On April 27th, 2019, The National Wrestling Alliance (in association with The Crockett Foundation) will partner with Ring of Honor Wrestling to bring the classic tag-team tournament, The Crockett Cup, back to North Carolina at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, NC.
Former Crockett Cup winner Road Warrior Animal announced at the NWA 70th Anniversary event that the tag team tournament would return in 2019.
“The NWA is known for the legends who have carried the famous Ten Pounds of Gold,” said Billy Corgan in the announcement.
Adding, “Jim Crockett Promotions built a foundation in the Mid-Atlantic region with their tag team wrestling in the 70s and 80s. The Crockett Cup in 1986 brought together the best tag teams in the world under one roof. It’s our honor partnering with Ring of Honor to bring this tradition back to North Carolina while supporting the Crockett Foundation with their philanthropy for veterans.”
“Our utmost important stakeholders, investors, or partners in this business are the wrestling fans,” ROH General Manager Greg Gilleland continued. “Partnering with The NWA to bring back this prestigious tournament and truly create a special event is a responsibility that we have to all fans, and is one of many other special events to come.”
The first qualifying match for The Crockett Cup takes place this coming Saturday at the NWA Pop Up Event in Clarksville, TN.
After months of teasing the possibility of starting their own promotion, Cody Rhodes, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Adam Page unveiled All Elite Wrestling during the latest episode of Being The Elite. Cody had teased a major announcement exactly at midnight Pacific Standard Time, and The Elite released the episode just as it hit January 1st on the west coast.
The Elite also alluded to AEW’s first show, Double or Nothing, and details have since emerged that an official announcement will be made regarding the event during the ‘Double or Nothing Rally’ on January 8th at 5 pm ET at the parking lot of West Club at the TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. That night’s SmackDown will emanate from Jacksonville as well.
The official All Elite Wrestling Twitter account posted the photo below of Cody Rhodes, Brandi Rhodes, The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) and Hangman Page officially signing their All Elite Wrestling contracts.
Rhodes and The Bucks are Executive Vice Presidents in the company, which is led by Jacksonville Jaguars co-owner Tony Khan.
Below is a statement from Cody:
I feel so damn lucky. I believe that more than talent… more than chance… work ethic will guide me where I’d like to go.To be Executive Vice President for our new venture, and to be flanked by Matt and Nick and a few familiar names sharing that position: this is my dream job.
I can’t think of a time when so many of wrestling’s top free agents all opted out of the road usually traveled and instead wanting to start something new. I am excited to see AEW into existence.
What’s old isn’t new – what’s new is new. Perception isn’t reality – reality is reality. Fans first.
Matt Jackson also commented on the new venture, tweeting, “Thank you for making the decision to do this a no-brainer. We cannot do it without you. #AllEliteWrestling”
The show is now moving to a channel owned by their parent company, Anthem Entertainment. Despite Anthem owning the station, the show will remain at 10 p.m. ET, which is the timeslot that Pop TV moved it to last October. Impact has drawn its lowest viewership in their history in the 10 p.m. timeslot and faces a further uphill battle as they will be available in far fewer homes. 30 million homes have access to Pursuit, which is a 55% drop from the 67 million homes that receive Pop TV.
It was revealed in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that “there were forces attempting to sell Impact” to the yet-to-be announced All Elite Wrestling promotion a few months ago. That would indicate that the talks would have taken place before AEW filed for their trademarks, as that didn’t happen until early November. The Observer noted that the proposal for the sale was declined.
Impact Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore spoke with Wrestling Inc. last Friday and said that the company was excited to work with their new partners, and that they have “some ideas and things in the work for other properties on Pursuit.”
“The first part of this deal is what we’re doing now, the flagship Impact broadcast, airing on Friday nights at 10 pm ET,” D’Amore said. “I know people look at that and go, ‘Oh my God, it’s the death spot.’ Well, if you look back, when we debuted on Spike TV, it’s a different era and network, but wrestling fans find good wrestling. When we went on Spike TV at 11 o’clock on Saturday, we went out there and did probably about 850k viewers when we debuted. We’re excited to work with Pursuit on building it as a platform. We have some ideas and things in the work for other properties on Pursuit. Also, looking to expanding our domestic and international distributions.”
WOW – Women of Wresting will premiere on AXS TV on Friday, January 18, 2019 at 9pm ET. WOW will be joining the station’s Friday Night lineup that includes New Japan Pro Wrestling and MMA from Legacy Fighting Alliance.
WOW-WOMEN OF WRESTLING is the leading women’s professional wrestling organization and is owned by Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss in partnership with MGM Television and the creator of GLOW David McLane.
AXS Sports is proud to announce that “WOW-Women of Wrestling” will be making its television network debut on AXS TV on Fri., Jan. 18, 2019. The program will be part of an action-filled Friday night programming on AXS TV as it also includes live Legacy Fighting Alliance mixed martial arts action and comprehensive New Japan Pro Wrestling coverage.
Jeanie Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, is also the co-owner of Women of Wrestling. The organization was founded in 2000 and has its headquarters in Los Angeles.
The other co-owner of WOW is wrestling promoter and television producer David McLane. Previously the commentator of the television series “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”, McLane will be the ringside commentator throughout the broadcasts. He will be joined by play-by-play announcer Stephen Dickey, ring announcer Shaul Guerrero (also known as Raquel Diaz) and backstage reporter Brigitte Valadez.
The current world champion of WOW is Santana Garrett, who has been the champion since Sept. 29, 2016. Other prior champions have included Terri Gold, Danger, Lana Starr and Jungle Grrrl. Of the champions, Gold is the only wrestler to have two reigns. The world championships have taken place in Inglewood, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Los Angeles.
A tag-team format has also traditionally occurred in Women of Wrestling. Garrett and Amber O’Neal have been champions in that event in the past.
Here is the press release from WOW and AXS TV:
Los Angeles, CA – October 10, 2018 – Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and Mark Cuban’s AXS TV announced today the premiere date for Buss’ emerging hit series WOW-WOMEN OF WRESTLING, making its network debut on Friday, January 18, 2019. AXS TV is the exclusive broadcast home for the Buss-owned WOW-Women of Wrestling, which joins the network’s highly successful Friday Night lineup that also includes the fan-favorite NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING promotion and live MMA action from Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).
WOW Superhero events present all-female professional wrestling bouts with the theatrical flair of a blockbuster concert mixed with the hard-hitting action fans have come to expect from the popular promotion. WOW has amassed a large and dedicated fan base throughout the years, on the strength of the unique personalities of the captivating warriors who put their skills on full display as they go toe-to-toe inside the squared circle. The eight-episode series will feature 35 wrestlers, including third generation wrestling superstar Tessa Blanchard, returning superheroes The Beast, Stephy Slays, Jungle Grrrl, Beverly Hills Babe and talented newcomers to WOW such as Faith the Lioness and Princess Aussie.
David McLane, the beloved commentator and impresario behind the iconic ’80s TV series GLOW “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling,” has produced an action-packed series of intriguing matches. All eyes are on WOW World Champion Santana Garrett as she defends the coveted WOW World Championship belt from a bevy of determined challengers. Will this be the season a new champion is crowned?
McLane will provide insightful ringside commentary, joined by play-by-play announcer Stephen Dickey. Wrestling royalty Shaul Guerrero will serve as the ring announcer for each event while Brigiite Valadez will be delivering the inside scoop as backstage reporter.
“We are excited to add the series and welcome the incredible athletes and characters of WOW to our hit Friday night lineup”, said AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon. “This is the perfect time to add WOW and deliver on Jeanie Buss’ vision of strong women wrestlers in the spotlight on national television.”
“AXS TV broke ground with its airing of New Japan Pro Wrestling,” said McLane. “They are doing it again with the broadcasting of WOW. AXS TV is providing fight fans an amazing hour of action … and WOW is proud to be a part of their epic lineup!”
WOW-WOMEN OF WRESTLING is the leading women’s professional wrestling organization and is owned by Jeanie Buss in partnership with MGM Television and David McLane.
Joey Ryan, who has been inactive since early November due to a torn pectoral muscle, announced on his official Twitter account that he will be returning to the ring in late January.
Bullet Club will be throwing a tailgate party before WrestleMania 35 in New Jersey and Tama Tonga made the announcement from Korakuen Hall.
The NJPW star has been teasing a block party for weeks and now we know why.
“The Bullet Club Block Party” will officially take place on Sunday, April 7 in conjunction with Jimmy’s Seafood. More details will be announced on January 2.
According to the event’s Twitter page, “This isn’t some invade the parking lot and throw up a tent event. This is gonna be at a real venue where WE call the shots, so be ready for a real party.”
Tonga published a video announcement shot in the ring after a match.
Eric Bischoff recently gave a TED talk where the former WCW boss and WWE superstar explained how the news media has become a lot like professional wrestling. Watch the video below:
Professional Wrestling and Political News Media have become the ultimate tag team, both utilizing the exact same techniques and formula’s for a very specific outcome. And the outcome is not what you think it is… In 1991, Turner Broadcasting’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) recruited Eric as an on-camera talent. His entrepreneurial instincts and interests quickly propelled him from talent through the corporate ranks to become WCW’s President in 1998. Before leaving Turner Broadcasting in 1999, Eric had established WCW as the leader in the sports/entertainment category and is largely credited for re-inventing the professional wrestling genre. Eric also created the New World Order (nWo) brand for the TNT Network and was responsible for growing licensing, merchandising, pay-per-view, and live event business units by more than $325M. In 2002, he joined long time competitor Vince McMahon to be an on-air character on the highly successful USA Network Series “RAW”.
Watch MLW Fusion on beIN SPORTS 8pm ET / 5pm PT tonight.
For over a month “Filthy” Tom Lawlor has waited for his shot at Simon Gotch after the Team Filthy turncoat betrayed Lawlor in Chicago. Tonight Lawlor finally gets his opportunity to get the snitch Simon Gotch in the ring.
For the first time ever MLW will present a No Holds Barred fight where there are no ropes, no rules, no rounds with the winner defeating his adversary by either knockout or submission. See Lawlor vs. Gotch on beIN SPORTS tonight!
Other matches leading up to the main event:
•Hart Foundation vs. Tommy Dreamer & Barrington Hughes
•DJZ vs. Hijo de LA Park
•Dezmond Xavier vs. Andrew Everett
H2tv is back with the Hart Foundation training with award winning pedigree Persian cats while on the road.
Konnan and Salina de la Renta’s Promociones Dorado ready for a World Championship showdown next week on FUSION.
Plus the leader of Los Ingobernables Rush and more!
Join Tony Schiavone and Rich Bocchini from South Florida for a great night of pro wrestling!
Watch MLW FUSION Friday nights on beIN SPORTS at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Don’t get beIN? Subscribe to MLW’s YouTube channel for free and stream binge on MLW FUSION anytime anywhere!
Yesterday, Impact Wrestling Star Jordynne Grace and ROH Star Jonathan Gresham announced their engagement while the two were vacationing on a cruise. Grace worked the battle royal at “All In” and debuted with Impact back in October where she’s feuded with Katarina. Gresham took on Zack Sabre Jr. at ROH Final Battle earlier this month, Sabre Jr. would win via pinfall. Congrats to the happy couple on their engagement!
With the success of his first venture, Jericho announced yesterday that a second cruise is a go. In the video below, he said more details will be announced in January, but for fans who missed out the first time, they will get another shot to cruise with Jericho. Here is his full announcement.
“I want to thank all of you who were a part of Chris Jericho’s “Rock ‘N Wrestling Rager at Sea,” Jericho began. “We made history, we sold it out for the inaugural voyage, for the first time ever, wrestling in the middle of the ocean. We had live comedy, live rock ‘n roll, podcasts, all of you said it was the best vacation of your life. Well, I got some news for ya. Chris Jericho’s “Rock ‘N Wrestling Rager at Sea” part two, second wave, is happening! Yes, we did it! We’re gonna make it happen, all the details: who, what, where, when and how, coming up in January. In the meantime, sign up now at chrisjerichocruise.com for the mailing list, get all the information. It’s happening! I can’t believe, I’m so excited.”
At the end of last October, Chris Jericho’s cruise set sail out of Miami and featured a number of musicians, comedians, and ROH / Impact / NJPW wrestlers over the multi-day event.
The sold-out cruise included a ring on the top deck where the ROH Sea of Honor tournament took place, along with Alpha Club (Young Bucks and Jericho) vs. Bullet Club (Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and Marty Scurll), which was later streamed on FITE.
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