Author: John Bass

NJPW Reveals Full Power Struggle Card

NJPW has announced the full card for Power Struggle on November 7 at Edison Arena in Osaka, Japan. In the main event, IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito is set to defend both titles against EVIL.

After winning this year’s G1 Climax 30 against SANADA in the finals, Kota Ibushi will defend his Wrestle Kingdom 15 contract against Jay White. White interrupted Ibushi’s post-match press conference and made it clear he wanted a crack at Ibushi.

Below is the rest of the card:

* Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. EVIL (IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships)

* Kota Ibushi (holder) vs. Jay White (Wrestle Kingdom 15 Title Match Contract)

* KENTA (holder) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (IWGP US Championship Match Contract)

* Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan

* Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Shingo Takagi (NEVER Openweight Championship)

* Toru Yano (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (KOPW 2020 Championship)

This is the last big show before Wrestle Kingdom 15, which is again a two-night event on January 4 and 5.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

“Dark Side Of The Ring” Officially Renewed For A Third Season

Vice TV has officially renewed “Dark Side of the Ring” for a third season, according to Variety.

The third season will feature 14 episodes, and will premiere in 2021 some time.

Season one featured 6 episodes while season two featured 10 episodes.

There is no official word on topics for the third season, but it was recently revealed, via PWInsider, that producers have filmed interviews with family members of the late Grizzly Smith for an episode on Grizzly and his children – Sam Houston, Rockin’ Robin, and WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts. Eric Bischoff recently revealed on his 83 Weeks podcast that he was interviewed for “Dark Side” episodes on the late Brian Pillman, and the joint WCW – New Japan “Collision in Korea” event that was held in North Korea in April 1995. The “Collision in Korea” episode is one of the primary topics that show creators Evan Hunsey and Jason Eisner had wanted to produce for the third season.

“‘Dark Side of the Ring’ is a knockout show for Vice TV. The tag-team executive producers Evan Husney and Jason Eisener are true heavyweight champions of the world (of TV), and we are so excited to pin down a third season of this incredible series,” said Morgan Hertzan in a press release, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Vice Television. “Seasons 1 and 2 of ‘Dark Side of the Ring’ are examples of the compelling, thought-provoking, and engaging storytelling we champion here at Vice TV. We can’t wait to see what the series will throw down in the third round!”

It was announced earlier this year after season two wrapped that “Dark Side of the Ring” is now the best-performing series in the history of ViceTV. The first two seasons are now available for streaming on Hulu.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/16/20

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX episode will be the season two premiere.

There will be a special Kickoff pre-show that airs tonight at 7:30pm ET, featuring WWE Hall of Famer Booker T and former WWE on-air personality Renee Young as the hosts.

Backstage News On The Status Of WWE 205 Live

The new era of WWE 205 Live is officially underway, according to PWInsider.

The show debuted at the Capitol Wrestling Center last Friday and will continue to air from that facility, the former WWE Performance Center arena, each week. 205 Live episodes are now being taped on Wednesdays as a part of the weekly WWE NXT TV tapings.

Dewey Foley is still the head writer of the 205 Live brand, but the show is now officially, more than ever, under the NXT production umbrella. It was also noted that the NXT staff and creative team are now directing all aspects of the weekly cruiserweight series.

It will be interesting to see if WWE changes the look of the ring for tonight’s 205 Live episode on the WWE Network. Last week’s show, the first from the CWC, used the regular yellow ring ropes and turnbuckle pads with the NXT logo.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On The Status Of Raw Underground

WWE is reportedly set to discontinue Raw Underground, the “shoot-style fights” that were introduced by Shane McMahon in August during an episode of Monday Night Raw.

According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Raw Underground “is considered done” for right now.

The report noted that the segment was initially dropped for a few weeks due to the COVID-19 breakout, and fear that extras in the crowd may have been exposed to the virus. However, that is no longer the case. Even with almost everyone involved in the Raw Underground team back to work, the word is that WWE will no longer produce the shoot-style fights.

Meltzer also noted that due to the recent WWE Draft, Raw Underground segments “wouldn’t have fit as easily” into the show. He also mentioned how WWE was trying to keep NXT talent–who served as the extras on Raw Underground–away from Raw and SmackDown talent as much as possible, due to the fear of another COVID-19 outbreak.

Raw Underground took place for eight straight weeks on Raw, starting from the August 3 episode until September 21. However, it hasn’t been featured since then. The last big Raw Underground match pitted Braun Strowman against Dabba-Kato.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 10/14/20 – Anniversary Show

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite Anniversary Show airs on TNT from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. All four titles will be on the line for the first time in Dynamite’s history.

* Jon Moxley (c) vs. Lance Archer with Jake Roberts (AEW World Championship)

* FTR (c) with Tully Blanchard vs. Best Friends (AEW World Tag Team Championship)

* Cody (c) with vs. Orange Cassidy (AEW TNT Championship)

* Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Big Swole (AEW Women’s World Championship)

* Miro and Kip Sabian with Penelope Ford in action

* MJF to make a big announcement

WWE NXT Preview 10/14/20

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode from the Capitol Wrestling Center will be headlined by a NXT North American Title match, with more focus on returning Superstars like Ember Moon, Toni Storm and Dexter Lumis.

WWE has announced that Lumis will challenge NXT North American Champion Damian Priest in tonight’s main event. There will also be new #1 contenders to NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango crowned as Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish take on Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.

A new promo for tonight’s show teased more from Moon, Storm and Lumis, who have made their returns since the “Takeover: 31” event.

Britt Baker To AEW Fans: “Please Don’t Turn The Channel When Women Are On TV”

AEW star Britt Baker believes that for AEW’s women’s division to grow, the new wrestling company needs help from the audience watching at home.

While addressing the criticism faced by the female division, Baker said fans need to ensure that women’s segments are not the lowest-rated segments on AEW Dynamite.

“I know there are plans to grow the women’s division, but at the same time we need help from the fans at home too,” Baker told Uproxx in an interview. “We can’t have the women’s segments being the lowest rated or the lowest views [on YouTube] each week. Because at the end of the day it’s a business, and AEW needs ratings.”

Baker acknowledged that since AEW is in a ratings war every Wednesday night with NXT, it needs more fans watching the women’s segments.

“It’s no secret we’re in a war every Wednesday night with NXT, so we need the ratings up. So for the fans that are so encouraging and saying “We want more women, we want more women!” that’s great, but please don’t turn the channel when the women are on TV then! We want everybody to be watching the segments and cheering us on from home,” she said.

Baker also cited COVID-19 as a reason for AEW’s women’s division not reaching greater heights.

“Our women’s division got hit hard because of the COVID outbreak. Half our roster is international talent, so we immediately didn’t have access to any of those women. Then Kris Statlander got hurt, and I got hurt. And there’s only so much time on AEW Dynamite to start with,” added Baker.

Hikaru Shida will defend her AEW Women’s World Title against Big Swole during tonight’s AEW Dynamite anniversary episode.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

2020 WWE Draft Results

ROUND 1 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* WWE Champion Drew McIntyre stays on RAW
* RAW Women’s Champion Asuka stays on RAW
* The Hurt Business (MVP, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley) stays on RAW
* WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns stays on SmackDown
* Seth Rollins goes from RAW to SmackDown

ROUND 2 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* AJ Styles goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Sasha Banks stays on SmackDown
* Naomi goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Bianca Belair goes from RAW to SmackDown
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax stay on RAW

ROUND 3 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* Ricochet stays on RAW
* Jey Uso stays on SmackDown
* Mandy Rose stays on RAW
* Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio go from RAW to SmackDown
* The Miz and John Morrison go from SmackDown to RAW

ROUND 4 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* SmackDown Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods go from SmackDown to RAW
* Big E stays on SmackDown
* Dana Brooke stays on RAW
* Otis stays on SmackDown
* Angel Garza stays on RAW

FREE AGENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT PICKS FROM TALKING SMACK
* Humberto Carrillo stays on RAW
* Tucker goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Drew Gulak goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Kalisto stays on SmackDown
* Shorty G stays on SmackDown
* Murphy goes from RAW to SmackDown
* Mickie James TBA

ROUND 1 (ON RAW)
* “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Randy Orton stays on RAW
* SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley stays on SmackDown
* RAW Tag Team Champions (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) go to SmackDown from RAW
* Charlotte Flair stays on RAW

ROUND 2 (ON RAW)
* Braun Strowman goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Daniel Bryan stays on SmackDown
* Matt Riddle goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Kevin Owens goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Jeff Hardy goes to RAW from SmackDown

ROUND 3 (ON RAW)
* RETRIBUTION stays on RAW
* Lars Sullivan stays on SmackDown
* Keith Lee stays on RAW
* King Baron Corbin stays on SmackDown
* Alexa Bliss goes from SmackDown to RAW

ROUND 4 (ON RAW)
* Elias goes to RAW from SmackDown
* WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn stays on SmackDown
* Lacey Evans goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura stay on SmackDown
* Sheamus goes to RAW from SmackDown

ROUND 5 (ON RAW)
* Nikki Cross goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler go to SmackDown from RAW
* WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth stays on RAW
* Apollo Crews goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Dabba-Kato stays on RAW

ROUND 6 (ON RAW)
* Titus O’Neil stays on RAW
* Carmella stays on SmackDown
* Peyton Royce stays on RAW
* Aleister Black goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Akira Tozawa stays on RAW

ROUND 7 (ON RAW TALK)
* Lana stays on RAW
* Riddick Moss stays on RAW
* Arturo Ruas stays on RAW
* Natalya goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan go to SmackDown from RAW

ROUND 8 (ON TWITTER)
* Erik stays on RAW
* Billie Kay goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Tamina Snuka stays on SmackDown
* Zelina Vega goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado go to RAW from SmackDown

The remaining free agents from the pools as of this writing are Andrade and Mickie James.

Impact Wrestling Preview 10/13/20

The next chapter on the road to Bound for Glory unfolds tonight on Impact at 8/7c on AXS TV and Twitch.

* Health update on Rich Swann: Is his status for Bound For Glory in question?

* Havok and Nevaeh vs. Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz vs. Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie

* Kimber Lee vs. Kylie Rae

* Madman Fulton vs. Doc Gallows