Samoa Joe Signs Full-Time WWE Contract

PWTorch.com reports that WWE officials were so impressed with Samoa Joe  and his merchandise sales that Vince McMahon and Triple H personally pushed for him to sign a full-time WWE contact. PWInsider has confirmed that Joe has signed a full-time deal and that’s why he was at RAW last night, defeating Tyson Kidd in a match before the start of RAW.

The fact that Joe’s appearances for Ring of Honor will now air on national cable TV also played into the decision for WWE to sign him to a full-time deal.

Joe’s current NXT deal reportedly has a clause that would let WWE sign him to a full-time deal. WWE chose to execute that clause this past Thursday after ROH announced their deal with Destination America. Joe and WWE signed an addendum to the original deal, now making Joe a full-time WWE worker.

Even though Joe has now signed a full-time deal with WWE, he will still be fulfilling his indie dates that were booked. ROH has confirmed that Joe will still be working their June 20th TV tapings in New York City, in what appears to be Joe’s final ROH appearance. Absolute Intense Wrestling in Cleveland announced last night that Joe has been added to their July 10th show.

Joe is booked for the big WWE NXT live events in Pittsburgh, PA and Columbus, OH this month. PWInsider reports that Joe is not currently booked for tonight’s SmackDown tapings so unless things change, Joe will not be the one who will answer NXT Champion Kevin Owens open challenge.

Source: WrestlingINC.com

Tommy Rogers Of The Fantastics Passed Away

Tommy Rogers (Thomas Crouch), one half of the tag team The Fantastics passed away yesterday at the age of 54 at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was due to be sentenced today on charges relating to a brawl with police officers. Details of the cause and matter of death are still pending.

The Fantastics (Rogers and Bobby Fulton) in the mid 80’s quickly established themselves as one of the best working tag teams in the business, probably just below the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. The Fantastics was known for their battles with the Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey with Jim Cornette).

Bobby Fulton (Robert Hines) wrote the following on his Facebook page about Rogers passing:

RAW Preview: 6/1/15

Fallout from Elimination Chamber!

Is The Lunatic Fringe the rightful World Champion?

Will RAW feel the shockwave of one of the greatest debuts in WWE history?

Feeding frenzy! Now that “the good guy” is the Intercontinental Champion, the bad guys will no doubt be coming out of the woodwork to knock him off the mountain.

Who will look to build up Money in the Bank credits”

Who should be the WWE Tag Team Title #1 contenders?

Source: WWE.com

 

WWE Elimination Chamber Results: 5/31/15

(Kickoff) Stardust def. Zack Ryder

(Kickoff) MIZ TV – With Daniel Bryan: Bryan said he thinks Miz TV is boring and brought out Macho Mandow and AxelMania. The Meta Powers beat Miz down then Bryan celebrated with them.

 

WWE Tag Team Championship – Elimination Chamber Match: (C) The New Day (all 3 was allowed to compete) def. Prime Time Player, Cesaro & Tyson Kidd, The Ascension, Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores w/ El Torito

Divas Championship – Triple Threat: (C) Nikki Bella def. Naomi and Paige

Kevin Owens def. John Cena: This was the match of the night, with Owens getting a clean win.

Neville def. Bo Dallas

Intercontinental Championship – Elimination Chamber Match: Ryback def. Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry, R-Truth and King Barrett: Ryback is the new IC Champ: Daniel Bryan presented the title to Ryback

John Cena VS Kevin Owens rematch was announced for Money In The Bank pay-per-view

Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, Neville and Kofi Kingston was announced as competitors for the Money In The Bank Ladder Match at MITB pay-per-view

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Dean Ambrose def. (C) Seth Rollins w/J & J Security & Kane: Rollins pulled the ref in the way and Ambrose hit the ref knocking the ref out. Ambrose hits Dirty Deeds and covers Rollins, another ref came down and made the 3 count. Ambrose celebrated his win. The original ref conversed the the other ref and says Ambrose wins by DQ. The Authority attacks Ambrose and takes back the title belt. Roman Reigns came down for the save taking out The Authority. Ambrose & Reigns left with the title belt.

 

Ring of Honor COO Talks Deal With Destination America

Ring of Honor CCO Joe Koff appeared on Busted Open Radio last week and discussed working with Destination America.and how long the deal has actually been in the works.

Elimination Chamber Card – 5/31/15

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: (C) Seth Rollins w/J & J Security VS Dean Ambrose

WWE Intercontinental Championship – Elimination Chamber Match: Sheamus VS Ryback VS King Barrett VS *Rusev VS R-Truth VS Dolph Ziggler: * Rusev may be pulled from the match due to injury.

John Cena VS Kevin Owens

WWE Tag Team Championship – Elimination Chamber Match: (C) The New Day VS Cesaro & Tyson Kidd VS Lucha Dragons VS The Ascension VS Prime Time Players VS Los Matadores

Divas Championship – Triple Threat Match: (C) Nikki Bella w/Brie Bella VS Paige VS Naomi w/Tamina

Neville VS Bo Dallas

(Kickoff) Miz TV with guest Daniel Bryan

In the U.S., the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is only available on the WWE Network.

Jarrett, Hacksaw & Hoyt Promote GFW On CBS Sports Network At MiLB Game In Texas

Jeff Jarrett, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Lance Hoyt appeared last night in Round Rock, Texas at a MiLB game to promote Global Force Wrestling and their GFW Grand Slam Tour across MiLB parks. Jarrett threw out the ceremonial pitch. The game was televised on the CBS Sports Network.

You can see the photos from their appearance at this link: http://www.globalforcewrestling.com/jeff-jarrett-hacksaw-jim-duggan-and-lance-hoyt-appear-during-cbs-sports-milbs-game-of-the-week

Below is a video of them being interviewed on CBS Sports Network during the game:

TNA Impact Wrestling May Mayhem Preview: 5/29/15

TNA World Heavyweight Championship – I Quit Match: (C) Kurt Angle VS Eric Young

Knockouts Championship – Six Sides of Steel: (C) Taryn Terrell VS Gail Kim

X-Division Championship – Gauntlet Match: (C) Kenny King VS Rockstar Spud VS Tigre Uno VS Manik VS Crazzy Steve VS Argos VS Mandrews VS DJ Z: As Champion Kenny King will have the advantage of entering the match last.

TNA World Tag Team Championship – Best of 5 Series (Match 2): (1) The Wolves VS Dirty Heels

Brock Lesnar To Work First House Show In 11 Years

It appears that Brock Lesnar will work his first house show in 11 years. He is scheduled for the July 4th WWE live event at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Lesnar is scheduled to wrestle Kofi Kingston at the show.

WWE Japan sent out the following tweets to hype Lesnar’s appearance:

Kevin Owens Cuts Promo On John Cena On Smackdown

Michael Cole talked to Kevin Owens during an in-ring promo to hype his match with John Cena at Elimination Chamber this Sunday.