Former WWE Superstar Lana/CJ Perry recently appeared on the Talk Is Jericho with ‘Le Champion’ Chris Jericho. The former on-screen manager of Rusev/Miro discussed a number of topics during the interview with Jericho, including a reveal of how much she has been helping Miro behind the scenes.
“I think I played a big part in his success behind closed doors in AEW” Lana began on the podcast with Jericho. “I can talk about that now.”
Lana on Helping Miro
“A big turn for him was when we really started talking about ‘let’s make your message more clear over there’” Lana noted, talking about the new on-screen direction of the TNT Champion. “So it’s reassuring to me that I do grasp storytelling. I do grasp storytelling in wrestling as well.”
Miro has had a huge character change since the initial ‘best man’ gimmick that he joined the company with. The Bulgarian Brute has been stellar in-ring, dominating opponents and showing that he is a true monster heel on the AEW roster who can go toe to toe with anyone.
The former Rusev has also been improving massively on the microphone since he changed his character on-screen. “I’m god’s favorite Champion” and “I thank god for making me strong and making my hot wife flexible” being some of the best moments from his recent run on top of the TNT Championship division.
The former Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, known in WWE as The IIconics, recently revealed that they are unable to work in the United States due to their visa status following their release from WWE.
Speaking on Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast, the now Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay revealed how they aren’t earning from their own podcast and are just using it as a way to stay relevant in wrestling and keep their profile out with fans.
“The difficult thing for us is, we still don’t have our green cards, so we’re not allowed to work until we get those or until we find sponsorship anywhere else” Cassie Lee would begin on Oral Sessions. “We’re so excited; we have all this freedom and so many ideas, but pump the brakes because we can’t do any of it.”
The IIconics on Visa Issues
“The podcast, we’re not making any money off of it” Lee continued. “It’s purely to get our name out there and stay relevant. It’s been tough just knowing we have all these things we want to do but can’t do it.”
“People are like, ‘What are going to do now?’ Well, nothing, because I can’t legally work in the country and people think that you apply for the green card and it comes in the mail” Billie Kay/Jessica McKay then added, explaining the awkward situation that the pair are in, being from Australia.
“This stuff takes years and we’ve been through the wringer with this, getting stuff denied and switching the process because of the pandemic. It keeps backing up, year after year. We’re almost there, but almost there could still be a year away” Billie McKay would then conclude.
It has been rumored that the pair are on the radar of AEW, with the former Peyton Royce’s AEW star husband Shawn Spears saying publicly that he wants the tag team to go All Elite.
The duo are currently sitting out their non-compete clauses and will be able to sign with another national promotion at that point.
AAA has confirmed that All Elite Wrestling stars Penta El Zero M and Rey Fenix will return at TripleMania XXIX to defend their AAA World Tag Team Titles.
In today’s TripleMania press conference, the company confirmed that the Lucha Bros will be defending their belts in a triple threat tag team match against Laredo Kid & Hijo del Vikingo, plus Black Taurus with a mystery partner.
Penta El Zero M and Rey Fenix won the AAA World Tag Team Titles back in June 2019, where they defeated current AEW Tag Champs The Young Bucks. The Lucha Bros have defended the titles on three occasions since the win, twice in 2019 and in December 2020 at TripleMania XXVIII.
The TripleMania XXVIII match was also a triple threat; with the Lucha Bros defending successfully against Myzteziz Jr. and Octagon Jr., and Rey Escorpion and Texano Jr.
Here’s the currently confirmed card for TripleMania XXVIII on Saturday, August 14 from Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, Mexico:
Mask vs. Hair Match – Psycho Clown vs. Rey Escorpión
AAA Mega Championship Match – Kenny Omega (c) vs Andrade El Idolo
Champion vs. Champion Match – IMPACT Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo vs. AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Faby Apache
AAA World Tag Team Championship Match – Hijo del Vikingo and Laredo Kid vs. Black Taurus and a partner TBA vs. Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero M (c)
Murder Clown, Chessman and Pagano vs. Puma King and two partners TBA
Copa Bardahl – Drago, Mamba, Mr. Iguana and other competitors TBA
Marvel’s Lucha Libre Exhibition – Participants and characters TBA
New MLW Davey Richards recently spoke to WrestlingINC’s Nick Hausman. The former ROH star discussed a number of topics during the interview, including why he chose to sign with Major League Wrestling over some of the ‘bigger’ name promotions out there.
“I was blown away, quite frankly, when I announced I was going to return that a lot of the bigger name promotions reached out,” Davey Richards began. “I was very, very humbled by that. I’ve always looked at wrestling as more of a sport than entertainment. I think you should be so good at wrestling that it is entertaining. It’s just my philosophy and my opinion.”
Davey Richards on MLW
“MLW was really in line with that way of thinking in how they present their product” Davey Richards admitted. “It’s more sports-oriented. It was a really organic fit. It just clicked right off the bat, more than the other places at this time. It was really an easy decision to be quite frank. I’m really excited for July 10 and beyond.”
Davey Richards also listed some of the MLW talent that he is interested in facing as he begins his run with the company. “I think it’s gonna be a good fit. Tom Lawlor, Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, there’s some good stuff there. There’s gonna be some magic, so I’m excited.”
PROGRESS Wrestling World Champion Cara Noir has opened his own training school in London. The PlayFight school in London will be run by the man himself to help establish a new crop of talent in British pro wrestling.
In a recent press release, Tom Dawkins/Cara Noir would outlay how the new school would work:
Take your wrestling to the next level in the best-equipped independent wrestling studio in the world.
Drawing on a teaching method of Isolate, Integrate, Improvise & Experiment, we’ve created a 3-grade training system for the teaching of professional wrestling. By grading students in a similar way to that of martial arts, our intention is to ensure the progression & safety of our athletes at all times.
Check out more information about the PlayFight London school here.
Cara Noir
Cara Noir has been at the top of British wrestling since winning the PROGRESS World Title early last year. Prior to that, The Black Swan had established himself as a name on the independent scene due to his unique presentation and matches with some of the biggest names in BritWres.
Cara’s debut PROGRESS Chapter match against Pete Dunne and his star making turn against PAC from RIPTIDE Wrestling are two of the more prominent matches in the Brit’s career.
You can check out the incredible match against AEW star PAC below:
AEW star Eddie Kingston recently revealed that he would be open to the idea of returning to Ring of Honor, specifically to ‘help’ his friend Homicide. Speaking on a Pro Wrestling Junkies Q&A, Kingston said that he would go over to ROH as part of the ongoing ‘Forbidden Door’ angle that has seen AEW, IMPACT, NWA and New Japan all work together over the past year.
“Me and Homicide got to Ring of Honor, they asked us what we wanted to do and of course, we have the same attitude and if we’re going to do something, it might as well be for a championship or getting a title shot” Kingston began, discussing when he and Homicide became a tag team in 2013 for Ring of Honor.
Eddie Kingston on Ring of Honor
“We didn’t get along with Bobby and Kyle, surprise, we don’t get along with other people” Kingston added, referring to NXT Superstars Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly, the ROH Champions at the time who Homicide and Eddie Kingston attacked on their first night back in the promotion. “They know that and they don’t like us either.”
“God bless them, I’m happy for both of them and don’t want to knock anybody’s hustle. Competition is competition. We had the match, it was fun. I didn’t like it and then we got suspended” Eddie Kingston continued.
Kingston would finish by then stating that he would now return to ROH if it would help out his friend and former LAX member Homicide. “I have nothing but love for Ring of Honor. When I broke in, it was the place to be. I’m happy for them now. Homicide is back there. It’s all about a forbidden door, if I could, I would go back over there and help Homicide out”
WWE SmackDown Superstar Carmella recently appeared on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin. ‘Mella discussed a number of topics on the show, specifically her two Money In The Bank briefcase wins, including in the first ever MITB Women’s match in history.
“I was super excited. At that point in my career, I had never won a title and thought it was something that would solidify me as making history” Carmella began, discussing how she won the first ever Women’s MITB match.
“Even though I wasn’t the one grabbing the briefcase and I knew that would be very controversial, but I thought even better that it’s controversial because people would be talking about it” Carmella revealed. “It was trending on Twitter for a few days because people were so upset.”
Carmella on Vince McMahon
In the first ever MITB match for the Women’s division, Carmella was joined ringside by James Ellsworth. Ellsworth would actually grab the briefcase and throw it to Carmella, meaning that the first person to ever grab the Women’s briefcase…was a man.
Carmella would then reveal that Vince McMahon was quick to praise her once she started cutting promos following her big MITB win. “The SmackDown after winning, I cut a promo and I going out there and going, ‘This is my opportunity. Let me go out there and kill it.’”
“I came back through the curtain and Vince was so complimentary to me about my promo that night and was like, ‘Some of my top guys can’t even cut a promo like that’” Carmella revealed. “So I was just so excited and it ended up hat I won it again. I think it really propelled my career.”
AEW star Eddie Kingston had some choice words for WWE when speaking to fans following this week’s episode of Dynamite. The former IMPACT/PROGRESS star referred to the ‘other channel’ whilst cutting a ‘shoot’ promo after cameras stopped rolling for the crowd inside Daily’s Place.
“The competition sometimes doesn’t want to hear their fans” Eddie Kingston began when speaking to the fans. “Oh, I guess I’m burning another bridge — surprise. Ladies and gentlemen, AEW cares about their fans.”
“Because we are not here just to get ourselves a paycheck” Kingston admitted. “We’re here every week — with you people, without you people — and we come out here and we bust our asses. We love professional wrestling!”
Eddie Kingston on WWE
“You saw a match between Kenny Omega and my dude, Jungle Boy, that you will not see on the other channel. And you will not see legends who are respected on the other channel. You will not see people like me and my best friend (Penta) on the other channel” Kingston stated.
“And you will not see the heart that everybody in that locker room has on the other channel. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m was supposed to send you home happy, but I’m speaking from my heart. The bottom line is this: We are AEW. We will see you Wednesday, and we want to hear you!” Eddie Kingston then concluded.
You can check out the full promo below via Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net:
Leader of AEW’s The Pinnacle group MJF recently appeared on the Game Marks podcast. Game Marks is a show based around classic pro wrestling video games including interviews with wrestling personalities discussing some of their favorite games from past generations or current.
MJF would reveal that he did play games such as Day of Reckoning 2 when he was younger, although he now doesn’t have time for video games as they’re for ‘virgins.’
“I always thought that I was going to be this dark, brooding, black face paint around the eyes, Kane-like, Legion of Doom-esque character” MJF began on the podcast, describing the sort of CAW he would create and what he saw himself being as a pro wrestler when he finally got to live his dream.
‘Complete F*cking Losers’
“The character name was Mad Max and I remember, I always gave my guy a red mohawk with long tights, black boots, and a skull with a big leather jacket” The Pinnacle leader would continue.”
“Then, I grew out of being a complete f*cking loser and I realized I should just be myself and start making Maxwell Jacob Friedman, a fun-loving guy that everyone likes” MJF jokingly added.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman would finish by taking a shot at video game players in general, saying “video games are for virgins, but wrestling video games — that’s for winners.”
“Okay, I think anybody can agree on that” MJF noted. “But regular video games like ‘Zelda’, you know, or Cuck Central part two, or whatever the f**k people are playing nowadays, I don’t know, I’m not a simp.”
AEW’s wrestling game for consoles is currently in development and will be released for the latest generation of consoles, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
WWE Superstar Nikki Cross took to social media to react publicly to her husband Killian Dain being released from WWE yesterday.
Dain had been part of the NXT brand over the past year, where he was teaming with Drake Maverick. The duo had adopted an ‘odd couple’ type of gimmick, with Maverick of course being the far smaller of the pair and more of comedy type character.
“The whole world is waiting for you my love” Nikki Cross tweeted in reaction to Killian Dain being released. “I have seen your talent, your experience, your versatility, your work, your passion, your dedication, And your heart, first hand and up close.”
“I have the best seat in the house, I can’t wait to watch you unleashed. My man [heart emoji]” Cross would conclude.
Nikki Cross on Killian Dain
Nikki Cross and Killian Dain were both previously part of the Sanity stable in NXT. The group had a successful run on the gold and black brand, but notably they were underutilized and discarded quite quickly on the main roster of WWE.
With Dain now gone, Nikki Cross remains the only member of Sanity still contracted with WWE, as Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe were also previously released from the company.
Prior to signing with WWE, Killian Dain/Big Damo was a mainstay on the European independent scene, topping the card for the likes of Rev Pro, What Culture Pro Wrestling and OTT.
Damo issued his own response to the release, saying that “chip is back on my shoulder” and that his email was open for media and booking enquiries.
The now former Killian Dain also confirmed that he has a 90-day no compete clause, whereas some of the other talent that were released had either 30-60.
WWE Superstar Xavier Woods took to Instagram to react to the release of his friend and UpUpDownDown co-host, Tyler Breeze. It was confirmed yesterday that Breeze would no longer be working for the company, and his tag team partner Fandango was also one of the names let go in yet another round of WWE releases.
Here’s the full comments from Woods regarding his friend being released from the company:
“When I met @mmmgorgeous we were in FCW. We were cool but ended up both being injured once and we would keep each other from going insane by waking up and playing borderlands 2 online together. Through this video game we realized that we were the ying to the others yang. Started talking and hanging out more and realized I was really charismatic but not the best wrestler and he was an amazing wrestler but not the most charismatic. We fit together like puzzle pieces and began learning from each other. Some coaches told me quite a few times to “watch who I hang out with”, “distance yourself from that guy”, “why would you wanna tag with him? He’s not going to help your career”.
Xavier Woods on Tyler Breeze
Some even tried lying in an attempt to put us against each other. We never understood it but by never letting anyone ever get to us he taught me how to be better in the ring and I helped him bring out his natural charisma. Since then every step my @wwe career Matt has literally always been there right with me no matter what. He pushes me to get better and to believe in myself when I don’t. I’m not sure where I’d be in life if he wasn’t in mine. Today sucks. It really sucks. But I’m happy because now my incredibly talented friend gets to whatever he wants to do and I’m so happy that he has that freedom. Love you man!”
It is not currently known if Tyler Breeze will remain with UpUpDownDown or if Woods is alluding to a new video game venture in his statement. Jessamyn Duke was released from WWE as a contracted Superstar but remained with the YouTube channel.
GCW Champion and Deathmatch King Nick Gage recently appeared on the NotSam Wrestling podcast. The Game Changer Wrestling Champ discussed a number of topics on the show, including his upcoming opponent for GCW Homecoming, Matt Cardona.
Cardona recently appeared at GCW’s Zombie Walk event, hiding under a ‘druid’ costume and pulling off Jon Moxley mannerisms before hitting a Paradigm Shift DDT on Gage. Matt Cardona then revealed who he really was to a massive reaction of boos from the GCW crowd.
Speaking on the NotSam podcast, Nick Gage would say how much respect he has for Cardona as a pro wrestler, grinding in WWE even when the company would not give him the push that he necessarily deserved.
Nick Gage on Matt Cardona
“Before he did all that clown sh*t and I was messing with him on Twitter, I had mad respect for that guy” Nick Gage began. “We’re talking about a guy who had been in WWE for over a decade. Him and Brian Myers, I just respect them.”
“I’m a wrestler at heart and I respect them grinding all those years at that place and they would never give him a shot” Gage continued. “He climbed the ladder and won the Intercontinental Title in front of 100,000 people. How awesome was that?”
Nick Gage finished by promoting the match between the two at GCW Homecoming, saying that it is going to be far more violent than Cardona is used to.
“Now, he’s going to get in the ring with me, there will be glass surrounding him, and we’re gonna go” Gage stated. “He steps into my world and he knows what it is. It’s violence, blood, gory, and I’m going to cut him and he’ll feel that burn. All the stuff we use in GCW is real. We don’t use fake glass or snip the barbed wire.”
AEW Women’s Champion Dr Britt Baker D.M.D recently appeared at Steel City Comic Con. The pro wrestler and dentist discussed a number of topics during her time on panel, including a question regarding her own personal ‘role models’ in wrestling.
Interestingly, Dr Baker chose two performers from WWE rather than some of the talent performers in All Elite Wrestling.
“Probably Bayley or Sasha [Banks], it’d have to be one of them,” began during the panel. “Those are two of my role models that I watched when I was first training to be a wrestler.”
Dr Britt Baker D.M.D on Sasha and Bayley
“That was five years ago. When I was training, they were main eventing NXT TakeOver” Dr Britt Baker continued. “That was when the tides were turning and they kind of paved the way for my generation of wrestling. Even though they are still in my generation, they came before me.”
The landscape of Women’s wrestling is constantly changing, with many of the best wrestlers in the world performing across different promotions.
Triple H recently caused some stir when he said in a press conference that WWE had the “best Women’s talent in the world” and that all of the best wrestlers “want to work for WWE.” These comments drew the ire of the likes of Thunder Rosa, who is also a major player in the AEW Women’s division alongside Britt Baker.
PROGRESS Wrestling star Gisele Shaw has stated her intent for a match against former WWE Superstar Mickie James. The Canadian/Filipina ‘Quintessential Diva’ took to Twitter to post a throwback photo of her and ‘Hardcore Country’ Mickie James before saying that the match needs to happen.
“Throwback to the first time I met @MickieJames before I started training” Gisele Shaw tweeted. “We’d cross paths again a few years later, however it was in catering…”
Gisele Shaw on Mickie James
“I’d love to see her again but this time in the ring and make one of my dreams come true!” The PROGRESS Women’s Division star added, “Hardcore Country vs The Quintessential Diva.”
Gisele Shaw recently appeared on WWE’s The Bump, where she would make a challenge to WWE RAW Superstar Charlotte Flair. Shaw appeared on the show alongside Kanji ahead of their Best of 3 Series final for the PROGRESS Women’s final, which Kanji would eventually win and become the new Champion after NXT UK Superstar Jinny had to vacate the title.
Shaw is currently set for a match at PROGRESS Chapter 114 against Taonga. Chapter 114: Set Eyeballs To Stun will be available on Peacock in United States and WWE Network everywhere else as of 5pm BST on Saturday July 3.
Throwback to the first time I met @MickieJames before I started training. We’d cross paths again a few years later, however it was in catering… I’d love to see her again but this time in the ring and make one of my dreams come true!
WWE Superstar and SmackDown Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio recently spoke to the UK’s Metro. The luchador legend discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the potential for a feud between himself and his son Dominik down the line.
“We actually talked about this a while back, when my son started to train,” Mysterio began. “The more and more we got to spend time together in the ring and outside of the ring, it came to the point where me and my son were like, ‘there’s no need.’”
“The connection here is so beautiful, the love – more than father and son, I think we’re like best friends” Rey Mysterio added. “For the moment, there’s no time for us to even be thinking, ‘how would it be like to face each other?’”
Rey Mysterio on Father/Son Feud
Mysterio would also discuss what it has been like winning the tag titles with his son and being the Champions over the past month. “We’re enjoying such a great moment right now within our personal lives, within our wrestling careers,” Mysterio revealed.
“For me, it’s a complete blessing, before I end up retiring – to have been able to share these moments with my son” Mysterio concluded. “So that thought of possibly facing each other, I think was thrown down the trash a while back.”
The Diamond Mine stable officially made their NXT debut on this week’s episode of the show. The new group, lead by Roderick Strong and with Malcolm Bivens as their apparent mouthpiece, attacked KUSHIDA following the main event of the show.
There have been vignettes promoting the debut of the group for some time now, with MMA and ‘shoot’ style footage promoting this brand new faction of performers. As of now, the group consists of the aforementioned Bivens, Strong, Hideki Suzuki and Tyler Rust.
According to a new report from Fightful Select, the group has been ‘ready to debut’ for quite some time now. The concept was already in talks backstage since even before Roderick Strong ‘quit’ on NXT programming.
Diamond Mine Debuts
Select confirmed that there “were actually plans to debut the stable well before, but it was moved back on more than one occasion for it to take center stage on an episode of NXT.”
It was also confirmed that the fan speculation of Tessa Blanchard or Parker Boudreaux being brought onto television with the Diamond Mine gimmick was just that, speculation. WWE had apparently been discussing other members for the group, but these two names were never in consideration.
Parker Boudreaux was signed to WWE on a developmental deal earlier this year and Tessa Blanchard is still unlikely to be signed in the near future.
Nikki Cross revealed a new ‘superhero’ character on Monday’s episode of WWE Raw. The former Sanity member discussed the new gimmick and her reunion with Alexa Bliss on the RAW Talk post-show.
Cross and Bliss teamed to take on Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler in a Money In The Bank qualifying match, with Bliss and Cross getting the win and heading to the PPV event in July for the ladder match.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross have history in WWE, with the duo previously being a full time tag team for a good chunk of time on WWE programming.
“With me and Alexa, so much has happened over the last 6 months,” Cross began on RAW Talk. “She’s been through a lot, and I have been on a different journey. For tonight, the goal was just to win the match. The whole point was to qualify for the Money in the Bank match, and we achieved that goal. And now, fire, baby!”
Nikki Cross’ Superhero Gimmick
Cross also discussed her new superhero gimmick, saying “do I have superpowers? I know I don’t. I know I can’t fly or don’t have super strength. But the thing is, when I put on this outfit, I feel like I can do anything. I’m gonna keep trying and keep getting back up. All anyone can ever do is believe in themselves.”
So far, Asuka, Naomi, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross have already qualified for the Money In The Bank match, and 4 more SmackDown Superstars are set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Nikki Cross posted the following on Instagram. “Bringing THIS to life has given me such joy,” she wrote. “The roll I have been on the last few weeks gave me the boost I needed to unveil this to the world, that everyone has that spark and they can try anything they want to, just listen to your heart.”
This week’s episode of AEW Dark: Elevation featured a number of Dynamite stars as well as some lower card talents. Tony Khan has recently said how he views Dark and Dark: Elevation as a sort of ‘developmental’ concept, and it gives smaller name talents the chance to perform with the bigger Dynamite names.
Renee Michelle, partner of former WWE 24/7 Champion Drake Maverick, appeared on the show this week to take on Kris Statlander. Michelle is most famous for the WWE angle that was filmed at her wedding, where Maverick lost his 24/7 title to R-Truth.
Here’s the results for the show that aired on YouTube this week:
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) b. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
Nyla Rose (w/Vickie Guerrero) b. Delmi Exo
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) b. Baron Black & Tamilian Vineesh
Varsity Blonds (Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison) (w/Juiia Hart) b. Bumz R’ Us (Milo Beasley & Ray Beez)
Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) held their Outlaw Mudshow PPV event this weekend on June 19. The show took place from the Albany County Fairgrounds in Laramie, Wyoming.
The main event of the show saw the Deathmatch King Nick Gage defend his GCW Championship against Mance Warner. Wrestling legends such as 2 Cold Scorpio and Ricky Morton were also in action on the night.
GCW Outlaw Mudshow
Here’s the results from Game Changer Wrestling’s Outlaw Mudshow:
Jordan Oliver defeated Gringo Loco
Chris Dickinson defeated 2 Cold Scorpio
Jimmy Lloyd defeated Allie Katch
Bullrope Match – 1 Called Manders defeated Matthew Justice
Effy defeated Warhorses
AJ Gray defeated Orin Veidt
Ricky Morton defeated Atticus Cogar
GCW World ChampionshipBunkhouse Brawl Match – Nick Gage (c) defeated Mance Warner
Watch Nick Gage put Mance Warner through a flaming table via the YouTube clip below:
PROGRESS Wrestling held their Chapter 113 event on Saturday. The show aired on Peacock, WWE Network and PROGRESS’ own demandPROGRESS streaming service.
The show featured a number of high profile contests, including a PROGRESS World Title and Women’s Championship match. PROGRESS World Champion Cara Noir defended against ELIJAH and Women’s Champion Kanji defended her title against Mercedez Blaze.
Here’s the full results from the show:
Alexxis Falcon b. Gisele Shaw – Falcon would take the win via pinfall to further stake her claim to a Women’s Championship shot
Man Like DeReiss b. TK Cooper – The ‘Microphone Champion’ took the win to put Sunshine Machine in the losing column once again
Big Money Gun Dogs (Big Guns Joe & Gene Munny) b. Greedy Souls (Brendan White & Danny Jones) – Following their win, the Gun Dogs challenged PROGRESS Tag Team Champions Lykos Gym backstage
Dean Allmark b. Chuck Mambo – UK veteran Allmark took the win with the Clash Bomb
Laura Di Matteo b. Taonga – The returning Di Matteo won via submission
Jody Fleisch b. Danny Black – UK legend Fleisch took the win with his 720 DDT
North West Strong (Chris Ridgeway, Luke Jacobs & Ethan Allen) b. Warren Banks, Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II – The tag team Champions were part of a loss here, with NWS getting the win
PROGRESS World Championship Match – Cara Noir (c) b. ELIJAH w/Charles Crowley – ELIJAH could not overcome The Black Swan who took the win via
PROGRESS Women’s Championship Match – Kanji (c) b. Mercedes Blaze – Despite losing to Blaze twice, Kanji took the win in her first title defence
New Japan Pro Wrestling aired their NJPW Strong: Ignition event on NJPWWorld this past Friday. The show featured a number of bouts, including a New Japan debut for the IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion and an appearance from a Japanese wrestling legend.
Here’s the full results from the show as well as highlights. You can find the full programme on NJPWWorld.com:
Josh Alexander b. Alex Coughlin – Alexander would take the win after hitting the Divine Intervention
BATEMAN and Barrett Brown b. Fred Rosser & Adrian Quest – BATEMAN and Brown took the win after BATEMAN used the This Is A Kill on Quest
Satoshi Kojima b. JR Kratos – The New Japan and overall Japanese legend Kojima took the win after hitting the Lariat on Kratos
Next week’s episode of the show will see ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor defend his NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship against Karl Fredericks.
Former WWE Superstar Chelsea Green recently spoke to Inside The Ropes. The former NXT performer discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the recent angle between her partner Matt Cardona/Zack Ryder and GCW Champion Nick Gage.
Matt Cardona and Nick Gage had been feuding online and teasing something in-ring for quite some time. It was an interesting angle for Cardona to take; as he wouldn’t usually be associated with the deathmatch style of wrestling that Gage is known as the King of.
Nick Gage defended his GCW Championship at the recent Zombie Walk event, and after the bout he was attacked by someone dressed as a ‘druid’ type of character. It turned out to be Matt Cardona, but he adopted some of Jon Moxley’s mannerisms and even hit the Paradigm Shift DDT, fooling the fans in attendance.
Chelsea Green on Matt Cardona vs Nick Gage
“I mean, I loved it! I was REALLY excited for it” Chelsea Green said of the angle and Matt Cardona’s involvement. “And I’m mostly excited because I do feel like he was put in a box in the WWE; and maybe it was him that wanted to be in that box, maybe it was him that never pushed to get out of that box – but this is his chance to show the world SO much more.”
“He’s been wrestling for so long – since he was 18, he’s now 36″ Green continued. “I mean, he’s really been a wrestling fan since he was, like, three years old.”
“But I just feel like this puts a little bit more validity behind his name and I love that for him. I think he deserves that” Chelsea Green would finish.
Matt Cardona vs Nick Gage is scheduled to take place at GCW Homecoming for the Game Changer Wrestling Championship. The show will be available to purchase on FITE TV.
WWE Superstar AJ Styles recently appeared on WWE’s After The Bell podcast. The RAW Tag Team Champion discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the megastar potential of his tag team partner Omos.
“It’s a job most of us should have after 20 years of being in the business” AJ Styles began the interview, discussing Omos and how he was positioned to help the giant adapt to working in WWE. “Just help the younger talent, just like the older talent has helped me.”
Styles then made some interesting comments regarding the legendary talent that has helped him to learn the craft of professional wrestling. “We can go back to Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels, John Cena.”
AJ Styles on John Cena
AJ Styles would then note specifically why he said John Cena, even though the two only met very late in Styles’ career, once he had finally made his way to WWE. “I know it’s crazy for me to say John Cena, but I learned so much from that guy.
“It’s only right that I pass down the knowledge I’ve had to Omos, who can and will be a huge superstar in the WWE” Styles added, putting over the giant and fellow RAW Tag Team Champion.
“I have experience all over the world” Styles added. “The experience I’ve had in the Independents, Japan, and the States, it’s a little different than the WWE experience. I can’t imagine guys like Kurt Angle who started in the WWE and learned so quickly to be the best I’ve ever seen.”
AJ Styles and Omos are not currently scheduled to be part of the WWE Hell In a Cell PPV this weekend on Peacock and WWE Network.
WWE’s Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon confirmed that there will be some surprises at SummerSlam this year. Speaking to Yahoo Finance, McMahon also said that there are currently no plans for her to back into the ring herself anytime in the near future.
“Ever since Ronda Rousey broke my arm, I have a little PTSD” Stephanie McMahon stated in-character, remembering her WrestleMania 34 match with Kurt Angle, Triple H and Ronda Rousey.
“I’m not sure you’re going to see me in the ring anytime soon; but I guarantee for SummerSlam, there is going to be a lot of surprises” McMahon confirmed.
Stephanie McMahon on SummerSlam Surprises
It’s not clear exactly what the surprises may entail, but we do have some indication as to what WWE is planning.
It was reported in the last few months that Cardi B is being considered as the ‘host’ of SummerSlam. This hasn’t been officially confirmed by the company, but there were multiple sources including the Mat Men podcast who stated that WWE are working hard to get her on board.
The other potential surprise would arguably be John Cena returning to WWE, although this would be announced prior, so it’s difficult to see this as a ‘surprise’ of sorts. Cena would be returning for a match against Roman Reigns, which has been heavily touted over the past few weeks.
What surprises would you like to see at WWE SummerSlam 2021? Let us know in the comments
Universal Champion Roman Reigns recently made some incendiary in-character comments towards two of WWE’s biggest names of the past, The Rock and John Cena. Speaking to ESPN’s SportsNation, the ‘Big Dog’ would warn the former WWE Champions to stay away from the company and his Championship.
Yeah, that [a match with The Rock] is a dream for a lot of our fans, but it ain’t a dream of his, you know what I mean?” Roman Reigns would begin. “I get a lot of this with both Dwayne and John. These guys are doing very well for themselves, there’s no question about it.”
“If I were these guys, I don’t know if I’d wanna come back and deal with me” Roman noted. “I am a problem right now for everybody. If I were them, I’d stay on set and keep pumping out these streaming service movies.”
Reigns vs Cena
It’s currently being rumored that WWE are looking to bring back John Cena for a match at SummerSlam. With the company wanting to make this year’s Summer event the ‘WrestleMania of 2021,’ the plan is reportedly to get Cena in the ring with Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship.
Roman is defending this weekend against Rey Mysterio, however the plan for Cena vs Reigns is likely to go ahead if John Cena is available. The match is probably the biggest box office draw that the company could put together right now, arguably with Rock vs Reigns being the only other match that could fill out a major stadium.