five series is created. / Back in his office, Dario Cueto opens up a mysterious package. In it is a hat for Famous B's Get Fame Hotline. He also opens up an envelope and in it are black and white photos. The photos are strange but Dario is interested. Then Azteca walks in to the room, and jokes about Dario going on a vacation to where the photos were taken. Cueto throws the photos in the bin. Azteca tells Cueto that he wants a match with Pentagon. Cueto says that Azteca can't just make demands. Cueto pauses, and makes a remark about Hong Kong and "she" going there. Not Cueto then backs on topic, and tells Azteca that he wants him to face Black Lotus again. Azteca pushes for the Pentagon match and Dario agrees to write it down in pencil for Azteca. As Azteca leaves Dario's office, Ricky Mandel walks past and asks Dario Cueto for a future match. Ricky notices the creepy pictures which are now back on Dario's desk. Dario is freaked out and offers to give them to Ricky Mandel. Mandel likes them and leaves. Then In walks Chavo Guerrrero who says he has something he needs to talk to Dario about. / TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIPS - FENIX, AEROSTAR & DRAGO (c) DEFEATED WORLDWIDE UNDERGROUND (PJ BLACK, TAYA & JACK EVANS) (STILL CHAMPIONS), After the match, Johnny Mundo runs in and attacks the Tag champions. Worldwide Underground team up to beat the champions down. Sexy Star then runs in to make the save and even the score. The action in the temple ends with Star and the Trios Champions holding the ring. / In Dario Cueto's office. Dario Cueto tells Rey Mysterio that El Dragon Azteca was in his office earlier looking for a match with Pentagon. Rey says that Azteca is not ready for Pentagon, to which Dario agrees. Cueto says that he erased Pentagon's name from his scheduled match with Azteca and pencilled in Chavo's name instead. Cueto says that he is booking Azteca versus Chavo instead with the winner facing Pentagon Jr. in a grudge match. Since both men had their arms broken by Pentagon. Dario says to Rey that he knows that he is conflicted by his relationship to Chavo and his apprentice Azteca. So Dario says that he wants to make Rey Mysterio the guest referee for that match. Rather than pencilling it in, Dario writes it down in his ledger in permanent ink which closes the show.
PPV RESULTS AND INDIE RESULTS
NJPW: DESTRUCTION IN HIROSHIMA - 22/09/2016
Note: Shibata is off the rest of the tour due to injuries. Matt Sydal is off the card due to travel issues.
Ricochet, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima Defeated Yoshitatsu, Captain New Japan & Togi Makabe
reDragon (Fish & O'Reilly), David Finlay & Ryusuke Taguchi Defeated Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa) Defeated Roppongi Vice (Baretta & Romero)
Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii Defeated The Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
Juice Robinson, Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA & Michael Elgin Defeated BUSHI, EVIL, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito
After the match, Naito tried to attack Elgin straight after the bell, But failed and Elgin ended up powerbombing Naito. KUSHIDA and BUSHI had a scrap aswell.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Briscoes (c) Defeated The Young Bucks (Still Champions)
After the match, The Guerrillas of Destiny attacked and laid out the Briscoes. Tonga then spoke saying the titles belong to GoD. He Proclaimed this is our territory. Japan belongs to Bullet Club, and GoD wants a rematch for the Tag Titles.
ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Adam Cole (c) Defeated Will Ospreay (Still Champion)
Kazuchika Okada Defeated Bad Luck Fale
POSITION IN THE WRESTLEKINGDOM 11 IWGP CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ON THE LINE
Kenny Omega Defeated YOSHI-HASHI
After the match, Hirooki Goto came out and challenged Omega after the match.Kenny Omega then said after the match that he admires Yoshi-Hashi’s heart but he still did the J-double-oh-B. He called Goto “Goto Hell." He asked the fans if they wanted the match. They cheered, which caused him to say “Goto Hell” again. He said he’d consider it.
PROGRESS WRESTLING CHAPTER 35: Writing Nirvana on Peoples' Bags - 19/09/2016
British Strong Style (Trent Seven and Pete Dunne) Defeated Tyler Bate and Damian Dunne
It was announced that British Strong Style will challenge the London Riots for the tag team titles at the Brixton.
Womens Match
Nixon Newell Defeated Alex Windsor
Four way Match
Jack Gallagher Defeated El Ligero, Zack Gibson and Eddie Dennis
(Match Note: Dave Mastiff and Nathan Cruz were on Commentary)
After the match, Mastiff goes down to the ring and joins Gibson and Ligero in beating up both Dennis and Gallagher. Owner Jim Smallman then told the men that if they kept getting involved in other people’s business that there would be severe consequences, and told Mastiff that his match was starting right now!
ATLAS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY SEMI-FINAL MATCH
Joe Coffey (Group B co-winner) Defeated Dave Mastiff (Group A runner-up)
(Match Note: Mikey Whiplash was on commentary)
(Note: The Atlas Championship is for men over 205 pounds. The first champion is being crowned in this round robin tourney, with the final taking place at the Brixton show.
Shane Strickland Defeated Will Ospreay
(Note: This is Shane's debut in Progress.)
After the match, Ospreay immediately apologises to Strickland and the fans. He says he broke the one rule of Progress, and shakes hands with Strickland. He announces that his schedule won’t allow him to do Progress shows for the foreseeable future, and gives a heartfelt speech about his Progress career. He thanks the fans, and bows out.
PROGRESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH
Mark Haskins Defeated Mikey Whiplash
ATLAS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY SEMI-FINAL MATCH
Rampage Brown (Group B co-winner) Defeated T-Bone (winner of Group A)
Rampage Advances to the Atlas Title match in Brixton.
(Match Note: Joe Coffey Is on commentary.)
Rampage Brown versus Joe Coffey for the Progress Atlas Championship in Brixton is set.
Sebastian heads to the ring, He explains why he cost Pastor William Eaver the Progress Title at Chapter 33. He says that he cannot stand frauds, and that the Pastor is a fraud. He says that he pulled out of this year’s Natural Progression Series because he knew “management” wouldn’t give him an opportunity with the Pastor in the way. He calls out the Pastor, Pastor comes out. Sebastian says that Eaver has a secret, and the world will know it...soon. He wants Eaver to suffer knowing that his secret could be revealed at anytime. Sebastian says that he knows that Eaver has a temper, and that he wants to give Eaver a chance at revenge. He gives Eaver a chair, and offers a free shot. Eaver doesn’t take it, so Sebastian slaps him and turns his back. Eaver tosses the chair down, so he spits in his face. Once again Eaver refuses, so Sebastian low blows Eaver and then hits him with the chair repeatedly until security breaks it up. He comes back with another chair, beats down the Pastor more, and traps his arm in the chair and stomps on it.
PROGRESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Marty Scurll (c) Defeated Mark Andrews (Still Champion)
(Match Note: Mark Haskins is on commentary.)
After the match, The Origin came out and surrounded Scurll, Then turned and beat down Mark Andrews instead. Eddie Dennis, Jack Gallagher and Damon Moser make the save for Andrews. A fight breaks out and they brawl all over the ballroom. Marty Scurll then returns to the ring and attacks Andrews, Then Mark Haskins makes the save and lays out Scurll, and raises his title in the air.
NJPW: DESTRUCTION IN KOBE - 25/09/2016
Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Henare Defeated Will Ospreay & Repongi Vice (Romero & Barreta)
The Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) Defeated Yoshitatsu & Captain New Japan
Note: This match lasted under a minute. Captain New Japan turned on Yoshitatsu and aligned himself with the Bullet Club, and is now to be known as Bone Soldier.
Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma Defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Teruaki Kanemitsu
reDRagon Defeated Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata
NEVER 6-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Satoshi Kojima, David Finlay & Ricochet Defeated The Bullet Club (c) (Adam Cole, Young Bucks) (New Champions)
Eight Man Tag Team Match
The Bullet Club (Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Tonga Roa) Defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe
Sanada, Evil & Bushi Defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida & Juice Robinson
Eight Man Tag Team Match
Kazuchika Okada, Yoshi-Hashi, Jado & Gedo Defeated Naomichi Marufuji, Toru Yano, Atsushi Kotoge & Daisuke Harada
IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Tetsuya Naito defeated Michael Elgin (c) (New Champion)
WWE CLASH OF CHAMPIONS - 25/09/2016
Pre-Show Match
Nia Jax Defeated Alicia Fox
RAW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
TJ Perkins (c) Defeated Brian Kendrick (Still Champion)
After the match, Brian and TJ shake hands, and then Brian nails TJ with a headbutt.
RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
The New Day (Kofi & Big E) (w/Woods) (c) Defeated Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (Still Champions)
Triple Threat Match
RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
Charlotte (c) Defeated Sasha Banks and Bayley (Still Champion)
Grudge Match
Chris Jericho Defeated Sami Zayn
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Roman Reigns Defeated Rusev (c) (w/Lana) (New Champion)
Note: Lana tried to drag the referee out of the ring during a Roman pinfall attempt, and was sent to the back.
BEST OF SEVEN SERIES - MATCH SEVEN
Cesaro and Sheamus fought to a No Contest
Note: Sheamus and Cesaro went through the fan Barricade and the Referee refused to let them continue.
RAW UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Kevin Owens (c) (w/Chris Jericho) Defeated Seth Rollins (Still Champion)
Note: Jericho got involved. The Referee was knocked out. When the second referee was called in and as he tended to the 1st ref, Rollins being distracted by him ultimately cost him the match as Owens hot him with the pop up powerbomb for the win.
AIW: THE WHOLE SHEBANG - 23/09/2016
Weird World Defeated Space Justice
Six Pack Challenge
Dominic Garrini Defeated Britt Baker, Daniel C. Rockingham, Brian Carson, Garrison King and Frankie Flynn
Tracy Williams Defeated Shigehiro Irie
Eric Ryan Defeated Shawn Schultz, Sonjay Dutt and El Gringo Loco
Flash Defeated Swoggle (Dick Justice restarted the match, And made himself the special guest referee.)
Swoggle Defeated Tracy Williams
To Infinity and Beyond Defeated The Jollyville F**k-Its
AIW INTENSE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Alex Daniels (c) (w/Gregory Iron and Ray Lyn) Defeated Joey Janela (Still Champion)
AIW ABSOLUTE CHAMPIONSHIP
Josh Prohibition (c) Defeated Louis Lyndon (Still Champion)
After the match, Josh called out Tim Donst. Donst came out and attacked Lyndon, But Josh chased him off.
Johnny Gargano Versus Candice LeRae Fought to No Contest
(Match Notes: During the match, Gregory Iron interrupted, Then challenged Gargano to one more match with him and Candice vs. Iron and Daniels. Gargano accepts the challenge.)
Alex Daniels and Gregory Iron Defeated Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano
After the match, Johnny gives his farewell address with the AIW lockerroom surrounding the ring.
ROH RELOADED TOUR DULUTH - 24/09/2016
War Machine (Rowe & Hanson) Defeated All Night Express (King & Titus)
“The Last Real Man” Silas Young Defeated Stevie Richards
Caprice Coleman Defeated Delirious
The Addiction & Kamaitachi Defeated The Motor City Machine Guns & Jay White
Punisher Martinez Defeated Will Ferrara
Dalton Castle Defeated Jushin “Thunder” Liger
Ringmaster’s Challenge Match
30 Minute Iron Man Match
Jay Lethal (2) Defeated Colt Cabana (1)
PROGRESS WRESTLING CHAPTER 36: WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER ROOM, AGAIN - 25/09/2016
Atlas Championship Tourney Finals
INAUGURAL ATLAS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rampage Brown Defeated Joe Coffey (New Champion)
Note: Rampage Brown will be forever known as the first ever Atlas Champion.
Six Woman Tag Team Match
Alex Windsor, Dahlia Black & Jinny Couture Defeated Laura Di Matteo, Nixon Newell & Pollyanna
Grudge Match
Pastor William Eaver Defeated Sebastian (Via Knockout)
Note: Sebastian was stretchered out.
PROGRESS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
British Strong Style (Pete Dunne & Trent Seven) Defeated The London Riots (c) (New Champions)
Paul Robinson Defeated Chuck Mambo
Two Out Of Three Falls Match
Zack Sabre Jr Defeated Tommaso Ciampa
(Match Notes: The first and second decision came after a double pinfall.)
IF ORIGIN LOSES, THEY MUST DISBAND
The Origin (Dave Mastiff, El Ligero, Nathan Cruz & Zack Gibson) Defeated Damon Moser, Eddie Dennis, Mark Andrews & Jack Gallagher
Triple Threat Match
PROGRESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mark Haskins Defeated Marty Scurll (c) & Tommy End (New Champion)
Note: Jimmy Havoc made his return during the match and played a role in there being a new Champion.
TWO MAN POWER TRIP OF WRESTLING INTERVIEWS....
CODY RHODES
The jolt he has sent on the Independent scene thus far and checking boxes off of “The List”: “I think it has been really flattering, as far as the "jolt" you speak of so to say and the reactions and attendance at these Independent events. When I made the list it was very measured and well thought of in terms of who I wanted to mix up with but also in terms of who would be possible and it is very enriching to check the boxes as we go. Early on I realised that you can't put this out there unless your intentions are that to finish it and my intentions are to finish the list and that could be difficult in some areas for those exclusively tied to companies but I am kind of hell-bent on making that happen. I'm really glad that it is materialising and coming to fruition in a very big, loud way and that is just pretty damn cool.”
Has the response to “The List’ exceeded his expectations: “It's exceeded expectations. What I've noticed at some of the independent brands that I've found myself competing at and with people on the list is there have been a lot of eyes, especially in this day of social media where everything you do can be out there if you want it to be, there have been a lot of eyes on each match. More than just the intimate crowd that are there that evening, a lot of nay-sayers as well as the folks that are supporting this and are kind of rallying behind this either or tend to want to know what happened each night of the independent run and I'm sure at VIP Wrestling in my match with Chris Hero, my match with Brian Fury and at WrestlePro with Pat Buck and back to Evolve with Johnny Wrestling, Drew Galloway and all of those matches are getting a spotlight and if that is because of me I am pretty happy about that and I like the pressure that also comes with that because you have to deliver. That is the best thing ever, pleasing a fan and shutting up a critic. That is the best thing in the world is to do that and the only way to do that is to deliver.”
Anticipating his debut in Ring of Honor at Final Battle: “On my radar no doubt for Final Battle is the biggest thing for me. It is my WrestleMania this year. They are both exceptional events and with Final Battle being Ring of Honor's biggest and it’s my first opportunity to go the Hammerstein Ballroom. My time in ROH is not going to be limited to one show as far as not just doing Final Battle, taking my money and leaving. I rode the roads with Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Kevin (Owens), guys that were "ROH guys" and to be able to share the link now to say I'm going to be in ROH and I'll know all about the Code of Honor and be in a company with I'd consider to be some elite guys like Dalton Castle, The Young Bucks, Adam Cole, Warbeard Hanson, Dijak, Christopher Daniels..I am an over-sharer so I could just sit here and say everyone’s name but I am very excited about joining their roster and the matchups that are going to happen. Like we said with the list, Adam Cole is at the very top of it. It is isn't numbered, it isn't prioritised but if I put your name on the top that means you were the first person I thought about so that is the one. That is the one thing I want and in wrestling sometimes you need to know and that is the one I need to know.”
ROH’s link to New Japan Pro Wrestling and the possibility of competing against Shibata: “New Japan Pro Wrestling is the hottest thing in wrestling. WWE is taking things that were popular in New Japan and putting them on their program, smartly because of how much success that New Japan has absolutely had. When you are in the bubble that is when you work for WWE and I guess when you are just focused solely on WWE and what you are doing and who the top person in your company is wrestling against and you can either stay in that bubble or look outside it for inspiration. When NXT really blew up and NXT is essentially a very well done and produced (let me bring every Indy All-Star into this promotion) and let's polish up the diamonds that you already are. That makes you look where did they come from? Did they come from Ring of Honor or did they come from Japan?” “Shibata is legit a natural born killer and probably the riskiest name I put on the list. But he has a magnetism and charisma and it isn't in the talking and it isn't in so much in what he wears. It is just there. It is in the eyes, it is just somebody that I was a fan of and when I decided to leave I had the opportunity to get in there with guys that I am a fan of and he is one of them and as far as New Japan goes he is my favourite and the pre-existing relationship with Ring of Honor/New Japan helps to potentially make that happen.”
Reflecting on his Dad’s advice following his passing and using it now to succeed post WWE: "I didn't use his advice so much in his life. But in his death I use his advice considerably more. It has become one of those "What Would Dusty Do?" situations. I find myself asking that a lot and I think his gut was similar to my gut. Maybe I didn't follow my gut for a while kind of in my latter days at WWE so to be able to follow my gut just that reminds me of him. My Dad was not an over thinker or over-analyser. If you ask any of the guys that were in his communications class at NXT, he wanted to make you feel comfortable and when you are comfortable and you are peaking that audience is also comfortable or you are going to make them uncomfortable as much as you can. I just hope we have a similar gut and I find myself in a lot of those "What Would Dusty Do?" situations and I don't do so much what Cody would do anymore."
MR CURTIS HUGHES
The training and growth of Apollo Crews: “Anyone that teaches or trains anyone and they see them on television it's a rush and also to a blessing because I am a believer in all (my) students that have passed through me and they've been blessed too. Of course a lot of hard work went into that on his (Crews) part. When he first came to me to be a professional wrestler he knew that everybody does research and if you are smart and you really want to make it in this business, you have to do research and try to find the right school and if it is the right place for you to get the things (the tools) you need to go further in the sport that we do and he did that. He came and saw me, he was determined from day one and I already knew he was going to be good because it didn't take him long to learn. I would show him one time and he'd have it. I like training people like that (especially) big people because I can relate to that since I was a big guy. I like training good athletic people and he is one good athlete there is no doubt about it as you can see on television as he is doing his thing.”
The athleticism of Crews: “I was a big man in the wrestling business. I was over 370lbs so on top of all that 370lbs. I was a good athlete, I played football, I ran track and I wrestled in High School so I was a good athlete on top of that with the wrestling part. He was kind of the same. He was a big guy that was a good athlete. Like I stated earlier, I love training big guys because I used to be a big guy and I can show them stuff that is going to make them stand out as a big person. Normally, you see a big guy who is out there pounding, kicking and stomping because that is about all they can do is squeeze and squash you. I was pretty much telling him that I'm going to train you the way I do my thing and you put your own twist to it later. The most important things I was teaching him were impressive to people were the dropkicks and the dropkick is one of my main things, you dropkick a guy in the skull not in the body.”
Training the “old school” style: “I've been in wrestling for thirty years and I am old school all the way and I don't care what they do on television, I am just old school to the dirt and that is the way I teach because old school is where it's at and you cannot bury old school and think wrestling is going to survive. You've got to keep training people the "old school style" of wrestling. With Moose and Nation (Crews) and all my students that are out there and there are thousands of them but when I see my students prospering like Apollo, Moose, Heath Slater,Jonathan Gresham and all these different guys I've trained and it is all because they have been taught right and that is the most important thing about professional wrestling.”
Heath Slater: “Just like any other student, when he came in he was a young, skinny red headed kid that didn't quite know how his future was going to turn out, didn't know if he could cut the mustard as a professional wrestler but I'll tell you this much; the man was hungry and he was willing to work hard to get where he is today. I can remember when Heath came in and started training and (laughs) when I am looking at these people and putting them in the ring, I don't look at everybody as being someone who is going to make it because it's been proven to me time and time again that it doesn't matter what you look like but if you pick up what I teach you and you are pretty good about it than you have an opportunity.” “Heath learned pretty fast and he passed his test on the first tryout he had with us after I trained him and then I started taking him on the road every time I got booked and I would teach him the ropes and teach him how to deal with promoters and teach him how the road life is and since he was one of those guys that was hungry and really wanted to do it, long story short he was signed to the WWE Developmental called Deep South in Atlanta. They picked him up and he's been there ever since he left me.”
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ANALYSIS & EDITORIALS
BRITISH WRESTLING - COMPETING WITH WWE?
Written By Toby Hollinshead (Writer, Co-Owner & Partner In Through The Ropes)
American wrestling is at a crossroads with regards to its future and maintaining its popularity. I’ve spoken at length in one of my previous articles about the benefits of competition and how it drives, stimulates leading companies. Indeed, it is the prime reason why I hope that TNA could potentially grow to a level of parity with the WWE, especially as I feel it has the superior brand both in terms of wrestling ability and in terms of its associated entertainment.
As some may remember, I pen my articles from a business perspective. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, I do not possess the same level of wrestling knowledge or guile as my brilliant colleagues do, despite being a massive fan of the industry. Secondly, I am a businessman and I study business, I think wrestling is one of the biggest “modern” industries in existence. Today, I pose an interesting question… what if British wrestling could be the alternative to the WWE, overcoming the technical difficulties that TNA currently face?
So the first thing to consider is thus, why has TNA not been able to grow to match the “powerhouse” that is the WWE? Effectively, the WWE possesses a concept known in economics as “monopoly power”. This brings about numerous advantages, they have a higher capital base (more money in simple terms), a brand loyal fan-base besotted with the idea of the WWE Universe and first refusal on major TV and commercial partnerships, with TNA having to accept second-place for these arrangements. Additionally, over time we have seen the WWE subsume other wrestling companies such as WCW and ECW, purchasing all of their old footage and airing it on TV as “vintage WWE”. This is completely immoral in my opinion. It may be legal but purchasing the intellectual work of another firm and marketing it as its own work is a pure example of cultural degradation. In any other business industry this type of behaviour would be rebuffed, the WWE gets away with it purely because of the monopoly power that I mention.
This monopoly power creates another business phenomenon, “barriers to entry”. This cultural domination that the WWE exerts, backed with huge resources, a blinded fan-base and lucrative commercial deals means that it can stamp out the competition. It does this by poaching wrestlers and storylines from competitors (the AJ Styles-Dixie Carter storyline being effectively regurgitated within a month by the WWE); securing media deals forcing poor time slots and lower viewership’s upon TNA (look at the first Monday night wars between the two); and buying firms out (WCW, ECW etc). There is a perception amongst American media outlets that TNA is a poor product and brand, this is a fallacy in my opinion. I believe that the WWE have executed what sociologist Anthony Giddens refers to as the “second face” of power, they have used their monopoly power to build a perception of shabbiness around TNA which is completely untrue. All of this combined hinders the potential growth of TNA.
A British wrestling firm would not have these hurdles to overcome. The one commercial realm that TNA has continually bettered the WWE is internationally. The European market is not so brand-loyal to the WWE, not as blinkered. A fledgling British wrestling firm could build its own brand and develop a loyal fan-base that, given time, could match WWE (the European population is much larger than that of the USA). We have different media outlets over here, giving a British firm a key advantage in channel distribution, which is a marketing term for providing customers access to the brand. I would also add that Britain has a historical supremacy in developing sports and entertainment. English football, cricket and rugby have become global sensations. American football, baseball and basketball by contrast are rarely played outside of America. Plus, one of the consequences of the recent Brexit vote is a rise in patriotism and nationalism, whatever your political persuasion it is undeniably an opportunity for a British firm to try and conquer the British market vis a vis wrestling. The stream of European wrestlers travelling to the USA for wrestling is highly prolific- Wade Barrett, Magnus, William Regal, Rockstar Spud, Rob Terry to name but a few. Seeing as Vince McMahon only hires a select few of European wrestlers to appeal to different ethnicities and heritages living within the USA it would be fair to assume that there is wealth of European talent untapped, ideal for a European firm looking to compete, especially as many European wrestlers may not wish to move to the US. Finally, veteran European wrestlers within the WWE may swap being mid-card wasted talent in the WWE to be a pioneer of new, fresh, visionary British firm.
So, having established there is definitely a market for a British alternative to the WWE and having established a British firm faces less stringent conditions as a competitor than TNA currently does, we just need to consider how a British firm could develop. Firstly, there has to be changes from the 1970’s era that included Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy and Catweazel. By all means, keep the venues, keep the character and rivalry development, these are all strong points of the existing system. However, to win the TV contracts and breech the foreign markets, taking the share off of WWE and to an extent TNA, there needs to be a development of the entertainment side, from choreographing to brand imagery, from developing more storylines to increasing the range of wrestlers. It is only by doing this could a credible and fresh firm challenge the WWE domination. Also, why not be visionary, why not only have four PPV’s a year (less is more). The new firm could even follow a Tennis style system, having grand slams across the globes and a ranking system. Britain is renowned for developing global sport, apply this to Wrestling and the WWE’s global dominance could be cracked.
To reiterate the first point that I made, I don’t hold the wrestling expertise of my colleagues. A discussion for how to build a wrestling company and make it attractive is more suited to a Jack Williams article, as he possesses that expertise. What I do know however is that no monopoly is bulletproof, any monopoly can be cracked if the people see how complacent and exploitative they become and the WWE scenario is no different. Conquer the international markets and the rest will fall!
Follow Toby on Twitter: @God_Sat_1996
Follow us on Twitter: @ThroughTheRopes / Find Us on Facebook: @OfficialThroughTheRopes
Through The Ropes Grand Slam Newsletter / Issue #9 Monday 26th September 2016
Written By the Through The Ropes Team / Next Issue: Monday 3rd October 2016
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