Category: Other Wrestling

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The Wrestling Observer Complete Collection: 1991 Part 2 available now

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The Wrestling Observer Complete Collection: 1991 Part Two (July-December) is a collection of every Observer issue over that six-month period. 

The book is 357 pages and is priced at $24.99 at Amazon in the U.S. and $34.99 through Amazon in Canada.

Among the stories covered during the period are Ric Flair’s arrival in the WWF as “the real world champion,” WWF’s attempt to do two PPV shows in a week with the Hulk Hogan vs. Undertaker feud, Ultimate Warrior suspended and later fired after SummerSlam, the repercussions of Hulk Hogan lying about his steroid use on Arsenio Hall and all the issues with steroids and WWF coming out of the trial of steroid doctor George Zahorian, full coverage of all the PPVs and big shows around the world, the end of Portland Wrestling, and WCW suspends Paul Heyman.

This is our 16th book out and of Observer collection books we now have January to June 1989, January to June 1991, January to June 1993, July to December 1989, July to December 2000, The complete 2000 collection, July to December 1993, as well as Yearbooks covering 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2014 as well as multiple Tribute books of biographies of many of the greatest name in history.

All 16 books are available for purchase on Amazon here. 

Readers in Canada can purchase all 16 books on Amazon.ca here. 

Sukeban announces next event for Los Angeles

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After debuting last year with shows in New York City and Miami, Sukeban is set to hold its first event of 2024.

The United States-based joshi promotion will stage an event at The Trinity in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 30. There will be five matches at Sukeban Los Angeles, along with a Japanese-style street fair with L.A. vendors. Tickets are on sale now.

Here’s the card for the show:

  • Sukeban World Champion Commander Nakajima defends against Crush Yuu
  • Rina Yamashita vs. Lady Antoinette vs. Atomic Banshee
  • Saki Bimi & Babyface vs. Konami & Queen of Hearts
  • Sareee Bomb (former NXT wrestler Sarray) vs. Maya Mamushi
  • Supersonic & Stray Cat vs. Midnight Player & Otaku-chan

Sukeban’s first two events took place in September and December of last year. They streamed live on TikTok.

Here’s how the promotion describes itself:

Sukeban blends fashion, anime, and music, and breaks down the walls between the worlds of art and wrestling. Named for the girl gangs which emerged in the 1960s and 70s and helped bring feminism to the cultural forefront in Japan, Sukeban’s roster features some of the most talented wrestlers in the world.

Update on CMLL talent in danger of losing US work visas

Posted on by Ian Carey

Several luchadors from CMLL could receive US work visas in the coming weeks.  

In February, it was reported that several CMLL stars were not going to be able to work in the United States following a breakdown in communication between CMLL and a Texas-based independent promotion, Full Blown Pro Wrestling, who had been sponsoring their visa applications. 

Our own Dave Meltzer provided an update on the situation in yesterday’s Daily Update.

“We are told the situation with several CMLL wrestlers and their visas is sorting itself out, and for some, it could be as early as this coming week to be sorted out,” Meltzer wrote. “The key names this impacts are Soberano Jr., Templario, Blue Panther (who Bryan Danielson wanted to wrestle), Dulce Gardenia, Sagrado, Capitan Suicida, Espiritu Negro, Euforia, Fugaz, Robin, Sangre Imperial, and Los Gemelo Diablos.”

Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez addressed the situation on the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, noting that CMLL stars who had appeared on AEW programming, such as Mistico, Hechicero, Volador Jr, and Mascara Dorada, already have their visas.

“Everyone who has appeared in AEW has nothing to do with this, they already have their visas. What happened was an independent promotion got visas for a lot of the CMLL guys long before AEW was using them,” Meltzer said on the show.

“Rush is back as you saw on Saturday night. He had been having a visa issue as well. Dralistico I’m presuming should be back, although he hasn’t been back yet,” he continued. 

December 27, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Year in review, The Spoiler

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The different lists above tell the story of the business, at least in highlight form, of 2006, around the world. If there is a basic theme, as far as the major promotions go, it’s that the biggest rise was UFC, that CMLL was also way up. WWE remained strong internationally, but their PPV shows fell domestically.

For live attendance, Mexico ended up as the strongest country in the world. Not only did CMLL have perhaps its best year in history, but AAA remained strong (although it was actually slightly stronger in 2005) with shows geared toward kids and girls especially. AAA suffered the major setback of the death of Antonio Pena, and many thought the promotion would be done by Christmas, with massive defections and a creative standstill. Nothing of the sort happened, but it’s also far too early to gauge the effects of the loss of Pena. 

The largest WWE crowds of the year were also on shows in Mexico City. The largest TNA crowd in the history of the company was this past year in Monterrey, Mexico.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

Grizzled Young Veterans launching new wrestling promotion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Free agent tag team The Grizzled Young Veterans are launching a new independent wrestling promotion.

This June, Burning Heart Pro Wrestling will debut with a show taking place from the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, England. The promotion will be led by a committee of “top international wrestlers.”

Zack Gibson & James Drake of The Grizzled Young Veterans posted a video on Wednesday announcing the news. The promotion’s first show is set for Friday, June 21. Tickets go on sale this Monday (April 29).

“It is our privilege to announce the arrival of Burning Heart Pro Wrestling,” Drake sais. “A new international wrestling promotion run by a committee of top, top international wrestlers.”

“The first show in Burning Heart Pro Wrestling will take place in my hometown on the 21st of June at the Liverpool Olympia,” Gibson added. “A venue rich in history that has seen its fair share of blood, sweat, and tears in a city with unrivaled heart. What better place for a company called Burning Heart to show the world exactly what they are about: pro wrestling from the heart.”

Gibson & Drake departed NXT last October when their WWE contracts expired. They had asked to be released from their contracts in April 2023 but had the request denied.

Since leaving WWE, The Grizzled Young Veterans have competed on the indies and for TNA Wrestling while still being free agents.

‘Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland’ reality series to premiere this May

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A premiere date has been set for The CW’s reality series on NWA owner and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

It was announced via Deadline today that “Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland“ will premiere on Tuesday, May 14. The series is airing on The CW app and The CW’s website, not The CW television channel.

There will be eight episodes in the series, which covers Corgan’s life in pro wrestling, music, and documents his September 2023 wedding to wife Chloe Mendel.

Directed by Volk-Weis and Ian Roumain, the series pulls back the curtain on how the legendary frontman of alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins takes on the world. When he isn’t churning out albums and touring the world with his band, Corgan works as a wrestling promoter through his storied National Wrestling Alliance, which he intends to restore to its former glory. As if being a rock star navigating the demanding politics of running both a band (Pumpkinworld) and a group of eccentric wrestlers (Carnyland) isn’t tricky enough, he’s also a father of two — and he’s planning a wedding to his longtime partner, Chloe Mendel. Can he possibly keep all these balls in the air? Tune in to find out.

Corgan has owned the NWA since 2017. In addition to Corgan’s reality show, the NWA has a deal to air programming on The CW app. A skit involving Father James Mitchell from last October’s NWA Samhain event reportedly contributed to the NWA airing on The CW app instead of The CW broadcast channel.

“Rebuilding the historic NWA brand has been both an honor and challenge, and this show opens the doors wide so to speak. To reveal the glory and the grit needed to thrive in a winner-take-all sport,” Corgan told Deadline. “It’s not always pretty, but I’m proud of what we have accomplished thus far.”

MLW announces match for vacant Tag Team titles

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After vacating the belts, MLW has revealed how its new tag team champions will be crowned.

Satoshi Kojima & Okumura vs. Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice & 1 Called Manders) for the MLW Tag Team titles will take place at the promotion’s Azteca Lucha event in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, May 11. The show is being held at Cicero Stadium and will air live on TrillerTV+.

The MLW Tag Team titles were declared vacant this week following an angle where champions Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr. were attacked by Contra Unit. MLW said that the attack “left Tom Lawlor hospitalized and Davey Boy Smith Jr. unable to compete, resulting in the championship committee declaring the titles vacant.”

A Lawlor & Smith vs. Kojima & Okumura match was being set up prior to Lawlor & Smith vacating the tag titles.

Kojima & Okumura is a pairing of NJPW and CMLL veterans. In MLW, Kojima is the promotion’s current World Heavyweight Champion.

Second Gear Crew are former MLW tag champs, holding the titles from November 2023 until February of this year.

Here’s the updated Azteca Lucha card:

  • MLW Middleweight Champion Mistico defends against Barbaro Cavernario
  • Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero
  • Satoshi Kojima & Okumura vs. Second Gear Crew for the vacant MLW Tag Team titles
  • Star Jr. & Fuego vs. Magnus vs. Averno

Goldberg not interested in signing with AEW, says ‘product is too cheesy’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Goldberg isn’t interested in signing with AEW. 

During an appearance on 93.7 The Ticket over the weekend, Goldberg said he’s had discussions with the company but said the product is “too cheesy.”

Goldberg said:

I have talked to them a number of times throughout the past but this is where you’re going to get the most blunt answer you’re going to get from me: The product is too cheesy. It doesn’t deserve to have…I mean, whatever. 

If there was a comparable, viable option as a competitor that would allow me to still look myself in the mirror after I was a member of their roster, yeah, then it would be a consideration but not a chance.

Goldberg made headlines last month as well when he was critical of WWE having Asuka break his undefeated streak, referring to her as “some Japanese girl.” 

“Asuka [mispronounced] was her name, some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak. And it just so happened that that culminated when I got there, right?” Goldberg said to Tim Green – Nothing Left Unsaid.

Goldberg was also critical of Vince McMahon and WWE during an interview with the Steve & Captain Evil podcast in December. He believes the company went back on its promise to give him a retirement match after he agreed to wrestle Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber 2022. 

December 25, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE Armageddon, UFC Ultimate Fight Night

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The WWE finished up its 2006 season when it comes to major shows with an explosion, which was the sound of a ladder crashing into the face of Joey Mercury in a last minute addition that saved an otherwise nothing show.

The 12/17 show at the Richmond, VA, Coliseum, which drew 8,200 fans, which was 7,100 paying $423,500, peaked early and high.

The show was stolen by a four-team ladder match with tag champs Brian Kendrick & Paul London keeping the title against William Regal & David Taylor, as well as late additions MNM and The Hardys. The addition of MNM and the Hardys, and the ladder stipulation, was done late. It may have helped buys for a lackluster show had it been advertised, but the decision to go with it came late. It also saw another reversal when it comes to the decision regarding whether the Hardys and MNM were going to be kept together or not, at least temporarily. 

Subscribers can read this issue here.

‘The Iron Claw’ to begin streaming on Max next month

Posted on by Joseph Currier

“The Iron Claw,” A24’s critically acclaimed biopic on the Von Erich family, is coming to streaming next month.

The movie will be available to stream on Max starting on Friday, May 10. This comes five months after “The Iron Claw” was released in theaters in December 2023.

Starring Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, “The Iron Claw” tells the story of the Von Erich family tragedy and how Kevin survived after the deaths of his brothers. Jeremy Allen White (Kerry Von Erich), Harris Dickinson (David Von Erich), Holt McCallany (Fritz Von Erich), Maura Tierney (Doris Von Erich), Stanley Simons (Mike Von Erich), and Lily James (Kevin’s wife Pam) also had featured roles in the film. 

Sean Durkin was the director of “The Iron Claw.” AEW star MJF played a small role in the film and has an executive producer credit.

A24 Films and HBO announced a multi-year deal last December to make Max the streaming home of A24’s movies.

The Iron Claw has an 89 percent positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It was not nominated for any Academy Awards.

Matt Cardona undergoes surgery for torn pec

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Indie star Matt Cardona is on the mend after undergoing surgery to repair his torn pec.

“Surgery done. The road to recovery starts now,” Cardona tweeted on Thursday. “Thanks to all who reached out. Thanks to @ImChelseaGreen for being by my side. Thanks to @DarylOsbahrMD for fixing me. You can’t kill me…I’m already dead.”

Cardona’s injury happened during a match for Reality of Wrestling last Saturday. Though it will likely keep him out of action for months, Cardona plans on staying busy. He’s still taking bookings for autograph signings and appearances.

“There is no good time to get injured…but this certainly isn’t a good time,” he wrote. “I have to keep moving forward…there’s no other option. I can’t wrestle but I’m still available for autograph signings and appearances. [email protected]. I’m #AlwayzReady for a comeback!”

Before his injury, Cardona was scheduled to face PCO at TNA Wrestling’s television taping in Las Vegas this Sunday. Cardona has also had to pull out of a booking for wXw in Germany that was scheduled for June 1.

Cardona recently made a surprise one-night appearance for AEW, unsuccessfully challenging Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship on the March 30 episode of Collision. The match was part of Copeland’s Cope Open challenge series.

Free agent Matt Hardy has been speaking with both AEW and WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Matt Hardy is enjoying his time as a free agent.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Hardy had entered into free agency following the expiration of his AEW contract. Hardy, who was offered a new AEW deal, said he was still interacting with the promotion and had not ruled out returning.

Hardy spoke about the free agency process on the latest episode of his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast (Patreon early release), noting that he’s having a great time and isn’t in a rush to sign anywhere:

Incredibly enjoying it. I’m having a great time. It’s like, this might spoil me a little bit. You know, like, I’m in no huge rush to sign anything to be an official employee. I’m digging what I’m doing. I had a couple signings these last couple weeks. WrestleCon was off the chart with me and Jeff, and I think most people know that. It was insane. This last week, I had Astronomicon which was in Detroit. I did Saturday and Sunday there. It was crazy as well. Thank you to everyone who came out in Astronomicon. It was insane on Saturday, and both days were really, really good. It was great hooking up meeting so many people that are big Hardy supporters.

Yeah, man — I’m enjoying this. And just being home, not having the stress of going to the airport, catching that early flight, whatever, it’s been really nice. I think you’ll see in my Matt Fact, I’m in no rush to leave the Hardy Compound.

Asked about teases he’s been doing on social media hinting at a WWE return, Hardy said that, as a free agent, he’s trying to create hype around himself. Hardy noted that he’s been speaking with both AEW and WWE:

I mean, full disclosure, I am doing what I should be doing as a free agent — creating hype around myself. Yes, I have been speaking with AEW constantly. I have been speaking with WWE. I’ve been speaking with several people across several different platforms. So I think the next couple of weeks are going to be fun. The next few weeks are going to be fun. As I said before, I think we’re getting to the point where we’re going to be doing some pretty cool stuff coming up.

So yeah, I am doing what I should be doing. And my job as a brand, which I have to look at myself as a brand, a lot of my social media stuff is ‘Matt Hardy Brand.’ My job as a brand is to promote myself and to create buzz around myself, and I feel like I do a pretty decent job with it whenever I am just able to kind of freelance and do whatever.

Though he’s liked the freedom he’s experienced as a free agent, Hardy said that hasn’t dissuaded him from signing a contract. He does plan on choosing a team and signing somewhere.

Hardy debuted for AEW in 2020. His brother Jeff Hardy didn’t join the company until 2022.

Jon Moxley vs. Josh Barnett headlines Bloodsport Bushido lineup

Posted on by Ian Carey

The lineup for Bloodsport Bushido has been announced. 

The event is scheduled for June 22 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Similar to Bloodsport events held in the United States, Bloodsport Bushido will have shoot-style rules, with no ring ropes and matches only ending via knockout or submission.

Josh Barnett vs. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley has been announced for the show. Barnett defeated Moxley via referee’s decision at Bloodsport 6 in 2021. 

Other matches announced today include Minoru Suzuki vs. Timothy Thatcher, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Hideki “Shrek” Sekine, and Pancrase co-founder Masakatsu Funaki vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. 

Santino Marella has also been booked for the show. He’ll face “The Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba. This will be Marella’s first show in Japan since doing a couple of dates with DDT in 2019. 

Konami, who just recently announced she’s returning to Stardom full-time, will wrestle GLEAT’s Maya Fukuda on the show as well. 

Olympic wrestler Davit Modzmanashvili had previously been advertised for the event. However, it was revealed in today’s announcement that he is no longer participating in the show.  

Bloodsport Bushido lineup for June 22, 2024 —

  • Jon Moxley vs. Josh Barnett
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Timothy Thatcher
  • Quinton Jackson vs. Hideki Sekine
  • Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Santino Marella
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Masakatsu Funaki
  • Eric Hammer vs. Mike O’Hearn
  • Konami vs. Maya Fukuda
  • Tournament Finals
  • Tournament first round: Mitsuru Sato vs. Hideki Suzuki
  • Tournament first round: Takuya Nomura vs. Todd Duffee
  • Yu Iizuka vs. Fuminori Abe

Matt Cardona suffers torn pec, will undergo surgery

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Indie star Matt Cardona is facing some time out of action due to injury.

wXw in Germany announced overnight that Cardona has informed them that, due to a torn pectoral muscle, he won’t be able to appear at their Drive of Champions show on June 1. In their announcement, wXw wished Cardona well in his recovery.

Fightful reports that Cardona has informed several promoters about the torn pec. He will be undergoing surgery for the injury.

Cardona recently competed at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 8 for Game Changer Wrestling over WrestleMania week in Philadelphia.

He made a surprise one-night appearance on the March 30 episode of AEW Collision, losing to Adam Copeland in a Cope Open challenge for the TNT Championship. Cardona said getting to face Copeland was his dream match.

Earlier this week, the former Zack Ryder posted a tweet reflecting on the four-year anniversary of his release from WWE. Cardona said these past four years have been the most successful of his career:

4 years ago…April 15, 2020…I was released by WWE.

It was a blessing in disguise. I’m forever grateful for my time in WWE, but Zack Ryder needed to die for Matt Cardona to live!

No matter how you define success…accolades, money, happiness…these past 4 years have been the most successful of my career.

Thank you to all of my fans…old and new. It’s time to start another year of proving us right!

Where should I show up next?

The free agent Cardona recently made his return to TNA Wrestling.

Outside the ring, Cardona hosts the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast with Brian Myers.