Tracy Smothers will be inducted into the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame.
It was announced today by Game Changer Wrestling that Smothers will be inducted as part of the inaugural Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame class of 2022, which will be held on January 22 at The Cutting Room in New York City. The person that will induct him has yet to be named.
Smothers, despite wrestling for NWA, WCW, WWF, ECW, Smoky Mountain Wrestling and more throughout his career, he also has an extensive background in the independent wrestling scene, wrestling for companies such as IWA Mid-South, XPW, and more. He continually wrestled on the independent scene up to 2019. Smothers passed away from various health issues, including lymphoma, in October of 2020.
Other inductees already announced for the show include Jerry Lynn (inducted by Sean Waltman), Homicide (inducted by Chris Dickinson), Ruckus (inducted by Sonjay Dutt, and Dave Prazak.
Most of the time when a top wrestler passes away, people talk about the memories they provided in the ring, or their accomplishments.
When Tracy Smothers passed away after a battle with cancer, after years of health issues, the modern generation talked about little of that.
Smothers, who was 58 when he passed away on 10/28, was talked about for being a mentor to a generation of people who started out working long road trips to small shows for very little money. Most of them made little money but created lifelong memories, including of Smothers, a one-time star who loved the business more than anything and kept at it until he physically could no longer, and still, while near death, longed for one last match.
Others made it big. But they never forgot the one guy who was always smiling, always encouraging, and always fun to be around in the dressing room that they had seen growing up and was still having fun.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Tracy Smothers, another COVID outbreak, RAW ratings, updates on Thunder Rosa and Tucker, UFC PPV numbers, a weekend preview, and, of course, a full recap of both AEW and NXT from Wednesday night. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Tracy Smothers
16:28: Thunder Rosa update
20:14: New COVID outbreak in NXT
22:53: Raw ratings
27:17: Tucker is on Raw
31:14: UFC numbers
34:04: Bellator, UFC
37:43: AEW
1:07:28: NXT
We’ve got a G1 special on the Observer with the deepest look at the tournament anywhere. G1 MVP, G1 best match, G1 history notes, polls on the last three nights, the story behind Kota Ibushi’s win and much more in a new double issue of the Observer.
The business decline that was unavoidable, the difference in wrestling with fans who are not supposed to cheer and boo and who does the best with it, the ups and downs of the different wrestlers, who improved the most from last year, lots of G1 records, Power Struggle notes, a breakdown of every wrestler in the tournament and how they did in the ring this year as compared to last year, who were the best at carrying opponents, who had the best matches, how this year’s match quality compared to last year, just how great this year’s A block shows were, New Japan’s U.S. popularity and which wrestlers have had the best in-ring tournaments in recent years.
Also in this issue:
Harold Meij’s final day in charge of New Japan and key issues with his legacy, Tokyo Dome updates, and how the last days went down.
Things going on behind-the-scenes with President Trump that may be done that would help Vince McMahon and Dana White, Andrew Yang talks wrestlers as independent contractors and what he plans to do about it, Orange County Department of Health looking at COVID spreading in buildings that house WWE and MLW, and WWE’s statement.
What is and isn’t misleading and looking at WWE COVID numbers, we preview Hell in a Cell, note a mandatory conference all WWE talent has to attend this week, WWE getting an award looked at, WWE signing, why the plight of independent wrestlers is so different from before, WWE Network November theme, WWE star nominated for a movie award and new WWE Network deals.
Wrestling ratings compared to other sports, Canadian & U.K. ratings, Mike Bennett talks the problems in communication in WWE, Sami Zayn talks the ladder match, WWE market value and the most watched shows last week on the WWE Network.
Brian Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie with full coverage of Saturday’s UFC event,.
The surprising thing that matters far more than most gave it credit for when it comes to viewing wrestling shows.
Ratings breakdowns in every segment for Wednesdays and every category for other shows, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WWE on FOX has posted a video of the setup for tonight’s NXT Halloween Havoc show.
This week’s episode of The Bump features Rey Mysterio, Michelle McCool, Shotzi Blackheart, and William Shatner.
Elias and former Tough Enough star Maven will be the guests on next week’s The Bump.
Chad Gable will be the guest on Corey Graves’ After the Bell podcast tomorrow.
WWE released a statement on Tracy Smothers, who passed away early this morning at the age of 58. WWE stars commented on Smothers’ passing, including Edge and Sami Zayn.
‘Meeting Mark Calaway’, a show where WWE stars recall their first time meeting The Undertaker, will be available this Sunday on the WWE Network.
Season 7 of mobile game WWE Supercard has been announced. It will feature Styles & Techniques for deck building, super moves, new card tiers, a WarGames event, and much more. It will be released in November.
Sports Illustrated has an interview with Shotzi Blackheart regarding tonight’s Halloween Havoc show. Blackheart also spoke to Stephanie Chase on joining WWE and Halloween Havoc.
Raquel Gonzalez spoke to TVInsider about her Halloween Havoc match against Rhea Ripley.
Wade Barrett spoke to Metro on his run as the Nexus leader and feuding with John Cena.
Big E talked to Sportskeeda on his backstage chats with The Undertaker and Roman Reigns.
Free matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include Undertaker vs. Batista in a no DQ match for the World Heavyweight title from the April 25, 2008 edition of SmackDown and Hulk Hogan vs. The Giant for the WCW title from Halloween Havoc 1995, as well as the monster truck sumo match that preceded it.
During a virtual meet and greet with Pro Wrestling Junkies, Alex Reynolds spoke about the incident that took place on last week’s Dynamite where he was knocked out, defending AEW’s safety protocols. “No, I think our team does a fantastic job,” he said (h/t Post Wrestling). “I think they took care of me, right away when we all realized I was hurt. They got me out of there nice and safe, so it’s a contact sport, you know? Injuries are gonna happen and I think they’ve shown that they can handle those situations so yeah, I don’t think those safety concerns are validated, as somebody who’s kinda just lived through it. I’ve put my trust fully in our staff”. Reynolds said that he would meet with AEW’s doctor when they tape next week and believed he would be cleared to return.
The Young Bucks are teasing an announcement during their sit down interview with Excalibur tonight on Dynamite.
The latest Aces High column with Hiroshi Tanahashi talks about Tanahashi’s run as the U-30 champion and challenging the MMA style that was popular at the time within the company.
After more than a year of dealing with significant health issues that included cancer and heart problems, Tracy Smothers passed away at 4:30 AM Wednesday morning at just 58 years old.
Late last year, Smothers disclosed on social media that he was undergoing chemo treatments for lymphoma and was told that he had suffered a heart attack without realizing it. Earlier this month, Les Thatcher said on social media that Smothers had to be hospitalized as both the cancer and heart issues had returned. Chris Hero started a GoFundMe in April to help pay Smothers’ medical expenses.
The Springfield, Tennessee, born Smothers wrestled for nearly 36 years. He started his career in Tennessee in 1984 as enhancement talent on Memphis television. With his size and look, he was pushed quickly as a good looking, young, athletic babyface, holding the Mid-American title in the promotion twice in 1986.
After eight years working in Southern promotions, he kicked off a string of short runs with WCW, WWF, ECW, USWA, and Smoky Mountain Wrestling, none lasting more than three years each. He also famously wrestled an unmuzzled bear in his early years.
He and Steve Armstrong, the son of Bob, were a regular tag team from 1987-1992 as The Wild Eyed Southern Boys, and later, The Young Pistols. They wrestled throughout the Southern territories and their highest profile matches were with the Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) over the U.S. tag team titles with World Championship Wrestling in 1990. They also regularly wrestled against The Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) before going heel.
Probably the most famous match of Smothers’ career was on July 7, 1990, at the Great American Bash from Baltimore where he and Armstrong challenged the Midnights for the titles, which many considered the best match in the U.S. of that year and placed highly in virtually every match of the year poll. It was considered one of the all-time classic tag team matches of the era.
The match placed third in the 1990 Wrestling Observer Match of the Year balloting behind Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano match and the all-time legendary Mitsuharu Misawa win over Jumbo Tsuruta, meaning it was considered the best match of that year in the U.S.
When Jim Cornette started Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Smothers was a fixture, often as the top babyface, and had a lengthy feud with the “Dirty White Boy” Tony Anthony, who was managed by area legend Ron Wright. Smothers was the right guy for that position at the time and would have probably been pushed more except he could make more money working in Japan. Thus, he was in and out of the territory for most of the company’s run.
He was a two-time SMW heavyweight champion, three time tag team champion, and after DWB’s babyface turn, they joined forces and held the tag team titles.
Smothers worked SMW and Japan, competing in W*ING, All Japan, and later IWA Japan, going back and forth from 1992-1995 and was a highly respected top worker during that period. In 1993, he was voted by readers of the Observer as the Most Improved Wrestler and at that point, he was considered one of the top level workers in the country while having to constantly shift styles from Southern in SMW to hardcore in W*ING and IWA Japan to the hard, solid wrestling of the heyday of All Japan.
He got his one significant run with WWF from 1996-1998 as Freddy Joe Floyd during a period when the company was looking for talented workers to do enhancement work on television. (This was a role that Chris Jericho was offered pre-WCW that he turned down, thinking it would negatively impact his career being a jobber on television each week.)
The name was a rib on the Brisco Brothers because Jack’s real name was Fred Joseph Brisco and Gerald’s real name was Floyd Gerald Brisco. He was billed from Blackwell, OK, where the Briscos actually grew up.
With the territories dying out, it was a steady job. But in those days, working as a television loser that was seen nationally diminished his marketability and also made it impossible for him to be pushed on top for any company of any significance.
When he became an ECW regular, he had to overcome that stigma to be accepted by that fan base. He did so by becoming a beloved comedy figure who would dance badly on purpose, which endeared himself to that crowd.
That led to a run as part of the FBI (Full Blooded Italians) where the gimmick was that besides Little Guido (James Maritato), none of the members were Italians. The group included former NWA champion Tommy Rich, and, at one point, J.T. Smith. Smothers was billed as from Nashville, Italy.
It was a pure mid-card comedy role that lasted through 1999, but did include one run with Guido as tag team champions.
After a final tour with Japan’s FMW in 2000 and doing occasional television jobs under his real name with the national companies, the rest of his career was spent doing independent shows. He was part of the 2005 nostalgia based Hardcore Homecoming group and was a regular with IWA Mid South for years.
Smothers continued to wrestle on independent shows through late-2019, even with health issues mounting. He had a quick temper, perhaps due to the concussions, and he believed he had suffered more than two dozen concussions during his career and suffered greatly from their effects.
But for the most part, he had a heart of gold and was extremely well-liked in the independent community and by younger talent on the shows he would work on. He was always good natured, always smiling, and a humble guy who had no airs of having a big star attitude at any point in his career.
A look at the WWE draft is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. We look at the different moves made, why they were made, look at the depth charts with both brands to see what is and isn’t lacking, talk the return of talent, talent being kept apart, the whys behind some moves, and the rosters of both brands.
The new issue also covers:
The G1 Climax tournament, with match-by-match coverage of every show this past week, with star ratings and poll results. We look at the quality of shows, matches being built up, who have been the stars and best matches of the tournament.
The Cena wedding, how much Linda McMahon has donated to Trump’s campaign, lots of WWE injury updates, Lawsuit updates, Total Bellas notes, U.K TV ratings, new WWE documentary, how wrestling stacks up to other sports on TV, WWE filming an indie star for documentary, upcoming TV bouts, WWE market value, a new WWE book, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week.
Saturday’s UFC show from Abu Dhabi and the ramifications of the top matches.
A feature on Len Rossi, one of the biggest stars in Tennessee and Alabama from 1958 to 1972, his career in the ring, his life after wrestling, his tag team partners and most well-known angles. It’s a look back at a unique era of pro wrestling and how Rossi was a key to change in a unique time.
The indictment of the former Alberto Del Rio on a sexual assault and kidnapping case.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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
For the weekend, Garrett Gonzalez and I will do a show late tonight covering the latest news from the past week. On Saturday, Bryan and I will do a show covering the G-1 final three days.
Tracy Smothers has been hospitalized with non-Hodgkins lymphoma on the left side of his stomach and right side of his lung. Best wishes to him in battling the disease.
The G-1 B Block finals are tomorrow at 4 a.m. Eastern from Sumo Hall:
Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd
Toru Yano (3-5) vs. Yoshi-Hashi (1-7)
Hirooki Goto (4-4) vs. Juice Robinson (3-5)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-5) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (5-3)
Tetsuya Naito (6-2) vs. KENTA (4-4)
Sanada (5-3) vs. Evil (6-2)
If Evil wins, he wins the block. If Evil loses and Naito wins, Naito wins the block. If Sabre, Evil and Naito all lose, Sanada wins the block. If Sabre and Sanada win, and Naito loses, Sabre wins the block. Our G-1 weekend polls are for Wednesday’s show, the three shows this weekend, as well as tournament MVP and best match in the tournament, with thumbs up, down or middle, best & worst match for each show to dave@#wrestlingobserver.com
Saturday’s UFC show is an ESPN+ exclusive starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time
Said Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Mark Striegl (136)
Gadzhimurad Anitgulov (206) vs. Maxim Grishin (205.5)
Jamie Mullarkey (156) vs. Firas Ziam (156)
Jun Yong Park (185) vs. John Phillips (186)
Gillian Robertson (125.5) vs. Poliana Botelho (125)
Mateusz Gamrot (156) vs. Guram Kutateladze (156)
Thomas Almeida (146) vs. Jonathan Martinez (146)
Claudio Silva (171) vs. James Krause (171)
Jimmy Crute (206) vs.; Modestaa Bukauska (206)
Katlyn Chookiagian (126) vs. Jessica Andrade (126)
Brian Ortega (146) vs. Chan Sung Jung (146)
The promoters of last weekend’s Collective shows in Indianapolis are urging all fans and wrestlers who were at the shows to test for COVID-19 due to several wrestlers already testing positive.
205 Live tonight has Isaiah Scott vs. Brian Kendrick and Ariya Daivari in matches with Anthony Greene and Curt Stallion.
Bill Goldberg on Instagram teased the idea of a match with Roman Reigns. The two were to wrestle at WrestleMania.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bret Hart, Lance Storm and Trish Status have cameos on Corner Gas Animated that airs on 10/26 on CTV Comedy Channel in Canada. The episode will air at some point in the U.S. but the date isn’t finalized. Storm plays a former pro wrestler turned celebrity gardening podcaster while Bret Hart is his rival. Stratus voices the role of Shauna, a virtual home assistant.
Bu Ku Dao has signed with MLW. Bu Ku Dao wrestles in the Gulf Coast area.
Impact announced Heath, Rhino, Hernandez, Acey Romero, Larry D, Tenille Dashwood, Taya Valkyrie, Brian Myers, Tommy Dreamer and Havok as the first ten entrants in their Call Your Shot gauntlet, a royal rumble style match. The winner picks the title they want to challenge for.
CWE announced with Vincent unable to enter Canada, a tournament will be held on 11/6 in Winnipeg at the Holy Eucharist Parish Hall with Danny Duggan, Mentallo, Adam Knight, EZ Ryder, Kevy Chevy, Tommy Lee Curtis, Bobby Schink and Dragneel for the vacant title. They also announced a 10/26 show in Grand Prairie, Alberta and the Jackpot Grill Events Centre with former UFC star Mitch Clarke vs. Rich King.
Bare Knuckle boxing tonight on the BKTV app from Plant City, FL with former Strikeforce and UFC star Mike Kyle vs Bobo O’Bannon in the main event.
LFA on 10/30 on UFC Fight Pass from Park City, KS is headlined by Vanessa Demopoulos (5-2) vs. Lupita Godinez (4-0) in a strawweight fight and Aaron McKenzie (82-2-1) vs. Joe Giannetti (9-3-1) in a lightweight fight.
LFA runs tonight from Park City, KS on Fight Pass with Andre Petroski (185.8) vs. Aaron Jeffrey (18-2.) and Samantha Hughes (119.2) vs. Danielle Hindley (119.6) as the top bouts.
AAW on 10/29 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette, Park, IL has a few tickets left, 50 person capacity, masks and social distancing required, with Mance Warner & Jake Something vs. Hakim Zane &Karam, Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton vs. Air Wolf & Angel Dorado, Matt Justice vs. Jake Crist as well as ACH, Fred Yehi, Manders and Trey Miguel.
The Expo Lucha panel events are now available on the Lucha Central YouTube page. This includes matches with stars like Juventud Guerrera, Rey Hours, Flamita, Black Taurus, Laredo Kid, Disco Inferno, Penta El Cero M, Rey Fenix, Jack Evans, Teddy Hart, Amy “Lita” Dumas, Brian Cage and others.
Longtime WWE Magazine writer Keith Elliot Greenberg did an interview with The Wrestling Estate to promote his new book about the indie revolution, and also shared some fun stories about Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Iron Sheik.
We’ve got a double issue this week of the Observer with the full rundown of Harold Meij being out in New Japan, WWE’s social media policy as it relates to talent, and extensive G-1 coverage.
Our lead story looks at the Harold Meij era of New Japan, how he got there, the turmoil behind-the-scenes, why he’s leaving, his last words to his fan club, why the guy who handled running a wrestling company during a pandemic is out while in the pandemic and a lot of behind-the-scenes stories regarding New Japan and AEW never making a deal, and whether this can change things, and what the key issues are. The changes he made to the company, the business record and issues in dealing with talent and others and the inherent issues of a non-Japanese person in charge of a major Japanese company. This is the most inside version of what happened there since 2018 and from people who know the situation the best.
Also in this issue:
WWE’s latest when it comes to talent and social media, WWE policy, Andrew Yang and why this could be the worst time to make these decisions.
WWE Clash of Champions, NXT Takeover, Hell in a Cell, the COVID issues in AEW & WWE and how they spread, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
G1 Climax tournament, with standings, best matches, behind-the-scenes,why crowds aren’t quick to sell out, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results of every show.
XFL start, changes in WWE tapings and why 205 Live will be taped with NXT ad not Smackdown, we look at declines in WWE interest and reasons why WWE draft dates, Reigns vs. Rock, Reigns talks C.M. Punk, new Dwayne Johnson TV show looked at, new WWE signings, update on WWE injuries, one of the top college wrestlers already publicly talking about going to WWE, more on TV ratings in U.S. and Canada, former TNA champion talks how close he came to joining WWE, Cena starring in new movie, Zayn talks politics, Rusev talks problems with WWE creative, update on Raw Underground, where tribal chief comes from, WWE market value and the most watched shows on WWE Network over the past week.
UFC 253, with business notes, the main themes of the show plus match-by-match coverage and poll results.
The treatment of women in pro wrestling with notes from a recent BBC article with thoughts from several women involved.
87th anniversary show of CMLL, and the plight of Lucha Libre with no fans.
Jerry Lawler 50th anniversary show.
2020 Hall of Fame ballot in each category, with the top candidate, last year’s highest that haven’t gotten in, as well as a list of those who have been elected in the past five years.
Smackdown and AEW ratings based on the same opposition, as well as network vs. cable when it comes to other sports.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight for Wrestling Observer Radio talking Takeover, UFC, Impact and all kinds of other stuff. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]. Garrett Gonzalez and I did a show yesterday with Mike Tenay talking news and the Hall of Fame. This is probably the best received show we’ve done in a long time and as good a wrestling history show as you’ll hear anywhere. We will also have a second show that will be up this coming Friday.
Thanks to everyone who has ordered my new 1997 Wrestling Observer Yearbook. The success in week one has been such that I’d think it’s a lock there will be a second one released. Right now the book is No. 1 among wrestling books on Amazon as well as No. 1 for kindle on Amazon. You can get the physical book at amazon in the U.S.or the kindle version or physical book in the U.K. at www.WrestlingObserverBook.com
Notes on tonight’s NXT Takeover and odds are from www.BetOnline.ag The show will be from the Performance Center, now called the Capitol Wrestling Center. There will be 100 fans at the show. It will also be the first time an NXT show is on PPV, priced at $54.99, so they are pricing their show more expensively than AEW, ROH or Impact do, but less than UFC does..
We have polls up today for NXT Takeover, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected] as well as for Thursday’s G-1 show in Niigata and tomorrow’s G-1 show.
Finn Balor vs. Kyle O’Reilly for the NXT title. This would not surprise me to be among the best WWE matches of the year given the talent involved and the nature of the show. Balor is listed as a -700 favorite.
Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae for the women’s title. They are coming off a great match at a prior Takeover before Shirai was champion. Shirai is the -170 favorite to retain.
Damien Priest vs. Johnny Gargano for the North America title. This also looks like a great match on paper with Priest as a -160 favorite.
Santos Escobar defends the cruiserweight title against Isaiah Scott. Also looks good on paper with Escobar a -180 favorite.
Velveteen Dream vs. Kushida – Dream is listed as a -150 favorite.
This is a very strong show on paper. Not sure what the interest level will be for NXT on a standalone Sunday against the NFL, but that was the call they made.
Mikey Whipwreck noted that Tracy Smothers, who has been battling cancer for some time, is now hospitalized with heart related issues. Best of luck to Smothers. He was one of the real underrated wrestlers of the 90s.
Kento Miyahara vs. Zeus in the finals of the All Japan Champion Carnival tournament takes place tomorrow morning from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Kaito Kiyomiya beat Go Shiozaki earlier today to advance to the finals of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N-1 tournament which takes place on 10/11 in Osaka. He will face Katsuhiko Nakajima, who beat Naomichi Marufuji to win the B block. The winner of the Carnival will then face Go Shiozaki for the Triple Crown title.
WWE
With the Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots game airing tomorrow night on CBS along with ESPN’s Atlanta Falcon vs. Green Bay Packers game head-to-head, tomorrow will actually be even tougher competition for Raw than last week. There is also a New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball playoff game. There is no post-PPV bump. to rely on this week nor will anything short of Steve Austin, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar or Ronda Rousey be an effective hot shot after playing the big nostalgia card last week.
WWE pulled Big Show from the Cauliflower Alley Club’s virtual convention on FITE TV to raise money for wrestlers in need to sell the injuries from Monday. Which is notable with Shawn Michaels on Wednesday of this past week not selling them nor pulled. Mark Henry replaced him.
UFC
Alejandro Perez tested positive for COVID ad he’s out of his fight wth Thomas Almeida that was scheduled for 10/10. The UFC is looking for a new opponent for Almeida.
Muslim Salikhov has pulled out of his 10/17 fight with Claudio Silva. No reason was given. James Krause will now face Silva on that show.
MISCELLANEOUS
G-1 tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. on New Japan World from Takamatsu
Gabriel Kidd vs. Yuya Uemura
Shingo Takagi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Jay White vs. Jeff Cobb
Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi
Will Ospreay vs. Kota Ibushi
A really great look at modern candidates, the WON Hall of Fame, and how people don’t get credit for their work in smaller promotions It also makes a case for where modern people should rank.
This was not a big week for mainstream interest in combat sports given everything with the president, NBA playoffs, football in general and such. The only thing all week that trended was Holly Holm yesterday off the UFC show with 200,000 for the No. 4 position on the day.
Stardom ran its big PPV show in Japan yesterday in Yokohama: AZM b Starlight Kid to keep the High Speed title, Mira Shirakawa b Hanan, Riho & Saya Iida b Sumire Natsu & Yuma Manase, Natsupoi (Natsumi Maki b Death Yama-San, Bea Priestley b Momo Watanabe to win the vacant SWA title, Saki Kashima & Natsuko Tora b Jungle Kyona & Konami meaning the Tokyo Cyber Squad must disband, Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani b Maika & Himeka to keep the Goddesses of Stardom tag titles, Giulia b Tam Nakano to keep the Wonder of Stardom title, Mayu Iwatani b Syuri to keep the World of Stardom title (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
CWE from Friday night in Winnipeg: Shaun Martens b Cliff Corleone to keep the Grand championship, EZ Ryder b Mercury in a Tequila Sunrise match (both had to get wasted on tequila before the match started, which sounds perfectly responsible), Sammy Peppers b Scott Ripley, Bobby Schink b Chad Daniels, Roy Cheeks b Bryce Bentley, Mentallo b Danny Duggan, Johnny Malibu b Adam Knight, Mike Mission & Tyler James & Kevy Chevy b Dick Blood & Jude Dawkins & Adren Burton in a fan bring the weapons match, AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle b Bobby Collins & Rob Stardom in a no DQ match to win the CWE tag team titles. Next show is 10/17 in Glastone, Manitoba. CWE champion Vincent and jr. champion Jimmy Jacobs have both been stripped of their titles since they can’t get into the country due to COVID. They will get title shots to win them back when the situation changes. The CWE title will be decided in an eight-man tournament on 11/6 in Winnipeg. An announcement will be made in the future regarding how the jr. title vacancy will be filled.
The UWN’s PPV show on Tuesday night has D’Angelo Dinero & Watts vs. Zicky Dice and a mystery partner, Bryan Idol vs Levi Shapiro and Caster Show vs. Chris Dickinson.’
Grant Zwarych is selling his collection of Stampede Wrestling programs from the 80s that include stuff with Owen Hart, Jushin Liger (as Keiichi Yamada), Bret Hart, Chris Benoit, Hiroshi Hase, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Bran Pillman, The Stomper, Toshiaki Kawada, Shinya Hashimoto and many others at [email protected]
