Depending on your preferred flavor of professional wrestling, SummerSlam received rave reviews from some and faint praise from others. Those who live or die by five-star ratings won’t find a match on the card to garner such esteem. However, fans who are all about spectacle and storytelling got more than their money’s worth on Saturday night, as Cleveland Browns Stadium hosted “the biggest party of the summer.”
Continue reading “WWE SummerSlam 2024 Review”
Major League Wrestling sent out the following:
Watch MLW Summer of the Beasts live for free on MLW’s YouTube Channel.
MLW announced an MLW Women’s World Featherweight Championship bout: Janai Kai (champion) vs. HANAKO at MLW Summer of the Beasts, live for free on YouTube on Thursday, August 29, at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City.
Continue reading “Stardom’s HANAKO challenges for MLW Title at Summer of the Beasts”I’m baaaack! Wow, it’s been seven months. Don’t worry—as the kids say, I got the deets. Seriously, though, my personal life is usually persona non grata on the site. However, I want to explain my absence and how wrestling became some much-needed soul soup.
Illness, surgery, post-surgery complications, and COVID put me down for the count. I was in pain, which seemed endless. Desperate for relief, I withdrew from everyday life, only appearing where the obligation trumped expectation. A brave face and a big smile became the mask of an endless front.
Meanwhile, an independent wrestling promotion, Royal Crown Wrestling, announced that former WWE superstar Paul London would appear on an upcoming show in my area. I couldn’t mark the date on my calendar fast enough.
Most people cheer on the titans of their favorite genre while gaining a deep appreciation for the work, talent, and skill of an underrated and, perhaps, unappreciated few. For me, it’s Sam Cassell in basketball, Reggie Wayne in football, Max Rebo in Star Wars, and Paul London in professional wrestling.
Continue reading “Thank You, Paul London!”
The words tragedy and triumph famously encompass the story of the legendary Von Erich family within pro wrestling circles. Sean Durkin wrote and directed the latest A24 release, The Iron Claw, which chronicles the life and times of the Texas-born and Texas-proud Von Erich brothers and their overbearing father.
Continue reading “The Iron Claw is Masterful Storytelling”
Perhaps the greatest Japanese wrestler in history could find himself stateside in 2024. Kazuchika Okada is reportedly “seriously entertaining,” leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and signing with another promotion.
Sports Illustrated broke the news that Okada’s contract expires at the end of January 2024. WWE or AEW are the two likely landing spots for the 36-year-old star. SI’s Justin Barrasso believes AEW would allow Okada to continue living in Japan with occasional matches in NJPW, while WWE is the biggest stage and can offer more opportunities.
For the uninitiated, Okada is the leading man in New Japan, the exact role Roman Reigns occupies in WWE. “The Rainmaker” is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. His fourth reign as champion is the longest in NJPW history at 720 days.
Continue reading “Will Okada Leave New Japan?”
After a weeklong trek across WWE’s three brands, CM Punk has officially planted his flag on Monday Night Raw. Punk signed the contract in the ring, presented by general manager Adam Pearce. Punk stated despite reasonable offers from Nick Aldis (SmackDown) and Shawn Micheals (NXT), the offer from RAW was head and shoulders above the rest.
Punk exclusively on Raw could significantly impact the pro wrestling landscape. Many Television deals expire next year, and everyone wants to extend their current deal or find a new network to call home. Punk could be the key for WWE.
Continue reading “CM Punk Signs w/ Raw and Declares for WWE Royal Rumble”
CM Punk made his first appearance on Monday Night Raw in almost ten years (1/20/14) and cut a highly anticipated promo to close out the show. The first hour of Raw was commercial-free as WWE pushed Punk’s promo hard throughout the show.
Thanks to timing issues in the Randy Orton/Dominick Mysterio match, Punk didn’t appear until two hours and fifty-two minutes into the three-hour broadcast. Depending on who you talk to, some felt his words hit the mark, while others believe the transition to “PG Punk” is complete.
“Looks like hell froze over,” proclaimed Punk, saying he’s felt more like himself since his return at Survivor Series on Saturday and everyone is happy to see him back.
Continue reading “CM Punk Cuts Return Promo on WWE Raw”
In one fell swoop, WWE took Chicago from AEW. CM Punk made his earth-shattering return to WWE at Survivor Series on Saturday in Chicago. Rumors of Punk’s arrival started from the moment AEW fired him in August due to a backstage fight with Jack Perry at All In.
WWE trolled the audience all evening with whether Randy Orton would show up for his team in the WarGames main event. Some wondered if Orton would not show up due to teaming up with the man who injured him in Jey Uso.
After a brief delay, Orton arrived for his team, disappointing those who thought Punk would be the surprise partner.
Orton’s Team celebrated their victory as the show was about to go off the air. The copyright graphic appears on the screen, signaling an inevitable fade to black. After all, there is no way WWE would overshadow Orton’s return…It was all a ruse.
Continue reading “CM Punk Returns to WWE at Survivor Series”
The loaded gun Vince McMahon used to scare cable networks out of airing rival NWA’s Starrcade pay-per-view is called Survivor Series. Originating in 1987, the show’s theme consisted of multi-person teams battling it out in one of WWE’s “Big Four” events.
What became known as the traditional Survivor Series elimination matches have fallen by the wayside in recent years. The inclusion of WarGames, two connected rings surrounded by a steel cage, has replaced the original concept.
The elimination matches made for some of the best teams ever assembled. It was Marvel Team Up in a wrestling ring. Superstar wrestlers who don’t usually cross paths join forces to right a wrong and reign victorious.
Nostalgia is strong in professional wrestling. Many fans miss the elimination matches when looking back at some of the great teams of yesteryear. Champions, legends, and future superstars made for some classic matches and memorable moments.
Some teams made sense, while others worked well despite their atypical pairing. Over thirty-five years, there have been 181 traditional teams since 2021. Here are the best of the best. The 10 Greatest Survivor Series Teams.
Continue reading “WWE: 10 Greatest Survivor Series Teams”
The end is near for the man called Sting.
Sting announced Wednesday on AEW Dynamite that his final match is set for Revolution 2024 next year.
The icon called to his AEW in-ring debut at Revolution 2021 and said in closing, “The only thing for sure about Sting is that his retirement is for sure.”
Continue reading “Sting Announces Retirement Set for 2024”
RingsideLogic.com 