Ricky Steamboat addressed appearing at last week’s AEW Blood & Guts event during a recent interview.
Steamboat cut an in-ring promo on last Wednesday’s show, eventually being confronted by FTR and later saved by Bandido and Brody King. He spoke with Bill Apter of 1Wrestling about his experience in the Greensboro Coliseum that night and said he didn’t particularly care for the women’s Blood & Guts match that opened it, saying there was just too much going on.
“God bless those girls that were in that match, but I didn’t care for it,” Steamboat said. “I don’t know if it was just too much. I thought, personally, they had 16 girls in there or something like that, that there’s just too much going on.”
“Over in this one corner two girls are doing something, two or three girls are doing something in the middle of the ring, then you go to the other ring and two or three girls are doing something. You just couldn’t focus on anything because there was just so much going on, and for me it’s hard to react.“
However, Steamboat also praised his treatment by AEW at the show and said that several wrestlers backstage told him Tony Khan takes care of them.
“First class operation,” Steamboat said of AEW. “Tony Khan does a lot for the boys.”
The Women’s Blood & Guts match was rated four and a half stars in Friday’s edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It has an 8.86 out of 10 rating on Cagematch.net currently based on 450 reviews.
Two legends will appear at Blood & Guts this Wednesday.
It was announced during AEW Collision on Saturday that Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat and Ric Flair would be in attendance this Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Both wrestlers have a well renowned history with the city, a longtime wrestling hotbed dating back to the days of the Mid-Atlantic territory.
Ric Flair has appeared on AEW television before, with his energy drink being associated with the promotion at one point. Back in May, he appeared on an episode of Collision to pay tribute to former Four Horsemen member Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael.
JUST ANNOUNCED!
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and @RicFlairNatrBoy are coming to Blood & Guts!
Steamboat has also previously appeared on AEW television in an angle with Ricky Starks, where Starks attacked Steamboat with a strap that ultimately led to a strap match between Starks and Bryan Danielson.
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Show, I discuss the life and mysterious death of Jay Youngblood and whether he and Ricky Steamboat as a tag team should be in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Also, I talk about the entire Mid-Atlantic area and the incredible tag team scene of that time.
Then, I take a look at a 1994 Tokyo Dome event featuring a Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake match that I simply must see.
Bryan Danielson vs. Jeff Jarrett on the next AEW Dynamite will have a special guest.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat will appear as a special guest at ringside during the Danielson vs. Jarrett bout set for the Wednesday, August 7 AEW Dynamite.
The addition of Steamboat was announced during Friday’s AEW Rampage episode.
Steamboat last appeared for AEW at Revolution as the guest timekeeper for Sting’s retirement match on March 3 in Greensboro.
Danielson is set to challenge Swerve Strickland for the AEW World title at All In at Wembley Stadium later this month. Jarrett has been part of the build to that title bout as he has served as a motivator to Danielson.
Already announced for Dynamite are Katsuyori Shibata in action against The Learning Tree’s Bryan Keith, plus an MJF vs. Kyle Fletcher American title eliminator bout.
In the Final Countdown for his World Title shot vs @swerveconfident, Bryan Danielson fights vs Jeff Jarrett, with special guest Ricky Steamboat at ringside! pic.twitter.com/tpHatcMCue
Ricky Steamboat says he didn’t like the original idea pitched to him for his angle with Ricky Starks on AEW Collision.
Steamboat was a special referee for the August 5 match between Starks and CM Punk on the show. Starks attacked Steamboat after the match and whipped him with his own belt.
Steamboat recently told Bill Apter that the original creative plans had him fending off an attack from Starks and sending him scurrying up the ramp.
“They suggested an outcome that I didn’t like. I said, ‘Look, you’re doing a slow turn with this kid, Ricky Starks, and trying to turn him heel and what you’re suggesting, there’s not going to be any heat on him. So I made the suggestion of what everybody saw and I said, ‘I’d like to put some heat on this kid,'” Steamboat said.
“I was glad to do what I was able to do to help pass the torch and put some heat on Ricky Starks, you know, get it done,” he continued.
“I wanted to get some heat on this kid and they had a result where everything would go down as it was and then as he would spin me around and try to take a shot, I would block it and give him some big chops and he’d take a bump through the ropes and to the floor and scurry up the ramp. It would be a happy, happy moment and I’m thinking, I said, ‘Well, where’s the heat there? Where’s the heat for the kid?'”
“Plus the fact I’m 70 and they’re going to say, ‘God, Starks, a 70-year-old timer just whooped up on you.’ I said, ‘We got to turn this around to where he’s got to catch me off guard and sucker me and get me down and do something to where it’s almost to the point of disgusting and shameful.”
The angle between Punk and Starks appeared as though it was building to a strap match between the two. However, Punk was released from AEW following a backstage altercation at AEW All In on August 27. Bryan Danielson replaced Punk in the angle and defeated Starks in a strap match at AEW All Out on September 3. Danielson then defeated Starks again on the September 23 AEW Collision in a Texas Deathmatch.
While Ricky Starks may not be getting CM Punk or even Ricky Steamboat at Sunday’s AEW All Out as he hoped, he did get a surprise opponent instead: the returning Bryan Danielson.
Danielson will now face Starks in a strap match at the pay-per-view in Chicago, Illinois, made during the first segment of Saturday’s AEW Collision.
Going into Collision, Starks said he was going to challenge the 70-year-old Steamboat to a strap match following his attack on Steamboat following his loss to CM Punk several weeks ago.
After talking about his frustrations without mentioning the now-fired Punk, Steamboat came out and said that Starks would be facing “the Dragon” at All Out and had Starks signed the contract. Steamboat then revealed there was more than one “Dragon” and revealed the returning Danielson, much to Starks’ chagrin. Danielson signed the contract and the match was official.
Signed, sealed, and delivered! Ricky Starks vs. The Dragon!
Danielson hasn’t been in the ring since defeating Kazuchika Okada at June’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door after suffering a broken forearm. Reports had him hopeful for October following surgery that was expected to keep him out for three months, but that it would be a “photo finish” whether he would be ready for October 1st’s Wrestle Dream.
Danielson didn’t have a cast on his right arm, but a lengthy scar was visible.
Punk was expected to face Starks at the PPV, but was suspended after last Sunday’s altercation with Jack Perry at All In and was then fired, revealed Saturday.
On what has been a monumental news day for AEW, the company presents their last stop before Sunday’s All Out with tonight’s Collision from Chicago, Illinois’ United Center.
Ricky Starks will challenge legend Ricky Steamboat to a strap match for All Out following Starks’ assault on Steamboat after the former’s match with the now-fired CM Punk several weeks ago.
Former NBA superstar and occasional pro wrestler Dennis Rodman will be on hand from a venue he has had countless memorable moments in.
New AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn will defend their titles for the first time as they face Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker.
In a highly-anticipated singles match, FTR’s Dax Harwood will take on Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White.
The Outcasts, made up of new AEW Women’s Champion Saraya, Toni Storm & Ruby Soho, will face Britt Baker, TBS Champion Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida which may set up a title match for Sunday.
*********
AEW Collision opened with Tony Khan talking frankly about the situation with CM Punk, and how the confrontation put people in danger, including production staff, himself, and others, and at the recommendations of legal council and an AEW discipline committee, he fired CM Punk. Dave’s coverage of this on Wrestling Observer Radio will be a must listen.
Ricky Starks/Ricky Steamboat segment
Tony Schiavone opened the entertainment portion of the show by bringing Ricky Starks to the ring. Starks made his entrance with a weight belt that Cody Rhodes would be proud of, and accompanied by Big Bill.
Tony Schiavone talked about Starks about challenging Ricky Steamboat, a 70 year old man, to a strap match, and asked, “Are you freakin’ insane?” Starks said that he was tired of starting over again, and that he was going to rebuild again and do what he needed to do. He looked at Big Bill, and said off the cuff that he was proud of him, and that he could do anything he wanted to do.
Starks then tied it back to the story with Steamboat, saying that he was angry because he was suspended for 28-days, and missed All In because of it, so he wanted an answer from Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat’s great 90s WCW theme hit, and he came down with a clipboard. Steamboat said that he never once complained about Starks beating him on social media, but he heard Starks wanted this match on social media.
Steamboat said that he got a contract with his name and Starks name, because he wanted Starks to put his money where his mouth is. The contract says, Ricky Starks vs. The Dragon. Methinks The Dragon in this case might be Bryan Danielson rather than Ricky Steamboat. And right on queue, Steamboat said there was another Dragon everyone in wrestling knew, and Bryan Danielson made his way down to the ring.
Leave it to babyface Bryan Danielson to return and save AEW All Out with Moxley, Orange Cassidy, and few others. The fans chanted at Starks as he crossed his heart, and I laughed. Bryan Danielson and Ricky Starks will face off in a strap match tomorrow night at AEW All Out. Excellent stuff.
–Jon Moxley cut a promo on Orange Cassidy, saying that he was a puzzle that 31 men before him couldn’t solve. He said Cassidy was the real deal, because he was on the run of a lifetime, and the chance to beat someone on a run like him only comes once rarely. Moxley said that the difference between real wrestlers and the fake ones were that when it gets hard, the fake ones look for a way out, and he hoped Cassidy wouldn’t look for a way out. This promo was awesome.
AEW Trios Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed (Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, & Billy Gunn) defeated 2point0 (Matt Menard & Angelo Parker) & Daniel Garcia to retain
This was a good opening match. Garcia and 2point0 are truly excellent. They really helped make The Acclaimed look good here.
Bowens started the match with Parker, and Bowens quickly sent Parker to the floor, who quickly tagged out to Garcia. Garcia faced off with Billy Gunn, and ducked a chop to begin dancing in the middle of the ring. He then told Billy Gunn to suck it. Gunn hit a jab that sent Garcia to his knees. Gunn then danced. Garcia was able to start getting the heat on Bowens after Jake Hager pulled Caster and Gunn from the apron.
Garica then locked on the Dragon Tamer on Bowens and Caster was held back by Parker and Menard. Gunn was able to break it up, but only after extensive damage was done with the submission.
Bowens hit an enziguri on Garcia and then tagged out to Caster, who had a brief advantage, but soon faced Menard. This was where Nigel McGuinness said, “Where did he get that name, Daddy Magic?” Kevin Kelly said he thought it was Jericho, and McGuinness said, “I thought it was prison.” Well then. Caster tagged out to Gunn, who then ran wild and tagged out for Caster to hit the flying elbow for the win.
–The Dark Order was backstage with Lexy Nair, and she asked them about their upcoming match with MJF and Adam Cole for the ROH World Tag Team Championship. John Silver complained about his friend Budge teaming with MJF, and Alex Renyolds revealed that he helped train MJF. He was proud of his success, but he was going to show his student what it meant to be a champion.
–Ricky Starks ran into Tony Schiavone backstage and said that tomorrow night was going to be no different from any other challenge he faced, and he was going to beat Bryan Danielson.
Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) defeated Nick Wayne & Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes
Good tag match here, and Nick Wayne especially looked good, even in losing.
Aussie Open quickly isolated Komander and got some heat on him for a few minutes. Komander was able to hit a jaw breaker on Davis and back flip out of a back suplex before dodging a corner charge and tagging out to Wayne. Wayne hit a superkick on Davis, and then a Asai DDT on Fletcher and a tope con giro on Davis on the floor. Wayne followed up with a frog splash on Fletcher for a 2-count. Wanye called for an OsCutter, but Fletcher blocked it and hit a half-and-half suplex.
Davis tagged in and picked Wayne up for a crucifix bomb, but Komander flew in and superkicked Fletcher. Davis put Wayne down and caught Komander as he went for a Code Breaker and powerbombed him. He then held on and threw Komander back into the air before hitting a piledriver on Komander. Unfortunately for Wayne, he ate a forearms from both Aussie Open. Wayne then went for the OsCutter, or Wayne’s World, on both of Aussie Open, and they caught him and hit Coriolis for the win.
Tony Schiavone interviewed Wayne after the match and Wayne said that while he was frustrated he lost, he couldn’t stop thinking about how Darby Allin forgave AR Fox for what happened between them. Allin made his way down to the ring and told Wayne a story – he said that Nick Wayne was there when Darby Allin got into a fight with Buddy Wayne, and he didn’t talk to any of the Wayne family for three years. In that time, Buddy Wayne died, and Darby had to live with that for the rest of his life. That is why he forgave AR Fox so quickly, because you never know how much time left. Allin then asked Wayne to be in h is corner on Sunday.
Christian then came out and said he was going to slide into the DMs of Nick Wayne’s mom. Christian said that Nick Wayne was just Darby Allin’s personal petty project, and that Christian never pretended to be something he wasn’t. Kevin Kelly pointed out that Christian wasn’t the TNT Champion. Christian said that on Sunday that Nick Wayne should bring a towel to throw in because Allin was going to need it. Good promo from Christian here.
–Claudio Castagnoli was backstage with Wheeler Yuta, and he congratulated Kingston on beating Yuta, but said hit wasn’t that a big deal, because the BCC beat up Yuta everyday. Castagnoli then proceeded to hit a European uppercut on him every single time he delivered a line. He then talked about how he was going to beat Kingston with Yuta at the PPV.
–Eddie Kingston was with Katsuyori Shibata, and Kingston mocked Castagnoli for beating up Yuta, and Yuta for taking it. He then said that the reason Castagnoli couldn’t look at him was because he was afraid. He then asked Shibata what he thought of them. Shibata held up a phone with Google Translate opened, and it read, “You both suck!” and Kingston laughed. Two great promos again.
–Lexy Nair was with Saraya & Ruby Soho, and she talked about how great she was when she won the AEW Women’s World Championship. Soho then said she was going to win the TBS Championship tomorrow at AEW All Out. Nair asked about Toni Storm, and Soho insisted that Storm was fine, though she did just see her half naked in the parking lot throwing her shoes at birds. Soho then reiterated that she would beat Kris Statlander tomorrow, and that everything in the Outcasts was fine, and their trios match later tonight will show it.
–Dennis Rodman ws introduced by Tony Schiavone, and he made his way down to the ring. Before Rodman could say anything Jeff Jarrett and his crew made their way down to the ring. Jarrett indicated he was happy to see Rodman as they were in WCW together years ago, though they stretched them being at the NWO at the same time.
Jarrett also stretched it saying he was the leader of the NWO, but he wanted to make a deal with Dennis Rodman. Rodman said that he was glad to be in Chicago with AEW, and that he was happy to be back in front of the fans. Jarrett demanded an answer to his proposition. Rodman then said he could beatup Satnam Singh. Sonjay Dutt made the offer to Rodman, showing his new shirt with Rodman’s face on it. Rodman shoved Dutt. Jarrett, Lethal, and Singh tried to attack Rodman, but the Acclaimed made the save. The Acclaimed then challenged Jarrett, Lethal, and Singh to a match tomorrow for the trios title.
–A video aired for Shane Taylor, ending with him saying he was taking back his title as he hit the Greetings from Asbury Park on Keith Lee.
–Samoa Joe said that he was going to give Shane Taylor a reality check at AEW All Out. He said Taylor is going to hope he gives the performance of a lifetime, but he’s going to wish he was fighting someone else. He said Taylor hoped he was going to knock him out, but Joe was going to make an example of him and make him regret saying his name. This was an awesome promo too.
Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander defeated The Outcasts (Saraya, Ruby Soho, & Toni Storm)
Toni Storm started the match with Statlander, exchanging shoulder tackles, with Statlander showing more power, but Storm showing more speed. However, that speed was only helpful in running into a body slam. Storm yanked the hair of Statlander and then went for the hip attack in the corner, but wasted too much time, as Statlander recovered and hit a dropkick and tagged out to Baker.
Baker hit a sling blade and tagged out to Shida, hit nailed Soho with a hard forearm. Baker held the arms of Saraya back and Shida went for a forearm, but Saraya ducked and Shida almost hit Baker. This allowed Saraya and Soho to isolate Shida and hit some attacks behind the back of the referee. Storm tagged in and it looked like she killed Shida with the hip attack in the corner.
Saraya drove Shida into the announce table when the referee wasn’t looking, and Soho brought her back into the ring. Shida managed to hit Storm with an enziguri and tag out to Statlander, who ran wild, taking on both Saraya and Soho. Statlander hit a blue thunder bomb on Saraya that Soho broke up.
All six women exchanged moves until Saraya superkicked Baker, but Statlander hit a powerslam on Saraya. Storm tried to break up the pin but landed on Saraya. Saraya tagged out to Baker, who hit a fisherman’s neckbreaker on Soho, but soon got spray paint to the face from Saraya, letting Soho hit No Future for the win.
–Adam Cole was backstage and cut a promo against The Dark Order, saying they were a great tag team, but that him and MJF had no plans to drop their titles anytime soon. Cole then read a list of insults that MJF sent him via text, and Cole had to censor it, and refused to say the last one, because it horrified him, and the fans laughed. Excellent stuff.
–Statlander was backstage and said the only way that Soho could beat her was by cheating, and at this Soho came up and started screaming at her. Saraya cussed at her, and the promo ended there.
Powerhouse Hobbs defeated GPA
This was one of the fastest matches I have ever seen as Hobbs killed him with a spinebuster and his music just resumed playing seconds after it ended.
–Miro’s music hit and he walked down towards the ring in his ring gear and started brawling with Hobbs. The fight spilled at to ringside, and Hobbs threw Miro into the steps while Miro threw Hobbs over the railing into the crowd. Hobbs backed away slowly after this, to cheers from the crowd at the short fight we saw.
–After running down the card for AEW All Out, an awesome hype video aired for Konosuke Takeshita and Kenny Omega set to “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” This was absolutely fantastic.
–Orange Cassidy was sitting backstage and said he didn’t want to talk right now, but he had to because this title match was nothing like what he has done before. He proved in Chicago in his match against PAC that be belonged in AEW. Then he faced Will Ospreay, and proved he could hang with the best in the world. Now, he has to face Jon Moxley, who is simply the best. Moxley was the guy that put AEW on his shoulder when AEW was down, but tomorrow, Cassidy was going to take that burden off his shoulders and carry it himself because he was the AEW International Champion. This was awesome.
Jay White (w/ Juice Robinson, Austin & Colten Gunn) defeated Dax Harwood (w/ Cash Wheeler)
As one would expect, this was a very good wrestling match.
Harwood and White started with some great classic wrestling, and even featured a funny spot where Harwood got the crowd cheering for him to grab the ropes while holding White in an abdominal stretch. White was able to get the advantage by hitting a headlock suplex into the corner. As the Gunns and Robinson were attempting to attack Harwood, Wheeler ran in with a chair to chase them off.
The referee chastised Robinson and he yelled back, “He has a chair ,you idiot!” A fair point, given the referee didn’t see anything but the chair in play. White hit a DDT on Harwood for a 2-count. Harwood hit a superplex on White a minute or so later, but missed a diving headbutt. During the break on the FITE.tv feed, JR, Nigel, and Kelly talked about who had the hardest chops they ever seen and Wahoo McDaniel was given a shout out.
Harwood tried for a slingshot suplex, but White necked him on the ropes to escape. White then came back in the ring but ate a German suplex. Harwood the hit a brain buster for a 2-count. Harwood chopped White on the floor and then went for another diving DDT, but White went to the apron. Harwood chopped White so hard he came back into the ring over the ropes. White managed to hit a dragon screw on the ropes as Harwood tried to get back in.
White hit a backdrop driver and then a Death Valley Driver for a 2-count. White hit a clothesline on Harwood, but he ate it and delivered one of his own to drop White on his head. Harwood then ducked some punches, faked him out, and hit a piledriver for a 2-count. White sent Harwood crashing into the metal post between the ropes, and then hit a uranage for a 2-count. White went for the Blade Runner, but Harwood blocked it by grabbing the ropes and White turned into a slingshot powerbomb as White screamed “No!”
Harwood put a sharpshooter on White and White made the ropes. The rest of Bullet Club Gold pulled White to the floor, and as Harwood faced off with them, White recovered and hit a Blade Runner on the floor. Harwood managed to cradle White once they got back in the ring, but as soon as White kicked out he countered with a Blade Runner for the pinfall. It looks like we might be getting Juice Robinson and Jay White one more time, maybe at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam.
The Bullet Club then laid out Wheeler after the match and started to beat on FTR. As it was looking bad, the Young Bucks ran down to make the save. The Bucks then offered a handshake to FTR, and FTR refused as a small section of fans chanted “CM Punk” but were largely drowned out.
Final Thoughts:
AEW needed to have a show like this after what happened earlier today, and they hit everything they needed to. After the show went off the air in the US, the audio could be heard from the arena, and many fans were chanting for the Elite (though some were still booing). AEW will be fine without CM Punk, but it does suck that it came to this. That said, this was still an excellent show, and did a very good job building up AEW All Out. Moxley and Orange Cassidy were key, but so was Danielson returning as a surprise. Everyone seemed they wanted to steal the show and make this PPV a success tomorrow. Great show.
New for the AEW All Out Zero Hour pre-show:
The Over Budget Charity battle royal
Athena, Mercedes Martinez & Diamante vs. Willow Nightingale, Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue
AEW World Trios Champion The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn (w/ Dennis Rodman) defend against Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh & Jay Lethal (w/ Sonjay Dutt & Karen Jarrett)
Steamboat served as the special outside enforcer for a Starks vs. CM Punk match on the August 5 Collision episode, a match won by Punk. After the bout, Starks attacked Steamboat, whipping him with Steamboat’s own belt. As a result, Starks was issued a storyline suspension of 30 days, later reduced to 28 days.
Steamboat, 70, wrestled what was billed as his retirement match last November at a Big Time Wrestling event, teaming with FTR against Jay Lethal, Nick Aldis, and Brock Anderson. That match was Steamboat’s first since 2010.
Saturday’s Collision will be held in Chicago at the United Center, the same venue as the next night’s All Out.
The updated lineup for Saturday’s Collision, the go-home show for Sunday’s All Out pay-per-view:
Ricky Starks to challenge Ricky Steamboat to a strap match at All Out
Dax Harwood vs. Jay White
World Trios Championship: Max Caster, Anthony Bowens & Billy Gunn defend against Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker
Saraya, Toni Storm & Ruby Soho vs. Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander
Ricky Steamboat says he was offered a role with AEW but decided to turn it down.
Steamboat took part in a virtual signing with Captain’s Corner on Facebook recently and said that while the pay being offered was great, he’s at a point in his life where he doesn’t want to be on the road.
“Believe this or not, I was already asked to come on board [with AEW] in the capacity of [a road agent],” Steamboat said.
“No reflection on them, great company and everything. And don’t get me wrong, the pay was going to be great but I’m at a point in my life where I’m trying to get off the road.”
Steamboat served as a guest timekeeper for AEW on the August 17, 2022 edition of Dynamite. The show was geared around a promotion for HBO’s House of the Dragon.
Steamboat, who turned 70 in February, wrestled his last match on a Big Time Wrestling show last November. He teamed with FTR and was victorious over Nick Aldis, Jay Lethal, and Brock Anderson. Not long after, AEW president Tony Khan said he would love to have Steamboat back in AEW.
Khan told Busted Open Radio that Steamboat is “to this day one of my all-time favorites. I do think he was a great part of AEW already when he came in as the guest timekeeper.”
Steamboat was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Class of 1996. His team with Jay Youngblood was voted Tag Team of the Year in the 1983 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards as well. He also won Match of the Year in 1987 for his WrestleMania III clash with Randy Savage and again in 1989 for his match with Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions VI.
Ricky Steamboat has revealed why he turned down an offer to wrestle in Ric Flair’s last match.
Steamboat spoke with Bill Apter recently and said that he initially agreed to be in the match but backed out after learning that Flair had a pacemaker.
Steamboat said:
“Conrad, who is the promoter, when we talked, I drove to Nashville and we had a sit-down and it was Conrad and his wife and then me and my wife Sandy. I was still training pretty good and feeling pretty good and so I said okay. We hadn’t signed or sealed the deal on the money part of it but what put the nail in the coffin is about a week after that I found out that Flair was wearing a pacemaker.
All these years I never knew. I immediately just said, ‘you know, I don’t think I want to do this.’ I don’t want my legacy to be that I was in the ring if he happened to pass away or something went wrong.
I’ve done some interviews after that when they found out that I said ‘no.’ [It’s] the first time I’m coming public with this. I didn’t want to throw Conrad or Flair under the bus.
Steamboat also spoke about teaming with FTR and defeating Jay Lethal, Nick Aldis, and Brock Anderson at BTW Return of the Dragon last month.
It started out with a little conversation about it being a singles match and I said ‘no I’m definitely not going to do a single.’
Then it got to a tag and then it got to a six-man and then my two partners, FTR, are two boys that I know. I helped train [them] at the WWE school about eight, nine years ago or so. They’re good kids, they’re great hands. So I said, ‘I’ve got a pair of really good guys.’ I finally said yes because I felt I could sprinkle some Ricky Steamboat dust and then I could tag out.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including AEW Dynamite with the MJF and William Regal angle, Ricky Steamboat, AAA’s new idea for Cancun, Cain Velasquez, Survivor Series business notes, ratings, NXT review, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Cain Velasquez wrestling for AAA this Saturday, AAA/Cancun
9:24: Dave’s thoughts on Ricky Steamboat’s return to the ring
Tony Khan says he would love to have Ricky Steamboat back in AEW.
Steamboat was a guest timekeeper on AEW’s House of the Dragon-themed episode back in August. Tony Khan appeared on Busted Open Radio on Wednesday and said that the door is open for Steamboat to return to the promotion.
“It’s definitely something to keep in mind,” Khan said after being asked about Steamboat having a match in AEW. “I think it’s amazing that Ricky Steamboat got back in the ring. FTR, one of the greatest tag teams on the planet. I’m excited tonight for Dax Harwood to go one-on-one with Bryan Danielson, two of the best pro wrestlers in the world. It’s certainly something to think about, Ricky Steamboat’s last match, one of my personal heroes. Somebody, as a kid, one of my all-time favorites and to this day one of my all-time favorites. I do think he was a great part of AEW already when he came in as the guest timekeeper.”
“I would love to have Ricky Steamboat back in AEW anytime,” he continued.
Steamboat returned to the ring for the first time in 12 years over the weekend. He teamed with FTR and defeated Nick Aldis, Jay Lethal, and Brock Anderson for BPW Return of the Dragon on Sunday.
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Sunday News Update
We’ve got two shows up from this weekend. Garrett Gonzales and I went over the news of the week from WWE and AEW in depth on our Friday night show. Bryan and I talked Survivor Series, Smackdown and lots of thoughts on War Games on last night’s show. Bryan and I will be back again tomorrow night.
Some notes from last night’s show. The show was a legit sellout, and really it was pretty much sold out from day one. After production moved in, they put a few hundred more tickets on sale the last day or two, which scalpers bought immediately and then put on sale for the public. It was the largest pro wrestling gate ever in Boston and broke seven figures. It was the most-watched Survivor Series ever but with it being on Peacock which has over 15 million U.S. sub subscribers as compared to nine million last year and one million that the WWE Network had, it was a given going in it would break that record. I’ll have a story on War Games, its history and what did and didn’t work in the matches, on the Sports Illustrated site tomorrow.
Brian Kendrick was backstage producing. Not sure if this was a tryout or a new hire. PW Insider reported it as a tryout. It is notable that he was about to start in AEW when it became a thing of controversy regarding him claiming the holocaust wasn’t real and he was dropped. For some reason, with WWE, I saw nothing at all regarding that subject and his being hired. The only thing we heard was that it was a surprise to most people, including those at NXT who know him, that he was back.
Ricky Steamboat had his first match in more than a dozen years in Raleigh, NC tonight teaming with FTR against Jay Lethal & Brock Anderson & Nick Aldis managed by Arn Anderson. The Big Time Wrestling show also has Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson in the final Rock & Roll Express match ever at Dorton Arena, plus Matt Hardy vs. Crowbar Devon Storm, a Jimmy Valiant Boogie Man Jam Battle Royal plus The Steiners, Kane, Lex Luger and Teddy Long appear as guests.
We’re looking for your thoughts on Survivor Series, 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 reports from tonight’s WWE house show in Portland, ME and the Ricky Steamboat headlined show in Raleigh, NC tonight to [email protected]
The only thing this past week in boxing , pro wrestling or MMA to crack the Google search list was Survivor Series which was the seventh most searched term in the country with more than 200,000 searches. The number is normal level for a B show although Survivor Series is usually an A show. The previous show with Logan Paul did 300,000.
Road Dogg, Molly Holly and Alundra Blayze (Madusa) have all been announced for Tuesday’s NXT show in regard to announcing the wrestlers in the two Iron Survivor matches on the 12/10 special.
AEW has an ROH Final Battle PPV show from Arlington, TX, also on 12/10, and UFC has a PPV show on 12/10, so that will be a crazy day. AEW has two weeks to promote the ROH show with Chris Jericho vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH title with Castagnoli having to join the JAS if he doesn’t win the title as the stipulation. That will be an afternoon show which may be more difficult for PPV than the usual prime time evening time slot. There were teases of FTR vs. Gunn Club and Mercedes Martinez vs. Athena for the tag and women’s titles. The latter from TV basically looked like it was happening although not officially announced.
Jr.: TJP & Francesco Akira b Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles
Heavy: Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi b Tetsuya Naito & Sanada
Aussie Open is in first place in the heavyweight with three wins while Naito & Sanada, Archer & Suzuki, Nicholls & Haste, Goto & Yoshi-Hashi and O’Khan & Henare have two wins.
In the junior, Austin & Bey are first with four wins, TJP & Akira, Zayne & Lindaman, Bushi & Titan and Yoh & Rush all have three wins.
New Japan has a junior heavyweight tag team tournament show live on New Japan World at 4:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning from Nagano with Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors vs. Kushida & Kevin Knight, TJP & Francesco Akira vs. Sho & Dick Togo, Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles vs. Alex Zayne & Lindaman, Bushi & Titan (who have been great all tournament) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki and Lio Rush & Yoh vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey.
The 1/4 AEW show in Seattle has a ticket special that you can get four tickets for $80 using the code AEWSEASON.
The Miz will be on NBC’s The Wheel shows from 12/19 to 12/23 and 12/26 to 12/30. He will be one of six celebrities helping contestants win money. He will also be on Pictionary soon. (thanks to Brian Henke)
A correction from Friday. We had listed that the Stardom in Showcase show yesterday was the first Showcase show on PPV, but that they had other Showcase shows on PPV. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Biaggio Ali-Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, fought MMA Friday night at the PFL show at the Hulu Theater. He looked very good, knocking out Tom Graesser in :45 in an amateur fight that opened the show.
Impact wrestling has received new physical belts. Top Rope Belts, which made the new belt, sent out a tweet showing heavyweight champion Josh Alexander with his new belt, Knockouts champion Jordynne Grace with her new belt and Heath & Rhino with their new tag team title belts.
For the first time in 12 years, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat wrestled and was victorious in doing so.
Steamboat teamed with multi-promotional tag team champions FTR in trios action, picking up a win over Nick Aldis, Jay Lethal and Brock Anderson (with Arn Anderson) as part of a Big Time Wrestling event in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sunday.
The win came when FTR and Steamboat applied figure four leglocks to their opponents, making everyone tap out.
The 69-year-old last wrestled alongside his son, Richie Steamboat, at a June 2010 FCW show against Trent Beretta & Caylen Croft.
The match is the latest in a Steamboat renaissance of sorts this year. The legend first appeared at a MLW TV taping in February, followed by appearing at the NWA 74th anniversary shows, and being a special guest timekeeper for an August AEW Dynamite & Rampage that was themed after HBO’s House of the Dragon. An A&E WWE documentary is also expected for this year.
For his first match back in 12 years, Ricky Steamboat will team with multi-promotional tag team champions FTR at November’s Return of the Dragon show in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Big Time Wrestling-promoted event on November 27th will see the trio take on AEW regulars Jay Lethal (as Black Machismo), Brock Anderson and a mystery partner with Arn Anderson as the team’s manager.
Steamboat’s return to action was first announced in mid-September. The 69-year-old last wrestled alongside his son, Richie Steamboat, at a June 2010 FCW show against Trent Beretta & Caylen Croft.
The Briscoes vs. The Rock N’ Roll Express in Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson’s final match at the Dorton Arena was also announced for the event.
The match will be the latest appearance in wrestling this year for Steamboat. He appeared at a February MLW TV taping, was part of the NWA 74th anniversary weekend and subsequent TV tapings, and was the special guest timekeeper for an August AEW Dynamite & Rampage that was House of the Dragon-themed.
A future A&E WWE documentary on his life is also expected for this year.
