Author: John Bass

USWA & Portland Wrestling Star Bart Sawyer Passes Away

The family of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper has announced that Bart Sawyer (Steve Stewart), a staple of the Portland Wrestling scene, passed away on Thursday at the age of 57 years old.

Sawyer was a mainstay for Portland Wrestling during the early 1990s before joining the USWA. He got his start in the wrestling business training under Bob Giegel in the Kansas City area and wrestled his first match as a student against Curtis Hughes. He worked for the World Wrestling Alliance in Kansas City and then made some appearances for the USWA and WCCW before beginning to work for Pacific Northwest Wrestling.

Sawyer was forced to retire in November 2004 following a stroke that left him in a coma for several days and partially paralyzed his left side.

Although Sawyer eventually recovered, he never stepped in between the ropes again.

Source: eWn

Matt Riddle Released By WWE

Matt Riddle is gone from WWE.

In a statement released on Twitter, Riddle announced his departure and thanked his fans for all the years of memories. The move follows mass talent cuts by WWE on Thursday, when the promotion released at least 22 stars or prospective stars in the way of its acquisition by Endeavor and merger with Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Riddle, himself a former UFC fighter, began training as a professional wrestler almost a decade ago and signed with WWE in 2018. Over the course of his career, he won the “NXT” Tag Team Championship with Pete Dunne (now known as Butch), the “Raw” Tag Team Championship with Randy Orton, and the WWE United States Championship. His WWE run was also characterized by prominent accusations against him during the #SpeakingOut movement, his real-life feud with Seth Rollins, and his multiple drug suspensions, the most recent of which came in 2022 and resulting in him being removed from television. Riddle returned on the “WWE Raw” after WrestleMania 39, but with a somewhat diminished role in the absence of his injured partner, Orton.

Riddle made headlines earlier this month for an incident at JFK airport and hadn’t been seen on television since. Despite reports that his absence was not related to the airport altercation and that he was making his return to “WWE Raw” this week, Fightful Select is now reporting that Riddle hasn’t been backstage or on the road with WWE since he was pulled from weekend events and the September 11 episode of “Raw.” Fightful claims Riddle was not planned for a return and not part of WWE’s creative plans following the incident, despite the fact that he was in the middle of a storyline that had seen him teaming up with Drew McIntyre, and says one source cited Riddle as having “burned through too many chances while in WWE.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Rampage Grand Slam Preview 9/22/2023

Tonight’s special two-hour “Grand Slam” edition of AEW Rampage on TNT.

  • ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) (c) vs. The Elite (The Young Bucks & Hangman Page)
  • AEW World Trios Championship: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn (c) vs. Dark Order’s Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship number one contenders match: The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) vs. The Hardys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) vs. Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor)
  • Sting & Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage & Luchasaurus
  • Orange Cassidy, Hook & Kris Statlander vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker & Anna Jay
  • Skye Blue vs. Julia Hart
  • Mike Santana in action
  • We’ll here from Sammy Guevara and Don Callis

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/22/2023

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on FOX from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

  • LWO (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) vs. The Street Profits
  • WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Asuka
  • John Cena to appear

Injury Updates On Adam Cole & Jon Moxley After AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam

Adam Cole and Jon Moxley are both believed to have suffered injuries on Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam.

Fightful Select is reporting that Cole was admitted to the hospital following the show and was last seen using crutches. He is said to have injured his ankle when jumping off the ramp during the main event of Dynamite.

Moxley, who is believed to have suffered a mild concussion, was deemed “okay” after his match.

Moxley was checked on by AEW President Tony Khan and others after leaving under his own accord.

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that Moxley wasn’t hurt during the finish of his AEW International Title defense against Rey Fenix, but actually in the opening minutes of the match.

AEW had originally planned for Moxley to retain the International Title, which Fenix eventually won.

As the match progressed, Moxley realized he wasn’t feeling well and informed Fenix mid-match that he was going to triumph.

While the former AEW World Champion had asked the referee to count him out, it didn’t immediately happen after the piledriver.

Moxley was reportedly doing better later in the night and was said to have been “fine” backstage.

Source: eWn

More WWE Releases From Yesterday

Yesterday WWE released several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin.

Update:

WWE also released the following:

  • Dana Brooke
  • Mansoor
  • Mace
  • Shanky
  • Dabba Kato / Commander Azeez / Babatunde (NXT)
  • Quincy Elliot (NXT)
  • Bryson Montana (NXT)
  • Yulisa Leon (NXT)
  • Daniel McArthur (NIL)
  • Kevin Ventura-Cortez (NIL)
  • Alexis Gray (NIL)
  • Brooklyn Barlow (NIL)
  • Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald

The company was looking to cut back on $50 million to $100 million in expenses following the merger with UFC to form the TKO Holdings Group.

Dave Meltzer reported the following in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“The key to the releases were talent making main roster money but not being used on the main roster and with the idea that they were not going to be used in the future,” Meltzer wrote.

“It’s time in vs. how much money you are paid vs. return on investment,” said one WWE official regarding the talent cuts.”

Dolph Ziggler Released From WWE

Dolph Ziggler’s lengthy time with WWE has come to an end with his release this week, Fightful has learned.

Ziggler signed with WWE in 2004 and would debut on the main roster the following year as the ‘caddy’ of Kerwin White/Chavo Guerrero.

Returning to the main roster the next year as ‘Nicky’ of the Spirit Squad, it wouldn’t be until 2008 that Ziggler began using the name he would stick with for the rest of his run.

Ziggler leaves WWE a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a multi-time Tag Team, Intercontinental, and United States Champion.

The Show-Off returned to NXT last year and briefly held the NXT Championship, dethroning Bronn Breakker.

Source: eWn

MLW Fusion Preview 9/21/2023

MLW FUSION streams 8pm tonight on MLW’s YouTube channel and FITE+, Friday on beIN XTRA and Saturday on Cable TV’s beIN SPORTS (find a provider). 

Matt Cardona has grand plans for Major League Wrestling. What’ the embodiment of sports entertainment up to? One thing is for sure: “The Agent” is alwayz ready.

Don King, backer of the Bomaye Fight Club and promoter of the World Heavyweight Champion is putting in the work on a big match. What’s next for Alex Kane… and how many zeroes are in the check for the big title bout?

Mance Warner lobbies for one of the strangest matches ever. Yes, really, that strange.

Salina de la Renta demands the attention of MLW’s boss as the Empressaria of Lucha’s conquest continues. 

The war between The Calling and Second Gear Crew rages on as the “Death Fighter” AKIRA goes one on one with Second Gear Crew’s highwayman Matthew Justice. 

“The International Popstar” promises to spill the tea on “something scandalous” involving the World Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo? B3CCA joins St Laurent on the latest rendition of Sessions by Saint Laurent. 

Microman is MISSING? Microman failed to show up at an autograph appearance. Since then, no one has seen or heard from the World’s Greatest Wonder. 

Ichiban takes to the air against Nolo Kitano in a high octane middleweight clash with championship implications.

When the moonsault hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore… or Love, Doug when he wrestles Little Guido for the first-time ever.

Plus BET ONLINE presents the MLW Slaughterhouse FITE+ Control Center!

Impact Wrestling Preview 9/21/2023,1000 Episodes Celebration Continues

The celebration of IMPACT Wrestling’s 1000th episode continues this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

  • Feast or Fired Match case reveals
  • Ultimate X Match: Zachary Wentz vs. Rich Swann vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Alan Angels vs. Samuray del Sol vs. Ace Austin
  • Trinity, Jordynne Grace, Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, & Mickie James vs. Angelina Love, Deonna Purrazzo, Savannah Evans, Gisele Shaw, & Tasha Steelz
  • Eric Young vs. Kenny King
  • Jake Something vs. Dirty Dango
  • Josh Alexander vs. Trey Miguel

WWE Releases Multiple Wrestlers

WWE has released at least several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin

Emma initially reacted to the announcement that WWE was headed to Perth, Australia for Elimination Chamber next year, calling it a “dream”. However, then she found out about her release.

She wrote: “Oops nevermind. I just got released… I am no longer with WWE.”

https://twitter.com/EmmaWWE/status/1704870539540705609
https://twitter.com/WWE_Aliyah/status/1704876633289560122
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704874964170485808
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704881017494864376
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704880947483595157
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704880032986824823
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704888762327572791

Source: 411Mania