Due to injury, TAKA Michinoku has been pulled from his match at Sunday’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors show.
NJPW has announced that Michinoku is unable to compete at night 10 of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament due to a right leg injury. The show is taking place in Chiba tomorrow (May 26).
Michinoku was scheduled to face IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee in a tournament match on the show. Michinoku will instead forfeit the match, with Lee receiving two points.
With their match being canceled, Lee also won’t be wrestling at tomorrow’s show. It will proceed with nine matches instead of the scheduled 10. NJPW noted that Lee will still be taking part in his autograph session.
Michinoku has lost all six of his tournament matches thus far and is already out of contention in the A Block. Lee is third in the block with eight points (not counting the two he’ll get for Michinoku forfeiting their match), coming in behind Shingo Takagi and Taiji Ishimori. Takagi has 12 points, while Ishimori has 10.
There are five shows remaining before the Best of the Super Juniors finals take place on June 5.
The second night of A Block action in Best of the Super Juniors 26 saw Dragon Lee and SHO push each other to the limit.
Their main event showdown nearly went to the 30-minute time limit, before Lee was finally able to put SHO away, earning his first victory of the tournament.
This was a very good opener. Narita and Uemura both hit nice double underhook suplexes. Jado used a kendo stick shot to turn the tide in Bullet Club’s favor. Eagles won with a backpack stunner on Uemura.
This was a Suzuki-gun showcase. They used an attack before the opening bell to take control. They turned the match into a crowd brawl. Back inside, they worked over Taguchi.
Umino got a hot tag and the crowd was hyped for his offense. Taichi won after hitting an Axe Bomber for a near fall, then using a stretch plum for the submission. Douki continues to disappoint me. He used a pipe to attack Taguchi after the match.
JUICE ROBINSON, BANDIDO & WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED YOH, ROCKY ROMERO & TOA HENARE
YOH and Bandido paired off at the start. Bandido hit a gorilla press slam on YOH, which also took out Rocky. Juice and his team worked over YOH.
Rocky and Ospreay paired off for an excellent sequence. The closing section saw Juice and Henare go back and forth. Juice won after a Left Hand of God and Pulp Friction.
After the match, they played the same Time’s Up video that plays in every Juice segment.
TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO & GEDO
Phantasmo teased shaking hands with BUSHI at the outset, but flipped him off and kicked him in the gut instead. Phantasmo and Gedo went to work on BUSHI. Gedo went for brass knuckles, but Naito jumped in and stopped him.
Naito hit the combinacion de cabron, and BUSHI hit an MX, then pinned Gedo.
A BLOCK MATCH: JONATHAN GRESHAM DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU
A nice little grappling battle here. Gresham is a great technician, and TAKA went hold for hold with him. The match didn’t have a lot of heat, but it was fun.
Gresham used a variation of a finger break spot to take control of the bout. He worked over TAKA’s left arm. TAKA used an eye poke and a chinlock. TAKA slapped on a headscissors on the mat, but Gresham powered out.
TAKA maintained control of the bout with two knee strikes. He used another headscissors, but Gresham slipped out and worked on TAKA’s left arm some more. He used a magistral cradle for a two count.
Gresham tried for an octopus hold, but TAKA made it to the ropes. TAKA briefly applied the Just Facelock, but Gresham reached the ropes. TAKA applied the hold again, and again Gresham forced a rope break.
Gresham hit a quebrada, then used a backslide for a near fall. Gresham got another quick near fall, then went back to the octopus hold before TAKA tapped out.
A BLOCK MATCH: TIGER MASK IV DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
Tiger attacked Kanemaru before the bell. Tiger hit some kicks on the floor. He went for a kick with his bad right leg, and Kanemaru caught it and posted it. Kanemaru worked over Tiger’s leg as the pace slowed.
Kanemaru went to the top for Deep Impact, but Tiger cut him off, hitting an arm drag off the top. Tiger hit a tombstone, then a Tiger Driver, picking up a near fall. Kanemaru got back to his feet and hit Deep Impact, but Tiger kicked out.
Kanemaru used a figure four, but Tiger forced a break. Tiger hit a flying wheel kick. Kanemaru tried to go back to the figure four, but Tiger used a small package and got the pin. Kanemaru unmasked Tiger after the bell.
Considering Tiger’s limitations, this was okay. He really needs to pick his spots in a long tournament like this, so I’m okay with some shortcut matches like this.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TITAN
Titan teased a tope con hilo early, but settled for a flying headscissors on the floor. Back inside, he went for a top rope rana. Shingo dropped Titan across the top rope, then clotheslined him over the top.
Titan came back, hitting a kick that sent Shingo outside. Titan hit a suicide dive that went about three rows deep into the crowd. Titan got a near fall, then hit a springboard splash for another. Shingo went for a Pumping Bomber, but Titan ducked it.
Titan used La Mistica to set up a rolling pinning combination for a near fall. He went for the same combination again, but Shingo escaped.
Shingo hit Noshigami, the Pumping Bomber, then Last of the Dragon, and got the pin. Good match.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED MARTY SCURLL
Ishimori worked a wristlock at the outset. Scurll was frustrated, as he would set up an escape but Ishimori always found a way back to the wristlock. Scurll finally found an escape and stomped on Ishimori’s left arm.
Scurll hit a superplex. Ishimori rolled outside and avoided Scurll’s superkick on the apron. Ishimori followed with a Golden Triangle off the post. Back inside, Ishimori used a chinlock and focused on attacking Scurll’s neck.
Ishimori hit a sliding German for a near fall. Ishimori hit some strikes, and Scurll asked him to hit him again. Scurll hit a tornado DDT, then a series of strikes in the corner. Scurll hit a superkick on the apron.
Scurll hit a stomp off the second rope. He blocked a handspring kick, then hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Scurll went for the Black Plague, but Ishimori turned it into a cradle. They traded a series of cradles for near falls.
Ishimori hit a shotgun dropkick, then used double knees in the corner for a two count. Scurll stomped away at Ishimori’s left arm, trying to set up the chicken wing. Ishimori hit a handspring kick into a double down.
Scurll went for a tombstone. Ishimori tried to reverse it into one of his own, but he stumbled, dropped Scurll on his head, and may have knocked himself out tripping and hitting the second rope. Everyone was okay, but this was scary.
Ishimori hit a lungblower for a near fall. Scurll escaped a Bloody Cross attempt and applied the chicken wing. Ishimori refused to tap, so Scurll decided to try for a pin instead, but Ishimori kicked out.
Ishimori used La Mistica to set up a Yes Lock. Scurll slid out of the hold and used a Yes Lock to transition back to the chicken wing, before hitting a half-and-half suplex. Scurll hit a lariat for a two count, then a package driver for another.
Ishimori avoided the Black Plague and hit a rebound lariat for a near fall. Ishimori then hit Bloody Cross to pick up the win.
Some scary moments after the botched tombstone spot, and the crowd was in and out of it, but a very good match.
A BLOCK MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED SHO
They began with an intense striking battle in the center of the ring. The pace slowed, but they continued to trade strikes. SHO sent Lee to the floor. SHO tried for a lariat on the floor, but Lee ducked, and SHO posted his own right arm.
Lee went for a headscissors off the apron, but SHO caught him and hit a powerbomb on the apron. SHO used a crucifix hold to try for a submission, but Lee made it to the ropes. Lee sent SHO to the floor, then hit a crazy suicide dive.
Back inside, Lee used a Fujiwara armbar on the right arm, but SHO made it to the ropes. SHO kicked at Lee’s right arm. Both sold their right arms. They clotheslined each other over the top rope. They teased a double countout, but both made it back in at 19.
They traded strikes. SHO hit a lariat, then hit a deadlift German into a bridge for a near fall. SHO hit two rolling Germans, but Lee forced a rope break before the third could connect. SHO kicked at Lee’s right arm again.
Lee used a Fujiwara armbar, but SHO forced a rope break. They fought on the top rope, and Lee hit a double stomp. Lee picked up a near fall.
Lee went for Desnucadora, but SHO turned it into a backstabber, then a cross armbreaker, but Lee made it to the bottom rope.
SHO went for Shock Arrow, and he finally got it after a series of counters. Lee kicked out of Shock Arrow at two. They traded jumping knee strikes. Lee hit a poison rana, but SHO no-sold it and hit a clothesline.
They traded forearm strikes from their knees. Back on their feet, they exchanged again. SHO got the better of it, and he ended the exchange with a clothesline. SHO hit a lungblower on his knees, then a powerbomb on the knees. He made a cover, but Lee kicked out.
SHO went for Shock Arrow again. Lee slipped out and hit a jumping knee strike at the 25-minute mark. Lee went for Desnucadora, but SHO slipped out and applied an armbar. Lee made the ropes initially, but SHO maintained the hold.
Lee powerbombed out of the armbar, then hit a pair of knee strikes for a near fall. Lee hit Desnucadora to win.
The match really picked up in the last 10 minutes and was a fine main event.
The twenty sixth Best of the Super Juniors tournament begins this morning in Miyagi, featuring A Block action.
A rematch from Wrestling Dontaku will take place in the main event. Dragon Lee successfully defeated Taiji Ishimori, and naturally Ishimori is looking to settle the score this morning. A win here could be a good omen for either man as they begin to enter their way into the tournament.
Other A Block matches taking place include SHO vs. Shingo Takagi (who feuded with one another during the last tour), Marty Scurll vs. Jonathan Gresham, Titan vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Tiger Mask vs. Taka Michinoku.
Bandido will also be making his official debut for the promotion in the undercards as he will team with Rocky Romero and Yuya Uemura to take on the Bullet Club contingent of Jado, Robbie Eagles and El Phantasmo. DOUKI will also be making his debut, teaming with Taichi to take on Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji.
Join us for live play-by-play starting at 5:30 a.m.
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TAICHI & DOUKI DEFEATED REN NARITA & YOTA TSUJI
This was all about introducing Douki. Taichi and Tsuji started. Taichi worked over Tsuji with kicks. Tsuji got sent to the floor, where Douki nailed him with a chair.
The finish saw Douki hit a Suplex de Luna, a wheelbarrow dragon suplex into a bridge, for the pin. Douki didn’t show much, but we will get a chance to see what he can do tomorrow against Narita.
Bandido and Phantasmo began with a hot sequence. Rocky and Eagles were in next. Jado used a kendo stick to cut Rocky off, and Bullet Club went to work. They tied Rocky to the tree of woe, and took turns working him over.
Bandido got a hot tag, and connected with a tornado crossbody off the top. Uemura and Eagles faced off, and Uemura hit a double underhook belly-to-belly.
The match broke down, still leaving Eagles and Uemura the legal men. Eagles hit a Backpack Stunner and picked up the victory.
JUICE ROBINSON & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED YOH & SHOTA UMINO
Juice and Taguchi did a lot of comedy for the first two-thirds of the match. Things took a more serious turn later, and Taguchi and YOH had a nice sequence. YOH hit a falcon arrow for a nearfall. Taguchi got an ankle lock, but Umino broke it up.
Umino and Juice faced off, while Taguchi and YOH fought on the floor. Umino hit a back elbow, and used a cross armbreaker, but Taguchi made the save. Juice used a high angle crab. After a fight, Umino finally tapped out.
TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & TOA HENARE
Ospreay has really toned down his style. He’s still an excellent wrestler, but he doesn’t fly nearly as much as he used to. That’s not a complaint.
He started off here with BUSHI. They had a nice exchange, and both tagged out. Naito and Henare got tags, and Naito had fun toying with Henare. Henare hit a Samoan Drop, and both made tags.
Ospreay hit a 619, and then a backflip kick. He connected with a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. He went for Storm Breaker, but BUSHI slipped out. Ospreay teased an Oscutter, but BUSHI hit a neckbreaker.
Naito and Henare got tags. Ospreay on the apron with a DDT. Naito hit Destino, and pinned Henare.
A BLOCK MATCH: TIGER MASK DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU
This was good, all things considered. They played off the knee injury that Tiger suffered at the end of the last tour. TAKA immediately went after the right knee, using holds and kicks.
Tiger got a couple of hope spots. He threw kicks with both legs, making it clear that he is mostly selling when it comes to the severity of his injury.
TAKA used a figure four, but Tiger reached the ropes. Tiger used a tombstone for a nearfall, then applied a cross armbreaker. TAKA reached the ropes. Back on their feet, Tiger threw some kicks. TAKA ducked another kick, then used the Just Facelock, but Tiger made it to the ropes.
TAKA hit a springboard wheel kick. He tied Tiger up in a submission, but Tiger again reached the ropes. They went into their nearfalls at the ten minute mark. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a two count, and a Tiger Suplex for another. Tiger then hit a Tiger Suplex into a bridge, and got the pin.
A BLOCK MATCH: TITAN DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
Kanemaru used an attack before the opening bell to take the early edge. Kanemaru went for Titan’s mask, and loosened it. Titan made a brief comeback, hitting a dive to the floor, then a headscissors. Kanemaru fired right back, hitting a DDT on the floor.
Kanemaru used a camel clutch, then a headscissors on the mat, grounding Titan. Titan almost hurt himself badly on a charge into the corner, as he slipped between the ropes and went to the floor. He followed up with a beautiful tope con hilo.
Kanemaru went to the top for Deep Impact. Titan cut him off, but Kanemaru was still able to connect, and got a nearfall. Kanemaru hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT, into a double down at the ten minute mark.
Titan ducked whiskey mist, then hit a super kick. He hit Titanics, and pinned Kanemaru. Nice effort from these guys.
A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM
They began with a great leapfrog/drop down/dropkick sequence. The pace slowed as Scurll used a Romero Special. They spent several minutes trading holds on the mat. There was some good grappling here.
Scurll hit a 619, then a superplex. They traded pinfall attempts with rolling cradles. Gresham hit a quebrada, then rolled through into an ankle lock. Gresham used a deadlift German. He used a backslide, and a magistral cradle for nearfalls.
Scurll stomped on the hand, then did his finger break spot. Scurll rolled into a cradle, then slipped to the chicken wing. Gresham escaped the hold, but Scurll followed with a big lariat, and Black Plague for the pin. A different kind of match, but very good.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED SHO
SHO came out to new entrance music, and has changed his look up a bit. He has new gear and dyed his hair black.
They locked up. SHO broke cleanly as Shingo reached the ropes. The crowd was buzzing, just waiting to explode. They traded shoulder tackles, and somewhat surprisingly, SHO scored the first knockdown.
SHO hit a dropkick. Shingo no-sold two kicks, then caught a third. Shingo swung his arm for a clothesline, but SHO caught it and used a Fujiwara armbar. Shingo rolled outside, and SHO hit a kick from the apron. He teased a German on the apron, but Shingo slipped out. They popped back inside, and Shingo hit a clothesline.
Shingo hit a clothesline, and SHO spilled to the floor. Shingo posted SHO’s arm. Back inside, Shingo hit a gutbuster, followed by a DDT. Shingo hit a Dragon Spirit, which is a falling back elbow off the top.
They traded chops. Shingo got a knockdown off a double sledge to the chest. Shingo blocked a spear. SHO hit a vertical suplex. They made the ten minute call, and this match was just flying by.
SHO used a backstabber and an armbar, but Shingo reached the bottom rope. SHO tried to attack the right arm, Shingo’s Pumping Bomber arm. Shingo hit a big jab and a lariat. SHO teased a suplex to the floor, but Shingo turned it into a deadlift superplex for a nearfall.
They had an intense striking battle. They traded suplexes. They dropped each other to a knee simultaneously with clotheslines. SHO hit a jumping knee strike, blocked a lariat, and hit his own lariat.
SHO hit a Pumping Bomber, then three rolling deadlift Germans. He bridged on the third, but Shingo kicked out. SHO hit a lungblower for an awesome nearfall. Shingo backdropped out of a Shock Arrow attempt.
Shingo hit a German, and followed with a Pumping Bomber for a two count. SHO hit a knee strike, but Shingo followed with a Noshagami. Shingo hit another Pumping Bomber, but SHO kicked out.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but SHO turned it into a kimura. SHO transitioned to an armbar, then a triangle choke. He slipped back to an armbar, but Shingo reached the ropes.
SHO hit a series of kicks to the right arm, so Shingo hit a clothesline with his left arm. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a big right hand, and another Pumping Bomber. SHO kicked out.
Shingo connected with Last of the Dragon, and got the pin. An unreal match. I don’t know how anything in the rest of the tournament can follow this.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED DRAGON LEE
A good match, but they couldn’t follow the semi-main. It felt as though they were out there trying to figure out a way to get the crowd. They tried brawling, they tried slowing the pace, they tried quickening the pace, and nothing quite worked.
This is the second time these two have main evented in the last ten days. I’m sure they wanted to do a different match for that reason. And so, they started off brawling. They exchanged forearm strikes for a long time. Ishimori sent Lee outside with a dropkick, then hit a pescado.
Back inside, Ishimori went for Lee’s mask. He tied him to the tree of woe, then hit a dropkick. Ishimori worked a chinlock. Lee escaped and hit the ropes, but Ishimori went back to the chinlock. Lee forced a rope break.
Lee hit a suicide dive. They teased a countout, but Ishimori made it back inside at 18. Ishimori hit a handspring kick, then applied La Mistica. Lee reached the bottom rope, then rolled to the floor. Ishimori teased a moonsault off the post, but Lee cut him off, and hit a dropkick on the apron.
They stood on the apron, trading strikes. They got back inside, and continued to trade. Twice Lee hit snap German suplexes, and twice Ishimori landed on his feet. Ishimori hit a Canadian Destroyer at the fifteen minute mark.
Lee hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad, then hit a double stomp for a nearfall. Lee went for Desnucadora, but Ishimori turned it into a crucifix bomb for a two count. They traded poison ranas. Ishimori connected with a double knee gutbuster for a nearfall, then hit the Bloody Cross for the pin.
NJPW has revealed both blocks and matches for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
A Block will feature Taka Michinoku, Titan, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Marty Scurll, Jonathan Gresham, SHO, Shingo Takagi, Dragon Lee, Taiji Ishimori, and Tiger Mask IV. B Block meanwhile will feature Robbie Eagles, Flip Gordon, El Desperado, Bandido, El Phantasmo, Will Ospreay, BUSHI, Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH, and Rocky Romero.
The first show will take place on May 13 with A Block action. The main event will be a rematch from the first night of Wrestling Dontaku, with Dragon Lee facing Ishimori. Shingo vs. SHO, Scurll vs. Gresham, Titan vs. Kanemaru, and Tiger Mask vs. Michinoku are also set.
Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo, which was teased during the second Wrestling Dontaku show when they wrestled in a tag team match, will take place on May 22.
The full schedule for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament can be found here. The tour will end on June 5 at Sumo Hall. All shows will air live on New Japan World with English commentary.
If IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee doesn’t win the tournament, it’s expected that the winner will get a shot at his title at Dominion on June 9.
It was also announced that Brody King will be working the Best of the Super Juniors tour in the undercard matches. He was a part of the New Beginning in USA shows earlier this year, after New Japan talent were unable to make it due to visa issues.
After a number of Road To shows, we’re finally at the first of two Wrestling Dontaku shows that will be held this weekend in Fukuoka.
This morning’s show is headlined by a big IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match, as Dragon Lee will make his first defense against Taiji Ishimori. The challenger lost the championship last month at the G1 Supercard inside Madison Square Garden, but was never pinned.
The NEVER Openweight Championship will also be on the line as Jeff Cobb will defend the title against Taichi. A special tag team match will also take place, as Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada will team up to take on EVIL & SANADA, a preview for Saturday morning as Ishii/EVIL and Okada/SANADA will square off in singles action.
As usual, the rest of the undercard features tag team matches. Kota Ibushi and Tetsuya Naito will be on opposite sides for a six-man tag team match as they are soon to square off in a rematch of their own.
Join us this morning starting at 5 a.m. ET. There will be English commentary.
This was the Tsuji show early on. He dispatched Narita, then called for Umino to enter. Tsuji hit a dropkick to Umino. Umino hit a back elbow and a dropkick of his own, and the tide turned.
Umino, Honma and Narita took their time, working over Tsuji. Tsujit finally hit a backdrop, and tagged Henare. Henare ran wild, and cleared the ring. He hit a delayed vertical suplex on Umino, and got a two count.
Umino hit a dropkick, and Narita and Uemura got tags. Uemura cleared the apron, and his team tripled up on Narita. Uemura used a Fujiwara armbar, but Narita reached the ropes. Uemura used a double underhook suplex. He made a cover, but Umino saved Narita.
Uemura hit the ropes, but ran right into a bridging belly-to-belly from Narita for the finish. Good opener.
MINORU SUZUKI, TAKA MICHINOKU, EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED JUSHIN LIGER, RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, TIGER MASK & YOSHI-HASHI (9:57)
A fun, chaotic tag here.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell. They did some comedy involving Taguchi’s rugby helmet. Suzuki went after Taguchi, applying an armbar over the ropes, then using a chair on the outside.
Taguchi hit a hip attack, then tagged Liger. Liger went after Suzuki with strikes. Suzuki targeted the right arm of Liger, using an armbar. Suzuki refused to break the hold. They teased a DQ. Liger made a comeback, hitting strikes with his left arm.
Liger and Suzuki continued to trade strikes. Suzuki hit a knee lift, into a double down. Tiger and TAKA got tags. Suzuki-gun cut Tiger off, and hit stereo knees to the head. TAKA covered, but Taguchi and Liger made the save.
Tiger hit a Tiger Bomb for a nearfall. TAKA hit a Michinoku Driver for the pin.
After the bell, Suzuki went after Liger on the floor. They both grabbed chairs, and live to fight another day. Tiger was favoring his right leg in the post-match. He limped out of the ring under his own power.
WILL OSPREAY, TOGI MAKABE & TORU YANO DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & HIKULEO (7:25)
Yano started off with Tonga and Loa, and they did some comedy. Yano exposed a turnbuckle, and promptly got sent into it. Makabe tagged in and evened the playing field.
Ospreay and Hikuleo got tags, and Ospreay looked great here. Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor, allowing Hikuleo to get the upper hand on Ospreay.
Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Hikuleo blocked it. Hikuleo hit a lariat, and got a nearfall. Ospreay made his own comeback and used a rollup for a nearfall.
Ospreay hit an Oscutter on his second attempt, and got the pin. Ospreay made it a good match, as it was just kind of there until he tagged in.
This was excellent. After the match, Ibushi asked Naito to pick the time and place for their IC title match. Naito teased doing the match tomorrow, but then walked it back. He’s going to continue to make Ibushi wait.
YOH and BUSHI started off. YOH and SHO used some tandem offense. Shingo jumped in, but SHO sent him to the floor. YOH tagged Ibushi. Ibushi went for a standing moonsault, but BUSHI got his knees up. Naito jumped in and hit a one-legged dropkick. Naito then got a tag, and used a wacky double-legged submission hold to wear down Ibushi.
Shingo tagged in, and continued working on Ibushi. He got a shot in on SHO on the apron, then hit Ibushi with a senton. Naito tagged back in and hit the combinacion cabron. Naito caught a kick and spit on Ibushi, who countered with a double stomp to the chest.
SHO and Shingo got tags, and exchanged stiff strikes to the chest. SHO ducked a lariat and hit a spear. Shingo fired back with clotheslines. SHO hit a vertical suplex for a two count. They continued to exchange hard clotheslines.
YOH tagged in. He hit an enziguri and a falcon arrow for a nearfall. He teased a dragon suplex, but Shingo avoided it. SHO jumped in and 3K hit stereo knees. They called for the 3K, but Shingo blocked it, and hit a double suplex.
Shingo was able to tag BUSHI. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a DDT. YOH hit a dragon screw, and both looked to tag out. YOH reached his corner first, and Ibushi ran wild. He hit a powerslam and a moonsault. He got in a shot on Naito as well.
The match broke down. SHO took out Shingo on the floor with a knee strike. YOH hit a pescado to Naito. In the ring, Ibushi hit a Bomaye, followed by a Kamigoye for the pin.
JUICE ROBINSON, HIROOKI GOTO & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED JAY WHITE, CHASE OWENS & BAD LUCK FALE (11:23)
Goto, Nicholls and Juice took an early advantage, but they were thwarted when attempting stereo planchas. Bullet Club took over. Each took a turn working over Nicholls, who finally made a tag to Goto.
Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner, and used a Thesz press. White hit a Saito suplex, allowing him to tag Owens. Owens hit a series of strikes, but Goto cut him off with a vertical suplex.
Juice tagged in and ran wild on Owens. He hit a senton, and a series of punches and chops in the corner. Juice hit a spinebuster, then used a crab. Fale and White jumped in for the save, then the illegal triple team.
Owens used a backbreaker for a nearfall. The match broke down, and everyone jumped in. The ring cleared, leaving Juice and Owens. Juice went for Pulp Friction, but White saved. White went for Blade Runner, but Nicholls saved.
Owens went for a package piledriver, but Juice turned it into a bridge for a nearfall. Juice hit the Left Hand of God, then hit Pulp Friction for the pin.
A video played after the match. Someone is targeting Juice. The video said Juice’s time is up on June 5, the Best of the Super Jrs. final.
EVIL & SANADA DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA & TOMOHIRO ISHII (16:52)
I think this was the best match on the tour so far. I loved this match. Please go out of your way to see it.
Okada and SANADA started off with an intricate series of counters and reversals based off their signature spots. Awesome stuff.
EVIL and Ishii tagged in. They traded chops and shoulder blocks. Ishii got the first knockdown, but EVIL got the upper hand. SANADA jumped in and raked Ishii’s eyes, allowing EVIL and SANADA to maintain their advantage.
SANADA hit a dropkick to Ishii’s knee, but Ishii countered with a powerslam. Ishii fought to make a tag, but EVIL tagged in first. Ishii fought him off with a suplex, then tagged Okada. Okada hit a back elbow, and a pescado.
Okada hit a DDT. EVIL hit a kick to the abdomen, then tagged SANADA. Okada twice fought off the paradise lock, then hit a flapjack. He used a scoop slam. He teased a top rope elbow, but SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, followed by a back suplex for a two count.
They did another intricate series of counters, ending with Okada hitting an air raid crash. Ishii tagged in. SANADA hit him with a springboard dropkick, then tagged EVIL. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count.
Ishii blocked Everything is EVIL, and hit a backdrop suplex. SANADA came in for a double team, allowing EVIL to hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Ishii fought off a Magic Killer. Ishii hit a suplex on EVIL, and Okada jumped in for a dropkick on SANADA. Ishii hit a clothesline for a two count.
SANADA sent Okada into the barricade on the floor, then jumped in to help EVIL hit the Magic Killer on Ishii. EVIL used a Scorpion Deathlock. Okada tried to break it up, but SANADA put him in Skull End. Ishii fought the hold forever, and the referee called for the stoppage.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED JEFF COBB TO WIN THE TITLE (17:50)
This was better than I expected it would be.
They teased locking up, but Taichi kept stalling. He had Miho Abe check his hair. He took a stroll around the ring. Abe distracted Cobb while Taichi hit him from behind. Cobb no-sold it, then hit a dropkick. Cobb teased a dive, but Taichi used Abe as a human shield.
Kanemaru and TAKA accompanied Taichi as well, and provided a distraction, allowing Taichi to use his microphone stand to choke Cobb. Back inside, Taichi hit some kicks. Cobb went for a bearhug, but Taichi raked the eyes. Cobb put Taichi on the top rope, and hit a delayed vertical suplex from the second turnbuckle.
Cobb hit a running uppercut in the corner, followed by a Samoan drop. Cobb missed with a standing moonsault, and Taichi hit an enziguri in the corner. Taichi tried for a powerbomb, but Cobb powered out. Taichi hit a hook kick, then a buzzsaw kick for a nearfall.
Taichi removed his trousers. Cobb no-sold some kicks, and fired back with strikes. Cobb hit an overhead throw. They traded strikes, into a double down.
Taichi was up first, and went for a stretch plum. Cobb avoided it and went for Tour of the Islands, but Taichi blocked it, and hit a suplex. Taichi then applied a stretch plum. Taichi gave up the hold and went for a pinfall, but Cobb kicked out.
Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex, but maintained waist control. He hit another gutwrench, then hit a piledriver. Cobb hit a blue thunder bomb. He went for Tour of the Islands, but Taichi blocked it, and hit an enziguri.
Cobb caught a kick, hit a lariat, and followed with a standing moonsault. Cobb went for his finish again, but Taichi turned it into a rollup for a two count. Taichi hit a low blow, then used a Gedo Clutch for a nearfall.
Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick, then hit Black Mephisto for the pin, winning the title.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED TAIJI ISHIMORI TO RETAIN THE TITLE
This was everything you want in a wrestling match. Is Dragon Lee one of the ten best wrestlers in the world? One of the five best?
They started off with some mat wrestling, followed by a series of leg sweeps into a kip up. Ishimori used a flying headscissors and twisted Lee’s neck with his legs. Ishimori teased his sliding German, but Lee sent him to the floor, then hit a tope con hilo.
Back inside, Lee hit a dropkick in the corner. Lee started targeting the left leg of Ishimori, using a kneebreaker. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. He placed Lee on the top rope, and teased unmasking him. Ishimori tied Lee to the tree of woe, and hit a dropkick.
As the pace slowed, Ishimori used a chinlock. He followed up by hitting a sliding German. Lee rolled to the floor, and Ishimori hit a springboard moonsault off the post. Ishimori rolled Lee back inside for a two count.
Lee used a quick cradle for a nearfall. Ishimori hit a Woo dropkick, then double knees in the corner for a two count. Ishimori came off the ropes, but ran right into an STO for a two count. Lee hit a straightjacket suplex for a two count.
Ishimori blocked Desnucadora, and hit a crucifix bomb for a nearfall. Lee used a schoolboy for a two count, a one-armed powerbomb for another nearfall, then hit a flying rana from the apron to the floor.
Lee sent Ishimori into the barricade. Lee tried to toss Ishimori back inside, but Ishimori reversed it, and sent Lee into the barricade with an armdrag. They teased a double countout, and both made it back inside at 19.
From their knees, they exchanged forearm strikes. They traded on their feet, and Lee dropped Ishimori with a forearm. Ishimori got back to his feet, but Lee sent him back down with a kick. Lee hit a snap German, but Ishimori popped right up and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Lee no-sold it, and hit a falcon arrow, into a double down.
Lee placed Ishimori on the top rope, then hit a double stomp. He covered, but Ishimori kicked out at two. Ishimori countered Desnucadora with a rana for a nearfall. Ishimori used La Mistica, then transitioned to the Yes Lock. Lee fought for the ropes, and finally got there.
Ishimori hit a lungblower for a nearfall. They traded knee strikes. Lee hit a German, and a running knee for a nearfall. Lee followed with Desnucadora for the pin.
Lee cut a promo after the match, and said the win was for Hiromu Takahashi. He said the title is waiting for Hiromu to return.
Our only poll this week will be on tomorrow’s UFC show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst fight to [email protected].
We’re looking for reports on NXT tonight in Largo, FL to [email protected].
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN (three hours)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for British title
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for IC title
Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada for IWGP title
Kazuchika Okada vs. Sanada in finals of New Japan Cup
Hechicero & Polvora & Vangellys vs. Stuka Jr. & Rey Cometa & Blue Panther
Dragon Lee & Niebla Roja & Valiente vs. Negro Casas & El Terrible & Gran Guerrero
One-night A block Parejas incredibles tournament: Euforia & Guerrero Maya, Flyer & Forastero, Blue Panther & Mascara Ano 2000, Rey Bucanero & Triton, Cavernario & Titan, Angel de Oro & Bestia del Ring, Caristico & Mephisto, Soberano Jr. & Sanson
Volador Jr. vs. Gilbert el Boricua (Mil Muertes)
We’re looking for reports on the ROH TV tapings Saturday night in Columbus, OH (and for NXT Saturday night in Sanford, FL to [email protected].
COMBATE AMERICAS TONIGHT IN MONTERREY, NUEVO LEON AT MIDNIGHT EASTERN ON UNIVISION AT 10 P.M. ON DAZN
Dulce Maria Garcia (117.5) vs. Mariana Ruiz Avila (117.1)
Joey Ruqet (1335.6) vs. Alan Cantu (135.8)
John Castaneda (138.5) vs. Marcela Rojo (136)
Alejandro Flores (146) vs. Levy Marroquin (145.8)
NEW JAPAN FROM ON SATURDAY AT 5 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
Toa Henare vs. Ren Narita
Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima & Shota Umino vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado
Togi Makabe & Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Taiji Ishimori
Hirooki Goto & Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens & Hikuleo
Kota Ibushi & Yoshi-Hashi & Jushin Liger vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi & Taka Michinoku
While interest has inevitably decreased over the years, the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony feels like less of an essential part of WrestleMania weekend than ever.
There are a few major reasons why the Hall of Fame ceremony has lost some of its luster. As WrestleMania week has become a destination for promotions from the United States and abroad, fans have to make difficult decisions on how they’re going to spend their time and money.
When it comes to news, the biggest issue of the year is out, covering WrestleMania, all the behind-the-scenes stuff at WrestleMania, Hall of Fame, NXT and Supercard of Honor, as well as the top indie shows. This issue has more backstage news than any issue of the year.
This issue leads off with coverage of WrestleMania, with the main event finish, what was supposed to happen, who got the blame, why it was brought up on the broadcast, and the future of Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar in WWE.
Next get the update with AEW television talk, what is and isn’t accurate about what has come out, what the current plans are and more.
Also look at the Supercard of Honor in Madison Square Garden. Look back to 1960 when the last time a non-McMahon card took place at the arena and who was on top.
Also look at the idiot who attacked Bret Hart at the Hall of Fame ceremony, what actually happened, comments from the Hart family, the firing of writer R.D. Evans and the comments after by HHH and the rest of DX making fun of it, plus the comments on AEW.
This issue has full details of AAA and its debut in Madison Square Garden. Look at the press conference, the goals, and the story behind the business idea of why it will work. Also look at the AAA relationship with Cain Velasquez.
Also look at the WrestleCon super show, one of the biggest indie events of the year, with appearances by Ric Flair, Animal, Will Ospreay, Bandido, SCU, Jushin Liger, X-Pac and Dragon Lee.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
A.J. Styles said that his injury is a sprained SI joint which has led to pinched nerve endings and a lot of pain. He said that hopefully he won’t take too long to heal and will be back in action.
Dulce Maria Garcia, better known a Sexy Star in lucha libre and Lucha Underground, makes her MMA debut tonight on DAZN and Univision in a 118 pound fight against Marian Ruiz Avila. Both women are making their MMA debuts. Garcia has also done boxing matches in recent years.
Dave Bautista has signed on to star in an action movie “Killer’s Game” for STXFilms. It’s based on the book “The Killer’s Game” by Jay Bonansinga. It’s about a star hit man who finds out he only has a few months to live, so he puts out a contract on his own life, only to find out the lab made a mistake and he’s in perfect health.
Tonight will be Dragon Lee’s last match at Arena Mexico for a few months as he’s working regularly for New Japan as the new IWGP jr. heavyweight champion. Lee holds so many belts right now it’s impossible to keep track of them all.
The big notes at the UFC press conference held today were that Anthony Smith seems to badly want to fight Luke Rockhold, and that Ben Askren is perhaps the most entertaining talker in UFC since Conor McGregor went off the rails.
WWE
Part two of WWE Chronicle: Roman Reigns, will be released Sunday on the WWE Network.
Due to the NHL playoffs, Smackdown will be moved in Canada to OLNHD from its normal home on Sportsnet 360.
The Andre the Giant documentary that was on HBO will be released soon on the WWE Network.
Undertaker will be signing at the Niagara Falls Comic Con on 6/9 from Noon to 2 p.m. as part of the Legends of Wrestling Reunion with Sgt. Slaughter, Paul Orndorff, Road Warrior Animal, Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell.
MISCELLANEOUS
The top three matches from last Saturday’s Supercard of Honor in Madison Square Garden air from 8-10 p.m. tonight on AXS TV.
Regarding the New Japan tour of Australia in June, there will be a major live New Japan World show in Melbourne on 6/29 and there will also be a show in Sydney that week.
ROH announced that its Best in the World PPV show will take place on 6/28 in Baltimore at the UMBC Center. They also announced the return to the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia for a TV taping on 6/29.
Evolve’s 10th anniversary show will be 7/13 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena. Adam Cole and Kassius Ohno will be returning to Evolve soon.
Kelly Klein threw out the first pitch at the Cincinnati Reds vs. Miami Marlins game in Cincinnati yesterday.
Canadian Wrestling Elite along with Kenny Omega and Don Callis are working together tomorrow for a celebrity tug-of-war competition to help Hull’s Haven Border Collie Rescue. It will take place at the Beach Volleyball Centre in Winnipeg. Callis will be announcing and Omega will be on hand as well.
ROH has announced a recruitment combine on 5/4 and 5/5 in Baltimore at the ROH Dojo. They are limiting it to 20 spots, all for women. Scouts and instructors will be Delirious, Will Ferrara, Jonathan Gresham, Ian Riccaboni and Todd Sinclair.
MCW Spring Fever tomorrow night in Hampstead, MD at North Carroll High School with appearances by Mick Foley, Jimmy Hart and Swoggle.
Jeff Cobb and Rich Swann have been announced for the WSW Australian tour on 6/21 and 6/22 in Melbourne and 6/23 in Sydney.
Melbourne City Wrestling no 4/27 has Slex vs. Robbie Eagles for the MCW and Intercommonwealth titles. (thank to Kevin Chiat)
KSW announced a battle of celebrities for its 5/18 show in Gdansk, Poland. Erko Jun (2-0) faces Akop Szostak (3-2). The show is headlined by Michael Materla (27-6) vs. Scott Askham (17-4).
St Louis Anarchy has announced an all-women’s show called Ladies Night on 4/26 in Alton, IL at the Spaulding Hall Club.
AAW tonight at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL with Jessicka Havok & Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett vs. Eddie Kingston & Jake Something & Curt Stallion, LAX vs. Penta 0M & Rey Fenix, DJZ vs. MJF, Sammy Guevera vs. Darby Allin, Fatu vs. Larry D, Shazza McKenzie vs. Kris Stalander and David Starr vs Adam Brooks. Fatu is being managed by Armando Estrada.
wXw on 6/1 has Bobby Gunns vs. Joey Janela for the wXw title plus Ken Shamrock, Brian Cage and Walter appear. (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
Ladies Night out on 4/27 in Texas City, TX at World Gym Arena with Kylie Rae, Jordynne Grace, Penelope Ford, Su Yung, Kiera Hogan, AQA, Janna Lynn, Rock-C, Allie Recks, Christi Jaynes and others. This will be Rae’s last show with the promotion. The show airs live on the Title Match Network.
Defy Wrestling tomorrow night in Portland, OR at the Hawthorne Theater with Artemis Spencer defending the Defy title against Jake Atlas, plus Amerikan Gunz vs. Reno Scum, Hammerstone vs. Schaff in a chain match plus Jimmy Havoc appears.
Femme Fatales 22 on 5/4 in Quebec City, Quebec at the Centre Horizon with Mercedes Martinez vs. Kris Statlander for the interim champion, Cheerleader Melissa vs. Lufisto plus Priscilla Kelly, Kimber Lee, Veda Scott, and a Battle Royal.
Combate Americas will have the first all-women’s show airing live on broadcast television on 4/26 from the Galen Center in Los Angeles. They will also be doing a red carpet ceremony before the event with Mexican celebrity Kate Del Castillo and Alberto Del Rio.
Shimmer, Rise, Smash Wrestling and Femme Fatales are doing a joint show on 8/10 in Toronto at The Met at Noon.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from last night in Peru, NE: Tim Boston won Battle Royal, Preston Maxwell b Jack Darling, Daniels Brothers b El Bigote & Logan James, Moonshine Russell b Pat Powers-DQ, Branden Juarez b Seta Kobara in a street fight, Duke Cornell b Tim Boston. Next show is 4/24 at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
NFC will have Jiu Jitsu matches on 4/27 at Center Stage in Atlanta.
Superkick’d tonight in Toronto at The Great Hall is almost sold out with 40 tickets left as of this morning.
Revolution Pro Wrestling on 4/20 in Harrisburg, PA at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.
CWE on 4/17 in Assinibola, Saskatchewan with Psicosis & Jimmy Jacobs & Michael Elgin vs. Killer Kross & A.J. Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle plus TK O’Ryan vs. Jacob Creed and Vinny Marseglia appears. They run tonight in Golden BC at the Golden Civic Centre with Psicosis & Sean Gaston vs. Robin Lekime & Marn Pain.
Kendo Nagasaki on BBC. (thanks to Han Hwee Yeo)
Video of Jungle Boy Jack Perry teaching his sister Sophie Perry what looks to be a satellite armbar submission. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
A match between CMLL stars has been added to next month’s WrestleCon Supershow.
WrestleCon has announced that Dragon Lee will face Cavernario at this year’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow, which is taking place at the Hilton New York Midtown Ballroom in New York City on Thursday, April 4.
In their last singles match against each other, Dragon Lee defeated Cavernario two falls to one at CMLL’s Arena Mexico show on January 4.
Will Ospreay vs. Bandido is also set for the WrestleCon Supershow, and it’s been announced that Jushin Thunder Liger will be taking part in the event.
Dragon Lee and Bandido will both be featured at ROH and NJPW’s G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 6. It was announced last week that IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will defend his title against Dragon Lee and Bandido in a triple threat match at G1 Supercard. The match features representatives from NJPW (Ishimori), CMLL (Dragon Lee), and ROH (Bandido).
We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s Fastlane from Cleveland so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]” target=”_blank”>[email protected]
We’re also looking for reports tonight from Raw in Pittsburgh with anything that happened off Raw as well as reports from the Smackdown house show in Youngstown, OH to [email protected]
Raw is Monday night from Pittsburgh. Ronda Rousey, Dave Bautista, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are all scheduled.
Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped on Tuesday night in Dayton. 205 Live has the semifinals of the tournament for a WrestleMania shot at Buddy Murphy’s cruiserweight title with Tony Nese vs. Drew Gulak and Oney Lorcan vs. Cedric Alexander.
NEW JAPAN CUP ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 6 A.M. EASTERN FROM OKAYAMA ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
“When I made my announcement, I said that I was going to swing for the fences. We did better than that, y’all. We didn’t just swing for the fences, we hit a home run.”
The entire professional wrestling world breathed the sigh of relief they’ve been waiting four months for as Roman Reigns announced last Monday that his leukemia is in remission.
Reigns shared the positive update while appearing on WWE television for the first time since revealing his battle with leukemia, which had returned 11 years after he was first diagnosed with the disease.
Read the update on the situation with Roman Reigns as the lead story in the new issue of the Observer, talking about his leukemia diagnosis with more details as to the strain, his health situation and what he did in his four months away as well as other athletes with similar strains.
This issue has a major story on the career of Chris “King Kong Bundy” Pallies. Look at how he broke into wrestling, the irony of his very first match, his first role, his first push, where the King Kong Bundy name came from, where the five count came from, what pop culture characters he inspired, the story behind his famous WrestleMania matches including one that has rarely been talked about.
Also look at Jushin Liger’s retirement announcement. Read about his background, how he got started in pro wrestling, his New Japan Dojo legendary class, who he idolized and copied, his first match with the gimmick and what the plans are for his retirement.
This issue has an update on Tommaso Ciampa regarding the nature of his surgery, and what decisions NXT has to make.
Look at the career of Harley Race, how he broke into wrestling, the run that made him a national star and how he got the NWA world title, and how close he came to being champion a second time before it happened more than a year later.
Read full coverage of UFC 235, with all the highlights, business notes, and match-by-match coverage and poll results. Also look at contracted base pay for the show.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the rest of the wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio. You can send question to the show to [email protected]
Also want to mention the show Garrett and I did with Mike Tenay yesterday, that so many have enjoyed. Like I mentioned yesterday, this is a very different show than we’ve done before and it was only due to the closeness of Tenay with The Destroyer that the show happened.
Regarding Dean Ambrose, I think anyone who watched that PPV and heard that commentary would think Ambrose is staying. I was told last night it wasn’t the case, or at least that he hasn’t signed (and granted those are two different things). They are doing a Shield tribute tonight so I think that will all be answered in a few hours based on however the angle goes down. Roman Reigns had a WrestleMania match (obviously) that is being kept secret and given we’ve only got a few shows left, hints could be coming tonight.
Tickets for New Japan in London and Dallas go on sale Wednesday. Based on advance codes, London is expected to sell out. Dallas is something that right now there is no indication about, but will be very interesting, since it is a G-1 show and people won’t know the lineup this week. It’s the first attempt at a major NBA arena in the U.S., and without Kenny Omega, Cody and The Young Bucks.
The funeral for Dick Beyer will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at One Church, 6 Scotland Road, Akron, NY 14001. Contributions can be made to either Hospice Buffalo or the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund. For those wanting to send message you can to www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net
Regarding interest in the weekend shows. Fastlane had 200,000 searches yesterday, putting it in 10th place among every term in the U.S. on Google. Saturday’s UFC show on ESPN+ had 100,000 searches, putting it in 11th place for the day.
WWE sent out a release today pushing that they now have 1 billion social media followers. That’s a number adding up every account combined, meaning there are likely fans counted 30 or 40 or even 100 times if they follow everyone through all the different platforms. They count this as 501 million on Facebook, 226 million on Instagram, 221 million on Twitter, and 46 million on YouTube.
WWE
The movie Changeland, “which Randy Orton is a co-star in, is scheduled for a theatrical release on 6/7.
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye for the flyweight title looks to be happening on the 6/8 UFC PPV show in Chicago. Also announced for that show is Nina Ansaroff vs. Tatiana Suarez in a match which could determine a contender for the strawweight title.
MISCELLANEOUS
Limitless Wrestling in front of 500 fans Saturday in Westbrook, ME: MJF became the company’s first champion in a fatal four-way over Ace Romero, Anthony Greene, and JT Dunn; Chris Dickinson defeated Tommy Dreamer in a hardcore match; Teddy Hart defeated Darby Allin; Jay Freddie and Put defeated The Butcher & The Blade; Ashley Vox defeated Brandon Kirk; Kris Statlander defeated Christian Casanova; Maine State Posse defeated The Shook Crew; The Platinum Hunnies defeated Brett Domino in a handicap match; Brad Hollister won a six-way over Josh Briggs, Pat Buck, Antoine Nicolas, Jake Something, and Donovan Danhausen. Next show on May 10 with Ethan Page.
Demand Lucha on 4/18 in Toronto with Joey Ryan, Rory Gulak, Phil Atlas and others.
Psicosis, Mentallo and Austrian MMA fighter Marin Pain headline for CWE on 3/26 in Rosau River First Nation, MB and the Ginew School Gym.
Tickets are on sale now for MLW on 6/1 in Waukesha, WI at the Expo Center. Announced on the show are Tom Lawlor, L.A. Park The Hart Foundation, Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix, Low Ki, Salina de la Renta, El Hijo de L.A. Park, Simon Gotch, Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Ace Romero, Mance Warner and more.
The final night of the WSW tour of Australia from today in Sydney: Marty Scurll b Mick Moretti, Joey Ryan & Concrete Davidson b Matty Wahlberg & Carter Deams, Jack Bonza b Matt Diamond, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky b Mikey Broderick & Slex, Bandido b Flamita, Brian Cage b Christopher Daniels, Jordynne Grace b Shazza McKenzie in a women’s title match, Robbie Eagles b Austin Aries to keep the WSW title. The whole locker room paid tribute to Abyss, in his final appearance with the promotion since he’s now a producer with WWE.
Woman wrestler Leon apparently had her purse stolen in the U.K. Promoter Dan Read was super upset about it and feels that the U.K. will look bad to those in Japan because of it. A Go Fund Me for her regarding the losses which was close to being met at last word. It’s at https://www.gofundme.com/pro-wrestling-eve-fund-for-leon
All Star Wrestling on 3/22 in Chilliwack, BC at the Tzeachten Hall.
Matt Morgan will return to the ring on Saturday teaming with Deon James vs. Chico Adams & Braydon Knight at Team Vision Dojo in Orlando.
USA Championship Wrestlnig’s Tribute to Eddie Gilbert from Saturday in Jackson, TN: Chris Styles & Brandon White b Big Gravy & Alex May, Kevin Zion b Colorado Kid, Jimmy & Gary Valiant b Tony & LT Falk, Tom Prichard b Christian James, Jake Law & Matt Boyce b Starr Twins to win the tag titles, Jerry Lawler & Doug Gilbert b Tommy Rich &Matt Riviera. Bill Dundee was in the corner of Colorado Kid. Phil Hickerson was also there. Kevin Lawler was there as Freddie Gilbert. Riviera broke a beer bottle over Jerry Lawler’s head and Lawler came back to throw fire at Riviera.
MCW on 3/31 in Joppa, MD at the MCW Arena has Corey Graves and Renee Young appearing. The show will be at 2:30 p.m. that Sunday.
IWA East Coast on 3/16 in Nitro, WV at the King’s Way Outreach Center.
Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Events (more to be added):
Saturday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in a three-way match at ROH & NJPW’s G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden.
ROH announced today that Taiji Ishimori will defend his Junior Heavyweight title against Dragon Lee and Bandido at G1 Supercard. NJPW (Ishimori), CMLL (Lee), and ROH (Bandido) will all be represented in the match.
Ishimori retained the Junior Heavyweight title by defeating Jushin Thunder Liger at NJPW’s 47th Anniversary show. Ishimori then cut a promo where he said he wants to defend his title at Madison Square Garden. He challenged anyone from ROH, but Dragon Lee came out instead.
ROH posted a video today where Bandido wanted to be added to the Junior Heavyweight title match.
G1 Supercard is taking place on Saturday, April 6. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White will defend his title against the winner of the New Japan Cup. There will also be a Tag Team title vs. Tag Team title match. IWGP Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa will face ROH Tag Team Champions The Briscoes with both sets of titles on the line.
Before G1 Supercard, The Briscoes will defend their titles against PCO & Brody King at ROH’s 17th Anniversary pay-per-view this month.
NJPW is planning out its next few months as a Jr. title match has been set for the MSG show while releasing their schedule for this summer’s G1 Climax 29 tournament.
After retaining the IWGP Jr. title at last night’s anniversary show, Taiji Ishimori called out anyone from ROH for a match at the G1 Supercard. Dragon Lee, who appeared earlier in the show as part of a undercard tag match, came out and accepted the challenge, saying that while he is not part of New Japan or Ring of Honor, he will represent CMLL at Madison Square Garden. The match hasn’t been made official by New Japan, but that will likely change in the next few days.
The anniversary show also had a segment showing dates for this summer’s G1 Climax. The tour will start on July 6 in Dallas, Texas with the last three nights taking place at Budokan Hall. Here is the complete list:
July 6: American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
July 13, 14: Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo
July 15: Hokkai Kitayell in Hokkaido
July 18, 19, 20: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
July 24: Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima
July 27, 28: Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Aichi
July 30: Takamatsu City General Gymnasium in Kagawa
The NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 tour continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
The main event saw the CMLL Family Tag Team Tournament winners Dragon Lee & Mistico face off against the CMLL Brothers Tag Team Tournament victors, Ultimo Guerrero and Gran Guerrero.
The only singles match on the show saw NJPW veteran Satoshi Kojima taking on CMLL’s Terrible.
Full results and match reports can be found below:
A solid opener featuring a mix of decent work and the usual Taguchi comedy.
Flyer and Gedo started out. Ishimori jumped in for an illegal double team, but Flyer sent him to the floor. Flyer hit a tope con hilo. Taguchi went for a pescado, but Ishimori and Gedo moved — and he took out Flyer by mistake.
Gedo and Ishimori worked over Taguchi. Taguchi missed with two hip attacks on Gedo, but then hit a third. Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack on both Gedo and Ishimori, then hit a series of hip attacks on both. Taguchi hit a Kokeshi for a near fall on Gedo.
Taguchi used an ankle lock on Gedo, but Ishimori broke it up and applied an ankle lock of his own.
Flyer hit a frankensteiner. Taguchi hit a pescado. Flyer hit a springboard crossbody, and then used a powerslam. Ishimori made his own comeback, then used an ankle lock on Flyer for the submission.
Ishimori used an ankle lock on Taguchi after the match.
ANGEL DE ORO & TITAN DEFEATED CUATRERO & TEMPLARIO
These guys had a great match, well worth going out of your way to see.
Titan and Templario kicked things off with a really nice sequence, exchanging holds, takedowns, and covers. Angel and Cuatrero followed with an equally great sequence, ending with Angel sending Cuatrero to the floor with a headscissors. Angel teased a dive, but ended with a handspring into a pose in the ring. Really cool stuff.
Titan almost did a Sasuke Special, but Templario moved and powerbombed him on the floor. Cuatrero and Templario doubled up on Titan for a bit, but Titan made a comeback and sent them to the floor. Angel hit a golden triangle, and Titan hit a tope con hilo.
Back inside, Angel hit a quebrada for a near fall, then hit a great dropkick. Titan and Templario had a chop battle. Templario hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Templario hit a German for a two count.
Templario went for a gutwrench powerbomb off the middle rope, but Titan turned it into a rana, then hit a moonsault to the floor.
Cuatrero got a near fall off a powerbomb. Angel applied La Mecedora and got the submission win.
Everyone was working at half speed here. The match didn’t have a lot of heat, and it was sloppy in places.
Shingo out-powered Fujin early, so Raijin jumped in and exchanged lariats with him. Shingo and SHO is a future Intercontinental title match for sure, right?
Shingo used a brainbuster and a front facelock on Raijin. BUSHI jumped in and went for Raijin’s mask. Naito attacked Henare and Fujin on the floor and sent them into the crowd. Back inside, Naito and BUSHI hit stereo low dropkicks to Raijin. Shingo hit some elbow drops, then hit a senton for a near fall.
Shingo blocked a spear, but Raijin hit a German. Naito and Henare got tags and traded strikes. Henare hit a tackle and a Samoan drop for a near fall. Naito came back with an enzuigiri, and he used a draping neckbreaker.
Henare hit a spear on Naito, then hit a suplex on BUSHI. Fujin got a tag and hit a back elbow on BUSHI. Fujin and Raijin hit stereo dropkicks on Shingo, then stereo knees on BUSHI. Shingo broke up a 3K attempt, and BUSHI hit a backstabber. BUSHI hit the insurrection on Fujin for the pin.
BUSHI and Shingo unmasked SHO and YOH after the match.
Not much here. Atlantis Jr. has potential, but he’s still incredibly green. Liger always looks great, but Atlantis is fairly immobile.
OKUMURA attacked Atlantis Jr. before the bell. Atlantis started off, and Sanson and Forastero ran into him so he could do his offense. They ran into some hip tosses and arm drags. Liger jumped in. OKUMURA’s second, his wife Mima Shimoda, jumped in, and Liger suplexed her.
Sanson and Forastero worked over Atlantis. Liger broke up a pinfall. Forastero and Sanson crotched Atlantis on the post. Liger hit a crossbody off the post to the floor.
Atlantis Jr. and OKUMURA exchanged near falls — until OKUMURA hit a DDT for the pin.
OKUMURA and Sanson removed Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.’s masks after the match.
This wasn’t so much a match as a series of crazy dives. It was awesome in that regard.
They started off hot, with everyone hitting their flashiest offense. Caristico, Cavernario and Namajague got sent outside, and Volador, Soberano, and Audaz hit stereo tope con hilos to the floor.
Back inside, Caristico and Cavernario worked over Volador. Soberano jumped in, but fell victim to a Swanton Bomb from Caristico. Audaz entered, but he also found himself worked over three-on-one.
Audaz broke up a human pyramid spot with a flying rana. Everyone hit big dives to the floor. They did a tower of doom spot. Volador hit a top rope splash. Soberano hit a high cross off the top. Cavernario hit a Canadian Destroyer. Volador hit a Canadian Destroyer. Volador unmasked Caristico, and there was a scramble to get his mask back on.
All six men were in the ring. They did a row boat spot. Volador hit a rana into the middle of the row boat for a near fall. Audaz and Soberano hit dives to the floor. Caristico used La Mistica on Volador for the submission.
TERRIBLE DEFEATED SATOSHI KOJIMA
I have no idea how to review this match. Kojima can still go. Terrible can do some stuff well and has a great look, but he’s not a great worker or anything. The crowd was very forgiving. They worked a slower pace.
They locked up. Terrible broke cleanly against the ropes, but then kicked Kojima low. They traded chops, and Terrible won the exchange. Kojima took a bump off a chop. Kojima hit a shoulder tackle and flexed his pecs.
Terrible hit a dropkick, and Kojima rolled to the floor. They fought on the outside. Terrible posted Kojima. Terrible used an eye rake and bit Kojima. Back inside, Terrible hit a knee drop, then posed on the turnbuckle. Terrible hit a series of strikes to the chest. Kojima countered with machine gun chops.
They fought on the top rope, and Kojima hit a superplex for a two count. Kojima hit a top rope elbow for a near fall. Kojima hit a rolling elbow and clotheslined Terrible to the floor. Kojima hit a plancha. Terrible recovered and posted Kojima’s lariat arm.
Kojima countered a suplex attempt with a DDT and a cutter. Terrible blocked a brainbuster and hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Terrible hit a top rope splash for another two count.
Kojima backdropped out of a suplex attempt, and hit a brainbuster for two. Terrible ducked a lariat, then hit a series of strikes. Terrible hit a Styles Clash for the pin.
LIJ came out to pose with Terrible after his win.
DRAGON LEE & MISTICO DEFEATED ULTIMO GUERRERO & GRAN GUERRERO
A really fun match. After a lot of stalling early, the pace really picked up and they worked hard for the last 15 minutes.
Ultimo whipped Mistico with a piece of his gear before the bell, so Ultimo and Mistico started off the match. Ultimo stalled and worked the crowd. The two shook hands before locking up. Ultimo removed his mask. Mistico removed his mask, revealing another mask underneath.
Ultimo used a Romero Special. Mistico rolled through into an inverted figure four. Ultimo rolled to the ropes, but he sold his knee big. They rolled outside. Mistico hit a flying rana on the floor.
Back inside, Dragon and Gran jumped in. Ultimo pulled Dragon to the floor and sent him into the barricade. The Guerreros took control, doubling up on Mistico. They hit a tandem press slam off the top, sending Mistico to the mat. Dragon jumped in and ate a brainbuster from Gran. The Guerreros raised the roof.
Dragon hit a dropkick on Ultimo, then a suplex on Gran. Mistico ran wild with ranas. Dragon and Mistico hit topes. Mistico and Dragon used tandem offense on both Guerreros. Mistico hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. The Guerreros hit stereo baseball slides. Gran hit a tope, and Ultimo hit a diving leg lariat off the post to the floor.
Gran and Dragon ended up the legal men. Dragon hit a Spanish fly for a near fall. Mistico hit a frankensteiner on Ultimo. Dragon hit a jumping knee to Ultimo, then used a crossface, but Ultimo reached the ropes.
Dragon went for a top rope rana, but Ultimo turned it into a powerbomb off the second. Dragon and Ultimo fought on the top rope. Dragon hit a double stomp, but Gran broke up the pin. Dragon hit a suicide dive. Gran hit a powerbomb on Mistico for a two count.
Mistico hit a top rope frankensteiner on Gran for a near fall. Mistico used La Mistica for the submission win.
Here are quick results from this morning’s Fantastica Mania event at Korakuen Hall. It featured the finals of this year’s family tag tournament, as well as a special singles match between Soberano Jr. and Barbaro Cavernario.
– Jushin Thunder Liger, Ryusuke Taguchi and Audaz defeated Gedo, Taiji Ishimori and Templario
Audaz submitted Templario with the cross arm breaker.
– Titan and Angel de Oro defeated Okumura and Forastero
Titan picked up the win over Forastero with the titanica.
– Satoshi Kojima, Toa Henare, Fujin and Raijin defeated Terrible, Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI and Shingo Takagi
Kojima pinned Terrible following a lariat. This was the annual Black Cat memorial match.
– Ultimo Guerrero and Gran Guerrero defeated Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.
Gran Guerrero defeated Atlantis Jr. after hitting a modified sit down powerbomb.
– Caristico and Namajague defeated Volador Jr. and Flyer
Caristico submitted Flyer with la mistica for the win.
– Barbaro Cavernario defeated Soberano Jr.
In a special singles match, Cavernario scored the win over Soberano following a cavernaria.
– Dragon Lee and Mistico defeated Cuatrero and Sanson in the CMLL 2019 family tag tournament
Dragon Lee pinned Sanson with the desnucadora to win this year’s family tag team tournament.
Ultimo and Gran Guerrero confronted Dragon Lee and Mistico after the match.
MLW has also revealed that Pentagon Jr. vs. Teddy Hart will be the main event of the December 13 tapings. Pentagon & Fenix were originally scheduled to defend their MLW Tag Team titles against two members of The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Brian Pillman Jr.) in the main event of the December 13 show, but Fenix is out of action for the remainder of 2018 due to a groin strain. The Hart Foundation will accompany Hart against Pentagon, and Pentagon will be accompanied by Konnan.
Two new title matches help round out the card for NJPW’s G1 Special in San Francisco on July 7.
It was officially announced this evening that Hiromu Takahashi will next defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against longtime rival Dragon Lee at the Cow Palace. The two are no stranger to one another, most recently wrestling at the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, where Dragon Lee defeated Takahashi.
Also announced for the show was a NEVER Openweight Championship match pitting new champion Hirooki Goto against Jeff Cobb. The two spent a lot of time on the last tour battling one another, with Cobb challenging Goto following his championship win over Michael Elgin earlier this week.
Here is the full card for the event:
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega defending against Cody Rhodes
IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Jay White defending against Juice Robinson
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defending against Dragon Lee
Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI
IWGP Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defending against EVIL & SANADA
NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto defending against Jeff Cobb
Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA vs. Hangman Page & Marty Scurll
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
The Young Bucks & Hangman Page will be defending their Ring of Honor World Six-Man Tag Team Championship against Flip Gordon, Dragon Lee & Titan at next month’s Final Battle pay-per-view.
ROH announced the match yesterday after it was the only thing for the card not revealed at their two most recent sets of television tapings. Dave Meltzer previously reported that Gordon would be teaming with two wrestlers from CMLL in the match, though it hadn’t yet been confirmed who they would be at that point.
In the other title matches at Final Battle, Cody Rhodes will defend his ROH World Championship against Dalton Castle in the main event, Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor will challenge for Motor City Machine Guns’ tag titles, and Kenny King will face Silas Young, Punishment Martinez, and Shane Taylor in a four corners elimination match for the TV title.
Final Battle 2017 will take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on December 15th. The Briscoes vs. Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer in a hardcore match, Marty Scurll vs. Jay Lethal, Will Ospreay vs. Matt Taven, and The Addiction vs. War Machine have also been set up for the PPV.
