Category: Other Wrestling

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Minoru Suzuki diagnosed with concussion after match stopped due to in-ring accident

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Japanese wrestling legend Minoru Suzuki has been diagnosed with a concussion after his match on Saturday was stopped due to an in-ring accident.

Suzuki wrestled for Tenryu Project at their Osaka Crush Night show on July 6. In a statement issued by the promotion, it was announced that the match was stopped at the referee’s discretion after an accident occurred with Suzuki. He was taken to the hospital, where he was examined and diagnosed with a concussion. Suzuki was allowed to leave the hospital and Tenryu Project said they will monitor his condition over the next few days.

The statement said Suzuki is able to walk and talk properly. He has not shown any significant symptoms and did not suffer any bleeding in the head or other areas.

In a social media post, the 56-year-old Suzuki assured fans that there’s no need to worry. He remembers everything about the match including when he “fell at the end.” Suzuki said a CT scan was done and there were no particular problems found.

The match was Suzuki, Kengo & YASSHI defending their Tenryu Project WAR Six-Man Tag Team titles against Tomohiro Ishii, Yuji Hino & Don Fujii. It was a two-out-of-three falls match that ended in a 1-1 draw when it was stopped. As a result, the champions retained their titles. Tenryu Project said they will do their best to arrange a rematch.

Referee Keigo Yoshino tweeted that Suzuki didn’t respond to calls before the start of the third fall and appeared to have lost consciousness. He regained consciousness and wanted to continue, but the decision was made to stop the match. Suzuki was able to joke around backstage after but was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

Tenryu Project apologized for the match having to be called off but said they hope fans understand that protecting the wrestlers is the most important thing. The promotion thanked everyone who acted quickly to deal with the situation.

WWE’s The Creed Brothers announced for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Creed Brothers are heading to Bloodsport.

Josh Barnett announced Monday on social media that Brutus and Julius Creed are heading to the next Bloodsport event, which will take place on July 28 in Brooklyn, New York. Opponents have not been named.

“From the amateur wrestling mats, to the ring of @WWENXT, this pair of brutes are now storming their way to Bloodsport mat,” Barnett wrote on X. “Brutus and Julius Creed are coming to Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport XI.”

It was announced last week that Shayna Baszler will be making her return to Bloodsport after debuting during WrestleMania weekend. On that show, she was accompanied by Zoey Stark to the ring where she defeated Masha Slamovich. NXT star Charlie Dempsey also made his debut for Bloodsport during WrestleMania weekend, defeating Matt Makowski.

A match between Mike Santana and Homicide has been announced for July 28. Other wrestlers scheduled to appear are Mike Bailey, Slamovich, Makowski, and Akira.

Marigold reveals full lineup for Summer Destiny

Posted on by Ian Carey

Marigold has announced the full lineup for Summer Destiny.

Giulia vs. Sareee is expected to headline the July 13 show at Sumo Hall. However, Giulia has still not received medical clearance following a broken wrist she suffered on the promotion’s debut show on May 20. She had surgery on the injury the following week.

Marigold wrote on social media today that Giulia’s participation at Summer Destiny is pending her receiving medical clearance later this week or early next week.

“Giulia’s participation is pending medical clearance later this week or early next week. If she is cleared, Rossy Ogawa will decide if this match is for the Marigold World Championship,” Marigold wrote.

WWE’s IYO Sky will also participate at Summer Destiny. She is scheduled to wrestle Utami Hayashishita on the show. The full lineup, announed on Monday, is below.

Marigold Summer Destiny lineup for July 13, 2024 —

  • Giulia vs. Sareee
  • Utami Hayashishita vs. IYO Sky
  • Bozilla vs. the winner of Mirai vs. Miku Aono
  • Mirai vs. Miku Aono
  • Nanae Takahashi, Mai Sakurai & Nao Ishikawa vs Shinobi Kandori, Takako Inoue & NORI
  • Marigold Superfly Championship Finals: Natsumi Showzuki vs Misa Matsui
  • CHIAKI & Nozaki Nagisa vs Myla Grace & Zayda Steele
  • Kouki Amarei & Chika Goto vs Victoria Yuzuki & TBA

Additionally, a dance performance by the original Actress Girls cast and Princess Tenko is advertised for the event.

August 22, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Hall of Fame issue preview, TNA Sacrifice recap

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

With our next issue, which will be coming out in just a few days, being our 10th annual Hall of Fame issue, this is a preview looking at the new candidates on the ballot. At the time this story was originally written (actually for last week’s issue, but due to space limitations, it ended up being cut) all ballots had come in but I avoided looking at any of them until it came time to tabulate, which was a few days ago.

The rules are that the balloting is broken down into three regions, U.S./Canada, Japan and Mexico. A candidate that gets 60% of the votes from his region is elected in. There are people who follow wrestling or have wrestled in more than one region so there are some ballots exclusively from one region, some from two and some from three. By rule, all balloting is kept confidential, although some have posted their picks on web sites and others have done so on the radio.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

2 Cold Scorpio to miss Japan tour after stabbing arrest

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After his involvement in a stabbing, 2 Cold Scorpio is no longer scheduled to wrestle in Japan this August.

DDT Pro Wrestling announced that Scorpio is postponing his visit to Japan, where he was supposed to compete at DDT & Game Changer Wrestling’s event on August 12 and for GCW on August 13-14. The postponement is due to Scorpio’s trouble that occurred in America. DDT apologized to anyone who was looking forward to his match.

As was first reported by TMZ Sports this week, Scorpio (Charles Scaggs) was arrested on June 15 for stabbing a man during an incident that happened while Scorpio was working as a security guard at a gas station. Scorpio claims the stabbing was self-defense after the man threatened him and tried to grapple with him, while the man says Scorpio was the aggressor. The man was taken to the hospital and suffered cuts to his head, chest, buttocks, legs, and abdomen. TMZ Sports reports that the man “required dozens of staples and stitches throughout his body.”

The 58-year-old Scorpio is facing one charge of first-degree assault and one charge of armed criminal action. Both are felony charges. Scorpio bonded out of jail after the arrest and has a hearing set for July.

Scorpio previously competed in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH, AJPW, and NJPW. He’s best known for his runs in ECW, WWF, and WCW.

Jinder Mahal & Satnam Singh challenging for AAA tag titles at Triplemania event

Posted on by Ian Carey

AAA has announced the card for Triplemania XXXII Mexico City.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Mexico City Arena in Azcapotzalco. A press conference was held on Monday to announce the lineup.

Raj Dhesi, formerly known as WWE’s Jinder Mahal, has been announced for the show. He will team with Satnam Singh and challenge for the AAA Tag Team Championships in a triple threat match against Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno del Mal and title-holders Psycho Clown & Negro Casas. They will be managed by Jeff Jarrett.

AAA also confirmed that Mega Champion Nic Nemeth will defend his title against Alberto El Patron on the show. Nemeth defeated El Patron for the vacant title at Triplemania Monterrey in April.

Vampiro will also wrestle an as-of-yet-unnamed opponent in a casket match at Triplemania Mexico City. It was said that this will be a cinematic match and Vampiro’s final match in Mexico City.

Matt Riddle will also be back for the promotion. He’ll face Laredo Kid in a singles match.

LuchaBlog has been posting live updates from the press conference on X.

Seven matches have been announced for the show.

AAA Triplemania Mexico City announced lineup for August 17 —

  • Domo de la Muerte (domed cage): Dark Ozz vs. Dark Cuervo vs. Cibernetico vs. Psicosis vs. Abismo Negro Jr. vs. El Fiscal vs. more named to be announced
  • AAA Mega Champion Nic Nemeth defends against Alberto El Patron
  • Vampiro vs. TBA in a cinematic casket match (billed as Vampiro’s last match in Mexico City)
  • AAA Tag Team Champions Psycho Clown & Negro Casas defends against Dr. Wanger Jr. & Galeno del Mal and Raj Dhesi & Satnam Singh
  • Matt Riddle vs. Laredo Kid
  • AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Lady Flammer defends against the winner of a multi-person match at Verano de Escandalo
  • The Copa Bardahl battle royal: Participants to be announced at a later date

Former WWE & UFC star Ronda Rousey releasing first graphic novel

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former WWE & UFC star Ronda Rousey has taken on a new project in her writing career.

On July 25, a Kickstarter campaign will launch for “Expecting the Unexpected,” Rousey’s debut graphic novel. It’s written by Rousey, illustrated by comic artist Mike Deodato Jr., and is being released by AWA Studios.

The graphic novel is 160 pages long and “follows Mom, a deadly hitwoman with a bounty on her head who must fight off wave after wave of assassins, all while learning she’s newly pregnant.” The main characters in the story are based on Rousey and her husband Travis Browne.

Here is the synopsis for the story:

“With a fake baby bump filled with guns, she’s built a reputation as one of the deadliest hitwomen on the planet. But on the verge of her big break in the criminal underworld, Mom makes a fateful decision: sleeping with a potential target (who just so happens to be a top-ranked assassin himself). A few weeks later, Mom finds that her codename is about to become a whole lot more literal. What follows is a wild mashup of action, adventure, comedy, and romance as a newly pregnant Mom with a bounty on her head fights off wave after wave of assassins, falls in love with her baby daddy, and decides how to face her personal and professional predicament.“

Rousey initially thought of the story idea years ago as a potential screenplay. As a “closet nerd” of graphic novels, Rousey tells the Los Angeles Times she decided this was a better direction for the project after realizing she was too unproven to star in a film version of it.

The LA Times asked Rousey if she’d still be willing to do a screenplay based on the graphic novel.

“Twist my arm and I’ll do it,” Rousey laughed. “But I’m also so happy with where I’m at. I don’t see this as a stepping stone, I see this as a new path that I never dreamed would be available to me, and I’m enjoying the scenery more than I ever thought was possible.”

The graphic novel follows Rousey’s two memoirs, “My Fight/Your Fight” and “Our Fight,” in her writing career. She’s also penning the screenplay for a Netflix movie based on her life using her two memoirs as the source material.

It’s been nearly a year since Rousey last competed in a WWE ring. She departed the company after facing Shayna Baszler at SummerSlam in August 2023. Last fall, Rousey teamed with her friend Marina Shafir in two indie matches and in one match for ROH.

Rousey has said she wouldn’t go back to WWE unless things “drastically change” with how the company is run.

2 Cold Scorpio arrested after stabbing, claims self defense

Posted on by Ian Carey

Charles Scaggs, better known to wrestling fans as 2 Cold Scorpio, has been arrested.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, he has been charged with first-degree assault and one count of armed criminal action. He is currently out on bond and due back in court next month.

The charges stem from an incident that took place in the early hours of June 15 at a Love’s Travel Stop location in Kansas City. Scorpio was working as a security guard in the store at the time the incident took place and said the victim lit up a cigarette inside. The victim claims he put the cigarette out before entering the store but it may not have been fully extinguished.

Scorpio is said to have confronted the man and an argument ensued. The confrontation continued outside the store when Scorpio alleges the man tried to grapple with him.

Scorpio told police that he pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed the man in self-defense several times. Police say when they arrived, the man was lying on the ground bleeding from several areas including his abdomen, buttocks, legs, chest, and head. Police were able to speak with him later that day at a local hospital, where he claimed Scorpio was the aggressor, but details regarding his current condition have not been disclosed.

Subscriber exclusive: Dave Meltzer on Jamie Kellner and the end of WCW

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Dave Meltzer has an extensive article for subscribers on Jamie Kellner, who passed away on Friday. Kellner was the head of Turner Broadcasting who made the decision to cancel WCW programing on Turner stations in March of 2001, which allowed Vince McMahon to purchase the company.

Subscribers can read the article here.

February 19, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Hulk Hogan & WWE WrestleMania 23, Gina Carano

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

When Detroit was announced for Wrestlemania 23, as the 20th anniversary of what many feel was the WWF’s crowning achievement, the one sure thing for the show would be Hulk Hogan returning to the scene (well, close to it, since the Pontiac Silverdome is no longer around) of his bodyslam of Andre the Giant in what may be the single most famous pro wrestling match ever in North America.

The first match planned for the show was Hogan vs. Big Show with the idea of redoing the match. However, Show’s body was thrashed in his months as ECW champion, and he decided against signing a new deal. It was still a surprise when the company, instead of making a push to offer Show a one match comeback, changed direction for the Great Khali. Directions then changed again to Shane McMahon. Then, over the past week, things fell apart with Hogan.

Subscribers can click here to read this issue.

Former head of Turner Broadcasting Jamie Kellner passes away at 77

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Jamie Kellner, the television executive who ultimately put an end to WCW, has passed away.

Variety reported that Kellner died Friday at his home in Montecito, California at the age of 77. While his biggest contributions to television include helping launch both the Fox and WB networks, in the pro wrestling world he is best known as the man who canceled WCW programing on Turner networks after becoming head of Turner Broadcasting in 2001.

Shortly after Kellner succeeded Ted Turner as head of broadcasting, he canceled WCW programing on TBS and TNT. This caused Fusinet Media, who was initially set to purchase the struggling company, to pull out of their deal, allowing Vince McMahon and WWE to purchase the company and change the face of pro wrestling.

WCW went on to hold its final episodes of Nitro and Thunder in March of 2001. Although inital plans were to keep WCW as a seperate company, those plans were ultimately changed to WCW (and eventually ECW) becoming part of an invasion angle on WWF television. By November, the storyline had ended, with the WCW/ECW Alliance being written off.

During his run at the helm of both the WB and Fox, Variety’s article credited him for the likes of “The Simpsons,” “Married… With Children,” “Cops,” “In Living Color”, “21 Jump Street”, “Dawson’s Creek,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Gilmore Girls,” “7th Heaven”, and “Felicity”. He retired in the early 2000s.

Kota Ibushi to celebrate 20th anniversary with five-minute exhibition

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though he’s still recovering from injury, Kota Ibushi plans on celebrating the 20th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut.

Ibushi will compete in a five-minute exhibition on July 1, which is 20 years to the day since his first match. The exhibition is taking place in conjunction with Japanese promotion GLEAT’s third anniversary show at Tokyo Dome City Hall.

GLEAT tweeted that, while Ibushi is still injured, he wants to express his gratitude to the fans with this exhibition. Ibushi thanked the president of GLEAT and said he’s going to give it his all, no matter who he faces.

Injuries have plagued Ibushi’s career over the past few years. A shoulder injury kept him out of action from October 2021 to March 2023, and he never looked 100 percent after returning. He underwent surgery this January after hurting both of his ankles.

Ibushi has not wrestled since facing Naomichi Marufuji for Pro Wrestling NOAH in January. He was hurt going into the match and then injured both of his ankles further. Ibushi apologized for his performance and how his injuries ruined the match.

Ibushi signed an AEW contract last year that allows him to be based in Japan and wrestle for other promotions in the country.

In an update posted on social media this week, Ibushi indicated that he’s now feeling 85 percent healthy.

“Of course, if my current doctor in Japan tells me that I can compete, I will report to AEW and return immediately,” he wrote. “I’m now 85% alive. Please wait a little more.”

Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler gives update on knee replacement recovery

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jerry “The King” Lawler continues to progress in his battle with health issues.

In February 2023, Lawler suffered a massive stroke that continues to affect his speech. The 74-year-old wrestling legend also underwent knee replacement surgery earlier this year. While speaking with Going Ringside at River City Wrestling Con in Florida, Lawler gave an update on how he’s feeling now that he’s back on the road doing convention appearances.

“I’m doing a lot of conventions. I’m sort of hobbling around right now,” he said. “I just had a knee replacement on my right knee. But it’s doing good, but it’s a little bit hobbling here and there.”

Living alone has been a challenge for Lawler after surgery, but he says things are getting better.

“Well, I seem to be doing pretty well,” Lawler said. “People just see me like this. But at home, I live by myself, and it’s a little tough there right now. But it’s seemed to get better.”

This May, it was revealed that WWE had chosen not to renew Lawler’s broadcasting contract when it expired at the start of 2024. Lawler confirmed to Going Ringside that he’s still under a Legends deal with WWE.

Lawler said, now that his knee replacement is done, he’s traveling more for appearances and is doing something every weekend.

Jim Ross stated last month that he doesn’t believe he and Lawler have called their last match together. Ross thinks, whether it’s on television or a one-off at an appearance, reuniting their commentary team is a marketable idea.

Goldberg would love to have final match, needs to take care of injury first

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Goldberg still wants to return to the ring for another match — but he has an injury issue he needs to take care of first.

While appearing on Busted Open Radio this week, Goldberg was asked about potentially having one final match. He would love for that to happen, but he has a torn rotator cuff that he’s been dealing with for a while. Goldberg needs to finally get the injury fixed before he wrestles again.

“Oh, man, I’d love to, dude — 100 percent,” Goldberg said. “But I have to get my torn rotator cuff taken care of finally.”

Goldberg said the injury happened when he first returned to WWE against Brock Lesnar in 2016. Because he only wrestled sparingly, he never told anyone about the injury and kept working through it. He’s having stem cell treatment done soon and will then see if surgery is necessary.

“I ain’t doing sh*t until I get that done,” he said. “And that’s hopefully coming up — I’m doing stem cells here soon and then I’m going to see if surgery is needed. But yeah, man, I’d love to have one more match. You know how it is. Vince [McMahon] and I spoke about it. He gave me his word. But all that stuff happened. And, hey, man, I don’t hold grudges. Vince gave me so many opportunities, man, I’ll be forever grateful. But yeah, I would absolutely love to have that final match. I would. Am I good not having it? Yeah, I’m fine with it. But it’d be neat to have one.”

Goldberg has not wrestled since losing to Roman Reigns at WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 in Saudi Arabia. On Busted Open Radio, he said his final match wouldn’t need to take place in WWE. Goldberg said he could do the promotion himself with potential matches in Israel, India, Japan, and the United States. That retirement tour is something he’s talked about before but has not come to fruition yet.

“I’ll be honest with you, I have no idea,” Goldberg said about who he’d like to face in his last match. “I haven’t even thought about it, not for two seconds.” He was hoping over the past couple of years that Sting would be his opponent, but he didn’t want to take away from what Sting had going on with his own retirement.