Category: Other Wrestling

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February 14, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Bam Bam Bigelow bio, EliteXC

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Scotty Bigelow, as his friends called him, had absolutely nothing going for him when he stumbled into pro wrestling except great athletic ability. And soon after the ride of some 15 years of stardom had expired, he ended up being the latest high-profile statistic.

“I destroyed my youth, my health and my marriage, lost my fortune,” he said in a Tampa Tribune article a few months before his death, as he was trying to give advice to wrestlers at an area independent show. “I’m trying to teach these guys about the mistakes I made. There are ways to do things without getting hurt. I don’t want them to feel like I do at 45.”

Scott Bigelow’s physical pain and financial condition, which friends said paled to the emotional pain of losing contact with the children he adored, ended when he was found dead by his girlfriend at her home in Hudson, FL, on 1/19.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Royce Issacs set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Charlie Dempsey now has an opponent for Bloodsport.

Josh Barnett announced on X that Dempsey will face Royce Issacs next weekend in Brooklyn. He wrote:

Two mat grapplers set to lock up and go hold for hold, submission to submission, catch to catch.

Dempsey proved he belonged in Bloodsport in his last outing, capturing victory in a hard fought match with Matt Makowski.

Isaacs has been a staple of Bloodsport and was trading hold for hold with submission wizard Minoru Suzuki last time.

Both are on the rise and both want a souvenir to hang on the wall – a limb taken from a defeated opponent.

Dempsey is one of four WWE stars that will compete on the card, with Shayna Baszler and The Creed Brothers have all having been previously announced. Issacs has previously worked in New Japan Strong as part of the West Coast Wrecking Crew with Jorel Nelson. Both were previously members of Team Filthy with Tom Lawlor, who is also on the Bloodsport card.

Here’s the current card:

  • Mike Santana vs. Homicide
  • Julius Creed vs. Matt Makowski
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • Mike Bailey vs. Akira
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Jody Threat
  • Timothy Thatcher vs. Josh Woods
  • Brutus Creed vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Charlie Dempsey vs. Royce Issacs

Jinder Mahal makes surprise GCW debut

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal made his surprise GCW debut at Friday night’s So High event.

Mahal attacked Effy following an Effy & Cole Radrick vs. The Rejects match at So High, entering the ring wearing a mask. Mahal hit his Khallas finisher on Effy, then unmasked. Commentary referred to Mahal as “The Maharaja” Raj Dhesi, the moniker the former Mahal will be wrestling under in the next phase of his career.

Mahal was released by WWE in April of this year, ending his second stint with the company after nearly eight years. Mahal was also with WWE from 2010 to 2014 both in the FCW developmental system and on the main roster.

The 90-day non compete clause enacted after Mahal’s April release recently expired, and the former WWE Champion has announced both a series of independent dates, plus a date with AAA at Triplemania XXXII where he will team with Satnam Singh in a match for AAA’s tag titles.

Video from Mahal/Dhesi’s GCW debut is embedded below.

GCW announces changes to So High card due to travel issues

Posted on by Bryan Rose

GCW has made changes to So High.

The promotion announced on X that due to travel issues Danhausen, Masha Slamovich, Joey Janela, and Dark Sheik were unable to appear at Friday’s event in Sauget, Illinois. In a later post, GCW announced the lineup for Friday’s show that takes place at Pop’s Nightclub.

Travel became an issue for many people on Friday as a mass IT outage caused by cybersecurity company CloudStrike disrupted air travel. Earlier in the day, GCW owner Brett Lauderdale announced that as a result of the outage, GCW was experiencing travel issues and changes had to be made.

“Bad travel day for gcw,” he wrote. “Many flight delays and cancellations and system outages making it impossible to rebook people in time. Will announce changes to tonites card shortly.”

Max Caster, who originally was set to appear at a Defy event on Friday, sent a video on social media announcing he would have to pull out due to travel issues.

Brutus Creed vs. Tom Lawlor set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Brutus Creed has his Bloodsport opponent.

Josh Barnett confirmed on Friday that the WWE star will take on none other than our own Tom Lawlor on July 28 in Brooklyn. In his post announcing the match, Barnett pushed Lawlor’s UFC background against Creed’s collegiate wrestling.

Brutus Creed is like a juggernaut that as he gathers speed becomes even more impossible to stop. A fierce collegiate wrestler who likes to hit people with the earth instead of his fists.

Tom Lawlor is a UFC veteran, an MMA fighter with 20 fights to his record, was the longest reigning NJPW Strong Champion. and a collegiate wrestler himself.

On paper, Creed should be over his head, but come July 28th, theory will meet reality and only one can have his hand raised.

The Creed Brothers had previously been announced for the event. Julius Creed’s opponent will be Matt Matrowski, who fought in Bellator before becoming a pro wrestler.

Other WWE stars scheduled for the show are Shayna Baszler, who will take on Miyu Yamashita, and Charlie Dempsey, who doesn’t have an opponent announced.

Here’s the current card:

  • Mike Santana vs. Homicide
  • Julius Creed vs. Matt Makowski
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • Mike Bailey vs. Akira
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Jody Threat
  • Timothy Thatcher vs. Josh Woods
  • Brutus Creed vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Charlie Dempsey vs. TBA

Matt Hardy working multi-show deal with GCW

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Matt Hardy will be working multiple dates for Game Changer Wrestling.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Hardy will make his GCW debut at the promotion’s Now and Forever show on Friday, August 2. Hardy addressed the news on Friday’s episode of his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, noting that GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale originally reached out to him this April. He wasn’t able to appear at that event because it conflicted with his surprise return to TNA at Rebellion. They remained in contact and have agreed for Hardy to work multiple GCW events.

“This is more than just one appearance for me in GCW. So we’re going to do a multi-show deal, and it’s going to be exciting,” Hardy said. “I think it’s really exciting that they announced it — that Matt Hardy’s going to be there — and I think once you find out who I’m wrestling, people are going to go even more nuts. And then it’s going to lead to some other stuff. And I think it’s going to be really cool. I’m very much looking forward to it. And, surprisingly, I was pretty pumped about how positive the feedback was. Seems like it’s going to be a win-win so far.”

Now and Forever is taking place in Cleveland during WWE SummerSlam weekend.

Hardy remains a free agent following the expiration of his AEW contract this April. The Hardy family has been featured in TNA with Matt set to face Johnny “Dango” Curtis (the former Fandango) in a singles match at Slammiversary this Saturday.

Two new matches added to Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pair of new matches have been booked for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI.

In his Bloodsport debut, AEW/ROH wrestler Josh Woods will be in action against Bloodsport veteran Timothy Thatcher. Masha Slamovich vs. Jody Threat has also been announced for the event. It’s taking place on Sunday, July 28 and will be broadcast live on TrillerTV+.

Woods has an amateur wrestling and MMA background. He had a stint in NXT earlier in his career and is a former Pure Champion in ROH. He’s part of the Premier Athletes in AEW/ROH with Tony Nese and Ari Daivari.

Thatcher is coming off a loss to Minoru Suzuki at Bloodsport Bushido in Japan last month.

Both Slamovich and Threat are TNA wrestlers. At Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X earlier this year, Slamovich lost to WWE wrestler Shayna Baszler. Threat is making her Bloodsport debut at this event.

Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York is the venue for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI. Here’s what’s been announced for the show so far:

  • Homicide vs. Mike Santana
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • Mike Bailey vs. AKIRA
  • Josh Woods vs. Timothy Thatcher
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Jody Threat
  • The Creed Brothers in action
  • Charlie Dempsey in action

Matt Hardy making GCW debut at Now and Forever

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Matt Hardy will wrestle his first match under the GCW banner on the night before WWE SummerSlam.

GCW has announced Hardy for the Now and Forever event set for Friday, August 2 in Cleveland. The promotion revealed the news in a social media post promoting the card.

Hardy’s opponent for Now and Forever has yet to be announced.

Zilla Fatu vs. Josh Bishop, plus appearances from Mance Warner, Joey Janela, Maki Itoh, Nick Gage, Matt Cardona, Gringo Loco, and Bussy are also set for the August 2 show.

Hardy left AEW and hit free agency following his contract expiration in April of this year. He showed up in TNA at Rebellion on April 20 and was immediately inserted into the top mix, challenging Moose for the TNA World title at Against All Odds on June 14.

Since challenging for the TNA title, Matt and Jeff have reunited as a tag team in TNA, including challenging for the company’s Tag Team titles on Impact set to air this Thursday.

Hardy has also revived his popular Broken Universe as part of TNA programming, including facing The System at The Hardy Family Compound on Impact last month.

Charlie Dempsey announced for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Charlie Dempsey is returning to Bloodsport.

On Monday, Josh Barnett announced on X that the No Quarter Catch Crew leader would be making his return on July 28 in Brooklyn.

“A wrestler seemingly born and bred for Bloodsport. And with his pedigree, it seems only natural,” he wrote. “Looking to build off of his debut victory, Charlie Dempsey is lacing up the boots once again and walking into the ring of the hardest hitting event in Professional Wrestling – Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport XI.”

Dempsey made his debut for Bloodsport during WrestleMania 40 weekend, when he defeated Matt Makowski.

Along with Dempsey, it has already been announced that The Creed Brothers and Shayna Baszler will also be competing at Bloodsport XI. It was recently confirmed that Baszler will take on Miyu Yamashita.

WWE has been loaning out their wrestlers to other companies recently, a change in direction for the company. AJ Styles wrestled in NOAH over the weekend defeating Naomichi Marufuji, while IYO SKY wrestled for Marigold, defeating Utami Hayashishita.

Subscriber exclusive: Dave Meltzer’s thoughts on a new story regarding the sale of WCW

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Dave Meltzer has a new article for subscribers sharing his thoughts on a recent Post Wrestling interview with Lenita Erickson, who was part of a group attempting to buy WCW in 2001 before it ultimately went to Vince McMahon.

Subscribers can read the story here.

July 17, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Kenta Kobashi, UFC 61 recap

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Kenta Kobashi underwent a five-and-a-half hour operation on 7/6 in a Tokyo hospital that wasn’t released publicly to remove the cancer in his right kidney. While we don’t have this confirmed, it is believed they had to remove the kidney.

The good news was there was no sign of the cancer having spread. He is currently still in a hospital in Tokyo, the name of which has been kept secret. Very little in the way of details were publicly released the next day by Pro Wrestling NOAH to reporters at the house show in Takasago. The company has not publicly addressed the issue of if or when he will come back, other than rumors have surfaced that at some point he will wrestle again.

Haruka Eigen, who works in the company’s office after retiring in March, went to visit him in the hospital on 7/10 and reported he was doing well and he can walk. With all of the wrestlers on tour, the belief is many will visit him in the hospital on 7/15 or 7/16, when the tour hits Tokyo for the Budokan Hall show.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

Stephanie Vaquer departs CMLL, reportedly set to join WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

Stephanie Vaquer has left CMLL and NJPW.

The promotion announced today that Vaquer has left both promotions effective immediately, citing personal reasons. She will not be participating in her scheduled match at Fantasticamania in San Jose on Saturday.

A translation of the company’s announcement is below:

“CMLL-NJPW SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT We want to inform you that Stephanie Vaquer has abruptly informed us that she will not participate, for personal reasons, in her next fight at FantasticaMania USA. As of today, she also no longer belongs to the CMLL and NJPW.”

“SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CMLL AND NJPW
Thank you for supporting Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Citing personal reasons, Stephanie Vaquer has elected to depart from the CMLL and NJPW rosters effective immediately.
As a result, Vaquer will not compete in her scheduled match against Lluvia at Fantasticamania July 13 in San Jose. Furthermore, CMLL hereby announces Vaquer is stripped of both the CMLL World Women’s and World Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Both CMLL and NJPW would like to apologize to our fans worldwide for the abrupt announcement.
This Saturday at FantasticaMania USA, a new CMLL World Women’s Champion will be crowned in a three way match: CMLL World Women’s Championship: Lluvia (CMLL) vs Viva Van (NJPW) vs Willow Nightingale (AEW)
We remain committed to ensuring the highest quality wrestling for our fans at FantasticaMania USA this Saturday and at all future events.”

Mexican publication Record is reporting that Vaquer is headed to WWE.

“The Chilean wrestler, Stephanie Vaquer, will be a new WWE superstar, thus managing to take a big leap in her career,” a translation of the outlet’s post reads.

Vaquer would later post a statement to X. A translation of her comments reads:

“At this moment I stop belonging to the ranks of CMLL and NJPW Clarify, I AM LEAVING THROUGH THE BIG DOOR, forever grateful to the WORLD WRESTLING COUNCIL AND NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING, and in the best terms.
From today I vacate the CMLL World Women’s Championship as well as the CMLL World Women’s Couples Championship.
For which I offer an apology to the fans. For obvious reasons, I will not be present at the next shows and I hope you can understand that the terms between companies are what lead to this statement.
With Mexico in my heart and with the commitment to represent Mexican wrestling wherever I go
Infinite thanks to SR Salvador Lutteroth for his good wishes and also to all the unconditional support of my people and my colleagues
THANK YOU”

WWE has two house shows scheduled for Mexico this weekend. They are in Mexico City on Saturday and Monterrey on Sunday.

An article published by Record on Sunday stated that Vaquer had received offers from both WWE and AEW on the heels of her well-reviewed match against Mercedes Mone at Forbidden Door.

A translation from the article reads:

“The Chilean gladiator left good impressions after her participation last week in the Forbidden Door event of the All Elite Wrestling company, in which although she lost the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship when she fell to Mercedes Moné, she earned the admiration and respect of the public who chanted her name.”

Speculation regarding Vaquer leaving CMLL continued after her match against Tessa Blanchard on Tuesday. Vaquer embraced Blanchard after the match and appeared to possibly be saying goodbye to the fans.

Our own Dave Meltzer reviewed Vaquer vs. Mone in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, awarding the match four stars.

“Vaquer looked really good, actually crisper in her work than Mone. I think the idea was to put Vaquer over strong in the early part of the match so fans saw her as someone special and a real challenge for Mone, and when Mone beat her in the end it was not just an easy and expected win, but a win that would mean something. But the reaction coming out of it seemed more for Vaquer as a potential U.S. market star,” Meltzer wrote.

Shelton Benjamin gives free agency update: AEW, TNA, MLW, WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Shelton Benjamin gave an update on his free agency.

The 49-year-old Benjamin still feels he has a lot to offer as a wrestler following his release from WWE in September 2023. Benjamin said he had a brief conversation with AEW during free agency. That conversation hasn’t resulted in anything yet, but he’s still open to it. Benjamin noted that he hasn’t spoken with TNA Wrestling but knows MLW has reached out to him.

“I’ve got tons left in the tank, it’s just a matter of whether or not anyone wants to use it. Like I said, I’m always going to be synonymous with WWE. But I’m open to be anywhere,” Benjamin said.

“I had a brief conversation with AEW. That hasn’t really bore any fruit yet, but I’m still open. TNA, I haven’t spoken with yet. I’m more than willing to work with them. I haven’t talked to them. I know MLW has reached out. So, you know, I’ve been presented with options. I just haven’t found something that I’m satisfied with.”

Benjamin’s release from WWE happened during a round of roster cuts the company made after officially being acquired by Endeavor last year. Benjamin told Van Vliet that he would go back to WWE if they made the right offer for him to return.

Van Vliet asked Benjamin if there was ever any talk about making Benjamin a producer or working behind the scenes when he was with WWE.

“There was talk of me possibly becoming a trainer at some point. I don’t think that door has closed, I just haven’t pursued it yet,” Benjamin responded.

Benjamin said he loves training people and teaching, but he still has some more things he wants to accomplish as a wrestler.

“I love training people. I love teaching. And that comes from my amateur wrestling background, but at this point, I still think a little selfishly,” Benjamin said. “I feel like I have a few more things that I’d like to do, that I’d like to accomplish. So while yes, I definitely am interested. I have to put aside my own ambitions to really be able to do that job correctly. And right now, at least today, I’m not ready to not think a little selfishly.”

December 21, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Eddie Guerrero’s official cause of death

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Note: This issue is incomplete.

The death of Eduardo (Eddy) Guerrero was officially labeled as a heart attack due to heart disease caused by a lengthy history of anabolic steroid usage and recent usage of narcotics medication according to the death certificate released by the Hennepin County (Minneapolis) Medical Examiners Office.

The official cause of death was due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, which is a hardening and narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood and oxygen. That, combined with Guerrero’s both enlarged and damaged heart, and his suffering from organomegaly (several enlarged internal organs, likely due to usage of Growth Hormone), created an imbalance. The heart and larger organs needed more blood and oxygen than normal to remain functioning, while the narrowing arteries provided less blood and oxygen to the heart and those organs.

The linking of steroids and painkillers directly with Guerrero’s death did not receive hardly any media attention, largely due to nature of the current media. The original AP story didn’t list the cause of death to anything other than heart disease, and listed it as from natural causes (which is used to mean no foul play was involved). A later update did note what was listed as significant contributing causes, but almost no outlets picked up on the second story.

Subscribers can read this issue here.