MON. UPDATE: Japan iPPV late tonight, Tag tourney, Super Juniors, ESPN doc on WWE, Raw
By Dave Meltzer
dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
We’re looking for your thoughts on Sunday’s Wrestling Dontaku show with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
We’re looking for live reports from Raw tonight, with dark matches, Superstars matches, Pat Patterson Appreciation Ceremony and everything else not evident from the live show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com The only announcement has been John Cena defending the U.S. title.
We’re looking for reports on Saturday night’s NXT show in Cocoa Beach, FL at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
Dragon Gate has one of its biggest shows of the year late tonight/early tomorrow from Nagoya. The show starts at 3 a.m. Eastern and Noon Pacific. Instructions on how to order are on the front page of the site.
This is the lineup:
Jimmy Kanda & Naoki Tanizaki & Super Shisa vs. K-Ness & Mondai Ryu & Punch Tominaga
Yosuke Santa Maria & Lindaman vs. Kennichiro Arai & Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa
BxB Hulk vs. Cyber Kong for the Open the Dream Gate title
Masato Yoshino & Shachihoko Boy vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & Big R Shimizu for the Open the Twin Gate titles
Jimmy Susumu & Jimmy Kagetora & Genki Horiguchi vs. Flamita & U-T & Kotoko vs. Naruki Doi & Don Fujii & Gamma for the Open the Triangle Gate title
Akira Tozawa vs. Dragon Kid for the Open the Brave Gate title
Six way cage match with the hair or mask of the loser and his reps at stake with T-Hawk (Doi & Yoshino as reps), Cima (Flamita), Shingo Takagi (Hulk), Kzy (Tozawa), Yamato (Mochizuki) and Ryo Saito (Dragon Kid).
This will likely be better than any show since WrestleMania.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday in Ottawa.
Part one of the life and times of Verne Gagne is the lead story on a jam-packed issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that is out today. We’ve also got the most detailed look at the Jon Jones situation, the UFC light heavyweight title, as well as Ronda Rousey in WWE, Extreme Rules coverage, Payback notes, UFC 186, the life of Ashura Hara and four former wrestling personalities get elected to public office in one week.
The new issue is up on the site at http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/42311-may-4-2015-wrestling-observer-newsletter-verne-gagne-bio-part-1-jon-jones-stripped-of-ufc-title-bios-of-ashura-hara-a-rudy-reyna-a-much-more
Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show on the history of the site are at http://www.f4wonline.com/member/signup.php
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
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Rates are:
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.
Our lead story looks back at the wrestling career of Verne Gagne, one of the most noteworthy pro wrestling of the 20th century. We look at the booking of Gagne, the story of the promoter who promised Gagne an all-time attendance record for a title defense and he turned the match down and why, we look at the end of his career, Sports Illustrated ranking him as an athlete, his football career, his involvement in one of the biggest college wrestling matches of all-time, how Gagne spoiled the first Cael Sanderson record, Gagne and the Olympic games, starting as a pro wrestler, his rise to the top, his winning the world jr. title, and why he never won the NWA world heavyweight title. We look at the creation of the AWA title, when the world title started getting fractured and why, the ironies of both Verne Gagne and Roy Shire as promoters, the expansion of the AWA, the AWA lifestyle, the biggest AWA angles, and Gagne vs Billy Robinson.
We also look at his training wrestlers, the Hogan era and the peak of the AWA.
We also have full details of the Jon Jones story, both why he got suspended and complete police records as to what happened this past week with his auto accident. We look at his losing sponsors, Cormier vs. Rumble Johnson, UFC’s position, and Cormier talks his title shot.
We also have more on Dana White’s comments on Ronda Rousey in WrestleMania and the WWE’s reaction, as well as UFC fighters doing pro wrestling in recent years.
We’ve got a full rundown of the Extreme Rules PPV, a look at Payback, plus match-by-match ratings and poll results from the show.
We also look at the Daniel Bryan situation, who is being groomed for a unique babyface push to stardom, disappearing of the curb stomp, next NXT special, Samoa Joe and WWE, Furious 7 box office marks, NXT on tour, a TV documentary on one of the biggest shows in WWE history coming, and notes on talent cut this past week by WWE.
We also look at the Demetrious Johnson conundrum, the flyweight division, the business of UFC 186 and match-by-match coverage.
We look at the career of Ashura Hara, including his biggest matches, why his career at the top in All Japan suddenly ended, his appearance in G-1, his rugby background, his IWE start, some of his famous matches and the 1987 tag team tournament.
We also look at four pro wrestlers elected to public office this past week.
We also have a bio on exotico star Rudy Reyna, including his start in pro wrestling, how much of a shoot his act was, his health issues and career highlights.
The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.
We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.
Also in this week’s issue:
–More on the World Cup tag team tournament
–New major AAA shows
–AAA & Lucha Underground notes
–Top promotion star breaks nose and gets teeth knocked out
–Dragon Gate builds to one of its biggest events of the year on iPPV
–Update on New Japan World
–Kidani talks New Japan pay
–How business is going with New Japan
–New Japan big show rundown
–Update on Jeff Jarrett and Global Force Wrestling
–Different names being talked about
–Jarrett and Eric Bischoff and Jarrett’s reactions to stories
–Bischoff history
–Missy Hyatt charges dropped story
–Bill Goldberg says he’ll wrestle again and more notes on the subject
–A look back at Bill Goldberg in WWE and why it didn’t work
–Why Goldberg’s career in Japan ended
–Funny note on Kevin Nash
–Japanese star looking at working indie dates in the U.S.
–More notes on the future of Lucha Underground
–How close are they to being No. 2 in the market
–Notes going into the second season
–Why there is a premium on guys who can wrestle well
–Update on Adam Cole in ROH
–Notes on the booking of the ROH/New Japan shows
–Notes on the broadcasting of the entire tour
–ROH final show before the New Japan tour
–Notes on Jeff Hardy’s injury
–ROH star returns from injury
–Lots on Billy Corgan signing with TNA and his thoughts on wrestling creative
–Wrestling stars get engaged
–Rampage Jackson talks TNA
–Another longtime performer out of TNA
–Taryn Terrell heel turn notes
–UFC on FOX ratings notes
–Notes on the Reebok sponsorship in UFC
–Reaction to those numbers
–UFC fighter sues another UFC fighter over a sponsorship deal gone bad
–UFC signs one of the best wrestlers in the world as a project
–Lots of new UFC fights
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
Our most requested issues in our history are:
*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)
*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you’ll know exactly what was said–the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)
*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)
*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)a
*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)
*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial)
*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)
*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our history)
*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)
*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)
*March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino, Backlund and Backlund era)
*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)
*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)
*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)
*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)
*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)
*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)
*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)
*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)
*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)
*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story, Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)
*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy’s win over Brock Lesnar)
*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)
*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)
*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair’s book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)
*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair’s book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)
*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)
*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez–this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)
*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)
*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)
*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)
*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)
*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)
*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)
*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)
*September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)
*October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)
*November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
*December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)
*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year’s Eve 2005 coverage)
*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)
*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby–many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)
*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)
*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling–the most unreal story ever in wrestling)
*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)
*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)
*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff’s book and how the industry was changed forever)
*November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro, Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania planned celebrity away)
*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn’t click)
*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride’s offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)
*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bigelow)
*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)
*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)
*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)
*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage–which many are calling one of the best issues in history)
*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)
*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)
*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)
*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women’s wrestling) .
*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)
*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)
*March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)
*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair’s meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)
* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)
* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)
* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)
You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.
We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..
To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.
MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
–Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio covering Raw, Impact, New Japan Dontaku and taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestllingobserver.com
–Masato Tanaka & Takashi Sugiura beat Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. to win the Global tag team tournament at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
–New Japan World will be airing its next two live events as Best of the Super Junior shows on 5/22 and 5/30 at Korakuen Hall. They’ll also be airing the finals on 6/7. The lineups should be out very shortly.
–The ESPN documentary on the WWE Performance Center airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow. Among those interviewed are Vince McMahon, Steve Austin, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Levesque and Hulk Hogan.
–Tonight’s Raw in Montreal did not have a good advance. Looks like the entire upper concourse will have to be tarped. Luckily UFC is not competition or else I’d have an answer as to why sales were lower than expected.
–Saturday was Dwayne Johnson’s 43rd birthday. Today is the 34th anniversary of the Pat Patterson vs. Sgt. Slaughter alley fight in Madison Square Garden (match of the year that year) and yesterday would have been Stu Hart’s 100th birthday.
–Dwayne Johnson praised the work of Eva Marie on Twitter in training seriously to improve her wrestling.
–Reese Witherspoon and Sophia Vergara will be on WWE Network on Wednesday at 4 p.m. on the Renee Young show.
–Alex Riley undergoes knee surgery later this week.
–Bellator announced the signing of Melvin Guillard to a multi-year contract. Guillard was recently cut from WSOF more over disciplinary reasons than losing fights.
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1956 – Rikidozan & Kokichi Endo beat Mike & Ben Sharpe in Osaka to win the NWA world tag team titles
1966 – Ian Campbell (who later became Black Angus Campbell in the U.S.) beat Billy Robinson in Perth, Scotland to win the British heavyweight title
1980 – Supremo beat Kato Kung Lee in Mexico City to win the NWA middleweight title
1981 – Paul Ellering & Terry Latham beat Rusher Kimura & Mighty Inoue in Sapporo to win the vacant IWA tag titles
1992 – El Satanico beat Lizmark in Mexico City to win the NWA light heavyweight title
1993 – Tony St. Clair beat David Taylor in Croydon to win the British heavyweight title.
1995 – Atsushi Onita beat Mr. Pogo in Nagoya to win the FMW World Brass Knux title
2002 – Martha Villalobos beat Esther Moreno in Veracruz to win the AAA Reina de Reinas title
2007 – Marcela beat Princesa Sugei in Mexico City to win the Mexican national womens’ title
–Ron & Don Wright will be inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame on 5/9 at the Smoky Mountain Wrestling show in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium. The Wright Brothers were both from Kingsport. No word of Don will be attending.
–Brad Pickett vs. Thomas Almeida has been added to the 7/11 UFC show in Las Vegas at bantamweight, so Picket is moving back up after trying 125 and losing twice. He will fare nowhere near as good with Almeida.
–WWE stock rose 16 cents per share today to $13.66.
–Hoosier Pro Wrestling from Saturday in Columbus, IN: Mitch Johnson b Andrew Stryker, Lightning Bolt & Drax O’Brien b JKO & JKO Jr. and Shawn Kemp & Mystery partner, Bobby Black b Eddie Felson, Stompin Steve & Lylah Lodge b LuFisto & Dash Ventura, Cowboy Marc Houston over Butcher Mason and Dynamite Dillen, TVZ b Flash Flanagan & TJ Kemp, Shiloh Jones b Shawn Cook, Rob Ramer b Rob Conway to keep the HPW title. Next show is 6/6. (thanks to Jerry Wilson)
–GOUGE from yesterday in Durham, NC: Mickey Gambino b Tommy Lou Retton, Juan Jeremii b Neon Nazi Hienyker Himmler, Sean Alexander b Ivan Putin, James Anthony & Victor Andrews b No Direction, Otto Schwanz b Little E Langston, Seymour Snott b Jimmy Jack Funk Jr.
–Big Time Wrestling on 5/9 in Lawrenceville, VA at Brunswick County High with Kevin Nash, Road Warrior Animal, Ricky Morton, Eugene and The Patriot there for a 5 p.m. meet and greet and 7 p.m. show.
–Big Time Wrestling on 5/8 in Oakwood, VA at the Twin Valley Middle School with a 6 p.m. meet and greet with Ric Flair, Kevin Nash, Road Warrior Animal and Eugene, and an 8 p.m. show.
–Canadian Wrestling Federation on 6/6 at the Haig Bowl Arena in St. Catherines, ONT with Brian Christopher & Scotty 2 Hotty as Too Cool, plus Paul London, Rene Dupree and Cody Deaner, as well as Wrestle-One’s Yusuke Kodama.
–Santino Marella’s Destiny World Wrestling in Mississauaga, ONT: Josh Alexander b Tyler Tirva, Tyson Dux b Pepper Parks, Randy Reign b Jon Bolen, RJ City & Cody Deaner b Will White & Action Jackson, Kongo Kong b Jimmy Nutts, Leah Von Dutch b Alexia Nicole, Brian Cage b PJ Black (Justin Gabriel in a TLC match. Next show is 5/23 in Pickering, ONT with Chris Sabin, Matt Sydal and Kevin Nash. Booker T appears on the 6/28 show. (thanks to Steven Ashe and Bob Kapur)
–Reader Dan Goldstein said that he’s having trouble with WWE supporting Floyd Mayweather, made a comment on their Facebook page about it, and it was deleted in ten seconds.
–Furious 7 was no. 3 at the box office in Australia this past week (thanks to James Stanios)
–Fringe Pro Wrestling on 5/9 in Hamilton, ONT at the Citadel Theater.
–Bill Amodeo is looking for video of a 1973 Osaka All Japan women’s show at mrmoores@hotmail.com
–ECCW on 5/23 in Vancouver at the Russian Community Centre.
–Lucha Libre on 5/8 in Vancouver, BC at the Commodore Ballroom.
–Legacy Wrestling on 6/6 in Palmyra, PA with PJ Black and AR Fox.
–Another reader wrote on the WWE Network, saying he got the April free trial, he didn’t cancel because he believed May was free. He was charged $9.99 today and called up. He was told he was being refunded but he doesn’t know if he’ll still have access to the network.
–Premier Wrestling on 6/7 in Gilroy, CA at the IFDES Lodge Portuguese Hall at 5 p.m. with JR Kratos (7-2) vs. Dylan Drake (4-3) and Timothy Thatcher (2-2-1) vs. Marcus Lewis (4-3). Tickets are available at www.premierwrestle.com
–Forbes Magazine today has a WWE mention where Billionaire C Dean Metropoulos said that the Chef Boyardee marketing campaign with WWF in the 90s came because his two young sons convinced their father to market Chief Boyardee to WWF fans. He noted an even better deal came years later when the same two sons convinced him to purchase Pabst beer for $250 million, which he sold in 2014 for $750 million.
–Big E interview at
http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2015/05/04/22379456.html
–Bad News Barrett interview at
http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2015/05/04/22379496.html
TODAY’S PRO WRESTLING VIDEOS (thanks to Thomas Rude)
INDY TV SHOWS
5/2/15 NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling TV
Reality Of Wrestling TV (Episode 51)
Canadian Wrestling’s Elite TV (Episode 119)
5/2/15 Southern States Wrestling TV
4/11/15 Future Stars Of Wrestling “High Octane” TV
Chaotic Wrestling “ChaotiCast” TV (Episode 28)
Victory Championship Wrestling “Showcase” TV (Episode 100)
WWE
The JBL & Renee Show (Episode 127)
4/30/15 Top 10 WWE Smackdown Moments
4/30/15 WWE Smackdown “Fallout”
The Miz Goes Sightseeing In London
4/27/15 WWE RAW “Slam Of The Week”
4/30/15 WWE Smackdown “Slam Of The Week”
5/2/15 WWE Top Ten: Superstars Who Said “I Quit”
Inside The Hart Family Dungeon
5/3/15 WWE Fury-21 FInishing Moves Off The Top Ropes
TNA
Friends Of Ethan Carter III Release Second Riveting Campaign Video
IMPACT WRESTLING Unlocked: IMPACT Top 5 Week Of April 24, 2015
Rockstar Spud Talks About His Journey Into Pro Wrestling (Interview Part 1)
Rockstar Spud Talks About His Journey Into Pro Wrestling (Interview Part 2)
LUCHA UNDERGROUND
Warriors Of Lucha Underground: Cage
Lucha Underground Presents: Johnny Mundo-The Prince Of Parkour
MISC. STUFF
5/1/15 CHIKARA Event Center
Austin Idol On “The Apter Chat”
Ringside Collectibles’ “Ringside Or Riot” (Season 4, Episode 23)
Top 50 Moves Of Mr. 450 Hammett
The Candice & Joey Show (Episode 110)
Flatline Pro Wrestling “The Pulse” (Episode 8)
TOMORROW’S WWE NETWORK SCHEDULE
12:06 AM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting Down the Top Ten Most Imposing Superstars ever in WWE history.
1:06 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Brie regrets quarreling with her husband when he delivers devastating news. Nikki’s secret has John fearing the end of their relationship.
2:06 AM ET
WWE NETWORK EXCLUSIVE The action continues, live from Raw!
2:11 AM ET
WWE 24 In this edition of WWE 24, we reveal the personal story of this rising star, his family and his memorable experience at Wrestlemania 31.
2:36 AM ET
FIRST LOOK THE ROAD IS JERICHO A first look at Jericho’s new home video! Jump in a limo and ride with Chris as he shares his favorite stories while traveling the country.
3:06 AM ET
WCW SUPERBRAWL 2 WCW Superbrawl II features Sting challenging Lex Luger for the WCW World championship. Rick Rude faces Ricky Steamboat and more.
6:00 AM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting Down the Top Ten Most Imposing Superstars ever in WWE history.
7:00 AM ET
WWE 24 In this edition of WWE 24, we reveal the personal story of this rising star, his family and his memorable experience at Wrestlemania 31.
7:30 AM ET
WWE MUSIC POWER 10 The premiere edition of WWE’s all new top ten music countdown series. This week: the music of WrestleMania 31!
8:00 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Brie regrets quarreling with her husband when he delivers devastating news. Nikki’s secret has John fearing the end of their relationship.
9:00 AM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting Down the Top Ten Most Imposing Superstars ever in WWE history.
10:00 AM ET
WWE 24 In this edition of WWE 24, we reveal the personal story of this rising star, his family and his memorable experience at Wrestlemania 31.
10:30 AM ET
FIRST LOOK THE ROAD IS JERICHO A first look at Jericho’s new home video! Jump in a limo and ride with Chris as he shares his favorite stories while traveling the country.
11:00 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Brie regrets quarreling with her husband when he delivers devastating news. Nikki’s secret has John fearing the end of their relationship.
12:00 PM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting Down the Top Ten Most Imposing Superstars ever in WWE history.
1:00 PM ET
WWE 24 In this edition of WWE 24, we reveal the personal story of this rising star, his family and his memorable experience at Wrestlemania 31.
1:30 PM ET
FIRST LOOK: ALWAYS BELIEVE A First Look to watch exclusive content from WWE Home Video’s latest release, Ultimate Warrior: Always Believe!
2:00 PM ET
TOUGH ENOUGH WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio and former NBA star John Salley are on hand to offer advice about teamwork to the dwindling group.
3:00 PM ET
TOUGH ENOUGH Former Tough Enough winner and John Morrison help contestants stay focused on a treacherous ropes course that gives Eric serious trouble.
4:00 PM ET
MONDAY NIGHT WAR Bill Goldberg rises from relative obscurity to become WCW’s most dominant homegrown talent.
5:00 PM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN From the Texas Rattle Snake to Teddy Long, this episode will take a look at the top ten personalities ever to hold the title of GM.
6:00 PM ET
LA CELEBRACION DE CINCO DE MAYO Join Los Matadores and El Torito for a special look at the history of Lucha Libre in the United States in La Celebracion de Cinco de Mayo!
8:00 PM ET
TOUGH ENOUGH Former Tough Enough winner and John Morrison help contestants stay focused on a treacherous ropes course that gives Eric serious trouble.
9:00 PM ET
MONDAY NIGHT WAR Bill Goldberg rises from relative obscurity to become WCW’s most dominant homegrown talent.
10:00 PM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN From the Texas Rattle Snake to Teddy Long, this episode will take a look at the top ten personalities ever to hold the title of GM.
11:00 PM ET
TOUGH ENOUGH Former Tough Enough winner and John Morrison help contestants stay focused on a treacherous ropes course that gives Eric serious trouble.