!BANG! TV Press Release
January 25, 2008
Mark Nulty of www.wrestlingclassics.com interviews Dory Funk Jr. in regard to his final wrestling match coming to Tokyo’s Sumo Hall on Saturday March 1st. In the interview, Funk talks about his feelings as he approaches his final wrestling match, His days as NWA World Champion and His experiences working and booking for All Japan Pro-Wrestling.
This interview includes Dory’s opinion of two of his finest students, Jumbo Tsuruta and Osamu Nishimura and how he became teacher of Osamu Nishimura.
Dory speaks of his father, Dory Funk Sr. and Dory Sr.’s role in the beginning days of All Japan Pro Wrestling. Dory also talks about wrestling Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba on his first trip to Japan in 1969 defending the NWA World Championship. Funk also talks about the difference in Japanese wrestling fans and American wrestling fans.
Funk discusses the learning phase of his career as NWA World Champion and as Booker for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
The complete interview is now on !BANG! TV at www.dory-funk.com and on the wrestlingclassics.com message board.
Professional Wrestling comes to Ocala, Florida on Sunday, January 27th with the live taping of !BANG! TV. (All matches will be inside a steel cage)
For ticket information and training schedules at the Funking Conservatory Wrestling School, Call 352-216-7636.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Bobby Lashley Update
January 24, 2008
In possibly the funniest news item of the day…
While every news site is reporting that Bobby Lashley announced his departure on his message board, Richard Gray (a small wrestling site owner) is claiming that Bobby Lashley telephoned him personally to confirm he has left the company.
That is nothing, last night Hulk Hogan, The Rock & Chris Benoit all telephoned me personally within five minutes of eachother!
Popularity: 16% [?]
Daily Youtube Video
January 23, 2008
Popularity: 11% [?]
New ICW Champion Crowned
January 23, 2008
Complete results courtesy of IWC Play-By-Play Announcer and Media Correspondant Joe Dombrowski
DVD Screencaps thanks to Tony Fiore of Digital Horizons
Just weeks following the most publicized and talked about weekend in IWC history, the International Wrestling Cartel kicked off 2008 with another newsworthy event from the famed Court Time Sports Center in Elizabeth, Pa.
The six-month long journey of “Sweet & Sour” Larry Sweeney to regain the Super Indy Title he was screwed out of thanks to the War Machine finally reached its culmination as Sweeney fought through a tremendous amount of blood loss and punishment to dethrone “Fabulous” John McChesney in a wild Texas Death Match, dubbed on this night as a “Texarkana Death Match”. Sweeney drilled McChesney’s skull into the solid steel entrance ramp to not only score a 3-count, but also leaving McChesney incapable of answering the official’s ten count.
The battle between the War Machine and two ECW originals only escalated in two memorable encounters, the first of which pitted newest War Machine member Daivari one-on-one with Too Cold Scorpio in their first ever meeting. Former four-time IWC champion Dennis Gregory intervened and attempted to cost Scorpio the match in much the same way he had done during Scorpio’s match with Samoa Joe last month. However, Scorpio was able to recover from the interference and score a major victory with a top rope twisting powerbomb.
Gregory’s attempts at reclaiming IWC gold were not successful either. With the match’s standard one-fall rules as opposed to the wild steel cage environment where Sandman won the title, the 5-time former ECW World champion and current IWC champion Sandman was at a distinctive disadvantage, as his trademark Singapore cane was now illegal. However, that didn’t stop both men from sneaking it into the match on numerous occasions, and it didn’t stop The Sandman from hitting his trademark White Russian Legsweep en route to his first successful IWC title defense. Daivari joined his newfound leader to begin a 2-on-1 post-match attack on the champion until Sandman’s former ECW World tag title partner Scorpio made the save. With all four men having major issues with one another, the challenge was made and soon thereafter accepted for next month at Accept No Limitations when Sandman & Scorpio officially re-unite to take on Dennis Gregory & Daivari in tag team competition.
The best team in IWC today overcame perhaps the most underrated tag team in the world when Shiima Xion & Jason Gory, Babyface Fire, successfully defended their newly-won tag team titles over longstanding top title contenders “M-Dogg 20″ Matt Cross & Josh Prohibition, The Burning River Brigade. But the question remains, with the IWC tag team division as competitive as it is, with teams like The Gambinos and Sexual Harassment waiting in the wings, and even duos like The Motor City Machine Guns making their presence known, what challenges will be next for BFF to try to overcome?
Ray Rowe would no doubt be IWC champion today if not for his trainer, mentor, and best friend for nearly two years, J-Rocc, slamming a steel cage door on Rowe’s head so violently and aggressively that it knocked the door from its very hinges. After weeks of speculation, J-Rocc finally explained his heinous actions, making it clear his motives were all about the jealousy and bruised ego over Ray Rowe’s success and popularity eclipsing his own. Ray Rowe had heard enough and stormed to the ring to confront his former ally, and not even J-Rocc’s best knockout shot with a steel chair could even cause the emotionless assassin to flinch. Rowe’s controlled aggression exploded onto J-Rocc as security and wrestlers frantically tried to pull the men apart. Following the fracas, the match was signed for Accept No Limitations. Ray Rowe will have his chance to face J-Rocc one-on-one.
Traditionally among the most prestigious events of the IWC calendar year, this year’s will be no different when IWC presents Super Indy VII this spring. The Super Indy tournament has grown by leaps and bounds in reputation from year to year and is quite simply the place for the destiny of dreams to be realized - either they are realized and become a reality, or they are shattered to dust, perhaps never to be accomplished. Four men began that journey this past weekend.
“Balls Hot” Troy Lords was able to avenge perhaps the most personally disappointing loss in his career when he cradled Delirious for the three-count. It was Delirious who Lords met in the finals of Super Indy V, when a dehabilitating knee injury severely hampered Lords’ chances at capturing the gold. Lords fought with the heart of a champion, pushed his body beyond its limits, and passed out as his Super Indy dreams literally faded to black. Now “Balls Hot” has one more shot to go “Balls to the Wall” and go all the way and realize the destiny some said he would never be ready for.
Also qualified for Super Indy VII, the man who started the legacy in 2002, the man who raised the bar and took the championship to the prestigious levels it’s been viewed at since, the man who took the Super Indy title to Japan and back: Super Hentai, who defeated Ruckus. Hentai’s Super Indy final win over Christopher Daniels put Hentai on the map as a major player and the best the area has to offer. Hentai’s title reign, just shy of one year, still stands as the longest reign in the history of the championship. Now, six years later, can the young veteran return to where it all started and become the first man to become a two-time tournament winner?
Bizarre, unique, and slightly uncomfortable are all popular ways of describing Sexual Harassment matches, but to their credit, ever since Eric Xtasy & Justin Idol got on the same page a few months back and seemed to reach a compromise in their serious wrestling vs. mind games confliction, the team has been undefeated and unstoppable. Even The Gambino Family, who dominated IWC tag wrestling in 2007, fell victim to the unorthodox nature of Sexual Harassment. Xtasy’s mind games were successful in everything from getting the Gambino Family ejected from ringside, to freezing Marshall Gambino in his tracks with a big ol’ kiss, and Idol was there to capitalize, helping Eric drill Mickey with the Rose Creeper en route to another Harassment victory, with a little help from Michael Façade along the way.
CJ Sensation’s first singles match in nearly a year was clearly not what he had expected when he had petitioned the IWC offices to let him return to active competition. CJ found himself staring across the ring at an angry pitbull, a Havana Pitbull in former IWC champion Ricky Reyes. Sensation did incredibly well considering the level of competition and potential ring rust that may be involved, but the calculated Reyes knew of Sensation’s primary weakness - the surgically repaired neck - and targeted it, finishing the job with his patented lethal dragon sleeper. Was promoter Norm Connors sending Sensation a message by placing him in the ring with one of IWC’s most dangerous competitors in CJ’s first singles match back? What else will be in store for CJ in his return to active competition?
It was also a successful return for The Hollywood Balds as the “Prime Minister of Perversion” DeeeLicious Jimmy DeMarco returned to tag team competition with the physically imposing Vendetta, defeating former tag champs Michael “The Bomber” Façade and Johnny Gargano when Vendetta locked in a Texas Cloverleaf. Just as Vendetta had made a major statement before his sixty-day suspension with the assault on Babyface Fire, he made perhaps just as powerful a statement here with this decisive Hollywood Balds win. An attempted post-match “hit” on Façade with a baseball bat was narrowly avoided, but Façade would have the last word later that night.
Popularity: 13% [?]
Lashley Done With WWE?
January 23, 2008
Bobby Lashley has apparently posted on the forum on his official website that he is done with the WWE. This has not been confirmed as of this moment.
“I’m sorry but there will not be a Bobby Lashley return to the WWE.
I am sorry to everyone here but I am serious when I say I won’t be back. Everyone wants to come here and hear the real story and I am telling you the real story. Circumstances which are out of my control left me no decision but to leave the WWE. I can’t go into details of this now, but like I said before, sometimes people will hate you personally to try to destroy you, which has happened here. Evil has prevailed, however, like I said before, if you continue your struggle, doors will open around thes people. You have not scene (sic) the last of me, so please don’t stop your support. Add Bobby Lashley to the list of RECENTLY RELEASED!
My release from the WWE will probably be online soon, maybe by the end of the week.
I am pretty torn on what to do next. Please can I get some input from all of you.”
We’ll bring more when we get it.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Sir Oliver Humperdink Interview
January 23, 2008
By MATT MACKINDER - SLAM! Wrestling
Sir Oliver Humperdink had such a unique look that Bobby Heenan once quipped that he “looked like he fell out of a deck of cards.”
With his long, frizzy red mane and beard to match, Humperdink was a natural for the wrestling business when he started out more than 40 years ago in Minneapolis as an usher. Fast forward a bit, and Humperdink shared the squared circle with names such as the Hollywood Blondes, Bam Bam Bigelow, Paul Orndorff and a version of The Fabulous Freebirds.
Humperdink, who turned 59 yesterday, chatted with SLAM! Wrestling from his Minnesota residence and recalled his career, its ups and downs (including a gimmick he’d like to forget) and the notion of having “mini red-headed freaks” running rampant across the United States and Canada.
Humperdink, born John Sutton, worked for an ushering company in his hometown back in the early-mid 1960s and used that job to get acquainted with the wrestlers that would come through the area. He eventually went on the road with the guys and was a pseuso-security guard at the shows in the pre-guardrail era and worked with AWA names such as Red Bastien, Ray Stevens, Nick Bockwinkel, Bobby Heenan and “Dr. X” Dick Beyer.
One of his first big breaks came a couple years later when Paul “Butcher” Vachon met Humperdink while he was still in Minnesota and working for the AWA.
“It was probably April or May 1973 and I went up to Montreal to work for the Vachons’ Grand Prix Wrestling,” remembered Humperdink. “They had shows at the old Forum and Le Colisée and just did unbelievable business. Johnny Rougeau was up there, too. It was a great time, as it always was, in Canada.
“Being in Canada, too, was a culture shock. It was different in every way I imagined Canada would be. I wrestled on occasion, but mostly I was a manager.”
Butcher Vachon also recalled some classic fun times with Humperdink.
“(Humperdink) used to play Santa Claus at Christmas time,” said Vachon. “A couple of Christmases in a row in Minneapolis, he came to our house in the night. We had pictures taken with Luna sleeping — she was just a baby. We showed her the pictures the next morning and said Santa came during the night. That was Red Sutton, Humperdink.”
Once in Montreal, a city Humperdink called “the New York City of Canada,” he went with the manager role outright, according to Vachon. Humperdink also was a referee for a brief spell.
“The Hollywood Blondes were working for Rougeau and they switched sides,” Vachon recalled. “I said, ‘We’re going to make you a manager.’ They were very, very successful (in the seven years together) and he was good as their manager. He had his own personality, which is deadpan, perfect for Humperdink. I don’t know who came up with the name ‘Humperdink.’ I think it was probably Dale Roberts or maybe Red himself.”
The late Don Jardine, the original Spoiler, is the one credited with giving Humperdink his moniker. Roberts remembered how it went down.
“Jardine had seen Humperdink, looked at him, and we were trying to come up with a name for him,” Roberts said. “He said ‘Sir Oliver Humperdink.’ So that was a Don Jardine thing.”
“We were looking for a name that would get heat with the French Canadians around Montreal,” said Humperdink. “Of course, they hated anything English so we went with SOH.”
Roberts also remembered those early years with Humperdink.
“He brought the element of having a manager and he was a good talker,” added Roberts. “His looks, he was a lot heavier back then, made him stand out. Mr. Humperdink stood out in a crowd. The outfits that he wore were outrageous, if you remember the hat and the jacket. The crowd didn’t really like him. It just made it easier. We didn’t want to be just a tag team. We wanted to be one with a manager.”
The pay difference between wrestlers and managers back then, Roberts said, was probably close to equal.
“We all got pretty close to the same, I think,” Roberts said. “But I think we made a couple of dollars more. I think (Humperdink) was treated fair.”
Humperdink had some memorable times in Canada and one in Ottawa from several years back stands out as if not memorable, then definitely infamous.
“The fans were actually trying to beat down the doors to the dressing room to get at us,” said Humperdink. “The problem was solved, however, when Mad Dog Vachon said to open the door. When it was opened, Dog grabbed the first one he saw, pulled him into the room and beat the s*** out of him. He said to open the door again, at which time he threw the guy out. The fans saw what happened to the guy and order was quickly restored. No more banging on the doors! It was like the old saying: ‘Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.’”
Quebec was also a particularly rough place to wrestle.
“I remember working a lot of towns in northern Quebec where we would actually have to fight going to the ring,” Humperdink said. “It would mostly be the same geeks we had to fight the show before. I remember one night up there when they rioted and began throwing chairs into the ring and before you knew it, there were chairs up to the second strand of ropes.”
Humperdink and riots seemed to go hand in hand back in the day.
“I have been in some pretty frightening situations when it comes to riots,” said Humperdink. “They were a lot more commonplace than people would think. I remember one night in San Diego when the fans rioted after a match between Greg Valentine, who I was managing at the time, and Fred Blassie. It was in a cage and the folks were so hot that they started to actually tear the cage down to get at us. If this wasn’t bad enough, some yahoo turned all the lights off in the arena and there we were fighting for our lives in the dark. Luckily, we escaped unhurt, but it was quite the scene.”
Canada has always held special place in Humperdink’s heart and he touched on times in Toronto as well.
“Having started in Montreal and working as far west as Sudbury and North Bay for them, I have always liked Ontario,” Humperdink recalled. “And the times I worked Toronto for JCP, WCW and the ‘F’ gave me a chance to spend a little time in the city. (I) remember going to the hotel after the matches for the ice cold bathtub beer (Sunday blue law) and checking out Yonge Street, the Howard Johnson’s by the airport and, being from Minnesota, the thrill of the Gardens. Cool stuff!”
Humperdink went down to Florida in 1974 and was put into a program with Mike Graham and Kevin Sullivan. Then two years later, he and the Blondes were reunited in a series of matches with Bob Backlund. Though he traveled North America frequently, Humperdink always seemed to end up back in Florida. He credits that to working with Eddie Graham.
“I learned so much from him,” said Humperdink. “Eddie Graham was a genius. He really had a mind for the business. Florida was great. We were right on the ocean, the people were great and so was the weather.”
Humperdink was named Manager of the Year for 1980 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
But it wasn’t until the mid-1980s when Humperdink entered the so-called mainstream wrestling circles with Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA where he managed Valentine, Paul Jones (in his last stint as a full-time wrestler) and the One Man Gang. He left the NWA right before the company’s first Starrcade event in 1983 and later returned in 1988 just before JCP folded. Humperdink, contrary to what other wrestlers have said about Jim Crockett, called him a “class act.”
While in the NWA territory, Humperdink formed the House of Humperdink stable in the Central States area (and also ventured to Florida, Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Toronto) and even tasted championship glory as a wrestler by winning the Florida Heavyweight championship and Central States TV title. The House of Humperdink was a “who’s who” of stars like Lord Humongous (Jeff Van Camp, not the Sid Vicious version), Hercules Hernandez, Valentine, the Masked Nightmare (Randy Colley), Gene Anderson, Bruiser Brody, Jos Leduc, the Great Muta, “Bad” Leroy Brown, Sullivan, Valentine, Jones, Kareem Muhammad, Ivan Koloff and Matt Borne. The faction feuded with Harley Race, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Lex Luger.
Times would change and during the early part of 1987, Humperdink was approached by the then-WWF about jumping to the Fed.
“I had never really met Vince (McMahon),” said Humperdink. “But they called me and had me go to a TV taping in Madison, Wisconsin. So I went.”
Humperdink was given the opportunity to work with Bigelow and “had a good time.”
“That was a busy time,” Humperdink recalled. “We’d do two shows Saturday and then two shows Sunday — coast-to-coast. I think it was there that I realized what I had accomplished. I was working the (Madison Square) Garden with (Hulk) Hogan and Andre (the Giant) and the place was sold-out. I took a step back and looked around and thought, ‘Wow, you’ve done well.’”
Clad in a colorful jacket and carrying a scepter or cane of sorts, Humperdink added Orndorff to his stable in August of 1987 as “Mr. Wonderful” was entering a feud with the “Ravishing” Rick Rude, himself a WWF newcomer at the time. Humperdink said his wardrobe was not something he was fond of, but he rolled with the punches.
“No, that wasn’t me at all,” he groaned. “I was a baby(face) and that whole gimmick wasn’t me. But hell, it was a very nice paycheck. Very nice. I can’t complain about that.”
Humperdink was a part of the inaugural Survivor Series where he managed Bam Bam and Orndorff in the main event as part of Hogan’s team. Bigelow faced a 3-on-1 against Andre, Gang and King Kong Bundy, pinned Gang and Bundy, but was eliminated by the Giant.
At WrestleMania IV in Atlantic City, Humperdink was in Bigelow’s corner as he lost via countout to the Gang in a first-round WWF World title tournament match.
Humperdink managed the Wild Samoans (Fatu, Samu and the Tonga Kid) back in the NWA and also Bigelow in his feud over the United States title with Barry Windham that culminated with Windham retaining via countout at Starrcade ‘88.
As the 1980s were ending and the 1990s were ushered in, Humperdink was repackaged as a biker-type in WCW and christened Big Daddy Dink. He was the manager of the Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin), but was never happy with this new look. It was a far cry to his days managing the likes of Koloff, Abdullah the Butcher, Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Superstar Billy Graham and Ox Baker.
“I hated it,” said Humperdink. “I was miserable doing that, but it wasn’t because of the ‘Birds. The office environment at that time was absolutely horrible. Jim Herd was a crook. Right around this time (1992), I decided I was at the end of my career and I guess you could say I retired in 1993.
“That phase of my career made no sense to me. It was something I wasn’t familiar with.”
Even though his in-ring career has come to a halt, there is no lack of outside the ring stories for Humperdink.
Pampero Firpo and Chris Markoff saved Humperdink’s life back in Minnesota during the AWA days in the late 1960s after Humperdink was driving a ring truck along with Mike Boyette and crashed into a snow bank. This story was told in great detail at the 2004 meeting of the Cauliflower Alley Club in Las Vegas. But before that, Humperdink’s health took a hit.
In 2001, Humperdink was transported from Key West to Miami by Aeromed to undergo surgery to replace his aortic valve. A pacemaker was installed and he was in the critical care unit, but he surpassed all expectations and made a very strong comeback. The CAC donated $1,000 to help offset his medical expenses, which amounted to a staggering total.
“I have been involved in the business in one way or another since I was about 17 years old and have always known and respected the fact that a lot of the time all we had were each other,” Humperdink said in a letter to the CAC after getting out of the hospital after an operation on his femoral artery. “I had the great fortune of having the likes of Dick Beyer, Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, Nick Bockwinkel, Bobby Heenan, Red Bastien, Pampero Firpo and all the other great talent that was in Verne Gagne’s territory in the late ’60s and early ’70s as friends and mentors. What they taught me was a respect for the business and each other that has been lost along the way.
“I still love the biz, but it lacks the caring aspect that was there when I first started. I am so proud to be a part of an organization that still promotes those values that I grew up with. From the very bottom of my now repaired heart, I thank each and every one of the members of the CAC for their outstanding support in my time of need.”
Early in 2008, Humperdink found himself hospitalized again with pneumonia, complicated by his earlier heart troubles. Again, the wrestling world sent its best wishes to one of their own.
“I had developed pneumonia due to complications from congestive heart failure,” explained a recovering Humperdink. “That means that my heart isn’t strong enough to rid my body of extra fluid. I had known since the valve replacement in 2001 that I had CHF. It just caught up to me and threw me for a loop. I am currently on a fluid restricted diet and low sodium as well. I am doing what the doctors want me to. I am also on new medication to help with my pulmonary function. Prognosis is good if I watch the fluids and salt.”
Living the single life in Minneapolis, Humperdink still makes it to Las Vegas for the CAC convention every year.
“I’m pretty low maintenance,” laughed Humperdink. “I fish, but it’s hard to get out with all my health problems, but getting to CAC is a highlight for me every year. But I feel good. I mean, I might be getting older, but I’m not dead. My chest is open and I feel great. I love the summer time, too.”
Humperdink never married and is also “pet-less.” He said he has no kids that he is aware of and hopes there aren’t any of the aforementioned “mini red-headed freaks” running around.
“I’d feel sorry for them,” quipped Humperdink. “I really would.”
But in reflecting back on his storied, and maybe somewhat not so well-known career, Humperdink said he is grateful for every opportunity and like he realized 20 years ago, “I think I did pretty well for myself.”
Popularity: 8% [?]
Magnum T.A. Cup
January 23, 2008
The second annual Magnum T.A. Cup will take place on Saturday night in Chesapeake, VA at the Khedive Temple.
Tony Atlas, Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff, Magnum T.A. and Jimmy Valiant are set to appear.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Cena Not Appearing At Wrestlemania
January 23, 2008
During an interview with the UK Sun newspaper John Cena officially denied the reports that he will be appearing at Wrestlemania on camera.
John Cena said: “I most likely will be at WrestleMania in some capacity, but you probably won’t see me on camera.”
Popularity: 8% [?]
ECW Sci-Fi Results - 22-1-08
January 23, 2008
Lived from Charlottesville, VA (University of Virginia) written by Phil DiLiegro of f4wonline.com
Battle Royal: Kane, Mike Mizanin, John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin & Tommy Dreamer
All of these men are in Sunday’s Rumble. I like this idea as a way to whet the appetite for the pay-per-view. Dreamer was dumped in about one minute by Kane; in a nice touch, Joey Styles mentioned Kane eliminated Dreamer from last year’s Rumble. Benjamin hit the inverted bulldog on Kane after the heels triple teamed. The tag champions then turned on Benjamin. Kane came back and beat up all three heels, eliminating the tag champions easily. Meanwhile, Shelton was skinning the cat and used a headscissors from that position to eliminate Kane and win the battle royal. The match went far too quickly and amazingly was shorter than some of Shelton’s ineffective squashes.
Shelton Benjamin won a battle royal, 3:09 (that’s all folks).
It was now time for the best body contest hosted by Jonathan Coachman. I just cannot get excited about this when tomorrow I get to watch Sharapova, Jankovic, Hantuchova and Ivanovic in the Australian Open semifinals. For you non-tennis fans, that’s akin to watching the divas if they had not only great bodies and were great workers. Anyway, they did this to music which meant Layla again had a significant edge on the other two. Layla and the popular Kelly earned decent reactions from the crowd while Lena received absolutely nothing. At the end, the fans picked Kelly who was knocked down from behind by the other two.
Kofi Kingston v. David Owens
They announced the jobber as from Chapel Hill, NC, the home of the rival of the host university. Did they actually think anyone would boo the jobber? Kingston did a Stinger splash where he landed on the top rope, he then tried a monkey flip which Owens took poorly. Soon thereafter, Owens was out of position for a forearm or elbow spot. On second thought, they should boo the hell out of this guy. Kingston kept his composure though and hit a flapjack, double legdrop and a spinning round kick to win. This was an effective debut as Kingston showed off some unique offense which the announcers got over strong. Obviously, his opponent hurt the match but that will not be the case down the road, at least not to this extent, and the key thing is that Kingston looked good. The match also was the perfect length for a squash.
Kingston d. jobber, Pin, 2:35.
They aired a fun and interesting history piece highlighting various factoids about the history of the Royal Rumble. I love this kind of thing because it not only invokes nostalgia but it also promotes that this year’s edition will make history as well. Backstage, Edge, Armando Estrada, Chavo and Vickie Guerrero were conversing.
Tazz introduced a video package of Colin Delaney’s four squash losses. Every week he comes out even more bandages.
Great Khali v. Colin Delaney
Punch, tree slam and head vice and it was over in thirty-six seconds.
They showed highlights of last week’s match between Punk and Guerrero.
ECW Championship Match, No Holds Barred: CM Punk v. Chavo Guerrero
Edge is again on commentary for this one. The stipulation was announced just seconds before the match as we’re getting the stacking the deck against the babyface storyline once more. CM Punk used the exposed turnbuckle early on. Later, Punk hit a kick to send Chavo out to the floor and followed him out with a plancha. Chavo battled back and countered into a front suplex onto the steel steps. Chavo earned a near fall in the ring and then went into an abdominal stretch which at least makes sense as far as the psychology goes. CM Punk made his comeback out of nowhere with his array of knees and a bulldog, earning a two count. Punk went for a move off the top rope but Chavo caught him coming down sloppily in the ribs. Chavo hit the three amigos but Punk came back with a hot shot onto the exposed turnbuckle and the go to sleep. Edge ran in and made the save with a spear. Chavo then gradually crawled over and covered Punk for the victory as Vickie, the rated Rmy, Edge and Chavo celebrated. I cannot believe they rewarded Chavo for weeks of poor performances with a championship belt. Even if the plan is to transition CM Punk to Smackdown for a feud with Edge, they should have come along with another way to do so. It’s somewhat trivial at this point, but this was by far the best that either of these men has looked working together.
Guerrero d. Punk, Pin, 6:26, **½
Credit: prowrestling.com
Popularity: 9% [?]
RVD Shoots On Vince McMahon
January 23, 2008
Rob Van Dam appeared on SportsTalkCleveland.com’s Pro Wrestling Insider show last night and spent over 40 minutes discussing several controversial subjects such as Vince McMahon’s new ECW, “one of the boys, that’s married to one of the boss’ daughters”, and much more. The following are some excerpts from the interview:
On whether he is bitter over his WWE run: “Honestly, I don’t feel I am bitter at all. When I went to WWE, in the summer of 2001, I didn’t even want to go. It was never my favorite style of wrestling, even since I was a little kid and it was the only style of wrestling that I knew. So, when I went there in 2001, it was all business. At that point in my career, it was all business, and I was already tired of traveling. I already really peaked my interest in ECW, as an artist. In the original ECW, I felt like I was an artist out there, and I had the freedom to display my ability, my talents, and to show what I wanted to show, and win the fans over. It was in my control.”
On the ECW revival in WWE moving away from the original ECW concept: “When they squashed the spirit of ECW, I was still kicking on the way out. I would tell Vince, “If you do this, the ECW fans aren’t going to like this, that’s not what this is about.” That’s when I realized (it was doomed) because he told me, exactly “Rob, I never intended this to be like the old ECW. Nobody remembers the old ECW.” I’d say, “You’ve got to be kidding me! You don’t think anybody remembers it? Why do you think the Pay-per-view was so successful, and the DVD! Isn’t that why you’re bringing it back?” (Does Vince McMahon voice) “Rob, for all I know, those 2500 fans at the Manhattan Center were the last of the old ECW fans.”
Vince McMahon’s reason why fans still chanted “ECW”: “I said “Vince, why do you think they still chant ECW?” (Does Vince McMahon voice) “Because I’ve trained them to do that over the last five years.” Seriously, how do you argue with that? You don’t, eventually you throw in the towel, which is what I did.”
On Rob’s appreciation of his fans: “I would be the only person who would go out behind the building and … oh wait, that was something else I used to do (laughs). I would go out back and I would sign autographs for the fans that are waiting out there, and they would say “Oh Rob, you’re the only one who has come up to us all day!” and I would say “Of course, it’s pouring rain, and you’ve been standing under a tree all day, you don’t expect wrestlers to come out here, do you?” But I would usually do it, because I would get energy out of that, and know that they would remember that.”
On his WWE Title win: “WWE never planned on pushing me, they had no choice because the fans demanded it. I was told, when we were talking about bringing ECW back as a third brand, and when Paul (Heyman) was talking about putting the World Championship Title on RVD to kickstart ECW, I was told that one of the boys, that’s married to one of the boss’ daughters, actually said that “RVD just doesn’t have that connection with the crowd”. Now, is that a genuine comment, or is that a back-stabbing, throat-slicing comment to try and keep yourself from feeling threatened by somebody else?”
Popularity: 5% [?]
Fantastic News! The Dome Is Saved
January 23, 2008
At a meeting today Lancaster City Council Cabinet members voted NOT to close XWA’s home venue - The Morecambe Dome.
The council agreed to continue to keep The Dome open until such time as the site is required for development by award-winning designers Urban Splash, not expected to be for at least four years.
This is, of course, fantastic news for the XWA, Morecambe and for British wrestling as a whole.
It means the XWA does not have to move or cancel any of our scheduled shows for 2008 and we can press ahead with our plans to continue to bring high quality professional wrestling to The Dome for at least FOUR MORE YEARS!
We would like to thank everyone who supported our fight to save the Morecambe Dome. Our special thanks go to the fans and wrestlers of the XWA who made phone calls and sent us messages of support this week, and the over 500 people who joined the on-line MySpace and Facebook petitions to Save The Dome. Your support undoubtedly had an impact on the decision, as the politicians knew about the petitions and took the public’s overwhelming opinion into account.
We would also like to thank the cabinet members of Lancaster City Council for making the right decision for the future of Morecambe.
The XWA now intends to turn our Goldrush show on Saturday, February 2 not into a wake for the Morecambe Dome, as first was feared, but into a celebration of the fact that British Wrestling’s number one venue is to carry on for at least Four More Years!
And finally, we would like to invite all XWA fans to join our celebrations on Saturday February 2 when XWA presents Goldrush 2008 - It’s Time To Rumble at the much-loved venue that is undoubtedly British Wrestling’s Home, YOUR Morecambe Dome!
Popularity: 10% [?]
Jack Evans Injured
January 23, 2008
At Dragon Gate’s show over the weekend Jack Evans suffered some face injuries which will keep him off the ROH shows this coming weekend in Dayton and Chicago.
Popularity: 6% [?]
XWA Goldrush 2008
January 23, 2008
Saturday February 2 2008
The Dome, Marine Road Central, Morecambe, Lancashire
Doors 7pm, Bell Time 7.30pm
Tickets - £16 ringside, £11 adults, £9 children, £34 family of four, £42 family of six (family of six price is for advanced booking only)
CARD TO DATE
THE MAIN EVENT - THE GOLDRUSH 15-man rumble
The winner receives a shot at the British Heavyweight Title at War On The Shore IV - The Anniversary Show on Saturday April 12 2008
Entrants:
‘The Psychotic Warrior’ Johnny Phere
Sam Slam
‘The Shining Light’ Stevie Knight
‘The Shamrock Superman’ Keego Ward
El Ligero
Ashley Steel
‘The Bombay Dream’ Ross Jordan
‘Dangerous’ Damon Leigh
The Juice
Joey Hayes
‘The Heavyweight House of Pain’ Stixx
The Kraft
Declan O’Connor
Spud
‘The Wonderkid’ Jonny Storm or Johnny Angel
BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
‘The Wonderkid’ Jonny Storm © v ‘The Hard Man’ Johnny Angel
BRITISH FLYWEIGHT TITLE FOUR-WAY ELIMINATION MATCH
El Ligero (el campeon) v ‘The Bombay Dream’ Ross Jordan v Spud v The Juice
HEAVYWEIGHT CHALLENGE MATCH
Sam Slam v Stixx (with Stevie Knight)
BEST of the NORTH WEST MATCH
‘Dangerous’ Damon Leigh v either Declan O’Connor or Joey Hayes
THE MORECAMBE RAFFLE
With guest host Mad Man Manson!?!
AND MUCH MORE as the XWA returns for 2008!
Popularity: 10% [?]
Manson Raffle
January 23, 2008
Saturday February 2 is Dirk Feelgood’s birthday. And unfortunately for XWA fans, this means ‘The Mister Who Kissed Your Sister’ will not be able to appear at Goldrush in person.
But we can excuse British wrestling’s colourful playboy from missing the Goldrush to celebrate his big day with his bride Olivia Neutron Bomb in the top penthouse of Feelgood Towers - the coolest apartment in town - because after all, there ain’t no party like a Feelgood party.
This means that on February 2 ‘The Monk of Funk’ will be unable to take up his regular duties as host of The Morecambe Raffle, but fear not, XWA fans. Dirk has exclusively told this website that he intends to send a ‘close, personal friend’ as a replacement to host The Biggest Cult Experience in British Wrestling.
That close, personal friend is Mad Man Manson.
That’s right, Mad Man Manson is set to host The Morecambe Raffle.
Mad Man Manson, undoubtedly the strangest individual in British wrestling today.
Mad Man Manson, who wrestles wearing one boot and draws the other boot on with black marker pen.
Mad Man Manson, who doesn’t walk to the ring..he ROLLS to the ring because his arms are subdued by a straightjacket.
Mad Man Manson, who once applied a figure-four leglock to himself during a match, and then tapped out.
Mad Man Manson, who once wrestled almost an entire match in slow motion.
Mad Man Manson, hosting The Morecambe Raffle?
The mind truly boggles.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Goldrush - The Final Five
January 23, 2008
The final five names have been announced for the 15-man Goldrush rumble on Saturday February 2 at The Dome.
These men will join ‘The Psychotic Warrior’ Johnny Phere, Sam Slam, ‘Mr Deal or No Deal’ Stevie Knight, El Ligero, ‘The Shamrock Superman’ Keego Ward, Joey Hayes, The Juice, ‘Dangerous’ Damon Leigh, ‘The Bombay Dream’ Ross Jordan and Ashley Steel, in the over-the-top rope battle to become number one contender to the British Heavyweight Title. And they are:
The Kraft
Last seen in Morecambe fighting on behalf of Ricky Knight and Team WAW in their various battles with Sam Slam, The Manchester Massive and other XWA stalwarts, The Kraft is certainly one of the biggest and most dangerous outsiders in the Goldrush.
Stixx
Making his return to Morecambe after a three-year absence, ‘The Heavyweight House of Pain’ - hired as a mercenary by Stevie Knight - has two goals in mind. 1) To take out Sam Slam in a singles match earlier in the night, and then should be fail - 2) take Sam Slam out of the Goldrush.
Spud
‘The Pocket Dynamo’ really made a name for himself at the first Goldrush in 2006 when he eliminated future British Heavyweight Champion and WWE star ‘The South City Thriller’ Hade Vansen. Will this experience stand the exciting star from Birmingham in good stead this time round?
Declan O’Connor
Alongside his partner Joey Hayes, The Manchester Massive is the only tag team in the Goldrush. Expect the cheeky Mancunians to work together, unless they draw numbers 1 and 2 of course, then we really will find out if the Goldrush is every man for himself!
‘The Wonderkid’ Jonny Storm or Johnny Angel
It has been announced that whoever loses the British Heavyweight Title match will gain an immediate chance to earn a rematch at War On The Shore, if that individual can win the Goldrush of 2008.
So that’s your lot! The full line-up for the Goldrush has been announced and all that remains is to wonder who will have their hand raised, and become the number one contender?
Popularity: 5% [?]
‘Undefeated’ Angel Gets The Chance Of A Lifetime
January 23, 2008
After considering the merits of several worthy contenders, XWA owner Greg Lambert has today announced who will challenge ‘The Wonderkid’ Jonny Storm for the British Heavyweight Title at XWA Goldrush on Saturday, February 2.
The new number one contender is none other than the extremely dangerous, intimidating and brutal brawler known as ‘The Hard Man’ Johnny Angel.
Lambert told this website that Angel has been chosen because of his outstanding record for both FWA and XWA. Since the veteran made his comeback to the ring in 2005, some of the most talented stars in British wrestling have fallen to his vicious ‘Old School’ style - including Andy ‘Boy’ Simmonz, Aviv Maayan, Bubblegum and his long-time enemy Stevie Knight. In fact Angel is undefeated for the past three years in singles matches for FWA and XWA.
The only high-profile loss Angel has suffered in that time was in a tag team bout at Morecambe in October 2005, when he and Alex Shane went down to Joe Legend and..Angel’s opponent on February 2, ‘The Wonderkid’ Jonny Storm. That night Storm managed to hit the Wonderwhirl on the much-bigger Angel - something Johnny says will not happen again at Goldrush 2008 - although in the end it was Legend who pinned Alex Shane to end the match.
‘The Hard Man’ also has made Goldrush his favourite event over the years. Alongside Knight, the second generation star from Doncaster was co-winner of the 2006 Goldrush 15-man rumble and then beat ‘The Shining Light’ at last year’s Goldrush in an incredibly intense ‘I Quit’ match.
Expect this wily veteran to show Jonny Storm no mercy at Goldrush. But whether this will be enough to see him lift the biggest prize in British wrestling today against the greatest living British wrestler, remains to be seen.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Florida Championship Wrestling Show Results
January 23, 2008
From last night:
Brad Allen & Sinn Bowdee over G-Rilla & Robert Anthony
Sheamus over Kevin Kiley
Titan over David Oliveri
Nattie Neidhart over Brianna Bella
Nic Nemeth & Big Rob over Rycklon & Bryan Kelly
Eric Perez over Shawn Osborne
T.J Wilson over Jake Hager-DQ
Heath Miller over Billy Kidman to keep Southern title
Popularity: 7% [?]
Daily Youtube Video
January 22, 2008
Popularity: 4% [?]
Interview With ROH Champion Nigel McGuinness
January 22, 2008
Courtesy of PROHIOWRESTLING.com & gerweck.net
In our continuing series of interviews featuring talent from the Ohio wrestling scene both past and present, we have recently had the privilege of getting a brief chance to ask a few questions to current Ring of Honor World Champion Nigel McGuinness. Nigel will be in Dayton, Ohio this upcoming Friday January 25th to defend the RoH title against Chris Hero in a steel cage.
William B. West: What first drew you to professional wrestling?
Nigel McGuinness: The sense of mystery and excitement of the show.
William B. West: At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to wrestle professionally, and how/why did you pick Les Thatcher’s school in Cincinnati?
Nigel McGuinness: When I was about fourteen after watching a documentary Robbie Brookside made. Les was the only person who took the time to reply to my enquiries with a hand written letter and after meeting him and seeing the place I was sold.
William B. West: You’ve wrestled all over the world, Europe, Japan, the US. Do you change your style to fit the audience, or do they get the same Nigel McGuinness wherever you are?
Nigel McGuinness: No, you adjust the show to who is watching and what they want to see.
William B. West: You currently hold one of the most prestigious titles in pro wrestling, the Ring of Honor World Title, is there a lot of pressure holding this championship?
Nigel McGuinness: Absolutely. But such is life in any pursuit. With great achievement comes great criticism, that is the way it goes.
William B. West: You’ve been the good guy and the bad guy, do you have a preference?
Nigel McGuinness: People seem to find it easier to dislike me.
William B. West: Who are some of the biggest influences in your wrestling career?
Nigel McGuinness: Les of course. William Regal. Brian Dixon. Chic Cullen. Robbie Brookside. Jonny Saint. Samoa Joe. Clamdigger Danielson.
William B. West: If you could have a dream match against anyone past or present who would you wrestle and why?
Nigel McGuinness: John Cena. PPV check.
William B. West: How long do you see yourself wrestling? What are your plans after you retire?
Nigel McGuinness: As long ass I’m healthy and not adding permanent damage and I enjoy it. Want to write, maybe work in a bar and relax by the beach a lot. Have a kid.
William B. West: Nigel thank you for taking time out of your hectic schedule to answer a few questions here at PROHIOWRESTLING.com, I know the fans here in Ohio are looking forward to seeing you in action this week. Anything you’d like to add before we go?
Nigel McGuinness: To the wrestling fans, keep supporting an alternative. Thanks for the words of encouragement recently from some of you, they meant a lot to me.
Popularity: 4% [?]
WWE Axxess Tour Hitting Canada
January 22, 2008
WWE has announced that they will be holding two dates in Canada for this year’s Fan Axxess tour
On Saturday February 2nd they will be appearing at the Vaughan Mills Shopping Center, Woodbridge/Vaughan, from noon until 8pm and then on Sunday February 3rd from 11am to 7pm.
Popularity: 7% [?]