Tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Columbia, SC will feature the go-home hype for Sunday’s TLC PPV with James Ellsworth on The Ambrose Asylum, Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt vs. American Alpha with a TLC title shot up for grabs and more.
WWE will also premiere 205 Live tonight from Columbia after SmackDown goes off the air. Rich Swann vs. Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick will headline that shot. TJ Perkins, Cedric Alexander, The Bollywood Boyz, Noam Dar, Ho Ho Lun, Jack Gallagher, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado and others are also advertised.
WWE’s official Five-Point Preview highlights these angles for tonight’s SmackDown:
-Who will challenge the SmackDown Tag Team Champions at WWE TLC?
-Ellsworth is a SmackDown Superstar. Now what?
-Is Alexa Bliss due for an Irish Lass Kicking?
-SmackDown LIVE provides A-list opportunity to gain the advantage
-Keep your seats as Corbin and Kalisto prepare for Chairs Match
– The following RAW Fallout clip features Braun Strowman coming off his big battle royal win earlier in the night. As noted, Braun will join Chris Jericho, United States Champion Roman Reigns, and Universal Champion Kevin Owens as part of Tea RAW at the Survivor Series. Braun says in the clip below that he would have taken pleasure in destroying the entire locker room, but now his sights are set on Team Smackdown.
– Recently-crowned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick retained his title against TJ Perkins last night on WWE RAW, in their rematch from the previous night. The following RAW Fallout clip features Kendrick discussing his recent string of success:
Brian Kendrick defeated TJ Perkins at tonight’s WWE Hell in a Cell PPV to capture the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Perkins just won the title by winning the Cruiserweight Classic back in the final. Kendrick is the only other person to hold this version of the cruiserweight championship.
– After RAW in Memphis went off the air last night, WWE US Champion Rusev and WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens attacked Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns until the former Shield members fought back. Rollins hit a Pedigree on Owens and Reigns hit a spear on Rusev to end the segment with a staredown.
– Paige was backstage for last night’s RAW but not used. She did tweet during the show, revealing some words of encouragement from boyfriend Alberto Del Rio:
– These backstage videos from last night’s RAW feature Brian Kendrick confronting Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins ahead of their Clash of Champions match and a promo in Spanish from Gran Metalik:
Here are the results from the third and final night of PWG’s annual BOLA Tournament:
BOLA Tournament Quarter Final Matches
Trevor Lee b. Dalton Castle – Trevor Lee took the win via pinfall after hitting a Canadian Destroyer
Ricochet b. John Bennigan – Ricochet hit the 630 splash to advance in the tournament
Marty Scurll b. Cody Rhodes – Scurll hit a low blow and followed with a quick roll up to secure the pinfall victory
Mark Andrews b. Chris Hero – Andrews reversed a cradle attempt to take the victory in a rematch from PROGRESS’ Super Strong Style 16 tournament
Mark Haskins b. Kyle O’Reilly – Haskins took the win via submission
Will Ospreay b. Zack Sabre Jr – Ospreay took the win after reversing a European Clutch into a pinfall
PWG Tag Team Title Match:The Young Bucks (c) b. Pentagon Jr & Fenix
BOLA Tournament Semi-Final Matches
Trevor Lee b. Mark Andrews – Lee took the win after hitting a small package driver
Marty Scurll b. Mark Haskins – Scurll took the submission win after applying the Crossface Chickenwing
Will Ospreay b. Ricochet – Ospreay hit the OsCutter to win via pinfall in this Best of the Super Juniors rematch
10 Man Tag:Jushin Thunder Liger, Chuck Taylor, Jeff Cobb, Tommy End & Cedric Alexander b. Tommaso Ciampa, Sami Callihan, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne & Brian Kendrick – Liger hit the Brainbuster on Pete Dunne to secure the pinfall win for his team
Marty Scurll b. Will Ospreay & Trevor Lee – Ospreay is the first to be eliminated after a Chickenwing/Stomp combination from both Scurll and Lee. Scurll wins the tournament by making Lee tap to the Chickenwing.
Gran Metalik defeated Akira Tozawa and Kota Ibushi defeated Brian Kendrick on tonight’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic episode to advance to the Final Four.
Metalik will now face the winner of Noam Dar vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. and Ibushi will face the winner of TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann, which will air next Wednesday. The live CWC finale then will take place on 9/14 from Full Sail.
Below are post-show videos with Ibushi getting checked by a trainer and emotional moment between Kendrick and his friend Daniel Bryan:
Tonight’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic episode saw the following second round matches: Brian Kendrick over Tony Nese, Akira Tozawa over Jack Gallagher and Noam Dar over HoHo Lun.
Kendrick will face Kota Ibushi in the quarterfinals while Tozawa will face Gran Metalik and Dar will go up against the winner of Drew Gulak vs. Zack Sabre, Jr.
The second round will end on next week’s episode with Sabre vs. Gulak, Rich Swann vs. Lince Dorado and Johnny Gargano vs. TJ Perkins.
This week’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic saw the following wrestlers advance: Zack Sabre, Jr. (over Tyson Dux), Drew Gulak (over Harv Sihra), Tony Nese (over Anthony Bennett), Brian Kendrick (over Raul Mendoza).
Matches for next week include:
Noam Dar vs. Gurv Sihra
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano
Rich Swann vs. Jason Lee
Fabian Aichner vs. Jack Gallagher
Second round matches begin airing on 8/10. The following have been confirmed:
Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander
Drew Gulak vs. ZSJ
Tajiri vs. Gran Metalik
Tony Nese vs. Brian Kendrick
TJ Perkins vs. winner of Gargano vs. Ciampa
Akira Tozawa vs. winner of Richner vs. Gallagher
Lince Dorado vs. winner of Swann vs. Lee
HoHo Lun vs. winner of Dar vs. Sihra
Here are post-match interviews from last week’s show with Gulak, Kendrick, Nese and ZSJ:
If you’re in the Los Angeles area and want to learn how to become a professional wrestler – this is your chance. Brian Kendrick’s School of Pro Wrestling is running another 12-week boot camp starting later this month on March 21st.
There are still a few spots available: Visit Briankendrick.net for more info.
Brian Kendrick’s School of Pro Wrestling is designed with those who wish to pursue Pro Wrestling wholeheartedly. It is a 3 hour a day, 3 day a week, 12 week course built to teach aspiring wrestlers as much as possible in a safe but rapid pace. The entire focus of the school is to bring the best out of the students. The work is hard. You will be tired, you will get in better shape, and you will become a wrestler if you gamble on yourself, pay attention and put in your best effort.
Kendrick has been wrestling professionally for the last 15 years, making a living wrestling in over 30 countries and all 50 states finding success in many of the largest wrestling organizations, including WWE, TNA, NJPW, ROH, Hoodslam, and PWG.
Are you an aspiring pro wrestler located in the Los Angeles area? If so, then you’re going to want to check out Brian Kendrick’s School of Pro Wrestling at the Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy in Bell Gardens, California.
The next Beginners Boot Camp starts November 2nd and there’s still time to sign up.
12 Week Boot Camp Course
In ring Trainer: WWE Alumni Brian Kendrick
Boot Camp Course Starts November 2nd 2015!
Class will be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Class start time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
36 – 3 hour Sessions
Limited Spots Available
Tuition Cost: $1700 if paid in full – $2000 if paid in 4 installments
Tag Team Special! Sign up w/ a friend and each get $200 off Tuition
For more info call 323.896.3017 or email Info@SantinoBros.net
SIGN UP NOW at SantinoBrothers.net to make your dreams of becoming a professional wrestler a reality.
Brian Kendrick’s Wrestling Pro Wrestling is also running a show this Friday night called, “Creepy Crawlers and Beefy Brawlers” show this Friday night at 9PM at the Santino Bros Wrestling Academy (5640 Shull St Unit S, Bell Gardens, CA 90201).
There will FREE CANDY + if you attend in costume, you receive 50% off admission. Click here for more information. Here’s the full card:
Main Event
– Eli Everfly vs Rocky Romero
– Pretty Peter Avalon vs Ryan Kidd
– BBoy vs Ray Rosas
Whats In The Box Match
– Cedric the Postman vs Lou P.S. vs Frederick Ex
WWE Diva and Total Divas star Eva Marie recently spoke with Crave Online to promote this Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On if Brian Kendrick had her study any particular film or style: “Absolutely! He didn’t specifically tell me to stay with any certain style but he had me watch film from Japanese wrestling to old school matches with WWE. I watched a lot of super crazy Tajiri matches, which were insane to me because of that style. It’s so fast doing moonsault after moonsault after moonsault was pretty impressive. I just pick and choose from different matches and different eras. Things are always changing but a lot of things are the same just with different little flavors.”
On her NXT ring attire getting the Internet buzzing and how she came up with the look: “That was collaboration between Brian [Kendrick] and myself. His wife actually made my robe for me. I love the old school wrestling. That’s what I watched with my brothers so I wanted to bring back the over the top pageantry, the glam, and no Diva on the roster has an entrance like that so I wanted to be different and bring something new into the generation that I’m in right now.”
On why she has had so much animosity against her during this season of Total Divas: “To be honest, I don’t know the root of the animosity. I’m really just trying to train and get better at my job so I can get on those girls level and be able to entertain and put on matches that everybody is happy about. That’s where I’m coming from. The funny thing is, I’m in California and in Orlando. I’ve been training at the WWE Performance Center as well. It’s just the fact that the times I’m not in Orlando training at the Performance Center, I’m getting in the ring with Brian Kendrick. I’m doing the best that I possibly can with both situations. I’m working on the NXT live events and I go out to Orlando two weeks out of each month so that I can train.”
On what it’s like to work in front of NXT crowds: “For me it’s awesome! I just recently had my fifth singles match so it’s pretty incredible because that crowd is so close not only to the ring but it’s just such an intimate crowd so you can really feed off of however they feel or whatever they take to in the match and it’s a really big interaction between entertainer and fan, which is awesome.”
On what she ultimately hopes to get out of all of this: “I want to be able to bring the WWE Universe with me wherever I go and with whatever I am doing. I want to bring them on this journey just like how they’ve been following me on the last six months through me training and progressing in the ring and and now it’s walk with me to my first match. That was another little step and I want to continue to do that and bring them with me throughout everything, which is a lot of different things and different avenues and really integrate WWE with mainstream as well as be a positive role model and let them know that if you dream something you can definitely achieve it as long as you’re willing to put in the hard work and don’t let other people get in your way.”
Brian Kendrick appeared as a guest on a recent edition of The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling Podcast to talk about training WWE Diva Eva Marie, his recent work in NXT and more. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On how he felt about his recent matches in NXT: “Those experiences were great. I got to wrestle a couple of buddies in the two matches I had down there, one with Sami Callihan (Solomon Crowe) the other with Fergal Devitt (Finn Balor) and both guys I knew before they were signed and both are guys that I am also a fan of just as people and as performers. To get asked to get to do these things was a lot of fun. It was a treat to get to wrestle such talented wrestlers.”
On how the NXT cameo came about: “It was just a lot of luck. They brought me down just to go to the developmental system because I have a wrestling school out here in Los Angeles, it was a chance for me to get to go down to see how the Performance Center runs things for a week and observe some things. So they decided to throw me a dark match and of course I brought my gear because that’s what any good wrestler does and it just so happened that it fell into my lap.”
On if his time at the Performance Center a tryout for future use as a trainer: “I guess it’s true in a sense but it wasn’t an official tryout. It was more of a come down and see how the system works. For me the whole point was to go down there and gain some knowledge as far as how they run things and the drills they do so I could prepare my wrestlers in a way that they won’t be completely caught off guard if they are lucky enough and work hard enough to somehow get an opportunity to perform at the Performance Center or get a tryout. It’s top notch. They’ve got something like five, six, seven rings. One of them is completely soft. So guys can try riskier stuff. They’ve got video rooms, they’ve got trainers on staff to both help you learn how to lift, trainers in a sense of medical care, they’ve got ice baths and all kinds of stuff. It’s as if you were going to any major NFL team or a baseball team it’s on that level.”
On if NXT end up killing the independent scene: “I don’t think it’s going to kill it. To me it’s genius that they took a style, the “indy” style which is very high paced, high risk, high intensity style of match and are seeing how it works in front of a WWE audience. As far as I could tell, anyone who watches NXT is a repeat viewer, they can come back and watch more because they enjoy it. I don’t know if it is going to hurt Ring of Honor when people learn that Kevin Owens was a Ring of Honor superstar so if people have this knowledge I’m sure it can help Ring of Honor in a bizarre way. I think if Ring of Honor markets itself as a “stars of tomorrow” I think it could be unbelievable because all those stars that came out of Ring of Honor that move on to NXT are hot stuff.”
On training Eva Marie and her progress as a performer: “She’s not the only one, they’ve sent a few women and they’ve sent the hopefuls to me but she’s the only one contracted. Having somebody that like her knows the system, where also she’ll be able to go on and wrestle, what you saw in NXT that was her first match since going to wrestling school. As proud as I was of it, hopefully people in the next few months will become a big fan of Eva Marie’s work and so the fact that they can come out of my school and go directly to TV for me on a selfish level I get more instant gratification that I get to see them come up quicker. At the same time, if I get to see one of my students, like a kid who came off the street who never knew anything about wrestling go onto to success I guess I would feel a different kind of pride since I saw them when they were wide eyed.”
On who from WWE made the call to ask him to help out: “The call wasn’t made from him but the call was made to me from Mr. Regal because we have a relationship from years past. He is one of the guys who helped train me and so the office knows our connection and he is the one who dealt with me. But as far as I know, Eva told me that she went to the higher-ups and asked to learn and train and they said that there is a school in Los Angeles so that way she can still do all of her appearances and so they can keep her in LA. Also it’s a way to see if I know how to train or not.”
Check out the complete interview at Podomatic.com.
– The following is a clip from the Dusty Rhodes tribute that aired on the WWE Network after Monday’s edition of RAW. In the clip below, Arn Anderson talks about Ric Flair’s rivalry with Rhodes outside the ring.
– WWE posted the following Total Divas preview clip, which shows Eva Marie training with Brian Kendrick.
– WWE and Mountain Dew are giving away two trips to this year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York with their new “#WWExDEW Sweepstakes.” Full details on the contest are available at WWE.com. Below is a video of Dolph Ziggler promoting the contest.
WWE Diva Eva Marie, who has spent months traininng with Brian Kendrick, wrote the following on her official Instagram page today:
A few months ago I made a promise to my #RedNation , the ones who have believed in me from day one! I promised that I would dedicate my blood, sweat, and tears to the ring. That I would train until my body couldn’t take anymore and still push through. That I would hone my craft , improve my technique, and become the greatest WWE Diva of this Era. – –
This was my promise and commitment to you, and I am a woman of my word. Getting in some intense training here at the Performance Center. Committed to be the best Diva I can be. –
To every single person offering words of encouragement, You are my motivation, you are my inspiration. You believed in me when no one else did, you saw potential me when no one else did, you encouraged me when many tried to tear me down. I will not let you down! Get ready because #AllRedEverything is coming! –
– Following the retirement of AJ Lee, Lana and Eva Marie are in line for pushes. Eva Marie has been training with Brian Kendrick and WWE officials expect her to be a more well rounded performer when she returns to action.
– Samoa Joe should be starting in NXT in June. Joe booked an independent show on May 23rd for AIW Wrestling in Cleveland, Ohio. No word on if he’s signed a WWE contract yet.
– Regarding WWE bringing in veterans like Rhynoand Brian Kendrick to NXT, the idea behind it is that new developmental talents will improve faster if they work with more experienced talent. This is a similar move to that made by Jim Ross, who had a similar philosophy when he was working with Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE”s developmental territory at the time. WWE is rumored to be bringing in more past veterans to work with the young guys in NXT.
– Ticket sales for WrestleMania 31 have reportedly picked up since the WWE World Heavyweight Championship between Brock Lesnar and Rmoan Reigns was officially announced after the WWE Fastlane pay-per-view. Comped tickets are said to be down a considerable amount compared to 2014 and the overall pace of ticket sales for the show as a whole are said to be slightly ahead of where WrestleMania XXX was at this time.
– The Thursday, February 26th edition of WWE SmackDown averaged 2.624 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. By comparison, last week’s show scored 2.403 million viewers. Thursday’s show marks the highest rated edition of SmackDown for this month.
– WWE has added Brian Kendrick to the official NXT roster page, the same way they did with Rhyno following his NXT debut last week. As things stand now, there has been no word of either Kendrick or Rhyno signing a new deal with WWE.
– The following is Bray Wyatt’s promo regarding The Undertaker from this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown.
– The dark match before Wednesday night’s NXT Takeover: Rival event at Full Sail University saw Enzo Amore and Big Cass defeat Aiden English and Simon Gotch.
– The blonde woman who jumped on Tyler Breeze during his entrance at Takeover was Gionna Daddio. She’s a former Hooters model and has been signed to NXT for a few months now.
– WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and Larry Zbyszko were both in attendance. Brian Kendrick was there as well and is expected to be at tonight’s NXT TV tapings.
– After Takeover went off the air on the WWE Network tonight, trainers continued to check on former NXT Champion Sami Zayn. Kevin Owens went on with his celebration as NXT General Manager William Regal came down to check on Sami.
The following are highlights of a new interview with Big Ryck, aka Ezekiel Jackson:
On growing up a Wrestling fan: “The long version of the story is, at eight years old I saw wrestling for the first time and a neighbor of ours used to allow us to watch television through their windows and one day, I saw wrestling for the first time. It was 1986 or 1987 and I was eight years old. It was “Iceman” King Parsons and I was smitten, so I’ve been a fan of wrestling forever.”
On his debut and working with Brian Kendrick: “The thing about Brian Kendrick is that he’s not going to try to hold his tongue, he’s not going to baby you, he’s not going to try to please you just to please you. If it is wrong, he will tell you it is wrong, but it if it is right, he will tell you it is right. He’s not going to walk on eggshells around anybody, he’s a straight shooter, he lets you know straight up if he doesn’t like you, he doesn’t like you. Kendrick chose me for that role, he came, sat, met up with me when I was in Florida Championship Wrestling, told me his plans and asked if I was interested. The dude came to Florida and asked if I was willing to come into that role, that earned my respect on a whole new level for him. I think we had for whatever reason, we didn’t hit it the way I thought we could have, whether it be writing, creative, myself, himself, I don’t know.”
On his time working with William Regal and Vladimir Kozlov as The Ruthless Roundtable: “With Regal combined, the three of us, I felt it was, we did the whole he won one, one-upsmanship. He would hit me with his finisher, then we did the thing at SummerSlam, myself and Christian, where I turned on Christian. You had Christian as Champion, you had Dreamer, you had Goldust, you had, you know Regal working with us, Hurricane, I thought, let’s see what happens again, put two big guys together and we worked well. I had a chance to learn more in the wrestling aspect of it, it was fun for while it lasted. I thought again that The Ruthless Roundtable thing, I thought it could’ve been phenomenal had it gotten a chance on Raw or SmackDown.”
Check out the complete interview at MainEventMadness.com.
— A source within TNA Wrestling has confirmed that Brian Kendrick was released from his contract with the organization after his bio was removed from ImpactWrestling.com last week.
Kendrick disappeared from television in November. It was speculated last month that he was parting ways with TNA but company sources said he was still under contract. He is accepting independent dates and is scheduled to appear for Family Wrestling Entertainment next month in New York City.
— Sarita celebrated her ten-year anniversary in professional wrestling last Wednesday. She posted a message on her Facebook page to give thanks for all that the sport of wrestling has given to her.
“10 years ago, I had my first match in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada. I thank this beautiful sport for all that its given me. Not a day goes by that I don’t appreciate your presence in my life. To those who have followed my career, you’ll never know the strength you give me,” she writes.
Sarita also says that she will be on hand for this week’s slate of Impact Wrestling tapings in Orlando, Florida.
— Brian Kendrick has been removed from TNA Wrestling’s roster page on ImpactWrestling.com. This would indicate that he has parted ways with the company.
Kendrick’s second TNA run culminated with him capturing the X Division Championship from Abyss last July at Destination X. After dropping the title to Austin Aries at No Surrender, he failed in his attempt to regain the belt at Bound for Glory. He had only competed in one televised match since then.
— Sarita was sick during last week’s TNA live event tour of West Virginia; she did not miss any matches.
— Brooke Tessmacher has been announced to appear at Legends of the Ring 14, which takes place Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Monroe, New Jersey.
IMPACT WRESTLING Preview: Hulk Hogan’s Major Announcement
Don’t miss Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, as the road to Bound For Glory on October 16 continues – with Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Sting, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode and more! Can’t watch IMPACT WRESTLING on Thursday night? Make sure to set your DVR to record it so you don’t miss any of the action.
Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:
– “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan will deliver a major announcement on Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c! What does Hogan have planned just weeks before Bound For Glory? Don’t miss it, as Hogan promises to drop a bombshell!
– Speaking of Hulk Hogan, his Bound For Glory opponent – “The Icon” Sting – has asked for time to get some things off his chest. In fact, rumor has it Sting wants to speak DIRECTLY to the members of Fortune! Don’t miss the start to the huge broadcast!
– Also, Fortune members will battle this Thursday as Bobby Roode will battle “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles in a huge bout! Roode will fight for the World Heavyweight Championship at Bound For Glory, but first he has to make it past AJ Styles! Certainly, current World Champion Kurt Angle will be watching as he attempts to drive a wedge between the members of Fortune!
– In high-flying X-Division action, there will be a Ladder Match this Thursday on SpikeTV to determine who gets the X Championship shot against Austin Aries at Bound For Glory: Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash vs. Alex Shelley vs. Zema Ion vs. Brian Kendrick
– The final “Queen’s Qualifier” takes place to determine the competitors in the Knockouts Championship match at Bound For Glory! This Thursday, Madison Rayne battles Tara, with the winner advancing to the Pay-Per-View!
– Plus, Crimson makes his return to IMPACT WRESTLING following his injury at the hands of Samoa Joe, “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy continues his quest for redemption and so much more!
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on Spike at 9/8c! If you can’t watch it live, make sure to set your DVR!
— Air Extreme Wrestling has announced that they are in discussions with Jeff and Matt Hardy to appear for the promotion’s upcoming tour of Mexico.
Eduardo Soto Ramirez, owner of AEW, said in the press release that Jeff is keen to perform in Mexico while negotiations with Matt slowed following his recent automobile accident. He adds that Matt is considering leaving the professional wrestling industry to pursue other endeavors.
The tour, which takes place October and November, will feature a slew of former WWE talent including Paul London, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Mr. Aguila, Juventud Guerrera, Zach Gowen, Marco Corleone, Brian Kendrick, Kristin Astara, Miss Jackie and Nikki Roxx. Matt’s girlfriend Reby Sky has also been announced for the tour.
— ODB stated on her Twitter account yesterday that she will not be on hand for this week’s Impact Wrestling tapings.
“Not gonna b at impact tapings this week,” she wrote. “#bammmmm.”