Category: Pro Wrestling

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Review

  • Pre-Show: Hiroki Goto won the New Japan Rambo to become the #1 Contender for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Goto entered the 20-Man Rambo as the 4th entrant and eliminated The Great O’Khan in the final frame for the win. O’Khan was the first entrant.

It was surprising to see Hiroki Goto win this match. I had assumed his time in upper-card or main event matches was over. However, you can always count on him to deliver a solid performance. Some people find his personality boring, and I can’t disagree with that opinion. While no one expects him to become a world champion, New Japan must ensure his journey in the ring remains worthwhile.

  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) defeated Intergalactic Jetsetters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA), Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP), and Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Conners & Drilla Moloney) to win the titles.

The four-way ladder match was a first for the Tokyo Dome, and it showed. Using super tall ladders instead of standard ones added a scary element to the match. All eight wrestlers gave it their all with car crash action that never let up. However, it also highlighted how green New Japan is in producing such matches. Several moments did not go as planned, and the camera crew missed capturing other key spots.

One notable moment was a running piledriver through a table, but it was clear that the wrestler’s head never made contact. Safety is always the priority, but it would have looked impressive if filmed from a different angle. As with anything, practice makes perfect. New Japan will undoubtedly improve in maximizing this type of match over time, especially given the talent.

  • IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani defeated AZM with a Dragon Suplex to retain the title

The ladies should have had more time to show their stuff. Iwatani and AZM had less than ten minutes from bell to bell. They wrestled at a hectic pace and the commentary team did a great job of using the wrestlers’ pace to convey why the one-hour time limit would not be necessary.

  • NJPW World TV Title Four Way Match: El Phantasmo defeated Ren Narita, Jeff Cobb, and Ryohei Oiwa to become the champion.

All four wrestlers looked sensational in this match. Everyone got time to shine while making the most of the their time. El Phantasmo winning was a great feel-good moment after coming back from cancer.

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated EVIL in a Lumberjack match.

Have you ever seen a match involving The Bloodline with lots of interference? If you have, you’re not missing anything. I know it has little chance of happening, but seeing him and Cena lock up one-time would be awesome since they’re both embarking on their retirement tour in 2025.

  • Title vs. Title: Konosuke Takeshita beat Shingo Takagi to retain the AEW International Championship and become the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

Takagi is accustomed to being the stronger wrestler in the ring. Here, he faced Takeshita who was just as fluid and stronger. Both wrestlers played into that dynamic effectively. Takeshita’s significant height advantage also played a role, making it difficult for Takagi to land his finishing move. If any match warranted more time, it was this one. Takagi and Takeshita match up perfectly with each other.

  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: EL Desperado beat DOUKI to win the title due to referee stoppage. DOUKI hurt his elbow off a top rope dive to the floor. 

It’s a shame DOUKI got hurt. The match was just starting to cook until the injury occurred. DOUKI, get well soon.

  • IWGP Global Championship: Yota Tsuji defeated David Finlay to win the title.

David Finlay has never been my cup of tea as a wrestler. Then, he wrestled Yota Tsuji at the Tokyo Dome and my opinion completely changed. Finlay’s grittiness in the ring stood out to me for the first time. The way he sold and the physical intensity in delivering his moves made it easy and refreshing to buy Finlay as the legit contender New Japan has featured him as for over a year.

  • Battle of Los Ingobernables de Japon: Tetsuya Naito defeated Hiromu Takahashi. 

The internet wrestling community pegged this as the match of the year. The hype going in unfortunately dissipated by the final bell. Matches between two stablemates in different weight divisions don’t happen with the grandeur of a Tokyo Dome co-main event. Many felt it was time for the smaller Takahashi to beat the Naito in this first-time match-up.

Natio won, but that wasn’t the problem. The match just didn’t click in a competitive sense. It felt like watching a WWE main event where Vince McMahon told both wrestlers before they went out to the ring that they better slow it down.

The emotion between the two only meant something to those who watch New Japan regularly. If you only tune in for the big events, the drama between the two didn’t click. Some felt the finish represented a beautiful moment where Naito showed mercy by putting Takahashi out of his misery with a pinfall instead of another delivering one final crushing blow. Both wrestlers worked their tails off. It wasn’t a bad match, but an idea that sounded good but didn’t work. It happens.

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. pinned Shota Umino to retain the title

Forty-three minutes is the length many expect from a Tokyo Dome main event. However, a prolonged affair only hindered a match that never captured the imagination of the New Japan faithful. Despite having the best year of his career, Zack Sabre Jr. is a tough sell as an attraction due to his methodical grappling-heavy style. Shota Umino is a challenger with a lot of promise, but he hasn’t been featured enough for anyone to believe he would win the title.

Heck, the fans were booing Umino, which spoke volumes considering many felt New Japan would hot-shot the championship on Umino due to their penchant for having a Japanese wrestler in the lead role. The most memorable part of the match came when Shota pushed the referee, Red Shoes Unno, who is his father. I didn’t hate this match, but cutting it in half would have made a world of difference. It never felt like a Wrestle Kingdom main event.

-Final Thoughts: This was the first Wrestle Kingdom in twelve years without Kazuchika Okada. It was also the first time in seven years Will Ospreay was absent from the show. Hiroshi Tanahashi was nowhere near the top of the card and there will be no Jay White or Kota Ibushi wrestling under the lion mark for the foreseeable future.

Just like the New England Patriots, New Japan Pro Wrestling is in a rebuilding period. The company went outside its wheelhouse in several areas with mixed results. Their efforts are commendable considering the traditional norms of the promotion.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shingo Takagi will earn match of the night honors from many. No complaints here. Takeshita was the MVP of the show and New Japan was wise to sign him afterward. The double champion represents AEW, DDT, and now New Japan.

My favorite match of the match was the four-way TV Title match. That might sound weird, but all of the wrestlers were impressive and put on a variety show with a little something for everyone. The wrestlers made the most of their match time and we got a feel-good ending.

Overall, Wrestling Kingdom 19 was a good show but not a good Wrestle Kingdom.

WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event: Nostalgia Reimagined

A nostalgic staple of WWE’s network programming returns as Saturday Night’s Main Event airs on NBC. The December 14th special, featuring a WWE Championship match with Cody Rhodes defending the gold against former friend turned dastardly challenger Kevin Owens has fans buzzing with excitement.  

Whether it’s the formation of the Mega Powers, Mr. Perfect destroying the WWF Championship belt with a hammer, or an all-time classic between Rockers facing the Brain Busters, Saturday Night’s Main Event was a show where big things popped off that kept people talking all day Sunday and well into Monday.

I vividly remember my first Saturday Night’s Main Event. I hadn’t been a wrestling fan for that long. However, if you heard me talk about anything related to the squared circle, you’d think I was a long-time superfan. I was playing outside with my friend Billy Andrews when he said he couldn’t wait to see the Ultimate Warrior face the Super Ninja.

Hearing the words “Ultimate Warrior” and “Super Ninja” in the same sentence made my mind explode with excitement.

Continue reading “WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event: Nostalgia Reimagined” →

WWE Survivor Series 2024 Results: OG Bloodline Reigns Supreme

WWE held the 38th edition of its second-longest-running PLE event on Saturday at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. Three title matches were bookended with the women’s and men’s WarGames matches. Due to increased ticket prices, Survivor Series marked Canada’s highest-grossing WWE event. 

Women’s WarGames Match: Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Naomi, Iyo Sky, and Bayley defeated Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LaRae. Rhea Ripley hit Liv Morgan with Riptide off the top rope through a table to pin the Women’s World Champion and secure the win for her team.

United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated LA Knight to become the new champion. On one hand, Nakamura’s win was a surprise since he only returned to television nearly three weeks ago. On the other hand, it was almost expected since WWE put a lot into Nakamura’s new wayward samurai character. 

The closing moments of the bout saw Nakamura counter a vertical suplex from Knight and hit a Scorpion Death Drop on the steel plate between the two rings. Knight was rocked, and Nakamura drilled him in the back of the head with a Kinshasa for the win.

Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker defeated Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser in a Triple Threat Match to retain the title. Would Shaemus finally capture the one title that has alluded him throughout his career was the story that all three wrestlers served well. Kaiser is highly underrated and deserves his flowers here for a standout performance. 

World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther choked out Damian Priest to retain the title. In a repeat of SummerSlam, Finn Balor cost Priest the match when he hit the Coup de Grâce off the ring steps. Gunther kicked Balor in the face for the interference and applied the choke that ended Priest’s night. It was hard for me to get into this match because I never bought the storyline of Gunther being intimidated by Priest.

It’s easy to understand why Gunther was hesitant to fight Sami Zayn since he ended Gunther’s record-breaking IC Title reign. With Priest, there was nothing to be afraid of since he beat him to become the world champion. Commentary making a big deal of Gunther wanting to win the match without Balor’s help makes me wonder if a babyface turn is in store for the “Ring General.”

Men’s WarGames Match: (OG Bloodline) Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & CM Punk defeated (The New Bloodline) Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Bronson Reed, Tama Tonga, & Tonga Loa. Action drama and suspense all led to Sikoa being alone with The OG Bloodline. Double Superkicks from The Usos and a Helluva Super Kick from Sami Zayn rocked Sikoa. CM Punk was next with a GTS before Roman Reigns finished Sikoa with the Spear. The natural tension between the two Bloodlines while wondering if Punk or Reigns would throw the first punch at the other kept fans on their toes in the best possible way. 

The Rise of Women’s Mid-Card Titles in WWE: What to Expect

The winds of change in WWE’s women’s division arrived in the form of the Women’s United States Championship. A tournament to crown the inaugural champion kicked off on SmackDown last Friday when Bayley defeated B-Fab and Candice LeRae and will meet the winner of the Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Blair Davenport. The other side of the bracket sees Jae Cargill vs. Michin vs. Piper Niven and Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Elektra. 

The tournament finals will be held on 12/14 at Saturday Night’s Main Event, emanating from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The first round will comprise four Triple Threat Matches, with singles matches filling the semi-final rounds.

Fans have clamored for a women’s mid-card title in WWE for years. NXT was the testing ground for the initiative in June when Kelani Jordan became the inaugural Women’s North American Champion.

Fatal Influence’s Fallon Henley recently bested Jordan to hold the gold. There are rumors of either a Women’s Intercontinental Title or a Netflix Title being implemented on Raw as the brand’s secondary women’s championship.

Tony Khan popularized the women’s mid-card title concept in the U.S. when AEW introduced the TBS Championship 2021, and ROH followed suit with the Women’s World Television Championship in May 2024. Mercedes Moné and Red Velvet are the respective title holders. Last year, Billy Corgan’s NWA also implemented a Women’s World Television Title.

Women’s wrestling in WWE and abroad has significantly expanded over the last decade. The top storyline on Monday Night Raw was the love triangle between Rhea Ripley, Dominick Mysterio, and Liv Morgan. In the eyes of many, it demonstrates how female acts on television are now on par with male performers in terms of importance.

While hard-nosed grizzle veterans say title belts are simply props, the right champion differentiates between them being a fashion accessory and a coveted prize. Mid-card championships allow members of a particular roster to work their way up, and as with most things in life, there are levels to professional wrestling.

Throughout WWE lore, most male wrestlers win the secondary or mid-card championship before capturing the World Championship. However, the women’s roster has no silver medal to win. No progression to establish a character’s credibility as they work through the ranks. 

Female wrestlers have either been in the world title mix or have been irrelevant until now. With sixty-eight active women’s wrestlers in WWE and more on the horizon, it is the perfect time to introduce a second singles title across all three brands. 

Brock Lesnar’s WWE Return: Rumors Resurface

The rumor of Brock Lesnar’s return resurfaces frequently, but sources with an excellent track record confirmed the story this time. While not surprising, it’s still disappointing.

Lesnar was last seen getting ousted by Cody Rhodes, the company’s top star, fourteen months ago. Since then, WWE has thrived like never before, and to be blunt, the company has moved past the need for Lesnar.

While Lesnar wasn’t named in the Janel Grant lawsuit, the Wall Street Journal and the Mr. McMahon Netflix documentary identified him as the former UFC fighter referenced. The suit alleges Vince McMahon used Grant as a sexual bargaining chip while negotiating to re-sign Lesnar in 2021.

Continue reading “Brock Lesnar’s WWE Return: Rumors Resurface” →

WWE 2024 Bad Blood (Review)

Twenty-seven years ago, at WWE’s inaugural Bad Blood event, not only did the first Hell in Cell Match take place, but the most memorable debut in wrestling history changed WWE forever. Undertaker battered and bloodied Shawn Michaels in the climax of their historic matchup. Then the lights fall, the arena turns red, and a large crimson figure storms toward the ring. 

“IT’S GOT TO BE KANE!” McMahon infamously yelled as the masked man ripped the door off the Cell and tombstoned his older brother, allowing Shawn Michaels to pin the Undertaker. After two decades, WWE presents the 4th edition of Bad Blood, emanating from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre will complete their hellacious trilogy inside Hell in a Cell and perhaps the most star-studded tag team since the Mega Powers take center stage as Cody Rhodes teams with the returning Roman Reigns to take on Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.

Continue reading “WWE 2024 Bad Blood (Review)” →

The Max of AEW’s Media Rights Renewal

After months of intense speculation that predicted glorious ascension from some and the utter demise from others, All Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery officially announced a new multi-year media rights deal on Wednesday.

The renewal of the deal calls for Dynamite and Collision to remain on TBS and TNT respectively, with AEW programming streaming live simultaneously on Max for U.S. subscribers in January 2025. AEW pay-per-view events will stream live on Max later next year for an additional cost. 

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Kathleen Finch confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that AEW’s library will be available on Max as part of the deal.

The Sports Business Journal is the first mainstream source to report that WBD has an equity stake in AEW and retained it as part of the new deal.

Industry insiders, including former WCW President Eric Bischoff, have long since suspected ownership stake was part of the equation, considering their financial support of the promotion despite declining ratings.

There was no mention of AEW’s Friday night show Rampage, their quarterly specials Battle of the Belts, Ring of Honor, or Tru TV, which is rebranding as a sports channel. The word on the street is Rampage has been canceled and will finish its run through 2024. 

Continue reading “The Max of AEW’s Media Rights Renewal” →

Did Swerve vs. Hangman Go Too Far?

Only in professional wrestling can a home invasion carry fame and success instead of a prison sentence. How about burning the perpetrator’s house down in retaliation? Yep, same thing. Swerve Stickland and “Hangman” Adam Page shifted roles throughout their feud. Both have been the hero of the day and the villain of the story. 

Hangman’s descent into madness and Swerve’s lust for revenge created a beautiful disaster in their unsanctioned main event steel cage match at AEW’s All In pay-per-view last Saturday night in Chicago. The words beautiful and disaster are apropos as the reaction to their bloody battle garnered mixed results. Some feel it was the perfect match for such a hate-filled saga. Others believe it was garbage wrestling akin to pointless Death Match fodder.

Continue reading “Did Swerve vs. Hangman Go Too Far?” →

PodcastOne and Nic and Ryan Nemeth Tag Team for Nemeth Bros Podcast

PodcastOne and Nic and Ryan Nemeth Tag Team for Joint Venture Nemeth Bros Podcast

Wrestling World Champion Nic Nemeth and Brother Award Winning Actor Ryan Nemeth Launch Weekly Wrestling and Comedy Podcast

Los Angeles, CA – September 4, 2024 – PodcastOne (Nasdaq: PODC), a leading podcast platform and a subsidiary of LiveOne (NASDAQ: LVO), announced today that it has entered into a multi-year exclusive joint venture with Nic and Ryan Nemeth for the Nemeth Bros Podcast. PodcastOne will exclusively oversee the distribution and sales on the weekly wrestling and comedy show which is set for launch on September 5, 2024.

Nic and Ryan Nemeth bring all things wrestling, comedy, and pop culture along with insider knowledge, personal anecdotes, and special guests each week! Whether you’re a die-hard wrestling fan or just looking for your next pop culture fix, Nemeth Bros offers a perfect mix of humor, commentary, and exclusive interviews that you won’t want to miss.

“There are very few personalities that are as dynamic as Nic and Ryan Nemeth. Meeting them it was easy to see how they’ve managed to create their fandom, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have them on our network. This duo is incredible, they are witty and they have the sort of charismatic energy that only points at success. We know that podcast listeners, wrestling fans or not, will love this show,” said Kit Gray, President of PodcastOne.

“When we were approached by PodcastOne to launch a podcast we were impressed by their enthusiasm, their professionalism, and their commitment. With their proven track record and the expert teams they have in place, we’re thrilled to partner with them. We cannot wait to share our unique voice, expert opinions and our sibling revelry and rivalry and make this podcast the “must listen” in podcasting,” said Nic and Ryan Nemeth.

Nic Nemeth is the Wanted Man! He is the current TNA World Champion and a two-time WWE World Champion, a living legend in pro wrestling, and he has garnered championship titles all over the world. He’s been featured on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, starred in the film Countdown, and you can see him in the feature film Drugstore June. Ryan Nemeth is an award-winning actor, writer, wrestler, and comedian. You can see him in A24’s feature film The Iron Claw, in the upcoming film Stranglehold, countless sketches on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on AEW and TNA programming as the Hollywood Hunk. Nic and Ryan perform live together on their touring variety show Hunkamania.

Nemeth Bros is available through PodcastOne, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon and wherever podcasts are heard. PodcastOne’s full roster of top ranked podcasts includes programming across top genres such as news, comedy, true crime and society and culture, including shows such as The Adam Carolla Show, LadyGang, Baby Mamas No Drama, Varnamtown, The Prosecutors, Court Junkie, The Jordan Harbinger Show, Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe, Camp Counselors, and The Schaub Show.

WWE SummerSlam 1989: Feuds, Matches, and Controversies

It’s time to “Feel the Heat” with the sophomore edition of WWE’s “biggest party of the summer.” The summer of 1989 was all about the feud between Hulk Hogan and “The Human Wrecking Machine” Zeus, aka Tiny Lister, aka Debo, which was used as a vehicle to promote Hogan’s first theatrical starrer, No Holds Barred.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage was still sour over losing the WWE Title to Hogan at WrestleMania 5, aligned with the seemingly indestructible Zeus to finally destroy Hulkamania. Not to fear, the Hulkster has backup in the form of everyone’s favorite barber, Brutus Beefcake.

The broadcast opened with a shot of a red-hot New Jersey crowd inside Meadowlands Arena. Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Tony Schiavone welcome everyone to the show. Ventura’s mad at Schiavone for getting Bobby Heenan run off the air.

Schiavone remained professional and excitedly proclaimed it was time to “Feel the heat,” with a video montage of summertime activities and WWE superstars hitting their finishing maneuvers to the nostalgic sound of the old-school SummerSlam theme song. Jim Johnson

Do you like driving your red Corvette with the top down? How about a Brainbuster (spiked piledriver) instead? Speaking of Brain Busters…

Continue reading “WWE SummerSlam 1989: Feuds, Matches, and Controversies” →