CZW Coming to Premier Streaming Network in 2023

Combat Zone Wrestling has a new home on the Premier Streaming Network.

According to the press release issued to Ringside Logic, CZW has signed an exclusive, multi-year deal with the Premier Streaming Network. All of CZW’s live events, as well as the company’s extensive catalog of previous shows, will be streamed exclusively on the Premier Streaming Network when the network launches in early 2023.

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Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

What started as a Twitter feud has now found its way to the Tokyo Dome on January 4th.

Kenny Omega returns to NJPW for the first time in four years to challenge Will Ospreay for the IGWP United States Championship.

Continue reading “Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17”

New Professional Wrestling Memoir Details Wrestling Around the World

Former professional wrestler Jeff Bearden takes readers on a thrilling ride through his experiences wrestling professionally in front of thousands around the world in his new book, ‘The Man Behind the Makeup: The Professional Wrestling Life and Times of Jeff Bearden.

Under these guises of several pro wrestling personas, Jeff Bearden became part of wrestling history. Enter the wild, bloody life of pro wrestling during its Golden Age from the viewpoint of one of its biggest stars.

At seven feet tall, Jeff Bearden towered over his competition from the time he premiered in territory wrestling in 1987, through the crazed and dangerous wrestling scenes, infamy, and championships in Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Europe, Japan, India, and the Middle East. Bearden’s no-holds-barred career spanned 30 years and four continents.

Bearden takes readers through the shocking, the tragic, and the hilarious stories of his adventures. Trained by classic Texan wrestling stars Dory Funk Jr. and Dick Murdoch, Bearden went on to encounter legends of wrestling history: Bruiser Brody, the Von Erichs, André the Giant, Owen Hart, Abdullah the Butcher, and the Undertaker.

Bearden tells of his powerful friendship with WWE Hall-of-Famer, Yokozuna. From the time he was a skinny pro basketball player, to his days as a green babyface, to his reign as a notorious, 375-pound heel, Bearden’s life is one astonishing story after another.

Bearden’s unusual career and his freedom to choose venues anywhere and everywhere provides unique insight into the wrestling world. He takes readers around the globe to learn the secrets and truths of a life spent joyfully whipping crowds into a frenzy from inside the ring, as well as his personal life outside. In wrestling and in life, you’re only as good as the guy you beat – even if that guy is yourself.

Bearden says, “I spent almost 31 years entertaining people from all over the globe and enjoyed every minute of it. This book tells the experiences that I had with my worldly travels and some of the crazy experiences that I had with fans, including being stabbed by spectators multiple times in multiple places. This is my journey towards becoming a professional wrestler and reaching my childhood dreams.”

About Jeff Bearden

As a professional wrestler for over 30 years — working under the names Giant Warrior and Big Tiger Steele –Jeff Bearden entertained audiences all over the world, including audiences of over 75,000. Bearden wrestled André the Giant, Abdullah the Butcher, Yokozuna, Canek, Mil Mascaras, Lance von Erich, Dick Murdoch, Dory and Terry Funk, and many others. He is a co-founder of At Large PR and Clarens Publishing. Bearden is also a motivational speaker and certified happiness coach.

Some of his career highlights include:

  • In 1993, Giant Warrior and Barbarian drew the largest crowd in Indian wrestling history in Mumbai. Giant Warrior defeated Barbarian for the NWA Indo-Asian title in front of a crowd of 75,000.
  • Sparked riots in several countries, resulting in being stabbed five times by spectators and being shot at.
  • NWA Latin American title defeating Bronco 1 (Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic).
  • CWA world title defeating Danie Voges in a tournament final (Johannesburg, South Africa).
  • PWF world title defeating Barry Evans (Harlingen, Texas).
  • CWA world title defeating Lance Von Erich (Cape Town, South Africa).
  • TWA heavyweight title defeating Venom (San Antonio, Texas).
  • CCC Cup winner defeating Rambo (Hannover, Germany).
  • CWA Cup winner defeating Ulf Herman (Bremen, Germany).
  • ACW world title defeating Karsten Kretchmer (Weinheim, Germany).
  • WAW title defeating P.N. News (Cannonball Grizzly) (Norwich, England).
  • ACW tag team titles with Robb Harper defeating Michel Kovac and Eric Schwartz (Weinheim, Germany).
  • PCW (Professional Championship Wrestling) television title defeating Jiggle-O James Johnson (Dallas, Texas).

Bearden’s book can be found on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/MAN-BEHIND-MAKEUP-Professional-Wrestling-ebook/dp/B0BHFCWCB8

And on Audible at this link https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Man-Behind-the-Makeup-Audiobook/B0BLJ2T2MZ?qid=1667918286&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=EQ3VYDZ4W27FTFQS9R31

Find Jeff Bearden on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giantwarrior

Follow Jeff Bearden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwbatlarge

Follow Jeff Bearden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeff.bearden/

Game Changer Wrestling Moves to FITE+

New York, NY (November 1, 2022)

FITE and Game Changer Wrestling announced today that all GCW events will now be available exclusively on FITE+, the rapidly expanding subscription service. The price for subs remains the same, at $4.99/month, despite the massive addition of indie-wrestling’s most prolific promotion: GCW puts on approximately 75 shows a year, live and international.

The first live event under the FITE+ deal will be the Nick Gage Invitational, one of the most prestigious deathmatch tournaments in the world, taking place in Chicago on November 12th.

Continue reading “Game Changer Wrestling Moves to FITE+”

WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Great Muta set for New Year’s Day Clash

Pro Wrestling NOAH announced on Sunday that WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura will face The Great Muta at their Budokan Hall show on New Year’s Day.

Keiji Mutoh, otherwise known as The Great Muta, is in the process of setting up his retirement tour, with his final match scheduled for February 23, 2023, at the Tokyo Dome.

Most American fans were first introduced to Muta during his days in the NWA/WCW, where he debuted in 1989. Muta had a memorable feud with Sting, where he won the Television Title before dropping it to Arn Anderson on his way out of the promotion.

Continue reading “WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Great Muta set for New Year’s Day Clash”

Trios Championship Coming Soon to AEW

Image Credit: AEW

Depending on who you are, the overflow of championship gold in AEW was either praised or skewered before the promotion introduced the Trio’s Title’s Wednesday on Dynamite. While another prize risks diluting all of the AEW titles, Tony Khan had the belts made some time ago, meaning their inclusion in the all elite ranks was inevitable.

But is it a good idea?

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Vince McMahon Retires from WWE

Unless he contributed to this week’s episode of NXT, Raw on Monday was the last piece of pro wrestling content Vince McMahon will ever create. 

July 22, 2022, will be a day-long remember when the biggest announcement in the history of the industry occured. At 4:05 PM Friday, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE on Twitter.

The company followed up with a full statement issued by McMahon confirming his complete retirement from WWE, including the head of creative. Stephanie McMahon and Nick Kahn will assume the role as the new co-CEOs of the company.

We’re also one week away from SummerSlam.

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Vince McMahon Paid 4 Women over $12 Million in Hush Money

Here we go again. 

The Wall Street Journal discovered more hush-money payments made by Vince McMahon in excess of $12 million over 16 years to four women who worked for WWE. The former paralegal, the subject of the Wall Street Journal’s initial report on McMahon’s sexual misconduct is included.

Three more women and over $9 million in addition to the $3 million WSJ reported on June 17. A $7.5 million settlement was reached with a former WWE wrestler who claimed McMahon “coerced her into giving him oral sex and then demoted her and, ultimately, declined to renew her contract in 2005 after she resisted further sexual encounters, according to people familiar with the matter.”

Continue reading “Vince McMahon Paid 4 Women over $12 Million in Hush Money”

Lucha VaVOOM announces Summer Sabotage (7/29)

Los Angeles’ longest-running, most celebrated variety show returns for one night only

Friday, July 29th at The Mayan Theatre in downtown Los Angeles

Featuring world-class Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, comedy, music, and more

Summer Sabotage is also set to feature a unique collaboration with Sony Pictures’

new upcoming original action thriller, “BULLET TRAIN”

Tickets on sale now

Los Angeles, CA (July 6, 2022)─Los Angeles’ longest-running, most celebrated variety show, where authentic Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy collide, is returning with Lucha VaVOOM Summer Sabotage on Friday, July 29th at their historic home venue, The Mayan Theatre (1038 S Hill St.), in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets for this 21+ event are on sale now for $45.00‒$90.00 at TicketWeb.com.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary this August 22ndLucha VaVOOM (LVV) has been wowing audiences across the globe with their glam/slam extravaganzas for two decades. In February, LVV hosted their first live event since 2019 due to the coronavirus, selling out their Valentine’s engagement, followed by two blowout nights in May to celebrate 11 years of Cinco de Mayo craziness. From Los Angeles to Tokyo, across the U.S. and Canada, and all the way to Australia, people go crazy for this perfect combination of world-class, professional lucha libre-style wrestling interspersed with insane, high-octane burlesque performances, death-defying aerial acts, comedy, music, lowriders, tequila, tamales, and more ─ all adding up to one unforgettable night.

Summer Sabotage’s confirmed wrestling lineup includes fan favorites Li’l Cholo and Magno “The Man Mountain” Rudo, along with mini superstar wrestler and one of Mexico’s most beloved fighters Microman (as seen on ESPNCBS NewsThe Telegraph and Daily Mail), Dragon LeeDralisticoTaya Valkyrie (four-time Reina de Reinas champion and former WWE superstar), Dama Fina (former LVV champion), Matt ClassicMini Matt Classic, Los Crazy ChickensDr. Maldad, Chupacabra, ZyraJohnnie Robbie, and Los SEXI Mexi’s (Ave Rex and Sonico).

Burlesque dancers and aerialists confirmed includes Raquel Reed (burlesque dancer from Absinthe in Las Vegas), Audrey Deluxe (burlesque artist, game-player, fantasy maker, and shimmy shaker), Veronica Yune (stunning daredevil aerialist who will be swooping down from above and stealing hearts), and Viva La Glam (San Francisco-based performer specializing in unique and dangerous acts, such as an aerial dance on chains, with metal grinding in the air, to create a magnificent display of shooting sparks as she spins at death defying heights).

Plus, comedian host Blaine Capatch will be delivering insanely off-the-cuff commentary both nights. 

Photo credit: David Chi
Photo credit: Safi Alia Shabaik

Summer Sabotage will also feature a unique collaboration with Sony Pictures’ new upcoming original action thriller film, Bullet Train, out only in theaters on August 5th. In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails.

Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe – all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives – on the world’s fastest train…and he’s got to figure out how to get off.

From the director of Deadpool 2David Leitch, the end of the line is only the beginning in a wild, non-stop thrill ride through modern-day Japan. With a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz based on the book by Kotaro Isaka, the film also stars Joey KingAaron Taylor-JohnsonBrian Tyree HenryAndrew KojiHiroyuki SanadaMichael ShannonBenito A Martínez Ocasio (Puerto Rican artist known as Bad Bunny, who is also a huge wrestling fan) and Sandra Bullock.

wrestlerinspired by Bad Bunny’s “The Wolf”-character from the film, will be a part of the second match of the night at Summer Sabotage. Additionallythe dangerously cute and mysterious mascot Momomon will also make a special appearance at the event, plus fans in attendance will get to see the film’s trailer, special footage, and more! 

About Lucha VaVOOM:

For almost 20 years, Lucha VaVOOM (LVV) has been delivering arguably the most electrifying show on earth with a mind-blowing mix of Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy. Founded in Los Angeles in 2002 by Rita D’Albert and Liz Fairbairn, LVV — voted Los Angeles’ “Best Burlesque Show” by LA Weekly in 2012 and 2013 — is good vs. evil played out in quick, exhibition-style, one-fall lucha libre matches for maximum enjoyment and action.

LVV has created a Los Angeles tradition: from the low rider car parade escorting in performers as the crowd enters the iconic Mayan Theatre, to the local luminaries it attracts (Drew Carey, Jack Black, and more have sat in), to burlesque (which was revived in Los Angeles), to lucha libre, where masked heroic wrestlers, in character-driven style, flip, fly, and amaze.

It all comes together to make for one fun, surreal, glam-bam spectacle of raucous entertainment. You could say it’s a wrestling show for people that don’t like wrestling (and those that do). Says the Los Angeles Times, “Far-out flamboyance always prevails at Lucha VaVOOM, a spectacle of Mexican freestyle wrestling with an L.A. twist.”

For more info, visit LuchaVaVOOM.com and follow on FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube, and TikTok.

“…no one that puts on a better lucha libre show than the folks at Lucha VaVOOM. Far wackier and wilder than most professional wrestling…Lucha VaVOOM lets its freak flag fly…”

 Nerdist

Logan Paul Signs with WWE. Will it Work?

Social Media influencer Logan Paul is the latest celebrity to throw in with WWE.

Paul announced Thursday afternoon on his various social media platforms that he’s signed with WWE and shared a picture taken with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WWE Headquarters.

Ariel Helwani reported that Paul signed a multi-year deal that calls for the celebrity boxer to work an undisclosed number of premium live events (pay-per-view) in 2022 and 2023. This news comes after Paul confirmed he was training for an in-ring return to wrestling.

Continue reading “Logan Paul Signs with WWE. Will it Work?”