NXT referee Tom Castor will be undergoing surgery due to a torn biceps.
Castor posted a statement today announcing that he tore his biceps off the bone on Thursday and will need to undergo surgery. Castor had refereed Io Shirai and Toni Storm’s NXT Women’s Championship match on NXT this Wednesday night.
Castor previously suffered a broken ankle at an NXT house show in April 2019. He counted the pin for the match despite his injury. Castor was unable to referee matches for 10 months as he recovered from his broken ankle. The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube channel uploaded a video about Castor’s return in March of last year.
In the statement he posted about his torn biceps, Castor wrote that he knows what the road ahead of him looks like and the work that needs to be done. Castor noted that he’s already focused and determined to come back as soon as possible.
Castor’s full statement is available below:
How awesome was the match between @shirai_io and @tonistorm_ from this past Wednesday night?!? Little did I know when I handed Io her championship that this would end up being my last match for the foreseeable future.
Yesterday morning, I unfortunately tore my bicep off the bone which will now require surgery.
As disappointed as I am, I am also a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. When I broke my ankle in 2019, I grew so much mentally and physically. I came back from that injury in better shape, more focused and more confident than I’d been in years. I have no doubt that through this new injury I will continue to grow yet again.
I know what the road ahead of me looks like. I know what work needs to be done. I’m already focused and determined to come back as soon as possible and rejoin my team.
No matter the length of this journey, I’m ready for it. I’ll be back soon. Because I love wrestling!
We’re looking for reports from tonight’s NXT show in Davenport, IA to [email protected]
We’ll be doing one poll this weekend, which will be for the Impact PPV show on Sunday. 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 looking for reports Saturday on NXT from Milwaukee and Dade City, FL and from the NWA Crockett Cup in Concord, NC to [email protected]
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV
Juice Robinson vs. Bad Luck Fale for U.S. title
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for IC title
CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO IN 63RD ANNIVERSARY OF PRO WRESTLING AT ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN
Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. & Triton vs. Mephisto & Ephesto & Luciferno
Valiente vs. Hechicero
Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Soberano Jr. vs. Cuatrero & Forastero & Mascara Ano 2000
Volador Jr. & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Titan & Cavernario in finals of Parejas Incredibles tournament
IMPACT AT 10 P.M. TONIGHT ON PURSUIT AND TWITCH
Willie Mack vs. Killer Kross
LAX & Brian Cage vs. Johnny Impact & Pentagon Jr. & Fenix
AAA FROM MEXICALI AT THE STADIUM ON THE AAA TWITCH CHANNEL AT 11 P.M. EASTERN
Black Danger & Lady Maravilla vs. Nino Hamburguesa & Big Mami
Taya Valkyrie & Faby Apache vs. Chik Tormenta & ?
Golden Magic vs. El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Villano III Jr. vs. Flamita
Tito Santana & Carta Brava Jr. & Mocho Cota Jr. vs. Sammy Guevara (who won’t be there) & Jack Evans & Australian Suicide
Laredo Kid & Brian Cage vs. Taurus & Daga
La Parka & Psycho Clown & Puma King vs. Rey Escorpion & El Texano Jr. & Chessman
COMBATE AMERICAS TONIGHT ON UNIVISION AT MIDNIGHT EASTERN AND PACIFIC, UNIVISION DEPORTES AT MIDNIGHT EASTERN AND 9 P.M. PACIFIC AND DAZN AT 10 P.M. EASTERN AND 7 P.M. PACIFIC FROM THE GALEN CENTER IN LOS ANGELES WITH AN ALL-WOMEN’S MAIN CARD
Yasmine Jauregui (114.9) vs. Daniela Espinosa (115.3)
Gloria Bravo (106) vs. Paulina Granados (106)
Kyla Batara (115.9) vs. Francis Hernandez (116)
KSW 48 LIVE ON DAZN SATURDAY MORNING
Sebastian Przybysz (136) vs. Bogdan Barbu (136)
Hubert Szymajda (158) vs. Shmail Musaev (155)
Cezary Kesik (186) vs. Jakub Kamieniarz (186)
Michael Michalski (171) vs. Savo Lazic (170)
Filip Wolanski (146) vs. Flilip Pejic (146)
Gracjan Szadzinski (156) vs. Maian Ziolkwski (156)
Lukaz Jurkowski (206) vs. Stjepan Bekavac (205)
Roman Szymanski (145) vs. Salahdine Paranssse (145)
Szymajda fined 30 percent for missing weight
UFC FROM SUNRISE, FL. ON SATURDAY
ESPN 2 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Court McGee (170.5) vs. Dhiego Lima (171)
Angela Hill (115.5) vs. Jodie Esquibel (115)
Jim Miller (155.5) vs. Jason Gonzalez (156)
ESPN at 7 p.m. Eastern
Gilbert Burns (156) vs. Mike Davis (155)
Carla Esparza (115) vs. Virna Jandirob (115.5)
Andrei Arlovski (247) vs. Augusto Sakai (264)
Ben Saunders (170.5) vs. Takashi Sato (170.5)
ESPN+ at 9 p.m. Eastern
Roosevelt Roberts (155) vs. Thomas Gifford (156)
John Lineker (135) vs. Cory Sandhagen (135)
Glover Teixeira (205.5) vs. Ion Cutelaba (205)
Alex Oliveira (171) vs. Mike Perry (171)
Greg Hardy (264.5) vs. Dmitrii Smoliakov (262)
Ronaldo Jacare Souza (185.5) vs. Jack Hermansson (185)
BELLATOR FROM SAN JOSE’S SAP CENTER AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON DAZN
Gaston Bolanos (145.5) vs. Nathan Stolen (145.6)
Benson Henderson (156) vs. Adam Piccolotti (155.5)
Phil Davis (205.6) vs. Liam McGeary (205.2)
Ilima-lei Macfarlane (124.8) vs. Veta Arteaga (123.8) for flyweight title
Rory MacDonald (169.8) vs. Jon Fitch (169.5) for welterweight title in first round of the Grand Prix tournament
NWA CROCKETT CUP SATURDAY NIGHT FROM CONCORD, NC AT 7 P.M. EASTERN ON HONOR CLUB AND FITE TV
Battle Royal to determine final team in the Crockett Cup
Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett for NWA women’s title
Willie Mack vs. Colt Cabana for NWA National title
Nick Aldis vs. Marty Scurll for NWA title
First round tournament matches, entire tournament takes place on this show
Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson
Brody King & PCO vs. Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata
Flip Gordon & Bandido vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. & Stuka Jr.
Crimson & Jax Dane vs. Battle Royal winner
MLW FUSION ON BEINSPORTS AT 9 P.M. EASTERN SATURDAY NIGHT
Hart Foundation vs. Dynasty tables match
Rey Hours vs. Ace Austin
Jordan Oliver vs. Kotto Brazil
There will also be an NXT show on Sunday in St. Paul, MN.
IMPACT REBELLION PPV SUNDAY AT 8 P.M. EASTERN FROM THE REBEL ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IN TORONTO ON PPV AND FITE TV
Johnny Impact vs. Brian Cage for Impact title with Lance Storm as referee
Gail Kim vs. Tessa Blanchard
Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. LAX in a Full Metal Mayhem match for Impact tag titles
Taya Valkyrie vs. Jordynne Grace for Impact women’s title
Rich Swann vs. Sami Callihan for X title
NEW JAPAN WRESTLING HI NO KUNI LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AT 2 A.M. EASTERN FROM KUMAMOTO ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Tomoaki Honma & Ren Narita & Shota Umino vs. Toa Henare & Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura
Ryusuke Taguchi & Tiger Mask & Jushin Liger & Yoshi-Hashi & Jeff Cobb vs. Minoru Suzuki & Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi & Taka Michinoku
Will Ospreay & Dragon Lee vs. Taiji Ishimori & Hikuleo
Bad Luck Fale vs. Mikey Nicholls
Juice Robinson vs. Chase Owens non-title
Kazuchika Okada & Kota Ibushi & Tomohiro Ishii & Sho & Yoh vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Shingo Takagi
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano for IWGP tag titles
Hirooki Goto vs. Jay White
Raw will be Monday night in Lexington, KY. There will also be a Monday night Smackdown house show in Huntington, WV.
Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped on Tuesday in Columbus, OH.
Raw and SmackDown’s post-WrestleMania rosters were confirmed over the past week as WWE held their third annual Superstar Shake-up.
The most notable names to switch brands were AJ Styles and Roman Reigns. Styles had been the face of SmackDown since the 2016 brand split but is now a member of the Raw roster. Reigns had been on Raw since the 2016 draft but was moved to SmackDown in this year’s Shake-up, which comes in advance of SmackDown debuting on Fox in October.
While last week was supposed to be the Superstar Shakeup, lots of things happened this past week that caused plans to change.
The biggest thing was the about-face of breaking up the relationship between Ashley Fliehr (Charlotte Flair) and Manny Andrade by putting them on different brands. The relationship wasn’t a secret and the decision was made with knowledge of this. But it didn’t play out well in real life so it was reversed with Andrade moving back to Smackdown the next week. Because they didn’t want to break up the Andrade/Zelina Vega act, they moved Thea Trinidad (Vega) back to Smackdown as well. Unfortunately, then they were breaking up a married couple, so her husband, Tom Budgen (Aleister Black) also had to be moved to Smackdown.
That broke up the Ricochet & Aleister Black tag team, and based on Ricochet losing to a repackaged Bobby Roode, now back to doing the Robert Roode character with a Don Frye mustache, the orders from above to protect the second run of NXT call-ups ended.
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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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.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
We have a new Observer Radio show up todaycovering WWE financials, as well as talking to both Jon Fitch and Ilima-lei Macfarlane prior to their Bellator title fights Saturday, with Fitch talking about training, dieting and why depression led to his using steroids, and Macfarlane going in detail on how she put together one of the greatest ring entrances in the industry in December. This is a rare free show for me.
WWE stock closed today at $83.52, so it still fell after the bad day yesterday.
WWE has no house shows this weekend. The original plan was to run in Saudi Arabia this coming Friday, so they were giving people the week off before the plan to fly out. When the show was moved, there were no buildings booked.
Gail Kim said it took a lot to convince her to do the match Sunday with Tessa Blanchard and said that while you never say never, this is her final match.
Something that has gone under the radar is that in the prelims in San Jose for Bellator tomorrow will be the debut of Boris Novachkov. Novachkov, who grew up in Sunnyvale, CA, competed for Bulgaria in the most recent Olympics in wrestling and placed second in the 2011 NCAA tournament and third in 2012 while wrestling for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He also placed third in the 2014 European championships.
WWE
WWE has announced a 6/15 show in Anaheim at the Honda Center.
The early word on the injury to Raul Mendoza is that it doesn’t appear to be that serious, but it won’t be evaluated until Monday. The injury to referee Tom Castor looked bad, a probable serious broken ankle.
Advertising in Columbus, OH for Tuesday’s Smackdown show lists Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens, with Erick Rowan in his corner, as the main event. So they are at least advertising that’s Rowan’s destination.
Johnny Gargano throwing out the first pitch at a Cleveland Indians game. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
UFC
Paulo Costa was announced today as receiving a six month suspension from USADA for using an IV with more than 100mL after weighing in for fights in 2017. The suspension has already expired.
MISCELLANEOUS
This past Saturday’s Kota Ibushi IC title defense against Zack Sabre Jr. will headline the AXS New Japan show tonight. This was one of the top matches so far this year.
MCW on Saturday night in Joppa, MD at the MCW Arena features a meet and greet with Dustin Rhodes.
Rey Fenix has been added to the June World Series Wrestling Australia tour.
Fale Dojo has a New Zealand tryout on 5/11 in Auckland. You have to be 18 or older to attend. For more info write to [email protected].
The AAA Latin American title will be at take on Sunday in Sydney, Australia for BCW with Drago, Aero Star, Bee Boy and Robbie Eagles in a four-way. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 5/4 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
Evolve announced a Kassius Ohno seminar on 5/11. At least one person from the seminar will get NXT enhancement work. Everyone will get a tryout match filmed with multiple cameras in HD and you get the rights to use your footage to send to promoters to get bookings. The seminar price is $149.
Traditional Championship Wrestling’s first two seasons are available on Amazon Prime Video.
Olympic bronze medalist J’Den Cox vs. Patrick Brucki of Princeton has been added to the 5/6 Grapple at the Garden show at the Hulu Theater as part of the Madison Square Garden complex. Brucki was 33-3 this season, and placed fourth in the 197 pound weight class at the NCAA tournament. David Taylor, the 2018 world champion, will face NCAA champion Drew Foster. This is the event headlined by Ben Askren vs. Jordan Burroughs.
Women’s Superstars Uncensored has shows tonight and tomorrow night in Voorhees Township, NJ at the Colossal Sports Academy. There is a tag team tournament tonight and a regular show tomorrow.
CWE on Wednesday night in Brandon, Manitoba: Michael Elgin b Killer Kross, Alix Zwicker b Maddison Miles, Mentallo & Vance Nevada b Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan-DQ, Jimmy Jacobs won four-way over Martn Pain, Kevin Cannon and Brian Rich, Psicosis b Tommy Lee Curtis, AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle b Norman Harass & Alex Ace, Danny Duggan b Robin Lekime to keep CWE title.
CWE from last night in Morden, Manitoba: Danny Duggan b Robin Lekime to keep CWE title, Martn Pain b Norman Harass, Psicosis & Mentallo b Jimmy Jacobs & Jay Walker, Alix Zwicker b Maddison Miles, Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan & Sam Davidson b AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle & Alex Ace.
CWE tonight in Winnipeg at the Essence Event Centre with Psicosis vs. AJ Sanchez vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. TK O’Ryan vs. Kevy Chevy.
NFC BJJ tomorrow at Center Stage in Atlanta with 24 matches.
Toni Storm’s Stardom matches announced will be 5/3 in Tokyo at Shinkiba against Tam Nakano, 5/4 against Momo Watanabe and 5/5 against Konami. World of Stardom champion Kagetsu defends against Bea Priestley of AEW on the 5/4 show.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Wednesday night in Omaha: Paul & Joey Daniels b Jaysin Strife, Willy Sweet b Uncle Ricky, Duke Cornell b Jack Darling, Moonshine Russell b Tim Boston, Preston Maxwell b Con Artiest, Brett Bishop won three-way over Branden Juarez and Seto Kobara, Pat Powers b Devin Carter. Next show is 5/22, the company’s 14th anniversary show, at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
Eve has sold out its show today in London which just took place with the Kris Wolf retirement match. It’s available on EVEonDemand.
Less than 40 tickets remain for the Eve show on 5/11 in London at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green.
Evolve announced these matches for two weeks from now:
5/10 in Livonia, MI
Austin Theory vs. Adam Cole
JD Drake vs. Joe Gacy for WWN title
Kassius Ohno & Harlem Bravado vs. AR Fox & Leon Ruff
Eddie Kingston vs. Curt Stallion
Josh Briggs vs. Adrian Jaoude
Anthony Henry vs. Juntai
5/11 in Indianapolis
Adam Cole vs. AR Fox
Kassius Ohno vs. Josh Briggs
Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy vs. JD Drake & Anthony Henry for Evolve tag titles
Austin Theory defends Evolve title against winner of Leon Ruff vs. Curt Stallion vs. Anthony Greene match
Adrian Jaoude vs. Harlem Bravado
Clash on Saturday night in Allen Park, MI at the Frank J. Lada Civic Arena.
Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25
This match got a lukewarm reaction at first, but Aliyah and Borne did great comedy heel work to get the crowd into it.
– Jaxson Ryker vs. Raul Mendoza ended in a no contest
Mendoza suffering an injury caused the match to end in a no contest. He fell to the ground in pain after a rope spot.
– Riddick Moss defeated Eric Bugenhagen
The crowd was into this match — even though nobody knew Bugenhagen when his music hit. He air guitared and drummed in the ring to his music. The fans ate it up.
Moss came to the ring using his new health system gimmick. Moss won, but the fans chanted for an encore from Bugenhagen. It brought him back to life and he rocked out with the crowd and ring announcer. This brought the crowd back into it after Mendoza’s injury.
– Shane Thorne defeated Denzel Dejournette
There was a pre-taped video of Dejournette introducing himself and saying it was his birthday. The fans sang happy birthday at the beginning of the match.
Thorne won with his feet on the ropes. He then grabbed a chair for a promo, insulted Omaha and his old tag partner, and then threatened to spoil Avengers: Endgame — but Adam Cole’s music hit.
Cole came to the ring, trashed Thorne, and challenged him to a match.
– Adam Cole defeated Shane Thorne
Cole squashed him in like two minutes. Cole got the loudest pop of the night
– The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler) defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
They had a back-and-forth match with the Forgotten Sons getting the win. The crowd was super into Ford’s athleticism.
The Sons beat down the Profits after the match, but Punishment Martinez came out to make the save. Martinez hit his monster splash.
– NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler defeated Io Shirai to retain her title
Both got good pops, with Baszler’s being bigger since we’re close to South Dakota. They did some great back-and-forth action. Shirai did lots of high flying, including a huge moonsault to the outside.
Baszler ultimately won by submission. The fans cheered for Shirai when she came to.
– NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream defeated Tyler Breeze to retain his title
Dream entered first, getting the second biggest pop of the night. He cut a promo saying he loves Omaha and can’t wait to get to his hotel where there’s an Omaha Steak waiting for him.
Dream mentioned that he has a surprise opponent. There were camera clicks in the intro music and the screen showed Breeze’s boots from behind. The third biggest pop of the show was for him. Fans chanted “welcome back” when Breeze hit the ring.
Referee Tom Castor suffered a bad leg injury near the end of the match, with Drake Wuertz tweeting that Castor broke his leg: “Please say a prayer for my brother @tomcastorWWE. He broke his leg in the line of duty tonight during the main event of #NXTOmaha. When he was on the stretcher he squeezed my hand and proudly said ‘Drake I Love the Business’. We love you Tom!”
