Pinfall Recall News Digest For April 25
WWE
Divas Update
Mickie James was removed from the opening video of RAW and replaced by Diva’s champion Maryse. This is a bit odd considering Mickie James is still on the RAW roster, post-WWE draft.
It is being reported that Vickie Guerrero has been taking lessons on in-ring action in recent weeks, preparing for some kind of upcoming work in the ring for television.
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss on our forum!
ROH
4.24.09 Show Results
Credit: Aaron Rund & PWInsider
Pre-Show:
The Soul Shooters vs. Josh Raymond (Abercrombie) and Christian Abel:
The Soul Shooters were announced as from Dayton so they did get a small home town pop. I haven’t seen Josh Raymond since he shaved his mustache and stopped calling himself Josh Abercrombie and if it wasn’t for the Tattoos I wouldn’t have even known he was the same person. This match was ruled a no-contest after about ten minutes when the Dark City Fight Club ran in with chairs and ran everyone off (think of it like how Sandman used to come out and cane everyone in a Bad Crew vs jobbers match in the Original ECW except no one got hit with any of the chairs)
GT Vega and “Dirty” Ernie Osris vs. Andy “Right Leg” Ridge and Tim Donst:
It was a surprise to me to see Tim Donst on this show considering he is working Chikara in Easton, PA and Philly this weekend on Sat and Sun. Donst got a small pop when he was first introduced. Andy Ridge is one of the most recent graduates of the ROH wrestling school and he was very impressive in this match. His kicks remind me a lot of Davey Richards. Vega and Osiris get the win. Post match Osiris was begging for tips from ringside fans.
Mikey Nichols vs. Sampson:
This match was your pre-show main event. Nichols and Sampson had a pre-show match at the Indianapolis ROH show that was very entertaining and this match was no difference. Sampson is one of the most Charismatic wrestlers I have seen in a very long time on an ROH pre-show. I can see a future spot for both Nichols and Sampson in the future (I don’t know how viable that is for Nichols as I believe he is Australian and may be in the States for only a short period of time), Overall it was a good match with Nichols getting the win.
Main Show:
Attendance was estmated at 600 people.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Edwards w/Shane Hagadorn:
Edwards is one half of the ROH world Champions the American Wolves (with Davey Richards). This match was one of the best openers I have ever seen in ROH live. These two had a great technical match with a lot of back and forth action. Dragon was able to hit most of his signature moves and even added a few knee strikes from the clinch which I hadn’t seen him do before. Danielson wins when he reverses a small package.
Claudio Castagnoli vs. “Skull Krusher” Rasche Brown vs. Silas Young vs. Matt Cross:
No Prince Nana with Claudio for this match, Rasche Brown was making his ROH debut. This was your standard ROH 4 corner survival. Brown and Claudio at one point were trying to one up each other on power moves delivered to young. A scary moment in this match when Cross attempted a spring board move off of Silas Young’s back (who was being held by Claudio Castagnoli in a fireman’s carry position) onto Rasche Brown on the floor. Cross caught his feet on the top rope and nearly took a header to the floor. I give a lot of credit to Brown who saw what was happening and dove to try and catch Cross. Some how Cross was able to right himself and didn’t land directly on his head. Claudio wins the match (I think with the Ricolla Bomb on Young but I am not sure).
Grizzly Redwood vs. Jimmy Rave w/Prince Nana and “Dirty” Ernie Osiris:
Ernie Osiris has taken the old Jade Chung role in the Embassy as Jimmy Raves footstool. Jimmy Rave was welcomed back to Dayton with a TP Shower from the fans. Rave won this glorified squash with Ghana-ria after Osiris distracted Redwood by offering him the piece of wood which Osiris had stolen a few weeks back. Post match, The Embassy destroyed Grizzly Redwood, Ernie Osiris stole both of Grizzly’s boots.
“A Double” Austin Aries & “Addicted to Love” Rhett Titus vs. The Phoenix Twins:
The Phoenix Twins were making there Dayton ROH debut. Austin Aries did a little bit of mic work before the show, ripping on both the Phoenix Twins and the Dayton fans. Aries told Titus before the match to “sit tight and observe, I may not even have to tag you into this match” This match was controlled for the most part by Aries and Titus. Phoenix Twins were impressive in the little offense they got in. Austin Aries won the match for his team following a Brainbuster.
Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana vs. “That Young Knockout Kid” Chris Hero w/Shane Hagadorn:
Cabana cut a promo before the match saying how great it is for him to be back in ROH. He mentioned that there were other offers on the table but he chose ROH because this is where he wanted to be. A pretty good back and forth match between these two with Colt getting a few comedy spots in and Hero working towards a knockout. Colt won the match via submission with “The Billy Goats Curse” (Inverted Boston Crab).
Intermission:
Jimmy Jacobs vs. Egotistico Fantastico:
Jimmy Jacobs was wearing an eye patch following last week’s match in Toronto where Delirious spiked him in the eye with Jacob’s own railroad spike. This was another good match, I had only seen Ego a few times and he hadn’t really impressed me before but he was very impressive in this match. At one point in time Jimmy Jacobs ended up in the Crowd and Ego ran 3/4s of the way around the ring and dove onto Jimmy Jacobs in the crowd. Jimmy at one point ripped the horn off of Ego’s mask and tried to use it as a weapon. Jimmy then kept the horn. Jimmy Jacobs wins via submission via the End Time.
Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards w/Shane Hagadorn:
This match was in my Opinion the match of the night. As expected both men worked their asses off. Tyler hit an insane springboard, front flip senton to the floor on Richards at one point. Honestly, my description of this match won’t do it justice. Davey Richards won with a roll-up and hand full of tights. Both men got a standing ovation from the crowd.
Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe vs The Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis and Corey Chavis):
Through no fault of anyone in the match, this match just wasn’t that good. It may have been the placement on the card, it may have been the lack of chemistry between Jay Briscoe and Kevin Steen. It could have been burnout from the crowd due to the Black vs. Richards match but for whatever reason these four just never clicked. Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe won the match.
Roderick Strong vs. ROH World Champion Jerry Lynn:
Jerry Lynn received a smattering of boos when he first came out but for the most part received a positive reaction from the fans. The action in this match started off a little slow with both men feeling each other out. At one point Jerry Lynn was knocked to the floor, Strong acted like he was going to do a Pescado but Lynn moved out of the way. Roderick was able to catch himself and went for his running kick from the ring apron on to Lynn on the floor. Lynn was able to side step the move and sen Strong into the guard rail. Roderck hit the Guardrail face first and opened up a huge gash over Strong’s left eye. This cut was gushing and there was a small pool of Roderick’s blood on the protective mats on the floor. At this point many in the crowd wondered if Strong was able to continue. Strong toughed this one out and was able to continue. This re-energized the crowd. Lynn gets the win to Retain the ROH World Championship following two Cradle Piledrivers on Strong. By the time the match was over, the left side of Strong’s face was covered in blood. He resembled Two-Face from the Batman comics. Both Lynn and Strong received standing ovations. Jerry Lynn cut a small promo about how it is fans reactions like the one he received tonight that keeps him going after 20+ years in this business.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
Other
Torrie Wilson Update
- Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson posted the following statement about her upcoming role on the new reality show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
“Hey guys and gals! In case you haven’t heard I am going to be on a new reality series on NBC entitled “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” I will definitely be testing my survival skills but am feeling confident. I met the cast members this week and have to say I am looking forward to this most likely life changing experience of surviving in the Costa Rican jungle! I really hope you tune in and vote for me in the month of June. It will be airing 4 days per week and parts of each show will be live! I will also be playing for a charity so it’s going to make me even more competitive than I already am! I will keep y’all posted….”
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
New JR Blog!
I’m holed up in my hotel room watching the NFL Draft & preparing for Sunday’s Backlash PPV. Here are some BBQ’ed Random Thoughts. Backlash feels like a “sleeper” PPV & will likely bring with it some surprises.The match that may plesantly surprise us is the Steamboat-Jericho bout. I’m approaching this (unofficially) as Ricky’s last 1 on 1 bout. I have loved his work for years and admire him as an honorable man & one of the best fan favorites ever. Chris Jericho is the perfect opponent for “The Dragon” which makes this match even more intriging to me as a fan. With Ric Flair in Jerry Lawler’s corner Saturday night in a New York indy show promoted by my friend Michael O’Brien, I’m taking King and giving the points in that one.I kept Jerry updated on the Browns’ draft Saturday. I’ve been traveling some recently w/ Matt Striker on the road which I enjoy. Matt is a real student of the biz who wants to learn his craft. Plus, he’s a good “wheel man.” We’ll make our way to NYC after Backlash. Since flipping our Moore BBQ joint to a Louie’s Sports Grill our BBQ biz in Norman has been amazing. I hope those of you that can will check us out in Norman if you’re ever in our area. We are going to add a bunch of new memorabilia there over the next few weeks. I was hoping to hook up w/ JBL while in NYC but John is out of town next week. He did give me some BBQ joints to try. John is busy building his businesses which could include doing business w/ JR’s Family BBQ down the road. We get lots of questions about wrestling schools. I suggest that one look at the successful students the schools of interest have produced before making a final decision. I know that men like Harley Race, Danny Davis, and Lance Storm are all credits to the biz and can help anyone w/ the ability & aptitude increase their chances of finding regular work. But always bear in mind that the road to fame & fortune is challenging and many more will fail than will succeed. With that said, never give up on your dreams. After this coming week, specifically Tuesday nite at MSG when MVP faces Dolph Ziggler for the U.S. Title, it looks as if WWE is going to be really serious about the brand seperation. I hope that assumption is accurate. I like giving more talents the opportunity to become stars. Another visitor to this site asked me to compare working w/ Todd Grisham and w/ Tony Schiavone. At the 1st Clash (Flair vs Sting) my role w/ Tony is much like my role is now w/ Todd, an analyst or whatever one wants to term it. I enjoy the role as I’m still calling matches w/ the best seat in the house. It obviously is an adjustment re: timing, etc but I’m still having fun which is key. The challenge to make Smackdown a stronger brand going forward is motivating to me at this stage of my game. For those fans who write from time to time that I am unhappy about not being on Raw, they simply show their ignorance & immaturity w/ their ramblings. I enjoy working w/ Todd and hope that I am able to help him refine his game as our team evolves. Don’t forget that we ship our JR’s BBQ caps, shirts, and our autographed “JR’s Cookbook’s” any where in the world. We will soon be moving from glass bottles to shipping friendly plastic bottles. Plus, our new HOT BBQ sauce is a main event product. I’m anxious to see what our announcer assignments will be for Backlash. Several bouts intrige me on what I perceive to be a largely “wrestling heavy” event. Backlash is sold out as is Monday’s Raw in Bridgeport and Smackdown Tuesday in MSG. I hope you will join us on PPV and keep up w/ what you don’t see on WWE.com. BTW my wife Jan & I saw comedian Ron White’s show in Norman Friday night and “Tater Salad” was awesome. If you get the chance to see Ron perform, don’t miss it. Boomer Sooner! J.R.
credit: jrsbarbq.com
Discuss on our forum!
____________________________________________________________
That’s all for today’s Wrestling News Digest. Be sure to come back tomorrow for another easy to digest batch! Or, subscribe to our blog feed to get the latest Wrestling News, as well as our columns and podcasts, delivered right to your favorite feedreader. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Pinfall Recall team on the forums or by emailing them directly through the links below.
Cliff Karklin (CK) - CK@PinfallRecall.com
Joshua George (JG) - JG@PinfallRecall.com
Robby Boydstun (RDB) - RDB@PinfallRecall.com
Milo Taibi (Milo) - Milo@PinfallRecall.com
Pinfall Recall News Digest For April 22
WWE
4.22.09 House Show Results
Thought I’d pass along the RAW House Show results from Liverpool, England on the 22/04/09.
William Regal (w/Layla) defeated Dolph Ziggler after a boot to the face
Regal played the face. Match didn’t last long, seems it was ended early due to Regal recieving a nasty looking cut after bashing heads with Dolph and bleeding quite badly. After the match Layla grabbed an English flag as Regal brought his niece into the ring and posed for a picture.
John Morrison beat Jamie Noble with the Moonlight Drive.
Not much to say, Morrison was over with the females in attendance. Not a bad match at all, with some nice reversals and Morrison doing well playing the arrogant (yet cowardly) heel.
Beth Phoenix and Santina Marella (w/Rosa Mendes) beat Kelly and Women’s champ Melina.
Mostly played for laughs, Beth arguing with Santina telling him she knew it was Santino. Stalled alot at the beginning with Santina and Kelly delaying locking up. Finish came when Beth hit Melina with the Glam Slam and Santina tagged “herself” in and got the win. Seems like they’re playing up the breakup of Rosa and Beth already as Rosa started celebrating with Santina, who gave a playful hug to Beth and a more intimate hug to Rosa.
Kane beat Kofi Kingston
Kofi was very over. Good match with lots of near falls and reversals of chokeslams. Kane eventually trapped Kofi after he missed Trouble in Paradise.
Primo and Carlito beat Charlie Haas and Mike Knox for the Tag Titles
Charlie (playing the heel) was VERY pumped up for the entire match (showed ALOT of charisma) and played to the crowd. Primo played the face in peril before Carlito won with the Backstabber to Charlie.
The Miz beat Goldust
With no offence meant, the worst match of the night. Not bad, just bland. Miz was also over with the women in attendance and won with the Reality Check. Goldust showed no character at all. Disappointing.
CM Punk beat Y2J
Match of the night in my opinion. Both men brought their A-Game with a back and forth contest. At one point CM Punk hit the GTS only for Y2J to roll out the ring and by the time he got him back in, he had time to kick out. Y2J was also able to hit the Codebreaker but took too long to cover (like on Monday’s RAW). Finish came when Jericho brought a chair into the ring and RICKY STEAMBOAT ran down and took it off him, but had the chair booted in his face in retaliation. CM Punk used this distraction to hit the GTS for the win. After the match CM Punk told the audience not to cheer for him but for Ricky, hyping his match at Backlash.
Cena and Rey beat Big Show and Edge
Cena and Rey were, unsuprisingly, very over. Cena had the majority of the crowd’s support and no doubt got the biggest reaction of the night. Lots of comedy moments in the beginning with Big Show and Edge trading chops to tag themselves in. Show/Edge got the advantage in a good, lengthy match which ended when Cena turned things round after Edge accidently speared Big Show, leading to Rey getting tagged in and hitting the 619 on Edge followed by a splash from the top rope as Cena hit Show with an Attitude Adjuster. After the match Show got hit with a 619 and another Attitude Adjuster from Cena. The two Attitude Adjusters shook the ring, literally.
Overall a very good show with everyone (except for Goldust) giving it their all. Kofi and Charlie Haas deserve credit for giving 110% to both of their matches, despite losing and it was also nice to see pretty much everyone having fun with the show. Little comedy moments with Regal, Beth, “Santina”, Charlie, Miz, Big Show and Edge added so much to their matches while Kelly, Melina, Y2J and Punk also seemed to be having a ball performing.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
WWE’s Reaction To Lashley-TNA Signing
- WWE’s reaction to Bobby Lashley signing with TNA was pretty much a non-issue. Most within the company expected Lashley to eventually sign with TNA, and officials feel that it won’t help TNA or hurt WWE in any way.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
TNA
Impact Taping Results (Spoilers to come)
Credit: Alex Hernandez and Credit: Pwinsider.com
Xplosion/TNAWrestling.com Matches:
* Sarah Stock defeated Taylor Wilde.
* ODB defeated Velvet Sky.
* Lethal Consequences & Eric Young defeated Team No Limit & Kiyoshi.
Impact:
* The Main Event Mafia comes to the ring without Sting. Kurt Angle says that when Mick Foley hit him with a chair last week, he didn’t know there would be consequences. Angle proposes to Jeff Jarrett that Angle be put into the Ultimate Sacrifice match at the PPV and if he loses, whoever pins him becomes the new leader of the MEM. Angle says he’s going to take over Mick Foley’s office and the show tonight.
* Team 3D Tournament: X-Division champion Suicide & The Amazing Red defeated The Motor City Machineguns.
* LAX was scheduled to wrestle but Hernandez was jumped by Brutus Magnus, Doug Williams and Big Rob Terry (a Team 3D student who was signed awhile back) - they are a new British faction it appears. Homicide came to the ring and it turned into a handicap match which the Brits won.
* Awesome Kong defeated Madison Rayne in a Stretcher Match.
* In a match where only Abyss couldn’t use weapons, he defeated Cody Deaner.
* The Motor City Machineguns come out and call out Daniels or Suicide or whatever he is calling himself. They begin running down reasons that they know he’s really Suicide. Daniels comes out and says he doesn’t owe them any explanations, then lays them out.
* Booker T and Kevin Nash defeated TNA Legends champ AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. Joe didn’t come out until halfway into the match, at which point he and Styles began arguing. Booker drilled Styles with the belt to set up the finish. After the match, Styles slapped Joe and they brawled until the referees broke them up.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
ROH
April 22 Newswire
- April 22nd Newswire: Jimmy Jacobs was seen wearing an eye patch following the intense street fight last Saturday in Markham, Ontario. Delirious was able to secure victory by locking in the Cobra Stretch while digging Jacobs’ own railroad spike into his eye. After losing the match, Jacobs was clutching his eye and immediately left the building, seeking treatment at a nearby hospital. ROH officials have been informed that Jacobs has apparently suffered a severe corneal abrasion, but is not expected to miss this weekends events in Dayton and Chicago Ridge.
- The Fight Network was on hand in suburban Toronto and reporter John Pollock put together a piece on Ring of Honor’s return to Canada. You can hear comments on the future of ROH by ROH President Cary Silkin as well as Bryan Danielson. Ring of Honor thanks Mr. Pollock and the Fight Network for their support! Please click the link to see the video. http://www.you-tube.com/watch?v=mp019wLgcaw
- If you saw yesterday’s newest installment of the Ring of Honor Video Wire (http://www.you-tube.com/watch?v=uzKO8FV7hJo&fmt=18), you saw that Joey Ryan once again made a proclamation about bringing “sleazy” to Ring of Honor. We can now confirm that Joey Ryan will be on hand and in action on May 8th in Boston and May 9th in Edison. We’ll have his match announcements soon right here in the Newswire.
- Kenny King and Rhett Titus have been as vocal as anyone in ROH, and even more so after aligning themselves with “A-Double”. Now they may have bitten off more than they can chew. ON May 8th in Boston, King and Titus have signed to face the Dark City Fight Club in tag team action. Can the brash and cocky King and Titus overcome the in-your-face intensity that the DCFC have brought to Ring of Honor? We’ll find out in Boston!
- Also signed for Boston is the unexpected battle of “drinking buddies”. The Necro Butcher and Jay Briscoe are known to toss back a few cold ones after ROH events, and now it seems they’ll toss fists. This isn’t a grudge match by any means according to Briscoe. “It’s good to test yourself against all styles in wrestling. That’s why I signed to fight Roddy Strong – he is one of the best. Now I signed to fight Necro. Not because I have any problems with him, just because I know he’ll keep my brawling sharp. Plus, I know he’ll buy the first round after it’s all done.” Briscoe has split decisions with Roderick String on recent cards, beating him in Markham. Strong has asked for a third match. Could Briscoe be using this match with Necro to sharpen a new strategy for his next battle with Roddy?
- Due to scheduling issues and circumstances beyond our control, Ring of Honor regrets to inform the fans that the following live events have been canceled. Danbury, CT on July 17th, Montreal, Quebec on July 24th, and Elizabeth, PA on September 25th. If you have purchased tickets for any of these events please email ROHTickets@aol.com for refund information. Look for new live events to be announced in place Danbury & Pittsburgh in the coming weeks. We apologize for the unexpected inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your business and continued support.
- Ring of Honor’s return to Toronto just got even bigger. Just added is a second live event on Friday, July 24th at the Ted Reeve Arena, 175 Main Street, Toronto, Ontario M4E 2W2. Tickets for the July 24th show will go on sale this coming Monday at noon EST at www.rohwrestling.com . Tickets are already on sale for the July 25th date featuring “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Stay tuned to ROHwrestling.com for additional details on this big weekend.
- Eddie Kingston is coming to Edison, NJ on May 9th to show the ROH fans that he belongs. He was successful in defeating Sami Callihan in ROH on HDNet, and that victory has earned him praise form the ROH faithful. But when he gets to Edison, he’ll be taking on a man making a stop in his old ROH stomping grounds, a former ROH World Tag Team Champion, “The Havana Pitbull” Ricky Reyes. Will Reyes show Kingston why he has held ROH gold and earn a “W” before he goes back to Puerto Rico, or will Kingston show everyone why “the last of a dying breed” is on the rise?
- Kevin Steen is waiting like all of us to find out if El Generico will be healthy enough to chase down the American Wolves and the ROH World Tag Team Titles. But the uncertainty isn’t going to stop Steen from doing what he does best – wrestling. To that end, Steen has signed to face Sonjay Dutt on May 9th in Edison! “I respect Sonjay,” said Steen. “But I’m angry. Mad at the Wolves, mad at circumstance, just mad. And I pity Dutt if Generico is out for a while. All of my frustration might end up being taken out on him.”
- The first ROH on HDNet commercial featuring the new Ambassador of ROH, the legendary 16-time World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair is out and ready for viewing (http://www.you-tube.com/watch?v=u1RhW_JV5kA&fmt=18). The episodes featuring Flair begin airing on HDNet on May 2nd. For more info on Ring of Honor on HDNet, please visit http://www.hd.net/ringofhonorhtml or http://www.twitter.com/rohonhdnet .
- Less than 24 hours remain in the Big Ten Sale at ROHWrestling.com. This offer features over 100 DVD’s priced at only $10 each. You can also general admission tickets for upcoming shows in Dayton, Chicago, Boston, & Edison for $10. On top of that, save 10% off your next order. For a complete list of all items included in the sale plus the 10% off discount code click here: http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=860 .
- We’ll be back tomorrow with a look at the weekend’s event in Dayton, OH and Chicago, IL, as well as more info on ROH’s return to Boston and Edison!
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
Pinfall Recall News Digest For April 18
WWE
Chuck Palumbo Comments On WWE Tenure
Chuck was welcomed by The Big Mosh & Blade for some of his first post-WWE comments since being released this past November. As many long-time Mayhem listeners know, “Your Home Of Wrestling Radio” was one of the programs that began airing shortly after the WWE’s purchase of World Championship Wrestling, as well as the closing of ECW. With the rumors abuzz of the WWE potentially working on a WCW-themed DVD for the summer months ahead, more fans are clamoring about the days of the “Monday Night Wars,” and even some fans who wish WCW were still around to provide some competition. Chuck was asked by The Mayhem Crew how often he receives those type of comments from wrestling fans. “I get that a lot…people who talk about WCW. I miss it myself personally, out of all the years I’ve been in the business, I really think my best years & my most fun years were with WCW.”
On the heels of World Wrestling Entertainment buying out WCW, just several short months later we saw the failed “Invasion” angle, that unfortunately only lasted several months. Blade mentioned that many fans are still upset over the botching of that angle & the possibilities it could have brought to many talented performers & superstars. Many WCW wrestlers were pushed to the “back-burner,” and Chuck wished to give his open thoughts on the storyline from his perspective: “Who was the main beneficiary out of that ‘Invasion’ angle? It was Vince, the WWF(E), & his talent. There was nobody who was enhanced coming from WCW especially or ECW who really got enhanced by that angle.”
This past Monday night saw the face of the WWE change, with the 2009 WWE Draft. Chuck is very familiar with how the Draft operates, as back in 2004, he was drafted to RAW after being involved in the highly-talked about “Billy & Chuck” angle on SmackDown. Mosh asked Chuck what was it going from a huge storyline on one show to having to transition to another show. “If you noticed, it’s not hard to figure out both times 2004 & 2008 when I got drafted to RAW, I got released pretty quickly after that. One might say the writers had nothing for me, but I’ll tell you what, anything happens four years apart, and you got the same writer on RAW (Brian Gerwitz), who wasn’t a fan of mine & didn’t utilize me. But that’s how the business, I got no hard feelings.”
For many “old-school” fans of the business, the tag team division within the WWR has been a forgotten entity. However, in the early part of this new millennium, it was at aforementioned “Billy & Chuck” storyline. Chuck has been a part of several successful teams (both in WCW & the WWE), and had some very candid feelings about the shift from mainstream tag team wrestling: “Honestly, the tag belts haven’t meant anything for a while…Like all belts, all championships are just a prop, and they are used to enhance talents. He went on to add, “When we (himself & Billy Gunn) had them, it was entertaining, people were digging it..” Vince McMahon’s view on tag teams/tag team wrestling, according to Chuck: “Vince is not a big fan the tag team. He doesn’t believe that there’s money, as far as merchandise, or giving that guy that push for a Pay-Per-View buy they draw. Vince just doesn’t believe in tag teams…never has.”
Just last year on SmackDown, one of the hottest on-camera feuds was involving Chuck Palumbo & Jamie Noble fighting over former WWE Divas Champion, Michelle McCool. Many fans across the globe were hopeful this angle could lead to two of the most underrated talents finally getting some well-deserved TV time. However, it was cut short. The question many fans have been left wondering was why? Jamie became an agent, so what happened was he wanted to enhance himself more, so the next thing you know, he’s pitching storylines in the meetings for himself. You know, how many times you’re gonna’ have me lose to Jamie Noble? The kid wouldn’t last two seconds with me on the street if it was real.” He continued on by saying, “I’ll be honest with you, Arn Anderson’s not a big fan of mine…he’s one of the main producers. He hated seeing me come back, so he was doing everything in his power to let Vince know that I wasn’t going to be the next guy to make him money.”
With all of what has been reported about TNA signing two former champions & with the very good likelihood those talents may debut at Lockdown this Sunday night, the names begin to be bantered about….Taz, Victoria…what about Chuck Palumbo? Mosh & Blade asked Chuck that on a scale of 1-10, what are the chances of him heading to TNA before the end this year. “I say the chances are very good…they are very good. I’ve been talking, but I’m in no rush. If we do it, we gotta’ do it right.”
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
ROH
House Show Results
ROH Montreal
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Centre Jean-Claude Malépart, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
- Grizzly Redwood and Alex “Sugarfot” Payne fought to a time limit draw (5:25)
- The Super Smash Brothers (Stupefied and Player Uno) beat Eddie Osiris and Dan Paysan in 4:27 when Stupefied pinned Dan Paysan.
- Chris Hero pinned Franky the Mobster in 9:44.
- Daizee Haze pinned Lufisto in 6:01.
- Rhett Titus and Kenny King beat Necro Butcher and Delirious by DQ at 11:12 when Necro flattened Titus with a chair-shot.
- Tyler Black pinned Jimmy Jacobs after 15:41.
- In a four-way match that also included Jay Briscoe and Roderick Strong, Kenny Omega pinned Austin Aries with a backslide after 10:20.
- Claudio Castagnoli and Jimmy Rave beat Colt Cabana and Brent Albright in 12:21 with a big assist from Prince Nana.
- Kevin Steen, El Generico and Bryan Danielson beat Sylvain Grenier and ROH Champions the American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) in 22:35.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
Other
New JR Blog!
Good to be back in Oklahoma for a few days prior to departing for London on Sunday to get ready for Tuesday night’s Smackdown TV Taping at the O2 Arena.
It’s always busy in WWE and particularly so this week. A three hour Raw that turned into 3 1/2 hours for young Todd Grisham and yours truly as we called our WWE Superstars match for Thursday night’s inaugural broadcast on WGN America. These are the marathon nights when one wishes that he had not had that last cup of coffee or was at least wearing king sized Depends.
Nice trip late Monday night riding from Atlanta up to Knoxville with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco as we got to share some hilarious road stories which made me want to think more seriously about writing a book, someday. If you get a chance to watch the Brisco’s on WWE 24/7 On Demand, I strong suggest that you check it out. Even though tag team wrestling these days isn’t as prominent as it once was when the Brisco’s met teams like the Funk’s or Ricky Steamboat/Jay Youngblood those bouts were amazing.
Smackdown had a viable draft. Keeping such SD stalwarts as The Undertaker, Jeff Hardy, Edge, and Umaga helped the Friday night cause. No brand has a more prominent star than ‘Taker who stock has risen even more since his amazing victory over the equally amazing Shawn Michaels at WM25 which saw the “Demon of Death Valley” go an astonishing 17-0 at Wrestlemania events.
Adding Rey Mysterio back to Friday night’s is huge especially for WWE’s ever growing Hispanic audience. Rey is a marvel considering that he is not physically the biggest dog in the hunt but the King swears that size is a non issue.
CM Punk somewhat quietly had one of the biggest years of any WWE Superstar ever in 2008 after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Edge in Oklahoma City in June. I remember that night well as it was my “farewell” to Raw after being drafted a week earlier to Smackdown. Punk can reach new heights on Friday nights I assure you.
Chris Jericho, 2008 Slammy Award winning Superstar of the year, is uber talented (how about that descriptor, Stocky?) and arguably no one is better at what they do than the brash and arrogant Jericho who has starred in Japan, Mexico, and most prominently in WWE. Don’t discount the fact that Jericho is the man who beat both Stone Cold and The Rock on the SAME night to become the first ever Undisputed Champion in WWE. Jericho is a BTP, big time player.
I expect huge things out of John Morrison especially now that he isn’t saddled in a tag team which will provide Morrison the chance to create his own individual legacy. Morrison has some Mr. Perfect-like traits as he is so athletic, flexible, and creates eye opening, innovative offense. John Morrison is a main eventer waiting to happen and he needs to grab the old, brass ring and make some noise.
Dolph Ziggler is another talent who has all the physical skills to be much better than some perceive. If Ziggler can someday get past personally introducing himself to the world and simply focus on beating people in the ring he can be a player. I love the athleticism that we often see in WWE and Ziggler has a load of it. Point being is that Ziggler knows the fundamental skills of wrestling which heretofore have been somewhat kept under wraps.
Another wrestler with a significant upside is Mike Knox who is now a Friday Night Smackdown talent. Knox, at times, reminds me of a young Bruiser Brody with his body type and, of course, that bushy beard. Knox is a raw boned, tough human being who is much more cerebral than perhaps some WWE fans are aware. Knox really caught my attention several weeks ago during, of all things, a succinct albeit memorable backstage interview on Monday Night Raw. Knox needs to be Knox but him watching some Brody DVD’s might serve him well.
credit: jrsbarbq.com
Discuss on our forum!
Hulk Hogan Comments On Recent Controversey
- Hulk Hogan appeared on the Bubba the Love Sponge show yesterday and again claimed that his OJ comments were taken “out of context.” [WrestlingObserver.com]
Discuss on our forum!
Pinfall Recall News Digest For April 12
WWE
WWE Supplemental Draft Note
The WWE Supplemental Draft has been scheduled for Wednesday at noon on WWE.com and WWEUniverse.com with Howard Finkel set to host.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
DVD Release Date Schedule
- Here is the updated list of WWE DVD releases:
4.14 - WWE’s Greatest Stars Of The 90’s
5.05 - Tagged Classics (No Way Out 2004/Backlash 2004)
5.05 - Tagged Classics (Judgment Day 2004/Bad Blood 2004)
5.19 - Wrestlemania 25 - Both Standard and Blu-Ray Releases
5.26 - Backlash 2009
6.09 - Macho Madness: The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
6.16 - Judgment Day 2009
7.07 - Extreme Rules 2009
7.14 - Allied Powers: The World’s Greatest Tag Teams
7.28 - The Great American Bash 2009 [Credit: Pwinsider.com]
Discuss on our forum!
TNA
Danny Bonaduce Match Update
- Danny Bonaduce has been discussing his match with Eric Young on his radio show recently. When a caller asked why the match wasn’t being promoted, Bonaduce stated that there was a rumor from Dave Meltzer’s newsletter that Dixie Carter had made the call for the match to be a dark match since “she didn’t want a comedy match on is supposed to be a serious PPV”. Bonaduce called Carter and found out that his match would be placed on the PPV pre-show as a way to entice people to buy the PPV. He liked that idea and said he didn’t care about being on the PPV anyway and just wanted to up the profile of his radio show. He again stated that he isn’t even being paid for the match. [Credit: Pwinsider.com]
Discuss on our forum!
ROH
ROH HDnet Episode Results
Ring Of Honor Episode 10
* The American Wolves cut a promo promising to win the Tag Titles when they put Kevin Steen and El Generico through a table tonight. A table was in the ring. Steen and Generico hit the ring and the Wolves retreated, leaving Shane Hagadorn to be put through a table.
* Kenny Omega won a Three-Way over Kenny King and Jay Briscoe when he pinned King.
* The Dark City Fight Club beat Irish Airborne.
* Chris Hero beat Eddie Kingston by DQ when he refused to stop beating Hero in the corner.
* Necro Butcher & Delirious defeated Jimmy Jacobs & Brodie Lee.
Ring Of Honor Episode 11
* Roderick Strong defeated Rhett Titus.
* SHIMMER champ MsChif won a three way over Daizee Haze and Sara del Rey.
* Erick Stevens defeated Sami Callahan.
* The American Wolves defeated Kevin Steen & El Generico in a Tables Match to win the ROH Tag Team belts. Great match.
Ring Of Honor Episode 12
* Colt Cabana & Brent Albright beat Claudio Castagnoli & Ernie Osyris.
* Bobby Dempsey beat Sal Rinauro.
* In a great Match, Roh champ Jerry Lynn defeated Bryan Danielson, Tyler Black and Austin Aries when he nailed the cradle piledriver on Danielson.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
Other
Ted DiBiase Sr. Religious Statement Controversey
In a recent interview with the LaCrosseTibune.com, Ted DiBiase Sr. made the following statement: “Jesus said go and make disciples…It wasn’t a request. It was a command. And unfortunately in America, 90 percent of all people who profess Christianity never led anyone to Christ. So I’m an evangelist, and that’s what I do…I challenge people. We’ve got people who are willing to blow up themselves and buildings, die for something that is a total lie: Islam. … But we have Christians who have never been a witness.”
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss on our forum!
Wrestling News Digest 4/2/09: WrestleMania announce team, Stratus may not appear in battle royal, Bischoff creates new show, and MUCH MORE!
WWE
WrestleMania notes regarding announce team, Stratus, and more
- Jim Ross mentioned on his blog at JRsBarBQ.com that he, Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler will be the announce team for WrestleMania 25 this Sunday on PPV.
- The UK Sun is reporting that Trish Stratus has spoken to them indicating that she has NO commitments for this weekend, which may imply that she will not be appearing at WrestleMania for the 25 Diva Battle Royal. Nothing has been confirmed at this time, however.
- WWE has set up a ring at the hotel where the wrestlers are staying, in order for them to work out and properly prepare for WrestleMania.
Credit: wrestlezone.com/411mania.com
Discuss this news on the forums
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WWE rescinds decision to pull Jimmy Hart from Booker T’s convention
- PWInsider.com has just confirmed that World Wrestling Entertainment has changed their stance and has rescinded pulling Jimmy Hart from tomorrow’s Fanfest being promoted by Booker T.
There’s no word on whether the open letter Booker posted at www.BookerTLOW.com had any bearing on the latest move, but as of this afternoon, Booker received word Hart would be coming as originally scheduled.
None of the other talent originally scheduled for the Fanfest who later pulled out will be appearing beyond Hart.
Credit: PWinsider.com
Discuss this news on the forums
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Monty Brown wants to return to WWE
- In a recent interview with Michigan Live, former TNA and WWE performer Monty Brown stated that he was negotiating for a return to the WWE. Brown said…
“I had to take some time away for a while on my own terms, but I kept a good rapport with the company and can come back at any time. I’ve got a lot going and I had a lot going (before leaving the WWE).”
You can read the full article here.
Credit: 411mania.com
Discuss this news on the forums
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TNA
Brother Runt and Balls Mahoney return, TNA Stars heading to Japan
- Brother Runt & Balls Mahoney appeared at the recent TNA TV Tapings as part of the Team 3D vs Beer Money Angle.
Both had previous been in TNA. Balls Mahoney made a few appearances as Sandman’s partner when TNA was producing weekly PPVs in Nashville. Brother Runt was part Team 3D in TNA in 2006-7.
- Kurt Angle and The Motor City Machine Guns head to Japan this weekend for New Japan Wrestling.
The Machine Guns retained the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles defeating No Limit (Yujiro and Naito) in a match at the TNA TV Tapings this week.
Credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss this news on the forums
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ROH
ROH Newswire for April 2nd
- Ring of Honor will be in Houston, TX this weekend for two gigantic events. Both events take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, TX 77010. “Supercard of Honor IV” will take place on Friday night with a bell time of 8:00 PM. This event features Nigel McGuinness vs. Jerry Lynn for the ROH World Title; KENTA vs. Davey Richards for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title; Tyler Black & The Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Austin Aries; Roderick Strong vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima; Byan Danielson vs. Alex Koslov; World Tag Team Champion El Generico, vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright vs. NWA World Champion, Blue Demon, Jr. in a Four Corner Survival; World Tag Team Champion Kevin Steen, Jay Briscoe, & Magno vs. Chris Hero, Eddie Edwards, & Incognito; Colt Cabana vs. D-Lo Brown; plus more. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door on Friday night.
- On Saturday we have a special matinee Pay-Per-View taping with a start time of 2:00 PM. For those fans attending the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony at night and the ROH show in the afternoon, the buildings are right next to each other. You won’t have to miss either event. Ring of Honor presents “Take No Prisoners” featuring a Dream Tag Team Match with GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion KENTA & Tyler Black vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima & Austin Aries; Bryan Danielson vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Erick Stevens vs. D-Lo Brown in a Four Corner Survival; ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli vs. NWA World Champion Blue Demon Jr. & Brent Albright; Jimmy Jacobs vs. The Necro Butcher in a No DQ War; Alex Koslov vs. Roderick Strong; ROH World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen & El Generico, Jay Briscoe, & Magno vs. The American Wolves, Chris Hero, & Incognito; Colt Cabana vs. Ace Steel; plus more. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door on Saturday afternoon.
- This Saturday’s episode of Ring of Honor on HDNet features a great main event of “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries. Other bouts include Sterling James Keenan vs. Erick Stevens, Dark City Fight Club vs. Cheech & Cloudy, and The Necro Butcher vs. Chris Hero. For more information including air dates and times click here: http://www.hd.net/ringofhonor.html.
- “That Young Knockout Kid” Chris Hero has claimed that he’s perfected the rolling elbow strike due to knowledge bestowed on him by the legendary Mitsuharu Misawa. Others simply claim that his knockout prowess is due to an obviously loaded green elbow guard. ROH officials have been unable to find any concrete evidence to prove that the elbow guard has been doctored in any way, and super agent Larry Sweeney refuses to comment other than to praise the deadly precision with which Hero has been able to dispatch his opponents. Now Hero will have the chance to put that elbow to use as his opponents for ROH’s return to Canada have been finalized. On April 17th in Montreal, Hero will face rising Canadian star Frankie the Mobster in singles competition. A win by Frankie could secure him future ROH appearances, while Sweet-N-Sour Incorporated claims that this contest is nothing more than a “sparring session”. Then on April 18th in Markham, the challenge for Hero would appear greater as he’s signed to face the Necro Butcher! These two recently met during the inaugural ROH on HDNet television tapings, and that match will air this weekend on HDNet! Can Hero “pad” his personal win column in Canada?
- A pair of tag team matches has been signed for Dayton on April 24th. First, the Phoenix Twins will make their Dayton ROH debut as they oppose the team of Austin Aries and “Addicted to Love” Rhett Titus. This marks the first time that they will team since the camaraderie between Aries, Titus, and Kenny King came to light in Pittsburgh. Can the athletic Phoenix Twins score the huge upset, or is this just the beginning of great things for Aries and his newfound friends? Also, the Dark City Fight Club has been very impressive since debuting in ROH back at Proving Ground ‘09, and they’ve run roughshod over everyone they’ve faced in ROH since then. Now they will see a rematch from Proving Ground ‘09 Night One, as they will face the ROH World Tag Team Champions, Kevin Steen and El Generico in non-title action. The DCFC couldn’t score the upset back in Coral Springs, but now they have momentum on their side while the champs have been busy trying to fight off the American Wolves. Can the Fight Club knock off one of the best tag teams on the globe?
- Chicago Ridge will be buzzing on April 25th as two big matches have also been signed. It looks like “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson’s fight against the Embassy will continue in Chicago as Prince Nana has secured a singles match between Danielson and his “crown jewel”, Jimmy Rave! Rave and Bison Smith fell to Dragon and Colt Cabana at the Seventh Anniversary show in New York, and now Rave wants redemption. He hasn’t forgotten the past, and wants nothing more than to set in the heel hook and slay the Dragon. Can Rave use the past to his advantage? Also signed for Chicago Ridge, a special attraction has been signed as Larry Sweeney has gotten Chris Hero signed to one of his highest profile matches since returning from Japan. On April 25th, Hero will face Tyler Black! Sweeney and Hero know that a victory over Black could catapult Hero into title contention, and they would love nothing more than to see that happen sooner than later. Black is also preoccupied, looking over his shoulders at all times for Austin Aries and Jimmy Jacobs. Get ready Chicago, besides those great matches you’ll also witness the “homecoming” of Colt Cabana ! Tickets are on sale now at www.rohwrestling.com. Don’t miss it!
- After conversations yesterday, we have learned that ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness has been strongly advised by medical personnel that further injury to either of his arms could result in surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process which would keep him out of action for several months. The safety and well-being of every performer is without question the top priority for ROH officials but McGuinness has informed everyone involved that nothing will stop him from “shattering Geritol Lynn’s ridiculous dreams”. Those comments aside, ROH officials are considering McGuinness a “game time” decision. Should McGuinness ultimately be unable to compete this weekend in Houston, ROH officials and the Booking Committee are prepared to shift the card.
- Jimmy Jacobs faces the Necro Butcher as part of “Take No Prisoners” on Saturday in Houston as outlined in this week’s main page article. But Jimmy will see Necro again, this time as part of another of the Television Main Event for Ring of Honor on HDNet. On April 10th in South Philly it will be tag team warfare as Jacobs and the gargantuan Brodie Lee will take on the Necro Butcher and Delirious! HDNet executives consider their network a family-friendly platform, but they have seen the type of carnage that can result when Jacobs and his hatred are at full bore. Considering the history and bad blood in this match, there is no telling how far any of these men will go to destroy each other!
- The Buy 3, Get 1 Free Ring of Honor DVD Sale is back at www.rohwrestling.com. The sale will also be in effect at this weekend’s live events in Houston. New DVD releases include Proving Ground 2009 weekend from Florida. “Proving Ground 2009 Night 1″ from 2/6/09 in Coral Springs, FL features Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards; Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Dark City Fight Club, Nigel McGuinness vs. Brent Albright; Bryan Danielson & Jerry Lynn vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Delirious; Necro Butcher vs. Austin Aries; plus more. “Proving Ground 2009 Night 2″ from 2/7/09 in Orlando, FL features Bryan Danielson vs. El Generico in a great match; Nigel McGuinness vs. D-Lo Brown for the ROH World Title; Tyler Black & Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Delirious, Davey Richards vs. Kevin Steen; a wild six man tag; plus more.
- You can now save 30% Off the regular price on live event tickets for ALL upcoming Ring of Honor events. No discount code is needed. Ticket prices have already been reduced at ROHWrestling.com.
- We’ll be back on Monday with an answer as to whether or not the “Tables are Legal” tag team title match between the American Wolves and Steen and Generico will happen in Philly, as well as more match and talent announcements for Montreal, Markham, Dayton, and Chicago, and the aftermath from ROH’s huge debut deep in the heart of Texas!
Credit: 411mania.com
Discuss this news on the forums
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other
Eric Bischoff creates a new show
- Variety.com has posted the following article which you can read at this link.
CMT has ordered eight episodes of “Runnin’ Wild …From Ted Nugent,” a reality-competition series that will feature the right-wing rock star and hunting advocate teaching contestants how to survive in the wild, then chasing after them along with his 18-year-old son, Rocco.
Series will begin running on the MTV Networks channel in August.
Credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss this news on the forums
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
That’s all for today’s Wrestling News Digest. Be sure to come back tomorrow for another easy to digest batch! Or, subscribe to our blog feed to get the latest Wrestling News, as well as our columns and podcasts, delivered right to your favorite feedreader. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Pinfall Recall team on the forums or by emailing them directly through the links below.
Cliff Karklin (CK) - CK@PinfallRecall.com
Joshua George (JG) - JG@PinfallRecall.com
Robby Boydstun (RDB) - RDB@PinfallRecall.com
Milo Taibi (Milo) - Milo@PinfallRecall.com
Wrestling News Digest 3/31/09: More Divas for Battle Royal, Kurt Angle movie trailer, Simon Diamond molested
WWE
More participants added to Diva’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania XV
- At today’s WWE WrestleMania XXV press conference, it was announced that Sunny, Torrie Wilson, Molly Holly and Victoria would be a part of the Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal.
Already announced for the match were Melina, Maryse, Mickie James, Gail Kim, Michelle McCool, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Alicia Fox, Kelly Kelly, Maria, Eve Torres, Katie Lea Burchill, Beth Phoenix, Layla El, Rosa Mendes, Candice Michelle, Natalya Neidhart, Jillian Hall, Tiffany.
Candice Michelle is currently questionable for the match, due to a recent ankle injury. Also, Wendi Richter and Lita have tuned down the invitation to appear in the match.
Credit: 411mania.com
Discuss this news on the fourms
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Taz leaves WWE
- PWInsider.com and others are reporting that Jim Ross’ WWE Smackdown broadcast partner Taz is done with the company, and that yesterdays tapings were his last. His contract is reported to be expiring soon.
Credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss this news on the fourms
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TNA
Talent update for Booker T’s convention, Kurt Angle movie trailer
- Former WWF champion and current TNA star Mick Foley has been added to Booker T Legends of Wrestling Fanfest this Friday in Houston, Texas. Foley is scheduled to appear on TNA house show events this weekend but since the convention is a charity event designed to help raise funds for children in the Houston area, he is going to fly to Houston to appear for several hours, then rush back to Louisiana for the TNA house show that evening.
Former WWE, ECW and TNA star Matt “Spike Dudley/Brother Runt” Hyson has also been added to the convention, making it a full Team 3D reunion.
- The trailer for Kurt Angle’s film End Game can be viewed here: http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/100788/Various-News:-Kurt-Angle-Film-Trailer,-Bret-Hart-UK-Book-Signing,-Simon-Diamond-Sues-Clergy-Claiming-Sexual-Harassment.htm
Credit: wrestlezone.com/PWinsider.com
Discuss this news on the fourms
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other
Simon Diamond files molestation lawsuit
- Former ECW and TNA Performer Pat “Simon Diamond” Kenny is currently filing suit against, claiming sexual abuse as a child, against a teacher and priest at a prestigious Delaware high school. Here is the press release:
Former TNA Star Files Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Priest
Church Officials Knew Cleric Was Abuser, Yet Allowed Him to Stay in Schools in Three States
Simon Diamond Vows to Help Keep Kids Safe
“The Time for Silence and Shame is Over,” He Says
A former TNA Wresting Star filed a child sex abuse lawsuit today, accusing a teacher and priest at a prestigious Delaware high school of sexually abusing him when he was a young teen student at the school.
Pat Kenney, who wrestled under the name Simon Diamond, used a landmark Delaware Law, the Child Victims Act, to come forward and tell his story of childhood sexual abuse at Wilmington’s Salesianum High School, where he says he was sexually molested by known predator Denis Killion.
Rev. Denis Killion was removed from ministry when four men came forward in August to accuse him of sexual abuse. Letters exposed in the cases showed that church officials knew that Killion was a molester, but instead of removing him, moved the priest to schools in Pennsylvania and Florida.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/07_08/2008_08_07_Parra_LettersSupport.htm.
Since then, a fifth victim has come forward.
Credit: 411mania.com
Discuss this news on the fourms
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
That’s all for today’s Wrestling News Digest. Be sure to come back tomorrow for another easy to digest batch! Or, subscribe to our blog feed to get the latest Wrestling News, as well as our columns and podcasts, delivered right to your favorite feedreader. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Pinfall Recall team on the forums or by emailing them directly through the links below.
Cliff Karklin (CK) - CK@PinfallRecall.com
Joshua George (JG) - JG@PinfallRecall.com
Robby Boydstun (RDB) - RDB@PinfallRecall.com
Milo Taibi (Milo) - Milo@PinfallRecall.com
Pinfall Recall News Feed For March 22
WWE
3.22.09 House Show Results
- Good show, LOTS of kids, took a while to get everyone inside.
Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix w/Santino Marella
Solid opener, crowd was into it. Mickie got an impressive head scissors before Phoenix ended it with the double arm chickenwing slam. Around **.
Santino got on the mic and took up some time by talking, and gave an open challenge.
*Glass Shatters*….for Stone Cold Charlie Haastin! Huge pop, but the crowd was a little deflated when it turned out to Haas.
Charlie Haas vs. Santino Marella
Charlie did the mudhole stomps and Lou Thesz Press, while Santino did some basic cheating. Charlie hit an exploder before finishing with the Stone Cold Stunner. Crowd wasn’t into it very much, but it was solid. Around *.
After the match Beth carried Santino outside. Kelly Kelly was in the nosebleed seats, asked some kid what Wrestlemania was coming up and the kid and his family got front row seats for the show.
Kane vs. Kofi Kingston
Strange match due to the crowd being REALLLLY into Kane. Kane was motivated and did more than the checklist match he often does. Kofi wasn’t able to do much, but got a wheel nice Pele Kick, before we got an unexpected Wrestlemania series of nearfalls. The best one was an impressive sunset flip counter to a chokeslam, but Kane eventually got the real deal for the win to a good pop. Kofi got a good ovation after the match. Around **1/2.
Colons & Bella Twin 1 vs. John Morrison, the Miz & Bella Twin 2
Pardon me for not knowing which Bella was which, but they barely played a roll. Crowd was behind the Colons. These guys had the typical high energy match they’ve been having for the last few months, with Mizorrison working over Primo before Carlito got the hot tag. Lots of spots, but Carlito botched his Backstabber before getting the 3 count. Around ***1/2.
Belfast Brawl: Finlay w/Hornswoggle vs. Mark Henry w/Tony Atlas
Kids loved Hornswoggle. Very slow match for most of it, with Henry controlling and doing THREE nerveholds. There was also a bizarre spot where Henry used a kendo stick to poke at Finlay instead of smacking him as usual. Finlay finally made a comeback with some PLUNDAH, and Atlas ate a Tadpole Splash. Hornswoggle distracted Henry long enough for Finlay to use the shackilacki for the win. Long, mostly boring, but the antics and stiff shots made up for it a little. Around *.
After the match Finlay brought in some kids and Kelly Kelly gave them shirts. A little kid made my night when Kelly asked him who his favorite wrestler was. “The Hardyz.” “Which one?” “MATT!” “REALLY?” Huge boos but it made me laugh.
Intermission.
ECW Championship Match: Jack Swagger vs. Christian
Christian got a good amount of cheers and they worked smartly to get the crowd into it. Good, long match that was very similar to the one they had on ECW, minus the extended armwork and a few of the dives. Crowd was with them every step of the way, and bit hard on a nearfall after a tornado DDT. Swagger eventually sent Christian shoulder first into the post, which prevented an unprettier and allowed Swagger to hit the Doctor Bomb for the win. Christian got a standing ovation after the match. Extremely good match that was easily best of the night. Around ****.
Biggest mark out moment came when RICKY STEAMBOAT was introduced. Steamboat thanked the fans for coming, but was interrupted by Chris Jericho, who got a TREMENDOUS amount of heat. Jericho started tearing into him and said that there was nobody to save Ricky this time, which brought out CM Punk. Seeing Steamboat, Jericho and Punk in the same ring was SWEET.
CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
Somewhat slower match, with Jericho working over Punk for most of it. Punk did his stuff, Jericho did his stuff. The crowd was WAY into it, but more into booing Jericho than cheering Punk. Punk got the ropes to escape the Walls of Jericho, so Jericho got a chair. Steamboat made the save, which led to Jericho beating up Steamboat to more loud boos. Back in, Punk hit the Go To Sleep for the win. Nothing special, considering the talent, but these two can have a good match in their sleep. Around ***.
World Heavyweight Championship: Edge vs. John Cena
Cena came out to an earsplitting pop, as practically everyone was behind him. Edge got a mild reaction, more boos than cheers but no crazy heat. Edge worked a very old-school heel approach, and only hit like two or three actual moves, preferring to soak in the boos by keeping Cena outside and trying a count-out victory. It picked up near the end, with Cena trying the Super “Attitude Adjustment” but getting hit with an electric chair drop, Cena countering the Spear into the STF, and Edge getting a very close nearfall off of a Spear. Edge used the belt which drew a disqualification. Edge went for some chairs, but I was denied my conchairto and Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment to send the crowd home happy. Funny to note that a lot of the kids were still calling it the FU. Good match, but hurt by Edge’s stalling. Around **1/2.
Overall, the show was fantastic, and people who are going to RAW house shows can probably expect something similar.
Biggest Pops:
1) John Cena (By a large margin.)
2) Ricky Steamboat
3) CM Punk
4) Charle Haastin (Followed by apathy.)
5) Christian
Most Heat:
1) Chris Jericho
2) Jack Swagger
3) Edge
4) Miz & Morrison
5) Santino Marella
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
Changes Coming to Smackdown’s Network
- Media Daily News has an article up on how MyNetworkTV is nullifying all their current affiliate deals as part of their change to airing only repeat programming outside of Smackdown. The previous five year affiliate deals will now be changed to annual deals. MyNetworkTV Executive Vice President Paul Franklin said he doesn’t expect to lose affiliates. Smackdown is the highest rated show on the network. The new format will see the network air Law & Order reruns, movies, and other syndicated programming in prime time.
credit: 411mania.com
Join our forums today!
ROH
3.21.09 Results!
The return date is June 13th.
I guess attendance isn’t quite what they expected, they just broke down two sections of GA seating. I’m really bad at gauging attendance, but this place is nowhere near full.
Roderick Strong and Erick Stevens defeated Rhett Titus and Kenny King
While Titus was handing out his card with his numbers to the girls at ringside, one girl handed him a card with her number. Pretty funny. Roderick and Stevens are looking pretty badass tonight. Strong has improved a million percent, looks in great shape, and is so on the money tonight, I wish they’d find a direction for him. Stevens has gotten really lean and cut as well, the two of the look pretty intimidating. Strong and Stevens batter Titus to start, killing him with an endless series of chops, but a cheapshot from the outside by King on Stevens turns the tide. Fans start chanting HepaTitus at Rhett. King kills Stevens with a clothesline for two. Titus and King have gelled great as a team and are terrific at cuttin the ring off. Roderick makes the hot tag and cleans house, then it’s back and forth for several minutes until Stevens puts Titus away with the Doctorbomb.
Brent Albright defeated Claudio Castagnoli by DQ
Claudio has a new robe with the Swiss cross thing and is doing the tried and true heel European gimmick of having his weight announced in kilos rather than pounds. Albright is really over with the NY crowd. Claudio cheapshots him from behind to start and then they start trading blows. Claudio bails to the floor and Albright hits a tope and tosses him back in. Albright gets the (very) delayed vertical suplex for 2, but misses a crossbody and shish kebabs himself on the ropes to give Claudio control. Claudio’s looking a lot more cut tonight too. Did somebody hire these guys a dietician? Albright makes a comeback, but Claudio takes his head off with a big bicycle kick. Albright with an Air Raid Crash for 2 and gets him in the Crippler Crossface (drawing a surprisingly large Benoit chant) but Claudio makes the ropes so Albright does the Benoit snot blow. Albright comes off the top and Claudio catches him with a European uppercut for 2, then they go to the outside where Albright gets a wicked suplex. Both men beat the count and Claudio starts working him over, but Albright gets the Crowbar. Claudio escapes and hot shots him on the top rope, but Albright gets a big superplex with one minute left in the time limit, drawing a groan from the crowd. Toe to toe until the bell rings and they keep going after the match ends. The crowd starts chanting for five more minutes, which of course always works. Claudio grabs the mic and says he knows he can beat Albright if he has five more minutes, and for the first time in history we actually get it. Albright with the Crowbar, Claudio reverses into a Crowbar of his own, Albright escapes and tries to get the half nelson suplex, but Claudio kicks him low for the DQ. Claudio with the Ricola Bomb and then fights off security before delivering the headstomp with the chair. Great match with a fun ending that left you unsatisfied, but in a good way.
Bobby Dempsey defeated Adam Pearce
Some guy from NBC is the guest timekeeper. Okay. This is a “Sweet N Sour Challenge Match.” Okay. Adam does a bit with the NBC guy and threatens to John Stossel him, then shoves him into the ropes. Okay, I really can’t see Dempsey beating Pearce. Pearce looks way better than last time I saw him, maybe he’s preaching his secrets to the roster? Just to make me look bad, Dempsey hits the Death Valley Driver for the win in like 30 seconds, then parties in the ring with the NBC guy. The lights briefly went out in the middle of the match, the second time that happened. I figured the first was a mistake, but this makes me think it’s some kind of angle.
Jerry Lynn defeated Mike Quackenbush
This is gonna be good. Counter wrestling to start as they trade armbars and wristlocks. Lynn with a flying headscissors and corner clothesline, but Quack blocks a bulldog and counters to a leg lace. Quack with a beautiful springboard headscissors and a rolling fireman’s carry into a crossed leglock. Lynn with the springboard dropkick sends Quack to the floor, Quack dives over Lynn’s baseball dropkick attempt, but Lynn gets the guillotine legdrop on the ropes. Quack counters by sweeping Lynn off the apron, but Lynn then counters another headscissors by swinging Quack into the guardrail. Back in the ring Lynn hits a nasty German suplex and a tornado DDT. Quack counters another tornado DDT and gets a nice magistral cradle for 2. This is really awesome. Lynn with a backslide for 2, then a series of reversals ends with Lynn trying to slam Quack off the top, but Quack rolls through and goes for a superplex, but Lynn with a top rope sunset flip/ powerbomb for 2. Quack with his version of the Jig And Tonic for 2, but Lynn gets the cradle piledriver out of nowhere for the win. This was a counterwrestling fan’s Christmas present. They shake hands after and Lynn raises Quack’s hand.
Tyler Black, Necro Butcher, and Delirious defeated Jimmy Jacobs, Brodie Lee, and Austin Aries
This is elimination rules, with a different stip for each fall and the whole thing being No DQ. Aries now not only has the “strip club for lunch” mustache, but also a soul patch as well. Joey Ryan has nothing on this guy when it comes to sleaze. Delirious is back in the green and black.
Fall #1
Brodie lays out Tyler and Delirious then calls out Necro, which ends badly for him. Jimmy winds up alone in the ring with all three opponents and gets destroyed. I guess the first fall is tornado rules? All six men end up brawling on the floor. Necro goes for the dive to the floor, but Brodie yanks him down and hits the big boot. All six men back in the ring as Aries and Jacobs continue to snipe at each other even as they try to work together. Tyler with the big dive to the floor and then Necro hits his to a big pop. Now Daizee goes for hers but Aries grabs her, drawing Delirious in to the rescue. Aries misses the corner dropkick, Brodie comes in but Delirious takes out both men. Delirious gets Jacobs in the Cobra Stretch, but Brodie with the Black Hole Slam and Aries with the brainbuster to eliminate Delirious.
Fall #2
This fall cannot be won by pinfall. Aries and Jacobs start their repressed love thing again, allowing Black to come back, but Brodie comes in and shuts him down. Heels triple team Tyler until Necro comes in and cleans house. Everyone’s back to the floor where Necro and Brodie end up brawling through the crowd and to the back, and the ref used that excuse to DQ both men. This whole fall got TNA chants.
Fall #3
No stip announced for this fall. Jacobs and Aries double team Black but spend as much time shoving each other around. Jacobs blocks Aries from hitting the missile dive to the floor so Aries attacks him and they start brawling. Black uses the distraction to try a comeback, but quickly gets shut down. I guess Aries and Jacobs are working together again. Jacobs gets 2, so I guess pinfalls count again. Aries misses a corner dropkick and kills Jacobs with it, but hits a second one for 2. Black and Aries go back and forth until Black gets the corner powerbomb and superkick, then locks in the End Time to eliminate Aries.
Fall #4
This fall can’t end by submission. That may be the least creative stip of all time. This match has gone beyond boring chants and now the crowd is just laughing. Jimmy gets the spike out, Tyler gets ahold of it, but misses and buries the spike in the top turnbuckle. Jimmy gets the Contra Code for 2, then locks in the End Time but there’s NO SUBMISSIONS! Tyler reverses the End Time to God’s Last Gift to mercifully end this one.
Not only did this not get over at all, but this may have been one of the worst matches in ROH history.
Bryan Danielson and Colt Cabana defeated Bison Smith and Jimmy Rave
Prince Nana came out in a Barack Obama shirt and made stimulus remarks to a girl at ringside. This guy’s hilarious. He announces Jimmy Rave as Bison’s mystery partner, which got a big pop from the crowd. Rave gets a big welcome back chant. Danielson ran into the ring before he could even be announced and got destroyed. Grizzley Redwood came out to make us think he was the mystery partner and was quickly disposed of, then the real partner came out…Colt Cabana! He got an even bigger reaction than Rave did. This match has gotten the biggest reaction of the night so far and they haven’t even started wrestling yet. Cabana and Rave start and the crowd starts a “die Jimmy die” chant. This match is bringing me right back to 2005. Danielson and Cabana take turns working Rave over until Rave tags to Bison, who presses Danielson into the corner. Heat segment on Danielson, but Cabana tags in after only a couple of minutes, but Bison no-sells everything and hits a big shoulder block. Danielson comes in and together they’re able to turn the tide, but Danielson tries a dive to the floor, and Bison catches and slams him. Bison with the claw slam onto Jimmy’s knee, and then tries another claw slam, but Danielson comes in and together they send Bison to the floor where Danielson hits the big dive. Rave catches Cabana in the heel hook, but Cabana reverses into a rolling press for the win. After the match Cabana calls for the Final Countdown and it begins playing over the sound system. This came totally unglued, but was still pretty good. I was a bit bummed that Bison didn’t get into total destruction mode.
D’Lo Brown defeated Jay Briscoe
D’Lo gets on the mic before the match and thanks WWE for releasing him and wishing him luck in his future endevours, because his future endevours are right here in ROH. Brown overpowers Jay to start and does the head thing, but Jay with a Frankensteiner and a dropkick and they do the indy stalemate. Jay with a series of legsweeps frustrates Brown, but Brown distracts the ref and gets a low blow to take control, then hits a big short clothesline. Brown working a very methodical style here, measuring Jay before getting a big running clothesline in the corner and a vertical suplex for 2. I want to see someone try a horizontal or, even better, diagonal suplex someday. Jay tries to go toe-to-toe with Brown but that doesn’t end well for him. They go chop-for-chop, but Brown goes to the eyes and catches him in a top wristlock/half nelson combo. Jay escapes, but eats the flying heel kick. Brown with a series of stiff short clotheslines gets 2. Brown with a springboard dropkick sends Jay to the floor and fakes a dive, but Jay caught him with a dropkick to the face when he did the dive for real. Dueling chants start as both men get back in the ring and Jay hits an inverted STO into the turnbuckle, big boot, and clothesline for 2. Brown with the Sky High for 2, then a Death Valley Driver for another two count. Brown moves out of the way of the top rope legdrop and rolls up Jay with the tights for the win. Crowd was asleep, but it was fun to watch D’Lo play the grizzled veteran who doesn’t mind doing whatever he has to to win.
Kevin Steen and El Generico defeated the American Wolves to retain the ROH World Tag Team Title.
I will be very surprised if the Wolves don’t get the straps tonight. This is no DQ. Good for Eddie Edwards, who first appeared as an occasional undercard guy two or three years ago and is now working the semi-main on one of ROH’s big four events. Steen and Generico run in before their announcement and attack the Wolves, sending them to the floor where Steen hits the big dive. Generico throws a bunch of chairs in the ring and Steen gets a flipping legdrop/conchairto on Edwards. Richards drags Steen to the floor and launches him into the rail, then gets in the ring and Tomvstones Generico on the chairs. Wolves start working Steen’s knee over with a chair. Crowd is dead for this one. I just noticed Edwards seems to be sporting a shiner. Wolves are pretty brutally working Steen over while Generico’s on the floor. They tie Steen’s knee in the ropes and take a run, but Steen moves and they go to the floor, where Generico hits a top rope somersault on both opponents. Back in the ring, Generico kills Edwards with a chairshot then gets a top rope splash on Richards for 2. Steen brings out a ladder and rams it into Edwards’ face in a pretty brutal display. Now it’s Steen and Generico’s turn to double team Richards, beating him up in the corner before Irish whipping him into the ladder and suplexing him on it. Generico with a split legged moonsault for 2. Edwards runs in and nails Steen, but eats a corner Yakuza kick from Generico. Generico misses a dive and audibly crunches onto the ladder as the crowd finally comes alive. Wolves with the double team alarm clock and a sick chairshot to Generico, but Steen breaks up the fall and takes out both men, then hits the corner cannonball. Steen places the ladder over the Wolves and Generico hits the coast to coast somersault dropkick, but that only gets 2. Great match. Steen gives Edwards a Fisherman’s Buster on a chair for 2. Richards takes out Generico on the floor then pushes Steen off the top rope and he lands on the knee. Richards with a chairshot to the knee and a Texas Cloverleaf, but he toughs it out until Generico makes the save. Generico misses a chairshot and nails Steen and Richards tosses Generico to the floor. Richards misses a shooting star press and Steen starts working Richards’ knee over with a chair then traps him in the Sharpshooter for the win. So much for my theory. Wolves attack after the match and Edwards just kills Steen with a chairshot, then put Generico through a table in the ring. Steen still tries to fight back, but they tape him to the ropes and work over his knees with a couple of chairs before finally finishing with a conchairto and walking off with the belts.
ROH Champion Nigel McGuiness vs. KENTA.
Nigel looks awful, he’s got both arms taped up. KENTA gets a lukewarm welcome back chant, and Nigel doesn’t get much reaction either. How does KENTA always end up wrestling badly injured ROH World Champions in New York? KENTA goes right to work with a pair of big kicks to Nigel’s arms that drop him immediately. KENTA continues kicking away on the arm and rams him shoulderfirst into the ringpost before putting Nigel in an armbar. KENTA is just mercilessly kicking away at Nigel, getting some big cheers from the strongly anti-Nigel crowd. KENTA with a big running boot for 2 and a key lock, but Nigel makes the ropes. Ref keeps checking on Nigel after each barrage to see if he wants to continue. Finally Nigel gets in some offense by moving out of the way of a kneedrop and getting a Tower of London to the floor. Back in the ring, Nigel starts working on KENTA’s arm. You’d think he’d go after the legs since kicks have been KENTA’s main offense, but what do I know? Anyway, Nigel gets 2 off of an arm-assisted suplex and gets a chickenwing, then catches KENTA with a surprise dropkick, which we never see him do. KENTA comes back with a vertical suplex and a flying clothesline for 2, then it’s back to the key lock, but Nigel makes the ropes. More vicious kicks from KENTA, but Nigel with a big forearm in the corner. He’s dramatizing it, but Nigel is obviously in pain. Nigel knocks KENTA off the ropes to the outside and then whips him into the rail, but misses a charge and eats the rail himself. KENTA drapes Nigel over the rail and hits a top rope kneedrop to the outside. Nigel just beat the count, and KENTA started killing him with kicks and a fisherman’s buster for 2. Flying clothesline gets 2 on Nigel, series of pinfall reversals ends with Nigel catching KENTA in the London Dungeon. He makes the ropes, so Nigel hits another Tower of London for 2. He tries a third, but KENTA blocks, so Nigel goes for a superplex instead. KENTA turns that into a top rope Falcon Arrow for 2 then another series of reversals into a German Suplex for 2 by KENTA. KENTA finally hits Go To Sleep, butNigel gets his foot on the rope. Crowd didn’t like that one. They battle on the apron and Nigel hits a Tower of London to the apron. Both men again just beat the count and Nigel reverses out of the Go To Sleep and hits one of his own for 2, then gets KENTA in the London Dungeon again, but KENTA reverses to a cradle for 2. Nigel catches him in the London Dungeon yet again and bridges all the way back until KENTA taps. Awesome match, on the level of KENTA-Danielson from 2006. Some idiot fan got a little overzealous after the match and Zack had to eject him.
Well, there were two awesome matches and two good matches, but the rest was moderate to really bad, and the crowd was dead. It was good, but not as good as it looked on paper.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
Other
Ricky Steamboat Update
- Ricky Steamboat appeared at the WWE house show in Topeka, Kansas. He spoke briefly before being confronted by Chris Jericho. Jericho talked bad about Steamboat until CM Punk came out to wrestle Jericho. Punk went on to beat Jericho.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
Lashley Wins Another Bout
At tonight’s boxing and MMA show, “March Badness”, Bobby Lashley took his pro MMA record to 2-0 with a unanimous decision victory over Jason Guida.
Lashley easily won all three rounds and his conditioning looked very good in the 15:00 fight. Guida had Lashley in trouble at one point in the third round, locking in a tight guillotine, but Lashley was able to escape and held on for the victory.
After the fight, Lashley admitted that the guillotine was tight, that he had to dig deep and that he went into the fight with the wrong plan and frame of mind. He promised to go back, watch the tape, learn where he could have finished the fight, and go on from there.
- Here are the MMA results from the card:
# Bobby Lashley defeated Jason Guida via Unanimous Decision (30-27 Across The Cards)
# Jeff Monson defeated Roy Nelson via Unanimous Decision (29-28 Across the Cards)
# Din Thomas defeated Gabe Lemley via RD1 TKO
# Dennis Hallman defeated Danny Ruiz via RD1 Submission
credit: 411mania.com
Join our forum right right now!!
Pinfall Recall News Feed For March 21
WWE
Wrestlemania Ticket Prices
- WWE has raised the price of WrestleMania by $5 this year. The base price is now $54.95. WWE gets $2 out of every $5 that they charge for a PPV, and with buyrates dropping due to the economy, they are assuming that their loyal fanbase will pay the extra $5 and help make up for the lower number of buyers.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss on our forum!
WWE.com Results For Greatest ‘Mania Match
- WWE.com Legacy has posted their latest “Greatest WrestleMania Matches” as voted on by the fans:
* WrestleMania XI: Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel
* WrestleMania XII: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
* WrestleMania 13: Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
* WrestleMania XIV: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
ROH
Nigel McGuinness Injury Update
Will he work tonight’s show?
According to Pwinsider.com, ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness will work tonight’s ROH Seventh Anniversary show and defend the ROH World Title against KENTA.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
3.20.09 ROH Results
*Delirious pin Sterling James Keenan in a good back & forth ten minute opener. He scored the pin with a splash to the back off the top rope.
*Erick Stevens & Matt Cross vs. Rhett Titus & Kenny King.. Pre-match, Austin Aries confronted. Cross and Stevens leading to the other team attacking them to state the match. King got the pin on cross in about 15 minutes hitting a clothesline from the top on cross while Titus held him up. Solid action throughout.
*Bryan Danielson defeated Mike Quackenbush with a small package in about 20 minutes… Lots of chain wrestling throughout. Both guys worked hard. The story of the match was quack selling the left arm as Danielson worked on it throughout.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Jerry Lynn and Brent Albright in a fast paced high impact match. Castagnoli got the submission on lynn with an arm breaker after Albright worked over Lynn’s arm and did the damage to the arm.
The Age of the Fall vs. Necro Butcher and Tyler Black. They brawled all over the place and beat the hell out of each other. Jacobs got the win on black with a guillotine choke. Great brawl.
Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong was a solid back and forth match. Aries got the pin on strong with a brain buster after outside interference from King and Titus. Great action packed match.
*El Generico and KENTA vs. Davey Richards and ROH champ Nigel McGuinness. Nonstop action throughout. The match went about 25 minutes. An awesome tag match and an awesome main event. KENTA got the pin on McGuinness with the GTS.
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
Other
New JR Blog
I’m not sure what happened earlier with our website but nonetheless it is back. If you haven’t read our last blog with more about Andrew Martin and drug use in our society, I hope that you will check it out. Our Q&A section has also been updated and you can check it out too while you are here. Anyone else have March Madness? So let’s tip this one off.
The “historic” 500th episode of Friday Night Smackdown is history and aired as a solid, two hour wrestling show. I’m sure it could take a spanking in the ratings this week, with male viewers especially, because of the NCAA Basketball Tournament that’s underway. I will admit I was checking out scores during Smackdown commercial breaks.
With the challenging American economy, it is always encouraging to see ticket sales for WWE events doing well in many venues. It looks as if even though the NCAA’s are in Kansas City this weekend that Monday’s Raw could well be a sellout in KC. One has to believe that this Monday’s Raw will be hot as there are only two Raws remaining until Wrestlemania. The Raw on March 30 in the American Airlines Center in Dallas is also selling briskly and could well be sold out by that event’s show time. The Hildago, Texas event the night before Dallas on March 29 has already gone clean.
What’s the over/under on The King wearing another black T shirt this week on TV including the fact it could be another freebie from the frugal WWE HOF’er. If you have black and something with “King” on it you are likely in the money. I guess I’m subconsciously trying to figure a way to get some exposure for J.R.’s Family BBQ on TV. No, the BBQ logo on my hat is not a consideration. It’s o.k. for my poker hero Doyle Brunson to plug his “Doyle’s Room” poker site on his hat but I don’t think that would fly w/ WWE management.
As mentioned previously, in Dallas on Monday March 30 Monday Night Raw will be produced plus a few bouts for Smackdown and for ECW. I love a nice “car trip” such as this one as the Mrs. and I can drive down and back to Big D as we don’t leave for Wrestlemania until Thursday April 2. Hopefully I will be over the hump battling this bout of pneumonia by then.
Wrestlemania still has seats available and WWE is shooting for over 70,000 fans in Reliant Stadium on Sunday April 5. The WM25 gate is already in excess of $6.2M. I remember when Mid South Wrestling promoted the first Super Dome event in New Orleans and it was a huge hit back in the 70’s and I think the gate was around $76,000. How times have changed.
European ticket sales are doing well for the April tour after Wrestlemania and the Annual WWE Draft. In a recent blog, we mentioned several venues that had already sold out and now you can add Geneva, Switzerland to the list. Tickets in London for Raw and Smackdown TV’s are not sold out as of yet but are “this close” so I suggest WWE fans in the UK to hustle and get your tickets to these London events which will obviously have different looks as they are after the Draft.
Man, reading some websites reviews of various wrestling TV shows can be morbid, kind of like talking to an ex-wife. Some reviewers seem to never like anything and to be auditioning for a job in either stand-up comedy or creative writing with their ramblings. I wonder how many of those dudes are unemployed. Some websites do offer fairer degrees of objectivity which balances things out.
Something tells me that this year’s WWE Draft will really shake things up even more than last year. No one has tole me this but it just seems like the deck will be completely reshuffled in Atlanta and that could include some new announce teams put together. Again, this is only speculation so for those considering this the Gospel please, “Lighten Up Francis.”
Did you see the take down of OU’s Blake Griffin Thursday night in the NCAA’s? Oklahoma’s National Player of the Year kept his cool after being “modified arm dragged” over the shoulder of an opponent who got ejected from the game for his unsportsmanlike efforts. There were the obligatory, “Sports Center-like” wrestling references to the move including one of the talking heads mentioning Ric Flair and his partner doing a “WHOOO.”
I love it when the “legit” sports world’s broadcasters use a wrestling reference and they usually do it reluctantly as if someone wrote their script for them or with tongue firmly in cheek because no one from the “real sports world” would be caught deal watching ‘rasslin. They watch, don’t let them kid you.
Friday night late I watched the Legends Roundtable that is currently airing on WWE 24/7 On Demand regarding Texas Wrestling and it is really a fun, quick hour of TV to watch. Lots of stories of famous, Texas born or based wrestlers didn’t make air due to the one hour format of the program but several greats were discussed and some classic footage aired. Gene Okerlund was the host and Gene does a great job in that role while the panel consisted of Michael Hayes, Dusty Rhodes, Cowboy Bill Watts, and me. Personally, I like being a panelist better than hosting but being a part of the Roundtable in any form is super and one of the most fun broadcasts to be a part of in WWE. I am told that after WM25 we will be heading back to Connecticut at some point to produce two more Roundtable shows but I don’t know the subjects or the panelists yet.
From what I hear, WWE will be back in Oklahoma in September with Raw going live from Tulsa’s BOK Center on Monday September 28. Smackdown and ECW will emanate from the Ford Center in OKC on Tuesday September 29. Those dates are subject to change but that’s the latest that I have heard. I don’t expect tickets to go on sale for these events until probably August so, please, no phone calls or emails wanting tickets from my “friends” who I don’t hear from as a rule unless I bump into them at a watering hole or until WWE is in the area.
On a side note regarding the last blog that I wrote about drug abuse and additional thoughts on the late Andrew Martin, I feel that all wrestling organizations should begin instilling in their prospects early in the training process the dangers of drug abuse and that it has no place any where especially in the wrestling business. On-going education regarding drug abuse should be covered as in depth as learning to withstand a body slam. I know that I am old school and damn proud of it for the record but I also think that wrestling students should be challenged with written tests as well as the established physical tests that they endure and that drug education should be an important part of their curriculum. To be fair, some training entities may already be doing some of these things but education at an early age is key to this problem that I feel ( I hope) has peaked and will become less of an issue as time goes by but this issue will never be completely eradicated because humans are, well, human.
I have WWE Axxess appearances this year on Thursday and Friday night in Houston. I’m looking forward to them and the chance to meet many of you. Thursday night I will be at the Announce a Match booth and Friday night I will be signing autographs with the King. J.R.’s Family BBQ won’t be a part of this year’s Axxess as we could not strike a fair deal with the concessionaire but some of our products, J.R.’s Beef Jerky and our Bar Nuts, will be available in limited supply at WWE’s souvenir stand at Axxess. If you buy ‘em, I’ll sure as heck sign ‘em!
Thanks for the many get well wishes as they are appreciated. Also, we want to thank all of you that shop with us in our on line store. Your business helps keep us a float plus we are proud of everything we sell and won’t put our name on inferior products. Thanks, again, and be well.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
JrsBarBq.com
Join our forum today!
————————————————————————————-
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Pinfall Recall team on the forums or via e-mail.
CK@pinfallrecall.com
JG@pinfallrecall.com
RDB@pinfallrecall.com
Milo@pinfallrecall.com
Ed@pinfallrecall.com
DC@pinfallrecall.com
Pinfall Recall News Feed For March 20
WWE
Triple H Interview
MSN TV: You’re a hard man to track down.
Triple H: We’re hard people to locate. We’re all over the place, you know.
Tell our readers, fans or not, how grueling a schedule you guys have.
Sometimes people say, “It’s so rough, it’s so rough.” It’s not that bad. It used to be a lot worse. But I have two kids and I am home three days a week. But when you do go on the road, it’s hectic. You’re in a different city every day. You fly in to a new town, you do a show, you go to the next town, you sleep, you wake up and do it again. It’s basically just a series of transportation, to the gym, to the arena, to the plane.
It’s like being in a band, except you beat the hell out of each other.
It’s funny because I’ll watch those VH1 “Behind the Music” shows and I’ll hear these bands say, “After four months on the road, we’re ready to crack. We’re at each other’s throats.” I’m thinking, “Four months?” We don’t have time when we don’t tour. That’s the thing that’s a bit daunting about what we do. You know, we have WrestleMania 25 coming up and it’s our Super Bowl. Once that Super Bowl is over, there is a party, but if you are a top guy you really don’t want to go to the party too long because you have to get up the next morning. You have a live TV show the next night, a live “RAW,” and it starts all over again. It’s a never-ending cycle.
You’ve been wrestling for 15 years. You’ve headlined several WrestleManias, but you are about to headline WrestleMania 25. Did you ever imagine it, as a kid watching wrestling in Connecticut, that you’d be doing this?
I didn’t think I’d be in one WrestleMania. It’s a huge thrill. I was just the same as the kids that’ll read this. I was a young kid that loved wrestling and had a pipe dream. It’s worked out for me, and there a lot of guys who it didn’t work out for.
So, “RAW” recently celebrated its 15-year anniversary. “SmackDown” is celebrating its 500th episode. The shows own their time slots. What has kept this business thriving so long? What is it about wrestling that keeps people coming back?
Entertainment. Sometimes I watch TV and I think, “Who watches this crap?” It’s OK, but it’s not exciting, it’s not entertaining — and I’m not saying we’re everyone’s cup of tea. I think there’s a large section of our population — more than people want to believe — that know what we are, want to be entertained. It’s like live comic books. You’ve got good guys and bad guys, good looking women and good looking men, music and pyro and you live out your fantasies with it. There’s this big anti-aggression sentiment, but when you’re a kid, that’s what you think about. You don’t think about picking daisies when you’re a 12-year-old boy; you think about being Batman or Spider-man, or John Cena or Triple H. From there, the story lines meld that all together and keep people involved and interested. Sometimes people look at the stories we do and say they are wacky, but it’s no more wacky than “Desperate Housewives.” I remember when that show first came on and hearing all about it. My wife was watching it and I sat down to watch a few minutes. I was like, “Are you kidding? This is the big rage? And they give us at hard time?”
I’m asked why I like wrestling. Now you do have a female demo, but for us guys, it’s a male soap opera.
Sure.
Speaking of story lines, you recently revealed wrestling’s worst kept secret and wove it perfectly into a story line leading to your match with Randy Orton at WrestleMania: You are, in real life, married to Stephanie McMahon. Were you apprehensive about the decision to reveal this?
For story lines and business, we try to keep that stuff separate. But people knew and we joked about it when I was in DX [comic wrestling tag team formed with fellow superstar Shawn Michaels]. The only reason I was apprehensive is where do we go on the flip side of it. Look at it like this: There is the real world and the WWE Universe. So the cat is now out of the bag in the WWE Universe and it now exists there. So anything that has to do with me story-line-wise, you have to be conscious of the fact that I am married into the McMahon family. That throws a different curve into it. So my only concern was it tainting future story lines.
credit: http://tv.msn.com/tv/triple-h-interview/?gt1=28130
Discuss here!
Michael Cole WWE Magazine Quote
The following is an excerpt from an article on WWE.com, which looks at Michael Cole’s favorite SmackDown! memories in honor of the show approaching its’ 500th episode this Friday night.
“They had a number of extremely memorable matches on SmackDown,” Cole says of Undertaker locking horns with Batista, a rivalry he considers SmackDown’s defining moment in terms of what it did for the Superstars and the show as a whole. “It put the show on the map because it involved one of the biggest legends of this business, Undertaker. It helped make Batista the Superstar he is today. And the attention it put on SmackDown showed how much the show had grown and come full circle. I think it made us the best show in WWE at the time.”
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss here!
Updated Wrestlemania 25 Card
WWE has officially confirmed the JBL vs. Rey Mysterio match for the Intercontinental championship at WrestleMania 25. This will be Mysterio’s first match at WrestleMania since 2006.
With that now known, here is a look at the updated card for this year’s big event:
WWE Title:
-Triple H (c) vs. Randy Orton
World Title:
-Edge (c) vs. John Cena vs. The Big Show
Brother vs. Brother:
-Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy
Undefeated Streak On The Line:
-Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
World & WWE Tag-Titles:
-The Miz & John Morrison vs. The Colons
Intercontinental Title:
-JBL (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
3-On-1 Handicap Match:
-Chris Jericho vs. Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat & Jimmy Snuka (w/ Ric Flair)
-Money in the Bank Ladder Match
-25-Diva Battle Royal Match
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss here!
TNA
Impact Ratings In!
Last night’s edition of TNA Impact scored a 1.34 cable rating, the highest rating in the show’s history, and up from last week’s 1.2 rating.
Credit: Wrestlingobserver.com
Discuss here!
Other
Various News Items
- Big Vision Entertainment will be releasing a DVD, which will focus on former WWE
Divas Joy Giovanni and Amy Weber wrestling each other. [Credit: Pwinsider.com]
- The planned Necro Butcher DVD, also by Big Vision, has had its national retail release pushed back, but will be released soon via online retailers. [Credit: Pwinsider.com]
- Kid Kash and Joel Gertner will be at the March 28th Hardcore Reunion event in Allentown, PA. [Credit: Pwinsider.com]
Discuss here!
————————————————————————————–
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Pinfall Recall team on the forums or via e-mail.
CK@pinfallrecall.com
JG@pinfallrecall.com
RDB@pinfallrecall.com
Milo@pinfallrecall.com
Ed@pinfallrecall.com
DC@pinfallrecall.com
Pinfall Recall News Feed For March 14
WWE
From T & A To DOA: Andrew “Test” Martin Found Dead At 33
- Andrew Martin, best known for his days as Test in WWE, has been found dead in his apartment at the age of 33. He would have been 34 in four days. Authorities in Tampa, Florida, where Martin lived, have not provided any details yet. They have stated that a body was found in a condo, but have not confirmed that the body in question was Martin, however multiple people within the wrestling industry have confirmed that it was Martin’s body that was found.
Martin was released from WWE back in February of 2007 after failing a drug test. He then worked for TNA but was not offered a contract and went on to work a bit in Japan.
Credit: 411mania.com
Join our forum today!
Santino Turns 30, Bryan Clark Turns 45
Popular WWE star Santino Marella turns 30 years old today. Former WWE and WCW star Bryan Clark also has a birthday today, as he turns 45.
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss with our forum members!
Vince McMahon Has Big Plans Following the Draft
The Wrestling Observer is reporting, as we have been reporting for several days now, that WWE intends to put much more focus on Raw as the flagship show when the draft returns after Wrestlemania. It’s being said that Vince McMahon wants to fill the roster out with more big name stars, which means Smackdown may be losing some top names following the draft.
It’s being said that Vince wants Smackdown to focus more on the Hispanic demographic it’s seemed to have lost since Rey Mysterio left the show to wrestle on Raw. Therefore, as we’ve reported before, don’t be surprised to see Mysterio return to Smackdown to help get that target audience back.
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss here!
TNA
Updated Destination X Card
The following matches have been scheduled for tonight’s TNA Destination X PPV:
- Angelina Love, Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne vs. Roxxi, Taylor Wilde and “The Governor”
- Scott Steiner vs. Samoa Joe
- 10,000 Thumbtacks Match: Matt Morgan vs. Abyss
- TNA Legends Title Match: Booker T © vs. AJ Styles
- TNA Knockouts Title Match: Awesome Kong © vs. Sojourner Bolt
- TNA Tag Team Title Off The Wagon Challenge Match: Beer Money © vs. Team 3D
- TNA X-Division Title Ultimate X Match: Alex Shelley © vs. Chris Sabin vs. Suicide vs. Black Machismo vs. Consequences Creed
- TNA World Title Match: Sting © vs. Kurt Angle - With Jeff Jarrett as Special Referee and Mick Foley as Special Enforcer
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
ROH
Upcoming Show Update
ROH will make their Indianapolis debut tonight at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The following is scheduled.
* Nigel McGuinness & Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black & Jerry Lynn
* Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Kenny King & Rhett Titus for the ROH Tag Team Titles
* Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega vs. Claudio Castagnoli
*Jay Briscoe vs. Chris Hero and The American Wolves vs. Brent Albright & Roderick Strong
credit: 411mania.com
Discuss here!
Other
Chris Benoit Tidbit
In case it hasn’t already been brought up, an interesting thing about the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania issue of WWE magazine, the cover says every match but for some odd reason the index skips from Wrestlemania XIX to Wrestlemania 21. I searched through virtually the entire magazine, and there is no matches listed for Wrestlemania XX, yet at the time they made a big deal about WM20 being “where it all begins again”. Strange they avoid that just to completely ignore Chris Benoit, yet he is still listed for Royal Rumble winners.
credit: wrestlezone.com
Discuss here!
Lashley Interview
Twelve years ago, Bobby Lashley was one of the most impressive college wrestlers in the country. Two years ago, he was one of the most popular professional wrestlers in the country. But now he has a new challenge in front of him, making the transition from wrestling to mixed martial arts.
I interviewed Lashley this week about his upcoming fight with Jason Guida (Lashley told me he knows nothing about Guida and asked me to tell him what I know), about the cancellation of his previously scheduled fight with Ken Shamrock (Lashley doesn’t hold it against Shamrock that he was suspended after a positive steroid test) and about his goals in MMA (Lashley wants to be a champ).
The full interview is below.
Michael David Smith: How did you find out that Ken Shamrock tested positive for steroids and your fight with him was off?
Bobby Lashley: A photographer that I did a photo shoot for sent me a text message. I thought it was a joke at first, but then I found out that he did test positive and the fight is off.
How prevalent do you think performance-enhancing drugs are in MMA?
I really don’t know. I haven’t heard a lot of people talk about it. I’ve heard people saying as much as, “Hey, some of the fighters are on something.” I don’t think that’s actually true, and I also don’t like the name “performance enhancing.” I don’t think people take them to enhance their performance so much as trying to help them train harder. I think that’s more what it is.
I think that Ken wasn’t out to take that substance so that he could beat that Ross Clifton guy. I’m sure he wasn’t using for that. I know he wasn’t thinking, “Oh, I’ve got to fight Bobby in a couple months, I’ve got to get huge.” I think like any other fighter or any other athlete who takes supplements, he was taking something to enable him to train harder and train longer.
How prevalent are performance-enhancing drugs in pro wrestling?
I don’t think there’s any now.
Really?
They have a really, really, really strict testing policy in the WWE. I know that for a fact. So I know that there is no one who is really on anything now. I think in the past there were some, but — and also, in professional wrestling it’s not “performance-enhancing.” You’re not enhancing your performance. You’re getting bigger and stronger, but it’s not like that makes you win in wrestling. I think there used to be more wrestlers on something than there are now, but it’s not like everyone was on something in professional wrestling. Not at all.
What do you know about your upcoming opponent, Jason Guida?
I know that his brother is Clay Guida. That’s about it. If you can tell me anything, that would be great.
Well, I can tell you that he has a losing record. His career record is 17-19.
Yeah, but the thing is, it’s not so much how many you’ve won, it’s how many you’ve been in.
Do you expect to watch video of his fights in the next week?
I’ll watch everything that I can on him.
So you think film study is important?
Oh, yeah. I trained at the Olympic Training Center with some of the greatest athletes in the world, and at the top level in every sport, elite athletes all watch film. Football players watch their opponents. In baseball, hitters watch pitchers. Wrestlers watch other wrestlers. You’ve got to scout your opponent so you can come in with the proper game plan.
When I was going to fight Ken Shamrock, I was watching video of Ken. How he approached his opponents. How he got into his submission holds. How he gets takedowns. How he reverses.
What are your goals in MMA?
I want to be a champion. That’s the main goal. Of course, everybody wants to make it in the UFC. That’s the top organization. But Affliction is coming up real strong. Strikeforce is coming up real strong. In Japan there are a lot of great fighters there. I just want to make it to the top. When I went into professional wrestling, I wanted to go to the top, and now that I’m a fighter, I’m training as hard as I can, as long as I can to make it to that level, to be the best.
Do you have any idea of how long that would take? Everybody compares you to Brock Lesnar. He was 1-0 when he got into the UFC, he lost his first fight to Frank Mir, then he beat Heath Herring and he got his title shot and became a champion. Is it realistic for you to think it can happen that quickly?
No, because that’s not the route I’m taking. I want to build up my skills. I’ve got a lot to learn and I want to learn before I fight for a title. I’m taking my time, but at the same time I hope that in the near future I beat some people and I do get that chance.
But you’re 32. Is it realistic for you to take the time to build your skills the way most fighters do?
That’s true, I’m not planning to spend 10 years in the business.
Do you have an idea when you might fight again after Guida and who your opponent might be?
I don’t know who it’s going to be, but I want to stay active. I want to fight. If Ken ever wants to fight with me, if he wants to go to Japan and do that fight, I wouldn’t mind doing that also. I know it’s kind of a touchy subject, but to do one fight in Japan, I don’t mind doing it. I think it’s a great fight. I think he’s a great fighter. And I know that the guy wasn’t maliciously trying to go out there to try go gain an advantage over anybody. At the same time, I don’t want to burn any bridges. But if people want us to fight in Japan, I wouldn’t mind doing that.
So you could fight Ken Shamrock this year?
I don’t know. That’s completely up to him.
But if a Japanese promoter came to you and offered you a fight with Ken Shamrock, you’re open to that?
Yeah, I would. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
Do you think the state commissions would have a problem with that? In a sense, you’d be helping him circumvent his suspension.
I wouldn’t want to do it if it hindered my career. I want to fight him, and it’s unfortunate that it happened to him. I really wanted to fight him. I wouldn’t do anything against the commissions’ wishes. I wouldn’t do that at all.
Let’s go back to your own training. Do you have any veteran MMA fighters who train with you and teach you a lot, and anyone you watch and you try to emulate?
Not too much trying to emulate, but I look at the fighters at the top of the game and I try to find out what put them there. Some of the fighters we have at the gym, American Top Team, are right up there with the UFC’s best, and I try to watch their training regimen. I watch Mike Brown. He trains hard. He’s in the gym all day, training, working, sparring. He helps other people and he’s an incredible person.
Another person is JZ Calvan. If you every see him work out, you’ll get tired just watching him work out. After everyone is done training, he’s still shadow boxing. He works to be the best. Another one is Thiago Alves. He works, he’s a machine. He’s going, going, going. At this gym, there are so many high-level athletes that you have to step up your game.
The sense I get is that “stepping up your game,” that challenge, is what made you decide to leave a successful career in professional wrestling to try MMA.
I wanted to test myself. I wanted to go into a different realm. This is an opportunity to challenge myself. I want to push myself to be the best.
credit: http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/14/bobby-lashley-on-leaving-wwe-for-mma-i-want-to-be-a-champion/
Discuss here!