Author: Josh Nason

Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.

Dominic Garrini ‘Prize Fight Challenge’ added to MLW Fightland

Posted on by Josh Nason

MLW announced the addition of Dominic Garrini to next Saturday’s MLW Fightland show with an open “Prize Fight Challenge.”

In storyline, the BJJ standout is part of Team Filthy, Tom Lawlor’s faction. Lawlor explained the challenge as a five minute exhibition where if the challenger can survive, they win a large cash prize.

The Canton, Ohio, native signed a multi-year non-exclusive deal with MLW last September and is coming off a recent win over Zenshi at MLW Zero Hour.

The February 1st Fightland show will be a TV taping for MLW Fusion from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

The announced card is as follows:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross
  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. T-Hawk
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Erick Stevens
  • Low Ki vs. King Mo (w/ Dan Lambert)
  • Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc (w/ Priscilla Kelly)
  • Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) vs. CONTRA Unit (Josef Samael & Simon Gotch) in a lumberjack match
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed vs. Arez
  • Injustice (Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) vs. Gringo Loco & Puma King
  • Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James
  • Dominic Garrini Prize Fight Challenge

MLW adds Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James to Fightland

Posted on by Josh Nason

Two potential challengers to MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed will square off at MLW Fightland.

The promotion announced Friday that Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James has been added to next Saturday’s February 1st card in Philadelphia, PA, a TV taping for MLW Fusion.

James, a legit MMA fighter and BJJ ace, signed with MLW last fall and made his company debut in September while the 26-year-old Mexico native Dragon is looking for his first win in MLW since debuting in 2019. James is also looking for his first singles win in MLW.

Here’s the updated card for the tapings:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross
  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. T-Hawk
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Erick Stevens
  • Low Ki vs. King Mo (w/ Dan Lambert)
  • Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc (w/ Priscilla Kelly)
  • Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) vs. CONTRA Unit (Josef Samael & Simon Gotch) in a lumberjack match
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed vs. Arez
  • Injustice (Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) vs. Gringo Loco & Puma King
  • Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James

JNPO: 2019 MMA year in review, pt. 4

Posted on by Josh Nason

In the finale of the 2019 MMA year in review series, Josh Nason and guest Paul Fontaine run through the final three months of 2019. 

A taste of what we cover:

  • Israel Adesanya’s UFC middleweight title unification win and whether it was the start of something big for the company
  • An eventful UFC Boston show that featured a new light heavyweight title contender, a great co-main event, and InhalerGate
  • A fantastic UFC return to Madison Square Garden headlined by a BMF title fight…that ended in a doctor’s stoppage
  • The bizarre Nick Diaz/Ariel Helwani interview
  • The official announcement for the return of Conor McGregor
  • Colby Covington finally got a UFC title shot and came away with a hashtag instead
  • Max Holloway’s long UFC featherweight title reign ended
  • Rory MacDonald loses his Bellator welterweight title and then surprisingly signs with the PFL
  • Some surprising UFC releases…and more.

Click the big red button below to listen.

Right click save

Report: NXT changing naming convention of women’s title

Posted on by Josh Nason

PW Insider’s Mike Johnson reported Wednesday that WWE has decided to rename the WWE NXT Women’s Championship which will be known as the NXT Championship going forward, removing any gender specificity.

There was no reason given for the change and why it’s being made now. This also adds speculation as to whether the WWE versions of the Raw and SmackDown women’s titles and women’s tag team titles will also undergo the same change.

Johnson referenced Becky Lynch’s appearance on this week’s Backstage where the Raw women’s champion gave her viewpoint as to why WWE should drop referring to the women’s division as such:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVZ7VCldgXA

The NXT Women’s Championship was created in 2013 when Paige defeated Emma in the finals of a tournament to decide the first champion. Rhea Ripley became NXT’s tenth and current champion when she defeated Shayna Baszler in mid-December.

Lynch is the current Raw champion while Bayley holds the SmackDown version. The women’s tag team titles, created in 2018, are currently held by Asuka and Kairi Sane.

Chris Jericho vs. Jon Moxley set for AEW Revolution

Posted on by Josh Nason

Even with one eye, Jon Moxley was still able to pull out a win over PAC on Dynamite Wednesday night, earning a title shot against AEW World Champion Chris Jericho at the Revolution pay-per-view.

The competitive match was the main event on the taped edition of the show from Jericho’s Rock’n’Wrestling Rager At Sea cruise. Jericho himself sat in on commentary during the match.

Moxley hit two Paradigm Shifts on PAC to win it, but there was no confrontation between Moxley and Jericho after the match.

Moxley and Jericho’s Inner Circle have been in a storyline since after the Full Gear pay-per-view. Jericho was trying to recruit Moxley into the group, but Moxley refused after tricking the group into thinking he was joining. On last week’s Dynamite, Jericho gouged Moxley’s eye with a spike from his jacket.

Revolution is scheduled for Saturday, February 29th from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

A donation request for our lead editor in a time of need

Posted on by Josh Nason

At the Wrestling Observer website, we’re a family. Yes, a dysfunctional one most days, but we try to take care of our own as much as possible, especially in times of need.

Our lead website editor Joseph Currier lost his mother Wednesday after a long health battle and he has been responsible for covering a lot of the bills for the family during that time.

He would never ask for assistance, but through a GoFundMe campaign, we want to help ease the burden by helping cover any funeral expenses or other expenses the family has incurred or will continue to incur.

Even a few dollars would go a long way. Joe has been the best hire I have made in my decade here at the website and deserves our help.

From our entire team, thank you for your consideration and awareness.

Click here to donate.

MLW signs lumberjack tag match for Fightland event

Posted on by Josh Nason

On Wednesday, Major League Wrestling announced they will host their first-ever lumberjack match as part of their upcoming Fightland Fusion TV taping in Philadelphia, PA.

In the match on February 1st at the 2300 Arena, Los Parks (L.A. Park and El Hijo del L.A. Park) will face two members of CONTRA Unit in Josef Samael and Simon Gotch.

CONTRA Unit and Los Parks have been feuding for months with Samael getting involved in L.A. Park’s world title opportunity against Jacob Fatu at November’s Saturday Night Superfight.

MLW has been rounding out the Fightland card in recent weeks as the show approaches:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross
  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. T-Hawk
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Erick Stevens
  • Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc (w/ Priscilla Kelly)
  • Injustice (Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) vs. Puma King & Gringo Loco
  • Los Parks vs. CONTRA Unit

MLW has yet to announce matches for tag team champions Ross and Marshall Von Erich, middleweight champion Myron Reed, Mance Warner, The Dynasty, Dominic Garrini, El Lindaman, Douglas James, and more. 

AEW announces their first-ever mixed tag match for Jericho Cruise

Posted on by Josh Nason

This year’s Chris Jericho cruise will see history made for AEW as they will hold their first-ever intergender tag team match.

Made in a BTE-style video posted on AEW’s Twitter account earlier this morning, Kenny Omega and AEW women’s champion Riho will face Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford. 

In the clip seen below, Sabian and Ford come into Omega’s locker room where he’s hanging out with the Young Bucks. After putting down Riho, he pitches the match with an angle that the cruise is in international waters but it’s still for AEW. The Bucks give their vote and the match was made:

https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1219915850376982530

However, two things are unclear as of this writing. One is when the match is going to happen and the other is whether fans not on the cruise are going to be able to watch the match on AEW Dark, YouTube, or even a Dynamite segment.

Cody: Next year’s AEW Dynamite will be live on the Jericho Cruise

Posted on by Josh Nason

The second Chris Jericho cruise isn’t done yet and there’s already big news about the third iteration.

After Tuesday’s taping of AEW Dynamite, Cody Rhodes told the crowd that the show will air live next year on February 3, 2021 as part of Triple Whammy, the third Jericho cruise that sails from February 1-5.

This year’s show had to be taped and as reported on Tuesday’s Wrestling Observer Live, there are two tapes of the program being flown on separate charter flights to Atlanta, GA, to ensure it makes air for TNT tonight. 

You can get the spoilers for Dynamite now, but here’s the card for the show:

– AEW tag team champions SCU vs. Kenny Omega/Hangman Page

– Priscilla Kelly vs. Britt Baker

– Jurassic Express vs. The Inner Circle six-man tag

– MJF vs. Joey Janela

– Jon Moxley vs. PAC with the AEW world title no. 1 contendership on the line

Low Ki vs. King Mo booked for MLW Fightland

Posted on by Josh Nason

In what is being billed as a match to determine the “true knockout king”, retired MMA fighter turned pro wrestler “King” Mo Lawal will face former MLW champion Low Ki at Fightland in Philadelphia, PA. 

The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 1st and will be a TV taping for their Fusion TV show.

American Top Team founder and famed wrestling belt collector Dan Lambert will corner Lawal for the match. Lambert was heavily involved in the Impact Wrestling vs. ATT angle that lasted from late 2017 through early 2018 which saw him defeat James Storm in a career vs. career match.

Lawal retired from MMA in November after being knocked out in a bout for Bellator MMA. The 38-year-old walked out to the cage with an MLW t-shirt and shorts on and the following morning, they announced he had signed a deal with the organization to wrestle that night.

That match joins a card that includes:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross
  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. T-Hawk
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Erick Stevens
  • Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc (w/ Priscilla Kelly)
  • Injustice (Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) vs. Puma King & Gringo Loco

Kay Lee Ray vs. Mia Yim announced for WWE Worlds Collide pre-show

Posted on by Josh Nason

The NXT UK Women’s Champion will be in action this Saturday at WWE’s Worlds Collide.

WWE announced Tuesday that champion Kay Lee Ray will face Mia Yim on the Worlds Collide pre-show, scheduled for 6:30 PM Eastern Saturday night, available on the Network, WWE.com, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. 

While not specifically referenced, it’s assumed the match is not for Ray’s championship.

The Worlds Collide event will take place at the Honda Center in Houston, Texas, in lieu of an NXT TakeOver, featuring talent from NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live going head to head.

The current card on WWE Network is as follows:

  • NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Toni Storm title match
  • NXT Cruiserweight Champion Angel Garza vs. Isaiah Scott vs. Jordan Devlin vs. Travis Banks in a fatal four-way title match
  • Finn Balor vs. Ilja Dragunov
  • Imperum vs. Undisputed Era eight-man tag match
  • Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa vs. Tyler Bate/Trent Seven

WWE Raw video highlights: Rollins and Murphy win Tag Team gold

Posted on by Josh Nason

Photo: WWE

A week after adding a new member to their stable, “The Monday Night Messiah” is a tag team champion for the sixth time.

Seth Rollins and new team member Buddy Murphy got a shot at the Raw tag team titles and took full advantage, defeating The Viking Raiders to end their run with the Raw tag team titles. Rollins took advantage of a distracted referee to deliver a curb stomp to Erik, clearing the way for Murphy to get the pin and victory for his team.

In the night’s main event, Rusev and Liv Tyler teamed up to defeat Bobby Lashley and Lana. Also on the show, WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar returned and embarrassed Ricochet, plus we got a few new Rumble participants with the event happening this Sunday.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Seth Rollins welcomes his newest disciple

Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio U.S. title ladder match

Aleister Black beats a local competitor

Brock Lesnar lays out Ricochet

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

Becky Lynch vs. Kairi Sane

Street Profits Monday After The Weekend Update

Erick Rowan crushes Matt Hardy

Rollins & Murphy win Raw tag team titles

Lana demands praise

Liv & Rusev battle Lana & Lashley

Why is Sylvain Grenier back in WWE?

Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy win WWE Raw Tag Team titles

Posted on by Josh Nason

Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy defeated the Viking Raiders to win the WWE Raw tag team titles on Monday’s edition of Raw from Wichita, Kansas,

The duo had held the titles since October 14, 2019.

The end came when Murphy hit a flying knee to Erik who fell into the ropes. As the referee pulled Murphy away, Rollins hit Erik with a curb stomp, giving Murphy the pin and win. Ivar was taken out of action prior to that when Rollins pushed him off the top rope onto the outside. The match went just over eleven minutes.

The title match was set up following the show’s opening segment when the Raiders joined Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens in running off Rollins, Murphy, and the AOP.

While this marks Murphy’s first WWE Raw or SmackDown tag team title reign, this is Rollins’ sixth as a Raw tag team champion as he’s held the titles with Roman Reigns, Jason Jordan, Braun Strowman, and Dean Ambrose twice.

Report: Kane to be at WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Josh Nason

PW Insider’s Mike Johnson reported Monday that former WWE Champion Kane is scheduled to appear at Sunday’s Royal Rumble at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX.

He made an appearance on last Friday’s SmackDown, cutting a promo about how the Rumble is his favorite pay-per-view and referencing all the eliminations he has had in the past. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt then got into it with him before Daniel Bryan attacked Wyatt and ran him off. 

Johnson did not specify whether Kane is scheduled to be in the Rumble match or a possible involvement in the Wyatt-Bryan strap match. Kane hasn’t been in a Rumble match since 2016 when he entered seventh and was eliminated by Braun Strowman.

As of this writing, 19 of the 30 participants have been announced with several more expected on this week’s WWE TV shows.

The 52-year-old (real name Glenn Jacobs) is the current mayor of Knox County, TN, and has only done sporadic appearances for WWE in recent years. 

NXT UK signs Aoife Valkyrie, loses Jazzy Gabert to free agency

Posted on by Josh Nason

WWE’s NXT UK had a pair of transactions over the weekend, signing one new talent and apparently losing another to free agency.

Following her debut at this past weekend’s set of tapings, Ireland’s Fight Factory Pro Wrestling tweeted a congratulations to Aoife Valkyrie on signing with WWE.

The 23-year-old Dublin, Ireland, native, wrestled against Amale on both nights, the second possibly being a redo from the first night as the finish was the same.

Valkyrie’s addition comes with the departure of Jazzy Gabert, who announced on Twitter that she is now a free agent. A 2017 Mae Young Classic participant, the 37-year-old signed with WWE but had her contract rescinded due to herniated discs that were discovered in her neck. She was shown in the crowd on the January 2019 NXT UK TakeOver: UK event and has been mainly an enforcer for Jinny.

Gabert was supposed to wrestle Killer Kelly at the tapings, but tweeted she was in a car accident and wasn’t medically cleared to wrestle.