Yusuke “Wally” Yamaguchi passed away at the age of 60. Known to many fans as “Yamaguchi-san” in WWE, he was the manager of Kaientai in 1998.
It’s unclear the cause of death, but Yamaguchi had been dealing with health problems since suffering a stroke in 2017.
Today, WWE released a statement on his passing.
WWE is saddened to learn that Wally Yamaguchi, Japanese wrestling fixture and former Kaientai manager, has passed away at the age of 60.Although primarily known to the WWE Universe as the villainous Yamaguchi-San during the late 1990s, Yamaguchi was a key figure in Japanese sports-entertainment during the 1980s, editing “Gong” Magazine and working with various Japanese promotions as a referee and an agent.
In addition to appearing onscreen as Kaientai’s manager, Yamaguchi also worked with WWE as its Japanese liaison. His brother, Shun Yamaguchi, is a Japanese television announcer for WWE’s pay-per-view broadcasts.
WWE extends its condolences to Yamaguchi’s family, friends and fans.
Luke Harper made his official in-ring return at tonight’s WWE RAW live event in Rochester, NY after being out of action since November 2018. Harper defeated Mojo Rawley in his first match back with the company.
Despite working some NXT live events in the latter part of 2018, Harper has been absent from WWE TV since last August when his fellow “Bludgeon Brother”, Erick Rowan, suffered a torn bicep at SummerSlam 2018. The team was forced to drop the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship to The New Day after the injury occurred.
As has been well documented, Rowan recently returned to WWE TV and essentially became the bodyguard to WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. Meanwhile, Harper was seen regularly attending the WWE Performance Center in Orlando while sporting a cast on his left hand, indicating that he had surgery.
Rochesters own WWE Luke Harper. I really am here with my son. Great father son event (I think). Go Harper pic.twitter.com/QuKvxOMdcy
Former Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion Trevor Lee made his WWE NXT in-ring debut tonight in Dade City, Florida when he suffered a loss to NXT UK’s Luke Menzies.
Along with being a three-time X-Division Champion, Lee was also an Impact World Tag Team Champion with partner, Brian Myers. He’s also held titles in AAW, PWG, and was the OMEGA Heavyweight Champion.
Below are some photos from tonight’s NXT live event:
There’s now speculation on Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson possibly leaving WWE later this year.
Gallows and Anderson have reportedly turned down multi-million dollar contracts from WWE, according to PWInsider. Word is that The Good Brothers are now planning on leaving WWE when their current contracts expire.
It was reported back in December that they deals will expire in late September 2019, but then it was believed that they would be re-signing instead of returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was before AEW potentially entered the picture.
We’ve noted how WWE officials have been approaching talents about signing new contracts as of late. Gallows and Anderson had multiple meetings with officials but word came out over the last few days that they turned down new deals. They are looking to leave WWE because they aren’t satisfied with how they have been used in recent years, according to the report.
It was also noted that Gallows and Anderson are brought to TV, but they aren’t currently being booked for non-televised live events. One source claimed to PWI that they were removed from the live event tours after initial contract meetings that didn’t lead to a new agreement between the two sides.
The Good Brothers are rarely featured on WWE TV these days. The former RAW Tag Team Champions lost to Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura on the February 5 SmackDown episode and then they lost to SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos on the December 18 episode. They haven’t been used much since being brought to SmackDown from RAW after WrestleMania 34 last year. They had a “Botch Club” WWE Digital series premiere earlier this year but it was nixed after the premiere episode.
The WWE futures of Gallows and Anderson were a hot topic backstage at this week’s SmackDown. While a lot can change between now and late September, word going around the wrestlers this week is that Gallows and Anderson are determined to continue their pro wrestling careers outside of WWE.
In late 2017 there were rumblings that Vince McMahon was considering a revival of the XFL. In January of 2018, McMahon made it official and the league is entirely owned by Alpha Entertainment which is owned by McMahon and shares office space with WWE.
That marks a departure from the first version of XFL which was equally co-owned by WWE and by NBC. McMahon established Alpha to completely separate the XFL from the WWE this time around.
But that doesn’t mean that the two companies won’t work together and that is evident by recent SEC filings. They note just how much money is exchanging between WWE and Alpha/XFL and also detail the arrangement between the two”
“As previously announced, Vincent McMahon organized and owns a majority of Alpha Entertainment, LLC (“Alpha”), which owns and operates the professional football league XFL. Under arrangements made at the time of its organization, WWE received, among other things, an equity interest in Alpha without payment by, or other financial obligation on the part of, WWE; WWE sold certain intellectual property rights relating to XFL to Alpha for a payment in the amount of $1 million; and WWE entered into a support services agreement under which WWE provides Alpha certain administrative support services on a cost-plus margin basis. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Alpha was billed approximately $1,305,000 for services under the administrative support services agreement, of which $474,000 was due at year end and subsequently paid.”
In summary:
– WWE sold intellectual property rights to Alpha for $1 million
– Alpha was billed over $1.3 million for WWE providing administrative support
– Alpha paid WWE $474,000 for that administrative support
While the XFL does have its own Careers page on its website, WWE also has a job posting for an XFL position on its website. This could be part of the services agreement between WWE and Alpha/XFL as the latter gets up and running.
EVOLVE has announced that WWE NXT North American Champion The Velveteen Dream will face Orange Cassidy in a non-title match at EVOLVE 123 on March 15 in Melrose, MA. NXT’s The Street Profits will also be in action that night, defending their EVOLVE Tag Team Titles against The Unwanted.
It was also announced that Dream and The Street Profits will team to face Joe Gacy, Shane Strickland and Eddie Kingston the next night at EVOLVE 124 in Queens. Ricochet will be doing meet & greets at both events.
Below is WWE’s announcement on EVOLVE 123 and EVOLVE 124:
EVOLVE 123 and 124 lineups revealedThe North American Dream will soon descend on EVOLVE Wrestling.
In the wake of his epic victory over Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Title last month, Velveteen Dream will shroud his enduring purple reign over EVOLVE 123 and 124. Joining Dream for the action-packed events will be fellow NXT Superstars The Street Profits and Ricochet.
Dream’s EVOLVE experience kicks off Friday, March 15, when he takes on Orange Cassidy at EVOLVE 123 at the Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Mass., while Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are set to take on two members of The Unwanted (Eddie Kingston, Joe Gacy, Colby Corino & Shane Strickland). From there, the action carries into Saturday, March 16, at La Boom in Queens for EVOLVE 124, which will see Dream and Street Profits assemble to take on The Unwanted’s Strickland, Kingston & Gacy in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. In addition, Ricochet will be on tap for meet-and-greets at both shows. (You must have a ticket to the events to take part in the meet-and-greets.)
The lineups for both events are listed below. Tickets for EVOLVE 123 and EVOLVE 124 are available now at WWNLive.com.
EVOLVE 123 – Friday, March 15 at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Mass.
Non-Title Match
NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream vs. Orange Cassidy
Grudge Match – Stipulation to be Determined
EVOLVE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. Two members of The Unwanted (Eddie Kingston, Joe Gacy, Colby Corino & Shane Strickland)
EVOLVE Championship Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. John Silver
EVOLVE 114 Rematch
Josh Briggs vs. Darby Allin
Tag Team Attraction
AR Fox & Leon Ruff with Ayla & The Skulk vs. WWN Champion JD Drake & Anthony Henry
Plus Mae Young Classic 2018 competitor Priscilla Kelly, Curt Stallion, Harlem Bravado, Rory Gulak and others!
EVOLVE 124 – Saturday, March 16, at La Boom in Queens, N.Y.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream & EVOLVE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. Shane Strickland, Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy
Champion vs. Champion Non-Title Match
EVOLVE Champion Austin Theory vs. WWN Champion JD Drake
Grudge Match
Darby Allin vs. Anthony Henry
Special Challenge Match
AR Fox with Ayla & The Skulk vs. Josh Briggs
Curt Stallion vs. Leon Ruff
Harlem Bravado vs. John Silver
Plus more, with Priscilla Kelly and others.
With these shows being the final EVOLVE events before The WWNLive Experience, which takes place at La Boom in Queens on April 4-6, you can expect plenty of newsworthy happenings at EVOLVE 123 and 124. Visit WWNLive.com now for more details.
It’s no secret that WWE has made several changes to the storyline that will end with Becky Lynchvs. Charlotte Flair vs. RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35 next month. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that there are more twists to come in the storyline.
There’s no word yet on what kind of twists WWE has planned but things should really heat up after Sunday’s WWE Fastlane pay-per-view when the Triple Threat is made official. Fastlane will feature Lynch vs. Flair in singles action. Lynch will be added to Flair vs. Rousey at WrestleManiato make it a Triple Threat if she wins, but she will be “done” if she loses, according to Stephanie McMahon.
WWE could go a few different ways with the finish to the WrestleMania Triple Threat but the result largely depends on Rousey’s final date with WWE, according to the Observer. As we reported earlier this week, Rousey is currently scheduled to finish up the day after WrestleMania, indicating a big blow-off at WrestleMania or possibly RAW. It’s always possible that Vince McMahon talks Rousey into a contract extension, but we’ve heard nothing on that direction.
The Observer points to how all three Superstars have tried hard to make their physical angles look legit and more real than what we usually see in WWE. We noted before that Rousey wanted Lynch to hit her as hard as she could with the kendo stick during their angle at the WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Becky did just that and Ronda needed 7 stitches to close a cut on her elbow. Flair was also left with a bunch of bruises on her arm from the Chamber attack. Rousey also asked Flair to hit her as hard as he could, over and over, when recently taking kendo stick shots from her. Rousey wanted to have real welts, bruises and blood from the attack.
Regarding the attack from Rousey to Lynch on this week’s RAW, Rousey was told to do everything she would do in a real fight at real fight intensity, but no punches or kicks to Becky’s face, and obviously not to actually hurt her. There was still a stiff knee to the face. The idea was that Becky would take Rousey’s best punishment and still show up at SmackDown the next day to fight with Flair.
The physicality of things may have actually secured Lynch’s spot in the WrestleMania storyline as The Observer points to how Lynch getting injured by Nia Jax back in mid-November could have been the greatest thing that has happened to her, at least in terms of the RAW Women’s Title. Lynch was scheduled to lose to Rousey’s armbar in their Survivor Series pay-per-view match that was nixed due to the injury, which would have greatly reduced Lynch’s chances of being in the RAW Women’s Title match at WrestleMania.
Ronda Rousey is mad as hell and she’s not going to take it anymore.
In latest episode of Rousey’s video blog road diary, Ronda on the Road, the Raw women’s champion’s cuts a promo on going off script this past Monday. Rousey claims to not only go off script but also doubles down on breaking kayfabe in her promo.
“It wasn’t a promo. [WWE] gave me other things to say I didn’t f***ing say it,” Rousey said. “It’s not a promo. It’s not an act. I’m not going out there and doing their f***ing act anymore, I’m going out there and doing whatever the hell I want. And they can explain it however they want, but f***em. Everybody. WWE Universe included. I meant that I’m going to disrespect the sport that they all love so much. ‘Ohhhh don’t break kayfabe Ronda!’ Wrestling is scripted. It’s made up. It’s not real. None of those b****** can f***ing touch me. The end.”
The origins of this video date back to last week, when Rousey and Lynch went to war on Twitter. During that particular exchange, Rousey brought up the word ‘fake’ and it did not sit well with Lynch.
Not only did Rousey go off on wrestling fans and WWE, earlier in the video she admitted she hasn’t lost sight of Becky Lynch. Rousey brought up Lynch’s real name and then explained why she attacked her on Monday night.
“Becky pissed me off the most recently,” Rousey said. “You know what? I’m not going to even call her Becky. Rebecca Quinn talked s*** about my husband, and I told her I’d beat the f*** out of her next time I saw her. And guess what I beat the f*** out of her, didn’t I? It’s been building up in me since Survivor Series, 100%”
Becky Lynch takes on Charlotte Flair this Sunday at Fastlane. Rousey is advertised to appear at the event.
Former WWE star Christopher Nowinski was on Busted Open Radio earlier this morning talking about his work with concussions. The co-founder and President of the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF), Nowinski has made it a career to inform people about and study the effects of concussions on individuals. Those who have passed on help answer the questions of how CTE affects the brain. During the segment, Nowinski spoke about how he sometimes has to call widows of recently deceased athletes in order to study on their brain.
The organization gets over 5,000 alive athletes to pledge to donate their brain, and they recently had their 700th brain donation. WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, who is a co-host on the show and someone who has had multiple concussions in the past, stated on air that he plans to donate his brain to the CLF for research.
“I definitely want to go on record saying I am donating my brain to the brain bank,” Henry went on to say. “I hope that something good can come out of ya’ll having my brain, maybe it’ll help with figuring out how things work in the future that will be benefitting my kids and everybody else’s kids. I know you (Chris) have a beautiful young baby girl and we always want the future to be better for our families.”
Nowinski, a Tough Enough finalist, debuted on WWE TV in 2002. His career was cut short due to post-concussion syndrome, which forced him to retire around 2003/04. Since then, he has helped with the discovery of CTE, while also providing a service for athletes and those in the military. He was the lead advocate for doctors to research Chris Benoit’s brain after the 2007 tragedy that took him and his families life. He and the rest of the Benoit family have since made the Benoit Family Fund for Brain Injury Research.
Henry has been with WWE since 1996, taking on a backstage role recently. Before pro wrestling, Henry was a record-holding weight and powerlifter. A multiple-time World Champion, Henry’s goal is to avoid any young kid to go through what former athletes have in the past, by spreading awareness.
“I hope that people realize that this is something that is not weird. What would be hard I think would be what you just said: after someone nearly passes away, it is hard to ask their spouse for their brain for science,” Henry continued. “I am a donor, I hope that I can help somebody live if something tragically happened to me. This is another way that I’ll be able to give back when I’m gone.”
Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Busted Open Radio
EWrestling.com reports that a source within WWE says when SmackDown Live moves to FOX later this year, the broadcast station wants some changes to the program. Specifically, FOX is looking to move away from WWE’s current three person commentating booth to a two-man booth instead.
The source adds that FOX is also looking for WWE to produce a more edgier product and that they aren’t looking to give into the PC culture that dominates current WWE programming.
