News Archives - Spring 2011(April - June 2011)
Monday, April 11, 2011 :
DEATHS :
-MMA fighter Segio "Suave" Salcio Luna(4-5, age 25) and co-worker/friend Kevin Joel Romero(age 28) were killed on their way to work at 2:40am on Monday April 4th at the San Ysidro border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, as they sat in a pickup waiting to enter the U.S. for the West Coast Beverage Maintance company, which services & cleans draft beer equipment for bars & restaurants. The two were apparently targeted by an assailant who approached from behind on foot between the lines of vehicles to shoot the two in the head, chest & arms with a 9mm weapon before fleeing. Attorney General Rommel Moreno Manjarrez said detectives were investigating the possibility the incident was drug related as one of the victims had a "small packet of drugs among his belongings"(Credit : San Diego Union Tribune, MMAJunkie).
RESULTS :
-ROH presented 'Honor Takes Center Stage: Chapters 1 & 2' at Atlanta, GA's Center Stage theater on Friday April 1st & Saturday April 2nd, both of which aired live on GoFightLive iPPV. On the first night, Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Kurihara made their ROH debuts, defeating Sara Del Rey & Serena Deeb in 10:00 via pinfall after Matsumoto hit Deeb with a Back Drop Driver. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team(Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas) won the ROH World Tag Team titles from The Kings Of Wrestling(Claudio Castagnoli & Chris Hero) when Claudio tapped out to the Haas Of Pain in 22:58, and in the main event, World Champion Eddie Edwards' first defense was successful as he beat TV Champion Christopher Daniels by pinfall following a 2K1 Bomb in 30:09(The TV title was not on the line). The next night in 'Chapter 2', Daniels turned heel on El Generico to join The House Of Truth in a brawl after Generico's pinfall victory over Roderick Strong following a brainbuster in 16:12. The Briscoes also turned heel after their bloody grudge match against The All Night Express(Rhett Titus & Kenny King). Defeating ANX by pinfall after a Jay Driller on King, Jay Briscoe cut a heel promo on the crowd. Also on the second night, Dave Taylor - representing The Embassy - debuted in a losing effort to Colt Cabana when he lost by pinfall to a roll up in 6:34. Also making her ROH debut was SHIMMER Tag Team Champion Tomoka Nakagawa, teaming with her Championship partner Daizee Haze in a victory against Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Kurihara. The Champions retained in 7:32 via pinfall when Haze pinned Matsumoto with a Tiger Suplex. And in the main event, WGTT made their first defense of the Tag titles against former Champions, The American Wolves(World Champion Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards), defeating the Wolves with a pinfall in 31:58 after Benjamin hit a Paydirt on Richards. Dissension between the Wolves was teased after the match(Credit : 411mania).
-Bellator 39 took place on Sat. April 2nd in Uncasville, CT's Mohegan Sun. Airing on MTV2, Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez(22-2) defeated Pat Curran(13-4) in the main event by unanimous decision. A week later on Sat. April 9th, MTV2 aired Bellator 40 from the First Council Casino in Newkirk, OK. Welterweight Champion Ben Askren(8-0) defeated Nick Thompson(38-14-1) in the main event non-title match also via unanimous decision. Thompson announced his retirement this week following the fight.
-GoFightLive aired ACPW's Sunday April 3rd event at the MMA Sports Expo in Oaks, PA's Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, featuring former MMA fighter Shonie Carter(49-26-7)'s pro wrestling debut in an 'Exhibition' gauntlet match, wherein he tapped out Chris Burns with an Americana, then Fredo Mejors with an ankle lock, but Carter ended the exhibition gauntlet by shaking hands with Grey Wolfe after Wolfe powerslammed & dropkicked Carter.
-WWE's WrestleMania 27 took place Sunday April 3rd from Atlanta, GA's Georgia Dome, opening with World Heavyweight Champion Edge defending his title against Alberto Del Rio, pinning Del Rio in 11:00 following a Spear. In their first WrestleMania match, Jerry Lawler's initial 14:00 victory over Michael Cole via submission to an Ankle Lock was reversed by RAW's Mystery GM to a disqualification win for Cole. Also winning by submission, The Undertaker defeated Triple H in a No Holds Barred match with a Hell's Gate in 30:00, upping his WrestleMania record to 19-0. Undertaker & Triple H were fined an undisclosed amount due to the chairshot HHH gave Undertaker during the match, according to WWE's corporate website. Making her wrestling debut, Snooki teamed with John Morrison & Trish Stratus to defeat Dolph Ziggler & LayCool when Snooki pinned Michelle McCool with a splash in 4:00. Stratus has since stated that Morrison was uncooperative in planning out the match and snubbed her during the post-match celebration. In the main event, WWE Champion The Miz suffered a concussion in a spot where challenger John Cena tackled him - after Cena jumped over the barricade outside the ring, Miz hit his head on the floor. After initially going to a double countout at the 15:00 mark, host The Rock restarted the match, Rock Bottoming Cena and allowing Miz to pin Cena to retain the title 1:00 in the restart(Credit : 411mania, wrestling observer).
-On WWE Monday Night RAW the next night(Monday April 4, the same night the last ROH On HDNet aired on the station) from Atlanta, GA's Philips Arena, Sin Cara debuted on TV, attacking US Champion Sheamus after a successful defense against Daniel Bryan, defeating Bryan by pinfall in 3:59 following a Brogue Kick(their previous day's match was cut from the broadcast of WrestleMania and ended up being turned in to a battle royal on the pre-show). Later in the show, John Cena challenged The Rock to a match, which The Rock accepted....for WrestleMania 28 next year in Miami. Immediately following RAW, the season premiere of Tough Enough aired, seeing Ariane Andrews eliminated, though she claimed on Twitter afterwards that she signed a WWE developmental contract(Credit : 411mania).
-Strikeforce : Diaz Vs. Daley took place this past Saturday April 9th from San Diego, CA's Valley View Casino Center. Airing on Showtime, the first SF event under new Zuffa ownership saw DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki(27-5, 1 NC) return to the US, defeating Lyle Beerbohm(16-2) via submission to a rear naked choke with a neck crank in 1:33 of the first round. Originally scheduled to face Mike Kyle(18-8-1, 1 NC), who pulled out of the event on Thursday March 31st due to a broken hand suffered in training, DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi(30-3-2) also returned the US(both DREAM titles were not defended), going to a majority draw with replacement Keith Jardine(17-9-2). SF CEO Scott Coker says a rematch is likely. Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez(19-2) beat Tatsuya Kawajiri(27-7-2) 3:14 in to round 1 via TKO(strikes), and in the main event, Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7, 1 NC) also Paul Daley(27-10-2) via a 1st round TKO from strikes in 4:57. Security & media passes were handled by the UFC, which banned several reporters from Strikeforce events they previously covered, just as they are banned from UFC cards(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-What didn't take place this past Sat. was Amanda "Powerhouse" Lucas(1-1)' return to MMA. The daughter of George Lucas was scheduled to face Heather Martin(1-1) at Freestyle Cage Fighting 46 in Shawnee, OK's FireLake Grand Casino, but withdrew from the fight when Martin - who weighed in at 176 lbs. - failed to make the contracted 165 lbs. weight(Credit : MMAFighting, Sherdog, mixedmartialarts.com).
SHAKE UPS :
-WWE has officially changed their name from "World Wrestling Entertainment" to merely "WWE" as part of a "new business model of...a global entertainment company". WWE says the two key components of their 'brand expansion' will "the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies" and "the outsourcing of WWE's core competencies - TV & film production, live event production & licensing". They also claim signing Sin Cara was part of their new initiative with a new talent development department that greater emphasizes worldwide recruitment headed by Triple H. And most importantly, the words "wrestling", "belt", "athlete", "fight" and others will no longer be used in any way, shape or form by the company(Credit : pwinsider).
-WWE agent Fit Finlay was fired from the company stemming from an angle he scripted involving WWE Champion The Miz at the RAW house show Finlay produced in Champaign, IL's Assembly Hall on Friday March 25th where the champion interrupted the playing of the US National Anthem with National Guard representatives in attendance(Credit : WrestlingNewsWorld).
-EMLL & Japanese joshi promotion REINA announced on Thursday April 7th a working agreement starting in May(Credit : Lucha World).
-The last edition of WWE Superstars to air on WGN was broadcast this past Thursday April 7th. The series will continue taping at WWE live events, however, for international & YouTube broadcasts(Credit : pwinsider).
-In late March, UFC welterweight Jon Fitch(23-3-1, 1 NC) pulled out of his scheduled rematch with BJ Penn(16-7-2) at UFC 132 in Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery, meaning Ftich will be out of action for up to six months. He will be having work done on his labrum and a torn rotator cuff muscle. Rather than face a replacement, Penn will instead fight "at a later date". In the main event of 132 though, Urijah Faber(25-4) challenges Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz(17-1, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva(14-2, 1 NC), after admitting he used urine adulterant in his post-fight drug screening for UFC 125(Sat. Jan. 1st in Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena) after fighting Brandon Vera(11-5-1). In addition to his unanimous decision victory from that night being overruled in to a No Contest, Silva was fined $33,750 & had his license revoked for 12 months by the Neveda State Athletic Commission. Silva said the reason his invalid result was "inconsistent with human urine" was due to him using a product to hide the presence of prohibited substances contained in injections he received in his back & spine for an injury he reaggravated 45 days before the fight. NSAC Executive Director keith Kizer has talked about implementing changes in how they drug test fighters(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-After a unanimous decision loss to Mike Pyle(21-7-1) at UFC 128, Sat. March 19th in Newark, NJ's Prudential Center, welterweight Ricardo Almedia(13-5) retired from the sport to become an MMA judge for New Jersey events(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-DGUSA's Jon Moxley was released from his contract with the promotion to sign a WWE developmental deal on Monday April 4th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Ring Of Honor has re-signed Rhett Titus, referee Todd Sinclair & ring announcer Bobby Cruise. They also signed Michael Elgin.
HEALTH :
-Scott Hall was hospitalized on Friday April 8th after an appearance at Top Rope Promotions' 30th Anniversary show in Fall River, MA's PAL Hall due to extremely low blood pressure after he appeared belligerent and slow on the show(he had already been hospitalized once last week for the same issue). He is now home in Orlando, FL, 'doing fine' according to his publicist, who also claims Hall's condition on the show was due to 10 different medications he takes for "various ailments" interacting poorly with each other(Credit : pwtorch, TMZ).
-EMLL's Cholo ruptured a tendon in his left knee Friday April 1st in Arena Mexico in a tag match with El Bronco Vs. Horus & Robin. He will be out of action for at least 6 months(Credit : Lucha World).
-AAA announcer Arturo Rivera had surgery on Thursday March 31st to relieve a strong infection in one of his lungs due to complications caused by pneumonia(Credit : Lucha World).
LEGAL :
-Retired UFC light heavyweight Chuck Liddell was accused by his ex-wife Lori Geyer of kidnapping their son Cade & using illegal drugs. Geyer filed documents on Sunday March 27th alleging Liddell's drug & alcohol use have clouded his judgment, leading to Liddell intimidating her with staring & pacing, while Liddell filed in California for full custody on Friday April 1st, though a judge ordered the case to be heard in Parker, CO, where Liddell claims Cade was being abused by his mother. The case will be heard tomorrow, Tuesday April 17th(Credit : TMZ).
-Kurt Angle pled guilty to a reckless drunk driving charge stemming from the Fri. March 25th incident in Grand Forks, ND where he was found on the meridian in his vehicle, then failed a sobriety test and changed his story many times. Angle has to pay $475, serve unsupervised probation for a year & have a chemical dependency evaluation. The deal is pending approval(Credit : pwinsider).
BUSINESS :
-UFC & Bud Light signed a multi-year extension of their partnership, including one special promotional annual event starting with Sat. September 17th's UFC Fight Night 25 : Battle On The Bayou, airing on Spike TV from New Orleans, LA's Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Bud Light will also release a limited-edition aluminum UFC bottle(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-TNA iMPACT! premiered in Spanish this past Friday April 8th on MTV Tr3s, commentated by Hector Guerrero and Willie Urbina
UPCOMING :
-EMLL's Torneo Forjando Del Idolo starts in Mexico's Arena Puebla today, ending in Arena Mexico on Friday May 20th.
-Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad(7-0) faces Paul Buentello(29-13) in a non-title match on MTV2, Saturday April 23rd at Bellator FC 42 in Concho, OK's Lucky Star Casino(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2011 PPV takes place on Tuesday May 3rd on WPW from Japan's Fukuoka International Center. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against Shinsuke Nakamura, Davey Richards & Rocky Romero get an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Title shot, CMLL's World Middleweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger defends against Mascara Doara, who recently vacated the CMLL Super Lightweight title to move up to this weight class. ZERO-1's Masato Tanaka faces Yuji Nagata(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-AAA's Triplemania XIX takes place at Mexico City's Palacio De Los Deportes on Sat. June 18th(Credit : Lucha World).
-Sat. June 18th is also the date Strikeforce has pegged for female middleweight Gina Carano(7-1)'s return to fighting, at Dallas, TX's American Airlines Center. Also on the card, the SF Heavyweight WGP continues with Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem(34-11) Vs. Fabiricio Werdum(14-4-1) and Josh Barnett(29-5) Vs. Brett Rogers(11-2). Also, undefeated heavyweights Shane Del Rosario(10-0) & Daniel Cormier(7-0) face off, along with Valentijn Overeem(29-25) Vs. Chad Griggs(10-1, Credit : MMAWeekly).
-UFC lightweight Joe "Daddy" Stevenson(31-12) is dropping to featherweight and will have his first fight in the division on Sunday June 26th at UFC On Versus 4 from Pittsburgh, PA(likely in the Consol Energy Center) against Javier Vasquez(15-5, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC middleweight Wanderlei Silva(33-10-1) returns to action against Chris Leben(25-7) on Saturday July 2nd at Las Vegas, NV's Mandalay Bay Events Center(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Strikeforce is planning the fight between heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko(31-3, 1 NC) and Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson(27-8) for late July on a M-1 co-promoted Showtime event, though the details of date, location & weight(Credit : Cage Insider).
MEDIA :
-'Wrestler Wives', a new VH1 series focusing on Booker T's Texas-based wrestling school, will feature Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman, Jackie Haas & Stacy Carter(Credit : TMZ).
-'Bail Enforcers' starring Trish Stratus premiered this weekend at the Actionfest Film Festival in Asheville, NC(Credit : wrestling observer).
-UFC light heavyweight TIto Ortiz(15-8-1) crashed his Toyota Scion twice in a practice run for the 2011 'Fueled By Fame' Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race on Tuesday April 5th. Although no one was injured, he'll need a new car to race in the actual race in Long Beach, CA on Sat. April 16th(Credit : TMZ, CBS).
-WWE is considering animated projects featuring Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Santo En El Tesoro De Dracula' starring El Santo from 1969 was pulled from The Guadalahara Film Festival at the request of El Hijo Del Santo(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Rock appeared on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday April 4th, then the Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday April 11th. Chris Jericho, who guested on CBS' Rachael Ray on Tuesday April 5th, appears on the Tonight Show on Wednesday April 13th(Credit : 411mania).
-The Big Show was on Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Awards on Saturday April 2nd(Credit : 411mania).
-Mick Foley was was announced on Tuesday April 5th as the newest board member of RAINN(Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Also a National Sexual Assault Online Hotline volunteer, Foley launced a fundraising Twitter campaign for April, Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month.
Thursday, April 21, 2011 :
-Roundtable panelist Rodney Leconte competed at Grappler's Quest 'Beast Of The East' tournament, Saturday April 9th in Asbury Park, NJ's Convention Hall, placing 2nd in the Men's No-Gi Beginner Light Heavyweight division.
DEATHS :
-Larry Sweeney(Alex Whybrow), 29, former ROH/CHIKARA/independent pro wrestler & manager, died on Monday April 11, committing suicide by hanging himself at Lake Charles, LA wrestling school(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Stinky The Homeless Guy(Frank Morin, 23), ISW indy wrestler, died on Friday April 1st due to cancer(Credit : pwinsider).
-Chip Fairway(Brett Keen, 38), former HWA indy wrestler, died on Saturday April 9th in his sleep(Credit : wrestling observer).
RESULTS :
-Maximum Fighting Championship's 'MFC 29: Conquer' took place Friday April 8th at Caesars Windsor's Colosseum in Canada, airing on HDNet. Lightweight Marcus Davis(18-8) defeated Curtis Demarce(10-9) by split decision, and lightweights Hermes Franca(21-11) & Robert Washington(9-3) fought in a 160-lbs. catchweight fight, seeing Franca beat Washington 0:26 in to round 2 via TKO(punches).
-IWRG on Sunday April 10th from Mexico's Arena Naucalpan saw the return of Mascara Ano Dos Mil form back surgery in late January, teaming with Ultimo Gladiador & Mazada in a losing effort to La Parka, Jr., Multifacetico & Trauma I(Credit : Lucha World).
-April 11th's WWE Monday Night RAW from Bridgeport, CT's Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, World Heavyweight Champion Edge, who has been suffering numbness & uncontrollable trembling in his arms & hands recently, announced his retirement from wrestling due to nueropraxia & stenosis of the spine. An MRI confirmed the ailments earlier in the day. Later on, Brie Bella beat Diva's Champion Eve Torres in 2:20 via pinfall following an X-Factor to win her first title, and Sin Cara won his first TV match for WWE, defeating Primo in 4:30 with a pinfall after a Shiranui Kai(Uranage moonsault). Santino Marella, Mark Henry, Evan Bourne & Daniel Bryan formed a group, APPLE(Applied People Powered by Loathing Everything you stand for), to oppose Smackdown's The Corre, and a vignette teasing Kharma(Awesome Kong) aired. On Tough Enough that aired before RAW, Mickael Zaki was eliminated this past Monday(Matt Cross was eliminated a week earlier).
-Tuesday, April 12th saw WWE's Smackdown taping in Albany, NY's Times Union Center. Edge vacated his World Heavyweight title, and Christian won a battle royal in 22:00(last eliminating Jack Swagger) and will now face Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match at Extreme Rules on Sunday May 1st from Tampa, FL's St. Pete Times Forum(Credit : 411mania).
-All Japan at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall on Wednesday April 13th saw NJPW's Yuji Nagata win the Champion's Carnival, defeating Seiya Sanada 22:44 in to the tournament final match with a backdrop hold(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-TNA Lockdown 2011 took place on Sunday April 17th at Cincinnati, OH's U.S. Bank Arena. Mickie James defeated Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne to win her first Knockouts championship in 0:36 via pinfall following a DDT, making James the first woman to hold the TNA Knockouts title and WWE's Womens & Divas titles. Jeff Jarrett beat Kurt Angle in an "Ultra-Male Rules" 2/3 falls match, winning the third fall in 22:37 by exiting the cage, suffering bruised ribs in the process. TNA World Champion Sting successfully defended against Ron Van Dam, pinning RVD after a Scorpion Death Lock in 7:57, and in the main event Lethal Lockdown match, Fortune(X Champion Kazarian, Beer Money, Inc. & Daniels) defeated Immortal(Ric Flair, Matt Hardy, Bully Ray & Abyss) when a returning AJ Styles interfered, leading to Robert Roode tapped out Flair to an arm bar in 22:52(Credit : 411mania, wrestling observer).
-Also on Sun. April 17th, CHIKARA presented the third night of their 2011 King Of Trios tournament from Philadelphia, PA's Asylum Arena, seeing The Colony defeat Team FIST in the finals when Green Ant pinned Icarus following an assisted Superfly splash. CHIKARA will be crowning their first singles champion via a tournament in Easton, PA on Sunday May 21st. Claudio Castagnoli, Jigsaw, Mike Quackenbush, Eddie Kingston, Sara Dey Rey & more will participate(Credit : angry marks, pwinsider).
-Lastly for Sun. the 17th, Kaientai Dojo's '9th Anniversary Club-K Super Evolution9' show took place at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall, headlined by IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Champion Prince Devitt defeat Shiori Asahi & Makoto Oishi in 21:58 via pinfall when Devitt used a Bloody Sunday on Oishi(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-At the WWE Smackdown tapings in London, England's O2 Arena on Tuesday April 19th, former World Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show won their first WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Champions Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater(Credit : wrestling news world).
SHAKE UPS :
-TNA President Dixie Carter's mother Janice(Executive VP of Panda Energy, the financiers of TNA) has stated that the company needs to make major changes including re-branding, possibly including a new co. name(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7)'s manager Caesar Gracie has stated he is trying to book a pro boxing fight sometime this fall for the Champ(Credit : 411mania).
-2008 Olypmic Judo Gold Medal winner Satoshi Ishii(4-1, MMA), originally scheduled to fight on Strikeforce Challengers 15 on Friday April 1st but unable to obtain a visa in time, is returning to judo in the US, set to compete in the 100+ kg & 100 kg divisions of the USA Judo 2011 Senior Nationals, Friday April 29-Sat. April 30 in Orlando, FL 's Europa Orlando(Credit : The Japan Times).
-Jay Lethal has been released from TNA(Credit : pwinsider).
-Kharma will be making her FCW debut soon, while WWE has also recently signed Irena Janjic from the Storm Wrestling Academy & NAIA collegiate wrestling champion Derek Foore(Credit : pwinsider).
HEALTH :
-UFC welterweight Brian Foster(15-5), who had a testicle that was burst after a hard kick in training removed six weeks ago, has pulled out of his fight against Sean Pierson(11-4) on Saturday April 30th at UFC 129 in Toronto, ONT, Canada's Roger's Centre due to a brain hemorrhage recently discovered via MRI. UFC 129 will feature Randy "The Natural" Couture(19-10)'s final MMA fight, however, as he has claimed he will retire following his light heavyweight bout against Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida(16-2).
-Abyss was injured at the TNA iMPACT! tapings on Tuesday night April 19th in Orlando, FL's IMPACT! Zone, having one or both of his front teeth knocked out by Rob Van Dam's springboard kick. He will need dental surgery to repair the bottom row of his teeth. Before the show's taping began, Serena Deeb lost a tryout match to Winter via pinfall after Catatonic Backbreaker(Credit : pwinsider, diva dirt).
-MMA heavyweight Paul Buentello(29-13) has pulled out of his debut fight for Bellator FC, this Saturday, April 23rd at Bellator 42 in a non-title fight with Champion Cole Konrad(7-0), due to a back injury(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Kevin Nash has stated that Scott Hall is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
-TNA has been urging Jeff Hardy to attend rehab(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Perry Aguayo, Jr. had surgery on Saturday April 9th in Guadalajara, Mexico to remove a golf-ball sized tumor from his stomach after being admitted to the hospital in extreme pain the previous day. Released from the hospital on Tuesday morning April 19th & will be receiving treatment for the next year, but will return to the ring for Perros Del Mal on Sunday May 8th in Cancun(Credit : Luchas 2000, wrestling observer).
-Scotty Riggs underwent a procedure in a Georgia hospital on Thursday April 14th to locate the source of bleeding ulcers(Credit : pwinsider).
-Former SMW/Louisville area wrestler Ron Wright had a pacemaker installed on Monday April 18th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Naomichi Marufuji pulled out of NOAH's Sunday April 17th show in Japan's Koyama City due to an injury. No time frame for his return has been determined yet(Credit : NOAH-USA).
LEGAL :
-Andre Davis, a 29-year old HIV-positive indy wrestler from Cincinnati, Ohio, was arrested in Hamilton County's Hyde Park on Wednesday April 13th & charged with felonious assault after having sex with a person on three separate occasions starting Wednesday March 2nd but not informing them of his disease(Credit : WCPO).
-Kurt Angle, who claims to have signed a new contract TNA, was sentenced by state District Judge Joel Medd to a year of unsupervised probation on Friday April 15th in Grand Forks, ND for reckless driving in March. He must also pay $225 in court fees & a $250 fine in addition to undergoing a chemical dependency evaluation. He also received 10 suspended days in jail, automatically spending 10 days in jail should he violate any laws in the jurisdiction again(Credit : Grand Forks Herald).
-Highspots' lawsuit against Ric Flair has been reopened due to Flair not paying money owed from their settlement months ago, with the trial beginning this past Monday April 18th.
-Jeff Hardy's drug case was been continued AGAIN on Wednesday April 20th when Hardy's lawyer Jim Van Camp asked Senior Resident Judge James Webb for time to have a drug assessment done. The next date for the case to be presumably delayed again on will be Monday June(Credit : The Pilot).
-Authorities believe someone broke in to the Warriors Of Wrestling Center, a school & show facility on Van Street in the New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island, NY, on Thursday morning April 14th and torched the building, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage(Credit : ABC).
-UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen(25-11-1)'s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, originally scheduled for Wednesday April 27th has been delayed until mid-May(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Monday April 18th in Tampa, FL, making a desk appearance to paid $750 in surety bonds after missing a date in traffic court on charges of driving without a license & operating an unregistered vehicle(Credit : pwinsider).
UPCOMING :
-WWE's WrestleMania Revenge tour comes to Doha, Qatar at the Qatar Sports Club this Saturday, April 23.
-UFC welterweight Diego Sanchez(22-4) participates in a 4-man grappling tournament at the UFC Fan Expo on Friday April 29th at Toronto, ONT, Canada's Direct Energy Centre. Ending the following day(Sat. April 30th at the 2nd day of the Fan Expo, before UFC 129 later than night), Sanchez faces Canadian grappler Andrew McInnes in the semi-final opening round presented by Grappler's Quest.
-Pro Wrestling Respect's Delirious returns to Ring Of Honor to face Colt Cabana in a Larry Sweeney tribute match at Toronto, ONT, Canada's Ted Reeve Arena at 'ROH: Revolution' on Saturday May 7th.
-AIW hosts the 2011 Todd Pettingill Invitational(formerly the Ted Petty Invitational) tournament from Lakewood, OH's AIW Arena Friday May 20th-Sat. May 21st, featuring Jimmy Jacobs, Sonjay Dutt, Paul London, BJ Whitmer, Irish Airborne & more.
-NJPW's 'Best Of The Super Jr. XVIII' tournament starts on Thursday May 26 at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall on SAMURAI! TV, and ends on the same channel & venue Friday June 11th. The Great Sasuke participates on his first tournament, along with Davey Richards, TAKA Michinoku, The Golden Lovers, TJ Perkins & more(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Fighting & Entertainment Group(FEG) has announced their first shows of the year, the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix starting Thursday May 29th at the "DREAM 17: Fight For Japan" in Japan's Saitama Super Arena, with the finals scheduled for July(Credit : Sherdog).
-Strikeforce womens middleweight Gina Carano(7-1)'s Sat. June 18th return at 'Overeem Vs. Werdum' will be against Sarah D'Alelio(4-1, Credit : Nonstop MMA).
-Independent female wrestler Cindy Rogers has announced that she will have a retirement match against Allison Danger at WSU's Uncensored Rumble in Union City, NJ's ACE Arena on Saturday June 25th, airing live on GoFightLive. Also, Jillian Hall makes her debut for the promotion that night against a to-be-named opponent.
-DDT presents the "Dick Togo Retirement Show" from Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall on Thursday June 30th. Togo's retirement bout will be against Gedo(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-UFC 133 in Philadelphia on Saturday August 6 will feature middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama(13-3) facing Vitor Belfort(19-9, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC 134: Rio tales place Saturday August 27th at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil's HSBC Arena and will see Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva(28-4) face the last man to defeat him(a 2006 DQ win for Okami at Rumble On The Rock 8 in Hawaii; Silva was disqualified for an illegal kick), Yushin Okami(26-5). Also, light heavyweights Forrest Griffin(18-6) & Mauricio "Shogun" Rua(19-5) face off, heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Noguiera will fight against an opponent to be determined, but President Dana White has said welterweight Royce Gracie(14-2-3) would not be fighting on the card(Credit : MMAJunkie, MMAFighting).
-Also on Aug. 27th, New Japan, All Japan & NOAH will be co-promoting a charity event at Japan's Tokyo Nippon Budokan, with proceeds going to the victims & areas of the recent earthquake & tsunami disasters(Credit : Puroresu Fans).
MEDIA :
-The third season of Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory on truTV is being targeted to start shooting at the end of the summer should the network renew the series. If picked up, the new season will tackle chem trails. Also, Ventura is already working on another book with Dick Russell.
-'Knockout' from Phase 4 Films & starring Stone Cold Steve Austin will be released on Tuesday April 26th on Blu-Ray, DVD & VOD.
-The Rock appeared on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live this past Tuesday April 19th.
-The Great Khali guested on Disney XD's Pair Of Kings this past Monday April 18th(Credit : Starsglam).
-WWE releases DVDs of 'That's What I Am' starring Randy Orton on Tues. May 10th, the Best Of Nitro on Tues. May 24th, a Gorgeous George documentary on Tues. June 7th, the 'Million $Man' Ted Dibiase set on Tues. June 28th, 'Breaking The Rules' starring Edge on August 9th, RAW : Best Of Seasons 3 & 4 on Tues. August 23rd, 'Randy Orton: The Evolution Of A Predator' set on Wed. September 21st, a Triple H set on Tues. November 8th, WWE's 50 Biggest Matches on Tues. Nov. 29th, 'Austin Vs. Rock - The Rivalry' on Tues. December 13th, and WWE's 'Best PPV Matches Of 2011' on Tues. Dec. 27th. Also from WWE Studios, 'Inside Out' starring Triple H will see a Sep. release, and 'Blood Brothers' starring John Cena comes out in Nov(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Pile Drivers & Power Chords: Stories From Rector, Arkansas & Beyond', which includes 'essays about the Memphis wrestling promotion from the 1970s & 1980s' by music fan Steve Crawford, is available now.
Dead wrestler tally for the month : 3
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 :
DEATHS :
-Alfa Centauris(Manny Guzman), 60s/70s luchador & former leader of the National Lucha Libre Union, died Saturday April 23rd.
RESULTS :
-MMA heavyweight Ken Shamrock(28-15-2) was forced to pull out of his fight against Anthony Rea(21-13) at World Extreme Fighting 46 in Orlando, FL's UCF Arena, Friday April 22nd, due to a staph infection. Rea went on to defeat Rob Wince(20-14) via TKO(punches) 1:40 in to round 2. Light heavyweight Seth Petruzelli(13-6) also scored a TKO win over David Mewborn(8-4-1), but in round 1. Petruzelli still says he'd like to face Shamrock at some point, but will be fighting Steve Bosse(8-1) at 'Les Gladiateurs: Resolution' at Montreal, Quebec, Canada's Centre Pierre-Charbonneau on Friday June 17th(Credit : 411mania).
-NWA North American Champion The Sheik defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Colt Cabana in the main event of Pro Wrestling Fusion's 'Subtle Hustle!!!' show in Jacksonville, FL's Sin City, on Saturday April 23rd. Elsewhere on the card, NWA World Tag Team Champions The Dark City Fight Club successfully defended their titles against The Briscoe Brothers. The Sheik will defend the World Heavyweight title in Japan's ZERO-1 this month, while the NWA Board Of Directors has stripped him of the North American title, opting to hold a tournament to crown a new champion, starting Thursday May 5th at NWA Main Event's TV taping in Nashville, TN's NWA Arena.
-WWE's Monday Night RAW from Mon. April 25th at Raleigh, NC's RBC Center hosted the 2011 Draft. The supplemental Draft continued on WWE.com afterwards, leading to the results of Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Kelly Kelly, The Big Show, JTG, Rey Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, Beth Phoenix, Tyler Reks, Curt Hawkins, Chris Masters, & Kofi Kingston drafted to RAW, and Daniel Bryan, Sin Cara, The Great Khali, Randy Orton, The Usos, US Champion Sheamus, Mark Henry, Alicia Fox, Alex Riley, William Regal, Tamina, Yoshi Tatsu, Tyson Kidd, Natalya & Ted Dibiase drafted to Smackdown. Also, Jim Ross made his in-ring return to WWE, defeating Michael Cole by disqualification in 4:35 when Jack Swagger interfered. JR suffered a broken right hand during the match. On Tough Enough before RAW aired, Rima Fakih was eliminated(Credit : 411mania).
-On the TNA iMPACT! that aired on Thursday April 28th & taped from Orlando, FL's iMPACT Zone!, Chris Sabin injured his knee in a match against Anarquia, who defeated Sabin in 1:21 via Small Package pin. Alex Shelley returned following the impromptu loss, saving Sabin from a beatdown by Mexican America. No word yet on how long Sabin will be out of action(Credit : 411mania).
-The biggest North American MMA event to date took place this past Saturday April 30th at Toronto, ON, Canada's Rogers Centre with 55,724 fans witnessing UFC 129, leading to a record gate of $12,075,000. UFC's first stadium show started the pay-per-view broadcast with lightweight Ben Henderson(13-2)'s promotional debut, getting a unanimous decision against Mark Bocek(9-4). Light heavyweight Vladimir Matyushenko(26-5) scored a quick 0:20 1st round knock out against Jason Brilz(18-4-1) via punches. Continuing in the light heavyweight division, the legendary Randy "The Natural" Couture(19-11) lost to Lyoto Machida(17-2) 1:05 in round 2 via KO by Crane Kick. Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo(19-1) successfully defend the title against Mark Hominick(20-9) in Aldo's long awaited promotional debut. Despite suffering an unspecified infection before the event, Aldo scored the unanimous decision and looks to possibly face Chad Mednes(10-0) next, while Hominick was medically suspended by the Ontario Ministry Of Consumer Service's Office for 60 days and must have a new CT scan for heavy facial swelling. In the main event, Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre(22-2) also took a unanimous decision victory over Jake Shields(26-5-1). Suffering internal bleeding in his left eye in the second round due to an eye poke, GSP is expected to make a full recovery. Earlier in the day at the UFC Fan Expo in Toronto's Direct Energy Center, Ryan Hall defeated Diego Sanchez in the finals of a special Grappler's Quest tournament, scoring 6-2 points(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Also Saturday night, ECWA's 2011 Super 8 tournament aired on GoFightLive from Voorhees, NJ's Flyers Skate Zone. Tommaso Ciampa defeated Adam Cole in the finals via pinfall following a 2nd rope Crucifix Bomb and was presented a trophy by Sunny(Credit : wrestleview).
-WWE's 2011 Extreme Rules took place Sunday May 1st from Tampa, FL's St. Pete Times Forum. Kofi Kingston defeated United States Champion Sheamus in a Tables match, using a Boom Drop to put Sheamus through a table in 9:11 to win his 2nd US title. Jim Ross' in-ring return to PPV was a loss in teaming with Jerry "The King" Lawler, losing a Country Whippin' match to Michael Cole & Jack Swagger in 7:02 when Cole pinned JR using a roll up. Layla El defeated Michelle McCool in a No DQ/Loser Leaves WWE match in 5:23 via crucifix pin. McCool was also beat up by the debuting Kharma(the former Amazing Kong) on her way to legitimately leaving the promotion. Christian defeated Alberto Del Rio 20:59 in to a ladder match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship(his first WHC), making Christian a 5-time World Champion. Brodus Clay required staples in his head after taking a bump trying to interfere in the match. And in the main event, John Cena defeated WWE Champion The Miz in a steel cage match via pinfall in 19:53 following a Super Attitude Adjustment to win his 8th WWE title, making him a 10-time World Champion and tying HHH's record for most WWE title wins(Credit : 411mania).
-On Monday May 2nd, WWE presented Monday Night RAW from Miami, FL's American Airlines Arena. The Rock's birthday celebration took place all show long, featuring celebrity birthday wishes(including Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Kimmel, LeBron James, Steve Carrell, Ellen Degeneres, George Lopez, Ludacris, Dan Marino, Craig Ferguson, Regis Philbin, Kelly Rippa, Mya & more). Also, Kharma made her RAW debut, beating up Maryse after interrupting Maryse's match with Kelly Kelly. On the Tough Enough that aired before RAW, Ryan Howe was eliminated(Credit : 411mania).
-Also on Mon. May 2nd, TNA taped an iMPACT! at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL. The Amazing Red performed under a mask as Sangriento, defeating Christopher Daniels in a mask as Suicide. Tommy Dreamer turned heel by turning on AJ Styles during a brawl with Bully Ray(Credit : 411mania).
-New Japan's 'Wrestling Dontaku 2011' PPV took place Tuesday May 3rd live on WPW from Japans Fukuoka International Center. CMLL World Middleweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger started the night of successful title defenses, besting Mascara Dorada in 10:04 via pinfall following a brainbuster. IWGP Jr. Heayweight Champions Apollo 55(Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt) beat Davey Richards & Rocky Romero in 17:41 when Devitt pinned Romero following a Bloody Sunday. IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) defeated NO LIMIT(Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro Takahashi) in 19:49 when Bernard pinned Naito after a Bernard Driver. Takahashi walked out on Naito after the match, and in the main event, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in 20:17 via pinfall after a High Fly Flow. After the match, Tanahashi was confronted by returning former tag partner Hirooki Goto(Goto returned to NJPW earlier in the night, teaming with Tama Tonga to defeat Makoto Hashi & NOAH's GHC Heavyweight Champion Takashi Sugiura in 9:43 when Goto pinned Hashi after a Shouten Kai) . Elsewhere, Togi Makabe defeated Satoshi Kojima in 11:51 with a pinfall after a King Kong Kneedrop. After the match, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi appeared, turned on Makabe and joined forces with MVP & new leader Minoru Suzuki. And Yuji Nagata beat ZERO-1's Masato Tanaka in 14:53 via pinfall after a backdrop hold(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Later on Tues. May 3rd, WWE taped Smackdown at Orlando, FL's Amway Center.
Shawn Daivari returned in a dark match & losing to Ted Dibiase, Jr., Jinder Mahal made his TV debut in a backstage skit with The Great Khali & Ranjin Singh, The Corre turned on Ezekiel jackson by beating him up backstage, and Randy Orton defeated World Heavyweight Champion Christian to win his 2nd WHC title, making Orton an 8-time World Champion(Credit : prowrestling.net).
-Lastly on Tues. May 3rd, TNA held an iMPACT! at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL. Chris Harris(no, no the Roundtable panelist, formerly of America's Most Wanted) returned to TNA, appearing with Immortal's Matt Hardy to challenge Beer Money at the Sacrifice PPV, which takes place Sunday May 15th in the same venue. Mick Foley also returned to TNA, representing 'the Network' and introducing Kurt Angle's partner(and storyline mistress) for the Sacrifice PPV to take on Jeff & Karen Jarrett in a tag match; Chyna, making her TNA debut(Credit : pwinsider).
SHAKE-UPS :
-MMA middleweight Jason "Mayhem" Miller(24-7) signed a multi-fight contract with UFC on Friday April 22nd(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE signed Big Van Vader's son, Jessie White, to a developmental contract. Meanwhile, Ryan Nemeth has been named Briley Pierce in FCW, and Brett Dibiase has been transferred from wrestler to referee due to a bad knee injury he suffered last year(Credit : pwinsider).
-Bellator FC signed undefeated lightweight Rene Nazare(8-0), a 4-time BJJ World Champion on Wednesday April 27th(Credit : 411mania).
-Former NHL hockey player Donald Brashear is looking to try his hand at MMA, reaching an agreement with Canada's Ringside MMA(Credit : Bloody Elbow)
HEALTH :
-Abyss underwent dental surgery on Thursday April 21st to do repair work on his upper lip and pull 4-5 damaged teeth(Credit : pwinsider).
-AAA announcer Arturo Rivera left the hospital last week and will finish his recuperation from lung surgery at home, hoping to return for June's Triplemania show(Credit : Lucha World).
-Road Warrior Animal was hospitalized with Bronchitis on Easter weekend(Credit : pwinsider).
LEGAL :
-AAA luchador Charly Manson(Jesus Luna Pozos) was arrested in Mexico on Sunday April 25th for attacking two police officers, Roman Castaneda Castro(who suffered a fractured skull with brain trauma) & Moises Izaguirre Banos(who required surgery on his nose after suffering an orbital fracture in his right eye & a fractured jawbone). The two were attempting to arrest him & underage friend Adrian Lopez Reyes for public drunkenness. Charged with aggravated assault & attacking authority figures, Manson awaits sentencing while Castro remains in the ICU at a hospital near Mexico City(Credit : wrestling observer, pwinsider).
-UFC welterweight Matt Hughes(45-8) is under investigation in regards to an alleged fight at Taylor Springs, IL's Trails End Bar & Grill on Saturday April 23rd, where Hughes allegedly shoved a male patron in to a female patron, breaking her nose(Credit : TMZ).
-Nick Gage(Nicholas Wilson) was sentenced to a 5 year prison term in State Superior Court Of Camden, NJ on Friday April 29th. He will not be eligible for parole until serving 85% of sentence. He must also pay $3,095 restitution to the PNC Bank branch of Collingswood, NJ, and $150 in lost ages to the teller he held up(Credit : 411mania).
-Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Wells Fargo Southeast(alleging that the insurance company never gave him proper advice or 'umbrella' insurance, resulting in inadequate coverage) was dismissed by Pineallas County Circuit Judge Douglas Baird in Clearwater, FL on Thursday April 21st. Hogan's attorneys decided to settle with a nominal amount(Credit : Tampa Bay Online).
BUSINESS :
-WWE announced on Thursday April 28th that beginning in June, their quarterly dividend will be cut to $0.12 per share of common stock held by Class A public shareholders & Class B shareholders. Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon(who recently donated to Mick Foley's RAINN Twitter campaign) along with Cheif Marketing Officer Michelle Wilson announced at the Sat. April 29th stockholder's meeting that the company has a deal with Miller to a summer promotion with the Keystone Light brand, a deal with Mars similar to their K-Mart deal, and the WWE Network hopes to launch in 12-18 months. After initially dropping to a 52-week low of $10.37 per share on Fri. April 29th following their dividend cut, WWE's stock rose to $10.83 on Mon. May 2nd(Credit : Wall Street Journal, 411mania).
-UFC's Primetime : St-Pierre Vs. Shields series debuted on ESPN2, Wednesday April 20th. The series was also broadcast on Spike TV, Versus, ION Television & Fuel TV as UFC expands it's broadcast scope(Credit : 411mania).
-TNA has signed a new TV deal to air iMPACT! on Fuel TV in Australia. In the meantime, they've also trademarked 'Impact Wrestling', possibly to eventually replace the 'TNA' name(Credit : wrestling observer, pwinsider).
-'Tuff-N-Uff: The Future Stars Of Mixed Martial Arts' has partnered with entertainment, sports & event promotional company Justice Entertainment Group(Credit : MMAJunkie).
UPCOMING :
-Ultimo Dragon's Dragonmania show take place at Arena Mexico on Saturday May 14th(Credit : Lucha World).
-Titan FC 18 takes place at Kansas City, KS's Memorial Hall on Friday May 27th live on HDNet. Featherweight Jens Pulver(21-14-1) faces Mike Powell(10-2).
-The Urban Wrestling Federation's first show, 'First Blood', will be taped for PPV broadcast in the first week of June in New York City, NY. Featuring Sonjay Dutt, Slyck Wagner Brown, Monstra Mack, Ricky Reyes, Eddie Kingston, the Maximos, Ruckus & more, the promotion has signed Homicide, Skullcrusher Rasche Brown, Scorpio Sky, The Grim Reefer, Brian XL, Ricky Ortiz, Damien 666's song Bestia 666, the Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz, and MCW's Ghetto Mafia. Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Famer Grandmaster Melle Mel will appear along with other musical acts(Credit : pwinsider).
-Uncensored Massacre Wrestling will present 'Annihilation' on Saturday June 18th in St. Louis, MO's Casa Loma Ballroom, featuring The Headbangers reuniting.
-Also on Sat. June 18th, TNA presents their next BaseBrawl house show event at Buffalo, NY's Coca-Cola Field.
-New Japan's 'J Sports Crown 6-Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament' takes place over 3 days at Japan's Tokyo Differ Ariake, starting on Tuesday June 21st and ending Thursday June 23rd(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-MMA heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga(11-6)'s next two fights have been lined up : Vs. Josh Burns(5-2) on Saturday June 25th at MMA Explosions' "MMAX: Heavyweight Xplosion' event, expected to take place at Las Vegas, NV's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and he's agreed in principle to face Reality Fighting's Heavyweight Champion Parker Porter(5-2) for the title at the promotion's Saturday September 24th event in Uncasville, CT's Mohegan Sun Arena(Credit : MMAJunkie, Sherdog).
-Jay Lethal returns to Ring Of Honor against Mike Bennett at 'Best In The World 2011', airing live on GoFightLive on Sunday June 26th from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, NY.
-Originally scheduled to face Rashad Evans(15-1-1) on Saturday August 6th at UFC 133 in Philadelphia, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones(13-1) has been replaced by Phil Davis(9-0) due to suffering a torn thumb ligament in his fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua(19-5) on March 19th(Credit : UFCFightVideos.net)
-New Japan's 'G1 Climax XXI : The Invincible Fighter' tournament takes place over 10 shows, starting Monday August 1st on WPW PPV from Japan's Fukuoka International Center and ending Thursday August 14th at the Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Denver, CO's Pepsi Center could host UFC 135 on Saturday September 24th. The return to Colorado would be headlined by Matt Hughes Vs. welterweight Diego Sanchez(23-4, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC's Texas return takes place Saturday October 8th, possibly in Houston. The event will include a Fan Expo the day of and day before the event. UFC also returns to England in October, on Sat. Oct. 15th in Liverpool's Echo Arena(Credit : 411mania).
MEDIA :
-Fast Five starring The Rock was #1 at the American movie theater box office this weekend, making $83.6 million, settings records for being the biggest movie opening in 2011 so far, the biggest April opening ever, and the biggest opening for the Fast & The Furious franchise('Dylan: Dog Of The Dead' starring Kurt Angle also opened this weekend at #17, earning $250,000). The Rock, fresh from having switched Hollywood agencies to WME, next stars in & produces a biopic of black country music star Charley Pride, with a sequel to Fast Five coming in the future. WWE Studios' 'That's What I Am', Randy Orton's film debut, also opened this weekend(Credit : Variety, wrestling observer, Deadline).
-Chris Jericho was eliminated from ABC's Dancing WIth The Stars on Monday April 25th.
-Scenes for 'Fred 2' were shot at the Smackdown taping in NC's Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday April 26th. The film premieres on Halloween, Monday October 31st on Nickelodeon(Credit : 411mania).
-Showtime has acquired the rights to air the MMA documentary 'Fightville' by Michael Tucker, following featherweight Dustin Poirier(9-1)'s rise to signing with UFC(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Kevin Nash stars in 'The Almighty Thor', produced by The Asylum, premiering Saturday May 7th n SyFy, with a DVD/VOD release Tuesday May 10th.
-The Big Show will guest star as a thief in USA Network's Burn Notice soon(Credit : pwinsider).
-Bill DeMott has re-opened his McDonough, GA-based New Energy Wrestling school, and his autobiography will be released in a few months(Credit : pwinsider).
-Lance Storm's World Of Hurt reality TV show debuted on Canada's Cave Network this past weekend(Credit : pwinsider).
-Shelly Martinez has been nominated for PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door 2011 award(Credit : 411mania).
-Trish Stratus was named Top Choice Magazine's 2010 Businesswoman Of The Year(Credit : pwinsider).
Friday, May 13, 2011 :
RESULTS :
-The USA defeated Russia at 'The Battle On Broadway' freestyle wrestling dual meet, part of the 'Beat The Streets' gala on Thursday May 5th in Time Square's Duffy Square in New York City, NY. 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejduo won over Junior World bronze medalist Rasul Mashezov in the first bout, and in the last match, 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagney swept Barsag Kesaev in two straight periods. Former Olympians Kurt Angle, Rulon Gardner, Jeff Blatnik & Dan Gable attended the event(Credit : MMAMania, wrestlingdotcom).
-Trevdor Murdoch returned to WWE on Monday May 9th from Knoxville, TN's Thompson Boling Arena, losing to Evan Bourne in a dark match(Credit : letstalkwrestling).
SHAKE UPS :
-Zuffa will be providing accident insurance to it's 350 contracted fighters starting June 1st through Houston Casualty Insurance Company. Though routine medical visits, hospitalization, prescription drugs & illness/disease aren't covered, the parent company of UFC & Strikeforce will pay 100% of the premiums(lab tests, doctor/emergency room visits, physical therapy) for competition, training & accident related injuries - anything that would prohibit an athlete from performing. A full time employee will coordinate the claims process & Zuffa's supplemental insurance policy covering fighters on fight nights stays intact. The company also held the third annual 'Fighter Summit' with all their contracted fighters this week in Las Vegas, NV's Red Rock Resort, to educate them on safety, rules & regulations, salary, public relations and media. Dr. Jeff Davidson lectured on concussions & cutting weight, DEA agent spoke on steroid use, and Lorenzo Fertitta said fight bonuses for Strikeforce events could be a future possibility. Cage Potato noted SF President/CEO Scott Coker was listed as SF 'Executive VP & GM' on the official itinerary(Credit : MMAMania).
-Bellator FC signed middleweight Vitor Vianna(10-1-1, 2-time World BJJ Champion & 6-time National BJJ Champion) on Wednesday May 4th(Credit : Sherdog).
-UFC has released middleweight Maiquel Falcao(26-3, 1 NC, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Gail Kim has gotten engaged to The Food Network's Robert Irvine, with a ceremony set for May 2012(Credit : 411mania).
-TMZ reports that Antonio Inoki's IGF offered TNA's newest (unsigned) Knockout, Chyna, a one-year contract. Chyna makes her in-ring return and TNA in-ring debut on Sunday at Sacrifice 2011 from Orlando, FL's iMPACT! Zone.
HEALTH :
-Shane Helms crashed his motorcycle on Thursday May 5th in Raleigh, NC. Suffering a broken ankle, broken nose, broken jaw & other fractures, Helms was riding with his girlfriend, who suffered a broken neck but no spinal cord damage. Both still hospitalized, Helms needed 200 stitches & is being investigated for DUI after a witness said Helms was driving home from a restaurant in Smithfield, NC around 9:15pm, went through a stop sign, lost control and drove through a metal chain link fence. Blood samples were taken by the police at the hospital(Credit : TMZ).
-Both Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar(13-1-1) and his challenger Gray Maynard(10-0-1, 1NC) have pulled out of their scheduled third fight at UFC 130, Saturday May 28th from Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena. Maynard suffered a knee injury in training, while Edgar is suffering from bulging discs in his back & a rib injury. President Dana White stated that while the match looks to be delayed until August or September, 130 will now be headlined by the light heavyweight bout, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson(31-8) Vs. Matt Hamill(10-2, Credit : MMAJunkie)
-Brock Lesnar(5-2) has pulled out of his fight against heavyweight Junior Dos Santos(12-1) at UFC 131, Saturday June 11th from Vancouver, British Columba, Canada's Rogers Arena, due to a recurrence of diverticulitis preventing him training, confirmed after undergoing tests at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic. Now facing a choice between surgery or managing the disease through a focused diet, has been replaced by Shane Carwin(12-1, Credit : MMAJunkie)
-John Morrison will be out of action 4-6 weeks after having surgery on Monday May 9th to alleviate pain & weakness in his arm after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck(Credit : wwe.com)
-Chris Sabin had knee surgery recently after recently injuring his leg on iMPACT!(Credit : pwinsider).
LEGAL :
-AAA's Charly Manson was released from prison on Wednesday May 4th(Credit : Lucha World).
-UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen(25-11-1)'s fighting license has been indefinitely suspended by the California State Athletic Commission due to his federal conviction for money laundering and "providing false testimony" during a December appeal hearing. Sonnen & his representatives have appealed the decision and will appear before the commission, Wednesday May 18th in Los Angeles(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson(27-8) filed a suit in February alleging trademark & copyright infringement and unfair competition against middleweight Matt Lindland(22-8) over usage of the Team Quest Fight Club LLC name & logo, but this week Lindland filed a motion to dismiss the suit as well as a counterclaim against Henderson alleging Henderson has no ownership of the entity(Credit : SBNation).
-UFC welterweight Matt Hughes(45-8) was cleared by the Illinois State Attorney's office of allegedly breaking a female bar patron's nose when he shoved a man during an April incident at Taylor Springs' Trails End Bar & Grill, stating there is not enough evidence to prove Hughes committed battery(Credit : TMZ).
-A hearing for the Highspots Vs. Ric Flair case has been set for Tuesday May 24th in Charlotte, NC.
BUSINESS :
-Eric Bischoff has started a family brewing company, Wyoming Territory Brewing. Their first beer, Buffalo Bill Cody Beer in 12 oz. bottles, will be available in local bars, restaurants and at retail in & around Cody, WY this summer.
UPCOMING :
-New Japan's first American tour takes place this weekend - tonight in Rahway, NJ's Rec Center, Saturday May 14th in New York City, NY's Basketball City, and Sunday May 15th in Philadelphia, Pa's Asylum Arena. Friday's show sees the first round of the tournament to crown the first IWGP Intercontinental Champion(featuring MVP & Dan Maff), Satoshi Kojima Vs. Kenny Omega, Rhino & Charlie Haas Vs. Togi Makabe & IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, The Strong Style Thugz(Homicide & Low Ki) Vs. JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger & Tiger Mask IV, and a Tag Team Battle Royal featuring Apollo 55(Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt), Jado & Gedo, Davey Richards & Shinsuke Nakamura, and IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson). Saturday's show will feature Haas challenging Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight title & Devitt defending his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title against Low Ki. The final leg on Sunday features Richards challenging Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight title, Rhino takes on Makabe in a street fight, Liger defending the JAPW Light Heavyweight title against Omega, The Strong Style Thugz challenge Apollo 55 for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team titles, and the finals of the IC title tournament(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also tonight, at AAW's GoFightLive IPPV taping in Merrionatee Park, IL, the BWO(Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie & Nova) reunite and The Smashing Pumpkin's Billy Corgan appear on a card featuring Sabu, Shane Douglas, Jimmy Jacobs, Alex Shelley, MsChif and more.
-This weekend will also see Pro Wrestling Respect's Mia Yim make her debut in Japan, wrestling Hiroyo Matsumoto at REINA 2, Sunday May 15th at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring(Credit : David Falcon). Jamilia Craft will also be making her Japanese debut this year.
-Luchador Tinieblas claims to be having his retirement match Saturday May 21st in Tehuacan, Mexico at a show hosted by Dr. Alfonso Morales(Credit : Lucha World).
-Rey Mysterio, Sr. will introduce a new 'Rey Mysterio, Jr.' on Friday May 27th at CMLL's show in Tijuana, Mexico(Credit : wrestling observer).
-MMA featherweight Jens Pulver(23-14-1) takes on Brian Davidson(6-3) in a 140 lbs. catchweight bout, Friday May 27th at Titan FC 18 in Kansas City, KS' Memorial Hall & airing live on HDNet.
-Strikeforce Challengers 16 takes place Friday June 24th from Kent, WA's ShoWare Center, featuring lightweights Ryan Couture(2-0) Vs. Matt Ricehouse(4-0, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Featherweight Mike Brown(24-8) faces Nam Phan(16-8) at UFC 133, Saturday August 6th in Philadelphia, PA. UFC On Versus 5 happens 8 days later on Sunday August 14th from Milwaukee, WI's Bradley Center, featuring welterweights Dan Hardy(23-9, 1 NC) Vs. Chris Lytle(30-18-5), Light Heavyweights Stephan Bonnar(13-7) Vs. Karlos Venola(8-1), and featherweights Ben Henderson(13-2) Vs. Jim Miller(20-2, Credit : MMAJunkie).
MEDIA :
-'Wrestling With Faith', a documentary on Ted Dibiase, Sr., is currently in production(Credit : 411mania).
-Edge guest stars on Entertainment One & Big Motion Pictures' 'Haven' on SyFy, Friday July 15th.
-Hulk Hogan will be doing the voice of the 'Dean' character on Adult Swim's new 'The Professor Brothers' cartoon on The Cartoon Network(Credit : 411mania).
-WWE Studios is set to produce a new horror film, 'No One Lives', starring Luke Evans and WWE wrestlers in supporting roles, while John Cena's next WWE film, formerly titled 'Blood Brothers', has been renamed 'Family Reunion(Credit : Variety)'.
-The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, CA broke a Guinness World Record for "largest gathering of people wearing costume masks" on Tuesday May 10th at an Angel Stadium game against the Chicago White Sox & celebrating their 50th anniversary, giving away more than 40,000 Angels-themed lucha libre masks. Prompting the attendance to wear the masks for ten minutes, the official number on the stadium's screen was listed as a world record count of 24,998(Credit : mlb.com).
Friday, May 20, 2011 :
-The Wrestling Roundtable Newsletter has been put on hold indefinitely.
-Wrestling Roundtable Radio returns this Tuesday night at 11pm EST/8pm PST on BlogTalkRadio. We'll be discussing TNA Sacrifice 2011, WWE Over The Limit 2011, some of Ring Of Honor's latest events, and much more, including the unfortunate lead story below. Call 347-857-4647 to share your thoughts & questions.
DEATHS :
-"Macho Man" Randy Savage(Randy Mario Poffo), 58, former WWF/WCW/ICW wrestler and 6-time World Champion, died at 10am today, Friday May 20th, in Seminole, FL's Largo Medical Center after suffering what appears to be a heart attack while driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler, veering across a concrete median on Park Boulevard through oncoming traffic with his foot on the accelerator. His wife, Barbara Lynn Poffo, in the car with him(both wearing seat belts) reached over, steering the vehicle to avoid other drivers by crashing in to a tree. Savage was transferred to the Center while his wife Barbara is being treated at the Bayfront Medical Center for minor injuries(Credit : TMZ, Tampabay.com). The entire Wrestling Roundtable sends our deepest condolences to the Poffo family; wrestling fans(and even non-wrestling fans) the world over mourn this tremendous loss.
RESULTS :
-WWE Tough Enough that aired on Monday May 9th saw both Ivelisse Velez & Eric Watts eliminated.
-New Japan presented 'Life Goes On!' on Samurai! TV from Japan's Shinjuku FACE on Friday May 13th. The New Japan dojo's Takaaki Watanabe made his pro wrestling debut, losing in 7:30 to Hiromu Takahashi's crab hold. NJPW started their first American tour on the same day at Rahway, NJ's Recreation Center. The Strong Style Thugz(Homicide & Low Ki) defeated Jushin "Thunder" Liger & Tiger Mask in 10:41 when Ki pinned Tiger following a Ki Crusher, and Satoshi Kojima pinned Kenny Omega in 9:29 after a lariat(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-NJPW continued their US tour on Saturday May 14th from New York, NY's Basketball City. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt defeated former champion Low Ki in 16:07 via pinfall after a Bloody Sunday, and in the main event, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Charlie Haas in 18:50, pinning Haas after a High Fly Flow(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Saturday May 14th, CWI's Brawl At The Bush II took place in Brantford, ON, Canada's Civic Center. Tag Team Champions The Flatliners successfully defended against The Highlanders, X-Pac defeated Michael Elgin, Tatanka beat Steve Corino, Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner beat Kevin Nash via pinfall after using a belt to hit Nash in the head, Team Beefcake(Brutus Beefcake, Lanny Poffo, Bushwhacker Luke & Haven) beat The Million $Team(Virgil, The Nasty Boys & Big Daddy hammer) in an elimination tag match when Beefcake won via technical submission by Sleeperhold on Jerry Saggs when Hulk Hogan called for the bell(Credit : force of wrestling).
-The final leg of NJPW's US tour concluded at Philadelphia, PA's Asylum Arena on Sunday May 15th, seeing Kenny Omega unseat JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger in 10:42 with a pinfall following a Croyt's Wrath to become the new title holder. IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Dan Maff in 14:39 when Anderson used a Gun Stun on Maff. Lance Hoyt made his New Japan debut as 'Lance Archer' after the match, attacking Kojima. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Apollo 55(Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt) successfully defend their titles against The Strong Style Thugz in 15:18 when Devitt used a Bloody Sunday on Homicide for the pin. Togi Makabe deat Rhino in a Street Fight, stopping Rhino with a King Kong Kneedrop in 15:17. And in the finals of tournament to crown the first IWGP Intercontinental Champion, MVP beat Toru Yano with the TTB in 9:27 to claim the title(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Sun. May 15th, TNA Sacrifice 2011 took place at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL. Chyna made her in-ring TNA debut teaming with Kurt Angle to defeat Jeff & Karen Jarrett, submitting Karen in an ankle lock in 10:19. World Tag Team Champions Beer Money, Inc.(Robert Roode & James Storm) defeated Matt Hardy & Chris Harris(not the Roundtable's Chris Harris) in Harris' in-ring return when Storm pinned Harris in 13:51. And in the main event, TNA World Champion Sting defeated Rob Van Dam in 12:43 via pinfall following a Scorpion Death Drop(Credit : 411mania).
-More on Sun. May 15th, Pro Wrestling NOAH & Westside Xtreme Wrestling presented 'Genesis In Germany' from the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, which saw WXW Unified World Wrestling Champion Big Van Walter defend successfully against Shuhei Taniguchi in 11:52 with powerbomb, Go Shiozaki defeat Bad Bones in 22:02 with a Go Flasher, KENTA down Chris Hero with a Go To Sleep in 22:20, and GHC Heavyweight Champion Takashi Sugiura defend his title against Claudio Castagnoli, beating Castagnoli in 21:42 with an Olympic Slam(Credit : wwf4ever).
-Lastly on May 15th, The Dark City Fight Club regained the NWA World Tag Team Championship at NWA Rampage's show in Warner Robbins, GA, defeating title holders The Usual Suspects to become 2-time Champions(Credit : 411mania).
-At TNA's Impact Wrestling tapings from Orlando, FL's Impact Wrestling Zone on Monday May 16th that aired last night on Spike TV, Abyss defeated X Champion Kazarian in 5:05 via pinfall following the Black Hole Slam for the title. Eric Bischoff made his in-ring TNA debut, teaming with Matt Hardy to defeat Generation Me via pinfall in 6:07 following a kick. ODB returned to the promotion, attacking Velvet Sky.
-The following night's tapings, Tuesday May 17th in the same venue, Eric Young defeated TV Champion Gunner for the belt, making Young a 2-time Champion. Desmond Wolfe returned in an on-air role as 'Commissioner of TNA Xplosion', along with starting a tournament to crown the first ever Xplosion Champion(the title holder will be able to challenge any TNA champion on Impact). Disco Inferno returned to the promotion as a guest on Mr. Anderson(as Sting)'s Scorpion Sitdown talk show, being beat up.
SHAKE UPS :
-WWE is now requiring all contracted wrestlers to personally purchase & maintain their own medical insurance themselves. Though they are able to write off the cost as a business expense as an independent contractor, they also will be fined or sat out if they do not get the coverage(Credit : pwinsider).
-NBC's Sports Group President Dick Ebersol, instrumental in the creation of WWF Saturday Night's Main Event & the XFL, has resigned, leaving NBC Universal due to a contract dispute with Comcast.
-TNA's head of Talent Relations, Terry Taylor, will resign from the promotion after Tuesday May 31st, with Bruce Prichard taking his place(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Nevada State Athletic Commission has ruled that starting at UFC 130 on Saturday May 28th, judges will have 7-inch monitors for their use(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE has signed James Maritato(Little Guido/Nunzio) as a referee.
HEALTH :
-UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones(13-1) has opted not to have surgery on his injured right hand and is targeting a fall return to the Octagon(Credit : MMAFighting).
LEGAL :
-MMA lightweight Hermes Franca(21-11) has turned himself in to authorities at the Clackamas County Jail on charges of sexually abusing a female minor at a Oregon jiu-jitsu academy. Bail being set at $250,000, France plead not guilty to seven counts of sex abuse in the first degree & two counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree on Tuesday May 17th. A release hearing was set for today, with a Tuesday July 12th date set for the trial and France was released from his Maximum Fighting Championship contract; France was scheduled to face Drew Ficket(41-13) Friday June 10th at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's Mayfield Inn Trade & Conference Centre in MFC 30: Up Close & Personal(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-MMA heavyweight Ricco Rodriguez(46-11) was arrested Sunday May 15th for assault & resisting arrest in Ahwatukee, AZ after a scuffle with a taxi driver & police wherein Rodriguez allegedly refused to pay the $70 tab for the ride to South Phoenix's 'Garage' bar, threw the driver to the ground and resisted arrest(Credit : MMAJunkie). Rodriguez last fought at BAMMA 5 in Manchester, England's MEN Arena, losing to James McSweeney(4-8) via unanimous decision(Credit : Sherdog, MMAJunkie).
-The California SAC initially upheld it's decision to indefinitely suspend UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen(25-11-1)'s license by a 4-1 vote, but today reversed their decision, meaning Sonnen is suspended until his CA license expires on Wednesday June 29th but he is free to reapply afterward(Credit : MMAJunkie).
BUSINESS :
-Titan Fighting Championship has signed a 3-year contract extension with HDNet to air live events on the network, with Bellator FC executive director of operations & Titan FC owner Joe Kelly resigning from his BFC position to concentrate on TFC(Credit : Sherdog).
-Wrestlelicious has signed a deal with Union Square Agency to oversee production of a new series in 2011 on a Viacom-owned cable network.
INTERNATIONAL :
-New Japan's Shinsuke Nakamura returns to tour Mexico's EMLL on Saturday, May 28th at Arena Mexico. NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling's Ayumi Kurihara tours EMLL starting Monday June 6th(Credit : Lucha World).
UPCOMING :
-A former ROH World Tag Team Champion returns tomorrow at Ring Of Honor's Supercard Of Honor VI in Chicago Ridge, IL's Frontier Fieldhouse.
-DREAM 17: Fight For Japan takes place at Japan's Saitama Super Arena on Sunday May 29th. In addition to four first round fights & semifinals in the Japan bantamweight grand prix tournament, Lightweight Shinya Aoki(27-5, 1 NC), originally scheduled to face Antonio McKee(25-4-2), takes on Rich Clementi(40-19-1) after refusing to sign a contract to fight Shane Nelson(13-5, who was awarded a two-fight deal afterwards and will likely debut at DREAM 18). Elsewhere, featherweights abound as Caol Uno(27-14-5) fights Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura(11-6-1), Mitsuhiro Ishida(20-6-1) takes on Joachim Hansen(21-10-1), and Koichiro Matsumoto(12-2) goes against Takeshi Inoue(19-5, Credit : MMAJunkie, Sherdog).
-AAA's Triplemania XIX takes place June 18th at Mexico City, MX's Palacio De Los Deportes. Mickie James, Velvet Sky, Angelina Love & Sexy Sky team to face Lolita, Cinthia Moreno, Fabi Apache & Mari Apache, TNA X Champion Abyss & Mr. Anderson challenge AAA World Tag Team Champions Jack Evans & Extreme Tiger, Dr. Wagner Jr. takes on Rob Van Dam to determine the first Latin American Champion, and AAA Heavyweight Champion El Zorro defends against Jeff Jarrett(Credit : Lucha World, wrestling news world).
-New Japan presents the 'DOMINION 6.18' WPW PPV on Saturday June 18th from Japan's Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki face Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against Hirooki Goto, IWGP IC Champion MVP makes his first defense of the title against Toru Yano, and IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions take on NOAH's GHC Tag Team Champions Takuma Sano & Yoshihiro Takayama in a first ever title-for-title match(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Light Heavyweights Vladimir Matyushenko(26-5) faces Alexander Gustafsson(11-1) on Saturday August 6th at UFC 133 in Philadelphia, PA(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira(32-6-1, 1 NC) has claimed he will return to the cage at UFC's return to Brazil, Saturday August 27th from Rio De Janeiro's HSBC Arena(Credit : 411mania).
MEDIA :
-Paul Heyman is helping UFC produce segments with heavyweight Shane Carwin(12-1) on the upcoming Countdown series promoting his fight with Junior Dos Santos(12-1) at UFC 131 on Saturday June 11th(Credit : 411mania).
-The Mexican national post service held a ceremony on Thursday May 12th to unveil three Mil Mascaras stamps(Credit : Lucha World).
-Steve Austin's new film 'Recoil' has finished filming, while Tough Enough premieres in Canada this Tuesday May 23rd on The Fight Network(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Rock has signed on to star in 'The Snitch'(Credit : pwinsider).
-WWE Studios' 'That's What I Am' starring Randy Orton was released on DVD, Blu-Ray & Netflix this past Tuesday May 17th(Credit : 411mania).
-'The Elaborate Entrance Of Chad Deity', Kristoffer Diaz' wrestling play, won the 2011 OBIE Award for Best New American Play(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Memphis Heat', a documentary on Memphis wrestling, debuts in Nashville theaters Friday June 17th(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Card Subject To Change: Wrestling's Underground', a documentary on New Jersey's NWS, get released on DVD Tuesday July 12(Credit : pwinsider).
-CMLL's Shocker opened his own restaurant, 'Che Cuapo', in Mexico City, MX on Wednesday May 11th(Credit : Lucha World).
-TNA's new mobile game was released yesterday, Thursday May 19th(Credit : 411mania).
Saturday, June 4, 2011 :
The Wrestling Roundtable tapes two new shows tomorrow, Sunday June 5th, featuring the topics of Edge's Career, Remember "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Randy Couture's Career & UFC : The SEG Years. I apologize for the delay in the posting of the last show and we hope to resolve our audio issues as well. Roundtable Radio will go on a short hiatus in the meantime, returning in a couple weeks, and more updates to WrestlingRoundtable.com are on the way.
DEATHS :
-Betty George, 98, the first wife of Gorgeous George who accepted his WWE Hall Of Fame plaque last year for his induction, died Friday June 3rd in Gearhart, OR(Credit : wwe.com)
RESULTS :
-BAMMA 6 took place from London, England's Wembley Arena on Saturday May 21st. Middleweight Frank Trigg(21-8) defeated John Philips(13-4, 1 NC) via TKO(doctor's stoppage) after 2:41 of round 1, but following his unanimous decision loss to Tom Watson(14-4) in the main event, fellow middleweight Murilo "Ninja" Rua(20-12-1) retired from MMA(Credit : SBNation).
-WWE Over The Limit 2011 took place Sunday May 22nd from Seattle, WA's KeyArena. World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton successfully defended his title against Christian, pinning him after an RKO in 16:52. All other champions also kept their belts; Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show defeated Nexus' CM Punk & Mason Ryan in 9:06 by pinfall following a High Times, Divas Champion Brie Bella beat Kelly Kelly in 3:46 via pinfall after Bella Buster, Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett lost to Ezekiel Jackson in 7:30 via disqualification after The Corre interfered, and John Cena made The Miz give up to an STF in 24:44 of their main event "I Quit" title match. Elsewhere, Sin Cara made his pay-per-view debut, beating Chavo Guerrero in 7:23 via pinfall, and Jerry "The King" Lawler defeated Michael Cole in a "Kiss My Foot" match by pinfall in 2:58 after a fist drop. After the match, Eve Torres, Jim Ross & Bret "The Hitman" Hart came out after the match to beat up Cole and make him take the stipulation(Credit :411mania).
-On WWE Monday Night RAW, May 23rd from Portland, OR's Rose Garden, WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show lost the titles to the New Nexus' David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty. Also, The Miz 'fired' Alex Riley, and Riley turned face by brawling with Miz.
-UFC 130 emanated from Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena this past Saturday May 28th. Middleweight Brian Stann(11-3) defeated Jorge Santiago(23-9) 4:29 in to round 2 via TKO(punches). Welterweight Thiago Alves(18-8) lost to Rick Story(13-3) via unanimous decision. In the heavyweight division, Travis Browne(11-0-1) scored a 4:11 1st round victory over Stefan Struve(21-5) with a superman punch KO, and Frank Mir(15-5), despite a knee ligament injury causing him to miss two weeks of his 12-week camp prior to the fight, won every round of his fight against Roy Nelson(15-6) to get the unanimous decision nod, with both fighters contracting illnesses 6 days prior(Mir getting Bronchitis that prevented training during the week, and Nelson had walking pneumonia before, during & after the fight). And in the main event, light heavyweight Quinton "Rampage" Jackson(32-8) entered the cage with a fractured hand(hurt in training 8 weeks prior) but still managed to best Matt Hamill(10-3), also a unanimous decision clean sweep. Jackson is required to get an X-ray of his left hand and could be medically suspended until November 25th by the Nevada State Athletic Commission if hurt, though Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones(13-1) has said there is a verbal agreement in place for him to defend against "Rampage" later this year(Credit : MMAJunkie, MMAMania, ESPN).
-On WWE Tough Enough this past Monday May 30th, Jeremiah Riggs was eliminated. A.J. Kirsch & Christiana Crawford were both eliminated the previous week, while Martin Casaus was forced out of the competition the week before that due to a fractured foot suffered during a training session.
-Also this past Monday on WWE RAW from Omaha, NE's Qwest Center, Alex Riley was 're-signed' by the GM, and Kharma announced she was taking off a year from wrestling to give birth, as she is pregnant.
-On WWE NXT this past Tuesday from Des Moines, IA's Wells Fargo Arena, Bryron Saxton was eliminated(Jacob Novak was eliminated on Tuesday May 17th from Corpus Christi, TX's American Bank Center). On the Smackdown taping afterward that aired last night, Christian refereed World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton's successful title defense against Sheamus, seeing Orton pin Sheamus in 14:00 after a pinfall. After the match, Christian turned heel, attacking Orton with the belt & walking away with it(Credit : 411mania).
-Representing Atos, Strikeforce Women's Middleweight Champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos won Gold yesterday, June 3rd, in the Purple Belt Heavy Female division of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation's World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2011 in Long Beach, CA's California State University. George Lucas' daughter Amanda placed second in the division, representing Trinity BJJ(Credit : IBJJF).
-Also yesterday, the Urban Wrestling Federation taped their first three PPVs at New York City, NY's Hammerstein Ballroom, Rasche Brown became the first UWF Champion, defeating Ricky Reyes, Beastia 666 & Homicide in a four way elimination match when he pinned Reyes following a spear(Credit : pwinsider).
SHAKE UPS :
-The New York State Senate voted 42-18 on Bill S1707A(MMA Regulation) on, now heading towards the New YorK State Assembly for approval(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE has shown interest in CMLL luchador Averno, who will likely lose a mask match to La Mascara at 'Juicio Final', June 17 from Arena Mexico. EMLL has also stripped Shocker of the NWA Historic Light Heavyweight title due to inactivity; a tournament to crown a new champion is forthcoming(Credit : Lucha World).
-UFC lightweight Kurt Pellegrino(16-6) has announced a hiatus from active competition, opting not to re-sign with Zuffa.
-2011 NCAA Division 1 national wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins has signed with the American Top Team to train in MMA(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Former WWE Diva Tiffany has separated from husband Drew McIntyre.
-DGUSA has signed the Dirty Ugly Fucks(Arik Canon & Sami Callihan).
HEALTH :
-NWS Cruiserweight Champion Spyral suffered a severe neck injury early in the week during training & was hospitalized(Credit : Gerweck.net).
-UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar(5-2) underwent surgery at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic on Friday May 27th to remove a 12-inch section of his colon, with hopes of being back in action by January.
-UFC lightweight Gray Maynard(10-0-1, 1 NC) recently had a knee arthroscopy but expects to be back soon.
-UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo(19-1) will be doing three weeks of 5-times-a-week physical therapy, then two weeks of 3-times-a-week physical therapy, then one week of two rehab sessions on his medical suspension from April 30's UFC 129 fight to heal his recent neck injury of a compacted vertebrae(Credit : Bloody Elbow).
-WWE Diva Layla El underwent surgery on her ACL & MCL on Thursday May 26th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Chuck Taylor suffered a groin injury in a victorious match against Kenny King on Friday May 27th at PWG's 'All Star Weekend Night 1' at Reseda, CA's American Legion Post #308, using a handful of tights to defeat King by pinfall. Though he sat out the following night's Night 2 in the same building, he is not expected to miss any more time(Credit : socaluncensored).
LEGAL :
-The state of Connecticut has ruled that WWE owes $7,316 in underpaid unemployment compensation for several WWE employees, which WWE is paying "under protest"(Credit : AP).
-An order for Ric Flair's arrest was issued in Mecklenburg County, NC on Thursday May 26th after being found in 'willful civil contempt of the court' during a hearing for not following a mediated Settlement Agreement from the Highspots lawsuit against him. Unless he cancels the order by paying $35,000 to Highspots and returning 300 photos, he will be imprisoned starting Monday June 27th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Jeff Hardy's drug case was delayed AGAIN until Monday June 27th after Moore County Sentencing Services program administrator Becky Carlson missed her Wednesday June 1st deadline to finish Hardy's 'drug assessment' evaluation(Credit : wrestlinginc).
BUSINESS :
-WWE has appointed Rukn Kizilbash as WWE India's General Manager and opened a new Mumbai, India office today(Wednesday, June 1st). WWE also signed with UK-based Web TVB to handle their video content, while they've also elected current President & CEO of social media monitoring & analysis company Crimson Hexagon, Patricia A. Gottesman, to their Board Of Directors(Credit : pwinsider).
-The UWF has signed a production deal with JSR Merchandising to create products featuring UWF imagery, including shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats & more(Credit : pwinsider).
-Orlando Jordan & Like Hawx have opened the Wildkat Sports & Entertainment Training Dojo in Louisiana(Credit : 411mania).
INTERNATIONAL :
-Ultimo Guerrero has been added to EMLL's booking team(Credit : Super Luchas).
-Rich Swann will be touring Japan for Dragon Gate, with Ricochet doing the same soon.
UPCOMING :
-Bellator FC will be holding a featherweight tournament during their "Summer Series" event from June through August, starting with Bellator 46, June 25th live on MTV2 from CT's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-DREAM.17, Saturday July 16th at Tokyo, Japan's Ariake Coliseum, will see Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi(30-3-2) defend against Hiroshi Izumi(4-1), and Featherweight Champion Hiroyuki Takaya(15-9-1) face Kazuyuki Miyata(11-7). The finals of the bantamweight grand prix also conclude that night.
-Johnny Saint returns to CHIKARA on July 30th in Reading, PA's Goodwill Beneficial Assoc. Hall at their "CHIKARASAURUS - REX : King Of Sequel' show also featuring Ice Ribbon's Makoto & Tsukasa Fujimoto from Japan, while Johnny Kidd debuts the same night.
-UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre(22-2) defends against Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7,1 NC) on Saturday October 29th at UFC 137 from Las Vegas, NV's Mandalay Bay Events Center. The bout falls under a new 8-fight deal Zuffa signed Diaz to which also bans him from boxing professionally and only the UFC Welterweight title is likely on the line(Credit : USA Today).
-UFC middleweights Michael Bisping(2103) and Jason "Mayhem" Miller(24-7-0, 1 NC) will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter, culminating in a bout at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, Saturday December 3rd from 'The Pearl' at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV. Plans are still in place to eventually do an international world grand prix tournament edition of TUF, with an inaugural international edition emanating from The Philippines(Credit : Five Knuckles).
MEDIA :
-Joanie "Chyna" Laurer stars in 'White T', to see limited theatrical release August 1st, and in "Back Door To Chyna", a new pornographic film shot in November for Vivid Entertainment. Though she initially denied even filming the first of three porn movies, the gig has led to TNA not asking her back to the promotion(Credit : TMZ).
-Stone Cold Steve Austin stars in 'Tactical Force', being released on Blu-Ray & DVD on Tuesday August 9th(Credit : wwe dvd news).
-'Hulk Hogan's Main Event', a new wrestling game from Majesco Entertainment, will be released for the XBOX 360 Kinect on October 3. Hogan will also be the grand Marshall at tonight's 16th Annual Powell Memorial race in Ocala, FL's Bubba Raceway Park(Credit : Games Radar)
-Discontinuing the "Smackdown Vs. RAW" series, THQ will be producing a new series of WWE video games to take it's place, 'WWE 12'(2012)', with a new sequential name matching the year of it's release henceforth(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Chris Jericho will write a new book for Penguin Publishing in 2013.
-Mickie James will be singing at the CMA Festival in Nashville, TN, Tuesday June 7-Friday June 11(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Nasty Boys competed in a food challenge on The Travel Channel's 'Man V Food Nation' this past Wednesday June 1st.
-Stacy Keibler will be a "Man-bassador" on Spike TV's Guys Choice Special, Friday June 10th(Credit : pwinsider).
Thursday, June 9, 2011 :
DEATHS :
-Adrian Steel(Robert Dale Phipps), 39, an Arkansas indy wrestler, died on Monday June 6th after having a heart attack backstage while waiting for his match at the Mid States Wrestling Association's show in the Northwest Arkansas District Fairgrounds on Saturday June 4th. After collapsing, Phipps was taken by medical helicopter en route to a Springfield, MO hospital. Suffering another seizure in the air which necessitated an emergency landing in Branson, MO's Skaggs Hospital, Phipps died on Monday(Credit : USA Today).
RESULTS :
-On TNA's Impact Wrestling that aired this past Thursday night taped from the Impact Zone in Orlando, FL, Eric Bischoff read legal papers that said Mick Foley was fired as 'head of the network', a storyline explanation for Foley's actual separation from the promotion as he sits out his contract, which runs through September(Credit : pwinsider).
-New Japan's show on Saturday June 4th in Japan's Kyoto KBS Hall was stopped a little earlier than planned when Manabu Nakanishi was injured during the main event; during a 6-man tag where he teamed with Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma against Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Wataru Inoue & Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, Wataru hit Nakanishi with a German suplex, after which Nakanishi suffered numbness & temporary paralysis due to an injured spinal cord. The referee stopped the bout at the 11:41 mark and Nakanishi was stretchered out in a neck brace, regaining feeling in his body afterwards. He is expected to recover(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Saturday, UFC presented The Ultimate Fighter Finale 13 from The Pearl at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Lightweight Clay Guida(29-11) ousted the last WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis(13-2) by unanimous decision, scoring every round in in Pettis' UFC debut. In the main event, welterweight Tony Feruson(11-2) became TUF Season 13 winner by knocking out Ramsey Nijem(4-2), 3:54 in to round one with punches.
-On WWE's Tough Enough finale, live this past Monday June 6th from the Richmond Coliseum in Virginia, Stone Cold Steve Austin announced Andy Leavine as the winner...before Stunning him. Leavine will start wrestling in FCW soon. Also, TE trainer Booker T has replaced Matt Striker as the 'Superstars' announcer(Credit : 411mania, wrestling observer).
SHAKE UPS :
-All Japan wrestler Super Hate(Nobukazu Hirai) suffered what is believed to be an acute subdurmal hematoma(brain bleeding) during a 'Whip Ass Lumberjack' match with Kenso(Kenzo Suzuki) at AJPW's 'Rise Up Tour 2011' event in Kobe, Japan's Sanbo Hall on Sunday May 29th. Vomiting & passing out after being helped to the back following the 6:30 long match Kenso won, Hirai was rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery. Hirai had been assaulted earlier in the day by TARU backstage(in response to Hirari's alleged drinking problem & 'lazy' ring work) but also was likely suffering from a concussion after being hospitalized a week earlier after being hit with a chair shot to the head. Though AJPW suspended TARU for three days and disbanded the VooDoo Murderers faction(made up of Hirai, Minoru, MAZADA & Masayuki Kono) in response to Hirai's teammates standing by during the assault & not helping(only referee Kyohei Wada intervened), Keiji Mutoh(The Great Muta) has stepped down as AJPW President in the wake of the scandal, being replaced by director Masayuki Uchida(Credit : Cageside Seats, Tokyo Sports).
-The New York State Assembly's Tourism, Parks, Arts & Sports Development committee voted to pass Bill A04146A(to regulate MMA in the state) 16-3 on Monday June 5th. The bill must now pass the assembly's Codes Committee starting next week, then the Ways & Means Committee, then the Rules Committee, THEN it goes to the assembly floor(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Gina Carano(7-1) has withdrawn from her scheduled MMA return against Sarah D'Alello(4-1) on Strikeforce's Saturday June 17th event in Dallas, TX's American Airlines Center due to her medical clearance being revoked when her doctor advised her not to fight. No timetable on rescheduling her return has been set, but Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated the heavyweight world grand prix tournament is now targeted to conclude in early 2012, with Zuffa installing a new rule in case of a draw; a fourth sudden death round(Credit : MMAJunkie, MMA Fighting).
HEALTH :
-Lanny Poffo, brother of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, claims Savage died from ventricular fibrillation, an abnormal heart arrhythmia(Credit : pwinsider).
-EMLL referee Rafael El Maya was rushed to a hospital after suffering a heart attack on Saturday afternoon June 4th, and had successful cardiac catheterization surgery on Monday June 6th(Credit : Lucha World).
BUSINESS :
-UFC is teaming with Microsoft to create 'UFC Live' for the Xbox 360, live broadcasts of their pay-per-view events with live interactive features during steaming, including you providing your own commentary and training videos & stats(Credit : destructoid).
-Batista is partnering with Cesar Gracie to open up a Gracie Fighter Jiu Jitsu dojo in Tampa, FL next week(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Masked Republic & JSR Merchandising to make officially licensed merchandise of luchadors Konnan, Rey Mysterio, Solar, Hijo De Rey Mysterio, Rayo De Jalisco, Jr. & more, to be unveiled at the San Diego Comic Con Thursday July 21.
UPCOMING :
-The finals of New Japan's 'Best Of the Super Jr.s' tournament take place this Friday at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall. Two semi-finals happen first though, as DDT's Kota Ibushi faces Davey Richards, and IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt takes on his Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship partner, Ryusuke Taguchi(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-The Vancouver Athletic Commission will utilize the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport(CCES) to administer the drug testing for this Saturday, June 11th's UFC 131 in British Columbia, Canada's Rogers Arena(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Also this Saturday will be Tommy Dreamer's last TNA event under his current deal, at their 'BaseBrawl' house show in Memphis, TN's AutoZone Park, which in addition sees World Heavyweight Champion Sting's TNA house show debut against Mr. Anderson.
-MVP makes his Mexican debut at Perros Del Mal's show during the Lucha Libre Festival on Saturday July 23rd, teaming Shelton Benjamin & Marco Corleone against Damian 666, Halloween & Perro Aguayo, Jr(Credit : Lucha World).
-Great North Wrestling presents the "Macho Man Randy Savage Memorial Show" at Hawkesbury, ON, Canada's Robert Hartley Arena featuring "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal and main eventide by "The Genius" Lanny Poffo Vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valetine(Credit : pwinsider).
MEDIA :
-The Bella Twins & Kelly Kelly appear on CBS' 'The Price Is Right' hosted by WWE Hall Of Famer Drew Carey the week of Monday June 13th, the same day Edge guest stars on SyFy's 'Sanctuary'(Credit : pwinsider).
-Hulk Hogan is planning a 90-minute stage show featuring a Q & A, 'In Conversation : Outside The Ring With Hulk Hogan' produced by The Agency Group, set to tour starting in the fall(Credit : New York Times).
-'Green Lantern: Emerald Knights' starring Roddy Piper came out on DVD this past Tuesday, June 4th(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Brodus Clay has been cast in WWE Studio's co-production with Pathe U.K., 'No One Lives', scheduled to begin shooting next week in New Orleans(Credit : Variety).
-Bill DeMott's autobiography, 'The Last Laugh', has been released by Crowbar Press.
-WWE release 'Rey Mysterio : The Life Of A Masked Man' on Tuesday July 12(Credit : wrestlesite).
-IWGP Intercontinental Champion MVP has released a hip hop song, 'Holla To The World' featuring Dwane Sweazie on Soundcloud(Credit : 411mania).
-'Wrestling's Lost Treasures', an iPPV featuring matches from IWA Mid-South & other indies, is now available on GoFightLive.
Friday, June 17, 2011 :
DEATHS :
-MMA fighter Segio "Suave" Salcio Luna(4-5, age 25) and co-worker/friend Kevin Joel Romero(age 28) were killed on their way to work at 2:40am on Monday April 4th at the San Ysidro border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, as they sat in a pickup waiting to enter the U.S. for the West Coast Beverage Maintance company, which services & cleans draft beer equipment for bars & restaurants. The two were apparently targeted by an assailant who approached from behind on foot between the lines of vehicles to shoot the two in the head, chest & arms with a 9mm weapon before fleeing. Attorney General Rommel Moreno Manjarrez said detectives were investigating the possibility the incident was drug related as one of the victims had a "small packet of drugs among his belongings"(Credit : San Diego Union Tribune, MMAJunkie).
RESULTS :
-ROH presented 'Honor Takes Center Stage: Chapters 1 & 2' at Atlanta, GA's Center Stage theater on Friday April 1st & Saturday April 2nd, both of which aired live on GoFightLive iPPV. On the first night, Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Kurihara made their ROH debuts, defeating Sara Del Rey & Serena Deeb in 10:00 via pinfall after Matsumoto hit Deeb with a Back Drop Driver. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team(Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas) won the ROH World Tag Team titles from The Kings Of Wrestling(Claudio Castagnoli & Chris Hero) when Claudio tapped out to the Haas Of Pain in 22:58, and in the main event, World Champion Eddie Edwards' first defense was successful as he beat TV Champion Christopher Daniels by pinfall following a 2K1 Bomb in 30:09(The TV title was not on the line). The next night in 'Chapter 2', Daniels turned heel on El Generico to join The House Of Truth in a brawl after Generico's pinfall victory over Roderick Strong following a brainbuster in 16:12. The Briscoes also turned heel after their bloody grudge match against The All Night Express(Rhett Titus & Kenny King). Defeating ANX by pinfall after a Jay Driller on King, Jay Briscoe cut a heel promo on the crowd. Also on the second night, Dave Taylor - representing The Embassy - debuted in a losing effort to Colt Cabana when he lost by pinfall to a roll up in 6:34. Also making her ROH debut was SHIMMER Tag Team Champion Tomoka Nakagawa, teaming with her Championship partner Daizee Haze in a victory against Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ayumi Kurihara. The Champions retained in 7:32 via pinfall when Haze pinned Matsumoto with a Tiger Suplex. And in the main event, WGTT made their first defense of the Tag titles against former Champions, The American Wolves(World Champion Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards), defeating the Wolves with a pinfall in 31:58 after Benjamin hit a Paydirt on Richards. Dissension between the Wolves was teased after the match(Credit : 411mania).
-Bellator 39 took place on Sat. April 2nd in Uncasville, CT's Mohegan Sun. Airing on MTV2, Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez(22-2) defeated Pat Curran(13-4) in the main event by unanimous decision. A week later on Sat. April 9th, MTV2 aired Bellator 40 from the First Council Casino in Newkirk, OK. Welterweight Champion Ben Askren(8-0) defeated Nick Thompson(38-14-1) in the main event non-title match also via unanimous decision. Thompson announced his retirement this week following the fight.
-GoFightLive aired ACPW's Sunday April 3rd event at the MMA Sports Expo in Oaks, PA's Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, featuring former MMA fighter Shonie Carter(49-26-7)'s pro wrestling debut in an 'Exhibition' gauntlet match, wherein he tapped out Chris Burns with an Americana, then Fredo Mejors with an ankle lock, but Carter ended the exhibition gauntlet by shaking hands with Grey Wolfe after Wolfe powerslammed & dropkicked Carter.
-WWE's WrestleMania 27 took place Sunday April 3rd from Atlanta, GA's Georgia Dome, opening with World Heavyweight Champion Edge defending his title against Alberto Del Rio, pinning Del Rio in 11:00 following a Spear. In their first WrestleMania match, Jerry Lawler's initial 14:00 victory over Michael Cole via submission to an Ankle Lock was reversed by RAW's Mystery GM to a disqualification win for Cole. Also winning by submission, The Undertaker defeated Triple H in a No Holds Barred match with a Hell's Gate in 30:00, upping his WrestleMania record to 19-0. Undertaker & Triple H were fined an undisclosed amount due to the chairshot HHH gave Undertaker during the match, according to WWE's corporate website. Making her wrestling debut, Snooki teamed with John Morrison & Trish Stratus to defeat Dolph Ziggler & LayCool when Snooki pinned Michelle McCool with a splash in 4:00. Stratus has since stated that Morrison was uncooperative in planning out the match and snubbed her during the post-match celebration. In the main event, WWE Champion The Miz suffered a concussion in a spot where challenger John Cena tackled him - after Cena jumped over the barricade outside the ring, Miz hit his head on the floor. After initially going to a double countout at the 15:00 mark, host The Rock restarted the match, Rock Bottoming Cena and allowing Miz to pin Cena to retain the title 1:00 in the restart(Credit : 411mania, wrestling observer).
-On WWE Monday Night RAW the next night(Monday April 4, the same night the last ROH On HDNet aired on the station) from Atlanta, GA's Philips Arena, Sin Cara debuted on TV, attacking US Champion Sheamus after a successful defense against Daniel Bryan, defeating Bryan by pinfall in 3:59 following a Brogue Kick(their previous day's match was cut from the broadcast of WrestleMania and ended up being turned in to a battle royal on the pre-show). Later in the show, John Cena challenged The Rock to a match, which The Rock accepted....for WrestleMania 28 next year in Miami. Immediately following RAW, the season premiere of Tough Enough aired, seeing Ariane Andrews eliminated, though she claimed on Twitter afterwards that she signed a WWE developmental contract(Credit : 411mania).
-Strikeforce : Diaz Vs. Daley took place this past Saturday April 9th from San Diego, CA's Valley View Casino Center. Airing on Showtime, the first SF event under new Zuffa ownership saw DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki(27-5, 1 NC) return to the US, defeating Lyle Beerbohm(16-2) via submission to a rear naked choke with a neck crank in 1:33 of the first round. Originally scheduled to face Mike Kyle(18-8-1, 1 NC), who pulled out of the event on Thursday March 31st due to a broken hand suffered in training, DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi(30-3-2) also returned the US(both DREAM titles were not defended), going to a majority draw with replacement Keith Jardine(17-9-2). SF CEO Scott Coker says a rematch is likely. Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez(19-2) beat Tatsuya Kawajiri(27-7-2) 3:14 in to round 1 via TKO(strikes), and in the main event, Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7, 1 NC) also Paul Daley(27-10-2) via a 1st round TKO from strikes in 4:57. Security & media passes were handled by the UFC, which banned several reporters from Strikeforce events they previously covered, just as they are banned from UFC cards(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-What didn't take place this past Sat. was Amanda "Powerhouse" Lucas(1-1)' return to MMA. The daughter of George Lucas was scheduled to face Heather Martin(1-1) at Freestyle Cage Fighting 46 in Shawnee, OK's FireLake Grand Casino, but withdrew from the fight when Martin - who weighed in at 176 lbs. - failed to make the contracted 165 lbs. weight(Credit : MMAFighting, Sherdog, mixedmartialarts.com).
SHAKE UPS :
-WWE has officially changed their name from "World Wrestling Entertainment" to merely "WWE" as part of a "new business model of...a global entertainment company". WWE says the two key components of their 'brand expansion' will "the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies" and "the outsourcing of WWE's core competencies - TV & film production, live event production & licensing". They also claim signing Sin Cara was part of their new initiative with a new talent development department that greater emphasizes worldwide recruitment headed by Triple H. And most importantly, the words "wrestling", "belt", "athlete", "fight" and others will no longer be used in any way, shape or form by the company(Credit : pwinsider).
-WWE agent Fit Finlay was fired from the company stemming from an angle he scripted involving WWE Champion The Miz at the RAW house show Finlay produced in Champaign, IL's Assembly Hall on Friday March 25th where the champion interrupted the playing of the US National Anthem with National Guard representatives in attendance(Credit : WrestlingNewsWorld).
-EMLL & Japanese joshi promotion REINA announced on Thursday April 7th a working agreement starting in May(Credit : Lucha World).
-The last edition of WWE Superstars to air on WGN was broadcast this past Thursday April 7th. The series will continue taping at WWE live events, however, for international & YouTube broadcasts(Credit : pwinsider).
-In late March, UFC welterweight Jon Fitch(23-3-1, 1 NC) pulled out of his scheduled rematch with BJ Penn(16-7-2) at UFC 132 in Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery, meaning Ftich will be out of action for up to six months. He will be having work done on his labrum and a torn rotator cuff muscle. Rather than face a replacement, Penn will instead fight "at a later date". In the main event of 132 though, Urijah Faber(25-4) challenges Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz(17-1, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva(14-2, 1 NC), after admitting he used urine adulterant in his post-fight drug screening for UFC 125(Sat. Jan. 1st in Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena) after fighting Brandon Vera(11-5-1). In addition to his unanimous decision victory from that night being overruled in to a No Contest, Silva was fined $33,750 & had his license revoked for 12 months by the Neveda State Athletic Commission. Silva said the reason his invalid result was "inconsistent with human urine" was due to him using a product to hide the presence of prohibited substances contained in injections he received in his back & spine for an injury he reaggravated 45 days before the fight. NSAC Executive Director keith Kizer has talked about implementing changes in how they drug test fighters(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-After a unanimous decision loss to Mike Pyle(21-7-1) at UFC 128, Sat. March 19th in Newark, NJ's Prudential Center, welterweight Ricardo Almedia(13-5) retired from the sport to become an MMA judge for New Jersey events(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-DGUSA's Jon Moxley was released from his contract with the promotion to sign a WWE developmental deal on Monday April 4th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Ring Of Honor has re-signed Rhett Titus, referee Todd Sinclair & ring announcer Bobby Cruise. They also signed Michael Elgin.
HEALTH :
-Scott Hall was hospitalized on Friday April 8th after an appearance at Top Rope Promotions' 30th Anniversary show in Fall River, MA's PAL Hall due to extremely low blood pressure after he appeared belligerent and slow on the show(he had already been hospitalized once last week for the same issue). He is now home in Orlando, FL, 'doing fine' according to his publicist, who also claims Hall's condition on the show was due to 10 different medications he takes for "various ailments" interacting poorly with each other(Credit : pwtorch, TMZ).
-EMLL's Cholo ruptured a tendon in his left knee Friday April 1st in Arena Mexico in a tag match with El Bronco Vs. Horus & Robin. He will be out of action for at least 6 months(Credit : Lucha World).
-AAA announcer Arturo Rivera had surgery on Thursday March 31st to relieve a strong infection in one of his lungs due to complications caused by pneumonia(Credit : Lucha World).
LEGAL :
-Retired UFC light heavyweight Chuck Liddell was accused by his ex-wife Lori Geyer of kidnapping their son Cade & using illegal drugs. Geyer filed documents on Sunday March 27th alleging Liddell's drug & alcohol use have clouded his judgment, leading to Liddell intimidating her with staring & pacing, while Liddell filed in California for full custody on Friday April 1st, though a judge ordered the case to be heard in Parker, CO, where Liddell claims Cade was being abused by his mother. The case will be heard tomorrow, Tuesday April 17th(Credit : TMZ).
-Kurt Angle pled guilty to a reckless drunk driving charge stemming from the Fri. March 25th incident in Grand Forks, ND where he was found on the meridian in his vehicle, then failed a sobriety test and changed his story many times. Angle has to pay $475, serve unsupervised probation for a year & have a chemical dependency evaluation. The deal is pending approval(Credit : pwinsider).
BUSINESS :
-UFC & Bud Light signed a multi-year extension of their partnership, including one special promotional annual event starting with Sat. September 17th's UFC Fight Night 25 : Battle On The Bayou, airing on Spike TV from New Orleans, LA's Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Bud Light will also release a limited-edition aluminum UFC bottle(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-TNA iMPACT! premiered in Spanish this past Friday April 8th on MTV Tr3s, commentated by Hector Guerrero and Willie Urbina
UPCOMING :
-EMLL's Torneo Forjando Del Idolo starts in Mexico's Arena Puebla today, ending in Arena Mexico on Friday May 20th.
-Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad(7-0) faces Paul Buentello(29-13) in a non-title match on MTV2, Saturday April 23rd at Bellator FC 42 in Concho, OK's Lucky Star Casino(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2011 PPV takes place on Tuesday May 3rd on WPW from Japan's Fukuoka International Center. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against Shinsuke Nakamura, Davey Richards & Rocky Romero get an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Title shot, CMLL's World Middleweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger defends against Mascara Doara, who recently vacated the CMLL Super Lightweight title to move up to this weight class. ZERO-1's Masato Tanaka faces Yuji Nagata(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-AAA's Triplemania XIX takes place at Mexico City's Palacio De Los Deportes on Sat. June 18th(Credit : Lucha World).
-Sat. June 18th is also the date Strikeforce has pegged for female middleweight Gina Carano(7-1)'s return to fighting, at Dallas, TX's American Airlines Center. Also on the card, the SF Heavyweight WGP continues with Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem(34-11) Vs. Fabiricio Werdum(14-4-1) and Josh Barnett(29-5) Vs. Brett Rogers(11-2). Also, undefeated heavyweights Shane Del Rosario(10-0) & Daniel Cormier(7-0) face off, along with Valentijn Overeem(29-25) Vs. Chad Griggs(10-1, Credit : MMAWeekly).
-UFC lightweight Joe "Daddy" Stevenson(31-12) is dropping to featherweight and will have his first fight in the division on Sunday June 26th at UFC On Versus 4 from Pittsburgh, PA(likely in the Consol Energy Center) against Javier Vasquez(15-5, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC middleweight Wanderlei Silva(33-10-1) returns to action against Chris Leben(25-7) on Saturday July 2nd at Las Vegas, NV's Mandalay Bay Events Center(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Strikeforce is planning the fight between heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko(31-3, 1 NC) and Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson(27-8) for late July on a M-1 co-promoted Showtime event, though the details of date, location & weight(Credit : Cage Insider).
MEDIA :
-'Wrestler Wives', a new VH1 series focusing on Booker T's Texas-based wrestling school, will feature Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman, Jackie Haas & Stacy Carter(Credit : TMZ).
-'Bail Enforcers' starring Trish Stratus premiered this weekend at the Actionfest Film Festival in Asheville, NC(Credit : wrestling observer).
-UFC light heavyweight TIto Ortiz(15-8-1) crashed his Toyota Scion twice in a practice run for the 2011 'Fueled By Fame' Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race on Tuesday April 5th. Although no one was injured, he'll need a new car to race in the actual race in Long Beach, CA on Sat. April 16th(Credit : TMZ, CBS).
-WWE is considering animated projects featuring Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Santo En El Tesoro De Dracula' starring El Santo from 1969 was pulled from The Guadalahara Film Festival at the request of El Hijo Del Santo(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Rock appeared on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday April 4th, then the Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday April 11th. Chris Jericho, who guested on CBS' Rachael Ray on Tuesday April 5th, appears on the Tonight Show on Wednesday April 13th(Credit : 411mania).
-The Big Show was on Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Awards on Saturday April 2nd(Credit : 411mania).
-Mick Foley was was announced on Tuesday April 5th as the newest board member of RAINN(Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Also a National Sexual Assault Online Hotline volunteer, Foley launced a fundraising Twitter campaign for April, Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month.
Thursday, April 21, 2011 :
-Roundtable panelist Rodney Leconte competed at Grappler's Quest 'Beast Of The East' tournament, Saturday April 9th in Asbury Park, NJ's Convention Hall, placing 2nd in the Men's No-Gi Beginner Light Heavyweight division.
DEATHS :
-Larry Sweeney(Alex Whybrow), 29, former ROH/CHIKARA/independent pro wrestler & manager, died on Monday April 11, committing suicide by hanging himself at Lake Charles, LA wrestling school(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Stinky The Homeless Guy(Frank Morin, 23), ISW indy wrestler, died on Friday April 1st due to cancer(Credit : pwinsider).
-Chip Fairway(Brett Keen, 38), former HWA indy wrestler, died on Saturday April 9th in his sleep(Credit : wrestling observer).
RESULTS :
-Maximum Fighting Championship's 'MFC 29: Conquer' took place Friday April 8th at Caesars Windsor's Colosseum in Canada, airing on HDNet. Lightweight Marcus Davis(18-8) defeated Curtis Demarce(10-9) by split decision, and lightweights Hermes Franca(21-11) & Robert Washington(9-3) fought in a 160-lbs. catchweight fight, seeing Franca beat Washington 0:26 in to round 2 via TKO(punches).
-IWRG on Sunday April 10th from Mexico's Arena Naucalpan saw the return of Mascara Ano Dos Mil form back surgery in late January, teaming with Ultimo Gladiador & Mazada in a losing effort to La Parka, Jr., Multifacetico & Trauma I(Credit : Lucha World).
-April 11th's WWE Monday Night RAW from Bridgeport, CT's Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, World Heavyweight Champion Edge, who has been suffering numbness & uncontrollable trembling in his arms & hands recently, announced his retirement from wrestling due to nueropraxia & stenosis of the spine. An MRI confirmed the ailments earlier in the day. Later on, Brie Bella beat Diva's Champion Eve Torres in 2:20 via pinfall following an X-Factor to win her first title, and Sin Cara won his first TV match for WWE, defeating Primo in 4:30 with a pinfall after a Shiranui Kai(Uranage moonsault). Santino Marella, Mark Henry, Evan Bourne & Daniel Bryan formed a group, APPLE(Applied People Powered by Loathing Everything you stand for), to oppose Smackdown's The Corre, and a vignette teasing Kharma(Awesome Kong) aired. On Tough Enough that aired before RAW, Mickael Zaki was eliminated this past Monday(Matt Cross was eliminated a week earlier).
-Tuesday, April 12th saw WWE's Smackdown taping in Albany, NY's Times Union Center. Edge vacated his World Heavyweight title, and Christian won a battle royal in 22:00(last eliminating Jack Swagger) and will now face Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match at Extreme Rules on Sunday May 1st from Tampa, FL's St. Pete Times Forum(Credit : 411mania).
-All Japan at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall on Wednesday April 13th saw NJPW's Yuji Nagata win the Champion's Carnival, defeating Seiya Sanada 22:44 in to the tournament final match with a backdrop hold(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-TNA Lockdown 2011 took place on Sunday April 17th at Cincinnati, OH's U.S. Bank Arena. Mickie James defeated Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne to win her first Knockouts championship in 0:36 via pinfall following a DDT, making James the first woman to hold the TNA Knockouts title and WWE's Womens & Divas titles. Jeff Jarrett beat Kurt Angle in an "Ultra-Male Rules" 2/3 falls match, winning the third fall in 22:37 by exiting the cage, suffering bruised ribs in the process. TNA World Champion Sting successfully defended against Ron Van Dam, pinning RVD after a Scorpion Death Lock in 7:57, and in the main event Lethal Lockdown match, Fortune(X Champion Kazarian, Beer Money, Inc. & Daniels) defeated Immortal(Ric Flair, Matt Hardy, Bully Ray & Abyss) when a returning AJ Styles interfered, leading to Robert Roode tapped out Flair to an arm bar in 22:52(Credit : 411mania, wrestling observer).
-Also on Sun. April 17th, CHIKARA presented the third night of their 2011 King Of Trios tournament from Philadelphia, PA's Asylum Arena, seeing The Colony defeat Team FIST in the finals when Green Ant pinned Icarus following an assisted Superfly splash. CHIKARA will be crowning their first singles champion via a tournament in Easton, PA on Sunday May 21st. Claudio Castagnoli, Jigsaw, Mike Quackenbush, Eddie Kingston, Sara Dey Rey & more will participate(Credit : angry marks, pwinsider).
-Lastly for Sun. the 17th, Kaientai Dojo's '9th Anniversary Club-K Super Evolution9' show took place at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall, headlined by IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Champion Prince Devitt defeat Shiori Asahi & Makoto Oishi in 21:58 via pinfall when Devitt used a Bloody Sunday on Oishi(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-At the WWE Smackdown tapings in London, England's O2 Arena on Tuesday April 19th, former World Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show won their first WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Champions Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater(Credit : wrestling news world).
SHAKE UPS :
-TNA President Dixie Carter's mother Janice(Executive VP of Panda Energy, the financiers of TNA) has stated that the company needs to make major changes including re-branding, possibly including a new co. name(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7)'s manager Caesar Gracie has stated he is trying to book a pro boxing fight sometime this fall for the Champ(Credit : 411mania).
-2008 Olypmic Judo Gold Medal winner Satoshi Ishii(4-1, MMA), originally scheduled to fight on Strikeforce Challengers 15 on Friday April 1st but unable to obtain a visa in time, is returning to judo in the US, set to compete in the 100+ kg & 100 kg divisions of the USA Judo 2011 Senior Nationals, Friday April 29-Sat. April 30 in Orlando, FL 's Europa Orlando(Credit : The Japan Times).
-Jay Lethal has been released from TNA(Credit : pwinsider).
-Kharma will be making her FCW debut soon, while WWE has also recently signed Irena Janjic from the Storm Wrestling Academy & NAIA collegiate wrestling champion Derek Foore(Credit : pwinsider).
HEALTH :
-UFC welterweight Brian Foster(15-5), who had a testicle that was burst after a hard kick in training removed six weeks ago, has pulled out of his fight against Sean Pierson(11-4) on Saturday April 30th at UFC 129 in Toronto, ONT, Canada's Roger's Centre due to a brain hemorrhage recently discovered via MRI. UFC 129 will feature Randy "The Natural" Couture(19-10)'s final MMA fight, however, as he has claimed he will retire following his light heavyweight bout against Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida(16-2).
-Abyss was injured at the TNA iMPACT! tapings on Tuesday night April 19th in Orlando, FL's IMPACT! Zone, having one or both of his front teeth knocked out by Rob Van Dam's springboard kick. He will need dental surgery to repair the bottom row of his teeth. Before the show's taping began, Serena Deeb lost a tryout match to Winter via pinfall after Catatonic Backbreaker(Credit : pwinsider, diva dirt).
-MMA heavyweight Paul Buentello(29-13) has pulled out of his debut fight for Bellator FC, this Saturday, April 23rd at Bellator 42 in a non-title fight with Champion Cole Konrad(7-0), due to a back injury(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Kevin Nash has stated that Scott Hall is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
-TNA has been urging Jeff Hardy to attend rehab(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Perry Aguayo, Jr. had surgery on Saturday April 9th in Guadalajara, Mexico to remove a golf-ball sized tumor from his stomach after being admitted to the hospital in extreme pain the previous day. Released from the hospital on Tuesday morning April 19th & will be receiving treatment for the next year, but will return to the ring for Perros Del Mal on Sunday May 8th in Cancun(Credit : Luchas 2000, wrestling observer).
-Scotty Riggs underwent a procedure in a Georgia hospital on Thursday April 14th to locate the source of bleeding ulcers(Credit : pwinsider).
-Former SMW/Louisville area wrestler Ron Wright had a pacemaker installed on Monday April 18th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Naomichi Marufuji pulled out of NOAH's Sunday April 17th show in Japan's Koyama City due to an injury. No time frame for his return has been determined yet(Credit : NOAH-USA).
LEGAL :
-Andre Davis, a 29-year old HIV-positive indy wrestler from Cincinnati, Ohio, was arrested in Hamilton County's Hyde Park on Wednesday April 13th & charged with felonious assault after having sex with a person on three separate occasions starting Wednesday March 2nd but not informing them of his disease(Credit : WCPO).
-Kurt Angle, who claims to have signed a new contract TNA, was sentenced by state District Judge Joel Medd to a year of unsupervised probation on Friday April 15th in Grand Forks, ND for reckless driving in March. He must also pay $225 in court fees & a $250 fine in addition to undergoing a chemical dependency evaluation. He also received 10 suspended days in jail, automatically spending 10 days in jail should he violate any laws in the jurisdiction again(Credit : Grand Forks Herald).
-Highspots' lawsuit against Ric Flair has been reopened due to Flair not paying money owed from their settlement months ago, with the trial beginning this past Monday April 18th.
-Jeff Hardy's drug case was been continued AGAIN on Wednesday April 20th when Hardy's lawyer Jim Van Camp asked Senior Resident Judge James Webb for time to have a drug assessment done. The next date for the case to be presumably delayed again on will be Monday June(Credit : The Pilot).
-Authorities believe someone broke in to the Warriors Of Wrestling Center, a school & show facility on Van Street in the New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island, NY, on Thursday morning April 14th and torched the building, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage(Credit : ABC).
-UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen(25-11-1)'s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, originally scheduled for Wednesday April 27th has been delayed until mid-May(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Monday April 18th in Tampa, FL, making a desk appearance to paid $750 in surety bonds after missing a date in traffic court on charges of driving without a license & operating an unregistered vehicle(Credit : pwinsider).
UPCOMING :
-WWE's WrestleMania Revenge tour comes to Doha, Qatar at the Qatar Sports Club this Saturday, April 23.
-UFC welterweight Diego Sanchez(22-4) participates in a 4-man grappling tournament at the UFC Fan Expo on Friday April 29th at Toronto, ONT, Canada's Direct Energy Centre. Ending the following day(Sat. April 30th at the 2nd day of the Fan Expo, before UFC 129 later than night), Sanchez faces Canadian grappler Andrew McInnes in the semi-final opening round presented by Grappler's Quest.
-Pro Wrestling Respect's Delirious returns to Ring Of Honor to face Colt Cabana in a Larry Sweeney tribute match at Toronto, ONT, Canada's Ted Reeve Arena at 'ROH: Revolution' on Saturday May 7th.
-AIW hosts the 2011 Todd Pettingill Invitational(formerly the Ted Petty Invitational) tournament from Lakewood, OH's AIW Arena Friday May 20th-Sat. May 21st, featuring Jimmy Jacobs, Sonjay Dutt, Paul London, BJ Whitmer, Irish Airborne & more.
-NJPW's 'Best Of The Super Jr. XVIII' tournament starts on Thursday May 26 at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall on SAMURAI! TV, and ends on the same channel & venue Friday June 11th. The Great Sasuke participates on his first tournament, along with Davey Richards, TAKA Michinoku, The Golden Lovers, TJ Perkins & more(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Fighting & Entertainment Group(FEG) has announced their first shows of the year, the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix starting Thursday May 29th at the "DREAM 17: Fight For Japan" in Japan's Saitama Super Arena, with the finals scheduled for July(Credit : Sherdog).
-Strikeforce womens middleweight Gina Carano(7-1)'s Sat. June 18th return at 'Overeem Vs. Werdum' will be against Sarah D'Alelio(4-1, Credit : Nonstop MMA).
-Independent female wrestler Cindy Rogers has announced that she will have a retirement match against Allison Danger at WSU's Uncensored Rumble in Union City, NJ's ACE Arena on Saturday June 25th, airing live on GoFightLive. Also, Jillian Hall makes her debut for the promotion that night against a to-be-named opponent.
-DDT presents the "Dick Togo Retirement Show" from Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall on Thursday June 30th. Togo's retirement bout will be against Gedo(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-UFC 133 in Philadelphia on Saturday August 6 will feature middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama(13-3) facing Vitor Belfort(19-9, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC 134: Rio tales place Saturday August 27th at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil's HSBC Arena and will see Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva(28-4) face the last man to defeat him(a 2006 DQ win for Okami at Rumble On The Rock 8 in Hawaii; Silva was disqualified for an illegal kick), Yushin Okami(26-5). Also, light heavyweights Forrest Griffin(18-6) & Mauricio "Shogun" Rua(19-5) face off, heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Noguiera will fight against an opponent to be determined, but President Dana White has said welterweight Royce Gracie(14-2-3) would not be fighting on the card(Credit : MMAJunkie, MMAFighting).
-Also on Aug. 27th, New Japan, All Japan & NOAH will be co-promoting a charity event at Japan's Tokyo Nippon Budokan, with proceeds going to the victims & areas of the recent earthquake & tsunami disasters(Credit : Puroresu Fans).
MEDIA :
-The third season of Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory on truTV is being targeted to start shooting at the end of the summer should the network renew the series. If picked up, the new season will tackle chem trails. Also, Ventura is already working on another book with Dick Russell.
-'Knockout' from Phase 4 Films & starring Stone Cold Steve Austin will be released on Tuesday April 26th on Blu-Ray, DVD & VOD.
-The Rock appeared on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live this past Tuesday April 19th.
-The Great Khali guested on Disney XD's Pair Of Kings this past Monday April 18th(Credit : Starsglam).
-WWE releases DVDs of 'That's What I Am' starring Randy Orton on Tues. May 10th, the Best Of Nitro on Tues. May 24th, a Gorgeous George documentary on Tues. June 7th, the 'Million $Man' Ted Dibiase set on Tues. June 28th, 'Breaking The Rules' starring Edge on August 9th, RAW : Best Of Seasons 3 & 4 on Tues. August 23rd, 'Randy Orton: The Evolution Of A Predator' set on Wed. September 21st, a Triple H set on Tues. November 8th, WWE's 50 Biggest Matches on Tues. Nov. 29th, 'Austin Vs. Rock - The Rivalry' on Tues. December 13th, and WWE's 'Best PPV Matches Of 2011' on Tues. Dec. 27th. Also from WWE Studios, 'Inside Out' starring Triple H will see a Sep. release, and 'Blood Brothers' starring John Cena comes out in Nov(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Pile Drivers & Power Chords: Stories From Rector, Arkansas & Beyond', which includes 'essays about the Memphis wrestling promotion from the 1970s & 1980s' by music fan Steve Crawford, is available now.
Dead wrestler tally for the month : 3
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 :
DEATHS :
-Alfa Centauris(Manny Guzman), 60s/70s luchador & former leader of the National Lucha Libre Union, died Saturday April 23rd.
RESULTS :
-MMA heavyweight Ken Shamrock(28-15-2) was forced to pull out of his fight against Anthony Rea(21-13) at World Extreme Fighting 46 in Orlando, FL's UCF Arena, Friday April 22nd, due to a staph infection. Rea went on to defeat Rob Wince(20-14) via TKO(punches) 1:40 in to round 2. Light heavyweight Seth Petruzelli(13-6) also scored a TKO win over David Mewborn(8-4-1), but in round 1. Petruzelli still says he'd like to face Shamrock at some point, but will be fighting Steve Bosse(8-1) at 'Les Gladiateurs: Resolution' at Montreal, Quebec, Canada's Centre Pierre-Charbonneau on Friday June 17th(Credit : 411mania).
-NWA North American Champion The Sheik defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Colt Cabana in the main event of Pro Wrestling Fusion's 'Subtle Hustle!!!' show in Jacksonville, FL's Sin City, on Saturday April 23rd. Elsewhere on the card, NWA World Tag Team Champions The Dark City Fight Club successfully defended their titles against The Briscoe Brothers. The Sheik will defend the World Heavyweight title in Japan's ZERO-1 this month, while the NWA Board Of Directors has stripped him of the North American title, opting to hold a tournament to crown a new champion, starting Thursday May 5th at NWA Main Event's TV taping in Nashville, TN's NWA Arena.
-WWE's Monday Night RAW from Mon. April 25th at Raleigh, NC's RBC Center hosted the 2011 Draft. The supplemental Draft continued on WWE.com afterwards, leading to the results of Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Kelly Kelly, The Big Show, JTG, Rey Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, Beth Phoenix, Tyler Reks, Curt Hawkins, Chris Masters, & Kofi Kingston drafted to RAW, and Daniel Bryan, Sin Cara, The Great Khali, Randy Orton, The Usos, US Champion Sheamus, Mark Henry, Alicia Fox, Alex Riley, William Regal, Tamina, Yoshi Tatsu, Tyson Kidd, Natalya & Ted Dibiase drafted to Smackdown. Also, Jim Ross made his in-ring return to WWE, defeating Michael Cole by disqualification in 4:35 when Jack Swagger interfered. JR suffered a broken right hand during the match. On Tough Enough before RAW aired, Rima Fakih was eliminated(Credit : 411mania).
-On the TNA iMPACT! that aired on Thursday April 28th & taped from Orlando, FL's iMPACT Zone!, Chris Sabin injured his knee in a match against Anarquia, who defeated Sabin in 1:21 via Small Package pin. Alex Shelley returned following the impromptu loss, saving Sabin from a beatdown by Mexican America. No word yet on how long Sabin will be out of action(Credit : 411mania).
-The biggest North American MMA event to date took place this past Saturday April 30th at Toronto, ON, Canada's Rogers Centre with 55,724 fans witnessing UFC 129, leading to a record gate of $12,075,000. UFC's first stadium show started the pay-per-view broadcast with lightweight Ben Henderson(13-2)'s promotional debut, getting a unanimous decision against Mark Bocek(9-4). Light heavyweight Vladimir Matyushenko(26-5) scored a quick 0:20 1st round knock out against Jason Brilz(18-4-1) via punches. Continuing in the light heavyweight division, the legendary Randy "The Natural" Couture(19-11) lost to Lyoto Machida(17-2) 1:05 in round 2 via KO by Crane Kick. Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo(19-1) successfully defend the title against Mark Hominick(20-9) in Aldo's long awaited promotional debut. Despite suffering an unspecified infection before the event, Aldo scored the unanimous decision and looks to possibly face Chad Mednes(10-0) next, while Hominick was medically suspended by the Ontario Ministry Of Consumer Service's Office for 60 days and must have a new CT scan for heavy facial swelling. In the main event, Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre(22-2) also took a unanimous decision victory over Jake Shields(26-5-1). Suffering internal bleeding in his left eye in the second round due to an eye poke, GSP is expected to make a full recovery. Earlier in the day at the UFC Fan Expo in Toronto's Direct Energy Center, Ryan Hall defeated Diego Sanchez in the finals of a special Grappler's Quest tournament, scoring 6-2 points(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Also Saturday night, ECWA's 2011 Super 8 tournament aired on GoFightLive from Voorhees, NJ's Flyers Skate Zone. Tommaso Ciampa defeated Adam Cole in the finals via pinfall following a 2nd rope Crucifix Bomb and was presented a trophy by Sunny(Credit : wrestleview).
-WWE's 2011 Extreme Rules took place Sunday May 1st from Tampa, FL's St. Pete Times Forum. Kofi Kingston defeated United States Champion Sheamus in a Tables match, using a Boom Drop to put Sheamus through a table in 9:11 to win his 2nd US title. Jim Ross' in-ring return to PPV was a loss in teaming with Jerry "The King" Lawler, losing a Country Whippin' match to Michael Cole & Jack Swagger in 7:02 when Cole pinned JR using a roll up. Layla El defeated Michelle McCool in a No DQ/Loser Leaves WWE match in 5:23 via crucifix pin. McCool was also beat up by the debuting Kharma(the former Amazing Kong) on her way to legitimately leaving the promotion. Christian defeated Alberto Del Rio 20:59 in to a ladder match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship(his first WHC), making Christian a 5-time World Champion. Brodus Clay required staples in his head after taking a bump trying to interfere in the match. And in the main event, John Cena defeated WWE Champion The Miz in a steel cage match via pinfall in 19:53 following a Super Attitude Adjustment to win his 8th WWE title, making him a 10-time World Champion and tying HHH's record for most WWE title wins(Credit : 411mania).
-On Monday May 2nd, WWE presented Monday Night RAW from Miami, FL's American Airlines Arena. The Rock's birthday celebration took place all show long, featuring celebrity birthday wishes(including Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Kimmel, LeBron James, Steve Carrell, Ellen Degeneres, George Lopez, Ludacris, Dan Marino, Craig Ferguson, Regis Philbin, Kelly Rippa, Mya & more). Also, Kharma made her RAW debut, beating up Maryse after interrupting Maryse's match with Kelly Kelly. On the Tough Enough that aired before RAW, Ryan Howe was eliminated(Credit : 411mania).
-Also on Mon. May 2nd, TNA taped an iMPACT! at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL. The Amazing Red performed under a mask as Sangriento, defeating Christopher Daniels in a mask as Suicide. Tommy Dreamer turned heel by turning on AJ Styles during a brawl with Bully Ray(Credit : 411mania).
-New Japan's 'Wrestling Dontaku 2011' PPV took place Tuesday May 3rd live on WPW from Japans Fukuoka International Center. CMLL World Middleweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger started the night of successful title defenses, besting Mascara Dorada in 10:04 via pinfall following a brainbuster. IWGP Jr. Heayweight Champions Apollo 55(Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt) beat Davey Richards & Rocky Romero in 17:41 when Devitt pinned Romero following a Bloody Sunday. IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) defeated NO LIMIT(Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro Takahashi) in 19:49 when Bernard pinned Naito after a Bernard Driver. Takahashi walked out on Naito after the match, and in the main event, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in 20:17 via pinfall after a High Fly Flow. After the match, Tanahashi was confronted by returning former tag partner Hirooki Goto(Goto returned to NJPW earlier in the night, teaming with Tama Tonga to defeat Makoto Hashi & NOAH's GHC Heavyweight Champion Takashi Sugiura in 9:43 when Goto pinned Hashi after a Shouten Kai) . Elsewhere, Togi Makabe defeated Satoshi Kojima in 11:51 with a pinfall after a King Kong Kneedrop. After the match, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi appeared, turned on Makabe and joined forces with MVP & new leader Minoru Suzuki. And Yuji Nagata beat ZERO-1's Masato Tanaka in 14:53 via pinfall after a backdrop hold(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Later on Tues. May 3rd, WWE taped Smackdown at Orlando, FL's Amway Center.
Shawn Daivari returned in a dark match & losing to Ted Dibiase, Jr., Jinder Mahal made his TV debut in a backstage skit with The Great Khali & Ranjin Singh, The Corre turned on Ezekiel jackson by beating him up backstage, and Randy Orton defeated World Heavyweight Champion Christian to win his 2nd WHC title, making Orton an 8-time World Champion(Credit : prowrestling.net).
-Lastly on Tues. May 3rd, TNA held an iMPACT! at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL. Chris Harris(no, no the Roundtable panelist, formerly of America's Most Wanted) returned to TNA, appearing with Immortal's Matt Hardy to challenge Beer Money at the Sacrifice PPV, which takes place Sunday May 15th in the same venue. Mick Foley also returned to TNA, representing 'the Network' and introducing Kurt Angle's partner(and storyline mistress) for the Sacrifice PPV to take on Jeff & Karen Jarrett in a tag match; Chyna, making her TNA debut(Credit : pwinsider).
SHAKE-UPS :
-MMA middleweight Jason "Mayhem" Miller(24-7) signed a multi-fight contract with UFC on Friday April 22nd(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE signed Big Van Vader's son, Jessie White, to a developmental contract. Meanwhile, Ryan Nemeth has been named Briley Pierce in FCW, and Brett Dibiase has been transferred from wrestler to referee due to a bad knee injury he suffered last year(Credit : pwinsider).
-Bellator FC signed undefeated lightweight Rene Nazare(8-0), a 4-time BJJ World Champion on Wednesday April 27th(Credit : 411mania).
-Former NHL hockey player Donald Brashear is looking to try his hand at MMA, reaching an agreement with Canada's Ringside MMA(Credit : Bloody Elbow)
HEALTH :
-Abyss underwent dental surgery on Thursday April 21st to do repair work on his upper lip and pull 4-5 damaged teeth(Credit : pwinsider).
-AAA announcer Arturo Rivera left the hospital last week and will finish his recuperation from lung surgery at home, hoping to return for June's Triplemania show(Credit : Lucha World).
-Road Warrior Animal was hospitalized with Bronchitis on Easter weekend(Credit : pwinsider).
LEGAL :
-AAA luchador Charly Manson(Jesus Luna Pozos) was arrested in Mexico on Sunday April 25th for attacking two police officers, Roman Castaneda Castro(who suffered a fractured skull with brain trauma) & Moises Izaguirre Banos(who required surgery on his nose after suffering an orbital fracture in his right eye & a fractured jawbone). The two were attempting to arrest him & underage friend Adrian Lopez Reyes for public drunkenness. Charged with aggravated assault & attacking authority figures, Manson awaits sentencing while Castro remains in the ICU at a hospital near Mexico City(Credit : wrestling observer, pwinsider).
-UFC welterweight Matt Hughes(45-8) is under investigation in regards to an alleged fight at Taylor Springs, IL's Trails End Bar & Grill on Saturday April 23rd, where Hughes allegedly shoved a male patron in to a female patron, breaking her nose(Credit : TMZ).
-Nick Gage(Nicholas Wilson) was sentenced to a 5 year prison term in State Superior Court Of Camden, NJ on Friday April 29th. He will not be eligible for parole until serving 85% of sentence. He must also pay $3,095 restitution to the PNC Bank branch of Collingswood, NJ, and $150 in lost ages to the teller he held up(Credit : 411mania).
-Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Wells Fargo Southeast(alleging that the insurance company never gave him proper advice or 'umbrella' insurance, resulting in inadequate coverage) was dismissed by Pineallas County Circuit Judge Douglas Baird in Clearwater, FL on Thursday April 21st. Hogan's attorneys decided to settle with a nominal amount(Credit : Tampa Bay Online).
BUSINESS :
-WWE announced on Thursday April 28th that beginning in June, their quarterly dividend will be cut to $0.12 per share of common stock held by Class A public shareholders & Class B shareholders. Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon(who recently donated to Mick Foley's RAINN Twitter campaign) along with Cheif Marketing Officer Michelle Wilson announced at the Sat. April 29th stockholder's meeting that the company has a deal with Miller to a summer promotion with the Keystone Light brand, a deal with Mars similar to their K-Mart deal, and the WWE Network hopes to launch in 12-18 months. After initially dropping to a 52-week low of $10.37 per share on Fri. April 29th following their dividend cut, WWE's stock rose to $10.83 on Mon. May 2nd(Credit : Wall Street Journal, 411mania).
-UFC's Primetime : St-Pierre Vs. Shields series debuted on ESPN2, Wednesday April 20th. The series was also broadcast on Spike TV, Versus, ION Television & Fuel TV as UFC expands it's broadcast scope(Credit : 411mania).
-TNA has signed a new TV deal to air iMPACT! on Fuel TV in Australia. In the meantime, they've also trademarked 'Impact Wrestling', possibly to eventually replace the 'TNA' name(Credit : wrestling observer, pwinsider).
-'Tuff-N-Uff: The Future Stars Of Mixed Martial Arts' has partnered with entertainment, sports & event promotional company Justice Entertainment Group(Credit : MMAJunkie).
UPCOMING :
-Ultimo Dragon's Dragonmania show take place at Arena Mexico on Saturday May 14th(Credit : Lucha World).
-Titan FC 18 takes place at Kansas City, KS's Memorial Hall on Friday May 27th live on HDNet. Featherweight Jens Pulver(21-14-1) faces Mike Powell(10-2).
-The Urban Wrestling Federation's first show, 'First Blood', will be taped for PPV broadcast in the first week of June in New York City, NY. Featuring Sonjay Dutt, Slyck Wagner Brown, Monstra Mack, Ricky Reyes, Eddie Kingston, the Maximos, Ruckus & more, the promotion has signed Homicide, Skullcrusher Rasche Brown, Scorpio Sky, The Grim Reefer, Brian XL, Ricky Ortiz, Damien 666's song Bestia 666, the Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz, and MCW's Ghetto Mafia. Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Famer Grandmaster Melle Mel will appear along with other musical acts(Credit : pwinsider).
-Uncensored Massacre Wrestling will present 'Annihilation' on Saturday June 18th in St. Louis, MO's Casa Loma Ballroom, featuring The Headbangers reuniting.
-Also on Sat. June 18th, TNA presents their next BaseBrawl house show event at Buffalo, NY's Coca-Cola Field.
-New Japan's 'J Sports Crown 6-Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament' takes place over 3 days at Japan's Tokyo Differ Ariake, starting on Tuesday June 21st and ending Thursday June 23rd(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-MMA heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga(11-6)'s next two fights have been lined up : Vs. Josh Burns(5-2) on Saturday June 25th at MMA Explosions' "MMAX: Heavyweight Xplosion' event, expected to take place at Las Vegas, NV's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and he's agreed in principle to face Reality Fighting's Heavyweight Champion Parker Porter(5-2) for the title at the promotion's Saturday September 24th event in Uncasville, CT's Mohegan Sun Arena(Credit : MMAJunkie, Sherdog).
-Jay Lethal returns to Ring Of Honor against Mike Bennett at 'Best In The World 2011', airing live on GoFightLive on Sunday June 26th from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, NY.
-Originally scheduled to face Rashad Evans(15-1-1) on Saturday August 6th at UFC 133 in Philadelphia, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones(13-1) has been replaced by Phil Davis(9-0) due to suffering a torn thumb ligament in his fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua(19-5) on March 19th(Credit : UFCFightVideos.net)
-New Japan's 'G1 Climax XXI : The Invincible Fighter' tournament takes place over 10 shows, starting Monday August 1st on WPW PPV from Japan's Fukuoka International Center and ending Thursday August 14th at the Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Denver, CO's Pepsi Center could host UFC 135 on Saturday September 24th. The return to Colorado would be headlined by Matt Hughes Vs. welterweight Diego Sanchez(23-4, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-UFC's Texas return takes place Saturday October 8th, possibly in Houston. The event will include a Fan Expo the day of and day before the event. UFC also returns to England in October, on Sat. Oct. 15th in Liverpool's Echo Arena(Credit : 411mania).
MEDIA :
-Fast Five starring The Rock was #1 at the American movie theater box office this weekend, making $83.6 million, settings records for being the biggest movie opening in 2011 so far, the biggest April opening ever, and the biggest opening for the Fast & The Furious franchise('Dylan: Dog Of The Dead' starring Kurt Angle also opened this weekend at #17, earning $250,000). The Rock, fresh from having switched Hollywood agencies to WME, next stars in & produces a biopic of black country music star Charley Pride, with a sequel to Fast Five coming in the future. WWE Studios' 'That's What I Am', Randy Orton's film debut, also opened this weekend(Credit : Variety, wrestling observer, Deadline).
-Chris Jericho was eliminated from ABC's Dancing WIth The Stars on Monday April 25th.
-Scenes for 'Fred 2' were shot at the Smackdown taping in NC's Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday April 26th. The film premieres on Halloween, Monday October 31st on Nickelodeon(Credit : 411mania).
-Showtime has acquired the rights to air the MMA documentary 'Fightville' by Michael Tucker, following featherweight Dustin Poirier(9-1)'s rise to signing with UFC(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Kevin Nash stars in 'The Almighty Thor', produced by The Asylum, premiering Saturday May 7th n SyFy, with a DVD/VOD release Tuesday May 10th.
-The Big Show will guest star as a thief in USA Network's Burn Notice soon(Credit : pwinsider).
-Bill DeMott has re-opened his McDonough, GA-based New Energy Wrestling school, and his autobiography will be released in a few months(Credit : pwinsider).
-Lance Storm's World Of Hurt reality TV show debuted on Canada's Cave Network this past weekend(Credit : pwinsider).
-Shelly Martinez has been nominated for PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door 2011 award(Credit : 411mania).
-Trish Stratus was named Top Choice Magazine's 2010 Businesswoman Of The Year(Credit : pwinsider).
Friday, May 13, 2011 :
RESULTS :
-The USA defeated Russia at 'The Battle On Broadway' freestyle wrestling dual meet, part of the 'Beat The Streets' gala on Thursday May 5th in Time Square's Duffy Square in New York City, NY. 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejduo won over Junior World bronze medalist Rasul Mashezov in the first bout, and in the last match, 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagney swept Barsag Kesaev in two straight periods. Former Olympians Kurt Angle, Rulon Gardner, Jeff Blatnik & Dan Gable attended the event(Credit : MMAMania, wrestlingdotcom).
-Trevdor Murdoch returned to WWE on Monday May 9th from Knoxville, TN's Thompson Boling Arena, losing to Evan Bourne in a dark match(Credit : letstalkwrestling).
SHAKE UPS :
-Zuffa will be providing accident insurance to it's 350 contracted fighters starting June 1st through Houston Casualty Insurance Company. Though routine medical visits, hospitalization, prescription drugs & illness/disease aren't covered, the parent company of UFC & Strikeforce will pay 100% of the premiums(lab tests, doctor/emergency room visits, physical therapy) for competition, training & accident related injuries - anything that would prohibit an athlete from performing. A full time employee will coordinate the claims process & Zuffa's supplemental insurance policy covering fighters on fight nights stays intact. The company also held the third annual 'Fighter Summit' with all their contracted fighters this week in Las Vegas, NV's Red Rock Resort, to educate them on safety, rules & regulations, salary, public relations and media. Dr. Jeff Davidson lectured on concussions & cutting weight, DEA agent spoke on steroid use, and Lorenzo Fertitta said fight bonuses for Strikeforce events could be a future possibility. Cage Potato noted SF President/CEO Scott Coker was listed as SF 'Executive VP & GM' on the official itinerary(Credit : MMAMania).
-Bellator FC signed middleweight Vitor Vianna(10-1-1, 2-time World BJJ Champion & 6-time National BJJ Champion) on Wednesday May 4th(Credit : Sherdog).
-UFC has released middleweight Maiquel Falcao(26-3, 1 NC, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Gail Kim has gotten engaged to The Food Network's Robert Irvine, with a ceremony set for May 2012(Credit : 411mania).
-TMZ reports that Antonio Inoki's IGF offered TNA's newest (unsigned) Knockout, Chyna, a one-year contract. Chyna makes her in-ring return and TNA in-ring debut on Sunday at Sacrifice 2011 from Orlando, FL's iMPACT! Zone.
HEALTH :
-Shane Helms crashed his motorcycle on Thursday May 5th in Raleigh, NC. Suffering a broken ankle, broken nose, broken jaw & other fractures, Helms was riding with his girlfriend, who suffered a broken neck but no spinal cord damage. Both still hospitalized, Helms needed 200 stitches & is being investigated for DUI after a witness said Helms was driving home from a restaurant in Smithfield, NC around 9:15pm, went through a stop sign, lost control and drove through a metal chain link fence. Blood samples were taken by the police at the hospital(Credit : TMZ).
-Both Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar(13-1-1) and his challenger Gray Maynard(10-0-1, 1NC) have pulled out of their scheduled third fight at UFC 130, Saturday May 28th from Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena. Maynard suffered a knee injury in training, while Edgar is suffering from bulging discs in his back & a rib injury. President Dana White stated that while the match looks to be delayed until August or September, 130 will now be headlined by the light heavyweight bout, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson(31-8) Vs. Matt Hamill(10-2, Credit : MMAJunkie)
-Brock Lesnar(5-2) has pulled out of his fight against heavyweight Junior Dos Santos(12-1) at UFC 131, Saturday June 11th from Vancouver, British Columba, Canada's Rogers Arena, due to a recurrence of diverticulitis preventing him training, confirmed after undergoing tests at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic. Now facing a choice between surgery or managing the disease through a focused diet, has been replaced by Shane Carwin(12-1, Credit : MMAJunkie)
-John Morrison will be out of action 4-6 weeks after having surgery on Monday May 9th to alleviate pain & weakness in his arm after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck(Credit : wwe.com)
-Chris Sabin had knee surgery recently after recently injuring his leg on iMPACT!(Credit : pwinsider).
LEGAL :
-AAA's Charly Manson was released from prison on Wednesday May 4th(Credit : Lucha World).
-UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen(25-11-1)'s fighting license has been indefinitely suspended by the California State Athletic Commission due to his federal conviction for money laundering and "providing false testimony" during a December appeal hearing. Sonnen & his representatives have appealed the decision and will appear before the commission, Wednesday May 18th in Los Angeles(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson(27-8) filed a suit in February alleging trademark & copyright infringement and unfair competition against middleweight Matt Lindland(22-8) over usage of the Team Quest Fight Club LLC name & logo, but this week Lindland filed a motion to dismiss the suit as well as a counterclaim against Henderson alleging Henderson has no ownership of the entity(Credit : SBNation).
-UFC welterweight Matt Hughes(45-8) was cleared by the Illinois State Attorney's office of allegedly breaking a female bar patron's nose when he shoved a man during an April incident at Taylor Springs' Trails End Bar & Grill, stating there is not enough evidence to prove Hughes committed battery(Credit : TMZ).
-A hearing for the Highspots Vs. Ric Flair case has been set for Tuesday May 24th in Charlotte, NC.
BUSINESS :
-Eric Bischoff has started a family brewing company, Wyoming Territory Brewing. Their first beer, Buffalo Bill Cody Beer in 12 oz. bottles, will be available in local bars, restaurants and at retail in & around Cody, WY this summer.
UPCOMING :
-New Japan's first American tour takes place this weekend - tonight in Rahway, NJ's Rec Center, Saturday May 14th in New York City, NY's Basketball City, and Sunday May 15th in Philadelphia, Pa's Asylum Arena. Friday's show sees the first round of the tournament to crown the first IWGP Intercontinental Champion(featuring MVP & Dan Maff), Satoshi Kojima Vs. Kenny Omega, Rhino & Charlie Haas Vs. Togi Makabe & IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, The Strong Style Thugz(Homicide & Low Ki) Vs. JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger & Tiger Mask IV, and a Tag Team Battle Royal featuring Apollo 55(Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt), Jado & Gedo, Davey Richards & Shinsuke Nakamura, and IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson). Saturday's show will feature Haas challenging Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight title & Devitt defending his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title against Low Ki. The final leg on Sunday features Richards challenging Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight title, Rhino takes on Makabe in a street fight, Liger defending the JAPW Light Heavyweight title against Omega, The Strong Style Thugz challenge Apollo 55 for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team titles, and the finals of the IC title tournament(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also tonight, at AAW's GoFightLive IPPV taping in Merrionatee Park, IL, the BWO(Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie & Nova) reunite and The Smashing Pumpkin's Billy Corgan appear on a card featuring Sabu, Shane Douglas, Jimmy Jacobs, Alex Shelley, MsChif and more.
-This weekend will also see Pro Wrestling Respect's Mia Yim make her debut in Japan, wrestling Hiroyo Matsumoto at REINA 2, Sunday May 15th at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring(Credit : David Falcon). Jamilia Craft will also be making her Japanese debut this year.
-Luchador Tinieblas claims to be having his retirement match Saturday May 21st in Tehuacan, Mexico at a show hosted by Dr. Alfonso Morales(Credit : Lucha World).
-Rey Mysterio, Sr. will introduce a new 'Rey Mysterio, Jr.' on Friday May 27th at CMLL's show in Tijuana, Mexico(Credit : wrestling observer).
-MMA featherweight Jens Pulver(23-14-1) takes on Brian Davidson(6-3) in a 140 lbs. catchweight bout, Friday May 27th at Titan FC 18 in Kansas City, KS' Memorial Hall & airing live on HDNet.
-Strikeforce Challengers 16 takes place Friday June 24th from Kent, WA's ShoWare Center, featuring lightweights Ryan Couture(2-0) Vs. Matt Ricehouse(4-0, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Featherweight Mike Brown(24-8) faces Nam Phan(16-8) at UFC 133, Saturday August 6th in Philadelphia, PA. UFC On Versus 5 happens 8 days later on Sunday August 14th from Milwaukee, WI's Bradley Center, featuring welterweights Dan Hardy(23-9, 1 NC) Vs. Chris Lytle(30-18-5), Light Heavyweights Stephan Bonnar(13-7) Vs. Karlos Venola(8-1), and featherweights Ben Henderson(13-2) Vs. Jim Miller(20-2, Credit : MMAJunkie).
MEDIA :
-'Wrestling With Faith', a documentary on Ted Dibiase, Sr., is currently in production(Credit : 411mania).
-Edge guest stars on Entertainment One & Big Motion Pictures' 'Haven' on SyFy, Friday July 15th.
-Hulk Hogan will be doing the voice of the 'Dean' character on Adult Swim's new 'The Professor Brothers' cartoon on The Cartoon Network(Credit : 411mania).
-WWE Studios is set to produce a new horror film, 'No One Lives', starring Luke Evans and WWE wrestlers in supporting roles, while John Cena's next WWE film, formerly titled 'Blood Brothers', has been renamed 'Family Reunion(Credit : Variety)'.
-The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, CA broke a Guinness World Record for "largest gathering of people wearing costume masks" on Tuesday May 10th at an Angel Stadium game against the Chicago White Sox & celebrating their 50th anniversary, giving away more than 40,000 Angels-themed lucha libre masks. Prompting the attendance to wear the masks for ten minutes, the official number on the stadium's screen was listed as a world record count of 24,998(Credit : mlb.com).
Friday, May 20, 2011 :
-The Wrestling Roundtable Newsletter has been put on hold indefinitely.
-Wrestling Roundtable Radio returns this Tuesday night at 11pm EST/8pm PST on BlogTalkRadio. We'll be discussing TNA Sacrifice 2011, WWE Over The Limit 2011, some of Ring Of Honor's latest events, and much more, including the unfortunate lead story below. Call 347-857-4647 to share your thoughts & questions.
DEATHS :
-"Macho Man" Randy Savage(Randy Mario Poffo), 58, former WWF/WCW/ICW wrestler and 6-time World Champion, died at 10am today, Friday May 20th, in Seminole, FL's Largo Medical Center after suffering what appears to be a heart attack while driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler, veering across a concrete median on Park Boulevard through oncoming traffic with his foot on the accelerator. His wife, Barbara Lynn Poffo, in the car with him(both wearing seat belts) reached over, steering the vehicle to avoid other drivers by crashing in to a tree. Savage was transferred to the Center while his wife Barbara is being treated at the Bayfront Medical Center for minor injuries(Credit : TMZ, Tampabay.com). The entire Wrestling Roundtable sends our deepest condolences to the Poffo family; wrestling fans(and even non-wrestling fans) the world over mourn this tremendous loss.
RESULTS :
-WWE Tough Enough that aired on Monday May 9th saw both Ivelisse Velez & Eric Watts eliminated.
-New Japan presented 'Life Goes On!' on Samurai! TV from Japan's Shinjuku FACE on Friday May 13th. The New Japan dojo's Takaaki Watanabe made his pro wrestling debut, losing in 7:30 to Hiromu Takahashi's crab hold. NJPW started their first American tour on the same day at Rahway, NJ's Recreation Center. The Strong Style Thugz(Homicide & Low Ki) defeated Jushin "Thunder" Liger & Tiger Mask in 10:41 when Ki pinned Tiger following a Ki Crusher, and Satoshi Kojima pinned Kenny Omega in 9:29 after a lariat(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-NJPW continued their US tour on Saturday May 14th from New York, NY's Basketball City. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt defeated former champion Low Ki in 16:07 via pinfall after a Bloody Sunday, and in the main event, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Charlie Haas in 18:50, pinning Haas after a High Fly Flow(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Saturday May 14th, CWI's Brawl At The Bush II took place in Brantford, ON, Canada's Civic Center. Tag Team Champions The Flatliners successfully defended against The Highlanders, X-Pac defeated Michael Elgin, Tatanka beat Steve Corino, Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner beat Kevin Nash via pinfall after using a belt to hit Nash in the head, Team Beefcake(Brutus Beefcake, Lanny Poffo, Bushwhacker Luke & Haven) beat The Million $Team(Virgil, The Nasty Boys & Big Daddy hammer) in an elimination tag match when Beefcake won via technical submission by Sleeperhold on Jerry Saggs when Hulk Hogan called for the bell(Credit : force of wrestling).
-The final leg of NJPW's US tour concluded at Philadelphia, PA's Asylum Arena on Sunday May 15th, seeing Kenny Omega unseat JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger in 10:42 with a pinfall following a Croyt's Wrath to become the new title holder. IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Dan Maff in 14:39 when Anderson used a Gun Stun on Maff. Lance Hoyt made his New Japan debut as 'Lance Archer' after the match, attacking Kojima. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Apollo 55(Ryusuke Taguchi & IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt) successfully defend their titles against The Strong Style Thugz in 15:18 when Devitt used a Bloody Sunday on Homicide for the pin. Togi Makabe deat Rhino in a Street Fight, stopping Rhino with a King Kong Kneedrop in 15:17. And in the finals of tournament to crown the first IWGP Intercontinental Champion, MVP beat Toru Yano with the TTB in 9:27 to claim the title(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Sun. May 15th, TNA Sacrifice 2011 took place at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL. Chyna made her in-ring TNA debut teaming with Kurt Angle to defeat Jeff & Karen Jarrett, submitting Karen in an ankle lock in 10:19. World Tag Team Champions Beer Money, Inc.(Robert Roode & James Storm) defeated Matt Hardy & Chris Harris(not the Roundtable's Chris Harris) in Harris' in-ring return when Storm pinned Harris in 13:51. And in the main event, TNA World Champion Sting defeated Rob Van Dam in 12:43 via pinfall following a Scorpion Death Drop(Credit : 411mania).
-More on Sun. May 15th, Pro Wrestling NOAH & Westside Xtreme Wrestling presented 'Genesis In Germany' from the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, which saw WXW Unified World Wrestling Champion Big Van Walter defend successfully against Shuhei Taniguchi in 11:52 with powerbomb, Go Shiozaki defeat Bad Bones in 22:02 with a Go Flasher, KENTA down Chris Hero with a Go To Sleep in 22:20, and GHC Heavyweight Champion Takashi Sugiura defend his title against Claudio Castagnoli, beating Castagnoli in 21:42 with an Olympic Slam(Credit : wwf4ever).
-Lastly on May 15th, The Dark City Fight Club regained the NWA World Tag Team Championship at NWA Rampage's show in Warner Robbins, GA, defeating title holders The Usual Suspects to become 2-time Champions(Credit : 411mania).
-At TNA's Impact Wrestling tapings from Orlando, FL's Impact Wrestling Zone on Monday May 16th that aired last night on Spike TV, Abyss defeated X Champion Kazarian in 5:05 via pinfall following the Black Hole Slam for the title. Eric Bischoff made his in-ring TNA debut, teaming with Matt Hardy to defeat Generation Me via pinfall in 6:07 following a kick. ODB returned to the promotion, attacking Velvet Sky.
-The following night's tapings, Tuesday May 17th in the same venue, Eric Young defeated TV Champion Gunner for the belt, making Young a 2-time Champion. Desmond Wolfe returned in an on-air role as 'Commissioner of TNA Xplosion', along with starting a tournament to crown the first ever Xplosion Champion(the title holder will be able to challenge any TNA champion on Impact). Disco Inferno returned to the promotion as a guest on Mr. Anderson(as Sting)'s Scorpion Sitdown talk show, being beat up.
SHAKE UPS :
-WWE is now requiring all contracted wrestlers to personally purchase & maintain their own medical insurance themselves. Though they are able to write off the cost as a business expense as an independent contractor, they also will be fined or sat out if they do not get the coverage(Credit : pwinsider).
-NBC's Sports Group President Dick Ebersol, instrumental in the creation of WWF Saturday Night's Main Event & the XFL, has resigned, leaving NBC Universal due to a contract dispute with Comcast.
-TNA's head of Talent Relations, Terry Taylor, will resign from the promotion after Tuesday May 31st, with Bruce Prichard taking his place(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Nevada State Athletic Commission has ruled that starting at UFC 130 on Saturday May 28th, judges will have 7-inch monitors for their use(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE has signed James Maritato(Little Guido/Nunzio) as a referee.
HEALTH :
-UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones(13-1) has opted not to have surgery on his injured right hand and is targeting a fall return to the Octagon(Credit : MMAFighting).
LEGAL :
-MMA lightweight Hermes Franca(21-11) has turned himself in to authorities at the Clackamas County Jail on charges of sexually abusing a female minor at a Oregon jiu-jitsu academy. Bail being set at $250,000, France plead not guilty to seven counts of sex abuse in the first degree & two counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree on Tuesday May 17th. A release hearing was set for today, with a Tuesday July 12th date set for the trial and France was released from his Maximum Fighting Championship contract; France was scheduled to face Drew Ficket(41-13) Friday June 10th at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's Mayfield Inn Trade & Conference Centre in MFC 30: Up Close & Personal(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-MMA heavyweight Ricco Rodriguez(46-11) was arrested Sunday May 15th for assault & resisting arrest in Ahwatukee, AZ after a scuffle with a taxi driver & police wherein Rodriguez allegedly refused to pay the $70 tab for the ride to South Phoenix's 'Garage' bar, threw the driver to the ground and resisted arrest(Credit : MMAJunkie). Rodriguez last fought at BAMMA 5 in Manchester, England's MEN Arena, losing to James McSweeney(4-8) via unanimous decision(Credit : Sherdog, MMAJunkie).
-The California SAC initially upheld it's decision to indefinitely suspend UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen(25-11-1)'s license by a 4-1 vote, but today reversed their decision, meaning Sonnen is suspended until his CA license expires on Wednesday June 29th but he is free to reapply afterward(Credit : MMAJunkie).
BUSINESS :
-Titan Fighting Championship has signed a 3-year contract extension with HDNet to air live events on the network, with Bellator FC executive director of operations & Titan FC owner Joe Kelly resigning from his BFC position to concentrate on TFC(Credit : Sherdog).
-Wrestlelicious has signed a deal with Union Square Agency to oversee production of a new series in 2011 on a Viacom-owned cable network.
INTERNATIONAL :
-New Japan's Shinsuke Nakamura returns to tour Mexico's EMLL on Saturday, May 28th at Arena Mexico. NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling's Ayumi Kurihara tours EMLL starting Monday June 6th(Credit : Lucha World).
UPCOMING :
-A former ROH World Tag Team Champion returns tomorrow at Ring Of Honor's Supercard Of Honor VI in Chicago Ridge, IL's Frontier Fieldhouse.
-DREAM 17: Fight For Japan takes place at Japan's Saitama Super Arena on Sunday May 29th. In addition to four first round fights & semifinals in the Japan bantamweight grand prix tournament, Lightweight Shinya Aoki(27-5, 1 NC), originally scheduled to face Antonio McKee(25-4-2), takes on Rich Clementi(40-19-1) after refusing to sign a contract to fight Shane Nelson(13-5, who was awarded a two-fight deal afterwards and will likely debut at DREAM 18). Elsewhere, featherweights abound as Caol Uno(27-14-5) fights Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura(11-6-1), Mitsuhiro Ishida(20-6-1) takes on Joachim Hansen(21-10-1), and Koichiro Matsumoto(12-2) goes against Takeshi Inoue(19-5, Credit : MMAJunkie, Sherdog).
-AAA's Triplemania XIX takes place June 18th at Mexico City, MX's Palacio De Los Deportes. Mickie James, Velvet Sky, Angelina Love & Sexy Sky team to face Lolita, Cinthia Moreno, Fabi Apache & Mari Apache, TNA X Champion Abyss & Mr. Anderson challenge AAA World Tag Team Champions Jack Evans & Extreme Tiger, Dr. Wagner Jr. takes on Rob Van Dam to determine the first Latin American Champion, and AAA Heavyweight Champion El Zorro defends against Jeff Jarrett(Credit : Lucha World, wrestling news world).
-New Japan presents the 'DOMINION 6.18' WPW PPV on Saturday June 18th from Japan's Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki face Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against Hirooki Goto, IWGP IC Champion MVP makes his first defense of the title against Toru Yano, and IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions take on NOAH's GHC Tag Team Champions Takuma Sano & Yoshihiro Takayama in a first ever title-for-title match(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Light Heavyweights Vladimir Matyushenko(26-5) faces Alexander Gustafsson(11-1) on Saturday August 6th at UFC 133 in Philadelphia, PA(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira(32-6-1, 1 NC) has claimed he will return to the cage at UFC's return to Brazil, Saturday August 27th from Rio De Janeiro's HSBC Arena(Credit : 411mania).
MEDIA :
-Paul Heyman is helping UFC produce segments with heavyweight Shane Carwin(12-1) on the upcoming Countdown series promoting his fight with Junior Dos Santos(12-1) at UFC 131 on Saturday June 11th(Credit : 411mania).
-The Mexican national post service held a ceremony on Thursday May 12th to unveil three Mil Mascaras stamps(Credit : Lucha World).
-Steve Austin's new film 'Recoil' has finished filming, while Tough Enough premieres in Canada this Tuesday May 23rd on The Fight Network(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Rock has signed on to star in 'The Snitch'(Credit : pwinsider).
-WWE Studios' 'That's What I Am' starring Randy Orton was released on DVD, Blu-Ray & Netflix this past Tuesday May 17th(Credit : 411mania).
-'The Elaborate Entrance Of Chad Deity', Kristoffer Diaz' wrestling play, won the 2011 OBIE Award for Best New American Play(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Memphis Heat', a documentary on Memphis wrestling, debuts in Nashville theaters Friday June 17th(Credit : pwinsider).
-'Card Subject To Change: Wrestling's Underground', a documentary on New Jersey's NWS, get released on DVD Tuesday July 12(Credit : pwinsider).
-CMLL's Shocker opened his own restaurant, 'Che Cuapo', in Mexico City, MX on Wednesday May 11th(Credit : Lucha World).
-TNA's new mobile game was released yesterday, Thursday May 19th(Credit : 411mania).
Saturday, June 4, 2011 :
The Wrestling Roundtable tapes two new shows tomorrow, Sunday June 5th, featuring the topics of Edge's Career, Remember "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Randy Couture's Career & UFC : The SEG Years. I apologize for the delay in the posting of the last show and we hope to resolve our audio issues as well. Roundtable Radio will go on a short hiatus in the meantime, returning in a couple weeks, and more updates to WrestlingRoundtable.com are on the way.
DEATHS :
-Betty George, 98, the first wife of Gorgeous George who accepted his WWE Hall Of Fame plaque last year for his induction, died Friday June 3rd in Gearhart, OR(Credit : wwe.com)
RESULTS :
-BAMMA 6 took place from London, England's Wembley Arena on Saturday May 21st. Middleweight Frank Trigg(21-8) defeated John Philips(13-4, 1 NC) via TKO(doctor's stoppage) after 2:41 of round 1, but following his unanimous decision loss to Tom Watson(14-4) in the main event, fellow middleweight Murilo "Ninja" Rua(20-12-1) retired from MMA(Credit : SBNation).
-WWE Over The Limit 2011 took place Sunday May 22nd from Seattle, WA's KeyArena. World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton successfully defended his title against Christian, pinning him after an RKO in 16:52. All other champions also kept their belts; Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show defeated Nexus' CM Punk & Mason Ryan in 9:06 by pinfall following a High Times, Divas Champion Brie Bella beat Kelly Kelly in 3:46 via pinfall after Bella Buster, Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett lost to Ezekiel Jackson in 7:30 via disqualification after The Corre interfered, and John Cena made The Miz give up to an STF in 24:44 of their main event "I Quit" title match. Elsewhere, Sin Cara made his pay-per-view debut, beating Chavo Guerrero in 7:23 via pinfall, and Jerry "The King" Lawler defeated Michael Cole in a "Kiss My Foot" match by pinfall in 2:58 after a fist drop. After the match, Eve Torres, Jim Ross & Bret "The Hitman" Hart came out after the match to beat up Cole and make him take the stipulation(Credit :411mania).
-On WWE Monday Night RAW, May 23rd from Portland, OR's Rose Garden, WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & The Big Show lost the titles to the New Nexus' David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty. Also, The Miz 'fired' Alex Riley, and Riley turned face by brawling with Miz.
-UFC 130 emanated from Las Vegas, NV's MGM Grand Garden Arena this past Saturday May 28th. Middleweight Brian Stann(11-3) defeated Jorge Santiago(23-9) 4:29 in to round 2 via TKO(punches). Welterweight Thiago Alves(18-8) lost to Rick Story(13-3) via unanimous decision. In the heavyweight division, Travis Browne(11-0-1) scored a 4:11 1st round victory over Stefan Struve(21-5) with a superman punch KO, and Frank Mir(15-5), despite a knee ligament injury causing him to miss two weeks of his 12-week camp prior to the fight, won every round of his fight against Roy Nelson(15-6) to get the unanimous decision nod, with both fighters contracting illnesses 6 days prior(Mir getting Bronchitis that prevented training during the week, and Nelson had walking pneumonia before, during & after the fight). And in the main event, light heavyweight Quinton "Rampage" Jackson(32-8) entered the cage with a fractured hand(hurt in training 8 weeks prior) but still managed to best Matt Hamill(10-3), also a unanimous decision clean sweep. Jackson is required to get an X-ray of his left hand and could be medically suspended until November 25th by the Nevada State Athletic Commission if hurt, though Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones(13-1) has said there is a verbal agreement in place for him to defend against "Rampage" later this year(Credit : MMAJunkie, MMAMania, ESPN).
-On WWE Tough Enough this past Monday May 30th, Jeremiah Riggs was eliminated. A.J. Kirsch & Christiana Crawford were both eliminated the previous week, while Martin Casaus was forced out of the competition the week before that due to a fractured foot suffered during a training session.
-Also this past Monday on WWE RAW from Omaha, NE's Qwest Center, Alex Riley was 're-signed' by the GM, and Kharma announced she was taking off a year from wrestling to give birth, as she is pregnant.
-On WWE NXT this past Tuesday from Des Moines, IA's Wells Fargo Arena, Bryron Saxton was eliminated(Jacob Novak was eliminated on Tuesday May 17th from Corpus Christi, TX's American Bank Center). On the Smackdown taping afterward that aired last night, Christian refereed World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton's successful title defense against Sheamus, seeing Orton pin Sheamus in 14:00 after a pinfall. After the match, Christian turned heel, attacking Orton with the belt & walking away with it(Credit : 411mania).
-Representing Atos, Strikeforce Women's Middleweight Champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos won Gold yesterday, June 3rd, in the Purple Belt Heavy Female division of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation's World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2011 in Long Beach, CA's California State University. George Lucas' daughter Amanda placed second in the division, representing Trinity BJJ(Credit : IBJJF).
-Also yesterday, the Urban Wrestling Federation taped their first three PPVs at New York City, NY's Hammerstein Ballroom, Rasche Brown became the first UWF Champion, defeating Ricky Reyes, Beastia 666 & Homicide in a four way elimination match when he pinned Reyes following a spear(Credit : pwinsider).
SHAKE UPS :
-The New York State Senate voted 42-18 on Bill S1707A(MMA Regulation) on, now heading towards the New YorK State Assembly for approval(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE has shown interest in CMLL luchador Averno, who will likely lose a mask match to La Mascara at 'Juicio Final', June 17 from Arena Mexico. EMLL has also stripped Shocker of the NWA Historic Light Heavyweight title due to inactivity; a tournament to crown a new champion is forthcoming(Credit : Lucha World).
-UFC lightweight Kurt Pellegrino(16-6) has announced a hiatus from active competition, opting not to re-sign with Zuffa.
-2011 NCAA Division 1 national wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins has signed with the American Top Team to train in MMA(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Former WWE Diva Tiffany has separated from husband Drew McIntyre.
-DGUSA has signed the Dirty Ugly Fucks(Arik Canon & Sami Callihan).
HEALTH :
-NWS Cruiserweight Champion Spyral suffered a severe neck injury early in the week during training & was hospitalized(Credit : Gerweck.net).
-UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar(5-2) underwent surgery at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic on Friday May 27th to remove a 12-inch section of his colon, with hopes of being back in action by January.
-UFC lightweight Gray Maynard(10-0-1, 1 NC) recently had a knee arthroscopy but expects to be back soon.
-UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo(19-1) will be doing three weeks of 5-times-a-week physical therapy, then two weeks of 3-times-a-week physical therapy, then one week of two rehab sessions on his medical suspension from April 30's UFC 129 fight to heal his recent neck injury of a compacted vertebrae(Credit : Bloody Elbow).
-WWE Diva Layla El underwent surgery on her ACL & MCL on Thursday May 26th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Chuck Taylor suffered a groin injury in a victorious match against Kenny King on Friday May 27th at PWG's 'All Star Weekend Night 1' at Reseda, CA's American Legion Post #308, using a handful of tights to defeat King by pinfall. Though he sat out the following night's Night 2 in the same building, he is not expected to miss any more time(Credit : socaluncensored).
LEGAL :
-The state of Connecticut has ruled that WWE owes $7,316 in underpaid unemployment compensation for several WWE employees, which WWE is paying "under protest"(Credit : AP).
-An order for Ric Flair's arrest was issued in Mecklenburg County, NC on Thursday May 26th after being found in 'willful civil contempt of the court' during a hearing for not following a mediated Settlement Agreement from the Highspots lawsuit against him. Unless he cancels the order by paying $35,000 to Highspots and returning 300 photos, he will be imprisoned starting Monday June 27th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Jeff Hardy's drug case was delayed AGAIN until Monday June 27th after Moore County Sentencing Services program administrator Becky Carlson missed her Wednesday June 1st deadline to finish Hardy's 'drug assessment' evaluation(Credit : wrestlinginc).
BUSINESS :
-WWE has appointed Rukn Kizilbash as WWE India's General Manager and opened a new Mumbai, India office today(Wednesday, June 1st). WWE also signed with UK-based Web TVB to handle their video content, while they've also elected current President & CEO of social media monitoring & analysis company Crimson Hexagon, Patricia A. Gottesman, to their Board Of Directors(Credit : pwinsider).
-The UWF has signed a production deal with JSR Merchandising to create products featuring UWF imagery, including shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats & more(Credit : pwinsider).
-Orlando Jordan & Like Hawx have opened the Wildkat Sports & Entertainment Training Dojo in Louisiana(Credit : 411mania).
INTERNATIONAL :
-Ultimo Guerrero has been added to EMLL's booking team(Credit : Super Luchas).
-Rich Swann will be touring Japan for Dragon Gate, with Ricochet doing the same soon.
UPCOMING :
-Bellator FC will be holding a featherweight tournament during their "Summer Series" event from June through August, starting with Bellator 46, June 25th live on MTV2 from CT's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-DREAM.17, Saturday July 16th at Tokyo, Japan's Ariake Coliseum, will see Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi(30-3-2) defend against Hiroshi Izumi(4-1), and Featherweight Champion Hiroyuki Takaya(15-9-1) face Kazuyuki Miyata(11-7). The finals of the bantamweight grand prix also conclude that night.
-Johnny Saint returns to CHIKARA on July 30th in Reading, PA's Goodwill Beneficial Assoc. Hall at their "CHIKARASAURUS - REX : King Of Sequel' show also featuring Ice Ribbon's Makoto & Tsukasa Fujimoto from Japan, while Johnny Kidd debuts the same night.
-UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre(22-2) defends against Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7,1 NC) on Saturday October 29th at UFC 137 from Las Vegas, NV's Mandalay Bay Events Center. The bout falls under a new 8-fight deal Zuffa signed Diaz to which also bans him from boxing professionally and only the UFC Welterweight title is likely on the line(Credit : USA Today).
-UFC middleweights Michael Bisping(2103) and Jason "Mayhem" Miller(24-7-0, 1 NC) will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter, culminating in a bout at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, Saturday December 3rd from 'The Pearl' at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV. Plans are still in place to eventually do an international world grand prix tournament edition of TUF, with an inaugural international edition emanating from The Philippines(Credit : Five Knuckles).
MEDIA :
-Joanie "Chyna" Laurer stars in 'White T', to see limited theatrical release August 1st, and in "Back Door To Chyna", a new pornographic film shot in November for Vivid Entertainment. Though she initially denied even filming the first of three porn movies, the gig has led to TNA not asking her back to the promotion(Credit : TMZ).
-Stone Cold Steve Austin stars in 'Tactical Force', being released on Blu-Ray & DVD on Tuesday August 9th(Credit : wwe dvd news).
-'Hulk Hogan's Main Event', a new wrestling game from Majesco Entertainment, will be released for the XBOX 360 Kinect on October 3. Hogan will also be the grand Marshall at tonight's 16th Annual Powell Memorial race in Ocala, FL's Bubba Raceway Park(Credit : Games Radar)
-Discontinuing the "Smackdown Vs. RAW" series, THQ will be producing a new series of WWE video games to take it's place, 'WWE 12'(2012)', with a new sequential name matching the year of it's release henceforth(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Chris Jericho will write a new book for Penguin Publishing in 2013.
-Mickie James will be singing at the CMA Festival in Nashville, TN, Tuesday June 7-Friday June 11(Credit : pwinsider).
-The Nasty Boys competed in a food challenge on The Travel Channel's 'Man V Food Nation' this past Wednesday June 1st.
-Stacy Keibler will be a "Man-bassador" on Spike TV's Guys Choice Special, Friday June 10th(Credit : pwinsider).
Thursday, June 9, 2011 :
DEATHS :
-Adrian Steel(Robert Dale Phipps), 39, an Arkansas indy wrestler, died on Monday June 6th after having a heart attack backstage while waiting for his match at the Mid States Wrestling Association's show in the Northwest Arkansas District Fairgrounds on Saturday June 4th. After collapsing, Phipps was taken by medical helicopter en route to a Springfield, MO hospital. Suffering another seizure in the air which necessitated an emergency landing in Branson, MO's Skaggs Hospital, Phipps died on Monday(Credit : USA Today).
RESULTS :
-On TNA's Impact Wrestling that aired this past Thursday night taped from the Impact Zone in Orlando, FL, Eric Bischoff read legal papers that said Mick Foley was fired as 'head of the network', a storyline explanation for Foley's actual separation from the promotion as he sits out his contract, which runs through September(Credit : pwinsider).
-New Japan's show on Saturday June 4th in Japan's Kyoto KBS Hall was stopped a little earlier than planned when Manabu Nakanishi was injured during the main event; during a 6-man tag where he teamed with Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma against Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Wataru Inoue & Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, Wataru hit Nakanishi with a German suplex, after which Nakanishi suffered numbness & temporary paralysis due to an injured spinal cord. The referee stopped the bout at the 11:41 mark and Nakanishi was stretchered out in a neck brace, regaining feeling in his body afterwards. He is expected to recover(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Saturday, UFC presented The Ultimate Fighter Finale 13 from The Pearl at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Lightweight Clay Guida(29-11) ousted the last WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis(13-2) by unanimous decision, scoring every round in in Pettis' UFC debut. In the main event, welterweight Tony Feruson(11-2) became TUF Season 13 winner by knocking out Ramsey Nijem(4-2), 3:54 in to round one with punches.
-On WWE's Tough Enough finale, live this past Monday June 6th from the Richmond Coliseum in Virginia, Stone Cold Steve Austin announced Andy Leavine as the winner...before Stunning him. Leavine will start wrestling in FCW soon. Also, TE trainer Booker T has replaced Matt Striker as the 'Superstars' announcer(Credit : 411mania, wrestling observer).
SHAKE UPS :
-All Japan wrestler Super Hate(Nobukazu Hirai) suffered what is believed to be an acute subdurmal hematoma(brain bleeding) during a 'Whip Ass Lumberjack' match with Kenso(Kenzo Suzuki) at AJPW's 'Rise Up Tour 2011' event in Kobe, Japan's Sanbo Hall on Sunday May 29th. Vomiting & passing out after being helped to the back following the 6:30 long match Kenso won, Hirai was rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery. Hirai had been assaulted earlier in the day by TARU backstage(in response to Hirari's alleged drinking problem & 'lazy' ring work) but also was likely suffering from a concussion after being hospitalized a week earlier after being hit with a chair shot to the head. Though AJPW suspended TARU for three days and disbanded the VooDoo Murderers faction(made up of Hirai, Minoru, MAZADA & Masayuki Kono) in response to Hirai's teammates standing by during the assault & not helping(only referee Kyohei Wada intervened), Keiji Mutoh(The Great Muta) has stepped down as AJPW President in the wake of the scandal, being replaced by director Masayuki Uchida(Credit : Cageside Seats, Tokyo Sports).
-The New York State Assembly's Tourism, Parks, Arts & Sports Development committee voted to pass Bill A04146A(to regulate MMA in the state) 16-3 on Monday June 5th. The bill must now pass the assembly's Codes Committee starting next week, then the Ways & Means Committee, then the Rules Committee, THEN it goes to the assembly floor(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Gina Carano(7-1) has withdrawn from her scheduled MMA return against Sarah D'Alello(4-1) on Strikeforce's Saturday June 17th event in Dallas, TX's American Airlines Center due to her medical clearance being revoked when her doctor advised her not to fight. No timetable on rescheduling her return has been set, but Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated the heavyweight world grand prix tournament is now targeted to conclude in early 2012, with Zuffa installing a new rule in case of a draw; a fourth sudden death round(Credit : MMAJunkie, MMA Fighting).
HEALTH :
-Lanny Poffo, brother of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, claims Savage died from ventricular fibrillation, an abnormal heart arrhythmia(Credit : pwinsider).
-EMLL referee Rafael El Maya was rushed to a hospital after suffering a heart attack on Saturday afternoon June 4th, and had successful cardiac catheterization surgery on Monday June 6th(Credit : Lucha World).
BUSINESS :
-UFC is teaming with Microsoft to create 'UFC Live' for the Xbox 360, live broadcasts of their pay-per-view events with live interactive features during steaming, including you providing your own commentary and training videos & stats(Credit : destructoid).
-Batista is partnering with Cesar Gracie to open up a Gracie Fighter Jiu Jitsu dojo in Tampa, FL next week(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Masked Republic & JSR Merchandising to make officially licensed merchandise of luchadors Konnan, Rey Mysterio, Solar, Hijo De Rey Mysterio, Rayo De Jalisco, Jr. & more, to be unveiled at the San Diego Comic Con Thursday July 21.
UPCOMING :
-The finals of New Japan's 'Best Of the Super Jr.s' tournament take place this Friday at Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall. Two semi-finals happen first though, as DDT's Kota Ibushi faces Davey Richards, and IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt takes on his Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship partner, Ryusuke Taguchi(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-The Vancouver Athletic Commission will utilize the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport(CCES) to administer the drug testing for this Saturday, June 11th's UFC 131 in British Columbia, Canada's Rogers Arena(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Also this Saturday will be Tommy Dreamer's last TNA event under his current deal, at their 'BaseBrawl' house show in Memphis, TN's AutoZone Park, which in addition sees World Heavyweight Champion Sting's TNA house show debut against Mr. Anderson.
-MVP makes his Mexican debut at Perros Del Mal's show during the Lucha Libre Festival on Saturday July 23rd, teaming Shelton Benjamin & Marco Corleone against Damian 666, Halloween & Perro Aguayo, Jr(Credit : Lucha World).
-Great North Wrestling presents the "Macho Man Randy Savage Memorial Show" at Hawkesbury, ON, Canada's Robert Hartley Arena featuring "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal and main eventide by "The Genius" Lanny Poffo Vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valetine(Credit : pwinsider).
MEDIA :
-The Bella Twins & Kelly Kelly appear on CBS' 'The Price Is Right' hosted by WWE Hall Of Famer Drew Carey the week of Monday June 13th, the same day Edge guest stars on SyFy's 'Sanctuary'(Credit : pwinsider).
-Hulk Hogan is planning a 90-minute stage show featuring a Q & A, 'In Conversation : Outside The Ring With Hulk Hogan' produced by The Agency Group, set to tour starting in the fall(Credit : New York Times).
-'Green Lantern: Emerald Knights' starring Roddy Piper came out on DVD this past Tuesday, June 4th(Credit : wrestling observer).
-Brodus Clay has been cast in WWE Studio's co-production with Pathe U.K., 'No One Lives', scheduled to begin shooting next week in New Orleans(Credit : Variety).
-Bill DeMott's autobiography, 'The Last Laugh', has been released by Crowbar Press.
-WWE release 'Rey Mysterio : The Life Of A Masked Man' on Tuesday July 12(Credit : wrestlesite).
-IWGP Intercontinental Champion MVP has released a hip hop song, 'Holla To The World' featuring Dwane Sweazie on Soundcloud(Credit : 411mania).
-'Wrestling's Lost Treasures', an iPPV featuring matches from IWA Mid-South & other indies, is now available on GoFightLive.
Friday, June 17, 2011 :
-Roundtable
Radio returns this Tuesday at 11pm EST/8pm PST on BlogTalkRadio. Also
on BlogTalkRadio, audio broadcasts of the entire Wrestling Roundtable's
previous 51 shows are being made available, including Season 1.
-Pro Wrestling Respect
1: Inaugural & PWR 2 : Delirious Vs. Ridge are now available for
video download on Highspots.com for only $4.95. each!
DEATHS :
-Milt Avruskin, 64,
Superstars Of Wrestling/International Wrestling announcer in the
70s/80s, died Saturday May 28(Credit : SLAM! Wrestling).
RESULTS :
-Terry Funk won the
Squared Circle Wrestling(2CW) Championship on Sunday June 5th from Slyck
Wagner Brown in Syracuse, NY's Pastime Athletic Club at 2CW's "Funk U"
event. However, due to the fact wrestler Jay Freddie counted the pinfall
rather than a referee, Funk vacated the championship later that night,
with a new champion to be crowned in a match between Freddie &
Brown, Friday July 15th in Waretown, NY's Watertown Fairgrounds at Alex
Duffy Baseball Stadium at 'The Big Event', a show also featuring Mick
Foley & Sunny, both in guest referee roles(Credit : pwinsider).
-WWE Monday Night RAW on June 6th from Virginia's Richmond Coliseum saw Booker T's RAW return match for the promotion, a count out victory over Jack Swagger who walked out of the match(Credit : wrestling101).
-WWE Monday Night RAW on June 6th from Virginia's Richmond Coliseum saw Booker T's RAW return match for the promotion, a count out victory over Jack Swagger who walked out of the match(Credit : wrestling101).
-The finals of NJPW's
Best Of The Super Juniors 2011 tournament aired on Samurai! TV Friday
June 10th from Japan's Tokyo Korakuen Hall, seeing the first ever
non-New Japan wrestler win the trophy, as DDT's Kota Ibushi defeated
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Ryusukue Taguchi in 20:22 via
pinfall after a Phoenix Splash(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-UFC 131 took place from
Vancouver, B.C., Canada's Rogers Arena on Saturday June 11th. All
unanimous decisions, middleweight Mark Munoz(11-2) beat Demian
Maia(14-3), Kenny Florian(15-5) made a successful featherweight debut
against Diego Nunes(16-2), and heavyweight Junior Dos Santos(13-1)
defeated Shane Carwin(12-2). With the victory, Dos Santos has earned a
title shot against Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez(9-0), expected to
be at UFC 138 in November, while Carwin suffered a broken nose & a
possible orbital fracture in the contest(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-TNA presented
Slammiversary 2011 this past Sunday June 12th from Orlando, FL's Impact
Wrestling Zone. Replacing the injured Robert Roode, Alex Shelley filled
in & teamed with Tag Team Champion James Storm to successfully
defend the belts against The British Invasion(Magnus & Douglas
Williams), with Storm getting the pin in 10:57 following a Sliced Bread
#2 by Shelley on Magnus. And in the main event, Mr. Anderson won his
second World title by reclaiming the World title from Champion Sting in
15:52, pinning Sting after a Mic Check(Credit : 411mania).
-WWE Monday Night RAW's 'All Star' show from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY on June 13th saw Rowdy Roddy Piper defeat The Miz in Piper's RAW return match, pinning Miz with a schoolboy in a quick bout. Also, John Morrison was announced as returning to face R-Truth, but the match never took place as Truth attacked Morrison backstage before the match(Credit : 2xzone).
-WWE Monday Night RAW's 'All Star' show from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY on June 13th saw Rowdy Roddy Piper defeat The Miz in Piper's RAW return match, pinning Miz with a schoolboy in a quick bout. Also, John Morrison was announced as returning to face R-Truth, but the match never took place as Truth attacked Morrison backstage before the match(Credit : 2xzone).
-On TNA's Impact
Wrestling this past Thursday taped from the Impact Wrestling Zone in
Orlando, FL, the returning Austin Aries defeated Jimmy Rave & Kid
Kash in a three way dance as part of the 'Bound For Glory' series, where
the wrestler with the most points gets t be part of the pay-per-view's
World title match. Also returning was Jackie Moore, who helped ODB beat
up Velvet Sky following Sky's tag loss with Miss Tessmacher against
Knockout Tag Team Champions Rosita & Sarita. Moore makes her in-ring
return next week when she teams with ODB to face Tessmacher & Sky
while Shima Xion, Dakota Darsow(who they recently signed) & Federico
Palacious(Azrieal) wrestle one another in a three way(Credit :
411mania, pwinsider).
SHAKE UPS :
-The New York Times
seconds The Wall Street Journal's initial report that the Ultimate
Fighting Championship are interested in acquiring a 60% controlling
stake in cable network G4, owned by Comcast. With their deal with Spike
TV running out this year, Dana White has stated UFC is in negotiations
with numerous networks. In the meantime, UFC has signed former NCAA
wrestler, Golden Gloves Champion & current undefeated North American
Allied Fight Series(NAAFS) Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic(6-0,
Credit : MMAFighting, MMAJunkie).
-During last week's
pre-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White confirmed that
starting after UFC 133 in August, all UFC main events will be 5 round
fights regardless of whether a title is on the line or not. He also
hinted that the flyweight division (125 lbs.) could premiere before the
end of the year, while Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz(25-7,
1 NC) will be vacating the title to challenge UFC Welterweight Champion
Georges St. Pierre(22-2) this October at UFC 137, with a new SF
Champion to be crowned at a later date(Credit : MMA Junkie).
-TNA has released Desmond Wolfe(Credit : pwinsider).
-WWE recently released
Buck Dixon, Ethan Levin, Buddy Stretcher, Wes Brisco, Jacob Novak &
Michael Tarver. Meanwhile, Matthew Justice has been renamed Mack
Hetfield in FCW(Credit : pwinsider).
-Bellator FC has signed lightweight Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra(8-1, Credit : MMAJunkie).
-Former WWF/WCW Women's
Champion Madusa will be getting married in Memphis, TN on Saturday June
25th to U.S. Army sergeant Alan Jonason(Credit : wresting observer).
HEALTH :
-WWE World Heavyweight
Champion Randy Orton suffered a concussion at the Smackdown house show
in Madrid, Spain's Palacio Vistalegre in a three way with Sheamus &
Christian, which he won & retained the title in(Credit : wrestling
observer, wrestling news world).
-Jim Ross had stomach
surgery this week. Bleeding restarted despite 11 staples being used in
the procedure, requiring another doctor visit(Credit : Wrestleheat).
-Skip Sheffield had a third surgery on his ankle, Tuesday June 14th(Credit : bleacher report).
-Brodie Lee suffered
what is believed to be partially torn a MCL & ACL on DGUSA's Sunday
June 5th 1st Anniversary Show in New York City, NY's BB King Blues Club
& Grille and will be laid up for a few weeks(Credit : yardbarker,
inside pulse).
LEGAL :
-WWE Legend Kevin Nash
was arrested last month in Florida on suspicion of battery after he
stopped a drunk man who attacked him with a beer bottle; while leaving a
restaurant, the man hit on Nash's wife and was punched by Nash after
he became aggressive towards her. Holding down the man until police
arrived, Nash was taken in to custody but charges were dropped due to
lack of evidence(Credit : TMZ, wrestle zone).
-UFC welterweight Josh
Koscheck(15-5), being represented by former UFC heavyweight Christian
Wellisch, is suing light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar(13-7) over a T-shirt
in the 'Trash Talkin' Kids line' that Bonnar's company, NGUAGE,
produced that parodied Koscheck's likeness(Credit : MMA Convert).
BUSINESS :
-Bill A04146A, to
legalize MMA in New York State, passed the New York State Assembly's
Codes Committee on Tuesday June 14th with a 17-1 vote(Credit :
Fightstartv).
-Dream Theater will
handle WWE's merchandise in India, while WWE has also extended it's
distribution deal with Eurosport for two more years for them to
broadcast 'This Week In WWE' & WWE's Vintage Collection across the
continent(Credit : 411mania).
-CMLL has patented the name 'Sin Cara' in Mexico(Credit : pwinsider).
INTERNATIONAL :
-Former CMLL wrestler
Tony Rivera is leading a group, 'El Barzon Popular', protesting in front
of Arena Mexico by blocking entrances & ticket booths with buses
that were parked early in the morning, preventing anyone from purchasing
tickets or entering the building for tonight's CMLL event. With Rivera
stating he wants retirement packages, social security benefits &
medical coverage for injuries suffered outside of CMLL, the group claims
they will protest every CMLL show until they speak with CMLL President Paco
Alonso(Credit : Super Luchas, Lucha World).
UPCOMING :
-Tomorrow's Lucha Libre
USA event, being taped tomorrow, Saturday June 18th at Albuquerque, NM's
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for broadcast on MTV2 & Tr3s!,
features the debut of The Headhunters.
-Also tomorrow, Pro
Wrestling Championship(PCW) presents DREAM NIGHT X at Oak Lawn, IL's
Pavillion, featuring TNA Knockout Tag Team Champion Rosita challenging
Women's Champion December, and special guests Mick Foley & Bret
Hart(Credit : Red Eye Chicago).
-Generation Me return to
ROH at 'Best In The World 2011', Sunday June 26th from New York City,
NY's Hammerstein Ballroom live on GoFightLive iPPV, taking on Adam Cole
& Kyle O'Reilly in a match taped for DVD, while Rhino makes his ROH
debut as Prince Nana's bodyguard, seeing the newest member of The
Embassy face Homicide in a street fight.
-TNA's All Wheels
Wrestling debuts in Universal Studios Wednesday June 29th at Orlando,
FL's Impact Wrestling Zone in a pilot taped for the SPEED Network.
-TNA's Destination X 2011 PPV, Sunday July 10th from the Impact Wrestling Zone, will see a return of the six-sided ring.
-WWC's Aniversario 2011
event at San Juan, PR's Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum July 15th-17th, a
weekend tribute to Hercules Ayala, features TNA X Champion Abyss,
Knockouts Tag Champion Sarita & Knockouts Champion Mickie
James(Credit : wrestling forum).
-Jack Evans & Aero
Star tour Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan as part of their Jr. Heavyweight
Tag Team Tournament July 16-30th(Credit : pwinsider).
-The National Wrestling
Hall Of Fame Dan Gable Museum's George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional
Wrestling Hall Of Fame induction weekend, July 22-23rd in Waterloo, IA,
will include a class induction of Dory Funk, Jr. & Gorilla Monsoon,
with special awards being given to Hacksaw Jim Duggan(who is working on
his autobiography), Pat Miletich & Scott Teal. Jim Ross will receive the Lou Thesz Award. Also, the
weekend will see a golf tournament, a training session with JR &
Gerald Brisco at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, an Impact
Pro Wrestling event at the same facility, and an MMA seminar with
Miletich at the Museum's Dan Gable Teaching Center(Credit : pwinsider).
-UFC Light Heavyweight
Champion Jon "Bones" Jones(13-1), who is in talks with Warner Bros about
a movie career, defends the title against Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson(32-8) at UFC 135, Saturday September 24th from Denver, CO's
Pepsi Center, while welterweight Matt Hughes(45-8) faces Diego
Sanchez(23-4).
MEDIA :
-Shawn Michaels' new
hunting show, 'Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventures', will
premiere on The Outdoor Channel on Tuesday June 28th and feature appearances from Triple H and other wrestlers(Credit :
411mania).
-Chyna will appear at
the Liquid Nitro Hawaii Energy Drink booth during the MMAHawaiiExpo in
Honolulu, HI's Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Saturday June 18th, whereas
her 'Backdoor To Chyna' porn by Vivid Entertainment, already
available on VOD, gets a DVD release Monday June 27th(Credit : 411mania).
-The Miz will be playing
The Travelers Championship Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament on
Wednesday June 22nd at Hartford, CT's TPC River Highlands.
Monday, June 20, 2011 :
-Wrestling Roundtable Radio #29 will air tomorrow night at 11pm EST/8pm PST on BlogTalkRadio. We'll be discussing the latest UFC events including The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, Strikeforce : Overeem Vs. Werdum, TNA Slammiversary 2011, WWE Capitol Punishment and much more!
-Also, the entire Roundtable archive is available now on BlogTalkRadio - every video show podcast & Radio show we've ever done is available now, as well as on iTunes and wrestlingroundtablepodcast.com!
DEATHS :
-J.T. Roberts(Justin Roberts), 29, northeast independent wrestler, died at 1:16am on Friday June 17th in a car accident on York Road in York, PA's North Codorus Township. Due to what appears to be speeding, he lost control of his 2003 Ford Taurus on a curve, hitting a tree and was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt force trauma(Credit : InYork.com, wrestling pro news).
-Joel Simon, former WWE Films president & producer of 'See No Evil', 'The Condemned' & 'The Marine', died in his sleep Sunday morning June 19th from pancreatic cancer. He was also co-producer of the 2000 film 'X-Men' starring former WCW wrestler Tyler Mane as Sabretooth(Credit : Deadline
RESULTS :
-CMLL's Jucio Final took place at Mexico City's Arena Mexico on Friday June 17th. In the main event, La Mascara defeated Averno in a mask vs. mask match. Averno unmasked after his loss(Credit : forceofwrestling).
-New Japan presented 'DOMINION 6.18' on Saturday June 18th live on WPW PPV from Japan's Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. TNA's Brian Kendrick made a surprise debut for NJPW, replacing Killer Rabbit in teaming with Gedo & Jado against Jushin "Thunder" Liger, KUSHIDA & Tiger Mask, claiming victory in 8:33 via pinfall following a Sliced Bread #2 on KUSHIDA(Kendrick will also replace Killer Rabbit in the J Sports Crown 6-Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament). Mascara Dorada reclaimed the CMLL World Welterweight championship from title holder & IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Ryusuke Taguchi, winning his 2nd title in 8:27 by pinfall. AKIRA & Mitsuhide Hirasawa both returned to NJPW, AKIRA to feud with Takashi Iizuka, Hirasawa turning on mentor Yuji Nagata and renaming himself Hideo Saito in joining CHAOS. DDT's Kota Ibushi defeated IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Prince Devitt for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title, pinning Devitt in 13:49 following a Firebird Splash. IWGP Intercontinental Champion MVP successfully defend his title against Toru Yano in 10:50, gaining a pinfall in his first title defense using cradle. Also victorious was IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, defeated in Hirooki Goto in 25:28 via pinfall after a High Fly Flow. But history was made before the main event, as IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) beat Pro Wrestling NOAH's GHC Tag Team Champions Yoshihiro Takayama & Takuma Sano in 12:03 by pinfall after Bernard used a Bernard Driver on Sano to become the first tag team to win both sets of tag titles(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Sat. June 18th, Strikeforce : Overeem Vs. Werdum emanated from Dallas, TX's American Airlines Center. In the heavyweight grand prix tournament, Josh Barnett(30-5) advanced, taking out Brett Rogers(11-3) 1:17 in to round 2 with an arm triangle submission, and Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem(35-11, 1 NC) got the unanimous decision over Fabricio Werdum(14-5-1).
-Last but definitely not least on Saturday, AAA's Triplemania XIX took place at Mexico City's Palacio De Los Deportes. TNA's Angelina Love, Velvet Sky & Knockouts Champion Mickie James teamed with Sexy Star to defeat Lolita, Cinthia Moreno and Fabi & Mari Apache when James pinned Fabi after a DDT. AAA Tag Team Champions Jack Evans & Extreme Tiger defeated TNA World Champion Mr. Anderson & TNA X Champion Abyss in a successful defense in a Steel Cage match via escape when Evans went over the top. Los Perros Del Mal of Halloween, Damian 666 and X-Fly(replacing Perry Aguayo, Jr., supposedly to a neurological disorder caused by complications with cancer medication) defatted The Psycho Circus(Monster, Murder & Psycho Clown) in the finals of the Trios Titles tournament when Halloween used a Super DVD on Pyscho to set up the pinfall. L.A. Par-K defeated El Mesias in a hair vs mask match, and Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeated Rob Van Dam to win become the first Latin American Champion, pinning RVD following a DDT in the main event. However, Jeff Jarrett won the Mega Heavyweight title from Zorro after using foreign objects & a guitar shot to set up the pinfall. Also, Octagon was inducted in AAA's Hall Of Fame(Credit : Lucha World, Super Luchas).
-WWE presented Capitol Punishment from Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center on Sunday June 19th. In the opener, US Champion Kofi Kingston lost the title to Dolph Ziggler in 11:05 via technical submission in a sleephold, and Ezekiel Jackson defeated Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett in 6:46 via submission using a Human Torture Rack to win the belt. World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton was cleared to perform on the PPV after passing a concussion impact test last week & again successfully defended his title against Christian, winning in 14:09 with a pinfall following an RKO, as the referee did not see Christian's feet underneath the bottom rope. WWE Champion John Cena also retained his title, pinning R-Truth in 14:45 after an Attitude Adjustment. Comedian Reggie Bush was used in several segments as President Barack Obama impersonator(Credit : 411mania).
SHAKE UPS :
-UFC has released middleweight Kendall Grove(12-9) and welterweight Chuck O'Neill(8-4, Credit : MMAJunkie).
LEGAL :
-Josepn Simone, a 22-year-old man, was arrested this past Tuesday June 14th at WWE's Smackdown taping in north Providence, RI's Dunkin' Donuts Center for impersonating a Rhode Island State Trooper(Credit : Gerweck.net)
-Charges of DUI against Alex Riley from a November arrest have been dropped(Credit : TMZ).
-On Friday June 17th, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. ruled that an Atlanta, Georgia jury could not exceed the state's punitive cap in the case the Toffoloni family(relatives of Nancy Benoit) against the publication for photos of a young Nancy printed in their March 2008 issue. Though the jury voted initially to penalize Hustler nearly $20 million, they will be liable for only $375,000 in compensatory & punitive damages. The family's lawyers plan an appeal(Credit : Atlanta Journal Constitution, wrestlechat).
BUSINESS :
-Dave Batista opened his Gracie Fighter Jiu-Jitsu Gym this past Saturday June 18th on the North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, FL. Although he is considering another limited run in WWE, he has 3 upcoming movie roles and still hopes to fight in MMA professionally(Credit : examiner, MyFoxTampaBay).
-After the DEA placed an emergency ban of 1 year on synthetic marijuana(used in products K2, Blaze, Red X Dawn & Spice) on Tuesday March 1st, WWE has added it to their list of drugs performers are tested for, carrying the same $2,500 fine as a standard marijuana violation(Credit : wrestling observer).
-KI Elements Incorporated, owned by Low Ki, has applied to trademark "Senshi" & "Low Ki"(Credit : pwinsider).
INTERNATIONAL :
-Tony Rivera & 'El Barzon Popular's protest outside of Arena Mexico ended this past Friday June 17th ended at 2:50pm CT(Credit : Lucha World).
-New Japan's Tetsuya Naito will tour Mexico's CMLL until the end of July. He has been replaced with Dick Togo, who shall team with in the J Crown 6-Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament starting June 21st in Japan's Tokyo Differ Ariake. Also, Masato Tnaka, Hector Garza, Strong Man, Minoru Suzuki and Shinsuke Nakamura will be on NJPW's summer tour(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
UPCOMING :
-The legendary Kenta Kobashi returns to the ring (after a bout with nerve damage in his arm) at Pro Wrestling NOAH's 'Great Voyage 2011 In Osaka', Saturday July 23rd from Japan's Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium(Credit : WGN, Purolove).
-New IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi makes his first defense of the title against IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Prince Devitt at DDT's 'Ryogoku Peter Pan 2011', Sunday July 24th from Japan's Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Light Heavyweight Ronny Markes(11-1) has replaced Stephan Bonnar(12-7) in his fight against Karlos Vemola(8-1) at UFC On Versus 5, Sunday August 14th(the same night as WWE SummerSlam from Los Angeles, CA's Staples Center) at Milwaukee, WI's Bradley Center(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE Legend Kevin Nash teams with Doug Gibson to face the Rock 'N Roll Express at AWE's 'Awesome Night Of The Legends', Saturday October 15th at Fishersville, VA's Augusta Expo.
-The next round of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix, featuring Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem(35-11) Vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva(16-2) and Josh Barnett(30-5) Vs. Sergei Kharitonov(18-4) is being targeted for October(Credit : MMAJunkie).
MEDIA :
-'Monster Brawl', a "monster wrestling tournament" movie starring Robert Maillett(Kurrgan) as the Frankenstein monster, Kevin Nash as manager Colonel Crookshanks, Jimmy Hart as the ring announcer, and Herb Dean as the referee, will see a release some time this year. Nash has also landed a role of a bodyguard in 'Rock Of Ages' starring Tom Cruise, filming in Fort Lauderdale, FL, that will be released Friday June 1st, 2012(Credit : Cross Talk Net).
-WWE's 'The Greatest Cage Matches Of All Time' DVD set will be released Tuesday June 28th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Michael Bochicchio, owner of Highspots, is writing a book on Ric Flair(Credit : WGN).
-Stacy Cater has started a Melaleuca nutritional products business(Credit : WGN).
Monday, June 20, 2011 :
-Wrestling Roundtable Radio #29 will air tomorrow night at 11pm EST/8pm PST on BlogTalkRadio. We'll be discussing the latest UFC events including The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, Strikeforce : Overeem Vs. Werdum, TNA Slammiversary 2011, WWE Capitol Punishment and much more!
-Also, the entire Roundtable archive is available now on BlogTalkRadio - every video show podcast & Radio show we've ever done is available now, as well as on iTunes and wrestlingroundtablepodcast.com!
DEATHS :
-J.T. Roberts(Justin Roberts), 29, northeast independent wrestler, died at 1:16am on Friday June 17th in a car accident on York Road in York, PA's North Codorus Township. Due to what appears to be speeding, he lost control of his 2003 Ford Taurus on a curve, hitting a tree and was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt force trauma(Credit : InYork.com, wrestling pro news).
-Joel Simon, former WWE Films president & producer of 'See No Evil', 'The Condemned' & 'The Marine', died in his sleep Sunday morning June 19th from pancreatic cancer. He was also co-producer of the 2000 film 'X-Men' starring former WCW wrestler Tyler Mane as Sabretooth(Credit : Deadline
RESULTS :
-CMLL's Jucio Final took place at Mexico City's Arena Mexico on Friday June 17th. In the main event, La Mascara defeated Averno in a mask vs. mask match. Averno unmasked after his loss(Credit : forceofwrestling).
-New Japan presented 'DOMINION 6.18' on Saturday June 18th live on WPW PPV from Japan's Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. TNA's Brian Kendrick made a surprise debut for NJPW, replacing Killer Rabbit in teaming with Gedo & Jado against Jushin "Thunder" Liger, KUSHIDA & Tiger Mask, claiming victory in 8:33 via pinfall following a Sliced Bread #2 on KUSHIDA(Kendrick will also replace Killer Rabbit in the J Sports Crown 6-Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament). Mascara Dorada reclaimed the CMLL World Welterweight championship from title holder & IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Ryusuke Taguchi, winning his 2nd title in 8:27 by pinfall. AKIRA & Mitsuhide Hirasawa both returned to NJPW, AKIRA to feud with Takashi Iizuka, Hirasawa turning on mentor Yuji Nagata and renaming himself Hideo Saito in joining CHAOS. DDT's Kota Ibushi defeated IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Prince Devitt for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title, pinning Devitt in 13:49 following a Firebird Splash. IWGP Intercontinental Champion MVP successfully defend his title against Toru Yano in 10:50, gaining a pinfall in his first title defense using cradle. Also victorious was IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, defeated in Hirooki Goto in 25:28 via pinfall after a High Fly Flow. But history was made before the main event, as IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions(Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) beat Pro Wrestling NOAH's GHC Tag Team Champions Yoshihiro Takayama & Takuma Sano in 12:03 by pinfall after Bernard used a Bernard Driver on Sano to become the first tag team to win both sets of tag titles(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Also on Sat. June 18th, Strikeforce : Overeem Vs. Werdum emanated from Dallas, TX's American Airlines Center. In the heavyweight grand prix tournament, Josh Barnett(30-5) advanced, taking out Brett Rogers(11-3) 1:17 in to round 2 with an arm triangle submission, and Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem(35-11, 1 NC) got the unanimous decision over Fabricio Werdum(14-5-1).
-Last but definitely not least on Saturday, AAA's Triplemania XIX took place at Mexico City's Palacio De Los Deportes. TNA's Angelina Love, Velvet Sky & Knockouts Champion Mickie James teamed with Sexy Star to defeat Lolita, Cinthia Moreno and Fabi & Mari Apache when James pinned Fabi after a DDT. AAA Tag Team Champions Jack Evans & Extreme Tiger defeated TNA World Champion Mr. Anderson & TNA X Champion Abyss in a successful defense in a Steel Cage match via escape when Evans went over the top. Los Perros Del Mal of Halloween, Damian 666 and X-Fly(replacing Perry Aguayo, Jr., supposedly to a neurological disorder caused by complications with cancer medication) defatted The Psycho Circus(Monster, Murder & Psycho Clown) in the finals of the Trios Titles tournament when Halloween used a Super DVD on Pyscho to set up the pinfall. L.A. Par-K defeated El Mesias in a hair vs mask match, and Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeated Rob Van Dam to win become the first Latin American Champion, pinning RVD following a DDT in the main event. However, Jeff Jarrett won the Mega Heavyweight title from Zorro after using foreign objects & a guitar shot to set up the pinfall. Also, Octagon was inducted in AAA's Hall Of Fame(Credit : Lucha World, Super Luchas).
-WWE presented Capitol Punishment from Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center on Sunday June 19th. In the opener, US Champion Kofi Kingston lost the title to Dolph Ziggler in 11:05 via technical submission in a sleephold, and Ezekiel Jackson defeated Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett in 6:46 via submission using a Human Torture Rack to win the belt. World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton was cleared to perform on the PPV after passing a concussion impact test last week & again successfully defended his title against Christian, winning in 14:09 with a pinfall following an RKO, as the referee did not see Christian's feet underneath the bottom rope. WWE Champion John Cena also retained his title, pinning R-Truth in 14:45 after an Attitude Adjustment. Comedian Reggie Bush was used in several segments as President Barack Obama impersonator(Credit : 411mania).
SHAKE UPS :
-UFC has released middleweight Kendall Grove(12-9) and welterweight Chuck O'Neill(8-4, Credit : MMAJunkie).
LEGAL :
-Josepn Simone, a 22-year-old man, was arrested this past Tuesday June 14th at WWE's Smackdown taping in north Providence, RI's Dunkin' Donuts Center for impersonating a Rhode Island State Trooper(Credit : Gerweck.net)
-Charges of DUI against Alex Riley from a November arrest have been dropped(Credit : TMZ).
-On Friday June 17th, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. ruled that an Atlanta, Georgia jury could not exceed the state's punitive cap in the case the Toffoloni family(relatives of Nancy Benoit) against the publication for photos of a young Nancy printed in their March 2008 issue. Though the jury voted initially to penalize Hustler nearly $20 million, they will be liable for only $375,000 in compensatory & punitive damages. The family's lawyers plan an appeal(Credit : Atlanta Journal Constitution, wrestlechat).
BUSINESS :
-Dave Batista opened his Gracie Fighter Jiu-Jitsu Gym this past Saturday June 18th on the North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, FL. Although he is considering another limited run in WWE, he has 3 upcoming movie roles and still hopes to fight in MMA professionally(Credit : examiner, MyFoxTampaBay).
-After the DEA placed an emergency ban of 1 year on synthetic marijuana(used in products K2, Blaze, Red X Dawn & Spice) on Tuesday March 1st, WWE has added it to their list of drugs performers are tested for, carrying the same $2,500 fine as a standard marijuana violation(Credit : wrestling observer).
-KI Elements Incorporated, owned by Low Ki, has applied to trademark "Senshi" & "Low Ki"(Credit : pwinsider).
INTERNATIONAL :
-Tony Rivera & 'El Barzon Popular's protest outside of Arena Mexico ended this past Friday June 17th ended at 2:50pm CT(Credit : Lucha World).
-New Japan's Tetsuya Naito will tour Mexico's CMLL until the end of July. He has been replaced with Dick Togo, who shall team with in the J Crown 6-Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament starting June 21st in Japan's Tokyo Differ Ariake. Also, Masato Tnaka, Hector Garza, Strong Man, Minoru Suzuki and Shinsuke Nakamura will be on NJPW's summer tour(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
UPCOMING :
-The legendary Kenta Kobashi returns to the ring (after a bout with nerve damage in his arm) at Pro Wrestling NOAH's 'Great Voyage 2011 In Osaka', Saturday July 23rd from Japan's Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium(Credit : WGN, Purolove).
-New IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi makes his first defense of the title against IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Prince Devitt at DDT's 'Ryogoku Peter Pan 2011', Sunday July 24th from Japan's Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan(Credit : Puroresu Fan).
-Light Heavyweight Ronny Markes(11-1) has replaced Stephan Bonnar(12-7) in his fight against Karlos Vemola(8-1) at UFC On Versus 5, Sunday August 14th(the same night as WWE SummerSlam from Los Angeles, CA's Staples Center) at Milwaukee, WI's Bradley Center(Credit : MMAJunkie).
-WWE Legend Kevin Nash teams with Doug Gibson to face the Rock 'N Roll Express at AWE's 'Awesome Night Of The Legends', Saturday October 15th at Fishersville, VA's Augusta Expo.
-The next round of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix, featuring Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem(35-11) Vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva(16-2) and Josh Barnett(30-5) Vs. Sergei Kharitonov(18-4) is being targeted for October(Credit : MMAJunkie).
MEDIA :
-'Monster Brawl', a "monster wrestling tournament" movie starring Robert Maillett(Kurrgan) as the Frankenstein monster, Kevin Nash as manager Colonel Crookshanks, Jimmy Hart as the ring announcer, and Herb Dean as the referee, will see a release some time this year. Nash has also landed a role of a bodyguard in 'Rock Of Ages' starring Tom Cruise, filming in Fort Lauderdale, FL, that will be released Friday June 1st, 2012(Credit : Cross Talk Net).
-WWE's 'The Greatest Cage Matches Of All Time' DVD set will be released Tuesday June 28th(Credit : pwinsider).
-Michael Bochicchio, owner of Highspots, is writing a book on Ric Flair(Credit : WGN).
-Stacy Cater has started a Melaleuca nutritional products business(Credit : WGN).
