Category: TNA

AEW Announces 12 Matches For Special Edition Of “Dark” 3/6/21

AEW has announced 12 matches for the special Revolution Weekend edition of AEW Dark that airs tomorrow night at 7pm ET on YouTube.

* Lance Archer vs. John Skyler

* Jack Evans vs. Jake St. Patrick

* Chuck Taylor vs. JD Drake

* Penta El Zero vs. Azriel

* Thunder Rosa vs. Tesha Price

* Tay Conti vs. Leila Grey

* Matt Sydal and Mike Sydal vs. Chaos Project (Luther, Serpentico)

* Ricky Starks and Brian Cage vs. Angel Fashion and Fuego del Sol

* The Gunn Club (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn) vs. M’Badu and D3

* The Natural Nightmares (QT Marshall, Dustin Rhodes) vs. Cezar Bononi and Peter Avalon

* Bear Country (Bear Boulder, Bear Bronson) vs. Ryzin and Cameron Stewart

* The Dark Order (5, 10) vs. Labron Kozone and Vary Morales

Paul Wight Teases Big Signing For AEW At Revolution PPV

Paul Wight formerly known as The Big Show has appeared on AEW programming for the first time since he jumped ship from WWE.

Wight returned to TNT for the first time in over 20 years when he debuted on the latest edition of AEW Dynamite.

During his segment, Wight plugged his upcoming color commentating spot on AEW Dark: Elevation. As noted, along with wrestling from time-to-time, Wight will commentate AEW Dark: Elevation on Mondays at 7 pm ET on AEW’s YouTube channel. The show premieres on March 15 and Tony Schiavone is set to be his broadcast partner.

During a chat with his former WCW colleague Tony Schiavone, Wight — who was wearing a t-shirt that said “no more BS” — clarified his new role with All Elite Wrestling.

“Raise your hand if you saw this turn coming,” he joked.

Wight then revealed that AEW has signed a major “hall-of-fame worthy” star, and said that they will debut at AEW Revolution on Sunday.

Check out Paul Wight’s AEW debut below.

Cody Rhodes Puts Shaq Through A Table On Dynamite

All Elite Wrestling’s Cody Rhodes managed to put NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal through a table on the latest edition of AEW Dynamite.

It all went down in the opening match which saw Cody team with Red Velvet to take on the powerhouse duo of Shaq and Jade Cargill.

At one point during the match, Cody cross-bodied Shaq off the apron through two tables on the outside!

An impressive performance from newcomer Cargill meant that Cody and Velvet ultimately lost the match.

After the bell, Shaq was stretchered into an ambulance, but when Tony Schiavone went to conduct a post-match interview with him, he had vanished.

Check out Shaq’s brutal table bump in the clip below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Legendary Promoter Jim Crockett Jr. Passes Away At 76

The legendary pro-wrestling promoter Jim Crockett Jr. has tragically passed away at the age of 76.

Crockett’s death from organ failure was confirmed by multiple sources on Wednesday evening.

Jim’s father — Jim Crockett Sr. — started the hugely influential Jim Crockett Promotions in 1931. Crockett Sr. passed away in 1977, and Crockett Jr. officially took the reigns of JCP in 1977. The company, which ran affiliated with the NWA, was started by his father, and was sold in 1988 to Ted Turner, who re-named it WCW. Crockett Jr. was a three-term NWA President, last serving in the role in 1991.

In the wake of his passing, tributes poured in from Jim’s fans, friends, and colleagues.

“Rest In Peace Jim Crockett Jr. You will be missed by so many,” Robert Gibson of The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express wrote on Facebook.

“If not for my love of Jim Crockett promotions I doubt I ever would have considered a pro wrestling career,” Lance Storm tweeted. “Thank you Jim Crockett jr. May you Rest In Peace.”

WWE issued a statement:

WWE is saddened to learn that Jim Crockett Jr. passed away at the age of 76.

An influential promoter who helped champion the careers of WWE Hall of Famers such as Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and The Road Warriors, Crockett Jr. stewarded the family’s Crockett Promotions from 1977 to 1989. As part of the promotion’s affiliation, Crockett Jr. was later named President of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1980. During his tenure, Crockett Jr. helped expand the promotion’s footprint and held the inaugural Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Under Crockett Jr.’s leadership, the NWA would eventually be sold and renamed as World Championship Wrestling.

WWE extends its condolences to Crockett Jr.’s family and friends.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1367347395344924676

AEW and Impact Wrestling also issued statements via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1367327469192310788
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1367314318396690432

AEW Dynamite ‘The Crossroads’ Preview 3/3/21 – Women’s Tournament Finals, Paul Wight, Ladder Match Qualifier, Shaq Wrestling, Tully Blanchard

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite ‘The Crossroads‘ episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet with Arn Anderson vs. Shaq and Jade Cargill

* FTR and Tully Blanchard vs. Jurassic Express

* Chris Jericho and MJF hold Revolution press conference

* Paul Wight to make his first appearance

* Hangman Page and John Silver vs. Matt Hardy and Marq Quen

* 10 VS. Max Caster with Anthony Bowens (Face of the Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier)

* Nyla Rose vs. Ryo Mizunami (Finals of the AEW Women’s Title Eliminator Tournament)

WWE And AEW Possibly Running Events In Texas And Mississippi Soon

Live pro wrestling events could return to the states of Texas and Mississippi soon.

Governors in both states announced this week that they are rescinding mask mandates and re-opening businesses and schools due to a drop in COVID-19 cases.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that he was lifting the mask requirement and allowing businesses to fully re-open.

“It is now time to open Texas 100 percent,” Abbott said, adding that, “Covid has not suddenly disappeared,” but state mandates are no longer needed.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said his latest executive order to ease restrictions will be one of his final orders related to COVID-19. It allows businesses to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules.

“I am replacing our current orders with recommendations,” Reeves said. “The only rules that will remain in this order are a capacity limit of 50% on indoor arenas and those that govern K-12 schools.”

This follows a trend around the country of governors and mayors deciding what is feasible, what is safe, and politically practical, according to the New York Times. Chicago public schools have re-opened while restaurants in Massachusettes were allowed to operate without capacity limits, and South Carolina has done away with its limits on large gatherings. San Francisco is allowing indoor dining, museums, movie theaters and gyms to re-open on a limited basis. Other states have been slowly re-opening for several months now.

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on Tuesday that she was easing restrictions on businesses and allowing family members who have tested negative for COVID-19 to visit nursing home residents. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker also announced that while residents should continue to wear masks in public, it’s time for more limits on businesses to be eased.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated last week that the state’s falling infection statistics show that immunizations are beginning to have an impact. Most school districts in Kentucky are now offering in-person classes.

“It means vaccinations work,” Beshear said. “We’re already seeing it. We’re seeing it in these numbers. It’s a really positive sign.”

We could potentially see pro wrestling companies like WWE and AEW begin running in Texas after Wednesday, March 10 when Governor Abbott’s lifting of limits goes into effect.

WWE previously indicated that they could return to live events with fans later this year, but it remains to be seen if plans will change as more states re-open. WrestleMania 37 is expected to run with limited capacity on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium.

Impact Wrestling Preview 3/2/2021

IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV

  • BTI 7/6c on AXS TV – Rohit Raju w/Shera vs. James Storm w/Chris Sabin
  • X-Division Title #1 Contenders Match: Chris Bey vs. Ace Austin vs. Black Taurus
  • Brian Myers vs. Eddie Edwards – Special guest Referee Matt Cardona
  • The Good Brothers, Juice Robinson and David Finlay vs. XXXL and Reno Scum

Heath Undergoing Surgery Today

As noted, Heath revealed a few weeks ago that he would need surgery in March due to several injuries that include a rip on both sides of his abdomen wall and his abductor’s muscle being completely off the bone.

The former WWE star announced yesterday on Twitter that he would be having his surgery today, March 1, 2021, in Durham, North Carolina.

It was back in October when Heath was injured during the Call Your Shot Battle Royal at Impact Wrestling Bound for Glory.

He made his Impact Wrestling debut on July 18, 2020, at Slammiversary. 

https://twitter.com/HEATHXXII/status/1366126387996864514

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/24/2021

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Lance Archer vs. Rey Fenix in a Face of the Revolution Ladder Match qualifier

* Hangman Page vs. Isiah Kassidy

* Jake Hager vs. Brandon Cutler

* The Varsity Blonds vs. Brian Cage and Ricky Starks

* Sting will appear and he’s coming for revenge from Brian Cage and Team Taz

* Jon Moxley vs. Ryan Nemeth

* Dr. Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose (Women’s World Title Eliminator Tournament Semis)

Former Impact Star Taya Valkyrie Reports To The WWE Performance Center, Rick Steiner’s Son

Former Impact Wrestling Knockouts Taya Valkyrie has reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando to begin training under her WWE NXT contract.

Valkyrie, who is married to RAW Superstar John Morrison, officially reported for training today and is to be announced in the next WWE Performance Center Class, according to PWInsider.

Regarding the new WWE Performance Center Class that reported for training today, F4Wonline.com reports that around 30 men and women are included in the class.

WWE is expected to officially announce the new Performance Center Class any time this week, possibly tomorrow afternoon.

Below is the updated list of confirmed names that reported for training today:

* Taya Valkyrie – 37 years old, longest-reigning Impact Knockouts Champion in history, married to John Morrison

* Parker Boudreaux – 18 year old college football star, compared to a young Brock Lesnar

* Bronson Rechsteiner – 23 year old former football player, son of Rick Steiner

* Angela Arnold – known as AQA, trained by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T

* Christian Brigham – known as Christian Casanova

* Anthony Henry – 36 year old former EVOLVE star

* Christian Hubble – known as Blake Christian

* Karissa Rivera – second generation talent, daughter of Steve King. Appeared on RAW as Bobby Lashley’s “ex-wife” once

* Zoey Stark – formerly known as Lacey Ryan, recently debuted on NXT TV and worked the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

* Cora Jade – formerly known as Elayna Black, recently debuted on NXT TV in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

* Gigi Dolin – formerly known as Priscilla Kelly, recently debuted on NXT TV in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

Rumored names expected to be confirmed for this WWE Performance Center Class this week include LA Knight (now working NXT but not confirmed for this specific class, fka Eli Drake), Harlem Bravado, and Sareee.

Source: Wrestling Inc.