Category: Independent Promotions

Booker T Comments On His Impending Return To In-Ring Action

It was confirmed this week that Booker T will be returning to the ring for his Reality Of Wrestling promotion. During his latest Hall Of Fame podcast, Booker himself discussed the situation, likening his current role when he returns to the ring as that of a player-coach.

“Player-coach baby. I’ll coach it from the outside and, hey, I’m putting myself in the game. Go in and score 30,” he added. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s about letting these young guys get a ‘rub.’ Get a rub and let them see exactly what it takes from an inside perspective.”

Booker T will be teaming with Gaspar Hernandez  and the match will be taking place on January 22 in Canton, Texas. He believes it is all about on-the-job training and also spoke about the future of his tag team partner.

“I mean, on-the-job training, baby,” Booker T said about the situation. “It’s about learning this thing the proper way. A straight line is the direction that Gaspar Hernandez is going. Do you feel me?”

Booker T is taking his return to wrestling seriously. He has not been in the ring since February of 2020, where he competed for Reality Of Wrestling as well. However, the Hall Of Famer has been getting ready to get back, by spending time inside of the gym in order to get ready.

“I just finished working out in the gym. I am getting prepared, I am getting ready,” the Hall Of Famer claimed. “To go out there and do something special, the first time that it has never been done. Player-coach, Booker T, Gaspar Hernandez, Canton, Texas. It’s going to be good.”

Source: Wrestling Inc. credit to Hall Of Fame podcast

WWE Hall Of Famer Jeff Jarrett Makes GCW Debut At Die 4 This Event

WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett made a surprise debut at last night’s Game Changer Wrestling’s Die 4 This show in Atlantic City, NJ.  The pro wrestling veteran appeared, attacking Effy and destroying him with a guitar to the head to set up a future grudge match.

It was reported in July 2021 that Jarrett was released from WWE along with other budget cuts made at the time. Jeff Jarrett, inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018, was hired to work as a producer, but in March 2019, he was promoted to the creative team.

It was also determined last night who will be the new #1 contender for Jon Moxley’s GCW World Championship upon his return to the promotion. Homicide won the Do or Die Rumble to earn his spot to challenge for Moxley’s title at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

Homicide made his intentions clear as soon as he grabbed the microphone post-match, saying he was going to “f*ck up Moxley”.

Another pro wrestling veteran is also back on the indie wrestling scene — Scotty 2 Hotty. He announced his return to competing in the squared circle this past November and suffered a loss to Joey Janela at last night’s event.

You can see the full results for last night’s show below:

GCW Tag Team Championship
The Briscoes (Mark Briscoe & Jay Briscoe) (c) def. Blake Christian & Alex Zayne

Calvin Tankman def. Yoya

Joey Janela def. Scotty 2 Hotty

GCW World Title Number One Contender Do Or Die Rumble
Homicide def. Jordan Oliver, Tony Deppen, Jack Cartwheel, Dante Leon, Ninja Mack, Atticus Cogar, Nick Wayne, Dark Sheik, Matthew Justice, AJ Gray, Cole Radrick, Shane Mercer, PCO, G-Raver, Colby Corino, Allie Katch, Billie Starkz, Grim Reefer

GCW Ultraviolent Championship:
Alex Colon (c) def. John Wayne Murdoch

Indie Star Dani Mo Reportedly Assaulted Backstage At OVW Event

Independent wrestling star Dani Mo was reportedly punched in the eye during a backstage altercation with one of her peers at an OVW show.

At a recent OVW event, independent wrestler Dani Mo was allegedly assaulted backstage during a pre-show meeting. after she broached the topic of some of her peers working while intoxicated.

Indie veteran Facade, who is Dani’s real-life partner, took to social media shortly after the incident to share his side of the story.

“We’re headed back from Louisville right now. During a backstage meeting where “officials asked to leave,” Dani was sucker punched in the eye from behind after speaking up about people getting intoxicated before the show,” Facade tweeted. In a follow-up tweet, Facade said he didn’t want to put anyone on blast but that the incident wasn’t cool.

https://twitter.com/1FACADE/status/1471659207812390913

Later, Dani clarified that OVW was not at fault for the incident and placed the blame solely on the unnamed individual who attacked her.

“I want to make this CLEAR, this has NOTHING to do w/ a company I work for, this insident was out of their hands COMPLETLY. It was w/ 1 particular person. Please do not make assumptions nor bash anyone,” she tweeted.

https://twitter.com/realdanimo/status/1471683769661014019

Dani Mo debuted for OVW back in May and has wrestled for the company 29 times since. She was originally scheduled to face Sierra for the latter’s OVW Women’s Championship at OVW’s Christmas Chaos event on Thursday, December 16. Dani withdrew from that match prior to the event, presumably as a result of the aforementioned backstage altercation.

Ohio Valley Wrestling is a Kentucky-based promotion that is currently owned and booked by businessman Matt Jones and former WWE Superstar Al Snow. The promotion was closely associated with WWE in the late ’90s and early 2000’s when it served as a developmental territory. During its glory days, the promotion was responsible for developing future megastars like Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and Batista.

Source: TheSportster

Top ROH Star Jonathan Gresham Announces New Promotion, Seth Rollins Comments

Jonathan Gresham announced he is starting up a new wrestling promotion called Terminus.

“Terminus. Modern age grappling. 1/16/22 Atlanta, GA,” Gresham wrote on social media.

In the video promo, it also teased “all roads lead to Terminus.”

Jonathan Gresham defeated Brody King over the weekend at ROH Honor For All to become the new number one contender.

The ROH World Champion is currently Bandido and he will meet Gresham for the title at ROH Final Battle on December 17.

Ring of Honor is set to go on hiatus after the PPV until April 2022. The company is reportedly going to operate more as an independent promotion in the future as it is not renewing contracts.

“Throughout the pandemic, our top priority was to keep everyone healthy and safe, and despite not producing any live events over 18 months, we were able to keep everyone fully contracted,” ROH wrote in a statement last month. “We now find ourselves at a time where we need to make changes to our business operations and are planning a pivot for Ring of Honor, with a new mission and strategy.”

WWE Superstar Seth Rollins retweeted Gresham’s video and recalled a story:

“One time a young JG paid my booking fee — when the promoter couldn’t come up with the cash — so I would stay and work. We ended up tearing it up in front of about 6 people, & had a couple more bangers months later. He never looked back. Invest in yourself, friends.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Tremont Remains Hospitalized After Atsushi Onita Deathmatch, Video And Photos From The Match

Indie veteran Matt Tremont remains hospitalized after suffering burns in the Current Blast Double Hell Deathmatch against the legendary Atsushi Onita this past weekend.

Sunday’s Destiny event from H20 Wrestling at Trenton Thunder Ballpark in Trenton, NJ was headlined by Onita defeating Tremont in a match that included fire, light bulb tubes, barbed wire, and more. The finish to the match saw Onita set fire to a barbed wire board, and then hip toss Tremont into the flames. Tremont’s gear was then covered in fire, but they put them out and Onita covered for the pin. Crew members immediately hit the ring with fire extinguishers after the pin.

Tremont is expected to remain hospitalized for up to one week due to burns suffered in the bout, according to PWInsider. It was noted that Tremont was admitted to a burn ward at a New Jersey hospital right after the event, and has been hospitalized since then.

Tremont was said to have been in increasing amounts of pain once the adrenaline from the match wore off, which led to him being taken to the hospital.

Sunday’s Destiny main event was co-promoted by H20 and Onita’s FMW-E match. After the bout was over, Onita embraced a bloody, cut and burned Tremont in the middle of the ring to an ovation from the crowd. Onita then took the mic and declared his love for deathmatches, and promised there will be even more explosions and violence next time.

Onita tweeted after the show and wrote, “Thank you to everyone who came to the venue and to see it at home. I’m proud of Tremont. Despite the spectacular explosion, he stood in the ring. Thank you to all fans for their warm welcome.”

Tremont is scheduled to challenge Rickey Shane Page for the H20 Heavyweight Title later this month at the Last November event on November 27 in Williamstown, NJ.

You can see Onita’s full tweet below, along with clips and photos from the Current Blast Double Hell Deathmatch:

https://twitter.com/onitafire123/status/1455520245741916167
https://twitter.com/eriksutch/status/1455062045452345347
https://twitter.com/IsThisWrestling/status/1455009024538198024
https://twitter.com/bigwillieisms/status/1455012758819426310
https://twitter.com/zacharynever/status/1455039679544315915
https://twitter.com/ExistedMP/status/1455017891926093826
https://twitter.com/bigwillieisms/status/1455009062760992771
https://twitter.com/Elitemania28/status/1455159024131792906
https://twitter.com/AlexGimenezBCN/status/1455073065931526148
https://twitter.com/Cardio_King/status/1455011795068989442
https://twitter.com/WeNeedWrestling/status/1455009927802597378

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Mick Foley To Make Special Appearance At GCW Fight Club

Game Changer Wrestling announced that WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley will be making a special appearance at GCW Fight Club.

Foley will be presenting the GCW World Championship before the Title match between Jon Moxley and Nick Gage.

Moxley became the GCW World Champion after he defeated Matt Cardona at GCW Art of War Games.

GCW announced, “*BREAKING* Hardcore Legend MICK FOLEY will be in AC to present the GCW World Championship prior to the #MOXvsGAGE Main Event. Watch LIVE on @FiteTV: https://fite.tv/watch/gcw-october-atlantic-city-combo/2pa4y/… Less than 25 Tix left: http://MOXVSGAGE.EVENTBRITE.COM”

Fight Club is on October 9 at the Showboat in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Below is the updated line-up for Fight Club: 

* Mick Foley To Make Special Appearance

* Jon Moxley (c) vs. Nick Gage (GCW World Championship Match)

* Alex Zayne vs. Ninja Mack

* Atticus Cogar vs. Jordan Oliver

*  “Second Gear Crew” (Matthew Justice, Mance Warner & AJ Gray) vs. Alex Colon, G-Raver & Akira (Six-Man Tag Team Match)

The event will be available to stream on FITE.

https://twitter.com/GCWrestling_/status/1443740532342145027
https://twitter.com/AllEliteDoug21/status/1443923284882563095

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Former ROH And IMPACT Star Jimmy Rave Announces Retirement After Arm Amputation

Former Ring of Honor and IMPACT Wrestling star Jimmy Rave (real name James Guffey) announced his retirement from professional wrestling on Saturday.

Rave made the announcement on Twitter.  He noted this is the hardest tweet he has had ever had to put out.  Rave stated that his retirement was due to an infection in his left arm which resulted in amputation of his left arm above the elbow.

Rave was trained by Murder One.  He made his debut in October 1999 as the masked Mr. XTC. He would then later adopt the in-ring name of Jimmy Rave. 

He debuted for Ring of Honor in 2003 and would stay with the promotion until 2007. He then left in August 2007. Rave later would sign with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling and become part of the Rock ’n Rave Infection with Lance Rock (Lance Archer).  After his departure from TNA/Impact, he made his return to ROH, and then left the promotion June 2013. 

Rave has held the NWA Wildside Junior Heavyweight Championship twice.  In addition, he has competed in the Best of the Super Juniors for New Japan Pro Wrestling, wrestled for Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, Dragon Gate and the independent circuit between 2009 and 2020.

He even made one appearance on WWE Sunday Night Heat in March 2005.

Below is Rave’s full statement from Twitter:

“I have been very blessed for the last 21 years in professional wrestling and getting to live out my dream. Today, that dream has ended for me and I have a new reality. This past Tuesday my world came crashing down when Doctors found an infection in my left arm. I tried toughing it out but by the time I saw a doctor it was too late and they had to amputate my left arm above the elbow. Thus effectively ending my in ring career. I appreciate everyone who has supported me or anyone who has pegged me with a roll of toilet paper. To my brothers & sisters I have shared the ring with or a locker room; thank you for always pushing me to be better. Thank You to all of my mentors and my students who allow me to still feel needed. This was the hardest thing I have ever had to type. If you have questions or comments please feel free to DM me. Please take your health much more seriously than I did. I am sorry for anyone I have let down. Support pro wrestling! -Jimmy Rave”

https://twitter.com/TheJimmyRave/status/1332880965841137666

Source: WrestleView

Tracy Smothers Passes Away At Age 58

Pro wrestling veteran Tracy Smothers has passed away at the age of 58.

Smothers announced in November 2019 that he was battling lymphoma. The Eat Sleep Wrestling website noted on Monday that they talked to Smothers via phone call and it looked like his first bout with cancer was going to be “a squash match” compared to this second round. The update from Monday also noted that Smothers suffered heart damage from the heavy chemotherapy in his first battle with cancer, which led to Smothers being hospitalized a few times. Smothers underwent surgery for a hernia just 11 days ago.

“Tracy’s ready to fight this cancer as hard as he did last fall, but the heart problems have delayed the cancer treatments and the hernia issue has delayed doctors from treating the heart issues. He’s in a real battle. Tracy is in it to win it, and he sends his love to all his friends and his wrestling family, and he is asking for prayers,” ESW wrote on Monday.

A GoFundMe had been launched at this link to help with Smothers’ medical expenses, and an indie event was planned for this weekend in Bartonville, IL to help raise more money. Smothers also asked ESW to plug his book, which you can find here.

Smothers began his pro wrestling career back in 1982 and wrestled for numerous promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW, SMW, TNA and Memphis Wrestling, among others. He held the ECW World Tag Team Titles once with Little Guido, and held the WCW United States Tag Team Titles once with Steve Armstrong.

In an update, Timothy Denison noted on Facebook that Smothers passed away this morning at around 4:24am, due to his fight against cancer.

Funeral arrangements and a “Celebration of Life” will be announced in the near future for Smothers’ family, friends and fans. Denison noted that Smothers is survived by his mother, sister, two brothers, two sons, and his girlfriend.

Several promotions, wrestlers and WWE Hall of Famers are paying tribute to Smothers on social media today.

Tracy Smothers passes away

WWE is saddened to learn that Tracy Smothers passed away today at the age of 58.

A native of Springfield, Tennessee, Smothers teamed with Steve Armstrong, as his career began in Florida Championship Wrestling. The duo competed in WCW as The Southern Boys and The Young Pistols and were engaged in a long rivalry with The Fabulous Freebirds tandem of Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin.

After another stint on the independent wrestling circuit, Smothers began wrestling in WWE as Freddie Joe Floyd. Smothers shared the ring with icons such as Triple H and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin during his time with WWE. Later, the wrestling veteran had a memorable run with ECW.

WWE extends its condolences to Smothers’ family and friends.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Beyond Wrestling Announces Upcoming Live IWTV Streaming Special

Beyond Wrestling has announced they are returning to IWTV for a streaming special on Sunday, September 20.

The indie promotion tweeted, “BREAKING: Beyond Wrestling returns to @indiewrestling for a LIVE streaming special on Sunday afternoon, September 20th sponsored by https://ShopIWTV.com! The goal of this card is to feature wrestlers that haven’t had a chance to compete for us since the start of the pandemic.”

Kimber Lee, Joey Janela, and Priscilla Kelly were some of the wrestlers at the promotion’s latest event, “Wear Sunscreen.” The event had taken place last month in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

IWTV has about 225 independent wrestling promotions on its streaming platform. Beyond Wrestling alone has over 150 events on the platform that are currently available to watch.

Game Changer Wrestling, Black Label Pro Wrestling, ICW, and DEFY are just a few other notables that are on the service. The monthly price for Independent Wrestling TV is $10.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Teddy Hart Arrested For Possession Of A Narcotic With Intent To Sell Or Distribute

Independent wrestler Teddy Hart has been arrested for possession of narcotics.

According to Hart’s booking information, the 40-year-old wrestler was taken into custody yesterday for possession of a schedule III narcotic with intent to sell or distribute.

Virginia law states possession of a schedule III controlled substance is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to twelve months months in jail, as well as a fine of up to $2,500.

The wrestler, whose real name is Edward Annis, is due in court on April 23.

For those who are maybe unfamiliar, Teddy is part of the legendary Hart family and most recently worked for MLW before the promotion let him go.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

teddy hart arrested narcotics intent to sell or distribute