Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Dark Side of the Ring on Daffney, what’s going on with the AAA Mega Title, World’s Collide, RAW, ratings, young talent in AEW and tons more. A packed show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: Muhammad Hassan, Daffney episodes of Dark Side of the Ring 9:21: WWE advertises Gable/Vikingo Worlds Collide match for AAA Mega title, other notes 16:30: NXT Great American Bash likely going head to head with All In 18:10: NJPW BOSJ update 21:41: Ratings, Cain Velasquez update 30:52: WWE Raw report 54:40: Lineups for the week, Arena Mexico notes 59:47: Mailbag question on AEW sending talent elsewhere
John LaRocca and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.
We kicked off this show by giving out our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before hitting the major AEW and WWE topics of the week.
Here are some of the things we talked about:
Dark Side of the Ring’s great episode on Daffney
AEW All Out heading to Toronto
The Will Ospreay and Hangman Page promo that started AEW Dynamite
WWE WrestleMania 42 no longer being in New Orleans next year
Jeff Cobb as JC Mateo
Jeremy Finestone’s minute update on the Best of Super Juniors
Previews for AEW Double or Nothing, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, and WWE NXT Battleground
Jason Baker, who made Bray Wyatt’s costuming and attire, helped out Wyatt’s son Knash pay tribute to his father: “I had the honor of doing something that is so close to my heart that I’m still fighting back tears while writing this. I got a call from Jojo wanting to fulfill Knash’s birthday wish, which was to dress up like his dad @Windham6 for his birthday party. Needless to say, @SandyMimpson and I dropped everything to make this happen for such an incredible little man. We love you Knash and Hope you had the best birthday ever! (Mask from Bray’s original mold. Costume by @sandymimpson based on the original Fiend gear created by @kyllacustomrockwear) now the only thing left to do is….LET HIM IN!”
The Andre the Giant footage is notable for an angle featuring a rare WWE appearance by Giant Baba setting up a match with the two teaming against Demolition for a WWE/AJPW event in Japan.
AEW & Other Wrestling
In regards to AEW Double or Nothing airing on Triller, the streaming service announced on Tuesday that the show will be available to purchase worldwide with the exception of the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In the US, it can be purchased on Prime Video, PPV.com, YouTube, cable & satellite, and Fubo.
Mark Briscoe celebrated the 25th anniversary of he and his brother Jay’s wrestling debut on Tuesday: “Today is 25 years since me and my brother debuted. @jaybriscoe84 Happy 25 years dawg. Quarter century and still grindin’ #demboys.”
The anticipation for the sixth season of Dark Side of the Ring on Vice TV continues to build with all of the episodes titles and descriptions being revealed Thursday.
In late-January, the topics were first announced with the following giving even more insight into what’s in store for viewers:
Mick Foley: Hell in a Cell: “From the first terrifying fall off the cage to the impact he still feels today, Mick Foley relives a wrestling match, “Hell in a Cell ’98,” moment by moment.”
Blood, Fire and the Original Sheik: “The Sheik, whose violent career spanned fifty years, is revealed by his family and the few who survived his hardcore bloodbaths.”
Tony Atlas: Too Much, Too Soon: “With the physique of an Adonis and endless charisma, Tony Atlas makes his mark as one of wrestling’s first Black stars but racism, addiction and ego keeps Mr. USA from the top.”
Becoming Muhammad Hassan: “Just three years post-9/11, Marc Copani sees the highs and lows of wrestling when he’s given the chance to portray Muhammad Hassan, a villainous Arab-American character for the WWE.”
‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert: “Skilled as a performer in the ring and as a booker, who created storylines behind the scenes; ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert was a ticking timebomb of talent and self-destruction.”
Big Van Vader: “With an iconic look and skills few of his size could match, Big Van Vader stood out as a wrestling monster but controlling his anger became a bigger battle in and out of the ring.”
The Scream Queen: Daffney: “With her piercing scream, Shannon Spruill becomes a cult star as Daffney in the squared circle; outside the ring, Daffney fights a much more punishing battle with bipolar disorder.”
The Original ‘Superstar’: Billy Graham: “Often imitated, never duplicated, Billy Graham breaks the mold for what a wrestler could be but steroid abuse and battles with the McMahons keeps Graham from the spotlight.”
Ludvig Borga: Hellraiser From Helsinki: “A Finnish wrestling bad guy turned real-life racist politician, Tony Halme’s time in the WWF as Ludvig Borga is only the start of his chaotic and destructive life.”
Truth, Lies and Billy Jack Haynes: “An 80s wrestling star, Billy Jack Haynes’ life of violence and mystery leads to his current situation; behind bars and charged with the second degree murder of his wife.”
The new season kicks off Tuesday, March 25th on Vice TV at 10 PM Eastern.
The full list of episode topics has been revealed for Dark Side of the Ring’s new season.
Dark Side of the Ring returns with season six premiering on Vice TV at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, March 25. A trailer for the new season was released today, announcing that there will be episodes focused on the following 10 subjects:
Hell in a Cell
Big Van Vader
Tony Atlas
Ludvig Borga
Billy Jack Haynes
Eddie Gilbert
“Superstar” Billy Graham
Daffney
The Original Sheik
Muhammad Hassan
Interviews with Mick Foley, Jim Cornette, Jim Ross, Rob Van Dam, Tony Atlas, Marc Copani (Muhammad Hassan), Mark Henry, and Billy Jack Haynes are included in the trailer. Haynes was arrested and charged with the murder of his 85-year-old wife Janette Becraft in February 2024.
We’re back! Season 6 premieres March 25 on @VICETV.
The Hell in a Cell episode looks to be heavily focused on Foley and his match against The Undertaker from King of the Ring 1998. Last August, Ross said he was interviewed for an upcoming Dark Side of the Ring episode where Foley would be the topic.
Impact has announced Knockouts Knockdown, an all-women event that will tape this coming weekend to air in October.
Gail Kim was joined by former Impact star Christy Hemme live on Impact’s Facebook page this afternoon. The show will air on October 9 on Impact Plus and will tape this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Kim announced that Deonna Purrazzo would be on the card, defending the Impact Knockouts title against a mystery opponent. Ticket information for the tapings can be found here.
Other names that Kim mentioned during the stream include Lady Frost, Renee Michelle, and Mercedes Martinez, all of whom will be appearing on the show. Additionally, a Monster’s Ball match will take place that will be dedicated to the memory of Daffney, who was the first woman to take part in a Monster’s Ball match against Taylor Wilde back in 2009.
NWA EmPower, which also had an all-women’s card, took place last month. Deonna Purrazzo successfully defended the Impact Knockouts title on the show, defeating Melina.
Former WCW and TNA wrestler Daffney (Shannon Spruill) has passed away at 46 years old.
“We are very sad to have to announce the passing of Shannon Spruill aka Daffney Unger @screamqueendaff,” Lexie Fyfe of Slammin Ladies announced. “We are posting this at the request of her family. Please respect their privacy at this trying time. I will miss you my logical sister from another mister.”
Concern for Daffney spread following a troubling Instagram Live video on Wednesday night where she appeared to be suicidal. Daffney asked for her brain to be sent to Boston, where the CTE Center is located at Boston University.
Police in Gwinnett County, Georgia told TMZ Sports that they tried to locate Daffney and showed up to one of her old addresses but weren’t able to make contact with her. She had recently moved to a new address.
Daffney debuted for WCW in 1999, playing a Goth character who was aligned with Crowbar and David Flair. Daffney held the WCW Cruiserweight Championship in 2000.
Daffney filed a workers compensation lawsuit against TNA Wrestling that was settled out of court in 2013. The lawsuit sought to cover her medical bills for injuries that she suffered during her time with the company, including multiple concussions.
Daffney last wrestled in 2011.
“I’m so very sorry to learn of Daffney’s passing,” Mick Foley wrote. “A terrible loss for her family, friends and wrestling. She was far ahead [of] her time in our business. #RIPDaffney If you’re hurting and thinking of doing harm to yourself, please know that help is available. 800-273-8255 [the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline]”
