A new episode of Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast premiered today with Finn Balor joining him as the guest.
On the show, Balor detailed how he came up with the name for NJPW’s Bullet Club faction in 2013. The group originally consisted of Balor (Prince Devitt), Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga, and Bad Luck Fale. Balor was looking for a common theme among the members, and he thought Bullet Club would be fitting. Anderson was already nicknamed “Machine Gun.” Fale had been using a move called the grenade as his finisher. And NJPW official Tiger Hattori had a long-running bit where he was calling Balor a “real shooter” after Balor caught Minoru Suzuki with an armbar during practice.
“You want to know a story? Which I don’t think I’ve told actually. Like, about the Bullet Club and where the name came from,” Balor said. “I was a young boy in New Japan. Before the shows, we would all warm up in the ring and the young boys would be made to do squats and push-ups and stuff. And then we’d get in the ring with the senior wrestlers and we’d be stretched, which would be like shot on basically and beat up.
“Minoru Suzuki was in the ring with me, he was a legitimate grappler. And I caught him with an armbar. He goes, ‘Ah, Devitt, you’re a real shooter.’ And then Tiger Hattori kind of heard that and every day he’d say, ‘Hey, Devitt, you’re the real shooter. You’re the real shooter.’ So this was going on in the locker room for about a year. He’d say, ‘Hey, Devitt, you’re a shooter.’ And he’d just do it like that ‘shooter.’ When the time came about a year later, the office came to me and said, ‘Hey, we want to turn you heel. We want to put you with Fale. We need to get you guys a group.’ So then they decided to put in Karl Anderson and Tama. I was trying to think what ties us all together. And at the time, Fale was using the hand grenade finish — similar to Solo [Sikoa]. And then there’s the Machine Gun. And I was the ‘real shooter.’ So I was like, ‘What links us all together?’ And it was Bullet Club.”
Rhodes — who would later become a member of the faction — credited Balor for changing the entire industry by coming up with this name. Bullet Club helped some of wrestling’s top stars like Balor, Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and AJ Styles reach the levels they’re at today. Balor, Rhodes, and Styles are in WWE now, while The Young Bucks and Omega are in AEW.
*Polls on Worlds End plus Continental Classic MVP and best match polls.
*The story of the WWE/UFC merger and Vince McMahon’s resignation, how real was it, the big unanswered question about the WWE Board of Directors, lots of Discovery information in the shareholders lawsuit against WWE, McMahon, TKO, Nick Khan and others, things behind the scenes about the merger, and the change in plans prior to the 2023 WrestleMania in more detail than ever before.
*Full coverage of AEW Worlds End and business notes on the show
*The retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Tokyo Dome show
*The record setting 2025 at Arena Mexico and biggest attendance week in the 92 years of CMLL, a look at the last week as well as how many Americans are at the shows.
*The few times in history that a company sold out a major arena three times in the same week.
*A look at the Stardom Dream Queendom show
*Pro Wrestling NOAH hosts the first major show of 2026
*Weekly ods
*2026 Observer award ballot
*Most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week.
*Weedings and engagements in pro wrestling this past week
*All Japan has its best match of 2025
*William Regal and others talk about neck injuries in pro wrestling and our thoughts on it as well as the reaction of some
*Who had the most great matches in 2025
*How Eric Bischoff’s new promotion is similar to Sam Muchnick starting out as a promoter
*Company does a Vince McMahon/Janel Grant angle on its TV show
— Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, New Japan, and the rest of the news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight.
— The breakup of NBCU became official today with the launching of Versant on NASDAQ. So the USA Network is no longer part of NBC. Versant will be the company that owns and controls the USA Network, CNBC, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes and more. That’s the end of an era as NBC and USA have been under the same umbrella for 21 years.
— Also ending today is The Bullet Club, which formed in 2013. Yota Tsuji announced the remaining War Dogs members along with him, Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi, are forming a new faction called Unbound Co.
— Raw tonight from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn is the heavily promoted one year anniversary show with the promotional tie-in with Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things. They asked fans to dress up like the characters in the show. CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the world title goes on last. They were at 12,648 tickets out at last check, which means they sold 3,000 tickets since Adam Pearce did the Chris Jericho tease and will likely sell out or come very close. We have no confirmation that Jericho is there, since if he was he’s probably hidden and not flying in commercial, but it would be kept secret and not be on the script for the show. If he’s not, they’ll be unhappy people since WWE clearly teased he would be yesterday and that’s a lot of tickets moving late after an announcement. Nobody has denied it, but then again, the people who would know are likely a small circle. Lots of Netflix people are at the show. Other matches are Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky for the women’s tag team titles, Maxixine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch for the IC title and Liv Morgan vs. Lyra Vakyria.
— Seth Rollins is backstage because he was in New York for a football show, but it would make no sense to put him on television until he’s ready to come back, and that’s months away. This isn’t Will Ospreay in England where AEW could have done it, but chose not to, just for a babyface pop.
— We’re looking for your thoughts from WrestleKingdom at the Tokyo Dome, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
— We’re also looking for live reports from Brooklyn tonight with any matches taped before Raw or anything else not on the live show, results and finishes to [email protected]
— Last night’s WWE results from Bridgeport, CT:
Carmelo Hayes b The Miz to keep the U.S. title in a good match. Gunther b Sami Zayn with a roll-up in a very good match A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee b New Day to keep the tag titles in a so-so match Wyatt Six (Howdy & Lumis & Gacy & Rowan) beat MFTs (Tama & Talla Tonga & JC Mateo & Tonga Loa) in a weak match Iyo Sky b Raquel Rodriguez in a fair match’ Jade Cargill did an open challenge for her WWE title, Cargill beat Bayley in a fair match Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed b Viking Raiders in a so-so match Cody Rhodes b Drew McIntyre with a photo finish landing in a cage match in an excellent match (Thanks to Ron Lemeiux and Justin Moore)
— Because of the holidays, we are still way behind on ratings being released. NXT on 12/30 did 604,000 viewers with a 0.07 in 18-49. It was last place on network TV in both categories.
— CMLL in Puebla tonight was sold out when I woke up with Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis Jr. vs. Yutani & Soberano Jr. & Barbaro Cavernario. CMLL has sold out nine of its last ten shows.
— Yota Tsuji announced the IWGP world heavyweight title is done and they are going back to the IWGP heavyweight title which was the historical name for the title. The Global title which he also has will be defended separately.
— Sanada strongly hinted that he was leaving New Japan. After his match earlier today, he had a guitar that read “Goodbye NJPW” and said in a post-match interview, “I’m leaving this ring for good today. I’m going out on a journey.”
— Aaron Wolf’s first Never title defense looks to be against Ren Narita. I expect all the major matches for February to be announced in the next 48 hours.
— Smackdown outside the U.S from Berlin will air on Netflix at 2 p.m. Eastern time. In the U.S. it’ll be on at the regular 8 p.m. on the USA Network. We’ll see if airing everywhere else six hours earlier will hurt numbers given the boost Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre in the three stage of hell title match in theory would boost it.
— Saya Kamitani is taking a few weeks off. Stardom announced she would return on the 2/7 show at the Edion Arena in Osaka.
— NXT tomorrow has New Year’s Evil, a heavily promoted major show with Oba Femi vs Leon Slater for the NXT men’s title, Jacy Jayne vs. Kendal Grey for the women’s title, Thea Hail vs. Blake Monroe for the North American title and Izzy Dame vs. Tatum Paxley.
— Alamo Drafthouse will be airing a screening of “Night Patrol” on Wednesday ahead of its theatrical release. CM Punk is one of the stars in that movie.
— WWE starts a European tour on 1/8 in Leipzig, Germany with a house show. The house shows will be headlined by CM Punk vs. Bronson Reed for the world title as they stand right now.
— Mistico was booed Saturday night at Arena Coliseo. He was booed all the time in his heyday. He also drew like crazy then and Saturday’s show was sold out farther in advance than any Coliseo show in recent memory.
— It will be interesting to see if Tuesday draws bigger as Three Kings Day would figure to have a bigger Arena Mexico crowd than usual. It’s more loaded than usual with Mistico & Dorada & Esfinge vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr, Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. vs. Euforia & Soberano Jr, (father and son teams), Blue Panther vs. Difunto and Tessa Banchred vs. Zeuxis vs. Jarochita.
–MLW announced its 2/7 show in Chicago at Cicero Stadium is already sold out. Bishop Dyer was announced for the 1/29 Battle Riot match in Kissimmee, FL.
— Marshe Rockett turns 41 today. Willie Mack turns 39. It would have been the 69th birthday of Jeep Swenson, who passed away yung. Alexis Smirnoff passed away seven years ago today at 71. Charlie Cook passed away six years ago at 78.
Notes on new champions, the return of the Good Brothers, and a draw in the co-main event of NJPW Resurgence.
The World Class Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaccs) lost the Strong Tag Team titles to TJP and Templario when TJP countered with an inside cradle on Nelson to score the win. WCWC had won the titles back in December, defeating Grizzled Young Veterans.
Immediately following that was the NJPW return of The Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, as they teamed with The Young Bucks to defeat the Bullet Club War Dogs of Clark Connors, David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, and Gedo. After the match, the original members of the Bullet Club attempted to make peace with the current members by throwing out the wolfpac sign, but the War Dogs performed the gesture, but to themselves as they walked away.
The IWGP World title match in the co-main event between champion Hirooki Goto and challenger Zack Sabre Jr. ended in controversy as both men’s shoulders were pinned to the match, which ended with no winner. After the match, Sabre attacked the referee and got in Goto’s face, slapping him before making his exit.
It’s Saturday and that means Wrestling Observer Live.
The WWE SmackDown hot streak ends at one as after an exciting show with a classic main event last week, Friday’s show was back to the mundane.
In other Friday news, House of Torture was booted from Bullet Club, more on Friday’s WWE releases, TNA TV taping result, and a preview of tonight’s AEW Collision on TBS including another great Harley Cameron promo.
Plus, AEW’s cool factor or lack-there-of, Real American Freestyle Wrestling’s slim chances for success and more. Check it out.
The future of Bullet Club was decided on night one of Wrestling Dontaku, 12 years after the faction was formed at the event in 2013.
The War Dogs defeated House of Torture in a Dogpound Steel Cage Match to close Saturday’s show in Fukuoka. Gabe Kidd secured the win after delivering a piledriver to Ren Narita on top of a barbed-wire-covered table.
Per the stipulation, the losing team was forced to leave Bullet Club, meaning House of Torture has officially been expelled from the faction.
The war is over. The War Dogs stood tall and HOUSE OF TORTURE is officially out of BULLET CLUB!#njDONTAKU report:https://t.co/3YWZ7F1rFs
Unlike the previous Dogpound Cage Match between Bullet Club and United Empire, all 10 wrestlers started the match at once rather than entering at intervals. Several big spots took place during the bout, with multiple wrestlers going through tables. Dick Togo and Gedo also got involved, with Gedo delivering a splash to Togo from the cage onto a table that didn’t break. SANADA and Drilla Moloney clashed during the match, with SANADA using a fork on Moloney before being put through a table.
After the match, EVIL wrapped a chain around the neck of David Finlay, who was handcuffed to the cage, and choked him before leaving the ring area. Backstage, Finlay challenged EVIL to a Dog Collar Match. Moloney also had words for SANADA backstage, while Kidd cut a promo declaring the War Dogs the best version of Bullet Club ever.
In the semi-main event, Takagi put away Umino with a Burning Dragon, a Pumping Bomber, and Last of the Dragon. Umino had appeared to be on the verge of victory before Takagi countered a Second Chapter attempt.
This marks the second singles loss in a row for Umino after he failed to defeat Hirooki Goto for the IWGP World Championship at Windy City Riot last month.
El Phantasmo vs. Konosuke Takeshita went to a time-limit draw
The first of two big matches between NJPW World TV Champion El Phantasmo and NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita took place on Saturday. Only ELP’s TV title was on the line in this bout, which ended in a 15-minute time-limit draw.
The newest member of the Don Callis Family, Rocky Romero, was in Takeshita’s corner and interfered during the match. El Phantasmo was attempting a CR2 just as the time limit expired. The two will now meet again next week at Resurgence, this time with Takeshita’s NEVER Openweight Championship on the line.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
The 14th and final singles match between Zack Sabre Jr. and Hiroshi Tanahashi took place on the show, with ZSJ scoring the win via Zack Driver just over 13 minutes into the bout. With the victory, Sabre evens their all-time head-to-head series at seven wins apiece.
Full coverage of today’s show from Fukuoka is available here.
Just 4 Guys (Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Yuya Uemura) & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji)
Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)
El Phantasmo (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (with Rocky Romero) for the NJPW World Television Championship ended in a time-limit draw
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
Shingo Takagi defeated Shota Umino
BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors, David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Gabe Kidd & Taiji Ishimori) defeated House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) in a Steel Cage Match
Either the War Dogs or House of Torture will leave Bullet Club on the 12th anniversary of the faction’s formation at Wrestling Dontaku 2013.
The two subgroups will meet in a Dogpound steel cage match on night one of Wrestling Dontaku 2025 on May 3. EVIL cut a promo on today’s Hizen no Kuni show in Saga before the two teams met in a 10-man tag, telling the War Dogs that once they lose at Dontaku, they are officially out of Bullet Club.
“If I say you’re out of Bullet Club, you’re out. When you lose in the cage, you can never say the words Bullet Club again,” EVIL said, according to a translation.
After today’s match ended in a rare disqualification, David Finlay cut a promo on behalf of the War Dogs.
“Evil: As I understood you correctly, you want us to up the stakes of the Dogpound Steel Cage match. You want me to put it all on the line. You want to make it ‘Loser leaves Bullet Club.’ Well, as the one true leader of Bullet Club, I accept.”
After a challenge laid down and accepted, it seems as if either War Dogs or HOUSE OF TORTURE will be forever forced out of BULLET CLUB in the Dogpound Steel Cage!#njhizen report:https://t.co/NXyoR6qhPf
El Phantasmo regains NJPW World TV title at Hizen no Kuni
El Phantasmo defeated Great-O-Khan to regain the NJPW World TV Championship on today’s show. O-Khan had beaten ELP for the belt via count-out at Sakura Genesis. He tried to win the same way on Tuesday, but ELP countered a powerbomb onto a stack of chairs and beat the count back in. Shortly after, he picked up a clean victory with two Thunder Kiss ’86 splashes.
After the match, ELP called out Konosuke Takeshita. ELP is set to challenge for Takeshita’s NEVER Openweight Championship at Resurgence on May 9. ELP said he’ll defend his newly won title at Wrestling Dontaku and then he’ll take Takeshita’s title at Resurgence.
“I have one thing that I want to say tonight. Takeshita-Chan, I don’t want to wait until Resurgence. Fukuoka, Dontaku, you are my first challenger, Konosuke Takeshita. And then, at Resurgence, we do it for your title, the NEVER title. And you will never beat me again.”
Takeshita defeated ELP in their only singles match thus far in last year’s G1.
Takeshita and Rocky Romero are currently scheduled to face ELP and a tag partner (Jado, Oleg Boltin) on both nights of Wrestling Dontaku.
YOH and Master Wato win IWGP Junior Tag Team titles at Hizen no Kuni
New IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions were also crowned on Tuesday when YOH and Master Wato defeated TMDK’s Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita, the Ichiban Sweet Boys. The match saw YOH and Wato break out a new double team move, named the Falconblow (a “Chasing the Dragon”-style move into a backbreaker) to win the belts.
It’s the second time Wato has held the IWGP Junior tag belts. His first reign took place in 2022 with Ryusuke Taguchi. YOH has now won the belts six times, his five previous reigns being with SHO.
El Desperado retained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship tonight after a stunning main event with Templario!#njhizen report:https://t.co/xIZMv6rG7t
El Desperado retains IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Templario pushed Desperado to the brink on Tuesday but in the end, the champion retained his title. Desperado picked up the win after delivering two Pinche Locos.
Today’s victory was Desperado’s 11th successful title defense spread out across his five reigns with the belt. He is now one title defense back of Tiger Mask for sixth all time. Jushin Liger holds the record with 30.
Full results from NJPW Hizen no Kuni are available below.
NJPW Hizen no Kuni – April 29 at the Saga Arena in Hizen, Saga, Japan:
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defeated Templario
Master Wato & YOH defeated Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships
El Phantasmo defeated Great-O-Khan to win the NJPW World TV Championship
House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs. War Dogs (Clark Connors, David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Gabe Kidd & Taiji Ishimori) – ended in a disqualification
The lineups for night one and two of Wrestling Dontaku are below:
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 3 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan
Dogpound Steel Cage Match: WAR Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Maloney, Clark Connors & Taiji Ishimori) vs. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, SANADA, Ren Narita, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
Shingo Takagi vs. Shota Umino
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Jado & El Phantasmo vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero
Ryusuke Taguchi, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Jakob Austin Young, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman
TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Yuya Uemura vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji
Master Wato, YOH, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs. Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa
Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Nagai
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 4 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Callum Newman
IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Yuya Uemura
TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
It’s a special double episode of the Big Vinny V Show reviewing not one, but two episodes of TNA Impact.
The main event build for Moose vs. Alex Shelley for No Surrender (including some oxymoronic stipulations) continues with plenty of action from The System, KUSHIDA, and Kevin Knight as well.
But the best thing on the show is the ongoing best-of-three feud between ABC and the Grizzled Young Veterans over the TNA Tag Team Titles.
We’re also building to Mustafa Ali’s TNA debut this Friday against Chris Sabin, Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts title against Gisele Shaw, and a baffling program for the Knockouts tag titles.
Jon Moxley vs. Rey Fenix is set for Wednesday’s Fyter Fest edition of AEW Dynamite.
The Blackpool Combat Club have been feuding with both Best Friends and the Lucha Brothers in recent weeks. As a result, Moxley will wrestle Fenix ahead of their Stadium Stampede match at All In which will see the BCC and three mystery opponents against Fenix, Penta El Zero Miedo, Best Friends, Orange Cassidy & Eddie Kingston.
The Elite (Kenny Omega & the Young Bucks) will also be in action as they will take on Juice Robinson and The Gunns.
On this past week’s Dynamite, Robinson and Jay White jumped Omega as he was giving a sitdown interview with Jim Ross. Later in the show, the Young Bucks were attacked by Robinson and White after they defeated The Gunns, which led to their All In opponents, FTR, making the save.
The ROH Tag Team titles will also be on the line with Aussie Open defending against The Hardys.
After Aussie Open retained the titles on Rampage against Brother Zay and Ethan Page, a video was shown of the Hardys congratulating Aussie Open and challenging them to a title match.
Other matches announced for Fyter Fest include Skye Blue vs. Ruby Soho and Swerve Strickland & AR Fox teaming together to take on Darby Allin & Nick Wayne.
In addition, Renee Paquette will speak to both Adam Cole and MJF. Jack Perry will retire the FTW Championship, and Chris Jericho & Will Ospreay will hold a contract signing ahead of their match at All In.
Here is everything announced for Wednesday’s Dynamite:
Jon Moxley vs. Rey Fenix
The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) vs. Juice Robinson & The Gunns
Skye Blue vs. Ruby Soho
Swerve Strickland & AR Fox vs. Darby Allin & Nick Wayne
ROH World Tag Team titles: Aussie Open vs. The Hardys
It will be Bullet Club vs. The World at Impact Wrestling x NJPW Multiverse United 2.
A 12-man tag match is the latest addition to the Multiverse United card. It will pit the Bullet Club team of David Finlay, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, KENTA, Chris Bey & Ace Austin against Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, El Phantasmo & The DKC.
The co-branded Multiverse United show is being held at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on Sunday, August 20. Impact and NJPW also joined forces for a Multiverse event in Los Angeles this March.
Multiverse United will be available live via Fite TV. Here’s the updated card for the show:
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan
Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste vs. Moose & Eddie Edwards
Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Kevin Knight vs. BUSHI vs. Mao vs. El Desperado in a seven-way scramble
Bullet Club (David Finlay, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, KENTA, Chris Bey & Ace Austin) vs. The World (Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, El Phantasmo & The DKC)
Ahead of his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match with Seth Rollins at Saturday’s SummerSlam, Finn Balor opened up about his initial reluctance to lead a faction after having gained notoriety leading the Bullet Club in NJPW.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso, Balor noted how he had to think hard about jumping into the Judgment Day role before fully committing to it. However, knowing he would be working with Damian Priest helped make his decision easier.
“Having success with Bullet Club, I knew there was going to be comparisons made had I been involved in another group, so I was always reluctant to go that direction,” Balor said. “However, when the chance to work with Damian was presented, I didn’t hesitate for a second. Damian and I have always had a very good relationship since we met at NXT, and I felt that this group could be something completely different.”
Another factor that played into Balor’s decision to take the Judgment Day role was his displeasure with where his career stood in WWE at the time the group formed. Feeling like he was in need of a change, Balor explained that the decision came together in the wake of a perfect storm.
“For me personally, I was at a point in my career where I knew that something had to change,” Balor said. “So the time of this was perfect and very similar to my NJPW turn. Finally, I could channel my real frustrations I was feeling into the character, and I had no doubt that this was the right move.”
Balor also noted how he doesn’t feel like Saturday’s match with Rollins will be the end of his story. Instead, he argued, it will be “the beginning of a new chapter.”
Balor came up short in his most recent attempt to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship as he lost to Rollins at Money In The Bank in July. Balor’s stablemate, Damian Priest, currently holds the Money In The Bank briefcase, which promises him a shot a title of his choosing at any time.
*Lots of new news regarding AEW plans, new television show, how this impacts AEW, who will be the stars of the different shows and more.
*WWE creates a new world championship belt, the story behind it, the draft and changes in draft plans, and what NXT talent is ready now and can be stars later
*Full coverage of Stardom’s All-Star Grand Queendom, one of the biggest women’s events of the past 25 years. We look at business, Mercedes Mone, creation of a new championship, PPV numbers, the count out finish with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
*The lawsuit filed by former WWE writer Britney Abrahams against the company, including stereotyping wrestlers, comments by writers, and much more
*WWE and AEW major shows between now an the end of August, matches, tickets out, interest levels and top feuds
*The next TripleMania show with the El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega rematch
*UFC full coverage from Saturday, results, details, business and future prospects
*The most detailed look at al the television ratings this past week, including what competition means, how things compare to a year ago, and what major change this week in television and how that impacts prime time wrestling
*Dragon Gate’s next major show
*All Japan Champion Carnival update
*Will Ospreay future
*New Japan Best of the Super Junior notes
*Notes on the New Japan shows this week
*Aaron Henare talks his greatest match with Shingo Takagi
*One of the greatest woman wrestlers of all-time, at 61 wins a tag team title
*The story of Don Luce, one of the most respected pro wrestling historians
*One of the all-time greats will have a statue put up in his home town
*Notes on the new season of Dark Side of the ring
*Devon Nicholson talks about the claims of Abdullah the Butcher
*New book deal about a gangland murder of a major 80s star
*Promotions piggybacking around AEW at Wembley Stadium
*MLW TV future notes
*Owen Hart Cup
*Kota Ibushi update
*Notes from All Access
*ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
*Streaming and international TV numbers
*Two legendary wrestlers who later did MMA have documentaries out on them and finalists for Emmy Awards
*Bellator’s return to Hawaii
*Business notes on Tank Davis vs Ryan Garcia and crossover with the pro wrestling audience
*All of what went down with Nate Diaz in New Orleans
*Peacock business number and what that means for WWE
*Changes in Raw
*Law firm investigating WWE merger
*Lots of WWE injuries and talent questioning some of the training
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Wednesday Update
WWE
Dominik Mysterio, Damian Priest, and Matt Riddle are guests on this week’s The Bump.
In an interview with Sportico, New Hampshire Lottery commission executive director Charlie McIntyre expressed doubt that legal gambling would be allowed for future WWE events. “I have a fear of accepting wagers on any event that is perceived to have an outcome that is not based upon performance, but is based upon scripted or engineered efforts. It is very unlikely that New Hampshire would consider the WWE suitable content for sports betting.”
In an interview with Boardroom, Charlotte Flair mentioned that she’s taking time off for “something she needed to take care of”: “For me, I went from having never any off-days to getting injured last year after WrestleMania and being off for seven months, and then now off again for a couple weeks for something that I needed to take care of, so it’s a blessing and a curse. Like, no one wants to be injured, but having that first time off for that extended amount of time, I think was definitely healthy for my mindset.”
Television personality Maria Menounos, who has done work with WWE in the past, revealed to People Magazine that she had survived pancreatic cancer after removing a tumor back in January.
Serpentico commented on reports that AEW Dark and Dark Elevation have ended. “Gonna miss #AEWDark & #AEWElevation. These shows paid my bills during the pandemic at a time where my personal & professional future seemed bleak. Lots of fun (& sometimes painful!) times were had. Made good friends & even better enemies. Thanks to everyone that tuned in!”
AEW is teasing that The Briscoe Chicken Farm gets a “surprise visit” on tonight’s Dynamite.
Other Wrestling
Former WWE star Eve Torres shared on Instagram that she recently underwent explant surgery to remove her breast implants after suffering complications. “I am a week post-surgery writing this, and I will have my drains and sutures removed today,” she wrote. “While I am uncomfortable, in some pain, and restless, I am optimistic to start this healing journey after eliminating (2) major internal battles. I know there are more to conquer, and I feel stronger than ever to take those on.”
Sports Illustrated has an article looking at ten years of the Bullet Club, as the stable was first formed on May 3, 2013 at that year’s Wrestling Dontaku event. The article features quotes from the likes of Finn Balor, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, Cody Rhodes, and others.
Variety has an interview with Billy Corgan regarding his recent concert/wrestling events in Australia and Mexico.
DDT is teasing that a former WWE star will be making their debut for the company on their May 21 show.
Defy announced that KENTA will make his debut at their show on June 3 at Washington Hall in Seattle.
The Sun has an article on Kristen “Miami” Mitchell, an Australian wrestler who passed away at the age of 36.
Impact World Champion Josh Alexander and KENTA will be on opposite sides of an all-star trios match on Thursday’s Impact on AXS TV.
Alexander will team with former champions Rich Swann and Frankie Kazarian as they take on Bullet Club’s KENTA, Ace Austin and Chris Bey. Alexander, Swann and Kazarian will battle Time Machine (KUSHIDA & Motor City Machine Guns) at next Friday’s Sacrifice.
The Knockouts Tag Team titles will be on the line as The Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie & Jessicka) defend against The Coven (KiLynn King & Taylor Wilde). Valkyrie debuted with AEW on Wednesday while King was announced as signing an exclusive contract with Impact last week.
Steve Maclin, the next challenger for the aforementioned Alexander, will take on Heath in singles action.
Past opponents will reunite as “Speedball” Mike Bailey will team with Jonathan Gresham to take on Decay’s Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus.
The BTI pre-show will feature Zicky Dice against Champagne Singh.
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BTI pre-show: Champagne Singh defeated Zicky Dice
This week’s show was taped in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Impact continues their road to Sacrifice next Friday in London, Ontario, Canada.
Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham defeated Decay (Crazzy Steve & Black Taurus)
Bailey and Gresham previously went to battle, but have teamed before. Steve is coming off a loss to X-Division Champion Trey Miguel in a Monster’s Ball match while Taurus just continues to do his thing in the lower mid-card.
This was basically Bailey and Gresham getting beat down until they made hot tags. After things broke down and several near falls, Bailey hit Ultima Weapon on Taurus to get the pin and win. They continued their uneasy alliance with a handshake and hard arm pats afterward. Foreshadowing!
– Gia Miller caught up with Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, Frankie Kazarian and Rich Swann ahead of their trios debut tonight against Bullet Club and Time Machine next Sacrifice. Steve Maclin walked in and tried to stir things up between them.
– Gisele Shaw talked to Miller and complained about how she lost to Knockouts Champion Mickie James and how Deonna Purrazzo is jealous of her. In walked Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice for some “comedy” which is setting up Swinger vs. Jai Vidal tonight. Buckle up.
Steve Maclin defeated Heath
Maclin is looking ahead to his long-awaited title match with Alexander at next month’s Rebellion while Heath is back in singles action after his run with Rhino.
Maclin was rolling until Heath made a comeback. He made a mistake and Maclin hit the KIA (double-arm DDT) for the pin and win.
– The Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie, Jessicka and Rosemary) were backstage getting excited for their Knockouts Tag Team title defense against The Coven. Valkyrie talked Jessicka into doing something else (because she is scared of magic) so she and Rosemary could defend the titles tonight instead. Alright, then.
– PCO was shown dragging a shovel through Las Vegas yelling for Eddie Edwards after the events of last week.
– Bailey was about to leave and Gresham walked up and engaged him, saying he didn’t know he had such a great sidekick. Bailey then said he hasn’t forgotten about their first match when Gresham won and challenged him to a rematch at Sacrifice. Gresham accepted, so we’re on.
Jai Vidal (w/ Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans) defeated Johnny Swinger (w/ Zicky Dice)
This was a lot of comedy, but Vidal looked pretty good in there. He just hasn’t got much of an in-ring opportunity in Impact just yet.
Dice got tossed when he was caught grabbing Vidal’s leg followed by Evans and Shaw getting ejected after Evans dragged Swinger outside the ring. Deonna Purrazzo then attacked Shaw from behind before getting knocked by Evans, leading to security breaking everyone up.
Back in the ring, Vidal landed a leaping kick on Swinger to get the pin and win.
– The Design (Deaner, Angels and Kon) delivered a message explaining how Callihan hadn’t passed step six despite defeating Rhino last week. Callihan then entered the frame very upset and Deaner explained step six was to take a beating like a man. He then said they didn’t forget that Callihan cost Kon a match against Frankie Kazarian at No Surrender and asked if he was willing to take that beating. Callihan obliged so you can look forward to that.
– PCO arrived outside Sam’s Town, still screaming “Eddiiiieeee!!!”
– Tommy Dreamer was chatting with someone backstage when Mickie James interrupted as she learned she and Dreamer were taking on Bully Ray and Masha Slamovich next week. Jordynne Grace then walked in and asked James if it was a good idea about her taking the match before their rematch at Sacrifice. James didn’t have a good answer.
Eddie Edwards promo
Edwards said it’s time to focus on his future and for all of this business with PCO to come to an end. He said after last week (when someone ran PCO over with a car), it’s officially over. After the footage aired, the arena went black and PCO’s entrance played. As he came out, Kenny King attacked from behind with a shovel. King and Edwards then delivered a back suplex, but PCO came back alive as they walked away and attacked both men.
The numbers game caught up to PCO as he was bloodied up by a chair, pinned behind the steps and held there by both men for a beating until he rallied again. Edwards eventually slowed him down with a kendo stock and a Boston Knee Party with a chair as King helped out. The final shot was a kendo stick into the chair as it laid on his head.
– Santino Marella was with former WWE star Vladimir Kozlov who was very excited. Dirty Dango walked in as Kozlov walked away, but Marella cautioned him that he couldn’t say his name as it was trademarked unlike his.
Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry then walked in and decided to invoke the rematch clause on behalf of Brian Myers for Sacrifice so he could get revenge on him. Dango said he was a bit starstruck and offered his help to Hendry anytime, leading to Marella making Hendry & Dango vs. Myers & Moose for next week.
The Coven defeated The Death Dollz (Rosemary & Taya Valkyrie) (w/ Jessicka) to win the Knockouts Tag Team titles
I learned the Dollz were the longest-reigning female-only Knockouts Tag Team Champions of all time at more than 160 days. The more you know, huh?
The stip here: if the Coven (KiLynn King & Taylor Wilde) lost the match, they would have to stop practicing witchcraft. Has that ever been a stip in a match ever? Wilde was looking through tarot cards while standing on the ring apron, perhaps for the last time.
The outcome wasn’t really in doubt given Valkyrie’s debut on AEW Dynamite Wednesday, followed by the news she signed a Khantract. Also, Impact announced King signed an exclusive deal this week.
King got the clean pin after hitting her impressive Kingdom Falls on Valkyrie to win the titles. I am going to guess there’s some kind of storyline ending to Valkyrie next week. I mean, she was sent to prison after she admitting to shooting John E. Bravo the last time, right?
– Two new matches were made official for Sacrifice: Bailey vs. Gresham II and Hendry vs. Myers II for the Digital Media title.
– They also revealed that the Thursday March 30th Impact will be a special live edition counting down to the Impact x NJPW Multiverse United event starting right afterward on PPV. The show will feature Josh Alexander vs. KENTA which took place at these same Las Vegas tapings.
Bullet Club (KENTA, Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defeated Josh Alexander, Frankie Kazarian & Rich Swann
All six men have plenty of action coming up at both Sacrifice and Multiverse United. Austin & Bey are the Impact Tag Team titles, Alexander is the Impact World Champion and KENTA is the NJPW Strong Champion.
The mood changed a bit when Alexander and KENTA got in there for a few minutes. The babyfaces stood tall going into the commercial break, but Swann got into trouble afterward, leading to the Bullet Club running roughshod through the middle portion.
Kazarian got the hot tag and did his thing, taking out everyone including a double DDT on the tag team champions. As Bey got the advantage, Alexander got the hot tag and dished out some punishment to Bey, punctuated with a power bomb onto his knee for a near fall.
Things broke down as expected with action spilling to the outside. In a really cool spot, Kazarian hit a cutter on Bey as he springboarded over the top onto the mass of wrestlers.
Things again broke down back inside the ring and as Alexander was about deliver the C4 on Austin, he got distracted by Maclin watching from afar. KENTA took him out and Swann got taken out by Bey’s The Art of the Finesse and Austin’s The Fold to give Bullet Club the win.
Next Week:
Bully Ray & Masha Slamovich vs. Mickie James & Tommy Dreamer
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Savannah Evans
Moose & Brian Myers vs. Joe Hendry & Dirty Dango
The Design (Deaner, Kon & Angels) vs. Time Machine (KUSHIDA & Motor City Machine Guns)
The Impact Tag Team titles will be on the line at next Friday’s Impact Sacrifice.
Bullet Club’s Ace Austin & Chris Bey will defend against TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) who will be making their Impact debut as a team.
Haste made his Impact debut at the company’s Las Vegas TV taping in a loss to “Speedball” Mike Bailey while this will be Tito’s promotional debut.
This will be the first title defense for Austin & Bey who won the titles in late-February with their victory over the Motor City Machine Guns.
Both teams will be involved in a four-way for the titles at the following Thursday’s Impact x NJPW Multiverse United that also includes Aussie Open and the aforementioned Machine Guns.
Here’s the current lineup for the Friday, March 24th streaming special from Windsor, Ontario, California:
Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, Rich Swann & Frankie Kazarian vs. Time Machine (KUSHIDA & Motor City Machine Guns)
Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James defends against Jordynne Grace
X-Division Champion Trey Miguel defends against TBA
Impact Tag Team Champions Bullet Club defend against TMDK
Chris Bey and Ace Austin wrestled in two tag team matches at Impact’s last set of tapings from Dallas. They defeated Exodus Prime & JD Griffey on August 26 but then dropped a match to Aussie Open the following night.
This will be Robinson’s first time wrestling in Impact since January.
Impact Victory Road takes place Friday, September 23 from Skyway Studios in Nashville, TN. The countdown show will air on YouTube beginning at 7:30 p.m Eastern time. The main card will air on Impact Plus at 8 p.m Eastern time. The announced lineup for the show is as follows:
Steve Maclin vs. Sami Callihan vs. Moose in a barbed wire massacre match
Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace vs. Max The Impaler in a non-title match
X-Division Champion MIke Bailey defends against Delirious
Mickie James vs. Gisele Shaw
Josh Alexander, Heath & Rich Swann vs. Eddie Edwards & The OGK
Killer Kelly vs. Tasha Steelz
Frankie Kazarian vs. Kenny King vs. Laredo Kid vs. Alex Zayne vs. Mia Yim vs. Trey Miguel vs. Black Taurus vs. Yuya Uemura for an X-Division title
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Vincent & PCO
Bullet Club’s Juice Robinson, Chris Bey, & Ace Austin vs. Jackson Stone, Jack Price, & Jason Hotch (Countdown to Victory Road)
Tonight saw the first episode from NJPW Strong’s Collision tapings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Killer Kross defeated Yuya Uemura via TKO
It should be noted that the English commentary track for this match was heavily distorted and pretty much unlistenable throughout. It sounded like the broadcast team’s track was out of sync which created a bizarre echo on the commentary track, like the live audio was out of phase with whatever post-production commentary track they used.
Uemura was fearless as he went at Kross at the start of the match. He was able to wrestle him to the mat and maintain some control upfront. Uemura went into open guard with his back to the mat as Kross stood over him trying to get his hands on the wily newcomer. Kross threatened a closed-fist punch but then thought against it and invited Uemura back to his feet to fight.
Uemura slapped Kross in the corner. Kross responded with a release German suplex, planting him on the mat. Uemura later landed a nice dropkick, then put Kross in an armbar. He later earned a two-count for a bridging German suplex of his own.
When Kross put his hand around Uemura’s throat, Uemura grabbed Kross’ wrist and wrenched it down. He again locked in an armbar and transitioned to a triangle choke. Kross used a Rampage Bomb to free himself from Uemura’s hold. The crowd started chanting for Uemura. Kross decked him with a lariat and went for a cover. Kross was nonchalant as he pinned Uemura, so Uemura was able to kick out. Kross then power bombed Uemura, then lifted him into a fireman’s carry and back suplexed him. The crowd chanted “YU-YA!” over and over.
The finish saw Kross catch Uemura in the back of the head with a running elbow, The Quickening, which knocked Ueumura out. Kross pounced on Uemura and continued landing elbows to the back of Uemura’s head until the referee stepped in to stop the match; Kross is your winner via technical knockout.
Karl Fredericks defeated QT Marshall (w/ The Factory)
The commentary track audio issues in the first match seemed to be resolved for this match.
Fredericks blasted Marshall with a John Woo dropkick right before the bell, knocking Marshall into the corner. Fredericks has been having issues with The Factory ever since he denied Marshall’s invitation into the group, so tonight he was fired up. Marshall escaped to the floor but Fredericks chased after him. They went back and forth, both in and out of the ring. Fredericks dove through the ropes onto Marshall, but then, behind referee Jeremy Marcus’ back, Factory member Nick Comoroto laid Fredericks out. When Marcus noticed Fredericks had been laid out, he went to the floor and ejected both Comoroto and Aaron Solow from ringside.
At one point, Marshall did a handspring enzuigiri kick that seemed to shock the crowd. Fredericks later came back and landed a high jumping elbow drop and later a spinebuster on Marshall. When Fredericks went for a cross body-block, Marshall caught him in mid-air, then put him down with a backbreaker-flatliner combination. The crowd’s reaction? A “YOU STILL SUCK!” chant.
Marshall called for the Diamond Cutter, but Fredericks avoided it. Marshall used a pop-up punch and a Liger Bomb on Fredericks for two.
When the ten-minute call sounded, it was Fredericks who came out victorious, putting Marshall away with the Manifest Destiny DDT for the win.
Afterwards, Marshall offered a handshake, but before Fredericks could do anything, The Factory went after Fredericks, attacking him until someone in a black hood made the save, taking out The Factory and sticking a double-jump moonsault on Solow before revealing himself to be Christopher Daniels. The crowd was shocked and chanted “HOLY SH*T!’ Daniels had a singles match with Fredericks on an episode of Strong this year and told Fredericks that he’d earned Daniels’ respect and would watch his back. The two shook hands and celebrated before heading to the back.
Bullet Club (Jay White, Juice Robinson, Hikuleo, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) defeated Team Ishii (Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero, Mascara Dorada, Chuck Taylor & Ren Narita)
Dorada and Anderson kicked things off. Anderson caught Dorada with a couple hard shots, but Dorada was back in the game quickly, planting Anderson face-first into the mat with an inverted slingblade before walking up the ropes and taking Anderson out with a springboard dropkick.
Ishii and Gallows were in together next. The size disparity between these two made for a great visual. Ishii went for a suplex but Gallows reversed it, then tagged in Juice Robinson, who’d just won the IWGP US title the night before. He and Narita had a good exchange before Robinson tagged Jay White in, with White continuing to work over Narita. Hikuleo tagged in next and blasted Narita with a loud chop. Gallows tagged in and dropped an elbow. They essentially trapped Narita in the blue corner, but he kept fighting back regardless of the abuse. He caught White in a rear naked choke and got his hooks in between White’s thighs, his whole body clinging to White. White quickly crashed himself and Narita into the corner, with Narita getting the worst of it. Robinson came in next, but Narita was able to escape and tagged out to a fresh Chuck Taylor. He did a somersault senton over the top rope and onto the floor, taking out both Robinson and Anderson.
Rocky Romero appeared late in the match, at one point using a ton of Forever Clotheslines in each corner to various prone members of Bullet Club, but it quickly turned into a 5-on-1 situation when BC cleared the ring and went after Romero.
We saw fast action in the last few minutes of the match. A bit later, Ishii was able to block Anderson & Gallows giving him the Magic Killer, then was able to take the much larger Doc Gallows down with a brainbuster. Hikuleo appeared and blasted Ishii with a big boot. Dorada reappeared and caught Hikuleo out with a springboard dropkick. Dorada again climbed the ropes—he does this without using his hands, by the way—and did a flipping senton to the floor, crash-landing onto four members of Bullet Club.
Back in the ring, Romero cradled Hikuleo for a close two-count. Hikuleo then caught Romero coming off the ropes and put him down with a big snap powerslam, then put him away after massive chokeslam. Bullet Club are your winners.
Bullet Club went after Romero after the match. Ishii and Narita tried making the save, but there were too many BC bodies in the ring for them to handle. Dorada came in later too, but met the same fate. The fisticuffs continued while the timekeeper kept ringing the bell. White laid Ishii out with a Bladerunner before rolling him out of the ring. Bullet Club celebrated their win and Robinson’s IWGP US Championship from the previous night before heading to the back.
Final thoughts:
This was a good show with an enthusiastic crowd. The main event was a full-on buildup to NJPW’s Dominion card in Osaka, Japan, which has IWGP World Heavyweight champion and CHAOS member Kazuchika Okada taking on Jay White in the main event.
