Category: Wrestling News

Kimber Lee Talks Training At CZW, Accuses Owner DJ Hyde Of Misogynistic Behavior

After decades of shady practices, bad business, and various physical and emotional trauma, professional wrestling has finally started to change for the better. A lot of that has to do with many people adopting the “leaving it better than I found it” mindset. But unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case for female wrestlers, which former WWE and Impact Wrestling star Kimber Lee experienced first-hand during her days in CZW.

While she was known as “The Princess Who Saves Herself,” Lee was fortunate enough to have people to watch her back and save her when she needed it at the very beginning of her career. During an interview with Piers Austin, she recalled her experience as the first female graduate of the Combat Zone Wrestling Academy under the tutelage of Drew Gulak. 

The former WWE Cruiserweight Champion — who also trained a number of wrestlers over the years, including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin ahead of his WrestleMania comeback – put the students through the wringer and Lee emerged with a solid foundation of in-ring ability and cherished memories from that period of time.

However, it was after her graduation from the academy that things began to go downhill. That’s when the alleged inappropriate behavior of CZW promoter DJ Hyde started to become more prominent. Lee confirmed that Hyde would frequently say, as chronicled during the Speaking Out movement, that he wouldn’t hire anyone he wouldn’t have sex with.

“It was something that was said to all of us and it’s terrible,” she said. “At the time, I was a 19-year-old girl that didn’t know how to react to that and I was the only girl. There was no one to stand up for me, so I got very protective of some of the girls that came afterwards.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Rebellion 4/16/2023 (Results)

  • IMPACT World Championship Match: Steve Maclin defeated KUSHIDA
  • IMPACT Knockouts Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo defeated Jordynne Grace
  • IMPACT X-Division Championship Match: Elimination Three-Way Match: Trey Miguel (c) defeated  Jonathan Gresham and Mike Bailey
  • IMPACT Tag Team Championship Match (Ultimate X Match): Bullet Club (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
  • Hardcore War: Team Dreamer (Tommy Dreamer, Frankie Kazarian, Yuya Uemura, Killer Kelly, and Bhupinder Gujjar) defeated Team Bully (Bully Ray, Jason Hotch, John Skyler, Kenny King, and Masha Slamovich)
  • Last Rites Match: PCO defeated Eddie Edwards (with Alisha Edwards)
  • Dirty Dango, Joe Hendry, and Santino Marella defeated The Design (Deaner, Angels, Callihan, and Kon)
  • IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship: The Coven (KiLynn King and Taylor Wilde) (c) defeated The Death Dollz (Jessicka and Rosemary) (Pre-Show)
  • Champagne Singh and Shera defeated Heath and Rhino (Pre-Show)

News From the Show 

Sami Callihan Turns on the Design 

After weeks of speculation and questionable behavior from Sami Callihan, he finally turned on The Design. Deaner gave Callihan his signature baseball bat to use on the opposition. As Callihan was about to unleash his signature weapon on the opposing team, he turned and assaulted Deaner, leaving the match afterward and allowing Santino Marella to pick up the win with the Cobra.

Nick Aldis Returns to IMPACT

Nick Aldis made a surprise return to IMPACT as a special guest commentator for the IMPACT World Championship. He is a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and TNA World Tag Team Champion under the name Magnus. He was a part of the roster from 2008-2015 and in 2017. Aldisalso made a one-off appearance at the 2022 Multiverse United event where he teamed with Mickie James against Matt Cardona and Chelsea Green.

Steve Maclin Wins the IMPACT World Championship 

After a brutal back-and-forth match with KUSHIDA, Steve Maclin became IMPACT World Champion. After the match, Maclin grabbed a microphone and demanded Scott D’Amore be the one to hand him the belt. D’Amore came to the ring and obliged but not happily. Maclin, not happy with D’Amore’s attitude, hit him with the belt. This caused Nick Aldis to get up from the commentary position and confront Maclin. With Dreamer coming out on top of the Hardcore War and pinning Bully Ray, this rivalry is likely over with, or at least heading to the closing phases.

Deonna Purrazzo Becomes Knockouts Champion

Deonna Purrazzo defeated Jordynne Grace to become Knockouts Champion for the third time. The two Knockouts left it all in the ring in the main event of the show. In the end, Purrazzo got her hand raised in Canada to close out the night.

Source: LastWordOnSports

Dark Side Of The Ring Set For Season 4 On VICE – UPDATED: Trailer Released

As first reported by Variety, Dark Side of the Ring is set to begin its fourth season on VICE on May 30.

The season will feature ten episodes with stories about such topics as Chris Candido and Sunny, Magnum T.A., Abdullah the Butcher, and Marty Jannetty, and will once again be narrated by Chris Jericho. Executive producers Evan Husney and Jason Eisener have shared their gratitude and excitement for the series with Variety, stating:

“We’re incredibly grateful to our viewers for giving this show the life that it has had for the past 4 years….As lifelong fans of professional wrestling, our subjects continue to inspire us. There are so many fascinating and compelling stories left to tell and it’s a privilege to share more of them in our fourth season.”

The series remains the most watched of all time on VICE, spawning multiple spinoffs in the process.

Source: WrestleView

UPDATE:

The fourth season of VICE TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring” will debut on May 30 at 10 p.m. ET.

Evan Husney and Jason Eisener return as the executive directors. The trailer for the season was released today and confirmed the subjects that will be covered. Here’s the list: 

  • Chris Candido & Tammy Sytch
  • Magnum T.A.
  • Adrian Adonis
  • Doink the Clown
  • Junkyard Dog
  • Marty Jannetty
  • Bam Bam Bigelow
  • Abdullah the Butcher
  • Bash at the Beach 2000
  • The Graham Family

Rikishi Introduces Newest Wrestler From The Anoa’i Family

This week, yet another member of the Anoa’i family has entered the wrestling world. WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi announced via Instagram that his son would be entering the wrestling world, using the name Thamiko T. Fatu moving forward. The 36-year-old performer is Rikishi’s fourth and final son to become a professional wrestler, joining his three brothers, Solo Sikoa and The Usos.

Thamiko, real name Jeramiah Fatu, has remained away from the wrestling world up until this point, but his arrival on the scene could be a major development for any company that he ends up competing for. While some fans are already speculating that Thamiko will eventually become a new addition to WWE’s Bloodline faction, Rikishi’s Instagram post suggests that Thamiko is independent and accepting bookings at this time.

Thamiko, who Rikishi nicknamed “Toko Uso” online, has a lot of pressure on his shoulders as a part of the legendary Anoa’i Family Dynasty. The Anoa’i family is one of the most prolific families in professional wrestling history, with members making their marks all over the world. While the most notable of these family members in the modern day may be The Bloodline, who has dominated WWE’s main roster as a group for three years now, the Anoa’i family’s dominance reigns elsewhere, with the likes of Jacob Fatu dominating MLW and the North American independents over the past number of years.

While Toko’s journey as a professional wrestler is just beginning, his two older brothers just celebrated a major career milestone earlier this month when they became the first WWE Tag Team Champions to main event WrestleMania, losing the titles to Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens on Night One of WWE’s biggest event of the year.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jay White Is All Elite – Appears On AEW Dynamite

Jay White is All Elite.

This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite opened with a bout that was set to feature Juice Robinson facing off against Ricky Starks in a Grudge Match. As a brawl broke out between the two men, Jay White hit the ring and helped out his fellow Bullet Club member. The two men then beat down Starks as the crowd in Long Island, New York cheered wildly.

Following the segment, AEW President Tony Khan took to Twitter to confirm that White is officially under contract with All Elite Wrestling.

Back in January, White entered free agency after deciding not to re-sign with NJPW.

Chavo Guerrero Supports Cousin Speaking About Alleged Assault By Vickie’s Husband

Chavo Guerrero has come out in support of his cousin Sherilyn who has claimed that she was sexually assaulted by her stepfather in 2020.

This week, Sherilyn Guerrero claimed that her stepfather sexually assaulted her, and that her mother Vickie Guerrero defended him.

In a tweet, Chavo said he “fully supports” his cousin and believes her claims.

Vickie Guerrero has not publicly commented on the matter at this time.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Bushwhacker Butch (Robert Miller) Dead, WWE Hall Of Famer’s Passing Announced By Tag Team Partner

WWE Hall of Famer Robert Miller, best known for his wild in-ring persona as Butch – one-half of the legendary Bushwhackers tag team – has died at the age of 78. The news was confirmed by his longtime partner Luke’s daughter Jackie on Monday afternoon across social media.

“Our dear Bob has passed away,” Luke’s daughter wrote. “Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch. We will always love u uncle Bob Miller until we meet again.”

After breaking into the business in the mid-1970s as the Sheepherders, the duo would grow to become beloved fan favorites after signing with the World Wrestling Federation in 1988, with Butch often serving as the mouthpiece of the partnership when they weren’t busy licking the faces of each other and those at ringside.

Before arriving in the WWF, the Sheepherders were renowned for violent bloodbaths in the territory days, most notably winning the Florida version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship during a bitter rivalry with The Fabulous Ones, Steve Keirn and Stane Lane. It made their transition into loveable kid favorites in the WWF all the more unique. The Bushwhackers quickly became stalwart attractions on WrestleMania and pay-per-view undercards during the company’s “Golden Era.” Butch last wrestled for WWE at WrestleMania X-7, taking part in the Gimmick Battle Royal. Luke and Butch were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Wrestling News Blog extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Robert Miller.

Alexa Bliss Reveals Health Issue Amidst Her Time Away From WWE TV

Alexa Bliss hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since the Royal Rumble, and her status has been widely speculated due to her absence from WrestleMania storylines.

The former Women’s Champion revealed on Twitter that she had a spot on her face that became worse, and that after a biopsy, she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. You can check out her tweets below:

“Thank you! Don’t worry, short healing time. Always get your skin checked! Esp if you are in the sun or use tanning beds! Lol”

“There was a spot on my face yes- that had gotten worse. So went to get biopsy. Was basal cell carcinoma. During my procedure doc also found other squamous cells. Was a quick and easy procedure. Glad I always get my skin checked 😊”

https://twitter.com/AlexaBliss_WWE/status/1638283135480909825
https://twitter.com/AlexaBliss_WWE/status/1638520818773950464

Source: PWMania

Andy Kaufman To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall Of Fame

Variety reported today that WWE will be inducting Andy Kaufman into this year’s Hall of Fame class. It’s unclear who will induct him into the honorary class. 

Kaufman was a comedian in the 70s and 80s, most notably known for his part in the “Taxi” series from 1978 until 1983.

Wrestling fans know him for his feud with  Jerry “The King” Lawler in Memphis. He would sometimes wrestle women who he picked out of the crowd, causing him to get heat. He took a piledriver from Lawler, leading to them doing a segment on  David Letterman’s NBC Late Night show where Lawler slapped Kaufman. 

It was covered in the “Man on the Moon” movie with Jim Carrey portraying the role of Kaufman.

Source: eWrestlingNews

UPDATE:

WWE Officially announced Andy Kaufman for the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE issued the following:

Andy Kaufman will join Rey Mysterio and The Great Muta in the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.

A gifted comedian who gained fame for his absurdist standup routine and appearance on hit shows like “Taxi” and “Saturday Night Live,” Kaufman’s love of sports-entertainment led him to Memphis where he became a thorn in the side of WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler.

The rivalry between Lawler and Kaufman became national news leading to a legendary exchange on “Late Night with David Letterman.” The interaction would later be memorialized in the 1999 movie biopic “Man on the Moon,” where Lawler appeared alongside Jim Carey as Kaufman to recreate the iconic moment.

Kaufman’s interactions with Lawler transformed the business and opened up pathways for future cross-over Superstars such as Johnny Knoxville who honored the comedian with his WrestleMania 38 ring gear.

Sadly, Kaufman passed away in 1985 at the age of 35, but his legacy remains an important party of wrestling history.

WWE congratulates Kaufman on his inclusion into the WWE Hall of Fame. Don’t miss the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Friday, March 31, streaming on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else immediately after SmackDown.

Jay White In Talks With AEW & WWE

Jay White is still a free agent after finishing up with NJPW. 

White has interest from both promotions but has yet to make a decision about his wrestling future. He lost a ‘loser leaves Japan’ match to Hikuleo, followed by a ‘loser leaves NJPW’ match against Eddie Kingston.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that White is in talks with AEW and WWE. 

“Regarding Jay White, we are told that White has been talking to WWE but has not signed. He is also talking to AEW. From someone familiar with the situation they described it as 50/50 which side he would go with,” Meltzer wrote.

Source: eWrestlingNews