FILTHY FOUR DAILY with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including full reviews of Smackdown from Friday, SummerSlam, a WOW match that Tom had Bryan watch for reasons unknown, plus tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Tag: wow
Ring announcer Dan Masters passes away in car accident
Dan Masters has passed away.
Masters performed as a ring announcer, host, interviewer, and on commentary for a variety of promotions over the last 25 years. Some of the companies he worked for include WOW, PCW Ultra, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, and more.
Masters was killed in a car accident on Wednesday while vacationing in El Salvador.
“We are absolutely gutted upon hearing the news of Dan Masters passing. Dan was much more than our ring announcer, 1 of the 4 remaining ULTRA OG’s who worked every single show, an integral member of our crew, and the first stone in building a professional company…he was family,” wrote PCW Ultra on Twitter.
“Our condolences go out to our WOW Superheroes Dan Masters’ family and friends. Dan was not only a great ring announcer but a friend to everyone. May he rest in peace,” wrote WOW on Twitter.
“The longer we live, the more people we lose. RIP Dan Masters- forever young,” wrote Rob Van Dam.
Masters’ niece, Katelyn Corbett Middleton, wrote about her uncle on Facebook.
“Rest in peace to a remarkable, larger-than-life man, my Uncle Daniel. As a kid, he made me feel like the coolest person on this planet—talking on the radio, getting “wake up” phone calls from ”famous” wrestlers and shoutouts at his wrestling events. He was the star of the show everywhere he went, but made me feel special. He was taken too soon and will be missed tremendously by the people who knew and loved him.”
– Someday I'll write a book, the chapter "WOW" should make it a "BEST SELLER"…Till then, keeping kayfabe. Google that kid's. Felicitations family…much love. get it 💪d. QUESTION: are you watching #WOWE? what station? – #wowsuperheroes #wowwomenofwrestling #danmasterslive pic.twitter.com/0YMfXYj4tT
— Dan Masters Live (@RealDanMasters) September 17, 2022
Tessa Blanchard believed to be done with Women of Wrestling
In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirmed reports from last week that Tessa Blanchard and Women of Wrestling (WOW) have been at odds and that the belief is that she is no longer with the promotion.
The former Impact World Champion was not at the show’s first round of TV tapings last weekend as they return after a long absence with a new syndication deal in tow.
Meltzer said the “two sides had different ideas and were constantly butting heads.”
Fightful reported last week that there have been issues between both sides, partially related to a mid-April promo she cut on wrestler Samantha Sage/Americana during a class. While the subject matter is unknown, they reported that many trainees spoke up about it and further promo classes were canceled.
They also reported Blanchard was no longer the lead trainer for the Los Angeles-based company with Selina Majors taking the reins.
Blanchard has had a relationship with WOW (owned by L.A. Lakers owner Jeannie Buss) since the fall of 2018 when Blanchard was still in Impact.
She has been in wrestling exile for the past two years after being released by Impact in what was a tumultuous 2020 that saw her accused of racism and bullying by other female wrestlers throughout the industry — claims that she has denied.
The 26-year-old hasn’t addressed this latest issue on Instagram where she is still active. WOW has also not released any statement.
Blanchard hasn’t wrestled since September 2020 when she dropped the Warrior Wrestling Women’s title to Kylie Rae.
AJ Mendez to serve as executive producer for WOW relaunch
WOW is returning to television with a familiar wrestling personality also returning to the business to help relaunch the brand.
AJ Mendez will serve as an executive producer and color commentator for the WOW – Women of Wrestling show when it returns to TV in syndication in September 2022 on ViacomCBS stations in the United States.
Mendez has not been involved in pro wrestling since her retirement from WWE in 2015, but she has fashioned a new career as an author, comic book writer and mental health advocate.
WOW announced their relaunch with a press release and a press conference on Wednesday. WOW and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, WOW and GLOW’s original creator and Buss’s business partner David McClane, Mendez, Tessa Blanchard and The Beast were all part of the presser. A trailer for the new season of WOW can be seen here.
WOW last produced content in 2019. A series of tapings in 2018 and 2019 produced a season of WOW Superheroes that aired on AXS TV. When Impact’s parent company Anthem bought AXS, that signified the end of the partnership between WOW and AXS.
WOW began as a successor to GLOW and ran in syndication during the pro wrestling boom period in 2000 and 2001. It was dark for over a decade, then was relaunched in 2012. It has since sporadically produced content on a variety of platforms.
The WOW release trumpets the ViacomCBS deal as the largest distribution platform in the company’s existence.
Past seasons of WOW will be made available on CW Seed and Pluto TV channels beginning in December 2021 in advance of the relaunch, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Danni, Alex Gracia, Briana Montez, Kate Smith and Imo Akpan were other talent mentioned in the WOW press release.
Teal Piper signs with Women of Wrestling
Ahead of making her professional wrestling debut, Teal Piper has signed with Women of Wrestling.
It was announced today that Piper has signed with WOW and will debut for the promotion at their television tapings on Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19. The tapings are being held at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Season two of WOW premieres on AXS TV at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, September 7. There will be 24 episodes in the season.
AEW revealed earlier this month that Piper (Roddy Piper’s daughter Ariel Teal Toombs) will make her pro wrestling debut as an entrant in the Casino Battle Royale on the All Out pre-show. The pay-per-view is taking place at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on Saturday, August 31.
TMZ posted video of Piper training at WOW’s training center in Long Beach, California.
“Wrestling has always been a part of me, and while no one can ever replace my dad, I hope to make sure no one ever forgets him,” Piper said in a press release.
“WOW is proud to welcome Teal on board as the newest member of our family of Superheroes,” WOW owner Jeanie Buss said. “Her father, Roddy, left an indelible mark not only on wrestling, but on countless fans across the world. His spirit is alive and well within her, and the drive she has shown during her training sessions has been truly incredible to watch. WOW is honored to join Teal on her journey, as she pays tribute to Roddy’s legacy while blazing a new trail that is entirely her own.”
NJPW, WOW moving to Saturdays on AXS TV starting next month
New Japan Pro Wrestling and Women of Wrestling are moving to Saturday nights on AXS TV.
AXS TV announced today that, beginning on July 13, NJPW on AXS and WOW are moving from Friday to Saturday nights. WOW will air at 8 p.m. Eastern time, with NJPW then airing at 9 p.m. Eastern.
Moving from Fridays to Saturdays means that NJPW and WOW won’t be going against SmackDown when it comes to Fox in October.
The opening night of this year’s NJPW G1 Climax will also air live on AXS at 6 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, July 6. The show is taking place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
That July 6 show will be the start of six weeks of same-day G1 coverage on AXS. After the shows take place on Saturday morning, two-hour broadcasts of them will air on AXS that night.
The A Block finals will take place on Saturday, August 10 and air on AXS later that night, the B Block finals are on August 11 and will air on AXS on Saturday, August 17, and the G1 finals will be held on August 12 and will air on AXS on Saturday, August 24.
Starting with the move to Saturdays on July 13, the first season of WOW on AXS will be replayed over eight weeks. The second season will then premiere on Saturday, September 7. There will be 24 episodes in the second season.
AXS TV renews WOW Women of Wrestling for second season
AXS TV announced today that they have renewed WOW Women of Wrestling for a second season.
The network announced the reneweal in a live streaming conference held this morning, The season will be split in two, with the first part airing in the fall of 2019 and the second half airing in early 2020. The finale for the first season will air on March 8.
“WOW is proud to partner with AXS TV to bring this incredible promotion to viewers across the country,” Jeanie Buss, owner of WOW said in the press release. “It is an honor to be able to continue this organization’s long tradition of showcasing the absolute best in all-female wrestling.”
Although the channel does not release ratings information, the press release stated that the series has “garnered massive gains in viewership, smashing records en route to establishing itself as one of the highest performing original series among live viewers” in the network’s history.
The next set of WOW tapings will take place on May 15 and 16 at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Ticket information can be found here.